US drops case against Olympian over Reflecting Pool damage
Prosecutors cited a 'flawed installation' in moving to dismiss the vandalism charges.
Talivio News · Global1 min read
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The US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, moved to dismiss an indictment charging US Olympic canoeist David Hearn with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
In a court filing, Pirro stated that damage to the Reflecting Pool's sealant was the result of a 'flawed installation'. The DOJ office also cited a 'rushed and botched installation' as the reason for dropping the case, and blamed the contractor for over spraying and delamination.
67 years old
Age of David Hearn, a former US Olympian and canoeist, who had been charged with felony destruction of property.
Hearn, 67, was charged in early July with felony destruction of property. At a press conference, Pirro said Hearn 'violently' ripped up part of the pool's liner with his bare hands.
Violently ripped up part of the pool's liner with his bare hands.
— Jeanine Pirro, US Attorney for the District of Columbia, at a press conference
Attorneys for Hearn accused the Trump administration of making the ex-Olympian a 'scapegoat' for the troubled renovation. The renovation was touted by President Donald Trump as one of many ordered ahead of America's 250th birthday celebrations.
Trump had repeatedly claimed, without providing evidence, that vandals had cut a gash hundreds of feet long along the bottom of the Reflecting Pool.
Updates
Court filings have revealed that the damage resulted from a botched installation by a contractor rushed to complete the project before the America 250 celebrations, and that the Department of the Interior initially failed to provide prosecutors with complete information. While the US Attorney for the District of Columbia blamed the contractors and officials for the misinformation, the Reflecting Pool has now been drained for the second time in three months and remains empty. Additionally, reports indicate the project was awarded to a contractor chosen by President Trump without the typical competitive bidding process.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro's court filing revealed that the US Department of the Interior provided incomplete information, noting that the damage resulted from a botched installation and a rushed project rather than the vandalism initially represented. The filing further stated that the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment had the Department of the Interior been forthcoming with information in its possession. Additionally, the Reflecting Pool has been drained for the second time in three months and remains empty, while it remains unclear if all related vandalism charges have been dropped.
A court filing by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro revealed that the damage resulted from a rushed and botched installation by contractors, noting that the US Department of the Interior had failed to provide prosecutors with complete information. The filing further stated that had the Department of the Interior been forthcoming with the information in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment. Additionally, the investigation found that the specific area Hearn was accused of damaging was a perimeter strip made vulnerable to peeling by overspray during the installation process.
Court filings by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro revealed that the damage resulted from a rushed and botched installation by contractors attempting to meet deadlines for America 250 celebrations, rather than vandalism as initially claimed. The investigation noted the area David Hearn allegedly damaged was a perimeter strip specifically vulnerable to peeling due to coating overspray. Additionally, while the prosecution's case against Hearn was dismissed, it remains unclear if all other vandalism charges related to the pool have been dropped.
Court filings by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro reveal that the damage was caused by a rushed and flawed installation process aimed at meeting America 250 celebrations, rather than the vandalism initially alleged by the Department of the Interior. The investigation highlighted that the area Hearn allegedly damaged is actually a perimeter strip vulnerable to peeling due to coating overspray. Furthermore, the renovation project, which was overseen by President Trump and lacked a typical bidding process, reportedly cost an estimated $16 million, significantly exceeding its original sub-$2 million budget.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro's court filing revealed that the Interior Department provided incomplete information and that the damage was actually caused by a rushed, flawed installation by contractors ahead of the America 250 celebrations. The filing further noted that the area where David Hearn allegedly pulled the liner is a perimeter strip particularly vulnerable to peeling due to coating overspray. Additionally, the project, which was overseen by President Donald Trump and awarded without typical bidding, was estimated to cost $16 million compared to an original budget of less than $2 million.
Court filings reveal that the damage resulted from a rushed and flawed installation process by contractors under the Department of the Interior, rather than the vandalism initially alleged by the DOI. The prosecution noted that the area where Hearn allegedly pulled up the liner is a perimeter strip specifically vulnerable to peeling due to coating overspray. Additionally, the project's cost was estimated at $16 million, significantly exceeding the original budget of less than $2 million.
