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Trump’s Reflecting Pool liner failed in a whopping 85 places, inspection finds
The Independent • • general
Key Points:
- A report by Atlantic Coating Inspection found that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's blue coating was caused by rushed installation to meet Trump’s July 4 deadline, not vandalism as previously claimed by the president and officials.
- The coating buckled along expansion joints, blistered due to trapped moisture or fumes, and peeled off in multiple spots, leading to the pool being drained and repaired multiple times.
- The project’s cost ballooned from an initial $1.5 million estimate to nearly $20 million, with multiple no-bid contracts awarded to a small pool of companies without competitive bidding.
- A criminal case against David Hearn, accused by Trump allies of vandalism, was dismissed after evidence showed the damage was due to installation errors; a judge blocked attempts to retry him, citing political pressure.
- Hearn’s attorneys have called for an independent investigation into alleged misconduct by the administration, accusing officials of wrongful arrest and defamation to cover up the botched renovation.
