Former Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage case after Trump alleged vandalism

Former Olympian David Hearn pleaded not guilty Thursday to a felony charge of damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Hearn, who competed in three Summer Olympics, is 67 years old and resides in Bethesda, Maryland. He was indicted earlier that day on a single count of property destruction. The case stems from a multimillion‑dollar renovation initiative launched by President Donald Trump ahead of the nation’s 250th independence celebration. Trump has asserted, without presenting evidence, that the pool’s new coating was harmed by vandals. Hearn told investigators he entered the water to inspect peeling sealant and released a fragment after a park employee instructed him to do so. Prosecutors allege his actions caused more than $1,000 in damage. After the hearing, defense attorney Norm Eisen remarked, “Every American should be alarmed about this prosecution. It is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool.” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal official for the District of Columbia, declared, “Vandalizing the nation’s monuments and national spaces is an affront to our shared history.” She added, “The law applies as to everyone, and when it is broken, there are consequences,” in a statement issued Thursday. D.C. Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean presided over a packed courtroom and determined that Hearn need not be placed under court supervision while he awaits trial. A status conference has been set for August 5. Prosecutor Kevin Reddington said the government is not seeking any form of court oversight for Hearn, only requesting a “stay‑away order” without specifying the geographic limits in court. Mary Dohrmann, one of Hearn’s counsel, urged the judge to forego any supervisory conditions, describing Hearn as an “upstanding citizen and member of the community.” She contended, “The government's case is weak.” Outside the courthouse, dozens of supporters brandished homemade signs and chanted “Davey!” as Hearn departed. He posed with his attorneys before a wall of cameras, smiled at the crowd, raised his right hand and pumped his fist, but did not speak. Adam Van Grack, who chairs the U.S. Olympic national governing body for canoe and kayak sports, joined the supporters. Van Grack stated, “This is simply an individual who has devoted his life to representing the United States on an international stage, caring for the community and protecting and caring for National Park Service property.” He continued, “So the idea that he is a malicious destroyer of national property shocks the conscience and makes no sense to anybody who's ever known Davey Hearn.” Hearn previously informed The Associated Press that he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after stopping by the pool during a 64‑mile (103‑kilometer) motorcycle ride on June 19. He said he reached in to examine recently peeled coating, briefly touched a fragment affixed to the pool’s side, and complied when a park employee told him to let go of it. Officials have noted that the pool’s renovation has encountered multiple setbacks. Workers have deployed nanobubblers to infuse ozone into the water, aiming to suppress an algae bloom. Authorities warned that the pool may require another draining for liner repairs after sections of blue coating were observed floating on the surface. Trump has alleged, without substantiation, that vandals poured fertilizer into the pool and sliced the coating with a box cutter. Pirro, a former Fox News host appointed by Trump, said last week that six additional individuals were arrested on misdemeanor charges linked to the $16 million pool project. Pirro further accused Hearn of ripping up newly installed sealant and behaving belligerently toward a worker who ordered him to cease. Hearn’s lawyers maintain the charges rest on a “concocted narrative” and warned, “This should be alarming to every American.” In a joint statement they asserted, “This indictment reflects the administration's effort to shift blame for their own failures. The justice system exists to find facts, not to provide political cover.” Associated Press writer Matthew Daly and AP video writer Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.