Olympian charged in Reflecting Pool vandalism tied to Dem fundraising giant

Former U.S.Olympian David Hearn was arrested after allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.(David Madison/Getty Images, File)

Thethree-time summer Olympian and registeredDemocrat told The Associated Press he is a “curious citizen” and “reached down to see what it felt like.” He said it felt “very rubbery.”

Hearn was previously arrested by U.S.Park Police in 1996 after he ignored an emergencyclosure of the Potomac Riverduring a severe rainstorm and launched a canoe onto the river despite the restrictions.He was charged with failing to obey a lawful order, but the judge later cleared him of the charges.

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The$14.8 million restoration project has sparked outrage from Democratic lawmakers and Washington residents who have descended on the National Mall to inspect the pool.Michigan Rep.Debbie Dingell said her constituents are “outraged” by the algae during an appearance on CNN.

FORMER OLYMPIAN AMONG THOSE CHARGED WITH VANDALIZING REFLECTING POOL, TRUMP VOWS IMMEDIATE REPAIRS: REPORT

Paint peels from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.(REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon)

There have been 14 police reports filed for vandalism, the official added.

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Among the reports was one involving a suspect accused of using a blade to slash nearly 300 feet of the pool’s liner, an incident PresidentDonald Trumphighlighted in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

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National Park Service employees and contractors use vacuums to remove green algae from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 18, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“They took some form of knife or blade, and put a 250-foot-long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete.They also poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the Pool,”wrote Trump.“The Reflecting Pool was never so beautiful as it was just one week ago, even going back to 1922 when it opened.”

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Trump said Friday that he believesvandals are damaging the groundssurrounding the Reflecting Pool and that chemicals were used to damage the pool’s newly installed surface, he wrote on Truth Social.

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�s Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ashley J.