The attack on two newly sworn-in National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., is not just a tragedy—it is a test of our justice system and our nation’s resolve to protect its own. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has made it clear: the federal government will seek the death penalty against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national accused of this brutal crime. And rightly so.
According to reports, Lakanwal opened fire on 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe just after they took their oaths to defend the United States. The attack occurred at the Farragut West Metro Station, just blocks from the White House, on the eve of Thanksgiving. Both victims remain in critical condition. Beckstrom’s father has said her wounds are likely fatal. If either of these heroes dies, Lakanwal will face upgraded charges of first-degree murder.
Lakanwal came to the United States under President Joe Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome, a chaotic and poorly vetted program that followed the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. We are now witnessing the cost of those decisions—paid in the blood of young American patriots.
Attorney General Bondi did not mince words. In a recent interview, she vowed, “We will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster who should not have been in our country.” She is right to be furious. So are the American people.
🚨 AG PAM BONDI IS ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS:
“If either of these two heroes dies from this Afghan savage’s bullets, we are pursuing the DE@TH PENALTY.”
He should receive that sentence either way, SWIFTLY AND PUBLICLY!
pic.twitter.com/UtXg5tgeUl— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) November 27, 2025
This case is about more than one terrible act. It is about the principle of justice. Our Constitution gives the federal government the power to punish those who commit violent crimes against the nation. That includes the death penalty, which has long been a lawful and appropriate response to crimes of this magnitude. The Founders understood the need for strong justice. As Alexander Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers, “Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society.”
And justice, in this case, must be swift and firm.
President Trump has rightly called this attack a “heinous assault” and “an act of evil, hatred, and terror.” His administration is doing exactly what the Constitution demands—pursuing justice for the victims and safety for the people. The contrast with the previous administration could not be clearer. Biden’s hasty retreat from Afghanistan and his reckless resettlement policy have brought danger to our doorstep.
The victims in this case were not just bystanders. They were young men and women who took an oath to serve and protect this country. They represent the best of America. They deserve our prayers, our support, and above all, justice.
It is also worth noting how close this attack came to the heart of our republic. Just blocks from the White House, a foreign national opened fire on U.S. service members. That is not just a crime—it is an attack on the United States itself. And it must be answered with the full force of the law.
Some may argue against the death penalty. But in a case like this, where the evidence is clear and the crime is grave, the punishment must match the evil. This is not only about deterrence. It is about moral clarity. A nation that cannot defend its own soldiers on its own soil is a nation in decline.
Thankfully, under President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, that is not the path we’re on. Law and order are being restored. Our enemies—foreign and domestic—are being put on notice.
Justice is coming. And this time, it will not be delayed.
