A Gold Star dad, whose son was killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, was arrested during President Joe Biden’sState of the Union address.
Steve Nikoui shouted “Abbey Gate” repeatedly during the president’s address, resulting in him being escorted from the House Galleries on Thursday evening.
Per Fox News: “Nikoui was confronted by security during his outburst and demanded to stop but he refused. He was removed from the House Galleries and arrested by Capitol police on the misdemeanor charge of Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding.”
Steve Nikoui’s son Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui was killed during in an ISIS-K bombing.
Abbey Gate referred to Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport where 13 U.S. service members were killed in a bombing, as well as approximately 170 Afghan civilians. The withdraw of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has been criticized.
Watch the video below:
A U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson told the Washington Examiner, “This is a routine charge on Capitol Hill. People who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress typically are released after they pay a $50 fine, so the misdemeanor charge is resolved without going to court.”
Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) invited Steve Nikoui to the State of the Union.