EFTA00160532.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:15:03 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation - Seal July 25, 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 • Justice Department Sues Texas Over Border Buoy Barrier • Hunter Biden Goes to Court as Fight Continues Between GOP and White House • Russia Attacks Ukrainian Grain Terminal, Blames Kyiv for Fresh Drone Strikes COUNTERTERRORISM • Radical UK Islamist Preacher Anjem Choudary Charged With Three Terrorist Offences • Taliban Persistently Refute al-Zawahiri's Death By U.S. Drone Strike, One Year On • Man Plotted To Attack His Platoon With Strangers Online. But He Might Have Been the Only Conspirator Who Was Real. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • The FBI's All-in on Section 702 • Nikki Haley: 'Every Company Needs To Have a Plan B' on China • U.S. Intelligence Agencies Reviewing Evidence in Discord Leak Case • Pro-China Influence Campaign Infiltrates U.S. News Websites CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Death of Intellectually Disabled Inmate at Virginia Prison Drawing FBI Scrutiny, Document Shows • Gilgo Beach Murders: Police Searching Suspect's Walk-in Vault • Home-Invasion Murder Suspect's Blood on Doorknob Led to Arrest Four Decades Later • Fury as Man Who Killed Black Victim in 'Hate Crime' Not Yet Charged • Bryan Kohberger Claims DNA May Have Been Planted at Idaho Murders Scene — As Alibi Deadline Looms EFTA00160532 • NCIS, FBI Lead Cold Case Training to Local & Regional Law Enforcers • He Built a Booming Black Market Empire Inside L.A. County Jails. It Ended With His Murder • Atlanta Suburb Strives To Recover Nearly $800,000 Lost in Email Scam • Former U.S. Prison Employee to Admit to Accepting Payments From Rajaratnam • Third Person Charged in Arson Attack on California Planned Parenthood • Carlee Russell Has Admitted She Wasn't Kidnapped, Her Attorney Says • Scammers Are Impersonating Law Enforcement, and the Call You Get May Convincing, Authorities Warn • Gang Violence in Cleveland a High Priority for FBI as Justice Dept. Pushes Steeper Charges • Georgia Police and FBI Investigating Racist Flyers Thrown Across Several Neighborhoods • Madalina Cojocari Vanished After Getting off Her School Bus. Her Parents Never Even Reported Her Missing • Democrat's Child Porn Charges Draw Conservative Outrage • Six Men Arrested on Child Sex Charges by Alabama Police and FBI • New Mexico State Police Sergeant Faces Child Pornography Charges • FBI Operation Cross Country Helps Locate High Risk Runaways in East Hawai'i • NXIVM Cult Leader Keith Raniere Claims FBI Planted Child Porn Found on His Computer as He Seeks New Trial for Sex Trafficking Crimes • The FBI 'Hung up on Me': Epstein Victim • FBI Offers $25K Reward for Cold Case Murder of Seven Year Old Girl FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • DOJ Corporate Crime Policies Survive Challenge in Cognizant Case CYBER DIVISION • Florida Senator Calls for FBI Investigation Into Recent Health Care Data Breaches • Washington Tries to Add Some Teeth to Its Cyberdefenses LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • Effort to Curb Police Use of Google Data Stalls as California Lawmakers Struggle to Shield Abortion Seekers INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • Defense Lawyers Push Judge to Reveal Secret Country that Helped FBI Wiretap the World • FBI Returns Manuscript Signed by Hernan Cortes in 1527 to AGN in Mexico CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Special Counsel Received Documents From Giuliani Team That Tried To Find Fraud After 2020 Election • Man Who Beat Officer With Flagpole During Capitol Riot Is Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison • Florida Couple Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach • Special Counsel Scrutinizing February 2020 Meeting Where Trump Praised U.S. Election Security Protections • Unanswered Questions About Trump's Looming Jan. 6 Indictment • Former Trump DOJ Official Richard Donoghue Has Met With the Special Counsel's Office EFTA00160533 • Majority Says Federal Prosecutors Have Strong Case Against Trump in Jan. 6 Probe • Former NYPD Commissioner Turning Over Documents to Georgia Election Workers Suing Giuliani • Trump Causes Confusion by Sharing Meme Calling Jan 6 a 'Government Staged Riot' Even Though He Was in Power • Jan. 6 Rioter Says His Supreme Court Petition Could Affect 'Hundreds' of DOJ Cases • Mike Pence Won't Call the Former President's Actions 'Criminal' • Texts Show Mark Meadows Ridiculing Trump's Election Lies • GOP Field's Jan. 6 Tightrope OTHER FBI NEWS • The Virginia Delegation Is Balking at New FBI Headquarters Criteria, Continuing Their Fight to Bring the Bureau to the Commonwealth. • Pennsylvania Police Sergeant Jeffrey Murphy Receives FBI LEEDA Trilogy Award • FBI Investigations, Not Like You See on TV INTERNATIONAL NEWS • U.S. Weighs