Fifty-seven U.S. lawmakers have called on the FBI and State Department to investigate the May 11 shooting death of Palestinian-American Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh.
In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and FBI Director Christopher Wray, the lawmakers also requested that the State Department “determine whether any U.S. laws protecting Ms. Abu Akleh, an American citizen, were violated.”
“As Members of Congress, we are deeply concerned by the death of Ms. Abu Akleh. Journalists worldwide must be protected at all costs,” states the letter, which was published on the official website of Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.).
“We welcome the actions and statements taken so far by the U.S. Department of State supporting a thorough investigation. However, given the tenuous situation in the region and the conflicting reports surrounding the death of Ms. Abu Akleh, we request the State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launch an investigation into Ms. Abu Akleh’s death.
Also on Friday, State Department Spokesman Ned Price reiterated the State Department’s call for a “thorough and transparent” investigation into Abu Akleh’s death, adding that any investigation must include “accountability.”
Abu Akleh, 51, was shot dead in Jenin in northern Samaria while covering an Israel Defense Forces counter-terrorism raid in the city.
The Palestinian Authority has rejected requests from Israel to hold a joint investigation, and is refusing to turn over the bullet extracted from Akleh’s body for a ballistic and forensic analysis. JNS
The lives of innocent people are no less precious! Why are these lawmakers so so unnerved now and mum when innocent people were axed to death! They showed off our payrolls just for that imbalance! They’re clearly unable to make rational decisions. Put them on the unemployment lines! Now!
Exactly. Or the 30 or so blacks that get shot in Chicago EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND!!! Crime in the major democrat cities here in America are completely out of control. The FBI should start looking inward.
I’ll bet that all 57 have a (D) after their name.