U.S. Attorney Pirro [press conference]: Our nation's capital should not and must not be a place where evil comes to commit violence, whatever their cause or motive may be. We should not have to live in fear in the nation's capital, especially by one who came here from a foreign country. And through a process that was so absurd, that he came through and released into this country, as many were, knowing virtually nothing about his vetting. This is what happens in this country when people are allowed in who are not properly vetted.These Guardsmen, and all who are here to protect the District, are the line that separates a civilized society from a barbaric one. They are the ones who stand for law and order. This was not just an attack, it was a direct challenge to law and order in our nation's capital.

Director Patel: I also spoke to the director of the CIA, John Ratcliff last night, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. There is confirmation now that the subject had a relationship in Afghanistan with partner forces. We are fully investigating that aspect of his background as well, to include any known associates that are either overseas, or here in the United States of America.

Director Patel: You miss all the signs when you do absolutely zero vetting, and that's exactly what happened in this case. When the prior administration made the decision to allow thousands of people into this country without doing a single piece of background checking or vetting, that's how you miss every single sign.