The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the felony indictment against David Hearn, a former Olympian accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool of the National Mall. The DOJ acknowledged that the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was not caused by Hearn but was instead "the result of flawed installation by the contractor."

The decision to move to dismiss the criminal case came after investigations revealed that the damage attributed to Hearn was linked to construction issues rather than vandalism. This development clears Hearn of the allegations related to the Reflecting Pool.

The case highlights the importance of thorough investigations in attributing responsibility for damage to national landmarks.

Sources