Steve Nikoui, the father of a U.S. Marine killed during the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for interrupting President Biden during his State of the Union address, according to Capitol Police.
Mr. Nikoui shouted “Abbey Gate, Abbey Gate” during the president’s speech, a reference to the place where his son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui and 12 other soldiers were killed in the chaotic final days of the U.S. presence in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Police officers quickly removed Mr. Nikoui, 51, from the gallery where he was a guest of Rep. Brian Mast, Republican of Florida. Mr. Biden paused briefly during the interruption but quickly moved on.
A Capitol Police statement said officers warned Mr. Nikoui to stop and when he failed to do so, they removed him from the chamber.
In the statement, the officials said: “This is a routine indictment of Capitol Hill. Individuals who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress are typically released after paying a $50 fine, allowing the misdemeanor charge to be resolved without going to trial.”
Mr Nikoui has been a vocal critic of Mr Biden since his son’s death. In August 2021, he told The Daily Beast that he blamed the president for the tragedy.
“They sent my son there as a paper pusher and then the Taliban provided security outside,” Mr. Nikoui said at the time, according to the news organization.
“I blame my own military leaders,” he said, adding: “Biden turned his back on him. That’s it.”
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2024-03-08 05:23:55
www.nytimes.com