- The Justice Department moved to drop its case against a former U.S. Olympian accused of vandalizing a portion of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to a court filing on Friday.
- The department acknowledged in the filing that the pool damage was caused by flawed work performed by the contractor hired for the renovation.
- US prosecutors dropped charges against former Olympian David Hearn, writing that the Reflecting Pool damage was the result of flawed installation by the contractor.
- The justice department moved to dismiss a criminal case charging former Olympian David Hearn with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, instead blaming pool liner damage on the result of flawed installation by the contractor.
- Hearn entered a not guilty plea earlier in July to one felony count of property destruction, carrying a possible 10-year prison sentence and a $1,000 fine; his trial had been scheduled to start on 28 September in superior court.
- Hearn had denied administration claims of pool sabotage, and his attorneys said the government owes Mr Hearn an apology, arguing the case should have never been brought and was an abuse of government power.
- Hearn, 67, was one of seven people facing charges in what Donald Trump claimed were efforts to sabotage the $15m renovation project, and was the only person known to be facing a felony charge, rather than a misdemeanor.
- A National Park Service (NPS) official testified that the pool had already been damaged before Hearn allegedly touched it and could not quantify damage attributable to him.
The Justice Department's decision to drop charges against David Hearn follows revelations that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was due to a botched installation by the contractor, not vandalism. Hearn, a former Olympian, had faced a felony charge that could have resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.123457
In a court filing, government lawyers stated that new information indicated the damage was caused by a rushed renovation process ahead of the America 250 celebration. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, noted that documents received after Hearn's indictment showed the damage occurred before he visited the pool on June 19.
Hearn's attorneys argued that the pool had substantial preexisting damage, with a witness testifying it was leaking over one million gallons of water per week and had a rip in the liner. They claimed the government “owes Mr Hearn an apology” for the wrongful charges.6
The case against Hearn was part of a broader narrative pushed by the Trump administration, which had previously blamed “sick, deranged” vandals for the damage. The administration's admission of contractor error marks a significant shift in their stance, as they had initially sought a grand jury indictment based on incomplete information.
Hearn, who denied any wrongdoing, stated he merely touched the pool during a bike ride. His trial was set to begin on September 28, but the dismissal of charges has cleared him of any criminal liability.
“An NPS official testified the pool was already leaking more than one million gallons a week and had a ripped liner before Hearn allegedly touched it. Hearn, 67, had faced up to 10 years in prison and a $1,000 fine on the sole felony charge among seven people accused.”
The Guardian
