ABC News July 30, 2020

Family of Vanessa Guillen meets with Trump, discusses support for bill and funeral expenses

WATCH: As Vanessa Guillen’s family appears in DC, another veteran lends her voice

Family members of murdered Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen traveled from Texas to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to meet with President Donald Trump to ask for his support and bring awareness to the #IAmVanessaGuillen bill.

The half-day of events started at the National Mall, where Guillen's family and their attorney, Natalie Khawam, called for justice for Guillen and service members who have been victims of sexual harassment or violence. The #IAmVanessaGuillen bill would allow active duty members to file harassment and assault claims to a third-party agency instead of through their chain of command.

Guillen, 20, was last seen on the Texas military base on April 22 before law enforcement officials found her remains on June 30 buried near a lake 20 miles away.

Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Demonstrators hold a banner demanding justice for slain US Army solder Vanessa Guillen in Los Angeles, California, on July 12, 2020.

Her alleged killer, Spc. Aaron David Robinson, died by suicide on July 1. His girlfriend, Cecily Ann Aguilar, has been charged with assisting with discarding Guillen's body.

MORE: Timeline: What to know about missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen

A not guilty plea was entered on Aguilar's behalf during a bond hearing at which a federal judge denied her bail.

Guillen's family and Khawam said Guillen had been sexually harassed by another soldier who allegedly watched her while she was taking a shower. Guillen told her family she didn't report the incident because she feared retaliation.

Kris Connor/Getty Images
Natalie Khawam speaks at press conference, on Nov. 20, 2012, in Washington.

Guillen's 16-year-old sister, Lupe, gave a tearful and passionate speech to the demonstrators before the "Justice for Vanessa" march.

"Fort Hood is supposed to be held accountable, their leadership is to be held accountable. They are to protect every soldier, they didn't protect her, instead they killed her, they sexual harassed her. ... This could have been prevented," Lupe told the crowd. "I have all rights to be mad, to be upset."

MORE: Suspect connected to missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen dies by suicide

Investigators "identified some information" that Vanessa Guillen was "potentially" harassed at Fort Hood, but that it was "not of a sexual nature," according to an Army official, who added that there may have been "some sexual comments made to her," but they were not from Robinson or "any other parties of interest in the investigation."

Carolyn Kaster/AP
Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen's mother Gloria Guillen, right, joined by Vanessa's sister Lupe Guillen, left, and family attorney Natalie Khawam, cries as she speaks during a news conference on the National Mall in front of Capitol Hill, July 30, 2020, in Washington.

"The military needs reform. This bill will save lives," Khawam said before the march on Thursday. "Our military deserves better. They deserve to be protected. They fight for us every day and we should protect them. Protect the protectors, defend the defenders."

Evan Vucci/AP
President Donald Trump meets with slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen's mother Gloria Guillen in the Oval Office of the White House on July 30, 2020, in Washington.

After the march from the Capitol to the White House, the Guillen family and Khawam met with Trump at the White House to ask for his support for the bill.

"I saw this on one of the shows ... it hit me very hard," Trump told Guillen's mother in the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon. "Your daughter Vanessa was a spectacular person and respected and loved by everybody, including in the military."

U.S. Army
Army Pfc. Vanessa Guillen.

Trump assured them that "everyone," including the Department of Defense and FBI, are investigating Guillen's case. The president said he "didn't want this swept under the rug. ... We'll get to the bottom of it."

Throughout the meeting, Guillen's mother, who sat near the president, spoke to Trump through an interpreter and repeatedly broke down in tears. Lupe was also given time to express her disbelief of what happened to her sister.

Carolyn Kaster/AP
Rep. Sylvia Garcia and the family of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, her sister Lupe Guillen, mother Gloria Guillen, sister Mayra Guillen, and father Rogelio Guillen sit together surrounded by supporters during a news conference on the National Mall in front of Capitol Hill, July 30, 2020, in Washington.

Trump asked the family about the funeral arrangements.

The family explained that the funeral, which will take place in Houston, has been delayed because of the ongoing investigation, and the president then offered to help the family financially if needed.

Fort Hood CID
Army Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, 20, has been missing from her unit since April 22, 2020, according to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

"If I can help you out with the funeral, I'll help you. I'll help you out. Financially I’ll help you," Trump said.

"I think the military may be taking care of it," Khawam responded.

“That's good. If you need help, I'll help you out,” said Trump, who acknowledged that if he assisted with the funeral cost it would be given personally. "I can't do it through government."

Carolyn Kaster/AP
Supporters of the family of slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen gather before a news conference on the National Mall in front of Capitol Hill, July 30, 2020, in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Family, friends and supporters of murdered U.S. Army Private First Class Vanessa Guillen march on the National Mall to call for justice in her death and for Congress to investigate, July 30, 2020, in Washington.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen's father Rogelio Guillen wears a face mask with an image of Vanessa and the words "JUSTICE FOR VANESSA" during a news conference on the National Mall in front of Capitol Hill, July 30, 2020, in Washington.

ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report.