Former Olympian David Hearn Faces Vandalism Charges
Three‑time Olympic canoeist David Hearn has been arraigned on a felony count of property destruction after federal prosecutors alleged he damaged the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial.
Hearn, 67, entered a not‑guilty plea in a Washington DC district court on Thursday. He contends he only touched a piece of liner that had already “delaminated” and that he did not tear or peel any paint.
"If Mr Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool, every American is at risk," said Norm Eisen, one of Hearn’s attorneys, outside the courthouse. In a statement to the press, Eisen added that it is not a crime to touch water in the United States.
The case follows recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who blamed vandals for damage to a newly applied coating on the pool’s bottom. Trump has championed the multi‑million‑dollar resealing and painting project as part of his cap‑city beautification agenda.
The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced the charge against Hearn last week, alleging that he “ripped” a section of the fresh sealant in a deliberate act on 19 June. Authorities say the student reached into the water after renovations and removed a strip of blue sealant with a sharp blade.
Five people have already been arrested for vandalism in connection with the Reflecting Pool, and another five have been issued federal citations, the US Park Police said.
Hearn is scheduled for a second court appearance on 5 August. His defense argues that the accusations are a political move by the Trump administration to deflect blame for the pool’s record of leaks and algae growth, problems that have plagued the monument for years.
