Former U.S. Olympian Cleared of Vandalism Charges

Federal prosecutors have decided to drop the felony vandalism charge against former U.S. Olympian David Hearn. He was accused of damaging the reflecting pools in Washington, D.C., according to court files shared by Fox News Digital.

Hearn faced an indictment on July 2 for allegedly destroying property. U.S. Park Police claimed that Hearn tampered with the pool’s coating on June 19, even after being instructed to stop by a National Park Service employee. Initially, it was thought he caused damages exceeding $1,000.

However, the U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office pointed out that the Department of the Interior provided only limited reports and did not share full records on existing issues with the pool’s coating installation.

“If the Department of the Interior had shared the information in its possession, the government would not have pursued a grand jury indictment,” prosecutors noted.

The DOI only later disclosed that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s damages in June 2026 stemmed from the contractor’s flawed installation and the rush to complete the work ahead of the America 250 events around Independence Day.

Given the new evidence, the DOJ found proving Hearn’s responsibility beyond a reasonable doubt challenging. Prosecutors asked for the dismissal of the indictment without prejudice, which means the charge could be revisited in the future.

This is not Hearn’s first encounter with federal charges. Nearly 30 years ago, he faced arrest by U.S. Park Police but was acquitted, as reported by The Washington Post in 1996.

During a dangerous flood event on the Potomac River, Hearn navigated his canoe through the rapids against an emergency river closure. He was charged for disobeying orders but triumphed on a legal technicality acknowledging Maryland’s jurisdiction over the river.

Hearn’s recent arrest gained attention from a viral video filmed by journalist Emily Miller. The footage showed him being detained, but Hearn refuted allegations of interfering with National Park Service workers, though he acknowledged his bicycle might have accidentally touched a hose.

His attorneys are now seeking an apology for what they consider an unjust case. Hearn’s lawyers, Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann, and Steve Levin, argued the charges stemmed from misuse of government power during the Trump administration, as stated to The New York Post.

Fox News Digital attempted to obtain comments from the Department of the Interior. Jackson Thompson, a sports journalist for Fox News Digital, is known for covering crucial political and cultural matters in sports.