Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool vandalism charge and admits 'botched' repairs

Around 1 August 2026, the Trump administration dropped a vandalism charge over damage to the Reflecting Pool in the US and admitted the damage was due to 'botched' work. The charge had been brought against an Olympian, according to ABC and the Wall Street Journal. The DOJ cited 'botched' work in dropping the charge, contradicting Trump.

Trump insists vandals damaged the Reflecting Pool and criticised the DOJ for dropping the charge. The Wall Street Journal says Trump's team is feuding over whether the pool was hit by vandals or botched work. Separately, the DOJ handed unredacted Epstein files to a judge as Blanche's nomination for attorney general hangs in the balance, and appears to have ignored a New Mexico deadline for Epstein ranch files.