What is the Biden DOJ doing?
Following a brutal attack in New Orleans, President-elect Donald Trump’s allies have launched sharp criticism of the FBI’s initial response, accusing the agency of failing to recognize the event as an act of terrorism before quickly backtracking. The attack, which occurred early on New Year’s Day, resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and injured many others. The suspect, later identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, used a truck to ram into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, before opening fire on law enforcement officers. Jabbar, armed with a Glock and a .308 rifle, was ultimately killed in a standoff with police.
Initially, the FBI downplayed the terrorist nature of the attack. During a press conference on Wednesday, Alethea Duncan, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s New Orleans office, stated, “This is not a terrorist event.” However, the New Orleans mayor, LaToya Cantrell, contradicted Duncan’s claim, insisting that the attack was, in fact, terrorism. “Know that the city of New Orleans was impacted by a terrorist attack,” the mayor declared, leaving citizens and officials alike confused.
Later in the day, the FBI revised its position, acknowledging that an ISIS flag was found in Jabbar’s vehicle, leading them to treat the incident as a potential act of terrorism. The FBI issued a series of statements indicating that they were aggressively investigating possible links between Jabbar and terrorist organizations.
Conservative lawmakers, including Senator Marsha Blackburn, expressed outrage at the FBI’s handling of the situation. Blackburn, a staunch ally of Trump, called for the swift confirmation of Kash Patel as the next FBI director, arguing that the FBI’s failure to promptly label the attack as terrorism demonstrated a breakdown in leadership. “The tragic terror attack that killed innocent people in New Orleans is a stark reminder of the importance of strong leadership,” Blackburn tweeted. She also criticized the FBI for its delayed response in investigating Jabbar’s home in Texas.
Trump himself weighed in on the attack, laying the blame squarely at the feet of President Biden’s administration. On Truth Social, the former president wrote, “With the Biden ‘Open Borders’ policy, I said many times that radical Islamic terrorism would increase in America—and now we’re seeing it unfold. This attack is just the beginning.” Trump further blasted Biden, labeling him “the worst president in the history of America.”
This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by unaddressed threats and the importance of strong, decisive leadership in protecting the American people. The ongoing investigation and response by the FBI will no doubt be scrutinized further as new details emerge, but for now, the victims in New Orleans remain in the thoughts and prayers of many. Conservatives, in particular, are pushing for a reinvigorated approach to security that prioritizes vigilance and quick action against terrorist threats, both domestic and international.