Melissa L. Farris is in federal custody after the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, was vandalized with bubbles and spray-painted words reading “Clean hands Dirty $.” The 41-year-old Kentucky woman is accused of adding soap to the memorial fountain and painting the message on its stone surface on August 13. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced two felony charges against her on August 14. Each charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Videos from Farris’s social media accounts are central to the case and show parts of the incident.
Who is Melissa L. Farris and what happened at the WWII Memorial?
According to the federal complaint, the incident happened Thursday afternoon at the National II Memorial on the National Mall. Farris is accused of putting a substance into a fountain, leaving it filled with foam, and using spray paint on the memorial. The words “Clean hands Dirty $” appeared in red, with other paint visible around the area.
A witness photographed her while she was painting, and a U.S. Park Police officer then recognized her from an August 10 arrest for allegedly camping unlawfully nearby.
Her Kentucky driver’s license was used to confirm her identity. Investigators found a painted white sign in a trash can. Reuters reported these details from the criminal complaint.
Also Read:
What does Melissa Farris’ viral video show about the alleged vandalism?
Farris posted footage of herself on under the name Melissa Lovewell. Fox 5 DC reporter Bob Barnard shared clips from the posts.
In one video, Farris said: “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 . . . someone has to make choices that are different and I am accountable for my actions. I am going to make these choices today and I will step foot into the courtroom and I will wait to be arrested . . . I am accountable for the things that I do and the choices that I make and our government needs to be accountable for their choices too.”
She also said during the incident: “It was me. I’m doing it. I’m on camera.”
What charges does Jeanine Pirro face against Melissa Farris?
Jeanine Pirro said prosecutors filed charges of Depredation Against Property of the and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials. Each charge can carry up to 10 years in prison.
Also Read:
Pirro called the incident “a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather.”
The case remains in federal court, with proceedings continuing after Farris was taken into custody.
