Former Olympian Charged with Vandalism at Reflecting Pool

Indictment of David Hearn

On Thursday, a former Olympian faced indictment on a felony charge related to what President Donald Trump has labeled as vandalism at the Reflecting Pool. David Hearn, who once competed as an Olympic canoe racer, was charged with a single count of property damage in a Washington, D.C. court. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, stated that Hearn intentionally removed recently applied sealant from the pool, resulting in damages estimated at $1,000. She described his actions as 'forceful and violent,' claiming he aggressively pulled up the bottom liner with both hands and displayed belligerence towards a staff member who attempted to intervene.

Hearn, 67, from Bethesda, Maryland, previously mentioned to the media that he reached into the pool on June 19 to inspect the newly applied coating. He claimed he only touched a piece that was still attached to the pool's edge before releasing it after being instructed to do so by a park employee. Hearn, who previously owned a company specializing in composite materials for watercraft, had stopped by the pool during a 64-mile cycling trip. He reported being held by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before his release.

Earlier this month, Trump remarked that federal authorities had made 'multiple arrests' of individuals he accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, as he attempted to clarify the issues surrounding the $14 million rehabilitation project initiated for the nation's 250th anniversary.