WASHINGTON (AP) — David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not guilty in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday to allegations of intentionally damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a case that has sparked significant political controversy. Defense attorneys and critics of the Trump administration have criticized the prosecution, arguing it constitutes an abuse of prosecutorial power. Hearn, 67, a resident of Bethesda, Maryland, was indicted on a single felony count of property destruction last Thursday.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation project initiated by President Donald Trump in anticipation of the nation’s 250th independence celebrations. However, the project has faced multiple issues, including damage to its newly applied coating. Trump has alleged, without providing evidence, that the damage to the pool was caused by vandals. Hearn maintains that he only reached inside the pool to examine peeling sealant and let go of a chunk when instructed by a park worker. Prosecutors allege that Hearn caused damage exceeding $1,000.
Defense attorney Norm Eisen emphasized that the prosecution should alarm every American, asserting that it is not a crime to merely touch the Reflecting Pool. Following Hearn's hearing, he was not required to adhere to court supervision while awaiting trial, with a status hearing scheduled for August 5. Prosecutor Kevin Reddington stated that the government was not seeking any form of court supervision for Hearn but did request a stay-away order, the specific location of which was not disclosed in court.
Hearn's attorney, Mary Dohrmann, described him as an upstanding citizen and argued that the government’s evidence is weak. Outside the courthouse, dozens of supporters, holding homemade signs, cheered and chanted Hearn's name as he left. Among them was Adam Van Grack, who previously chaired the U.S. Olympic national governing body for canoe and kayak sports. Van Grack expressed his shock at the allegations against Hearn, noting Hearn’s longstanding dedication to maintaining National Park Service property along the Potomac River.
Hearn has publicly stated that he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours during a bike ride on June 19 after stopping at the pool. He asserts he followed the direction of a park worker while investigating the peeling coating. The renovation of the Reflecting Pool has been plagued with complications, including the attempted eradication of an algae bloom using ozone-infused devices. Reports indicate that the pool may need to be drained again for liner repairs after chunks of blue coating were seen floating on the water's surface.
Trump has claimed, without substantiation, that vandals have tampered with the pool, alleging that fertilizer was dumped and the coating vandalized with a box cutter. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that vandalizing national monuments is an affront to shared history and emphasized that the law applies equally to all individuals, with consequences for breaking it.
In recent developments, at least three other individuals have faced misdemeanor charges in the same court for allegedly removing paint from the Reflecting Pool, with all charged having pleaded not guilty in initial court appearances. Hearn's attorneys have claimed that the charges he faces are based on a “concocted narrative” and that the indictment reflects the government's attempt to deflect blame for its own failures.
Overall, the case against David Hearn has drawn attention not just for its legal implications but also for its political undertones, shining a spotlight on how prosecutorial decisions can intersect with broader political narratives and controversies surrounding Trump's administration.
