Overview

• U.S. Park Police hauled away the 12-foot, bronze-painted statue before sunrise on Wednesday, with the Interior Department saying it was not compliant with the issued permit.
• A National Park Service permit had allowed the piece to remain through Sunday evening, outlining conditions such as an on-site permit holder, 24-hour unarmed security, and unobstructed walkways.
• An anonymous collective calling itself The Secret Handshake claimed responsibility and alleges officers gave no notice, toppled and broke the artwork, and removed it despite the group’s understanding of compliance.
• Plaques at the base quoted lines from a 2003 birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein released by the House Oversight Committee, a document the White House disputes as authored by President Trump.
• The White House derided the installation, and the piece marked the latest in a series of satirical, short-lived protest artworks on the Mall focused on Trump and renewed attention to the Epstein files.