U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who notoriously fought tooth and nail to block the investigation into the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, is now calling for a full investigation into a terrorist-linked attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Chairman-elect Rand Paul of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Hawley demanded that the Biden administration be held responsible for the New Year 2024 incident. His letter urged Paul to call Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray to testify before Congress about their roles in the response to the attack.
“For the last four years, the Biden administration has made Americans less safe,” Hawley wrote. “When the 119th Congress convenes next week, and you assume leadership of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, I urge you to immediately call Mayorkas and Wray to publicly testify prior to their departure from office.”
Hawley’s demand for accountability is particularly striking given his vigorous opposition to the investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack. As a vocal defender of former President Donald Trump, Hawley led the charge to block the creation of a bipartisan commission to investigate the events of that day, which saw a violent mob breach the Capitol, resulting in deaths, injuries, and widespread damage.
In his letter, Hawley continued, “Until January 20, the American people remain at risk unless the outgoing administration is held to account for policy changes that have made this country less safe.” His call for action against the Biden administration is notable given the administration’s long-standing efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen national security, in contrast to Hawley’s own party’s often contentious stances on these issues.
The hypocrisy of Hawley’s position is hard to ignore. After all, the senator has consistently downplayed the severity of the January 6 insurrection, labeling the rioters as “protesters” and echoing Trump’s false claims of a stolen election. Yet now, he is pushing for an investigation into another violent incident, citing a need for public accountability.
Read the full letter here.
