Former Olympic Canoeist Set for September Trial in Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Damage Case

A federal judge in Washington has scheduled a September 28 trial for David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete accused of intentionally damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The structure has become the focus of a costly restoration effort initiated by President Donald Trump ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman announced the trial date during a Monday proceeding, marking Hearn’s second appearance since grand jury indictment on a felony property destruction charge. The defendant, who entered a not guilty plea on July 9, has sought dismissal arguing the government improperly handled physical evidence collected from the pool.

At least three additional individuals face misdemeanor charges stemming from the same incident, accused of removing paint fragments from the pool’s surface. Trump’s renovation initiative has encountered numerous obstacles, with the president alleging that vandals have caused widespread damage to the structure and its protective coating.

Hearn, 67, a Bethesda resident who competed in three Summer Olympics with a best finish of ninth place at the 1996 Atlanta Games, previously stated he was held by National Guard personnel and U.S. Park Police for five hours on June 19. He maintained that he merely inspected the pool’s peeling surface and briefly handled a piece before complying with a park employee’s instruction to release it.