Judge warns Trump admin to halt Reflecting Pool work ahead of ex-Olympian vandalism trial

Topline

A Washington, D.C., judge has warned the Trump administration that it may be "operating at its own peril" if it continues work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool while attorneys gather evidence related to the vandalism charge faced by former Olympian David Hearn.

Key Facts

• D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman set a trial date of September 28 for Hearn, who is accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool during a bike ride in June. Hearn has denied the charge.
• During a hearing Monday, Edelman reportedly questioned why the government would not "maintain the status quo" of the pool, which has been drained and surveyed by federal agents in recent weeks. He warned the government to "not do anything further" ahead of the trial.
• Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Reddington reportedly told Edelman that prosecutors asked the government "to hold the site as a whole," but said they do not have control over what the government does.
• Hearn has pleaded not guilty to a felony vandalism charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Was the Reflecting Pool Vandalized?

President Trump has repeatedly claimed that vandals damaged the pool, though his descriptions of the alleged damage have varied—ranging from a 250-foot-long gash to a 300-yard cut (equivalent to 900 feet).

• In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump warned that alleged vandals would be "prosecuted to the MAX," adding that crews are "looking for a Vandal Proof material, but such a thing should not have been necessary."
• At least seven people have been arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism.
• However, the pool—now drained—does not appear to show visible signs of damage. CNN reporters who visited the site said there are no obvious signs of vandalism, though some of the view is obstructed by fencing.
• A Washington Post analysis, based on satellite imagery and expert interviews, found that the lining appears to be peeling in about seven places, indicating potential problems with how it was installed.

What Do We Know About Hearn's Charge?

Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist, said he biked near the Reflecting Pool on June 19 and reached down to grab a flap of the pool's liner that appeared to already be peeling. He stated he did not "destroy or break or peel anything."

Hearn's lawyer, Norm Eisen, has said that every American "should be alarmed by this prosecution," calling Hearn a "scapegoat" for the Trump administration's "failures" to repair the pool.

Key Background

The Trump administration's repairs to the Reflecting Pool have been plagued by ballooning costs, persistent algae, and a peeling liner.

• The project has totaled an estimated $16 million.
• It is one of many concurrent beautification efforts the administration has launched across Washington, D.C.
• Construction is underway at the White House on a new helipad, ballroom, fortification of the front door, and repairs to stone columns.
• The Kennedy Center remains controversially draped in tarps as workers repair the marble facade.
• The New York Times estimated the cost of 18 construction projects across Washington at approximately $1.2 billion.

Further Reading

• Trump Doubles Down On Reflecting Pool Vandalism Claim—Despite Photos Showing No Evidence Of Gash (Forbes)