Former Olympian David Hearn appeared with his attorney, Norman Eisen, to address reporters and protestors at Moultrie Courthouse in Washington, DC. This followed his arraignment related to alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

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Federal prosecutors have decided to dismiss the charges against Hearn. Instead, they attribute the damage to the reflecting pool to a “botched installation,” not vandalism. Initially, Hearn, aged 67, pleaded not guilty to a charge of property destruction exceeding $1,000. He claimed that he only touched the water out of curiosity.

U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, initially stated that Hearn deliberately damaged the pool following its $14 million renovation.

However, recent filings show a change in the government’s stance. This development came after new reports from the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Park Police.

The filing noted that the damage in June was linked to a flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC). The urgency to complete the project before the America 250 celebration resulted in the oversight.

The Department of the Interior has been contacted for further comments.