Olympian Acquitted in Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case; Kennedy Center Halts Tours; Gold Leaf Spending Reported
In Washington, D.C., Olympian David Hearn was found not guilty of vandalism after evidence suggested a contractor's error caused damage to the Reflecting Pool. Separately, the Kennedy Center has halted its free tours following a report in the New York…
Washington, DC, August 3, 2026 —
Olympian David Hearn has been found not guilty of vandalism in connection with damage to the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Evidence presented during the proceedings indicated that the damage may have been caused by an error made by a contractor. The specific details of the contractor’s error were not provided.
In a separate development, the Kennedy Center has suspended its free public tours. This decision follows a report published by the New York Times concerning renovations at the venue. The report’s specific findings regarding the renovations were not detailed in the summary, nor was the duration for which the tours will be halted.
Additionally, a report indicated that the Trump administration allocated approximately $5.1 million for the purchase of gold leaf. This expenditure was reportedly for statues located near the Lincoln Memorial. Further information regarding the specific statues or the timeline of this expenditure was not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Gail O’Hara on washingtoncitypaper.com, see more information here.
