The Divide · October 21, 2026
Justice Department Inspector General Declines to Investigate Handling of Hearn Reflecting Pool Case
The Justice Department's inspector general has declined to investigate allegations of misconduct in the criminal case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before charges were dismissed. The watchdog told Hearn's lawyers the allegations fall outside its jurisdiction and belong instead to the department's Office of Professional Responsibility. Hearn's lawyers responded with a letter urging Inspector General Don R. Berthiaume to reconsider.
How the coverage split
AP led with the breadth of alleged misconduct — witness tampering, obstruction, and subornation of false testimony — and detailed the lawyers' argument that the IG is uniquely suited to investigate.
The Washington Examiner's headline framed the IG's action as the watchdog 'passing off' the investigation, with its available summary emphasizing the jurisdictional referral to OPR without elaborating on the specific misconduct allegations.
What both sides skipped
Neither source reported on the status of the parallel inspector general request filed with the Interior Department, which Hearn's lawyers also submitted alongside the Justice Department request.
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