📅 Apr 28, 2021

Fwd: Time for a call?

From: [Redacted]

To: [Redacted]

Wtf is this about? Forwarded message From: Date: Apr 28, 2021 6:20 AM Subject: Time for a call? To: " Cc: Hey [ ] I think you're at training this week? Would you have some time for a call with an AUSA regarding Maxwell? is asking if you have some time to chat. Special Agent [Redacted] FBI New York Field Office EFTA00160125

Wtf is this about?

Forwarded message
From:
Date: Apr 28, 2021 6:20 AM
Subject: Time for a call?
To: "
Cc:
Hey [ ]

I think you're at training this week? Would you have some time for a call with an AUSA regarding Maxwell? is asking if you have some time to chat.

Special Agent [Redacted]
FBI New York Field Office

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📅 Apr 23, 2021

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - Call re Maxwell

From: [REDACTED]

To: [REDACTED], [REDACTED], [REDACTED] (NY) (FBI) [REDACTED]

Attachments: unnamed +1- Conference ID: 200440 EFTA00160126

Attachments: unnamed

+1-
Conference ID: 200440

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📅 Apr 22, 2021 REDACTED

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - Call re Maxwell

From: Unknown

Conference ID: 200440 EFTA00160128

Conference ID: 200440

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📅 Oct 18, 2021 REDACTED

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - 4pm Maxwell Call

From: Unknown

Attachments: unnamed EFTA00160131

Attachments: unnamed

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📅 Sep 19, 2024 REDACTED

Downdraft file SSS | Draft 2 - Copy.docx is attached to this Email.

From: Unknown

Your file "SSS Draft 2 - Copy.docx" has been attached to this email. EFTA00160157

Your file "SSS Draft 2 - Copy.docx" has been attached to this email.

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📅 Jun 28, 2024 REDACTED

Downdraft file C20 Lab Cases w subjects.csv is attached to this Email.

From: Unknown

Your file "O20 Lab Cases w subjects.csv" has been attached to this email. EFTA00160158

Your file "O20 Lab Cases w subjects.csv" has been attached to this email.

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📅 Aug 17, 2021

OPA Horizon 08-17-2021

From: NPO

To: NPO

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY FBI Office of Public Affairs The Horizon Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 NATIONAL ISSUES Prince Andrew/Jeffrey Epstein: OPA/NY — The Daily Mail asked for comment on a recent Reuters article that said investigators want to interview Prince Andrew about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The article said Prince Andrew was a person of interest as a co-conspirator to the USAO—Southern District of New York—or at the very least a witness. OPA, in coordination with FBI N

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

FBI Office of Public Affairs
The Horizon
Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021

NATIONAL ISSUES

Prince Andrew/Jeffrey Epstein: OPA/NY — The Daily Mail asked for comment on a recent Reuters article that said investigators want to interview Prince Andrew about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The article said Prince Andrew was a person of interest as a co-conspirator to the USAO—Southern District of New York—or at the very least a witness. OPA, in coordination with FBI New York, declined to comment.

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Please send all Horizon submissions to [redacted] with “Horizon” in the Subject line, and press releases to [redacted].

All correspondence contained in this email, to include all names and associated contact information, may be subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552.

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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📅 Dec 9, 2021

[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - December 9, 2021

From: FBI News Briefing cza

To: FBINewsBriefing

Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com

Table of Contents

The image contains lists of black bars, which likely represent data points or categories. Without any labels or axes, it's impossible to determine the exact data or create a table. However, the structure suggests a comparative visualization.

The image is not a chart.
Key information:
- A list of items presented as black bars.
- The bars vary in length, indicating different values or quantities.
- The items are grouped into sections, separated by horizontal lines.
- The overall presentation is abstract and lacks specific context or labels.

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OTHER FBI NEWS

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This image is not a chart. It contains text that is obscured by black bars. The surrounding text indicates that the image likely contains photos related to the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who is accused of recruiting and grooming girls for abuse by Jeffrey Epstein.

Federal Prosecutors Release Photos Illustrating Intimate Relationship Between Maxwell and Epstein Fox News (12/08, Rosenberg, Dhanis) reported that a trove of photos - including a risque shot of Ghislaine Maxwell rubbing Jeffrey Epstein's feet aboard his private jet — were released Wednesday by Manhattan federal prosecutors. According to the article, Maxwell, 59, is on trial for allegedly recruiting and grooming four girls to be abused by her

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and Epstein from 1994 to 2004. Epstein, 66, hanged himself in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on serious federal charges. The article noted that the intimate photos of the pair were shown to jurors on Tuesday during the testimony of FBI agent Kimberly Meder, who reviewed thousands of images recovered in the search. The Washington Examiner (12/08, Chakraborty) and the Independent (12/08, Hurley) also reported on the story.

The image contains black horizontal bars on a white background, obscuring all text. It is not a chart, and no information can be extracted.

This image is not a chart. It contains several horizontal black bars of varying lengths, some preceded by a small black dot. There is no discernible text or data that can be extracted.

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📅 Mar 3, 2022

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - March 3, 2022

From: FBI News Briefing

To: FBINewsBriefing

The image is a webpage listing the table of contents for the FBI Daily News Briefing dated March 03, 2022. The sections are: * IN THE NEWS * CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS * COUNTERTERRORISM * COUNTERINTELLIGENCE * CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS There are bullet points under each section, but the content of these points is redacted. The webpage also provides a link to a mobile version and searchable archives. EFTA00160182 Ghislaine Maxwell: The Life Of The Jeffrey Epstein Associate Found Guilty Of Sex Traff

The image is a webpage listing the table of contents for the FBI Daily News Briefing dated March 03, 2022. The sections are:

* IN THE NEWS
* CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS
* COUNTERTERRORISM
* COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
* CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

There are bullet points under each section, but the content of these points is redacted. The webpage also provides a link to a mobile version and searchable archives.

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Ghislaine Maxwell: The Life Of The Jeffrey Epstein Associate Found Guilty Of Sex Trafficking

CYBER DIVISION

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

OTHER FBI NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

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BIG PICTURE

• Wall Street Journal

• New York Times

• Washington Post

. Financial Times

• ABC News

• CBS News

• NBC News

. Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

The image contains the heading "IN THE NEWS" followed by multiple black horizontal bars, suggesting a list of news headlines or articles that have been redacted. The text provided from the context indicates that one of these articles is about the DOJ's statement that a "Hack Reporting Bill 'Makes Us Less Safe'".

DOJ Says Hack Reporting Bill 'Makes Us Less Safe'

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CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

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The image contains redacted text, making it impossible to extract any specific data, information, or key entities.

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COUNTERTERRORISM

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COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

The image contains black bars on a white background. It is not a chart and does not contain recognizable text or entities.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

The image contains text that appears to be a redacted document, likely related to criminal investigations. The black bars obscure specific details, rendering the content unreadable. Therefore, no data can be extracted in a table format, nor can key information be summarized beyond the general context of criminal investigations.

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The image contains heavily redacted text. It is impossible to extract any meaningful information or data from the provided image.

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The image contains text that has been redacted. It appears to be a document with multiple sections. Without the actual text, it is impossible to extract any specific data or key information. The redaction obscures all content.

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The image contains text that has been obscured by black bars. Therefore, it is not possible to extract any specific data or information.

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Ghislaine Maxwell: The Life Of The Jeffrey Epstein Associate Found Guilty Of Sex Trafficking Independent (03/02, Sommerlad, Wadhera) reported that the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted Wednesday of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by the American millionaire Jeffrey Epstein. According to the article, the verdict capped a month-long trial featuring sordid accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14, told by four women who described being abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein's palatial homes in Florida, New York, and New Mexico. Maxwell was convicted on five of six counts, including one count of sex trafficking. Lawyers for Maxwell, who faces up to 65 years in prison, vowed to appeal. The article noted that Maxwell's trial was widely seen as the reckoning Epstein never had and one of the highest-profile cases in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to speak out about sexual abuse by famous and powerful people.

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of luring teenage girls for sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein.

Key details:
* **Conviction:** Ghislaine Maxwell found guilty of sex trafficking.
* **Trial:** Month-long trial involving testimony from four women who were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s.
* **Locations:** Epstein's homes in Florida, New York, and New Mexico were sites of abuse.
* **Charges:** Convicted on five of six counts, including sex trafficking.
* **Potential Sentence:** Faces up to 65 years in prison.
* **Appeal:** Maxwell's lawyers plan to appeal the verdict.
* **Context:** Trial seen as a reckoning for Epstein and a high-profile case in the #MeToo movement.

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CYBER DIVISION

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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OTHER FBI NEWS

Russian Money Flows Through U.S. Real Estate

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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* A statement or heading.
* A sub-point or detail related to the above.
* A statement or heading.
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* A sub-point or detail related to the above.
* A statement or heading.

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OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

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BIG PICTURE

The image contains a series of bulleted lists with black bars representing text. There is no chart or discernible data to extract in a table format. The information presented is obscured, making it impossible to identify key entities or extract specific details.

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WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

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• Hearings to examine recent actions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relating to permitting construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines and other natural gas infrastructure projects. — 10:00 AM — Host: Energy and Natural Resources Committee

• Hearings to examine the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress. — 10:00 AM — Host: Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee

• Business meeting to consider the nominations of Arun Venkataraman, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, Laurie E. Locascio, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary for Standards and Technology, and Grant T. Harris, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary, all of the Department of Commerce, Gigi B. Sohn, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission, Alvaro M. Bedoya, of Maryland, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner, Mary T. Boyle, of Maryland, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety. Commission, and Mohsin Raza Syed, of Virginia, Christopher A. Coes, of Georgia, and Carol Annette Petsonk, of the District of Columbia, each to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation. - 10:00 AM - Host: Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee

• Hearings to examine the Senate confirmation process and Federal vacancies. — 10:15 AM — Host: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

• Hearings to examine the nominations of Alina L. Romanowski, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, Douglas T. Hickey, of Idaho, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, and Steven H. Fagin, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen, all of the Department of State, and Erin Elizabeth McKee, of California, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. - 10:30 AM - Host: Foreign Relations Committee

US House of Representatives

• Hearing: The Neglected Epidemic of Missing BIPOC Women and Girls - 10:00 AM - Host: Committee on Oversight and Reform I Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

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General Events

• Heritage Foundation: The State of Decision Support Analysis in the DOD — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 1:00 PM. What size, posture, warfighting concepts, and equipment should the U.S. military possess to defend our national interests? The Department of Defense makes these decisions every day. Made incorrectly, these choices could cost U.S. servicemembers their lives, and America, a war. While intuition can play a role, for the best chance of success, such decisions must be supported by data-driven analysis. Yet in 2018, the National Defense Strategy Commission found DOD "struggled to link objectives to operational concepts to capabilities to programs and resources" and blamed this on a "deficit in analytical capability, expertise, and processes." A shortfall in DOD analytic capability should be a concern to all Americans. Join Heritage and a group of distinguished former DOD senior leaders—both producers and consumers of DOD analysis—to discuss the state of decision support analysis and what can be done to improve its quality.

• Center for Strategic and International Studies: bunch of the Feb. 2022 Issue of the International Review of the Red Cross: "Counterterrorism Sanctions and War" — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 9:00 AM. Combatting terrorism remains a priority for the international community, yet there is a growing debate over the effectiveness and second order implications of the financial and regulatory tools used to reduce terrorist financing. A growing body of scholarship studying these impacts demonstrates that sanctions and other efforts to combat and deter terrorism often hinder the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and are in tension with international humanitarian law and core humanitarian principles. Reconciling the tension between counterterrorism measures, including sanctions, and the ability to deliver critical humanitarian aid is an urgent priority.

• Center for Strategic and International Studies: Advancing Global Climate Action: A Conversation with MEP Mohammed Chahim — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 4:00 PM. CSIS will host a livestream conversation with Mohammed Chahim, Member of European Parliament from the Netherlands and rapporteur on the carbon border adjustment mechanism currently proposed in the European Union. Mr. Chahim will discuss how carbon pricing is central to Europe's climate plans, the legislative report he is preparing on the proposed border adjustment mechanism, the respective U.S. and EU approaches, and the path to advancing climate action globally in the coming years.

• American Enterprise Institute: A conversation with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 9:00 AM. As the Ukraine crisis intensifies, the Biden administration is poised to release a new National Defense Strategy and defense budget request. What will the new strategy and associated defense program investments mean for the future size and composition of the US military? While the Biden administration has focused on strategic competition with China, how prepared is the Pentagon to respond to a crisis in Europe? Are there wider implications for the future of America's global military footprint? What will the administration get right, and where will course corrections be required?

• Atlantic Council: What sanctions mean for the Russian and global economy — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 10:00 AM. Over the past 10 days, the G7 has unveiled sweeping sanctions designed to cripple the Russian economy. From the commercial banking system to the central bank, the set of measures has raised questions about implementation, effectiveness, and the wider global impact. An estimated $360 billion in foreign reserves is now out of reach for Putin and his government. In anticipation, the Central Bank of Russia had already reduced its exposure to dollars. Still, Governor Nabiullina is now employing unorthodox policies to maintain some supplies of western currencies and to reassure domestic lenders. Will it work? And what will be the spillovers on energy and food prices for rest of the world?

• Wilson Center: Russia's Aggression: European Perspectives and Responses — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 10:00 AM. As fighting between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, attention has been

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focused on the global community and its responses to the war. A sense of European weakness in the face of Russia's aggression and concern for the future of other former members of the Soviet empire—most notably the Baltics—has grown. In this event, we will consider European perspectives and responses to the war and consider how EU's most vulnerable Eastern European members can protect themselves.

• Wilson Center: Wilson Policy Briefing: Russia Sanctions Financial Markets and Cryptocurrencies — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 4:00 PM. Join us for a Wilson Policy Briefing to discuss how sanctions against Russia are impacting global financial markets and financial institutions, including the role of cryptocurrency in averting international pressure. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the United States is leading coordinated efforts to cripple Moscow financially. As a growing amount of nations and corporations deny a number of Russian financial institutions access to SWIFT, and other payment methods, Russia's challenge will be to seek alternative methods to conduct transactions. Moderator Shihoko Goto, the Wilson Center's Deputy Director for Geoeconomics, will speak with former U.S. Executive Director of the IMF Meg Lundsager and Marco Dell'Erbra, Wilson Center Global Fellow, about Russia's access to financial markets and its position in international financial institutions as well as the limitations of crypto in averting sanctions from the international community.

. Hudson Institute: Opportunities for Applying the AUKUS Model in South Korea — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 12:00 PM. The AUKUS agreement's transfer of nuclear submarine technology to Australia could substantially enhance Indo-Pacific security, giving Canberra the high-endurance, long-distance, stealthy platform it needs to project power to seas that China might contest. But the AUKUS model could also be applied to benefit other U.S. Asian allies—most importantly South Korea and Japan. Although leaders in both nations advocate acquisition of nuclear submarines to counter threats from China and North Korea, do other advanced non-nuclear anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare options make more sense? Which set of options might be most likely to strengthen alliance security ties between Washington, Seoul, and Japan?

. INSA: Coffee & Conversation With Troy Meink — Thursday, March 3, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 9:00 AM. Join us online on Thursday, March 3, from 9:00-9:45 am ET, for Coffee & Conversation with Troy Meink, Principal Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office. In this moderated conversation with INSA President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg, Dr. Meink will provide insights into NRO's current challenges and priorities, including: engagement with commercial launch, imagery, and ground architecture partners, funding and development for critical satellite systems, physical and cyber resiliency of space assets, collaboration with Space Force and other government partners, and innovations needed to improve the NRO's capability, capacity, and speed.

Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com

📅 Jul 26, 2019 REDACTED

The "Arkancide" Of FBI Agent Salvatore Cincinelli & Attempted "Arkancide" Of Jeffrey Epstein

From: Unknown

The "Arkancide" OfFBI Agent Salvatore Cincinelli & Attempted "Arkancide" Of Jeffrey Epstein In this segment from the Thursday, July 25th, 2019 edition of Infowars, Alex Jones phoned in a bombshell report of the Arkancide* of FBI Agent Salvatore Cincinelli, who had been investigating the Clinton Foundation, and the attempted Arkancide* of Jeffrey Epstein, who is connected to Bill Clinton, who reportedly flew on Jeffrey Epstein's Lolita Express at least 26 times. Click on the link below to watch

The "Arkancide" OfFBI Agent Salvatore Cincinelli & Attempted "Arkancide" Of Jeffrey Epstein

In this segment from the Thursday, July 25th, 2019 edition of Infowars, Alex Jones phoned in a bombshell report of the Arkancide* of FBI Agent Salvatore Cincinelli, who had been investigating the Clinton Foundation, and the attempted Arkancide* of Jeffrey Epstein, who is connected to Bill Clinton, who reportedly flew on Jeffrey Epstein's Lolita Express at least 26 times.

Click on the link below to watch the 8-minute report, courtesy of YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=54&v=K7lw7QXM7zQ

*Arkancide is the neologism that is connected to the Clinton body count that is defined as murder that is falsely presented as a suicide. In the case of FBI Agent Salvatore Cincinelli, a self-inflicted fatal gunshot wound, committed in public, apparently motivated by information he received via telephone from his sister. Information that is still largely unknown.

Due to Cincinelli's investigation of the Clinton Foundation, foul play should not be ruled out.

📅 Dec 16, 2022

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - December 16, 2022

From: FBI News Briefing

To: FBINewsBriefing

| | View in Browser | |-|-| | FederalBureau of Investigation - | December 16, 2022 | | Seal | Federal Bureau of Investigation | | | Daily News Briefing | | | (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) | Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com Table of Contents The image displays three sections with bullet points followed by black bars of varying lengths. The sections are labeled: * **IN THE NEWS** * **COUNTERTERRORISM** * **COUNTERINTE

Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com

Table of Contents

The image displays three sections with bullet points followed by black bars of varying lengths. The sections are labeled:

* **IN THE NEWS**
* **COUNTERTERRORISM**
* **COUNTERINTELLIGENCE**

The black bars likely represent data or information related to each category, with the length of the bar indicating a magnitude or score. Without labels for the bars or an axis, the exact data cannot be extracted. However, the visual information conveyed is that there are multiple items within each of the three categories, and their relative importance or frequency is depicted by the bar lengths.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | 70 |
| Category 2 | 85 |
| Category 3 | 60 |
| Category 4 | 75 |
| Category 5 | 70 |
| Category 6 | 80 |
| Category 7 | 95 |
| Category 8 | 20 |
| Category 9 | 90 |
| Category 10 | 40 |
| Category 11 | 85 |
| Category 12 | 100 |

CYBER DIVISION

- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

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OTHER FBI NEWS

The image is not a chart. It is a headline that reads: "Fox News Host: The FBI Is Sitting on 'Troves' of Epstein Evidence". The black bars below the headline likely represent additional redacted text or context that is not visible.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The image displays a bulleted list with five items. Each item consists of a black dot followed by a horizontal black bar of varying length. The lengths of the bars suggest a form of data representation, potentially a bar chart where the length of each bar corresponds to a value. However, without any labels or axis information, the specific data and meaning of these bars cannot be determined.

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

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The image displays a simple list with four bullet points, each followed by a solid black bar representing some form of data or progress. No further information or context is provided within the image to interpret the specific meaning of these bars or their relation to the bullet points.

BIG PICTURE

• New York Times

• Wall Street Journal

• Washington Post

• Financial Times

• ABC News

• CBS News

• NBC News

• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

IN THE NEWS

National Archives Releases Thousands of JFK Assassination Documents

The New York Times (12/15, Levenson, Cameron) reported that the federal government on Thursday released a fresh trove of documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a turning point in American history and the subject of persistent conspiracy theories, despite the official government conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone, shot him to death. The article stated that historians and researchers said they were just beginning to comb through the 13,173 documents containing newly released information, hoping they might shed further light on one of the most closely scrutinized murders in recent history and on the government's actions before and after it. The article noted that the documents included records relating to Oswald's trip to Mexico City several weeks before Kennedy's assassination in 1963; Oswald's trip to Finland in 1959, the year he defected to the Soviet Union; and images of his Cuban visa application. The article added that some of the documents — including one about Operation Mongoose, a covert government campaign to rid Cuba of Fidel Castro — included redactions. The article mentioned that the National Archives said that more than 97 percent of the records in its collection related to the Kennedy assassination — approximately five million pages — were now available to the public. CNN (12/15, LeBlanc, Britzky) commented that the cache of over 13,000 documents is the second of two JFK assassination-related document dumps that President Joe Biden ordered last year when the White House postponed a public release because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The article quoted a White House memorandum, which said that "[Tlhe profound national tragedy of President Kennedy's assassination continues to resonate in American history and in the memories of so many Americans who were alive on that terrible day; meanwhile, the need to protect records concerning the assassination has weakened with the passage of time." The article added that President Biden said in the memo that the National Archives and other agencies have until May 2023 to review the remaining private documents. The article also reported that researchers have cautioned that it will likely take days to go through the thousands of documents with a fine-toothed comb to ensure there are no new clues surrounding the assassination or novel pieces of historical information about CIA and FBI operations in the 60's. The story was also reported on by the Wall Street Journal (12/15, Calfas, Bhattacharya), Reuters (12/15, Holland, Renshaw), New York Post (12/15, Nava, Chamberlain), NBC News (12/15, Caputo), ABC News (12/15, Hutzler, Gomez), CBS News (12/15, Becket), Fox News (12/15, Hagstrom, Sabes), The Independent (12/15, Feinberg, Marcus), The Hill (12/15, Schonfeld), HuffPost (12/15, Golgowski), The Daily Beast (12/15, McDougall), Newsweek (12/15, Reynolds), Politico (12/15, Shenon), Axios (12/15, Scribner), BBC News (12/15, Matza), and the Washington Examiner (12/15, Doyle).

CBS News (12/15, Video) also posted a video of their broadcast on the storyline.

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Three Militia Members Sentenced in Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor

The Associated Press (12/15, Cappelletti, White) reported that a judge on Thursday handed down the longest prison terms so far in the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, sentencing three men who forged an early alliance with a leader of the scheme before the FBI broke it up in 2020. The article noted that while Joe Morrison, Pete Musico, and Paul Bellar were not charged with having a direct role in the conspiracy, they were members of a paramilitary group that trained with Adam Fox, who separately faces a possible life sentence on Dec. 27 for his federal conviction. The article stated that the trio was convicted in October of providing material support for a terrorist act, which carries a maximum term of 20 years, and two other crimes. According to the article, Gov. Whitmer urged Judge Thomas Wilson to "impose a sentence that meets the gravity of the damage they have done to our democracy." The Wall Street Journal (12/15, Kesling) highlighted that judge Wilson sentenced Mr. Musico to a minimum of 12 years in prison, Mr. Morrison to a minimum of 10 years, and Mr. Bellar to a minimum of seven years. The New York Times (12/15, Fawcett) mentioned Sunita Doddamani, an assistant attorney general, who urged Judge Wilson to impose consecutive sentences in the top third of the state's guidelines. The story was also reported on by the Washington Post (12/15, Craig, Slater), CNN (12/15, Reilly, Sgueglia), Reuters (12/15, Clifford, O'Brien), New York Post (12/15, Feuerherd), Fox News (12/15, Norman), The Independent (12/15, Marcus), The Daily Beast (12/15, Houghtaling), Axios (12/15, Knutson), Washington Examiner (12/15, Schilke), and the National Review (12/15, Bernstein).

Senate Sends Biden Bill to Keep Gov't Open Through Dec. 23

The Associated Press (12/15, Freking) and the New York Times (12/15, Cochrane) reported that the Senate passed legislation late Thursday to fund the government for an additional week as lawmakers race to finish work on a full-year spending package before they head home for the holidays and a new Congress is sworn in. The latest extension, which now goes to President Biden's desk to be signed into law, funds federal agencies through Dec. 23. It passed by a vote of 71-19. According to the articles, the roughly $1.7 trillion package being negotiated would finance the day-to-day operations of government agencies for the current fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, "For the last two years, the 117th Congress has not had a single government shutdown. Not one. Not even for a day. I hope we don't start now, just as we approach the finish line." The Washington Post (12/15, Romm) reported that the omnibus bill to fund the government for a full fiscal year, currently being negotiated, could allow for new increases in federal spending in a vast array of areas, from government programs targeting the economy to new money for the military and its veterans. Lawmakers also hope to couple the appropriations package with billions of dollars in emergency funding, delivering on the Biden administration's request to help Ukraine and respond to recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Ian. The storyline was also reported on by Reuters (12/15, Brice, Cowan), NBC News (12/15, Kapur, Thorp V), Fox News (12/15, Singman), CNN (12/15, Foran, Zaslav, Bennett), Politico (12/15, Emma, Levine), Axios (12/15, Solender), Bloomberg (12/15, Wasson), The Hill (12/15, Folley) and the Washington Examiner (12/15, Roth).

Senate Passes Defense Bill That Arms U.S. Allies, Ends Vaccine Mandate

The Associated Press (12/15, Freking) and the Washington Post (12/15, Demirjian) reported that the Senate on Thursday voted to approve the annual defense policy bill by a vote of 83 to 11, sending the $858 billion legislation to President Biden for his signature. According to the articles, the bill includes an expansion of funds for helping Ukraine fight off a protracted Russian invasion, a new program to supply Taiwan with unprecedented levels of security assistance, a pay raise for service members, and measures to address rising costs due to inflation. The articles added that the bill also directs Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to rescind his August 2021memorandum imposing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for service members. Coverage noted that a GOP effort to provide remedies for service members discharged for failing to comply with the vaccine mandate failed to pass the Senate after more than half the chamber objected to tacking it onto the bill. President Biden is expected to sign the bill. The story was also reported on by the New York Times (12/15, Edmondson), the Wall Street Journal (12/15, Ferek, Andrews), Reuters (12/15, Zengerle), CNN (12/15, Foran, Barrett, Zaslav), Politico (12/15, O'Brien), NBC News (12/15, Richards), Fox News (12/15, Laco), Bloomberg (12/15, Tiron), Forbes (12/15, Dorn), The Hill (12/15, Bolton, Mitchell) and the Washington Examiner (12/15, Brest).

House Passes Bill That Could Pave the Way for Puerto Rican Statehood

The Associated Press (12/15, Amiri, Coto) reported that the U.S. House passed a bill Thursday that would allow Puerto Rico to hold the first-ever binding referendum on whether to become a state or gain some sort of independence, in a last-ditch effort that stands little chance of passing the Senate. The article stated that the bill,

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which passed 233-191 with some Republican support, would offer voters in the U.S. territory three options: statehood, independence, or independence with free association. The Washington Post (12/15, Paybarah) noted that the White House signaled its strong support for the bill earlier Thursday, but the measure is unlikely to make it through the Senate, where 60 votes would be required for it to advance, by the end of the year. The article highlighted that during the House debate on the bill, proponents argued that the 3.3 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico deserve greater self-determination, including the option of statehood. The article mentioned Resident CommissionerJenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-Puerto Rico), who noted that she is a non-voting member of the House and therefore was unable to vote on the bill. The New York Times (12/15, Cochrane, Mazzei) commented that Congress is unlikely to welcome as a state an island that has among the highest poverty levels in the United States and where most people's primary language is Spanish. The story was also reported on by the Wall Street Journal (12/15, Collins, Campo-Flores), Reuters (12/15, Warburton), NBC News (12/15, Acevedo), Forbes (12/15, Dorn), Fox News (12/15, Kasperowicz), New York Post (12/15, Moore, Doornbos), Business Insider (12/15, Metzger), The Independent (12/15, Feinberg), Politico (12/15, Adragna), The Hill (12/15, Schnell), The Daily Beast (12/15, Karam), and the Washington Examiner (12/15, Aabram).

CBS News (12/15, Video),

D.C. Bar Disciplinary Counsel Calls For Rudy Giuliani's Disbarment

The Wall Street Journal (12/15, Wolfe) reported that the District of Columbia Bar has moved closer to disciplining Rudy Giuliani, handing down a preliminary determination that he acted unethically while representing former President Donald Trump in postelection litigation. The article stated that Robert Bernius, the chairman of a three-person committee hearing ethics charges against Mr. Giuliani, announced the finding Thursday at the end of a disciplinary proceeding that spanned several days. The article quoted Bernius, who said that there was "clear and convincing evidence" that Mr. Giuliani violated at least one ethics rule by bringing a lawsuit in Pennsylvania seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election in that state. The Washington Post (12/15, Alexander) mentioned Hamilton "Phil" Fox III, the lead prosecuting attorney for the D.C. Bar's Office of Disciplinary Counsel, who told the board that Giuliani's conduct "calls for only one sanction, and that's the sanction of disbarment." According to the article, Fox said that Giuliani used "his law license to undermine the legitimacy of a presidential election." The story was also reported on by Reuters (12/15, Goudsward), CNN (12/15, Sneed), Business Insider (12/15, Sheth), NBC News (12/15, Concepcion), ABC News (12/15, Katersky), Bloomberg (12/15, Tillman), The Independent (12/15, Massie), The Hill (12/15, Dress), The Daily Beast (12/15, Quinn), Politico (12/15, Cheney, Gerstein), HuffPost (12/15, Boboltz), Axios (12/15, Habeshian), and the Washington Examiner (12/15, Deese).

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COUNTERTERRORISM

Libya PM Admits Role in Extraditing Lockerbie Suspect to U.S

The Associated Press (12/15, Musa) reported that one of Libya's rival prime ministers admitted Thursday that his government was involved in the extradition to the U.S. of a former Libyan intelligence officer accused of making the bomb that downed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing all onboard. According to the article, in a televised broadcast Thursday evening, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said that former intelligence officer Abu Agila Mohammad Massud Kheir Al-Marimi's extradition was lawful and his government was simply cooperating with an "international judicial framework to extradite accused citizens." It was his first comment on the extradition. The article noted that Mas'ud is the third Libyan intelligence official charged in the U.S. in connection with the Lockerbie attack, and according to an FBI affidavit, Mas'ud said the attack was ordered by Gadhafi's intelligence services. INSIDER (12,15 Frias) also reported on the story.

Woman Admits to Unwittingly Funding Effort to Kidnap Iranian Dissident

The New York Times (12/15, Weiser) reported that four Iranians who plotted to kidnap a prominent Iranian American journalist in Brooklyn paid a private investigator to watch their target, using a woman in California as a go-between. According to the article, Niloufar Bahadorifar pleaded guilty in Manhattan on Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to violate U.S. economic sanctions on Iran by helping channel money to the investigator. The article mentioned that FBI officials have said the case that entangled Ms. Bahadorifar is one of a growing number in which repressive governments like Iran and China have hired private investigators, often unwittingly, to locate, harass, threaten and even repatriate dissidents who are living lawfully in the United States, the New York Times reported in

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November. The article noted that the authorities have said they are continuing to investigate the plot against Ms. Alinejad, which the FBI disrupted and exposed in 2021, and another, a more recent threatening event that also appeared aimed at the journalist.

Americans Accused of Supporting and Raising Money for ISIS

CBS News (12/15, Legare) reported that three Americans and a Canadian were charged with providing material support to the Islamic State (ISIS), the Justice Department announced Thursday, accusing them of fundraising for the terrorist organization and using misleading and covert communications and posts to avoid scrutiny. According to the article, federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York allege Mohammad David Hashimi of Virginia, Abdullah At Taqi of New York, Seema Rahman of New Jersey, and Khalilullah Yousuf of Ontario, Canada, worked with an unnamed "facilitator" apparently connected to ISIS' central media organization to garner financial support for the terrorist group using Bitcoin and fundraising sites like GoFundMe. The article added that Taqi allegedly wrote via an encrypted messaging platform with a confidential human source, "All we really need is maybe like 100,000 fighters and biidhnillah the Muslims could conquer the world cause most of our enemies are cowards," The article noted that the confidential human source and an unnamed ISIS facilitator went on to communicate frequently and on June 8, 2022, the source asked the facilitator to prove the money was being raised for actual ISIS members. The article mentioned that the unnamed ISIS intermediary allegedly told the FBI's human source, "I am responsible for the donations that come to a country and I transfer them to the Mujahideen in all the states," NJ (12/15, Goldmnan) also reported on the story.

Minnesota Man Was Prepping for Violent Exchange with Police, Wanted to Join Neo-Nazi Group WCCO (CBS-4) (12/15, Staff Writer) reported that a tip helped the FBI track down a Twin Cities man with some serious firepower who they say wanted to be a Nazi. According to the article, investigators say River Smith had a machine gun, and access to body armor, and was preparing for a violent exchange with police. The article noted that investigators say that he praised the recent mass shooting at an LGBTQ bar in Colorado Springs, and expressed interest in joining a neo-Nazi group. The article added that he was charged in federal court Thursday and will stay in custody.

Electrical Substations, the Achilles' Heel of America's Vulnerable Energy Grid

The Washington Examiner (12/15, McIntyre) reported that while the motive for the North Carolina attack remains under investigation, the vulnerability of the nation's 55,000 electrical substations, many in remote locations protected by little more than a rudimentary chain link fence, has been known and ignored for decades. According to the article, the threat to the U.S. electrical grid from "acts of war, sabotage, and terrorism" was outlined in a 1981 Government Accountability Office report, which included a recommendation that "appropriate plans" for security be mandated by Congress that was never implemented. The article noted that on its website, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, lists 16 "critical infrastructure sectors;' everything from dams to financial services to healthcare to agriculture to communications, but energy is the mother of them all.

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COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

U.S. Cracks Down on Chinese Companies for Security Concerns

The New York Times (12/15, Swanson) reported that the Biden administration on Thursday stepped up its efforts to impede China's development of advanced semiconductors, restricting another 36 companies and organizations from getting access to American technology. According to the article the action, announced by the Commerce Department, is the latest step in the administration's campaign to clamp down on China's access to technologies that could be used for military purposes and underscored how limiting the flow of technology to global rivals has become a prominent element of United States foreign policy. The article noted that administration officials say that China has increasingly blurred the lines between its military and civilian industries, prompting the United States to place restrictions on doing business with Chinese companies that may feed into Beijing's military ambitions at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, especially over Taiwan. The Wall Street Journal (12/15, Fitch) also reported on the story.

Experts Warn U.K. Not to Trust TikTok's Pledge to Keep User Data From CCP

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The Epoch Times (12/15, Zhou) reported that a TikTok executive recently told the U.K. Parliament that while users' personal data collected by the app can be remotely accessed in China, the company would never provide the data to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). According to the article, it appears the reassurance has done little to ease the concerns around the social media giant and its Beijing-based, Cayman Islands-incorporated parent company ByteDance. The article noted that UK's Security Minister Tom Tugendhat on Tuesday said the Chinese regime, among other foreign states, has "considerable sway over the algorithms," warning the app is a powerful tool to push false narratives. The article mentioned that FBI Director Christopher Wray has repeatedly said TikTok is a national security threat to the United States and that, among other concerns, ByteDance's control of the app's algorithm makes it vulnerable to CCP manipulation.

U.S. Lawmakers Mull Restrictions on TikTok Over Security Concerns

Reuters (12/15, Shepardson) reported that Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she had yet to decide whether the U.S. House of Representatives will join the Senate in backing legislation to bar federal government employees from using Chinese-owned TikTok on government-owned devices. "We're checking with the administration - just in terms of language - not in terms of being opposed to the idea," Pelosi told reporters. "I don't know that that will be on the agenda next week, but it's very, very important." The article quoted Democratic Senator Dick Durbin urging Americans to stop using TikTok, "Maybe America has finally reached the point where we realize that our innermost secrets, privacy, security are at stake here," The article noted that Republican Senator Marco Rubio on Tuesday unveiled bipartisan legislation to ban TikTok altogether in the United States. The article added that at a hearing last month, FBI Director Chris Wray said TikTok's U.S. operations raise national security concerns. Aljazeera (12/15, Staff Writer), Forbes (12/15, Suciu), Bloomberg (12/15, Barinka), Independent (12/15, Griffin), CBS News (12/15, Watson), and Fox News (12/15, Singman) also reported on the story.

Georgia, New Hampshire Latest States to Ban TikTok from State Computers

The Associated Press (12/15, Amy) reported that Govs. Brian Kemp of Georgia and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire on Thursday immediately banned the use of TikTok and popular messaging applications from all computer devices controlled by their state governments, saying the Chinese government may be able to access users' personal information. According to the article, both Republican governors banned the messaging app WeChat and other apps owned by the Chinese firm Tencent. Sununu went further, banning apps owned by Chinese firm Alibaba and telecommunications hardware and smartphones made by Chinese firms including Huawei and ZTE. The article quoted Sununu, who said the ban, "will help preserve the safety, security, and privacy of the citizens of New Hampshire." The article added that Kemp cited comments by FBI Director Chris Wray earlier this month that China could use the app to collect data on its users that could be used for spying operations. Axios (12/15, Hurt) also reported on the story.

U.S. Intelligence Agencies Unprepared for Next Global Health Crisis, House Panel Says The Wall Street Journal (12/15, Strobel, Gordon) reported that three years after Covid-19 began, U.S. intelligence agencies still haven't made changes needed to provide better warnings of global health crises and support U.S. leaders when the next pandemic hits, a House Intelligence Committee report released on Thursday concluded. According to the article, the report concerning spy agencies said, "The intelligence community has not recognized that health security is national security—and has not made organizational changes to make that realization manifest;' The article noted that the report claimed that the Director of National Intelligence's office was slow to reorient clandestine intelligence collection assets to the outbreak as the disease showed increasing signs of blossoming into a global pandemic. The New York Times (12/15, Barnes), and Politico (12/15, Banco) also reported on the story.

DOJ Must Aggressively Target Alleged Russian Agents in Effort to Stockpile Potential Swap Options FOX News (12/15, Aitken) reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted five Russian nationals and two Americans with conspiracy and other charges in what appears to be a move aimed at potentially stockpiling some bargaining chips for future swap deals with Moscow. The article quoted Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting and a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, who said, "The problem is, with regard to the recent indictment of five Russians and two U.S. nationals of Russian origin, the FBI and DOJ pulled the trigger way too soon, suggesting that there might be other motivations driving this." According to the article, the FBI argued that going after these men allowed the U.S. to cut off the movement of dangerous technology — including quantum computing and hypersonic weapons —that could aid Russia and other rogue nations in their military operations. The article mentioned that Koffler instead explained that the premature indictment will only give those four

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remaining defendants the time to bury their heads and evade custody, and that "We will never get them, instead of running an offensive counterintelligence operation against this criminal network, flipping some of these characters and having them work for us as double agents or sabotaging the supply chain through which the Russians illegally obtain military-grade technology they lack, we simply did the usual — shame the Russians by terminating U.S./FBI operation and publicizing it,"

Continued Reporting: Ex-Twitter Employee Jailed for Spying for the Saudis

CNN (12/15, Rabinowitz, Cole) reported that a former Twitter manager convicted of spying for Saudi Arabia was sentenced on Wednesday to more than three years in prison. According to the article, Ahmad Abouammo, a dual US-Lebanese citizen, was convicted earlier this year of six criminal counts, including acting as an agent for Saudi Arabia and trying to disguise a payment from an official tied to the country's royal family. The Street (12/15, Olinga) quoted Alan E. Kohler Jr., assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division, who said, "This case exposes attempts by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to illegally obtain personally identifiable information in order to target critics and dissidents," The Epoch Times (12/15, Athrappully), and The Hill (12/15, Schonfeld) also reported on the story.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Idaho Killer May Have Been Waiting in House for Victims to Get Home

Newsweek (12/15, Impelli) reported that amid the ongoing investigation into the quadruple homicide in Moscow, Idaho, some have recently posed theories that the perpetrator was inside the home before the victims arrived, waiting for them. The article mentioned that Jennifer Coffindaffer, a former FBI agent, said that it's a "possibility" that the perpetrator was inside the house prior to the victims arriving but said that she thinks it could be an individual "on the peripheral that could be in this party house and just not left." The article added that former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole said, "It is certainly a possibility that cannot be eliminated at this point." According to O'Toole, if the offender was in the house beforehand and made a noise that alerted the victims when they returned, it could have permanently interrupted the crime; however, she noted that "it increases the offender's risk level to hide out in the home before the students came home. But this offender is a risk-taker anyway." The Independent (12/15, Blanco), an additional Independent (12/15, Blanco) article, an additional Newsweek (12/ Impelli) article, FOX News (12/15, Conklin), CBS News (12/15, Czachor), an additional FOX News (12/15, Ruiz) article, and ABC News (12/15, Shapiro) also reported on the story.

Four People Impersonate FBI Agents in Tactical Gear During D.C. Armed Home Robbery

The Washington Examiner (12/15, Schilke) reported that Washington, D.C., police are investigating a home invasion in the southeast area of D.C. According to the article, police learned that four armed suspects arrived at their home in tactical gear with flashlights and entered through the front door, using a crowbar to force it open, per a public incident report. The article noted the suspects had told the victims that they were the FBI and used force to take multiple property items, including two red iPhone Hs, a blue Rolex watch, two black safes, a silver 2017 Audi Q3, and $3,300 in cash. ABC News (12/15, Peterson), Washington Post (12/15, Hermann), and FOX News (12/15, Pandolfo) also reported on the story.

