Former Olympian Challenges Grand Jury Indictment Over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Damage

A former Olympian is challenging the legal proceedings that led to his indictment for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. David Hearn, facing a felony count of property destruction, is requesting complete access to the grand jury testimony that resulted in his charge.

Hearn’s defense team filed a request in court for the government to provide the full transcript of the grand jury proceedings. They also seek details on the legal guidance given to jurors regarding the elements of Hearn’s alleged offense.

In earlier proceedings, Hearn pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to begin on September 28 in D.C. Superior Court. The maximum sentence for the charge, if convicted, is ten years in prison. The indictment claims Hearn caused over $1,000 in damages; however, his lawyers question if adequate evidence was presented to justify this amount.

A National Park Service official, a witness in the case, testified that the pool had significant damage prior to Hearn’s involvement. The official stated the pool leaked over a million gallons weekly and needed repairs regardless of Hearn’s actions, undermining claims about the specific damage attributed to him.

The witness’s testimony established that the pool had substantial preexisting damage requiring repair before any alleged conduct by Mr. Hearn. According to the witness, the pool was leaking more than one million gallons of water per week; its expansion joints had exceeded their service life; and the liner already contained a rip.

The defense argues these points based on their limited access to grand jury testimony and calls for full disclosure. The situation is complicated by a renovation project initiated under former President Donald Trump. Critics argue it suffered from ineffective repair work, while Trump has blamed vandals for damage to the pool.

During a speech in Michigan, Trump addressed the pool’s condition: “It’s in the hospital now, but it’s going to get better very soon. It’s almost ready to open.” Hearn and his supporters assert his prosecution is politically motivated, aimed at deflecting blame for the project’s failures.

Hearn recounted his experience to The Associated Press, stating he was detained for five hours by authorities after examining the pool during a bike ride on June 19. He admitted to touching the pool’s coating but claimed to have complied with a park worker’s directive to stop.

Hearn, 67, from Bethesda, Maryland, participated in three Summer Olympics, achieving his best placement as ninth in the 1996 Atlanta Games, according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Additional misdemeanor charges relate to other individuals accused of removing paint from the pool.