Suspect Arrested for Vandalizing WWII Memorial Condemned as "Animals" by Trump

▲ The suspect who vandalized the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., with spray paint

The suspect who vandalized the World War II Memorial at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital, was arrested yesterday local time (August 14).

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that day, "This morning, we filed two felony charges—injury to U.S. property and destruction of a veterans' memorial—against Melissa L. Ferris in federal district court."

She added, "These crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and she is currently in custody."

Attorney Pirro also stated, "Vandalizing the WWII Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and gave their lives for our freedom," adding, "Those Americans include my father and my grandfather."

Previously, authorities launched an investigation after red graffiti reading "Clean hands dirty $" was found scrawled on the National World War II Memorial at the National Mall, alongside mountains of white soap bubbles piled inside and around the fountain.

That day, President Trump blasted the incident on social media, saying, "There could be no greater insult to America's heroes who gave their lives in World War II," and fiercely criticizing, "We are hunting down the culprit. Where do these animals come from?"

(Photo: X capture of Washington, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Yonhap News)

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