CNN —
The U.S. military has been ordered by a federal judge to release records related to former President Donald Trump’s controversial visit to Arlington National Cemetery in August no later than Friday.
After the visit, the U.S. military harshly reprimanded cemetery employees who tried to enforce rules banning political activities at cemeteries, saying they were “suddenly sidelined.” The incident was reported to the police, and the employee ultimately decided not to press charges. An Army spokesperson said in August that the Army “considers this matter closed.”
The early release is the result of a lawsuit by American Oversight, a nonpartisan watchdog nonprofit that advocates for the release of government records. The group filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records regarding interactions between Trump campaign staff and their employees.
Senior Judge Paul Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia signed an order Tuesday requiring the Army to “produce a corresponding non-exempt record by Oct. 25,” according to court records.
Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told CNN on Tuesday that the Army “will comply with the court order.”
CNN has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
American Oversight filed a FOIA request seeking all reports “including, but not limited to” incident reports filed with military police regarding the Aug. 26 incident in Arlington, according to court records.
Chioma Chukwu, interim executive director of American Oversight, said in a press release on Tuesday that with the presidential election just two weeks away, Americans “want to know how their government has responded to the alleged incidents.” “I have a clear and genuine interest in wanting to know.” He is a leading presidential candidate with a history of politicizing the military. ”
“These records are publicly available and we are pleased that the court agreed with the need to expedite our request,” Chukwu said. “We look forward to receiving the incident report and making it available to the public.”
At the time of the incident, President Trump was visiting Arlington with several family members of U.S. soldiers killed during the August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The visit was criticized by some veterans groups as inappropriate and politicizing one of the most sacred burials. U.S. Military Rationale. The campaign also shared a statement from a member of the Gold Star family who accompanied President Trump that said they had “approved President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event,” but images obtained from the visit Some of the graves also contained the graves of other people. Soldiers whose families don’t give them permission to do so.
Trump campaign official Chris Lacivita told CNN in August that the incident was a “disgrace” because “despicable individuals” tried to “physically prevent President Trump’s team from accompanying him to this solemn event.” “It was the right thing to do,” he said.
“Whoever this person is spreading lies is dishonoring the men and women of our military and disrespecting everyone who paid the price to protect our country,” Lacivita said. Ta. The Trump campaign later shared a video of the visit on TikTok, with audio showing the president walking through a cemetery and criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration for the “disaster” of its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Arlington and the Army say the campaign does not comply with federal laws regarding political activities in cemeteries, especially around Section 60, which is primarily reserved for the graves of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. said. The incident also prompted the Army to issue an unusually harsh rebuke of the Trump campaign.
“Participants in the Aug. 26 ceremony and subsequent Article 60 visit were made aware of federal law, Army regulations, and Department of Defense policy that specifically prohibits political activity on cemetery grounds,” an Army spokesperson said. Said in late August. “ANC (Arlington National Cemetery) officials who tried to ensure compliance with these rules were suddenly sidelined.”
“This incident is unfortunate and it is also unfortunate that an ANC official and her professionalism have been unfairly attacked,” the spokesperson said. “The ANC is a national shrine to our honorable military fallen, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure that public ceremonies are conducted with dignity and that our nation’s fallen soldiers are given the respect they deserve. .”
