Charges Against Former Olympian Accused of Damaging Reflecting Pool to Be Dropped

Former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn, who pleaded not guilty to deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, will have the charges against him dropped.

The Associated Press reported on Friday, July 31, that the Justice Department has moved to dismiss the criminal case against him after it was found that the damage to the pool was the result of a “flawed installation by the contractor.”

The AP previously reported that at least three others were charged, and all three pleaded not guilty.

In a 20-page court filing, government lawyers also said that the state of the pool could be attributed to “the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026,” per the AP.

“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 filing from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated.

President Donald Trump previously said that the pool — which had a protective coating in the color of “American flag blue” that faded to gray — was damaged by vandals.

“The Reflecting Pool, so badly damaged by Deranged Vandals, has been emptied as the massive slash gets repaired,” the Apprentice alum, 80, wrote July 17 on Truth Social.

“We got it through the great July Fourth Weekend,” he continued. “What kind of animals would do such a thing? We are looking for a Vandal Proof material, but such a thing should not have been necessary. The Scum in Court will hopefully be prosecuted to the MAX.”

Hearn’s lawyers said in a statement obtained by the AP that the dismissal “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 lawyers added. “The administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”