Justice Department Dismisses Case Against Former Olympian David Hearn

The Justice Department announced on August 1, 2026, that it is dismissing a criminal case against David Hearn, a former Olympian, who was charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision follows the receipt of new evidence indicating that the damage was due to a faulty installation by a contractor rather than vandalism. In a 20-page court filing, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that the evidence made it difficult to attribute the damage to Hearn. Hearn's lawyers asserted that the case should never have been initiated and called for an apology from the government. Hearn had previously pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of property destruction, which could have resulted in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The case had faced significant evidentiary challenges, with Hearn's defense arguing that the pool had preexisting damage prior to the incident. Hearn, who is 67 years old and resides in Bethesda, Maryland, has competed in three Summer Olympics.