FBI Director Kash Patel dodged a question about whether the suspected Washington, D.C., gunman was granted asylum during Donald Trump's presidency.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro identified the suspect in the shootings of two National Guard troops as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who had been living in Bellingham, Washington, and she and other Trump administration officials blamed his presence in the U.S. on President Joe Biden, but Patel declined to answer a direct question about his asylum status.
"Question for Director Patel:Was the suspect granted asylum,and if so, when did that happen – under which administration?" a reporter asked Thursday morning during a news conference. "Anddid authorities miss any signs,either the asylum process oreven back when he reportedlyworked for the CIA, If youcould talk about that?"
The FBI director avoided answering the question and continued blaming Biden-era policies.
"Well, you miss all the signswhen you do absolutely zerovetting," Patel told the reporter, "and that's exactlywhat happened in this case,when you in the prioradministration made thedecision to allow thousands ofpeople into this countrywithout doing a single piece ofbackground checking or vetting,that's how you miss everysingle sign, and [Homeland Security] Secretary Kristi Noem has put out detailsspecifically related to yourother questions, so I'll letthat speak for themselves."
The reporter took another crack at it.
"For when he was grantedasylum, if you could justclarify that timeline," the reporter said.
"Yes, I believe Kristi Noem put that out," Patel said, "and that's aDHS matter, and I'll refer itto them."