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Prosecutors move to dismiss Reflecting Pool vandalism case, saying 'botched installation' to blame
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn, stating that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was due to flawed installation, not vandalism.
- Hearn, 67, had pleaded not guilty to destruction of property after allegedly damaging the pool's sealant following a $14-million renovation, but he maintained he only touched the water out of curiosity.
- The U.S. Attorney's Office acknowledged relying on initial reports from the Department of the Interior and U.S. Park Police, but later received documents indicating the damage resulted from contractor errors and rushed project completion.
- The renovation faced criticism for poor quality, with the pool's lining peeling and algae blooms occurring shortly after completion, raising concerns about taxpayer money misuse.
- Hearn's lawyers condemned the case as an abuse of government power and called for an apology, emphasizing that the charges should never have been filed.
