EFTA00160201.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing" Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - December 16, 2022 Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:15:03 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation Seal December 16, 2022 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 IN THE NEWS COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTERINTELLIGENCE EFTA00160201 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS MI CYBER DIVISION CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS OTHER FBI NEWS Fox News Host: The FBI Is Sitting on 'Troves' of Epstein Evidence INTERNATIONAL NEWS OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS EFTA00160202 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. EFTA00160203 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 2021 memorandum 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, EFTA00160204 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). Back to Top 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 EFTA00160205 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. Back to Top 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 EFTA00160206 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 EFTA00160207 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. Back to Top 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 2021 Case 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 EFTA00160208 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 EFTA00160209 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. Back to Top 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 EFTA00160210 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. Back to Top 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 EFTA00160211 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. Back to Top 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 EFTA00160212 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. Back to Top 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 Back to Top 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 Back to Top EFTA00160213 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. Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE EFTA00160214 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. EFTA00160215 • 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 EFTA00160216