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Melissa Farris, a Kentucky resident, faced formal indictment Friday on two federal counts stemming from alleged damage to the World War II Memorial in the nation’s capital. The charges include destruction of a veterans’ memorial and destruction of government property, with prosecutors estimating cleanup and restoration expenses at more than $1,000.
Authorities say Farris sprayed bright-pink paint spelling “Clean hands, dirty money” across the memorial and introduced bubble soap into the central fountain on August 13. She subsequently appeared on Facebook live the following day, stating her intention to surrender to authorities at the federal courthouse while acknowledging her role in the incident.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro characterized the vandalism as a grave affront to those who died in World War II, noting her own family’s military service. Pirro’s office indicated the charges carry potential sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
The indictment comes amid broader controversy surrounding recent damage to monuments on the National Mall. Earlier this month, prosecutors dropped charges against multiple individuals, including Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been arrested in June for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, with evidence suggesting renovation work rather than intentional damage caused the deterioration.
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