David "Davey" Hearn, a 67-year-old former US Olympic canoeist, pleaded not guilty on July 9, 2026, to felony destruction of property charges in Washington D.C. Superior Court related to alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

Hearn is accused of intentionally damaging the recently renovated "American flag blue" sealant liner at the bottom of the 600-meter Reflecting Pool on June 19, 2026. Authorities say he caused more than $1,000 in damage by forcefully pulling up and removing a roughly 2-square-foot section of the liner [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated, "National Park employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands" [5].

Hearn denies the allegations, saying he only touched a peeling piece of the liner out of curiosity during a bike ride. "I didn't vandalize anything. I didn't destroy or break or peel anything," Hearn said. "By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs." He described touching the loose part but not ripping or tearing it [3, 7]. His defense attorneys argue the evidence is weak and claim the charges are politically motivated efforts to scapegoat Hearn and shift blame for a botched $14.7 million renovation under the Trump administration [1, 2, 4, 5, 6]. Attorney Norm Eisen said, "If Mr Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool, every American is at risk, and every American should be alarmed about this prosecution" [1]. He added, "This indictment reflects the administration’s efforts to scapegoat Davey and shift blame for their own failures" [6].

Hearn was arrested in June 2026 and initially charged with a misdemeanor before a grand jury upgraded the charge to a felony on July 2, 2026 [1, 5, 6, 7]. He was released on his own recognizance without bail or court supervision pending trial [3, 5, 6, 7].

The $14.7 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, completed in spring 2026, included a blue sealant liner installed at President Trump’s request [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Despite this, the pool has suffered problems shortly after reopening, including algae blooms that turned the water green and peeling of the liner coating [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Multiple other individuals have also faced arrest or citations for vandalism related to the pool [1, 2, 4, 5, 6].

Hearn represented the US in Olympic canoeing at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Games [7]. The maximum penalty for felony destruction of property in D.C. is up to 10 years in prison [2, 4, 5, 6].

A status hearing for Hearn’s case is scheduled for August 5, 2026, in Washington D.C. Superior Court [1, 3, 7].