Former Olympian Faces Charges for Alleged Damage at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
A former Olympian is in legal trouble for reportedly causing damage to federal property at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
David Hahn, who is 67 and from Maryland, was taken into custody by U.S. Park Police last Friday. Authorities allege he interfered with materials within the Reflecting Pool located in Washington, D.C.
Hahn, however, maintains he did nothing wrong, stating he was merely examining a section of the liner that had already detached.
“I didn’t destroy anything,” he insisted. “I didn’t break anything, or strip anything. By the time I realized what was happening, I was in handcuffs.”
Footage of the incident circulated widely on social media, capturing National Guard members engaging with Hahn before U.S. Park Police apprehended him. He appeared visibly bewildered during the encounter.
Hahn clarified that he didn’t remove anything from the pool or cause any damage. Reflecting pools have recently been under scrutiny due to maintenance issues, particularly with algae growth and wear affecting some liners.
After his arrest, he reported being detained for almost five hours and is set to appear in D.C. Superior Court on July 9 for a misdemeanor related to the destruction of government property.
A decorated athlete, Hahn competed from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. He won two individual world championship titles and five silver medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, and represented the U.S. in three Summer Olympics—his highest finish being ninth place in Atlanta in 1996.
Interestingly, this incident coincided with President Trump’s public concerns about damage to the Reflecting Pool, which had just undergone a $14.8 million restoration.
Trump stated, “There is a serious issue of vandalism at the beautiful reflecting pool between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.” He noted the algae had substantially decreased and that repairs were already in motion for the affected areas.
The president accused individuals of inflicting damage on the recently renovated sections and speculated about the usage of chemicals in the vandalism, referencing other similar incidents within the National Mall. He expressed optimism that the repairs and algae situation would be addressed shortly.
