The Trump administration dropped a felony charge against U.S. Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. In a motion to dismiss the charge, the government admitted that the damage was a result of flawed installation by the contractor, not vandalism as initially claimed.
Hearn had stopped at the Reflecting Pool during a bike ride and touched a piece of coating that was already detached in the pool. He was arrested and detained for five hours. The $16 million Reflecting Pool paint job has been rife with troubles.
The government’s case against Hearn should never have been brought, according to his defense attorney, Steve Levin. “Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American,” Levin said.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
