Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) kicked off the primary assembly of the Home Judiciary Committee final week by cordially inviting an accused assassin to steer the Pledge of Allegiance.
Underneath its new Republican management, the 118th Congress’ judiciary committee might select to start out every listening to with the pledge ― an modification to the principles put forth by Gaetz, who mentioned it allowed members to ask “inspirational constituents” to steer it.
The primary honor went to Corey Beekman, a retired Nationwide Guard member accused of killing a person in 2019 whose case has not gone to trial.
Gaetz didn't point out this facet of his visitor’s backstory. Beekman led the pledge in his army costume uniform on Feb. 1.
“It's my pleasure and distinct honor to introduce to the committee Employees Sgt. Corey Ryan Beekman, an American hero and a constituent of mine residing in Pensacola, Florida,” Gaetz mentioned within the video nonetheless accessible on C-SPAN. He rolled by way of Beekman’s life story. Born in Holland, Michigan, Gaetz mentioned Beekman enlisted within the Michigan Military Nationwide Guard whereas nonetheless in highschool earlier than serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, lastly shifting to Florida to be nearer to household.
Beekman additionally allegedly shot and killed 32-year-old William Buchanan at a house in northern Michigan in April 2019, between his army service and his transfer all the way down to Florida.
A 32-year-old girl, Katlin Buck, was injured within the assault, native information reported. Nonetheless, UpNorthLive famous that Buck’s two kids had been left unhurt.
The pandemic disrupted the initially scheduled date for Beekman’s trial, and costs had been subsequently dropped after Buck refused to testify towards him, the Mason County Press reported.
Beekman was launched in September 2020 from Mason County Jail, the place he had been held since 2019, the outlet mentioned.
Buchanan’s mom, Denita, advised the Mason County Press that she believed her son went to Beekman’s home to assist Buck transfer out, resulting in the taking pictures after which a 90-minute standoff with police.
The Buchanan household advised a number of information retailers that they had been horrified to listen to about Gaetz honoring Beekman.
“It was like getting a dagger caught in our coronary heart once more,” Denita Buchanan advised The Day by day Beast.
However Gaetz’s workplace has tried to make issues proper. The Buchanans mentioned they obtained a U.S. flag that had flown over the Capitol from Gaetz’s workplace, alongside a signed letter from the congressman along with his condolences and an apology, which the household appreciated, The Day by day Beast reported.
Gaetz advised the outlet that Beekman had reached out to his workplace for help and that nobody in his workplace thought to conduct an intensive background examine on a veteran in want.
Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole felt it wasn’t an excessive amount of to anticipate a fast web search.
“There are definitely individuals far more deserving to characterize our army veterans on the U.S. Capitol than Corey Beekman, a assassin,” Cole advised the Mason County Press. “I'm dissatisfied in Rep. Gaetz’s workplace. A easy Google search would have proven that Mr. Beekman killed a person in rural Mason County.”
The Day by day Beast famous that clips of Beekman main the Pledge of Allegiance beforehand posted to YouTube and Twitter by authorities accounts had since been taken down.
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