Justice department moves to dismiss its charges against Olympian over reflecting pool | Trump administration
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-07-31 18:13:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump’s Sabotage Claims About Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Contradicted by New Evidence
Donald Trump had claimed that efforts to sabotage the $15 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool were underway, with Olympian David Hearn among those accused of damaging the site. However, new court filings and witness testimony have revealed that these claims were not supported by the facts.
### Trump’s Sabotage Allegations
Trump asserted that Hearn and others were involved in deliberate efforts to damage the reflecting pool. Hearn, who was the only person facing a felony charge, denied the administration’s accusations of sabotage and pleaded not guilty.
### Evidence Contradicts Trump’s Claims
A recent motion by government lawyers, based on documents from the Department of the Interior, showed that the pool’s damage occurred before Hearn visited the site. The documents described a “rushed and flawed installation process,” with repeated failures of the pool liner and extensive peeling throughout the reflecting pool.
It was only after these documents were produced that prosecutors acknowledged the damage was due to a botched installation, not vandalism as initially represented by the Department of the Interior under Trump’s administration.
### Witness Testimony and Legal Irregularities
A National Park Service official testified that the pool had substantial preexisting damage, including leaks of over one million gallons of water per week and a liner that already contained a rip. The same repairs would have been required regardless of Hearn’s alleged conduct.
Defense attorneys highlighted irregularities in the grand jury process and called for a review of the entire record, arguing that the government’s approach was “ready, fire, aim.”
### Conclusion
The case against David Hearn, brought during Trump’s administration and based on claims of sabotage, has now been dismissed after evidence showed the damage was unrelated to any alleged vandalism. This episode underscores a pattern of false accusations and government overreach, with Trump’s claims about the reflecting pool’s sabotage ultimately contradicted by the facts.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/31/reflecting-pool-damage-olympian