The Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House had past working relationships with several United States government entities, including the CIA, during his time as part of a partner force in Afghanistan, Fox News Digital reported on Thursday.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, arrived in the US in September 2021 under “Operation Allies Welcome,” following the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to intelligence sources cited by the outlet, Lakanwal had previously worked with US agencies in Kandahar as part of an allied security unit.
Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News Digital that Lakanwal’s admission into the United States was justified at the time based on his prior work with US forces. Ratcliffe, however, strongly criticized the decision.
“In the wake of the disastrous Biden withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar,” Ratcliffe said. “The individual — and so many others — should have never been allowed to come here.”
He added, “Our citizens and service members deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures. God bless our brave troops.”
Fox News Digital reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken over the investigation into the shooting, which left two West Virginia National Guard members in critical condition.
