Judge Tosses Case Against Olympic Canoeist Accused of Damaging Reflecting Pool

A District of Columbia judge has dismissed the vandalism case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The felony count of destruction of property was dismissed with prejudice by DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman, preventing prosecutors from refiling the charge.

In his ruling, Edelman stated that the government's representations made the possibility of future evidence supporting a prosecution "theoretical at best, and more likely, is simply fanciful." He also criticized the prosecution's swift indictment process, suggesting they had "shot first and asked questions later." The judge further noted that while prosecutors deemed the case meritless, the President of the United States had "repeatedly disparaged them and pressured them to change course."

Hearn's defense attorney, Steve Levin, expressed gratitude for the decision, emphasizing the importance of prosecutors exercising independent judgment free from political pressure. "Today's decision reaffirms the importance of those protections," Levin said. "We are proud to have stood beside Mr. Hearn in defending his rights and are pleased that he can finally put this matter behind him."

Prosecutors had initially dropped the case in July, citing the Interior Department's failure to share information about the pool's flawed installation by the contractor. This decision reportedly angered President Trump, who took to social media to blame "VANDALS" for the damage. He also publicly criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, suggesting she had "folded like an umbrella."

Hearn, a three-time Olympian, faced up to 10 years in prison. The incident occurred on June 19 when Hearn allegedly pulled at a flapping piece of lining at the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. However, records indicate that the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, had completed work on the lining, which was intended to seal the pool for upcoming America 250 Independence Day festivities, and that the sealant began peeling almost immediately. A National Park Service engineer was aware of the peeling lining at least 10 days before the incident, according to Interior Department assessments made to Pirro's office. The DOI initially estimated the damage caused by Hearn's actions to be $1,000.

Hearn competed in three Summer Olympics as a US canoeist, achieving ninth place in the 1996 Atlanta games.