David Hearn's lawyers seek DOJ and Interior probes into Reflecting Pool case

Attorneys for three-time Olympic canoeist David Hearn have requested that the Inspectors General of the Justice and Interior Departments investigate allegations of misconduct following his wrongful indictment. Hearn was previously charged with felony destruction of government property for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a case that was recently dismissed with prejudice by a D.C. Superior Court judge.

The defense argues that the indictment was based on false premises, claiming that the damage to the pool—specifically the peeling of a newly installed blue liner—was actually caused by a botched renovation project overseen by the Trump administration rather than criminal activity. Lawyers for Hearn allege that officials acted with “incompetence and wrongdoing,” claiming that prosecutors were aware of the contractor errors before proceeding with the indictment.

In a letter to federal watchdogs, Hearn’s legal team stated that the athlete was “deprived of his liberty” and suffered reputational damage due to actions taken by high-ranking officials. The request for an investigation seeks to hold accountable those responsible for what the defense describes as a “misuse of government power” and a rushed prosecution intended to satisfy political narratives.