Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, 67, has been indicted on a single felony count of destruction of property in Washington, DC, after prosecutors accused him of deliberately ripping up newly installed sealant at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, according to the US Attorney's Office.
Alleged Damage and Prosecution Claims
Prosecutors allege Hearn caused more than $1,000 (£749) worth of damage by pulling up the pool’s bottom liner and refusing to stop when challenged. Speaking at a press conference on July 2, District of Columbia US Attorney Jeanine Pirro claimed Hearn acted “forcefully and violently” by pulling up the liner “with both hands” before becoming belligerent towards a National Park Service employee.
Pirro stated: “This is a case with tremendous evidence,” adding that authorities had also made around six other misdemeanour arrests in connection with the incident. Hearn did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the charge was announced.
Hearn’s Denial and Account
The former athlete has consistently denied damaging the landmark. In an interview with the Associated Press, Hearn said he only reached into the water on June 19 after spotting part of the newly installed coating peeling away. He claimed he briefly touched a loose section still attached to the side of the pool before letting go when a park worker told him to stop.
Hearn, who previously owned a company that made composite materials used to build watercraft, said he had stopped at the memorial during a 64-mile bike ride before being detained by National Guard troops and US Park Police for five hours and later released. He also denied deliberately damaging the pool when speaking to the Washington Post following his arrest: “I didn’t vandalise anything. I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realised what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”
Political Context and Trump’s Involvement
Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump claimed federal authorities had made “multiple arrests” after accusing people of vandalising the Reflecting Pool while defending the $14.7 million (£11 million) refurbishment project launched ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Trump also alleged a 300-foot “gash” had been cut through the newly installed sealant. Although he said photographs and video would be released to support the claim, no evidence has yet been made public.
Background on the Reflecting Pool
The reflecting pool, built in 1922, stretches for more than 2,000 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. It famously served as the backdrop to Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Hearn was initially arrested last month on a misdemeanour charge of destruction of government property before the felony indictment.
