The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Case Just Took A Turn For An Ex-Olympian

A grand jury on Thursday indicted three-time U.S. Olympian David Hearn, alleging he ripped a piece of sealant from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with his bare hands, federal prosecutors said.

Hearn, 67, faces a single felony count for destruction of property following his arrest last month in the nation’s capital, according to Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. 

“This was a deliberate act to damage the reflecting pool at the National Mall that members of the National Park Service actually have worked hard to restore,” Pirro said at a press conference. “We can state and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he caused damage, and that damage is over $1,000.”

On June 19, Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, was on a bike ride when he stopped to see the reflecting pool following reports of algae in the water, describing himself as a “curious, concerned citizen” to ABC News. 

That’s when U.S. Park Police warned, then cited, the former Olympian after he touched a piece of blue coating. Prosecutors say he later tore two square feet of sealant from the bottom of the pool, an account Hearn denies.

“I saw a piece of this loose end of this blue coating … I reached out and touched the end of that piece that was loose but still attached to the bottom,” he told ABC News. “I was able to reach out and touch the edge that was still attached at the bottom and handled it a little bit.”

Federal prosecutors paint a different picture of the incident. 

“Our evidence further shows that the National Park Service employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands,” Pirro said, adding that witnesses described Hearn’s behavior as “belligerent” and “disrespectful.” 

An attorney for Hearn said his client was innocent and that the charges are “outrageous and should be alarming to every American.”

“On the eve of our nation’s Independence Day, Americans should be deeply concerned by the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative.”

Speaking to ABC, Hearn directly denied wrongdoing. 

“I did not remove, I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy, or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool,” he told ABC. “The condition of that part and all other parts of the Reflecting Pool were in the same condition after I walked away as they were before I walked up to it.” 

On June 9, U.S. Park Police responded to reports of damage to the reflecting pool, including foam sealant that had been cut with a sharp knife or razor. As a result, crews scrubbed algae from the pool as strips of “American flag blue” paint and sealant peeled from its bottom, just weeks after the $14.8 million restoration project, The Daily Wire previously reported. 

Thursday’s indictment follows a string of alleged vandalism and protests, including one woman chanting, “algae’s better than MAGA.” 

The issues and negative publicity surrounding the iconic landmark have drawn Trump’s ire as he pushes to restore the site ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, describing vandals as “SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!” 

At least six individuals have been arrested in connection with reflecting pool-related vandalism, according to NBC. 

“These landmarks and monuments belong to all of us, and they must be protected for generations to come,” Pirro said. “We will not allow our sacred monuments to be roped off, defaced, or diminished, or in any way impacted by disgruntled individuals.”

If convicted, Hearn faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.