David Hearn, a three-time US Olympian and professional canoeist, has been indicted by a grand jury in Washington DC on a felony charge of property destruction. The indictment alleges that on June 19, Hearn maliciously damaged the bottom lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, part of a recent $14.7 million renovation project.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, a Trump appointee, accused Hearn of deliberately ripping up roughly 2 square feet (0.18 square meters) of the pool's sealant. She described his actions as "forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands" and noted he acted belligerently toward an employee who asked him to stop. The damage reportedly exceeded $1,000.

Hearn was initially arrested last month on a misdemeanor charge after noticing a peeling piece of the blue liner and reaching into the water to feel it. At the time, he had just completed a 52-mile bike ride and was visiting the refurbished pool.

The reflecting pool, built in 1922 and stretching over 2,000 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, recently underwent renovation ordered by then-President Donald Trump to restore its "American flag blue" appearance for the US's 250th birthday celebrations. However, shortly after completion, an algae bloom turned the water green. Trump has alleged a 300-foot "gash" was cut through the sealant during the renovation.

The Trump administration announced the felony charges, with Pirro stating that Hearn faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. When asked if the indictment decision was influenced by Trump, who posted on Truth Social that a 10-year sentence should be "fully enforced" for any damage to the pool, Pirro did not confirm any influence. She also dismissed comparisons to the extensive damage caused by Trump supporters during the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.

Lawyers for Hearn have denied the allegations, accusing the Trump administration of criminalizing ordinary conduct.

Sources