The Trump administration has dropped vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn related to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, admitting that contractors, not vandals, were responsible for the botched repairs. The decision represents a significant reversal for the administration, which had initially blamed "sick" vandals for the damage.
The Reflecting Pool recently underwent a multi-million dollar resealing and painting project that cost an estimated $16 million. The project, championed by President Donald Trump as part of an effort to beautify the capital, was intended to address long-standing structural failures and leaks. However, despite the extensive work, the pool continued to suffer from algae blooms, and sections of the new blue sealant peeled off within days of application.
The contract for the project, originally budgeted at less than $2 million, was awarded to a contractor chosen directly by President Trump and was not subject to the usual competitive bidding process for government work. Hearn's lawyers stated that the case "should have never been brought" and criticized the government's actions as an "abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong."
The BBC has contacted the contractor for comment.