Exclusive — A group of California lawmakers will honor four of the 13 U.S. soldiers who lost their lives during the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 on Thursday.
Republican Rep. Bill Essayry, who led the effort, chose to honor Lance Corporal Karim Nikoui, who was killed in a suicide bombing while being evacuated from Hamid Karzai International Airport. At least 180 civilians were killed in the attack.
All four service members honored at the California State Capitol on Thursday were from the Golden State.
Esserli told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that she was moved when she heard Gold Star’s father, Herman Lopez, speak about his son, Corporal Hunter Lopez, who was killed in a suicide bombing at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
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California State Assemblyman Bill Essay (California State Legislature)
“I thought it was very touching, and I asked my staff, ‘Have we done anything for these families at the Capitol?’ And they couldn’t remember that we had done anything to honor the military,” Esser said. “I said, ‘We’re here on Memorial Day, and I think it’s completely appropriate and fitting, so let’s invite the families and honor them on the floor of the California Capitol.’”
Essayli and his colleagues will present a memorial resolution to each Gold Star family. Then, members of each district will say a few words about each fallen soldier.
Steve Nichowi, the father of Gold Star, whose son Karim was killed in the bombing, is scheduled to attend the event and told Fox News Digital the past three years have been incredibly difficult. About a year after losing Karim, his other son committed suicide.
Lance Corporal Karim Nikowy was one of 13 American service members killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021 as U.S. forces were being evacuated from Afghanistan. (provided by the Nikui family)
“I did what any normal person would do. I spent the first few years healing,” Nicowi said, holding back tears as he turned his anger toward the Biden administration.
“The administration at the time continued to deny their service, their sacrifice, and what happened, and refused to tell the American people the truth,” Nikui said.
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Nikui heckled President Biden during a March speech to Congress, repeatedly chanting “Abby Gate,” referring to the airport where the suicide bombings took place on August 26, 2021.
Steve Nikui yells at President Biden (not pictured) during his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024. (Sean Der/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Nicowi was later dragged from the House gallery by Capitol Police and arrested on a misdemeanor charge of obstruction, disruption or nuisance. The charges were later dismissed by Brian Schwalb, the Democratic attorney general for Washington, D.C.
Nikui said Biden had a chance to bring the country together in his State of the Union address by honoring fallen U.S. service members, but “he chose not to do so.”
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“He chose instead to honor and name his son. I think that was the downfall of this administration, and because of that, our civilization, our society, our country, has paid the price for that withdrawal,” Nicowi said. “We’ve been hurt really badly.”
Essayry criticized Democrats for never taking the lead in honoring fallen American soldiers.
This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force shows flag-decorated transfer cases lined up inside a C-17 Globemaster II aircraft ahead of a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Aug. 29, 2021. (Jason Minto/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images)
“The Democrats are very good at flattering and saying they care about our veterans, but when it comes to truly honoring and helping our veterans, I don’t see the actions to back that up. I think it speaks volumes that they’ve never thought to do this ceremony or taken the initiative to do it,” Essayri said, noting that California lawmakers honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group that mocks the Catholic faith.
Esserli said he hopes Thursday’s awards show will highlight two choices the American people have in November’s election: former President Trump, who has not started a new war, or Vice President Harris, who represents the legacy of the Biden administration.
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“There is conflict all over the world, so leadership is important, and weakness is provocative,” Esser said. “That’s my message.”
