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Aug 19, 2026

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A Kentucky woman is facing two federal felony charges after authorities accused her of vandalizing the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., by spray-painting part of the monument and causing foam to fill one of its fountains.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced that Melissa L. Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged by criminal complaint in connection with damage to the memorial’s Atlantic Theatre Pavilion on the National Mall.

Farris is charged with willfully injuring or committing a depredation against property of the United States and destruction of a veterans’ memorial. Pirro said the offenses carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

“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 X. “Those Americans include my father and grandfather.”

Pirro said prosecutors moved forward with the charges after Farris was taken into federal custody.

“This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials, in Federal District Court against Melissa L. Farris, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison,” Pirro said.

According to the criminal complaint, U.S. Park Police were called to the memorial at about 2 p.m. on Aug. 13 after receiving a report of a disorderly person.

A witness told officers that a woman had been seen spray-painting portions of the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion. A U.S. Park Ranger who arrived at the scene observed foam in the fountain area and a crowd gathered around the balcony while a woman recorded herself, prosecutors said.

The complaint alleges that the woman fled after becoming aware of the ranger’s presence.

Investigators found orange-colored paint on a wall spelling out the words “Clean Hands Dirty $,” along with green paint beneath the message and pink paint splattered on the ground, according to the Justice Department.

Authorities also recovered a white sign from a nearby trash can with paint that appeared to match the paint used on the memorial.

A witness photographed the woman during the incident, and a U.S. Park Police officer recognized the suspect as someone officers had arrested on Aug. 10 for allegedly camping unlawfully on federal property a few blocks from the memorial, according to the complaint.

Investigators identified the woman as Farris through her Kentucky driver’s license. The complaint also states that she used public social media accounts under the name “Melissa Lovewell.”

According to prosecutors, investigators reviewed multiple livestream videos Farris recorded on Aug. 13, including footage in which she allegedly acknowledged damaging the memorial and said she expected to be held accountable for her actions.

The criminal complaint alleges that Farris described her planned actions as an effort to draw attention to grievances about government accountability and said she was prepared to appear in court and be arrested.

A preliminary estimate placed cleanup and restoration costs at more than $1,000, according to the complaint.

The vandalism drew a sharp response from President Donald Trump, who condemned the damage in a Truth Social post.

“Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,” Trump wrote.

“THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II,” he continued, adding, “First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail!”

Trump’s reference to the Reflecting Pool concerned separate disputes over alleged damage near the Lincoln Memorial. Those matters have involved different defendants and evidence and are not part of the criminal case against Farris.

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