WASHINGTON, June 29 (DC Times Online) — Federal officials said they will pursue full prosecutions after vandalism damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, while agencies gave different counts of how many people were arrested or cited.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends Weekend” that investigators believe the pool’s liner was cut for about 350 feet with a box cutter or similar sharp instrument. He said seven arrests had been made, multiple citations issued and 18 police reports filed.
Other officials gave different figures. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that six people had been arrested and seven others cited. BBC reported that U.S. Park Police said five people had been arrested and five others had received federal citations, while a Department of the Interior statement reported by WGXA said there had been seven arrests, seven federal citations and 18 police reports.
A recent Interior Department court filing and comments from a National Park Service representative said the Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor, according to BBC and WGXA. The public accounts did not identify the people arrested or list any charges or case numbers.
Burgum said fencing had been installed around the pool as crews worked to address the damage ahead of July 4 festivities on and around the National Mall. “When people are attacking it, it is like an attack on our country,” Burgum said, adding that the people involved “are gonna be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
