Judge permanently ends case against Olympian accused of Reflecting Pool vandalism
Also reported by PBS NewsHour, ABC News
Summary
A judge in Washington DC permanently dismissed the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The case was dropped after new evidence showed the damage was caused by poor work from contractors, not vandalism, despite President Trump's calls to continue the prosecution.Key Facts
- David Hearn, a former Olympian, was accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC.
- The US Justice Department dropped the case after finding the damage was from contractor mistakes during a rushed repair project.
- Judge Todd Edelman dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought back to court.
- President Donald Trump had pressured prosecutors to continue the case, claiming vandalism and linking Hearn to Democrats.
- The judge cited concerns that political pressure from the president could unfairly influence the case.
- Other cases against three people accused of vandalism were also dropped.
- The Reflecting Pool had a $16 million repair but experienced issues like peeling sealant and algae soon after.
- Hearn faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted but said he only touched a piece of peeling lining while riding his bike near the pool.
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