Judge Dismisses David Hearn Felony Charge in Reflecting Pool Case, Undercutting 10-Year Vandalism Claim
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 7
Judge Dismisses David Hearn Felony Charge in Reflecting Pool Case, Undercutting 10-Year Vandalism Claim
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 7
Summary
Judge Todd E. Edelman approved prosecutors’ request to drop the felony vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn, who had faced up to 10 years in prison over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Federal prosecutors said the pool’s blue lining was damaged by a botched renovation ordered ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, not by vandals cutting it with knives as President Donald Trump had claimed.
The dismissal ended a sharp reversal by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who earlier said there was “tremendous evidence” against Hearn before later telling the court the Interior Department had concealed that the new coating began peeling almost immediately.
Edelman left unresolved whether the charge could be filed again: prosecutors sought dismissal without prejudice, while Hearn’s lawyers had asked for the case to be barred permanently.
The case also triggered a political clash inside the Trump administration, with Trump publicly attacking Pirro before an Oval Office meeting in which she argued Interior Secretary Doug Burgum had misled both prosecutors and the president.