Republican Missouri Governor Michael Parson on Tuesday pardoned Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who brandished guns while Black Lives Matter activists trespassed through their neighborhood last summer.
Parson revealed the McCloskeys&#8217; pardon along with a batch of other pardons and commutations. The governor did not give any additional statement regarding the McCloskeys.
The McCloskeys <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mark-and-patricia-mccloskey-plead-guilty-to-misdemeanors-agree-to-give-up-guns">pleaded</a> guilty in June to misdemeanor offenses related to their confrontation with Black Lives Matter activists last year. Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault and was fined $750. Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment and was fined $2,000. Both agreed to give up their guns used in the altercation.
In June 2020, the McCloskeys confronted dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters that had entered a private, gated community in St. Louis while marching to then-Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house. While the McCloskeys and the protesters exchanged heated words, no shots were fired and nobody was hurt.
Mark McCloskey said in a Tuesday statement that if he were ever put in that situation again, he would act the same, according to the AP.
“Today we are incredibly thankful that Governor Mike Parson righted this wrong and granted us pardons,” he added.
McCloskey attorney Joel Schwartz added that the couple is “thrilled” with Parson’s decision to pardon them.
“They want to put this episode of their lives behind them and focus on Mark’s campaign for senate. As Mark McCloskey has stated, if he faced the same situation again, he would conduct himself in the same manner, and he feels he’s been vindicated by the governor’s pardon,” Schwartz said, according to the <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/missouri-governor-pardons-mark-and-patricia-mccloskey/article_c3f5c751-5cf4-5042-af36-2abc7deffdf9.html">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>.
After garnering national attention, both good and bad, for his confrontation with Black Lives Matter, Mark McCloskey launched a campaign for U.S. Senate in May. McCloskey has used the June 2020 incident to fundraise and bolster his image among GOP voters. He uses one of the photos of him confronting the protesters that went viral on the front page of his campaign <a href="https://www.mccloskeyforsenate.com/">website</a>. The photo shows him holding a rifle standing next to his wife, who is armed with a pistol.
The McCloskeys were originally charged by a grand jury in October with unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence, both felony crimes. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner pursued the case against the McCloskeys but later earned a reprimand from a judge for using the high-profile case to raise campaign funds for her own reelection. The judge eventually disqualified her from the case.
“Ms. Gardner has every right to rebut criticism, but it appears unnecessary to stigmatize defendant – or even mention him – in campaign solicitations, especially when she purports to be responding to others,” the judge wrote at the time. “In fact, the case law and Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit it.”
A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Governor Mike Parson as a Democrat. He is a Republican. 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/checking-out-my-new-ar-mccloskeys-buy-new-rifle-after-authorities-confiscate-guns-involved-in-standoff-with-rioters">‘Checking Out My New AR!’: McCloskeys Buy New Rifle After Authorities Confiscate Guns Involved In Standoff</a>

Mark and Patricia McCloskey

Missouri Governor Pardons McCloskeys Of Crimes Related To Standoff With BLM Protesters

Black Lives Matter

Mark McCloskey

Missouri

Patricia McCloskey

Mark and Patricia McCloskey purchased at least one new gun over the weekend after turning their firearms over to law enforcement.
Mark McCloskey posted a photo Saturday on Twitter depicting himself and his wife purchasing an AR-15 along with the caption: “Checking out my new AR!” The McCloskeys were forced to turn over at least two firearms to the police last week after they pleaded guilty to charges relating to their standoff with Black Lives Matter trespassers last year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Checking out my new AR! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2A?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2A</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MOSen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MOSen</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qa5UKupXSX">pic.twitter.com/Qa5UKupXSX</a>
&mdash; Mark McCloskey (@mccloskeyusa) <a href="https://twitter.com/mccloskeyusa/status/1406324425973194754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault. The charge is far less serious than the original felony charges filed against McCloskey of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence.
Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense of second-degree harassment after being originally charged with felony offenses of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mark-and-patricia-mccloskey-plead-guilty-to-misdemeanors-agree-to-give-up-guns">The Daily Wire</a> reported:
<blockquote>Mark McCloskey has been ordered to pay $750 in fines, and Patricia McCloskey has been ordered to pay $2,000 in fines and $10 to the St. Louis crime victims fund. The pair were also ordered to turn over the two weapons they were pictured holding in a confrontation that went viral last year. The couple’s lawyer asked that the guns either be destroyed or rendered ineffective and sold to a collector as a historical artifact.
The judge denied that request.</blockquote>
Last year in June, the McCloskeys confronted a group of Black Lives Matter protesters that had entered their private, gated community in St. Louis while marching to then-Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house. Krewson’s house was located down the street in the same private community.
The McCloskeys brandished firearms at them, claiming that they had threatened them with physical violence after breaking into and damaging the gate into their private neighborhood.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner pursued the couple with felony charges over the incident, which was caught on video and went viral. Gardner later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccloskeys-request-new-prosecutor-after-st-louis-circuit-attorney-seemingly-uses-case-to-campaign">used</a> the felony charges in a fundraising email, sparking a scandal in the case and earning Gardner a reprimand from a judge.
“Ms. Gardner has every right to rebut criticism, but it appears unnecessary to stigmatize defendant – or even mention him – in campaign solicitations, especially when she purports to be responding to others,” the judge wrote. “In fact, the case law and Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit it.”
Mark McCloskey announced in May that he was running to be the next U.S. senator from Missouri, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/18/politics/mark-mccloskey-senate-run/index.html">CNN</a>. McCloskey used the fame he garnered over his confrontation with the Black Lives Matter mob and ensuing legal battle with Gardner to launch his campaign.
“I’ve always been a Republican, but I have never been a politician,” McCloskey said, making his announcement on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” “But you know, God came knocking on my door last summer disguised as an angry mob, and it really did wake me up.”

