The St. Louis, Missouri couple who stood outside their home with guns to defend themselves from Black Lives Matter protesters have been pardoned. Republican Governor Mike Parson announced Tuesday he had pardoned Mark and Patricia McCloskey, after they pled guilty in June to misdemeanor charges.
Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and was fined $750. Patricia pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was fined $2,000. Last June, the McCloskeys stood armed on the lawn of their home screaming at hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters who were trespassing in their gated community.
Mark McCloskey stood on the lawn of their home screaming and pointing a semiautomatic rifle at protesters. His wife then joined him with a semiautomatic handgun, yelling at protesters to “go” and pointing it at them. No shots were fired.
Many have defended the McCloskeys, saying they were legally protecting their $1.15 million house.
The couple heard a loud commotion and saw a large group of people break an iron gate marked with “No Trespassing” and “Private Street” signs, according to a police report.
However, special prosecutor Richard Callahan said his investigation found that the protesters were peaceful.
“There was no evidence that any of them had a weapon and no one I interviewed realized they had ventured onto a private enclave,” Callahan said in a statement after the McCloskeys pleaded guilty in June.
At the time of the incident, the pair received support from then-President Trump, who called the charges against them “disgraceful.” They were also invited to speak at last year’s Republican National Convention.
Mark McCloskey launched a bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Missouri last month.
“Mark is a Conservative outsider who will bring backbone and guts to the US Senate to continue fighting for President Trump’s agenda,” his website says.
