Suspect arrested, charged for allegedly vandalizing World War II memorial in DC, Pirro announces

“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 Jeanine Pirro said.

Published: August 14, 2026 10:49am

Updated: August 14, 2026 11:41am

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced charges Friday against a woman accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

Pirro said in a post on X that prosecutors were filing two felony charges against Melissa L. Farris – depredation against property of the U.S. and destruction of veterans' memorials. If convicted on the charges, Farris faces up to 10 years in prison. 

Farris is in federal custody, 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. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro wrote.

The vandals dumped bubble soap into a fountain at the site and spray-painted graffiti in red. One message read: "Clean Hands Dirty $," the New York Post reported. Frothy bubbles swelled out of the fountain, which honors the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany in the Atlantic Theater. 

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