Three-time Olympian among those arrested for vandalism charges at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The reflecting pool vandalism saga took a dramatic turn when David Hearn, a decorated Olympic canoeist, was arrested on June 19 and charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property after he reached down to touch a flap of blue liner that had peeled away from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Hearn denied any wrongdoing and said he was detained for nearly five hours without being allowed to contact anyone, according to The Washington Post.

"I didn't know how long I was going to be held," the 67-year-old told MS NOW. "Nobody really knew I was there. I was held incommunicado the whole time." He also claimed he was not read his Miranda rights at the time of his arrest. His attorney, Norm Eisen, said that touching the water was not a federal crime and that his Democracy Defenders Fund would represent Hearn ahead of the case's July 9 hearing.

Eisen told CNN's Anderson Cooper that Hearn bore no responsibility for the pool's condition, blaming Trump's no-bid renovation contract instead. "Hearn touched a piece of already-peeling liner to see how it felt—curious and concerned like millions about this fiasco. This prosecution is meritless, and we will fight it," he said, adding that the President was looking for a scapegoat for his "Mar-a-Lago crony contract that has gone sideways." "Like the algae, the blame is spreading," he averred.

Hearn, a two-time whitewater world champion, competed in the canoe slalom at the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, and 2000 Sydney Games, according to The Daily Beast. He reportedly swung by the pool during a 52-mile bicycle ride to see the refurbished project. "I did not remove, I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy, or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool," Hearn told ABC News.

As of now, six people have been arrested, with 17 police reports filed over a few days. Trump has made clear that his administration intends to pursue those believed to be responsible for the vandalism to the full extent of the law, proposing sentences of up to 10 years. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that the vandalism was politically motivated, claiming that six people arrested in connection with the alleged damage were donors to Democratic causes.

The arrest of a decorated Olympian raised serious questions about whether the administration is using law enforcement to deflect from accountability over a $16 million renovation awarded through a non-competitive bidding process. With Trump insisting vandalism, not poor workmanship, is to blame for the pool's rapid deterioration, he has announced that the pool's water will be drained again in order to undertake repairs.