Vandalism Charges Against Olympian David Hearn Dropped Amid Evidence of Flawed Installation
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro moves to dismiss case after government lawyers admit Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool damage stemmed from contractor error, not deliberate acts.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is moving to dismiss criminal charges against former Olympian David Hearn.
David Hearn faced a felony count of property destruction, accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Trump administration later confirmed the damage to the pool's blue liner resulted from flawed contractor installation, a crucial fact that emerged after the initial indictment was filed on July 2.
A federal agent subsequently determined the damage originated from a botched installation, not vandalism, an assessment that came after the indictment's filing.
Government lawyers filed a 20-page court document on Friday, admitting the true cause of the damage and directly contradicting earlier assertions.
Court filings reveal the recently applied sealant began peeling "almost immediately" after renovations, with a key grand jury witness testifying the pool leaked significantly before Hearn's arrest.
The Department of Interior provided incomplete information at the outset of the case, an omission that complicated the initial prosecution.
The case against him should never have proceeded, asserting the government's approach was 'ready, fire, aim.'
Jeanine Pirro had previously claimed David Hearn deliberately destroyed property, asserting he acted to damage the monument by forcefully and violently pulling the pool’s lining.
Hearn's lawyers maintained the case against him should never have proceeded, asserting the government's approach was "ready, fire, aim."
Beyond the legal debate, the reflecting pool project itself has experienced significant delays and cost overruns; its original budget of less than $2 million escalated to an estimated final cost of $16 million.
A National Park Service official testified the pool leaked over one million gallons of water per week, its expansion joints having exceeded their service life.
Hearn endured detention by the National Guard and US Park Police for five hours, claiming his arrest constituted a farce intended to boost a false narrative.
His trial was scheduled to commence on September 28 in Washington DC superior court, but the dismissal now renders this proceeding moot.
Meanwhile, at least three other individuals faced charges of vandalism in connection with the pool, and five more received citations, suggesting a broader pattern of questionable enforcement.
Norm Eisen claimed every American should be alarmed about this prosecution.
David Hearn's lawyers stated the government owes Mr. Hearn an apology, a demand that follows the case's collapse.
Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong.