US drops vandalism case against ex-Olympic rower over pool damage

The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped its case against David Hearn, a former Olympic rower accused of vandalizing the newly installed lining at the Lincoln Memorial pool in Washington D.C. The decision came after new information suggested the damage was due to contractor errors during the renovation, not intentional destruction.

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So soon as I realized what was going on, I was about to be handcuffed.

Hearn, 67, had been charged with vandalism in early July and faced a potential sentence of up to ten years. The prosecutor's office initially claimed Hearn was seen tearing up the new lining on June 19. However, Hearn denied the allegations, explaining to The Washington Post that he had merely reached into the water during a bike ride to inspect the peeling lining without touching or damaging anything.

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The damage was due to faulty installation and not vandalism, as the Department of the Interior had originally stated.

In a court document filed Friday, the prosecutor stated that new information "weakens the evidentiary basis for the indictment." The statement clarified that the damage resulted from "faulty installation and not vandalism, as the Department of the Interior had originally stated." This conclusion contradicts the initial assessment that led to Hearn's charges.

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The case being dropped now does not change the authorities' abuse of power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong.

Hearn's legal team had requested the case's dismissal, asserting that the charges were baseless and represented an abuse of power. They stated, "The authorities acted first and investigated afterward. The government owes Mr. Hearn an apology." The renovation project, ordered by former President Trump, aimed to prepare the Reflecting Pool for the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4. The project cost $16.4 million, and the new lining began to peel just days after its completion, raising questions about the quality of the work.

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The authorities acted first and investigated afterward. The government owes Mr. Hearn an apology.