Democratic Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson described the Nov. 26 killing of a National Guardsman as an unfortunate accident during a tense House Homeland Security Committee hearing.
According to the Daily Caller, Thompsons characterization of the incident, which left West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom dead, immediately drew sharp pushback from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Republican lawmakers. Noem challenged his language on the spot, while Republican Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles later blasted the Democrats remarks as disrespectful.
Madam Secretary, you and the gentleman from NCTC [National Counterterrorism Center] reference the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsman being killed, Thompson said, prompting visible outrage from Republicans on the panel. You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack, Noem responded.
He shot our National Guardsman in the head, Noem added, underscoring what conservatives argue is the brutal reality of the crime and the broader failure of the Biden administrations security policies. Thompson then shifted, calling it an unfortunate situation and rebuked Noem for tying the murder to President Joe Biden, noting that President Donald Trumps administration had reportedly extended the alleged shooters asylum in April.
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly entered the United States in September 2021 following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Lakanwal, who had previously worked with the CIA, was admitted under Bidens Operation Allies Welcome, a program that resettled Afghans who had assisted American forces.
Noem stressed these facts about Lakanwals entry and argued the Biden administration bore responsibility for a vetting failure that cost an American soldier her life. After heated exchanges, Thompsons allotted time expired and Ogles cut in.
Point of order, Mr. Chairman. That was a murder that took place in D.C. It was not an unfortunate incident, Ogles said. And those comments are effing disrespectful!
Republican New York Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who chairs the committee, ruled Ogles point of order out of order, even as conservatives continued to question the administrations handling of Afghan admissions. Lakanwal also allegedly shot Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was left in critical condition on Nov. 26, though subsequent reports have offered hopeful updates on his recovery.
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