Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was indicted on Thursday for felony destruction of property related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. According to a bench warrant reviewed by Axios, Hearn allegedly damaged the pool shortly after it underwent a $14 million renovation. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, stated that Hearn faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Evidence presented indicates that National Park Service employees observed Hearn forcefully removing the bottom liner of the pool, causing damage to approximately two square feet of sealant.
Hearn's attorneys, Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, claim that he is innocent and describe the charges as outrageous, suggesting that the indictment is an attempt by the Administration to deflect blame for its own failures. Hearn has previously denied damaging the Reflecting Pool and stated that he was not read his Miranda rights. Pirro also mentioned that her office is investigating several other cases of alleged vandalism to the Reflecting Pool, which may result in misdemeanor charges or lesser violations.