Charges dropped over alleged reflecting pool vandalism as damage blamed on 'flawed installation'

Charges dropped over alleged reflecting pool vandalism as damage blamed on 'flawed installation'

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

The Justice Department also said in court documents filed on Friday that the pool's liner had started to peel because of "flawed installation" rather than deliberate damage.

In the filing, US attorney Jeanine Pirro and assistant attorney Michael Spence asked a judge to drop the Trump administration's case against David Hearn, 67, whom it had accused of vandalising the pool.

The 2,000-foot (600-metre) pool, at the heart of Washington's National Mall, had been hurriedly refurbished with an "American flag blue" liner at Mr Trump's request ahead of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US independence.

The newly renovated pool quickly developed blooms of algae that tinted the water green, and the lining peeled off.

The lining was installed by contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC), according to documents provided by the Department of the Interior.

The filing said: "The information subsequently demanded by USAO and disclosed by DOI - which was not known to the prosecutors or the grand jury before the return of the indictment - strongly suggest that a rushed and botched installation by AIC, the primary contractor, led to the damage to the lining of the Reflecting Pool."

Interior officials only "slowly started trickling information" to prosecutors after "dozens and dozens" of requests from the US Attorney's Office, Ms Pirro and Mr Spence said.

"Had DOI been forthcoming with the information clearly in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment," they said.

The pool renovation was part of Mr Trump's efforts to remake the US capital, including tearing down the East Wing of the White House to put up a new ballroom and plans to build a massive arch near Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr Trump, facing criticism over the $14.7m renovation, blamed the problems on vandals he alleged had intentionally sabotaged the project.

Hearn, a former US Olympic canoeist, pleaded not guilty to vandalising the pool last month.

He faced a felony destruction of property charge after federal prosecutors alleged he intentionally damaged lining material at the bottom of the reflecting pool last month.

Hearn had acknowledged reaching into the reflecting pool while cycling in the area and touching a piece of pool liner that was already partially detached, but he denied removing anything from the pool.

His lawyers said on Friday the dismissal of the case against him does not erase "the abuse of government power" and that the administration owed him an apology.