WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has dropped its felony destruction of property case against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision, made public Thursday, ends a legal battle that began with Hearn's indictment earlier this year.
Hearn had been charged with maliciously injuring and destroying lining material of the Reflecting Pool, property of the United States government. Court records indicated the alleged damage exceeded $1,000, qualifying the charge as a felony.
A grand jury in Washington indicted Hearn on those charges. He subsequently pleaded not guilty in D.C. Superior Court, setting the stage for a trial that will not take place.
The Justice Department offered no public explanation for its decision to drop the case. Such moves often follow a review of evidence or a determination that continued prosecution is not in the public interest.
The dismissal drew sharp reactions from prominent political figures, exposing a divide within conservative circles. Political commentator Jeanine Pirro publicly criticized the Justice Department's action, questioning the rationale behind dropping a felony case against someone accused of damaging a national monument.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum defended the move, saying the decision reflects appropriate prosecutorial discretion and that the department weighed all factors before closing the case.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool draws millions of visitors annually. Hearn, who competed for the United States in canoe slalom, no longer faces the penalties that would have accompanied a felony property destruction conviction.
