Judge orders release of woman accused of vandalism at World War II Memorial

Key Points:

• A Kentucky woman, Melissa Farris, was ordered released by a judge after being charged with felony vandalism at the World War II Memorial in Washington, where she used soap and graffiti to deface the site.
• U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro criticized the release order, labeling Farris a flight risk, and the Justice Department has called for reconsideration; Farris agreed to release conditions including surrendering her passport and travel restrictions.
• Farris documented her protest on Facebook, describing herself as a “pirate captain” and stating her intent was to highlight issues such as misuse of U.S. tax dollars, corporate racketeering, and slave labor.
• The vandalism involved suds overflowing from the memorial’s fountain and graffiti reading “Clean hands Dirty $,” with a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 3.
• Judge Jeanine Pirro, who ordered Farris’s release, recently faced criticism from President Trump for dropping vandalism charges related to the Reflecting Pool, which had deteriorated after renovations overseen by Trump.