Olympic athlete David Hearn pleaded not guilty to charges of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

David Hearn will stand trial on September 28 for a single count of destruction of property after allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Olympic canoeist was accused of forcefully pulling up the bottom liner of the pool while taking a break from cycling on June 19. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro described the action as violent, while David Hearn maintains that the pool's condition remained unchanged after he touched the water. His defense attorney, Norm Eisen, argued that the prosecution was unnecessary, stating that touching water in the United States should not be considered a crime. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman dismissed a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice, allowing the defense to refile if the pool's ongoing repairs affect the evidence. The judge warned that the government is repairing the pool at its own peril. David Hearn is scheduled to appear for another hearing on September 11.

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