Leo Terrell, a senior counsel at the Department of Justice, has announced plans to investigate a troubling incident involving a left-wing influencer. This comes after Guy Christensen, a TikTok creator with millions of followers, celebrated the recent shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. Christensen referred to the shooter as a “resistance fighter” and claimed the victims were part of a “genocide machine.”
The shooting occurred last Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The alleged gunman, Elias Rodriguez, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack. Authorities are treating this as a targeted act of terrorism fueled by antisemitic hatred. Rodriguez is said to have ties to the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Black Lives Matter movement.
In a now-deleted video, Christensen expressed no remorse for the attack, stating, “I do not condemn the elimination of the Zionist officials,” and encouraged his viewers to support Rodriguez’s actions. This has drawn widespread condemnation, including from Terrell, who took to social media to emphasize the need for a thorough investigation, stating, “Will review all leads!”
Earlier, Terrell had urged people from all political backgrounds to unite against rising antisemitism. He leads the DOJ’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, appointed by former President Donald Trump. Terrell has warned that supporting Hamas or intimidating Jewish Americans could lead to federal hate crime charges.
The attack has sparked outrage, and President Trump condemned the violence, stating that “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.” Lischinsky was known for his positive views on Trump’s leadership, while Milgrim dedicated her life to education and interfaith dialogue.
In the aftermath, several far-left groups praised the shooting and shared the shooter’s manifesto, which called for domestic armed resistance. This has raised concerns about the growing acceptance of violence in political discourse.
As the investigation unfolds, the DOJ is under pressure to address the rising tide of antisemitism and ensure that those who incite violence are held accountable.