Trump wanted vandals prosecuted over Reflecting Pool damage, now contractor admits fault

WASHINGTON, DC: The contractor hired to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has reportedly acknowledged that its own repair work caused the liner to peel and bubble, adding a new chapter to a controversy in which President Donald Trump repeatedly blamed vandals for the damage.

Documents reviewed by The New York Times show that problems with the pool's liner were linked to the contractor's work. 

The development follows weeks of disagreement over what caused the damage and whether several people accused of vandalizing the landmark should have faced prosecution.

Trump had blamed alleged vandals

Trump repeatedly said vandals were responsible after the newly renovated Reflecting Pool developed peeling sections and other problems.

The $14.7 million renovation was completed as part of preparations surrounding America's 250th anniversary celebrations. 

The pool soon developed an algae bloom, while material from its new blue liner began peeling away.

Former Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn was among those charged in connection with the alleged damage.

Trump continued to argue that vandalism was the main cause even after prosecutors raised concerns about the evidence.

The case put Trump at odds with US Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office moved to dismiss the charges.

Prosecutors found flaws in repairs

Federal prosecutors said in a July court filing that newly received documents pointed to a rushed, flawed installation process by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the primary contractor.

The filing said the evidence showed repeated failures during installation and widespread peeling throughout the pool.

A later inspection also found damage in areas prosecutors said would have been difficult to connect to an individual act of vandalism.

Pirro's office said the additional information made it difficult to attribute the widespread damage to vandalism and moved to dismiss the case against Hearn.

Prosecutors also said information from the Interior Department had not been fully available when the case was initially brought before a grand jury.

Contractor now takes responsibility

The latest documents reportedly go further, with the contractor acknowledging that its repair work caused the liner to peel and bubble. 

The admission adds to findings already presented by federal prosecutors, who attributed the pool's widespread liner problems to flawed installation and a rushed construction schedule.

Trump had acknowledged there could have been contractor problems but maintained that vandals caused significant damage.