A woman has been arrested in connection with the vandalism of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC.
Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, said Melissa L Farris was taken into custody on Friday morning and faces two federal felony charges.
The charges are depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The memorial was found with red graffiti reading “Clean hands dirty $”, while its pool was filled with soapy bubbles.
US Park Police had been investigating the incident.
The Department of the Interior said authorities would find the person responsible. Friends of the National World War II Memorial said the site should not be used for political expression.
The organisation said a national memorial honouring those who served and died should never be used as “a canvas for vandalism”.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars also condemned the incident, describing it as an act of profound disrespect.