Mark T. and Patricia N. McCloskey

‘Checking Out My New AR!’: McCloskeys Buy New Rifle After Authorities Confiscate Guns Involved In Standoff

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis, Missouri, couple that went viral after confronting Black Lives Matter protesters on their own front lawn, pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, Thursday, and agreed to turn over their personal weapons to St. Louis authorities.
Local news reports that the pair, who were originally charged with felonies, inked the plea deal with prosecutors earlier this month despite previously pleading not guilty. A judge approved the plea deal on Thursday.
&#8220;Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to a count of fourth-degree assault, which was filed in court Thursday and is a Class C misdemeanor. He was originally charged with unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence — both felony charges,&#8221; a <a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/mccloskeys-plead-guilty-charges/63-59f745ba-7b5d-4644-a01e-49e74f276a0e">St. Louis NBC affiliate reported</a> Thursday afternoon.
&#8220;Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment, which is a Class A misdemeanor charge that was filed last month when a count of tampering with physical evidence was removed. She also was originally charged with unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence,&#8221; the outlet noted.
Mark McCloskey has been ordered to pay $750 in fines, and Patricia McCloskey has been ordered to pay $2,000 in fines and $10 to the St. Louis crime victims fund. The pair were also ordered to turn over the two weapons they were pictured holding in a confrontation that went viral last year. The couple&#8217;s lawyer asked that the guns either be destroyed or rendered ineffective and sold to a collector as a historical artifact.
The judge denied that request.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey confronted a group of Black Lives Matter protesters late last June at the height of national anti-police brutality and anti-racism protests. The demonstration was on its way to then-Mayor Lyda Krewson&#8217;s house, located in the same private, gated community as the McCloskey&#8217;s mansion.
The pair were captured on video holding weapons and yelling at protesters who, the McCloskey&#8217;s claim, had threatened them with physical violence and damaged a gate that led to their property.
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner appeared to make an example of the McCloskey&#8217;s, charging the pair with crimes related to the confrontation. She also reportedly sent fundraising emails mentioning the pair before and after issuing charges &#8212; an action that a judge, last December, said raised &#8220;the appearance of impropriety and jeopardize[d] the defendant’s right to a fair trial.”
She claimed she was using her email list to rebut misconceptions about the McCloskey incident created by media attention. A St. Louis judge disagreed and Gardner was ultimately removed from the case.
“Ms. Gardner has every right to rebut criticism, but it appears unnecessary to stigmatize defendant – or even mention him – in campaign solicitations, especially when she purports to be responding to others,” the judge wrote of Gardner&#8217;s emails. “In fact, the case law and Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit it.”
The pair appeared on news programs to defend their actions and to speak out against what they believed to be a violent element of the Black Lives Matter movement. Mark McCloskey recently announced that he is running for Senate.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mark-mccloskey-lawyer-who-defended-home-against-blm-demonstrators-considering-senate-run">Mark McCloskey, Lawyer Who Defended Home Against BLM Demonstrators, Considering Senate Run</a>

The St. Louis couple charged with waving guns at protesters have a long history of not backing down

Mark And Patricia McCloskey Plead Guilty To Misdemeanors, Agree To Give Up Guns

Mark McCloskey, the lawyer from St. Louis who rose to fame last year after he and his wife held firearms outside their home while a large group of Black Lives Matter demonstrators neared their property, is considering a run for U.S. Senate.
McCloskey told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/20/mark-mccloskey-senate-missouri-483924">Politico</a> on Tuesday that he is interested in running for Missouri’s open Senate seat after Republican Sen. Roy Blunt retires.
“I can confirm that it’s a consideration, yes,” McCloskey told the outlet. He said that he does not have a date by which he will decide whether or not to run.
McCloskey and his wife, Patricia, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-democrat-prosecutor-charges-mccloskeys-with-felonies-for-using-guns-to-defend-private-property" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gained</a> national attention last year for using their own weapons to defend their home. He said during a local interview last year, “I went inside; I got a rifle … because as soon as I said ‘this is private property,’ those words enraged the crowd.”
“Horde, an absolute horde came through the smashed-down gates, coming right at the house,” Mark McCloskey recounted. “And then I stood out there, the only thing we said is, ‘This is private property, go back, private property, leave now.’ At that point, everybody got enraged, there were people wearing body armor.”
“One person pulled out [some] loaded pistol magazines and he clicked them together and he said, ‘You’re next,’” McCloskey continued. “We were threatened with our lives, threatened with the house being burned down, my office building being burned down, even our dog’s life being threatened. It was about as bad as it can get. You know, I really thought it was the storming of Bastille, that we would be dead and the house would be burned and there was nothing we could do about it. It was a huge and frightening crowd and they broke in the gate and they were coming at us.”
Last year, Republicans stood by the couple’s actions as defending their home and property. The couple was indicted several months later on felony weapons and evidence tampering charges. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-mccloskeys-indicted-by-grand-jury-on-felony-weapons-evidence-tampering-charges">They spoke in a pre-recorded video</a> at the Republican National Convention about the situation.
“America is such a great country that not only do you have the right to own a gun and use it to defend yourself, but thousands of Americans will offer you free advice on how to use it, at least that’s what we experienced,” Patricia McCloskey <a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/2020-republican-national-convention-rnc-night-1-transcript">said</a>. “What you saw happened to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighborhoods around our country. That’s what we want to speak to you about tonight.”
“Whether it’s the defunding of police, ending cash bails or criminals can be released back out on the streets the same day to riot again, or encouraging anarchy and chaos on our streets, it seems as if the Democrats no longer view the government’s job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens,” Mark McCloskey said. “Not a single person in the out of control mob you saw at our house was charged with a crime, but you know who was? We were. They’ve actually charged us with felonies for daring to defend our home.”

