Former Olympian indicted for allegedly vandalising Washington Reflecting Pool
Former Olympic rower Davey Hearn has been indicted for allegedly tearing new sealant from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June, but he denies wrongdoing.
Former Olympic rower Davey Hearn has been indicted for allegedly ripping a piece of recently installed sealant from the bottom of the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial. The incident occurred on June 19, 2026. Hearn previously told the BBC he did nothing wrong and was detained after a long bike ride, claiming he only touched already damaged material and did not destroy or remove any part. His attorneys called the charges "outrageous".
The Reflecting Pool, built in the 1920s and stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, recently underwent a $14 million renovation but still faces algae problems and peeling sealant. US Park Police have arrested five people for vandalism related to the pool, with five others receiving federal citations. A National Park Service official previously said the pool's lining had been cut with a sharp object.
Former President Donald Trump said on social media on June 20 that "work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool," calling the vandals "sick, deranged people."
