Federal prosecutors seek dismissal of Reflecting Pool case after targeting innocent American, blame falls on government contractor
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U.S. attorneys in Washington are dropping charges against former Olympian David Hearn, after wrongly accusing him of vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The real issue: government incompetence and a botched contractor job.
Federal prosecutors in Washington have filed a motion to dismiss the case against former Olympian David Hearn, finally admitting that the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was the result of a bungled installation by the contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings—not the supposed vandalism they initially accused Hearn of. Hearn, 67, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of destroying property worth more than $1,000 after he merely touched the water out of curiosity last month, but was nonetheless targeted by overzealous authorities.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said new documents from the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Park Police made it clear that the pool’s lining began peeling and algae proliferated after a $14-million renovation, exposing the incompetence of government-selected contractors who rushed to finish the job for the America 250 celebrations. This is a classic example of government mismanagement and waste, where taxpayers foot the bill for shoddy work.
"It was not until after the return of the indictment that the DOI provided additional documents ... indicating that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June 2026 was the result of flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings ("AIC") and the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration," the filing read.
Hearn’s attorneys welcomed the development and called out the government for abusing its power by arresting and charging an innocent, patriotic American.
"Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong," the statement said.
The Department of the Interior, responsible for overseeing the contractor, has not responded to requests for comment, further highlighting the lack of accountability in federal agencies.