0DA49C9D-F379-4E0C-9DB0-521DB8C1D012_1_201_a

Mark McCloskey, Lawyer Who Defended Home Against BLM Demonstrators, Considering Senate Run

U.S. Senate

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner has appealed a judge’s decision to dismiss her and her office from prosecuting the case of Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who were charged with gun crimes after threatening Black Lives Matter activists who broke into the couple’s gated community in June.
Last week, Gardner appealed the decision of Circuit Judge Thomas Clark II to remove her from the case over the “appearance of impropriety” raised after Gardner sent out fundraising emails that mentioned the McCloskey case, according to <a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/an-abuse-of-judicial-discretion-gardner-appeals-judges-decision-to-disqualify-her-from-mark-mccloskey-case/63-77779717-215e-456e-b6c3-3705fd80acb8">5 On Your Side</a>. Gardner argued that the judge’s ruling set “an extremely low standard” by which prosecutors could be removed from cases.
“The reference to the incident in Relator’s campaign emails amounts to little more than nothing,” Gardner wrote. “If respondent’s order is allowed, it sends a clear message to defendants that an acceptable pre-trial strategy is to drum up coverage in the media in order to paint the picture that a prosecutor has an improper interest in a case.”
McCloskey attorney Joel Schwartz filed to have Gardner removed in June after she sent out two fundraising emails, one before and one after charges against the McCloskeys were filed. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-disqualifies-attorney-prosecuting-mccloskey">Clark</a> bumped her off the case in a Dec. 10 order.
“This court does not seek to ‘interfere with the democratic process’ but strongly believes the present ‘circumstances’ justify disqualification,” Clark wrote. “Deference to precedent, acknowledging the will of the voters, and respecting separation of powers are all vital to a representative government, an equitable criminal justice system and the rule of law. Likewise, campaigning without tainting the right to a fair trial is equally compelling and constitutionally sacred.”
“After considering the arguments of counsel, the pleadings coupled with the attachments, the applicable case law and the relevant statute, the court finds the emails raise an appearance of impropriety and warrant disqualification,” he continued. “In short, the Circuit Attorney’s conduct raises the appearance that she initiated a criminal prosecution for political purposes. Immediately before and after charging Defendant, she solicited campaign donations to advance her personal interests.”
Prior to the judge’s decision, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/st-louis-attorney-mccloskeys-are-trying-to-turn-these-criminal-proceedings-into-political-theater">Gardner</a> defended her use of the McCloskey case in her fundraising emails by citing criticisms directed at her by Republicans such as President Trump and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley. She also accused the McCloskeys of turning their case into “political theater.”
Gardner’s filing defending her conduct said in part:
<blockquote>Nothing in either of the two campaign emails the Defendant complains about approaches the type or level of misconduct needed to remove the Circuit Attorney or her entire office. The Defendants make no argument of an actual conflict of interest that would require the prosecutor to be removed from the case. (Def. Mot. at 6). Their argument of an “appearance of impropriety” falls flat when evaluated against the necessary standard to remove a prosecutor and an application of that standard to any reasonable review of all the facts. Applying the legal standard, this Court must therefore deny the motion and must instruct the defense to cease its attempts to turn these criminal proceedings into political theater.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/soros-is-funding-pac-supporting-reelection-of-prosecutor-who-targeted-mccloskeys-report-says">Soros Is Funding PAC Supporting Reelection Of Prosecutor Who Targeted McCloskeys, Report Says</a>

St. Louis Prosecutor Fighting To Stay On McCloskey Case After Judge Booted Her For Appearing ‘Political’

