Prosecutors drop vandalism charge against Olympic canoeist in pool case

Federal prosecutors dropped charges against David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, on Friday. He had been accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June 2026. Prosecutors now say the damage was caused by a contractor's poor installation work, not vandalism. The Interior Department gave prosecutors new documents after the charges were filed. These showed that the company Atlantic Industrial Coatings had made errors during a $15 million renovation. Workers were also under pressure to finish before Independence Day celebrations. Hearn was arrested after he touched a piece of loose material while cycling nearby. He was held for five hours. He had faced up to ten years in prison. Seven people in total were charged in connection with the case.