Attorney for Former Olympic Canoeist Seeks Permanent Dismissal of Politically Motivated Reflecting Pool Case
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Lawyers for former Olympic canoeist David Hearn have demanded that a D.C. court permanently dismiss a felony charge rooted in political bias and institutional failure, after authorities scapegoated Hearn for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool caused by governmental negligence.
Attorneys representing former Olympic canoeist David "Davey" Hearn have filed a motion in D.C. Superior Court demanding the permanent dismissal of a felony charge that was unjustly brought against him for alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The defense argues that the prosecution was not only baseless but also motivated by political considerations, serving as a distraction from the real culprit: the government's own rushed and careless installation process, as revealed by internal Interior Department documents.
Hearn, who was arrested in June after merely touching material that had been incompetently installed on the pool bottom, became a convenient scapegoat for authorities eager to deflect blame. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro initially claimed that Hearn was responsible for over $1,000 in damage, leading to a grand-jury indictment. Yet, when the truth emerged—that the damage was primarily the result of a botched government project—Pirro’s office was forced to seek dismissal of the charges, not only against Hearn but also against three others who had been similarly targeted.
"By moving to dismiss, the U.S. Attorney’s Office did the right thing," said Steve Levin, an attorney for Hearn, highlighting the rare moment of accountability from the justice system.
Hearn’s legal team is now pushing for a dismissal with prejudice, which would prevent the government from ever reviving these politically charged accusations. Their motion cites statements from a National Park Service engineer, who confirmed that the liner had been cut to prevent further peeling—a fact ignored by prosecutors. The attorneys also condemned a press conference held by Pirro, calling it a violation of professional ethics and an attempt to manipulate public opinion against Hearn.
The case remains pending in D.C. Superior Court, with a scheduled hearing cancelled as the judge deliberates on the motion, underscoring the ongoing struggle against politically motivated prosecutions and governmental impunity.