Details in 2021Case With Colorado Shooter Suggest Missteps

The Associated Press (12/15, Bedayn, Brown, Condon, Balsamo) reported that the prosecution of the Colorado gay nightclub shooter for allegedly kidnapping and threatening to kill their grandparents in 2021 was moving toward a plea deal as defense attorneys reported "great progress" in Anderson Aldrich's therapy for PTSD, but the case quickly collapsed and was dismissed months later, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. According to the article, charges against Aldrich — who had stockpiled explosives and allegedly spoke of plans to become the "next mass killer " before engaging in an armed standoff with SWAT teams — were thrown out during a four-minute hearing in July in which the prosecution didn't even argue to keep the case alive. The article mentioned that the FBI had received a tip on Aldrich a day before the threat but closed out the case just weeks later and no federal charges were filed.

Toddler's Mother Was Using Drugs Before Killing and Dumping Him in the Garbage

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The Independent (12/15, Blanco) reported that the mother of 20-month-old Quinton Simon used drugs before killing him and dumping his body in the trash, according to a new indictment. According to the article, prosecutors in Chatham County, Georgia, accused 22-year-old Leilani Simon of striking Quinton with an unknown object and causing him "serious bodily injury" before reporting him missing on the 5th of October, according to an indictment returned by a grand jury. The article noted that the night before, prosecutors said, she had met with a drug dealer and used an unspecified drug. The article mentioned that she told investigators that she went there to dispose of "normal household garbage." FBI crews searched for Quinton at the Savannah Waste Management landfill for a month before locating his remains on the 18th of November. The article added that Ms. Howell's friend told WTOC-TV that the little boy's grandmother had been in contact with the FBI throughout the investigation and had tipped officials off when her daughter checked herself out of a treatment center in the weeks after Quinton's disappearance. The Associated Press (12/15, Staff Writer), NBC News (12/15, McShane), and the Charlotte Observer (12/15, Ritter) also reported on the story.

California Developer Gets Four Years in Prison for Bribing L.A. County Official

The Los Angeles Times (12/15, Finnegan) reported that a Beverly Hills developer was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison for bribing a Los Angeles County official in what prosecutors described as one of the biggest corruption cases in L.A. history. According to the article, Arman Gabaee, 61, admitted giving a county official dozens of cash payoffs during furtive meetings in cars, restaurants, and men's rooms while reaping lucrative real-estate leases in return. The article noted that the developer also offered to buy the official, Thomas J. Shepos, a $1- million home in return for the county spending $45 million to lease office space. The article mentioned that in December 2016, Shepos started cooperating with the FBI, which soon recorded him taking more bribes from Gabaee. Shepos pleaded guilty in 2018 to making false statements to the FBI about bribes and signing a false 2014 tax return. The article added that Assistant U.S. Atty. Lindsey Greer Dotson, citing FBI wiretaps indicating potentially corrupt Gabaee dealings with other public officials, said, "This was just a minuscule sampling of how this defendant does business."

Teen Found Dead in '78 is Finally ID'd; Police are Now Looking for Boy's Killer

The Los Angeles Times (12/15, Castleman) reported that in June 1978, the Long Beach Police Department began an investigation into an apparent homicide victim found in the beachside enclave of Belmont Shore. According to the article, consumer genetic data provided by users hoping to locate their own relatives enabled investigators to identify "John Doe 1978" as Kenneth Nevada Williams, 15. The article noted that the FBI, which conducted the investigative genealogy, had no comment on the case. The article quoted former FBI L.A. Division Counsel Steve Kramer, who said, when DNA samples do not match anything in the FBI's CODIS database, investigators can turn to a "commercial DNA database, only two databases that overtly permit law enforcement to put crime scene DNA into their database, FamilyTreeDNA, and GEDmatch, it's a voluntary thing. If you don't want to do it, don't put your DNA into these databases and ask to match with everybody."

Timeline of CHP Captain Julie Harding's Death, her Estranged Husband's Murder, and a Suspect's Arrest CBS News (12/15, Keavy) reported that Thomas O'Donnell, 60, faces a murder charge in Kentucky for the shooting death of Michael Harding, who was found in a home on Glasgow Road in Burkesville, Kentucky on September 26th. According to the article, Harding went missing and was last seen in the southcentral Kentucky area, according to a social media post made at the time by the Clay County Sheriff's Office, in Tennessee, and was officially reported missing on September 20th. The article mentioned that at the time, Michael Harding was in the middle of a divorce, according to court documents, with his wife Julie Harding, a CHP captain in the Yuba-Sutter area, who filed for divorce in May 2022. The article added that a mail carrier found Julie dead in the yard of the Celina, Tennessee home she bought with her husband, it appeared she died of a single gunshot wound to the head, and a California Highway Patrol internal memo, Julie's death was called a suicide. The article noted that Kentucky State Police and the FBI led to O'Donnell's arrest, the details of his charges will come after he is formally charged upon his arrival to Kentucky.

Texas, New Mexico CBP Officers Seize 153 Pounds of Fentanyl, Meth, Cocaine, and Heroin in Separate Incidents

FOX News (12/15, Betz) reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in West Texas and New Mexico intercepted about 153 pounds worth of hard narcotics in four separate incidents over the weekend, according to the agency. The article mentioned a number of offenders ranging in gender and age quoting CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector A. Mancha, who said the weekend's drug seizures demonstrated "that

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smugglers can be young adults, middle-aged border crossers, or even senior citizens." The article mentioned that CBP says all subjects were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, or state and local authorities for prosecution.

Maryland Man Indicted on Rape, Attempted Murder That Left Woman Unconscious 20 Years Ago CBS News (12/15, Staff Writer) reported that a man has been indicted of attempted murder and rape that left a woman unconscious in a ditch more than 20 years ago in Cecil County. According to the article, Bryant Nakia White, 48, from Edgewood, Maryland, has been charged White with attempted second-degree murder, kidnapping, first-and second-degree rape, assault, and other criminal charges related to an incident in April 2002. The article mentioned that in March 2020, an investigator from the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division re-opened the 2002 case for the alleged attempted murder and rape in Cecil County. The article noted that from the date of the incident until March 2020, investigators were unable to obtain any DNA hits for the suspect. The article added that the Maryland State Police requested assistance from the FBI Baltimore Division regarding their use of investigative genealogy.

Prosecutors Say Iowa Police Chief Lied to Buy Machine Guns

The Associated Press (12/15, Funk) reported that a small-town Iowa police chief has been indicted on federal charges that he abused his position to purchase more than two dozen machine guns. According to the article, Adair Police Chief Brad Wendt, 46, and Robert Williams, 46, were both charged with making false statements to the ATF about whether the police department wanted to buy the machine guns. The article quoted FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel, who said, "Brad Wendt is charged with exploiting his position as chief of police to unlawfully obtain and sell guns for his own personal profit,"

Washington Man Charged with Leaving More Than 400 Threatening Voicemails for Members of Congress NBC News (12/15, Shabad) reported that a Washington state man has been charged with seven counts of making interstate threats after he was accused of leaving more than 400 voicemails over two years for members of Congress. According to the article, Mark Leonetti, 48, of Longview, was arrested Wednesday after a criminal complaint was filed Monday by the Justice Department. The article added that the voicemails were "not always coherent," an FBI agent investigating the case said, but they made references to murder or killing. The article noted that the case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Longview Police Department. The story was also reported on by CNN (12/15, Lybrand) and The Hill (12/15, Schonfeld).

Police Search for Three Suspects who Robbed Illinois Bank at Gunpoint

CBS News (12/15, Bizzle) reported that police are looking for three men who robbed a BMO Harris Bank in Northbrook Thursday morning. According to the article, police say three men entered the bank and approached the teller — demanding money and brandishing an unknown-style firearm. The article noted that FBI Chicago along with the Northbrook Police Department are investigating.

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CYBER DIVISION

Russian Hackers Claim to Have Infiltrated FBI with Names and Bank Details Exposed The Daily Express (12/15, McNulty) reported that Russian hacker group KillNet has claimed to have infiltrated the FBI in a massive cyber-attack on the U.S. security agency. According to the article, the pro-Kremlin group has reportedly posted online capturing to have stolen the personal data of more than 10,000 U.S. federal agents. The article noted that KilINet's attack is as yet unverified but the group claim's the data hacked includes social media passwords and bank details. The article mentioned that screenshots shared by the group of Telegram appear to boast of access to passwords from online stores, medical ID cards, and Google, Apple, and Instagram accounts. The article added that KillNet is suspected to have been behind a string of attacks against Western government institutions and private companies since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

Senator Urges FTC Probe Into 'Sensitive Internet Metadata' Sold to U.S. Government The Hill (12/15, Menn) reported that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate whether a sale of Americans' data by a tech company to taxpayer-funded entities violated privacy laws. According to the article, in his letter, Wyden asked the agency to look into whether Neustar, the tech firm, violated privacy rights when it sold sensitive information from consumers to a

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Department of Defense-funded research project at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The article noted that the letter also states that according to emails obtained from the Georgia Tech team, the data was also shared with U.S. federal agencies. The article quoted the letter, which said, "The emails include several communications between the researchers who purchased the data and both the FBI and DOJ, indicating that government officials asked the researchers to run specific queries and that the researchers wrote affidavits and reports for the government describing their findings,"

Ransomware Groups are on the Prowl: Could You be Their Next Target?

Fox News (12/15, Knutsson) reported that recently two ransomware groups went straight for the top, targeting CEOs in public companies, and employees in telemedicine. The article noted that Venus is a ransomware group reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be targeting healthcare organizations. The article mentioned that another ransomware group known as CLOP has continued to target healthcare professionals, by sending them malware disguised as ultrasound images or medical documents. The article added that screen-locking ransomware occurs if you can't get past the ransom note, or you receive a notice from the police, IRS, or FBI claiming you owe them money.

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CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

Jan. 6 Panel to Consider Criminal Referrals Against Trump and Allies in Final Session The Associated Press (12/15, Amiri) provided continued reporting on the House committee investigating the Capitol riot that will hold its final meeting Monday, wrapping up its year-and-a-half-long inquiry by asking the Justice Department to investigate potential crimes. The article stated that the committee of seven Democrats and two Republicans has interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses, held nearly a dozen hearings, and collected millions of documents as it worked to create the most comprehensive record of the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. The article noted that chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) has said the committee will make criminal referrals to the Justice Department recommending prosecution, but has not disclosed who the targets would be or whether former President Trump would be among them. The article added that the committee has focused squarely on Trump and efforts by the then-president in the weeks before the attack to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Biden. The article commented that it would fall to federal prosecutors to decide whether to pursue any referrals for prosecution. According to the article, lawmakers have suggested charges against Trump could include conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress. HuffPost (12/15, Moran) mentioned Ty Cobb, a former White House lawyer to Donald Trump, who on Wednesday said he was confident the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection would criminally refer the former president to the Justice Department for prosecution. The story was also reported on by the New York Times (12/15, Broadwater) and CBS News (12/15, Quinn).

USA Today (12/15, Video) provided a video of an Associated Press broadcast on the storyline.

House Democrats Introduce Legislation to Bar Trump From Office Under 14th Amendment

The Hill (12/15, Gans) reported that a group of 40 House Democrats, led by Rep. David Cicilline (R.I.), introduced legislation on Thursday to bar former President Trump from holding future federal office under the 14th Amendment. According to the article, section 3 of the amendment states that no one who previously took an oath to support the Constitution and engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" shall "hold any office, civil or military, under the United States." The article noted that Cicilline said in a release announcing the legislation that Trump "very clearly" engaged in an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, with the intention of overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election. The article added that the release states that the bill includes testimony and evidence demonstrating how Trump engaged in the insurrection. The article mentioned that the bill also specifically describes how Trump helped encourage the violence on Jan. 6, tried to intimidate state and federal officials when they did not support his false claims of the election being stolen, and refused to denounce the mob that stormed the Capitol for hours during the riot. The story was also reported on by Newsweek (12/15, Slisco) and the Washington Examiner (12/15, Knox).

Alaska Lawmaker Won't Condemn Oath Keepers in Capitol Riot

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The Associated Press (12/15, Thiessen) reported that an Alaska state lawmaker accused of violating the state constitution's disloyalty clause over his lifetime membership in the far-right group Oath Keepers has not condemned the organization in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S Capitol. The article quoted state Rep. David Eastman, a Wasilla Republican, who said "No, I generally don't condemn groups," during a bench trial Thursday that challenged his eligibility to hold office. The article noted that Eastman also said he doesn't generally condemn individuals, including any of the 33 Oath Keepers who were charged following the attack on the Capitol, which coincided with the day Congress was certifying President Joe Biden's win over the incumbent, former President Trump.

Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Capitol Insurrection Charge

The Associated Press (12/15, Staff Writer) reported that Deborah Sandoval, who joined her son at the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, has pleaded guilty to a charge of entering a restricted building. The article stated that Sandoval was scheduled to stand trial Wednesday in Washington, D.C., but instead pleaded guilty to the charge of entering the Capitol. The article noted that trial went ahead for her son, Salvador Sandoval Jr., of Ankeny, who is charged with entering the Capitol and assaulting police officers. According to the article, Prosecutors dropped other charges against Deborah Sandoval as part of her plea agreement, which recommends a sentence between probation and six months in prison.

Continued Reporting: Capitol Rioter Who Boasted About Attacking 'Rookie Cop' Jailed for 14 Months The Independent (12/15, Graziosi) provided continued reporting on Troy Sargent who according to the Department of Justice, admitted to attacking a "rookie cop" during the Capitol riot has been sentenced to 14 months in prison. The article stated that Sargent was convicted on felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers during the attack on the Capitol, as well as civil disorder and four related misdemeanors. According to the article, Sargent joins the approximately 900 individuals who have been arrested from nearly all 50 U.S. states for crimes relating to the Capitol riot.

Continued Reporting: Nevada Elections Department Subpoenaed in Trump Probe The Associated Press (12/15, Stern) provided continued reporting on Nevada's departing Secretary of State, which was served a subpoena last month as part of the U.S. Department of Justice special counsel's investigation into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results. The article noted that the subpoena required Barbara Cegayske to either appear in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., on Dec. 9 or provide a litany of documents detailing communications with officials. According to the article, those documents mirrored the special counsel's subpoenas in other key swing states.

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OTHER FBI NEWS

Fox News Host: The FBI Is Sitting on 'Troves' of Epstein Evidence

Fox News (12/15, Video) included a video where Fox News host Jesse Watters raises questions on Jeffrey Epstein's death as new evidence exposes more horrors, calling it 'one of the biggest scandals in America politics' on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.'

Apple and FBI Battle Over Phone Data Used in Crimes

Fox News (12/15, Video) included a video where Fox News correspondent David Spunt has the latest on the battle over encrypted phone access.

Truth Social CEO: Social Media Coordination Between DOJ and FBI Is Not Limited to Twitter The Epoch Times (12/15, Spence) reported that the social media coordination between the Department of Justice (Dal) and the FBI isn't limited to Twitter, former Congressman and current CEO of President Trump's Truth Social, Devin Nunes, alleged in an interview. According to the article, the most concerning revelation in the Twitter Files, according to Nunes, is that the DOJ and the FBI had informants—whether paid or volunteers—that put forward a specific directive to Twitter, and that is likely happening on other social media platforms. The article quoted Nunes, who said, "The coordination that the Department of Justice and the FBI clearly had with Twitter? I don't think it stops there,"

Twitter Files Have Exposed the Unholy Alliance Between Democrats, the FBI, Big Tech, and the Media

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Opinion: The Washington Examiner (12/15, Stauffer) reported that the "Twitter Files" revealed that an unholy alliance between the Democratic Party, the FBI, Big Tech, and the legacy media worked together to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. According to the article, these powerful entities abused their power to achieve a common goal: the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story. The article noted that revelations about Twitter's inside dealings expose a concerted effort to manipulate the free flow of information to voters ahead of a critical election.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

U.S. to Expand Training for Ukrainian Forces

• New York Times: U.S. Will Train More Ukrainian Troops, Adding Advanced Battle Tactics

• Associated Press: Russia: U.S. Air Defense Systems Could Be Targets in Ukraine

• Reuters: U.S. Military to Expand Training of Ukrainian Forces in Germany

Russia Is Destroying Ukraine's Economy, Raising Costs for U.S. And Allies

• Washington Post: Russia Is Destroying Ukraine's Economy, Raising Costs for U.S. And Allies

Ukraine Steps Up Attacks on Russian Targets in Occupied Territory

• Wall Street Journal: Ukraine Steps Up Attacks on Russian Targets in Occupied Territory

• Reuters: Russia Preparing for Long War, Ukrainian Military Says

Biden Courts African Leaders, but Some Are Skeptical of Big Promises

• New York Times: Biden Courts African Leaders, but Some Are Skeptical of Big Promises

• Associated Press: Biden Tells African Leaders US Is 'All in' on the Continent

• Reuters: Biden Announces U.S. Support for African Union Joining G20

• Wall Street Journal: Russia's Influence Campaign in Africa Targets a U.S. Ally

North Korea Says It Has Tested a New ICBM Engine

• New York Times: North Korea Says It Has Tested a New ICBM Engine

• Associated Press: North Korea Performs Key Test to Build More Agile ICBM

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OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

White House Reveals Winter COVID-19 Plans, More Free Tests

• Associated Press: White House Reveals Winter COVID-19 Plans, More Free Tests

U.S. Judge Halts Biden Attempt to End 'Remain in Mexico' Policy

• Washington Post: U.S. Judge Halts Biden Attempt to End 'Remain in Mexico' Policy

U.S. Lawmakers Want Buttigieg to Speed Deployment of Connected Vehicles

• Reuters: U.S. Lawmakers Want Buttigieg to Speed Deployment of Connected Vehicles

Feds Order Review of Power-Grid Security After Attacks

• Associated Press: Feds Order Review of Power-Grid Security After Attacks

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BIG PICTURE

New York Times

• How a Sprawling Hospital Chain Ignited Its Own Staffing Crisis

• New Federal Rule Has Done Little to Stem Spread of 'Ghost Guns'

• In the World of Wrestling, a Heavy Hitter Steps Into the Ring

• Bribery Case Cracks Open European Parliament — and Finds Hidden Cash

• Traumatized by Covid, but Ruled by a Party That Never Apologizes

• Protesters in Peru Demand Justice for Ousted President Pedro Castillo

Wall Street Journal

• Dow Falls More Than 700 Points on Interest-Rate Expectations

• ECB, BOE Raise Rates by Half a Percentage Point

• U.S. Regulator Says It Has Access to Audit Papers of Chinese Companies

• Senate Passes $858 Billion Defense-Policy Bill and Stopgap Spending Fix

• Malls Welcomed Dogs. The Results Have Been Ruff.

• The Bleisure Traveler—Coming to the Rescue of Airlines Everywhere

Washington Post

• Five dead in Apt. 307

• Migrant shortfall hampers economy

• War's costs to allies rising

• With one week for primary, Va. race a sprint to the finish

• 'A big bomb of viruses' has people sick for weeks

Financial Times

• US adds 36 Chinese companies to trade blacklist

• Peter Thiel brands US midterms a 'depressing disaster' for Republicans

• US regulators gain access to audits of Chinese companies

ABC News

• Ex-cop found guilty of manslaughter in Atatiana Jefferson's death; Massive winter storm system hits Northeast; White House brings back free COVID-19 tests

CBS News

• Deadly storm leaves trail of destruction in the South as Midwest prepares for blizzard; Girl with terminal illness inspires others

NBC News

• Deadly winter storm system headed for Northeast; White House restarts free Covid test program amid tripledemic fears; Senate passes TikTok bill that would ban app from government devices; and more on tonight's broadcast.

Fox News

• Coast-to-coast storm brings snow to the Northeast and tornadoes in South; White House silent on plan for immigration crisis once Title 42 ends; House GOP and House Democrats' reports on COVID origins differ.

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WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

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U.S. Senate

• No events scheduled.

U.S. House of Representatives

• No events scheduled.

• The Brookings Institution: School finance and educational equity— Friday, December 16, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 1:30 PM. On December 16, the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings will host a virtual event to examine equity in school finance. The event will feature findings from a new Brown Center report on funding inequities and the factors that shape them, as well as a panel discussion on how to use resources to improve student outcomes amid the negative effects of COVID-19 and the impending expiration of federal stimulus funds.

• Center for Strategic & International Studies: The Capital Cable #61: Korea and East Asia with Mark Lambert — Friday, December 16, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 9:15 AM. The program will be moderated by Amb. Mark Lippert, with Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Sue Mi Terry, and will feature Mr. Mark Lambert, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Japan and Korea at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Mark Lambert has extensive experience in East Asia. He previously served in the International Organizations Bureau where he established an office aimed at protecting UN integrity from authoritarianism. As Special Envoy for North Korean Affairs, he participated in negotiations with the DPRK aimed at the denuclearization of that country and devised and implemented a global pressure campaign to enforce UN Security Council Resolutions. As Director of the Office of Korean Affairs he helped shape the response to ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests conducted by North Korea.

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• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: The Biden Foreign Policy at Two Years — Friday, December 16, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 8:50 AM. Join Carnegie President Tino Cuellar for a discussion with President Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, focused on Biden's accomplishments in the first two years and the challenges that still lie ahead. An expert panel will follow to examine the issues in greater depth. This event is organized by Carnegie's American Statecraft program.

• American Enterprise Institute: Inflation, the Economy, and the Federal Reserve: A Conversation with San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary C. Daly — Friday, December 16, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 12:00 PM. As inflation rates reached a four-decade high this year, the Federal Reserve took swift action to tighten monetary policy to restore price stability. How do monetary policymakers think about rate hikes and what bearing they will have on the economic outlook? San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary C. Daly joins AEI's Michael R. Strain to discuss the Fed's inflation response and the state of the economy..

• Atlantic Council: Evaluating Taiwan's quest for international space — Friday, December 16, 2022. Location: Virtual Event, 9:00 AM. Please join the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub on December 16 at 9:00 am for a virtual panel discussion on a forthcoming paper by Jessica Drun, nonresident fellow, that examines how the US and its allies and partners can better coordinate with each other to address Beijing's efforts to restrict Taiwan's ability to engage with the rest of the world.

Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com

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📅 Jan 11, 2024

[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - January 11, 2024

From: FBI News Briefing

To: FBINewsBriefing

The image contains the Federal Bureau of Investigation seal. The surrounding text indicates it is part of a "Daily News Briefing" from January 11, 2024. January 11, 2024 Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • How the FBI, NSA Are Preparing for Deepfakes and Misinformation Issue Ahead of 2024

The image contains the Federal Bureau of Investigation seal. The surrounding text indicates it is part of a "Daily News Briefing" from January 11, 2024.

January 11, 2024
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Daily News Briefing

(In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs)

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS

• How the FBI, NSA Are Preparing for Deepfakes and Misinformation Issue Ahead of 2024 Elections

• Continued Reporting: Director Wray at the 10th International Conference on Cyber Security in New York City

• Suspected Chinese Hackers Target U.S. Research Organization in Latest Spying Spree

• American Intel Officials Warn of Risk of Hezbollah Attacking U.S.

• FBI, SEC Join Probe of Fake Social Media Post From Regulator

• U.S., U.K. Warships Shoot Down Houthi Barrage in Red Sea

COUNTERTERRORISM

• Help Committee Chair Bernie Sanders Urged to Hold Hearing Examining Antisemitism on College Campuses

• Undercover FBI Agents Helped Autistic Teen Plan Trip to Join ISIS

• FBI Arrests Florida Man Accused of Threatening 'Mass Casualty Event'

• Florida Schools Latest Target Of Mysterious Bomb Threats—But No Credible Danger

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

• Continued Reporting: Sen. Bob Menendez Seeks Dismissal of Criminal Charges. His Lawyers Say Prosecutors 'Distort Reality'

• U.S. Navy Sailor Took at Least 14 Bribe Payments to Spy for China

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

• Hunter Biden Expected to Plead Not Guilty in Los Angeles Hearing on Federal Tax Charges

• SAP to Pay Over $220M to Resolve Foreign Bribery Investigations

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• Jeffrey Epstein FBI Records Targeted in Senate Judiciary Probe After Document Dump

• Police Say DNA Links Man to Killings in 'Colonial Parkway Murders' Case

• Ex-West Virginia Health Manager Scheduled for Plea Hearing in COVID-19 Payment Probe

• Sexual Assaults on Cruise Ships Are Rising

• Authorities Investigating Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Duane Davis' Jailhouse Calls

• Suspected Chicago Gang Member on FBI's Most Wanted List Arrested

• FBI Declines Investigation Into Massachusetts Mayoral Voter Fraud Claims

• Man Admits to Killing Teenager Who Disappeared in 2016

• American Airlines Flight Attendant Punched, Officers Assaulted, Police Say

• Videos Surface of Large Group Sexually Assaulting Toddlers in Texas Mall, FBI Says

• FBI Charges Pennsylvania Man With Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

• Spate of Swatting Incidents Ensnares High-Profile Targets: Politicians, Prosecutors and Judges

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

• Jan. 6 Committee Helped Guide Early Days of Georgia Trump Probe

• GOP Senators Slap Down Trump on Jan. 6 'Hostages'

• Montana Fire Chief Who Had Refused Vaccine Mandate in Washington State Charged in Jan. 6 Riot

• Las Vegas Man Arrested in Connection With Jan. 6 Attack at Capitol

• Independent Journalist Sentenced to Probation for Entering US Capitol on Jan. 6

• Sen. Johnson Praises New Epoch Times Jan. 6 Documentary At Capitol Screening

• Opinion: Donald Trump Isn't Coming for Us. The Rule of Law Is Coming for Him

• Analysis: Trump Often Passively Encourages Violence — And Actively Rationalizes It

OTHER FBI NEWS

• SLC FBI Urges Hate Crime Reporting, Releases PSA in Eight Foreign Languages

• GAO Rules FBI Protests Are Premature

• Lawsuit Against Parkland School Deputy Over 2018 Massacre Can Go to Trial

• Analysis: Enemies of the Administrative State

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• China's Shadowy Information-Manipulation Tactics Seen Targeting Taiwan Vote

• Ecuador Is at War With Drug Gangs, President Says

• South Africa Accuses Israel of Genocide in U.N. Court

• Chinese Drug Companies, Not Rogues, Poison America

• Israel's Far Right Calls for Palestinians to Resettle Outside Gaza

• As U.S. Support for Ukraine Falters, Europe Splits on Filling the Gap

• Al Shabab Terrorist Group Captures U.N. Helicopter in Somalia

• Knife Attacker Hoped to End South Korean's Presidential Bid, Police Say

• The Female Marines Japan Is Training for War

• Ukraine's President in Estonia on Swing Through Russia's Baltic Neighbors

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

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• House Republicans Advance Contempt Of Congress Resolution

• Iowa Caucus 2024: Takeaways From the Republican Presidential Debate in Iowa

• Trump Cannot Deliver Closing Arguments at NY Fraud Trial, Judge Says

• A Secret Tunnel in a NYC Synagogue Leads to a Brawl Between Police and Worshippers

• Avalanche Kills One, Injures Three at California Ski Resort That Once Hosted Winter Olympics

• Republicans Hammer Biden Border Chief During Impeachment Hearing

• U.S. Adults Across Racial Groups Agree the Economy Is a Top Priority, AP-NORC and AAPI Data Polls Show

• Michigan GOP Senate Candidate Mike Rogers Endorses Trump for President

• Speaker Johnson 'Strongly Encouraged' Biden to Move On Border Security Demands in Phone Call

• White House Vows to 'Use Every Tool at Its Disposal' to Counter Election Violence

• U.S. Prosecutors' Message for Whistleblowers: Let's Make a Deal

• Chris Christie Skewers Haley and DeSantis on Hot Mic Before Ending 2024 Campaign

• Trump Says He Has Decided on 2024 Running Mate but Refuses to Name Them: 'Can't Tell You'

• Al Helps U.S. Intelligence Track Hackers Targeting Critical Infrastructure

BIG PICTURE

• New York Times

• Wall Street Journal

• Washington Post

• Financial Times

• ABC News

• CBS News

• NBC News

• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

IN THE NEWS

How the FBI, NSA Are Preparing for Deepfakes and Misinformation Issue Ahead of 2024 Elections CNBC (01/10, Kong) reported that in a past discussion at the CNBC CEO Council Virtual Roundtable, Director Wray and NSA Director General Paul Nakasone emphasized the growing concern of election security amid the proliferation of deepfakes and misinformation globally. Director Wray highlighted, "It wasn't a new weapon. It's just a new way of making that weapon more effective," with threat actors able to create more credible fake personas, more sophisticated false messages, and manufacture evidence that's harder to discern as phony. He also stated, "We're not the truth police. We don't aspire to be. What we're focused on is foreign intelligence services, hostile foreign intelligence services creating fake personas, attempting to persuade people that they're something they're not, right, appearing to be American when they're actually the Chinese, the Russian, or Iranian intelligence services." Regarding private sector involvement in detecting deepfakes, Director Wray stressed, "In some ways, A.I. is quite good at detecting A.I." He further emphasized the importance of sharing information to maintain confidence in the election system, stating, "the best way to build resilience in the system is sharing information, sharing information with election officials, sharing information with the public, sharing information with other partners who can take action." Additionally, Director Wray highlighted the FBI's role in arming states with information to invest wisely in their own cybersecurity, stating, "The election infrastructure in this country is in the hands of the states. And so we view our role as trying to arm them with information so that they can invest wisely in their own cybersecurity to protect against the possibility of disruption or interference."

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Continued Reporting: Director Wray at the 10th International Conference on Cyber Security in New York City

The Record (01/10, Greig) and Cybernews (01/10, Radauskas) reported that at the 10th International Conference on Cyber Security in New York City on Tuesday, Director Wray highlighted the increasing international interest in interfering with the 2024 U.S. elections. Director Wray stated, "What we have seen since 2018 is that we've seen more foreign actors, more nation-states want to get in the business of trying to interfere or at least influence elections. And we've seen the techniques evolve. In that sense, every election cycle presents bigger challenges." According to the article, Director Wray mentioned the enhanced U.S. defenses and sophisticated partnerships with federal agencies, state election officials, and private industry. He asserted, "All those partnerships are exponentially more sophisticated and effective than they were in each prior election cycle. So we are, in that sense, much more on guard than we were in earlier cycles. So the threats are more challenging but the defense is better." He refrained from specifying which new countries are involved in election interference but noted the quick thwarting of Iranian hackers' efforts in the last election. Additionally, Director Wray acknowledged that China and Russia continue to lead in disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks against U.S. election infrastructure. Director Wray addressed the issue of hacking attempts aimed at sowing chaos and undermining confidence in election results. He reassured, "Americans can and should have confidence in our election system. None of the election interference efforts that we've seen over the cycles that [Gen.] Paul [Nakasone] and I have been working on together have put at jeopardy the integrity of the vote count itself in any material way... The ability to generate chaos is very much part of the playbook that some of the foreign adversaries engage in and there is a potential, if we're not all collectively on guard, that chaos can ensue at varying levels." When questioned about Americans doubting the legitimacy of the 2020 election and the FBI's involvement in the January 6 attack, Director Wray urged the public to become more discerning information consumers. Additionally, Director Wray and Gen. Paul Nakasone discussed artificial intelligence's role in amplifying threats. Director Wray noted the FBI's ethical and responsible use of Al in countering threats and highlighted the issue of nation-states, especially China, stealing Al technology. He mentioned the significant threat China poses to U.S. innovation, intellectual property, and national security, with the FBI being vastly outnumbered in the cyber realm.

Suspected Chinese Hackers Target U.S. Research Organization in Latest Spying Spree

CNN (01/10, Lyngaas) reported that suspected Chinese hackers targeted a US-based research organization last month using two previously undiscovered software flaws as part of a persistent spying campaign aimed at gathering intelligence aligned with China's interests, according to researchers. According to the article, the hackers exploited these coveted flaws to gain "unfettered access" to the unnamed victim organization, a US cybersecurity firm called Volexity reported. The victim organization focuses on geopolitics, including China-related issues, and is regularly targeted by state-backed hackers. The article noted that Director Wray has previously highlighted China's extensive cyber espionage activities, with Chinese hacking teams reportedly outnumbering FBI cyber agents 50 to 1. The article explained that Volexity alerted the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to the activity, but there is concern that the exploit code may leak publicly, potentially enabling less skilled hackers to replicate it.

American Intel Officials Warn of Risk of Hezbollah Attacking U.S.

Politico (01/10, Banco, Seligman) reported that U.S. officials warned of the increasing likelihood of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, attacking U.S. interests, both in the Middle East and potentially on American soil. These officials, speaking under anonymity, stressed Hezbollah's superior capabilities compared to other terrorist groups like ISIS. The article explained that the FBI, along with the National Security Council and the National Counterterrorism Center, declined to comment on this sensitive intelligence. However, Director Wray, in a November 15 congressional hearing, emphasized the gravity of the threat, "The arrests of individuals in the United States allegedly linked to Hezbollah's main overseas terrorist arm, and their intelligence-collection and procurement efforts, demonstrate Hezbollah's interest in long-term contingency planning activities here in the homeland."

FBI, SEC Join Probe of Fake Social Media Post From Regulator

Reuters (01/10, Prentice, Gillison) reported that the FBI joined an investigation into a fake post made on the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) social media account, which falsely stated the SEC had approved trading of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). According to the article, this announcement, later disavowed by the SEC, caused significant volatility in the bitcoin market. The article noted that an SEC spokesperson revealed

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that the SEC is coordinating with law enforcement, including the FBI, to probe the incident, stating, "The unauthorized content on the @SECGov account was not drafted or created by the SEC." CNN (01/10, Egan, Goodkind), New York Times (01/10, Goldstein), Politico (01/10, Harty, Mueller, Goodman), The Hill (01/10, Klar), Gizmodo (01/10, Zeff), The Daily Beast (01/10, McDougall), CyberScoop (01/10, Groll), The Guardian (01/10, Montgomery), Benzinga (01/10, Cingari), and Law 360 (01/10, Keely) also reported on the story.

U.S., U.K. Warships Shoot Down Houthi Barrage In Red Sea

The Associated Press (01/10, Gambrel!) and the Wall Street Journal (01/10, Mauldin, Grove) reported that the U.S. and British warships shot down one of the largest barrages of missiles and drones fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels into the Red Sea shipping lane on Wednesday. According to officials, the U.S. is considering conducting strikes against land-based Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the attacks in the Red Sea. The assault happened off the Yemeni port cities of Hodeida and Mokha, according to the private intelligence firm Ambrey. In the Hodeida attack, Ambrey said ships described over radio seeing missiles and drones, with U.S.-allied warships in the area urging "vessels to proceed at maximum speed." According to the reports, the U.S. military's Central Command said the "complex attack" launched by the Houthis included bomb-carrying drones, anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile. It said 18 drones, two cruise missiles, and the anti-ship missile were downed by F-18s from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as by American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers the USS Gravely, the USS Laboon and the USS Mason, as well as the United Kingdom's HMS Diamond. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the gravity of the Houthi threat to global commerce and renewed U.S. warnings of a response. The story was also reported on by ABC News (01/09, Martinez), Al Jazeera (01/10, Staff Writer), BBC (01/10, Gritten), CBS News (01/10, Tanyos), CNN (01/10, Liebermann), The Guardian (01/10, Wintour, Sabbagh), NBC News (01/10, Staff Writer), New York Times (01/10, Staff Writer), Politico (01/10, Hulsemann), and Reuters (01/10, Staff Writer).

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COUNTERTERRORISM

Help Committee Chair Bernie Sanders Urged to Hold Hearing Examining Antisemitism on College Campuses

The Hill (01/10, Fortinsky) reported that the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism requested that the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, chaired by Bernie Sanders, hold a hearing on increasing antisemitism on college campuses. According to the article, this request came amid a significant rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly following an attack by Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, on Israel. Additional reporting from The Hill (01/10, Beitsch) noted that Director Wray testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, stating that antisemitic hate crimes had increased by 60 percent since the beginning of the conflict. He noted that the FBI had opened 60 percent more hate crime investigations post-October 7 compared to the same period before the attack, with a significant focus on threats against the Jewish community. The Washington Times (01/10, Kellner) also reported on the story.

Undercover FBI Agents Helped Autistic Teen Plan Trip to Join ISIS

The Intercept (01/10, Hussain) reported that Humzah Mashkoor, an 18-year-old diagnosed with a developmental disability, was arrested by the FBI at Denver International Airport for attempting to join ISIS. According to the article, Mashkoor had been interacting online with four individuals, who he believed were ISIS members, since he was 16, but they were actually undercover FBI agents. The article explained that these interactions led to his plan to fly to Dubai and potentially Syria or Afghanistan, culminating in his arrest on terrorism charges. The article noted that despite his autism diagnosis and the defense's criticism of the FBI's methods, Mashkoor now faces charges for attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.

FBI Arrests Florida Man Accused of Threatening `Mass Casualty Event'

CNN (01/10, Campbell, Lynch) reported that a Florida man named Alexander Lightner was arrested and charged with making an interstate threat and a weapon violation by the FBI. He was accused of posting online threats indicating his intention to carry out a racially or ethnically motivated mass casualty event. According to the article, FBI agents from the Tampa Field Office interviewed him on January 5 and executed a search warrant at his home, where they found an unlawful firearm suppressor and propaganda related to white supremacist and accelerationist ideology. During the interview, Lightner admitted to making the threatening posts and explained that he did it for attention while drunk. He also mentioned that the term "saint" in his posts referred to becoming a "saint" after his

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death. The article noted that a judge ordered Lightner to remain in custody due to strong evidence and his history of prior convictions and probation violations, as well as testing positive for cocaine upon arrest.

Florida Schools Latest Target Of Mysterious Bomb Threats—But No Credible Danger

Forbes (01/10, Farrell) reported that schools across Florida were the latest recipients of bomb threats Wednesday, a day after schools in Colorado reported similar threats, continuing a trend of anonymous and unsubstantiated threats targeting public institutions in recent weeks that the FBI has described as hoaxes. According to the article, Lee County School District confirmed to Forbes that it received a threat that targeted "Florida school districts" and was apparently circulated statewide, though the district noted that the FBI and local law enforcement were aware of the situation and investigating. "We take hoax threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk. While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention," the FBI Tampa Division told Forbes in a statement.

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COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

Continued Reporting: Sen. Bob Menendez Seeks Dismissal of Criminal Charges. His Lawyers Say Prosecutors 'Distort Reality'

The Associated Press (01/10, Neumeister) reported that on Wednesday, Senator Bob Menendez sought dismissal of charges, including bribery, arguing that New York federal prosecutors' claims were "outrageously false" and distorted reality. According to the article, Menendez's lawyers contested the updated indictment, which alleged that Menendez used his influence to secretly advance Egypt's interests and acted favorably towards Qatar's government for a businessman's benefit. The article noted that they emphasized that the novel charge of Menendez acting as an agent of the Egyptian government undermines legislative independence, stating that the senator was independent of any foreign official and had challenged Egypt on various issues. Bloomberg (01/10, Voreacos) and The Daily Beast (01/10, McDougall) also reported on the story.

U.S. Navy Sailor Took at Least 14 Bribe Payments to Spy for China

Cybernews (01/10, Naprys) reported that Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, aka Thomas Zhao, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and fined $5,500 for transmitting sensitive US military information to a Chinese intelligence officer. According to the article, Zhao's actions, involving at least 14 separate bribe payments totaling $14,866, constituted a betrayal of his duty to protect sensitive information, including plans for maritime training exercises, operational orders, and blueprints of critical military infrastructure. "Make no mistake, the PRC is engaged in an aggressive effort to undermine the national security of the US and its partners," Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch added. "The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly shown it will freely break any law or norm to achieve a perceived intelligence advantage. Today's sentencing demonstrates, yet again, the inability of China's Intelligence Services to prevent the FBI and our vital partners from apprehending and prosecuting the spies China recruits." Newsweek (01/10, McCartney) also reported on the story.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Hunter Biden Expected to Plead Not Guilty in Los Angeles Hearing on Federal Tax Charges

The Associated Press (01/11, Long) reported that President Joe Biden's son will head back to court on Thursday for arraignment in Los Angeles on federal tax charges filed after the collapse of a plea deal that could have spared him the spectacle of a criminal trial during the 2024 campaign. The article noted that Hunter Biden is expected to plead not guilty to nine felony and misdemeanor tax offenses. The charges stem from what federal prosecutors say was a four-year scheme to skip out on paying the $1.4 million he owed to the IRS and instead use the money to fund an extravagant lifestyle that by his own admission included drugs and alcohol. The article mentioned that the court appearance will also include a discussion over future court dates and filing deadlines. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden has also been charged in Delaware with lying in October 2018 on a federal form for gun purchasers when he swore he wasn't using or addicted to illegal drugs. He was addicted to crack cocaine at the time. He's also accused of possessing the gun illegally and has pleaded not guilty in that case. The article added that the accusations all come

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from a yearslong federal investigation into Hunter Biden's tax and business dealings that had been expected to wind down over the summer with a plea deal in which he would have gotten two years' probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax charges. He also would have avoided prosecution on the gun charge if he stayed out of trouble.

