Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool

The Justice Department dismissed a criminal case against David Hearn, a former Olympian, for damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, citing new evidence that the damage resulted from a flawed installation and rushed project completion ahead of the America 250 celebration in 2026. Hearn, who pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of property destruction, claims he was wrongfully arrested and asserts the prosecution was politically motivated.