An Olympic canoeist who was charged in connection with an incident at Washington’s Reflecting Pool is seeking to have the case permanently dismissed. The legal effort follows the Justice Department’s decision to drop the charges, a move that has drawn public and political attention.
Lawyers involved in the case have said the department was aware of problems with the prosecution before the charges were abandoned. The nature and significance of those alleged flaws remain central to the court proceedings and to arguments over whether the case should be barred from being brought again.
The decision to drop the charges has also prompted criticism from President Trump, who has publicly faulted Jeanine Pirro over the handling of the matter. Other coverage has focused on the confrontation in the Oval Office and on the personal toll the arrest and prosecution have taken on the woman involved.
The canoeist’s request seeks a final resolution rather than a temporary end to the case. A court will determine whether the dismissal is made permanent and how the legal dispute should proceed.