A federal grand jury indicted former U. S.
Olympic canoeist David Hearn on Thursday, July 2, 2026, for allegedly vandalizing the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.
C.
District of Columbia U. S.
Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that the 67-year-old resident of Bethesda, Maryland, faces a felony charge of destruction of property.
Authorities accused Hearn of causing over $1,000 in damage by ripping up recently installed sealant from the bottom of the pool on June 19, 2026.
Pirro stated that investigators possess substantial evidence against the three-time Olympian, who allegedly used both hands to forcefully pull up the lining and acted belligerently toward a park employee.
"The indictment is in response to an incident that occurred on June 19th of 2026, in which the defendant, Hearn, ripped a piece of recently installed sealant on the bottom of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial," said Pirro.
The prosecutor emphasized that the actions directly disrupted extensive federal restoration efforts across the National Mall.
"This was a deliberate act to damage the reflecting pool at the National Mall that members of the National Park Service actually have worked hard to restore," said Pirro.
Pirro noted that U. S.
Park Police have made approximately six other misdemeanor arrests and issued five federal citations related to recent vandalism at the site.
"This is a case with tremendous evidence," said Pirro.
Hearn Maintains Innocence
Hearn, who owned a composite materials company for watercraft, maintained his innocence and stated he was detained for five hours by National Guard troops and park police during a 102-kilometer bicycle ride.
"Davey Hearn is innocent. These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American," said Hearn's attorneys.
The defense team argued that the prosecution represents a political maneuver to deflect attention from structural flaws in the multi-million dollar rehabilitation project.
"The indictment reflects the administration's effort to shift blame for their own failures," said Hearn's attorneys.
Hearn previously explained to the media that he merely examined and briefly touched a piece of preexisting peeling paint out of professional curiosity.
"I didn't destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any part," said Hearn.
He characterized the legal proceedings as an unfair abuse of executive power following his detention at the water's edge.
"This is an arbitrary, capricious prosecution," said Hearn.
President Donald Trump linked the alleged vandalism directly to ongoing issues with the pool's recent $14 million renovation project, which has suffered from peeling coatings and algae blooms ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.
"Work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool," said Trump.
The President expressed disbelief regarding the condition of the historic 1920s landmark following a personal site inspection.
"I just inspected it, and could only say to myself, and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing?
SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!" said Trump.
