Federal prosecutors have dropped criminal charges against former Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn in connection with damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after new evidence suggested the problems were caused by construction defects rather than vandalism.
The Reflecting Pool Case Dropped decision was announced Friday in a court filing by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Prosecutors said recently obtained information undermined the basis for the indictment that had been issued against Hearn earlier this month.
According to the filing, the Department of the Interior provided additional documents after the indictment was filed on July 2. Those records indicated that damage discovered at the Reflecting Pool in June 2026 resulted from flaws in the installation process carried out by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings.
Prosecutors stated that the new information showed the damage was linked to a defective installation rather than acts of vandalism. The Justice Department said it became aware of evidence pointing to a failed installation only after reviewing documents that were not previously provided during the investigation.
The filing stated that if the Department of the Interior had supplied the information earlier, prosecutors would not have sought an indictment from a grand jury.
Officials also acknowledged that when the case was presented to the grand jury, investigators did not possess information suggesting that construction issues may have caused the damage. At the time, authorities believed the problems were the result of actions by Hearn and other alleged vandals.
The Reflecting Pool Case Dropped development represents a major reversal in a case that had attracted national attention. Hearn had been charged with destruction of property and accused of causing more than $1,000 in damage to the historic site.
After reviewing the newly obtained records, prosecutors concluded that it would be difficult to connect the widespread damage to vandalism. They further stated that proving such a claim beyond a reasonable doubt would be challenging based on the available evidence.
The case was connected to renovation work at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of events marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The project included plans to apply a blue coating to the bottom of the pool.
However, the renovation experienced several difficulties. The coating reportedly began peeling after installation, and algae growth became a problem when the pool was refilled. Costs associated with the project also increased beyond initial estimates.
President Donald Trump had previously blamed vandals for the damage. On several occasions, he alleged that individuals had cut long slits into the pool’s lining and described those responsible as criminals.
The White House did not immediately comment on the decision to dismiss the case.
Hearn consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the investigation. He argued that the condition of the Reflecting Pool was unchanged after his visit and maintained that he had not caused any damage.
Following the dismissal, Hearn’s attorney, Steven Levin, criticized the handling of the case. He said the prosecution should never have been filed and argued that the government acted before fully reviewing all available evidence.
The Reflecting Pool Case Dropped decision also raises questions about how information was shared between government agencies during the investigation. Prosecutors indicated that key documents were not provided until after charges had already been filed.
The Justice Department has also moved to dismiss at least one other misdemeanor case connected to the Reflecting Pool investigation.
Legal experts note that dismissals of this nature are uncommon after a grand jury indictment has been secured. The decision highlights the importance of complete evidence reviews before criminal charges are pursued.
With the charges now withdrawn, Hearn is no longer facing prosecution in the case. The latest court filing effectively ends the government’s effort to hold him responsible for the damage, while shifting attention toward the reported installation problems that prosecutors now believe were the primary cause of the Reflecting Pool’s condition.
