A judge in Washington, D.C., has set a September 28 trial date for David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, who is charged with felony property destruction for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Hearn pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. His attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the government failed to preserve critical evidence from the pool. At least three other individuals have been charged with misdemeanors for allegedly removing paint from the pool.
The Reflecting Pool has been the subject of a troubled $16 million renovation project, initially estimated to cost $1.5 million, ordered by President Donald Trump ahead of the country’s 250th independence celebrations. The project has faced criticism over shoddy repairs and cost overruns. Trump has blamed vandals for the pool’s issues, while critics attribute the problems to poor construction work. Hearn and his supporters claim his prosecution is politically motivated, intended to deflect blame from the administration’s failures. His attorneys argue that recent draining of the pool may have destroyed evidence of his innocence.
Hearn, who has experience in waterproofing materials, maintains he was investigating the pool’s condition rather than damaging it. His supporters, including Abbie Endicott, who organized a 1976 canoe event at the pool, argue that Hearn and others would not harm a site they hold in high regard.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile prosecutions, with some labeling Hearn the ‘Canoe Guy’ in a debate over government overreach versus accountability for property damage.