Democrats have criticised the Trump administration after the Justice Department moved to drop its case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. They said the reversal raised concerns about the handling of the prosecution and the administration’s attempts to attribute problems at the landmark to vandalism rather than its renovation project.

In a 20-page court filing, prosecutors said new Interior Department documents indicated the damage resulted from a flawed contractor installation and a rushed timetable ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Hearn, 67, had been charged after allegedly pulling up recently installed blue sealant on 19 June; the case carried a potential maximum sentence of 10 years. The Reflecting Pool renovation had cost more than $16 million and had faced problems including algae and peeling coating.