Steve Nikoui, the father of a U.S. Marine who tragically lost his life during the 2021 evacuation of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, has been arrested and charged with a misdemeanor following an interruption during President Biden’s State of the Union address, as confirmed by Capitol Police.
During the president’s speech, Mr. Nikoui shouted “Abbey Gate, Abbey Gate,” referring to the location where his son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, and 12 other troops perished during the tumultuous final days of the U.S. presence in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Promptly, police officers removed Mr. Nikoui, aged 51, from the gallery, where he had been a guest of Representative Brian Mast, a Republican from Florida. Although President Biden briefly paused during the disruption, he swiftly resumed his address.
In a statement issued by the Capitol Police, it was noted that officers had warned Mr. Nikoui to cease his interruption, and upon his refusal to comply, he was escorted out of the chamber.
The statement read: “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.”
