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The FBI has remained silent whether to fire or discipline the agent who initially told the media and the public that the shocking New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans “was not a terrorist event,” before the agency quickly got back on track and reported that the attack was indeed under investigation as terrorism. incident
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI’s press office and press secretary Thursday and Friday to ask if the FBI’s assistant special agent in charge of the New Orleans office Alethea Duncan would face termination or disciplinary action for her initial claim that the attack was not related to terrorism. but received no answers. Fox Digital also called the FBI’s press office Friday morning but was unable to leave a message about the inquiry because the voicemail was full.
After chaos unfolded on Bourbon Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning as New Year’s Eve revelers celebrated, Duncan spoke at a news conference, saying the attack was not terrorism-related.
“We will take over the investigation of this event. This is not a terrorist event” Duncan said during the presser.
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FBI Special Agent Aletha Duncan told the public at a press conference that the attack in New Orleans was not related to terrorism. (Reuters)
During that same press conference, however, the mayor of New Orleans told the media and the public that the city had indeed suffered a terrorist attack.
“Know that the city of new orleans was affected by a terrorist attack. Everything is still under investigation,” Mayor LaToya Cantrell, a Democrat who has been in office since 2018, told reporters.
On Thursday, the FBI responded to Fox Digital’s request for comment on criticism surrounding Duncan’s initial assessment that the attack was not terrorism-related, detailing to Fox Digital that, on the day of the attack, the FBI issued three separate statements all said the FBI was investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
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“This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing several people and injuring dozens of others. The matter involved local law enforcement and he is now deceased . The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” the FBI said in a statement provided to Fox Digital.
Duncan also said in subsequent press conferences that the attack is being investigated as an act of terror.
The FBI confirmed this week that the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, had an ISIS flag on his truck at the time of the attack. The FBI added Thursday that Jabbar had been “inspired” by ISIS, but that they have found no evidence that he was directed by ISIS to carry out the hit-and-run.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to the media during a news conference on Jan. 1, 2025, in New Orleans. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas Army veteran, died after exchanging gunfire with police after plowing a truck into a crowd of people.
Conservative lawmakers, Trump allies and voters have criticized the FBI’s handling of the investigation, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, arguing that the FBI has placed greater emphasis on DEI’s practices in instead of fighting crime.
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“The FBI has a no-fail mission. There is no room for error. When they fail, Americans die. It is imperative that Kash Patel be confirmed as soon as possible.” a source close to President-elect Donald Trump he added in comments on Fox News Digital Thursday morning.
