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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Two Israeli embassy staffers were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., by a gunman reportedly shouting “free Palestine.” The shooter’s father was a guest of Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García (D-IL), attending President Donald J. Trump’s address to Congress this past March.
👥 Who’s Involved: The alleged shooter, Elias Rodriguez, 31, is the son of Eric Rodriguez, a guest of Representative Jesús ‘Chuy’ García (D-IL) for President Trump’s congressional address on March 4, 2025.
📍 Where & When: Elias Rodriquez shot and killed Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26—both employed by the Israeli Embassy—on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Eric Rodriguez attended Trump’s congressional address on March 4, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” Elias Rodriguez allegedly stated during his arrest.
⚠️ Impact: The attack has been labeled a “horrible senseless act of antisemitism” by Rep. García. The Illinois Democrat’s office states: “Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President’s Joint Speech to Congress, but we don’t know his family.”
IN FULL:
The father of Elias Rodrigeuz, accused of murdering two staff members from the Israeli Embassy outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., was a guest of Congressman Jesús ‘Chuy’ García (D-IL) for President Donald J. Trump’s congressional address on March 4, 2025. Eric Rodriguez, a disabled Iraq War veteran, was celebrated by Rep. García at the time as an “outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans’ services and the rights of unionized federal employees.”
Following Elias Rodrigeuz’s deadly attack on the Capital Jewish Museum, resulting in the execution-style deaths of Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, the Illinois Democrat’s congressional office is scrambling to put distance between itself and the shooter’s father. “Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President’s Joint Speech to Congress, but we don’t know his family,” Rep. García’s office now says. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, García condemned the murders as a ” horrible, senseless act of antisemitism.”
In March, Eric Rodriguez addressed a VoteVets event for Congressional Democrats, stating, “Veterans, we’re under attack. They’re slashing staff, crushing unions, and selling out the VA—for what? So billionaires can make more money while Veterans sit on a waitlist. Or worse, get no treatment.” He continued: “We served this country. We know how to take the fight to them. And we know how to win.”
Rep. García praised the elder Rodriguez, stating, “Eric represents the very best of our community—someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people.” The Chicago Democrat also posted Rodriguez’s speech to Instagram.
Following the deadly Wednesday night attack, Eric Rodriguez’s son, Elias, can be heard and seen shouting “free Palestine” while being arrested by D.C. police. Currently, Eric Rodriguez faces numerous local and federal charges, including two counts of first-degree murder. According to court filings, Rodriguez admitted his motive, allegedly telling officers, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
Elias Rodriguez, a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago, had been active in leftist circles, participating in anti-capitalist demonstrations and working for a non-profit focused on African American oral histories. He also donated $500 to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign.
