The father of the man accused of murdering two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., was a guest at President Donald Trump’s March joint address to Congress.
Eric Rodriguez, a union steward and Iraq War veteran, attended the address at the invitation of Rep. JesĂşs “Chuy” GarcĂa (D-IL).
Rodriguez works at a VA hospital in Chicago and is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which has supported Democratic causes.
On the day of Trump’s address, Rodriguez appeared in a video criticizing the Trump administration’s treatment of veterans and the VA system.
In the SEIU video, he accused Trump, Elon Musk, and the DOGE initiative of indiscriminately cutting VA funding and eliminating jobs critical to veterans’ care.
Rodriguez claimed veterans rely on the funding and services being targeted by the administration and corporate interests.
Rodriguez and SEIU have not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding his son’s arrest, per Fox News.
Elias Rodriguez, 31, the son of Eric Rodriguez, was arrested May 21 after allegedly opening fire on two Israeli Embassy staff members.
The shooting occurred outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following an event organized by the American Jewish Committee.
The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, both affiliated with the Israeli Embassy in the U.S.
According to an FBI affidavit, Elias flew from Chicago to D.C. the day before the attack, transporting a legally owned firearm in checked baggage.
He purchased a ticket to the museum event and waited until the staffers exited before allegedly attacking them from behind at a crosswalk.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Elias shooting the victims, reloading, and continuing to fire as they lay on the ground.
Upon being confronted by police, Elias allegedly said, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza. I am unarmed.”
Video footage recorded by a bystander captured Elias yelling “Free Palestine” as he was being arrested by law enforcement.
Elias appeared in federal court Thursday on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.
If convicted, he faces a possible death sentence or a minimum of 30 years in prison.
Rep. GarcĂa issued a statement condemning the attack and distancing himself from the suspect’s family, stating his office did not know Rodriguez’s relatives.
“My heart is with the victims and everyone impacted by the attack,” GarcĂa wrote, calling it a “horrible, senseless act of antisemitism.”
The Israeli Embassy posted a tribute to the victims and said the shooting highlights broader security concerns for Jewish communities.
