MISSOURI Governor Mike Parson has pardoned the gun-toting McCloskeys who waved their weapons at BLM protesters.

The 65-year-old Republican announced his decision to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey — the couple who drew nationwide attention when they were seen waving guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their home — on Tuesday.



The McCloskeys were pushed into the spotlight last year after a viral video of them holding weapons outside their mansion in the West Central End began circulating online.

And now, Parson has decided to move forward with giving the couple a pardon — an action handed down by the President of the United States that removes the punishment for a federal crime. 

The announcement, made on Tuesday, revealed that the McCloskeys were pardoned on Friday, July 30, 2021.

The pardon comes approximately two months after Mark pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and was hit with a $750 fine, according to The Associated Press.

Also in June, Patricia pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was fined $2,000.

Following news of the pardon, the McCloskeys’ lawyer Joel Schwartz said Tuesday: "Mark McCloskey has publicly stated that if he were involved in the same situation, he would have the exact same conduct.

"He believes that the pardon vindicates that conduct."

The reasoning behind the McCloskeys actions in front of their home in June 2020 was because the pair felt threatened by the protesters passing by.

The protesters were making their way to hold a demonstration outside the mayor's house following the death of George Floyd.

According to the McCloskeys — both personal injury lawyers — the protesters were trespassing on a private street.

It was later determined by special prosecutor Richard Callahan that the BLM protesters were peaceful.

After the McCloskeys pleaded guilty, Callahan said: "There was no evidence that any of them had a weapon and no one I interviewed realized they had ventured onto a private enclave."

Videos started circulating after the June 2020 incident online showing the couple waving their weapons but no shots were fired and no one was hurt.

At the time Mark McCloskey had blamed the “leftist, Democrat government of the city of St. Louis" for the charges and claimed that they were “doing no more than exercising our Second Amendment rights.”

The McCloskey's claimed that Black Lives Matter protesters ignored a "No Trespassing" sign and broke down an iron gate but demonstration organizers said that they did not damage the gate.

Before pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges this summer, the duo pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with evidence, in October last year.

Mark, who announced in May that he was running for a U.S. Senate seat in Missouri, was unapologetic after his hearing in June.

"I'd do it again," he said from the courthouse steps in downtown St. Louis, adding, "Any time the mob approaches me, I'll do what I can to put them in imminent threat of physical injury because that's what kept them from destroying my house and my family."


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