Former US Olympian pleads not guilty in DC reflecting pool vandalism case
✓Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn denies damaging US President Donald Trump’s Washington, DC reflecting pool renovation.
A former US Olympian has pleaded not guilty to vandalising the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in a case that has drawn national attention amid accusations that the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to shift blame for a troubled renovation.
David “Davey” Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time Olympic canoe racer, entered his plea in federal court on Thursday after prosecutors accused him of “maliciously” damaging the “American flag blue” lining installed at the bottom of the reflecting pool at Trump’s request ahead of celebrations taking place at Washington’s National Mall for the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence on July 4.
Federal prosecutors allege Hearn pulled at the liner on June 19, causing more than $1,000 in damage. He has been charged with destruction of government property, an offence that carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Hearn denied the allegations. He admitted he stopped at the pool during a bike ride, reached inside and touched a section of lining that was already peeling away, but that he did not remove or damage it. He told The Associated Press he let go when a park employee told him to stop.
Hearn’s lawyers argue the prosecution is an attempt by the Trump administration to deflect attention from what they describe as a botched renovation project.
“This indictment reflects the administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures,” they said in a statement. “The justice system exists to determine facts, not to provide political cover.”
The 620-metre (2,030-foot) reflecting pool reopened in June after Trump ordered the new liner to be installed across the bottom. He said he was compelled to go ahead with the $14.7m renovation after a friend visiting from Germany called the pool dark and disgusting.
But within days, algae began to spread across the surface, the water turned chartreuse green, and sections of the liner began peeling away.
Experts have explained that the dark new coat of paint at the bottom of the pool would elevate the temperature and allow algae to grow, and that algae blooms in water are common at this time of year, especially in shallow, stagnant water like that of the pool.
Trump blamed the issues on vandals, claiming without evidence that “corrosive and destructive chemicals” were poured into the pool and that vandals “took some form of knife or blade” and put a long “gash into the beautiful facade”, although no one has been charged over those alleged acts.
The US president warned that anyone who allegedly damaged the pool could face long prison terms. “Please remember that there is a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things — Which will be fully enforced!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Last week, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the indictment against Hearn, accusing him of intentionally damaging the liner.
The US Department of the Interior has said that at least six people were arrested on suspicion of vandalising the pool in the weeks after it reopened. National Guard troops and US Park Police were deployed to protect the site, which was fenced off during July 4 celebrations.
Thursday’s hearing drew a packed courtroom, with dozens of supporters waiting outside after Hearn entered his plea.
The reflecting pool’s problems have continued, with Trump acknowledging it will need to be drained again so the damaged liner can be repaired.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
A 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist has pleaded not guilty to charges of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's liner. Prosecutors allege David Hearn damaged the blue-lined pool on June 19, causing over $1,000 in harm. Hearn states he touched a section of liner that was already peeling and withdrew when a park employee instructed him to stop. The pool reopened in June after Trump ordered a $14.7 million renovation including a new dark blue liner. Within days, algae spread and liner sections peeled away—a pattern experts attribute to the dark coating raising water temperature in shallow water. Hearn's legal team contends the prosecution deflects from renovation management issues. The pool continues to experience problems and will require draining for repairs. At least six other individuals have been arrested on pool vandalism suspicion.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn denies damaging US President Donald Trump’s Washington, DC reflecting pool renovation.
A former US Olympian has pleaded not guilty to vandalising the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in a case that has drawn national attention amid accusations that the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to shift blame for a troubled renovation.
David “Davey” Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time Olympic canoe racer, entered his plea in federal court on Thursday after prosecutors accused him of “maliciously” damaging the “American flag blue” lining installed at the bottom of the reflecting pool at Trump’s request ahead of celebrations taking place at Washington’s National Mall for the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence on July 4.
Federal prosecutors allege Hearn pulled at the liner on June 19, causing more than $1,000 in damage. He has been charged with destruction of government property, an offence that carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Hearn denied the allegations. He admitted he stopped at the pool during a bike ride, reached inside and touched a section of lining that was already peeling away, but that he did not remove or damage it. He told The Associated Press he let go when a park employee told him to stop.
Hearn’s lawyers argue the prosecution is an attempt by the Trump administration to deflect attention from what they describe as a botched renovation project.
“This indictment reflects the administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures,” they said in a statement. “The justice system exists to determine facts, not to provide political cover.”
The 620-metre (2,030-foot) reflecting pool reopened in June after Trump ordered the new liner to be installed across the bottom. He said he was compelled to go ahead with the $14.7m renovation after a friend visiting from Germany called the pool dark and disgusting.
But within days, algae began to spread across the surface, the water turned chartreuse green, and sections of the liner began peeling away.
Experts have explained that the dark new coat of paint at the bottom of the pool would elevate the temperature and allow algae to grow, and that algae blooms in water are common at this time of year, especially in shallow, stagnant water like that of the pool.
Trump blamed the issues on vandals, claiming without evidence that “corrosive and destructive chemicals” were poured into the pool and that vandals “took some form of knife or blade” and put a long “gash into the beautiful facade”, although no one has been charged over those alleged acts.
The US president warned that anyone who allegedly damaged the pool could face long prison terms. “Please remember that there is a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things — Which will be fully enforced!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Last week, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the indictment against Hearn, accusing him of intentionally damaging the liner.
The US Department of the Interior has said that at least six people were arrested on suspicion of vandalising the pool in the weeks after it reopened. National Guard troops and US Park Police were deployed to protect the site, which was fenced off during July 4 celebrations.
Thursday’s hearing drew a packed courtroom, with dozens of supporters waiting outside after Hearn entered his plea.
The reflecting pool’s problems have continued, with Trump acknowledging it will need to be drained again so the damaged liner can be repaired.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
David Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time Olympic canoeist, pleaded not guilty in federal court on Thursday to vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Prosecutors allege Hearn pulled at the pool's blue liner on June 19, causing more than $1,000 in damage Hearn admitted he stopped at the pool during a bike ride, reached inside and touched lining that was already peeling, but states he did not remove or damage it and stopped when a park employee told him to stop The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was renovated at Trump's order with a $14.7 million cost and a new dark blue liner installed Within days of the pool's June reopening, algae spread and sections of the liner began peeling away Experts have explained that dark coating at the pool's bottom elevates water temperature and promotes algae growth, which is common in shallow stagnant water Trump claimed without evidence that vandals poured 'corrosive and destructive chemicals' into the pool and damaged it with blades, though no one has been charged over those alleged acts At least six people were arrested on suspicion of vandalising the pool in the weeks after it reopened Hearn's legal team argues the indictment reflects an attempt by the Trump administration to shift blame for the renovation's failures The prosecution is politically motivated to provide 'political cover' for renovation problems
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
- Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn pleaded not guilty to damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's newly installed blue liner on June 19
- Prosecutors allege he caused over $1,000 in damage; he claims he only touched already-peeling material and stopped when instructed
- The pool, renovated at Trump's order for $14.7m, developed algae and liner damage within days; experts attribute this to the dark liner raising water temperature
- Hearn's legal team argues the prosecution is politically motivated to deflect from renovation failures
- At least six other people have been arrested on vandalism suspicion; the pool will be drained for liner repairs