Noem says Biden ‘completely did not vet’ DC shooting suspect
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized the Biden administration for failing to properly vet Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in a Washington, D.C. shooting that left two National Guard members injured and one dead. Lakanwal, a 29-year-old afghan national who previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, entered the U.S. through Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome program but was granted asylum under the Trump administration earlier this year.Noem stated in an NBC interview that the Biden administration did not conduct vetting before Lakanwal’s arrival, shifting responsibility to that administration. FBI Director Kash Patel also claimed there was “zero vetting” of individuals brought to the U.S. after the Afghanistan withdrawal. However, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki maintained that thorough screening and background checks were conducted. noem added that Lakanwal was likely radicalized after arriving in the U.S., with ongoing investigations involving his community and family.
Noem says Biden ‘completely did not vet’ DC shooting suspect granted asylum under Trump
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said former President Joe Biden’s administration did not vet the suspect accused of shooting two National Guard members on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is alleged to have killed 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and critically injured 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe of the West Virginia National Guard in the ambush. Lakanwal, who reportedly previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, entered the United States under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome program but was granted asylum earlier this year under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Noem addressed this in an interview with NBC News’s Kristen Welker, saying it was up to the Biden administration to vet the individual before the Trump administration granted him asylum.
“The vetting process, Kristen, happens when the person comes into the country, and Joe Biden completely did not vet any of these individuals, did not vet this individual, waited until he got into the United States, and then that application for asylum was opened under the Joe Biden administration,” Noem said.
Lakanwal was part of a CIA strike unit that was extensively vetted before their participation in Afghanistan, according to an NBC News report.
Noem said the Biden administration did not vet Lakanwal when he applied for asylum, putting the onus of the vetting process on the previous White House, saying, “That’s the Biden administration’s responsibility.”
“When this abandonment of Afghanistan happened, the Biden administration put people on airplanes, brought them to the United States without vetting them. They brought them into our country and then said they would vet them afterwards,” Noem said.
FBI Director Kash Patel also claimed on Thursday that “zero vetting” was happening.
However, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in 2021 that vetting was happening.
“I can absolutely assure you that no one is coming into the United States of America who has not been through a thorough screening and background check process,” Psaki previously said.
Noem also provided the current update on Sunday that the suspect was “radicalized” in the United States.
“I will say we believe he was radicalized since he’s been here in this country. We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we’re going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him, who were his family members,” Noem said.
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