Woman Charged in Vandalism of WWII Memorial

• The World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. was vandalized with graffiti and soap.
• Melissa L. Farris has been charged with two felony counts for the vandalism.
• The charges include depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans' memorials.
• Farris was identified through witness accounts and her own social media posts.
• President Donald Trump commented on the incident, drawing parallels to previous damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Melissa L. Farris has been charged with two felony counts in connection with the vandalism of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The charges, announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, include "Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials," carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The vandalism, which occurred on Thursday, involved painting "Clean hands dirty $" on the monument and filling its fountain with soap bubbles. Farris, identified through witness accounts and her own social media posts, was arrested after livestreaming her actions and turning herself in. President Donald Trump commented on the incident, drawing a parallel to damage at the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the Veterans of Foreign Wars condemned the act as a profound disrespect to those honored by the monument.