What We Don’t Know
It is unclear what new charges could be brought against Hearn. The former Olympian pleaded not guilty to a single charge of destruction of property worth $1,000 or more, arguing he had only briefly touched a loose piece of the pool’s sealant.
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Tangent
Trump sought lengthy jail time for the alleged Reflecting Pool vandals after they were charged earlier this summer. In an Oval Office appearance, he pointed to a federal statute prohibiting the destruction of federal property that carries a maximum of up to 10 years in prison. “I think they’re in big trouble,” he said.
Key Background
Trump’s $16 million Reflecting Pool renovation ran into several problems after it began in April. Algae blooms, which Trump wanted to eliminate with the renovation, have occurred multiple times in the pool since the start of the renovation, turning its water green. The pool’s “American flag blue” sealant also peeled in June, leaving some pieces near or on the pool’s surface. Hearn was charged after touching a peeled piece, marking the first of multiple vandalism cases brought by Pirro’s office. Trump claimed the sealant was cut into a 350-foot gash with knives and razor blades, with Pirro initially alleging “unchecked vandalism” was to blame for the loose material.
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Further Reading
Trump Says Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandals Should Be Jailed ‘For A Long Time’ (Forbes)
Trump Doubles Down On Reflecting Pool Vandal Claims—After Pirro Drops Vandalism Case (Forbes)