Former Olympian Charged With Vandalism For Touching Paint In Washington Reflecting Pool

Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn has become the center of a controversy surrounding the Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. The 67-year-old was cycling past the pool when he touched a piece of loose paint that had flaked off. He was arrested and has now been charged with vandalism, facing a potential decade-long prison sentence.

The Reflecting Pool had been renovated at a cost of millions by President Donald Trump ahead of the 250th Independence Day celebrations. The water was supposed to turn blue but quickly turned green again, and the newly applied blue paint began peeling off.

"I didnt destroy anything," Hearn told The Washington Post. He said he only touched the loose blue paint. "By the time I realized what was happening, I had handcuffs on."

Prosecutor Jeanine Pirro stated Hearn was "caught red-handed vandalizing a national monument," claiming he "forcefully and aggressively pulled at the paint with both hands," causing an estimated $1,000 in damage. If convicted by a jury, Hearn faces a maximum of ten years in prison.