Former Olympian David Hearn pleads not guilty in Washington over Reflecting Pool damage

Former Olympian David Hearn pleads not guilty in Washington after alleged Reflecting Pool damage; legal proceedings and investigation continue.

Former Olympian David Hearn pleads not guilty in Washington over Reflecting Pool damage
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Publish: 09.07.2026
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Former Olympian pleads not guilty after alleged damage to Washington’s Reflecting Pool

Former US Olympian David “Davey” Hearn pleaded not guilty in Washington, DC, after being charged with felony destruction of property for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on 19 June, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced; authorities say the damage amounted to about $1,000 and Hearn is next due in court on 5 August.

Prosecutors allege Hearn deliberately ripped a piece of recently applied blue sealant from the pool’s bottom following a multi-million dollar resealing and painting project this spring.

Hearn, 67, who represented the United States in three Olympic canoeing events, was detained last month after touching material in the pool; he has told the BBC he did not “destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any part” of the coating and earlier said the material had already delaminated.

Norm Eisen, one of Hearn’s attorneys, said outside the courthouse that charging Hearn for touching the Reflecting Pool would put every American at risk, arguing it is not a crime to touch water in the United States.

US Park Police report five arrests related to vandalism of the Reflecting Pool and five federal citations issued to others; officials say the pool has continued to suffer from algae and peeling of the blue sealant despite the renovation, which cost an estimated $13 million.

In a separate court filing, a National Park Service official, Frank Lands, stated that the liner along the pool’s bottom was cut with a sharp knife or razor around 9 June, and investigators are handling multiple incidents connected to the site’s troubled makeover.

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Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
A digital news platform delivering developments in Türkiye and the world to its readers with an objective and principled perspective. Liberal TR Haber Merkezi.
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