After a man from Afghanistan who previously worked for the CIA was arrested by the FBI on Monday for plotting an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack on U.S. Election Day crowds, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre both deflected reporters’ questions about the news on Thursday.
A journalist asked Mayorkas, “This Afghan national who was working for the CIA in Afghanistan was arrested for planning an Election Day terror plot. He was brought to the U.S. after Afghanistan collapsed, your agency says as part of the SIV [Special Immigrant Visas] program. The State Department is telling us he was not part of the SIV program, which had strenuous vetting. They say he was never issued an SIV or immigrant visa, and DHS paroled him into the U.S. They further expect the court document to be updated to reflect this on the DOJ side.”
“So, Mr. Secretary, how was this man brought into the U.S.? What screening did he undergo? What did he apply for to get here?” the reporter asked.
Mayorkas is unable to answer why an Afghanistan national who is working for the CIA tried to stage a mass casualty incident on Election Day. pic.twitter.com/2xGhrZVcnj
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 10, 2024
Refusing to address the important question, Mayorkas instead said he was “in North Carolina” working with search and rescue teams dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and therefore would not answer at the time.
“I’d be very pleased to answer your question in a different setting, but we are here to talk about emergencies and the support that we can deliver to people in desperate need,” he said.
The journalist persisted, saying, “But, we’re getting conflicting answers from your agencies and from the State Department about a man who was arrested for an Election Day terror plot! How do you not have those answers prepared?”
Mayorkas again failed to answer, rudely telling the reporter, “Your persistence in questioning can be matched by my persistence in answers.”
Also on Thursday, KJP said she “cannot comment” on whether or not the Biden administration believes the Afghan national was adequately vetted.
WOW: KJP refuses to condemn policies that allowed Afghan national plotting Election Day terrorist attack into the U.S. pic.twitter.com/hXUmxiR4Vr
— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) October 10, 2024
The CIA-connected terror suspect had a juvenile accomplice who was also arrested.
Popular X account Libs of TikTok on Wednesday pointed out the child was enrolled at an Oklahoma public school, writing, “Your kids have t*rr*rists as classmates in Kamala’s America!”
BREAKING SCOOP: The Afghan National arrested for plotting an lSlS style t*rr*r attack had an unnamed juvenile co-conspirator who was also arrested.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 9, 2024
Turns out the juvenile was attending a public school in Oklahoma and was a student at @MoorePublicSch!
Your kids have t*rr*rists… pic.twitter.com/qyy673ij4P
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