Fact Check: Did New Orleans Terror Suspect Donate to Democrats?

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect named in the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, which killed 15 people and injured 30 more, is said to have made donations to the Democratic Party, among reports scrutinizing his background.

The FBI is investigating the fatal attack in New Orleans as an act of terrorism. While a motive has not yet been revealed, videos have emerged that provide some insight into suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar's potential motivation and thinking.

Police said Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck around a police blockade and into revelers gathered on Bourbon Street to celebrate the new year in the early hours of January 1. At least 15 people were killed, and about 30 others were injured. Jabbar was killed by police.

Among the commentary surrounding Jabbar's profile and background, multiple posts appeared on social media stating he had given money to fundraisers working for the Democrats.

Law enforcement officers at the scene on Bourbon Street where 15 people were killed on January 1 in New Orleans. Suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar was said to have donated to the Democratic Party. Michael DeMocker/Getty Images

The Claim

Multiple posts on X, formerly Twitter, say that Shamsud-Din Jabbar was a donor to the Democratic Party.

A post by Daily Wire reporter Luke Rosiak from January 1, 2025, viewed 81,000 times, said: "Terror suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar donated to Democrat politicians over the years, including in 2020 to a PAC supporting Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jaime Harrison, now chair of the Democratic National Committee."

The right-leaning social media account "Libs of TikTok" referred to Jabbar as a "Democrat donor" in a post published on January 1. Account @akafacehots also posted on January 1: "BREAKING: The New Orleans terrorist was a Democrat that donated to ActBlue."

The Facts

While it appears that Jabbar donated to the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, further information was left out in the case of some of these social media posts.

As reported by conservative outlet The Daily Wire, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, a person named Shamsud-Din Jabbar made two donations to ActBlue, once in 2014 and once in 2020.

The donation in 2014 lists Jabbar as a U.S. Soldier in Fayetteville, North Carolina, corresponding with accounts of the suspect's military service and location.

Jabbar enlisted in the Army in 2007 and worked in human resources and information technology. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010, then transferred into the U.S. Army Reserve in 2015, the service said in a statement. He left the military in July 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.

The second donation, made in 2020, states Jabbar was based in Fresno, Texas, where the suspect is reported to have owned property. It also states his employer as EY, which may refer to the accounting company Ernst & Young, matching an employment profile still available online.

Newsweek reached out to a media representative for EY via email for comment.

While the FEC records align with Jabbar's details, they have not been formally verified. Furthermore, while it's mentioned in the Daily Wire article and some social media posts, the amount Jabbar donated was small, totaling only $20 over six years. FEC records show no other donations to ActBlue or other political contributions since 2020.

Newsweek has contacted a media representative for ActBlue for comment.

Financial records of major crime suspects are routinely examined by media and commentators. Ryan Wesley Routh, indicted for the attempted assassination of President-elect Donald Trump, began making donations to the Democratic Party in 2019, totaling around $140, as reported by FactCheck.org. However, his political views are thought to have varied widely, with accounts of his support for Trump and other major Republicans.

The FBI is the lead agency investigating the attack in New Orleans. Anyone with information, photos or video is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack. They can also call the FBI's New Orleans office at (504) 816-3000 or email tips@fbi.gov.

The Ruling

Needs Context.

Federal Election Commission records show two donations by a "Shamsud-Din Jabbar," of Texas and North Carolina, worth $20 to ActBlue, a Democratic Party fundraising platform.

While the records correspond with Jabbar's military, employment, and location history, the account has not been formally verified. The FEC has no further records of a person by that name having donated since.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team