{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-urges-us-independently-investigate-fatal-shooting-aysenur-ezgi-eygi", "Rep. Smith urges U.S. to independently investigate the fatal shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-09-24", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash) sent a letter, cosigned by 102 of his colleagues, to urge the U.S. to investigate the fatal shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.\n\nSee below for the full letter.\n\nDear President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and Attorney General Garland:\n\nOn September 6, we learned about the fatal shooting in the West Bank of American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Seattle resident and recent graduate of the University of Washington. We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Eygi\u2019s family during this moment of tragedy, and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.\n\nWe are deeply disturbed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) preliminary investigation that found \u201cit is highly likely\u201d Ms. Eygi \u201cwas hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire which was not aimed at her\u201d during a \u201cviolent riot.\u201d This contradicts credible, independent eyewitness accounts that suggest the shooting was intentional without provocation. A Washington Post investigation based on interviews with eyewitnesses and West Bank residents, photos, and videos indicates the shooting occurred \u201cmore than a half-hour after the height of confrontations in Beita, and some 20 minutes after protesters had moved down the main road \u2014 more than 200 yards away from Israeli forces.\u201d\n\nGiven the evidence, we believe the United States must independently investigate whether this was a homicide. To walk away without asking further questions gives Israeli forces unacceptable license to act with impunity. There must be accountability for Ms. Eygi\u2019s death. We therefore call on the White House, State Department, and Department of Justice to lead an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into the killing of Ms. Eygi. This investigation should include all evidence found and rationale for how findings were determined in a written report to the family.\n\nWe request a written explanation provided to the family and the undersigned members to the following questions no later than October 4, 2024:\n\nWhat does the U.S. government currently know about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Eygi\u2019s killing?\n\nWill the U.S. government conduct an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into the killing of Ms. Eygi?\n\nWhat would be the proposed timeline and plan for such an investigation?\n\nHow will the U.S. government seek accountability if the Israeli government refuses to cooperate with such an investigation?\n\nWe appreciate your attention to these matters and look forward to your prompt response.\u201d\n\nA full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-urges-us-independently-investigate-fatal-shooting-aysenur-ezgi-eygi"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9613037109375, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}