The Olympian’s Reflecting Pool Visit Becomes Federal Case

David Hearn, a 67-year-old Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Fame canoeist, was arrested on June 19 after stopping by Washington's Reflecting Pool during a bike ride. The federal charge: destruction of federal property valued at over $1,000, punishable by up to a decade in prison.

Hearn says he photographed and examined floating sealant pieces that had come loose following a hastily ordered renovation commissioned by President Trump. His lawyers contend he was inspecting the material out of professional curiosity—Hearn once sold waterproofing products for boats and canoes—and did not intentionally cause major damage. Federal prosecutors counter that witnesses reported seeing him use both hands to pull up the pool's liner, damaging approximately two square feet.

The case has sparked accusations of prosecutorial overreach. Hearn's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss, claiming they have photographic evidence contradicting the government's account. At a July 2 press conference, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the indictment and called Reflecting Pool prosecutions a presidential priority, describing Hearn's actions as a "violent effort to rip up the sealant."

Hearn is not alone. On June 20, three other visitors were arrested and charged with misdemeanor destruction of property after allegedly removing sealant pieces: 47-year-old Justin Carreno, 26-year-old Cameron Thiers, and 49-year-old Sophie Dennison-Gibby. All have pleaded not guilty. A judge ordered each to stay away from the pool pending August court appearances.

The Reflecting Pool controversy extends beyond the arrests. Trump's renovation project—executed without competitive bidding and awarded to a Trump donor—malfunctioned within weeks. The botched work resulted in algae blooms, chemical contamination, and dead waterfowl. The pool drained, and the monument became a symbol of administrative failure rather than "unparalleled American majesty," as one organizer of a 1976 canoe event in the pool described it.

Hearn's arrest particularly resonates with supporters. He carried the Olympic torch into Washington during the 1996 Games, won eight world championships in whitewater canoeing, and competed in three Summer Olympics. After retiring from competition in 2002, he coached and maintained his watercraft business. His wife, Jennifer, was also a competitive canoeist and assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic national team.

When contacted by The Atlantic, Hearn described the situation as "unsettling." "It's unsettling," he said, "to feel like I'm being targeted by my government." He told the publication the prosecution has disrupted his sleep and made him anxious about becoming a focal point in a divisive political moment.

Court documents filed late Friday—after Pirro's press conference—revealed that prosecutors had provided Hearn's legal team with dozens of items, including body-camera footage, photographs, and witness statements. His attorneys declined to elaborate on their evidence strategy beyond stating they could prove he did not cause major damage.

The case has drawn comparisons to last year's "Sandwich Guy" incident, another episode critics cited as evidence of selective or excessive prosecution.