Federal Prosecutors Dismiss Case Against Former Olympian
Federal prosecutors have ended the criminal case against former U.S. Olympian David “Davey” Hearn. The decision followed findings that the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool resulted from a flawed installation, not vandalism.
U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, filed a motion to dismiss the charge of felony destruction of government property. The filing cited new evidence indicating that the pool’s liner failed because of installation defects. Prosecutors noted that the evidence no longer supported claims of intentional damage by Hearn.
Hearn, a three-time U.S. Olympic canoeist, faced indictment earlier this year. Authorities accused him of pulling up sections of the Reflecting Pool’s new liner during a visit to the National Mall in June. Initially, the government claimed the damage exceeded $1,000, leading to a felony charge with a potential prison term of up to 10 years.
Hearn consistently denied any intent to damage the memorial. He claimed he stopped during a bike ride and saw parts of the liner already peeling. He said he only handled a loose section without causing further harm. His legal team argued that he was wrongly accused amid issues stemming from the pool’s renovation.
As the case developed, investigators discovered evidence that the liner had begun separating from the pool before Hearn’s arrival. The court documents filed on Friday stated that the bottom of the Reflecting Pool “almost immediately” began peeling after the renovation work finished.
The dismissal represents a significant reversal from the initial allegations and concludes the prosecution. The Reflecting Pool’s extensive rehabilitation project before reopening was under scrutiny due to reported peeling and construction flaws. The recent government filing refocuses attention on the construction and installation quality, not on Hearn’s supposed actions.
The case attracted nationwide interest due to Hearn’s Olympic background and the iconic status of the memorial. With prosecutors now admitting construction defects as the cause, the criminal case has concluded.