Highly sanitized records obtained by the nonpartisan organization American Oversight suggest a dispute between an Arlington cemetery employee and members. Donald TrumpThe August campaign continues in active research.
ABC News was the first to obtain a copy of the records obtained by American Oversight on Friday. But what the army The return reveals almost nothing significant about the confrontation at the nation’s largest military cemetery.
A lengthy affidavit is omitted entirely, except for this brief summary of the events that transpired:
“While working at Arlington National Cemetery, (REDACTED) attempted to pass (REDACTED) with both hands to the side of (REDACTED) did not require medical attention at the scene and later refused it when offered. (LEGEND) testified under oath in a DA. 2023 forms and stated that (KONDARITZA) did not want to press charges,” the affidavit says.
Perhaps the most telling revelation is the Army’s reason for redacting the incident report: In a letter to American Oversight that accompanied the written incident report, the Army wrote that much of the document should be redacted in part because the information may be relevant to an ongoing investigation.
The Army on Friday declined to provide the status of the investigation.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump looks on during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on August 26, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, FILE
“We are pleased that American Oversight was able to get the report into the hands of the American public so they can see for themselves that the federal law enforcement investigation into what happened at Arlington Cemetery in August is still ongoing,” Chioma said. Chukwu, Interim Executive Director of American Oversight.
“The alleged conduct of the former president and his staff is consistent with the history of politicization of the military and violation of clear ethical boundaries, and it is time for the public to have the full facts,” Chukwu continued. “American Oversight will closely monitor the redactions and continue our fight to get people informed.”
The letter suggests that some redactions were made to protect the privacy of cemetery employees.
The August incident engulfed the historic cemetery in a political storm. News of a clash first emerged in late August after Donald Trump visited the holy burial ground to attend a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the third anniversary of the deaths of 13 American service members in Afghanistan.
Members of the Trump campaign filmed in a section of the cemetery known as Section 60, where recently deceased service members are buried, even though a federal law prohibits political campaigns from using the grounds for election-related activities.
When a cemetery worker confronted members of the Trump campaign, a verbal and physical altercation ensued, ABC News reported at the time.
The Army released a statement saying a cemetery worker was “suddenly sidelined” and his professionalism was “unfairly attacked” while working to enforce the rules.
The Trump campaign responded that the staff did nothing wrong and threatened to release exculpatory footage of the altercation, but never did.
American Oversight sued the Army over an incident report related to the incident in late August, arguing that “these records belong to the public,” according to Chukwu.
On Monday, U.S. Judge Paul Friedman ordered the Army to turn over all relevant, non-exempt portions of the document to the surveillance team by Friday.
