US president condemns woman charged with vandalizing WWII memorial in Washington
A woman faces federal charges after allegedly defacing the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, as the US president and officials denounce the act.
Key Takeaways
AIThe US Department of Justice has announced that it will file two criminal charges against the woman accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.
US federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro stated on her X account that "vandalizing the World War II Memorial is a disgraceful act and a vile attack on a sacred monument that honors Americans who fought and died for our freedom."
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According to The Washington Post, part of the memorial on the National Mall was defaced with graffiti, and soap bubbles covered one of its windows. The US Park Police have been investigating the incident. The phrase "$ Clean hands dirty" was spray-painted in red beneath the Atlantic Arch, and red and green paint was splattered across sections of the granite stones.
Pirro added that the suspect, identified as Melissa L. Farris, is in custody. She will face two criminal charges: damaging US property and destroying veterans' memorials.
The US president, Donald Trump, sharply criticized the perpetrator, stating on Truth Social that "our beautiful World War II Memorial was just vandalized with spray paint."