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Pam Bondi Blames 'Progressive Left' After DC National Guard Shooting, Vows Tough Prosecution

Pam Bondi, appearing on Fox & Friends on Thanksgiving, criticized left-leaning politicians and media figures for rhetoric she said contributed to an atmosphere surrounding a Washington, D.C. shooting that injured two National Guard members. Bondi called the suspect a "monster" and said prosecutors would seek the death penalty if the victims — 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe and 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom — do not survive. She described active federal and local coordination in the investigation and urged the public to pray for the injured.

Attorney General Pam Bondi used a Thanksgiving Day appearance on Fox & Friends to sharply criticize left-leaning politicians and commentators, saying their rhetoric contributed to a climate that preceded a shooting that wounded two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Bondi described the suspect as a "monster" and said prosecutors would seek the death penalty if the victims — identified as 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe and 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom — do not survive.

Bondi said the Justice Department was closely coordinating with federal and local partners as investigators work to determine motive and responsibility. She said the National Security Division and ATF were involved, and that federal, state and local law enforcement were collaborating on the active investigation.

Speaking emotionally about the victims, Bondi noted that Beckstrom had volunteered to work on Thanksgiving so fellow service members could be with family. She said charges will be guided by the victims' medical prognoses and described a range of potential outcomes from terrorism charges and life imprisonment to seeking the death penalty if the victims succumb to their injuries.

Bondi also condemned public figures who have criticized National Guard deployments to cities such as Memphis and Washington, arguing that some critics have created a poisonous atmosphere while themselves traveling with security details. She said officials were coordinating responses and that additional Guard troops were being deployed to support public safety efforts.

PAM BONDI: "Everyone has been up all night since it happened, evaluating everything regarding this monster — he is a monster — who did this. Right now, we will base our charges on their prognosis. They both came through surgery. I'm not going to talk about their conditions right now, but we are praying for their recovery."

BONDI: "Worst-case scenario could include life in prison with terrorism charges, and if something happens to either of them, we will seek the death penalty. The national security division and ATF are directly involved and moving at light speed to make sure justice is served."

BONDI: "It's actually sad what our country has come to with these 'progressive left' voices attacking our heroes. Some of those people even have security details of their own — it's unbelievable."

Bondi emphasized the human toll of the shooting, calling on the public to pray for the injured Guardsmen and their families while investigators continue their work. She described ongoing coordination between federal and local officials and said authorities are treating the case as an active, high-priority investigation.

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