St. Louis prosecutor knocks Trump and Missouri governor for defending couple who waved guns at protesters

The circuit attorney for St. Louis County ripped President Trump and her state’s governor in a Tuesday statement after the two criticized her office’s investigation into a couple seen on a viral video threatening Black Lives Matter protesters at gunpoint.

In a statement released Tuesday, Kimberly Gardner said that the president and Gov. Mike Parson (R) “came after me for doing my job and investigating a case” after the two attacked her in separate interviews.

“While they continue to play politics with the handling of this matter, spreading misinformation and distorting the truth, I refuse to do so,” Gardner said.

Gardner’s office announced last week that it is investigating the couple, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, after they were seen aiming a rifle and a handgun, respectively, at protesters marching down their street in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in Minneapolis police custody.

“My office is currently working with the public and the police to investigate these events,” Gardener said at the time. “Make no mistake: We will not tolerate the use of force against those exercising their First Amendment rights, and will use the full power of Missouri law to hold people accountable.”

The McCloskeys claimed in police reports that they were defending their home from demonstrators, who they said they feared would assault them or destroy their property.

Trump and Parson both defended the couple on Tuesday, characterizing the protesters as violent.

Parson said at a news briefing that the couple “had every right to protect their property,” while Trump went further in a discussion with Townhall.com, calling Gardner’s investigation a “disgrace.”

“They were going to be beat up badly, and the house was going to be totally ransacked and probably burned down like they tried to burn down churches,” the president said.

“These people were standing there, never used it, and they were legal, the weapons,” he added. “And now I understand somebody local, they want to prosecute these people. It’s a disgrace.”