- A federal judge twice rejected U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's efforts to keep alleged World War II memorial vandal Melissa Farris in jail ahead of her trial.
- US Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Farris to remain outside D.C. and report to federal pretrial officials in Ohio pending trial. He did not impose electronic monitoring or require a third-party custodian, which prosecutors later requested.
- Farris faces two felony charges for allegedly spray-painting the memorial, pouring detergent into a fountain, and livestreaming the incident.
- The setback follows the collapse of another high-profile prosecution after Pirro's office was forced to drop charges against a former Olympian over Reflecting Pool damage caused by botched installation.
- Donald Trump publicly criticized Pirro following the failed prosecutions, putting her job status under intense scrutiny amid repeated legal defeats in Washington, DC.
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