The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has admitted that the $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, ordered by former US President Donald Trump, was "hasty and botched." This admission comes as government lawyers move to dismiss a criminal case against former Olympic canoeist David "Davey" Hearn, who was charged with deliberately damaging the monument.

Earlier this year, the renovation aimed to fix leaks and change the pool's color to what Trump called "American flag blue." Contracts were awarded to two hand-picked businesses, including a swimming pool contractor, bypassing the legal requirement for competing bids by citing urgency to complete the work by July 4, America's 250th birthday. However, days after completion, the pool turned bright green due to an algal bloom.

On June 19, Hearn, who owns a company producing composite materials for watercraft, stopped by the pool during a 102-kilometre bike ride and examined the peeling coating by reaching into the water.

A 20-page filing revealed that additional documents from the Department of the Interior showed the damage resulted from a "botched installation" by a contractor and the rushed project timeline. According to a witness, the pool was leaking over one million gallons of water weekly, its expansion joints had exceeded their service life, and the liner already had a rip before Hearn's interaction.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated in the filing, "Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt." She asked a judge to formally dismiss the case.

The dismissal does not erase concerns about the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong.

Sources