A federal judge has dismissed the criminal case against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was charged with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Associate Judge Todd Edelman filed an order on Thursday granting in part the Department of Justice's request to dismiss the felony destruction of property charge.

The Justice Department had moved to dismiss the case last week, acknowledging that evidence indicated the damage to the pool was a result of flawed installation by the contractor. This move by the prosecution came after Hearn had been indicted by a grand jury on the felony destruction of property charge.

Attorneys for Hearn had sought to have the indictment dismissed with prejudice, meaning the government would be permanently barred from refiling charges. They argued that the government proceeded with the indictment without sufficient evidence and that Hearn should not be left subject to the possibility of renewed prosecution.

Judge Edelman stated he would wait to determine whether to grant the dismissal with prejudice after further arguments from both the government and Hearn's legal team. A filing schedule has been set for both parties, and a hearing for oral arguments will be scheduled once submissions are complete.

Hearn, a former U.S. Olympic canoeist, had pleaded not guilty to the charge last month. His arraignment followed accusations from the U.S. Attorney's office that he had "forcefully and violently" ripped up parts of the pool floor. The prosecution's filing revealed they only learned of the flawed installation process after Hearn's indictment.

President Donald Trump publicly criticized the Justice Department's move to drop the case, suggesting the prosecutor "choked" and continued to assert that vandals were responsible for the damage. He expressed his belief that the pool lining was cut and torn by individuals, not due to installation issues.

The incident relates to alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a prominent landmark in Washington D.C. The case had progressed to the point of an arraignment and plea before the recent developments in the prosecution's stance.

This dismissal, even if ultimately without prejudice, signifies a significant shift in the legal proceedings. The ultimate decision on whether the dismissal will be with or without prejudice remains pending, leaving Hearn's legal standing regarding this specific charge not entirely finalized.