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The Justice Department has moved to dismiss the felony vandalism indictment against three-time Olympian and former U.S. national team canoeist David Hearn, acknowledging that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor” — not vandalism by Hearn.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro filed the motion to dismiss on July 31, after her office obtained Interior Department documents revealing that contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings had conducted a rushed, defective liner installation ahead of the America 250 July 4th celebration. The documents showed “repeated failures of the lining during the installation process, and extensive peeling of the lining throughout the Reflecting Pool.”
A National Park Service engineer had flagged the problem in a June 11 email, warning colleagues that overspray of the new pool coating along the perimeter could create a one-to-two-foot strip “that is vulnerable to peeling” — precisely the area Hearn was accused of pulling up.
Pirro’s office stated it only became aware of the contractor evidence after Hearn had already been indicted by a grand jury. After Pirro herself visited the drained pool on July 17 and observed widespread damage, the DOJ requested all Interior Department documents related to the lining project. Those documents “significantly undermine the evidentiary basis for the indictment,” the filing concluded.
Hearn, who competed in three Olympic Games, had pleaded not guilty to the felony destruction of property charge. He was arrested after U.S. Park Police alleged he “forcefully and violently” removed liner material from the pool floor during a June visit to the National Mall. His attorney said the government “owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”
The case has been dismissed without prejudice, meaning charges could theoretically be refiled. No charges have been brought against Atlantic Industrial Coatings or any officials involved in approving the rushed renovation contract.
Trump replied to the development on his Truth Social account.
“I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM, that included the grass, which had a big 86 47 emblazoned in giant letters on it, and other elements of the surrounding area. There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS! President DJT”
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