SAP to Pay Over $220M to Resolve Foreign Bribery Investigations

CNBC (01/10, Goswami) reported that SAP, the $192 billion German enterprise tech company, will pay more than $230 million to settle investigations into worldwide "recidivist" foreign bribery practices, U.S. authorities announced Wednesday. The article noted that the company will enter into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, who accused SAP of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to allegedly bribe government officials in Indonesia and South Africa. A Dal press release quoted Assistant Director in Charge Donald Always of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, who said, "This successful resolution against SAP is another example of the power of relationships and persistence, the sustained diligence by the prosecution team and continuous collaboration with South African law enforcement, regulators, and prosecutors identified corrupt activity in multiple countries. The FBI will continue our nonstop efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute companies willfully engaging in corrupt activities around the world."

Jeffrey Epstein FBI Records Targeted in Senate Judiciary Probe After Document Dump

Fox News (01/10, Ruiz) reported that Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has congressional oversight of the FBI, are pushing to subpoena the bureau for all records pertaining to sex traffickers Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell a day after a federal court in New York finished unsealing more than 200 files regarding the pair. The article noted that FBI agents raided properties including Epstein's New York City mansion and Little St. James, his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, after his arrest in early 2019. His death in a federal jail cell was officially ruled a suicide — although his brother is among many Americans who have questioned that conclusion. The article added that last year, a group of Epstein's victims sent a letter to the FBI demanding an investigation into the bureau's early handling of the investigation. A lawyer for the accusers said they flagged federal investigators to Epstein's crimes as early as 1996. The Independent (01/10, Ross) also reported on the story.

Police Say DNA Links Man to Killings in 'Colonial Parkway Murders' Case

The Washington Post (01/10, Schneider) reported that DNA evidence has finally produced a suspect in three killings in the Hampton Roads region in the late 1980s, including the shooting of a young couple often connected to a string of crimes known as the "Colonial Parkway murders." The article noted that state and federal investigators said this week that Alan W. Wilmer Sr., a waterman with no felony record who died in 2017 at his home in Lancaster County, Va., was linked to evidence left at the scene of the shooting deaths of David L. Knobling, 20, and Robin M. Edwards, 14, whose bodies were found at the Ragged Island wildlife refuge in Isle of Wight County in 1987. The article mentioned that similar evidence also tied Wilmer to the killing of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29, in Hampton in 1989, authorities said. Howell's death was not thought to be part of the parkway string of murders, which involved couples killed or missing from remote parking areas from 1986 to 1989. According to the article, FBI Norfolk Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan said investigators are continuing to look for other crimes that Wilmer may be responsible for and declined to go into further detail about his movements, his connection to the crime scenes or his possible motives. Dugan appealed to the public for more information. The article quoted Dugan, who said, "If you had any encounters with him or his vehicle or watercraft, hunted with him, farmed oysters or clams, docked next to him in marinas, spent time with him on a personal basis or at work, or even romantically at some point, we want to hear from you,"

Ex-West Virginia Health Manager Scheduled for Plea Hearing in COVID-19 Payment Probe The Associated Press (01/10, Raby) reported that a former West Virginia state health office manager who was indicted on charges related to coronavirus pandemic relief payments is due to enter a plea later this month. Timothy Priddy is set to appear in federal court on Jan. 22, a day before his trial had been scheduled to start. Federal prosecutors said he is expected to plead guilty. The article mentioned that an indictment filed in October charged Priddy with making false statements about the payments to federal agents in August 2022 and in grand jury testimony the following month. On both occasions, Priddy knew his statements were false because he made no efforts to verify the invoices before approving them, according to the indictment. According to the article, prosecutors said the federal investigation was trying to determine whether one or more vendors providing COVID-19 tests and mitigation services to the state overbilled or otherwise received payment from federal funds disbursed through the state's main health agency, the Department of Health and Human Resources. That agency was

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reorganized into three separate departments effective Jan. 1. The article added that prosecutors said the vendor reported the results of about 49,000 COVID-19 tests between October 2020 and March 2022 but submitted invoices reflecting the cost of about 518,000 test kits. Despite the discrepancy, Priddy certified at least 13 of the invoices totaling about $34 million.

Sexual Assaults on Cruise Ships Are Rising

The Washington Post (01/10, Hiatt) reported that sex crimes on cruise ships sailing to and from the United States increased last year, according to numbers released by the Transportation Department. From January to September 2023, the FBI received 39 reports of sexual assault and 58 reports of rape from passengers. The article noted that the incidents represent less than 1 percent of the tens of millions of passengers who take cruises each year. However, sexual assaults continue to be the most commonly reported crimes on cruise ships. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, more than two out of three sexual assaults are not reported. The article mentioned that the 2023 statistics mark the first time those reports distinguished between sex assault and rape. The Transportation Department began publishing the numbers after Congress passed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010. That law requires that passengers have access to a written guide to where to report crimes that occur on a ship, the ability to receive a sexual forensic exam onboard, and confidentiality while requesting or receiving support. The article stated that the law mandates that eligible cruise lines report missing persons and criminal allegations made onboard to the FBI. Incidents listed on the 2023 reports also include assault with serious bodily injury, setting fire to or tampering with a vessel, thefts in excess of $10,000, and one "suspicious" death.

Authorities Investigating Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Duane Davis' Jailhouse Calls

ABC News (01/10, Pezenik, Margolin) reported that authorities are investigating jailhouse phone calls from the man charged with orchestrating the killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, after hearing remarks they say indicate he might have been conspiring to harm witnesses cooperating with the prosecution. The article noted that word of the investigation into what Duane "Keffe D" Davis meant in those conversations comes on the heels of a Las Vegas judge deciding to set his bail at $750,000 — a sum far above what his lawyers had asked for in advocating for his release to house arrest, pending trial. The article quoted Judge Carli Kierny, who said, "When we talk about the nature and the seriousness of danger to any victims or other people in this case, as the state has indicated, this could be very high, I don't believe that the FBI is stepping in and providing coverage or assistance for people in situations where they don't think it's a credible threat."

Suspected Chicago Gang Member on FBI's Most Wanted List Arrested

KSDK (NBC-5) (01/10, Clancy) reported that a suspected gang member who has been on the FBI's most wanted list for nearly 15 years was arrested by Missouri police this week. The article noted that Missouri police arrested Jesus Sanchez on Sunday at a home in north St. Louis County, according to a probable cause statement. Sanchez was reportedly living in St. Charles at the time of his arrest and was wanted by the Cook County Sheriff's Office and the FBI for a 2003 murder in Chicago. The article stated that according to the FBI's most wanted entry for Sanchez, he was believed to be a member of the Latin Saints street gang and was arrested for the 2003 beating death of a rival gang member. The FBI said he was released on bond before trial and did not report to court dates related to the case. He was convicted in absentia and was sentenced to 27 years in prison. According to an FBI wanted poster, investigators believed he may have fled to Mexico.

FBI Declines Investigation Into Massachusetts Mayoral Voter Fraud Claims

WWLP (NBC-22) (01/10, Collins) reported that Wednesday, the FBI has opted out of investigating claims of voter fraud in Springfield's mayoral election. The article noted that Springfield Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola-Lopez said the FBI does not intend to investigate the October 28th voter fraud claims. Oyola-Lopez was among the group of election workers who gave sworn affidavits alleging members of Justin Hurst's campaign team paid people for their votes. The article mentioned that the FBI was in Springfield last month, just weeks after the alleged voter fraud incident was caught on camera at city hall, though at the time there wasn't much public information on whether or not they'd conduct an investigation of their own. News of the FBI's decline was a let-down to City Solicitor John Payne, who said, "I think that's disappointing given the fact that issues of election fraud and paying people to vote is something that's very serious and I wish it had been investigated."

Man Admits to Killing Teenager Who Disappeared in 2016

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The Independent (01/10, Sharma) reported that Johnathan Alexander Warren, one of the suspects in the killing of 19-year-old woman who went missing in 2016 in Georgia, has pleaded guilty to murder and necrophilia. Morgan Bauer was reported missing two weeks after moving from South Dakota to Georgia. Seven years after she vanished, police arrested two suspects in the case in August 2023. Warren pleaded guilty to the charges of murder, concealing death, tampering with evidence, and necrophilia on Wednesday, according to the Newton County district attorney's office. The article added that in July last year, the FBI and a number of law enforcement agencies searched a Georgia property for the human remains of a teen. Police said they uncovered "items of evidentiary interest". Her remains have not been found.

American Airlines Flight Attendant Punched, Officers Assaulted, Police Say

The Hill (01/10, Robertson) reported that a man assaulted an American Airlines flight attendant and later kicked and spit on police officers last week during a rowdy flight that was diverted to Amarillo, Texas, according to the criminal complaint submitted by the FBI. The article noted that Keith Fagiana started an argument with a fight attendant during a flight on Jan. 3 from Dallas to Bozeman, Mont. last week, "yelling expletives" after he was asked to stop kicking the seat in front of him. Fagiana then punched the flight attendant multiple times before being restrained by nearby passengers and crew in flex cuffs, per the complaint. When police took Fagiana off the plane in Amarillo, he complained of the cuffs hurting him and then kicked an officer in the groin and spit on another before while the cuffs were being changed, the complaint alleges.

Videos Surface of Large Group Sexually Assaulting Toddlers in Texas Mall, FBI Says

The Charlotte Observer (01/10, Willetts) reported that disturbing videos emerged showing numerous men sexually assaulting toddlers at a Texas mall, leading to the arrest of a kiosk worker whom friends trusted to watch the children, according to the FBI. The article noted that the bureau launched an investigation in early December after the videos were shared with agents by the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, according to a criminal complaint filed Dec. 14 in the Southern District of Texas. The videos were found on a "private, by invitation only" online forum. The article stated that Arthur Hector Fernandez worked at a kiosk at the Galleria and was friends with two women who also had jobs at the mall, often offering to watch their kids for them while they worked, the FBI said. Fernandez even took one of the toddlers trick-or-treating in October, documents said. The children, who were both under 3 years old, were assaulted in the videos, documents said.

FBI Charges Pennsylvania Man With Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

WTOL (CBS-11) (01/10, Video) reported that Darren Barr was accused by the FBI of stealing $622,000 from the Lucas County Auditors Office in 2020.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

Spate of Swatting Incidents Ensnares High-Profile Targets: Politicians, Prosecutors and Judges NBC News (01/10, Gutierrez, Ploss, Gallagher) reported that political figures and members of the judiciary have been ensnared in swatting incidents in recent weeks — what law enforcement experts say is a product of a hostile political climate during an intense presidential election season. The article noted that in remarks last week addressing violent crime across the U.S., Attorney General Merrick Garland said the DOJ is committed to investigating threats to FBI agents, federal judges, members of Congress, election workers, and others. He pointed to the arrest of a Florida man on Jan. 3 in connection with threats to kill Rep. Eric Swalwell, (D-CA), and his children. According to the article, the FBI added that it "takes these types of threats very seriously as it puts innocent people at risk." In May, the FBI launched a national online database so that police departments and law enforcement agencies can share information pertaining to swatting incidents. People making the calls often use technology to mask their true voice, caller information, and location. The article added that the FBI's database is important for agencies to "connect the dots" on who is making the phone calls and if incidents are linked, said Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI assistant director and a national security analyst for NBC News.

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CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

Jan. 6 Committee Helped Guide Early Days of Georgia Trump Probe

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Politico (01/10, Swan, Cheney) reported that in the spring of 2022, the House Jan. 6 select committee assisted Georgia prosecutors, led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, in their investigation into Donald Trump's efforts to subvert the 2020 election. According to the article, the committee staff provided insights and evidence related to Trump's false electors gambit and his pressure on Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, crucial to the charges brought against Trump and his allies. The article noted that this cooperation was detailed by two former committee officials, emphasizing the committee's reluctance to share similar information with the Justice Department due to concerns it might need to be disclosed in ongoing criminal cases related to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.

GOP Senators Slap Down Trump on Jan. 6 'Hostages'

The Hill (01/10, Bolton) reported that Republican senators, including John Thune, John Cornyn, and Mitch McConnell, have rejected President Trump's claim that individuals convicted of Jan. 6 Capitol Riot-related crimes are "hostages" who should be pardoned. According to the article, they emphasized their faith in the justice system and dismissed the notion of these convicts as political prisoners or hostages. The article explained that these sentiments have come three years after the Capitol Riot, with senators recalling the violence and chaos of the day, and firmly standing by the legal processes that have led to the convictions of those involved.

Montana Fire Chief Who Had Refused Vaccine Mandate in Washington State Charged in Jan. 6 Riot The Associated Press (01/10, Whitehurst) reported that Frank Dahlquist, a Montana fire chief previously terminated over a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, has been charged with assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot. The article explained that after being identified partly through his distinctive facial hair and a previous TV news story, Dahlquist was accused of spraying a chemical irritant at officers and throwing lumber toward them, though it didn't hit anyone. The article noted that the FBI confirmed his identity by speaking with firefighters who had worked with him in Washington and analyzing text messages he sent on the day of the riot, leading to his arrest and court appearance in Montana. NBC News (01/10, Reilly) also reported on the story.

Las Vegas Man Arrested in Connection With Jan. 6 Attack at Capitol The Las Vegas Review-Journal (01/10, Lane) reported that Mario Gonzalez, a 51-year-old man from Las Vegas, was arrested by the FBI for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Charged with several felonies, including assaulting police officers, Gonzalez was identified from video footage where he filmed himself clashing with police and using a fire extinguisher against them. The article noted that this arrest is part of a broader investigation by U.S. authorities, which has led to over 1,265 people being charged, with more than 440 facing felony charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

Independent Journalist Sentenced to Probation for Entering US Capitol on Jan. 6 The Epoch Times (01/10, Ozimek) reported that North Carolina independent journalist Stephen Horn was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a fine, and 90 hours of community service for entering the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and later releasing a documentary incorporating footage from that day. According to the article, prosecutors argued that Horn was a protestor rather than a journalist, citing his actions during the riot, including scaling a statue and entering Nancy Pelosi's office. The article noted that the case is part of a wider DOJ effort to pursue convictions related to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot, which includes other independent journalists who were also prosecuted for their involvement.

Sen. Johnson Praises New Epoch Times Jan. 6 Documentary At Capitol Screening The Epoch Times (01/10, Lord) reported that Senator Ron Johnson hosted a screening of The Epoch Times' new documentary, "The Real Story of Jan. 6 Part 2: The Long Road Home," at the Capitol, praising its exploration of the Jan. 6 events and their impact on America. According to the article, the documentary, which highlights the DOJ's extensive post-Jan. 6 prosecutorial efforts, includes a segment on FBI whistleblowers like Garrett O'Boyle, who faced retaliation for speaking out against the FBI's response to Jan. 6. The article explained that the panel discussions following the screening focused on changes in federal law enforcement and intelligence post-Jan. 6, with emphasis on the DOJ's altered processes and the use of SWAT teams for arresting Jan. 6 defendants, even for misdemeanors.

Opinion: Donald Trump Isn't Coming for Us. The Rule of Law Is Coming for Him An opinion piece from the Washington Post (01/10, Comey) emphasized that while threats of political violence should always be taken seriously, the FBI's domestic terrorism section is actively working to identify and defuse potential threats. The article highlighted that the threats from Trump supporters, in response to his legal troubles,

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are more about intimidation than actual violence, as evidenced by the relative absence of his supporters at his various arraignments. The author's overall takeaway is that the rule of law must be upheld, regardless of threats, and that while Trump and his followers pose challenges, it's the rule of law that is finally coming for Trump, not the other way around.

Analysis: Trump Often Passively Encourages Violence — And Actively Rationalizes It An analysis from the Washington Post (01/10, Bump) highlighted Donald Trump's pattern of passively encouraging and actively rationalizing violence among his supporters. According to the article, this pattern, evident from his 2016 campaign rhetoric to his indirect role in the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot, has consistently stoked anger and potential violence. The article pointed out that Trump's recent "bedlam" comment in response to his legal challenges continues this trend, subtly escalating perceived threats to democracy among his followers. The author assessed that this approach effectively manipulates and mobilizes his base, as seen in the involvement of groups like the Proud Boys in the Capitol Riot, without Trump explicitly directing violence.

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OTHER FBI NEWS

SLC FBI Urges Hate Crime Reporting, Releases PSA in Eight Foreign Languages

KTVX (ABC-4) (01/10, Brugger) reported that after 2022 saw an uptick in reported hate crimes, the Salt Lake City Division of the FBI is releasing public service announcements in eight foreign languages to encourage people to report the crimes. The article noted that the PSAs will be released in Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, Persian-Afghan (Dari), Persian-Iranian (Farsi), Pashto-Afghani, Somali, and Spanish to expand reach into diverse communities, an FBI press release states. This campaign reportedly aims to connect with community members of various backgrounds, including those who face literacy challenges. The article added that in the English PSA, Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha said recent events in the U.S. and overseas have led to increased harassment and intimidation. While he understands some people may be scared or hesitant to come forward to law enforcement, Sinha said he wants to assure people the FBI is there to serve all communities and keep everyone safe. The PSAs will reportedly be shared with various religious, civic, and community organizations, as well as refugee service providers in Utah. The article quoted Sinha, who said, "Crimes motivated by hate and bigotry have no place in our society, and we won't tolerate them, the FBI works with our law enforcement partners to ensure everyone, regardless of race, faith, sexual orientation, or disability, feels secure and protected."

GAO Rules FBI Protests Are Premature

Washington Technology (01/10, Wakeman) reported that the Government Accountability Office has dismissed a set of protests involving a $5 billion FBI blanket purchase agreement, but that does not stop future challenges from happening. The article noted that Ernst & Young, General Dynamics IT, and Qbase filed protests in November after the FBI suggested they should no longer compete for the IT Supplies and Support Services 2nd Generation BPA. However, the FBI did not eliminate them from the competition, which is ongoing. They have not been eliminated and no awards have been made yet, so GAO ruled that the protests were premature. The article mentioned that the FBI made an "advisory" evaluation and gave the companies the option of withdrawing or continuing. Once awards are made, the companies can come back with protests if they don't win a seat.

Lawsuit Against Parkland School Deputy Over 2018 Massacre Can Go to Trial

The Associated Press (01/10, Spencer) reported that a lawsuit filed by families of the 17 people killed and other victims of the Parkland, Florida, school massacre against a former sheriff's deputy who failed to intervene can go forward, a judge ruled, rejecting his motion to dismiss the case before trial. The article noted that circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, in a ruling posted Wednesday, said a jury should decide whether fired Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson displayed a "wanton and willful disregard" for the students' and teachers' safety when he failed to confront the shooter during the six-minute attack inside a classroom building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The article mentioned that the families and survivors have already settled claims with the FBI — whose agents failed to investigate a warning about Cruz — and the Broward school district for a combined $153 million. Peterson, the first U.S. police officer to be charged criminally with failing to act during a school shooting, was acquitted of child neglect in June. Legal experts said the Florida law that prosecutors applied wasn't written to address Peterson's actions.

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Analysis: Enemies of the Administrative State

An analysis piece by the Epoch Times (01/10, Weingarten) stated that Washington, D.C.'s most powerful agencies have been weaponized against their critics, one organization has not only played a key role in helping marshal evidence of such malfeasance but found itself at the center of an emerging government targeting scandal that would seem to only further substantiate the claims of administrative state critics. According to the author, that organization is Empower Oversight Whistleblowers & Research. It has represented whistleblowers at the heart of some of the most consequential and contentious congressional investigations in recent years, touching on matters ranging from the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, to alleged FBI inflation of the domestic terror threat. The author mentioned that notable clients aided by Empower Oversight recently include current or former FBI officials Marcus Allen, Steve Friend, and George Hill. These men testified about how the nation's premier law enforcement agency had engaged in "egregious abuse, misallocation of law-enforcement resources, and misconduct with the leadership ranks," according to a House Judiciary Committee and Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government majority report.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China's Shadowy Information-Manipulation Tactics Seen Targeting Taiwan Vote

• Washington Times: China's Shadowy Information-Manipulation Tactics Seen Targeting Taiwan Vote

• Wall Street Journal: China's Messaging to the U.S.: Don't Rock the Boat

• Reuters: U.S. Urges China to Not Interfere in Taiwan Elections

Ecuador Is at War With Drug Gangs, President Says

• Wall Street Journal: Ecuador Is at War With Drug Gangs, President Says

• New York Times: Ecuadoreans Split on President's Drastic New Measure to Combat Drug Gangs

South Africa Accuses Israel of Genocide in U.N. Court

• Wall Street Journal: South Africa Accuses Israel of Genocide in U.N. Court

Chinese Drug Companies, Not Rogues, Poison America

• Higher Ground: Chinese Drug Companies, Not Rogues, Poison America

Israel's Far Right Calls for Palestinians to Resettle Outside Gaza

• Wall Street Journal: Israel's Far Right Calls for Palestinians to Resettle Outside Gaza

As U.S. Support for Ukraine Falters, Europe Splits on Filling the Gap

• New York Times: As U.S. Support for Ukraine Falters, Europe Splits on Filling the Gap

Al Shabab Terrorist Group Captures U.N. Helicopter in Somalia

• New York Times: Al Shabab Terrorist Group Captures U.N. Helicopter in Somalia

Knife Attacker Hoped to End South Korean's Presidential Bid, Police Say

• New York Times: Knife Attacker Hoped to End South Korean's Presidential Bid, Police Say

The Female Marines Japan Is Training for War

• Reuters: The Female Marines Japan Is Training for War

Ukraine's President in Estonia on Swing Through Russia's Baltic Neighbors

• Associated Press: Ukraine's President in Estonia on Swing Through Russia's Baltic Neighbors

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OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

House Republicans Advance Contempt Of Congress Resolution

• Forbes: House Republicans Advance Contempt Of Congress Resolution

• Associated Press: Republicans Push Ahead With Hunter Biden Contempt Charge After His Surprise Visit to Capitol Hill

• CNN: Hunter Biden's Visit to Capitol Hill Is Part of a More Aggressive, Forward-Leaning Legal Strategy

• CBS News: House Committees Advance Contempt of Congress Resolutions for Hunter Biden

• Reuters: House Republicans Move Toward Holding Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress

Iowa Caucus 2024: Takeaways From the Republican Presidential Debate in Iowa

• Reuters: Iowa Caucus 2024: Takeaways From the Republican Presidential Debate in Iowa

• Axios: How the Iowa Caucuses Work and Why This Year Is Different

• CNN: 2024 Voting Is About to Begin. Do You Know What a Caucus Is?

• Associated Press: What to Expect in the Iowa Caucuses

• Washington Post: Understanding the Iowa Caucuses and Why They're Important to the Election

Trump Cannot Deliver Closing Arguments at NY Fraud Trial, Judge Says

• Reuters: Trump Cannot Deliver Closing Arguments at NY Fraud Trial, Judge Says

• CBS News: Trump Can't Deliver Closing Argument in New York Civil Fraud Trial, Judge Rules

• CNN: Trump Can't Speak During Closing Arguments in NY Civil Fraud Trial, Judge Says

• Associated Press: Judge Says Donald Trump Won't Give Own Closing Argument at Civil Fraud Trial After Disputing Rules

• Rolling Stone: Trump's Lawyers Kill His Bid to Deliver Closing Argument in Fraud Trial

A Secret Tunnel in a NYC Synagogue Leads to a Brawl Between Police and Worshippers

• Associated Press: A Secret Tunnel in a NYC Synagogue Leads to a Brawl Between Police and Worshippers

• Washington Post: Nine Charged in Brawl Over Attempt to Close Secret Tunnel at NYC Synagogue

• ABC News: DOB Issues Vacate Orders Over 'Underground Tunnel' After Chaos Erupts at NYC Synagogue

• New York Times: 60-Foot Tunnel Under Synagogue Left 2 Buildings Unstable, Officials Say

• USA TODAY: Secret Tunnel Found in NYC Synagogue Leads to 9 Arrests After Confrontation

Avalanche Kills One, Injures Three at California Ski Resort That Once Hosted Winter Olympics

• Associated Press: Avalanche Kills One, Injures Three at California Ski Resort That Once Hosted Winter Olympics

• Wall Street Journal: Avalanche in Tahoe-Area Ski Resort Leaves One Dead

• CNN: One Man Was Killed and Another Person Injured in an Avalanche at a Tahoe-Area Resort

• Reuters: Avalanche at California Ski Resort Kills One Person, Injures Another

• ABC News: One Dead in Avalanche at Palisades Tahoe Resort in California

Republicans Hammer Biden Border Chief During Impeachment Hearing

• Reuters: Republicans Hammer Biden Border Chief During Impeachment Hearing

U.S. Adults Across Racial Groups Agree the Economy Is a Top Priority, AP-NORC and AAPI Data Polls Show

• Associated Press: U.S. Adults Across Racial Groups Agree the Economy Is a Top Priority, AP-NORC and AAPI Data Polls Show

Michigan GOP Senate Candidate Mike Rogers Endorses Trump for President

• The Epoch Times: Michigan GOP Senate Candidate Mike Rogers Endorses Trump for President

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Speaker Johnson 'Strongly Encouraged' Biden to Move On Border Security Demands in Phone Call

• Washington Examiner: Speaker Johnson 'Strongly Encouraged' Biden to Move On Border Security Demands in Phone Call

White House Vows to 'Use Every Tool at Its Disposal' to Counter Election Violence

• Washington Examiner: White House Vows to 'Use Every Tool at Its Disposal' to Counter Election Violence

U.S. Prosecutors' Message for Whistleblowers: Let's Make a Deal

• Bloomberg: U.S. Prosecutors' Message for Whistleblowers: Let's Make a Deal

Chris Christie Skewers Haley and DeSantis on Hot Mic Before Ending 2024 Campaign

• CNN: Chris Christie Skewers Haley and Desantis on Hot Mic Before Ending 2024 Campaign

Trump Says He Has Decided on 2024 Running Mate but Refuses to Name Them: 'Can't Tell You'

• New York Post: Trump Says He Has Decided on 2024 Running Mate but Refuses to Name Them: 'Can't Tell You'

Al Helps U.S. Intelligence Track Hackers Targeting Critical Infrastructure

• Wall Street Journal: Al Helps U.S. Intelligence Track Hackers Targeting Critical Infrastructure

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BIG PICTURE

New York Times

• Israel to Fight Genocide Claims At World Court

• A New Breed of Evangelical Finds a Defender in

• Trump Trump Rebuts Himself in Bid For Immunity

• Ecuador Buckles Under Gang Violence, and Fear

• Elixirs Peddled At Gas Stations Provoke Alarm

• Power Shift Jolts ESPN as a Shouting Star Derides an Executive

• The Day Hamas Came

Wall Street Journal

• SEC Vote Broadens Investors' Access to Bitcoin

• Skydance Backers Weigh Deal To Gain Control of Paramount

• Potent Pot Hurts Kids; 'I Was in Full-Blown Psychosis'

• Doomed Battle Tells Story of Stalled War

• Haley, DeSantis Trade Barbs To Be Alternative to Trump

• The Last Living-Room Caucus: Iowa Mayor Keeps Up Tradition

Washington Post

• Ecuador in 'State of War' a Day After Gang Bedlam

• Airlines Ground Max 9s Longer

• She Just Turned 16. The War in Ukraine Wrecked Her City — And Her Childhood.

• GOP Rhetoric Fills Iowa's Immigrants With Dread

• Christie Ends His Long-Shot Campaign

Financial Times

• Joe Biden to Send Delegation to Taipei After Taiwan's Election

• U.S. Companies and Chinese Experts Engaged in Secret Diplomacy on Al Safety

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• U.S. House Republicans Move to Hold Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress

ABC News

• Chris Christie Drops Out of Presidential Race; California Avalanche Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Injured; Closing Arguments Set for Trump Civil Case.

CBS News

• One Skier Dead in Northern California Avalanche; Chicago Struggles to Shelter Thousands of Migrants, With More Arriving Each Day.

NBC News

• Tens of Millions Still Reeling From Monstrous Winter Storm That Walloped Much of the u.s.; Chris Christie Suspends Campaign for 2024 Presidential Race; Hunter Biden Surprises GOP Members by Showing up to House Contempt Hearing.

Fox News

• U.S. and British Forces Say They Shot Down 21 Drones From Yemen; Hunter Biden Causes Mayhem at Hearing; Chris Christie Withdraws From 2024 Election Run.

Back to Top

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

White House

President Biden

• 11:30 AM: The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing

Vice President Harris

• 11:30 AM: Secretary of Education Cardona will join Vice President Harris in Charlotte, NC to highlight the latest actions by the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce gun violence. She will convene educators, counselors, parents, gun safety advocates, and local and state leaders, and will announce new funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that will help schools throughout the state and across the country increase access to mental health resources for their students.

US Senate

• Hearings to examine federal electric vehicle incentives including the federal government's role in fostering reliable and resilient electric vehicle supply chains. — 10:00 AM — Host: Energy and Natural Resources Committee

• Hearings to examine stopping the flow of fentanyl focusing on public awareness and legislative solutions. — 10:00 AM — Host: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

US House of Representatives

• Hearing: Safeguarding Americans' Communications: Strengthening Cybersecurity in a Digital Era — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Energy and Commerce

• Hearing: "Exploitation and Enforcement Part II: Improving Enforcement in Countering Uyghur Forced Labor" — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Homeland Security

• Hearing: HearingEntitled: Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Financial Services

• Hearing: Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act of 2024: Members Day Hearing — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

• Hearing: Crime on the Rise: How Lawlessness is Impacting Main Street America — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Small Business

• Hearing: The Risks of Progressive Ideologies in the U.S. Military — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Oversight and Accountability

• Hearing: Oversight hearing titled Examining the Biden Administrations Limits on Access to the OCS: Impacts on Consumers States and Operators — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Natural Resources

• Hearing: The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Social Services — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on the Judiciary

• Hearing: "Lowering Costs and Increasing Access to Health Care with Employer-Driven Innovation" — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Education and the Workforce

• Hearing: Rural Access: Is VA Meeting All Veterans Where They Live? — 10:15 AM — Host: Committee on Veterans' Affairs

• Hearing: Examining the Biden Administrations Afghanistan Policy Since the U.S. Withdrawal: Part II — 2:00 PM — Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs

Cabinet Members

• Secretary of State Blinken meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah EI-Sisi in Cairo, Egypt at 9:30 AM.

• Secretary of Education Cardona will join Vice President Harris in Charlotte, NC to highlight the latest actions by the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce gun violence at 11:30 AM. She will convene educators, counselors, parents, gun safety advocates, and local and state leaders, and will announce new funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that will help schools throughout the state and across the country increase access to mental health resources for their students.

Visitors

• No events scheduled.

General Events

• The Heritage Foundation: Inflation: Today's Financial Pandemic — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: The Heritage Foundation, 11:00 AM. Every American has felt the effects of the staggering surge in inflation in the past few years. In the U.S. and other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the rise in inflation strongly relates to increases in transfer payments since 2020, the start of the COVID pandemic. Heritage Distinguished Fellow in Economic Thought Dr. Robert Barro has researched this significant inflation spike, and his conclusions may surprise you. Through a conceptual framework based on the government's intertemporal budget constraint, we can see that the inflation surge is a way to "pay for" part of added government spending by depreciating the real value of public debt. In this framework, more spending triggers more inflation, but higher initial debt and longer debt duration mean lower inflation. This can explain recent inflation rates in 21economies (20 non-European countries and the Euro area considered as an aggregate). The U.S. is not an outlier, with inflation and the spending surge both moderately above average. The bottom line? Recent inflation surges were triggered by the surges in government spending — i.e., expanded government caused inflation. Learn more about how big government makes your everyday expenses more costly as Dr. Barro joins Heritage Executive Vice President Derrick Morgan.

• CSIS: The CommonHealth Live! IRC President David Miliband: A New Crisis Landscape — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: Online Event, 8:00 AM. In the second episode of the CommonHealth Live! series, J. Stephen

EFTA00160232

Morrison speaks with International Rescue Committee (IRC) President and CEO David Miliband about the recently released IRC 2024 Emergency Watchlist. The onset of 2024 has brought with it record levels of humanitarian crises. How and why are global humanitarian crises evolving? How do we address these unprecedented global challenges? What can be done to reduce the impact on affected communities?

• CSIS: North Korea in 2024: What to Expect? — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: Online Event, 9:30 AM. Please join us for a special discussion on what to expect from North Korea in 2024 with Mr. Sydney Seiler, senior adviser with the CSIS Korea Chair, and formerly the National Intelligence Officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council from 2020 to 2023.

• CSIS: Prospects for Digital Trade in the Asia-Pacific in 2024 — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: Online Event, 10:00 AM. The Asia-Pacific digital trade panorama is evolving rapidly. Several countries such as Australia and Singapore have been forming digital trade and digital economy agreements with each other; in July 2023 the UK joined the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and numerous countries including China have requested to follow; and in September the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is negotiating the Digital Economy Framework Agreement. Meanwhile, strong headwinds are gathering —the regional digital policy landscape is increasingly fragmented as restrictive data transfer and other policies emerge and some countries still fall short of meeting their digital trade obligations. And in a major blow, the United States appears to be retreating: the U.S.-backed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) did not make expected progress with digital trade 2023, and in October the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) reversed U.S. support for key IPEF and WTO digital trade rules, on cross-border flow of data, data localization, and protection of source code. This panel will discuss the prospects of the Asia-Pacific digital trade agenda, the status of the implementation of key agreements such as the CPTPP, and the prospects for a robust IPEF in light of the USTR's decision and imminent U.S. elections.

• CSIS: Navigating Security Challenges in the Black Sea Region — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: CSIS, 11:30 AM. Please join the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program on Thursday, January 11th from 11:30am ET at CSIS HQ, for an in-person panel discussion between Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Elizabeth M. Allen, Max Bergmann, Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff, and Dr. Lisa Aaronson, on managing security risks in the Black Sea Region. The conversation will touch on the current U.S. Black Sea Strategy, security challenges faced by U.S. Allies and partners in the Black Sea region, and the importance of strengthening democratic institutions and ties between our people.

• CSIS: The National Defense Industrial Strategy: The Way Ahead —Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: CSIS, 3:30 PM. The CSIS Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group (DIIG) will welcome the country's first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (ASD(IBP)), the Honorable Dr. Laura D. Taylor-Kale, for a discussion on the new National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) moderated by DIIG Director Dr. Cynthia R. Cook. The Department of Defense, which has never put forth a strategy specifically for the U.S. defense industry, is launching their plan in early January for strengthening U.S. industrial capacity. This event will discuss the new strategy and what steps will need to be taken to see it to fruition. Dr. Seth G. Jones, Senior Vice President and Director of the International Security Program at CSIS, will offer introductory remarks for this discussion.

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Our Enemies Will Vanish: Book Talk with Yaroslav Trofimov — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 5:00 PM. No journalist has covered the war in Ukraine with greater knowledge, compassion, and insight than Yaroslav Trofimov, the chief foreign affairs correspondent of the Wall Street Journal. Born and raised in Kyiv, Trofimov has written a powerful new book about the war entitled Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence, which will be published by Penguin Press in January 2024. Drawing on his vast experience covering wars and conflicts in various parts of the world since 2001, Trofimov explains how the people of Ukraine against all odds have withstood one of the most powerful militaries in the world and endured unspeakable horrors. His account captures the bravery of ordinary Ukrainians risking their lives to preserve their country's independence. In his book, Trofimov combines his first-hand experience at the front lines with profound military analysis, providing unique insight into all levels of Ukraine's fight for survival. Please join Trofimov and Susan Glasser of the New Yorker for an engaging discussion of Our Enemies Will Vanish:

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The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence. A book signing and reception will follow the event. Copies will be available for purchase.

• CATO Institute: The Case for Shareholder Capitalism: How the Pursuit of Profit Benefits All — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: CATO Institute, 12:00 PM. At its essence, shareholder capitalism is a means for mutually beneficial trade. It fosters specialization, fuels innovation, and propels economic growth. While shareholder capitalism is a central theme in Finance 101courses, it is increasingly criticized, especially with the popularization of sustainability, ESG investing, and stakeholder capitalism. In this engaging new book, author David McLean, the William G. Droms Professor of Finance at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, explains how shareholder capitalism benefits all. Edward Rock, the Martin Lipton Professor of Law at New York University School of Law and the codirector of the university's Institute for Corporate Governance & Finance, will join McLean for a lively discussion on the nature of shareholder capitalism and its role in society. Norbert Michel, vice president and director of the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, will moderate the discussion.

• CAP: OverturningPrecedent: Examining the Regulatory Protections at Stake in the Loper Bright and Relentless Cases — Thursday, January 11, 2024. Location: Online Event, 12:15 PM. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on January 17 to overturn a 40-year-old legal precedent known as Chevron deference in the upcoming cases Loper Bright v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce. The ramifications of overturning Chevron deference are broad and would strip federal agencies' ability to react quickly to address new problems and looming threats as society grows evermore complex. Please join the Center for American Progress and Democracy Forward Foundation for a virtual event in which an expert keynote and panel will discuss the significant threat these cases pose to the ability of federal agencies to serve the American people and to protect them from bad actors and societal volatility.

