U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro

David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not guilty to damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. His defense claims the case is politically motivated, while prosecutors allege he caused over $1,000 in damage. The pool, renovated under President Trump, has faced issues including algae and coating problems.

A former Olympic canoe racer pleaded not guilty to damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a case his defense claims is politically motivated. The pool, renovated under President Trump, has faced issues including algae blooms and coating failures, with Trump alleging vandalism. The defendant's attorneys argue the charges are based on a 'concocted narrative' and criticize the prosecution as an abuse of power.

David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not guilty to damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The case, which defense attorneys call an abuse of prosecutorial power, follows allegations that Hearn removed sealant from the pool during a bike ride. President Trump previously claimed vandals damaged the pool, which was renovated under his administration.

David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not guilty to damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. His defense claims the charges are politically motivated, while prosecutors allege he caused over $1,000 in damage. The case involves the Trump administration's renovation project, which has faced issues including algae blooms and coating problems.

The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stating the same contractor will handle repairs after vandalism damaged the pool during renovations. Trump and Burgum claim vandals caused a 350-foot gash in the pool’s liner, though the exact nature of the damage remains disputed.

Former Olympian David Hearn was indicted by the Justice Department for tearing the liner of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, charged with felony destruction of property under D.C. Code Section 22-303. The damage, valued over $1,000, involved removing two square feet of 'American flag blue' epoxy primer.

Washington, D.C.’s homicide count has dropped by half compared to 2025, with the Trump administration attributing the decline to a federal crackdown led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and increased law enforcement presence. Criminologists caution that nationwide crime drops and court backlog reductions may also play a role, while the White House highlights Trump’s crime task force as a key factor in reducing violence.

Thomas LeGro, a former Washington Post staffer, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after FBI agents found evidence during a June 2023 search. The sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2026, following an investigation by the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.