{"id":93289,"date":"2026-07-09T10:17:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ex-u-s-olympic-canoeist-pleads-not-guilty-in-reflecting-pool-vandalism-case\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T10:17:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:17:21","slug":"ex-u-s-olympic-canoeist-pleads-not-guilty-in-reflecting-pool-vandalism-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ex-u-s-olympic-canoeist-pleads-not-guilty-in-reflecting-pool-vandalism-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-U.S. Olympic Canoeist Pleads Not Guilty in Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

A former U.S. Olympic canoeist stood before a Washington, D.C. Superior Court judge on Thursday and entered a not guilty plea in connection with alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.<\/p>

David “Davey” Hearn, 67, is charged with felony destruction of property after federal prosecutors claimed he intentionally damaged the lining material at the bottom of the famous pool on June 19.<\/p>

The 2,000-foot-long pool, a landmark feature of Washington’s National Mall, was recently refurbished with an “American flag blue” liner at President Donald Trump’s request, part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.<\/p>

Shortly after the renovation was completed, the pool began showing significant problems \u2014 algae blooms turned the water green, and sections of the blue liner began peeling away. With criticism mounting over the $14.7 million project, Trump blamed the issues on deliberate sabotage by vandals.<\/p>

Jeanine Pirro, the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, announced criminal charges against Hearn earlier this month, framing the prosecution as part of a broader effort to defend American monuments.<\/p>

According to Pirro, Hearn deliberately pulled at the liner, tearing a 2-square-foot section and causing more than $1,000 in damage. If convicted, Hearn could face a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.<\/p>

Hearn’s legal team has pushed back strongly, maintaining his innocence and arguing that the Trump administration filed charges to shift public focus away from what they described as a poorly executed renovation.<\/p>

Hearn himself has acknowledged that he reached into the pool while riding his bicycle nearby and touched a piece of liner that was already coming loose \u2014 but he has firmly denied pulling any material out of the pool.<\/p>

In the days after the renovation was unveiled, Trump alleged that individuals had poured chemicals into the pool to encourage algae growth and cut a 300-foot gash into the liner. To date, no one \u2014 including Hearn \u2014 has been formally accused of those specific actions.<\/p>

The Department of the Interior reported that at least six people were arrested on suspicion of vandalizing the pool in the weeks that followed. National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police were deployed to monitor the site, and the pool was surrounded by fencing during the July 4th holiday festivities.<\/p>

Trump has indicated the pool will need to be partially drained again so repairs can be made.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A former U.S. Olympic canoeist has entered a not guilty plea in connection with alleged damage to the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. David ‘Davey’ Hearn, 67, faces a felony destruction of property charge that could carry up to 10 years in prison. The case has drawn national attention amid controversy over a $14.7 million renovation of the iconic landmark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":93288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[833],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783606641329.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-ogF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":90238,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/former-olympian-indicted-on-felony-charge-over-reflecting-pool-incident\/","url_meta":{"origin":93289,"position":0},"title":"Former Olympian Indicted on Felony Charge Over Reflecting Pool Incident","author":"Admin","date":"July 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A former Olympic canoe racer has been indicted on a felony property destruction charge connected to an incident at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. President Trump had previously described the situation as vandalism. The man, a 67-year-old from Bethesda, Maryland, says he only briefly touched peeling material in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783020730070.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783020730070.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783020730070.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783020730070.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":86615,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/national-guard-patrols-reflecting-pool-as-algae-and-vandalism-claims-swirl\/","url_meta":{"origin":93289,"position":1},"title":"National Guard Patrols Reflecting Pool as Algae and Vandalism Claims Swirl","author":"Admin","date":"June 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, recently refurbished for $14.7 million, is now under heavy surveillance after President Trump accused vandals of sabotaging the newly painted landmark. Green algae and peeling blue paint have marred the pool ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. Six people have been arrested and seven\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782384352196.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":84980,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-says-reflecting-pool-will-be-drained-again-after-alleged-vandalism\/","url_meta":{"origin":93289,"position":2},"title":"Trump Says Reflecting Pool Will Be Drained Again After Alleged Vandalism","author":"Admin","date":"June 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Trump has announced the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall will be drained once more. He made the claim without providing evidence, alleging that vandals caused damage to the pool following an expensive renovation and painting project.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782118853031.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":84644,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-says-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-may-need-to-be-drained-after-vandalism\/","url_meta":{"origin":93289,"position":3},"title":"Trump Says Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool May Need to Be Drained After Vandalism","author":"Admin","date":"June 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Trump announced Saturday that the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool may need to have much of its water drained for repairs. Trump cited what he described as vandalism at the site, saying multiple arrests have been made. Contractors were consulted and repairs are expected to be completed as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782004566667.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":84557,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-blames-vandalism-for-reflecting-pool-problems-provides-no-proof\/","url_meta":{"origin":93289,"position":4},"title":"Trump Blames Vandalism for Reflecting Pool Problems, Provides No Proof","author":"Admin","date":"June 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Trump is pointing the finger at vandals for the deteriorating condition of Washington's Reflecting Pool, which underwent a costly renovation ahead of upcoming national celebrations. The pool has been plagued by algae growth and peeling blue paint since the $14 million rehab project was completed. Trump offered no evidence\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781976656110.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781976656110.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781976656110.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781976656110.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":84813,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/us-attorney-pirro-vows-full-prosecution-for-reflecting-pool-vandalism\/","url_meta":{"origin":93289,"position":5},"title":"US Attorney Pirro Vows Full Prosecution for Reflecting Pool Vandalism","author":"Admin","date":"June 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Sunday that anyone caught vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will face full prosecution. The newly renovated pool has experienced peeling paint and an algae bloom less than two weeks after its $14.7 million renovation was declared complete. President Trump has claimed, without evidence, that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782072945669.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93289\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}