US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial case
Todd Blanche defends Jeanine Pirro’s decision to drop vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Photograph: United States Department of Justice via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
What this story says
- 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.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 37 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 4 of the 41 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
74/100
Craft
58/100
Hype
22/100
41 sources · methodology
Missing from the left
Only 11 of the 37 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated left.
A reader who follows the left would not have seen this. We report the absence rather than explain it: outlets choose what to cover for many reasons, and we have no evidence about which one applies here.
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.
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.
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.
What the coverage left out
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.
Coverage settled. We checked this 70 times and stopped on 22 Aug 2026, 04:00. The figures above are what it finished at.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
11 rated outlets
- The left-rated outlets reported that Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly supported Jeanine Pirro after President Donald Trump criticised her handling of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool case. All ten digests carried Blanche’s statement backing Pirro’s performance.
- Eight of the ten digests included Trump’s criticism of Pirro, quoting his call for her to "go back to Law School" and his accusation that vandals damaged the Reflecting Pool. Six digests noted the case involved David Hearn, the former Olympian charged with vandalism.
- Five digests reported that the National Park Service had warned the Trump administration in June about peeling in the Reflecting Pool before the vandalism charges were filed. None of the digests mentioned Pirro’s response to the criticism or Hearn’s legal arguments in detail.
Centre
14 rated outlets
- All six centre-rated digests carried Blanche’s defence of Pirro and his acknowledgment of Trump’s frustration. Five of the six mentioned the $14.7 million renovation cost, as reported by the Hindustan Times. None of the digests included Pirro’s claim that the pool’s issues stemmed from "flawed" contractor work or the Interior Department’s incomplete information.
Right
12 rated outlets
- The six right-rated digests all led on Blanche’s defence of Pirro and his statement that it was "not fair" to judge her on a single case. Four of the six mentioned Trump’s frustration with the dismissed charges. None of the digests mentioned the $14.7 million renovation cost or the White House’s request for a review of potential new charges.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial…?
- Of the 37 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 30% are rated left, 38% are rated centre, 32% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 41. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial… left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 37 rated outlets on this story, 30% are rated left, 38% are rated centre, 32% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial… biased?
- US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial case is one event reported by 41 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial…?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated left had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered US Attorney General backs Pirro after Trump criticises Lincoln Memorial…?
- 41 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- Why did Jeanine Pirro dismiss the vandalism charges?
- Jeanine Pirro sought to dismiss the charges after blaming "flawed" contractor work for the Reflecting Pool’s issues and accusing the Interior Department of providing incomplete information. The case was dropped without prejudice, meaning charges could be refiled. (42 words)
- How much did the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation cost?
- The Trump administration fast-tracked a $14.7 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of Fourth of July celebrations in 2026. The project later faced issues including algae blooms and peeling material. (38 words)
- What did Todd Blanche say about Jeanine Pirro’s handling of the case?
- Todd Blanche said Pirro was doing a "phenomenal job" and should not be judged on a single case. He acknowledged President Trump’s frustration but said the evidence did not support prosecution at the time. (34 words)
- Did the White House ask for new charges in the Reflecting Pool case?
- Yes, the White House asked the Justice Department to examine potential new charges related to the alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the initial charges were dismissed. (28 words)
Read it at the source
41 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
11- Pirro might still go after Olympian for Trump’s Reflecting Pool ‘vandalism’: filing (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- WH Knew About Pool Defects Long Before Arrests (opens Joe.My.God. in a new tab)
Joe.My.God. — is Joe.My.God. biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump administration was warned about peeling Reflecting Pool nearly a month before it brought vandalism case (opens NBC News in a new tab)
- The DOJ just blew up its own Reflecting Pool case (opens Alternet in a new tab)
- Trump appears to take shot at Pirro as he claims more National Mall vandalism (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche backs Pirro after Trump criticism (opens Winston-Salem Journal in a new tab)
Winston-Salem Journal — is Winston-Salem Journal biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AG Blanche backs Pirro after Trump criticism over Reflecting Pool (opens St Louis Post-Dispatch in a new tab)
St Louis Post-Dispatch — is St Louis Post-Dispatch biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche Says Trump Should Have A Voice In DOJ Prosecutions (opens Crooks and Liars in a new tab)
