Maryland Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen commented on the Trump administration blaming the Biden administration for failing to vet an Afghan refugee who allegedly shot two National Guard troops in Washington last week, during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”

SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): This is a desperate attempt of the Trump administration to blame everybody else in the world and not accept any accountability. As you pointed out in your interview with the secretary, it was the Trump administration that was last in time when it came to vetting. And I can tell you that they come before Capitol Hill, Secretary of Homeland Security, FBI director, and they tell us how they have improved the vetting processes, and now they are trying to blame everything on the Biden administration. This is a president who refuses to take accountability for anything. KARL: It was also interesting that she said that he was radicalized here in the United States. So how do you vet if the radicalization happens here, it didn’t happen in Afghanistan? VAN HOLLEN: Well, that’s a very good point. And she talked about, you know, not talking with foreign governments. Of course, this is a person who worked with the CIA — KARL: For years. VAN HOLLEN: For years. So the reality is that we really don’t know what motivated him to take this particular act. We should, of course, always review our vetting procedures, but it’s not clear, you know, based on their own vetting that you could have picked something up in this case. KARL: You were a big advocate, I mean, a lot of people were, both parties, for bringing the Afghan citizens who worked with the United States during the war on terror to the United States once the Taliban took over. Do you now have concerns that this might not have been a one-off, that there have been gaps in vetting and that there could be, you know, more problems? VAN HOLLEN: Well, we should always review our vetting. But in this case, there’s no evidence that there was something that escaped the vetting, as you just said, as the secretary indicated, he might have been radicalized here. If that’s the case, again, the most recent in time vetting was by the Trump administration. But, Jon, I do think it is outrageous and unfair to try to punish an entire class of people for the evil acts of one person. That is collective punishment. These are individuals who worked side by side with America in the fight against the Taliban. And if they were sent back now, the Taliban may likely kill them. KARL: Might execute them. VAN HOLLEN: So — so — KARL: And Maryland is among top 10 states in the country — VAN HOLLEN: That’s right. That’s right. KARL: With these Afghan citizens. I mean Afghan — VAN HOLLEN: Yes. I think this is just a desperate attempt by the Trump administration to blame — and I will say, Jon, I think it’s important to remember that General John Kelly told us that President Trump told him that Trump had thought that members of our military were suckers and losers. And I see the president’s mindset toward our National Guard and military, suggesting that they’re political pawns of his and that they owe allegiance to him and not to the Constitution of the United States.

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