Rep. Jason Chaffetz discussed the bomb incidents in New York and New Jersey during an appearance on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program.
Chaffetz said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio should have started off with the information that the attack could have a possible terror link.
"Why are we starting — as the mayor did yesterday — trying to be all politically correct? That's not where he should have started. We should assume … you got an explosive device, why don't we start with the premise that it might actually be a terrorist-type event and then walk it back from there? Let's say it might be terrorism, and then go back from there."
The Utah Republican, who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called on the residents of New York to report on suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami.
"This is where you need people in New Jersey and New York to do their thing, because someone knows who this person is. They need to look at that television, they need to go out and find him, help law enforcement. You know this person. Let's go find him. Let's get him in handcuffs," Chaffetz said.
"This is a scary time," host Steve Doocy said and Chaffetz agreed. "You hate to see this, but we've got to get serious about finding this guy that's on the screen right now," referring to suspect Rahami.
After Chaffetz was interviewed, bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami was captured after a shootout.
The panel discussed surveillance of citizens, and Chaffetz said that "suspicion less Americans" who have done nothing wrong are protected by government rules. Chaffetz said. "If you're a suspicion less American, the government has severe limitations and should not be prying into your information. If you're suspicion less, hands off."
"I don't trust the federal government with this information," Chaffetz said. "They always say, for security reasons, we want to get this information and that information, but they can't secure it. They're not very good at securing it. But when there's an operation like this, he's a suspect. Go get him."
"We do need to have severe background checks," Chaffetz said, after the "Fox & Friends" panel noted that the Rahami was naturalized from Afghanistan, and the Minnesota stabbing attack suspect was from Somalia.
Chaffetz said that more scrutiny is required.
"We have to make sure we understand who they are. I wouldn't do it solely based on a religion, but if you're coming from certain areas of the world, of course, you're going to get some extra scrutiny. And that will be the seminal question going forward. How did these people get into this country?"
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