U.S. Army officials issued a statement on Thursday defending the Arlington National Cemetery official who was involved in an altercation with Trump campaign officials during a wreath laying ceremony on Monday.
In the statement, the Army said the cemetery official was “abruptly pushed aside” while trying to enforce rules prohibiting political activities on cemetery grounds.
The incident was reported to police, but “the employee subsequently decided not to press charges,” the statement says.
The statement comes after NPR reported earlier his week that two Trump campaign staffers “verbally abused and pushed the official aside,” who tried to stop them from taking photos or videos in the area where recent casualties are buried, known as Section 60.
The Trump campaign fired back, calling the Arlington Cemetery employee “mentally ill” and a “disgrace” to the “hollowed [sic]” military burial site.
The Army defended the employee’s professionalism in Thursday’s statement, writing: “Consistent with the decorum expected at ANC, this employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption.”
“This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked,” the statement continued.
“ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation’s fallen deserve,” it added.
