Woman arrested over World War II Memorial vandalism, US Attorney Pirro announces
WASHINGTON —
Authorities have arrested a woman for allegedly vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and are charging her with multiple felonies, D.C. District Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Friday.
“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro posted online Friday morning. The charges include depredation against property of the U.S. and destruction of a veterans’ memorial.
In her post, Pirro named the defendant, Melissa L. Farris, and included pictures she says are of Farris spray painting the memorial. Farris faces up to 10 year in prison, Pirro said.
Melissa L. Farris, woman accused of vandalizing the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.
Pirro was criticized by Trump earlier this month when her office announced they would be dropping charges against several people for allegedly vandalizing the Reflecting Pool after it’s botched remodel this summer.
Prosecutors dropped the charges after learning that damage done to the pool was caused by a botched repair job, not vandalism. Trump, however, accused Pirro of folding “like an umbrella.”
World War II Memorial
The Interior Department began investigating the vandalism after neon graffiti was painted on the Atlantic Pavilion and the usually clear fountains overflowed with soapy bubbles on Thursday.
On the inner side of the fountain, graffiti written in neon orange stated: “Clean hands Dirty $.” Pink and green graffiti also littered the pavilion. The large whips of foam in the water appeared to be a result of someone pouring soap into the fountain.
The area was blocked off by law enforcement Thursday afternoon.
President Donald Trump on Friday posted on social media that the administration was on the “trail” of the still-unnamed suspects. He called the vandal “animals.”
“The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII. The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated. Our U.S. Park Police are on the scene and the investigation is ongoing. The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act,” the department said.
