The Justice Department has decided to drop the case against David “Davey” Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist. The charges were related to damage caused to the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Prosecutors revealed they received information that undermines the basis for the indictment. The allegations against Hearn cannot be substantiated beyond a reasonable doubt. The Interior Department provided documents showing that the damage was due to flawed installation by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings, not vandalism.

David Hearn was initially charged with destroying over $1,000 worth of property. He maintained his innocence, stating the pool’s condition remained unchanged after his brief interaction. His attorney, Steven Levin, criticized the government’s actions, suggesting they owed Hearn an apology for the charges and arrest.

The Justice Department, overseeing the case, confirmed difficulty in attributing the damage to vandalism. A spokesperson for Jeanine Pirro, heading the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, noted the filing was self-explanatory.

The government has also moved to dismiss at least one other misdemeanor case connected to the Reflecting Pool’s damage.