A federal judge on Monday directed the release of a Kentucky woman accused of defacing the World War Two Memorial in Washington last week, court records show. The defendant, identified as Melissa Farris, 41, was arrested last week and charged with two felony counts.
The court records indicate that Farris consented to conditions for her release. Among those conditions are surrendering her passport and refraining from leaving the continental United States without prior court approval.
The Justice Department has asked the court to reconsider the release order, arguing the woman represented "a risk of flight." U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, publicly criticized the decision that resulted in Farris' release.
Authorities said the World War Two Memorial was vandalized on Thursday. Observers reported that the memorial's fountain overflowed with suds created by bubbly soap and that surfaces were marked with graffiti. One surface was painted with the words "Clean hands Dirty $" and red and green paint was splattered across parts of the site.
In footage posted to her Facebook account prior to her arrest, Farris recorded herself spray painting the memorial. On social media she described herself as a "pirate captain" who is "panhandling for America." In posts on Facebook, Farris said she had been planning an action on August 13 to draw attention to what she characterized as U.S. tax dollars not being spent on ordinary Americans and to alleged corporate racketeering, embezzlement and slave labor practices, among other issues.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for September 3.
Separately, the court filings and public remarks referenced an earlier dispute involving Pirro and President Donald Trump. Pirro has faced criticism from Trump for dropping charges against four people whom the Justice Department had accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool after renovations overseen by Trump. The pool later showed signs of deterioration, including a peeling liner and algae blooms. When she dismissed the vandalism charges, Pirro attributed the pool's condition to faulty installation. President Trump said she had "folded like an umbrella."
The case now proceeds with the defendant out of custody under court-imposed travel restrictions, subject to upcoming proceedings and any potential reconsideration by the Justice Department or the court.