A Magistrate Judge again denied US Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s request to lock up World War II Memorial vandal Melissa Farris.
Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh said the motion that Pirro’s office filed failed to identify any new information in its second attempt to lock up Farris.
Magistrate judge denies US Attorney Pirro’s second bid to lock up Melissa Farris on charges of vandalism to the World War II memorial. Says the office botched the standard and recycled argument he already rejected. pic.twitter.com/FfDDkXSBkh
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 18, 2026
The same federal magistrate judge on Monday released the woman accused of deliberately defacing the World War II Memorial, allowing her to leave custody on nothing more than a personal-recognizance bond.
Melissa L. Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, walked free on personal recognizance despite the Justice Department’s urgent request that she be held as a flight risk.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh rejected prosecutors’ arguments and cut her loose with conditions that include staying out of Washington except for court appearances, staying away from the memorial she is accused of desecrating, surrendering any passport, and reporting to pretrial supervision, according to court records reported by WJLA.
Farris is due back in court on September 3.
On August 13, Farris allegedly turned the World War II Memorial into her personal stage. She spray-painted “Clean Hands Dirty $” across the Atlantic Pavilion, splattered the site with additional paint, and poured a soapy substance into the fountain that sent bubbles cascading over the memorial to the 16 million Americans who served in the war that saved the free world.
🚨 BREAKING: The WWII Memorial in DC is now a CRIME SCENE, LOCKED DOWN by National Guard after vandals spray painted and poured chemicals into the water
ALL because the left is upset about President Trump beautifying our capital
These people HATE OUR COUNTRY.
Make an EXAMPLE… pic.twitter.com/BUrqvAt8oN
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 14, 2026
She also livestreamed her crime!
A woman who allegedly vandalized the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. has been arrested and faces two felony charges, federal prosecutors said Friday.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro cited social media videos that Melissa Farris allegedly posted, depicting the 41-year-old… pic.twitter.com/F6Z22KYczb
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 15, 2026
Jeanine Pirro called Farris’ actions a “despicable attack on a sacred monument.”
“This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials, in Federal District Court against Melissa L. Farris, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison,” Pirro said.
Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather.
This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the… pic.twitter.com/7EQxGWtdue
— US Attorney Pirro (@USAttyPirro) August 14, 2026
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