Judge To Rule Quickly On Dismissal Of David Hearn Indictment

According to CNBC, a Washington judge said Friday he will rule quickly on whether to dismiss with prejudice the now-discredited indictment against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn over vandalism allegations tied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors told D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman they want the case dismissed without prejudice, which would allow them to seek charges again if new evidence emerges, while Hearn's lawyer argued the case should be permanently closed. Prosecutors have said there are no current grounds to sustain a criminal case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Spence said there is a public interest in allowing a future grand jury to act if new information comes to light. Hearn was indicted in early July on a destruction-of-property charge after U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said he intentionally damaged a two-square-foot piece of liner from the Reflecting Pool on June 19, but Pirro later moved to dismiss the case after the Interior Department said the damage stemmed from a flawed installation.