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Former Olympic Canoeist David Hearn Indicted for Allegedly Damaging Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., Superior Court has indicted former Olympic canoeist David Hearn for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool located in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Hearn was charged on Thursday, July 2, 2026, with one count of destruction of property with a value of more than $1,000. The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison upon conviction. According to the indictment, the grand jury found that Hearn “maliciously did injure, break and destroy certain property, that is, the lining material of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.”
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated at a news conference on Thursday that Hearn "ripped" part of the pool last month, damaging approximately two square feet of the pool's sealant in what she described as a "deliberate act."
“The evidence shows, and we will prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that Hearn willfully destroyed property at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool,” Pirro said. “This is a case with tremendous evidence. And this is a case where the evidence dictates where we land next.”
Pirro added that witnesses reported seeing Hearn “acting forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands.” She also noted that the U.S. Attorney's office is currently investigating "about a half dozen" other cases related to the pool, which could range from minor violations to misdemeanors.
Hearn’s defense attorney, Norm Eisen, forcefully blasted the indictment and maintained his client's innocence.
“Davey Hearn is innocent. These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American. This indictment reflects the Administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures,” Eisen said in a statement. “On the eve of our nation’s Independence Day, Americans should be deeply concerned by the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative.”
Hearn previously stated that U.S. Park Police arrested him after he touched a flap of blue material that had already partially detached from the bottom of the pool. He stated that a National Park Service worker warned him not to reach into the water right before he was handcuffed. Hearn has firmly denied vandalizing the site, maintaining that he was simply curious.
The multimillion-dollar renovation of the pool, spearheaded by President Donald Trump, reopened to the public last month but has since been beset by operational issues, including algae growth and peeling paint or sealant. The project was meant to be fully completed ahead of this weekend's Independence Day festivities.
Late last month, President Trump warned that those who "vandalized" the pool could face lengthy prison sentences, claiming an individual had carved a lengthy gash into the pool with a sharp instrument. The federal government has not provided proof of those claims, and Trump’s estimates regarding the physical length of the damage have fluctuated wildly.
Reporting contributed by Katelyn Polantz, Michael Williams, and Casey Gannon, CNN.
By: NBC Palm Springs
July 2, 2026
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