A former Olympic swimmer has denied allegations that she vandalised the Reflecting Pool at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in an incident that has drawn scrutiny to the conduct of US authorities.
The athlete, who won multiple medals in the 2000s, was arrested on Tuesday after park police claimed she poured a chemical agent into the pool, causing discolouration and a temporary closure. In a statement released through her lawyer, she said she was ‘deeply distressed’ by the charge and insisted she was merely testing water quality as part of an environmental campaign. The case has renewed debate over the use of force by federal law enforcement, with civil liberties groups criticising the arrest as heavy-handed.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week.
