MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $2,709,877 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid. 

“Hurricane Ida dealt a tough blow to southeast Louisiana. This $2.7 million will help cover the cost of emergency measures that Jefferson Parish Public School System took to keep Louisianians safe,” said Kennedy.

The FEMA aid will fund the following:

• $2,709,877 to the Jefferson Parish Public School System for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida. 

Watch Kennedy’s full statement here.

MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today made the following statement regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. 

“Why? That's what most Americans are asking themselves today, ‘Why did President Trump almost lose his life?’

“First, there aren’t words in English, it seems to me, to describe how horrible the attempt on President Trump's life was. I know it could’ve been worse, but it was really, really bad. And, inevitably, Americans today, as I said, are asking themselves, ‘Why?’

“Look, America hasn't been happy for a while, and this crosses all political spectrums. It costs more to live in our country today. Many people on both sides of the political spectrum are upset about the open border. Crime is . . . still bad. People are scared. They see the rise of China and the rise of Iran and the rise of Russia, and they instinctively know that [those regimes’] domination creates a world that's not safe for democracy or America. And this has led to disagreement in our politics. That disagreement is inevitable.

“It's been especially sharp because I think it reflects two things: It reflects the unhappiness that I've talked about, but it also reflects the fact that all Americans, they care deeply about their families, and they care deeply about their country. 

“I don't have an answer for why, but what I will respectfully suggest is that we wait and try to figure out why together. Don't make assumptions. Don't jump to conclusions. I've already heard some people saying, ‘Well, the shooter was left-wing,’ or ‘the shooter was a right-winger,’ or ‘it was all political.’ We just don't know. Maybe he wasn’t left-wing or right-wing. Maybe he was just a broken wing. Maybe he was a nut. Maybe he was mentally ill.

“I've also seen people pointing fingers at our government officials about how could they have allowed this to happen. Well, the American people deserve answers to that, but let's wait and get the facts. 

“So, I just wanted to say that—it was in my head and on my heart—to the people of America and the people of Louisiana: We'll figure this out together. In the meantime, let’s all respect each other’s humanity.” 

Sen. Kennedy continues to pray for the loved ones of Corey Comperatore, who attended the rally with his family and died while protecting his wife and daughter. 

“Becky and I are praying for the family of the attendee who died this evening at Pres. Trump’s rally as well as for the quick recovery of all others who are injured. Political violence has no place in America,” said Kennedy Saturday as he thanked God for protecting Pres. Trump and others that evening.

Watch Kennedy’s statement here.

MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and colleagues in urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to remove Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, from office after giving false testimony to Congress.

“During her nomination to her current role, Ms. Clarke was asked if she had ‘ever been arrested for or accused of committing a violent crime against any person.’ Ms. Clarke was unequivocal, responding under oath to the Senate Judiciary Committee, ‘No.’ That was a lie. Ms. Clarke has now admitted that she was arrested in 2006 for attacking and injuring someone with a knife. It has also recently come to light that, shortly before the full Senate voted on her nomination, Ms. Clarke and her publicist contacted the man she attacked in an attempt to cover up her false testimony,” the senators wrote.

“Lying to Congress under oath is a felony,” they continued.

“The last time you were before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you said, ‘The integrity of our legal system is premised on adherence to the rule of law. In order to have confidence in our Department and in our democracy, the American people must be able to trust that we will adhere to the rule of law in everything that we do.’ Ms. Clarke does not meet this standard and must be immediately terminated,” the senators concluded.

The full letter is available here.

Watch Kennedy’s remarks here.  

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today questioned Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chair nominee Christy Goldsmith Romero about Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton LLP’s report on the hundreds of claims of harassment at the FDIC.

Kennedy’s full exchange with Romero is below.

Kennedy: “I know you've read the Cleary Gottlieb report. Is that correct?”

Romero: “Yes, Senator.”

Kennedy: “I've watched a lot of powerful people in this town try to cover it up. They said, ‘Oh, it's bad, but don't worry: The FDIC chairman will fix it.’ It was—this was—the same FDIC chairman who had been at the agency since God was a corporal, and under whom all this stuff happened. And, fortunately, that point of view didn't prevail. 

“Here's the way I read the report: 97 people at that agency reported 145 separate incidents of sexual assaults. 91 others reported 141 separate incidents of gender- or sexuality-based discrimination. 187 people reported 320 separate incidents of verbal abuse. Over 500 people . . . came forward about discrimination, harassment, mistreatment they faced at the FDIC.

“Now, I listened to you say all the right words, and you talked about accountability, and you talked about refurbishing the tarnished reputation of the agency, and you talked about listening. And I appreciate all that, but the phrase that got my attention was, ‘send a clear message that this won't be tolerated.’

“If you want to do that, what you need to do before you do your listening tours or all that other stuff, you need to investigate every one of these allegations—every single one—and find out if they're true. And, if they are true, then somebody ought to be—the person who's responsible—should be fired, should be sued, and/or should be prosecuted. And then you'll have a cleaner agency.

“Now, I don't have any questions. You're either going to do it, or you're not. But I think a lot of the members of the committee agree with me: We're going to be watching. Every time the FDIC comes before the Banking Committee, as long as I'm on it, I'm going to ask you about progress, with specificity.” 

Background:

• Kennedy introduced the FDIC Discrimination Relief Act of 2024 to empower current and former FDIC employees who experienced discrimination or sexual harassment to have their day in court. 

• The FDIC recently published a report detailing the toxic culture that has unfolded at the agency under Chairman Martin Gruenberg’s watch.

• More than 500 of the FDIC’s 6,000 employees reported instances of sexual harassment, racial or gender discrimination, verbal abuse or other inappropriate behavior.

• Several employees accused Gruenberg of threatening and verbally abusive conduct. Employees reported that Gruenberg has an explosive temper and often berated employees, including one instance in which he reportedly threw the staff’s papers against the wall. One employee said, “In my entire career of 35 years, I’ve never had anybody treat me like that.”

• Gruenberg has been on the FDIC’s Board of Directors since August 2005. During that time, at least 92 employees reported instances of harassment or discrimination to the agency. Investigators found that the FDIC did not fire, demote or cut the pay of a single alleged harasser while Gruenberg was on the FDIC’s board.

• In 2021, Biden vowed to fire any appointee who disrespected his or her staff “on the spot.” The president also said he expects each appointee to similarly fire employees who disrespect their colleagues. Biden has not yet asked for Gruenberg’s resignation.

• Kennedy called for Gruenberg’s resignation last year when revelations of his inappropriate conduct at the FDIC broke. He penned this op-ed in The Hill urging Gruenberg to resign so a new leader could address the culture problems within the agency.

View Kennedy’s full remarks here.