Crooks and Liars — is Crooks and Liars biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 3 more
- Someone Made A Video Of Trump Enlisting The Scooby-Doo Gang To Solve The 'Mystery Of The Reflecting Pool'—And It's Too Good (opens Comic Sands in a new tab)
Comic Sands — is Comic Sands biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Steaming Trump puts screws to Jeanine Pirro over DC 'vandals': 'Go back to Law School!' (opens Raw Story in a new tab)
- AG Todd Blanche Defends Jeanine Pirro Despite Trump Recently Trashing Her: She’s Doing a ‘Phenomenal Job’ (opens Mediaite in a new tab)
Centre
14- Blanche backs Pirro after Trump criticism (opens Bristol Herald Courier in a new tab)
Bristol Herald Courier — is Bristol Herald Courier biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Jeanine Pirro Pushes Hard to Keep Alleged Vandal in Jail (opens Political Wire in a new tab)
Political Wire — is Political Wire biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump attacks Pirro again after she drops his vandalism case (opens Wonderwall.com in a new tab)
Wonderwall.com — is Wonderwall.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche defends Jeanine Pirro after Trump slams Lincoln Memorial pool case (opens The Economic Times in a new tab)
The Economic Times — is The Economic Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche defends DC reflecting pool prosecutor who angered Trump (opens Decatur Daily in a new tab)
Decatur Daily — is Decatur Daily biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche says he supports Pirro, despite Trump’s frustration over Reflecting Pool (opens The Hill in a new tab)
- Blanche Defends Reflecting Pool Prosecutor Who Angered Trump (opens Bloomberg in a new tab)
- Blanche defends reflecting pool prosecutor who angered Trump (opens Fortune in a new tab)
Show 6 more
- US Attorney General defends colleague after Trump’s reflecting pool slam (opens South China Morning Post in a new tab)
South China Morning Post — is South China Morning Post biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche defends DC reflecting pool prosecutor who angered Trump (opens New Hampshire Union Leader in a new tab)
New Hampshire Union Leader — is New Hampshire Union Leader biased? Our profile of this outlet
- US Attorney General Blanche publicly backs Pirro after Trump criticism over Reflecting Pool (opens Reuters in a new tab)
- US Attorney General Blanche publicly backs Pirro after Trump criticism over Reflecting Pool (opens WTVB in a new tab)
- US Attorney General Blanche publicly backs Pirro after Trump criticism over Reflecting Pool (opens Hindustan Times in a new tab)
Hindustan Times — is Hindustan Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche defends DC reflecting pool prosecutor who angered Trump (opens The Columbian in a new tab)
The Columbian — is The Columbian biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
12- Blanche defends Jeanine Pirro after Trump slams Lincoln Memorial pool case (opens Times of India in a new tab)
Times of India — is Times of India biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump insists vandals hit Reflecting Pool after WWII Memorial incident (opens ussanews.com in a new tab)
ussanews.com — is ussanews.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump insists vandals hit Reflecting Pool after WWII Memorial incident (opens Just the News in a new tab)
Just the News — is Just the News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Todd Blanche backs Jeanine Pirro after Lincoln Memorial pool vandalism case dismissal - NEW YORK TIMES POST (opens nytimespost.com in a new tab)
nytimespost.com — is nytimespost.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Todd Blanche backs Jeanine Pirro after Lincoln Memorial pool vandalism case dismissal (opens wfmd.com in a new tab)
- Todd Blanche backs Jeanine Pirro after Lincoln Memorial pool vandalism case dismissal (opens WVII / Fox Bangor in a new tab)
WVII / Fox Bangor — is WVII / Fox Bangor biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Todd Blanche backs Jeanine Pirro after Lincoln Memorial pool vandalism case dismissal (opens Fox News in a new tab)
- Blanche defends DC reflecting pool prosecutor (opens Boston Herald in a new tab)
Boston Herald — is Boston Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 4 more
- Minister of Justice Defends Charges After Trump Criticism in Basin Case (opens BT in a new tab)
- US Attorney General Blanche publicly backs Pirro after Trump criticism over Reflecting Pool - Regional Media News (opens regionalmedianews.com in a new tab)
regionalmedianews.com — is regionalmedianews.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche defends Pirro, says it's 'not fair' to judge US attorney on 'single case' (opens Washington Examiner in a new tab)
Washington Examiner — is Washington Examiner biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Blanche defends DC reflecting pool prosecutor who angered Trump (opens ArcaMax Publishing in a new tab)
ArcaMax Publishing — is ArcaMax Publishing biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
4- Trump Administration Reflecting Pool Case: Officials Were Warned Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Was Peeling Weeks Before Vandalism, Court Filings Reveal (opens The Sunday Guardian Live in a new tab)
The Sunday Guardian Live — is The Sunday Guardian Live biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump Attacks Pirro Over Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case (opens capitalisminstitute.org in a new tab)
capitalisminstitute.org — is capitalisminstitute.org biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Minister of Justice Defends Charges After Trump Criticism in Basin Case (opens Kristeligt Dagblad in a new tab)
Kristeligt Dagblad — is Kristeligt Dagblad biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump and Pirro’s Lincoln pool problem may well get worse (opens Freethought Blogs in a new tab)
Freethought Blogs — is Freethought Blogs biased? Our profile of this outlet
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