{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/us-attorney-general-backs-pirro-after-trump-criticises-lincoln-memorial-case","slug":"us-attorney-general-backs-pirro-after-trump-criticises-lincoln-memorial-case","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/us-attorney-general-backs-pirro-after-trump-criticises-lincoln-memorial-case","title":"US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial case","subtitle":"Todd Blanche defends Jeanine Pirro’s decision to drop vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn","excerpt":"US Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly supported Jeanine Pirro after President Donald Trump criticised her handling of a vandalism case at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Trump administration had fast-tracked a $14.7 million renovation of the pool ahead of Fourth of July celebrations, but the case was dismissed after allegations of flawed contractor work.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-08-17T01:45:50.753Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-08-17T00:54:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-17T01:45:50.753Z","readTime":"4 min read","scores":{"trust":74,"critic":58,"hype":22,"notes":{"trust":"13 digests and 1 full report corroborate key facts","critic":"Most digests lack specific detail and quotes","hype":"Headlines generally match the body content"}},"tags":["#USPolitics","#JusticeDepartment","#LincolnMemorial","#TrumpAdministration","#FederalProsecution"],"entities":["Todd Blanche","Jeanine Pirro","Donald Trump","David Hearn","Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool","US Department of Justice"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["US Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly backed Jeanine Pirro after President Donald Trump criticised her decision to dismiss vandalism charges at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.","The Trump administration spent $14.7 million renovating the Reflecting Pool ahead of Fourth of July celebrations, but the project faced issues including algae blooms and peeling material.","Blanche said Pirro should not be judged on a single case and that a witness claimed to have observed vandalism, though the charges were dropped without prejudice.","The White House has asked the Justice Department to examine potential new charges related to the alleged vandalism."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., after President Donald Trump criticised her decision to dismiss vandalism charges related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The case involved former US Olympian David Hearn and others, who were accused of damaging the newly renovated pool."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The Trump administration had fast-tracked a $14.7 million renovation of the Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation’s Fourth of July celebrations. Within weeks, an algae bloom developed, and material at the bottom of the pool began peeling off. Pirro initially filed charges but later sought their dismissal, citing \"flawed\" contractor work and incomplete information from the Interior Department. Trump publicly urged Pirro to revisit her decision."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Blanche, who was narrowly confirmed as attorney general earlier in August 2026, said on NBC’s \"Meet the Press\" that he supported Pirro and that Trump also backed her. He acknowledged Trump’s frustration but said Pirro should not be judged on a single case. A witness claimed to have observed vandalism, though Blanche said the evidence did not support prosecution. The White House has since asked the Justice Department to examine potential new charges."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the right-rated digests mentioned the $14.7 million cost of the Reflecting Pool renovation. The left-rated digest and two of the centre-rated digests did not mention the White House’s request for the Justice Department to examine potential new charges."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"nytimespost.com","url":"https://nytimespost.com/todd-blanche-backs-jeanine-pirro-after-lincoln-memorial-pool-vandalism-case-dismissal","headline":"Todd Blanche backs Jeanine Pirro after Lincoln Memorial pool vandalism case dismissal - NEW YORK TIMES POST","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-17T01:01:50.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Fox News","url":"https://foxnews.com/politics/todd-blanche-backs-jeanine-pirro-after-lincoln-memorial-pool-vandalism-case-dismissal","headline":"Todd Blanche backs Jeanine Pirro after Lincoln Memorial pool vandalism case dismissal","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-17T00:54:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Boston Herald","url":"https://bostonherald.com/2026/08/16/blanche-defends-dc-reflecting-pool-prosecutor","headline":"Blanche defends DC reflecting pool prosecutor","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-17T00:15:38.000Z"},{"sourceName":"BT","url":"https://bt.dk/udland/justitsminister-forsvarer-anklager-efter-trump-kritik-i-bassinsag","headline":"Minister of Justice Defends Charges After Trump Criticism in Basin Case","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-16T23:36:46.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Bloomberg","url":"https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-16/blanche-defends-dc-reflecting-pool-prosecutor-who-angered-trump","headline":"Blanche Defends Reflecting Pool Prosecutor Who Angered Trump","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-16T23:31:30.544Z"},{"sourceName":"Fortune","url":"https://fortune.com/2026/08/16/todd-blanche-attorney-general-reflecting-pool-prosecutor-jeanine-pirro-trump","headline":"Blanche defends reflecting pool prosecutor who angered Trump","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-16T23:31:01.000Z"},{"sourceName":"regionalmedianews.com","url":"https://regionalmedianews.com/news/national/politics/us-attorney-general-blanche-publicly-backs-pirro-after-trump-criticism-over-reflecting-pool","headline":"US Attorney General Blanche publicly backs Pirro after Trump criticism over Reflecting Pool - 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