A judge disqualified the Democrat circuit attorney who was prosecuting the gun case against Mark McCloskey from this summer, saying that the attorney&#8217;s campaign fundraising activities created the appearance that she prosecuted him for political purposes.
Circuit Judge Thomas Clark II’s order against Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner and her office cited &#8220;two fundraising emails that Gardner’s reelection campaign sent in response to political attacks before and after she charged Mark and Patricia McCloskey with felony gun crimes in July,&#8221; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-judge-disqualifies-gardner-her-office-from-prosecuting-gun-waving-case/article_6dd89413-e92e-54a7-ab32-ab1775c7ec3e.html">reported</a>. &#8220;The judge’s order deals a political blow to Gardner, whose office has waged numerous legal challenges to defend her practices and reform-minded agenda during her first term.&#8221;
The Post-Dispatch noted that Clark&#8217;s order only applied to Mark McCloskey and bars her office from prosecuting the case. The order does not apply to Patricia McCloskey, whose case is assigned to Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer. The order states that the a new prosecutor has to be appointed to the case.
&#8220;This court does not seek to &#8216;interfere with the democratic process&#8217; but strongly believes the present &#8216;circumstances&#8217; justify disqualification,&#8221; Clark wrote. &#8220;Deference to precedent, acknowledging the will of the voters, and respecting separation of powers are all vital to a representative government, an equitable criminal justice system and the rule of law. Likewise, campaigning without tainting the right to a fair trial is equally compelling and constitutionally sacred.&#8221;
&#8220;After considering the arguments of counsel, the pleadings coupled with the attachments, the applicable case law and the relevant statute, the court finds the emails raise an appearance of impropriety and warrant disqualification,&#8221; Clark continued. &#8220;In short, the Circuit Attorney&#8217;s conduct raises the appearance that she initiated a criminal prosecution for political purposes. Immediately before and after charging Defendant, she solicited campaign donations to advance her personal interests.&#8221;
The Post-Dispatch reported that defense attorney Joel Schwartz indicated that he will file a motion requesting that Stelzer adopt Clark’s ruling in Patricia McCloskey’s case.
“This is what we wanted,” Schwartz said. “We would like a fair-minded prosecutor to take a look at the alleged crimes and reassess the evidence and see what they come up with because we don’t believe any of the evidence supports any of the charges. … As long as that happens, then I think we’ll have the right outcome and that would hopefully be no charges.”
When she first announced that she was prosecuting the McCloskey&#8217;s, Gardner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-democrat-prosecutor-charges-mccloskeys-with-felonies-for-using-guns-to-defend-private-property">said</a>, &#8220;It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest, and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis.”
McCloskey has repeatedly defended his actions as self-defense and lawful protection of private property. “I went inside; I got a rifle … because as soon as I said ‘this is private property,’ those words enraged the crowd,&#8221; he said in an interview. “Horde, an absolute horde came through the smashed-down gates, coming right at the house. And then I stood out there, the only thing we said is, ‘This is private property, go back, private property, leave now.’ At that point, everybody got enraged, there were people wearing body armor.”
“One person pulled out [some] loaded pistol magazines and he clicked them together and he said, ‘You’re next,’” McCloskey continued. “We were threatened with our lives, threatened with the house being burned down, my office building being burned down, even our dog’s life being threatened. It was about as bad as it can get. You know, I really thought it was the storming of Bastille, that we would be dead and the house would be burned and there was nothing we could do about it. It was a huge and frightening crowd and they broke in the gate and they were coming at us.”
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-democrat-prosecutor-charges-mccloskeys-with-felonies-for-using-guns-to-defend-private-property">The Daily Wire</a> reported, multiple Republicans have expressed support for the McCloskeys:
<blockquote>Republicans have stood up for the McCloskeys as Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/josh-hawley-calls-for-civil-rights-investigation-into-prosecutor-who-confiscated-weapons-from-st-louis-couple">sent</a> a letter to United States Attorney General William Barr urging him to action against Gardner. Twelve Republican members of the House of Representatives sent a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-send-letter-to-barr-demanding-decisive-action-to-protect-americans-from-mob-rule">letter</a> to Barr, in which they specifically named the McCloskeys, demanding that he take “decisive action” to protect Americans from “mob rule.” Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parsons signaled last week that he would likely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/missouri-governor-says-pardon-likely-if-st-louis-homeowners-charged">pardon</a> the McCloskeys if they were charged.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) responded to the charges by writing on Twitter, “St. Louis’s Soros-funded prosecutor let dozens of violent rioters go free, she sued her own police department, and murder has skyrocketed under her watch. Yet despite refusing to arrest violent criminals, she targets a family with a felony for guarding their home.”</blockquote>

Judge Disqualifies Attorney Prosecuting McCloskey: Has ‘Appearance’ It Was Done For Political Reasons

