U.S. Olympian David Hearn charged with vandalizing Lincoln Memorial pool

A D.C. grand jury indicted Olympian David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda on July 2, charging him with one felony count of destruction of property after he ripped a piece of recently installed blue sealant from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 19. A hearing is scheduled for July 9 in D.C. Superior Court.

Hearn has said he was wrongfully arrested and that he only reached into the water after noticing a partially detached piece of the pool’s blue lining. He has described himself as a concerned citizen and said he did not destroy or peel anything.

The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in 1922 and the Reflecting Pool was completed in 1924. The site later served as the backdrop for Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert, Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 I Have a Dream speech and the 1967 anti-Vietnam War rally.

The National Park Service closed the Reflecting Pool on April 10 for cleaning, joint repairs and new lining work, initially planning to keep it shut through June 10. Additional temporary restrictions began June 25 around the pool and adjacent areas to protect park resources and public safety as work continued.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said the incident fell amid White House-directed renovations tied to America’s 250th anniversary. She said the restoration effort covers more than 50 parks, 48 monuments and 22 fountains. The U.S. Park Police are investigating the case.

The recently renovated pool has faced public scrutiny over algae blooms and peeling blue material.