David Hearn Seeks Probe

Lawyers for former Olympic canoeist David Hearn asked watchdogs at the Justice and Interior departments to investigate his arrest, indictment and prosecution. They alleged incompetence, misconduct and political pressure after the government abandoned the felony case. Hearn was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after touching a loose piece of its new liner during a bike ride. The government later said a contractor’s botched installation caused the peeling, and a judge dismissed the charge with prejudice. Hearn’s lawyers say prosecutors had evidence of earlier liner failures before the indictment. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has defended the case, saying Interior did not provide key information in time. The watchdogs have not publicly said whether they will investigate.