Second Amendment

Conservatives should cut Daniel Tosh some slack for two critical reasons.
Yes, his Comedy Central showcase “Tosh.0” leans left, but it often mocks liberal hypocrisy along with shots aimed at Christians, conservatives, and GOP figures. Plus, it’s one of the most consistently inventive comedy shows around.
The current 12th season, the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tosh-0-canceled-as-comedy-central-reverses-4-season-renewal">last to be shown on Comedy Central</a>, may be leaning harder left than ever before. The show that once gleefully poked societal taboos with segments like “Is It Racist” supported the Black Lives Matter narrative.
Twice.
The Sept. 29 episode referenced Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/prosecutor-charges-st-louis-couple-for-waving-guns-at-protesters/">St. Louis couple who brandished guns</a> when a BLM march approached their mansion. The couple were charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree assault for defending their property and, potentially, their lives.
Tosh alluded to the McCloskeys while mocking a video of a husband and wife chiropractic duo. The husband brandished a gun-like device he used on his wife as part of his therapy.
“Those two look like they should be standing in front of a gaudy mansion pointing that thing at peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters,” Tosh said.
Here’s what Team Tosh ignored: <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/prosecutor-falsely-claimed-patricia-mccloskeys-gun-was-capable-of-firing-when-she-brandished-it-outside-her-home/">Reality and damning facts.</a>
The McCloskeys responded to a June 28 incident during which George Floyd protesters broke into their gated community while attempting to reach the house of St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson.
“The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims,” a police report stated. “When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police.”
Political jokes land when there’s a kernel of truth to them. Here, not only do the facts support the couple defending themselves and their property, the necessary context further backs them up.
BLM protests are routinely violent, even if mainstream media outlets cartoonishly depict them as “<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/only-some-kinds-of-protest-are-always-mostly-peaceful/">mostly peaceful</a>.” We’ve seen George Floyd-inspired protests do millions of dollars in damage nationwide. Some directly attacked buildings where political figures live, like <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/09/protesters-march-to-portland-mayor-ted-wheelers-residence-monday-throw-birthday-party-demand-resignation-live-updates.html">besieged Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler</a>.
Others threatened ordinary citizens at outdoor restaurants in several cities, including Rochester, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.
Tosh and co. didn’t care about the specifics of the McCloskeys’ case or the bigger picture. They weaponized the moment to support BLM, not reality.
It’s sad to see because the joke promotes a false narrative. Equally sad? Tosh’s comedy often does what satire should do—strip away artifice and get to the truth.
Maybe that’s not as important during the show’s 12th and potentially final season.
Earlier in the Sept. 29th episode, Tosh mocked a family with an incorrectly spelled “White Lives Matter” slogan on their property. He called it a “white bigot fence.” He also played a clip of a dog defecating on a boat, saying, “this pretty much sums up the Trump boat parades.”
Later, he featured a curious voice mail.
“Rarely in Hollywood do you get to hear from the other side. So here’s another insane voice mail from my only conservative friend, comedian Greg Hahn.” The clip finds Hahn spouting a few non-sequiturs before hanging up.
Finally, the season debut wrapped with hashtags dedicated to Breonna Taylor, the black woman killed by police during a tragic incident, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kentucky-ag-breonna-taylor-warrant-was-not-no-knock-officers-justified-in-use-of-force">incorrectly dubbed a “no-knock” raid by the media</a>, during which someone fired at the officers before they responded.
The hashtags #KeepSayingHerName and #SeasonOfMourning, the final “Tosh.0” run at Comedy Central, flashed across the screen below a “Rest in Power” sign.
A version of this article appears on HollywoodInToto.com

