Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss a felony vandalism indictment against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, saying damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was caused by a flawed installation, not vandalism.
Hearn was accused of ripping the bottom of the reflecting pool. In a court filing, government lawyers said information provided since the indictment shows the damage resulted from a flawed installation by the contractor.
The office of Jeanine Pirro, who is leading the case, said the Department of the Interior withheld records about pre-existing coating problems before Hearn was indicted.
President Donald Trump had touted the reflecting pool renovation as one of several improvements in Washington ordered ahead of America's 250th birthday celebrations. He had repeatedly blamed vandals for the damage. On Friday, prosecutors acknowledged the installation was flawed and moved to drop the charges.