Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss all charges against David Hearn, a former Olympian accused of vandalizing Donald Trump's restored Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Department of Justice revealed that the damage was the result of a "flawed installation by the contractor" and a "rush to complete the project" for President Trump's America 250 celebration.
In a court filing released Friday, government lawyers stated, "Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt." DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro requested the dismissal of charges.
Hearn's legal team issued a statement asserting that the case against him should never have been initiated. They contend that the government's actions constituted an "abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong," adding that "the administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology."
Hearn, a canoe racer who competed in three Summer Olympics, had pleaded not guilty to a felony count of property destruction. He was accused of causing more than $1,000 in damage to the pool's new coating. Hearn maintained his innocence, telling the Daily Mail last month that the charges were a "farce intended to boost a false narrative."
He admitted to touching a "loose flap of coating" out of curiosity as a "concerned citizen" but denied causing any harm. Hearn suggested that the prosecution was an attempt to create a news story about vandals damaging the pool. "Officers were ready to arrest me and other people they found who they could have some contrived basis of charges on to accuse them of vandalism," Hearn said.
The $16 million renovation of the Reflecting Pool was championed by President Trump as part of his initiative to beautify Washington D.C. ahead of America's 250th anniversary. However, shortly after its completion, the new coating began peeling, and the water turned green with algae blooms. Trump acknowledged over the weekend that the pool might require draining for repairs.
Hearn and his supporters had characterized the prosecution as a politically motivated effort by the Trump administration to deflect blame. He had been scheduled for a trial starting September 28 in DC Superior Court.