Judge allows forced feeding of accused National Guard shooter
The order lets Bureau of Prisons staff use a feeding tube, intravenous nutrition or an existing tube after Lakanwal refused meals for months.
- The Aug. 29 order from District Court Judge Amit Mehta authorized the Bureau to perform nonconsensual feeding on defendant Rahmanullah Lakanwal using nasal or intravenous methods to maintain his health.
- Lakanwal faces 17 charges, including first-degree murder in the shooting of 20-year-old Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and an Air Force Staff Sgt. on Thanksgiving eve last year near the White House.
- Appearing gaunt and using a wheelchair during hearings, Lakanwal has refused food for months while maintaining his not guilty plea to all charges.
- The judicial order remains effective until Oct. 28, allowing The Department of Justice to request extensions if Lakanwal continues refusing meals. He entered the United States under a humanitarian program following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- Mehta, nominated by President Barack Obama, previously denied similar requests from the Trump administration, noting Lakanwal's consistent refusal of meals before granting this authorization for nonconsensual nutrition.
63 Articles
63 Articles
Judge Orders Forced Feeding for Alleged DC Guard Shooter
A federal judge has ordered a man accused of fatally gunning down a National Guard soldier near the White House to be fed against his will so he can stand trial. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national and former US government partner, has allegedly been refusing food and water since July...
Judge orders force-feeding for suspect in deadly National Guard shooting
A federal judge ordered the man accused of targeting and shooting National Guard troops in downtown Washington, D.C., to be force-fed after he was rushed to the hospital in July after starving himself. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, an Obama appointee, over the weekend authorized “nonconsensual nutrition and medical treatment” for Rahmanullah Lakanwal, which allows medical staff to […]
U.S. judge authorizes involuntary feeding of jailed suspect in deadly National Guard shooting
A man refusing to eat food while jailed on charges he shot two National Guard troops near the White House, killing one of them, can be fed against his will under a U.S. judge’s emergency order.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
