The FBI has remained silent whether to fire or punish the agent who initially told the media and the public that the horrific New Year's Day attack in New Orleans was not a “terrorist incident,” before the agency quickly backtracked and reported that the attack was being investigated as terrorism. event.
Fox News Digital reached out to the press office of the FBI's press secretary on Thursday and Friday, asking if FBI Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan will face termination or action. of reprimand because of his initial claim that the attack was not terrorism-related, but he got no answers. Fox Digital also called the FBI's press office Friday morning but did not leave a message regarding that question because the voicemail box was full.
After chaos erupted on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning as New Year's Eve revelers celebrated the holiday, Duncan spoke during a news conference, declaring the attack not related to terrorism.
“We will take the first part of the investigation for this incident. This is not a terrorist incident,” Duncan said during a press conference.
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FBI Special Agent Aletha Duncan tells the public at a press conference that the attack in New Orleans was not related to terrorism. (Reuters)
However, during that press conference, the mayor of New Orleans told the press and the public that the city had indeed been hit by terrorism.
“You know that the city of New Orleans was affected by a terrorist attack. Everything is being investigated,” Mayor LaToya Cantrell, a Democrat who has served in the department since 2018, said in a statement.
On Thursday, the FBI responded to Fox Digital's request for comment on criticisms of Duncan's initial assessment that the attack was not terrorism-related, explaining to Fox Digital that, on the day of the attack, The FBI released three separate statements that all said the FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
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“This morning, someone drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing several people and injuring many others. That case worked with law enforcement. “The FBI is the lead agency in the investigation, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” the FBI said in a statement. Fox Digital.
Duncan also said in subsequent press conferences that the attack was being investigated as an act of terror.
The FBI confirmed this week that the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, had an ISIS flag in his truck at the time of the attack. The FBI added on Thursday that Jabbar was “inspired” by ISIS but they have not found evidence that he was ordered by ISIS to carry out the chaos.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to the media during a news conference on January 1, 2025 in New Orleans. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police after plowing a truck into a crowd.
Conservative lawmakers, Trump allies and voters have criticized the FBI for its handling of the investigation, including Sen. Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, argue that the FBI has placed a higher emphasis on DEI methods than on fighting crime.
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“The FBI has an unfailing mission. There is no room for error. When they fail, Americans die. It is imperative that Kash Patel be vindicated ASAP,” a source close to President-elect Donald Trump added to criticize Fox News Digital on Thursday morning.