Former Olympian indicted for allegedly vandalising Washington Reflecting Pool

A former US Olympian has been charged with vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after authorities say he was seen reaching into the water after renovations to the pool.

President Donald Trump blamed vandals for the peeling of newly applied coating on the bottom of the attraction in Washington, DC.

David "Davey" Hearn, 67, a three-time Olympic canoeist, previously told the BBC he did not do anything wrong, but was detained by the pool's edge as he was finishing a long bike ride.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said at a press conference on Thursday that he caused $1,000 worth of damage.

Pirro said at a news conference Hearn is facing charges for felony destruction of property.

"The indictment is in response to an incident that occurred on June 19th of 2026, in which the defendant, Hearn, ripped a piece of recently installed sealant on the bottom of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial," she added.

"This was a deliberate act to damage the reflecting pool at the National Mall that members of the National Park Service actually have worked hard to restore,"

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