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Trump continues to allege D.C. reflecting pool was vandalized, as ex-Olympian denies doing damage
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Washington's National Mall is set to be drained again for repairs after algae and peeling paint appeared just weeks after a $14.7-million US renovation, while U.S President Donald Trump threatened prison time for anyone caught damaging the pool.
Peeling paint and algae growth have been visible in the pool since soon after Trump declared the renovation project complete on June 6. Concerns have been raised about the no-bid contract to recoat the pool before the country's 250th anniversary celebrations next month, as well as for the ducks that use its water.
Trump, without evidence, has blamed vandals for the state of the landmark. On Monday, he echoed a weekend threat by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to prosecute people accused of attempting to destroy the pool.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is set to be drained again weeks after a $14.7M renovation, as Trump alleges vandalism.
Trump told reporters Monday that the pool "looks very good." He accused someone of putting fertilizer in the water or taking action to create the algae, without providing evidence, adding that the algae was now dead and would be vacuumed out of the pool.
"It's not a lot of damage, but ... we'll probably have to let the water out and re-fix it. They went in there with a knife," he said, without providing evidence. "I was just told by the people over at Parks, they have five people are arrested and five people are under investigation right now."
The company responsible for the renovation work, Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, said on Sunday the areas that required repairs made up "a very small part of the massive 7-acre project, and do not indicate a failure of the liner."
At least five people have been arrested, including a former Olympian who publicly denied the charges, while five others were issued citations, according to media reports citing an administration official. The U.S. Park Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoe racer from Bethesda, Md., told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool because he wanted to examine the peeling new coating.
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