WASHINGTON — A former U.S. Olympian has been charged with destruction of government property in connection with an alleged vandalism incident at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a recently renovated landmark in the U.S. capital, according to U.S. Park Police and court information reported on Sunday.
David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoe slalom athlete who represented the United States in multiple Summer Games, was arrested on June 19 after an encounter at the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial. Authorities allege he damaged federal property, while Hearn has denied the accusation.
The case emerged amid scrutiny of the Reflecting Pool, which has experienced algae growth and sections of peeling liner following a multimillion-dollar renovation completed earlier this month. President Donald Trump and federal officials have said law enforcement agencies are investigating reports of vandalism at the site, although officials have not publicly released evidence linking the pool's broader maintenance problems to deliberate acts.
According to reports, Hearn was cycling in Washington when he stopped to view the renovated pool. In interviews with media outlets, he said he touched a section of liner that appeared to be partially detached but did not remove or damage any material. He has maintained that he committed no crime.
“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told reporters. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything.”
Federal authorities have not publicly detailed the evidence supporting the misdemeanor charge. Attorney information for Hearn was not immediately available, according to media reports.
The arrest came as officials intensified enforcement around the Reflecting Pool. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on Sunday that individuals caught vandalizing the landmark would be prosecuted. “Even minor crimes” would be pursued, she said, according to Reuters.
Separately, President Trump said multiple people had been arrested or cited in connection with incidents at the Reflecting Pool. Reports cited by U.S. media said authorities had documented a number of alleged vandalism cases, including damage to the pool’s surface.
The National Park Service has continued efforts to address algae growth and other maintenance issues at the site while repairs are planned, officials said.
Hearn is scheduled to appear in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on July 9, according to court information cited by U.S. media. The charge remains pending, and details of the government's case remain unclear.
