Federal prosecutors in Washington DC have dismissed charges against David Hearn, a champion canoeist, acknowledging that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool stemmed from contractor negligence rather than vandalism. Hearn had faced up to a decade in prison following his arrest earlier this month after visiting the pool following a bicycle ride in the area.
The Trump administration previously attributed the damage to deliberate vandalism, with President Trump characterizing those responsible as “sick, deranged” individuals and claiming the pool had sustained significant cuts. A court filing by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Friday, however, indicated that the Department of Interior’s new information revealed the damage resulted from “rushed and botched installation” by contractors hired to prepare the monument for the country’s 250th independence anniversary celebrations.
The Reflecting Pool underwent a substantial renovation project this spring, initially budgeted below $2 million but eventually costing approximately $16 million. The project, selected by Trump himself and not opened to competitive bidding as standard government procedures typically require, was intended to address longstanding structural problems and leaks. Despite the extensive work, the pool began deteriorating quickly, with pieces of blue sealant peeling away shortly after application and algae continuing to plague the water.
At least three other individuals faced similar vandalism charges related to the pool damage, with five additional people receiving police citations. The status of those other cases remains unclear. Hearn’s legal team characterized the government’s actions as an abuse of power and stated the case “should have never been brought.” Prosecutors attributed the initial charges to incomplete information provided by the Department of Interior, noting that had officials been forthcoming with available documentation, the indictment would not have been pursued.
The Reflecting Pool has since been drained for the second time in three months and currently remains empty. The contractor involved has been approached for comment regarding the installation failures.
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