Olympian speaks out after blue-paint ‘vandalism’ arrest at Trump’s algae-covered Reflecting Pool

Olympian speaks out after blue-paint ‘vandalism’ arrest at Trump’s algae-covered Reflecting Pool ‘We've already heard many lies from this administration,’ US Olympian David Hearn said. ‘That's just another lie’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A U.S. Olympian has spoken out after his arrest on allegations he vandalized the Reflecting Pool, now marred by peeling blue paint and algae blooms following President Trump’s multimillion-dollar no-bid repair job. David Hearn, 62, denied claims that he ripped or otherwise damaged the “American flag-blue” sealant recently applied to the bottom of the 2,000-foot basin, which sits in front of the Lincoln Memorial. “It's a completely unfounded accusation,” Hearn told The Daily Mail. “We've already heard many lies from this administration…That's just another lie.” Hearn, a canoe slalom athlete who competed in three Olympics, said he touched a “loose flap of coating” simply because he was “curious as a concerned citizen.” He wound up being arrested, jailed for hours and charged with a misdemeanor. Trump first announced his planned renovation of the Reflecting Pool in April, claiming it had been neglected by his Democratic predecessors and fallen into disrepair. His administration ultimately spent more than $14 million on the resurfacing project, much of it spent on no-bid contracts. The work was completed earlier this month. Within days, however, problems began to emerge. The pool’s water turned bright green as algae spread across the surface, prompting workers to dump hydrogen peroxide into the basin. Soon after, chunks of blue paint started breaking away and floating to the top. Over the weekend, the 80-year-old president blamed vandals for the problems in a series of Truth Social posts, while stating the pool would likely need to be drained for repairs. On Friday evening, he claimed that unnamed individuals had “done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed” in an attempt to “destroy and demean our beautiful work.” Hearn, a Maryland resident, biked to the pool earlier that day after completing a 52-mile ride. He told The Washington Post that he noticed a piece of liner partially detached from the bottom and reached in to feel it. Minutes later, Park Police officers arrested him and charged him with a misdemeanor count of destroying government property. He is now due to appear in court early next month. “Officers were ready to arrest me and other people they found who they could have some contrived basis of charges on to accuse them of vandalism,' he told The Daily Mail. He also said that he was never read his Miranda rights during the arrest and was held in a jail cell for five hours, an ordeal he described as “scary.” “With the government that we're under and right now, there have been many unlawful detentions,” he said. “I was happy I wasn't in ICE custody, and I was happy I wasn't being sent to El Salvador, but there was a high degree of uncertainty over when I was going to be released.” On Saturday, the Republican president doubled down on his claims that his latest renovation project had been set back by sabotage. “The United States Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Pool,” he wrote in one post. “Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail!” He added that workers will “immediately” begin repairing the pool. The Independent has reached out to the Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, for comment. A spokesperson for the department previously told The Independent that workers are deploying nano-bubble ozone technology to blitz the algae. “This technology is actively killing algae, pathogens (e.g., E. coli), and contaminants that have long plagued the Reflecting Pool since 1922, most infamously, the Obama pool reopening that resulted in massive algae clumps taking over the pool’s surface following years of construction that cost,” the spokesperson said. In addition to the Reflecting Pool, the president has undertaken numerous other renovation or construction projects in the nation’s capital. Since returning to office, he’s knocked down the East Wing to make room for a massive ballroom, paved over the Rose Garden and announced plans for a 250-foot victory arch on the banks of the Potomac River. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments