CBS the Only Network to Cover World War II Memorial Vandalism

Nicholas Spinnato
August 15th, 2026 1:14 AM

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On Friday, of the three major broadcast networks, CBS was the only network to cover a deranged act of vandalism at the World War II Memorial in the nation's capital.

In a news brief, anchor Tony Dokoupil described the vandalism while images played of the monument covered with spray paint.

Here is the full report from CBS Evening News read by Dokoupil: 

 

 

TONY DOKOUPIL: Someone vandalized the World War II memorial on the National Mall in Washington yesterday, and today federal officials say they have the suspect in custody. 

It's a 41-year-old woman from Kentucky, allegedly seen here spray painting the words "Clean hands, dirty money,” using the symbol for money. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office said the woman posted those videos on social media.

ABC and NBC did not choose to even briefly mention the vandalism on their newscasts. 

However, as NewsBusters noted, Friday’s NBC Nightly News was the only network newscast to note the historic violent crime decrease in the first year of President Trump’s second term. 

ABC decided to spend some of its airtime to complain about the ballroom instead of covering the crime decrease or the memorial vandalism.

FOX News’s Special Report with Bret Baier had a long report on the subject with correspondent David Spunt

Baier noted, “It's the second case involving damage to one of the featured structures in the area.”

 

 

Spunt expanded on the details of the vandalism:

Park police were called to a report of a disorderly woman. They found bubbles in the World War II Memorial. They believe a cleaning agent was dumped in it. They found foam in the fountain area and found the phrase, quote, "Clean hands dirty dollar sign.” meaning money, in spray paint. 

Melissa Farris was arrested and appeared in court earlier this afternoon. She faces, Bret, up to ten years behind bars and up to $250,000 in fines. 

Authorities say they have a live stream where she admitted to damaging the memorial. They say before she vandalized that memorial, she recorded this video, posted it to social media, and is quoted as saying, I want to quote this, quote, “I am accountable for the things I do and the choices that I make and our government needs to be accounting for their choices, too,” end quote.

In an interview with Fox, an Army veteran commented, “People fought and died for our country. And it's dishonoring this country and all we have been through.”

With such a disgraceful act that dishonored the many veterans of World War II, it was a shame ABC and NBC did not feature it as part of their evening newscasts.

The full transcripts of the segments from CBS Evening News and FNC’s Special Report are below. Click “expand”:

CBS Evening News

August 14, 2026

6:38:15 PM Eastern

TONY DOKOUPIL: Someone vandalized the World War II memorial on the National Mall in Washington yesterday, and today federal officials say they have the suspect in custody. 

It's a 41-year-old woman from Kentucky, allegedly seen here spray painting the words "Clean hands, dirty money,” using the symbol for money. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office said the woman posted those videos on social media. 

(...)

FOX News Channel’s Special Report with Bret Baier

August 14, 2026

6:29:51 PM Eastern

BRET BAIER: Breaking tonight, a woman accused of defacing the World War II Memorial along the Washington Mall is looking at federal charges tonight. It's the second recent case involving damage to one of the featured structures in the area. 

Correspondent David Spunt is outside the courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia tonight. Good evening, David.

DAVID SPUNT: Bret, good evening to you. Hours ago, the suspect appeared behind me in court. The 41-year-old from Kentucky is in federal custody. She will remain in jail at least over the weekend, possibly even longer. 

You've got to remember, this happened yesterday on a busy day in Washington, D.C., with hundreds of tourists around. 

Park police were called to a report of a disorderly woman. They found bubbles in the World War II Memorial. They believe a cleaning agent was dumped in it. They found foam in the fountain area and found the phrase, quote, "Clean hands dirty dollar sign.” meaning money, in spray paint. 

Melissa Farris was arrested and appeared in court earlier this afternoon. She faces, Bret, up to ten years behind bars and up to $250,000 in fines. 

Authorities say they have a live stream where she admitted to damaging the memorial. They say before she vandalized that memorial, she recorded this video, posted it to social media, and is quoted as saying, I want to quote this, quote, “I am accountable for the things I do and the choices that I make and our government needs to be accounting for their choices, too,” end quote.

Fox News spoke with veterans on the scene at the memorial.

[Cuts to video]

DEBRA MORTENSEN (US ARMY VETERAN): People fought and died for our country. And it's dishonoring this country and all we have been through.

[Cuts back to live]

SPUNT: U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on social media called the attack despicable.

The announcement of the criminal charges against Farris comes after the DOJ dropped their case against Davey Hearn for reflecting pool vandalism. U.S. Attorney Pirro says the Interior Department withheld important information during that investigation that showed Hearn was not a vandal, but the damage was done from a rushed job by the contractor. That case dismissal infuriated President Trump, who called the people or person behind this vandalism case I'm talking about today, quote, “animals.”

But at this point, all evidence is pointing to one accomplice in this case - or one person, I should say, in this case, and authorities believe she is the one behind bars. Bret?

(...)

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