SAN DIEGO — The man who disrupted President Joe Biden's State of the Union address has ties to San Diego.
Steve Nakoui's son was Camp Pendleton based Marine, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, who died during the United States’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Since then, he's been pushing for accountability.
Biden was an hour into his speech when Nikoui began shouting from his seat in the gallery above.
The President paused briefly but continued.
Meanwhile, Capitol Police escorted Nikoui out, releasing a statement saying:
"Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the house galleries and was arrested. Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal.”
As for what Nikoui said, we've learned he yelled out “United States Marines,” followed by “Remember Abbey Gate,” referencing the gate at the Kabul airport where his son was killed, alongside 12 other service members by an explosive device.
"They want to avoid it. They don't want to give us any answers. They want to sweep it under the rug basically," said Nikoui last summer.
CBS 8 interviewed Nakoui in August 2023 when he and other Gold Star families spoke at a hearing hosted by Congressman Darrell Issa in Escondido.
There, they pushed for answers, and demanded President Biden take responsibility.
"It was a catastrophe that shouldn't have happened," said Nakoui.
Biden has previously called the explosion an "horrific terrorist attack."
Following Nakoui's outburst, Congressman Issa released a statement reading:
"Filled with pointing fingers and placing blame, President Biden’s SOTU address was a defensive and divisive speech typical of a White House unable to acknowledge their failures or accept any responsibility for the disasters on their watch.
"Last night did feature one poignant speaker — but it wasn’t the president. My friend and California Gold Star father Steve Nikoui’s direct call for accountability reminded the entire nation what the President wants everyone to forget — 13 U.S. servicemembers were lost at the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan in the chaotic and disastrous withdrawal for which Biden alone is responsible.
"The Gold Star families in attendance last night have every right to be angry with this president and his administration as it has worked far harder to cover up and turn the page on its failures in Afghanistan than to tell the truth and make this right with these families. The families continue their mission: accountability for the disastrous decisions that led to the loss of their loved ones and to ensure it never happens again.
"This isn’t over. I stand with these Gold Star families, I share their anger and frustration, and I will continue the work toward the accountability they deserve."
Nakoui was a guest of Florida representative Brian Mast.
He was arrested for a misdemeanor.
People who illegally demonstrate or disrupt a session of Congress typically receive a $50 fine and are released after payment.
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