Olympic canoeist at center of Reflecting Pool scandal becomes a Trump foil

David Hearn, a 67-year-old Maryland resident who competed in canoe slalom at three Olympics, has become an unlikely symbol of opposition to President Donald Trump's makeover of Washington. The administration accused Hearn of deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a charge carrying up to 10 years in prison, but a federal judge has since thrown out the case with prejudice. Trump and his allies see a vandal acting out of spite, while critics say Hearn was made a scapegoat for a failing project. Federal prosecutors have described the pool's $14 million renovation as botched, and the site is still closed to visitors, according to CNN.

Hearn says he stopped at the pool during a 52-mile training ride from Bethesda, curious about its peeling synthetic liner because his canoe-building business uses similar materials. He was arrested, and the day after he said he simply wanted to know why it was peeling.

His fame now resembles that of other local Trump antagonists, including a man who hurled a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer. Hearn recently joined a protest at East Potomac Park against plans to turn the public course into a championship venue.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →