Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Bonsall) on Tuesday urged Capitol Police to drop charges against the Southern California father who interrupted the State of the Union address by shouting his son's name and the location where he was murdered. in Afghanistan.
Steve Nikoui, 51, the father of a U.S. Marine killed in 2021 as U.S. military forces withdrew from Afghanistan, was arrested March 7 in the House of Representatives for disrupting the president's State of the Union address. Biden. He shouted the names of Marines killed in a suicide bombing, including his son's Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui and “Abbey Gate”, the site of the airport attack.
“Sir. Nikoui's arrest for emotionally expressing his grief and seeking recognition for his son's sacrifice during the State of the Union, where he shouted, “Abbey Gate! Kareem Nikoui! 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines!” – highlighted a deep disconnect between the sacrifices made by our service members and the recognition they deserve. Although he interrupted the event, what Mr. Nikoui expressed out loud was a cry for recognition of the loss suffered by the families of the 13 who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” Issa wrote in a letter Tuesday to Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger.
Issa joins other Republicans who are pushing for the misdemeanor charges against Nikoui to be dropped, noting that Fred Guttenberg, the father of a victim of the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, was escorted from the State of the Union address. President Trump's 2020 Union for shouting but was not arrested.
Nikoui, from Norco in Riverside County, attended the speech as a guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.). Conflicting stories have emerged about whether Nikoui was caught up in the moment or entered the House chamber with the intention of interrupting the speech.
Capitol Police gave Nikoui several warnings to stop yelling before removing him from the chamber around 10:15 p.m. ET.
“Disrupting Congress and demonstrating in Congressional buildings is illegal,” the department said in a statement issued that night.
A Capitol Police spokesperson referred further questions to the attorney general of the District of Columbia. A spokesman for the attorney general declined to comment.
While police make arrests, it is up to prosecutors to decide whether to file charges. As such, Capitol Police have no control over whether Nikoui is charged.
Nikoui is scheduled to appear in court on March 28. He faces a fine of up to $500, although that amount is usually reduced to $50.
Nikoui's situation has drawn attention for the circumstances of his protest and for Republican representatives who have called for the charges to be dropped. But the charge is fairly routine for protesters disrupting Congress's ability to function.
Protests are so common at the Capitol that those waiting to be arrested often hold $50 in their hands to pay the fine while they wait for Capitol Police to arrive.
On Tuesday alone, six people appeared in the District of Columbia Superior Court to face charges of overcrowding, obstruction or inconvenience.
