Judge Dismisses Case Against Former Olympian for Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Vandalism

A judge in Washington, D.C., permanently dismissed a criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, who was charged with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman ordered the dismissal with prejudice, preventing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office from refiling the felony charge. This ruling came after a hearing where attorneys presented their arguments. Hearn's lawyers argued that Trump administration officials continued to falsely accuse him of vandalism despite the case being dropped on July 31. Judge Edelman noted that the case presented "exceptional circumstances" warranting a permanent dismissal, agreeing with the defense that the government acted hastily in charging Hearn. He stated that the possibility of future prosecution was theoretical at best. The judge's ruling protects Hearn from potential political pressure to revive the case. In July, Pirro indicated that new evidence from the Interior Department showed Hearn was not responsible for the damage, attributing it instead to a contractor's error. Hearn, who is 67 and from Bethesda, Maryland, has competed in three Summer Olympics. His attorneys described the ruling as a victory for justice, allowing him to move forward with his life.