根据军方周四发布的一份声明,试图阻止特朗普竞选团队在最近倒下的服役人员的坟墓中拍摄视频的阿灵顿国家公墓工作人员拒绝提出指控,该声明称,“该员工和她的职业精神受到了不公平的攻击。”
更新后的声明还为该雇员的行为进行了辩护,出于隐私和安全考虑,军方选择不公开该雇员的姓名。
声明称,“这名员工表现得很专业,避免了进一步的干扰”。
军方表示,该事件被报告给了弗吉尼亚州的迈尔-亨德森联合基地,该基地对该墓地拥有管辖权,“但该雇员随后决定不起诉。因此,军队认为此事已经了结。”
“这一事件是不幸的,同样不幸的是,非国大雇员和她的职业精神受到了不公正的攻击,”军方继续说。“非洲人国民大会是纪念武装部队荣誉死者的国家圣地,其敬业的工作人员将继续确保公共仪式以国家阵亡者应得的尊严和尊重进行。”
川普竞选团队的沟通主任张致恒说,他的团队被允许在主要记者席之外安排一名官方摄影师和摄像师。
根据军方声明,在无名烈士墓前举行公众敬献花圈仪式是常规允许的。然而,它表示,特朗普竞选活动的参与者被提前告知,不应该在“第60区”拍摄照片或视频,那里埋葬着最近倒下的服务人员。
联邦法律禁止竞选团队利用军人公墓进行政治竞选或与选举相关的活动。
弗吉尼亚州民主党众议员格里·康诺利呼吁公开发布经过编辑的警方报告。
“公众有权知道。为了保护员工的身份,它必须被公开。
作为对军方声明的回应,张说,“是这名雇员主动发起了没有根据和不必要的身体和语言接触。”
'Unfairly attacked': Army defends Arlington National Cemetery employee involved in Trump incident
The Arlington National Cemetery staffer who tried to stop the Trump campaign from filming a video among the graves of recently fallen service members has declined to press charges, according to a statement released Thursday by the Army that said the "employee and her professionalism was unfairly attacked."
The updated statement also defended the actions of the employee, who the military has opted not to name publicly due to privacy and safety concerns.
"This employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption," according to the statement.
The Army said the incident was reported to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia, which has jurisdiction over the cemetery, "but the employee subsequently decided not to press charges. Therefore, the Army considers this matter closed."
"This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked," the Army 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."
Trump campaign's communications director, Steven Cheung, has said his team was given permission to have an official photographer and videographer outside the main press pool.
According to the Army statement, public wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are routinely allowed. However, it said participants from Trump's campaign were told in advance there should be no photography or video taken in "Section 60," where recently fallen service members are buried.
Federal law prohibits campaigns from using the military cemetery for political campaigning or election-related activities.
Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump looks on during a wreath laying cere...Show more
Virginia Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly has called for the public release of the police report with the names redacted.
"The public has a right to know. It must be released protecting the staffers' identities," he said.
In response to the Army statement, Cheung said, "This employee was the one who initiated physical and verbal contact that was unwarranted and unnecessary."