Three individuals have been charged following accusations of attempting to remove pieces of blue sealant from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. According to court documents, these actions have led to charges of misdemeanor destruction of public property, valued at less than $1,000.
National Park Service staff were seen vacuuming algae from the Reflecting Pool back in June, an effort separate from the recent allegations. The photo, captured by Pete Kiehart for The Washington Post, shows the ongoing maintenance work aimed at preserving the site.
The accused have entered pleas of not guilty in response to the charges. This legal development was reported on July 9, 2026, at 12:15 AM EDT.
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