Judge Sides with Elite Olympian, Ignores Vandalism and President’s Warnings
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A federal judge dismissed charges against Olympic canoeist Connor Hearn despite evidence of damage to the Reflecting Pool, disregarding President Trump’s calls for accountability and raising concerns about political bias in the justice system.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has permanently dismissed the criminal case against Olympic canoeist Connor Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Justice Department, under pressure from bureaucrats at the Department of the Interior, withdrew the charges after blaming the damage on a contractor’s rushed installation, conveniently absolving Hearn of responsibility.
Judge James Edelman, in his order, sided with prosecutors who claimed the case was meritless, but also noted that President Donald Trump had rightfully criticized the prosecutors and urged them to reconsider their decision. “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,” Edelman wrote, highlighting the president’s commitment to law and order.
Hearn, who faced up to ten years in prison, claimed he was only biking near the pool and touched a piece of peeling lining. The judge, however, warned that political pressure could bring the case back, suggesting ongoing concerns about interference from the highest levels of government.
President Trump responded to the judge’s lenient decision on social media, calling it “a disgrace” and insisting that the damage was the work of vandals. He also pointed out Hearn’s history of donating to the left-wing fundraising platform ActBlue and urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit her decision, underscoring the need to hold all citizens accountable regardless of political connections.
The White House declined to comment directly, instead referring to the president’s public statements. With the judge’s ruling, the prosecution ends, but questions remain about whether political favoritism and elite privilege are undermining justice in America.