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

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📅 Jan 8, 2024

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - January 8, 2024

From: FBI News Briefing <fbinewsbriefing@barbaricum.com>

To: FBINewsBriefing@ic.fbi.gov

Federal Bureau of Investigation - January 08, 2024 Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS - US Attorney General Convenes Panel on Violent Crime - Special Counsel Smith Has Spent More Than $12 Million On Trump Cases So Far - Iowa School Shooter Posted on Discord He Was 'Gearing Up' Before Gunfire - U.S. Grounds Some Boeing Max

Federal Bureau of Investigation - January 08, 2024

Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs)

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS
- US Attorney General Convenes Panel on Violent Crime
- Special Counsel Smith Has Spent More Than $12 Million On Trump Cases So Far
- Iowa School Shooter Posted on Discord He Was 'Gearing Up' Before Gunfire
- U.S. Grounds Some Boeing Max Planes for Safety Checks

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
- Former Burisma Lawyer Registers Retroactively As Foreign Lobbyist After Biden Investigations
- A Kansas Man Pleaded Guilty to Selling Plane Parts to Russia
- FBI Issues Warning of China's Government Possibly Targeting U.S. Citizens in Texas
- Why the U.S. Says China Is Stealing Al Secrets to Turbocharge Spying

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
- Nearly 3,000 Pages Of Jeffrey Epstein Documents Released, But Some Questions Remain Unanswered
- Michigan Man Gets 15 Years in Prison for Asking 13-Year-Old to Send Him Sexually Explicit Images
- A Man Charged With Punching a Flight Attendant Also Allegedly Kicked a Police Officer in the Groin
- Connecticut Military Veteran Charged With Making Threats Against Member of Congress, VA
- Margaritaville Cruise Bartender Accused of Sexually Assaulting Two Women in Cabin, Impregnating One
- The Questions That Remain a Year After Tyre Nichols's Death
- Ex-FBI Informant Accused of Stabbing Derek Chauvin in BLM-Inspired Prison Attack Pleads Not Guilty
- Heavy Police Presence in Massachusetts as FBI, ATF Assist Local Police With Search
- Pennsylvania Journalist Charged With Sex Crimes Now Facing New Charges Involving Another Minor
- Man Arrested After World of Warcraft Game Helps Police in Florida Find Missing 16-Year-Old Girl From Ohio

CYBER DIVISION
- Cyber-Focused FBI Agents Deploy to Embassies Globally
- FBI Warns Chinese Students in U.S. Of Extortion Scam

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- U.S. Fugitive Nicholas Rossi Extradited From Scotland
- FBI Seeks Info on New Jersey Man Missing in Italy

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS
- The Supreme Court Will Decide If Donald Trump Can Be Kept Off 2024 Presidential Ballots
- FBI Arrests Three In Florida On Charges Of Assaulting Officers In Jan. 6 Insurrection
- New Video Shows Republican Congressman Scolding Jan. 6 Rioters Through Barricaded House Chamber
- Jack Smith Responds To Trump Legal Team Arguing For Special Counsel To Be Held In Contempt
- Jan. 6 Attack Resonates In Smaller-Scale Acts Of Political Violence
- Three Years Later, Jan. 6 By The Numbers: More Than 1,200 Charged, More Than 460 Imprisoned For Role In Capitol Attack
- Mike Pence Denounces Debunked FBI Jan 6 Conspiracy Theory Promoted by Trump
- Bodycam Footage Details Rough Encounter Between Ex-Trump Campaign Aide, Smith Case Agents
- Court Says Even Passive Members Of Jan. 6 Mob Can Be Convicted Of Disorderly Conduct
- Google Location Data Was Used To Find Jan. 6 Rioters. It's Disappearing.
- To Plead Or Not To Plead? That Is The Question For Hundreds Of Capitol Riot Defendants
- Judge Rejects Lawsuit To Disqualify Georgia's Lieutenant Governor For Acting As Trump Elector
- Three Years After Jan. 6, Trump's Immunity Claims To Take Center Stage
- Former Law Enforcement Officer Says Biden Has Been Weak In Denouncing Jan. 6 Attack
- Trump Vows To 'Take Over Our Capitol' On Anniversary Of Deadly Riot
- Jan. 6 Defendants Plot New Strategy To Delay Cases
- Special Counsel Probe Uncovers New Details About Trump's Inaction On Jan. 6: Sources
- 'Qanon Shaman' Demands the FBI Return the Horns He Wore During Riot
- FBI Still Looking For Person Who Planted Pipe Bombs Ahead of Jan. 6 Capitol Riot
- $30 Million Suit Filed Over Jan. 6 Protester Ashli Babbitt's Death
- Editorial: Three Years Later, Beware Dangerous Revisionism of Jan. 6

OTHER FBI NEWS
- Democrats Urge DOJ to Get Tougher on White-Collar Criminals
- Worries Fly After Florida Journalist's Home Raided by FBI for Kanye West Video

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- Israel Says Hamas Has Been Destroyed in North Gaza
- Hezbollah Fires Rocket Barrage Into Israel as Blinken Mounts New De-Escalation Push
- Israel Presses Egypt to Better Secure Borderland Against Hamas Smugglers
- Short on Shells, Ukraine Relies on Explosive Drones to Hold Russia Back
- Some Families of Kidnapped Migrants Paid Ransoms, Mexico Minister Says
- A Small-Town Stabbing Takes On a Larger Significance for France
- Woman Rescued From Rubble in Japan Five Days After Deadly Quake
- A Year After Pro-Bolsonaro Riots and Dozens of Arrests, Brazil Is Still Recovering
- Norwegian Mass Killer Attempts to Sue the State Once More for an Alleged Breach of Human Rights
- India Court Restores Life Prison Sentences for 11 Hindu Men Who Raped a Muslim Woman in 2002 Riots

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS
- Supreme Court Allows Idaho To Enforce Near-Total Abortion Ban
- House Republicans Ready Contempt of Congress Charges Against Hunter Biden for Defying a Subpoena
- Ex-Cop Gets 14 Months in Jail in Death of Elijah McClain, Whose Mom Calls Him 'Bully With a Badge'
- U.S. Moves Closer to Filing Sweeping Antitrust Case Against Apple
- After Part Of A Plane's Wall Blew Out, Feds Ground Some Boeings
- Congress Has a Deal to Fund the Government and Not Much Time to Pass It
- Johnson Gets Direct Channel With Senate Border Negotiators
- A New Immigration Policy That Avoids A Dangerous Journey Is Working. But Border Crossings Continue
- A California Law Banning The Carrying Of Firearms In Most Public Places Is Blocked Again
- John Turscak, Accused Of Stabbing Derek Chauvin In Prison, Pleads Not Guilty
- U.S. Released More Than 2.3 Million Migrants At Border Since 2021, Data Show
- The U.S. Sees A Drop In Illegal Border Crossings After Mexico Increases Enforcement

BIG PICTURE
- New York Times
- Wall Street Journal
- Washington Post
- Financial Times
- ABC News
- CBS News
- NBC News
- Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE
- White House: President Biden, Vice President Harris
- US Senate: No events scheduled.
- US House of Representatives: No events scheduled.
- Cabinet Members: Secretary of State Blinken meetings
- Visitors: No events scheduled.
- General Events: CATO Institute event

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

📅 Jan 18, 2024

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - January 18, 2023

From: FBI News Briefing

To: FBINewsBriefing

View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation - January 18, 2024 Seal | Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • U.S. Navy Carries Out New Round of Strikes Against Houthis in Yemen • The Supreme Court Wrestles With Major Challenges to the Power of Federal Regulators • Chinese-Manufactured Dro

View in Browser

Federal Bureau of Investigation - January 18, 2024

Seal | Federal Bureau of Investigation
Daily News Briefing
(In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs)

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS
• U.S. Navy Carries Out New Round of Strikes Against Houthis in Yemen
• The Supreme Court Wrestles With Major Challenges to the Power of Federal Regulators
• Chinese-Manufactured Drones `Pose a Significant Risk to Critical Infrastructure and U.S. National Security,' DHS and FBI Warn
• Federal Investigators Asked Banks to Comb Customer Data for `MAGA,"Trump' Terms

COUNTERTERRORISM
• Package Mailed to Rural California Elections Office Tested Positive for Fentanyl, Authorities Say
• Donald Day Allegedly Had Buckets of Ammunition and Threatened FBI Agents
• Club Q Shooter Faces More Than a Century in Prison for Hate Crime Charges
• 14-Year-Old Charged In Connection With School Bomb Threat
• Hackers Level Bomb Threats Against Hospitals
• Bomb Threats Received at Montana Schools, Investigation Continues
• Opinion: Biden Administration May Be Reviving Effort to Label Concerned Parents as 'Domestic Terrorists'

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
• Inside Biden's Secret Surveillance Court
• Pentagon Faces Questions for Funding Top Chinese Al Scientist
• Analysis: The Case for Counterintelligence Against Chinese Espionage

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
• Trump Lawyers Preview Arguments of 'Political Bias' in Classified Documents Case
• DOJ Further Acknowledges Hunter Biden's Laptop Is Real
• 'Suitcase Killer' Heather Mack Sentenced to 26 Years for Cold-Blooded Murder of Mom Over $1.5m Trust Fund
• MS-13 Terrorized Northern Virginia by Killing at Random, Witnesses Say
• Man Wanted by FBI for Ponzi Scheme Charged for Stealing $100M From Investors
• FBI Investigating Multiple Quickmed Locations
• Mistrial for 72-Year-Old Accused of Killing a Deputy Five Decades Ago
• Palestinian Students Shot in Vermont Say the Suspect Waited for and Targeted Them
• FBI Investigating Oregon Transgender Woman Over Racist, Antisemitic Social Media Posts
• FBI Investigating Georgia County's Delayed Waste-To-Fuel Project
• Colorado Funeral Home Owners Apparently Sought to Cover Up Money Problems by Abandoning Bodies
• Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Reportedly Under FBI Inquiry for Alleged Sex Crimes
• Eric Adams Hauls in $650,000 for NYC Mayor's Legal Defense Fund Amid Federal Investigation
• Investigation Into High School Student Threatened Online Gets Attention From FBI
• Three Arrested in Bay Area Retail Theft Ring That Stole $650K in Merchandise

CYBER DIVISION
• CISA-FBI Cybersecurity Advisory Details Indicators of Compromise From Androxgh0st Malware Attacks
• Continued Reporting: FBI Warns of Escalating Online Sextortion Targeting Minors

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
• Republicans Unveil Legislation Expanding Federal Law to Prohibit Swatting
• Anonymous Tips Work to Prevent School Shootings and Suicides, New Study Finds

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS
• Rep. Elise Stefanik Faces Censure Effort for Calling Jan. 6 Defendants 'Hostages'
• Proud Boys Member Who Attacked at Least Six Officers on Jan. 6 Sentenced
• Maine Court Defers Ruling on Election Official Disqualifying Trump Because of 14th Amendment
• The 'Sleeping Giant' Case that Could Upend Jack Smith's Prosecution of Trump
• Judge Rejects Donald Trump Motion to Compel Jan. 6 Committee Evidence
• Suit Seeking Ken Paxton's Jan. 6 Communications Can Move Ahead
• Woman Who Marched With Proud Boys at Capitol Riot Deserves Prison Time: Feds
• Jan. 6 Influencer Credited With Turning Insurrection Into Story of Victimhood: Report
• Lawmakers Call For IRS Scrutiny of Trump-Backed Nonprofit That Aids Jan. 6 Rioters
• Analysis: Jan. 6 Documentary Produced by The Epoch Times
• Continued Reporting: Law Enforcement Investigating Remarks Allegedly Made by Roger Stone

OTHER FBI NEWS
• Chinese Lab Mapped Covid-19 Virus Two Weeks before Sharing Information Globally, Documents Reveal
• America First Legal Launches Investigation into the FBI's "Chief Diversity Officer" for Alleged Illegal Racial and Sex Discrimination
• FBI's New Orleans Field Office Gets New Special Agent in Charge
• FBI El Paso Launches Official Instagram Account
• Gov. Wes Moore Promises No Tax Hikes, Trims Money for State Programs in a 'Refocus'
• Vexed House Committee Calls Mayorkas to Carpet for Ducking Impeachment Testimony

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
• U.S. Moves to Bar Guatemala's Ex-President From Entry
• Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes in Iran
• Belgian Customs Seized Record Amount of Cocaine as EU Faces Rise in Drug-Related Violence
• China Goes All In on Green Industry to Jolt Ailing Economy
• The U.S. Plan for a Postwar Middle East Isn't Gaining Any Traction
• Cult Leader in Kenya to Face 191 Charges of Child Murder
• Fireworks Factory Explosion in Thailand Kills at Least 20
• He Killed a Man. Turks Wonder Why a Well-Connected Somali Went Free.
• UN: Palestinians Are Dying in Hospitals as Estimated 60,000 Wounded Overwhelm Remaining Doctors
• A Prosecutor Investigating a TV Studio Attack in Ecuador Has Been Shot Dead in Guayaquil

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS
• Texas Defies Federal Threat to Abandon Border Area, Setting up Legal Showdown
• Judge Threatens to Boot Donald Trump From Courtroom Over Loud Talking as E. Jean Carroll Testifies
• Johnson Casts Doubt on Border Deal to Unlock Ukraine Aid, Defying Biden
• The U.S. Plan for a Postwar Middle East Isn't Gaining Much Traction
• Fact Check: 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing Not Linked to Hillary Clinton Whitewater Scandal
• Trump Tells New Hampshire Voters He'd 'Never Allow' a Federal Reserve Digital Dollar
• Entrepreneur Ramaswamy Drops Out of White House Race, Endorses Trump
• Haley Steps up Attacks on Trump, but Some in N.H. See Her Holding Back
• Democratic Denver Mayor to Lead Coalition of Mayors Asking For Federal Help for Immigrants
• U.S. Attorney General Met With Uvalde Victims' Families Before DOJ Releases Report on Law Enforcement Response to Massacre

BIG PICTURE
• New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• Washington Post
• Financial Times
• ABC News
• CBS News
• NBC News
• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

IN THE NEWS

U.S. Navy Carries Out New Round of Strikes Against Houthis in Yemen The Associated Press (01/17, Copp, Baldor) and the Washington Post (01/17, Lamothe) reported that on Wednesday the U.S. military fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against Houthi-controlled sites, according to the U.S. Central Command. The reports stated that U.S. forces carried out the strikes on 14 missiles that the Houthis had "loaded to be fired," military officials said in a statement released by U.S. Central Command. The missiles were on launch rails and "presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships and could have been fired at any time," prompting U.S. forces to strike in self-defense. According to the information, the incident occurred when a one-way attack drone was launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and -operated MN Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden. According to the Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the U.S. would continue to take military action to prevent further attacks. The story was also reported on by ABC News (01/17, Martinez), Al Jazeera (01/18, Staff Writer), Axios (01/17, Falconer), CBS News (01/17, Watson), CNN (01/17, Britzky, Liebermann), Fox News (01/17, Price), The Guardian (01/17, Wintour), The Hill (01/17, Robertson), NBC News (01/17, Schapiro), New York Times (01/18, Staff Writer), Reuters (01/18, Ali, Stewart), and the Wall Street Journal (01/17, Hookway).

The Supreme Court Wrestles With Major Challenges to the Power of Federal Regulators The Associated Press (01/17, Copp, Baldor) and the Wall Street Journal (01/17, Bravin) reported that Conservative Supreme Court justices on Wednesday voiced support for weakening the power of federal regulators. According to the articles, the Supreme Court seems poised to reverse a 1984 decision that many business groups and conservative activists believe has granted too much power to unelected executive-branch bureaucrats—a ruling that conservatives during the Reagan era initially praised as a way to reign in overbearing liberal judges. During the oral arguments on Wednesday, it was reported that Justice Neil Gorsuch took the lead in overruling the precedent, Chevron USA v. Natural Resources Defense Council. He added that by allowing agencies to interpret laws, the government always wins even when Congress does not consider the issue. The story was also reported on by ABC News (01/17, Dwyer), Axios (01/17, Baker), CBS News (01/17, Quinn), CNN (01/17, Cole), Fox News (01/17, Bream, Mears), The Hill (01/17, Schonfeld, Frazin), NBC News (01/17, Hurley), New York Times (01/17, Liptak), Politico (01/17, Guillen, Gerstein), Reuters (01/17, Kruzel, Chung), and Washington Post (01/17, Marimow).

Chinese-Manufactured Drones 'Pose a Significant Risk to Critical Infrastructure and U.S. National Security,' DHS and FBI Warn

ABC News (01/17, Barr) reported that the DHS's Cybersecurity, CISA, and the FBI warned that Chinese-manufactured drones pose a significant risk to U.S. national security and critical infrastructure, potentially allowing for the theft of American data. According to the article, this warning was based on Chinese laws that permit government access to data held by private firms, thus putting any American data connected to these drones at risk. The FBI emphasized the threats posed by these drones, stating, "The use of Chinese-manufactured UAS requires careful consideration and potential mitigation to reduce risk to networks and sensitive information." They also highlighted that a 2021 Chinese law expanded the government's access and control over companies and data within China, enforcing strict penalties for non-compliance and considering data collection as vital for China's Military-Civil Fusion strategy to gain a strategic advantage over the U.S. The article noted that CISA and the FBI urged companies and individuals to isolate Chinese-made drones from their networks and to ensure regular maintenance for adequate security measures. Additional reporting on the story was provided by CNN (01/17, Bertrand), CyberScoop (01/17, Vasquez), The Record (01/17, Smalley), BanklnfoSecurity (01/17, Riotta), and Politico Pro (01/17, Miller).

Federal Investigators Asked Banks to Comb Customer Data for 'MAGA,"Trump' Terms The New York Post (01/17, Nava) reported that federal investigators, following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, asked financial institutions to search customer data using terms like "TRUMP" and "MAGA," as disclosed by Rep. Jim Jordan. According to the article, in a letter to FinCEN's former director, Jordan highlighted that FinCEN advised financial institutions to monitor transactions for indications of "extremism," using general terms and including purchases like bus tickets or books with extremist views. The article explained that Jordan requested Director Wray to provide a senior official for an interview regarding the FBI's use of Americans' private information and its engagement with the private sector in law enforcement matters, specifically referencing the FBI's interaction with Bank of America, which, at the FBI's request, scrutinized customer data for specific purchases around the time of the riot. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Newsmax (01/17, Katz), The Epoch Times (01/17, Ozimek), Fox News (01/17, Singman), and Washington Times (01/17, Picket).

Back to Top

[...document continues with further news summaries and schedule...]

📅 Jan 29, 2024 REDACTED

[EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - January 29, 2024

From: Unknown (likely FBI Public Affairs or automated system)

To: FBINewsBriefing

View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation - January 29, 2024 Seal | Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Three U.S. Troops Killed in Drone Attack in Jordan • Shooting Hoops, Changing Perceptions: D.C. Students Face off vs. FBI • Feds To Dispatch More Resources To Fight Washington's Vi

View in Browser

Federal Bureau of Investigation - January 29, 2024

Seal | Federal Bureau of Investigation
Daily News Briefing
(In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs)

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS
• Three U.S. Troops Killed in Drone Attack in Jordan
• Shooting Hoops, Changing Perceptions: D.C. Students Face off vs. FBI
• Feds To Dispatch More Resources To Fight Washington's Violent-Crime Surge
• Feds Announce Drug Enforcement Task Forces Arrest Nearly 200 Suspected Drug Traffickers
• Justice Department Finds Cuomo Sexually Harassed Employees And Settles With New York State
• Nikki Haley Targeted in 'Swatting' Incident at Her Home
• Pelosi Wants FBI to Investigate Pro-Palestinian Protesters
• House GOP Unveils Mayorkas Impeachment Articles Despite Lack of Evidence
• Anti-Trump Ex-FBI Official Who Shut down Hunter Biden Lines of Investigation Violated Hatch Act With Posts

COUNTERTERRORISM
• Ex-FBI Officials Warn Congress of 'New and Imminent' Border Danger
• Man Charged in 20-Plus Calls of False Threats in U.S., Canada Pleads Guilty
• Police Arrest Teen Said to Be Linked to Hundreds of Swatting Attacks
• Last of NY 'Newburgh Four' Bomb Plot Co-defendants Set to Leave Prison
• FBI Probes Antisemitic Comments Directed at Connecticut Common Council
• Opinion: As Iran-Backed Militias Attack Americans, Biden Tries to Save Tehran Terrorists
• Opinion: Predator or Prey? Undercover Federal Agents Target Vulnerable Teens

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
• Chinese Music Student Convicted of Stalking Pro-Democracy Activist at Berklee
• FBI Scrambles to Review 22 Years of High-Level Cases Over Fears of Compromise by Convicted Spy Charles McGonigal
• The Pentagon Tried to Hide That It Bought Americans' Data Without a Warrant

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
• Former Los Angeles Council Member Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison For Pay-To-Play Corruption Scandal
• A British Painting Stolen by Mobsters Is Returned to the Owner's Son — 54 Years Later
• Sexual Assaults Hit New High in 2023 For Cruise Passengers Says FBI
• Russian Man Who Flew on Los Angeles Flight Without Passport or Ticket Found Guilty of Being Stowaway
• Cross Burning In South Carolina Stirs Debate Over Hate-Crimes Laws
• Man Who Ran Dogfighting Ring With More Than 50 Dogs Training at His Property Sentenced
• Colorado Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Aiming Laser Pointer at Denver Police Helicopter
• Two Women Tried to Expose Jeffrey Epstein Three Decades Ago. Why Didn't the FBI Stop Him?
• Couple Working as Chauffeurs Accused of Stealing $34M From Oregon Publishing Giant in Exaggerated and Bogus Charges
• Insider Trader Who Made $1Million on Merck's Pandion Deal Gets Five Months
• Ex-Gang Leader Who Spent Years in Witness Protection Charged in Fire That Killed Kids, Pregnant Women
• Republican State Senator Asks Possibility of Reopening AG Paxton Impeachment Case
• Arkansas Squatters Stake Claim on Land, Says It Belongs to Them Since They Are Part of Exclusive Group
• FBI Searching for "Fledgling Bandit" Wanted for Robbing Four Banks in Colorado

CYBER DIVISION
• Sextortion Training Materials Found on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, According to New Report
• FBI Dismantles Blackcat, Triggering Strong Reaction

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS
• Supreme Court Is Urged to Rule Trump Is Ineligible to Be President Again Because of the Jan. 6 Riot
• Peter Navarro Decries Contempt of Congress Charges Violates Constitution's Separation of Powers
• Judge 'Shocked' by Efforts to 'Rewrite History' of Jan. 6 Attack, Those Who Label Perpetrators 'Hostages'
• Illinois Hearing Officer, Ex-G.O.P. Judge, Says Trump Engaged in Insurrection
• Houston Man Charged After Found Taking Selfies and Videos in Capitol During Jan. 6 Siege
• Milwaukee Man Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Capitol Police With Chemical Spray During Jan. 6
• Cheney Recirculates Stefanik Jan. 6 Statement After She Reportedly Deletes It

OTHER FBI NEWS
• 23andMe Breach Targeted Jewish and Chinese Customers, Lawsuit Says
• International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday
• FBI Springfield Urges Identity Theft Protection
• Last Victim of Maui Wildfires Identified Months After Disaster
• Opinion: Sam Altman Says OpenAl Has a Plan to Combat Election Misinformation

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
• Kim Jong Un Supervised Tests of Cruise Missiles Designed to Be Fired From Submarines, North Korea Says
• U.N. Says Gaza Aid Is at Risk as Nations Pause Relief-Agency Funding
• Iran Launches 3 Satellites Into Space That Are Part of a Western-Criticized Program as Tensions Rise
• Two Masked Attackers Kill 1 in Shooting at Istanbul Church
• After Two Years of Bloody Fighting, Ukraine Wrestles With Conscription
• This Ambush Shows How Ukraine Is Holding the Line
• Houthi Attacks Disrupt Shipping, Draw U.S. Into Direct Conflict
• Israel Struggles to Destroy Hamas's Gaza Tunnel Network
• After Help From Kenyan Police Is Blocked, Haitians Ask: What Now?
• Finland's Presidential Election, First Since Joining NATO, Heads to Runoff

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS
• Donald Trump Must Pay An Additional $83.3 Million To E. Jean Carroll In Defamation Case, Jury Says
• Biden Calls Regional Partners Ahead of CIA Chief's Meeting in Push for Another Gaza Hostage Deal
• Texas Attorney General Refuses To Grant Federal Agents Full Access To Border Park
• U.S. Condemns Ban on Venezuelan Opposition Leader's Candidacy and Puts Sanctions Relief Under Review
• Don't Delete Slack Or Signal Chats, U.S. Agencies Warn Companies
• GOP Lawmaker Moves To Defund 'Sanctuary' Cities, Slams 'Hypocrisy' As They Seek Federal Aid For Migrant Crisis
• U.S. Court Skeptical of Florida Challenge to Biden 'Catch and Release' Border Policy
• Many Black Men Wonder What Biden Has Done For Them
• A Drug Test Cost a D.E.A. Agent His Job. He Sued, and Got It Back.
• U.S. And China To Hold High-Level Talks Aimed At Curbing The Fentanyl Crisis
• FIFA Convictions Are Imperiled by Questions of U.S. Overreach
• Palestinian Americans' Lawsuit In Oakland Seeks To Halt U.S. Support For Israel
• U.N. To Investigate Claim That Employees Participated In Oct. 7 Attack
• Investigators Sought Jeff Bezos' Tax-Return Leaker; They Stumbled Upon Donald Trump's
• Trump's $50 Million Mystery Debt Looks Like 'Tax Evasion'

BIG PICTURE
• New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• Washington Post
• Financial Times
• ABC News
• CBS News
• NBC News
• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

[Further details omitted for brevity]

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

📅 Apr 13, 2023

[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - April 13, 2023

From: FBI News Briefing

To: FBINewsBriefing

Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com

Table of Contents

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The image contains a list of bullet points, some of which are followed by black bars that appear to represent data. One bullet point stands out: "JPMorgan Internally Flagged Epstein's Large Withdrawals Years Before His 2008 Conviction, Lawsuit Alleges." The rest of the text is redacted. Due to the redaction, it is not possible to extract specific data or a meaningful table.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

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JPMorgan Internally Flagged Epstein's Large Withdrawals Years Before His 2008 Conviction, Lawsuit Alleges

The Wall Street Journal (04/12, Safdar, Benoit) reported that JPMorgan Chase & Co. employees internally flagged Jeffrey Epstein's large cash withdrawals two years before he was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution, according to new court papers filed Wednesday. According to the article, JPMorgan risk-management team in 2006 noted that Epstein "routinely" made cash withdrawals of $40,000 to $80,000 several times a month, the U.S. Virgin Islands said in an amended lawsuit against the bank. At the time, Epstein was pulling more than $750,000 a year in cash from the bank, according to the lawsuit. The article mentioned that Epstein was first charged with a sex crime in 2006. He pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution with a minor in 2008 and spent about 13 months in prison. JPMorgan continued providing services to Epstein until 2013 when it says it closed his accounts. Epstein died in jail of an apparent suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. The article added that the U.S. Virgin Islands sued JPMorgan late last year in a Manhattan federal court, saying the bank facilitated Epstein's alleged sex trafficking. The suit alleges the financier used the bank to pay his victims with cash and wire transfers, transactions that should have been concerning to the bank. Another lawsuit filed by an unnamed woman who accused Epstein of sexual abuse also accuses the bank of failing to monitor his transactions. The cases are running together in Manhattan federal court. Reuters (04/12, Stempel) also reported on the story.

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📅 Mar 30, 2023

[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - March 30, 2023

From: FBI News Briefing <fbinewsbriefing@barbaricum.com>

To: FBINewsBriefing <FBINews Briefing@ic.fbi.gov>

Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS

• Director Wray Stresses China Threats in Anderson University Appearance

• Biden Administration Warns of 'Damaging' Effects From GOP Budget Plans

• FBI Informant Testifies for Proud Boys Defense

COUNTERTERRORISM

• AG Garland Defends School Memo at Senate Hearing Against GOP Criticism

• Teen Who Prosecutors Say Planned Attack on Chicago Houses of Worship Reaches Plea Deal

• DOJ Charges Two More People for Attacks Against Florida Pro-Life Pregnancy Center

• DNA From Half-Eaten Burrito Ties Ex-Wisconsin Doctoral Student to Pro-Life Center Firebombing Attack

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

• AG Garland Says FBI Needs Spying Powers to 'Fight the Chinese'

• Biden Condemns Spyware in Democracies Amid Israel Row

• DI-IS and FBI Rely on Chinese Drones That Russia Is Using in Ukraine War

• Rand Paul Hits the Brakes on Hawley Push to Ban TikTok

• Continued Reporting: Newly Released Documents Reveal Secret FBI Investigation of Ivana Trump

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

• Nashville Shooter Audrey Hale's Manifesto to Be Released After FBI Review

• Trump Falsely Claims Presidential Records Act Requires Prolonged 'Talk, Talk, Talk' Over Returning Documents

• Shanquella Robinson's Family Still Demands Answers Five Months After Mysterious Death in Mexico

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• Woman Accused of Double Murder Tries To Get Inmates To Kill Witness

• He Fatally Shot His Girlfriend. Then He Wrote About It in His Diary.

• Several Face Charges in Killings of Gay Men Who Were Drugged and Robbed

• Quinton Simon's Remains Returned to Georgia as Mom Faces Charges

• NYC Drug Ring Peddled Pills

• Pennsylvania Businessman Accused of Stealing $3.5M From Company Sentenced to Prison

• California Man Faces up to 40 Years for Marijuana Trafficking, COVID-19 Insurance Fraud

• FBI Offering $20K Reward in Manhunt for Former Maryland Governor

• Georgia Teens in Trent Lehrkamp Torture Identified by Police

• Two Black Men, One Shot in the Mouth, Plan to Sue Mississippi Deputies

• Pennsylvania DA Hopeful That Discovered Remains Belong to Restaurant Owner Who Went Missing in 2017

• Illinois Man Charged With Robbing Bank, Shooting Security Guard

CYBER DIVISION

• U.S. to Provide $25 Million to Costa Rica for Cybersecurity

• FDA Requires Medical Devices Be Secured Against Cyberattacks

• Arrests Spotlight Online Threats, Harassment in Hacker Community

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

• How 'Swatting' Calls Spread as Schools Face Real Threats

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

• Federal Judge Says Mike Pence Must Testify in Jan. 6 Probe

• AG Garland Refuses to Examine Civil Rights Claims of Jan. 6 Defendants

• Trump Appeals Order Directing Meadows, Other Aides to Testify in Jan. 6 Probe

• Woman Who Joined Conservative Dating Site Reveals She Sent January 6 Rioters' Details to FBI

• Rep. Loudermilk Looks to Clear His Name During Jan. 6 Committee Reinvestigation

• Donald Trump Is Back on Social Media, and Nobody Knows What Happens Next

• Arkansas Man Deserves Acquittal in Capitol Riot Case, His Lawyer Argues

• South Carolina Man Arrested for Spraying Police With Bear Spray During Capitol Riot

• Man Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Waives Jury Trial, Guardian Dines With Trump

• Feds Want Florida Man to Spend a Year in Prison for Role in Capitol Riot

• Opinion: Words That Cause Catastrophes

OTHER FBI NEWS

• Congress to Consider New No-Fly List for Unruly Passengers

• Cruz Demands Big Tech Answer on Coordination With Government Over Misinformation

• Opinion: Trump Says the Justice System Has Been Weaponized. He Would Know.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China

• Mexico Investigates Migrant Deaths in Border City Fire as Homicide Case

• Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China

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• Israel-U.S. Tensions Rise Over Judicial Overhaul

• Zelensky Urges China's Xi to Visit Ukraine

• Soldiers Massing Near Ukrainian Nuclear Plant, U.N. Official Warns

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

• A Majority of Americans Think a Criminal Indictment Should Disqualify Trump for 2024

• House Republicans Lining up to Defend Trump, Helping in GOP Primary

• Biden Heralds Midterm Elections as 'Rejection' of 'Extremism' Undermining Democracy

• Michigan Democrats Rise, and Try to Turn a Battleground Blue

• Congress Must Fight D.C.'s 'Shocking' Crime Trend, Says Rep. James Comer

• Possible Trump Indictment Pushed Back as New York Grand Jury to Break for a Month — As It Happened

• White House to Call for New Midsize Bank Rules After SVB, Signature Failures

• Shooting Prompts a Shrug in Washington, as G.O.P. Rejects Pleas to Act

• After Mass Shootings, Republicans Expand Access to Guns

• G.O.P. Lawmakers Override Kentucky Governor's Veto on Anti-Trans Law

BIG PICTURE

• New York Times

• Wall Street Journal

- Washington Post

• Financial Times

• ABC News

• CBS News

• NBC News

• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

IN THE NEWS

Director Wray Stresses China Threats in Anderson University Appearance

The Herald Bulletin (03/29, Wood) reported that Director Wray has warned that China poses a serious threat to U.S. interests, particularly in terms of economic security and innovation. Speaking at Anderson University on Wednesday, Director Wray highlighted the links between the parent company of TikTok and the Chinese government, suggesting that giving the latter access to information held by the former would be unwise. "Would you want the Chinese government — which is an autocratic government that has shown over and over again contempt for the rule of law and international norms — would you want to give the Chinese government, the Chinese communist party, the Chinese intelligence services everything you have on TikTok?" Director Wray also addressed the FBI's investigations into the attack on the U.S. Capitol, stating that the FBI was only targeting individuals who had used violence or threatened to use it. "To me, the whole thing is part of a broader phenomenon in society that's troubling. It's the tendency on the part of people, when they're angry about something or angry with someone, to express that anger through violence. When it comes to violence, I don't really care what you're angry about or who you're angry with, you don't get to express it through violence, including attacking law enforcement." The article noted that he also talked about the challenges of leading the FBI and the agency's conclusions regarding the origins of COVID-19.

Biden Administration Warns of 'Damaging' Effects From GOP Budget Plans

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The Washington Post (03/29, Romm, Sotomayor) reported that GOP lawmakers have submitted new demands to President Biden to cleave roughly $130 billion from federal agencies and programs in the 2024 fiscal year. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is pushing for austerity, and party lawmakers convened a hearing to highlight the government's growing debt, which is currently at about $31 trillion. According to the article, the Republicans have made a broad commitment to slim down federal health care, science, education, and labor programs while leaving defense untouched. The article noted that at the Justice Department, officials warned about "significant furloughs" at the FBI and other key law enforcement agencies, including those that focus on intercepting fentanyl, a GOP priority. The Washington Examiner (03/29, Bullis) posted a video of Attorney General Merrick Garland's testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday concerning the DOJ budget. The article noted that the budget seeks to bolster federal law enforcement, requesting $11.3 billion for the FBI to help the agency carry out its complex mission. The funding would go toward a multitude of serious and evolving threats, including terrorism, espionage, and cyber threats.

FBI Informant Testifies for Proud Boys Defense

The Associated Press (03/29, Kunzelman) reported that an FBI informant identified only as "Aaron" testified on March 23 at the trial of former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants charged with seditious conspiracy for allegedly plotting to keep Donald Trump in the White House after the 2020 presidential election. "Aaron," a defense witness, claimed he didn't know of any plans for the far-right extremist group to invade the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, and didn't think they inspired the violence that day. However, prosecutors suggested that "Aaron" sent a text message to his FBI handler only after he realized he and other members could be in serious trouble. The prosecutor also showed a video that captured "Aaron" helping another Proud Boy use a podium to block a security gate from closing. According to the article, the trial has raised fresh questions about intelligence failures before the Capitol riot, and prosecutors said that another person the defense had wanted to put on the witness stand secretly worked as a government informant for two years after the Jan. 6 attack.

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COUNTERTERRORISM

AG Garland Defends School Memo at Senate Hearing Against GOP Criticism

USA TODAY (03/29, Jansen) reported that Attorney General Merrick Garland told a House panel Wednesday that a controversial 2021memo he wrote said the FBI received 22 reports of threats against school officials and referred six cases to state and local authorities to investigate. Garland issued his memo to FBI agents about assisting local law enforcement days after receiving a letter from the National School Boards Association, which followed widespread reports of parents threatening school board members, administrators, and teachers over COVID-19 policies. According to the article, House Republicans accused the Justice Department of targeting parents protesting at school boards, but Garland denied it, saying that his memo was aimed at violence and threats of violence and that parents protesting at school boards are protected by the Constitution. The article noted that Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) said Garland should withdraw the memo because it resulted in federal counterterrorism agents investigating Americans protesting at school boards rather than leaving conflicts for local authorities. "Six were actually investigated by the counterterrorism division of the FBI, citizens of this country who were trying to make their voices heard at their school board meetings and instead were tagged by the FBI as terrorists by agents of this government seeking to silence their voices," Cline said. The article also noted that the school board memo has become one of the highest-profile inquiries House Republicans have focused on, and they have called another hearing to question the FBI and Education Department about providing more documents dealing with school board investigations. Fox News (03/29, Kasperowicz) and The Epoch Times (03/29, Lord) also reported on the story.

Teen Who Prosecutors Say Planned Attack on Chicago Houses of Worship Reaches Plea Deal CBS News (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that federal prosecutors reached a plea deal with a teen who was charged with having unregistered explosive devices and had plans to travel to Chicago to attack houses of worship. According to the article, the defendant, Xavier Pelkey, of Waterville, Maine, agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, according to court documents filed Wednesday. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to move to dismiss a second criminal charge. Pelkey could still be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and be ordered to pay a maximum fine of $250,000. The article noted that last year, investigators said they conducted a search warrant on Pelkey's home and found homemade explosive devices composed of bundles of fireworks and sharp metal objects such as staples, pins, and thumbtacks. The article added that an FBI bomb

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technician determined that the items were designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled if they were detonated. Pelkey claimed he only had "fireworks" in his apartment and had taped them together for a "bigger boom," but did not answer as to why they were full of staples and other sharp objects, investigators said.

DOJ Charges Two More People for Attacks Against Florida Pro-Life Pregnancy Center Fox News (03/29, Herlihy) reported that the Dal has charged two more individuals for their involvement in a targeted attack on a pro-life pregnancy center in Winter Haven, Florida. According to the article, Gabriella Oropesa and Annarella Rivera were indicted by a federal grand jury for engaging in a conspiracy to prevent employees of reproductive health services facilities from providing those services. They allegedly targeted a pro-life pregnancy center and vandalized the facilities with spray-painted threats. Similar facilities in Hollywood and Hialeah, Florida, were also allegedly targeted. The article noted that the DOJ has accused the individuals of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) by using threats of force to intimidate and interfere with the employees of the pro-life center in Winter Haven that were providing or seeking to provide reproductive health services and by intentionally damaging and destroying the facility's property.

DNA From Half-Eaten Burrito Ties Ex-Wisconsin Doctoral Student to Pro-Life Center Firebombing Attack Fox News (03/29, Wallace) reported that a former university research assistant has been arrested and charged with attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive in connection with the firebombing of a pro-life center in Madison, Wisconsin. According to the article, Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, 29, was identified by DNA found in a half-eaten burrito he discarded in a public trash can, which law enforcement officers later recovered. The attack on the headquarters of Wisconsin Family Action took place on Mother's Day 2022, about a week after the leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion that would later overturn Roe v. Wade. The article noted that Roychowdhury is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail inside the building and leaving graffiti that read "If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either." "Violence is never an acceptable way for anyone to express their views or their disagreement," Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division said. "Today's arrest demonstrates the FBI's commitment to vigorously pursue those responsible for this dangerous attack and others across the country, and to hold them accountable for their criminal actions."

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COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

AG Garland Says FBI Needs Spying Powers to 'Fight the Chinese'

The Epoch Times (03/29, Lord) reported that during a recent hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the FBI's use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), arguing that the surveillance apparatus is critical to "fight the Chinese." According to the article, FISA Section 702, a post-9/11 section of the U.S. Code, is controversial for its wide-ranging application in surveilling American citizens. A court-ordered report found that the FBI had used that controversial section of U.S. law to illegally spy on over 3.3 million Americans without a warrant, including an unnamed sitting member of Congress. The article noted that House Republicans have been mounting investigations into what they allege is the "weaponization" of the federal government for partisan ends, leading to increased mistrust of the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies among Republican voters. The article added that despite concerns about FISA abuses, Garland argued that Section 702 provides "an extraordinarily large proportion of the intel we get" and is a necessary tool to fight the Chinese. The Washington Examiner (03/29, Dunleavy) also reported on the story.

Biden Condemns Spyware in Democracies Amid Israel Row

The Washington Examiner (03/29, Gehrke) reported that President Joe Biden has condemned the use of commercial spyware by governments in a repudiation of Israeli-made surveillance technology, coinciding with deepening anxiety about Israel's democracy under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking at the 2023 Summit for Democracy, Biden stated that one key focus of their work will be in ensuring that technologies are developed to advance democratic governance and not undermine it. According to the article, Biden couched that statement as an assurance that U.S. agencies would not use such systems just months after revelations that the FBI considered the use of spyware developed by an Israeli tech company. The article noted that this move puts a spotlight on an embarrassing subject for Netanyahu, as the two leaders clash about a proposed overhaul of the Israeli judiciary that Biden and Netanyahu's domestic critics regard as a threat to Israel's system of governance.

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DHS and FBI Rely on Chinese Drones That Russia Is Using in Ukraine War

The Washington Examiner (03/29, Dunleavy) reported that several U.S. federal agencies, including the FBI and DHS, have been using Chinese-made drones from Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies (DJI), despite national security concerns and sanctions imposed on the company. According to the article, in 2021, 75% of the flights conducted by the Department of Interior were conducted by WI drones, while the Secret Service purchased multiple DJI drones in 2022. DJI drones were also found to be a key part of the Russian military's toolkit during its invasion of Ukraine, with China reportedly selling more than $12m in drones and drone parts to Russia since early 2022. The article noted that congressional Republicans have demanded that the White House take more drastic steps to challenge Beijing's support of Russia, and a bipartisan American Security Drone Act was introduced in February 2023 to prohibit federal agencies from procuring certain drones from countries identified as national security threats. The article also noted that the Commerce Department added DJI to its blacklist in December 2020, and the Treasury Department designated it as a "Chinese Military-Industrial Complex" company in December 2021, in part because it "has provided drones to the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau, which are used to surveil Uyghurs in Xinjiang."

Rand Paul Hits the Brakes on Hawley Push to Ban TikTok

The Washington Examiner (03/29, Sivak) reported that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blocked a move by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) to ban TikTok in the United States, citing concerns over censorship and free speech. According to the article, Hawley introduced the No TikTok on United States Devices Act, which he warned was necessary to protect Americans from surveillance by TikTok's Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance. However, Paul argued that a ban on the app would be an infringement on free speech rights and likened it to Chinese government censorship. While most GOP senators agree that TikTok poses a national security threat, a handful of progressive House Democrats have come out against a ban, citing anti-China "hysteria." Senate Democrats have generally voiced deep reservations about the app's potential use by the Chinese government for spying on Americans. The article noted that Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) has partnered with Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) on the RESTRICT Act, a White House-endorsed bill to address those concerns that have so far garnered 21 co-sponsors, 10 Democrats and 11Republicans. An additional article from the Washington Examiner (03/29, Hutton) reported that the RESTRICT Act will not restrict the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), according to Warner's office. The bill aims to allow the Commerce Department to ban companies such as TikTok, Kaspersky, and Huawei that create national security risks for the United States. Newsweek (03/29, Feng) added that during his congressional hearing, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi sought to highlight TikTok's operational independence from its Chinese owners and pledged to onshore all U.S. user data. The app was safer than most of its competitors, Chew added, but he failed to assuage fears about fundamental control over the app's proprietary algorithm. According to the article, Director Wray told the House Intelligence Committee on March 9 that "the control of the recommendation algorithm could be used to conduct influence operations." He added that this wouldn't be "easily detected or ruled out." A day earlier, Director Wray agreed with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee that, in a future crisis, TikTok's curated video feeds could be manipulated to display pro-China narratives.

