- The U.S. Justice Department has moved to drop the case against ex-Olympian David Hearn, who was charged with damaging the Reflecting Pool.
- The Trump administration has admitted that the repairs to the Reflecting Pool were 'botched'.
- The U.S. Justice Department has officially dismissed the case against Hearn, who had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
- The Reflecting Pool project was awarded to a contractor chosen by Trump without open bidding, costing an estimated $16m, while the original budget was less than $2m.
- Crews have now drained the Reflecting Pool for the second time in three months, and it remains empty.
The U.S. Justice Department's decision to dismiss vandalism charges against David Hearn marks a significant shift in the narrative surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's damage.13
New evidence revealed that the damage was due to a "flawed installation by the contractor" rather than vandalism, as initially claimed. The 20-page court filing indicated that the rush to complete the project for the America 250 celebration contributed to the issues.
Hearn, a former Olympian, faced a potential 10-year prison sentence for allegedly causing over $1,000 in damage. His lawyers criticized the government for what they termed an abuse of power, stating, "Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong."
The prosecution had previously relied on initial reports suggesting vandalism, but a recent inspection showed extensive damage throughout the pool, including areas where a vandal would unlikely have acted. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro noted, "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 case's dismissal is seen as an embarrassing setback for the Justice Department, which had aimed to hold someone accountable for the damage at a landmark associated with President Trump's renovation efforts. Trump's administration had previously blamed the damage on "sick, deranged" vandals, but the new findings contradict that narrative.
Hearn, who competed in three Summer Olympics, stated he merely touched the pool's coating during a bike ride and complied with park officials' instructions. His legal team is now seeking an apology from the government for the charges brought against him.
“Crews drained the Reflecting Pool for the second time in three months, and it remains empty after peeling sealant and algae problems. The troubled makeover was awarded to a Trump-selected contractor without open bidding and cost an estimated $16m against an original budget below $2m.”
BBC
