Judge Permanently Ends Case Against Olympian Accused of Reflecting Pool Vandalism

A federal judge has permanently ended the legal proceedings against David Hearn, a former Olympian accused of vandalizing Washington D.C.’s Reflecting Pool. Judge Todd Edelman dismissed the case “with prejudice,” a move that prevents U.S. prosecutors from ever bringing the charges again.

This decision comes after the Justice Department had already dropped the case. Initially, investigators discovered evidence suggesting the damage to the pool was due to a “rushed and botched” installation by contractors, rather than vandalism.

However, Hearn’s legal team expressed concerns that then-President Donald Trump might pressure prosecutors to revive the case. This worry stemmed from Trump’s public statements, where he repeatedly blamed vandals and specifically targeted Hearn, citing his political donations to Democrats.

Judge Edelman acknowledged these concerns in his ruling. He noted that despite prosecutors deeming the case meritless, the president had publicly pressured them to change their decision. The judge stated that Hearn faced a unique possibility of the case being revived based on political pressure from the president.

Hearn, a champion canoeist, had faced a potential 10-year prison sentence. He maintained his innocence, explaining he had simply touched a peeling piece of the pool’s lining while cycling nearby.

New information from the Department of Interior indicated the pool’s damage was a result of flawed installation and a rush to complete the project before the America 250 celebration. Despite these findings, Trump publicly disagreed with the decision to drop the charges, calling it a “disgrace” and urging the U.S. Attorney to revive the case, linking Hearn to a Democratic fundraising platform.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had recently undergone a multi-million dollar resealing and painting project, but continued to experience issues like algae and peeling sealant. The cases against three other individuals also accused of vandalism were similarly dropped.

Source: Nile Post