By Evaristo Lara
President Donald Trump demanded severe punishment for those accused of allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool, including a former Olympic athlete.
After a restoration of the site was carried out, which involved an investment of $14.8 million dollars, the head of the nation turned to the Truth Social platform to make it clear that there will be a heavy hand for the authors of the severe damage that caused, in addition to the peeling off of the layer of paint applied to the bottom, the appearance and accelerated growth of algae.
“These are very serious crimes related to the destruction of national monuments. Years in prison!” he wrote the president in a first message published on the Truth Social platform after it was announced that the authorities have detained more than a dozen people related to the incident.
Among those arrested is David Hearn, three-time Olympianwho is charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property.
“I didn’t vandalize anything. I didn’t destroy, break or chip anything. By the time I realized what was happening, they were handcuffing me,” he said. the 67-year-old subject to the newspaper The Washington Put up.
In a second message, Trump pointed out that there are several people involved in what he considers an act of sabotage.
“Many more people have been arrested in connection with the disgraceful vandalism of our beautiful reflecting pond. It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922 when it was originally built, but even then it was very leaky and non-functional.
Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror-like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, something I had never done before!
“What these terrible vandals have done is a true affront to Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and must be treated accordingly,” he said.
In addition, The president anticipated that it will be necessary to empty the pond to repair the damage caused.
“We are meeting with contractors today, we will probably be forced to empty and drain much of the water to make the necessary repairs, but we will do them as quickly as possible.
The damage they have caused does not even include the previous destruction of a large amount of grass, which was by far the least serious,” he stressed.
Finally, the 80-year-old Republican detailed the damage caused was not accidental, as it required premeditation and group work.
“They took some kind of knife or blade and opened a 76 meter long gap in the beautiful façade of what required so much work, competence and money to build and complete. Also “They poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the pond,” he said.
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