Trump has tried to bend the legal system to his will. He’s increasingly facing pushback

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, restored this summer for just under sixteen million dollars, developed problems almost immediately—algae returned, and the protective sealant began peeling away. President Trump blamed vandals, and a man was arrested after examining a piece of the damaged coating. But when the Trump-appointed US attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro, opened an investigation, she discovered something inconvenient: the damage wasn't vandalism—it was a botched installation by contractors rushing to finish before the July Fourth anniversary celebration. Pirro dismissed all charges, including against three other defendants. The Conversation is reporting that Trump responded with fury, accusing her of "folding like an umbrella." But Pirro held her ground. This incident reflects a wider pattern: judges and prosecutors—some appointed by Trump himself—are increasingly pushing back against efforts to weaponize the legal system for political purposes.

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