Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was indicted Thursday on a felony destruction of property charge for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C., according to a bench warrant reviewed by Axios. The indictment marks the first secured by prosecutors since President Trump claimed vandals had damaged the pool after a $14 million upgrade.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charge, stating, "Today is about accountability for damaging a national resource, a national treasure, and that is the reflecting pool." The indictment alleges Hearn forcefully pulled up and removed the pool's bottom liner, damaging approximately two square feet of sealant. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The National Park Service observed Hearn's alleged actions, according to prosecutors, with witnesses reporting he used both hands to damage the liner. The reflecting pool had recently undergone a significant renovation, making the alleged vandalism particularly notable in a city known for its national monuments.
Hearn's attorney, Norm Eisen, co-founder and executive chair of the Democracy Defenders Fund, maintains his client's innocence, stating flatly, "Davey Hearn is innocent." The case is expected to proceed through the D.C. court system, with further hearings to determine the evidence and arguments.