Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) defended the St. Louis couple who were seen in viral footage last month pointing guns at protesters outside their home and said they “had every right to protect their property. “
Parson made the remarks in defense of the married couple, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, at a press conference Tuesday, the St. Louis Office reported. Her comments reportedly came shortly after receiving criticism from her predecessor, former Governor Eric Greitens (R), about the treatment the couple has received in recent weeks.
During a Fox News appearance earlier this week, presenter Tucker Carlson
Tucker CarlsonStone criticizes the US justice system in the first television interview since Trump commuted his sentence, Dr. Johns Hopkins: issuing an “ultimatum” for schools to reopen is a “wrong approach” Chris Wallace pressures DeVos about threats to withhold funds from schools that will not reopen MORE pressured Greitens for his thoughts on Parson’s response to the McCloskey case, which has attracted national attention in recent weeks, asking, “Why isn’t he doing something?”
“Why didn’t you send state soldiers to defend the McCloskeys or anyone else who was being threatened, whose lives are being threatened?” he asked the former governor.
Greitens, who resigned as governor in 2018 amid multiple allegations of criminal wrongdoing, responded by saying there was a “cowardice problem” and touted the past use of police force by his office.
While discussing the McCloskey case at his press conference on Tuesday, Parsons emphasized his strong support for the Second Amendment, as well as his support for the Castle Doctrine, which, according to a Thomson Reuters legal database, “allows residents use force against intruders, without the duty to withdraw, based on the notion that their home is their ‘castle’. “
Parsons also discussed a recent conversation he had with President Trump
Donald John TrumpWayfair refutes QAnon-like conspiracy theory that he is trafficking children Stone criticizes the US justice system in the first television interview since Trump commuted his sentence The federal appeals court rules that the Trump administrator cannot withhold the federal grants from California sanctuary cities MORE, who also defended the couple in an interview on Tuesday and called the way they have been treated as a “disgrace.”
“He understands the situation in Missouri,” Parsons said in the briefing. “He understands the situation in St. Louis and how runaway it is to leave violent criminals and not do their job and try to attack law-abiding citizens.”
Parsons went on to say that the President also promised “to do everything in his power to help with this situation, and that he would take steps to do so” and said he believes “the President does not like what he is seeing.” and the way these people are treated. “
Parsons also criticized St. Louis City Attorney Kim Gardner, accusing her of trying to take away the couple’s “constitutional rights” after she launched an investigation into the June incident involving the couple.
His comments come several days after local authorities executed a search warrant at the couple’s home. During the search, the husband’s rifle had also been confiscated.
The couple first gained national attention in late June after guns were registered targeting protesters who had been marching past their residence on the way to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s (D) home as part of a demonstration. The protesters had been calling for the mayor’s resignation after she read aloud the activists’ personal information in a live broadcast.
However, as they passed the McCloskeys’ home, the couple could be seen yelling at protesters and pointing guns at them.
The couple have claimed they drew their weapons in defense, saying last month that they were “afraid of [their] lives. “However, one of the protest leaders, Rasheen Aldridge, questioned the couple’s claim at the time and said the protesters remained peaceful despite the McCloskeys attacking them.
The incident last month came amid a wave of protests across the country against police brutality and racism sparked by the police murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other African-Americans.
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