U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Announces Arrest in World War II Memorial Vandalism Case
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced a major arrest on Friday.
Authorities have taken a woman into custody for allegedly vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
She faces multiple felony charges.
“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 posted.
“Those Americans include my father and grandfather.”
The defendant has been identified as Melissa L. Farris.
Pirro shared images that she said showed Farris spray-painting the memorial.
The charges include depredation against property of the United States and destruction of a veterans’ memorial.
Farris faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The Interior Department launched an investigation after neon graffiti appeared on the Atlantic Pavilion.
The memorial’s fountains were also filled with soapy bubbles on Thursday.
Graffiti written in neon orange on the inner side of the fountain read: “Clean hands Dirty $.”
Pink and green markings covered parts of the pavilion as well.
Large amounts of foam in the water appeared to result from soap poured into the fountain.
Law enforcement quickly cordoned off the area Thursday afternoon.
National Park Service crews cleaned the site thoroughly.
By Friday morning both the paint and the bubbles had been completely removed.
President Donald Trump posted Friday that the administration was already on the “trail” of the suspects.
He labeled the vandals “animals.”
The Interior Department issued a strong statement calling the incident “an utter disgrace.”
“The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII,” the department said.
“The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated.”
The Veterans of Foreign Wars demanded full accountability.
The organization described the soap and graffiti as acts of “profound disrespect.”
It said it expects “accountability for this disgraceful act and a swift response to restore the memorial.”
Scott Wimpfheimer, visiting from Minnesota and Alabama with family, expressed outrage.
He noted that both his son and daughter served in Iraq.
“It is a World War II monument. It’s to all the people who died and fought and sacrificed for our country,” he said.
“Our kids and our parents put our lives on the line for our country. I just don’t understand.”
“I hope they catch him and keep him in jail for a long, long time,” Wimpfheimer continued.
Under President Trump, attacks on America’s sacred memorials are being met with real consequences.
The arrest sends a clear message that desecrating monuments to our heroes will not be ignored.
As of Friday morning, the World War II Memorial stood clean once more.
Its tribute to the more than 400,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice has been fully restored.
Benjamin Harris is a RapidReports front page contributor and editor,proud father of four.
