DOJ Drops Vandalism Case Against Former Olympian, Citing Flawed Repairs to Lincoln Memorial
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DOJ Drops Vandalism Case Against Former Olympian, Citing Flawed Repairs to Lincoln Memorial

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The Justice Department on Friday dismissed its case against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been charged with felony vandalism related to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision came after the DOJ determined that the damage stemmed from problems with fast-tracked renovations ordered by President Donald Trump.

The government acknowledged the damage resulted from a botched installation by a contractor, leading to the dismissal of charges against Hearn, 67. ESPN and Newsmax both reported on the dropped case, with neither outlet disputing the core facts.

This move follows repairs initiated after an incident in May 2023 where the reflecting pool was damaged. The Trump administration had expedited those renovations, but the DOJ now attributes the issues to flaws within that process. With the case closed, Hearn will not face prosecution for the alleged vandalism.

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