Former Olympian David Hearn appeared with his attorney, Norman Eisen, addressing media and protestors after his arraignment at Moultrie Courthouse in Washington, DC. Federal prosecutors have decided to dismiss the vandalism charges against Hearn related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The charges accused Hearn, 67, of causing over $1,000 in damage by allegedly ripping a piece of sealant at the bottom of the reflecting pool, following its $14 million renovation. However, he consistently maintained that he had merely touched the water out of curiosity last month.
Initially, U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, described the actions as deliberate damage to the National Mall’s reflecting pool—damage reportedly witnessed by members of the National Park Service. Nonetheless, new evidence emerged.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. stated in a filing that the initial reports were from the Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Park Police (USPP). The latest documents indicate that the damage, which occurred in June 2026, resulted from a flawed installation by the contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC), compounded by a rush to complete the project before the America 250 celebration.
The DOI has been contacted by NPR for further comments on the matter.