Contractor’s rushed installation caused pool damage, filing says
Federal prosecutors on Friday dropped a criminal case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after newly obtained evidence showed the damage was caused by a botched contractor installation, according to court documents.
The Justice Department filed a 20-page motion in Washington D.C. stating that additional documents from the Interior Department and a recent visual inspection revealed widespread damage throughout the pool, including in the middle where a vandal would not likely attempt to peel the lining. The filing said the damage was the result of “a rushed and botched installation” project overseen by the Interior Department, completed ahead of the America 250 celebration around Independence Day 2026.
“Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,” the filing from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.
Hearn, a champion canoeist, had been arrested in June after he was seen touching peeling paint at the pool. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in July and faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
In a statement, Hearn’s lawyers accused the Trump administration of abuse of power and said it “owes Mr Hearn an apology.”