Officials Announce Charges for Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandalism
A former US Olympian has been formally charged with vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC.
Authorities report that David "Davey" Hearn, 67, a three-time Olympic canoeist, was observed reaching into the water last month following renovations to the pool.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated at a press conference on Thursday that Hearn caused approximately $1,000 (£750) in damages and faces a felony charge of destruction of property.
Hearn's legal representatives issued a statement asserting his innocence and claiming that the "indictment reflects the administration's effort to shift blame for their own failures".
President Donald Trump has attributed the peeling of the newly applied coating on the pool's bottom to acts of vandalism.
The Reflecting Pool recently underwent a $14 million renovation.
"The indictment is in response to an incident that occurred on June 19th of 2026, in which the defendant, Hearn, ripped a piece of recently installed sealant on the bottom of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial," Pirro said.
"This was a deliberate act to damage the reflecting pool at the National Mall that members of the National Park Service actually have worked hard to restore."
Hearn previously told the BBC that he did not engage in any wrongdoing but was detained at the pool's edge after completing a long bike ride.
He explained that he had been curious about the pool's condition and touched material that was already damaged, adding that he "didn't destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any part" of the paint.
Hearn described his arrest as an "arbitrary, capricious prosecution".
"Davey Hearn is innocent. These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American,"his attorneys said on Thursday in response to the indictment.
Despite the recent $14 million renovation project, the Reflecting Pool has experienced issues with algae growth and large sections of the new sealant have been observed peeling from the bottom.
According to US Park Police, five individuals have been arrested for vandalism related to the Reflecting Pool, and five others have received federal citations. A National Park Service official previously reported that the pool's lining had been cut with a sharp object.
On 20 June, Trump posted on social media that "work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool".
"I just inspected it, and could only say to myself, and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing? SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!"
The Reflecting Pool, constructed in the 1920s and extending 2,030 feet (619 meters) between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has historically faced challenges including leaks, structural deterioration, faulty pipes, algae growth, and bird droppings.
Watch: "It's dirty" - Americans react to algae in newly renovated Reflecting Pool
With additional reporting by Max Matza.
- Former Olympian denies vandalising Washington Reflecting Pool after arrest
- Why has the renovated Reflecting Pool turned green?
- Reflecting Pool liner cut with sharp knife or razor, National Park Service says
