DC judge permanently dismisses case charging ex-Olympian with vandalizing Reflecting Pool

A U.S. Olympic canoeist, David Hearn, had criminal charges against him permanently dismissed on Thursday after a Washington, D.C. judge ruled the indictment was based on a flawed construction project. The charges stemmed from allegations of vandalism to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where Hearn was accused of causing over $1,000 in damage to the sealant installed in the pool's bottom.

Hearn claimed he had visited the pool in July during a bike ride and was arrested after entering the water for five hours. Initially, federal prosecutors believed Hearn was guilty, but they later admitted new evidence revealed the damage was caused by a contractor's botched installation. Judge Todd Edelman dismissed the case, stating it was a politically motivated prosecution that had no merit.

President Trump had previously criticized the prosecutor, Jeanine Pirro, for her decision to charge Hearn, stating that he believed the damage was caused by a poor renovation project rather than vandalism.