David Hearn, a 67-year-old resident of Bethesda, Maryland, and a three-time U.S. Olympian in canoe slalom racing, was indicted on Thursday, July 2, on a single count of felony destruction of property in Washington D.C. The charge stems from a June 19 incident, when Hearn was detained by D.C. Park Police for allegedly sabotaging the newly-renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
The Reflecting Pool was undergoing a multimillion-dollar rehabilitation project, valued at roughly $16 million, as part of preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The project had encountered difficulties, including algae blooms and issues with a newly installed coating or liner that was peeling in places.
Security measures, including fencing and patrols by National Guard members and U.S. Park Police, were in place around the site at the time of the incident due to prior instances of vandalism.
According to the indictment and statements from District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Hearn reached into the pool and, in a deliberate act, forcefully and violently pulled up recently installed sealant on the bottom liner with both hands. Prosecutors alleged this action damaged approximately two square feet of material and caused more than $1,000 in damage.
Pirro described the case as having “tremendous evidence” and noted that authorities had made about six other misdemeanor arrests in connection with incidents at the pool. President Donald Trump had previously referred to acts at the site as vandalism and stated that federal authorities had made multiple arrests, while also making unsubstantiated claims about other forms of tampering such as fertilizer dumping or slashing with a box cutter.
Hearn has consistently denied causing any damage. He stated that he stopped at the pool during a long bicycle ride out of curiosity about the algae and the condition of the peeling blue coating. He described reaching down and briefly touching the end of a loose, flapping piece of coating that was already partially detached and still attached to the pool bottom. Hearn said the material felt “very rubbery” and that he let go shortly after a park worker instructed him to stop.
He maintained that he did not remove, rip, tear, break, destroy, or harm any part of the pool and that its condition was unchanged after he stepped away.
Exclusive! RAW VIDEO. Man arrested for vandalizing Lincoln Reflecting Pool. He grabbed the hose that female National Park Service workers were using to clear the algae. Police and National Guard responded. Watch pic.twitter.com/oMIXFqKwEs
— emily miller (@emilymiller) June 19, 2026
Following the incident, Hearn was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for approximately five hours before being released. He was initially charged with a misdemeanor count of destruction of government property and was scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on July 9. The grand jury later returned a felony indictment elevating the charge to one count of property destruction.
Hearn’s legal team, which has included attorneys associated with the Democracy Defenders Fund such as Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, as well as Joshua Kolb, has described the charges as “outrageous and should be alarming to every American.” They characterized the prosecution as a misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a “concocted narrative.”
Hearn has stated that he was not immediately read his Miranda rights, was not allowed phone calls during detention, and did not have the charges detailed to him at the time of arrest. He has indicated that he has received offers of pro bono legal support and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations.
No formal plea has been entered as of this report.
