Des Moines Sun

The Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a report confirming concerns raised by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley regarding the vetting process for Afghan evacuees under the Biden-Harris administration. The report indicates that 55 Afghan evacuees were flagged in the terrorist screening database, with 21 being added after their entry into the United States and two already present on the list before entering.

As of July 2024, eight evacuees remained on the terrorist watchlist within the United States, with four under active FBI investigation. Last year, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan evacuee, was arrested for allegedly planning an Election Day attack for ISIS.

Grassley commented on these findings: "I’ve sounded the alarm about the need to thoroughly vet Afghan evacuee applicants since August 2021. The Biden-Harris administration, my Democrat colleagues in Congress and many in the media were quick to dismiss glaring red flags that a nonpartisan national security analysis now confirms."

He further criticized the administration: "As if it wasn’t already obvious, the Biden-Harris administration endangered American lives by allowing suspected terrorists to enter the United States and roam free for years. My oversight of this matter will continue."

Grassley has been actively involved in congressional oversight concerning this issue and has previously criticized FBI leadership over their handling of Afghan evacuee vetting. He also urged FBI Director Kash Patel to provide updated data on potential national security threats posed by some Afghan evacuees.

The full DOJ OIG report is available for public viewing.