Former Olympian David Hearn appeared at the Moultrie Courthouse in Washington, DC, accompanied by his attorney Norman Eisen. They addressed reporters and protestors following an important development in Hearn’s vandalism case.
Federal prosecutors decided to drop the charges against Hearn related to alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Authorities now state the damage was due to errors in installation, not intentional vandalism.
In an earlier hearing this month, Hearn, 67, had pleaded not guilty to accusations of causing over $1,000 in damage by supposedly tampering with the pool’s sealant. Hearn consistently claimed his actions involved merely touching the water out of curiosity.
Initial allegations suggested Hearn intentionally damaged the pool after a $14 million renovation. U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, previously described Hearn’s actions as a deliberate attempt to harm the reflecting pool, which the National Park Service had recently restored.
A recent filing from the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicated a shift in perspective. The office had initially relied on reports from the Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Park Police (USPP). However, new documents from the DOI revealed that the damage resulted from improper installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC). The rush to finish the renovation before the America 250 celebration events contributed to the installation errors.
NPR sought a response from the Department of the Interior regarding the updated findings and ongoing situation.
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