A 67-year-old Bethesda man and former Olympic canoeist has been indicted on a felony charge in connection with the alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, a grand jury returned an indictment on Thursday charging David Hearn with one count of felony destruction of property. A court hearing is scheduled for July 9. The charge stems from an incident on June 19, when Hearn allegedly ripped a piece of the recently installed blue pool sealant from the bottom of the Reflecting Pool.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said the alleged vandalism came after months of renovations to prepare the nation’s capital for America’s 250th anniversary.
CNN reported that Hearn’s attorney, Norm Eisen, strongly disputed the charges. “Davey Hearn is innocent. These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American. This indictment reflects the Administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures,” Eisen said in a statement. “On the eve of our nation’s Independence Day, Americans should be deeply concerned by the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative.”
The case is being investigated by the United States Park Police. Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia, the charge is an allegation, and Hearn is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
