Suspect Arrested in World War II Memorial Vandalism

The woman accused of defacing the World War II Memorial with red graffiti and mountains of soap bubbles is now in federal custody and facing up to a decade behind bars.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that prosecutors charged Melissa L. Farris with two felonies over the vandalism at the Washington landmark.

The charges are depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials.

“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 said.

“Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” she continued. “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 memorial was struck Thursday when someone dumped bubble soap into its Atlantic Theater fountain, producing froth several feet high, and scrawled “Clean Hands Dirty $” in red paint.

The cryptic message did not explain why a monument honoring the Americans who served and died during World War II had been targeted.

The attack outraged visitors, the Interior Department and President Trump, who called it an insult to the nation’s wartime heroes and said authorities were pursuing the perpetrator.

“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,” Trump wrote Thursday.

This story is developing…

🚨 BREAKING: FELONY CHARGES FILED and ARREST MADE against the America-hating vandal who spray painted and dumped chemicals on DC’s WWII memorial — US Attorney Jeanine Pirro

Melissa L. Farris now faces up to a DECADE in prison 🔥

Maximum FAFO is required here! LOCK HER UP.… pic.twitter.com/Z5zuCyKhrC

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 14, 2026