Potential Deal With China on Fentanyl • In Singapore, Loud Echoes of Beijing's Positions Generate Anxiety • U.S. Navy Secretary Says Australian Multination Military Exercise Demonstrates Unity to China • John Kerry in Beijing: Can U.S. and China Set Aside Rivalry for Climate Action? • North Korea Hasn't Answered U.S.'s Calls on Detained Soldier Travis King • North Korea Fires Two Missiles After U.S. Submarine Arrives in South • Ukraine's Stalled Offensive Puts Biden in Uneasy Political Position • As Japan Aligns With U.S. Chip Curbs on China, Some in Tokyo Feel Uneasy • New Evacuations Ordered in Greece as High Winds and Heat Fuel Wildfires • Typhoon Doksuri: Taiwan Cancels Han Kuang Military Drills • Denmark Quran Burning: Muslim Nations Condemn Far Right Group's Action OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Continued Reporting: Biden Investigation • Continued Reporting: Trump Indictment • Body of Obamas' Personal Chef Recovered From Martha's Vineyard Lake • U.S. Supreme Court Faces 'Outright Defiance' From Alabama • Republican Infighting Could Stall House Spending Bills • Why the Fed Isn't Ready to Declare Victory on Inflation • White House Says Biden Will Veto Republican-Backed Bills Over Spending Cuts • Abortion Measures Draw Biden Veto Threat • UFO Whistleblower To Go Before House Panel • GOP, McCarthy on Collision Course Over Expunging Trump's Impeachments • Trump Rages Over Legal Problems on Truth Social • Marjorie Taylor Greene Rages at 'Stupid Conspiracy Theories' Made About Her BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal EFTA00160534 " Washington Post " Financial Times " ABC News " CBS News " NBC News " Fox News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Justice Department Sues Texas Over Border Buoy Barrier The Associated Press (07/24, Weber, Gonzalez) and the Wall Street Journal (07/24, Flores) reported that on Monday, the Justice Department made good on its threat to sue Texas Gov. Greg Abbott if he did not remove a floating buoy barrier that the state installed on the Rio Grande to prevent migrants from entering the country in an attempt to stop migrants from crossing the border illegally. The articles stated that in its complaint filed in the Western District of Texas, the U.S. Department of Justice said the Republican governor had violated the Rivers and Harbors Act when strung together the buoys in the river along the U.S.-Mexico border without federal authorization. "This floating barrier poses threats to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns," said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. "Additionally, the floating barrier has prompted diplomatic protests by Mexico and risks damaging U.S. foreign policy." The Washington Post (07/24, Vazquez) reported that Abbott had ordered installing a 1,000-foot chain of orange buoys earlier this month at a busy area for illegal crossings near Eagle Pass, Tex. The barrier is one component of "Operation Lone Star," Abbott's $4 billion campaign to bus migrants to northern U.S. cities while deploying Texas state police officers and National Guard troops to the border. Texas officials have lined the Rio Grande's banks with new obstacles to the migrants, including stacked shipping containers and thickets of concertina wire. Abbott defended his actions in a letter sent to the White House before the lawsuit was filed. He said the Biden administration had left him no choice but to deploy the buoys to stop unauthorized immigration. The articles mention that as part of the operation, overseen by the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Military Department, authorities have charged thousands of migrants with misdemeanor trespassing and other state charges and built its border wall of shipping containers along the banks of the Rio Grande. Earlier this month, a state trooper raised concerns about Operation Lone Star in an email to his superiors, saying troopers and Guard members on the operation were instructed to push a nursing mother back into the river, to deny water to migrants even in extreme heat and to block a 4-year-old who was trying to cross coils of razor wire, from reaching shore. The story was also reported on by the New York Times (07/24, Goodman), CBS News (07/24, Montoya-Galvez), CNN (07/24, Alvarez, Rabinowitz), Fox News (07/24, Vacchiano, Gibson, Mears), Reuters (07/24, Beech, Singh), NBC News (07/24, Mitsanas, Kosnar, Mullen), NPR (07/24, Kim), Politico (07/24, Frazier, Gerstein), Axios (07/24, Knutson), Bloomberg (07/24, Mekelburg), Al Jazeera (07/24, Staff Writer), the New York Post (07/24, Christenson), The Hill (07/24, Beitsch), and BBC News (07/24, Debusmann). Hunter Biden Goes to Court as Fight Continues Between GOP and White House USA TODAY (07/24, Kuchar) reported that Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, is due to appear in court on misdemeanor tax charges and has reached a pretrial agreement