Contractor Claims Own Repairs Damaged Reflecting Pool.
The contractor that renovated the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool says errors in its own work caused the pool's liner to fail, not vandalism. Government documents reviewed by The New York Times support the contractor's account.
- Atlantic Industrial Coatings cited 'human oversight' and incompatible chemicals as causes.
- Federal prosecutors previously dropped all criminal charges against accused vandals.
- Documents include Atlantic's reports and National Park Service daily progress updates.
- The Interior Department issued a statement still attributing damage to people ripping at the coating.
Why it matters: The contractor's written findings put the administration in direct conflict with its own renovation partner. Prosecutors and the contractor have both contradicted the vandalism claim; the Interior Department has not.
- Criminal charges were brought against at least one former Olympian before being dropped.
How 19 sources split on this story
Where they split: Whether the administration will revise its vandalism explanation in light of the contractor's documented findings.
Axios9hContractor undercuts Trump's Reflecting Pool vandal claims
Forbes8hReflecting Pool Contractor Says Issues Were Linked To Its Own Work, Not Vandals, Report SaysNOTNOTUS7hContractor Admitted That Human Error Caused Reflecting Pool Damage - The Washington Sun
Reuters8hContractor said Reflecting Pool damage stemmed from repairs, NYT reports
The Hill7hContractor blames Lincoln Memorial problems on itself, not vandals: ReportYNYahoo News8hContractor said Reflecting Pool damage stemmed from repairs, NYT reportsLeft coverage, 11 sources: The left frames the contractor's admission as proof the administration pursued a false narrative, pressured prosecutors, and punished innocent people to protect a botched renovation project.
MSNBC9hTrump’s Reflecting Pool contractor acknowledges reality, discredits ‘vandals’ claim
The Independent6hTrump’s contractor takes responsibility for Reflecting Pool damage despite president’s vandal claims
The New York Times6hContractor Blames Its Own Repairs, Not Vandals, for Reflecting Pool Failure...
AlterNet9hFiasco: Trump's contractor confesses to Reflecting Pool train wreck
Gizmodo4hContractor Admits They, Not Imaginary Antifa Vandals, Wrecked the Reflecting Pool
Mediaite8hContractor Blames ‘Human Oversight’ — Not Vandalism — for Lincoln Memorial Reflect ...
Political Wire7hContractor Blames Own Work for Reflecting Pool Damage
Raw Story6hReflecting Pool contractor says repair errors caused failures instead of 'vandals'
The Guardian7hCompany hired for Trump’s reflecting pool makeover reportedly admits flaws in planTNRThe New Republic8hReflecting Pool Contractor Admits It Messed Up From the Very StartTPIThe Philadelphia Inquirer6hContractor blames its own repairs, not vandals, for Reflecting Pool failure
What’s next: The White House referred questions about the contractor's findings to the Interior Department.
- No official has addressed questions about the use of no-bid contracts for the renovation.
- Will the Interior Department publicly revise its vandalism claim given the contractor's written findings?
- What accountability, if any, follows the dropped felony charges against accused vandals?