DOJ Drops Vandalism Case Against Ex-Olympian in Reflecting Pool Damage, Citing Contractor Error

Federal prosecutors in Washington moved on July 31, 2026 to dismiss a felony indictment against David Hearn, 67, a former Olympic canoeist who had been accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. Hearn had said he only touched the water out of curiosity after a $14-million renovation of the pool; prosecutors initially alleged he tampered with sealant material. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Spence filed a 20-page court petition seeking dismissal. The government's filing stated that new information showed the pool damage resulted from a "flawed installation by the contractor" combined with "less than fulsome information" from the Department of the Interior, and cited a rushed completion schedule tied to America 250 events around Independence Day 2026. A grand jury witness had also testified that the area was already damaged and would have required repairs regardless of any contact by Hearn, according to a court filing cited by NBC News. Hearn's attorneys separately raised concerns about "irregularities" in the grand jury proceedings, as reported by the Associated Press. President Trump publicly objected to the dismissal on Truth Social, saying he "disagree[d] 100%" with Pirro's decision and maintaining the incident was "a pure case of VANDALISM," also referencing damage to nearby grass. The case is now dismissed, but the identity of the contractor responsible for the installation and the extent of any further inquiry into the Interior Department's role remain unresolved in the reporting. It is also unclear whether any additional action will be taken regarding the contractor or renovation process.