Overview
- On Thursday the World War II Memorial on the National Mall was defaced with red and green spray paint reading variations of “Clean hands dirty $” and soap was poured into its fountain causing heavy bubbles.
- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that Melissa L. Farris of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, is in federal custody and faces two felony counts—depredation against U.S. property and destruction of veterans’ memorials—with penalties up to 10 years in prison.
- Investigators say they linked Farris to the scene using surveillance camera footage, witness photographs and videos the suspect posted to social media that appear to show her spray-painting and acknowledging the damage.
- Park Service crews removed the paint and cleared the fountain overnight and the memorial was cleaned and reopened to the public the next day with restoration costs cited as more than $1,000.
- Veterans groups and the Interior Department condemned the act and President Trump publicly criticized the vandalism while the case is drawing heightened attention because it follows recent disputes over damage to other National Mall sites and the Justice Department’s earlier handling of the Reflecting Pool investigation.