Former Olympian Indicted in Reflecting Pool Case
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23d ago

Former Olympian Indicted in Reflecting Pool Case

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David Hearn, a three-time US Olympic canoeist, has been indicted on a felony charge related to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. The indictment follows an incident in June where Hearn allegedly damaged part of the pool’s liner during renovations.

The District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Thursday that a federal grand jury indicted Hearn on a charge of destruction of property, according to Newsmax and ESPN. Authorities allege that Hearn “maliciously” broke or destroyed lining material of the pool, as reported by The Straits Times.

The incident occurred after Hearn touched a peeling piece of liner during renovations, according to the Guardian US. President Donald Trump had publicly referenced the situation, calling it vandalism, as noted by multiple sources including ESPN and SCMP. The renovations themselves were championed by President Trump, BBC World News reported.

According to Euronews, Pirro stated that Hearn ripped up recently installed sealant in “a deliberate act” causing more than €875 in damage. Sky News reported the renovation project cost $14 million.

No left-leaning sources offered differing accounts of the events themselves, focusing instead on reporting the indictment and Trump’s comments. No right-leaning sources reported on this story beyond the initial announcement of the charges.

The case is currently proceeding through the legal system following the grand jury indictment.

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