The Trump administration, for the first time, showed evidence that vandals damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the $16 billion renovation project was completed.
In court filings, the National Park Service said the damage to the liner along the bottom of the pool included “a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction or delaminating surface material.”
It also said that about 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool.
Court documents indicate the National Park Service reported the June 9 incident to the U.S. Park Police. Frank Lands, deputy director of operations for the Park Service, confirmed the damage in court papers.
The document was filed in response to a lawsuit by a nonprofit organization trying to stop work on the Reflecting Pool.
President Trump has repeatedly blamed unidentified vandals for peeling paint, a 350-foot gash in the liner, and other problems. He said six have been arrested, but did not provide details.
“The Reflecting Pool that you’ve heard so much about, which is so incredible, it’s been gruesomely vandalized by thugs, bad people, but soon will be looking as beautiful as it looked just two weeks ago,” Mr. Trump said on Wednesday night as he kicked off Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair with remarks on the National Mall.
That same night, the U.S. Park Police posted surveillance footage and asked the public to help identify an individual “depicted here in connection with a Destruction of Government Property investigation.
The grainy, 30-second video shows a person kneeling down, reaching into the Reflecting Police and removing something from the water. Police said the video was taken on Friday afternoon.
In his statement to the court, Mr. Lands said the National Park Service plans to drain the Reflecting Pool after the July 4 celebrations to conduct repairs, including assessing the damage to the lining.
