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House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, known as for the charges against the Gold Star father who interrupted President Biden’s State of the Union handle to be dropped.
Steve Nikoui, 51, is the father of Marine Corps Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, one of the 13 U.S. service members killed when an ISIS-Ok suicide bomber detonated exterior of Hamid Karzai International Airport throughout the U.S. navy’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
He was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday night after shouting “Abbey Gate” a number of instances from the House gallery throughout Biden’s speech. Abbey Gate was the location of the 2021 assault.
McCaul revealed to reporters on Friday morning that Nikoui advised him earlier about his intention to interrupt the handle.
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House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul, left, known as for charges against Gold Star dad Steve Nikoui, proper, to be dropped. (Getty Images)
“I talked to Steve prior to his announcement on the floor. I said, look, this is between you and your god and your conscience and your son, and the other families,” McCaul mentioned. “I think they feel that their children have been completely, you know, blown off by this administration, the president’s never called to say ‘I’m sorry.’ And that is why he spoke up.”
The senior Republican warned the Gold Star dad that he would probably be escorted off the House ground if he protested.
“I didn’t encourage him to do it… it was his choice to make, and it was a powerful one,” McCaul mentioned.
Steve Nikoui interrupted President Biden’s State of the Union handle on Thursday evening. (Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images)
Law enforcement mentioned Nikoui was arrested on charges of crowding, obstructing or incommoding. He was a visitor of Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla.
McCaul known as the charges “petty.”
“I guess he resisted arrest, and I get that, I was a federal prosecutor many years, but in this type of case, I mean, the charges seem a little overbearing given the fact this is a man who lost his son in Abbey Gate to the bombing in a really screwed up situation,” McCaul mentioned.
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Steve Nikoui is the father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, pictured right here, one of the 13 U.S. service members killed when an ISIS-Ok suicide bomber detonated exterior of Hamid Karzai International Airport.
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The Texas Republican’s committee has been actively investigating the August 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and the choices that led to it.
Fox News Digital reached out to Nikoui, U.S. Capitol Police, Mast’s workplace and Speaker Mike Johnson’s workplace, however didn’t instantly hear again.
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