A former U.S. Olympian has been charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool after authorities observed him reaching into the water following recent renovations.
Former President Donald Trump attributed the recent peeling of the pool’s newly applied coating to acts of vandalism.
David “Davey” Hearn, a 67‑year‑old three‑time Olympic canoeist, previously told the BBC that he did not engage in any wrongdoing, but was detained at the pool’s edge after completing a lengthy bike ride.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated during a press conference on Thursday that Hearn’s actions resulted in approximately $1,000 of damage.
Pirro noted that Hearn is facing a felony charge of property destruction.
“The indictment stems from an incident on June 19, 2026, in which the defendant, Hearn, removed a section of newly installed sealant from the bottom of the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial,” she explained.
“This was a deliberate act intended to damage the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool, which National Park Service personnel have worked diligently to restore,” the attorney added.
Despite a recent $14 million renovation, the pool has encountered issues, including algae growth and observable peeling of the new sealant.
Hearn previously told the BBC that he touched already‑damaged pool material out of curiosity regarding its condition.
He asserted that he “did not destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any part” of the coating and described his arrest as “arbitrary, capricious prosecution.”
U.S. Park Police reported that five individuals have been arrested for vandalism related to the Reflecting Pool, with an additional five cited under federal regulations.
Trump posted on social media on June 20 that “work will begin immediately on repairing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool.”
“I just inspected it, and could only say to myself, and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing? SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!” he wrote.
The Reflecting Pool, constructed in the 1920s and extending 2,030 feet (619 m) between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has long suffered from leaks, structural decay, faulty piping, algae, and bird droppings.
