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Wray warns of Hamas-inspired terror attacks while his FBI has been busy chasing Trump supporters

November 1, 2023 | | Print Article

FBI Director Christopher Wray faced backlash from Trump supporters Tuesday after warning that terrorists may be plotting an attack on the U.S. in the wake of Hamas’ terror attack against Israel.

“We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago,” he said while testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Listen:

He continued by listing all the terror groups that have already issued explicit calls to attack America and other Western nations.

“In just the past few weeks, multiple foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans and the West. Al-Qaeda issued its most specific call to attack the United States in the last five years. ISIS urged its followers to target Jewish communities in the United States and Europe,” he said.

“Hezbollah has publicly expressed its support for Hamas and threatened to attack U.S. interests in the Middle East. And we’ve seen an increase in attacks on U.S. military bases overseas carried out by militia groups backed by Iran,” he added.

The bottom line, he continued, is that there is a “possibility” of an upcoming terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

“Here in the United States, our most immediate concern is that violent extremists — individuals or small groups — will draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives,” he said.

“That includes not just homegrown violent extremists inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, but also domestic violent extremists targeting Jewish or Muslim communities,” he continued.

While testifying, Wray also warned about threats from Iran.

“But it’s not just Hamas. As the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranians, for instance, have directly or by hiring criminals, mounted assassination attempts against dissidents and high-ranking current and former U.S. Government officials, including right here on American soil,” he said.

Listen:

Trump supporters reacted to his testimony by demanding to know why the FBI has been wasting its time chasing after pro-life activists and other conservatives instead of chasing after terrorists.

“Maybe your FBI should have focused on real threats? Like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Islamic terrorist supporters? Instead of pro-life Christians praying outside of abortion clinics? And parents at school-board meetings? And Trump supporters on January 6th?” one critic tweeted.

See more criticism below:

Wray concluded his testimony by warning of what would happen if the FBI were to lose its FISA 702 privileges.

“It would be absolutely devastating if the next time an adversary like Iran or China launches a major cyberattack, we don’t see it coming because 702, one of our most important tools, was allowed to lapse,” he said.

“Or with everything going on in the world, imagine if a foreign terrorist overseas directs an operative to carry out an attack in our own backyard, but we’re not able to disrupt it because the FBI’s authorities have been so watered down,” he added.

The public would likely be more receptive to the FISA 702 argument if the FBI didn’t have a track record of abusing its FISA privileges to hound and hassle peaceful, law-abiding American citizens, including former President Donald Trump …

Vivek Saxena
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