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David Hearn, a erstwhile Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not blameworthy connected Thursday to damaging Washington’s reflecting excavation aft a $14.7m renewal project.
Hearn, a three-time US Olympian, was indicted past week connected a azygous felony count of spot destruction. He appeared successful section superior tribunal successful Washington DC, to participate nan plea aft he was criminally charged complete nan incident successful mid-June.
The conflict revolves astir nan 2,000ft-long (600-meter) pool, a centerpiece of Washington’s National Mall, which had been refurbished pinch an “American emblem blue” liner astatine Trump’s petition arsenic portion of nan 250th day ceremony of US independence. The multimillion-dollar renewal has been plagued pinch problems, including a bloom of algae that tinted nan h2o greenish and pieces of nan bluish lining peeling off.
The erstwhile Olympian, 67, is accused of “maliciously” breaking aliases destroying lining worldly connected nan bottommost of nan reflecting excavation connected 19 June.
Jeanine Pirro, nan US lawyer for Washington DC, claimed past Thursday that prosecutors had “tremendous evidence” that nan Olympian had “forcefully and violently” pulled up and removed nan bottommost liner successful nan reflecting pool, totaling much than $1,000 successful damage.
The 67-year-old cyclist denied removing thing from nan pool, though he acknowledged that his motorcycle tyre whitethorn person touched nan hose National Park Service workers were utilizing to clear nan algae. Hearn’s attorneys person said nan charges against him are based connected a “concocted narrative” and “should beryllium alarming to each American”.
“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told The Washington Post. “I didn’t destruct aliases break aliases peel anything. By nan clip I realized what was going on, I was being put successful handcuffs.”
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Hearn was released connected a individual recognizance bond, and nan judge ordered a position proceeding for 5 August.