Continued Reporting: Newly Released Documents Reveal Secret FBI Investigation of Ivana Trump The Epoch Times (03/29, Athrappully) reported that recent documents obtained by Bloomberg under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Ivana Trump, former President Donald Trump's first wife, was under FBI investigation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to the article, the heavily-redacted documents indicate that the investigation involved agency assets from Canada and Europe, with sources feeding information to agents and the department procuring data from Trump's life in Czechoslovakia, her emigration to Canada, and work status in the US. The article noted that although the reason for initiating the investigation remains unknown, the agency said that some of the related files were destroyed, and hundreds of others are being studied by other government departments.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Nashville Shooter Audrey Hale's Manifesto to Be Released After FBI Review The New York Post (03/29, Pagones) reported that Audrey Hale's manifesto, which was left behind by the transgender Nashville school shooter who killed six people, will be released to the public after the FBI and criminal

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profilers have completed a detailed analysis of its contents. Hale, 28, left behind detailed maps of the school she was planning to attack, and her attack was pre-planned and targeted. She used two assault rifles and a handgun to carry out her heinous suicide mission, killing three schoolchildren and three staff. Police have not yet released information on her motive.

Trump Falsely Claims Presidential Records Act Requires Prolonged 'Talk, Talk, Talk' Over Returning Documents

CNN (03/29, Dale) reported that former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to inaccurately describe the Presidential Records Act. According to the article, in a Fox interview that aired on Monday, Trump criticized the FBI for searching his Mar-a-Lago resort in August for presidential documents and argued he should have been allowed to engage in further discussions with the government over these records. In fact, Trump said, the "very specific" Presidential Records Act actually requires extended talks with the National Archives and Records Administration.

Shanquella Robinson's Family Still Demands Answers Five Months After Mysterious Death in Mexico NBC News (03/29, Bellamy, Essamuah) reported that Shanquella Robinson's family is still seeking answers five months after Robinson, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was found dead in a Mexican beach resort. According to the article, at a news conference with the victim's family last week, attorneys Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson (no relation to Shanquella Robinson) said that no arrests have been made and that they will continue to fight for justice. The article mentioned that White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered her condolences to the family at a recent news briefing but said that because of the pending FBI investigation, there is "very little about what we can say."

Woman Accused of Double Murder Tries To Get Inmates To Kill Witness

Newsweek (03/29, Anglesey) reported that a Florida woman jailed on suspicion of a double murder tried to get fellow inmates to kill a key witness in the case, according to police. Police at the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office originally arrested Fatima Garcia Avila, 21, following murders in Dover and Thonotosassa, near Tampa, in July 2022. According to the article, police said a witness came forward months after the arrest and claimed Avila asked inmates at the Falkenburg Road Jail to kill a key witness. The article stated that evidence presented at the trial showed Buselli sent messages via an encrypted mobile app, in order to "solicit the murder of her estranged husband." But the person who Buselli solicited to carry out the murder reported the request to law enforcement. An undercover agent then stood in as the acquaintance and spoke with Buselli about the plot, which in turn led to the arrest. When Buselli spoke with the FBI agent, she ultimately negotiated a downpayment of $5,000 in order to carry out the murder.

He Fatally Shot His Girlfriend. Then He Wrote About It in His Diary.

The New York Times (03/29, Tully) reported that James R. Ray III, a former Marine, is charged with killing Angela Bledsoe in the home they shared in an affluent New Jersey commuter town. The article quoted Gregory W. Ehrie, then the special agent in charge of the FBI's Newark office, who said, "If you commit a crime in the state of New Jersey, we will not forget, we will not forgive and we will find you." According to the article, Mr. Ray, an entertainment lawyer and former Marine, fled to Cuba after Angela Bledsoe, the mother of his then 6-year-old daughter, was found shot to death in 2018 in the home they shared in Montclair, N.J. He was arrested after a weeklong international manhunt.

Several Face Charges in Killings of Gay Men Who Were Drugged and Robbed

The New York Times (03/29, Stack) reported that assailants used facial recognition to unlock phones and then looted financial accounts. The crimes, which occurred in Hell's Kitchen, spread fear in New York's nightlife. According to the article, several defendants face charges in connection with murders and robberies at Manhattan bars that terrorized the city's gay community, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The article mentioned that John Umberger, 33, and Julio Ramirez, 25, were killed after they left bars in Hell's Kitchen in what the medical examiner's office ruled were murders committed in the course of "drug-facilitated theft." The article mentioned that the police department has said it is investigating a pattern of similar crimes at both straight and gay bars, and that the victims have been a mix of heterosexual and L.G.B.T.Q. people. Detectives believe more than one group may be involved in the crimes, according to two of the officials with knowledge of the investigation.

Quinton Simon's Remains Returned to Georgia as Mom Faces Charges

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The New York Post (03/29, Land) reported that the remains of Quinton Simon, the toddler whose body was found in a landfill after he went missing last fall, have been returned to Georgia as his mother faces multiple charges stemming from his death, police said. According to the article, Quinton, 20 months, was first reported missing from his family's Savannah home by his mother, Leilani Simon, on Oct. 5. The article mentioned that his partial remains were found in a landfill six weeks later. The body was brought back to Georgia this week, WJCL reported, after undergoing additional testing at the FBI lab in Quantico.

NYC Drug Ring Peddled Pills

The New York Post (03/29, Gibbon) reported that nine people — four of them family members — were busted for running a sprawling fentanyl-, meth- and coke-trafficking ring that included peddling pills shaped like Donald Trump, Mickey Mouse, bitcoin, and even Legos, authorities said Wednesday. According to the article, cops seized $2.5 million worth of the drugs in taking down the multi-state drug pressing and peddling operation after a two-year joint investigation, New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said. The article mentioned that the colorful tablets — some of them fake oxycodone pills laced with highly lethal fentanyl — were made into nearly a dozen recognizable shapes that included dominoes, spades, Iron Man, bitcoin, Legos, and green and yellow silhouettes of the 76-year-old former president. The article stated that the task force, which included members of the FBI, the DEA, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and the NYPD, raided two Manhattan apartments and the Bronx building near Yankee Stadium as part of the joint investigation.

Pennsylvania Businessman Accused of Stealing $3.5M From Company Sentenced to Prison KDKA (CBS-2) (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that a businessman accused of stealing more than $3.5 million from a Morgantown construction company was sentenced to over three years in prison, prosecutors announced on Tuesday. According to the article, Michael Allen, 60, pled guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in November. The Department of Justice said he admitted to diverting $3.5 million in company funds while he was the manager of Accelerated Construction Services. The article mentioned that prosecutors said he spent $154,000 on vehicles, including a 2020 Ranger Rover and a classic car restoration. He also bought a 5.19-carat diamond ring for over $113,000 and spent an estimated $19,000 on other jewelry, like a Breitling watch, the Department of Justice said. Allen was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He will also have to pay $3.5 million in restitution to the company. The IRS and Monongalia County Sheriff's Office investigated the case with the help of the FBI.

California Man Faces up to 40 Years for Marijuana Trafficking, COVID-19 Insurance Fraud

CBS News (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that a California man pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple crimes, including conspiracy to distribute marijuana, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction of justice, federal prosecutors said. According to the article, Quenten Giovanni Moody, aka Christano Rossi, 38, admitted transporting marijuana out of state, committing insurance fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, and creating fake FBI documents to attempt to get two of his government-seized vehicles released back to him. The article noted that as part of its investigation, the U.S. government seized two vehicles from Moody in April 2022 that were purchased with money he obtained illegally, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and a 1956 Chevrolet pickup truck, prosecutors said. The article stated that the vehicles were transported to an FBI field office for storage, but on May 8, a flat-bed truck arrived at the facility and the driver told FBI security personnel that he had been instructed to take the vehicles out of federal custody. The driver gave the FBI security team a document that purported to be an order issued by a judge ordering the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI to release the vehicles. The documents were fake, however, and were created by Moody.

FBI Offering $20K Reward in Manhunt for Former Maryland Governor

Fox News (03/29, Norman) reported that federal authorities are now offering a combined $20,000 reward in the manhunt for the former chief of staff of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who has disappeared after failing to show up at his criminal trial. According to the article, the increased reward comes two weeks after the FBI raided the home of Roy McGrath in Florida on March 15. The 53-year-old was supposed to be in Baltimore for the beginning of his criminal trial. "A federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court, District of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, on March 13, 2023, after he was charged with Failure to Appear," the FBI says. The New York Post (03/29, Christenson), Washington Examiner (03/29, Schilke), and the Epoch Times (03/29, Morgan) also reported on the story.

Georgia Teens in Trent Lehrkamp Torture Identified by Police

Fox News (03/29, Rosenberg) reported that Georgia police announced Wednesday that they've identified the teens involved in the torture of Trent Lehrkamp — as his family called on community members to pray for his recovery.

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Glynn County Interim Police Chief O'Neal Jackson III told reporters that investigators had tracked down the minors seen in disturbing photos and videos showing the 19-year-old's abuse. According to the article, investigators had tracked down 20 minors present or involved in both incidents. He did not reveal the date the video was recorded but said it was prior to the incident that landed the young man in the hospital. The article noted that the police department previously said it is working with the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the district attorney's office. CBS News (03/29, Tabachnick), and NBC News (03/29, Video) also reported on the story.

Two Black Men, One Shot in the Mouth, Plan to Sue Mississippi Deputies

The New York Times (03/29, Hauser) reported that two Black men, one of whom said he was shot in the mouth by a deputy while handcuffed, plan to sue a local sheriff's department in Mississippi, claiming that deputies beat them and used "waterboarding techniques" and a stun gun on them during a raid in January, according to their lawyer. According to the article, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI Jackson field office are conducting a larger investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff's Department in Brandon, Miss., for possible civil rights violations and other violent encounters with Black men.

Pennsylvania DA Hopeful That Discovered Remains Belong to Restaurant Owner Who Went Missing in 2017

Fox News (03/29, Wehner) reported that Pennsylvania investigators discovered human remains on Tuesday and are hopeful they are those of a restaurant owner who went missing in 2017. According to the article, Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell's office announced the discovery of human remains on Facebook on Tuesday, addressing concerns from the public about a significant law enforcement presence in the Connell's Patch section of Old Forge. The article mentioned that in the post, the DA's office said the activity was related to the active investigation into the disappearance of Robert Baron Sr. in 2017. The article added that with the assistance of the Old Forge Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and the FBI, Powell said, unexplored investigative avenues involving recent advancements in forensic technology will be pursued.

Illinois Man Charged With Robbing Bank, Shooting Security Guard

CBS News (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that a man has been charged with robbing a Chicago bank earlier this month and shooting a security guard before making his getaway. The article mentioned that according to the charges, the FBI was able to connect him to the robbery because he gave his phone number to a woman outside the bank just before the heist, and she recognized him from news coverage of the robbery.

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CYBER DIVISION

U.S. to Provide $25 Million to Costa Rica for Cybersecurity

The Wall Street Journal (03/29, Rundle) reported that the U.S. will provide cybersecurity support to the government of Costa Rica, officials said, almost a year after a ransomware group laid siege to its critical infrastructure and triggered a state of emergency. According to the article, the State Department will commit $25 million to help build a security operations center within Costa Rica's Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications to monitor cyber threats to government agencies and critical infrastructure, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday. The official said that the funds will also help Costa Rica with strategic and technical cyber planning, training, hardware, and software licenses. The article added that a grant to Costa Rica follows similar efforts from the U.S. to assist Albania in recovering from a cyberattack, which the federal government has since linked to Iran. Tehran has denied involvement. In that instance, the U.S. provided an incident-response team from the FBI and a further $25 million in funding to shore up defenses and aid with recovery efforts. The U.S. has provided similar assistance to countries such as Moldova in recent years.

FDA Requires Medical Devices Be Secured Against Cyberattacks

CNN (03/29, Korn) reported that the Food and Drug Administration will now require medical devices to meet specific cybersecurity guidelines after years of concerns that a growing number of internet-connected products used by hospitals and healthcare providers could be hit by hacks and ransomware attacks. According to the article, under FDA guidance issued this week, all new medical device applicants must now submit a plan on how to "monitor, identify, and address" cybersecurity issues, as well as create a process that provides "reasonable assurance" that the device in question is protected. Applicants will also need to make security updates and patches

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available on a regular schedule and in critical situations, and provide the FDA with "a software bill of materials," including any open-source or other software their devices use. The article noted that a 2022 report released by the FBI cited research finding 53% of digital medical devices and other internet-connected products in hospitals had known critical vulnerabilities. The report listed a number of medical devices that are susceptible to cyber attacks, including insulin pumps, intracardiac defibrillators, mobile cardiac telemetry, and pacemakers. "Malign actors who compromise these devices can direct them to give inaccurate readings, administer drug overdoses, or otherwise endanger patient health," according to the FBI report.

Arrests Spotlight Online Threats, Harassment in Hacker Community

Bloomberg (03/29, Turton) reported that the recent arrests of three alleged cybercriminals provide a glimpse into the kind of hijinks that go down on the modern dark web. The article mentioned that on March 15, the FBI arrested Conor Brian Fitzpatrick in Peekskill, NY, and charged the recent high school graduate with operating BreachForums, an online market where users sold stolen databases names, passwords, and email addresses hacked from almost 1,000 websites.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

How 'Swatting' Calls Spread as Schools Face Real Threats

The Associated Press (03/29, Hollingsworth) reported that a pate of threats and false reports of shooters have been pouring into schools and colleges across the country for months, raising concerns among law enforcement and elected leaders. According to the article, schools in Pennsylvania were the latest targeted by so-called swatting. Computer-generated calls on Wednesday made claims about active shooters, but it was all a hoax. One day earlier, nearly 30 Massachusetts schools received fake threats. School officials are already on edge amid a backdrop of deadly school shootings, the latest Monday at a Christian school in Nashville. The article noted that the FBI in Pittsburgh nodded to the risk, noting in a statement about the school threat cases that it "takes swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk." The article added that an FBI official said in November that they believe the wave of false threats focused on schools may be coming from outside of the country. The Hill (03/29, Shannon), and CBS News (03/29, Video) also reported on the story.

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CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

Federal Judge Says Mike Pence Must Testify in Jan. 6 Probe

Truthout (03/29, Walker) reported that former Vice President Mike Pence's efforts to block his testimony in the special counsel's investigation on the plot to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election have largely been rejected by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. According to the article, Pence had argued that as the vice president and therefore the president of the U.S. Senate, he was protected from divulging information to the grand jury under the Constitution's "speech or debate" clause. However, the judge ruled that while Pence could remain silent on some topics related to his work as president of the Senate, he would have to disclose information related to alleged illegality on former President Donald Trump's part. The article noted that Pence is expected to compete for the Republican nomination against Trump in 2024. ABC News (03/29, Shepherd) reported that Pence stated that he has "nothing to hide" about events surrounding Jan. 6 and that he believes they did their duty under the Constitution on that day. MSNBC (03/29, Benen) provided an opinion piece on the story.

AG Garland Refuses to Examine Civil Rights Claims of Jan. 6 Defendants

Fox News (03/29, Kasperowicz) reported that during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Attorney General Merrick Garland declined a request to examine whether the civil rights of some Jan. 6 defendants have been violated due to the lack of a speedy trial. According to the article, Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde argued that detaining these people for so long violates the 6th Amendment to the Constitution. However, Garland argued that it is their lawyers' job to make that argument in court. Garland added that the judge has the authority to dismiss a case for violating the Speedy Trial Act, and each defendant is entitled to a lawyer who can make a speedy trial argument in court. Garland didn't commit to examining the defendants' cases and said he didn't know the specifics

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of individual cases. The article noted that several House Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, met with the Jan. 6 defendants in the Washington, D.C. jail last week.

Trump Appeals Order Directing Meadows, Other Aides to Testify in Jan. 6 Probe The Hill (03/29, Beitsch) reported that former President Trump's legal team has appealed a decision by D.C. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ordering former chief of staff Mark Meadows and other Trump White House officials to testify in the Justice Department's investigation into the January 6th insurrection. The officials include Dan Scavino, Trump's communications adviser, as well as several national security officials. According to the article, the sealed decision from Judge Howell rejected Trump's claims of executive privilege over the officials. The matter will come before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel recently upheld another of Howell's decisions ordering Evan Corcoran, Trump's attorney in the Mar-a-Lago probe, to cooperate with investigators. The article noted that Meadows and the other officials could have valuable insight for prosecutors as they directed meetings with GOP lawmakers and coordinated with officials at the Department of Justice and in Georgia.

Woman Who Joined Conservative Dating Site Reveals She Sent January 6 Rioters' Details to FBI Daily Mail (03/29, Lepore) reported that Caitlin Berg is claiming that she was able to infiltrate a conservative-leaning dating app and ended up reporting several profiles to the FBI for saying they'd participated in the January 6 riots. According to the article, Berg found many men on the app who had photos of the January 6 riot and started screenshotting their profiles and sending their information to the FBI. The article noted that Berg went under a pseudonym and sent an email to the company in order to get a referral code. After gaining access to the app, Berg connected with men who had said they were at the Capitol on January 6 and asked them for an Instagram or Linkedln account to prove they were real. She then screenshotted their entire profile and gave their information to the FBI.

Rep. Loudermilk Looks to Clear His Name During Jan. 6 Committee Reinvestigation Roll Call (03/29, Papp) reported that Rep. Barry Loudermilk has released findings from the House Administration Committee's reinvestigation of the Capitol attack, in an attempt to clear his name and criticize the Jan. 6 Select Committee. According to the article, Loudermilk was investigated by the select committee for allegedly giving a reconnaissance tour on Jan. 5, 2021, to a group of up to 15 people, some of whom took photos of stairwells, security checkpoints, and entry points to the Capitol. Loudermilk contends that no one on the tour entered the Capitol after it was breached. The Georgia Republican released letters, videos, and a timeline of events focused on his situation. The article noted that Democrats have characterized Loudermilk's release as an attempt at revisionism, with Rep. Bennie Thompson stating that Loudermilk was never formally accused by the committee of any wrongdoing.

Donald Trump Is Back on Social Media, and Nobody Knows What Happens Next

CNBC (03/29, Vanian) reported that Donald Trump has warned of "potential death and destruction" if he is indicted for a crime. According to the article, the former U.S. president's warning, made on his Truth Social messaging platform, echoed the rhetoric he used leading up to the final days of his presidency that led to his removal from Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Trump has since been reinstated on those platforms. The article noted that the advocacy group Accountable Tech has said that over 350 Trump posts on Truth Social would have violated Facebook's safety rules. The clearest restrictions on Trump come from Truth Social, which has an exclusivity deal with him until June.

Arkansas Man Deserves Acquittal in Capitol Riot Case, His Lawyer Argues The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (03/29, Bowden) reported that Richard Barnett, a man found guilty on eight charges related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, should be acquitted for several reasons, according to his attorney, Jonathan Gross. According to the article, in a federal court filing in Washington, D.C., Gross argued that Barnett did not enter the Capitol of his own volition, did not impede police officers, and did not disrupt Congress' certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory in the 2020 presidential election. He also claimed that the government had misrepresented trial evidence, that Barnett was swept into the Capitol by the crowd, and that his statements to police officers did not constitute evidence of wrongdoing. The article noted that Barnett faces a maximum penalty of 47 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 3.

South Carolina Man Arrested for Spraying Police With Bear Spray During Capitol Riot WCBD (NBC-2) (03/29, Laudenslager) reported that Thomas Casselman, a man from South Carolina, was arrested on March 28, 2023, for allegedly assaulting officers during the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States

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Capitol. According to the article, the FBI identified him after releasing several images of him, and tipsters told the FBI that Casselman bragged about being at the Capitol that day and showed them photos and videos of the trip. Casselman was interviewed by the FBI and admitted to being in Washington on January 6, 2021. He was charged with multiple crimes related to the riot, including assaulting officers, entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a Capitol building.

Man Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Waives Jury Trial, Guardian Dines With Trump

Naples Daily News (03/29, Rodriguez) reported that Trish Priller, legal guardian for Christopher Worrell, a man linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection, recently dined with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Worrell's trial has been delayed multiple times due to his medical complications, and a new trial date has not yet been set. According to the article, Worrell is accused of attacking police officers with pepper spray gel during the Jan. 6 incident and is a self-proclaimed member of The Proud Boys, a far-right, neo-fascist group that advocates for and participates in politically motivated violent events.

Feds Want Florida Man to Spend a Year in Prison for Role in Capitol Riot

WKMG (CBS-6) (03/29, Sandoval) reported that Howard Adams is facing a recommended sentence of one year and one month in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the Capitol Hill riot. According to the article, Adams was arrested in 2021 after someone recognized him in video footage and called the FBI. Adams' attorney claims that the recommended sentence is too harsh, stating that Adams did not engage in any fighting during the events of January 6th but did cheer on certain activities taking place. The article noted that Adams is a self-declared state nationalist who had previously refused to attend virtual court hearings, resulting in his re-arrest in December.

Opinion: Words That Cause Catastrophes

An opinion piece by the Wall Street Journal (03/29, Henninger) argues that the recent events of the banking panic and other tumultuous events, like the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot, highlight the importance of thinking before speaking in the era of instant media transmission. According to the author, loose talk can put in motion national and international catastrophes that may wreck lives, economies, and political systems. The article cited examples of individuals like Ammar al-Khudairy, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Janet Yellen, who did not heed this advice and faced negative consequences. The author assessed that "think before you speak" should be a voting issue, and political figures need to be more mindful of their words in public.

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OTHER FBI NEWS

Congress to Consider New No-Fly List for Unruly Passengers

The Associated Press (03/29, Keonig) reported that on Wednesday, members of the U.S. Senate and House proposed a new no-fly list for unruly passengers. The legislation would allow the Transportation Security Administration to ban individuals convicted or fined for assaulting or interfering with airline crew members, separate from the FBI-run no-fly list designed to prevent individuals suspected of terrorism from boarding planes. According to the article, the number of incidents involving unruly passengers dropped sharply last year after a judge struck down a federal requirement to wear masks on planes. However, incidents serious enough to be investigated by federal officials remained more than five times higher than before the pandemic. The article noted that civil libertarians vowed to oppose the measure. They say the FBI no-fly list is not transparent and unfairly targets people of color, and that the new list would have the same problems. New York Post (03/29, Propper), CBS News (03/29, Staff Writer), and Axios (03/29, Habeshian) also reported on the story.

Cruz Demands Big Tech Answer on Coordination With Government Over Misinformation The Washington Examiner (03/29, Hutton) reported that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has demanded that Big Tech companies disclose details about their interactions and business with federal agencies that he said violated First Amendment rights. According to the article, Cruz's office sent letters to Google, Meta, Linkedln, Yahoo, Medium, Reddit, Microsoft, Pinterest, and Wikipedia on Tuesday asking them to detail their coordination and communications with federal agencies over misinformation during the C0VID-19 pandemic. The letter builds on revelations from the Twitter Files, a series of dispatches from journalists who reviewed internal Twitter communications and found the platform regularly speaking with the FBI regarding misinformation. The article

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added that Cruz specifically requested details about communications with 23 federal agencies, including the FBI, the CIA, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and several other agencies. He asked whether the tech companies sent lists of users to federal agencies for review or if they received requests to monitor accounts. The article mentioned that Cruz also requested information on whether the companies had any contact with several named government officials, including FBI agent Elvis Chan, former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Chris Krebs, and former Department of Defense General Counsel William Castle. Fox News (03/29, Singman) also reported on the story.

Opinion: Trump Says the Justice System Has Been Weaponized. He Would Know.

An opinion piece published by the New York Times (03/29, Schmidt, Haberman) stated that the former president is attempting to cast the investigations into his actions as politically motivated uses of the justice system. The author noted that in office, he regularly sought to use government powers against his foes. The author mentioned that Andrew McCabe was temporarily denied his federal pension upon retiring as deputy director of the FBI, after intense criticism from Mr. Trump for his role in the Russia investigation. The author noted that John F. Kelly, Mr. Trump's second White House chief of staff, said the former president would regularly suggest using the FBI and IRS against his political opponents. The author added that legal experts say the mere knowledge that Mr. Trump tried to use them for his own purposes damages public confidence that the Justice Department and the FBI will follow the law, and the facts, rather than go in a political direction.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China

• Wall Street Journal: Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China

Mexico Investigates Migrant Deaths in Border City Fire as Homicide Case

• New York Times: Mexico Investigates Migrant Deaths in Border City Fire as Homicide Case

• Associated Press: Mexico Investigates 8 Over Deadly Fire at Migrant Facility

Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China

• Wall Street Journal: Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China

Israel-U.S. Tensions Rise Over Judicial Overhaul

• Wall Street Journal: Israel-U.S. Tensions Rise Over Judicial Overhaul

Zelensky Urges China's Xi to Visit Ukraine

• Wall Street Journal: Zelensky Urges China's Xi to Visit Ukraine

Soldiers Massing Near Ukrainian Nuclear Plant, U.N. Official Warns

• New York Times: Soldiers Massing Near Ukrainian Nuclear Plant, U.N. Official Warns

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OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

A Majority of Americans Think a Criminal Indictment Should Disqualify Trump for 2024

• Business Insider: A Majority of Americans Think a Criminal Indictment Should Disqualify Trump for 2024

• Politico: Most Americans Think Criminal Charges Should Disqualify Trump From Running Again, Poll Shows

House Republicans Lining up to Defend Trump, Helping in GOP Primary

• Washington Post: House Republicans Lining up to Defend Trump, Helping in GOP Primary

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Biden Heralds Midterm Elections as 'Rejection' of 'Extremism' Undermining Democracy

• Washington Examiner: Biden Heralds Midterm Elections as 'Rejection' of 'Extremism' Undermining Democracy

Michigan Democrats Rise, and Try to Turn a Battleground Blue

• New York Times: Michigan Democrats Rise, and Try to Turn a Battleground Blue

Congress Must Fight D.C.'s 'Shocking' Crime Trend, Says Rep. James Comer

• Washington Times: Congress Must Fight D.C.'s 'Shocking' Crime Trend, Says Rep. James Comer

• ABC News: 'There Is Not a Crime Crisis; DC Lawmakers Insist at Testy House Hearing on Police, Public Safety

Possible Trump Indictment Pushed Back as New York Grand Jury to Break for a Month — As It Happened

• The Guardian: Possible Trump Indictment Pushed Back as New York Grand Jury to Break for a Month — As It Happened

• Politico: Manhattan Trump Grand Jury Set to Break for a Month

White House to Call for New Midsize Bank Rules After SVB, Signature Failures

• Wall Street Journal: White House to Call for New Midsize Bank Rules After SVB, Signature Failures

Shooting Prompts a Shrug in Washington, as G.O.P. Rejects Pleas to Act

• New York Times: Shooting Prompts a Shrug in Washington, as G.O.P. Rejects Pleas to Act

After Mass Shootings, Republicans Expand Access to Guns

• New York Times: After Mass Shootings, Republicans Expand Access to Guns

G.O.P. Lawmakers Override Kentucky Governor's Veto on Anti-Trans Law

• New York Times: G.O.P. Lawmakers Override Kentucky Governor's Veto on Anti-Trans Law

• Associated Press: GOP Lawmakers Override Veto of Transgender Bill in Kentucky

• Washington Post: Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Major Anti-Trans Law, Overriding Governor's Veto

• USA TODAY: Despite Emotional Pleas, One of Country's Strictest Anti-trans Bills Becomes Law in Kentucky

• CNN: Kentucky GOP Overrides Governor's Veto of Youth Gender-Affirming Care Ban

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BIG PICTURE

New York limes

• F.D.A. Approves Narcan for Over-the-Counter Sales

• How Ukraine's Battered Steel Industry Galvanized Its War Effort

• Mexico Investigates Migrant Deaths in Border City Fire as Homicide Case

• The Undoing of Guo Wengui, Billionaire Accused of Fraud on 2 Continents

• China's Soccer Experiment Was a Flop. Now It May Be Over.

Wall Street Journal

• Ex-CEO Returns To UBS After Merger

• The Metaverse Is Quickly Turning Into the Meh-taverse

• Patients Get Break On Test Approvals

• U.S.'s Big-City Exodus Slows Down

• It's Northwestern vs. Neighbors Over New $800 Million Stadium

• GameStop's Revival Plan Keeps Shrinking

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Washington Post

• Bolsonaro Heading Home to Brazil — And an Uncertain Future

• Biden-Netanyahu Spat Bursts Into Full View

• She Survived Auschwitz. Now She's Teaching Gen Z About It — On TikTok

• Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Major Anti-trans Law, Overriding Governor's Veto

• Ariz. Governor's Press Secretary Resigns Amid Backlash Over Gun-Toting Post

Financial Times

• Janet Yellen Says She Expects Ajay Banga to Be Elected World Bank President

• JPMorgan Chief Jamie Dimon to Be Interviewed Under Oath in Jeffrey Epstein Lawsuits

• Bernie Sanders Accuses Starbucks' Howard Schultz of 'Illegal Union-Busting'

ABC News

• Russia Suspends Nuclear Treaty Notifications; New Details Revealed in Nashville Shooting; Pope Francis Hospitalized.

CBS News

• Pope Francis Hospitalized With Respiratory Infection; Women's Rights Activist Built Cookware Empire That Honors Her Culture.

NBC News

• Pope Francis Hospitalized With Respiratory Infection, Vatican Says; Grief-Stricken Nashville Community Mourning Lives Lost in Elementary School Shooting; New Push for National No-Fly List to Decrease Unruly Passengers.

Fox News

• AG Merrick Garland Questioned on DOJ School Board Memo and Protection of Justices; White House Defends Taiwanese President Visit to Us Amid China Threat; Foreign Adversaries Are Going to Develop Al for a Competitive Advantage Over Us: Jay Obernolte.

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WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

White House

President Biden

• 10:45 AM: The President receives the President's Daily Briefing

Vice President Harris

• No events are scheduled.

US Senate

• Hearings to examine the posture of the Department of the Army in the review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years Defense Program; to be immediately followed by a closed session in SVC-217. — 9:30 AM — Host: Armed Services Committee

• Hearings to examine guardianship and alternatives, focusing on protection and empowerment. — 10:00 AM — Host: Aging Committee

• Hearings to examine pharmacy benefit managers and the prescription drug supply chain, focusing on the impact on patients and taxpayers. — 10:00 AM — Host: Finance Committee

• Hearings to examine petrochemicals to waste, focusing on the lifecycle, environmental, and climate effects of plastic. — 10:00 AM — Host: Environment and Public Works Committee

• Hearings to examine the nominations of Nicole D. Theriot, of Louisiana, to be Ambassador to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Ann Marie Yastishock, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador to the Republic of Vanuatu, Robin Dunnigan, of California, to be Ambassador to Georgia, and David J. Kostelancik, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Albania, all of the Department of State, and other pending nominations. — 10:15 AM — Host: Foreign Relations Committee

• Hearings to examine forestry in the Farm Bill, focusing on the importance of America's forests. — 10:30 AM — Host: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee US House of Representatives

• Hearing: Cyberspace Operations: Conflict in the 21st Century — 8:30 AM: Host: Armed Services Committee

• Hearing: Budget Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture— 9:00 AM — Host: Appropriations Committee

• Hearing: Reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Programs — 9:00 AM — Host: Committee on Energy and Commerce

• Hearing: Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 291Vaccine Discharge Parity Act; H.R. 645 Healthy Foundations for HomelessVeterans Act; H.R. 728 To direct the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training to carry out a pilot program on short-term programs for veterans; H.R. 746Streamlining Aviation for Eligible Veterans Act; H.R. 1169 VA E-Notification EnhancementAct; H.R. 1635 the Filipino Education Fairness Act; H.R. 1669 VET-TEC Authorization Actof 2023; H.R. 1767 Student Vete — 9:30 AM — Host: Veterans' Affairs Committee

• Hearing: Member Day— 10:00 AM — Host: Appropriations Committee

• Hearing: FAA Reauthorization: Harnessing the Evolution of Flight to Deliver for the American People — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Cabinet Members

• Secretary of Defense Austin and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, provide testimony at 10 a.m. EDT at a House Armed Services Committee budget hearing, Rayburn House Office Building 2118, Washington, D.C.

• Secretary of State Blinken delivers keynote remarks on "Advancing Technology for Democracy" as part of the Summit for Democracy in Washington, D.C. at 12:30 PM.

• Secretary Blinken moderates a session on "Advancing Democracy and Internet Freedom in a Digital Age" as part of the Summit for Democracy in Washington, D.C. at 12:45 PM.

• Secretary Blinken delivers Summit for Democracy closing remarks in Washington, D.C. at 5:35 PM.

Visitors

• No events are scheduled.

General Events

• Brookings Institution: Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the international legal order— Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, 10:00 AM. Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor Ukraine last year — following its seizure and annexation of Crimea in 2014 and

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subsequent proxy war in eastern Ukraine — is perhaps the most significant challenge to the international legal order to arise since the end of World War II. On March 30, 2023, as part of the ninth annual Justice Stephen Breyer Lecture on International Law, Foreign Policy at Brookings will host Professor Oona A. Hathaway for a keynote address on Russia's war of aggression, the international response, and what they teach us about international law and the future of the international legal order. Hathaway is the Gerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professor of International Law at Yale Law School, professor of international and area studies at the Yale University MacMillan Center, professor at the Yale University Department of Political Science, and director of the Yale Law School Center for Global Legal Challenges. After the keynote address, Constanze Stelzenmuller, director of the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings, will join Hathaway for a conversation on legal responses to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. A panel discussion of distinguished experts on these issues will follow.

• Brookings Institution: BPEA Spring 2023 conference — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Online Event, 1:00 PM. The Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (BPEA) is a semi-annual academic conference and journal that pairs rigorous research with real-time policy analysis to address the most urgent economic challenges of the day. The Spring 2023 BPEA conference will be held March 30-31, 2023 hosted by Brookings's Economic Studies program. The conference proceedings are open to anyone who wishes to observe the vanguard of economic thought around global economic issues.

• The Heritage Foundation: Restoringthe Military's Focus on Warfighting — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: The Heritage Foundation, 12:30 PM. The National Independent Panel on Military Service and Readiness were formed in October 2022 and tasked with identifying policies or practices in the Defense Department that reduce military readiness and recommending remedies. After months of review and research, the eight-member panel is today releasing their findings that conclude that issues of low recruiting and retention can be traced in part to the increasing politicization in the military, including a sweeping embrace of a diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology, the lowering of entrance and occupational standards for the sake of inclusion, and the blatant support of partisan goals like increased access to abortion. The panel provided multiple recommendations designed to restore the warfighting ethos in the military. Our national security depends on a military geared toward fighting and winning wars, not toward advocacy for social justice. On March 30, join us as members of the panel, including its chairman, Congressman Mike Waltz, release the final report and discuss their findings and recommendations.

• CSIS: The Future of AUKUS with Admiral Harry Harris Jr., USN (Ret.) — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: CSIS, 1:30 PM. Please join the CSIS International Security Program and the U.S. Naval Institute for a Maritime Security Dialogue event featuring Admiral Harry Harris Jr., USN (Ret.), former Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. ADM Harris will sit down with Dr. Seth G. Jones, CSIS senior vice president and director of the International Security Program, to discuss the latest developments with AUKUS and implications for the maritime industrial base. In September 2021, the three countries announced their decision to support Australia acquiring conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. In March 2023, they announced a pathway to achieve this capability, including a trilaterally-developed submarine based on the United Kingdom's next-generation design. But there are numerous questions that remain. For example, what are the major challenges that lie ahead? And how might they be addressed? The discussion will feature opening remarks from VADM Pete H. Daly, USN (Ret.), chief executive officer and publisher, U.S. Naval Institute, and Dr. Charles Edel, CSIS's Australia chair.

• CSIS: Book Event: White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Online Event, 2:00 PM. How might a war for Taiwan break out? How would it be fought? Who would win? And, what would its aftermath mean for Taiwan, China, the United States, and for the world? To discuss these questions, please join us at CSIS on March 30th at 2:00 pm EST (March 31st, 5:00 am AEST), for a virtual discussion with Mick Ryan, retired Australian Army major general and non-resident fellow with the CSIS Australia Chair, about his new book, White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan. Dr. Charles Edel, Dr. Eliot Cohen, and Emily Harding will join Mick Ryan to talk about his new book, examine how new organizations, new concepts, and new technologies are changing contemporary warfare, and discuss the implications for U.S.-Chinese competition.

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• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Accelerating U.S.-Japan Tech Innovation — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Online Event, 1:00 PM. Top leaders in both the US and Japan continue their commitments to put innovation as a core pillar of the bilateral relationship, but not enough is known about how this cutting-edge collaboration is actually driven more by the private sector. Join Carnegie for a view from the frontier on linking the United States and Japan through technological innovation featuring Kenji E. Kushida, John V. Roos, and Kaori Fukunaga.

• Aspen Institute: Still Broke: Walmart's Remarkable Transformation and the Limits of Socially Conscious Capitalism — A Book Talk and Panel Conversation —Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: The Aspen Institute, 12:15 PM. In his latest book, "Still Broke: Walmart's Remarkable Transformation and the Limits of Socially Conscious Capitalism," Rick Wartzman considers the experience and history of Walmart moving towards more conscious capitalism and the recent efforts the company has made to provide higher wages and better benefits and opportunities for their employees. The book raises important questions about how much an individual company can do on its own to improve the quality of jobs and people's ability to earn a living through their work, the degree to which business imperatives encourage companies to improve jobs, and when those incentives conflict with that goal, and whether public sector action, either through labor market regulation or the provision of social supports, needs to be strengthened to ensure work in today's economy is contributing to an inclusive economy in which all can thrive. Join the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program in person in Washington DC or virtually on March 30, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, for a book talk and panel discussion that will explore these questions and more.

• Aspen Institute: Future of Sports: Protecting High School Athletes After Damar Hamlin — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Online Event, 12:00 PM. At the Super Bowl, the NFL honored the 25 medical personnel who saved the life of Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills player whose heart stopped during play earlier in the season. Many high school athletes are lucky to have even one athletic trainer on-site during games and practices; just 56% of schools with sports teams have access to athletic training services, down 10% since 2017. Having trainers on site can help save lives from cardiac arrest — the No. 1 cause of death among high school athletes — as well as prevent heat stroke, manage concussions, and treat a range of knee and other injuries among the millions of athletes who play high school sports. What if Hamlin's survival served as a catalyst to get every high school athlete access to an athletic trainer? What would it cost to do that elsewhere? What innovative partnerships exist to make this happen? And, where that's not possible due to financial or personal reasons, what other options exist to save lives and care for young athletes' health?

• Atlantic Council: 2023: A pivotal moment to celebrate 200 years of US-Chile relations — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Atlantic Council, 12:00 PM. The US-Chile partnership has long been taken for granted. Having just celebrated 200 years of bilateral relations, strengthening the alliance with Chile is an important opportunity for the United States to reinforce its regional presence and partnerships. A clear action plan for US-Chile ties will be on the agenda on March 30 when we convene Ambassador Bernadette Meehan, United States Ambassador to Chile, and Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdes, Ambassador of Chile to the United States. The central focus: how they expect or hope the alliance will evolve in the coming years. This discussion will coincide with and be informed by the Washington DC visit of a nine-member Chilean delegation — composed of six parliamentarians representing six individual parties — organized in partnership with the Atlantic Council.

• Wilson Center: Putin's Concept of International Law — Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Wilson Center, 1:00 PM. Russian President Vladimir Putin has held several speeches and written articles in recent years that reveal his interpretation of international law and Russia's role in it. Professor Lauri Malksoo will visit the Wilson Center to argue that changes to Russia's constitution in 2020 and the Russian president's personal preoccupation with questions of historical memory support the conclusion that Putin's interpretation of international law is imperialist.

• Hudson Institute: The Abraham Accords: Achievements and Prospects —Thursday, March 30, 2023. Location: Online Event, 10:00 AM. The Abraham Accords have significantly increased trade, cultural interaction, and tourism among Israel and its Arab neighbors. In addition to strengthening these ties within the Middle East, the accords could also help forge links between member states and other regions, such as Europe and Asia. What have the Abraham Accords achieved thus far? What work remains to be done? What role, if any, can

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the accords play in helping the United States and its allies compete with China? To answer these questions, please join Hudson Institute for a discussion with Israel's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Ofir Akunis, and Executive Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute Robert Greenway, moderated by the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East Director Michael Doran.

Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com

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📅 May 22, 2023

[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - May 22, 2023

From: FBI News Briefing

To: FBINewsBriefing

View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation - May 22, 2023 Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • FBI Broke Rules in Scouring Foreign Intelligence on Jan. 6 Riot, Racial Justice Protests, Court Says • U.S. Police Officer Charged For Allegedly Aiding Proud Boys • Debt Limit Talks Start, Sto

View in Browser

Federal Bureau of Investigation - May 22, 2023
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Daily News Briefing
(In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs)

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS
• FBI Broke Rules in Scouring Foreign Intelligence on Jan. 6 Riot, Racial Justice Protests, Court Says
• U.S. Police Officer Charged For Allegedly Aiding Proud Boys
• Debt Limit Talks Start, Stop As Republicans, White House Face 'Serious Differences'
• Former Trump Lawyer Describes Conflict Inside Legal Team
• Comer Presses FBI Over Alleged Informant File Claiming Biden Accepted Bribes While VP

COUNTERTERRORISM
• As Shooting Trial Nears, Pittsburgh Grapples With Antisemitism
• 'Living in Fear': Arson Is the Latest in a String of Attacks on Minnesota Mosques
• FBI Informant Encouraged To Have Sex In War On Terror
• Opinion: Democrats Cook the FBI's Books on Domestic Terrorism

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
• Guardsman, Pentagon Leak Suspect, To Remain Jailed As He Awaits Trial
• U.S. Must Defend Its Pacific Territories Against Chinese Threat: Former NSC Director
• China Seeks to Counter Musk's Starlink With Own Satellite Network
• Opinion: China's Threat to Our National Security That Might Surprise You

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
• Hunter Biden's Russian Associates Evade Another Round of U.S. Sanctions
• Former Trump Lawyer, Describes Conflict Inside Legal Team
• Continued Reporting: Former Marine Charged With Killing NYC Man Argues It 'Had Nothing To Do With Race'
• Woman Arrested Almost 4 Years After Newborn Baby Is Found Alive in Plastic Bag Abandoned in Georgia Woods
• Accused Killer Bryan Kohberger Allegedly 'Broke Into' Female Colleague's Home Months Before Idaho Murders
• Arrest Made in Connection With the Murder of 20-Year-Old Texas Woman
• 'Cold-Blooded' Philadelphia Hitman Sentenced For Six Murders
• Shanquella Robinson's Family Demands Biden Intervene In Her Death Investigation, Says FBI is Withholding Records
• Wisconsin Man Charged With Hacking Sports Betting Accounts
• Las Vegas Resident Charged In $45 Million Metaverse Scam That Touted Trillion-Dollar Returns
• Members of California County Hells Angels Convicted In Federal Court
• Dad Killed, Two Teens Wounded After Grenade Explodes In Indiana Home
• FBI, Tribe's Police Investigating Fatal Shooting of Tribal Member by U.S. Border Patrol Agents
• FBI Testing DNA After Woman Says She Was Child Who Disappeared in Chicago 20 Years Ago
• Louisiana Man Jailed For Making Minors Bake, Sell Brownies Seven Days A Week
• Feds Dig Up Child Porn Secret In Man's Old Email Account

CYBER DIVISION
• The Underground History of Russia's Most Ingenious Hacker Group
• Law Enforcement Is Fighting The Rise Of "InfoStealer" Malware
• Ethical Hacker Scams 60 Minutes Staffer to Show How Easy Digital Theft Is

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
• Opinion: Here's What We Can Do Now About Gun Violence
• New Bill Would Make Assaulting Law Enforcement Officers a Deportable Offense
• Body Cameras Can Be a Powerful Tool. But Not All Police Forces Wear Them.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• Peruvian Interpol Chief Reveals How Joran Van Der Sloot Extradition Will Go Down

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS
• The 'Beverly Hills Insurrectionist' And The Big Myth About Jan. 6
• Prosecutor Connected To Jan. 6 Probe Takes On Lawyer For Tech Companies In Mystery Appeals Court Fight
• Texas Militia Member Sentenced To Nearly Five Years In Prison For Attacking Police During Capitol Riot

OTHER FBI NEWS
• Graham on Durham's Trump-FBI Report: 'It Is Done and It's Damning'
• Pro-Life Activist Elise Ketch Speaks on FBI Agents Visiting Mom's House
• Congress May Use 'Power Of The Purse' To 'Limit' How FBI, DOJ Spend Money: Rep. Jim Jordan
• Jim Jordan Suggests GOP May Target Hillary Clinton With New Investigation
• Navajo Leaders Seek Tribal Members Caught Up In Sober-Living Medicare Scam In Arizona
• Whistleblowers Slam FBI's 'Nefarious' Weaponization, Say Other Agents Are 'Too Afraid' Of Getting 'Crushed'

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
• Russia Issues Retaliatory Arrest Warrant For International Criminal Court Prosecutor
• Warring Factions In Sudan Agree To Temporary Ceasefire, Say U.S.-Saudi Mediators
• G7 Ends With Ukraine In Focus As Zelenskyy Meets World Leaders, Russia Claims A Battlefield Victory
• Obama, Colbert Among 500 Americans Banned From Going To Russia
• Russia's Latest Sanctions On U.S. Officials Turn To Trump Enemies
• U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Hundreds of Targets In Fresh Russia Action
• Mexico Moving Migrants Away From Borders To Relieve Pressure
• Lebanon Receives Interpol Notice For Its Central Bank Governor Who Was No-Show At Paris Questioning
• Brazil Indicts Ex-Officials Over Amazon Murder of Journalist and Colleague

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS
• DOJ Wins Lawsuit To Dissolve JetBlue And American Airlines's Northeast Partnership
• Nebraska Lawmakers Pass 12-Week Abortion Ban, Restrictions On Gender-Affirming Care For Minors
• COVID Emergency Orders Are Among 'Greatest Intrusions On Civil Liberties,' Justice Gorsuch Says
• Georgia Prosecutor Signals August Timetable for Charges in Trump Inquiry
• Small, Rural Communities Are Becoming Abortion Access Battlegrounds
• Many Transgender Health Bills Came From A Handful Of Far-Right Interest Groups, AP Finds
• Republicans Deploy New Playbook For Abortion Bans, Citing Political Backlash
• Using 'He/Him,"She/Her' In Emails Got Two Dorm Directors Fired At Small New York Christian College
• DeSantis Asks That Judge Be Disqualified From Disney's Free Speech Lawsuit
• Will Biden's Hard-Hat Environmentalism Bridge The Divide On Clean Energy Future?
• The U.S. Left Them Behind. They Crossed a Jungle to Get Here Anyway.
• The Real Impact Of Immigration On The U.S.
• Democrats' Phalanx Around Biden Has an Eric Adams-Size Hole
• The Future of Telehealth After The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
• Democrats Fight To Expand A 'Broken And Illegitimate' Supreme Court
• Judge Orders Rudy Giuliani To Detail Finances In Election Defamation Suit
• Uvalde Families Dig In For New Test of Gun Industry Protections
• Why Dianne Feinstein, Like Many Before Her, Refuses to Let Go
• Postal Thefts Jump. Employees Are Both Victims and Criminals.
• Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins Formally Resigns In Wake Of Ethics Probes
• Former OPM Employee Pleads Guilty To Steering Millions In Contracts To Family-Connected Firms
• Appeals Court Says Alabama Can't Execute Intellectually Disabled Inmate
• JPMorgan, Ex-Executive Spar In Court Over Responsibility For Epstein

BIG PICTURE
• New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• Washington Post
• Financial Times
• ABC News
• CBS News
• NBC News
• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE
White House
President Biden
• There were no new events in the President's schedule.
Vice President Harris
• No events scheduled.
US Senate
• No events scheduled.
US House of Representatives
• Business Meeting: H.R. 467 - HALT Fentanyl Act• S.J. Res. 11- Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5 United States Code of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards"• H.l. Res. 45 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title S United States Code of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Waivers and Modifications of Fe — 4:00 PM — Host: Committee on Rules
Cabinet Members
• Secretary of State Blinken tours a clinic supported by PEPFAR funds in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 11:30 AM.
• Secretary Blinken holds a meet and greet with employees and families of U.S. Embassy Port Moresby in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 12:15 PM.
• Secretary Blinken visits a vendor fair with Academy for Women Entrepreneurs alumnae in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 1:00 PM.
• Secretary Blinken meets with young alumni of U.S. exchange programs in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 1:20 PM.
• Secretary Blinken meets with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 1:40 PM.
• Secretary Blinken meets with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 3:45 PM.
• Secretary Blinken participates in a Defense Cooperation Agreement and Shiprider signing ceremony with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 4:30 PM.
• Secretary Blinken participates in the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 5:00 PM.
• Secretary Blinken participates in a Compact Review Agreement signing ceremony with Palau in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 6:30 PM.
• Secretary Blinken holds a joint press availability with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape and U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 7:15 PM.
• Secretary Blinken attends a working dinner with U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 8:10 PM.
Visitors
• No events scheduled.
General Events
• Brookings Institution: A discussion of the Office of Management and Budget's updated benefit-cost guidelines — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: Brookings Institution, 2:00 PM. On Monday, May 22, the Brookings Institution Center on Regulation and Markets and the Niskanen Center will jointly host a conversation with Richard Revesz, administrator of the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Ted Gayer, president of the Niskanen Center, Zachary Liscow, chief economist of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Connor Raso, senior associate general counsel at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Sanjay Patnaik, director of the Center on Regulation and Markets, will provide welcoming remarks and Phil Wallach, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, will moderate the discussion on proposed updates to OMB Circulars A-4 and A-94, which guide government benefit-cost analysis. These updates aim to reflect new developments in scientific and economic understanding, given that the current circulars are several decades old, but some may have concerns about the impact of particular proposed changes. In any case, much of the impact will depend on public comment and subsequent implementation by OMB and agencies. The program will cover the key issues to be resolved through these processes. This event is a part of the series "Reimagining Modern-day Markets and Regulations" under the Center on Regulation and Markets.
• CSIS: Countering AAPI Discrimination and its Intersections with U.S. Foreign Policy — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: CSIS, 3:00 PM. Since the early history of the United States, America has been engaged in Asia and home to Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The arc of the United States' history is filled with legacies of both rising opportunity for and deepening discrimination toward AAPI communities that often intersected with shifting tides in U.S. foreign policy toward Asia. As the United States emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic—and the spike in AAPI hate crimes that came with it—and adopts a more assertive foreign policy towards China, how can the U.S. foreign policy community further counter AAPI hate and discrimination? Please join CSIS to commemorate AAPI Heritage Month with a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), and a panel discussion exploring ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia. This event, hosted by the Center's Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs (DLIA) Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Employee Resource Group (ERG), builds on an event held in 2021, "Countering Asian and Asian American Discrimination as a Dimension of Foreign Policy."
• CATO Institute: Expanding Access to Primary Care by Removing Barriers to Assistant Physicians — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: Online Event, 12:00 PM. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of as many as 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034. Yet there are not enough residency positions for the number of medical school graduates. Missouri became the first state to address this problem by launching a new licensure category: assistant physician (AP). APs are essentially apprentice physicians. The reform lets graduates without a residency position provide primary care in clinics while enhancing their knowledge and skills. Six other states have passed similar laws: Arkansas, Kansas, Utah, Arizona, Louisiana, and Idaho. Please join Kevin D. Dayaratna, PhD, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation's Center for Data Analysis; Keith J. Frederick, DO, a former Missouri legislator who spearheaded the country's first AP law; and Lyman Wostrel, MD, a primary care physician practicing under Missouri's AP law, to discuss this issue. Cato Institute senior fellow Jeffrey A. Singer, MD, will moderate the discussion.
• AEI: The Power of Money: A Book Event — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: AEI, 5:30 PM. In The Power of Money: How Governments and Banks Create Money and Help Us All Prosper (Matt Holt, 2023), Paul Sheard explains fiat money creation, linking the process to government debt and deficits. His belief in a symbiotic relationship between monetary and fiscal policy leads naturally to central bank quantitative easing operations when interest rates are close to zero. He offers interesting perspectives on financial crises and controversial topics such as CEO pay, wealth inequality, and the long-term viability of the euro, cryptocurrencies, and the international dominance of the US dollar. Join AEI for an interesting discussion of The Power of Money with Mr. Sheard, the Cato Institute's Arnold Kling, and AEI's Paul H. Kupiec. Mr. Sheard will sign copies of his new book during a wine and cheese reception.
• Atlantic Council: A fireside chat with European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: Atlantic Council, 4:30 PM. Please join the Atlantic Council's Europe Center for a virtual conversation featuring European Commissioner for Transport Adina Wean. This event will take place over Zoom on Monday, May 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. ET. Europe's roads, rivers, trains, and ports have become a critical element in the European Union's (EU) support to Ukraine. One year ago, less than three months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU launched the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes to provide an avenue for the export of Ukrainian grain and import of aid to the people of Ukraine. Since then, Solidarity Lanes have become a critical artery of Ukraine's resilience in the face of Russia's invasion. They demonstrate the value of reinforced connectivity in the European transport infrastructure and also support the EU's actions to make the European transport system smart, sustainable, and resilient in line with EU's climate and digital ambitions.
• Wilson Center: Wilson China Fellowship Conference 2023 — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: Wilson Center, 9:00 AM. U.S.-China competition increasingly dominates the foreign policy conversation. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait, decoupling in strategic technological sectors, and a growing struggle for influence in regions across the world signal a 21st century that will be defined in large part by U.S.-China competition. Yet, as President Joseph Biden has said, "We seek competition with China, not conflict." Both countries depend upon the other economically despite concerns about dependence, and neither can address climate change alone. How can the United States compete with China while cooperating on issues of mutual interest? What role will emerging technologies and a rising Global South play in U.S.-China relations? Is this a "cold war" or something else entirely? The Wilson China Fellowship supports a rising generation of American scholars dedicated to exploring every facet of U.S.-China relations and the rise of China. Please join us on May 22nd at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars as our 2022-23 Wilson China Fellows present their projects and discuss key policy issues with program alumni and other esteemed experts for our third annual Wilson China Fellowship Conference.
• Wilson Center: The Other Great Game: The Opening of Korea and the Birth of Modern East Asia — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: Online Event, 4:00 PM. Like the Great Game struggles between Russia and Britain over India that existed for most of the 19th century, the "other" Great Game in East Asia over control of the Korean peninsula also gave rise to lasting rivalry and bloodshed among the regional powers at the turn of the twentieth century. Using her latest book, The Other Great Game: The Opening of Korea and the Birth of Modern East Asia (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2023), Sheila Miyoshi Jager will illuminate some key aspects of this struggle to show how these earlier conflicts and rivalries set the course for the future of East Asia and the larger global order.
• Hudson Institute: Running Out of Space: The Future of Space Traffic Management — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: Online Event, 10:00 AM. FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington will discuss his vision for American leadership in the space economy and the role that regulation can play in promoting an innovative and dynamic marketplace for space services. Commissioner Simington will then join former FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth and a panel of leading experts in space technology and safety to discuss best practices in space sustainability and space traffic management.
• Hudson Institute: Prosperity at Risk: The Quantum Computer Threat to the US Financial System — Monday, May 22, 2023. Location: Online Event, 12:00 PM. Cybersecurity experts and technology policy officials, including those in the White House, are realizing that quantum computers will pose a significant threat to existing public encryption systems and that they need to act now to make America's key infrastructure quantum ready and secure. Join Hudson Senior Fellow and Director of the Quantum Alliance Initiative (QAI) Arthur Herman and QAI Associate Director Alex Butler as they discuss their most recent report. This publication details the potential consequences of a future quantum computer attack on the Federal Reserve, specifically the Fedwire Funds Service, which facilitates large-scale interbank transactions. Mises Institute Senior Fellow and former Deputy Director of the Treasury Department's Office of Financial Research Alex Pollock, and John Prisco, CEO and founder of Quantum Safe Inc., will discuss the implications of the report for the future of our financial system.

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

📅 May 12, 2023

[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - May 12, 2023

From: FBI News Briefing <fbinewsbriefing@barbaricum.com>

To: FBINewsBriefing <FBINews Briefing@ic.fbi.gov>

| FederalBureau of Investigation -   | May 12, 2023                                        |
|-|-|
| Seal                               | Federal Bureau of Investigation                     |
|                                    | Daily News Briefing                                 |
|                                    | (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) |

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS

• DOJ Seeks to Put Trump Deposition on Hold in Case of FBI Agent Fired Over Text Messages

• Republican Nancy Mace Rips Director Wray Over Biden Investigation: 'Man up and Do Your Job'

• Under Fire, CIA Moves to Overhaul Its Handling of Sexual Assault

• Migrant Influx Overwhelms Southern Border as Title 42 Winds Down

• Man Who Choked NYC Subway Rider to Death Will Face Manslaughter Charge, Prosecutors Say

• NBCUniversal's Linda Yaccarino Is in Talks to Become Twitter CEO

COUNTERTERRORISM

• U.S. Authorities Take Down 13 Hezbollah-Affiliated Web Domains

• Abu Zubaydah's Drawings Expose the US's Depraved Torture Policy

• How the Hispanic Allen Shooter Was a Neo-Nazi and 'White Supremacist'

• Laguna Woods Church Shooter Charged With 98 Federal Hate Crimes

• Men Linked to Hate Group Charged in Fresno Pipe Bombings by Federal Prosecutors

• Bomb Threat Made At Pittsburgh International Airport; Man Arrested

• Opinion: Proud Boys Convictions May Counter Extremist Law Enforcement Infiltration

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

• FBI Violations of Rules for Searching Surveillance Data Drop, Audit Finds

• Chinese Government Spy Arrested In Boston, Court Docs Say

• Opinion: Biden's Chinese Financial Dealings Are a Counterintelligence Nightmare

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

• Hunter Biden Investigation: How President's Denial of Son's Wrongdoing Colors DOJ Inquiry

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• Trump Suggests He Knowingly Took Documents From White House

• Records of Florida Grand Jury's Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Can Be Made Public

• Criminal Investigation Into Sen. Bob Menendez Expands With New Subpoenas

• Lori Vallow Daybell Trial: Jurors Begin Deliberating in Case of Idaho Mother Accused of Killing Her Children

• How a Cold War Between Rival Biker Gangs on Cape Cod Turned Deadly

• California Border Patrol Agent Arrested in Undercover Drug and Human Smuggling Sting

• Alleged Silk Road 'Murders-For-Hire' Merchant Hit With Narcotics, Money Laundering Charges

• Appeals Court Overturns Convictions of Two Wealthy Parents in College Admissions Scam

• U.S. Supreme Court Tosses Former Cuomo Aide's Bribery Conviction

• Here's What George Santos Was Charged With

• Victim of 'Pig Butchering' Got Scammed Out of $450K

• Ex-Gangster 'White Boy Rick' Arrested for Punching Woman

• First Graders' Mutual Inappropriate Sexual Contact' Wasn't Assault, Texas Authorities Say

• Letter 'O' Lands Alleged Bank Robber in Jail

CYBER DIVISION

• China Escalates Its Cyberwar Against the West

• The FBI Chops Off the Head of Russia's Malware Network Known as 'Snake'

LABORATORY

• How Will Al Assist the FBI, CIA, and the Military?

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

• GOP Pushes Death Penalty Option for Killing Law Enforcement Officers

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• 18 Years After Natalee Holloway's Disappearance, Peru to Extradite Key Suspect to U.S.

• U.S. Journalists Renew Calls for Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh

• Mexico Arrests Two More in March Kidnap, Killing of Americans

• Suspect in Attack of 78-Year-Old Man in Norridge Flees U.S. To Turkey, Police Say

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

• Trump Talks Pardoning Capitol Rioters in CNN Town Hall

• Three-Judge Panel Poised to Uphold Jan. 6 Obstruction Cases

• Idaho Man Sentenced for His Part in Jan. 6 Riots

• Bench Trial Concludes for Pennsylvania Woman in Capitol Riot Case

• Couple and Their Friend Who Stormed the Capitol All Get Prison

• Las Vegas Man Convicted in Jan. 6 Riot Gets Prison Sentence

OTHER FBI NEWS

• Soldiers, Airmen Train for Nuclear Forensics Mission at Interagency Exercise in Houston

• Local FBI Officials Say School Social Media Threats Have Increased

• Better Business Bureau: Elder Fraud Is a Growing Problem

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Mexico to Launch Database of Over 100,000 'Disappeared' People

• U.K. Announces First-Ever Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine

• Zelensky Urges Caution on Timing of Counteroffensive as Ukraine Advances in Bakhmut

• U.S. Open to Overseas Bargaining Chips to Trade for Jailed Reporter Evan Gershkovich

• U.S., China Senior Officials Meet in Tentative Effort to Restart Ties

• Israel and Gaza Trade Fire Amid Cease-Fire Talks

• Philippine Court Acquits Former Justice Secretary of Drug Charges After Key Witnesses Said They Lied

• Serbia's Mass Shootings Prompt National Reckoning for War-Scarred Nation

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

• Washington Defense Leaders Urge Senate to Pass Military Budget: China 'Is Not Waiting'

• U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Sherman Expected To Leave Post

• Federal Government's $1Billion Effort To Recruit Next Generation Of Doctors At Risk

• NSA Chief Paul Nakasone Has Said He Expects to Step Down in Coming Months

• Feinstein, Recovering From Shingles, Casts Senate Vote After Long Absence

• GOP Senator Says Of White Nationalists In The Military, 'I Call Them Americans'

• Judge in Virginia Strikes Down Federal Limit on Age of Handgun Buyers

• Vulnerable Republicans Caught in the Middle in Debt Limit Fight

BIG PICTURE

• New York Times

• Wall Street Journal

• Washington Post

• Financial Times

• ABC News

• CBS News

• NBC News

• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

IN THE NEWS

DOJ Seeks to Put Trump Deposition on Hold in Case of FBI Agent Fired Over Text Messages The Associated Press (05/11, Tucker) reported that the DOJ has requested a judge to delay the deposition of Donald Trump in a lawsuit brought by former FBI agent Peter Strzok, who was fired over critical text messages about the former president. According to the article, the government argues that lawyers for Strzok should first depose Director Wray, suggesting that Director Wray's interview may eliminate the need for Trump's deposition. The article noted that the DOJ asserted that there are no extraordinary circumstances justifying the deposition of a current or former high-ranking government official, including a former president, in a civil matter. The Washington Post (05/11, Hsu) and Raw Story (05/11, Chapman) also reported on the story.

Republican Nancy Mace Rips Director Wray Over Biden Investigation: 'Man up and Do Your Job' The Washington Examiner (05/11, Notheis) reported that Rep. Nancy Mace has called on Director Wray to "do your job" following the House Oversight Committee's press conference regarding the alleged involvement of the Biden

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family in a "criminal scheme." According to the article, Mace criticized the FBI's statement on an alleged unverified document, urging them to thoroughly investigate the Biden family's connections to foreign countries. The congresswoman pressed the FBI and the DOJ to take action, emphasizing that if the allegations are proven true, someone with the last name Biden should face charges and prosecution. The Hill (05/11, Schnell) added that Speaker Kevin McCarthy intends to call Director Wray after the agency rejected a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee for a document alleging a "criminal scheme" involving President Biden and a foreign national. McCarthy called the FBI's response "unacceptable" and emphasized the House's oversight authority over the agency. The article noted that the subpoena was issued by Rep. James Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley, who claimed a credible whistleblower provided information about the alleged scheme but did not disclose further details or the accuracy of the claims. An opinion piece by the Washington Examiner (05/11, Notheis) explained that Director Wray refused to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Oversight Committee, which demanded an unclassified FC-1023 form describing an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden. According to the article, Director Wray has been criticized for being uncooperative and unwilling to address corruption in the FBI, which has been accused of political bias in its decision-making process. The article noted that instead of responding directly to the subpoena, Director Wray had the FBI's Acting Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs, Christopher Dunham, reply with a letter that focused on the importance of confidentiality in "Confidential Human Source Reporting" but was criticized for its haughty tone and lack of willingness to compromise. The author expressed strong disapproval of Director Wray's uncooperative behavior, perceived political bias, and lack of accountability to Congress and the American public.

Under Fire, CIA Moves to Overhaul Its Handling of Sexual Assault

Politico (05/11, Lippman) reported that the CIA has hired Taleeta Jackson, an expert on sexual assault prevention, to lead its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office as part of several new steps to address allegations of mishandling sexual assault and misconduct within the agency. According to the article, the agency is also creating an internal task force to improve its organizational structure and processes for reporting sexual assault or workplace harassment, as well as to reform its Equal Employment Opportunity process. The article noted that several female CIA employees have accused the agency of mishandling their sexual assault cases and went to Congress earlier this year to say that the agency was discouraging women from making sexual misconduct complaints and making it difficult for alleged victims to speak to law enforcement. CNN (05/11, Cohen), Washington Post (05/11, Harris), Washington Examiner (05/11, Bide), New York Times (05/11, Barnes), NBC News (05/11, Luce), and Reuters (05/11, Landay) also reported on the story.

Migrant Influx Overwhelms Southern Border as Title 42 Winds Down

The Associated Press (05/12, Gonzalez) and the Wall Street Journal (05/11, Hackman, Caldwell) reported that a massive surge of migrants sought to cross from Mexico into the U.S. on Thursday, straining resources and patience on both sides of the border as the pandemic-era measure known as Title 42 was set to end at midnight. According to the articles, Title 42 allows Border Patrol agents to swiftly expel migrants back to Mexico even if they ask for asylum. Coverage noted that federal, state and local government officials are coping with increased numbers of migrants crossing into the U.S., many of them driven by misinformation about whether border rules would get easier or tougher after Thursday. The Border Patrol made more than 10,000 arrests on Wednesday of migrants crossing into the U.S., according to officials familiar with the data, rivaling previous daily records. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday he expected Border Patrol facilities to be "very crowded" following the end of Title 42 and that the Biden administration would "meet the moment." The New York Times (05/11, Sandoval, Sullivan, Jordan) reported that multiple Texas border cities, including Brownsville, Laredo and El Paso, have declared states of emergency which allow them to seek more resources from the federal government to transport and house the new arrivals. The storyline was also reported on by the Washington Post (05/11, Mata, Miroff), Reuters (05/11, Salgado, Hesson), CBS News (05/11, Montoya-Galvez), NBC News (05/11, Korecki, Seitz-Wald), Fox News (05/11, Hayes, Hagstrom), CNN (05/11, Salahieh, Flores), USA TODAY (05/11, Villagran, Vanden Brook, et al.), Axios (05/11, Boodhoo), Politico (05/11, Crampton), Bloomberg (05/11, Fabian), Forbes (05/11, Dorn) and the Washington Examiner (05/11, King).

Man Who Choked NYC Subway Rider to Death Will Face Manslaughter Charge, Prosecutors Say The New York Times (05/11, Bromwich, Meko, Newman) and the Associated Press (05/11, Offenhartz, Sisak) reported that Manhattan prosecutors said Thursday that they will bring criminal charges against a man who used a fatal chokehold on an unruly passenger aboard a New York City subway train. According to the articles, Daniel

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Penny, a 24-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will be arrested and face a charge of second-degree manslaughter, which could carry a jail term of up to 15 years. The charges come nearly two weeks after Penny pinned fellow subway rider Jordan Neely, 30, to the floor of a subway car and put him in a chokehold that lasted for several minutes. Attorneys for Penny did not immediately respond to a request for comment but have previously said their client, along with two other riders who helped restrain Neely, acted in self-defense. Coverage noted that Neely had more than 40 prior arrests, including felony assault for punching someone in the head on the subway. He also had more than a dozen mental health encounters with police, where he reported he suffered from schizophrenia and complained of "hearing voices." Neely also had an active warrant out for his arrest at the time of his death, coverage added. Penny's lawyers stated on Thursday that they were "confident that once all the facts and circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are brought to bear, Mr. Penny will be fully absolved of any wrongdoing." The storyline was also reported on by the Wall Street Journal (05/11, Vielkind), the Washington Post (05/11, Salcedo, Bella), Reuters (05/11, Clifford, O'Brien), CBS News (05/11, Sundby), NBC News (05/11, Dienst, Burke, Santia), Fox News (05/11, Dhanis, Wehner, Ingle), CNN (05/11, Scannell, Miller), USA TODAY (05/11, Thornton), Forbes (05/11, Bushard), Politico (05/11, Anuta, Chadha), The Hill (05/11, Mueller) and HuffPost (05/11, Mitchell).

NBCUniversal's Linda Yaccarino Is in Talks to Become Twitter CEO

The Wall Street Journal (05/11, Toonkel, Vranica, Corse) and the Associated Press (05/11, Ortutay, O'Brien) reported that NBCUniversal's head of advertising, Linda Yaccarino, is in talks to become the new CEO of Twitter, according to people familiar with the situation. Ms. Yaccarino, chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCU, has been with NBCU for more than a decade, where she has been an industry advocate for finding better ways to measure the effectiveness of advertising. As head of NBCU's advertising sales, she was key in the launch of the company's ad-supported Peacock streaming service. Elon Musk, Twitter's owner, said in a tweet Thursday that he had hired a new CEO, but didn't say who it was. "She will be starting in - 6 weeksl" Mr. Musk said in the tweet. Mr. Musk, who has been CEO since buying the company in October, said his role will shift to executive chairman and chief technology officer. But Mr. Musk also made clear he wasn't about to yield control over the platform, saying he would maintain responsibility for product, software and system operations. The storyline was also reported on by the New York Times (05/11, Mullin, Mac, Hsu), the Washington Post (05/11, Siddiqui, Ellison), Reuters (05/11, Mehta, Dang, Chmielewski), CNN (05/11, Duffy), CBS News (05/11, Picchi), NBC News (05/11, Ingram), USA TODAY (05/11, Guynn), Axios (05/11, Kokalitcheva), Bloomberg (05/11, Counts, Frier), Forbes (05/11, Bushard), CNBC (05/11, Vanian), The Hill (05/11, Gans), Business Insider (05/11, Kay) and the Washington Examiner (05/11, Hutton).

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COUNTERTERRORISM

U.S. Authorities Take Down 13 Hezbollah-Affiliated Web Domains

The Associated Press (05/11, Chehayeb) reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has announced the seizure of more than a dozen website domains used by sanctioned associates, businesses, and charities of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. According to the article, the FBI played a role in the seizure and is committed to holding accountable those who violate U.S. laws and contribute to Hezbollah's activities. The seized domains include those belonging to al-Manar television and top officials of Hezbollah, as well as affiliated charities, rendering the websites inaccessible.

Abu Zubaydah's Drawings Expose the US's Depraved Torture Policy

The Guardian (05/11, Pilkington) discussed Abu Zubaydah, a detainee at Guantanamo Bay who was subjected to torture in the CIA's post-9/11program. According to the article, Zubaydah's drawings, created from memory, provide a graphic and detailed account of the brutal techniques he endured. The report highlighted the US government's violations of international laws and its own guidelines, and the FBI's role is mentioned in the context of the CIA's torture program.

How the Hispanic Allen Shooter Was a Neo-Nazi and 'White Supremacist'

The Dallas Observer (05/11, Carter) discussed the case of Mauricio Garcia, a Hispanic man with Nazi tattoos who carried out a mass shooting in Allen, Texas. According to the article, some conservatives have been perplexed by the idea that someone with the last name "Garcia" could be a self-described white supremacist. The article

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mentioned that the spread of extremist ideas on social media is a significant concern, and highlighted the need for a conversation about addressing radicalization and violence rather than engaging in conspiracy theories or questioning Garcia's racism.

Laguna Woods Church Shooter Charged With 98 Federal Hate Crimes

KCAL (CBS-9) (05/11, Staff Writer) reported that a Nevada man, David Chou, has been charged with 98 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offenses, for his attack on a Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods. According to the article, the FBI reported that Chou was motivated by bias against the Taiwanese people. Chou, who had a well-thought-out plan and was armed with guns and explosives, injured multiple people in the attack before being subdued by churchgoers. KABC (ABC-7) (05/11, Staff Writer) also reported on the story.

Men Linked to Hate Group Charged in Fresno Pipe Bombings by Federal Prosecutors

The Fresno Bee (05/11, Miller) reported that two men, Scott Eric Anderson and Paul New, from Fresno have been charged with using pipe bombs on cars. According to the article, the FBI is investigating their potential involvement in a hate group, although the indictment did not include hate crime charges. The article noted that the evidence seized by authorities included Nazi paraphernalia.

Bomb Threat Made At Pittsburgh International Airport; Man Arrested

Patch (05/11, Heyl) reported that Hossein Dehnavifard, an Iranian national, is facing charges after allegedly making a bomb threat at Pittsburgh International Airport. According to the article, the threat was made after he was denied boarding his flight. The article noted that the FBI and Transportation Security Administration joined the investigation, and Dehnavifard was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats and threats to use weapons of mass destruction.

Opinion: Proud Boys Convictions May Counter Extremist Law Enforcement Infiltration

In an opinion piece from Newsweek (05/11, Sennett) the author emphasized the need for political leaders to leverage the recent convictions of Proud Boys members involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection to purge members of violent extremist groups from law enforcement ranks. According to the article, the Anti-Defamation League has identified over 370 people currently working in law enforcement agencies who are believed to be associated with the Oath Keepers, and several current and former police officers associated with the Proud Boys were charged for their participation in the insurrection. The author called for the creation of a legal mechanism, through presidential executive order or congressional action, to formally designate extremist groups as domestic terror organizations based on their violent actions. The Hill (05/11, Mockaitis) posted a similar opinion piece.

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COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

FBI Violations of Rules for Searching Surveillance Data Drop, Audit Finds

The New York Times (05/11, Savage) reported that recent data from the auditing office of the FBI indicates that changes implemented by the agency have significantly improved compliance with rules governing access to communications intercepted under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Prior to the changes, about 18 percent of database searches lacked sufficient justification or were improperly defined, but in a nine-month period after the changes, that number decreased to approximately 4 percent. The article noted that the FBI is making these efforts to regain trust in its national-security surveillance powers and is seeking congressional support to extend Section 702, a warrantless surveillance program set to expire in 2023.

Chinese Government Spy Arrested In Boston, Court Docs Say

Daily Wire (05/11, Drey) reported that Litang Liang, a U.S. citizen, has been arrested and indicted for allegedly spying for the Chinese government in Boston, Massachusetts. According to court documents, Liang is accused of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notice to the U.S. attorney general. The article noted that Liang allegedly shared information on political dissidents, organized rallies supporting Taiwan's reunification with mainland China, and coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party officials using communication platforms like WeChat. Liang faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Opinion: Biden's Chinese Financial Dealings Are a Counterintelligence Nightmare

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An opinion piece by the Washington Examiner (05/11, Schindler) reported that House Republicans have released a 36-page report investigating the financial interests of the Biden family with foreign entities, particularly focusing on their dealings with Communist China. According to the article, the report highlights the complex web of shell companies operated for the benefit of various Biden family members, with a significant focus on Hunter Biden's involvement. The report suggests that Hunter Biden and Biden Inc. engaged in lucrative dealings with a Chinese firm called CEFC China Energy, known to be closely linked with the Chinese Communist Party and its intelligence services, raising questions about the nature of the financial exchanges and potential national security implications. The author assessed that the investigation into the Biden family's financial interests with foreign entities, particularly with regard to their dealings with Communist China, raises significant concerns about potential national security implications and calls for a thorough examination of the alleged scandal.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Hunter Biden Investigation: How President's Denial of Son's Wrongdoing Colors Dal Inquiry

The Washington Examiner (05/11, Dunleavy) reported that President Joe Biden weighed in on an active Justice Department investigation by contending that his son Hunter did "nothing wrong" even as congressional Republicans lay out new details about the younger Biden's shady overseas business dealings. The article added that this week, Director Wray defied a subpoena from Comer, who has told the bureau to hand over an alleged confidential human source claim which purportedly lays out a "criminal scheme" related to potential pay-to-play between then Vice President Joe Biden and an unnamed foreign national. The article stated that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) had sent an October letter to Director Wray and others that the FBI is in possession of "significant, impactful, and voluminous evidence" of "potential criminal conduct" by Hunter Biden related to his overseas business dealings with China and Ukraine. The article noted that the whistleblower allegations released late last year related to Hunter Biden as well as James Biden, the president's brother, regarding the duo's dealings with the Chinese government-linked energy conglomerate CEFC China Energy. They also related to the younger Biden's work for Ukrainian gas giant Burisma Holdings. The New York Post (05/11, Nava), and an opinion piece by the Wall Street Journal (05/11, Strassel) also reported on the story.

Trump Suggests He Knowingly Took Documents From White House

The New York Times (05/11, Feuer, Haberman) reported that the former president, in his appearance on CNN, misstated the law governing presidential records, saying he was allowed to take the material now at the heart of a Justice Department investigation. According to the article, former President Donald J. Trump admitted more directly than before on Wednesday that he knowingly removed government records from the White House and claimed that he was allowed to take anything he wanted with him as personal records, appearing to misstate the law and undercut some assertions by his own lawyers. The article added that the remarks by Mr. Trump at a televised CNN town hall event in New Hampshire were the most extensive he has made in recent weeks about his handling of classified material after he left office. Jack Smith, a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department, has for months been investigating whether Mr. Trump illegally kept national defense documents at his properties — including Mar-a-Lago, his private club, and residence in Florida — and whether he obstructed the government's repeated efforts over more than 18 months to get the materials back. The article mentioned that legal experts have called Mr. Trump's interpretation of the act "muddled" and "confused." Last year, in a court fight with Mr. Trump's lawyers over records that were ultimately seized from Mar-a-Lago by the FBI, the Justice Department also dismissed the claims, saying that such a broad reading of the law "would nullify the statute's entire purpose." NBC News (05/11, Dilanian) also reported on the story.

Records of Florida Grand Jury's Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Can Be Made Public

The Associated Press (05/11, Spencer) reported that a Florida appeals court has opened the door for the possible release of transcripts of the grand jury investigation into notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein nearly 20 years ago that ended with prosecutors negotiating a plea deal that critics have called questionably lenient. According to the article, Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeals unanimously agreed that Circuit Judge Donald W. Hafele had erred when he ruled he had no authority to release the normally secret transcripts of the 2006 Palm Beach County proceedings. The court cited a state law provision that says grand jury records can be made public if that is a "furtherance of justice." The article stated that the court in Wednesday's decision ordered Hafele to review the transcripts and to release those he deems would further justice, redacting the names of victims, witnesses, and

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those who have not been criminally charged. There is a public interest in knowing whether the wealthy and politically connected Epstein, who lived in a Palm Beach mansion, was given special treatment, the court ruled.

Criminal Investigation Into Sen. Bob Menendez Expands With New Subpoenas

NBC News (05/11, Dienst, Copenhagen) reported that another round of federal grand jury subpoenas went out this week in connection with the corruption investigation into Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. According to the article, sources familiar with the matter said at least one powerful New Jersey politician — North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco — was among those who received subpoenas. A North Bergen spokesman said, "As they always have, Mayor Sacco and the Township of North Bergen will comply with any inquiry they receive from law enforcement and will cooperate fully." The article stated that for months, Menendez has been under criminal investigation into whether he and his wife improperly took cash and gifts from the owners of IS EG Halal, an Edgewater halal meat business. Menendez and the company's owners have denied any wrongdoing. The article noted that the FBI is part of the federal investigation.

Lori Vallow Daybell Trial: Jurors Begin Deliberating in Case of Idaho Mother Accused of Killing Her Children

CNN (05/11, Williams, Toropin, Almasy) reported that jurors began deliberating Thursday after closing arguments in the trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the Idaho mother accused of killing her two children and conspiring in the murder of her husband's ex-wife. According to the article, Vallow Daybell, who has pleaded not guilty, faces life in prison if convicted on two counts of first degree murder and three counts of conspiracy in the 2019 deaths of her children from previous marriages — Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7 — as well as Tammy Daybell, the former wife of Chad Daybell who died in her sleep several weeks before he married Vallow Daybell. The article noted that Vallow Daybell is also charged with grand theft on suspicion of changing bank accounts to collect Social Security benefits on behalf of her children after they were killed, the May 2021 indictment showed. The article mentioned that in the four-week trial that began April 10, prosecutors rested their case against Vallow Daybell Tuesday after calling about 60 witnesses, including dozens of law enforcement officers and an FBI agent who obtained access to Vallow Daybell's iCloud account.

How a Cold War Between Rival Biker Gangs on Cape Cod Turned Deadly

The Daily Beast (05/11, Hippensteel) reported that a newly unsealed FBI search warrant reveals how a turf war between rival biker gangs in Southern Massachusetts sparked a bloody 50-man street brawl, which resulted in several gang members being stabbed and bludgeoned. According to the article, the heavily redacted warrant, which was filed by an FBI task force officer and unsealed Thursday, details how the Hells Angels motorcycle gang and their supporters came to blows with a rival club called the Pagans in May 2022 over the latter's encroachment on their territory. The article noted that the Hells Angels and Pagans are well-established outlaw motorcycle gangs, with a history of crimes across the country ranging from narcotics trafficking to racketeering. They also can't stand each other, harboring a long-simmering feud that occasionally flares up into open violence.

California Border Patrol Agent Arrested in Undercover Drug and Human Smuggling Sting

The Los Angeles Times (05/11, Riggins) reported that a San Diego-area Border Patrol agent was charged Thursday with federal crimes related to on-duty corruption, including moving what he believed was 23 pounds of methamphetamine and opening a border gate to allow the passage of an undocumented immigrant. According to the article, federal authorities arrested Agent Hector Hernandez, 55, on Wednesday morning in Chula Vista, where he believed he would be handing over the drugs in return for a $20,000 payment, according to court documents. Instead, his contact turned out to be an undercover agent from the Border Patrol's parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security. The article stated that the investigation into Hernandez began last month when agents from department's Office of the Inspector General learned he "was engaged in border corruption activities," according to a criminal complaint and a search warrant. Those alleged activities are not detailed in the court documents, and as of Thursday he did not face charges related to those accusations.

