WASHINGTON –Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser calling for the horrific murder of two employees of the Israeli Embassy, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, by an individual screaming “Free Palestine” outside of the Capital Jewish Museum to be investigated as domestic terrorism.
“Just last month, I traveled to Israel and saw first-hand the daily fight for survival the Jewish people endure against the existential threat of violence and antisemitic terrorism perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist groups. This horrific tragedy here at home emphasizes the responsibility we have, as elected officials, to ensure citizens of all faiths in this country can practice their religion and exercise their constitutional rights without the fear of being murdered in cold blood,” wrote Senator Moreno.
Read the full letter HERE or below
The Honorable Pamela Bondi
Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 2053
The Honorable Muriel Bowser
Mayor Washington, D.C.
1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 2000
Dear Attorney General Bondi and Mayor Bowser
As members of the Jewish community gathered in our nation’s capital this week from all over the world, their worst fears became reality. Today, the world mourns the heartbreaking murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. while attending an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, an American citizen, worked to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians Yet last night, this young couple, with the rest of their lives in front of them, was gunned down by a terrorist screaming “Free Palestine.” 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
Just last month, I traveled to Israel and saw first-hand the daily fight for survival the Jewish people endure against the existential threat of violence and antisemitic terrorism perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist groups. This horrific tragedy here at home emphasizes the responsibility we have, as elected officials, to ensure citizens of all faiths in this country can practice their religion and exercise their constitutional rights without the fear of being murdered in cold blood.
In 2024, the nation saw the highest number of antisemitic incidents in almost 50 years. Antisemitic incidents increased five percent in 2024. This increase is 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. 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.
Therefore, I respectfully request the following:
- Launch an investigation into this hate crime and act of domestic terrorism;
- Prosecute the heinous murderer to the fullest extent of the law
- Review all protocols to identify how this security failure occurred; an
- Report to my office results of the security review.
BERNIE MORENO
United States Senator