{"id":2627309,"date":"2026-07-09T13:24:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-olympian-david-hearn-pleads-not-guilty-to-reflecting-pool-vandalism\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T13:28:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:28:14","slug":"former-olympian-david-hearn-pleads-not-guilty-to-reflecting-pool-vandalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-olympian-david-hearn-pleads-not-guilty-to-reflecting-pool-vandalism\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Olympian David Hearn pleads not guilty to Reflecting Pool vandalism"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-olympian-david-hearn-pleads-not-guilty-to-reflecting-pool-vandalism%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2627309&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn, 67, pled not guilty to deliberately damaging the Lincoln memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., an incident that President Donald Trump described as vandalism. Hearn was indicted for property destruction after touching the algae-filled, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-do-these-images-show-a-flooded-stadium-in-nigeria\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Do These Images Show A Flooded Stadium In Nigeria?\">recently renovated<\/a> pool, which led to his arrest during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/despite-insistence-by-democrat-politicians-and-medical-elites-empirical-evidence-does-not-conclusively-show-that-masks-reduce-the-spread-of-covid\/\" title=\"Despite Insistence by Democrat Politicians and Medical Elites, Empirical ... DOES NOT Conclusively Show that Masks Reduce the Spread of COVID\">bike ride<\/a>.He claimed he only reached into the water to feel a detached liner and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/black-lives-matter-a-movement-built-on-the-illusion-of-martyrdom\/\" title=\"Black Lives Matter: A Movement Built On The Illusion Of Martyrdom\">obeyed police commands<\/a>. Supported by legal counsel from the Democracy Defenders Fund, Hearn&#8217;s representatives described the case as based on weak evidence and accused the government of crafting a false narrative. During the indictment, allegations arose that Hearn tore the pool&#8217;s sealant and acted aggressively towards staff, with some estimates suggesting around $1,000 in damages. He is one of four individuals charged with similar misdemeanors. The incident occurred amidst ongoing issues with algae and the condition of the pool following a $16 million renovation, which President Trump initially attributed to vandalism, including claims of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/toure-linda-sarsour-condemn-use-of-deadly-force-to-protect-young-girl-from-being-stabbed\/\" title=\"Tour\u00e9, Linda Sarsour Condemn Use Of Deadly Force To Protect Young Girl From Being Stabbed\">box cutters<\/a> causing large gashes. However, other officials, like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, stated the algae issues originated from the pool&#8217;s pipes, blaming vandals for the lining damage. The case attracted public attention and support for Hearn outside the courtroom.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/olympics\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"296\">Olympic<\/a> canoe racer David Hearn appeared for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty Thursday to deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in an incident that President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> said was vandalism.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearn, 67, was indicted by a grand jury last week on a single count of property destruction in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"260\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>, after touching the recently renovated and algae-plagued Reflecting Pool, which led to Hearn\u2019s arrest. D.C. Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean, a Trump appointee, allowed Hearn to be released without supervision while he awaits trial.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4642038\/nypd-arrest-suspect-molotov-cocktail-religious-buildings\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>NYPD arrests man suspected of throwing Molotov cocktails at religious buildings<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4639728\/ice-shooting-illegal-immigrant-houston\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>ICE fatally shoots illegal immigrant in Houston after alleged vehicle ramming<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4639302\/woman-suspected-monaco-bombing-shot-dead-ukraine\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Woman suspected in Monaco bombing found shot dead in Ukraine<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democracy Defenders Fund cofounder Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, senior counsel at Washington Litigation Group, are representing Hearn and said the case against their client reflects a narrative \u201cconcocted\u201d by the government. Following Hearn\u2019s plea, Dohrmann characterized the government\u2019s evidence as \u201cweak.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearn was arrested by U.S. Park Police on June 19 when he stopped by the pool during a 64-mile bike ride. At the time, the Reflecting Pool was under intense scrutiny following Trump\u2019s renovations, as it was filled with algae blooms and the lining could be seen floating in the water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearn claimed he had reached into the water only to feel a piece of the pool\u2019s detached liner to see what it felt like. He was then approached by police, but claims he obeyed orders to let go of the floating paint.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Hearn pleaded not guilty, Eisen met reporters and protesters supporting the athlete outside the courtroom. NBC reports attendees were chanting \u201cDavey! Davey!\u201d and the courtroom reached maximum capacity during Hearn\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During Hearn\u2019s indictment, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeanine-pirro\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3802\">Jeanine Pirro<\/a> claimed the former Olympian tore the newly installed \u201cAmerican Flag Blue\u201d sealant on the pool\u2019s surface in what she described as a \u201cdeliberate act.\u201d Pirro accused Hearn of $1,000 worth of damage to the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >newly renovated pool<\/a> and said he had acted aggressively toward an employee who intervened.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearn is one of four people charged with damaging the Reflecting Pool. Sophie Elaine Dennison-Gibby, Justin Toribio Carreno, and Cameron Michael Thiers were each charged with misdemeanor destruction of public property valued at less than $1,000, and all were arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4636515\/reflecting-pool-algae-pipes-burgum\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4636515\/reflecting-pool-algae-pipes-burgum\/\">REFLECTING POOL ALGAE WAS \u2018IN THE PIPES\u2019 BURGUM SAYS DESPITE TRUMP BLAMING VANDALS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the midst of the Reflecting Pool filling with algae and the sealant detaching, Trump claimed that vandals were responsible for tarnishing the monument\u2019s appearance. At one point, the president said box cutters were used to cut an over 300-foot gash in the liner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite Trump claiming the issues following the $16 million project were due to vandalism, Interior Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/doug-burgum\/\">Doug Burgum<\/a> said earlier this week that the algae that fill the pool were \u201cin the pipes.\u201d Burgum still blamed vandals for peeling up the lining.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Olympic canoeist David Hearn pleads not guilty to pool vandalism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2627310,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26190522310955.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32417,82474,25774,78950,16384],"class_list":["post-2627309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-court-case","tag-david-hearn","tag-olympian","tag-reflecting-pool","tag-vandalism"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26190522310955.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2627309"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2627313,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627309\/revisions\/2627313"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2627310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2627309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2627309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2627309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}