(NewsNation) — The father of a marine who died in the Kabul International Airport bombing during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan faces charges after interrupting President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night.
Steve Nikoui, 51, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, who was just 20 years old when he was killed, was arrested Thursday after shouting “Abbey Gate” and “United States Marines” during Biden’s speech.
The two phrases were references to the deadly bombing in which his son, 12 other American service members and 170 Afghan civilians were killed.
The United States Capitol Police charged Steve Nikoui with a misdemeanor that carries a maximum fine of $500 and up to 90 days in prison.
“Tonight at approximately 10:15 p.m., a man disrupted the State of the Union address by yelling. Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries and was arrested for D.C. Code § 22–1307 – Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding. Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal,” the Capitol police said in a statement to NewsNation.
In a statement to NewsNation, the Capitol police said it was a routine charge on Capitol Hill and that people who illegally demonstrate or disrupt Congress are typically released after they pay a $50 fine. The department said the misdemeanor charge is typically resolved without going to court.
Steve Nikoui was a guest of Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast, who was outraged by the arrest.
“The Sergeant at Arms is holding my State of the Union guest for yelling at @POTUS in protest because his son was killed in action at the Abbey Gate due to Biden’s incompetence. So much for the right to petition our government for the redress of grievances,” Mast posted to social media.
Two and a half years after the terrorist attack, Gold Star families say they are still waiting for answers and accountability from the Biden administration.
Gold Star families previously said the Biden administration hasn’t been transparent about the attack and accused U.S. officials of putting politics ahead of their children’s lives.