The woman accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., was formally indicted Friday, Fox News Digital has learned.
Melissa Farris was charged on two counts, including destruction of a veterans’ memorial and destruction of government property.
The Kentucky woman allegedly spray-painted the words „Clean hands, dirty money“ in bright pink paint and dumped bubble soap into the fountain at the center of the memorial, according to authorities.
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ON NATIONAL MALL VANDALIZED WITH PINK SPRAY; FOUNTAIN OVERFLOWING WITH BUBBLES
Federal prosecutors allege that cleanup and restoration costs already exceeded $1,000.
Farris did a Facebook live before turning herself in and her arrest Aug. 14, in which she admitted to the alleged vandalism the day before.
„It’s me. I am going to turn myself in,“ she said. „I’m outside district federal court. I am just trying to do the right thing. … I was trying to get people to listen. … I tried to reach the media. I tried to fight back. I tried to ignore it.“
Farris claimed she lived in a paper-thin camper that she „boarded up with cardboard in the winter to feel a little bit warmer.“
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for comment.
WWII MEMORIAL VANDALISM SUSPECT IN CUSTODY, CHARGED WITH TWO FELONIES, PIRRO SAYS
„Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom,“ U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said in a statement after Farris was charged.
„Those Americans include my father and grandfather.“
Pirro said the charges carry penalties of up to ten years in prison.
„Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,“ President Donald Trump wrote earlier this month on Truth Social.
„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???“
Several people, including Olympic canoeist David Hearn, were arrested in June for allegedly vandalizing the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but the charges were dropped earlier this month.
TRUMP BLAMES VANDALS FOR DEAD GRASS ON NATIONAL MALL WHERE HE HOSTED 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Prosecutors cited evidence indicating the damage may have stemmed from a botched renovation rather than vandalism.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Aug. 16 said he „absolutely“ supported Pirro’s decision to drop the charges, „as does President Trump,“ he told NBC’s „Meet the Press.“
Trump has spoken out against the decision this month, saying he „disagrees 100%“ with Pirro’s decision.
Fox News’ Robert McGreevy, Bonny Chu and Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.
Woman accused of defacing WWII Memorial with spray paint indicted by federal grand jury 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-08-28 21:32:31
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
