The Justice Department on Friday dismissed the Lincoln Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn.
David Hearn, the former Olympian who was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for destruction of property for vandalizing the Lincoln Reflecting Pool last month, was indicted by a grand jury on felony charges earlier this month.
Hearn is a three-time Olympic canoeist.
David Hearn denied any wrongdoing.
Hearn was charged with felony destruction of government property. He was facing 10 years in prison.
A grand jury in the DC Superior Court returned the indictment.
During a press conference earlier this month, US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro said Hearn “violently and forcefully” ripped up the sealant.
WATCH:
WATCH LIVE: U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro updates Reflecting Pool case https://t.co/rZQTZ8vZsm
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 2, 2026
However, on Friday, Pirro said the damage to the Lincoln Reflecting Pool was the result of “flawed installation by the contractor.”
“It was not until after the return of the indictment [of Hearn], that the [Department of Interior] provided additional documents to the [US Attorney’s Office in DC] indicating that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June 2026 was the result of flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, and the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026,” Pirro’s office wrote.
Hearn’s attorneys said in a statement to CNN reacting to the decision:
“The Trump administration’s case against David Hearn should never have been brought.
Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong.
The government’s approach was ready, fire, aim. The administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”
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