Daniel Tosh

TOTO: ‘Tosh.0’ Mocks McCloskeys, Promotes BLM Talking Points

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple that defended their home over the summer from a large group of marching demonstrators, reacted on Tuesday night to being indicted earlier in the day, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity that this was &#8220;an attempt by this Soros-funded prosecutor to intimidate people.&#8221;
Criminal defense attorney Jonathan Turley responded to the indictment by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-mccloskeys-indicted-by-grand-jury-on-felony-weapons-evidence-tampering-charges">writing</a>, &#8220;As predicted, the prosecutors used vague language in the state law to charge the McCloskeys. However, as a criminal defense attorney, I view these charges as legally dubious and highly challengeable given countervailing rights under Missouri law.&#8221;
The McCloskeys, who were indicted on weapons and evidence tampering charges stemming from the June incident, appeared on Fox News late last night where they responded to the latest development.
Mark McCloskey noted that the angry demonstrators blew past three &#8220;no trespassing&#8221; signs, broke through an iron gate, and &#8220;threatened us with murder, with rape, with arson, with burning our house down, taking over our house, and even killing our dog.&#8221;
&#8220;You know, it&#8217;s just an attempt by this Soros-funded prosecutor to intimidate people, to warn people out there that if you stand up for yourself, exercise your Second Amendment rights, we are going to punish you&#8211;not the mob, not the criminals&#8211;but we&#8217;re going to punish you, law-abiding citizens, for trying to defend yourselves,&#8221; he added.
When asked what the deal was with the evidence tampering charges, Mark McCloskey said he could not comment on it because he has not even seen the charging documents.
&#8220;We have not seen the charging documents and I’ve been advised by my attorney not to make any comments since we don’t know what we’ve allegedly tampered with and therefore we can’t respond in any way yet,&#8221; Mark McCloskey said. &#8220;We were in court this morning, Sean, and at that point we were told there were no charges and then this is how wonderful the world works these days: The powers that be, the left, leaks the information they want before you actually see it. My daughter called me up from out of town to say I understand you got indicted today, before my own lawyer knew about it, because it got leaked to the press.&#8221;
WATCH:
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The McCloskeys describe the threats they defended themselves from, which they&#39;ve now been indicted for: BLM activists bypassed “three no-trespassing signs — an iron gate that’s been there since 1888 — and threatened us with murder, rape, with arson … killing our dog” <a href="https://t.co/7LxlFVyDVn">pic.twitter.com/7LxlFVyDVn</a>
&mdash; Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1313805506696314880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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TRANSCRIPT:
<blockquote>SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: Alright, unfortunately, tonight, the unequal system of justice is on full display. Mark, Patricia McCloskey, that&#8217;s the couple seen on the now-viral video defending their St. Louis home from a mob of angry demonstrators in June. They were the ones indicted today. According to their attorney Al Watkins, they are now facing the charges of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with evidence. Here with their reaction, Mark and Patricia McCloskey. First, I’m sorry that you’re going through this. You’re both lawyers and my understanding is that these protesters, didn’t they break a through an iron gate, ignoring &#8220;No trespassing&#8221; sign and didn’t you tell me in a previous interview that you were both threatened verbally and otherwise?
MARK MCCLOSKEY: Not just one trespassing sign, three “No trespassing” signs, folded down an iron gate that has been there since 1888 and threatened us with murder, with rape, with arson, with burning our house down, taking over our house, and even killing our dog. Saying every possible, unrepeatable, rude thing about my wife&#8217;s physical anatomy and where they&#8217;re going to put that pistol when they take it away from her. It a horrifying scene. You know, it&#8217;s just an attempt by this Soros-funded prosecutor to intimidate people, to warn people out there that if you stand up for yourself, exercise your Second Amendment rights, we are going to punish you&#8211;not the mob, not the criminals&#8211;but we&#8217;re going to punish you, law-abiding citizens, for trying to defend yourselves.
HANNITY: And your weapons were legal, and they were on your property, is that correct?
MARK MCCLOSKEY: This is true. It’s a private neighborhood. When they folded down that gate and broke into our neighborhood, every inch of our neighborhood is private property. They walked right past a sign, three of them, private property, residents only, no trespassing. Broke the gate down and came storming in.
HANNITY: Did you see weapons in the hands of any of the people that were in front of your house or on your property?
MARK MCCLOSKEY: I saw the one guy pointed two loaded magazines at me, close enough that I could see that they had shells in them, clicked them together, pointed at me and said, &#8216;you are next.&#8217; The guy standing next to him, also wearing body armor, had a sidearm on him and was kept inching closer and inching closer. They were armed, they were dangerous and they were intentionally threatening.
HANNITY: Again, these weapons that you have were legal and they were on your own property. Can you explain the tampering of evidence charge? I’m having a hard time with that one.
MCCLOSKEY: I can&#8217;t, we have not seen the charging documents and I’ve been advised by my attorney not to make any comments since we don’t know what we’ve allegedly tampered with and therefore we can’t respond in any way yet. We were in court this morning, Sean, and at that point we were told there were no charges and then this is how wonderful the world works these days: The powers that be, the left, leaks the information they want before you actually see it. My daughter called me up from out of town to say I understand you got indicted today, before my own lawyer knew about it, because it got leaked to the press.
HANNITY: My understanding is that there were nine protesters originally charged with misdemeanor trespassing, but those charges were all dropped. Only the home owner, law-abiding, legal gun owner, gets charged here? Is that how America works?
MARK MCCLOSKEY: That’s how America works. I mean, the bottom line is that if you have the gall, if you have the audacity to try to protect yourself, to exercise your Second Amendment rights, that’s an unforgivable crime to the left, because you’re supposed to have just mindless obedience and you’re not supposed to challenge them.
HANNITY: Didn’t they tell you which rooms in your house they were going to take over?
MARK MCCLOSKEY: Pointing up at the windows, “That’s where I’m going to be sleeping, that’s where I’m going to be taking my shower, that’s where I’m going to be having my breakfast after we kill you and take your house.”
HANNITY: I think I’d call that a threat. I think you have a good case, but it’s sad you have to go through that. Challenging times.</blockquote>

US-VOTE

McCloskeys Respond To Being Indicted After Defending Home: This Is An Attempt To Intimidate People

