Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool case, blaming damage on ‘botched’ installation

Prosecutors in the US have dropped the case against a former Olympian accused of vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington.

The US Department of Justice has moved to drop a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Here's why.

In a Friday afternoon court filing, the government moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian they accused of vandalism, and admitted Trump’s rush to ready the pool by July 4 contributed to the situation.

President Donald Trump had blamed "sick" vandals, and a former Olympian had been charged, but prosecutors now say contractors caused the damage.

US canoeist David Hearn, 67, faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Earlier this month Hearn, who competed as a canoe racer in three Summer Olympics , entered a not guilty plea through one of his attorneys during his initial appearance in DC Superior Court.

A former Olympian will not face trial after federal prosecutors acknowledged that the Trump administration’s claims of vandalism were false.

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn.

U.S. government lawyers said in a court filing that information provided since the indictment shows that the damage was the result of a 'flawed installation by the contractor.'

Jeanine Pirro's office says the Department of the Interior withheld records about pre-existing coating problems before David Hearn's indictment.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has dropped its case against a former Olympic canoeist charged in connection with damage to the Reflecting Pool, acknowledging their allegations against David “Davey” Hearn don’t hold water.