Olympic Canoeist Arrested at Lincoln Memorial Pool
Is this a result of a botched renovation or deliberate sabotage?
Above: Workers remove algae from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 20. Image credit: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
Vandals have been caught cutting the liner and dumping chemicals into the pool, and arrests have already been made. The U.S. attorney for D.C. has made clear that such vandals will face the music. Renovating America's monuments is a serious priority, and deliberate sabotage won't be tolerated.
Left narrative
A $14 million no-bid contract to repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned it greener than before, with algae blooms hitting a five-year high. Alleging illegal activity to cover up for the failure doesn't explain peeling paint or poor engineering. Taxpayers deserve accountability, not unsubstantiated claims of sabotage cooked up after the fact.
