Woman Arrested and Faces Felony Charges for Vandalism at World War II Memorial in Washington, DC

A woman has been arrested and charged with two felonies following the vandalism of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, coming just weeks after President Donald Trump publicly rebuked his own US attorney regarding a separate case at the nearby Reflecting Pool.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced on Friday that 41-year-old Melissa Farris had been taken into custody. Farris faces charges of depredation of US property and destruction of veterans’ memorials, offenses that carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

The arrest follows an incident where the memorial was defaced with soap and graffiti. Bubbles filled the fountain, and the phrase “Clean hands dirty $” was painted in red and green on the surface.

“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, mentioning that her father and grandfather served in the US armed forces. Pirro also shared images showing a woman appearing to hold a spray-paint can near red graffiti at the site, though she did not disclose the origin of the photographs. Farris is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, while the Public Defender’s Office stated earlier in the day that she had not yet been assigned a lawyer.

The new charges arrive shortly after Pirro dropped vandalism cases against multiple individuals accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. That decision drew criticism from President Trump, highlighting a public disagreement between the president and his political appointee.

President Trump had insisted that the pool was intentionally vandalized following renovations he ordered and oversaw. However, the condition of the pool worsened days after completion, showing peeling blue sealant and algae. Pirro initially brought charges against former Olympic athlete David Hearn and at least six others in early July, citing substantial evidence. By August 1, however, she filed a motion to drop the charges against Hearn, stating that the Interior Department had supplied insufficient information and attributing the damage to faulty repairs.

President Trump publicly criticized Pirro's decision, telling reporters on August 3 that he was deeply disappointed and felt she “folded like an umbrella.” He also connected the Reflecting Pool dispute to the recent World War II Memorial incident on Truth Social, writing, “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???”

The Interior Department stated that US Park Police are actively investigating the vandalism to identify those responsible, assuring the public that the perpetrator will be found. Monument renovations have been a key focus of President Trump's second term, alongside controversial updates to the White House and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as an ongoing anti-crime campaign that has drawn scrutiny from critics over heavy-handed law enforcement tactics.