legal · Evening Standard ↗

U.S. DOJ to drop Reflecting Pool vandalism charges against ex-Olympian

Evening Standard Published Jul 31, 2026 Reviewed Aug 1, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

David Hearn pleaded not guilty earlier this month to one felony count of property destruction.

1 count · felony count David Hearn, defendant

The charge accuses David Hearn of causing at least $1,000 in damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

at least 1000 dollars · damage the charge, description

The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years upon conviction.

10 years · maximum prison sentence the charge, description

David Hearn was detained for five hours after stopping by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a bike ride on June 19.

5 hours · detention duration David Hearn, statement

David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, competed in three Summer Olympics, earning his best finish, ninth, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

3 Olympics · Summer Olympics9 place · best finish David Hearn, athlete

David Hearn's trial is scheduled to start on September 28 in the D.C. Superior Court.

28 day · trial start date the court, schedule

U.S. government lawyers said in a court filing that information provided since the indictment shows that the damage was the result of a 'flawed installation by the contractor.'

The U.S. Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a “flawed installation by the contractor” as well as “the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026.”

“Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,” said the filing from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

Hearn’s lawyers said in a statement that the case against him should never have been brought.

“Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong. The government’s approach was ready, fire, aim. The administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology,” the lawyers said.

Hearn pleaded not guilty earlier this month to one felony count of property destruction and has a trial scheduled to start Sept. 28 in D.C. Superior Court. The charge, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years upon conviction, accuses Hearn of causing at least $1,000 in damage to the pool.

Hearn told The Associated Press he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after stopping by the pool during a bike ride on June 19. He said he reached in to examine the pool’s newly peeled coating and briefly touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool, but said he obeyed a park worker who told him to let go of it.

Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, competed in three Summer Olympics, earning his best finish, ninth, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee says on its website.

He and his supporters have said the prosecution is a politically motivated attempt by the Trump administration to deflect blame and scapegoat others.

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