President Donald Trump confronted US Attorney Jeanine Pirro in a tense White House meeting over a court filing that blamed the Reflecting Pool damage on shoddy workmanship rather than vandalism. According to two people familiar with the discussion, Trump expressed frustration towards Pirro, but stopped short of firing her or asking for her resignation.

Background

The Reflecting Pool renovation and subsequent vandalism charges have created a divide between Pirro and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Pirro’s office decided to drop the case against an ex-Olympian accused of damaging the pool, citing a lack of evidence. The decision put the Interior Department on the defensive, and Burgum’s team questioned why Pirro did not address her concerns in private before publicly airing the case’s shortcomings.

Pirro has been a staunch supporter of Trump and has attempted to appease him in her role as US Attorney. She has detailed staffers to work on high-priority cases for Trump and has tried to investigate former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Despite her efforts to please Trump, Pirro has also been criticized for her handling of certain cases, including her attempt to indict sitting members of Congress for a video they taped that courts have found was protected speech.

Relationship with Trump

Trump and Pirro have known each other for decades, and their long history may save her job. According to sources, Trump likes Pirro and is not the impulsive person he was during his first term. While White House officials said Pirro is still on thin ice, multiple sources believe she is safe for now.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.