'I don't know what you mean': Todd Blanche dodges when pressed on Trump's pool case

WASHINGTON, DC: Attorney General Todd Blanche dodged a direct question about a reported White House request to revive a Reflecting Pool prosecution involving former Olympic canoeist David Hearn.

The Justice Department had previously moved to dismiss Hearn’s felony case after prosecutors said the pool damage stemmed from a bungled renovation.

Blanche was questioned by reporters on Wednesday, August 12, after the reported White House request emerged and days after his permanent confirmation as attorney general.

Todd Blanche says he was unaware of the request

When asked about the reported request, Blanche said he did not know what the question referred to and had no update on Hearn’s case.

“I don’t know what you mean by the White House has asked us to do that, but no, I don’t have an update on that,” Blanche said.

Blanche was responding to reports that White House officials had asked the DOJ to “consider a new prosecution” against Hearn.

The request concerned a case that had already taken a significant turn.

Hearn had been charged with felony destruction of government property over alleged vandalism at the Washington, DC, Reflecting Pool.

But US Attorney Jeanine Pirro filed a motion last month to dismiss the case without prejudice.

Pirro acknowledged at the time that a bungled renovation rather than vandalism caused the “damage” to the Reflecting Pool.

That earlier decision is central to why Blanche’s response drew attention when he was asked about the reported White House request.

The attorney general said he had no information confirming the move.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Jeanine Pirro has convened a special grand jury in Washington as Trump continues to keep her on her toes about whether her job as US attorney is safe.

Todd Blanche declines to confirm any update

Blanche also pushed back on the premise that he should provide an update based on reports about what the administration might be doing with the case.

“I think there’s been a lot of comments and source-based comments about what, if anything, is happening with that case through the judge ruled in that case or what is the ruling,” Blanche said.

“I don’t have an update, no,” he added.

His comments came after the reported request was attributed to White House officials, creating a notable gap between the reported White House action and Blanche’s public account of what he knew about the matter.

The case had already become a point of tension after Pirro moved to dismiss it. 

Trump has attacked the dismissal

Trump later criticized her decision, saying she (Pirro) had made a mistake and “folded like an umbrella!”

Trump has also claimed there is “video” evidence showing the vandalism being committed.

Hearn’s attorney, Norm Eisen, strongly objected to the reported effort to revive the prosecution, arguing that the DOJ had already acknowledged problems with the case.

“OUTRAGEOUS!” Eisen said of bringing “back a case that the DOJ lost by its own admission that it lacked evidence to convict.”