threw out the prosecution.

Hearn's lawyers said in their initial letter to the watchdogs that the evidence that established their client's innocence had been in the Justice Department's possession for weeks and was  simply ignored.  They asked the inspectors general to investigate why prosecutors  rushed to indict  under what they said was political pressure from Republican President Donald Trump, who had launched a massive renovation project of the Reflecting Pool for the celebration in Washington of America's 250th anniversary.

In renewing their request for an inspector general investigation, Hearn's team argues that the watchdog is uniquely positioned - both in terms of tools and independence - to dig into allegations of misconduct against the government officials involved in the case.

They note that unlike the inspector general's office, the Office of Professional Responsibility, which also investigates some categories of professional misconduct, reports to the deputy attorney general and attorney general and has no obligation to publicize its work or report its findings to Congress.

Hearn's lawyers also say the inspector general is the right office to investigate the potential criminal misconduct they believe they have identified within the government, asserting that prosecutors elicited false testimony from a witness who testified before the grand jury and violated Hearn's civil rights by proceeding with a flawed criminal case. They say the inspector general should investigate whether U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whose office handled the case, violated ethical rules in a news conference when she announced charges against Hearn.

 In a case such as this one, when some of the allegations directly involve the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, there is substantial reason to question whether any meaningful independent review would occur  without an inspector general investigation, the lawyers' letter says.  Your decision not to investigate would be consigning these serious allegations to oblivion despite the enormous public interest in the matter and the absence thus far of any accountability for the individuals involved. 

The U.S. attorney's office did not respond to a request seeking comment when Hearn's attorneys raised the allegations earlier this month. Asked at an unrelated news conference Wednesday about the Hearn case, Pirro cut off the question and called on another reporter.

Among Hearn's attorneys is Michael Bromwich, who served as the Justice Department inspector general during the Clinton administration.

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Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report.