When I think of Davey Hearn, I don't picture a defendant standing outside a courthouse. I picture my coach on the Potomac River, the mentor whose advice I regularly sought when I was leading USA Canoe/Kayak, and a friend who has spent his life helping others.

Today, CNN published an extraordinary profile of Davey, a three-time U.S. Olympian, two-time World Champion, and someone whose contributions to our community extend far beyond his remarkable athletic accomplishments. The article also recounts the federal prosecution that threatened to send him to prison and the community that rallied to his defense.

I was honored to be interviewed for the article and to help share Davey's story. As I told CNN:

I meant every word.

A Friendship That Goes Back Decades

Davey was my coach when I was competing in whitewater racing, and our relationship continued long after my competitive years. When I became Chair of USA Canoe/Kayak, the national governing body for Olympic canoe and kayak sports, I regularly turned to Davey for his advice, experience, and perspective.

Davey represented the United States in three Olympic Games, won two World Championships, and helped develop generations of athletes. However, what I have always admired most is his willingness to give his time to others, whether coaching young paddlers, volunteering with local nonprofits, helping maintain our waterways and public lands, or simply offering guidance to someone who needed it.

Davey is a Bethesda resident and Walter Johnson High School graduate who has spent decades giving back to Montgomery County and the broader Washington region. As a volunteer, he also cared for multiple National Park Properties along the C&O National Historic Park for decades.

Bottom Line: Davey has spent far more of his life protecting and caring for public spaces than most of us could ever hope to contribute. That is why I was appalled when the federal government accused him of maliciously destroying public property at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Why We Stood Up

As an attorney, I was deeply troubled by the government's handling of Davey's case, the evidence underlying the felony charge, and the apparent political pressure surrounding the prosecution. As Davey's friend, I knew the government's portrayal of him was fundamentally at odds with the person I had known for decades. And as an elected official, I believed the principles at stake were much bigger than one individual.

I was proud to help organize rallies, attend court proceedings, and speak publicly alongside Congressman Jamie Raskin, Davey's extraordinary legal team, fellow athletes, friends, and members of our community.

The people who came together to support Davey did not believe that Olympic accomplishments or a lifetime of volunteer service placed anyone above the law. We believed that the law must be applied fairly to everyone, regardless of political pressure or the government's desire to make an example of someone.

The government eventually acknowledged serious problems with its evidence, including that the damage to the Reflecting Pool was connected to a rushed and botched renovation project.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman ultimately dismissed Davey's case with prejudice, ensuring that the failed prosecution could not be revived.

In his decision, Judge Edelman wrote:

That finding should concern everyone who believes in due process and the fair administration of justice.

Why Standing Up Is So Important

One of the lessons I take from this experience is how important it is to speak up when someone is being unjustly prosecuted.

Davey was fortunate to have an extraordinary legal team, Congressman Raskin's advocacy, and a large community of friends and supporters willing to stand beside him. Many people facing the power of the government do not have those advantages.

I have thought about that often throughout this case.

We cannot defend fairness and due process only when the person facing injustice is someone we know. Those principles have meaning only when we are willing to defend them for everyone.

I am deeply grateful to Congressman Raskin for his leadership, to Davey's attorneys for their tireless work, and to the many people who refused to remain silent.

Although Davey's prosecution is finally over, important questions remain about how it happened. His legal team has requested investigations by the Inspectors General of the Justice Department and Department of the Interior, while Congressman Raskin has also demanded answers and accountability.

Those efforts deserve support because understanding how this happened is essential to preventing it from happening to someone else.

Davey's Real Legacy

Perhaps my favorite part of CNN's profile is that it does not end with the prosecution. It describes how Davey continues advocating for the protection of public spaces and contributing to causes he believes in. That is the Davey Hearn I have always known.

Long before the federal government made Davey a national news story, he was representing our country, teaching young athletes, protecting our rivers, and helping our community. And long after this prosecution has faded from the headlines, I know he will continue doing those things.

I am honored to call Davey Hearn my coach, mentor, and friend. I am proud that we stood up for him, and even prouder that so many people recognized that this was about something far greater than one person.

Davey's legacy will not be defined by an unjust prosecution. It will be defined by the extraordinary life he has lived, the people he has helped, and the example he continues to set.

I encourage everyone to read CNN's excellent profile and learn more about the Davey Hearn I have been fortunate to know for decades:  "Olympic canoeist at center of Reflecting Pool scandal becomes a Trump foil" Aleena Fayaz, CNN, October 18, 2026

www.cnn.com

David Hearn, cleared of allegations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, is now fighting to save a public golf course