DOJ Drops Vandalism Case Against Olympian in Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Damage, Citing Flawed Installation

The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped felony charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The DOJ stated in a court filing that new evidence, including documents from the Department of the Interior, indicates the damage was a result of a "flawed installation" by the contractor and a rushed completion, rather than vandalism. This reverses the Trump administration's initial claims of intentional sabotage.