Following a tragic New Year's attack in New Orleans, where a suspect drove a vehicle into a crowd, Senate Republicans are pressing for the expedited confirmation of President-elect Trump's administration appointments, particularly those focused on national security.
Incoming Senate Republican Leader John Thune expressed condolences and emphasized the need for answers regarding the attack, which has been linked to ISIS inspiration. He stressed the importance of confirming President Trump's national security team promptly to address the ongoing threat.
The attack resulted in at least 14 fatalities and numerous injuries, including two Israeli citizens. The New Orleans Coroner's office is withholding victim identification until autopsies are complete and families are notified.
From left: Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard. (Reuters)
Senate Republicans were already advocating for the swift confirmation of Trump's nominees, including Kash Patel for FBI director, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense. However, the New Orleans incident and other emerging threats nationwide have amplified the urgency of this process.
Several Republican senators, including John Barrasso, Rick Scott, and Katie Britt, have publicly called for prioritizing and confirming these crucial national security appointments without delay.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)
New Orleans police and federal agents investigate the attack. (Chris Granger/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized the FBI's apparent lack of intelligence on the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, prior to the attack. She highlighted a report indicating that journalists arrived at the suspect's residence before the FBI, underscoring the agency's perceived failure. Blackburn strongly endorsed Patel for FBI director, emphasizing the need for strong leadership.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images/File)
In a briefing with House and Senate members, the FBI stated they had no prior intelligence on Jabbar but believe he was inspired by ISIS, although there is no evidence of direct involvement at this time.
