US News
Kentucky woman indicted on federal charges for damaging World War II Memorial
A federal grand jury charged Melissa Farris after she allegedly spray-painted text and put bubbles in a fountain on the National Mall.
The short version
- A federal grand jury indicted Melissa Farris of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on two felony counts of destroying a veterans' memorial and government property.
- Prosecutors allege Farris spray-painted text onto the World War II Memorial and poured bubbles into a fountain on August 13.
- Farris was released after her initial court appearance on August 17 and is scheduled to be arraigned next week.
Key facts
- Melissa Farris was indicted by a federal grand jury on two felony counts involving the destruction of a veterans' memorial and government property.[ABC News]
- Authorities allege Farris spray-painted 'Clean hands dirty $' on the World War II Memorial and put bubbles in a fountain on August 13.[ABC News]
- Following an initial court appearance on August 17, Farris was released ahead of an arraignment scheduled for the following week.[ABC News]
- Donald Trump commented on social media regarding the incident, drawing a connection to earlier claims about vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.[ABC News]
- The Justice Department previously moved to dismiss a case against a former Olympian regarding damage to the Reflecting Pool after evidence refuted claims of vandalism.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- Farris's legal counsel had not immediately responded to requests for comment following the indictment.[ABC News]