Olympian cleared in vandalism case seeks watchdog probes of Trump’s Reflecting Pool project

David Hearn, a three-time U.S. Olympic canoeist, has filed a request with two government watchdogs to investigate the flawed renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and an earlier case accusing him of vandalism. Hearn's attorneys argue that incompetence and wrongdoing occurred in both the U.S. Justice Department and the Interior Department's handling of the situation.

The renovation project, initiated by President Donald Trump's administration, faced significant issues including an improperly installed American flag blue liner and algae blooms in the pool. The criminal case against Hearn was dropped weeks after his indictment when prosecutors discovered evidence of contractor errors. Hearn's attorneys argue that prosecutors had knowledge of these flaws when they initially charged him and that U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro improperly questioned a defense expert during a site visit. The letter demands a thorough review to prevent future abuse of the criminal justice system.