'Radical, unethical, unconscionable': Dems target Jeanine Pirro after pool case collapse

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Rep Ted Lieu vowed to investigate Jeanine Pirro after the Trump-appointed attorney abandoned the Reflecting Pool prosecution and acknowledged evidence had undermined the case.

The reversal handed Democrats fresh ammunition against a prosecution the Trump administration had publicly defended. It also drew rare bipartisan scrutiny over how the felony case was brought in the first place.

Ted Lieu vows Democratic investigation

Lieu, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, accused Pirro of attempting to "destroy the life" of former Olympian David Hearn by charging him with felony destruction of property "based on false evidence.”

"This is radical, unethical and unconscionable behavior," Lieu wrote on X. "Democrats will investigate. November is coming."

His remarks came two days after Pirro asked a court to dismiss the charges against Hearn, saying new documentation showed the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner resulted from poor installation rather than criminal conduct.

In the filing, Pirro said information recently provided by the Interior Department "significantly undermine[d] the evidentiary basis for the indictment." Her office also asserted it had not been given the full scope of evidence before the charges were filed.

​The decision marked a sharp reversal from earlier public statements by Pirro, President Donald Trump, and other administration officials, who had maintained the damage was caused by "vandals" motivated by ideological differences.

Even Trump appeared surprised by the dismissal, writing on Truth Social, "I don't know what she was thinking?" while continuing to insist vandals were responsible.

Bipartisan questions follow Jeanine Pirro's reversal

The collapse of the case prompted criticism from lawmakers in both parties over how prosecutors moved forward without complete information.

Rep Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, called the charges "bogus" and wrote on X that "every failed prosecution [is] a self-indictment."

Democratic Sen Richard Blumenthal said Hearn should be able to seek relief for what he described as a case that had been "maliciously prosecuted."

He also promoted legislation, co-sponsored by Sen Alex Padilla, aimed at increasing accountability for prosecutors.

Republicans question handling of prosecution

Republican Sen John Kennedy was equally critical during NBC's 'Meet the Press', calling the episode a "multiple-vehicle pile-up."

"I don't know why she filed a suit without doing a full investigation," Kennedy said. He added that "if she can't prove her case, she was right to pull back. Because if you fool around with a federal judge, you will find out."

Kennedy also questioned Trump's continued insistence that vandals caused the damage, saying, "I don't know whether he really believes that or it's part of his political messaging or he's just thinking out loud. I'm not saying he doesn't really believe it, I just don't know."

Speaking on CNN's 'State of the Union', Republican Rep Jim Jordan said he did not know all the facts but added he would be troubled if Pirro's office had been trying to send an innocent man to jail.