Federal prosecutors on Friday moved to dismiss an indictment against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been charged with felony destruction of government property at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. stated that new evidence indicates the damage to the pool's sealant was caused by a contractor's "botched installation" rather than vandalism.
The charges followed a more than $10 million renovation project to resurface the iconic Washington, D.C., landmark with a new "American Flag Blue" sealant. Shortly after the project's completion, chunks of the material began peeling, and the water developed an algae bloom. While President Trump publicly attributed the damage to vandals, Hearn maintained his innocence, stating he had only touched a piece of already-peeling liner out of curiosity.
In the court filing, prosecutors conceded the damage resulted from a rushed installation by Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC) to meet deadlines for the America 250 Independence Day celebrations in 2026. The U.S. Attorney's Office noted that internal Department of the Interior documents revealed frequent setbacks due to weather and reports of peeling that surfaced just days after the pool was refilled, well before Hearn's arrest.
The scale of the situation involves a $10 million federal renovation project funded by the Department of the Interior. For the general public and visitors to the National Mall, the "botched installation" means the Reflecting Pool remains in a state of repair, having been drained shortly after a high-profile reopening. Taxpayers are affected by the potential loss of value in the initial $10 million contract and the additional costs associated with draining the pool and performing corrective repairs to the sealant and filtration systems.
The case sets a precedent regarding the preservation of evidence in federal property cases. A judge had previously warned that draining the pool to start repairs could "spoil" evidence needed for the prosecution, a factor Hearn’s lawyers argued undermined the government's case. Moving forward, the focus shifts to the performance of the contractors, Atlantic Industrial Coatings and Green Water Solutions, and whether the federal government will seek to recover costs for the failed installation. The pool underwent drainage for repairs in July 2026, and a new timeline for a functional, stable liner has not yet been finalized.