Former Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage case

sportsJul 9, 202633591

David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not guilty Thursday in D.C. Superior Court to a felony count of property destruction for allegedly ripping sealant from the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Hearn was indicted last Thursday and is accused of causing more than $1,000 in damage. Hearn has said he reached into the pool during a June 19 bike ride to examine peeled coating, briefly touched a chunk and obeyed a park worker who told him to let go; he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after the incident. Defense attorney Norm Eisen told reporters the prosecution is alarming and argued "it is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool." Judge Carmen McLean declined to impose court supervision while Hearn awaits trial and set a status hearing for Aug. 5. Prosecutor Kevin Reddington said the government was not seeking supervision but wanted a stay-away order without specifying locations in court. The pool's multimillion-dollar renovation, launched before the nation’s 250th celebrations, has experienced problems including peeled coating and algae, and President Donald Trump has alleged vandalism without providing evidence.

Kyle Griffin

@kylegriffin1.bsky.social

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage case after Trump alleged vandalism.

3822h ago

J.J.6

Can't believe they're actually going forward with prosecution. We need to break our dystopia.

ART3

No jury in DC will convict

TommyTweeted3

They are wasting more money on a dead end prosecution!!!

ADaveSaysWhat1

Here’s the thing. They know he didn’t do it he’s a scapegoat. But scapegoats work because news cycles. By the time he is exonerated we will all have forgotten and maga had their boogie man. Like the women in Georgia who sued the shit out of Rudy. None of us know their names.

GigaChad Pennington1

Stunned theyre following through. For now, the media can do their stupid bit of "who can say what caused it? Trump said it was vandals" The lawyers will be able to argue and the admin will NOT be able to refute that the shoddy work resulted in the problems. Hes removing the MSM's cover.

Stu Barron1

How is this not thrown out immediately?? Waste of time and money

Quoting this

K Wilde2

Torturing this man after knocking down the East Wing and paving over the Rose Garden, etc. These people are vicious and vile.

MS NOW

@ms.now

LIVE: Trump's Reflecting Pool MESS to be drained AGAIN for repairs with same no-bid contractor as former Olympian in court TODAY for alleged vandalism WATCH HERE: www.youtube.com/live/kc7aL_n...

833h ago

coconutlizard.bsky.social1

Ass backwards always. Chaos and destruction always. We need Dems in charge. Biden did so much good!

Reichstag Dumpster Fire1

they’re using this project to direct water from the river to the data center being built in the bunker under the white house ballroom, it’s a cover

The Contrarian

@contrariannews.org

David Hearn pleads not guilty to the reflecting pool vandalism charge brought against him. The justice system exists to determine facts, not to provide political cover. Join Contrarian Publisher @normeisen.bsky.social as we continue the fight: contrarian.substack.com

701h ago

Craig R. Brittain

@craigbrittain.com

Norm Eisen: "If David Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool, every American is at risk. It is not a crime to touch water in the United States of America."

191h ago

tomwellborn3rd

@wellborn.net

Jeanine Pirro charged a three-time Olympian with a felony carrying 10 years for touching peeling paint on the Reflecting Pool. The sealant was already coming apart before he arrived. The judge released him without restrictions. The government's case is theater. www.rawstory.com/pirro-hearn-...

71h ago

Heal the Planet

@healamerica.bsky.social

Judge denies Pirro demand to bar Olympian from Reflecting Pool after 'not guilty' plea Another example of Trump weaponizing the DOJ.... #FuckTrump and his DOJ www.rawstory.com/pirro-hearn-...

81h ago

CapeCodCritter

@capecodcritter.bsky.social

The only vandal at the reflecting pool was Trump! www.huffpost.com/entry/ap-us-...

41h ago

mrspanstreppon

@jamiepeppard.bsky.social

Reflecting Pool contractor got a $461k contract mod dated June 15, two weeks after the pool project was complete that kind of looks like a repair order:

21h ago

Dona Dickinson

@donadickinson.bsky.social

It looks like the real culprit who drove on the newly laid lining had a police escort while his limo damaged the pool. Who could that be?

Presidential limo F*cks up new Reflecting Pool liner

41h ago

Gaylan G.

@gaylan.bsky.social

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro May Have To Throw In The Towel! Olympian David Hearn Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Of Damaging Reflecting Pool - CBS News...

41h ago

Jane Norman

@janenorman.bsky.social

ALLEGED REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM: The former U.S Olympian charged with damaging a section of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool pleaded not guilty during a brief court hearing Thursday--Story @jennifershutt.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-o...

11h ago

Peg Lev

@catgang4.bsky.social

Touching a piece of the bottom of the reflecting pool that's peeling off is a more egregious crime than storming the capitol on J6, stopping the normal functioning of Congress, taking dumps in the Rotunda and threatening the lives of the VP and Speaker?! Priorities are upside-down!

31h ago

Jacob Fischler

@fischler.bsky.social

US Olympian canoeist pleads not guilty to charges of damaging Reflecting Pool. Story by @jennifershutt.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com

11h ago

Newz Junky (Deej)

@newzjunky.bsky.social

WASHINGTON (AP) - A former Olympic canoe racer pleaded not guilty on Thursday to deliberately damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a politically charged case. Reported by Michael Kunzelman Associated Press

11h ago

Berna

@bernaboop.bsky.social

Thank you for standing up against this injustice. That’s the people‘s Reflecting Pool. Not DT’s! He’s bullied and barrelEd over the little guy his whole life. Those of you standing up to him are hero’s. It’s a shame we have to be protected from our own petty president.

11h ago

1 source

apnews.comFormer Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage case after Trump alleged vandalism

Willow Nightingale wins Women's Casino Gauntlet, earns title shotsports Former Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage casesports Cheryl Reeve becomes WNBA's all-time winningest coach with 380 winssports Mercedes Moné aligns with Divine Dominion in Beach Break anglesports

Former Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage case

Related