The father of the accused gunman who shot and killed two Israeli staffers at the Capital Jewish Museum was a special guest of a Democratic congressman for President Donald Trump’s March address to Congress.
‘Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President’s Joint Speech to Congress, but we don’t know his family,’ a spokesperson for Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García (D-Ill.) confirmed to the New York Post.
At the time, García’s office celebrated Rodriguez as an ‘outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans’ services and the rights of unionized federal employees.’
Eric Rodriguez identified himself as a disabled Iraq War veteran and was involved in anti-Trump protests of cuts to the federal government.
‘Veterans, we’re under attack,’ he said tearfully at an event with congressional Democrats.
‘They’re slashing staff, crushing unions and selling out the VA, for what?’ he said. ‘So billionaires can make more money while veterans sit on wait lists, or worse, they’ll get no treatment.’
Congressman Garcia hailed Rodriguez, the father of the shooter, as a hero.
Disabled Iraq War Veteran Eric Rodriguez and father of shooter Elias
Two staff members from the Israeli embassy were shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night by a gunman who shouted “free Palestine” during his arrest.
‘Eric represents the very best of our community — someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people,’ the congressman said in a statement at the time.
He also posted video of Rodriguez’s speech on Instagram.
His son, Elias Rodriguez, was charged in court for shooting and killing a young couple, Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, as they left an event at the museum.
‘I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,’ Rodriguez told officers who arrested him, according to the charging documents.
After the shooting, Rep. Garcia condemned the shooting as a ‘horrible senseless act of antisemitism.’
Two staff members from the Israeli embassy were shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night
Shooting suspect Elias Rodriguez, 31, is seated in U.S. District Court, where he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum,
‘My heart is with the victims and everyone impacted by the attack. We mourn the lives lost and reject the idea that justice can be won through violence,’ he wrote on social media.
Elias Rodriguez graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago and was increasingly involved in left-wing activism. He also donated $500 Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in 2020.
His mother Elvira Rodriguez declined to comment to ABC News.
‘He is my son but right now I have no comment, thank you,’ she replied on the phone.
Rodriguez, 30, worked as a far-left activist who worked as an ‘oral history researcher’ on African American communities at educational non-profit TheHistoryMakers, participated in anti-capitalist demonstrations, and has been a member of the party for ‘socialism and liberation.’
