Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Bonsall) on Tuesday urged Capitol Police to drop charges against the Southern California father who interrupted his State of the Union address by shouting his son's name and the place where he was killed in Afghanistan.
Steve Nikoi, 51, the father of a US Marine who was killed in 2021 when US military forces withdrew from Afghanistan, was arrested on March 7 in the House chamber for interrupting President Biden's State of the Union address. He shouted the names of Marines killed in the suicide bombing, including his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Karim Nikoi, and the “Monastery Gate”, the site of the airport attack.
“Mr. Nikoi was arrested for emotionally expressing his grief and asking for recognition of his son’s sacrifice during his State of the Union address – where he said: ‘Monastery Gate! Nekoy cream! 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines! – Highlight the profound disconnect between the sacrifices our service members have made and the recognition they deserve. Although he boycotted the event, what Mr. Nikoi expressed loudly was a cry for recognition of the loss suffered by the families of the 13 who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. boss.
Issa joins other Republicans calling for the charges against Nikoi to be dropped, noting that Fred Guttenberg, the father of one of the victims in the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, was escorted from President Trump's 2020 State of the Union address screaming but was not arrested.
Nikoi, of Norco in Riverside County, attended the speech as a guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.). Conflicting stories emerged as to whether Nikoi was caught at this moment or whether he entered the House chamber with the intention of interrupting the speech.
Capitol Police gave Nikoi several warnings to stop screaming before taking him out of the room around 10:15 p.m. ET.
“Disrupting Congress and demonstrating in Congressional buildings are illegal,” the department said in a statement issued that night.
A Capitol Police spokesman referred further questions to the U.S. Attorney for 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 pursue charges. As such, Capitol Police have no control over whether Nikoi is charged or not.
Nikoi is scheduled to appear in court on March 28. He faces a fine of up to $500, although that amount is routinely reduced to $50.
Nikoi's situation has drawn attention due to the circumstances of his protest and Republican representatives who have called for the charges against him to be dropped. But the charge is fairly routine for protesters obstructing Congress' ability to function.
Protests are so common on Capitol Hill that those expecting to be arrested often hold $50 in their hands to pay a fine while waiting for Capitol Police to arrive.
Six people appeared in District of Columbia Superior Court on Tuesday alone to face charges of crowding, obstruction or nuisance.
