DOJ Drops Charges Against Former Olympian After Contractor Blamed for Reflecting Pool Incident
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Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss felony charges against ex-Olympic canoeist David Hearn, now claiming the Reflecting Pool damage was due to a contractor's error, not vandalism.
Federal prosecutors on Friday moved to dismiss an indictment against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Justice Department, in a reversal, now claims that new information shows the damage was caused by a 'botched installation' of sealant by a contractor, not by deliberate vandalism. The indictment, filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., alleged Hearn had caused more than $1,000 in damage to the newly installed sealant—a project highlighted by the previous administration as part of its efforts to restore national monuments. Hearn denied the accusations from the beginning. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment, and neither the Justice Department nor Hearn's legal team responded to requests for comment, raising concerns about transparency and the rush to judgment in high-profile cases.