US drops Reflecting Pool case as botched repairs undercut vandalism claim
What's new: Prosecutors said rushed work tied to America 250 celebrations, not vandalism, likely caused the damage.
Federal prosecutors dropped the felony vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn after saying new records showed damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was likely caused by flawed installation, not by visitors. A court filing by US Attorney for Washington, DC Jeanine Pirro said documents from the Department of the Interior indicated the liner was rushed into place ahead of events tied to the nation’s 250th Independence Day celebrations. Hearn, 67, had faced up to 10 years in prison after being accused of pulling at the new blue liner in June. Trump had publicly blamed vandals for the damage. Hearn has denied wrongdoing, and his lawyers said the case should never have been filed.