David Hearn pleads not guilty to damaging Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not guilty on Thursday, July 9, 2026, to a felony charge of property destruction in D.C. Superior Court. The case stems from an incident on June 19, 2026, at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was indicted on a single felony count of property destruction. Prosecutors allege he caused more than $1,000 in damage to the monument by intentionally removing sealant from the pool. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, who announced the charge, alleged Hearn "ripped" a piece of the recently installed sealant in a "deliberate act" and acted belligerently toward an employee who told him to stop. Pirro has stated that vandalizing public spaces is "an affront to our shared history."

Hearn and his legal team, including defense attorney Norm Eisen, have denied these accusations. Hearn maintains that he stopped by the pool during a 64-mile bike ride and reached into the water to examine a chunk of coating that had already "delaminated." In statements to the press, Hearn asserted that he "didn't destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any part" of the pool's surface. Defense attorneys have described the indictment as a politically motivated effort by the administration to use Hearn as a scapegoat for the well-documented failures of the pool's recent multimillion-dollar renovation project. "If Mr Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool, every American is at risk," Eisen said outside the courthouse.

The Reflecting Pool has faced ongoing maintenance challenges following a renovation project championed by President Donald Trump. Despite the renovation, which cost an estimated $13 million to $16 million according to various reports, the pool has been plagued by algae and peeling blue sealant. National Park Service official Frank Lands stated in a court filing last month that the liner along the bottom of the pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor around June 9. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum confirmed that crews began draining the pool for the second time in three months on July 5, 2026, noting that the cleanup would include repairing damage to the pool lining caused by both vandalism and debris from 4th of July fireworks. According to U.S. Park Police, five people have been arrested for vandalism in connection with the pool, and five others have been issued federal citations.

During the Thursday proceedings, Judge Carmen McLean released Hearn on his own recognizance without imposing court supervision. While a prosecutor asked for a "stay-away order," the court did not specify in its ruling where Hearn was to stay away from. A status hearing in the case is scheduled for August 5, 2026.

Outside the courthouse, Hearn was greeted by a group of supporters. Adam Van Grack, who chaired the U.S. Olympic national governing body for canoe and kayak sports, defended Hearn’s character, noting that Hearn has spent years voluntarily maintaining National Park Service property along the Potomac River. Hearn, who competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Summer Olympics, did not speak to reporters following the hearing but waved to the gathered crowd as he departed.