A 20-year-old Maryland woman who was caught on video spray-painting “Gaza” on the Columbus Fountain outside Washington, D.C.'s Union Station this summer was arrested Friday and is now facing federal charges, according to prosecutors.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, Towson resident Isabella Giordano is scheduled to make her first court appearance this afternoon on charges of willful injury or destruction of U.S. property. The incident allegedly occurred while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting the area.
“After reviewing open source video posted to X (formerly Twitter), we found footage of Giordano using red spray paint to write 'Gaza' on the Columbus Fountain,” prosecutors said of the July 24 incident. “The suspect also spray painted the bases of two flagpoles at Columbus Circle.”
Prosecutors said U.S. Park Police subsequently received a tip identifying Giordano and she was taken into custody this morning.
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“US Park Police officers viewed a video posted to 'X' (formerly Twitter) which showed a dark-haired female, later identified as Isabella Giordano, spraying Columbus Fountain with red spray paint. Giordano was wearing a red shirt, blue jean shorts, a keffiyeh-style headdress around her waist, and red shoes,” the US Park Police said in its complaint. (U.S. Park Police)
“According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, a group received permission to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Avenue NE and E Street NE, directly in front of Union Station. From approximately 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., demonstrators gathered at Columbus Circle pulled down flags from flagpoles, burned flags and objects, painted graffiti on multiple statues and structures, and interfered with police making arrests of individuals,” the DA's office said.
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This image from U.S. Park Police video used in an affidavit supporting an arrest warrant application for Isabella Giordano shows Giordano, surrounded by a yellow circle, spray painting the base of a flagpole at Columbus Circle during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress on July 24, 2024, in Washington. (USPP/Associated Press)
“The flag that was taken down from the flagpole, as well as the statues and structures at Columbus Circle, are all federal property,” the department added. “The National Park Service estimates the cost of cleaning up and restoring the site to approximately $11,282.23.”
According to the U.S. Park Police, Giordano was last seen there on July 24 looking toward the camera. (U.S. Park Police)
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Giordano's case is being investigated by the Park Police Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit and the FBI's Washington Field Office, prosecutors said.
