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

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

Sens. Johnson and Grassley are demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 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.

Additionally, the chairmen are 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' letters, 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.

Sens. Johnson and Grassley's letters are linked below:

• Grassley, Johnson to DOJ and FBI
• Grassley, Johnson to DHS
• Grassley, Johnson to DOD
• Grassley, Johnson to Meta

###