DOJ drops felony charge against former Olympian David Hearn in Reflecting Pool vandalism case

The Justice Department announced on Friday that it will dismiss the felony charge of destruction of property against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. Prosecutors said the decision was based on a review of the evidence, which indicated that the alleged damage did not meet the threshold for a felony prosecution. Hearn, a silver‑medalist swimmer, had faced a criminal case after a video surfaced showing a group of protesters near the pool in June; the Department concluded that the footage did not demonstrate intentional wrongdoing on his part.

Democratic leaders responded by saying the dismissal validates their long‑standing criticism that the current administration is using the Justice Department as a political weapon. A spokesperson for the House Judiciary Committee called the move “a clear illustration of selective enforcement” and urged oversight of the department’s prosecutorial decisions. The case had been cited by Republicans as an example of leniency toward protest‑related offenses, while Democrats argued it exemplified overreach. With the charge now dropped, the episode adds to the broader debate over how federal law enforcement addresses politically charged incidents.