Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against four people accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, determining that the damage was caused by a botched installation rather than deliberate destruction.
The first case dismissed was that of David Hearn, whose charges were dropped Friday. The U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Columbia, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, said the damage to the reflecting pool was not the result of vandalism but of a faulty installation.
Since Friday, the same office has dropped charges against three more people who had been accused in connection with the same incident. That brings the total number of people whose charges have been dismissed to four.
Prosecutors' change in position has implications for others who were charged. The office has not announced whether any additional cases will be dismissed.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is a well-known landmark on the National Mall. The charges had alleged vandalism, but the new explanation points to an installation error. With the dismissals, those four individuals are no longer facing prosecution.
The U.S. Attorney's office did not provide further details about the installation problem or the original damage. The cases for the four have been closed.