Fox News

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-armed-st-louis-residents-stand-guard-over-property-as-demonstrators-enter-residential-neighborhood">stood</a> in front of their home over the summer holding firearms as a large group of demonstrators marched by, were indicted on Tuesday on felony weapons and evidence tampering charges.
&#8220;Lawyer Joel Schwartz said he was told a grand jury indicted his clients on felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering,&#8221; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mccloskeys-lawyer-says-st-louis-couple-indicted-on-gun-tampering-charges/article_4b967366-e448-53fc-b718-c2741e45dc5d.html">reported</a>. &#8220;He said he had no details. A St. Louis court clerk said the indictment was filed Tuesday but that she was not authorized to provide a copy.&#8221;
Schwartz said, &#8220;I am not surprised that the grand jury indicted them but I&#8217;ll certainly be interested in what was presented to the grand jury.&#8221;
The couple was each <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-democrat-prosecutor-charges-mccloskeys-with-felonies-for-using-guns-to-defend-private-property">charged</a> by Democrat Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner in July with one felony count of brandishing a firearm.
&#8220;The government chooses to persecute us for doing no more than exercising our right to defend ourselves, our home, our property and our family and now we&#8217;re getting drug here time after time after time and for what?&#8221; Mark McCloskey said on Tuesday. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t fire a shot. People were violently protesting in front of our house and screaming death threats and threats of rape and threats of arson. Nobody gets charged but we get charged.&#8221;
The McCloskeys spoke at the Republican National Convention over the summer where they warned that what happened to them could happen to anyone.
&#8220;America is such a great country that not only do you have the right to own a gun and use it to defend yourself, but thousands of Americans will offer you free advice on how to use it, at least that’s what we experienced,&#8221; Patricia McCloskey <a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/2020-republican-national-convention-rnc-night-1-transcript">said</a>. &#8220;What you saw happened to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighborhoods around our country. That’s what we want to speak to you about tonight.&#8221;
&#8220;Whether it’s the defunding of police, ending cash bails or criminals can be released back out on the streets the same day to riot again, or encouraging anarchy and chaos on our streets, it seems as if the Democrats no longer view the government’s job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens,&#8221; Mark McCloskey said. &#8220;Not a single person in the out of control mob you saw at our house was charged with a crime, but you know who was? We were. They’ve actually charged us with felonies for daring to defend our home.&#8221;
&#8220;On top of that, consider this: The Marxist liberal activist leading the mob to our neighborhood stood outside our home with a bull horn screaming, &#8216;You can’t stop the revolution,'&#8221; Mark McCloskey continued. &#8220;Just weeks later, that same Marxist activist won the Democrat nomination to hold a seat in the US house of representatives in the city of St. Louis. That’s the same as winning the general election. That Marxist revolutionary is now going to be the congresswoman from the first district of Missouri. These radicals are not content with marching in the streets. They want to walk the halls of Congress. They want to take over. They want power. This is Joe Biden’s party. These are the people who will be in charge of your future and the future of your children.&#8221;
This is a breaking news story, refresh the page for updates.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey arrive for court

McCloskeys Indicted By Grand Jury On Felony Weapons, Evidence Tampering Charges

St. Louis officials have announced that they will not prosecute nine people who were charged with trespassing in a private neighborhood, which drew two gun-wielding residents out of their home and onto their front yard to guard their property.
The nine protesters had been issued police summonses this month, but City Counselor Michael Garvin said in a Tuesday statement that “prosecution is not warranted” and charges would be refused, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-officials-wont-prosecute-trespassing-cases-in-protest-on-portland-place/article_a7650194-028d-5ca9-a996-f1535c0a5034.html">reported.</a>
&#8220;Garvin wrote that the cases had been investigated by municipal court prosecutors, who reviewed video of the June incident, conducted interviews and examined property records of the street, Portland Place. He also said residents who are trustees of Portland Place made clear through their lawyer that they did not want to pursue trespassing charges,&#8221; the paper reported.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey wielded weapons at Black Lives Matter protesters after a group of some 300 protesters came into their neighborhood in St. Louis on June 28.
In July, law enforcement authorities in St. Louis executed a search warrant at the home of the couple. Two local news stations, <a href="https://www.kmov.com/news/st-louis-couple-pointing-guns-at-protesters-served-with-search-warrant/article_b815652e-c321-11ea-83ca-e7f071b7e021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KMOV</a> and <a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/mccloskeys-served-with-warrant-police-take-rifle-shown-in-viral-pictures-st-louis-protests/63-c6059a94-528c-4fa5-8fea-4a87fba31f1c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KSDK</a>, reported that the warrant was carried out in St. Louis’s affluent Central West End neighborhood. KSDK reported that the search resulted in police seizing the rifle that Mark McCloskey was seen holding during the incident.
According to police reports, the McCloskeys told police that they heard a disturbance and saw “a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘Private Street’ signs.”
“The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims,” St. Louis police told the <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/couple-points-guns-at-protesters-marching-to-st-louis-mayor-s-home-to-demand-resignation/article_9edc57ed-c307-583f-9226-a44ba6ac9c03.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>. “When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police.”
The couple still each face a single felony count of unlawful use of a weapon — exhibiting. The charges say he pointed an AR-15 rifle at protesters and she wielded a semiautomatic handgun.
The pair, both lawyers, said they feared for their lives. &#8220;It was shocking. The gate came in. Seemingly everybody in the world came forward. I think the estimate is 300-500 people,&#8221; Mark McCloskey told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8512349/Police-raid-house-gun-toting-St-Louis-lawyer-couple.html">Fox News</a> in August.
“They came right towards us. We were preparing to have dinner on the porch and we were literally 70 feet from the gate.  By the time we got our guns, by the time I got my gun, the crowd was probably 30 or 40 feet from us. We thought it was the end. People were screaming everything,” he said.
Asked what the protesters were shouting at them, Patricia McClosky said: &#8220;That they were going to kill us, they were going to come in there, they were going to burn down the house, they were going to be living in our house after I was dead.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-st-louis-police-apply-for-warrants-in-case-of-armed-homeowners-reports-say">St. Louis Police Apply For Warrants In Case Of Armed Homeowners, Reports Say</a>

