Woman charged with felonies for vandalizing World War II Memorial in Washington
A 41-year-old woman was arrested and charged with two felonies after a soap and graffiti attack on the World War II Memorial, amid a recent dispute between President Trump and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over a separate Reflecting Pool case.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that Melissa Farris, 41, was taken into custody and charged with depredation of U.S. property and destruction of veterans’ memorials after the World War II Memorial was defaced with soap, bubbles and graffiti reading “Clean hands dirty $.” The charges carry potential sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
"Vandalising our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honouring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom," Pirro wrote on X, adding that her father and grandfather served in the armed forces.
The arrest follows a day when the memorial’s fountain was filled with soap bubbles and red-green paint was applied to its surface. Pirro posted images showing a woman appearing to hold a spray-paint can near the graffiti, though she did not disclose the source of the photos.
Farris is expected to be arraigned on Friday; the Public Defender’s Office said she has not yet been assigned counsel.
The incident comes weeks after Pirro dropped vandalism charges related to the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a decision that drew criticism from President Donald Trump. Trump accused Pirro of abandoning the case, saying, "I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro. She folded like an umbrella."
"Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by spray-painting vandals. First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from??," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The Interior Department said U.S. Park Police are investigating the World War II Memorial vandalism and pledged to locate the responsible individual.