Gun-Waving Attorney Mark McCloskey Running For Missouri Senate Seat

Mark McCloskey, the attorney who pointed a gun at Black Lives Matter protesters alongside his wife last year, filed paperwork on Tuesday to run for one of Missouris Senate seats in 2022.

When the angry mob came to destroy my house and kill my family, I took a stand against them, McCloskey said in a campaign video that was unveiled on Fox News on Tuesday. Now Im asking for the privilege to take that stand for all of us.

McCloskey and his wife, Patricia McCloskey, both lawyers, sparked national outrage last year as the country was in the grips of a series of racial justice protests. On June 28, a group of demonstrators in St. Louis marched toward the home of the citys then-mayor, ultimately walking down the McCloskeys street in front of their $1.1 million home.

Video of the couple armed with firearms and waving them at protesters went viral, leading the pair to be lambasted by the left and vaunted by the right as conservative icons. They later spoke at the Republican National Convention and earned the praise of then-President Donald Trump .

(As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes , no one was on his property when the couple confronted the protesters.)

An angry mob marched to destroy my home and kill my family, I took a stand to defend them.

I am a proven fighter against the mob

When the mob comes to destroy our home, our state, our nation Ill defend it

I will NEVER BACK DOWN

Help me FIGHT BACK https://t.co/8N8o1yxN6C pic.twitter.com/jR8ieWdkCc

Mark McCloskey (@Mark__McCloskey) May 19, 2021","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Mark McCloskey","author_url":"https://twitter.com/Mark__McCloskey","cache_age":86400,"description":"An angry mob marched to destroy my home and kill my family, I took a stand to defend them.I am a proven fighter against the mobWhen the mob comes to destroy our home, our state, our nation Ill defend itI will NEVER BACK DOWNHelp me FIGHT BACK https://t.co/8N8o1yxN6C pic.twitter.com/jR8ieWdkCc Mark McCloskey (@Mark__McCloskey) May 19, 2021\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Mark McCloskey on 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An angry mob marched to destroy my home and kill my family, I took a stand to defend them.

I am a proven fighter against the mob

When the mob comes to destroy our home, our state, our nation Ill defend it

I will NEVER BACK DOWN

Help me FIGHT BACK https://t.co/8N8o1yxN6C pic.twitter.com/jR8ieWdkCc
Mark McCloskey (@Mark__McCloskey) May 19, 2021

A grand jury indicted the McCloskeys last October and charged them with the unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering. The pair have argued they were exercising their Second Amendment right to bear arms and abiding by a state statute that allows Missourians to use deadly force against intruders.

They are due to stand trial later this year, with a tentative court date of Nov. 1.

Ive spent 36 years fighting for the rights of my fellow Missourians. And Missourians want a fighter who will stand up against cancel culture, the poison of critical race theory, the violent mobs and rising crime, and the spread of socialism, McCloskey said in a statement. After being encouraged to run by people all over Missouri, today Im announcing that Im entering the race for U.S. Senate to fight for Missouri values.

Gov. Mike Parson (R) said last year he would most certainly pardon them if they are ultimately convicted.

McCloskey, 64, is one of three Republicans so far running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Roy Blunt (R), who was first elected to the chamber in 2010. He said in March he would not seek reelection next year.

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Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, who resigned amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, has also declared his candidacy, as has the states attorney general, Eric Schmitt.