According to Reuters, court records show that on July 2 local time, American canoeist and former Olympic athlete David Hurn was formally charged in the U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C., for allegedly damaging the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
The indictment charges that 67-year-old Hurn “intentionally” damaged or destroyed the sealing coating at the bottom of the reflecting pool on June 19, causing a loss of over $1,000. He is accused of committing the felony crime of destroying property. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Federal prosecutor Janina Piro of Washington, D.C., stated at a press conference on July 2 local time that Heron “forcefully and violently” pulled on the coating on June 19, and shouted at a National Park Service employee who approached to question her. The U.S. Park Police subsequently arrested her.
Piero told reporters: "This is an act of deliberate destruction of the reflecting pool. The staff from the U.S. National Park Service have been working hard to repair it."
Left is a photo of David Hearn during the match. Right is a pool with green reflections.
Hearne’s legal team stated that Hearne is innocent, and accused the Trump administration of using this case to provide ‘political cover’ for the poor management of his project.
Hern's lawyers, Norm Eisen and Mary Dorman, said in a statement, "These accusations are outrageous and should alert every American. The indictment reflects the government's attempt to shift responsibility for its failures."
Hearn previously admitted that he put his hand into the pool while riding, and told American media that he touched a piece of detached coating, without removing anything.
Piro said that Hearn damaged about 0.2 square meters of the coating.
According to reports, Trump said that the vandals created cuts ranging from 76 to 107 meters deep in the bottom of the reflecting pool. However, he did not provide any evidence.
On July 2, when asked about Trump’s statement, Piro said that someone caused significant damage to the reflecting pool, and investigators are still searching for the responsible party.
It is reported that the renovation of the reflecting pool cost $14.8 million, but problems such as excessive growth of algae and peeling of the coating occurred.
Reports say that Trump and members of his government have repeatedly blamed the problems in the reflection pool on vandals. The U.S. Department of Interior previously stated that at least six people were arrested for suspected vandalism after the renovation. Hayer is the first person to face criminal charges.
