Officials criticize Biden vetting, but Afghan shooting suspect was granted asylum under Trump

[SunSeeker]

Source: Reuters

The Trump administration on Thursday blamed Biden-era vetting failures for the admission of an Afghan immigrant suspected of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., but the alleged gunman was granted asylum this year under President Donald Trump, according to a U.S. government file seen by Reuters.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, entered the U.S. on September 8, 2021, under Operation Allies Welcome. The resettlement program was set up by former Democratic President Joe Biden after the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 that led to the rapid collapse of the Afghan government and the country's takeover by the Taliban.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, both Trump appointees, said during a press conference on Thursday that the Biden administration had failed to conduct adequate background checks or vetting on Lakanwal before allowing him to enter the U.S. in 2021.

Neither official provided any evidence to support their assertion.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/officials-criticize-biden-vetting-afghan-shooting-suspect-was-granted-asylum-2025-11-27/

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If the Biden administration "failed to conduct adequate background checks or vetting on Lakanwal, " why did Trump grant him asylum in April?

[Blues Heron]

1. Trump was the major asshole that put the guard in harms way- the buck stops with him

[SunSeeker]

2. Yup, he put them there illegally, making them lightening rods, and lightening struck them. nt

[CousinIT]

3. YES! That's what I've been yelling about on BlueSky. The NG didn't need to be there to start with!

And now Kegsbreath wants to add 500 MORE NG in DC.

For WHAT?

Ugh.

[Norrrm]

4. For more landscaping and trash pickup duties.

[SunSeeker]

10. A federal judge had ordered that Trump remove the National Guard from DC 6 days ago.

If Trump had complied, National Guard troop Sarah Beckstrom would be alive right now.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-ruling-dc-washington-national-guard-1be5c3744e35f8dd68a6a12fa4583186

[sop]

6. "No one should lose sight of the fact that the National Guard was only in DC as part of an extended political

messaging stunt. They are there because of a legal lacunae created by the district’s non-statehood and consequent lack of democratic sovereignty. The shooter (the man in custody is suspected of but not proven to be that person) is guilty of the attack and the carnage surrounding it. Donald Trump is responsible for them. This episode is the collateral damage of, downstream of Trump abusing his powers as President." - Josh Marshall, TPM

[Figarosmom]

5. I don't know that this guy was a jihadist

He may have been one the good guys that helped our troops and got scared and pissed at America's betrayal when he heard trump was going to reverse their asylum. He may have heard "examine" Biden's entries and figured trump was just like the leaders he was used to and would renege on his asylum and be sent back where he would be executed.

But the NG hasnothing to do with it. He should have gone after ICE if he wanted to get the ones that would deport him.

[Marthe48]

7. Then a recruit, not a refugee?

I don't trust a single thing traitor felon does, has influence over, or says. If the shooter was granted asylum under trump, there was a dirty reason for it.

[pnwmom]

8. He worked for the CIA in Afghanistan, according to CIA director John Ratcliffe.

That was the bottom line for me, but Ratcliffe still sounds like he's blaming Biden somehow.

[Marthe48]

9. What they do best

point fingers, deflect, distract.

One of the fact threads I won't forget is that none of the N.G. should have been deployed in the first place. The deployments are escalating, the military takeover of our cities is escalating, and the threat of violence is escalating. And it is all happening so one criminal doesn't got to jail for crimes he committed and was found guilty of committing.

Not ranting at you, ranting with you :/

[SunSeeker]

11. Correct. A judge had blocked their DC deployment 6 days ago.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-ruling-dc-washington-national-guard-1be5c3744e35f8dd68a6a12fa4583186

[Gimpyknee]

12. If there are more of these shootings in D.C. who's going to pick up trash on the mall?

[BurnDoubt]

13. Never should have been there in the first place.

Went in wrong. Conducted wrong. Stayed too long. Negotiated wrong. Pulled out wrong.
Betrayed our friends. Wrong.
They had us right where they wanted us.
And it's STILL paying off.

I smell Russians. Putin: Cagey Bee.

Republicans collude, so it’s easy.

(Don't worry. Witcoff didn't teach the Russians ANYTHING about how to jerk off Kraznov.)

[BurnDoubt]

14. Never should have been there in the first place.

Went in wrong. Conducted wrong. Stayed too long. Negotiated wrong. Pulled out wrong.
Betrayed our friends. Wrong.
They had us right where they wanted us.
And it's STILL paying off.

I smell Russians. Putin: Cagey Bee.

Republicans collude, so it’s easy.

(Don't worry. Witcoff didn't teach the Russians ANYTHING about how to jerk off Kraznov.)

[BurnDoubt]

15. Oops!!!! Apologies!

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

16. "Oh, shit!"--Venezuela.