Grassley, Johnson Launch Congressional Investigation into Deadly New Year’s Day Attacks

Grassley, Johnson Launch Congressional Investigation into Deadly New Year's Day Attacks

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are calling for answers in the aftermath of the tragic New Year's Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

Grassley and Johnson are demanding the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Homeland Security (DHS), Defense (DOD) and FBI provide further information on the backgrounds and motives of the ISIS-inspired New Orleans attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, and Las Vegas perpetrator, Matthew Alan Livelsberger. The chairmen are additionally requesting records from Meta regarding Jabbar's Facebook activity leading up to his deadly assault in New Orleans' French Quarter. Jabbar posted five videos to his Facebook page in the hours before the attack describing his ISIS allegiance and harmful intent.

"The public deserves complete transparency and the truth regarding the New Orleans terrorist attack and the Las Vegas car explosion," the chairmen wrote. "While we understand the investigation into both of these incidents is ongoing, we expect your agencies to be forthcoming and responsive to oversight requests from Congress on this very serious matter."

The senators are also following up on legally protected whistleblower disclosures that the FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the New Orleans field office was on vacation during the New Year's attack. Since receiving the senators' letter, the FBI has confirmed the New Orleans SAC was on vacation at the time and did not return to New Orleans until January 2.

"These are major public events that a SAC should be present for. The FBI failed to note this in any of the joint briefings it provided to Congress and must provide more information," the chairmen noted.

Grassley and Johnson's letters follow:

1. Grassley, Johnson to DOJ and FBI
2. Grassley, Johnson to DHS
3. Grassley, Johnson to DOD
4. Grassley, Johnson to Meta

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