Former Olympian David Hearn Relieved After Vandalism Case Dismissed

Former U.S. Olympian David Hearn expressed relief after a Washington, D.C. judge permanently dismissed the case accusing him of vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The dismissal means prosecutors can no longer bring charges against Hearn for the alleged incident.

Hearn was indicted earlier in the summer, with prosecutors claiming he had ripped a piece of the pool's lining while on a bike ride. At the time, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated Hearn had "forcefully and violently" vandalized the pool with evidence "beyond a reasonable doubt." President Donald Trump had also publicly asserted the damage was intentional vandalism.

However, evidence later surfaced indicating that renovations to the pool, a project championed by President Trump, were the cause of the damage. Hearn had faced a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Speaking after the ruling, Hearn called the dismissal a "victory for democracy," telling "Good Morning America" that the experience showed how individuals can be "targeted and unfairly accused."

"Nobody should feel they’re immune from this kind of abuse of power," he said, adding that he believes both Pirro and Trump owe him an apology.

Six weeks after Hearn's arrest, Pirro had dropped the initial charges. President Trump subsequently criticized Pirro's decision, calling it a "choke."

In his ruling, Judge Todd Edelman dismissed the case with prejudice, preventing Hearn from being charged again. Edelman also noted that despite the lack of evidence of a crime, the president's public commentary on the case created "a risk that Mr. Hearn will be prosecuted nonetheless."

Hearn stated that the past few months have been "difficult" and thanked those who supported him. He and his attorney, Norm Eisen, are reportedly considering legal action against Trump or the administration, with Eisen indicating that "nothing is off the table."