In brief
US prosecutors have dropped the vandalism indictment against David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, after revealing that the damage to Washington DC’s Reflecting Pool resulted from rushed and flawed contractor work overseen by the Department of Interior. The decision follows the Trump administration’s earlier accusations that “sick, deranged” vandals created a 300‑foot gash in the pool. Hearn’s lawyers claim the case was a misuse of power, and the U.S. Attorney’s office highlighted the lack of transparent information from the Department of Interior. The pool, part of a $16 million beautification push for the nation’s 250th anniversary, has faced repeated leaks and algae problems despite extensive painting and sealing. The admission marks a rare admission of error by the Trump administration.
U.S. prosecutors have formally dropped the vandalism indictment against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn after discovering that the damage to the Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. was the result of rushed and flawed contractor work overseen by the Department of Interior.
Former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn after arraignment.
The indictment, originally filed in early July, had promised a 10‑year prison term if Hearn had been convicted. Prosecutors said new evidence from the Interior Department indicated that the pool’s “300‑foot gash” was caused by poorly installed paint, a claim Trump had repeated in interviews as proof of a “sick, deranged” vandal.
In a court filing dated Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Washington, DC, named Jeanine Pirro and announced the dismissal of all vandalism charges. The filing also cited that the Interior Department had “failed to provide prosecutors with the complete information” about the pool’s issues, a claim that the Office said would have precluded the grand jury indictment.
Lawyers for Hearn slammed the case as “abuse of government power” and demanded a formal apology. Hearn himself denied any role in damaging the pool, stating in a previous interview that he "didn't destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any part" of the paint.
The Reflecting Pool, heavily scarred by leaks and algae, was part of a $16 million renovation launched as part of President Trump’s America 250 celebration. Inspectors reported that pieces of the new blue sealant peeled off within days of installation, pointing to contractor error. The project was awarded to a contractor selected by Trump himself and did not follow the usual federal bidding process.
By July, the pool had been drained twice, leaving the iconic basin empty. The recent admission marks a notable reversal, suggesting that what appeared to be a high‑profile vandalism case may have been a misattribution of structural failure.
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