The FBI’s initial press conference following the New Orleans (NOLA) terrorist attack was abysmal. It demonstrated to the American public that their fears were once again validated and that every bit of sensationalization and conspiracy theory must be fact — that the FBI is shot through with incompetence and politically motivated employees. The public can hardly be blamed.
New Orleans Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC) Althea Duncan was clearly in over her head on the morning of January 1st. Flying in the face of common sense, she announced to the nation that the New Orleans attacker, though hoisting the black flag of ISIS from his rented Ford F-150 like a homicidal pirate on the high seas, was not a terrorist. We all knew better…immediately.
Wokeism and the deleterious effects of DEI policy were on full display that morning. ASAC Duncan, in violation of the FBI’s Core Values, which demands a high standard of professionalism, appeared at a nationally televised press conference wearing a nose stud. My retired FBI colleagues were simultaneously incensed and embarrassed. Given the recent terrorist attack on the German Christmas market in Magdeburg, which utilized the same type of weapon — a speeding vehicle — ASAC Duncan should have been able to do the math in real-time and provide an answer which wasn’t laughably false. After all, ASACs receive training in media relations.
Immediately, social media was awash with DEI memes featuring characterizations of ASAC Duncan. Fair or not, this is an unintended consequence of DEI policy. Just as affirmative action programs tinged every minority accomplishment with the stain of institutional favoritism, and robbed preferred categories of dignity, so DEI implicitly smears minority accomplishment with the assumption of promotion by bigotry. Policies of this nature are fundamentally dehumanizing and presuppose the incapacity of favored demographics. However, ASAC Duncan’s performance only confirmed the assumption that her rise to such a position of responsibility was a function of racial metrics and not of personal merit.
Within an hour, FBI Headquarters released a statement definitively labeling the NOLA attack as a terrorist event. ASAC Duncan’s second presser later that day featured her without her nose stud, wearing professional attire. Clearly, she’d been counseled. The following day, no less than a Deputy Assistant Director arrived, dispatched from FBI HQ. The swiftness of DAD Christopher Raia’s appearance left me wondering if the FBI really is in possession of a reverse engineered craft, featuring gravity propulsion systems. HQ warped space and time to replace the inept and politicized Duncan. By the next press conference on January 2nd, the FBI had re-positioned itself through the direct and unambiguous statements of DAD Raia. Clearly a seasoned leader.
But, the quick course correction is the silver lining within the dark clouds of the FBI debacle and truth speak. The NOLA terrorism event and the Las Vegas bombing, which occurred on the same day, indicate a shift in posture that may appear subtle but speaks volumes about the direction the FBI seems to be taking.
On social media, I’ve been speculating over the last week that we're seeing a Trump effect at the FBI. Investigations that would have been dominated by the Biden administration's woke ideology, preconceived notions about "white racism,” and DEI personnel (as we saw during the initial NOLA presser) are instead developing as one would expect, given FBI capabilities and historical competence. The investigation into the Las Vegas bombing has been publicly narrated by Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans, the person responsible for running the Las Vegas Field Office. His approach has been consistently measured and professional—a welcome departure from the evasiveness demonstrated on Capitol Hill by senior FBI officials, including Director Christopher Wray.
This shift is an indicator of how quickly substantive change may come. A tangible Trump effect at the FBI, even before Kash Patel’s confirmation.
As has been demonstrated by the professionalism of DAD Christopher Raia and SAC Spencer Evans, there are a host of good men and women who’ve been waiting to reassert themselves. As expected, proponents of the "abolish the FBI" narrative have overstated their case and revealed their lack of depth—all to pander to the public's fears and to hype for grift.
It's also interesting to watch FBI critics turn to the FBI for its expertise and tout the results. I'm hopeful that this is an indication of more good things to come as the FBI undergoes intelligent reform.
As controversy churned over an email brought to the attention of prominent podcaster Shawn Ryan, ostensibly authored by Las Vegas bomber Matthew Liveslberger, the expertise of the FBI’s Cyber Division was brought to bear. Once the origin of the disjointed and sensational email was determined, SAC Spencer confirmed the fact of its authenticity as having been sent from Matthew Liveslberger’s email account. But SAC Spencer was quick to add that the FBI could not determine the veracity of the email’s contents. It’s refreshing to see a timely response free of political bias.
The simplest explanation for Livelsburger's disjointed statements is, sadly, a form of mental distress. For me, his claim to have had SAP/USAP access to "gravity propulsion" systems was a strong indication of a lack of veracity or emotional instability—though the government is certainly concealing UAP information. Livelsburger simply would never have had the requisite "need to know." Hopefully, the legacy of LIvelsburger will be one focused on his many years of dedicated service and a beacon to those who champion real intervention during emotional crises.
Finally, speculation and hyperbole are dangerous things. In Livelsburger's case, Occam's Razor reasserts itself. And, when it comes to sensational social media statements about federal agencies, it's always smarter to assume incompetence rather than conspiracy. For the FBI, the immediate future seems hopeful, with a force for change arriving with Kash Patel ensconced behind the Director’s desk.
