David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympian, is contesting a misdemeanor charge following his arrest at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for alleged vandalism. Hearn, once an Olympic canoe racer, faced detention by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours for allegedly damaging government property. He insists his actions broke no laws.
On Friday, Hearn, who now resides in Bethesda, Maryland, reached into the Reflecting Pool to inspect paint peeling during a $14 million renovation. He expressed concern about being singled out after President Donald Trump revealed several individuals’ arrests and citations tied to damage inflicted on the Reflecting Pool.
“I might be the only person publicly named among those arrested,” Hearn stated. Newsweek reached out to various federal departments for comment regarding the situation.
Following unverified claims of vandalism, including reports of fertilizer dumping and the creation of a 350-foot gash in the pool liner, Hearn feels unfairly targeted. “I feel like I was targeted,” he commented.
Hearn fears jail time upon conviction under the Trump administration’s current stance towards civil rights. He deferred further questions to his attorney and spokesperson.
Norm Eisen, Hearn’s attorney, asserted that the case against Hearn diverts attention from alleged project mismanagement, including a no-bid contracting process. Eisen described the use of the justice system to target innocent people as an authoritarian tactic.
Hearn’s court date is set for July 9. The charge could lead to a fine of up to $100,000 or a one-year jail term if property damage stays below $100.
President Trump announced multiple arrests and citations following an algae bloom at the Reflecting Pool. He detailed the extensive damage across numerous areas of the pool, suggesting a deliberate, extensive effort to cause such harm.
Hearn clarified his actions, denying any deliberate harm. “I did not vandalize anything,” he stated, explaining he merely touched a flapping liner piece. He faced arrest shortly after realizing the situation.