The Record  Trump’s second term, documented
Turning the government’s power to his own ends

His government detained a former Olympian for five hours and charged him with vandalism, then admitted its own construction caused the damage.

June 15, 2026His own side confirms

In June 2026, National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police held former Olympic canoeist David Hearn for five hours after he touched the peeling lining of the drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a bike ride, and prosecutors charged him with damaging it. Six weeks later the Justice Department moved to drop the case. Its own court filing conceded the damage came from a “botched” and rushed installation by the government’s contractor, hurried to finish before Trump’s America 250 celebration, not from any vandal.

SourcesThe DOJ dismissal motion (AP) · AP (Arab News)

His government detained a former Olympian for five hours and charged him with vandalism, then admitted its own construction caused the damage.
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