The Army released a heavily redacted report on an incident at Arlington National Cemetery between the Trump campaign and a military staff member in August, saying it was a “simple assault” but shedding little light on what happened.
The report, released Friday, was made public because of a lawsuit from nonpartisan government watchdog group American Oversight. Much of the information that could be gleaned from the report, including a sworn statement from the people involved, is blacked out.
It does list the offense in question as a “simple assault” and offers a brief, partially redacted description.
“While working at the Arlington National Cemetery, [REDACTED] with both of [REDACTED] hands while attempting to move past [REDACTED] did not require medical attention on scene and later refused when offered. [REDACTED] rendered a sworn statement on a DA Form 2023 and stated [REDACTED] did not want to press charges,” the affidavit reads.
Mr. Trump visited the Virginia cemetery on Aug. 26 for a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 2021 Kabul airport attack that killed 13 U.S. service members during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
During that visit, National Public Radio reported that two Trump campaign staffers “verbally abused and pushed” aside a cemetery official who tried to stop them from using cameras in Section 60, where recently fallen service members are buried.
Federal law prohibits the gravesites from being used for partisan political purposes, including imagery and video.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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