On Friday, the U.S. Army released a heavily redacted copy of a police report from an employee of former President Donald Trump’s campaign about an incident in August. allegedly pushed Arlington National Cemetery staff.
Describing the incident as a “simple assault,” the report said that on August 26, a campaign worker used “two hands” while trying to pass a cemetery worker. This was previously reported by NBC News tried to prevent his employee from taking photos. Both men’s names have been redacted.
According to the report, the cemetery worker did not need medical help at the scene, “he refused it when it was offered later.” It is reported that the employee did not want to press charges.
A spokeswoman for Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night about the Army documents.
An Army spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, however He said this in his statement to Politico: “The law enforcement investigation into the incident remains open and therefore we are unable to provide additional information at this time.”
The internal documents were released by the Army after American Oversight, a government ethics and transparency group, sued to obtain the report. Group shared a copy the report on their website after a judge ordered the Defense Department to produce the documents.
On the day of the incident, Trump was at the cemetery. He participated in the wreath-laying ceremony dedicated to the 3rd anniversary of the death of 13 US servicemen during the Islamic State attack in front of the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. Trump then walked to the restricted area of the cemetery, known as Section 60, where the incident took place.
Arlington National Cemetery released a statement at the time, citing federal law that prohibits political campaign or election-related activities at Army National Military Cemeteries, including the use of photographers.
Army spokesman he also said in August A Trump campaign aide said he “pushed aside” a cemetery worker who tried to enforce restrictions on taking photos and videos at the site. That spokesman said at that time that the army considered the issue closed.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung previously denied elements of the incident, saying there was “no physical altercation as described” and that an unnamed person decided to “physically block” members of Trump’s team.
After former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s statement to The New York Times newspaper, Trump has increased his focus on military issues. in interviews published this week said his former boss fell for the “common definition of a fascist,” praised Hitler and questioned the sacrifice of fallen servicemen during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 2017.
“I need generals like Hitler,” the former president reportedly said in a private conversation at the White House. Atlantic.
There is Trump rejected his remarks The Atlantic reports and is spoken by Kelly.