Reflecting Pool Case Against Former Olympian Is Over

Federal prosecutors in Washington, DC, have moved to dismiss a destruction-of-property felony charge against former US Olympic canoeist David Hearn, acknowledging for the first time that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's liner stemmed from a contractor's defective installation, not vandalism. In a court filing, Justice Department prosecutors said they only learned the liner's failure was due to "a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented" after reviewing new documents, WRC reports.

The 20-page filing also attributed the pool's problems to "the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration," per the AP. Hearn was arrested on June 19 after stopping at the Reflecting Pool during a bike ride and touching a piece of coating that he said was already loose; he was detained for five hours. At the time, US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro alleged Hearn was seen "forcefully and violently" ripping up the liner. His attorney, Steve Levin, said the case "should never have been brought," adding that federal officials owe Hearn an apology, per WRC.