Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate Reflecting Pool case

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 14:38 · Archive

The Justice Department's inspector general has declined to investigate handling of a case against a cleared former Olympian.

The Department of Justice's inspector general has declined to investigate the handling of the criminal case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Hearn's lawyers had this month requested investigations by the inspectors general at the departments of Justice and Interior, citing allegations of 'incompetence and misconduct' during the criminal investigation and prosecution. They said they believe they have identified potential crimes in the Trump administration's handling of the case, including witness tampering, obstruction of justice and the subornation of false testimony.

The internal watchdog told Hearn's lawyers that the allegations of professional misconduct fall outside its jurisdiction and are instead within the purview of the department's Office of Professional Responsibility. In their letter urging Inspector General Don R. Berthiaume to reconsider, Hearn's lawyers argued that 'declining independent review would risk undermining public confidence in the Department's ability to police its own conduct' and would be inconsistent with Congress's purposes for establishing the inspector general role.

How it is being reported

• Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers sayThe Justice Department’s inspector general has declined to investigate the handling of the criminal case against a former Olympian who was cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.Clickorlando · 21 Oct, 14:00
• Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers sayThe Justice Department’s inspector general has declined to investigate the handling of the criminal case against a former Olympian who was cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.News4Jax · 21 Oct, 14:00

In this story: David Hearn · Department of Justice · Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool · Don R. Berthiaume · Trump administration

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem