10/01/2026
Olympian and World Champion whitewater paddler Davey Hearn vindicated after trumped-up charges of vandalism, for exposing the poor workmanship of the reflecting pool makeover failure!
Today, the Superior Court made it final: U.S. Olympian Davey Hearn’s case has been DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. That means this absurd prosecution is over!
The Court’s order is extraordinary in both its result and its reasoning. Judge Edelman wrote that the government ultimately recognized that the prosecution “lacked merit” because “no crime had occurred.” The Court found that the damage to the Reflecting Pool resulted from the contractor’s “rushed and botched” installation and that Davey’s actions had no effect on the value of the Pool.
The Court went even further, concluding that the government’s interest in preserving the possibility of another prosecution was marginal and citing the “extraordinary possibility that Mr. Hearn will nonetheless face a meritless, politically motivated prosecution.” For that reason, the Court determined that dismissal with prejudice was necessary to protect Davey from that uncertainty and potential harassment.
Many of us have stood with Davey throughout this ordeal because this issue was about fairness, proportionality, and the basic principle that no one should face a felony prosecution when the evidence does not support it. Davey is a U.S. Olympian, a two-time World Champion, a coach, a mentor, and someone who has given decades of his life to our community. Today, he finally gets the certainty he deserved.
Case dismissed. With prejudice. Final. I could not be happier for my friend Davey and his family.
