Davey Hearn on Election Night: ‘Now We Are Reclaiming Our Democracy’

Davey Hearn, an Olympic canoeist from Bethesda, was at an election-night event on Tuesday, Nov. 3, about a month after a judge dismissed the Reflecting Pool vandalism charge against him with prejudice. Moderately MOCO talked with Hearn on election night.

The interview is also on Facebook and Instagram. Interview by Jason Makstein for Moderately MOCO.

‘Reclaiming our democracy’

Hearn said he was “feeling pretty good” and called it “a great night.”

“It’s a good feeling now that the window for the government to appeal the dismissal with prejudice has passed,” Hearn said, pointing to the 30 days since the judge’s Oct. 1 ruling. That account of the appeal window is Hearn’s; Moderately MOCO has not independently confirmed it. “And now we are reclaiming our democracy,” he said.

Asked about being in the spotlight, Hearn said, “It’s a little bit of an adjustment for sure, but I’m proud to be able to make a contribution to getting our country back.”

Asked if he had anything to add, Hearn said, “God bless America.”

The case

On Oct. 1, D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman ordered that the case against Hearn be “DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE,” according to the judge’s 26-page order (a copy posted by Democracy Defenders Fund). Hearn had been indicted on one felony count of destruction of property; the indictment alleged damage to lining material of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the order says.

The dismissal with prejudice would block U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office from refiling the felony charge, the Associated Press reported. Hearn, of Bethesda, competed in three Summer Olympics, the AP reported.

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