World War II Memorial on National Mall Vandalized
A fountain at the World War II Memorial was filled with bubbles and red paint bearing a slogan was applied, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Park Police.
Vandalism was reported Thursday at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, where bubbles were found in a fountain and red paint bearing the words "Clean hands dirty $" was applied to a surface. The Interior Department said U.S. Park Police responded to the scene and an investigation is underway.
"The public should know we will find the person responsible for this act," the department said.
The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit that helps maintain the site, said the memorial should not be used as a canvas for vandalism. The Veterans of Foreign Wars described the incident as disrespectful to veterans and their families.
The memorial is located east of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has recently been the subject of repair work and prior claims of damage. President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform about the incident, calling it a "spray painting" and linking it to previous concerns about the reflecting pool.
Earlier this year, a former Olympian was charged with damaging the reflecting pool, but the Justice Department later dismissed the case, citing insufficient evidence. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro had previously argued that the pool damage resulted from construction issues rather than vandalism. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum indicated that some vandalism incidents have been captured on video.