Raskin knocks ‘Trumped-up charges’ against former Olympian accused of Reflecting Pool vandalism

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on Thursday defended former Olympian David Hearn, who was arrested and accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, vowing to do everything he could to ensure he receives a fair trial.

Raskin, whose district includes Hearn’s hometown in Montgomery County, Md., issued a statement shortly after Hearn pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a felony destruction of property charge.

“Davey Hearn is my constituent, a native-born resident of Montgomery County, a three-time Olympian canoeist, and a famed and celebrated teacher and coach of canoeing and kayaking in our community,” the lawmaker wrote in his statement. “He is beloved in my district as a model citizen whether on water or on dry land. He is a great guy.”

The Maryland Democrat also took several jabs at President Trump’s efforts to place his name on several landmarks across Washington, D.C., saying Hearn “would never desecrate a federal building or landmark by writing his name on it or affixing his name illegally to it or engaging in any other kind of political graffiti, vandalism or delinquency.”

“Whether we are talking about the White House, the Reflecting Pool or the Kennedy Center, Davey would never try to alter, bulldoze or redesign federal property or buildings without explicit Congressional authorization and direction,” he wrote.

Raskin also accused the prosecution of targeting Hearn, describing the case as being built on a “Kafkaesque arrest and Orwellian charges” and pledging to “do everything I can” to ensure Hearn receives a fair trial on what he described as “absurdly trumped-up charges.”

Hearn, 67, was arrested last month and indicted by a grand jury after prosecutors accused him of “forcefully and violently” ripping up the pool’s bottom liner and causing more than $1,000 in damage to the sealant.

Hearn has denied the allegations, telling The Washington Post after his arrest that he “didn’t vandalize anything.”

“I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs,” he said.

If found guilty, Hearn could face up to 10 years in prison.

Trump’s efforts to restore the pool have seen several issues following its multimillion-dollar renovation, including reports of peeling paint and algae bloom.

The Trump administration has blamed the cause of the issues on vandalism, and several arrests have been made against those accused of tampering with the 2,082-foot basin.