The Trump administration dropped a felony charge against the U.S. Olympic canoeist accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
In a motion to dismiss a count of destruction of property against David “Davey” Hearn, the government admitted for the first time the damage was “a result of flawed installation by the contractor,” new information showed.
“It was not until after these documents were produced that USAO-DC first became aware of information showing that the damage was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented by DOI,” the filing states.
Hearn stopped at the Reflecting Pool during a bike ride June 19 and touched a piece of coating he saw was already detached in the pool, he previously told NBC News. He was arrested and detained for five hours.
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro claimed then that Hearn was seen “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the pool with both hands.
“The Government’s case against Davey Hearn should never have been brought,” defense attorney Steve Levin told NBC News. “Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American. The government’s approach was ready, shoot, aim. The federal government owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”
President Donald Trump and other officials originally blamed peeling paint, a “350-foot gash” in the liner and other problems on vandalism. Trump referred to the vandals as “sick people.”
Several people were arrested and charged — including Hearn — without disclosure of any evidence of vandalism.
The $16 million Reflecting Pool paint job has been plagued by problems.
The president pledged to beautify the century-old Reflecting Pool before the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations, draining its water and directing the bottom to be painted a color he called “American flag blue.” But after the rehabilitation, the water was afflicted by an algae bloom for more than a week, and pieces of the new coating peeled off the bottom.
After the pool was drained again to be rehabbed again, an Associated Press reporter and photographer observed the new liner appeared to be grayer than American flag blue.
D.C.’s cyclist community gathered at East Potomac Park Saturday to call on the Trump administration to halt its plans to do renovations there. News4’s Jessica Albert reports.
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