Hearn’s legal team said the case should never have gone to court in the first place, adding that the Trump administration owed their client an apology.
The US$14 million renovation, one of Trump’s vanity projects to remake the US capital ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, has been plagued by problems – including rapid growth of algae and peeling paint.
Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist, was arrested after officers claimed he tore up the new lining of the pool.
Prosecutors alleged that on June 19, National Park Service employees observed Hearn “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing” approximately half a square metre of paint from the base of the pool.
Hearn said he merely reached into the pool to see what the already-peeling paint felt like and was not responsible for creating any further damage or removing any paint from the pool.
On the instructions of US President Donald Trump, Pirro – a former Fox News host – vowed to hold to account anyone who damaged national monuments.
– AFP