David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist, faces a felony charge after authorities accused him of damaging the lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors say the alleged damage exceeded $1,000 and could carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Hearn denies causing the damage and has pleaded not guilty, arguing that the pool’s sealant was already peeling apart when he stopped there on June 19. His case has become a flash point in a broader dispute over a troubled renovation that left the landmark drained, fenced off, and under renewed repair.
A Dispute Over What Was Already Broken
According to court filings described by www.theatlantic.com, Hearn had finished a long bike ride when he visited the pool, photographed loose material, and put his hand into the water. He has said his experience selling waterproofing products for boats and canoes made him curious about why pieces of sealant were separating from the surface.
Federal prosecutors have alleged that Hearn “forcefully and violently” pulled up sealant with both hands, damaging roughly two square feet of the pool. His lawyers contend that photographs taken before and after his arrest show substantially the same damage, supporting their position that he did not create a major new tear.
The defense has also moved to dismiss the case, arguing that the government drained and altered the pool before the defense could inspect the condition of the surface. Prosecutors have provided Hearn’s legal team with materials including body-camera footage, photographs, and a witness statement, according to court records.
Other Visitors Were Charged Too
Hearn was not the only person accused of pulling loose sealant from the pool during that period. Several other visitors were arrested the following day and charged with misdemeanor destruction of property valued at less than $1,000.
| Defendant | Date Detained | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| David Hearn | June 19 | Felony property destruction alleged to exceed $1,000 |
| Justin Carreno | June 20 | Misdemeanor property destruction |
| Cameron Thiers | June 20 | Misdemeanor property destruction |
| Sophie Dennison-Gibby | June 20 | Misdemeanor property destruction |
Carreno, Thiers, and Dennison-Gibby have all pleaded not guilty, and a judge ordered them to stay away from the Reflecting Pool. Their court appearances were scheduled for August, while Hearn’s case moved forward separately because of the more serious allegation.
A Renovation Under Scrutiny
The pool’s repair work had already drawn attention after flakes of sealant began floating in the water, algae bloomed, chemicals were added, and ducks were found dead. The site became an unusually visible symbol of a renovation that critics say was rushed and poorly executed.
President Trump attributed the damage to vandals and described a large gash in the pool’s surface. But after the pool was drained, no gash matching those descriptions was visible, and a visual analysis by The Washington Post identified several spots where lining had separated along seams created at different application times.
Experts cited in that analysis said the seam pattern pointed toward possible problems in the application process. Large pieces of loose material were also visible in the water before Hearn’s arrest, adding to the disagreement over whether visitors caused the failure or merely encountered it.
Why Hearn’s Case Drew a Crowd
Hearn’s supporters gathered outside his July 9 hearing carrying signs, wearing canoeing gear, and chanting in his support. They pointed to his long record in the sport and his involvement in local volunteer work, including Potomac River cleanups and maintenance at a historic canal lockhouse.
Hearn competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Summer Olympics and won eight world championships in white-water canoe events. He was also a torchbearer during the 1996 Olympics and became an inaugural inductee into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame in 2005.
At a July 2 press conference announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro called prosecutions involving the pool a presidential priority. One of Hearn’s lawyers, Norm Eisen, later told supporters that evidence would show Hearn was innocent and declared, “It is not a crime to touch water in the Reflecting Pool.”
The central question now is whether prosecutors can prove that Hearn caused the specific damage alleged in the indictment. As that legal fight continues, work remains underway at the drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool behind a perimeter of fencing.