Olympian accused of Lincoln Memorial vandalism seeks protection from new Trump charges

WASHINGTON, DC: Olympic canoeist David Hearn is asking a District of Columbia court to permanently end the vandalism case against him after the Department of Justice dropped the charges last month.

Hearn's attorneys filed a motion Thursday, August 13, asking Judge Todd Edelman of the District of Columbia Superior Court to dismiss the case with prejudice. The move would prevent prosecutors from bringing new criminal charges against Hearn over the same case.

His lawyers say the request is needed because of what they describe as a growing risk of “prosecutorial harassment” following public comments from President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

David Hearn seeks permanent dismissal after DOJ drops charges

The DOJ decided on July 31 to drop the charges against Hearn, who had previously been accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

But Hearn's legal team argues that the case is not effectively over because Trump and other administration officials have continued to question the decision.

The motion cited several social media posts made after the DOJ ruling, including comments from Trump and Burgum disputing the conclusion reached by US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.

Hearn's attorneys wrote that “Executive Branch officials have continued to advance the narrative – contrary to the evidence and the filings of record in this case – that Mr. Hearn vandalized the Reflecting Pool.”

They also pointed to reports that the DOJ could consider bringing new charges.

“Those public statements, together with reports that the Department of Justice is considering bringing new charges against Mr. Hearn, confirm that the risk of continued prosecutorial harassment is not speculative,” the motion states.

Donald Trump and Doug Burgum question the Reflecting Pool decision

Trump has repeatedly criticized the decision to drop the charges against Hearn and has called on Pirro to revisit the case.

On August 7, Trump posted on Truth Social urging Pirro to “re-visit her hastily made decision” to drop the charges.

Burgum has also pushed back against the idea that the damage was caused by contractors involved in the Reflecting Pool's renovations.

In an August 1 post, Burgum wrote, “The evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool.”

Trump has reportedly asked the DOJ to bring new charges against those accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool.

Hearn lawyers accuse administration of political pressure

Hearn's attorneys argue that the public pressure surrounding the case raises questions about whether prosecutors can exercise independent judgment.

“The public political pressure campaign being conducted through the Executive Branch in this case shows that the government cannot be trusted to properly exercise its prosecutorial discretion,” they wrote. 

The case has also drawn scrutiny from Democrats. Rep Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, launched probes into Pirro and Burgum over the original decision to bring felony vandalism charges against Hearn.

The legal fight comes as the DOJ pursues another Washington monument vandalism case. Federal prosecutors are now filing charges against another suspect accused of spray-painting the World War II Memorial with neon-orange graffiti.

Trump responded to that incident Friday, writing, “First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from?”