Senator Demands Feds Investigate Israel Embassy Shooting As Domestic Terrorism

Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) in a Thursday letter called for Attorney General Pam Bondi and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser to investigate the horrific murder of two Israeli embassy staff as an act of domestic terrorism.

Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgram, 26, were exiting an event for young Jewish professionals, where they were shot at close range by 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who is now in custody.

Moreno, who has positioned himself as a staunch supporter of Israel, mourned the loss of the young couple: “As members of the Jewish community gathered in our nation’s capital this week from all over the world, their worst fears became reality.”

“Last night, this young couple, with the rest of their lives in front of them, was gunned down by a terrorist screaming ‘Free Palestine,’” Moreno said.

Lischinsky had bought a ring and planned to propose to Milgram in Jerusalem next week.

Moreno demanded immediate action from the DOJ and D.C. police: “The violence against Jews must stop.”

“In light of this horrific attack, I respectfully request you immediately launch an investigation into this hate crime and act of domestic terrorism. The city of Washington D.C. must also conduct a full review of the security failures that allowed this terrorist attack to happen,” Moreno said.

U.S. law enforcement appears to be moving in this direction, with FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday characterizing the attack as “act of terror” and “targeted anti-Semitic violence.”

Last night’s act of terror has the full attention of the FBI. Targeted anti-Semitic violence is an attack on our core values and will be met with the full weight of federal law enforcement. The individual responsible will be held accountable, and the Bureau will continue pursuing…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 22, 2025

Moreno further emphasized the urgency of addressing antisemitic violence, noting, “In 2024, the nation saw the highest number of antisemitic incidents in almost 50 years,” in addition to the “344 percent increase in antisemitic incidents over the past five years and an 893 percent increase over the past 10 years,” per the Anti-Defamation League.

Moreno requested that authorities “launch an investigation into this hate crime and act of domestic terrorism, prosecute the heinous murderer to the fullest extent of the law,” and report to his office a review of “all protocols to identify how this security failure occurred.”

“Religious liberty is the very foundation of the origins of our great nation. We must do everything we can to stop hate crimes, domestic terrorism, and antisemitism in America, including prosecuting those who commit domestic terrorism and hate crimes, fully funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and appropriating funds to the Department of Justice for grants to states for law enforcement to protect our religious institutions against acts of terror,” Moreno concluded.