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Woman arrested and facing felony charges in World War II Memorial vandalism case, DOJ says
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Melissa L. Farris was arrested and charged with two felonies for vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., including willfully injuring U.S. property and destruction of a Veterans’ Memorial.
- The vandalism involved spray paint graffiti and bubbles filling the memorial's fountain, with Farris livestreaming the act on Facebook and later turning herself in.
- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro condemned the act as a disrespectful attack on a sacred monument honoring American veterans, emphasizing the personal connection through her father and grandfather.
- The arrest follows controversy over a dropped case involving damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which drew criticism from former President Donald Trump, who also condemned the recent vandalism on social media.
- The Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the Interior Department both denounced the vandalism, highlighting the memorial’s significance as a place of remembrance and stating that such acts will not be tolerated.
