Through a court document filed by Jeanine Pirro, federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice dismissed the criminal case it attempted to bring against David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe athlete accused of allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool.

With the aim of commemorating 250 years of American independence, President Donald Trump ordered the restoration of the emblematic site located in Washington, a project for which $14.8 million dollars was allocated.

However, on June 20—days after the work was completed—it was reported how, inexplicably, the water in the Reflecting Pond acquired a greenish color and a large amount of algae began to appear.

This anomaly aroused the suspicion that some type of chemical substance had been poured into the water and the head of the nation demanded a thorough investigation to clarify what happened.

Subsequently, Washington authorities announced the arrest of a group of suspects linked to what was called an act of vandalism. Among those arrested, the list was headed by David Hearn, a 67-year-old expiry artist, accused of the serious crime of destruction of property.

However, through a court document, prosecutors acknowledged that the damage had been caused by a “wrong installation by the contractor” in charge of remodeling the pond, emphasizing that the delivery times for the work were out of date and the rush to deliver it finished led him to make serious mistakes.

“It was not until after the indictment [against Hearn] was filed that the [Department of the Interior] provided additional documents to the [U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia] indicating that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June 2026 was a result of faulty installation by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings and the rush to complete the project before the America 250 events in the weeks surrounding Independence Day. 2026,” Pirro's office detailed.

In another letter, Hearn's lawyers demand that the government offer their client a public apology to clean up his image.

"The Trump Administration's case against David Hearn should never have been brought. Its dismissal does not erase the Government's abuse of power by arresting and charging an American patriot who did nothing wrong. The Government's approach was 'ready, shoot, aim'. The Government owes Hearn an apology," the text underlines.

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