Former US Olympic canoeist David Hearn turns aside the Justice Department indictment by pleading not guilty to vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. The felony charge stems from claims that Hearn caused roughly $1,000 worth of damage to a newly resealed pool surface. Hearn asserts he only touched a flaking piece of paint and did not destroy the coating.
Attorney Norm Eisen protested that touching the pool is not a crime, pointing out that Hearn’s actions were merely incidental and not a deliberate act of destruction. The notice of charges came after the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, accused Hearn of ripping a sealant strip in a “deliberate act” on June 19.
In the larger context, five more people were arrested for vandalism and five received citations for the incident. The Reflecting Pool, which had just been resurfaced in a multi‑million dollar project overseen by President Trump, continues to suffer from algae buildup and peeling of the new blue sealant.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum noted that the pool has been drained twice already and that cleaning up fireworks debris from July 4 celebrations is part of a wider repair effort. Burgum emphasized that the repair work will include addressing vandalism and re‑filling the pool.
The case is scheduled for a new hearing on August 5. With the judge and public commentary still pending, the case throws a spotlight on federal responsibility for the upkeep of historic national sites.
