Former US Olympic athlete David Hearn, 67, faces up to 10 years in prison after being indicted on 2/7 for felony destruction of property at the Reflecting Pool in Washington. Federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, who oversees the US capital region, announced that National Park Service personnel reportedly witnessed Hearn forcefully removing about 0.19 square meters of coating from the pool's bottom on 19/6, causing over 1,000 USD in damage.

Hearn, a former US canoeist who competed in three Olympics, denies the charges. He told media that while visiting the Reflecting Pool after a long bike ride, he noticed a patch of blue paint peeling off. He reached into the pool to feel the material, only to be arrested by police as he was about to leave. "I didn't vandalize anything", Hearn stated. "I didn't destroy, break, or peel anything. By the time I realized what was happening, I was handcuffed."

The Reflecting Pool in Washington, US, on 1/7. *AP*

Hearn's two lawyers, Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, criticized the indictment, calling it evidence of the justice system's politicization during President Donald Trump's term. "The American people should be particularly concerned by the government's abuse of power against an ordinary citizen, based on a fabricated story", they stated.

According to AFP, this commitment from federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro is likely to heighten concerns about the neutrality of the US Department of Justice under President Donald Trump, who had previously threatened to jail individuals attempting to vandalize the Reflecting Pool.

Pirro pledged to hold anyone accountable for damaging national landmarks. She added that her office is reviewing other incidents, but these cases typically result in administrative penalties or lesser offenses.

David Hearn competing in Penrith, Australia in 2000. *AP*

The Reflecting Pool is an iconic landmark designed to reflect the Washington Monument on the National Mall, near the Lincoln Memorial. At least 14 million USD was spent on its renovation project. However, not long after the project was completed, the paint coating began to peel, and the water in the pool turned cloudy blue due to algae. President Trump attributed the cause to vandalism, but offered no evidence.

The Reflecting Pool renovation was part of President Trump's large-scale plan to redevelop the capital Washington, which included demolishing the White House East Wing to build a new ballroom and constructing a massive archway near Arlington National Cemetery.

Pham Giang (According to AFP, Reuters)