In an appearance on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba signaled a severe shift in federal prosecutorial strategy, backing the Department of Justice’s push for the death penalty against the Afghan national accused of killing two National Guard troops.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, faces upgraded charges of first-degree murder following the Thanksgiving Eve shooting in Washington, D.C. The incident, which claimed the life of a 20-year-old service member who had been sworn in just a day prior, has ignited a firestorm regarding vetting procedures for foreign nationals entering the United States.
Habba was clear regarding the DOJ’s intent. Echoing sentiments from U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Habba promised that justice would be “swift and heavy.”
“We will bring the law down when you hurt our patriots,” Habba stated during the broadcast. “This is a crime that should not have happened. It was avoidable.”
Scrutiny on Vetting and the Withdrawal
The case has renewed scrutiny on the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Reports indicate Lakanwal may have had ties to the CIA in Afghanistan, a background that facilitated his entry into the U.S.
However, Habba argued that the vetting process under the Biden administration was fundamentally flawed, describing it as an “absolute failure” that prioritized speed over security.
“We didn’t really think about the danger of bringing 80,000 to 100,000 people that we hadn’t vetted properly into this country,” Habba said, rejecting the notion that the suspect’s previous cooperation with American intelligence should have guaranteed his safety in the U.S. without stricter oversight.
READ: ‘No Way To Vet’: Border Czar Tom Homan Forecasts Mass ‘Third World’ Deportations
She characterized the prior administration’s approach as having “no process,” contrasting it with the current Justice Department’s focus on “getting illegals out” and protecting American citizens.
Challenging the ‘Autopen’ Presidency
The conversation also pivoted to a brewing legal battle over executive power. Habba supported President Trump’s reported move to void documents signed by President Biden using an “autopen”—a mechanical device used to replicate a signature.
Habba argued that the use of the device by the previous administration lacked the necessary “intent and direction” of the executive, suggesting that unelected staff may have been authorizing decisions without Biden’s direct involvement.
“The autopen issue is not a joke,” Habba asserted. “It is not the way our government works… President Trump is signing every executive order himself with intent and direction.”
READ: Trump Voids Vast Swath Of Biden Admin Executive Orders, Claims ‘Autopen’ Used Illegally
The interview highlighted a broader mandate by the current DOJ to aggressively dismantle policies of the previous administration, both in immigration enforcement and executive procedure.
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