'Did Someone Cut A 350-Foot Gash?': Whitehouse Grills USFWS Nom On Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandalism

Thanks very much, Mr. Lilly.Thank you for joining me yesterday to discuss the issues that the Interior Department is facing.Thank you for your service in our military.I would like to talk with you about the reflecting pool, as we discussed yesterday.At the moment, the Park Police are making arrests around the reflecting pool.The president has claimed that Vandals, quoting him here, took some form of knife or blade and put a 250 foot long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work competence and money to build and complete.

He increased the estimate to 300 feet later, then to 350 feet, insisting that it was, quoting him again, cut and powerfully lifted off the surface, leaving very jagged, uneven edges.He was asked what proof there was of any of that, since it doesn't seem to be visible to any other person.And he said, well, you'll have to go see the parks department.They'll show it to you or see the secretary.But I saw it.We have pictures.

He also said, you'll see it in court.So you were a police commissioner in Texas.I understand it.People visiting the reflecting pool are being arrested, handcuffed, and dragged away by your police officers.You'd like to think that they have proper probable cause to arrest someone.I grew up in the Foreign Service.

And there were plenty of countries in which arrests made to satisfy a political agenda.narrative that had no basis in fact was something that they did.The American system of justice has not operated that way.What can you tell me here today about what damage was done to the reflecting pool, where this 350 -foot gash came from, and why tourists are being arrested?What is the factual predicate for these arrests?arrests.

Yes, sir.Thank you.And indeed, I have spent, as a son of a police officer, as well as a police commissioner, I've spent virtually my entire life in and around the law enforcement industry or business community, rather.

So you'd agree with me that arresting tourists to vindicate a political narrative, not because of any evidence of a crime, would be a wrong thing to do if that were what happened, correct?

Senator, the U .S.Park Police is one of the most extraordinary and historic police departments in the United States, founded in 1789.And in the year that I've had the opportunity and pleasure and privilege and honor to work with them, I have been amazingly impressed by their professionalism, their training, their discipline, their service, and their duty and service to this district and the people that live here.

Yeah, which is why these incidents seem so aggravating.And I'd like to ask you to respond.

And consequently, sir, I would say that And I think that all people would agree that ensuring that law and order is maintained for anyone to apply, and I'm not saying that you are, that the U .S.Park Police in any way use political motivation to carry out their duties, I think would beand in some ways an egregious accusation.

So what's the predicate then?Was there in fact a 350 -foot gash done by a vandal to the reflecting pool?

The predicate sir is that I have no doubt that the police officers involved in the apprehensions of these individuals, of which I believe there were five, were doing their duty, were enforcing the law, were appropriately.And I think that all of us should recognize and believe that vandalism of any kind is an affront to civilized society.It hurts everyone.

But Mr. Linder, the question is, was there vandalism?Did someone cut a 350 -foot gash in the reflecting pool?And what vandalism did these individuals do?Is it really vandalism to pick a piece of floating peeled paint out of the reflection pool?People have run through the reflecting pool in the past.The president drove through the reflecting pool, apparently.

Sir, I stand by my statement that the U .S.Park Police operated and conducted their business of protecting this city in an appropriate manner.There was no malfeasance, nor was there any political motivation to it.And furthermore, sir, as you know, this is an ongoing investigation.And consequently, I'm not in a position to share that information publicly.

But once it is available publicly, I'm happy to meet with you.I met with you yesterday, sir.I'll meet with you anytime.

Was there or was there not a 350 -foot gash in the reflecting pool.

Senator, I stand by my statement, sir.

Your statement doesn't answer the question.

I stand by my statement, sir.

Okay, don't want to answer the question.I can see why you don't want to answer the question.You're in a terrible position because the president has made up a 350 -foot gash and unfortunately now police officers are being put in the position of having to make arrests that I suspect are going to fare very badly in court because there's noabout touching the reflecting pool or picking up a piece of floating, peeling paint that amounts to vandalism as a matter of law.Thank you, Chairman.