World War II Memorial Vandal Busted, Faces 2 Felony Charges

The suspect in the vandalism at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., has been taken into custody and will face two felonies in the case, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro announced on Friday.

Melissa L. Farris will be charged with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials, Pirro said.

“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom,” Pirro said in an X post on Friday.

She added: “Those Americans include my father and grandfather. This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials, in Federal District Court against Melissa L. Farris, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. She is now in custody.”

The news came a little over an hour after President Donald Trump fumed over the vandalism, posting on Truth Social: “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II. First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???”

The memorial was vandalized with bubbles and red paint that read, “Clean hands dirty $” on Thursday in what the Veterans of Foreign Wars called “an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home,” according to the Associated Press.

This is a developing story and has been updated.

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