Justice Department Drops Case Against Ex-Olympian Over Reflecting Pool Damage
The Justice Department has decided to dismiss the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, who was charged with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision follows new evidence indicating that the damage was not caused by vandalism but rather by a contractor's botched installation. The case, initially presented as an act of vandalism, was undermined by documents from the Interior Department and a visual inspection revealing pre-existing damage. Hearn, who had pleaded not guilty, was accused of causing over $1,000 in damage. His lawyers argued that the prosecution was politically motivated and that the pool had significant pre-existing issues. The dismissal is seen as a setback for the Justice Department, which had linked the case to accountability for damage at a national landmark. 
