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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alex Woodward

Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool vandalism charges against former Olympian

  • U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is moving to dismiss criminal charges against David Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
  • The dismissal follows the Trump administration admitting that damage to the pool's blue liner was due to "flawed installation by the contractor," not vandalism.
  • Pirro had initially charged Hearn with felony destruction of property, publicly claiming he "woefully destroyed property" in a "deliberate act."
  • Court filings indicate the recently applied sealant began peeling "almost immediately" after renovations, and a key grand jury witness testified the pool was leaking significantly before Hearn's arrest.
  • Hearn's legal team criticized the case as an "abuse of government power" and stated the Trump administration owes Hearn an apology.

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