The top photos of the week by AP photojournalists

President Donald Trump is sharply criticizing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her assessment that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following a recent renovation was caused by shoddy construction rather than vandals. On Friday, Pirro moved to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn, accused of vandalizing the pool. Trump argued anew on Saturday that the damage was caused by vandals. But Pirro, a Trump appointee, said in a court filing that the damage was due to a botched installation of a new liner ahead of the America 250 celebrations. Trump also posted a video on Saturday that he claims shows vandalism, but the footage is unclear.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has cleared a critical hurdle in his bid to be confirmed to the post after swaying Republican holdouts on a Senate committee to advance his nomination for a floor vote. Tuesday's vote followed a deal struck between Blanche and two Republican senators who threatened to block his confirmation until Blanche formally rescinded a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate President Donald Trump’s political allies. A sweeping audit immunity Blanche declared for the president, his sons and the Trump Organization remains in place, potentially wiping away responsibility for millions of dollars of taxes unpaid by Trump.

Lawyers for a former Olympian charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool say that the Justice Department knew or should have known for weeks that its case was flawed. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro last week moved to dismiss the indictment against David Hearn, saying in a 20-page filing that newly produced evidence from the Interior Department showed the former Olympic canoeist was not responsible for damage to the pool’s lining. Pirro’s office attributed the damage instead to a botched installation by a contractor and a rushed schedule directed by President Donald Trump. Lawyers for Hearn on Tuesday urged a judge to permanently dismiss the case and foreclose the possibility that the Trump administration could revive it.