The Justice Department has decided to dismiss the case against David Hearn, a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This decision comes after new evidence presented by the Interior Department showed that the damage was caused by a contractor’s mistake rather than vandalism.
Prosecutors originally charged Hearn with deliberately damaging the pool. However, recent findings indicate the damage occurred due to a rush to complete a project before the America 250 events around Independence Day 2026. A recent inspection also found damage throughout the pool, not consistent with vandalism.
“Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Hearn’s legal team criticized the initial charges as an abuse of power, asserting that he was wrongfully accused and deserves an apology. They noted that the prosecution was flawed from the start, describing it as “ready, fire, aim.”
The dismissal serves as a setback for the Justice Department, which had positioned the case as part of efforts to hold accountable those responsible for damages to national landmarks. The prosecution stemmed from claims by former President Donald Trump that vandals caused the damage, though he provided no evidence.
Hearn has maintained his innocence, arguing the case was politically motivated to shift blame. His lawyers requested access to grand jury transcripts, alleging irregularities. A National Park Service official testified that preexisting damage required repair regardless of Hearn’s actions. The pool reportedly leaked a significant amount of water, and its liner was already ripped.
Earlier this month, Hearn pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of property destruction, which carries a potential 10-year prison sentence. The trial was scheduled to begin on September 28 in D.C. Superior Court.
In light of the new evidence, prosecutors wrote that the initial claims of vandalism were based on misinformation. They received crucial documents only recently, contradicting earlier reports by the Interior Department.
Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, competed in three Summer Olympics and earned his best finish at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He recounted being detained for hours during a bike ride after briefly touching the pool’s newly peeled lining.