Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a fierce warning to international criminals and defended the administration’s aggressive stance on drug interdiction Sunday, following a violent attack on National Guard members in the nation’s capital.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Bondi addressed the recent shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., linking the incident to specific failures in the vetting process for new arrivals to the U.S.
The Attorney General told host Shannon Bream that the suspect, who allegedly entered the country through the Operation Allies Welcome program, underwent “minimal to little vetting” before settling in the United States.
“We know that this shooter who shot our National Guardsman in DC… was radicalized,” Bondi stated, adding that reports indicate the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault. While noting that the specific exclamation was based on reports, she emphasized that the administration is “catching these people” and actively working to clear a backlog of 1.5 million entrants she attributed to the previous administration’s policies.
READ: Noem Says Terrorist Was ‘Radicalized Here’: Death Penalty Sought After National Guard Ambush
Bondi also highlighted the personal toll of the violence, sharing that she had been in contact with the family of Andy Wolf, one of the injured Guardsmen. Describing Wolf as a “remarkable young man” who joined the Guard in 2019, she urged the nation to pray for his recovery.
Despite legal challenges to the National Guard’s deployment in domestic law enforcement roles, Bondi touted the operation’s tangible impact in the District of Columbia. She reported that authorities have made 6,800 arrests and seized 640 firearms in the area, asserting that the Guard remains active in D.C. and Memphis even as appeals stall operations in cities like Chicago and Portland.
The interview shifted to foreign policy as Bream pressed the Attorney General on growing bipartisan calls in Congress for oversight regarding military strikes on alleged drug boats off the coast of Venezuela. Lawmakers from both parties are reportedly seeking access to an Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memo that provides the legal justification for these operations.
When asked if the administration would declassify or release the memo, Bondi declined to discuss the classified document but offered a stark message to those targeted by the strikes.
“Venezuelan drug dealers need to tread very, very carefully,” Bondi said. “If you are a narco-terrorist… we are coming after you.” She framed the strikes as a necessary measure to stop the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl, arguing that “terrorists” and their illicit cargo pose an existential threat to American children.
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