Reflecting Pool vandalism charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn permanently dismissed

TL;DR

The criminal indictment against U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn has been permanently dismissed by a Washington D.C. judge.
Federal prosecutors admitted that the alleged vandalism to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was caused by a contractor's "botched installation" of a sealant.
Hearn had been charged with felony destruction of government property after being accused of damaging the pool's sealant.
The judge ruled that continuing the prosecution against Hearn would be "meritless, politically motivated."
The project to renovate the pool was championed by President Trump, who had personally selected the sealant's color.
The New York Times reported that the contractor admitted to insufficient primer and incompatible chemicals in the pool liner.
President Trump had publicly criticized the decision to drop the charges, insisting the damage was caused by vandals.

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