US prosecutors have filed felony charges against a former Olympic athlete accused of damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The case has gotten backlash after President Donald Trump publicly insisted that anyone who’s involved will “go to jail for a long time.” This could even mean 10 years of jail time for the athlete if convicted.
David Hearn faces felony destruction-of-property allegations
David Hearn, a professional canoeist who represented the United States at multiple Olympic Games, appeared in court documents this week. He has been charged with felony destruction of property. If convicted, he could receive up to 10 years in prison.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a Trump appointee, announced the indictment at a Thursday press conference. “Today, a grand jury has returned a felony indictment against a defendant, David Hearn, for felony destruction of property, for which he faces 10 years in prison,” she said (via Al Jazeera).
Pirro described the alleged incident in stark terms. National Park Service employees reportedly observed Hearn “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands”. She claimed approximately two square feet of pool sealant was damaged. “A parks employee actually told Hearn to stop his behaviour and stop what he was doing. Hearn reacted by shouting at that parks employee,” Pirro alleged.
The Reflecting Pool had only recently reopened following a controversial $13.1m renovation. Trump awarded a no-bid contract to resurface the granite pool in a shade he called “American flag blue”. Almost immediately, an algae bloom appeared, and blue paint began peeling from the bottom.
Trump blamed sabotage rather than poor workmanship on the pool. His Truth Social post demanding the 10-year sentence “be fully enforced” for any pool damage now hangs over the prosecution.
The former Olympic athlete tells a different story. Hearn says he was cycling past the pool on June 19 when he stopped to examine the peeling paint out of curiosity. He admits reaching into the water but denies removing any material. He is among at least seven people arrested in connection with alleged damage to the pool’s painted surface.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.