Revealed: Faulty Renovations, Not Vandalism, Damaged Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's recent deterioration can be attributed not to imagined acts of vandalism by leftist groups, but rather to serious shortcomings in renovation work conducted by Atlantic Industrial Coatings. A report by The New York Times has shed light on the contractor's admission regarding the botched $14.7 million renovation commissioned by former President Donald Trump ahead of the July 4 celebration marking the nation's semiquincentennial.

Botched Renovation Details

According to the documents, the contractor failed to properly apply enough primer necessary for bonding the pool's liner layers, which contributed to the cracking and pooling issues observed earlier this year. Furthermore, Atlantic Industrial Coatings mixed two chemicals with incompatible heat tolerances, leading to blistering and detachment of the liner. The contractor described these failures as a result of “human oversight,” indicating a lack of adequate quality control during the project.

Misplaced Blame and Legal Fallout

In a striking contrast, Trump had previously blamed the visible damage on supposed left-wing vandals, including unfounded accusations against individuals such as former Olympian David Hearn, who was charged with vandalism. However, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro later acknowledged that the evidence suggested the contractor was responsible, asserting that proving vandalism beyond a reasonable doubt was improbable. As a result, charges against Hearn and several others were dropped.

Despite this, the White House reportedly continued to pressure the Justice Department for further action against Hearn even after the dismissal of the original charges. As of now, the Reflecting Pool remains under warranty, with Atlantic Industrial Coatings obligated to cover ongoing repair costs, although the unsightly color chosen for the renovation will not be changed.

Source: gizmodo.com