Justice Department Dismisses Charges Against Olympian David Hearn Over Reflecting Pool Damage
The Justice Department has decided to dismiss the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, who was previously charged with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool. The charges were initially based on claims that Hearn had sabotaged a $15 million renovation project. However, new evidence revealed that the damage to the pool liner was due to a flawed installation by the contractor, not Hearn's actions. The decision to drop the charges came after the Department of the Interior provided documents indicating that the damage occurred before Hearn's visit to the pool. Hearn, who had been detained for five hours by the national guard and US park police, was facing a felony charge that could have led to a 10-year prison sentence and a $1,000 fine. His trial was scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026. 
