A Washington, D. C.
, judge permanently dismissed the criminal indictment against U. S.
Olympic canoeist David Hearn on Thursday.
The decision came after it was revealed that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was caused by faulty construction, not vandalism.
Hearn had been charged with felony destruction of government property for allegedly damaging over $1,000 worth of sealant applied during renovations.
He pleaded not guilty, stating he had only briefly stopped at the pool during a bike ride.
The renovation project, initiated by President Trump, involved coating the stone floor with a special sealant.
However, the U. S.
Attorney's Office later acknowledged that rips in the pool's lining resulted from a contractor's "botched installation," not Hearn's actions.
Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman noted the unusual nature of the case, stating the government realized within a month that no crime had occurred.
He also warned against politically motivated prosecutions.
"It reached this conclusion not because it has misidentified Mr. Hearn as the perpetrator of the alleged act, but because no crime had occurred," Edelman wrote.
Following the dismissal motion, President Trump criticized U. S.
Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who had initially alleged Hearn's guilt.
Trump maintained that vandals, not construction issues, caused the damage.
Pirro later presented evidence to the White House showing that poor workmanship was responsible for the damage.
This included an admission by the contractor that incompatible chemicals and insufficient primer were used.
Attorney Norm Eisen, representing Hearn, called the dismissal a victory for justice, condemning the prosecution as a "miscarriage of justice."
A spokesperson for Pirro's office did not immediately comment on the judge's ruling.
