Poor Construction, Not Vandalism, Blamed for Trump's Cherished Pool Damage... Former National Athlete Cleared of Charges

Former U.S. Canoe Olympian Charged With Property Damage

Cause Revealed as Poor Construction, Not Vandalism

Prosecutors Request Dismissal... "Contractor at Fault"

According to a report by the Associated Press on July 31 (local time), U.S. federal prosecutors have requested the dismissal of charges against David Hearn (67), a former national canoe team member, who had been accused of intentionally damaging the Reflecting Pool, an artificial pond and landmark in Washington, DC. It was determined that the waterproof coating on the pool floor had peeled off due to poor construction, not vandalism.

Janine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for Washington, DC, explained in a 20-page filing submitted to the court that "based on information provided after Hearn was charged, the damage was due to the contractor's shoddy construction." She further explained, "This was because work was rushed to finish in time for the ‘America 250’ celebration held around Independence Day (July 4)." She also added, "Given all the newly revealed information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to property destruction, and it is even harder to prove that fact beyond reasonable doubt."

On the 30th of last month (local time), visitors were walking near the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, USA, after renovation work and the Independence Day event when the water had been drained. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Previously, federal prosecutors in Washington, DC had indicted Hearn on July 2, alleging that on June 19, he intentionally ripped off materials used in the Reflecting Pool, causing about $1,000 (approximately 1.43 million won) in damages. At the time, prosecutors claimed, "Hearn violently tore off the material with both hands and was hostile to an employee who tried to stop him," and asserted, "The evidence for this case is extremely clear." If convicted of property damage, he faced up to 10 years in prison.

However, Hearn maintained his innocence. He stated that while riding his bike, he simply reached out to touch a piece of the newly refurbished pool's peeling coating to inspect it, and that he only touched a fragment on the wall briefly. He said he complied immediately when a park employee instructed him to take his hand away.

Hearn’s legal team criticized the Trump Administration and demanded an apology after it was revealed that the cause of the artificial pond’s damage was due to poor construction. The defense stated, "Today’s decision to dismiss the charges cannot erase the abuse of government power that led to the arrest and indictment of an innocent, patriotic American," adding, "The government's approach was 'ready, fire, aim.' The administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology."

The Reflecting Pool renovation was personally overseen by President Trump ahead of the United States’ 250th Independence Day celebration. The plan was to replace the original gray floor with a deep blue waterproof coating in the ‘American Flag Blue’ shade to make the water appear more vibrant. Approximately $14.7 million was spent on floor coating work, and around $1.7 million on a water treatment and algae prevention system, bringing the total cost to over $16 million. However, shortly after the pool was refilled, algae spread in several areas, and some sections of the new coating began to blister or peel off, sparking controversy. President Trump blamed the problems on "vandalism," insisting that someone had harmed the pool and introduced chemicals into the water.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.