Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn‘s authorized group is pushing again arduous in opposition to allegations he vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool … insisting his arrest was fully unwarranted and is getting used as a distraction from the botched renovation.
Hearn’s attorneys inform TMZ the allegations do not maintain water, saying …”Treating ordinary conduct as criminal diverts attention from the real questions of how this project was managed, including its corrupt no-bid contracting process.”
The previous athlete’s attorneys took a swipe at President Trump too … “Using the criminal justice system to target innocent people as a form of distraction is textbook authoritarian behavior.”
As we reported … Hearn — a three-time U.S. Olympian in canoe slalom — was arrested Friday by U.S. Park Police after authorities accused him of damaging authorities property on the just lately renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Based on The Washington Put up, Hearn had stopped throughout a 52-mile bike experience to take a look at the Reflecting Pool following its current $16 million renovation … reaching into the water to the touch a bit of partially indifferent pool liner.
Authorities allegedly believed Hearn broken a part of the property and arrested him on a misdemeanor destruction of presidency property cost.
Hearn has denied the allegations from the beginning … telling the newspaper he spent roughly 5 hours in custody earlier than being launched Friday night time … and sustaining he by no means destroyed, peeled off, or broken any portion of the Reflecting Pool.
The arrest has sparked controversy, significantly given Hearn’s declare that he was merely observing the positioning when police intervened. For now, the case stays pending, and prosecutors will in the end decide whether or not the allegations transfer ahead in courtroom.
Our TMZ DC group adopted up after POTUS instructed reporters the “Parks Department” had proof vandals have been chargeable for injury to the Pool liner … nevertheless it turned out to be a wild goose chase.
