Ultimate Betrayal 

How alleged DC terrorist was welcomed into US after CIA vetting — then turned against it

Jared Downing, Caitlin Doornbos, Ryan King, Marisa Schultz / NEW YORK POST

BELLINGHAM, Washington — The alleged Afghan terrorist accused of executing one National Guard soldier and critically wounding another just blocks from the White House should never have been allowed into the US, the CIA director said Thursday. 

Rahmanullah Lakanwal and his family were welcomed into the US four years ago after serving in a CIA-backed elite Afghan commando “Zero Unit” that was accused of torture and the brutal murder of civilians. 

After his war-torn country fell to barbaric Taliban rule, the 29-year-old was given a $2,000-per-month apartment in the quiet town of Bellingham, Washington, neighbors told The Post — along with, reportedly, a contracting gig at Amazon.

 “This individual — and so many others — should have never been allowed to come here,” CIA director John Ratcliffe said in response to the shooting, revealing that Lakanwal previously worked for a unit tied to the spy agency.

“Our citizens and servicemembers deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden Administration’s catastrophic failures. God bless our brave troops.” Read more and see video here.

National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom dead after DC shooting: 'Highly respected

The second wounded service member, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still 'fighting for his life'

Landon Mion / Townhall Tipsheet

National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of West Virginia, has died after she and another guardsman were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced.

"I heard that Sarah Beckstrom, of West Virginia ... highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way, she's just passed away," Trump said on Thanksgiving. "She's no longer with us. She's looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. It's just happened. She was savagely attacked. She's dead now."

The second service member wounded in the attack, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still "fighting for his life," the president said.

"He's in very bad shape," Trump said. "He's fighting for his life, and hopefully we'll get better news with respect to him."

The suspected gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who Trump called a "monster," is also in serious condition.

"We won't even talk about him," Trump said. Read more and see video here.