- Hearn was indicted earlier this month after prosecutors alleged he “forcefully and violently” ripped about two square feet of the pool’s liner; the three-time Olympic canoeist pleaded not guilty.
- The Justice Department moved to dismiss its felony destruction of property charge against former Olympian David Hearn after finding that the damage to the pool’s lining was caused by a “crushed and botched installation,” not vandalism; the Trump administration rejected that conclusion and continued to argue vandalism was the reason.
- Democrats said the move validated their criticism that the administration is “weaponizing the Justice Department” and accused President Trump of weaponizing the Department of Justice (DOJ).
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) called the case “Another embarrassment” from a Justice Department weaponized against those Trump perceives as enemies.
- Sen. Blumenthal (D-Conn.) argued that Hearn, who pleaded not guilty, should have legal recourse, saying clearly innocent people like him should have remedies against officials who “unconscionably target them.”
- Rep. Lieu (D-Calif.) accused Interior Secretary Doug Burgum of misrepresenting the facts and lying about Hearn, citing the DOJ admission that the Reflecting Pool failed because of “shoddy contracting work.”
- Lieu alleged the prosecution was politically motivated and called it “unethical, radical, criminal behavior” by interim Attorney General Todd Blanche and the department he helms.
- Lieu ended the post with “November is coming,” indicating the issue could move voters in the midterm elections.
Democrats are condemning the Trump administration following the Justice Department's decision to dismiss the vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn. The DOJ concluded that damage to the Reflecting Pool was due to a “crushed and botched installation,” not vandalism, contradicting the administration's claims.34
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the move, stating it was “another embarrassment” as Trump “weaponizes the Justice Department” against perceived enemies. Senator Richard Blumenthal argued that Hearn, who pleaded not guilty, deserves legal recourse for being “maliciously prosecuted” despite his innocence.7
Representative Ted Lieu accused Interior Secretary Doug Burgum of “lying” about the case, asserting that the DOJ's findings prove Hearn's innocence. Lieu described the prosecution as politically motivated and “unethical”, suggesting it was aimed at “soothing Trump’s fragile ego.” He emphasized that the DOJ knew they were indicting an innocent person, labeling the behavior of the department as “unethical, radical, criminal.”101112
Hearn was indicted earlier this month for allegedly damaging the pool's liner, but he maintains he left it in the same condition he found it. The dismissal of the case raises questions about the integrity of the DOJ under the Trump administration, as Democrats prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.
“DOJ moved to dismiss after finding the liner damage came from a 'crushed and botched installation,' not vandalism — a finding the Trump administration rejected. Rep. Lieu accused Interior Secretary Doug Burgum of lying, while Sen. Blumenthal said 'Maliciously prosecuted clearly innocent people like David Hearn should have remedies against federal officials who unconscionably target them.'”
