Authorities are investigating a case of vandalism at the National World War II Memorial in Washington after its fountain was found to be filled with soap and graffiti.
“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” US Attorney Jeanine Pirro wrote on X. “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. She is now in custody.”
The action was condemned by the nonprofit group, Friends of the National WWII Memorial, which called the vandalism “unacceptable.”
“There are many places in our country for expression, debate, and disagreement. A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism,” the group said.
President Trump also condemned the vandalism. “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II,” he wrote on Truth Social. “First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???”
Trump’s Reflecting Pool has been an issue for his administration. It was discovered in June that the Pool was vandalized with “a gigantic 86 47,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. In a separate case, U.S. Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn was indicted for causing damages to the Reflecting Pool, although the charges have since been dropped.
