Overview
- A D.C. grand jury returned a felony indictment on Thursday charging 67‑year‑old David Hearn with destruction of property for allegedly ripping about two square feet of sealant from the Reflecting Pool.
- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said National Park Service staff saw Hearn pull up the liner and that the damage exceeded $1,000 while Hearn says he only touched already‑peeling material and denies wrongdoing.
- Park crews continue short‑term algae treatments using chemicals and a nanobubbler system and plan to drain the pool after July 4 to perform warranty repairs to the new coating.
- The fast‑tracked, largely no‑bid renovation has cost roughly $14–16 million, included a $1.7 million nanobubbler contract, and drawn scrutiny for vendor ties to a Trump donor.
- Prosecutors said they are reviewing about half a dozen other alleged incidents, preservation groups have sued over the work, and claims by President Trump that saboteurs deliberately caused the damage have not been independently verified.