In a letter sent to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth on Friday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) requested a full report and a briefing regarding a confrontation that took place during former President Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Raskin, the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, expressed concerns about potential violations of federal law and cemetery rules. He also raised questions about whether families of servicemembers buried at the cemetery were informed about their loved ones' gravestones being used in Trump's political campaign ads.

The incident in question occurred on August 26, 2024, when former President Trump visited the cemetery to participate in a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the Kabul airport assault. This attack, which took place during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members.

According to reports, the confrontation arose when photographers and campaign staff associated with Trump attempted to enter Section 60 of the cemetery, a restricted area where recently fallen service members from Iraq and Afghanistan are laid to rest. Cemetery officials informed the Trump team that they were not permitted to access the area, leading to an alleged incident where a cemetery official was shoved aside.

In response to these events, Rep. Raskin called on Secretary Wormuth to provide a comprehensive account of the incident, including an incident report. He sought clarification on whether any federal laws or cemetery rules were violated during the confrontation. Raskin's inquiry also emphasized the need to ascertain if the families of the fallen servicemembers were properly informed about their loved ones' gravestones being featured in Trump's political campaign advertisements.

An Army spokesperson defended the cemetery official involved in the incident, highlighting that their actions were aimed at enforcing the cemetery's rules that prohibit political activities within its grounds. The official commended the employee's professionalism and noted that the incident was reported to the police. However, the employee decided not to press charges.

Trump's campaign team has pushed back against the reports, claiming that they were allowed to have an official photographer and/or videographer outside of the main media pool. The former president himself defended his conduct during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, stating that he did not seek publicity during the ceremony with the families of the fallen servicemembers.

Rep. Raskin's letter included an apology by Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R), who also attended the ceremony. Governor Cox had previously shared photos of the visit on social media and in fundraising emails, for which he later expressed regret. However, neither Trump nor his campaign have issued apologies for any alleged violations.

The Hill has reached out to both the Trump campaign and the U.S. Army for comment. This incident has raised concerns and calls for a thorough investigation into the events that transpired during the former president's visit to Arlington National Cemetery.