Add The New York Post on Google WASHINGTON — A Kentucky woman was indicted on two counts for vandalizing a World War II memorial in DC, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced on Friday.
Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged with one count of Destruction of Veterans’ Memorial and one count of Destruction of Government Property
Each count carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison upon conviction. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2026.
“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,” said Pirro in a statement. “We will use every tool available under federal law to ensure this conduct is met with justice.”
On August 13, a vandal dumped bubble soap into a fountain by the memorial and scrawled a bizarre protest message: “Clean Hands Dirty $.”
Farris posted several videos shot near the memorial to Facebook under the pseudonym Melissa Lovewell — including one where she copped to “damaging” the fountain, the criminal complaint alleged.
“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—ing property, and nobody batted an eye, and that is very strange,” she said in a third clip.
More than $1,000 in damages occurred to the historic site, the government claims.
“THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II,” he wrote on Truth Social shortly after it occurred.
The National Mall has been subject to repeated vandalism this summer.
The incident at the WWII Memorial followed alleged vandalism to the new swimming pool liner coating the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
In June, vandals also used chemicals to burn onto the Washington Monument’s lawn “86 47” in a jab at President Trump.
Ultimately, Pirro moved to dismiss charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who the government said allegedly vandalized the liner coating the bottom of the Reflecting Pool.
But evidence later handed over by the Interior Department showed that the Reflecting Pool’s sealant had previously been damaged due to “flawed installation by the contractor.”
No charges have been filed in connection with the “86 47” jab.
