Prosecutors in Washington, D.C., have dismissed charges against four individuals accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This follows controversy within the Trump administration regarding the decision to dismiss a felony charge against former Olympian David Hearn.
Hearn and three other defendants, Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers, faced accusations of property damage. Court filings show misdemeanor charges against these individuals have been dropped. Hearn maintained his innocence, denying allegations of causing over $1,000 in damage by tampering with the pool’s sealant during a bike ride stop on June 19.
Prosecutors decided to dismiss Hearn’s case after identifying a contractor’s flawed installation as the cause of the damage. This installment was reportedly rushed to complete the project before the America 250 events. Internal documents from the Department of the Interior revealed issues with weather impacts and sealant application failures.
President Trump criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for withdrawing the charges, expressing dissatisfaction with her decision. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed these sentiments, stating credible evidence of vandalism had been submitted, though specifics were unavailable.
Reactions from the defense attorneys reflected frustration and relief. Allen Dale, Thiers’ lawyer, described the charge dismissal as a relief after weeks of distress. Jamison Koehler, representing Dennison-Gibbey, argued her arrest was unjustified, while David Benowitz, defending Carreno, highlighted the professional and personal upheaval following his client’s arrest. Benowitz criticized what he perceived as a politically motivated case, considering legal action against the government.
The incident underscores tensions between the Department of Justice and the Trump administration over these legal proceedings and the attribution of blame for damage to national landmarks.