Lawyers representing David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympian, have called for federal investigations into how the Justice Department constructed a felony case against him before determining his innocence. The attorneys have reached out to the inspectors general at the DOJ and the Interior Department. They claim the investigation and prosecution were flawed, accusing officials of ignoring vital evidence and acting under pressure from former President Trump.

Hearn’s legal team submitted their request shortly after D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Eldeman permanently dismissed the case. The judge criticized the DOJ’s rapid indictment process and prohibited them from recharging Hearn. Eldeman noted a “unique possibility” that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office might try to reopen the case due to “political pressure” from Trump to target suspected vandals.

The attorneys emphasized the need for investigations to gather facts, interview witnesses, and analyze electronic records. They aimed to hold accountable those who failed Hearn and the justice system. Initially, Hearn faced a felony property destruction charge in June, accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s liner. Pirro dropped the charge after the Interior Department’s evidence cleared Hearn, revealing issues with the pool’s renovation.

Hearn’s counsel now asserts that evidence proving his innocence was accessible before the case was abandoned by prosecutors. They stated, “The record reflects an indictment obtained through unusual haste and a prosecution shaped from the outset by political pressure and built on an inadequate investigation.”