Amid internal conflicts within the Trump administration, the Justice Department decided to drop felony charges against former Olympian David Hearn, accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors in Washington also dismissed charges against three other individuals accused of similar acts.
Hearn, alongside Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers, faced accusations of damaging property worth less than $1,000. According to recent court documents, these cases were dropped after new information emerged.
Hearn claimed he was simply on a bike ride on June 19 when he stopped by the pool. Following his arrest, he was charged with causing damage over $1,000 after allegedly removing a piece of sealant from the pool. Hearn denied the allegations.
The charges were dismissed after prosecutors revealed that the damage resulted from a contractor’s failed installation attempt. This error came as work was expedited to prepare for America 250 events. Interior Department records showed that the pool faced several issues during the project, including bad weather and further damage during sealant application.
Hearn’s attorneys insisted the case was baseless, demanding an apology for him. Although Trump criticized Jeanine Pirro for dropping charges, claiming vandals caused the damage, Pirro’s move was influenced by evidence of the contractor’s mistakes.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supported Trump, asserting that vandalism was responsible, indicating that some incidents were caught on camera. However, he did not provide detailed evidence of such claims.
Following the President’s comments, Pirro visited the White House. Attorney Allen Dale, who represents Thiers, expressed relief that the charges were dropped, highlighting the distress his client faced. Similarly, Jamison Koehler defended Dennison-Gibby, labeling the charge against her as unfounded.
David Benowitz, representing Carreno, criticized the charges, emphasizing that Carreno was a victim of the situation. Carreno lost his job when arrested, leading to financial difficulties. Benowitz questioned the Justice Department’s decision and hinted at possible legal actions against the government.
Benowitz observed flaws in the pool during an investigation, noting design issues. He labeled the government’s actions as a misuse of the justice system, highlighting the personal cost to Carreno.