A former Olympian was indicted Thursday on a felony charge in connection with what President Donald Trump has called vandalism of the Reflecting Pool. David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoe racer from Bethesda, Maryland, faces a single count of property destruction in Washington, D.C. court.
Details of the Incident
Hearn previously told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool to examine the newly peeled coating. He briefly touched a chunk still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to stop. Hearn, who owned a company that made composite materials for watercraft, said he stopped by the pool during a 64-mile bike ride.
He was detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released. Trump has claimed federal authorities made “multiple arrests” of people vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, as he struggled to explain why the $14-million-plus rehabilitation project for the nation’s 250th anniversary seemingly backfired.
Impact and Context
The indictment comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Reflecting Pool restoration, a key part of Trump’s anniversary plans. Hearn’s case highlights tensions over the project’s costs and security measures.
