Former Olympian indicted on felony charge in what Trump called Reflecting Pool vandalism
Jul 2, 2026, 1:54 PM
Signage and security fencing warns of explosives along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of July 4th events on the National Mall, Wednesday, in Washington. A former Olympian was indicted Thursday on a felony charge in what President Trump has called vandalism of the Reflecting Pool. (Nathan Howard, Associated Press)
(Nathan Howard, Associated Press)
WASHINGTON — A former Olympian was indicted Thursday on a felony charge in what President Donald Trump has called vandalism of the Reflecting Pool.
David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, was indicted on a single count of property destruction in Washington, D.C. court.
He previously told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool to examine the newly peeled coating. He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to.
Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, owned a company that made composite materials used to build watercraft. He said he stopped by the pool during a 64-mile bike ride.
He said he was detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released.
Trump has said federal authorities made “multiple arrests” of people he said were vandalizing the Reflecting Pool as he struggled to explain why the $14 million-plus rehabilitation project he launched for the nation’s 250th anniversary seemingly backfired.
