U.S. Justice Department drops case over damage to D.C. reflecting pool

The U.S. Justice Department has moved to dismiss a criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. In a court filing, government lawyers said newly received information suggested the damage was caused by a flawed contractor installation and rushed construction work, rather than vandalism. Prosecutors also said a recent inspection found damage across the pool, including in areas they said a vandal would not likely have reached. Hearn, who pleaded not guilty earlier this month, had been charged with property destruction after being accused of causing at least $1,000 US in damage. His lawyers said the case should never have been brought and argued the pool already had significant preexisting problems before the incident.