Lawyers in Reflecting Pool case say Justice Department knew case was flawed
Prosecutors said contractor flaws and rushed work prevented them from proving vandalism beyond a reasonable doubt.
- On August 6, Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman dismissed the felony case against 67-year-old Davey Hearn after prosecutors admitted contractor installation failures, not vandalism, damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
- President Donald Trump initially blamed vandals for a 350-foot slit in the pool lining, prompting U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to file felony charges against Hearn in July citing more than $1,000 in damage.
- A National Parks Service assessment noted pre-existing peeling and damage at numerous locations throughout the pool, contradicting claims that Hearn's actions caused the destruction.
- President Trump expressed disappointment with U.S. Attorney Pirro, stating she "folded like an umbrella," while Hearn's attorneys are seeking dismissal with prejudice to prevent future re-prosecution.
- Attorneys for Hearn are considering civil suits, bar referrals, and sanctions requests, stating that "all options are on the table" regarding recourse for the arrest and potential Department of Justice misconduct.
127 Articles
127 Articles
3x-Olympian: Being charged with damaging Reflecting Pool doesn’t feel like ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave’
In his first interview since the DOJ dismissed charges against him for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool, David Hearn says the ordeal is not the America he knows.
Judge Dismisses Reflecting Pool Criminal Case Against Former Olympian
A Washington, D.C., judge dismissed a felony case on Aug. 6 against former Olympian canoeist Davey Hearn that accused him of destroying the lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June after prosecutors learned the contractor may have caused the damage. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman granted the government’s motion to dismiss the indictment but delayed deciding whether the charges could be refiled in the future. U.S. Attorney for Wa…
Judge Dismisses Felony Charge in Reflecting Pool Case
“A judge in Washington dismissed a felony vandalism charge on Thursday against a former Olympic canoeist who had been accused of damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, ending an embarrassing saga for the Justice Department and the top prosecutor in Washington,” the New York Times reports.
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