St. Louis Won’t Prosecute Trespassing Cases Involving Gun-Wielding Homeowners

St. Louis

A fringe activist screamed at Mark and Patricia McCloskey — who famously defended their home in St. Louis over the summer from far-left activists — this week after they came out of a print shop carrying what appeared to be cards that featured a photo of themselves defending their home.
&#8220;Abolish the suburbs!&#8221; the woman screamed at the couple. &#8220;You are terrorists! No mask! You think pointing guns at protesters is nice? It&#8217;s fun? You think you&#8217;re cool? Abolish the suburbs!&#8221;
&#8220;Abolish the suburbs!&#8221; the woman continued to scream. &#8220;Abolish the suburbs! F*** you, and your guns! F*** the [inaudible]! F*** you! F*** you!&#8221;
Mark McCloskey then got out of the Cadillac Escalade that he was driving and calmly approached the woman, who screamed at them, &#8220;Don&#8217;t come near me! Don&#8217;t come near me!&#8221;
Mark McCloskey appeared to hand one of the cards that they had made to another person who was standing there.
&#8220;Abolish the suburbs!&#8221; the woman continued. &#8220;Abolish the suburbs! F*** both of y&#8217;all. F*** y&#8217;all. F*** y&#8217;all.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Mark and Patricia McCloskey got photos of them pointing guns at protesters made into holiday cards <a href="https://t.co/co3wyjc4iZ">pic.twitter.com/co3wyjc4iZ</a>
&mdash; Defund 2 Abolish (@314khalea) <a href="https://twitter.com/314khalea/status/1308178042142052359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Below are a couple of the cards that the woman took pictures of and that have been reposted by another account.
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Still standing. <a href="https://t.co/KsMBhhB0ry">pic.twitter.com/KsMBhhB0ry</a>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1308606296841531392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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‘ABOLISH THE SUBURBS!’: Fringe Activist Screams At McCloskeys After They Made Cards Of Confrontation

Following an investigation into whether Black Lives Matter protesters, targeting the St. Louis mayor&#8217;s residence, had threatened Mark and Patricia McCloskey &#8212; a couple that went viral after being pictured defending their home with guns &#8212; nine BLM protesters were cited for &#8220;trespassing&#8221; and the couple suspects that&#8217;s the end of any charges.
The McCloskeys told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/nine-blm-protesters-cited-for-trespassing-on-st-louis-property-mccloskey-suspects-there-wont-be-any-charges">Fox &amp; Friends Weekend</a> that protesters, who allegedly broke through a wrought iron fence protecting the McCloskey&#8217;s gated neighborhood, were given &#8220;municipal-type tickets&#8221; and that they don&#8217;t anticipate St. Louis prosecutors will push the matter any further, even though the McCloskeys are being prosecuted for defending their home.
“These are just tickets, they’re municipal type tickets,” Patricia McCloskey told the network Sunday. “Nine of three to five hundred people, I don&#8217;t know how they chose those nine people. I suspect there won&#8217;t be any charges even for these nine people.”
“The mob outside my house was chanting, ‘You can&#8217;t stop the revolution,’” Mark McCloskey added, connecting the incident that happened outside their home to an ambush attack on two Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies that took place Saturday night, leaving the two deputies seriously wounded. “What&#8217;s the definition of a revolution? The violent overthrow of government. And do we see that happening all over the country? And who&#8217;s stopping it? The Democrat-run cities, they&#8217;re encouraging it. They&#8217;re asking the public to engage in violence and stuff like this happens. This isn&#8217;t a coincidence.”
St. Louis prosecutors pledged to investigate the incident and determine whether protesters should be charged for marching through McCloskey&#8217;s neighborhood on their way to St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson&#8217;s home, located deeper in the same neighborhood. In videos that went viral at the time, protesters are seen interacting with the McCloskeys who exited their home armed with a handgun and a rifle. Some of the protesters appear to cross onto the McCloskeys&#8217; lawn and yell back to the armed pair.
Before any charges could be issued against protesters, however, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner charged the McCloskeys with &#8220;unlawful use of a weapon,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/us/st-louis-couple-weapons-protesters-charges/index.html#:~:text=(CNN)%20The%20Missouri%20couple%20seen,felony%2C%20according%20to%20the%20complaint.">per CNN</a>.
&#8220;It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest, and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis,&#8221; Gardner said at the time.
The President, Missouri&#8217;s Republican Senator Josh Hawley, the Missouri Attorney General, and others have weighed in on the McCloskeys&#8217; side.
&#8220;Dozens of violent criminals go free but homeowners facing trespassers on their own property are prosecuted. All the more reason for a SEARCHING Justice Dept investigation of the Circuit Attorney&#8217;s Office,&#8221; Hawley tweeted.
The McCloskeys told Fox News that they believe an official indictment against them will be handed down soon: &#8220;Patricia McCloskey said they’re expecting their indictment before Oct. 4.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homeowner-sounds-off-rioters-threatened-to-kill-us-take-our-home-rifle-only-thing-that-saved-us">RELATED: Homeowner Sounds Off: Rioters Threatened To Kill Us, Take Our Home; Rifle Only Thing That Saved Us</a>

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