Woman charged over vandalism of World War II Memorial in Washington, DC

What the report says

A woman has been arrested and charged in Washington, DC, in connection with vandalism at the World War II Memorial, according to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Melissa Farris, faces two felony counts: depredation of US property and destruction of veterans’ memorials. Prosecutors said the charges could carry a sentence of up to 10 years if convicted. The arrest followed vandalism at the memorial on Thursday, when soap and graffiti were found at the site. Photos shared by Pirro showed red and green writing on the memorial, and she condemned the act as an attack on a monument honoring US service members.

The case comes amid heightened attention to vandalism investigations in Washington after President Donald Trump publicly criticized Pirro earlier this month over her decision to drop charges in a separate case involving damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. That dispute centered on alleged damage linked to repairs at the pool, and Pirro said her office had not initially received enough information. Trump accused her of backing down, creating a rare public split between the president and one of his appointees.

Al Jazeera reported that US Park Police are investigating the latest incident, while the Interior Department said officials intend to identify the person responsible. More broadly, the episode fits into a wider debate over how the Trump administration has approached law enforcement and the handling of public landmarks in Washington, DC.