Woman Arrested, Charged With Two Felonies in World War II Memorial Vandalism

Federal authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the vandalism of the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., according to an announcement Friday by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia have filed charges against Melissa L. Farris, who now remains in custody.

Farris faces two felony counts: Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials. Each charge carries potential penalties of up to ten years in prison. According to prosecutors, the vandalism occurred Thursday, when the suspect allegedly spray-painted the memorial with the phrase “Clean hands, dirty money” in bright pink paint and dumped bubble soap into the monument’s central fountain.

Pirro characterized the alleged crime as a grave offense, stating that desecrating the World War II Memorial constitutes “a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom.” She noted that her own father and grandfather are among those commemorated at the site.

The incident marks the latest act of vandalism targeting Washington D.C. monuments this year. In June, U.S. Park Police investigated after the numbers “8647” were burned into grass near the Washington Monument. President Donald Trump issued a statement on Truth Social Thursday condemning the defacement and referencing ongoing investigations into separate vandalism at the Reflecting Pool.