A woman has been arrested for allegedly vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Friday.
The Justice Department filed two felony charges against Melissa Farris, who is currently in custody. If convicted, the offenses could carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison, Pirro said.
Prosecutors alleged Farris, who is from Kentucky, scrawled "Clean Hands Dirty $" in orange spray paint on a balcony of the memorial's Atlantic pavilion on Aug. 13. Farris filmed herself defacing the memorial, which she shared on social media under an alias, authorities said. When officers arrived, they found the memorial fountain was filled with foam.
Prosecutors said it would cost at least $1,000 to clean the memorial.
A U.S. Park Police officer recognized Farris as a woman arrested days earlier for unlawfully camping a few blocks from the memorial, according to prosecutors.
"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 said on social media.
Earlier this month, Pirro drew the ire of President Trump when she dropped charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. At the time, Trump said Pirro "choked," and her job was seemingly in jeopardy.
Pirro's office said "a rushed and botched" installation of a lining ordered as part of Trump's plans to beautify the landmark in time for America's 250th birthday was to blame -- despite the president's insistence it was deliberate sabotage.
On Friday, before Pirro announced Farris's arrest, Trump compared the WWII memorial vandalism to the damage to the pool.
"First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail!" he said in a social-media post.
White House officials have asked the Justice Department to consider a new prosecution of Hearn, although the presiding judge is set to hold a hearing next month to determine whether the dismissal of charges against Hearn should be "with prejudice," meaning the Justice Department couldn't charge him again for the same alleged conduct.
Hearn, who visited the reflecting pool in June during a bike ride, has said he reached his hand in the water to touch a piece of the coating that had already detached from the bottom. He was originally charged with a misdemeanor, though prosecutors later elevated the offense to a felony.