Additional Charges Filed for Reflecting Pool Damage Post-restoration
WHO:
Alternet - David Hearn, an Olympic canoeist, is set to appear in court alongside Norm Eisen, a co-founder of CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington).
CNN - An officer reported that Carreno was seen reaching down into the Reflecting Pool to pull up a piece of blue paint.
CNN - An officer found an additional piece of the Reflecting Pool liner in Dennison-Gibby's purse.
CNN - Cameron Thiers, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Justin Carreno were charged with destruction of property.
CNN - David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, was indicted for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool.
WHAT:
Alternet - Hearn has publicly stated, “I did not remove, I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool.”
Alternet - Hearn's attorney, Joyce Vance, expressed skepticism about the evidence in the case, stating, “I just don't see how the government proves its case.”
CNN - The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges of destruction of property with a value less than $1,000.
CNN - The New York Times first reported that three additional people had been charged with damaging the Reflecting Pool.
CNN - Crews began draining the Reflecting Pool over the weekend to make repairs for the second time in three months.
CNN - Thiers, Dennison-Gibby, and Carreno were charged with misdemeanor destruction of property with a value less than $1,000.
CNN - The judge ordered the three defendants to stay away from the Reflecting Pool.
CNN - If found guilty, the defendants could face fines up to $1,000 and a maximum of 180 days in jail.
CNN - Hearn was charged with destruction of property with a value of more than $1,000, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted.
CNN - Crews began draining the Reflecting Pool to make repairs for the second time in three months.
WHERE:
CNN - The incidents occurred at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
WHEN:
Alternet - Hearn is scheduled to appear in court on a Thursday morning.
CNN - The arraignment for Thiers, Dennison-Gibby, and Carreno took place on a Wednesday.
CNN - Hearn is set to be arraigned in court on a Thursday.
WHY:
Alternet - Eisen described the situation as “the latest scandal of scapegoating and blame shifting and the administration's own failures on the Reflecting Pool.”
CNN - President Trump claimed that vandals caused major damage to the Reflecting Pool after his administration spent more than $14 million on renovations.
HOW:
CNN - Several partnering law enforcement agencies from Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, and California were involved in detaining the three individuals.
CNN - Officers detained the three individuals after witnessing them peeling and removing pieces of blue paint from the Reflecting Pool.
CNN - The actions of the defendants were recorded on officers’ body-worn cameras.
CNN - An officer reported that Thiers admitted to removing a piece of blue sealant from the Reflecting Pool.
(UPDATED July 9, 2026 12:50 UTC)
David Hearn, an Olympic canoeist, is scheduled to appear in court alongside Norm Eisen, a co-founder of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, on an upcoming Thursday morning. Hearn has firmly stated that he did not remove, damage, or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool, while his attorney, Joyce Vance, expressed doubts about the government's ability to prove its case. Eisen has characterized the situation as “the latest scandal of scapegoating and blame shifting and the administration's own failures on the Reflecting Pool.”
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(UPDATED July 9, 2026 11:55 UTC)
Three individuals have been charged with misdemeanor destruction of property after being caught damaging the Reflecting Pool, with one officer reporting that Carreno was seen pulling up a piece of blue paint from the water. An additional piece of the Reflecting Pool liner was discovered in Dennison-Gibby's purse, and all three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which involve damages valued at less than $1,000. Crews have begun draining the Reflecting Pool for the second time in three months to carry out necessary repairs, with assistance from law enforcement agencies across several states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, and California.
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(UPDATED July 9, 2026 04:18 UTC)
Cameron Thiers, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Justin Carreno have been charged with misdemeanor destruction of property for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial, while former Olympic canoeist David Hearn faces more serious charges for causing over $1,000 in damage. The judge has ordered the three defendants to stay away from the Reflecting Pool, and if convicted, they could face fines up to $1,000 and a maximum of 180 days in jail, while Hearn could face up to 10 years in prison. Officers detained the three after witnessing them peeling and removing blue paint from the Reflecting Pool, with their actions captured on body-worn cameras, and Thiers reportedly admitted to removing a piece of sealant.