Dispute Over Damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Justice Department’s case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, accused of removing a two-foot square piece of the Reflecting Pool liner, has been moved toward dismissal. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s filing argues that newly obtained Interior Department documents and a visual inspection show the damage resulted from a rushed, botched installation rather than vandalism. The filing also criticizes the Interior Department for providing incomplete information at the outset of the case.

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Government lawyers note that the pool’s renovation was completed under a $14.7 million no-bid contract awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based firm. The contractor painted the concrete floor “American flag blue,” but chunks of the new liner began peeling within days. A National Park Service report recorded a June 9 incident in which a sharp knife or razor allegedly cut the new liner. Prosecutors point out that damage was observed throughout the pool, including the middle, an area unlikely to have been reached by a vandal attempting to peel the lining.

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In a social-media post, Trump acknowledged the possibility of “some contractor difficulty” but maintained that vandals were responsible. He also posted a four-minute video from a security camera that appears to show three individuals with their hands in the water, which he described as evidence of knife-oriented vandalism.

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Pirro’s filing states, “Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt.” Her office asked a judge to dismiss the criminal charges against Hearn. Hearn’s legal team criticized both Trump and Pirro, saying it is evaluating “legal remedies” for their client. Atlantic Industrial Coatings has not responded to requests for comment.

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• “I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool,” — Donald Trump, president

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• “Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,” — Jeanine Pirro, attorney

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