Democrats pressing Arlington National Cemetery to release log report into Trump photo-op scandal
Democrats are pressing the Arlington National Cemetery to release a log report into the photo-op scandal where Donald Trump campaign staffers “abruptly pushed aside” an official.
A number of Democrats have come forward since the altercation and say they want a full investigationinto what happened.
At Monday’s wreath laying ceremony, a cemetery official tried to prevent members from Trump’s team from taking photos and videos inside a section where recent US casualties are buried.
The campaign staffers allegedly verbally abused and pushed her to the side. Now congressman Gerry Connolly, a senior House Oversight Committee member, has urged Arlington Cemetery officials to “publicly release all that transpired”.
“It’s sad but all too expected that Donald Trump would desecrate this hallowed ground and put campaign politics ahead of honoring our heroes,” the Virginia representative said in a statement.
“This is a man whose own military generals have disavowed, a man who has called heroes like John McCain suckers and losers, a man who has insulted Gold Star families. His behavior and that of his campaign is abhorrent and shameful,” he added.
House Armed Services Committee member Pat Ryan told Axios he will be speaking with Congressional colleagues about “the proper next steps to ensure oversight and accountability.”
The army veteran, who served in Iraq, added: «This is sacred ground. We must not allow anyone to sully it with campaign theatrics.» Meanwhile, senator Tim Kaine told Axios he “want[s] to see the incident report”.
The US Army confirmed a female official was “abruptly pushed aside” during the altercation and filed an incident report with the military.
While she remains unidentified, fear of backlash from MAGA