by Jason Cohen
Democratic Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson on Thursday called the Nov. 26 murder of a National Guardsman an “unfortunate accident.”
Thompson’s downplaying of the tragedy, which resulted in West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom’s death, occurred during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem immediately questioned Thompson’s wording and Republican Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles subsequently accused the Democrat of being “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.
“You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack,” Noem responded. “He shot our National Guardsman in the head.”
Thompson then called it “an unfortunate situation” and criticized Noem for blaming the murder on former President Joe Biden, despite President Donald Trump’s administration reportedly extending the alleged shooter’s asylum in April.
The murder was allegedly carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the nation in September 2021 after the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Lakanwal previously worked with the CIA and was admitted into the U.S. under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, which resettled Afghans who had assisted American forces.
Noem highlighted these facts about Lakanwal’s entrance into the U.S. and said the Biden administration was responsible for a vetting failure.
After some back-and-forth, Thompson’s time expired and Ogles interjected.
“Point of order, Mr. Chairman. That was a murder that took place in D.C. It was not an unfortunate incident,” the Republican said. “And those comments are effing disrespectful!”
The Chairman, Republican New York Rep. Andrew Garbarino, ruled Ogles’ point of order invalid.
Lakanwal also allegedly shot Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who wound up in critical condition on Nov. 26. Since then, there have been hopeful updates about his recovery.
One of the more consequential roles Rep. Thompson has played over his 32-year House career was as chairman of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack—a position Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed him to on July 1, 2021, citing his national security experience and long tenure on the Homeland Security Committee.
In sharp contrast to his remarks Thursday, Thompson said in an opening statement at a 2022 J6 hearing that the civil unrest from January 6, 2021 was a “violent threat” to American democracy and warned that the country would struggle to overcome the ongoing danger posed by such acts. “Our democracy withstood the attack on Jan. 6… There must be stiff consequences for those responsible,” Thompson said.
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Jason Cohen is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation. Tennessee Star Executive Editor Christina Botteri contributed to this report.
Image “Rep. Bennie Thompson” by House Homeland Security Committee.
