US Drops Vandalism Charge Against Olympian, Blames Contractor for Reflecting Pool Damage

US prosecutors have dropped vandalism charges against former Olympic champion canoeist David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC. A court document filed Friday said new evidence "strongly suggests that a rushed and botched installation" job by contractors hired by the Department of the Interior was responsible for the damage.

Hearn had been facing a potential 10-year prison sentence. He was arrested after telling police he reached down to touch the newly painted pool during a bike ride nearby. He denied removing, tearing, or peeling any paint.

Trump Administration Concedes Contractor Error

President Donald Trump previously blamed "sick" vandals for what he called "major damage" to the pool, which was painted blue as part of city beautification efforts ahead of America's 250th independence anniversary on July 4. On Saturday, Trump acknowledged "there may have been some contractor difficulty" while still insisting vandals had caused damage.

The court filing, submitted by US Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro, blamed contractors for rushing the painting process to meet the anniversary deadline. Images showed fresh blue paint peeling from the pool's surface within days of installation.

Other Charges Remain Unclear

Hearn's lawyers accused the Trump administration of an "abuse of power" and said it "owes Mr. Hearn an apology." Asked by reporters whether he intended to sue, Hearn declined to comment.

At least three other people also faced vandalism charges for touching the pool. Five more received police citations. It remained unclear whether all related charges had been dropped.