Photo: Getty Images
Missouri Governor Mike Parson officially pardoned Patricia McCloskey, Mark McCloskey and eight others on Tuesday. The McCloskeys made national headlines last summer as photographers captured them pointing guns at a group of seemingly unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters. As photos of the couple made the rounds on social media, local authorities began looking into the matter. Ultimately, Patricia McCloskey pled guilty to harassment and Mark McCloskey pled guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. The couple was also ordered to pay upwards of $2,500 in fines.
While authorities pursued legal action against the couple, members of the Republican Party sought to position the McCloskeys as victims. Most notably, the couple was invited to appear at the Republican National Convention. In addition, Mark McCloskey appeared on FOX News and has since launched a campaign to become the next U.S. Senator from the state of Missouri.
One of the many people that Mark Closkey pointed his assault rifle at last summer was U.S. Rep. Cori Bush. While Parson was pardoning the McCloskeys, Bush was leading a protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol that would prevent thousands of Missouri residents from being evicted from their homes during the pandemic. Joined by fellow lawmakers and activists, Bush participated in a "sleep-out" on the steps of the Capitol to highlight the number of people that would be left homeless if the eviction moratorium were not extended.
“I’m a formerly unhoused Congresswoman, and I know that people will die if we let the eviction moratorium expire,” Bush tweeted.
Thankfully, Bush's concerns were heard. On Tuesday, the White House instituted a 60-day eviction moratorium in U.S. counties with “substantial and high levels of community transmission." Renters in approximately 90% of the country qualify for the extension.
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