US drops Reflecting Pool case, admits damage due to botched renovation

The US Justice Department on Friday dropped its case against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying the hurried renovations ordered by President Donald Trump had been botched. David Hearn, 67, had been charged with felony vandalism in federal court, which carried a potential

The US Department of Justice has moved to dismiss its case against Olympian David Hearn.

Laura Coates rips botched reflecting pool case: ‘Erodes faith in DOJ’  CNN

Trump administration prosecutors admitted Friday that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was due to a "botched installation."

White House drops charges against former Olympian accused of vandalising Reflecting Pool after new evidence emerges  GB News

The US Department of Justice has moved to drop a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Here's why.

DOJ to drop Reflecting Pool vandalism case against David Hearn  ESPN

A 67-year-old had been charged with felony vandalism in US federal court.

President Donald Trump had blamed "sick" vandals, and a former Olympian had been charged, but prosecutors now say contractors caused the damage.

In a Friday afternoon court filing, the government moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian they accused of vandalism, and admitted Trump’s rush to ready the pool by July 4 contributed to the situation.

In a Friday afternoon court filing, the government moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian they accused of vandalism, and admitted Trump’s rush to ready the pool by July 4 contributed to the situation.

Trump Administration Admits Reflecting Pool Wasn’t Attacked by Canoeist  New York Magazine

The U.S. government dismissed the felony indictment against David Hearn, the former Olympian accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool of the National Mall.

The Trump administration dropped charges against a former Olympic canoeist over damage to the renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, saying new evidence showed the contractor was to blame. NBC News’ Garrett Haake reports.

Federal prosecutors suggested that the damage was instead due to a rushed installation.

The government had accused David Hearn of ripping a piece of sealant after a $14 million renovation. Hearn has repeatedly said that he simply touched the water in the pool out of curiosity last month.

The US Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a “flawed

Prosecutors Drop Case Against Olympic Canoeist Charged With Vandalizing Reflecting Pool  WSJ

The Justice Department moved to dismiss charges against David Hearn, concluding that the pool on the National Mall was damaged by a “botched” installation.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) moved Friday to drop its criminal prosecution of a former Olympian charged with destroying the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying the damage was instead the result of a “rushed and botched installation.”  U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office blamed the contractor for overspraying a

US says contractor caused Reflecting Pool damage, drops case against former Olympian  Reuters

The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Hearn said he only touched a piece of paint that had peeled off from the reflecting pool.

Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a "flawed installation by the contractor" as well as "the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surround

US drops charges against Olympian in Reflecting Pool damage, citing flawed work  USA Today

U.S. government lawyers said in a court filing that information provided since the indictment shows that the damage was the result of a 'flawed installation by the contractor.'

The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging former Olympian David Hearn with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Justice Department Moves To Drop Case Against Ex-Olympian Charged With Damaging Reflecting Pool  HuffPost

Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool  AP News

President Donald Trump had touted the Reflecting Pool update, one of many renovations in D.C. he ordered ahead of America's 250th birthday celebrations.

Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool  Toronto Star

The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The July 31 court filing reveals that the sealant at the bottom of the Reflectiong Pool had "[a]lmost immediately" begun peeling after the work.