Rep. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.) referred to last month's attack on two National Guardsmen as an "unfortunate accident" during a Thursday congressional hearing. He promised to "get it straight" after Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem called him out—then described it as "an unfortunate situation."
"Madam Secretary, you and the gentleman from [National Counterterrorism Center] referenced the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsman being killed," Thompson said during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing.
"You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack," Noem interrupted. "They shot our National Guardsmen in the head."
"I mean, no—wait, wait—Look, I'll get it straight. Then you can respond," Thompson, the committee's ranking member, said, shaking his hand at Noem. "It was an unfortunate situation."
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old who entered the United States through the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome, has been accused of shooting two National Guardsmen, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, in their heads on Nov. 26 just blocks from the White House. Beckstrom was killed, while Wolfe was critically injured, but is making "amazing" progress, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday.
Thursday's hearing centered on national security threats facing the nation and included questions surrounding how well Afghan nationals were vetted when they were admitted into the United States under former president Joe Biden following his botched Afghanistan withdrawal.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R., Tenn.) spoke out of order to criticize Thompson.
"Point of order, Mr. Chairman. That was a murder that took place in D.C. It was not an 'unfortunate incident,' and those comments are effing disrespectful. I expect better," Ogles said.
