Steven Nikoui, the father a Marine killed during the U.S. withdrawal of Afghanistan, was arrested Thursday evening for shouting from a House gallery at President Biden during his State of the Union address.
Nikoui, 51, was arrested for disrupting Biden’s speech around 10:15 p.m. EST, U.S. Capitol Police confirmed.
“Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries,” Capitol Police said in a statement.
He was arrested for crowding, obstructing or incommoding, Capitol Police said, adding that “disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal.”
Nikoui was invited to attend the annual address by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who served in the Army for more than 12 years. While deployed in Afghanistan, Mast worked as a bomb disposal expert, where he lost both his legs in an explosion, according to his congressional website.
Mast posted online ahead of the address, saying he was “honored” to have Nikoui as his guest.
“He is the father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Mast said online. “Joe Biden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH.”
During Biden’s speech, Nikoui could be heard yelling “Abbey Gate.”
“He was arrested because he cried out to Joe Biden to remember his son,” Mast wrote. “Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success!”
Last August, on the second anniversary of the explosion, Biden released a statement to mourn the lives of the service members and civilians who were killed in the “horrific terrorist attack.”
@VotingDukeRepublican3mos3MO
It’s called being persecuted for even daring to say anything against the Biden Administration! I will pray for him, he is a grieving father and his Son is Hero. I Thank his son for his Sacrifice and God Bless our Military Veterans!
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
@ThrusheEliConstitution3mos3MO
This is the face of a man who was robbed by the Biden administration of his son. Sometimes we have to do hard things.
@JudicialRavenPatriot3mos3MO
My heart breaks for Gold Star father Steve Nikoui and all the families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan. They deserve our deepest respect and support.
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