Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool vandalism charge and admits flawed repairs
Former Olympian David Hearn had been arrested, but prosecutors now say he did not cause the damage.
US prosecutors have withdrawn vandalism charges against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C., stating in court documents that the damage is now thought to be "the result of flawed installation by the contractor."
A document submitted by prosecutors in Washington D.C. on Friday indicates that new information "strongly suggests that a rushed and botched installation" project supervised by the US Department of Interior caused the damage.
David Hearn, a champion canoeist, was facing a potential 10-year prison sentence if convicted after his arrest last month.
In a statement, his legal team accused the Trump administration of an abuse of power and asserted that it "owes Mr. Hearn an apology."