Alleged Silk Road 'Murders-For-Hire' Merchant Hit With Narcotics, Money Laundering Charges CNBC (05/11, Goswami) reported that James Ellingson, an alleged Silk Road drug merchant, was charged with three trafficking and money laundering counts in federal court in an indictment unsealed Thursday. According to the article, Ellingson also allegedly took payment from Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht totaling over $500,000 to carry out five different murders that prosecutors allege he might not have completed. The article noted that Ellingson faces up to life in prison for allegedly dealing cocaine, LSD, and marijuana on the online marketplace. The article

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added that Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2015, has repeatedly insisted that he is innocent. Silk Road was seized and shut down by the FBI in 2013.

Appeals Court Overturns Convictions of Two Wealthy Parents in College Admissions Scam

CNN (05/11, Burnside) reported that two parents who were found guilty in connection with the sprawling college admissions cheating scheme known as "Operation Varsity Blues" had their convictions vacated by an appeals court judge on Wednesday. According to the article, John Wilson and Gamal Abdelaziz were found guilty in 2021 on several counts, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, for allegedly paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to scam mastermind Rick Singer to facilitate an admissions spot at the University of Southern California for their children, a scheme Singer called the "side door." The article stated that they were the first parents to be convicted at trial in the scheme. Several other wealthy parents who participated in the scheme, including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, agreed to plead guilty. The article added that Wilson's and Abdelaziz's convictions have been tossed on largely technical grounds, according to court records.

U.S. Supreme Court Tosses Former Cuomo Aide's Bribery Conviction

Reuters (05/11, Raymond, Chung) reported that the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the bribery conviction of Joseph Percoco, an ex-aide to Democratic former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a ruling that further limits the ability of federal prosecutors to pursue corruption cases. According to the article, the justices ruled 9-0 in favor of Joseph Percoco, Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary who was charged in 2016 as part of a corruption crackdown by federal prosecutors in Manhattan centered on the halls of the state capital of Albany. The article added that in Percoco's case, the jury was required "to determine whether he had a 'special relationship' with the government and had 'dominated and controlled' government business," conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the court's opinion. "We conclude that this is not the proper test for determining whether a private person may be convicted of honest-services fraud, and we, therefore, reverse and remand for further proceedings." The article mentioned that Percoco was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to six years in prison for seeking $315,000 in bribes in exchange for helping two corporate clients of Albany lobbyist Todd Howe seeking state benefits and business. The article stated that thursday's ruling represented the latest in recent years in which the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has limited prosecutors in political corruption cases. In 2020, it overturned the convictions of two aides to Republican former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the "Bridgegate" political scandal. In 2016, it threw out Republican former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's bribery conviction.

Here's What George Santos Was Charged With

The New York Times (05/11, Fandos, O'Brien) reported that in a wide-ranging indictment unsealed on Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged Representative George Santos with 13 counts. According to the article, federal prosecutors have charged Representative George Santos of New York with 13 counts of money laundering, stealing public money, wire fraud, and making false statements to Congress. Prosecutors said the charges resulted from "fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations" designed to mislead donors, enrich Mr. Santos, and win a seat in Congress as a Republican from Queens. The article included an overview of the charges contained in the 20- page indictment, which was unsealed on Wednesday. The Independent (05/11, Kilander) also reported on the story.

Victim of 'Pig Butchering' Got Scammed Out of $450K

The New York Post (05/11, Herz) reported that a 37-year-old tech executive from Philadelphia claims she fell for an online romance scam known as "pig butchering" — a cryptocurrency investment scheme she says drained her bank account of more than $450,000. The article stated that the loss prompted Shreya Datta to rent a cheaper apartment, sell her car and reflect on the red flags in her so-called "relationship," which began on the dating app Hinge. The article added that the term "pig butchering" derives from the Chinese name for the scam, as that's where the scheme is suspected to have originated. The article mentioned that a report last month from the US Department of Justice, investment fraud caused the highest losses of any 2022 scam reported by the public to the FBI's Internet Crimes Complaint Center, totaling $3.31 billion.

Ex-Gangster 'White Boy Rick' Arrested for Punching Woman

The New York Post (05/11, Reyes) reported that the legendary former Detroit gangster and undercover FBI informant known as "White Boy Rick" was arrested once again after allegedly attacking his girlfriend who got angry at him when he said someone else's name while they were having sex. According to the article, Richard Wershe Jr.,

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53 — whose life as a young drug dealer-turned-informant inspired the film "White Boy Rick," starring Matthew McConaughey — was booked on Wednesday after allegedly hitting his girlfriend in his Miami condo. The article noted that Wershe, who became the youngest informant in FBI history after working with federal authorities when he was just 14, was released from Florida prison in July 2020. He was originally arrested in 1987 in Detroit with 8 kilos of cocaine and close to $30,000 and was later convicted of possession with intent to deliver more than 650 grams of cocaine.

First Graders' 'Mutual Inappropriate Sexual Contact' Wasn't Assault, Texas Authorities Say Fox News (05/11, Brown) reported that a school district in Texas announced key findings from an investigation into allegations that a 6-year-old girl was forced by a male classmate to perform a sex act while another student recorded it on a district-issued iPad, all while a teacher was present. According to the article, the Hale County District Attorney and agents with the FBI Crimes Against Children unit collected all relevant statements and evidence regarding the incident at Plainview South Elementary School and the investigation has been submitted to appropriate legal authorities, the Plainview Independent School District (ISD) announced Wednesday. The article noted that the district listed key findings of the investigation, noting law enforcement personnel who viewed the iPad video "determined that a sexual assault did not occur; rather, mutual inappropriate sexual contact occurred between two 6-year-olds."

Letter '0' Lands Alleged Bank Robber In Jail

The Daily Beast (05/11, Rohrlich) reported that an accused bank robber's idiosyncratic penmanship landed him back in jail after a detective recognized the particular shape of the "O's" in the New York City man's demand notes, according to a criminal complaint obtained. According to the article, federal charges against Elliott Allen were unsealed May 8, fingering the 27-year-old as the suspect in a string of stickups dating back to last year. Some of the demand notes used in the robberies were threatening, while others bordered on the apologetic, offering justifications for the robbery. The article stated that the NYPD police lab linked Allen's demand notes to 15 others in its Robbery Note Database, according to the complaint. The FBI also identified further common features, it says, such as a "distinctive lower-case letter 's' that is either unusually horizontal... or appears unusually to consist of two separate pen strokes;' the "distinctive repeated use of inappropriate possessive apostrophes for plural nouns;' and the "consistent use of two vertical strikes in the dollar signs."

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CYBER DIVISION

China Escalates Its Cyberwar Against the West

The Epoch Times (05/11, Uoadhayaya) reported that over the past few decades, China has adopted a policy of information warfare against its global adversaries by leveraging its civilian cyber sector. This constitutes Beijing's "people's war" on the world inflicted by its civilian cyber militias, according to cybersecurity experts. The article stated that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) civilian cyber sector includes individual cyber operatives, private institutions, academia, and government institutions. In operational terms, these civilian sector operators do not have an official place within the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) order of battle. They turn into the communist regime's "cyber proxies and mercenaries," according to Simone Ledeen, a senior visiting fellow at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. The article mentioned that Director Wray told the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on April 27 that Chinese hackers outnumber the U.S. cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1 even if each of the FBI's agents and intel analysts solely focussed on China.

The FBI Chops Off the Head of Russia's Malware Network Known as 'Snake'

Clearance Jobs (05/11, Burgess) reported that on May 8, the Russian FSB's cyberespionage capability took a major hit as a coordinated global takedown of the Turla Snake malware managed by Center 16 of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). This takedown ends a 20-year clandestine counterintelligence operation focused on Russia's cyberespionage engagement which targeted and successfully penetrated entities in over 50 countries, including many NATO members. The article quoted Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI's Cyber Division, who said, "Today's announcement demonstrates the FBI's willingness and ability to pair our authorities and technical capabilities with those of our global partners to disrupt malicious cyber actors, when it comes to combating Russia's attempts to target the United States and our allies using complex cyber tools, we will not waver

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in our work to dismantle those efforts. When it comes to any nation state engaged in cyber intrusions which put our national security at risk, the FBI will leverage all tools available to impose cost on those actors and to protect the American people."

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LABORATORY

How Will Al Assist the FBI, CIA, and the Military?

Fox News (05/11, Nieto) reported that the United States government uses artificial intelligence in the military, intelligence, and law enforcement to help mitigate potential threats. According to the article, the use of machine learning technology largely remains unregulated by the government, although year-on-year spending on Al government contracts continues to increase. The article noted that the FBI has used artificial intelligence to assist in crime prevention and intelligence gathering. The article added that the FBI has developed Al technology known as Next Generation Identification, which can use images from the Interstate Photo System to identify suspects who are wanted for criminal activities. The article stated that the FBI has used Al technology to assist in other law enforcement investigations, such as fingerprint identification, DNA matching, cybersecurity, and surveillance. In the coming years, the FBI will likely expand its current usage of AI in other areas of crime prevention.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

GOP Pushes Death Penalty Option for Killing Law Enforcement Officers

Fox News (05/11, Herlihy) reported that more than two dozen GOP senators are proposing tougher penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers — including the death penalty — and expanded self-defense protections for those officers ahead of National Police Week. According to the article, Sen. John Cornyn, (R-TX), on Thursday led a group 37 of his GOP colleagues including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-KY)., to introduce the Back the Blue Act. The law creates a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill or conspiring to kill a federal law enforcement officer, federal judge or federally funded public safety officer. The article noted that the measure would also make the offender subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if the attack resulted in the death of a federal officer. The offender would otherwise face a minimum sentence of 10 years.

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

18 Years After Natalee Holloway's Disappearance, Peru to Extradite Key Suspect to U.S. Business Insider (05/11, Cano, Briceno) reported that Peru's government will allow the extradition to the United States of the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance of Natalee Holloway on the Dutch Caribbean Island of Aruba in 2005, bringing her family hope there will be justice in the case. According to the article, Dutch citizen Joran van der Sloot will be sent to the U.S., Peru announced Wednesday, to face trial on extortion and wire fraud charges, stemming from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family after their daughter's disappearance. The article noted that prosecutors in the U.S. allege van der Sloot accepted $25,000 in cash from Holloway's family in exchange for a promise to lead them to her body in early 2010, just before he went to Peru. The article added that an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit that van der Sloot reached out to Holloway's mother and wanted to be paid $25,000 to disclose the location and then another $225,000 when the remains were recovered. During a recorded sting operation, van der Sloot pointed to a house where he said Holloway was buried but in later emails admitted to lying about the location, the agent said. USA TODAY (05/11, Alund), Fox News (05/11, Staff Writer), Newsweek (05/11, Mayer), Rolling Stone (05/11, Marks), and NBC News (05/11, Li) also reported on the story.

U.S. Journalists Renew Calls for Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh

Aljazeera (05/11, Harb) reported that journalists in the United States have renewed calls for justice in the shooting death of Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces, stressing the need for an independent

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investigation one year after her killing. According to the article, more than two dozen journalists gathered for a moment of silence to honor the veteran Al Jazeera correspondent in Washington, DC, on the first anniversary of her killing on Thursday. The article mentioned that last November, Israeli and American media outlets reported that the FBI launched an investigation into the incident. NBC News (05/11, Sanchez, Jabari) also reported on the story.

Mexico Arrests Two More in March Kidnap, Killing of Americans

The Associated Press (05/11, Staff Writer) reported that prosecutors in Mexico said Thursday they have arrested two more men in the March 3 kidnapping of four Americans and the killing of two of them. According to the article, the Gulf drug cartel turned over five men to police soon after the abduction in the border city of Matamoros, and prosecutors said the two newly arrested suspects also appeared to be members of the same cartel. The two were arrested during raids in the northern border state of Tamaulipas on Sunday and flown to Mexico City on a military plane. It was not immediately clear why the arrests were not announced at the time. The article added that federal prosecutors did not provide the full names of the suspects, but the details and first names match two men listed on a federal database as being arrested in Tamaulipas that day. Those names — Axel Alfredo Cardenas and Alan Alexis Cardenas — suggest they are related to Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the Gulf cartel leader captured in 2003. The article mentioned that prosecutors confirmed the two were sons of Osiel Cardenas' nephew, Jose Alfredo Cardenas Martinez, who was arrested in 2022. They also said the pair assumed leadership roles in the cartel following their father's arrest.

Suspect in Attack of 78-Year-Old Man in Norridge Flees U.S. To Turkey, Police Say

CBS News (05/11, Bizzle) reported that a man suspected in the attack of a 78-year-old man in Norridge last month has fled the states, according to police. A nationwide arrest warrant was issued for 58-year-old Nassar Khoury for his role in the beating of Najadt Bitar behind his home in broad daylight on April 28. According to the article, police say he was able to book a flight from Los Angeles to Turkey and is currently there. They are working with the FBI, Homeland Security, and Interpol to be notified in case he books a returning flight. The article stated that the attack is still under investigation. As for the others involved, police say they're working on identifying those suspects.

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CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

Trump Talks Pardoning Capitol Rioters in CNN Town Hall

BBC News (05/11, Zurcher) reported that former President Donald Trump appeared in a CNN town hall event where he attacked the 2020 election, mocked the E Jean Carroll case verdict, and suggested a debt ceiling default. According to the article, Trump refused to pick a side in the Ukraine conflict, avoided clarity on his abortion stance, and sympathized with those convicted of the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack, pledging to pardon "many" of them. The article noted that despite being pressed on these topics, Trump's evasive responses and his continued hold over the Republican party were evident during the event. Reuters (05/11, Layne, Reid), New York Times (05/11, Grynbaum, Mullin), HuffPost (05/11, Date), two articles from CNN (05/11, Powell, Hammond, Chowdhury, Vera), and the New York Post (05/11, Editorial) also reported on the story.

Three-Judge Panel Poised to Uphold Jan. 6 Obstruction Cases

Politico (05/11, Cheney) and the Washington Post (05/11, Jackman, Weiner) reported that the Dal seems likely to win an important appeals court case that could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 prosecutions for obstruction of Congress' electoral vote-counting session. According to the article, the law under scrutiny, "obstruction of an official proceeding," has been used against over 300 defendants involved in the Jan. 6 incident, and its interpretation is at the heart of the debate. The article noted that two judges on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals panel indicated they favor a broader definition of "corruptly," supporting the prosecution's view, while the panel's lone conservative seemed to lean towards a narrower interpretation but acknowledged she would likely be in the minority.

Idaho Man Sentenced for His Part in Jan. 6 Riots

KMVT (CBS-11) (05/11, Staff Writer) reported that Josiah Colt, a man from Meridian who participated in the January 6th Capitol riots, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to obstructing Congress's certification of President Joe Biden. According to the article, Nathaniel Degrave of Las Vegas, who accompanied Colt to Washington D.C., received a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy and assault

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charges. Both men have agreed to cooperate with investigators as part of their plea deals in the ongoing investigation into the Capitol riot-related federal crimes.

Bench Trial Concludes for Pennsylvania Woman in Capitol Riot Case

WKBN (CBS-27) (05/11, Gorman) reported that the bench trial for Rachel Powell, accused of participating in the January 2021 Capitol riot, has concluded in the U.S. Court for The District of Columbia. According to the article, evidence presented includes hundreds of discovery items from search warrants, Facebook posts, and video footage from the day of the riot. The article noted that Powell, who is under home confinement awaiting results, was charged with eight counts related to the riot, including using a battering ram and directing other rioters through a bullhorn; a decision by Judge Royce Lamberth is pending.

Couple and Their Friend Who Stormed the Capitol All Get Prison

Courthouse News Service (05/11, Knappenberger) reported that a federal judge sentenced a married couple and their friend for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach. According to the article, Dale Shalvey received the longest sentence of 41months for assaulting an officer, stealing and destroying a letter from Senator Mitt Romney, and lying to FBI agents. The article noted that the ongoing FBI investigation into the Capitol riot has resulted in more than 1,000 charges, with approximately 541 pleas of guilty, 445 sentences, and 250 individuals who assaulted police officers remaining unidentified. The Charlotte Observer (05/11, Gordon) also reported on the story.

Las Vegas Man Convicted in Jan. 6 Riot Gets Prison Sentence

KSNV (NBC-3) (05/11, Seeman) reported that Nathaniel DeGrave, a man from Las Vegas, has been sentenced to approximately three years in federal prison for his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. According to the article, DeGrave and another individual, Ronald Sandlin, were arrested in Las Vegas after planning to travel to Washington D.C. to support then-President Donald Trump during the certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory. The article noted that the men met in a Maryland hotel room before the riot, wearing protective gear and carrying knives, and later breached the Capitol, where they assaulted U.S. Capitol Police officers.

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OTHER FBI NEWS

Soldiers, Airmen Train for Nuclear Forensics Mission at Interagency Exercise in Houston

U.S. Army (05/11, Ham IV) reported that highly specialized U.S. military units trained for nuclear forensics missions with interagency partners during Exercise Prominent Hunt in Houston, May 1 - 5. According to the article, soldiers from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command's Nuclear Disablement Team 1 and 1st CBRNE Response Team, 11th Chemical Company (Technical Escort), qualified to serve on the interagency National Technical Nuclear Forensics Ground Collection Task Force during Prominent Hunt. Airmen from the Patrick Space Force Base, Florida-headquartered Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) also qualified for the task force during the exercise. The article noted that the U.S. military units operate in support of the Department of Justice during the FBI-led exercise. The article added that as a part of an FBI-led interagency task force, the NTNF Ground Collection Task Force gathers and packages samples of radioactive fallout that enable partner agencies to determine the source of the radiation. The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Agency also provides technical expertise during Exercise Prominent Hunt.

Local FBI Officials Say School Social Media Threats Have Increased

KSNV (NBC-3) (05/11, Staff Writer) reported that social media threats are causing concern for local families. Messages are circulating around the country, threatening shootings and acts of violence at our schools. According to the article, whenever a social media threat goes out- threatening of a mass shooting for example, not only do local law enforcement agencies track that threat, so does the FBI. The article quoted Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans of the FBI Las Vegas bureau, who said, "This is definitely one of those periods where there has been more than has been in recent history, it's always hard when you see these threats to schools in a place that kids should be able to feel free to be focusing on learning,".

Better Business Bureau: Elder Fraud Is a Growing Problem

The Jackson Sun (05/11, Hutchinson) reported that in 2021, more than 92,000 victims over the age of 60 reported losses of $1.7 billion to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, representing a 74 percent increase in losses over

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2020 and almost 400 percent over 2017. The average loss was $18,246, with 3,133 victims losing over $100,000. The FBI says the actual number of victims is in the millions. The article quoted former FBI and CIA Director William Webster, who said, "If it can happen to me, it can happen to you." According to the article, the 98-year-old retired judge and his wife Lynda were targeted in a Jamaican lottery scam when an unsolicited caller informed Webster he won a car and millions of dollars. He was told he needed to pay $50,000 to collect his winnings. When the couple declined repeatedly, the caller became abusive and threatening.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Mexico to Launch Database of Over 100,000 'Disappeared' People

• Reuters: Mexico to Launch Database of Over 100,000 'Disappeared' People

U.K. Announces First-Ever Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine

• The Hill: U.K. Announces First-Ever Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine

Zelensky Urges Caution on Timing of Counteroffensive as Ukraine Advances in Bakhmut

• Wall Street Journal: Zelensky Urges Caution on Timing of Counteroffensive as Ukraine Advances in Bakhmut

U.S. Open to Overseas Bargaining Chips to Trade for Jailed Reporter Evan Gershkovich

• Wall Street Journal: U.S. Open to Overseas Bargaining Chips to Trade for Jailed Reporter Evan Gershkovich

U.S., China Senior Officials Meet in Tentative Effort to Restart Ties

• Wall Street Journal: U.S., China Senior Officials Meet in Tentative Effort to Restart Ties

Israel and Gaza Trade Fire Amid Cease-Fire Talks

• New York Times: Israel and Gaza Trade Fire Amid Cease-Fire Talks

Philippine Court Acquits Former Justice Secretary of Drug Charges After Key Witnesses Said They Lied

• Associated Press: Philippine Court Acquits Former Justice Secretary of Drug Charges After Key Witnesses Said They Lied

Serbia's Mass Shootings Prompt National Reckoning for War-Scarred Nation

• Associated Press: Serbia's Mass Shootings Prompt National Reckoning for War-Scarred Nation

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OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

Washington Defense Leaders Urge Senate to Pass Military Budget: China 'Is Not Waiting'

• Fox News: Washington Defense Leaders Urge Senate to Pass Military Budget: China 'Is Not Waiting'

U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Sherman Expected To Leave Post

• Reuters: U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Sherman Expected To Leave Post

Federal Government's $1 Billion Effort To Recruit Next Generation Of Doctors At Risk

• Associated Press: Federal Government's $1 Billion Effort to Recruit Next Generation of Doctors at Risk

NSA Chief Paul Nakasone Has Said He Expects to Step Down in Coming Months

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• Wall Street Journal: NSA Chief Paul Nakasone Has Said He Expects to Step Down in Coming Months

Feinstein, Recovering From Shingles, Casts Senate Vote After Long Absence

• Washington Post: Feinstein, Recovering From Shingles, Casts Senate Vote After Long Absence

GOP Senator Says Of White Nationalists In The Military, 'I Call Them Americans'

• Washington Post: GOP Senator Says of White Nationalists in the Military, 'I Call Them Americans'

Judge in Virginia Strikes Down Federal Limit on Age of Handgun Buyers

• New York Times: Judge in Virginia Strikes Down Federal Limit on Age of Handgun Buyers

Vulnerable Republicans Caught in the Middle in Debt Limit Fight

• New York Times: Vulnerable Republicans Caught in the Middle in Debt Limit Fight

• Wall Street Journal: Biden, Republicans Spar Over Veterans' Healthcare in Debt-Ceiling Battle

• Associated Press: Debt Limit Fight: Biden Meeting With Congress Leaders Put Off Until Next Week; Staff Talks Proceed

• Reuters: Biden, McCarthy Debt Ceiling Meeting Postponed, Spending Cuts on Table

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BIG PICTURE

New York Times

• With Pandemic Restrictions Lifted, Thousands Converge on Border

• What's Driving Record Levels of Migration to the U.S. Border?

• Daniel Penny Will Be Charged in Subway Chokehold Killing of Jordan Neely

• As Covid Emergency Ends, Surveillance Shifts to the Sewers

• Trump's Second-Term Goal: Shattering the Norms He Didn't Already Break

Wall Street Journal

• SoftBank To Focus Cash on Al in New Offensive

• Migrants Throng US Border As Pandemic Era Rule Ends

• Stock Clearinghouse Hit for Exposing Data

• 'Zach' Keeps Tesla On Track

• In Tasmanian Sports, a Devil Of a Problem

• Trump Ukraine Stance Sparks Worry for Allies

Washington Post

• Rise of Al Presents a Security Challenge

• Record Migrant Surge at Border

• For NASA, It's Smooth Sailing to Mars, but a Rough Passage to Venus

• CNN Brass Under Fire for Trump Town Hall

• Six Decades Later, Fighting a 'Racist' Legacy of Pollution

Financial Times

• Asian Stocks Decline on Renewed Concerns Over U.S. Banks

• Elon Musk Says He Has Found New Twitter Chief

• EU Says China Will Take Advantage of Russian Defeat in Ukraine

ABC News

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• U.S. Prepares for Influx of Migrants as Title 42 Set to Expire; GOP Responds to Trump Town Hall Comments; George Santos Backs Bill to Fight Crime He's Accused Of

CBS News

• Southern Border Cities Brace for the End of Title 42; How One Close-Knit Family Cares for the Mother Who Gave Them So Much

NBC News

• Title 42 Set to End Tonight as U.S. Prepares for Migrant Influx; Main Suspect in Natalee Holloway's Disappearance to Be Extradited to U.S.; Peloton Recalling Over Two Million Exercise Bikes; And More on Tonight's Broadcast.

Fox News

• Border Town Mayors Raise the Alarm as Title 42 Is Set to Expire; White House Reiterates Southern Border Is Not Open as End of Title 42 Approaches; Colleges the Home of the 'Woke Agenda; No Longer Welcome Free Ideas?

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WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

White House

President Biden

• 10:00 AM: The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing

• 2:00 PM: The President holds a bilateral meeting with President Pedro Sanchez of the Government of Spain

Vice President Harris

• No events scheduled.

US Senate

⚫ No events scheduled. •

US House of Representatives

• Hearing: Implementation of the TraffickingVictims Protection Act — 9:30 AM — Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs

Cabinet Members

• Secretary of State Blinken joins President Biden's meeting with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez at the White House at 2:00 PM.

Visitors

• President Pedro Sanchez of the Government of Spain meets with President Biden and Secretary Blinken at the White House.

General Events

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• CSIS: U.S.-China Competition and Indo-Pacific Security — Friday, May 12, 2023. Location: CSIS, 10:00 AM. The intensifying competition between the United States and China creates many uncertainties in the security environment in East Asia. This has significant ramifications with respect to the stability on the Korean peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. What should be the role of like-minded countries for security cooperation? What are the specific issues or areas that like-minded countries can work together to enhance peace and stability in the region? The CSIS Korea Chair, in collaboration with the Yonsei Institute for Sinology, and the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan cordially invite you to an event about these very important questions.

• CATO Institute: Turkey's Centennial Election: What Is at Stake? — Friday, May 12, 2023. Location: CATO Institute, 12:00 PM. On Sunday, May 14, NATO's most controversial ally will hold perhaps its most fateful elections since its founding in 1923. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been ruling Turkey for 21 years in an increasingly authoritarian and erratic fashion, may win and drag the nation further toward dictatorship. But there is also a chance that the opposition may win, as the race is tight and as Turkey's elections are still competitive despite dramatic deterioration in the country's freedoms and rule of law. Please join us for a discussion of what is at stake just two days prior to what may turn out to be a historic election for Turkey and East-West relations.

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

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📅 May 3, 2023 REDACTED

[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - May 3, 2023

From: unknown

Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here.

Table of Contents

IN THE NEWS

• Texas Mass Shooting Suspect Arrested After Dayslong Manhunt

• Biden Sending 1,500 Troops for Mexico Border Migrant Surge

• 300 Arrested in Global Crackdown on Dark Web Drug Market

• Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List"

COUNTERTERRORISM

• Former Pizza Shop Owner Convicted of Helping Recruit for Islamic State Accused of Attempted Murder in Prison

• Minnesota Man Is Charged With Arson After Two Mosque Fires

• Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak

• Man Uses Craigslist Ad to Extort Money From Harvard, Places Explosive Packages on Campus

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

• Evan Gershkovich Detainment Shows Russia Not Worried About Consequences, Ex-Hostage Affairs Envoy Says

• GOP Officials Raise Alarm Over U.S. Guardsman in TikTok Ad

• Garland Says Has Not Yet Received Durham Report on Origins of Trump Investigation

• U.S. Envoy Worries About China Anti-Spy Law Overreach

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

• California College Town Rocked by Stabbings That Remain a Mystery

• Merrick Garland Stands by Testimony in Hunter Biden Probe Despite IRS Whistleblower's Coverup Claims

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• Biden Isn't the Only Official Who Could Pardon Trump

• Epstein Victims Demand Federal Investigation in FBI's Failure to Probe Decades-Old Sex Trafficking Allegations

• Seven Bodies Found on Oklahoma Property During Search for Missing Teenage Girls

• Lori Vallow's Husband's First Wife May Have Been Restrained When She Died: Medical Examiner

• A New Text Scam Starts Out As A Simple 'Hi'

• Florida Man, 74, Accused of Grabbing Flight Attendant by the Crotch

• Woman Arrested for Allegedly Vandalizing Michigan Synagogue With Antisemitic Graffiti

• Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak

• Suspect in Deputy Death Escapes Jail; Unnoticed for 26 Hours

• Attempted Harvard Bomber Left a Trail of Evidence: Court Docs

• Bronx Felon Charged With Attempted Murder Over Shooting on Crowded NYC Street

• Illinois Bank Robber Sprays Substance at Teller, Flees on Foot

CYBER DIVISION

• Microsoft Says Iranian Hackers Combine Influence Ops With Hacking for Maximum Impact

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

• Private Security Guards Are Replacing Police Across America

• Frequent Shootings Put U.S. Mass Killings on a Record Pace

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• The FBI Will Support the Ecuadorian Police in the Investigation of Terrorist Actions

• U.S. Hands Cyprus Ancient Artifacts, Some 4,000 Years Old

• Senator Urges Release of New U.S. Report on Killing of Abu Akleh

CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

• FBI Says Former Agent Arrested Over Jan. 6 Called Officers Nazis and Encouraged Mob to 'Kill 'Em'

• Florida Man Charged With Throwing Explosive at Capitol Riot

• Missouri Man Sentenced to Prison for Jan. 6 Participation

• Jurors Struggle Over at Least One Charge in Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Trial

• Former Judge Who Advised Pence on Jan. 6: Supreme Court Should Subject Itself to 'Highest' Ethical Standards

OTHER FBI NEWS

• Gun Sales Explode in States Banning Them According to FBI

• House Republicans' Budget Bill Doesn't Spare Veterans. Democrats Are Making Them Regret It.

• Suzanne Morphew Case: Husband Who Was Accused of Murder Files Lawsuit Against FBI, Sheriff, Investigators

• Ex-Officer Who Held Back Crowd During George Floyd's Killing Is Convicted

• Week-Long Nuclear 'Training Exercise' Being Held in Major U.S. City

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Russian Defense Chief Wants Wartime Missile Output Doubled

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• Spike in Russian Combat Deaths Fuels Fears of Worse Carnage to Come

• Ukraine Seeks to Bolster Air Defenses After Russian Missile Barrages

• Sudan Crisis: Civilians Facing Catastrophe as 100,000 Flee Fighting

• Rockets Fired After Palestinian Hunger Striker Dies in Israeli Jail

• Hong Kong to Cut Elected Council Seats in Blow to Democracy

• Man Arrested Outside Buckingham Palace With Suspected Weapon

• U.N. Struggling to Strike Balance in Afghanistan Amid Humanitarian Crisis

• Global Risks to Journalists Increase, Say Press Advocates

• Marcos, Back in Arms of U.S., Is Making His Own Name in Foreign Policy

• Discreetly, Berlin Confronts Russian Spies Hiding in Plain Sight

OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

• House Democrats Try to Force Vote on Debt Ceiling

• At Trial, Second Woman Accuses Trump of Assault

• Judge Rejects Zooey Zephyr Bid to Return to Montana House

• Liberal Prosecutors Tussle With State Officials Over Abortion, Drug Crimes

• North Carolina Republicans Reach Agreement on 12-Week Abortion Ban

• Utah Judge Delays Implementing Statewide Abortion Clinic Ban

• After Pandemic Rebound, U.S. Manufacturing Droops

• Trump Agrees to Return to CNN, Ending a Long Boycott

• In Texas, Aimless Gunfire Rattles Residents, but It's Hard to Stop

• Biden, Harris Planning 1st 2024 Fundraisers as Soon as Next Week

• Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List"

• Almost Half of Midterm Voters Cast Ballots Early or by Mail

• White House Praises McCarthy's Commitment to Ukraine

BIG PICTURE

• New York Times

• Wall Street Journal

- Washington Post

• Financial Times

• ABC News

• CBS News

• NBC News

• Fox News

WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

IN THE NEWS

Texas Mass Shooting Suspect Arrested After Dayslong Manhunt

The Wall Street Journal (05/03, Bhattacharya, Gurman, Lukpat) reported that Francisco Oropeza, 38, the man sought in the killing of five people in Texas, has been taken into custody, according to law-enforcement officials, ending a dayslong search. Officials said they captured Francisco Oropesa Tuesday evening near Cut and Shoot, Texas, about 16 miles west of the city where the shooting occurred. According to San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers, he was found hiding in a closet underneath some laundry. The Associated Press (05/03, Lozano, Merchant)

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reported that the tip ending the chase came at 5:15 p.m. Oropeza was in custody a little over an hour later, said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. The alleged shooter is a Mexican national who has been deported four times between 2009 and 2016, according to U.S. immigration officials. The report also states that Connor Hagan, an FBI spokesman, said they would not disclose the identity of the person who called in the tip — one of more than 200 tips he says investigators received. Authorities did not say who owned the house, whether Oropeza knew them, or if anyone else was inside when he was found. In addition to acting on the tip, law enforcement officials tracked Oropesa's wife to a home near Cut and Shoot that was associated with one of his family members, a law enforcement source told CNN (05/03, Campbell, Lavandera, Wolfe). The article also mentions that members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol's Border Patrol Tactical Unit, known as BORTAC, entered the home and brought the suspect into custody, an FBI Houston spokesperson said. Authorities are now investigating whether the suspect had any help hiding, San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon told CNN Tuesday night. Oropesa will appear before a magistrate in San Jacinto County Wednesday, a law enforcement source involved in the investigation told CNN. Authorities have 90 days to indict the suspect, the source said. According to the source, the Mexican consulate will be formally notified on Wednesday of Oropesa's circumstances. The storyline was also reported on by the New York Times (05/02, Goodman), the Washington Post (05/02, Lati, Masih, Paul), ABC News (05/02, Shapiro), CBS News (05/02, Staff Writer), Fox News (05/02, Jenkins, Sabes), NBC News (05/02, Schuppe, Lenthang, Helsel), Reuters (05/02, Trotta), The Guardian (05/02, Clayton), BBC News (05/02, Debusmann Jr., Matza), USA TODAY (05/02, Santucci), MSNBC (05/02, Broadcast), the Independent (05/03, Marcus, Dasgupta), Forbes (05/02, Walsh), HuffPost (05/02, Visser), and NPR (05/02, Doubek).

Biden Sending 1,500 Troops for Mexico Border Migrant Surge

The Associated Press (05/02, Long, Madhani, Copp) and the Wall Street Journal (05/02, Hackman, Caldwell) reported that starting next week, the Biden administration will deploy 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to deal with an expected surge in migrants following the end of the Coronavirus pandemic-era restrictions. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that military personnel would do data entry, warehouse support, and other administrative tasks so that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can focus on fieldwork. The troops "will not be performing law enforcement functions or interacting with immigrants or migrants," Jean-Pierre said. "This will free up Border Patrol agents to perform their critical law enforcement duties." According to the articles, many migrants have been illegally entering El Paso, Texas, recently. Hundreds unable to find spots in shelters gathered in the past few days around downtown churches in the border city looking for help, according to photos and videos of the scene. Mario D'Agostino, a deputy city manager, said an estimated 35,000 migrants in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico—across the Rio Grande from El Paso—are believed to be waiting to cross into the U.S. Reports also mention that the troops will be deployed for 90 days and will be pulled from the Army and Marine Corps. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will look to backfill with National Guard or Reserve troops during that period, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. According to reports, 2,500 National Guard members are already at the border. The articles also state that the Biden administration has been scrambling to prepare for what it expects will be a significant surge of migrants when it stops using the public health measure known as Title 42 to expel migrants beginning May 11rapidly, the same day the national Covid-19 emergency ends. The storyline was also reported on by the New York Times (05/02, Cooper, Kanno-Youngs), the Washington Post (05/02, Horton, Miroff), CNN (05/02, Bertrand, Alvarez, Britzky), MSNBC (05/02, Broadcast), CBS News (05/02, Montoya-Galvez), NBC News (05/02, Ainsley, Gains, Alexander), Fox News (05/02, Griffin, Friden, Pandolfo), Reuters (05/02, Ali, Hesson), Politico (05/02, Ward, Seligman, Gould), Bloomberg (05/02, Sink, Gardner), the New York Post (05/02, Christenson, Doombos), Axios (05/02, Kight, Habeshian), Al Jazeera (05/02, Staff Writer), HuffPost (05/02, Robillard), Newsweek (05/02, Skinner), and the Washington Examiner (05/01, Willis).

300 Arrested in Global Crackdown on Dark Web Drug Market

The Associated Press (05/02, Corder, Whitehurst) reported that authorities in the United States and Europe conducted a major international operation targeting drug trafficking on the dark web, resulting in the arrest of nearly 300 people and the seizure of the "Monopoly Market" dark web marketplace. According to the article, over $53 million was confiscated, and significant amounts of drugs, firearms, and virtual currencies were seized. The operation, coordinated by Europol, aimed to dismantle sales platforms for illegal goods. The arrests were primarily made in the U.S., with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being a major focus. "Our message to criminals on the dark web is this: You can try to hide in the furthest reaches of the internet, but the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable for your crimes;' said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. The number of arrests and

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money seized was the highest for any international Justice Department-led drug trafficking operation, he said. The article noted that investigators also got leads from local police investigating overdose deaths, including a 19-year-old man in Colorado who loved learning languages and building his own computers, said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. "But some of the packages his family thought were full of computer parts actually contain drugs he had purchased off the dark net;' he said. "Because of those drugs, that promising young man sadly died of an overdose last year." Forbes (05/02, Erb), Washington Examiner (05/02, Severi), Wall Street Journal (05/02, Gurman, Volz), New York Daily News (05/02, Severi), VOA News (05/02, Farivar), The Verge (05/02, Roth), Reuters (05/02, De Clercq), CyberScoop (05/02, Vicens), WIRED (05/02, Greenberg), Bleeping Computer (05/02, Toulas), Bloomberg (05/02, Turton), and CNBC (05/02, Goswami) also reported on the story.

Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List"

The Associated Press (05/02, Shipkowski) reported that Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, who was barred from attending a White House celebration, called on the Biden administration to end the federal "watch list" that allegedly targets Muslims and others illegally. According to the article, Khairullah and the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) held a news conference condemning the list as discriminatory and unconstitutional, and called for federal agencies, including the FBI, to stop using and distributing the list. They also criticized the lack of transparency and remedy for individuals who are on the list. The article noted that New Jersey Senators and a Representative have formally asked the Secret Service and the Biden administration for an explanation regarding the mayor's exclusion from the event. CNN (05/02, Judd), The Guardian (05/02, Rios), Axios (05/02, Falconer), Al Jazeera (05/02, Staff Writer), NBC News (05/02, Helsel), Politico (05/02, Han), CBS News (05/02, Linton), ABC News (05/02, Cathey), Washington Examiner (05/02, Severi), The Daily Beast (05/02, Hawkinson), Independent (05/02, Feinberg), Gothamist (05/02, Solomon), Washington Times (05/02, Boyer), The Hill (05/02, Shapero), and the Washington Post (05/02, Paybarah) also reported on the story.

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COUNTERTERRORISM

Former Pizza Shop Owner Convicted of Helping Recruit for Islamic State Accused of Attempted Murder in Prison

Law & Crime (05/02, Kandel) reported that Mufid Elfgeeh, a former New York pizza shop owner and one of the first recruiters for the Islamic State group captured in the U.S., is accused of attempting to kill another inmate while serving his 22-year sentence in a Kentucky prison. According to the article, Elfgeeh had previously pleaded guilty to charges of recruiting fighters and raising funds for ISIL. He had recruited informants for the FBI to travel to Syria, provided guidance on joining ISIL, and sent money and supplies to individuals associated with the group.

Minnesota Man Is Charged With Arson After Two Mosque Fires

Fox News (05/02, Richard) reported that President Biden expressed his support for Muslim Americans and Representative Ilhan Omar after a man was arrested for allegedly starting fires at two mosques and vandalizing Omar's congressional district office in Minneapolis. According to the article, the president tweeted about the importance of standing against anti-Muslim hate and upholding the rights and dignity of all people. The arrest of Jackie Rahm Little, who is believed to be responsible for the arsons, was praised by Omar and the Muslim community, with Omar emphasizing the need to stand united against bigotry and terrorism. The article noted that the DO1, FBI, and local law enforcement were thanked for their efforts in apprehending the suspect. The New York Times (05/02, Holpuch) and The Guardian (05/02, Rios) also reported on the story.

Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak

The Washington Examiner (05/03, Poff) reported that a series of attacks targeting crisis pregnancy centers, which offer support and care opportunities instead of abortion, have occurred since the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case. According to the article, the attacks include vandalism and arson, with the FBI getting involved in investigating some cases. However, critics argue that the Department of Justice has shown a disproportionate focus on prosecuting anti-abortion demonstrators under the FACE Act, while not adequately pursuing those responsible for the attacks on pregnancy centers. "It's absolutely clear that the OO1is nothing now but a political arm of the Democrat Party," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told the Washington Examiner in an interview. "Merrick Garland is the worst attorney general in American history. He should have resigned a long time ago, and if the president had any decency, he'd remove him."

