Leading Republican senators on Sunday criticized recent law enforcement failures by the FBI and other groups and called on President-elect Trump’s administration to enact reforms.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Americans have lost trust in the FBI. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) also told “Fox News Sunday” that there must be “consequences” for law enforcement failures that allowed incidents like last week’s terrorist attack in New Orleans. spoke.
“The FBI is an agency that I think needs to be reformed, needs a good makeover, so to speak, and given the perception that the American public has of the FBI and these agencies, it probably needs a pretty big housecleaning. “The American people need to have confidence and trust,” Thune said Sunday.
He added that Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee to head the FBI, “understands the mission.”
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune says the FBI needs reform. (Reuters)
Meanwhile, Cassidy reacted to the news that New Orleans police had access to 48 fences that could have prevented last week’s deadly truck attack. Permanent barriers blocking vehicles from entering Bourbon Street had been replaced at the time of the attack, but city officials could have deployed Archer barriers, which are rated to stop 5,500-pound vehicles traveling at speeds of 60 miles per hour. be.
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“There has to be leadership at the top, and as you say, when leadership fails, there must be consequences. Period. End of story,” Cassidy said.
“I think now we’re going to completely overhaul everything from top to bottom. And if it’s going to shake things up completely, she should be fired,” said New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne. and added it. Kirkpatrick.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) is calling for a review of law enforcement decisions surrounding the New Orleans truck attack. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Thune and Cassidy’s statements came days after President Trump’s allies criticized the FBI for initially finding the truck attack not terrorism-related, only to later backtrack from the nation’s top federal law enforcement agency. An investigation into terrorism linked to ISIS has begun.
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A source close to President Trump told Fox News Digital on Thursday morning: “The FBI has a foolproof mission. There is no margin for error. If we fail, Americans die. We need to get it quickly.”
Soldiers walk down Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Thursday, January 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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Patel is one of a number of incoming Trump Cabinet nominees who will need to be confirmed by the Senate after Trump takes office later this month.
FOX News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Anders Hagström is a reporter for Fox News Digital, covering national politics and major breaking news. Send your tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com or Twitter:@Hagstrom_Anders.
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