Dad of DC taking pictures suspect attended Trump’s tackle in March as visitor of Democrat | EUROtoday

The father of the person charged with taking pictures useless two staffers from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday night time was invited to witness President Donald Trump’s Joint Speech to Congress in March.

Elias Rodriguez, 30, a Chicago resident, was charged with two counts of first-degree homicide on Thursday over the killing of Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, exterior of the Capital Jewish Museum, the place the couple had simply attended an occasion on humanitarian support for Gaza. Lischinsky was about to suggest to Milgrim, officers have mentioned.

It has since emerged that the suspect’s father, Eric Rodrguez, visited D.C. to witness Trump’s tackle to lawmakers on March 5 as a visitor of a Democratic congressman.

“Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President’s Joint Speech to Congress, but we don’t know his family,” Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia advised The New York Post.

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The consultant paid tribute to Eric Rodriguez on the time of the speech by calling him “an outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans’ services and the rights of unionized federal employees.”

He added: “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.

“His presence at the Joint Address is a powerful statement: we will not sit back while veterans and workers are treated as political pawns.”

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Eric Rodriguez additionally appeared in a Service Employees International Union video on the identical day, during which he described himself as an Iraq War veteran and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) worker.

“I’ve been with the VA for three years, and the reason why I’m in Washington, D.C., is because I’m concerned about what Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE are doing to the VA system,” he mentioned.

Congressman Garcia responded to the tragic taking pictures on Thursday by writing on X: “I strongly condemn this horrible, senseless act of antisemitism. My heart is with the victims and everyone impacted by the attack.”

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Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith mentioned Rodriguez was seen pacing exterior the venue earlier than the assault and afterwards tried to get inside earlier than being detained by safety.

He chanted “free, free Palestine” as he was led away in handcuffs.

Elias Rodriguez’s actions have impressed worldwide condemnation, with President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu each denouncing it as an antisemitic act of terrorism.