Olympian Pleads Not Guilty in Reflecting Pool Damage Case
WASHINGTON — Three-time U.S. Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a single felony count of property destruction for allegedly damaging the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in a case that has become a flashpoint over the Trump administration’s handling of the National Mall.
Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, entered his plea through an attorney during his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. Judge Carmen McLean released Hearn on his own recognizance without supervision, and a status hearing was scheduled for August 5, according to AP News.
A Troubled Renovation
The case unfolds against the backdrop of a troubled $14-16 million renovation project that President Donald Trump launched ahead of the nation’s 250th independence celebrations. The Reflecting Pool, a historic 2,030-foot-long landmark on the National Mall, was re-lined with a blue coating Trump called “American flag blue.” But almost immediately after completion, the water turned green from algae blooms, and the blue coating began peeling and floating in chunks.
Trump alleged without substantiation that vandals were responsible — claiming they dumped fertilizer into the pool and slashed the coating with a box cutter. The Associated Press reported that even if someone pulled ribbons of paint from the side, it would not explain the clouds of algae and swaths of loose blue paint detached from the bottom.
What Happened on June 19
According to Hearn, he stopped at the pool during a 64-mile bike ride to examine the peeling coating. “I’m a curious citizen,” he told the AP in a prior interview. “I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery.” He said he briefly touched a chunk still attached to the side, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to.
But Hearn was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours before being released. “I didn’t vandalize anything,” he said. “By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.” NBC New York reported that Hearn maintained the condition of the pool was the same after he stepped away as it was before he arrived.
The prosecution, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro — a Trump appointee and former Fox News host — alleges that Hearn “forcefully and violently” pulled up the bottom liner with both hands, causing more than $1,000 in damage, and acted belligerently toward a park employee. Pirro stated the case has “tremendous evidence.”
Two Sharply Contrasting Narratives
Defense attorney Norm Eisen called the prosecution an abuse of power. “Every American should be alarmed about this prosecution,” Eisen said outside the courthouse. “It is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool.” He added, “This is a case that should never have been brought.”
Co-defense counsel Mary Dohrmann said “the government’s evidence is weak” and characterized the indictment as “the administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures.” Supporters outside the courthouse carried signs reading “The Deflection Pool,” according to NBC New York.
Hearn’s Olympic background has added a layer of intrigue. A three-time Olympian in canoe slalom (1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney), he was described by former U.S. Olympic canoe/kayak governing body chair Adam Van Grack as someone who “devoted his life to representing the United States on an international stage.” Paul Flack, a former U.S. National Team canoeist, told reporters: “I would have touched the paint myself because to feel the texture of it, you can kind of determine what maybe went wrong. It’s a $14 million project that went totally wrong and him touching the paint had absolutely nothing to do with it.”
Broader Implications
At least three other people have been charged with misdemeanors for allegedly removing pieces of paint from the Reflecting Pool; all have pleaded not guilty. Pirro stated approximately six other misdemeanor arrests have been made.
The case has drawn scrutiny from congressional Democrats, who have called for investigations into the pool’s renovation, including no-bid contracts awarded to vendors with ties to Trump. The Fox News report noted that Hearn has ties to a major left-wing fundraising network, adding to the political dimensions of the case.
What’s Next
Hearn’s next status hearing is scheduled for August 5. The case raises fundamental questions about prosecutorial discretion, whether federal resources are being appropriately deployed, and whether the Trump administration is using the justice system to deflect blame for a high-profile renovation failure. As the legal process unfolds, the condition of the Reflecting Pool — which officials say may need to be drained again for liner repairs — remains a visible symbol of the controversy.