EDITORIAL: False charges in D.C. Reflecting Pool “vandalism”

July 4, 2026 11

Earlier this week, I read an article involving the grand jury injunction against a former Team USA Olympian. David Hearn was taken into custody last month for “allegedly vandalizing” the Reflecting Pool.

I submitted a Letter to the Editor to The Washington Times on Thursday, which remains unpublished. I have taken it upon myself to publish what I wrote to take full ownership, since the Times apparently doesn’t value opinions from all.

The following is its text in its entirety.

The latest court case in D.C. Superior Court could very well scream Mike Judge’s 2006 comedy Idiocracy from the highest heights.

Recently, the Trump Administration has charged former Team USA Olympian David Hearn with a crime that he didn’t even commit: the so-called “vandalism” of the Reflecting Pool.

If anything, it was the Trump Administration that vandalized the Reflecting Pool, using $14 million in taxpayer dollars stolen from you, the public forced to pay your annual extortion to Washington.

What did $14 million get us? The Reflecting Pool looks more like a swamp than the swamp Trump claimed he wanted to drain in 2016: the swamp of corrupt politicians working on Capitol Hill.

I don’t claim to be an expert on pools, but an aggressive growth of algae and chipping paint because of an incompetent painting crew is vandalism of the Trump Administration’s creation. How much of OUR taxpayer dollars were used to try controlling the algae growth – and still failing? Pretty sure the chemicals they poured into the pool are what caused the paint to peel.

The D.C. Superior “kangaroo court” indicted a man – an American Olympian — for a crime he did not commit. Hearn isn’t the only person being wrongfully accused and charged. Several others are facing false charges instigated by this Administration due to false reports from the National Park Service.

This is why you should never pay attention to the garbage your politicians say, because they’re all full of rubbish and lies. Liars in government used to be tarred and feathered, then forced to walk down the road for public ridicule. This would be a perfect time to bring that back – not just for the Trump Administration, but equally applied to Democratic and Republican politicians.

As we mark America’s establishment and separation from Great Britain, we are and should be a nation with justice for all. Not justice for some. It appears this way because the Trump Administration is making excuses for the current poor condition of the Reflecting Pool. He’s seeking convictions of people who had no involvement in the structure’s vandalism. The vandalism lies more along the lines of the people who would receive the task to do the work — poor work at it nonetheless.

Jake Leonard, Editor-In-Chief

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.