Pirro's Job Status Uncertain After Trump Criticism Over Failed Case

Trump publicly accused Jeanine Pirro of having "choked" and "folded like an umbrella" after her office dropped a felony vandalism charge against David Hearn, 67, a former Olympic canoeist. Two unnamed sources told CNN the president is "furious" and that her removal is "highly likely."

• Pirro's office filed to dismiss the charge Saturday, citing a "botched installation" by the Interior Department.
• $14.7 million went to Atlantic Industrial Coatings under a no-bid contract for pool repairs.
• Charges were also dropped against three other defendants in the same case.
• Hearn faced up to 10 years in prison; he said he briefly touched loose lining during a bike ride.

Why it matters: Pirro's filing put the administration in direct conflict with itself: her office stated the Interior Department withheld documents showing the damage predated any alleged vandalism. Had those documents been shared earlier, the indictment would not have been sought.

• Trump on Monday distanced himself from the contractor, saying "I didn't know the contractor" — contradicting his April comments linking the firm to his golf course.
• Sen. John Kennedy said Hearn will likely sue or seek compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

How 46 sources split on this story

Where they split: The core dispute is whether the Reflecting Pool damage was caused by vandals or by the administration's own rushed renovation — a question Pirro's filing answered one way and Trump continues to answer the other.

What’s next: Pirro entered the White House Monday evening but has not commented publicly.

• The White House has not said when repairs will finish or what they will cost.
• Will Trump fire Pirro, and if so, who would replace her as U.S. Attorney for D.C.?
• What do the administration's "photographs" and "tapes" Trump cited actually show, and will they be released?
• How much will the next round of repairs cost, and will new contractors be competitively bid?