Olympic Canoeist David Hearn Charged Over Reflecting Pool Damage

David Hearn, a 67‑year‑old former U.S. Olympic canoeist, was indicted on Thursday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on a single felony count of property destruction. Prosecutors allege he forcefully pulled up and damaged roughly two square feet of the newly installed sealant lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 19, 2026. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Hearn ignored a National Park Service employee’s request to stop, shouted at the employee, and was detained for five hours before being released.

Hearn's legal team denies the allegations, describing the indictment as a politically motivated effort to scapegoat an ordinary citizen. Hearn claimed he was a “curious, concerned citizen” who touched the coating during a bike ride and has called the charges outrageous. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison.