Trump Administration Drops Vandalism Charges Against Olympian David Hearn
The US government has withdrawn criminal charges against former Olympic athlete David Hearn. Prosecutors initially accused Mr. Hearn of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Now, they say the damage was due to a faulty installation, not vandalism.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro filed a motion on Friday to drop the case. She acknowledged that the accusations against Mr. Hearn were not correct. Ms. Pirro stated the pool’s damage came from “botched installation” by the contractor. This was a change from earlier claims by the Department of the Interior.
Earlier this month, Ms. Pirro had accused Mr. Hearn of “forcefully and violently” ripping the pool’s new liner. Mr. Hearn is an Olympic canoeist. Ms. Pirro had warned he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Ms. Pirro explained that her office received new information later. She said initial police reports were “barebones.” The Department of the Interior then provided documents. These showed that the damage in June 2026 was from a flawed installation.
The pool renovation project faced pressure to finish quickly. It needed to be ready before the Independence Day holiday. This holiday marked the 250th anniversary of the US. President Donald Trump had planned several events for the occasion.
Ms. Pirro said the rush led to “hasty and botched work.” This work was not fixed before the project ended. Delayed installation, bad weather, and failed tests contributed to the problems.
The Reflecting Pool project cost $13.1 million. The Trump administration gave the contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings. This company was linked to one of President Trump’s donors. The deal was made without competitive bids, which is usually required.
Soon after the project finished, green algae and cracks appeared. The blue coating on the pool began peeling. President Trump then claimed vandalism was the cause. He suggested those responsible should face “years in jail.”
Mr. Hearn admitted he had touched the peeling sealant out of curiosity. However, he strongly denied causing any damage. He was among at least seven people arrested or cited.
Mr. Hearn’s legal team called the case an “abuse of government power.” They believe the Trump administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology. Ms. Pirro’s office had faced questions about political pressure in the case.
