Pirro Announces Felony Charges Against Woman Accused Of Vandalizing World War II Memorial
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has announced a major development after an act in Washington, D.C., sparked outrage and drew a furious response from President Donald Trump.
The suspect is now in federal custody and could face years behind bars after Pirro’s office filed two felony charges Friday.
Melissa L. Farris has been charged in connection with the vandalism of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., after she allegedly spray-painted the monument and poured a substance into its fountain.
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“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 wrote on X.
“Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” she added.
Pirro announced that federal prosecutors were moving forward with two serious charges against Farris.
“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,” Pirro said.
“She is now in custody,” the U.S. attorney added.
Farris allegedly recorded herself spray-painting the memorial and admitted to committing the vandalism in the video.
U.S. Park Police launched an investigation after red spray paint was discovered on the memorial’s Atlantic pavilion and a bubbling substance was poured into the fountain.
Photographs taken by Washington freelance photographer Andrew Leyden showed the words “Clean Hands Dirty $” spray-painted in red on the memorial.
Other images showed large amounts of bubbles filling portions of the fountain.
Police said Farris had also been arrested Monday for allegedly camping unlawfully on nearby federal property.
The vandalism drew the attention of Trump, who issued a furious response and vowed that authorities were pursuing those responsible.
“Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II,” the president continued.
“First the Reflecting Pool, now this,” Trump said.
“We are on their trail!” he added.
“Where do these animals come from???” Trump wrote.
Pirro issued another statement Friday emphasizing the significance of the memorial and promising that federal prosecutors would pursue accountability.
“Defacing the World War II Memorial is a disgusting act and an insult to the Americans who fought and died for our country,” Pirro said.
“This memorial stands in honor of the 16 million veterans who served, the millions who supported the war effort, and the more than 400,000 heroes who never came home,” she continued.
“Vandalizing a monument dedicated to their sacrifice is a shameful attack on the legacy of our nation,” Pirro said.
“We will not tolerate this kind of criminal activism, and we will ensure that anyone who desecrates a veterans’ memorial is held fully accountable,” she added.
The National World War II Memorial honors the Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II as well as those who supported the war effort from home.
The case also comes amid heightened attention from the Trump administration toward the condition and preservation of monuments, memorials and other landmarks throughout the nation’s capital.
Trump had specifically referenced a previous vandalism incident involving the Reflecting Pool while reacting to the World War II Memorial damage.
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For Farris, the federal investigation has now moved into a potentially much more consequential stage.
The allegations against her have not been proven in court, and filing criminal charges does not establish guilt, Breitbart News reported.
But with Pirro’s office pursuing two felony counts carrying potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison, what began as an alleged act of vandalism at one of Washington’s most revered memorials could now carry serious federal consequences.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
