In a recent development, the U.S. Army has released a heavily redacted version of a police report detailing an incident at Arlington National Cemetery involving a staffer for Donald Trump’s campaign. The incident reportedly involved the staffer shoving a cemetery employee who was trying to prevent them from photographing a ceremony honoring service members killed in the Afghanistan War withdrawal. Federal law prohibits campaign or election-related activities within military cemeteries, and the report indicates that the Trump staffer used both hands while trying to move past the cemetery employee. The names of both individuals involved have been redacted, and the full sworn statement given by the cemetery worker to police is completely blacked out.
The altercation took place during Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery in August, where he was invited by service members’ families to commemorate the gravesites in Section 60, where U.S. forces killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are buried. The cemetery worker declined medical treatment and chose not to press charges. A lawsuit filed by government transparency group American Oversight demanded the release of the police report, leading to a federal judge ordering its public disclosure. The group posted the redacted report on its website, sparking questions about the politicization of the military by the Trump campaign.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Trump, the Republican nominee, finds himself in a close race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. The incident at Arlington National Cemetery has drawn attention to Trump’s campaign activities and allegations of ethical violations. Despite claims by the Trump campaign that they were granted permission to have a photographer at the cemetery and contesting the accusation of a campaign staffer pushing the cemetery official, the incident has raised concerns about the conduct of Trump and his staff. Trump’s campaign has also blamed the Biden administration for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, as seen in a video shared by the former president on TikTok.
American Oversight’s interim executive director, Chioma Chukwu, expressed satisfaction at the release of the police report and highlighted the ongoing federal law enforcement investigation into the August incident at Arlington National Cemetery. The redactions in the report were made to protect personal privacy and information related to law enforcement purposes. The Army confirmed that the investigation remains open, and further information cannot be provided at this time. The employee involved in the incident declined to press charges, leaving the nature of the ongoing law enforcement proceedings unclear.
Families of service members killed in a suicide bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal had invited Trump to a ceremony marking the third anniversary of the attack. Some of these families have expressed support for Trump, blaming the Biden administration for their children’s deaths. The incident at Arlington National Cemetery has further fueled tensions between the two political factions, with the Trump campaign pushing back against allegations of misconduct. Despite warnings about photographing in Section 60, Trump’s team maintains that they were treated unfairly by the cemetery official. Trump himself has defended his actions, claiming that family members had requested to take a photo with him at the cemetery and dismissing accusations of campaigning during the visit.
