UMVA has learned that a former Olympic canoeist, David Hearn, charged with vandalism at the Reflecting Pool over the weekend, has ties to a major left-wing fundraising network.
Hearn, 67, a three-time summer Olympian and registered Democrat, donated to a prominent Democratic fundraising apparatus 10 times and contributed to a former President's presidential campaigns five times, raising questions about his involvement in the alleged vandalism.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Hearn was charged with a misdemeanor for destruction of government property after he allegedly grabbed a hose being used by a National Park Service worker, causing the Reflecting Pool to be drained.
The incident has sparked outrage, with many criticizing the restoration project that aimed to renovate the pool, which was completed under the direction of a former President.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Hearn told investigators he is a "curious citizen" and "reached down to see what it felt like" to touch the hose, describing it as feeling "very rubbery."
Hearn has a history of run-ins with the law, having been previously arrested by U.S. Park Police in 1996 for ignoring an emergency closure of the Potomac River during a severe rainstorm.
The $14.8 million restoration project has drawn intense scrutiny, with many Democratic lawmakers and Washington residents expressing outrage over the algae growth and peeling paint.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that five people have been arrested on vandalism charges, while federal citations were issued to five additional individuals, with a total of 14 people filed for vandalism.
One incident involved a suspect accused of using a blade to slash nearly 300 feet of the pool's liner, an act that drew strong condemnation from a former President.
The former President took to social media to express his outrage, stating that the vandals had caused significant damage to the pool and its surroundings, and that chemicals were used to damage the pool's newly installed surface.
UMVA has gathered that the investigation into the vandalism incidents is ongoing, with authorities working to identify and prosecute those responsible for the damage.
