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A grand jury in Washington, D.C., has indicted former U.S. Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn on a felony charge for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 19. He is facing a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. Hearn, who denies the accusations, says he had noticed a partly detached piece of the Reflecting Pool’s blue liner and reached into the water to see what it felt like, when he was quickly arrested and subsequently held in jail for five hours. He is one of at least six people who have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, which has turned green due to algae blooms despite being painted “American-flag blue” at the behest of President Trump.

“We do think that Davey is being scapegoated for the failures of the White House with respect to the Reflecting Pool, that the blame is being shifted,” says Norm Eisen, co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund. “He’s innocent, and we intend to vigorously defend the matter.”

Eisen speaks about some of the other 300 cases Democracy Defenders Fund is involved in, including legal fights against the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and the Trump administration’s executive order that attempted to end birthright citizenship. He also comments on President Trump having made $2.2 billion last year, mostly fueled by cryptocurrency profits. “It’s corruption on a scale we’ve never seen in American history, and, frankly, seldom in world history,” says Eisen.

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: A grand jury in Washington, D.C., has indicted the former U.S. Olympian canoeist Davey Hearn for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. On June 19th, Davey Hearn stopped by the pool while on a 64-mile bike ride. He says he touched the pool to see what it felt like, and was then arrested, handcuffed and held for five hours by U.S. Park Police. He’s now facing a possible sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. He is one of the at least six people who have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing the pool.

Trump Threatens ABC News Over Coverage of Costly Reflecting Pool Project

Following the incident, Trump posted on social media, quote, “The United States Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Pool. Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail!” Trump wrote.

[U.S.] Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro said Hearn willfully and violently damaged a two-square-foot piece of sealant of the pool.

JEANINE PIRRO: I thought it was important to call this press conference because one of the most offensive images that I hold in my mind are the images of national monuments that are being defaced, roped, torn down, graffitied and damaged by individuals. … Today is about accountability for damaging a national resource, a national treasure, and that is the Reflecting Pool.

JEANINE PIRRO: I thought it was important to call this press conference because one of the most offensive images that I hold in my mind are the images of national monuments that are being defaced, roped, torn down, graffitied and damaged by individuals. … Today is about accountability for damaging a national resource, a national treasure, and that is the Reflecting Pool.

AMY GOODMAN: That’s U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro.

The Reflecting Pool underwent a nearly $16 million renovation. President Trump wanted to paint the bottom of the pool “American flag blue.” The work was completed under a no-bid contract, but then the pool turned green as algae blooms flourished, and the bottom of the pool began to peel. Late-night comics started to say that the pool was “Mexican flag green.”

For more, we’re joined by Norm Eisen. He’s co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, one of Davey Hearn’s attorneys, was formerly White House special counsel for ethics and government reform under President Obama and was co-founder and board chair of CREW — that’s Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Norm Eisen, thanks so much for joining us. Can you talk about what Davey Hearn exactly was charged with?

NORM EISEN: Well, Mr. Hearn has been charged with vandalism. He’s innocent. The charges are outrageous. And, Amy, it should be concerning to every American when on this kind of a basis a felony charge can issue. So, we’re preparing........

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