A woman is in custody and is expected to be charged with vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro announced on FridayMelissa L. Farris will likely face two felonies — 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. 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,” she added.
PresidentDonald Trump took to Truth Social to express his outrage.
“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. First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???” the president wrote.
The memorial was vandalized Thursday with red paint that read, “Clean hands dirty $.” Bubbles were also coming out of a fountain.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars called it “an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home,” according to the Associated Press.