Federal authorities have detained multiple people in connection with alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, adding to mounting concerns surrounding the recently completed, multimillion-dollar renovation of one of the nation’s most recognizable landmarks.
President Donald Trump announced the arrests over the weekend, calling the incidents “very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail!” U.S. Park Police detained several individuals accused of damaging the recently refurbished pool, which has faced problems including algae growth and sections of its blue interior coating peeling away.
Trump alleged that vandals harmed the site by introducing chemicals and damaging the pool’s surface, though officials have not publicly released evidence supporting those claims. The National Park Service has been treating the water with hydrogen peroxide in an effort to control the algae bloom.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said those responsible for damaging the memorial area would be prosecuted, emphasizing that offenses involving national monuments would be taken seriously. Authorities have not disclosed the full number of arrests, but reports indicate several people were detained over separate incidents at the site.
Among those charged is former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, 67, who was arrested on a misdemeanor destruction-of-government-property allegation after interacting with a loose section of material inside the pool while stopping at the memorial during a bicycle ride. Hearn has denied causing any damage, stating, “I didn’t vandalize anything,” and maintaining that the liner was already detached when he touched it. He is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court next month.
The Reflecting Pool, which stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has drawn widespread attention in recent days as visitors photographed the green water and peeling surface. The controversy comes less than two weeks after completion of a renovation project valued at roughly $14.7 million. As crews work to address algae and coating failures, officials are weighing additional repairs that could require draining part of the reflecting pool.
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