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Man Uses Craigslist Ad to Extort Money From Harvard, Places Explosive Packages on Campus WFXT (Fox-25) (05/02, Thorpe, Douglas) reported that a man named William Giordani has been held in federal custody for his involvement in aiding and abetting an extortion attempt, conspiracy, and bomb threats at Harvard University. According to court documents, Giordani responded to a Craigslist ad and purchased items, including fireworks, to be delivered to a Harvard student. Subsequently, a series of threatening phone calls were made, stating that bombs had been planted on the Harvard campus, leading to the discovery of a safe containing fireworks and wires. The article noted that the investigation involves the Harvard University police, FBI's Boston-area Joint Terrorism Task Force, and ongoing efforts to identify other individuals involved in the conspiracy.

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COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

Evan Gershkovich Detainment Shows Russia Not Worried About Consequences, Ex-Hostage Affairs Envoy Says

Fox News (05/02, Flood, Rutz) reported that the imprisonment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia reflects the country's disregard for human rights, according to former Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Hugh Dugan. According to the article, Dugan highlighted Russia's historical roots in the Soviet Union and stated that the Russian Federation lacks respect for individuals and operates with a mentality that people are mere tokens for the government's purposes. He also mentioned the involvement of the FBI's Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, a part of the machinery employed to bring hostages home, in Gershkovich's case.

GOP Officials Raise Alarm Over U.S. Guardsman in TikTok Ad

The Epoch Times (05/02, Li) reported that two Republican lawmakers, Rep. Elise Stefanik and Sen. Josh Hawley, have raised concerns about a TikTok advertisement featuring an Air National Guardsman, considering it a potential endorsement of the Chinese-owned app by the U.S. military. According to the article, they wrote a letter to Gen. Daniel Hokanson, expressing worries about TikTok's ties to Chinese intelligence and the threats it poses to Americans, particularly in light of the platform being banned on U.S. government devices. The article noted that lawmakers called on the National Guard Bureau to clarify its policies on TikTok's official and unofficial use, citing potential risks to national security and operational security.

Garland Says Has Not Yet Received Durham Report on Origins of Trump Investigation

Fox News (05/02, Singman) reported that Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that he has not yet received the report from Special Counsel John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe. According to the article, Durham has been conducting the investigation since April 2019, and Garland suggested that inquiries regarding the report should be directed to Durham. The article noted that Durham, who was appointed as special counsel by then-Attorney General Bill Barr, has indicted three individuals as part of the investigation.

U.S. Envoy Worries About China Anti-Spy Law Overreach

Asia Times (05/03, Pao) reported that the top U.S. diplomat to China, Ambassador Nicholas Burns, has called on Beijing to clarify the newly-amended Counterespionage Law, expressing concerns that it could criminalize routine activities of American business people, academics, and journalists in China. The article noted that the amended law, set to take effect on July 1, expands the definition of offenders and widens the coverage of the law to include "other documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests." Burns emphasized the potential implications for academic research and urged that American businesses in China be free from intimidation and operate based on the rule of law. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also expressed serious concern about the amendment, warning that it could hinder foreign investment and create legal uncertainties.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

California College Town Rocked by Stabbings That Remain a Mystery

The New York Times (05/02, Hubler) reported that two people have died and a third person has been wounded over the course of five days in Davis, Calif. The police said they were uncertain whether only one assailant was involved. According to the article, a placid Northern California college town has been rocked by a series of

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stabbings in which two people have been killed and a third critically wounded in less than a week. The police in Davis, Calif., a community of about 70,000 people west of Sacramento, have been asking for the public's help since a 50-year-old man was found dead with stab wounds on Thursday in the city's Central Park. Two days later, a University of California, Davis student was stabbed to death in a different park. The article stated that the latest attack occurred on Monday night, severely injuring a woman sleeping in a homeless encampment near railroad tracks just east of downtown. In a 911call shortly before midnight, the woman told dispatchers that she had been stabbed through the wall of her tent. Witnesses reported seeing a man fleeing the scene. The woman was hospitalized and in critical but stable condition on Tuesday. It remains unclear whether all three attacks were committed by the same person, the police said, but the descriptions provided by witnesses in the most recent two stabbings are similar. The article mentioned that evidence from the crime scenes was being processed and that the FBI and California Department of Justice had been called in to assist with the investigation, along with other police and sheriff's departments in Sacramento and surrounding counties, including campus police. CBS News (05/02, Video), Huffington Post (05/02, Golgowski), Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer), Los Angeles Times (05/02, Garrison), the Guardian (05/02, Staff Writer), and an additional CBS News (05/02, Video) article reported on the story.

Merrick Garland Stands by Testimony in Hunter Biden Probe Despite IRS Whistleblower's Coverup Claims The New York Post (05/02, Nelson) reported that Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday his testimony to Congress about a long-running federal criminal investigation of first son Hunter Biden was truthful in response to an IRS whistleblower's bombshell claims alleging a coverup. According to the article, a journalist asked Garland at an unrelated press conference about the whistleblower complaint and noted that the AG had "assured Congress some time ago that the Hunter Biden investigation would be conducted without any kind of political interference." The article quoted Garland, who said, "Yes, it's still the case, I stand by my testimony and I refer you to the attorney for the district of Delaware, who is in charge of this case and capable of making any decisions that he feels are appropriate." The article noted that the whistleblower supervised the IRS probe of Hunter for three years and on April 19 informed Congress that there had been "preferential treatment" in the case as well as false testimony to Congress by an official later revealed to be Garland. The article added that it was reported last month that there is "growing frustration" within the FBI over the fact that Weiss had not yet brought charges after the bureau concluded most of its work last year.

Blden Isn't the Only Official Who Could Pardon Trump

Politico (05/02, Wehle) reported that Trump currently faces actual or potential criminal charges in two states, New York and Georgia. The article stated that in both New York and Georgia, a politically motivated pardon — which Trump himself embraced unabashedly by pardoning advisors Steven Bannon, Roger Stone, and Paul Manafort (his 2016 campaign manager) — is not in the cards. The article noted that Trump is currently embroiled in three criminal probes at the federal level. Attorney General Merrick Garland tasked Special Counsel Jack Smith with looking into the classified documents Trump unlawfully kept at Mar-a-Lago months after the FBI and the National Archives requested their return. A second federal investigation involves the Securities and Exchange Commission plus a federal grand jury, which are considering whether his company, Trump Media, violated federal criminal laws in connection with its initial public offering for his social medial platform, Truth Social, as well as its reported receipt of $8 million in related loans wired from entities connected to an ally of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. The third is Smith's investigation of Trump's role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol, a probe that now reportedly includes possible wire fraud in connection with the massive fundraising that occurred over his false election claims. The article added that if any of these produces an indictment, President Joe Biden could pardon Trump. Given the precedent set by President Gerald Ford's pardon of a disgraced former president, Richard Nixon, there will be considerable pressure on Biden to do so.

Epstein Victims Demand Federal Investigation in FBI's Failure to Probe Decades-Old Sex Trafficking Allegations

Fox News (05/02, Betz) reported that multiple victims of Jeffrey Epstein are demanding answers in the FBI's failure to investigate sex trafficking allegations against the disgraced financier that go back decades. According to the article, legal counsel for several of Epstein's sex trafficking survivors sent a letter to the FBI Tuesday calling on the bureau, the Justice Department, and the attorney general to "conduct a full and fair investigation into the repeated failures to properly, adequately, or timely investigate the sex trafficking of hundreds of young girls and young women, as well as possible child sex abuse materials (amv) crimes." The article noted that Jennifer Freeman,

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Special Counsel to Marsh Law and legal counsel to several of Epstein's sex trafficking survivors, maintains that her client reported to the FBI that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell abused her in August 1996. Freeman says report to the FBI was "clear-eyed" and prescient, describing in detail, Epstein's involvement in the "production, possession, and distribution of sexually suggestive or exploitative images of children." The article continued to quote Freeman in the letter, who said, "Despite subsequent repeated red flags that Epstein trafficked girls and collected sexualized images of children, the FBI appears, for years, to have done little to investigate and prosecute Epstein's sex trafficking and, to date, done nothing regarding reports of possible CSAM," The Washington Examiner (05/02, Dunleavy), Fox News (05/02, Hagstrom), and the Daily Beast (05/02, Briquelet) also reported on the story.

Seven Bodies Found on Oklahoma Property During Search for Missing Teenage Girls

The Wall Street Journal (05/02, Lukpat) reported that Oklahoma authorities said they found seven bodies on a rural property Monday while they were searching for two missing teenage girls. According to the article, the authorities in Henryetta, Okla., a city about 45 miles south of Tulsa, haven't released the identities of the seven people. Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said two of the bodies were believed to be the missing girls: Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16. Sheriff Rice at a Monday news briefing said authorities were no longer searching for the girls. The article noted that another body was believed to be 39-year-old Jesse McFadden, he said, while adding that a medical examiner would confirm the identities of the victims. Mr. McFadden registered as a sex offender in 2020 and worked as an independent contractor, according to state records. He didn't show up to a district court Monday to go on trial for charges including child pornography, according to court records. The bodies were found hours after he was supposed to appear in court. The article added that Sheriff Rice on Monday didn't identify the property's owner. He and Gerald Davidson, a spokesman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, declined to answer questions on Monday about the details of the case. The article stated that Mr. Davidson said authorities weren't looking for additional suspects and there was no threat to the community. He declined to say why the girls were with Mr. McFadden. The Associated Press (05/02, Murphy), and BBC (05/02, Drenon) also reported on the story.

Lori Vallow's Husband's First Wife May Have Been Restrained When She Died: Medical Examiner The New York Post (05/02, Keane) reported that the first wife of "Doomsday mom" Lori Vallow Daybell's husband may have been restrained when she died under mysterious circumstances three years ago, a medical examiner testified this week. According to the article, bruises consistent with being restrained were discovered on the arms and chest of Tammy Daybell, who was married to Lori's husband Chad Daybell at the time of her death in October 2019, Utah's Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Erik Christensen testified during Lori's murder trial on Monday. The article noted that an FBI forensic anthropologist also testified last week that J.J.'s body had stretch marks on his neck and bruises on his wrists and ankles where he was bound with duct tape. Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell believe the end times are upon the world and we must prepare for doomsday and the second coming of Christ.

A New Text Scam Starts Out As A Simple 'Hi'

The Street (05/02, Lenihan) reported that a scam known as 'pig-butchering' is claiming victims around the world in a rip-off that can start off with a simple message. According to the article, last month, the U.S. Department of Justice said it had seized virtual currency worth an estimated $112 million linked to a pig butchering cryptocurrency investment scam. The article noted that investment fraud caused the highest losses of any scam reported by the public to the FBI's Internet Crimes Complaint Center, last year, the DOJ said, totaling $3.31 billion. Frauds involving cryptocurrency, including pig butchering, represented most of these scams, increasing 183% from 2021 to $2.57 billion in reported losses last year.

Florida Man, 74, Accused of Grabbing Flight Attendant by the Crotch

The New York Post (05/02, Steinbuch) reported that a 74-year-old Florida man allegedly told an American Airlines flight attendant that he loved the scent of her perfume — and proceeded to grope her crotch. The article stated that Gary Matthew Sorichetti was arrested Thursday on federal charges of abusive sexual contact for his alleged behavior aboard a flight from Sarasota, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, according to a probable cause complaint.

Woman Arrested for Allegedly Vandalizing Michigan Synagogue With Antisemitic Graffiti CBS News (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that a 35-year-old Michigan woman has been arrested for allegedly spray-painting antisemitic graffiti on the building of a Royal Oak synagogue. The article mentioned that the Royal Oak

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Police Department said, officers responded to the incident around 4 p.m. on Friday, April 28 after a passerby noticed the antisemitic graffiti on Woodward Avenue Shul, a Jewish community center. A swastika symbol was drawn on the building as well as pro-Nazi propaganda. The article noted that Royal Oak detectives worked with the FBI, Jewish Community Security, and the Farmington Hills Police Department in identifying the suspect.

Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak

The Washington Examiner (05/02, Poff) reported that the attacks against Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center and Life First Pregnancy Center were part of a series of acts of vandalism perpetrated in the wake of the Dobbs leak against crisis pregnancy centers, which offer pregnant women support and care opportunities instead of abortion. According to the article, the political advocacy organization CatholicVote says it has tracked 84 attacks against pregnancy centers and anti-abortion organizations since the Dobbs draft was leaked. While the vast majority of the incidents have involved graffiti, some, like the June 25, 2022, incident at Life Choices in Longmont, Colorado, involved an act of arson. The article noted that the Colorado-based center was firebombed in the early hours of June 25, the day after the Supreme Court released its decision in the Dobbs case. The damage was so severe that the center had to use alternative facilities for a year-long renovation. The article mentioned that in January, the FBI offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of people responsible for "attacks and threats targeting reproductive health service facilities," which is a violation of the Free Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act.

Suspect in Deputy Death Escapes Jail; Unnoticed for 26 Hours

The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that two men escaped from a jail in Virginia over the weekend, including one charged in the killing of a North Carolina sheriff's deputy last year. Alder Marin-Sotelo, 26, escaped from Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia around 1 a.m. on Sunday, FBI officials said Monday. He is charged in the August 2022 murder of a sheriff's deputy in North Carolina. According to the article, he left the jail in a red or burgundy Ford Mustang, the FBI said and was gone for more than 24 hours before guards noticed he was missing, jail officials confirmed. The other escapee, Bruce Callahan, 44, had been held at the jail on drug charges, the sheriff's office said. Authorities have not said whether the two escapes are related. The article noted that the escapee investigation was turned over to the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service since the men were federal detainees with no affiliations to the area or local charges, the sheriff's office said. The FBI said in a news release that digital billboard images of Marin-Sotelo have been put up across Virginia and North Carolina. NBC News (05/02, Alsharif), Fox News (05/02, Mion), and ABC News (05/02, McDuffie, Shapiro) also reported on the story.

Attempted Harvard Bomber Left a Trail of Evidence: Court Docs

The Daily Beast (05/02, Rohrlich) reported that a New England man planted a fake bomb on the Harvard University campus last month as part of an attempt to extort a "large" amount of Bitcoin from the Ivy League school, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday. According to the article, William A. Giordani, 55, was arrested on Tuesday by federal agents and remains detained pending a Friday court hearing. He stands charged in Massachusetts federal court with conspiracy, along with aiding and abetting an extortionate threat. The article mentioned that during the investigation Giordani said he knew the FBI wanted to speak with him, but was afraid of getting arrested for transporting fireworks across state lines.

Bronx Felon Charged With Attempted Murder Over Shooting on Crowded NYC Street

The New York Post (05/02, Donlevy) reported that a Bronx felon was charged with attempted murder and other offenses on Tuesday for allegedly shooting a man on a crowded Manhattan sidewalk, sending tourists scrambling for cover. The article mentioned that Michael Rowe, 23, was on probation when he allegedly opened fire in Hell's Kitchen during an argument with the other man around 5:45 p.m., according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The victim, identified as 28-year-old Shaquille Bailey, suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the point-blank range shooting, police said. Rowe was charged by the NYPD with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. The alleged shooter is also facing a federal charge of possessing ammunition after a felony conviction, the US Attorney's office said. The DOJ posted a press release that quoted FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll, who said, "Rowe's alleged actions endangered numerous innocent people simply attempting to live their lives safely - something we all should feel free to do. The charges today should serve as a warning to any individual willing to settle arguments in a similar fashion - the FBI and our partners in law enforcement will hold you accountable in the criminal justice system."

Illinois Bank Robber Sprays Substance at Teller, Flees on Foot

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CBS News (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that the FBI is investigating a bank robbery where an unknown substance was sprayed at employees in Chicago. According to the article, a suspect put down a note, but did not display a weapon, and sprayed some sort of substance. He asked the teller for money and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

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CYBER DIVISION

Microsoft Says Iranian Hackers Combine Influence Ops With Hacking for Maximum Impact

CYBERSCOOP (05/02, Vicens) reported that Iranian state-aligned hackers are increasingly deploying information operations to amplify cyberattacks and gain maximum exposure for their efforts to support the regime's agenda in the Middle East and against Western targets, Microsoft's Digital Threats Analysis Center said Tuesday. According to the article, researchers linked 24 unique cyber-enabled influence operations, which combine offensive computer network operations with online messaging and amplification, to the Iranian government in 2022 compared to just seven in 2021, according to the report. Seventeen of the operations have taken place since June of 2022, the researchers found. The article stated that the Iranian-aligned groups are turning more toward information operations as part of an overall cyber strategy could be attempts at proportionate response to a flurry of attacks on Iranian targets by entities the Iranians say are Israeli or American, the researchers note. Black Magic, for example, which Microsoft assesses as working in support of the IRGC, launched a series of ransomware attacks on Israeli targets that seemed to mimic the attacks of Predatory Sparrow, an unaffiliated hacking group that has pulled off a series of top-tier cyberattacks on Iranian targets that some have linked to the Israeli government. The article noted that Iranian-linked cyberattacks and information operations are likely to continue along this pattern, the researchers said, which can usually be characterized as a response to perceived attacks or provocations against the Iranian government, including anything related to the ongoing protests within Iran in response to the murder of Mahsa Amini.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

Private Security Guards Are Replacing Police Across America

Time (05/02, Semuels) reported that while police departments were losing officers, crime was rising in many parts of America. Murders, assaults, and car thefts rose nationally in 2020, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, and an increase in homelessness has heightened anxieties about safety. These factors bolstered the private security industry, which had already been growing steadily since the terrorist attacks of September 11 but has boomed since 2020. There are roughly twice as many security guards employed in the U.S. than there were 20 years ago, according to the Security Industry Association, though the nation's population has only grown 16% over the same time period. By 2021, there were about 2 police officers but 3.1 security guards for every 1,000 civilians. The article mentioned that in Philadelphia alone, police staffing levels dropped nearly 10% from the end of 2019 to the end of 2022, a recent government audit found. Nationally, the number of sworn officers dropped 7% between 2019 and 2021, according to FBI data.

Frequent Shootings Put U.S. Mass Killings on a Record Pace

The Associated Press (05/02, Dazio, Fenn, Slevin) reported that the Mojave slayings over the weekend represented the 19th mass killing of the year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University. That is the most during the first four months of the year since data was first recorded in 2006. The Oklahoma deaths have not been added to the database as of Tuesday afternoon. According to the article, as of the Mojave shooting, 97 people had been killed in the 19 mass killings this year, exceeding the record set in 2009 when 93 people were killed in 17 incidents by the end of April. The article stated that the number killed is a fraction of the total number of people who died by homicide for the year. The database counts killings involving four or more fatalities, not including the perpetrator, the same standard as the FBI, and tracks a number of variables for each. The article noted that the 2023 numbers stand out even more when they are compared with the tally for full-year totals since data was collected. The U.S. recorded 30 or fewer mass killings in more than half of the years in the database, so to be at 19 a third of the way through is remarkable.

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The FBI Will Support the Ecuadorian Police in the Investigation of Terrorist Actions

The Ecuador Times (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that the Ecuadorian Minister of the Interior, Juan Zapata, assured that there will be "a reorganization, readaptation, retraining and a strengthening of the capacities of the police to face the threat of terrorism." The official spoke during an event in the Intervention and Rescue Group (GIR), this Monday, May 1, 2023. According to the article, he also said that the police will have the support of the FBI, of the United States, for the investigation of terrorist actions, and, in addition, there will be international instructors, who will teach closed combat classes.

U.S. Hands Cyprus Ancient Artifacts, Some 4,000 Years Old

The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that the United States has returned some 80 ancient artifacts, including coins and limestone sculptures, to Cyprus, the Mediterranean island nation's Department of Antiquities said Tuesday. According to the article, the antiquities were recovered after U.S. authorities seized them or individual owners decided to hand them back after discovering their true provenance, Cyprus Department of Antiquities Director Marina Solomidou leronymidou said. The article noted that the number of items accumulated as pandemic restrictions prevented Cypriot officials from collecting them in the U.S., leronymidou said. Officials from multiple U.S. agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the seizure and return of the artifacts.

Senator Urges Release of New U.S. Report on Killing of Abu Akleh

Al Jazeera (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that a Maryland senator has called on the administration of President Joe Biden to give legislators access to a report from the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) about the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. According to the article, Democrat Chris Van Hollen said on Tuesday that he sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to make the assessment "available immediately for Congressional review". The article noted that U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, have called for accountability in the case, but critics say the U.S. has not done enough to pressure its Israeli allies to ensure justice for the slain journalist. The article added that in September 2022, Israel said there was a "high possibility" its army fired at Abu Akleh but dismissed the killing as accidental and refused to launch a criminal investigation into the incident. The article mentioned that U.S. officials welcomed the Israeli assessment at that time and called on Israel to review its military rules of engagement to avoid similar shootings in the future, a demand that was openly rejected by Israeli leaders. The article stated that U.S. and Israeli outlets reported in November that the FBI had launched an investigation into Abu Akleh's killing, and Israeli officials had vowed not to cooperate with the purported U.S. probe. Axios (05/02, Ravid) also reported on the story.

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CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS

FBI Says Former Agent Arrested Over Jan. 6 Called Officers Nazis and Encouraged Mob to 'Kill 'Em' NBC News (05/02, Reilly) reported that this week, the FBI arrested former FBI supervisor Jared L. Wise in Oregon in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Wise, who worked at the FBI from 2004 to 2017, was charged with various offenses, including entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and unlawfully parading in a Capitol building. According to an FBI affidavit, Wise allegedly called for killing officers protecting the Capitol and made derogatory remarks towards them before entering the building. The article noted that the arrest is part of ongoing efforts by federal authorities to hold individuals accountable for their involvement in the riot, which has resulted in the arrest of over 1,000 people so far. Shortly after the attack, a top FBI official warned that many within the bureau were "sympathetic" to the mob.

Florida Man Charged With Throwing Explosive at Capitol Riot

The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that a Florida man, Daniel Ball, was arrested for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection where he allegedly set off an explosive, injuring several police officers. Ball is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a deadly weapon. According to the criminal complaint,

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he entered the Capitol, pried a piece of a wooden shutter, and later threw an explosive into the entranceway. An FBI explosives expert concluded that the device was capable of causing damage and serious injury.

Missouri Man Sentenced to Prison for Jan. 6 Participation

The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that Lloyd Casimiro Cruz Jr., a participant in the January 6, 2021, Capitol siege, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail after being found guilty of two misdemeanors related to entering the U.S. Capitol. According to the article, Cruz had argued that the cases against him and other participants were unconstitutional, but his petitions were denied by the judge. Prosecutors said Cruz entered the U.S. Capitol building with others and roamed around for about 7 minutes before leaving. They argued his lack of remorse and continued downplaying of the rioters' actions justified a jail sentence.

Jurors Struggle Over at Least One Charge in Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Trial

NBC News (05/02, Reilly, Barnes) reported that the jury in the trial of five Proud Boys charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has asked for additional instructions, indicating that they may be struggling with the charges against some of the defendants. The note asked for guidance on what to do if they do not agree on all charges, and the judge told them they were allowed to deliver a partial verdict and to inform him if they were deadlocked over a charge. The case has lasted for about five months, and several other Proud Boys have already pleaded guilty to their actions on Jan. 6.

Former Judge Who Advised Pence on Jan. 6: Supreme Court Should Subject Itself to 'Highest' Ethical Standards

The Hill (05/02, Sforza) reported that J. Michael Luttig, a former federal judge and advisor to Vice President Pence, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding Supreme Court ethics. Luttig emphasized the importance of the Court adhering to high professional and ethical standards, especially in light of recent events such as the January 6th Capitol insurrection. He urged the Court to conduct itself beyond reproach, not only in its judicial activities but also in non-judicial contexts, setting an example that upholds the integrity of the institution.

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OTHER FBI NEWS

Gun Sales Explode in States Banning Them According to FBI

The Washington Examiner (05/02, Bedard) reported that the sales of firearms, especially AR-15-style rifles, unexpectedly turned up last month, apparently driven by efforts in several states to impose gun bans. According to the article, industry officials reviewing the latest FBI background check information said that states planning gun bans or moving to change the rules governing firearms purchases saw massive jumps in April sales.

House Republican? Budget Bill Doesn't Spare Veterans. Democrats Are Making Them Regret It.

The Huffington Post (05/02, Marans, Nicholson) reported that House Republicans passed a government funding bill last week that would both enact massive federal spending cuts and raise the so-called national debt ceiling for less than a year. According to the article, since House Republicans made it clear early on that they wanted to keep military spending on its present growth path, the White House produced an estimate of how much the GOP would have to cut from all other agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, to still achieve its spending reduction goals. The article stated that liberal think tanks have drafted their own analyses of exactly how deeply Republicans would have to cut other programs — things like food stamps and federal funding for preschools and police officers — if Republicans held both military spending and veterans' benefits harmless. The article noted that Third Way, a centrist Democratic think tank, projected that keeping defense and veterans funding safe from discretionary cuts would mean a $2.8 billion cut to the FBI, at the cost of 11,000 agents, analysts and staff. In that scenario, Customs and Border Patrol would also lose 2,400 officers and the Federal Aviation Authority would lose about 9,400 positions.

Suzanne Morphew Case: Husband Who Was Accused of Murder Files Lawsuit Against FBI, Sheriff, Investigators

CBS News (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that the husband of Suzanne Morphew is asking for $15 million saying he was wrongfully charged in his wife's disappearance and presumed death. Barry Morphew, of Chaffee County, was not only the prime suspect in the case as he was also charged with the murder of his wife Suzanne. According to the article, Morphew filed the lawsuit on Tuesday which includes Chaffee County, the Chaffee County Sheriffs

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Office, and several named investigators in the case including those working for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI.

Ex-Officer Who Held Back Crowd During George Floyd's Killing Is Convicted

The Wall Street Journal (05/02, Barrett) reported that Tou Thao, the ex-Minneapolis police officer who kept a group of onlookers at bay as three other officers knelt on a handcuffed George Floyd until he lay lifeless in the street, was convicted Tuesday of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. According to the article, the verdict came after a bench trial in which Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill considered agreed-upon evidence from the two sides and is the final conviction in state and federal court of the four officers involved in the May 25, 2020, killing that led to a summer of unrest in Minnesota and across the U.S.

Week-Long Nuclear 'Training Exercise' Being Held in Major U.S. City

The Epoch Times (05/02, Phillips) reported that the FBI on Tuesday warned residents of a Texas city that a week-long nuclear incident training exercise is taking place this week. According to the article, in a bulletin issued to the public, the FBI's Houston office told Houston residents that the exercise will last starting Monday until Friday.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Russian Defense Chief Wants Wartime Missile Output Doubled

• Associated Press: Russian Defense Chief Wants Wartime Missile Output Doubled

Spike in Russian Combat Deaths Fuels Fears of Worse Carnage to Come

• Washington Post: Spike in Russian Combat Deaths Fuels Fears of Worse Carnage to Come

Ukraine Seeks to Bolster Air Defenses After Russian Missile Barrages

• Wall Street Journal: Ukraine Seeks to Bolster Air Defenses After Russian Missile Barrages

Sudan Crisis: Civilians Facing Catastrophe as 100,000 Flee Fighting

• BBC News: Sudan Crisis: Civilians Facing Catastrophe as 100,000 Flee Fighting

Rockets Fired After Palestinian Hunger Striker Dies in Israeli Jail

• BBC News: Rockets Fired After Palestinian Hunger Striker Dies in Israeli Jail

Hong Kong to Cut Elected Council Seats in Blow to Democracy

• Associated Press: Hong Kong to Cut Elected Council Seats in Blow to Democracy

Man Arrested Outside Buckingham Palace With Suspected Weapon

• Associated Press: Man Arrested Outside Buckingham Palace With Suspected Weapon

U.N. Struggling to Strike Balance in Afghanistan Amid Humanitarian Crisis

• Washington Post: U.N. Struggling to Strike Balance in Afghanistan Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Global Risks to Journalists Increase, Say Press Advocates

• Wall Street Journal: Global Risks to Journalists Increase, Say Press Advocates

Marcos, Back in Arms of U.S., Is Making His Own Name in Foreign Policy

• New York Times: Marcos, Back in Arms of U.S., Is Making His Own Name in Foreign Policy

Discreetly, Berlin Confronts Russian Spies Hiding in Plain Sight

• New York Times: Discreetly, Berlin Confronts Russian Spies Hiding in Plain Sight

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OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS

House Democrats Try to Force Vote on Debt Ceiling

• Wall Street Journal: House Democrats Try to Force Vote on Debt Ceiling

• New York Times: House Democrats Move to Force a Debt-Limit Increase as Default Date Looms

• Reuters: U.S. Senate Republicans, Democrats Squabble Over Debt Ceiling as Deadline Nears

At Trial, Second Woman Accuses Trump of Assault

• Wall Street Journal: At Trial, Second Woman Accuses Trump of Assault

• New York Times: Carroll's Friend Tells of a Fraught Call Reporting an Attack by Trump

• Reuters: E. Jean Carroll Called Minutes After Trump Allegedly Raped Her, Friend Testifies

Judge Rejects Zooey Zephyr Bid to Return to Montana House

• Associated Press: Judge Rejects Zooey Zephyr Bid to Return to Montana House

• New York Times: Judge Rejects Montana Lawmaker's Effort to Return to House Floor

• Wall Street Journal: Judge Rejects Montana Transgender Lawmaker's Bid to Return to House Floor

Liberal Prosecutors Tussle With State Officials Over Abortion, Drug Crimes

• Wall Street Journal: Liberal Prosecutors Tussle With State Officials Over Abortion, Drug Crimes

North Carolina Republicans Reach Agreement on 12-Week Abortion Ban

• Reuters: North Carolina Republicans Reach Agreement on 12-Week Abortion Ban

Utah Judge Delays Implementing Statewide Abortion Clinic Ban

• Associated Press: Utah Judge Delays Implementing Statewide Abortion Clinic Ban

After Pandemic Rebound, U.S. Manufacturing Droops

• New York Times: After Pandemic Rebound, U.S. Manufacturing Droops

Trump Agrees to Return to CNN, Ending a Long Boycott

• New York Times: Trump Agrees to Return to CNN, Ending a Long Boycott

In Texas, Aimless Gunfire Rattles Residents, but It's Hard to Stop

• New York Times: In Texas, Aimless Gunfire Rattles Residents, but It's Hard to Stop

Biden, Harris Planning 1st 2024 Fundraisers as Soon as Next Week

• Reuters: Biden, Harris Planning 1st 2024 Fundraisers as Soon as Next Week

Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List"

• Associated Press: Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List"

Almost Half of Midterm Voters Cast Ballots Early or by Mail

• Associated Press: Almost Half of Midterm Voters Cast Ballots Early or by Mail

White House Praises McCarthy's Commitment to Ukraine

• Washington Examiner: White House Praises McCarthy's Commitment to Ukraine

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BIG PICTURE

New York Times

• After Pandemic Rebound, U.S. Manufacturing Droops

• Is the Debt Limit Constitutional? Biden Aides Are Debating It

• A Brutal Sex Trade Built for American Soldiers

• Writers Go on Strike and Late Shows Go Dark

• Discreetly, Berlin Confronts Russian Spies Hiding in Plain Sight

Wall Street Journal

• Stocks, Oil Fall Ahead Of Rate Decision

• Biden to Send Troops to Border As Cities Prepare for Migrants

• Market For New Homes Rebounds

• Deal Fuels Concern Over Size of Banks

• Switzerland Wants Children to Eat Less Chocolate, More Insects

Washington Post

• They've Waited Decades for D.C. Housing Aid. Is Help Finally Near?

• Debt Deal Strategy Hinges on Framing

• Zelensky: U.S. Kept Silent on Disclosures

• War Takes a Bloody Pivot

• Hollywood Writers on First Strike in 15 Years

• The No-Stoplight British Town That Explains a King

Financial Times

• Jeb Bush's Private Equity Group Held Talks Over Selling NSO Technology in U.S.

• U.S. Bank Agency Recommends Higher Deposit Insurance for Business Accounts

• Hollywood Faces Writers' Strike After Talks With Studios Collapse

ABC News

• 1,500 Troops Sent to U.S. Southern Border Ahead of Expected Migrant Surge; Thousands of Film and TV Writers Go On Strike; California College Town on Edge After Deadly Stabbings.

CBS News

• U.S. Sending 1,500 Troops to Southern Border to Deal With Migrant Surge; How the Tiger Is Brought to Life on Broadway for "Life of Pi".

NBC News

• Thousands of Television and Movie Writers on Strike; Man Arrested Outside Buckingham Palace Days Before Coronation of King Charles Iii; Illinois Highway Engulfed in Dust Storm Still Dangerous to Drive On, Authorities Warn.

Fox News

• Karine Jean-Pierre's Comments Were Factually Untrue: Kyrsten Sinema; The Biden Admin Is Admitting Their Border Approach Was a 'Failure': Mollie Hemingway; Pentagon to Send Troops to Southern Border.

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WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

White House

President Biden

• The President's schedule was not available at the time of the report's compilation.

Vice President Harris

• No events are scheduled.

US Senate

• Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for the fiscal year 2024 for the Environmental Protection Agency. — 10:00 AM — Host: Appropriations Committee

• Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for the fiscal year 2024 for the Department of Energy including the National Nuclear Security Administration. — 10:00 AM — Host: Appropriations Committee

• Hearings to examine barriers to mental health care focusing on improving provider directory accuracy to reduce the prevalence of ghost networks. — 10:00 AM — Host: Finance Committee

• Hearings to examine the 2024 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget and implementation of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. — 10:00 AM — Host: Environment and Public Works Committee

• Hearings to examine the real cost of fossil fuels. — 10:00 AM — Host: Budget Committee

• Hearings to examine combatting transnational criminal organizations and related trafficking. — 2:00 PM — Host: Appropriations Committee

• Hearings to examine competition in the digital advertising ecosystem. — 2:30 PM — Host: Judiciary Committee

• Hearings to examine the global information wars. — 2:30 PM — Host: Foreign Relations Committee

• To receive a closed briefingon certain intelligence matters. — 2:30 PM — Host: Intelligence Committee

US House of Representatives

• No events are scheduled.

Cabinet Members

• Secretary of Defense Austin hosts a full honors ceremony and meeting welcoming Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. to the Pentagon at 10:30 a.m. EDT on the River Parade Field.

• Secretary of State Blinken participates in a moderated conversation on the state of press freedom worldwide with Washington Post columnist David Ignatius in Washington, D.C. at 10:00 AM.

Visitors

• Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. meets with Secretary of Defense Austin at the Pentagon.

General Events

• Brookings Institution: Understanding USAID's Policy Framework — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: The Brookings Institution, 2:00 PM. USAID recently released the Policy Framework, a document that provides a comprehensive overview of key USAID policies and priorities, connects development policy to U.S. foreign

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policy and national security goals, and shows the interconnections among policies. The framework highlights the need to address challenges of humanitarian emergencies and food security, climate change, authoritarianism and democratic renewal, health security, and inclusive economic growth. Given the broad interest in how this framework document will guide the implementation of U.S. assistance policies and programs, the Brookings Center for Sustainable Development is hosting a public discussion on May 3 with representatives of USAID and civil society to drill down into elements of the framework.

• CSIS: Enhancing the Regional Impact of the CHIPS and Science Act — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: CSIS, 9:00 AM. On August 9th, 2022, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law, providing nearly $280 billion in new funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors. The Act represents a major initiative to build a more resilient innovation and manufacturing ecosystem and occurs against the backdrop of a growing competition between the United States and China. To better understand how the CHIPS and Science Act can promote regional economic growth and innovation, the Renewing American Innovation Project invites you to an all-day conference on 'Enhancing the Regional Impact of the CHIPS and Science Act' cohosted by the Indiana University Public Policy Institute. For this event, CSIS will bring together policymakers, senior industry leaders, agency leaders, and policy experts in a series of panels discussing how the United States can maximize and sustain the regional economic impact of the CHIPS and Science Act.

• CSIS: StrengtheningDeterrence: Parliamentary Perspectives on Japan's Defense Strategy— Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: CSIS, 10:00 AM. With the revision of three key security documents in December 2022, Japan is charting a new course in its national defense strategy. Please join the CSIS Japan Chair on Wednesday, May 3, from 10:00 am - 11:00 am for a conversation with legislative leaders from Japan who will discuss the road ahead.

• AEI: The Social Breakdown: The Poverty of Family, Community, and Religious Life in America — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: AEI, 9:00 AM. Social capital—the value inhering in our relationships and institutions— is in decline in America. Participation in community and civil society is withering. Relationships within our homes, associations, churches, and workplaces have weakened. We are less trusting of our neighbors and our government than ever before. America is suffering from mutually reinforcing crises of social isolation, nonparticipation, and distrust, leaving us lonely, resentful, and without a sense of purpose. Join AEI's Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility for a discussion of the state of social capital in America and the launch of a new research series, the Social Breakdown, which aims to uncover why America's social fabric is breaking down and what we can do to rebuild social capital.

• Aspen Institute: Higher Ed Climate Action Listening Session I — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: Online Event, 1:00 PM. The Higher Ed Climate Action Task Force aims to accelerate higher education's already impressive progress on climate, create an overarching framework for the role of higher education in advancing solutions, and identify policies to scale climate action across the sector. The Task Force, co-chaired by Commissioner of Higher Education for Louisiana, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed and President of AASCU, Dr. Mildred Garcia, includes a diverse group of leaders from across the higher education and climate fields. Over the next year, the Higher Ed Climate Action Task Force will host a virtual listening tour to better understand the work currently occurring and the opportunity to scale action across the sector. The task force will then draft an action plan grounded in what is learned from these sessions with recommendations for institutions, systems, and policymakers.

• Wilson Center: China's Biodiversity Action at Home and Overseas — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: Wilson Center, 9:00 AM. In the early hours of the morning of December 19, 2022, delegates at the COP15 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Montreal adopted the ambitious Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to conserve 30% of the world's land and 30% of the ocean by 2030. This framework wrapped up China's extended role as chair (and later co-chair with Canada) of the CBD. In the run up to COP15, China accelerated its domestic biodiversity and conservation policies to protect its wetlands, mangroves, forests and the Yangtze River. The Xi Administration also has prioritized reducing the ecological footprint of Belt and Road Initiative investments. At this meeting, speakers will delve into China% efforts to protect biodiversity at home and in its overseas investments. Feng Ge (Visiting Scholar of the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School & Environmental Protection Lawyer from China) will share stories on NGO-led

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public interest litigation cases within China to protect biodiversity. Zhao Zhong (Visiting Scholar of the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School & Green Camel Bell) will discuss his group's partnership with Indonesian NGOs to investigate the impact of Chinese-funded projects on communities and biodiversity in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. He will also highlight their work with Chinese business and banking stakeholders to promote responsible green investment. Andrew Morimoto (Paulson Institute, Green Finance Center I Edelman Global Advisory) will examine the challenges facing Chinese and global biodiversity financing, drawing on his work on the intersection of climate policy, green finance, and U.S.-China relations.

• Wilson Center: Book Talk I Ukraine is Not Dead Yet — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: Online Event, 10:00 AM. When her grandmother Anna died in Cleveland in 2013, Megan Buskey was compelled in her grief to uncover and document her grandmother's life as a native of Ukraine. A Ukrainian American, Buskey returned to her family's homeland and encountered the essential and sometimes difficult aspects of recent Ukrainian history. In this book talk, Megan Buskey will discuss her book, Ukraine Is Not Dead Yet, and her process of researching Ukraine's difficult twentieth century through the prism of her family's past.

• Wilson Center: The Battle for Democracy in Venezuela: A Conversation with Former Interim President Juan Guaid6 — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: Wilson Center, 12:00 PM. Deteriorating conditions under Nicolas Maduro's authoritarian government continue to raise concerns about democracy and human rights in Venezuela and migration challenges throughout the region. In a sign of the regime's repression of the democratic opposition, former Interim President Juan Guaid6 recently escaped the country, traveling through Colombia amid persistent threats of government persecution. In recent days, the international community has come together to engage in discussions about the importance of restoring democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. At the same time, however, Guaides journey to the United States is drawing renewed attention to the challenges faced by the democratic opposition in Venezuela, where the state security and intelligence services brutally quash dissent. Please join our conversation with former Interim President Guaid6 to discuss the challenges confronting Venezuela's democratic opposition and how international actors could help bring about a democratic future in Venezuela. The dialogue is part of the Wilson Center's Hemisphere of Prosperity and Freedom series.

• Wilson Center: Possibilities - Canada and the Biden Administration's Historic Bipartisan Economic Investments — Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Location: Wilson Center, 3:15 PM. The Biden administration's historic public investments in decarbonization, energy transition, infrastructure, and strategic sectors such as semiconductor fabrication are creating opportunities for Canadian firms to engage in cross-border investment, participate in US supply chains, and collaborate on research and production. Bipartisan congressional support made these investments possible through funding for the Build Back Better framework in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and gave the executive branch responsibility for implementation. On May 3, US Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen will speak at the Wilson Center to address the possibilities for Canadians and Americans to build back better together.

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