▲ The Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., U.S.
The charges against David Hearn, a former U.S. national canoe team athlete accused of intentionally damaging waterproof materials at the Reflecting Pool, a famous landmark in the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C., have been dismissed.
According to U.S. media outlets including The New York Times (NYT) on the 7th local time, Judge Todd Edelman of the D.C. Superior Court made the decision the previous day through a two-page order.
This approved the request for dismissal filed by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
However, the NYT reported that Judge Edelman reserved decision on whether to bar the charges against Hearn from being refiled.
The Reflecting Pool was ambitiously remodeled by U.S. President Donald Trump to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The remodeling, led by the U.S. Department of the Interior, focused on removing severe algae and applying waterproof material to the bottom to prevent leaks.
However, due to being rushed for time, the waterproofing construction was poorly executed, leading to the waterproofing material peeling off, and the case had been pointed out as an "overzealous prosecution" from the beginning.
Ultimately, on the 31st of last month, U.S. Attorney Pirro confessed to the court, stating, "Information provided since Hearn was indicted indicates that the damage was due to shoddy construction by the contractor, which was the result of rushing to complete the work in time for the 'America 250' celebration held around Independence Day," and requested the dismissal of the charges against Hearn.
In response, President Trump, who had insisted that the damage to the Reflecting Pool's waterproofing material was caused by intentional vandalism, was furious, criticizing U.S. Attorney Pirro and calling the dismissal request a "mistake."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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