A former Olympian, David Hearn, accused of deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, seeks full access to grand jury testimony. His request highlights perceived ‘irregularities’ in the proceedings leading to his indictment.
Hearn’s attorneys submitted a court filing on Monday, demanding a complete transcript of the grand jury proceedings. They also seek disclosure of the legal instructions given to grand jurors regarding the elements of Hearn’s alleged crime. Earlier this month, Hearn pleaded not guilty to a felony count of property destruction. His trial is set for September 28 in D.C. Superior Court. The charge accuses him of causing over $1,000 in damage, carrying a potential 10-year sentence. However, his lawyers challenge whether the grand jury received sufficient evidence supporting this damage claim.
A National Park Service official’s testimony revealed that the pool had preexisting damage. According to defense attorneys, the pool was leaking over one million gallons of water weekly, with compromised expansion joints and a torn liner. They argue that the official could not attribute any further damage directly to Hearn.
Hearn’s legal team bases its arguments on limited access to the grand jury testimony and is pressing for a court order to access all proceedings. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington did not respond to requests for comment on Hearn’s claims.
Hearn previously sought case dismissal, citing failure to preserve critical evidence from the Reflecting Pool. The case originates from a multimillion-dollar renovation project associated with President Donald Trump. Trump’s administration attributes pool damage to vandalism, while critics blame poor repair work. In a recent speech, Trump described a “sick” person damaging the pool but assured it was under repair.
Hearn, and his supporters claim political motivation behind his prosecution as an attempt to divert blame. He recounted being detained for five hours after examining the pool’s peeling coating during a bike ride. Despite touching a piece of the pool coating, he complied with a park worker’s warning to release it.
Hearn, 67, hailing from Bethesda, Maryland, competed in three Summer Olympics, with the 1996 Atlanta Games marking his best finish. Additionally, three others face misdemeanor charges for allegedly removing paint from the pool.
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