Washington DC Judge Dismisses Case Against Olympian Over Reflecting Pool Damage
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A federal judge permanently dismissed criminal charges against champion canoeist Connor Hearn, citing new evidence that the Reflecting Pool damage resulted from contractor errors and noting concerns about political pressure from the president.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has permanently dismissed a criminal case against Olympic canoeist Connor Hearn, who had been accused of vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Justice Department withdrew the charges after the Department of the Interior provided evidence that the damage stemmed from a rushed and flawed contractor installation rather than intentional sabotage.
In his order, Judge James Edelman acknowledged that prosecutors had found the case meritless and warned that President Donald Trump had publicly disparaged the prosecutors and urged them to reconsider. > "Although the prosecutors assigned to this case have deemed it meritless, the president of the United States has repeatedly disparaged them and pressured them to change course," the judge wrote.
Hearn, who faced a potential ten-year prison term, said he was merely biking near the pool and touched a piece of peeling lining. The judge noted the risk that the case could be revived if political pressure continued.
President Trump responded to the dismissal on social media, calling the decision "a disgrace" and insisting the damage was caused by vandals. He also referenced Hearn's past donations to Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue and urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit her decision.
A White House spokesperson declined to comment directly, directing inquiries to the president’s public statements. The judge’s ruling ends the prosecution and allows Hearn to move forward.