Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor, National Park Service says
WASHINGTON (AP) — A liner at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor this month, damaging foam insulation installed as part of a $16 million relief effort. rehabilitation project, A senior official with the National Park Service says this.
Frank Lands, deputy operations manager for the park service, said the agency reported the June 9 incident to the U.S. Park Police. lands made the statement In a court document filed late Wednesday as part of a nonprofit’s lawsuit to stop the Trump administration’s work on the project.
The statement does not say whether the damage was a suspected case of vandalism or identify anyone who may have been involved.
The police report noted damage to the pool “including destruction of the caulk and delaminated surface material on top of the foam padding cut with a sharp knife or razor,” Lands said. He also said the tops of about 70 fence posts were thrown into the pool.
The disclosures were the first time the Republic administration had provided detailed information about when and how the Reflecting Pool may have been damaged after work on the project was largely completed.
President Donald Trump and other officials have repeatedly accused without evidence: Unidentified vandals peeling paint as well as a “350-foot breach” in the liner and other problems. Six people were arrestedTrump said this week, without providing details.
Ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations, Trump has promised to beautify the century-old Reflecting Pool, drain it and paint its base a color he calls “American flag blue.” However, since the area was restored, water I was disturbed by the algae bloom. and pieces of the new coating appeared to be peeling off from underneath.
His administration faces a self-imposed deadline complete the renewal Before July 4th. Trump also said the federal government would release images to prove its claim.
Trump said Wednesday that “sick people” used razors and utility knives to cut away parts of the lining.
US Park Police Surveillance footage released On Wednesday evening, he requested assistance in “identifying the individual depicted herein in connection with the Destruction of Government Property investigation.” The grainy 30-second video appears to show a person kneeling down, reaching into the reflective pool and pulling something out of the water. Police say it was taken Friday afternoon.
In his statement to the court, Lands said the park authority plans to begin draining the Reflecting Pool following the Independence Day celebrations to make repairs, including assessing and repairing any damage to the pavement.
The park service completed more than two months of renovations to the Reflecting Pool in early June. The 2000 meter long basin was drained and colored. Lands said a plastic-like rubber coating was placed to waterproof and protect the concrete pool surface and the pool was refilled with water.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation, an education and advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in May to halt work on the project and asked a federal judge to block further renovations.
“And it is not too late to correct course,” the group wrote in a filing Monday. He called on the administration to “engage with experts and the public and make an informed decision about what is best based on consultations required by law, rather than once again moving forward with half-baked ideas.”
Congressional Democrats have called for a formal investigation into the pool renovation, saying no-bid contracts to work on the project were awarded to vendors with previous ties to Trump.
Based in Ohio Green Water Solutions Reflecting Pool was awarded a $1.7 million contract to install a water purification system. Atlantic Industrial Coatings He was awarded $14.7 million to repaint and waterproof the pool’s concrete floor.
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate appropriations panel that oversees the Interior Department budget, said the pool renovation seemed like a waste of taxpayer dollars.
“After railing about waste, fraud and abuse, Donald Trump spent more than $16 million to renovate the now peeling and algae-infested Reflecting Pool,” Merkley said Thursday. He said it was a “huge waste” of tax dollars and that the public deserves “swift responses and a refund.”
Merkley is one of about 10 Democratic senators and House members investigating the pool project.
“Taxpayers deserve a full explanation of how these failures occurred and who will be held accountable for fixing them,” said another letter signed by New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich and five other senators.
Heinrich is the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the Interior Department.
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Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report.
