A Kentucky woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged Thursday with one count of Destruction of Veterans’ Memorial and one count of Destruction of Government Property, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced on Friday. Each count carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison upon conviction. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.
“The World War II Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the courage of 16 million Americans who served during World War II and the ultimate sacrifice of the 405,399 who gave their lives defending our nation and the freedoms we hold dear. Defacing it is an affront to their service and sacrifice,” Pirro said in a statement. “We will use every tool available under federal law to ensure this conduct is met with justice.”
The vandalism occurred on August 13, when Farris dumped bubble soap into a fountain at the memorial and scrawled the message “Clean Hands Dirty $.” on the site. The government claims more than $1,000 in damages occurred to the historic landmark.
Farris posted several videos shot near the memorial to Facebook under the pseudonym Melissa Lovewell, according to the criminal complaint. In one video, she admitted to “damaging” the fountain.
“I am cognitively aware and executively (sic) of the choices I am making and I am doing so to push my whistleblower case into the courtroom,” she said in one of the videos.
“I was just allowed to deface Federal f–king property, and nobody batted an eye, and that is very strange,” she said in a third clip.
President Trump blasted the destruction on Truth Social shortly after it occurred.
“THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II,” he wrote.
The National Mall has been subject to repeated vandalism this summer. In June, vandals used chemicals to burn “86 47” onto the Washington Monument’s lawn in a jab at President Trump. No charges have been filed in connection with that incident.
The WWII Memorial incident followed alleged vandalism to the new swimming pool liner coating the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Pirro ultimately moved to dismiss charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been accused of that vandalism, after evidence from the Interior Department showed the Reflecting Pool’s sealant had previously been damaged due to “flawed installation by the contractor.”
Farris is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 3.