Federal prosecutors announced Friday that a woman has been arrested and charged in the vandalism of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, an attack that left paint on the memorial and unusual bubbling in a fountain, authorities said.
Arrest and charges
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, said her office filed two felony counts against Melissa L. Farris. The charges are Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials, offenses that carry maximum penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
Officials said the vandalism was discovered Thursday and included red paint on the memorial and bubbles filling a fountain. Photographs circulated by news organizations showed a painted message near the structure and bubbling on the inner portion of the memorial’s water feature.
“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom,” Pirro wrote on social media.
Scene and response
The Interior Department said the U.S. Park Police were on the scene and that the investigation remained active. Park Police and other federal personnel had secured the area around the memorial following the discovery.
Images from the site showed police tape surrounding portions of the memorial and a row of Park Police vehicles nearby. The nonprofit Friends of the National World War II Memorial said the memorial should not be used as a platform for protest.
- Location: World War II Memorial, National Mall, Washington
- Suspect charged: Melissa L. Farris
- Charges filed: Depredation Against Property of the United States; Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials
- Possible penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
Reactions and context
The act drew swift condemnation from public officials and veterans organizations. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, which helps care for the site, said a national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned should never be used as a canvas for vandalism. The Veterans of Foreign Wars called the incident “an act of profound disrespect.”
The vandalism occurred weeks after President Donald Trump said the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had been deliberately damaged; on Friday, he posted on his platform condemning the attack on the World War II Memorial, calling those responsible “animals” in an earlier comment about the reflecting pool and saying there could be no greater insult to the veterans who died in World War II.
Charges and penalties
| Charge | Statutory focus | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Depredation Against Property of the United States | Damage or destruction of federal property | Up to 10 years in prison |
| Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials | Damage to monuments honoring veterans | Up to 10 years in prison |
Federal authorities are continuing their investigation into how the damage was inflicted and the motive behind it. Officials have not released details about when Farris will appear in court or whether she has retained counsel.
Visitors to the National Mall expressed dismay at the vandalism, with one man quoted by news outlets saying it was “a travesty” and noting the sacrifice of the more than 400,000 Americans who died in World War II. The incident has renewed concerns about the protection of national monuments and the enforcement of laws designed to safeguard sites that honor U.S. servicemembers.
As the investigation proceeds, federal prosecutors and Park Police said they will pursue the case and that the public should expect accountability for those responsible for damage to the memorial.
