Kentucky Woman Indicted for Vandalizing World War II Memorial in Washington

A grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on Thursday on two counts: destruction of a veterans’ memorial and destruction of government property. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2026.

According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the vandalism involved dumping bubble-soap into a fountain at the World War II Memorial and writing the phrase “Clean Hands Dirty $” on the structure. The government estimates the damage exceeds $1,000.

Farris posted videos to Facebook under the name Melissa Lovewell in which she acknowledged the act and said it was intended to advance a whistleblower case she is pursuing. In the videos she expressed frustration that she felt federal property could be defaced without consequence.

"The World War II Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the courage of 16 million Americans who served during World War II and the ultimate sacrifice of the 405,399 who gave their lives defending our nation and the freedoms we hold dear. Defacing it is an affront to their service and sacrifice," Pirro said.

The incident follows a series of vandalism cases on the National Mall this summer, including damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner and a graffiti incident on the Washington Monument lawn.