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Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool case, blaming damage on ‘botched’ installation
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- The Trump administration has dropped its case against former Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn, who was charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
- New evidence showed that the damage was caused by flawed installation by a contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, rather than vandalism.
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia acknowledged that it was difficult to prove the damage was due to vandalism beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Hearn had pleaded not guilty and maintained the pool’s condition was unchanged after he touched the water; his attorney criticized the government for wrongful prosecution.
- The Justice Department also moved to dismiss at least one other misdemeanor case related to the Reflecting Pool damage.
