Source : Perth Now news
An ex-Olympian has been indicted over what US President Donald Trump called “disgraceful vandalism” to Washington’s Reflection Pool.
David ‘Davey’ Hearn, 67, was indicted on a single count of property destruction causing more than $1000 damage in a Washington DC court.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charge on Thursday, saying Hearn was seen “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the pool with both hands, as reported by NBC News.
“One of the most offensive images that I hold in my mind are the images of national monuments that are being debased, roped, torn down, graffitied, and damaged by individuals,” she said.
“This unchecked vandalism and civil disorder turns into criminal behaviour, and that’s why we are here today.”
At the time, Hearn said he had stopped by the pool to see what was going on during a bike ride.
Hearn told the Associated Press that he wanted to examine the peeling coating and had briefly touched a chunk which was still attached to the side of the pool.
He said he let go of it when asked by a park worker, but then was detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours.
“I’m a curious citizen,” Hearn said in a telephone interview.
“I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery.”
Hearn was a slalom canoeist represented the US at the Olympics in 1992, 1996, and 2000.
He is facing 10 years in prison if convicted.
NBC reported that Hearn’s lawyers released a statement after the indictment, claiming he was innocent.
“Davey Hearn is innocent,” they wrote.
“These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American.
“This indictment reflects the administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures.
“On the eve of our nation’s Independence Day, Americans should be deeply concerned by the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative.
“The justice system exists to determine facts, not to provide political cover.”
Ms Pirro said Hearn “reacted by shouting at that park’s employee, saying that she cared too much about the reflecting pool, and why did she even care, since it wasn’t her pool”.
Recently, the Reflections Pool has been the cause of many problems for the President, who recently finished a renovation project at the site.
As part of that, the bottom was painted a colour Mr Trump dubbed “American flag blue”.
However, after the new pool was unveiled, its blue tinge quickly became a familiar green. Workers treated it with chemicals to kill the algae, but then the painted blue lining on the bottom began to peel.
Mr Trump announced on June 6 that work was completed on a $US14.7 million ($A21 million) renovation project for the pool.
Soon after, workers started pouring hydrogen peroxide into the pool to combat an algae bloom that had turned it green, instead of the expected dark blue.
In a lengthy Truth Social post at the time of the incident, Mr Trump labelled damage to the pool “disgraceful vandalism” and a deliberate, “criminal” act, claiming those responsible used “a very sharp knife or razors” to create a series of slashes stretching hundreds of feet across the pool’s surface.
Mr Trump said six people had been arrested and a further seven people had been cited over the incident.
“The 350 foot gash, made by a very sharp knife or razors, is actually numerous slashes over a very long 350 foot length,” Mr Trump wrote.
“It was purposefully and criminally done, and somebody had to work very hard, probably in the dark of night, to create such a condition.”
The President also alleged part of the pool had been cut and lifted from the surface, leaving behind jagged and uneven edges.
“Likewise, the small area at the bottom of the Pool was cut and powerfully lifted off the surface leaving very jagged, uneven edges,” he said.
Despite detailing what he described as significant vandalism, Mr Trump accompanied the post with a series of photographs showing the Reflecting Pool looking immaculate.
Mr Trump insisted the landmark remained in excellent condition even before permanent repairs are carried out.
“In any event, even prior to fixing those areas, the Reflecting Pool is as beautiful as it can be,” he wrote.
With AP.
