Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool vandalism charge and admits 'botched' repairs - BBC News

President Donald Trump had blamed "sick" vandals, and a former Olympian had been charged, but prosecutors now say contractors caused the damage.

Image source, Getty ImagesByMax Matza and Kwasi Gyamfi AsieduPublished31 July 2026Updated 1 August 2026 01:20 BSTUS prosecutors have dropped charges against a former Olympian who had been accused of vandalising the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC, writing in court documents that the damage is now believed to be "the result of flawed installation by the contractor".

President Donald Trump had previously blamed the damage on "sick, deranged" vandals.

But a document filed by prosecutors in Washington DC on Friday says new information "strongly suggests that a rushed and botched installation" job overseen by the US Department of Interior led to the damage.

David Hearn, a champion canoeist, had been facing a 10-year prison sentence if found guilty after his arrest last month.

Image source, The Washington Post via Getty ImagesImage caption, A piece of the new blue paint could be seen peeling off the bottom of the pool on Thursday