Lawyers for David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympian, are urging federal watchdogs to review the Justice Department’s handling of a felony case accusing him of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Attorneys submitted a letter Tuesday to the DOJ and Interior Department inspectors general, alleging a flawed investigation and premature charges against Hearn.
Hearn’s legal team claims that during the investigation, critical evidence was ignored and the case was pursued rapidly due to pressure from former President Trump. The complaint follows the permanent dismissal of charges by D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman. Judge Edelman described the indictment process as exceptionally quick and prohibited any future charges against Hearn.
Judge Edelman expressed concern that political pressure might lead U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office to revisit the charges. He noted the case’s unique vulnerability to renewed prosecution efforts due to supposed pressures to act against alleged vandals.
“In light of these findings and the government’s own admissions, a critical purpose of the requested investigations is to collect the facts — through witness interviews and the collection and analysis of electronic media and documents — necessary to hold accountable the individuals and groups who failed Mr. Hearn, the criminal justice system, and the public,” Hearn’s lawyers wrote in their letter.
Initially, Hearn faced felony property destruction charges in June after being accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool’s liner. The charge was dropped when evidence from the Interior Department clarified Hearn was not responsible and attributed the damage to renovation issues and rushed completion efforts for America’s 250th birthday.
Hearn’s attorneys contend that exonerating evidence existed long before the case was dismissed, pointing to a hurried indictment and investigation influenced by political aims.