Charges Dropped Against Masters Bike Racer over Reflecting Pool Controversy

The Trump administration’s accusation that cyclist and former Olympian David Hearn vandalized the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial has collapsed, with U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro deciding to drop charges against him.

Artemis Racing club masters racer David Hearn, 67, was arrested by U.S Park Police officers on June 19.

He told the Washington Post that he was on a 52-mile bike ride and went to the Reflecting Pool to look at the refurbishments. He said that he saw some of the blue liner which had detached from the bottom of the pool and reached into the water to touch it.

He was arrested moments later.

“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn said then. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”

He was detained on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property and was due to appear in D.C. Superior Court on July 9.

The Reflecting Pool has been a topic of controversy in recent weeks due to spiraling costs, algae issues and a peeling blue liner.

President Trump and his administration have been under the microscope over the $14 million renovations, with the White House having initially said it would cost $1.5 to $1.8 million.

Following the issues with the algae and the peeling liner, Trump said on Truth Social that “Radical Left Lunatics” were to blame for “Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool.”

Hearn denied the charges made against him, and has now been vindicated by Pirro’s decision to drop the case.

‘Botched installation’ blamed

According to the BBC and other media, a document filed by prosecutors Friday said that new information from the Department of Interior (DOI) “strongly suggests that a rushed and botched installation” job was behind the damage.

It said it was “the result of flawed installation by the contractor” and that “the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026.

“It was not until after these documents were produced that [prosecutors] first became aware of information showing that the damage was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented by DOI.”

Apart from Hearn, at least three other individuals were charged with vandalism, with five more receiving citations from police.

The BBC notes that these include one person who Trump claimed had used a blade to “put a 250 foot long gash into the beautiful façade.”

He also previously claimed the algae could have been caused by bad actors pouring fertilizer into the pool.

Trump has blasted the decision to drop the case, saying on social media that “I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking?”

He reasserted claims that it was “a pure case of vandalism.”

Legal action looming?

Pirro’s decision to drop the case is an embarrassing climbdown after she previously claimed at a press conference that he “violently” ripped up part of the pool’s liner with his bare hands.

Hearn competed in three Olympics in the canoe slalom event and was twice world champion.

In a statement, Hearn’s lawyers said that the Trump administration “owes Mr. Hearn an apology,” and accused it of abuse of power.

The BBC asked Hearn Friday if he is planning legal action. He declined to comment.