Woman charged in World War II Memorial vandalism

A woman accused of vandalizing the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., has been arrested and charged with two federal felonies after red graffiti was found on the monument and soapy bubbles filled its fountain.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Friday that Melissa L. Farris is in custody and faces charges of depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials. The offenses carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison, Pirro said in a post on X.

“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro wrote.

Charging documents detailing the allegations against Farris were not immediately available, NBC News and CBS News reported. Pirro’s post included images of a woman she identified as Farris, including one in which the woman appeared to be holding a can of spray paint at the memorial.

The memorial, located on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, was vandalized Thursday. Its fountains were filled with soapy bubbles, and red paint was scrawled on a wall with words that appeared to read “Clean hands dirty $” or “Clean Hands Dirty $.” U.S. Park Police had been investigating the incident.

The Interior Department, which oversees the memorial and other historic sites, called the vandalism “an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated.” The department also said, “The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act.”

The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit group that supports preservation of the site, said the memorial is “a sacred place of remembrance—a place where veterans, families, students, and visitors from across our nation and around the world come to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, unity, and service of a generation that helped preserve freedom.”

The organization also said the memorial should not be used for political expression. “There are many places in our country for expression, debate and disagreement,” it said. “A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars called the vandalism “an act of profound disrespect,” The Guardian reported.

President Donald Trump condemned the damage Friday on Truth Social and linked it to recent controversy over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II. First the Reflecting Pool, now this,” Trump wrote. “We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???”

The arrest comes after Pirro’s office dropped charges against former Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn in connection with alleged damage to the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors said the damage was caused by a flawed or “botched” installation, not vandalism. A judge dismissed the charges against Hearn but had not yet decided whether to bar Pirro’s office from bringing future charges against him, NBC News reported.

CBS News reported last week that White House officials asked the Justice Department to consider bringing charges against Hearn again after Trump continued to say, without evidence, that vandals caused the major damage. Sources told CBS News no final decision had been made.

Other vandalism on the National Mall has drawn attention this year. In June, discoloration in grass near the Washington Monument spelled out “86 47” in large letters, CBS News reported. No one has been charged in that case.