A former Olympic canoe racer, David Hearn, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of intentionally damaging the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Md., who participated in three Summer Olympics, entered his plea during his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court after being indicted on a felony count of property destruction last week.
The reflecting pool, part of a multimillion-dollar renovation ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, has faced issues including an algae bloom that required chemical treatment. Further problems arose when blue coating fragments were discovered floating at the surface, potentially necessitating pool drainage for liner repairs.
Allegations were made by Trump, without evidence, that vandals introduced fertilizer into the pool and damaged the coating with a box cutter. In response, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro disclosed the arrest of six individuals on misdemeanor charges linked to the $16 million US ($22.6 million Cdn) pool project.
Hearn’s defense team criticized the charges against him as a fabricated narrative designed to deflect accountability. They emphasized the importance of the justice system in uncovering facts rather than serving political interests.
In a separate incident, Hearn recounted being detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours following a bike ride on June 19 when he inspected the pool and briefly touched a peeled coating fragment. Pirro accused Hearn of causing over $1,000 US ($1,400 Cdn) in damages by removing recently installed sealant and behaving confrontationally towards a staff member.
The saga surrounding the reflecting pool’s renovation has garnered attention, with ongoing efforts to address various issues before Independence Day.