DOJ to dismiss Reflecting Pool vandalism charges, citing "botched installation"
Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss an indictment charging U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn with ripping the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying the damage was caused by "botched installation and not vandalism."
Updated on: July 31, 2026 / 7:49 PM EDT / CBS News
The U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C. had charged Hearn with felony destruction of government property, accusing him of causing more than $1,000 in damage to the sealant that was recently installed at the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. The project to renovate the pool was championed by President Trump.
Attorneys for Hearn — who strongly denied the vandalism allegations — said in a statement the government "owes Mr. Hearn an apology."
"The Trump administration's case against Davey Hearn should have never been brought," attorneys Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann and Steve Levin said. "Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong. The government's approach was ready, fire, aim."
The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment. CBS News has reached out to the Justice Department, the contractor that installed the sealant and the Department of the Interior, which managed the project.