on a felony gun charge. According to the article, GOP lawmakers continue to fight with the White House, referencing an unclassified FBI document alleging President Biden's involvement in a foreign bribery scheme with a Ukrainian business executive. The article noted that Senator Chuck Grassley released the document, an FD-1023 form after it was made available to House Oversight Committee members by the FBI, threatening contempt proceedings. Grassley stated: "While the FBI sought to obfuscate and redact, the American people can now read this document for themselves, without the filter of politicians or bureaucrats." The article explained that IRS agents Greg Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, part of the Hunter Biden investigation, have publicly accused the president's son of receiving special treatment throughout the investigation, with Ziegler testifying that the investigation appeared to be "hamstrung, limited, and marginalized" by DOJ officials and other U.S. attorneys. EFTA00160535 DOI to Make Prosecutor in Hunter Biden Case Available to Testify Before Congress Associated Press (07/24, Amiri) reported that David Weiss, the U.S. Attorney for Delaware and lead prosecutor in the case against President Biden's son, Hunter, has expressed his willingness to testify in a public hearing this fall in front of the House Judiciary Committee. Accoprding to the article, this comes as House Republicans, led by Rep. Jim Jordan, continue to scrutinize the handling of the Hunter Biden probe and have demanded Weiss for a closed-door interview. The article noted that Justice Department, in a bid to counter claims of wrongdoing by Republicans and regain control over the narrative, has offered Weiss as the ideal person to address these issues given his pivotal role and direct knowledge of the investigation. Fox News (07/24, Gillespie, Singman), New York Post (07/24, Nelson, Garger), Daily Mail (07/24, Boswell), CNN (07/24, Cohen, Cohen, Grayer), Politico (07/24, Carney), Washington Examiner (07/24, Oliver), Fox News (07/24, Gillespie, Singman), Breitbart (07/24, Husebo), and Newsmax (07/24, Mack) also reported on the story. Hunter Biden's Friend To Tell Congress That Joe Biden Joined Dozens of Son's Business Meetings Fox News (07/24, Richard) reported that Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, is set to testify under oath to Congress about President Biden's potential involvement with Hunter's overseas business transactions. According to the article, last week, an FBI document released by Senator Chuck Grassley alleged that a bribe was paid to Joe and Hunter Biden by Ukrainian businessman Zlochevsky in 2016 to ensure the firing of Ukraine Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. The article noted that the document also revealed that Zlochevsky referred to Joe Biden as "the big guy", a title Archer is expected to testify was used within Biden's circle to refer to the elder Biden. National Review (07/24, McCarthy), Washington Examiner (07/24, Gorman), and New York Post (07/24, Editorial) also reported on the story. Russia Attacks Ukrainian Grain Terminal, Blames Kyiv for Fresh Drone Strikes The Wall Street Journal (07/24, Grove) and the New York Times (07/24, Bigg, Higgins, Martinez) reported that Ukrainian and Romanian officials confirmed that Russian forces attacked a port on the Danube River in Ukraine, near the Romanian border, for the first time on Monday, destroying a grain hangar and escalating their efforts to cripple Kyiv's agriculture in an attempt to provoke a confrontation with the United States and its European allies in the future. According to the articles, Russia's strike on the Ukrainian port of Reni on the Danube River follows a series of similar attacks on ports and storage facilities along the Black Sea coast. In part, the attacks were planned to curtail Ukraine's grain exports after the Russian government took part in a pact that allowed Ukrainian grain to be transported safely through the Black Sea, primarily to African and Middle Eastern markets. After Russia's withdrawal from the deal, Russian drones and missiles bombarded Odesa's main port. Monday's attack on Reni pushed grain prices higher and brought the conflict closer to Romania, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member with a river border with Ukraine. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the attacks have been devastating. "We urge Russia to stop targeting food supplies and to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative immediately," she said. The reports add that Moscow considers ships bound for Ukrainian ports legitimate military targets, aiming to disrupt the grain trade. At the same time, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense issued a similar warning, saying it would consider targeting vessels en route to Russian ports. Ukrainian traders have responded by building capacity on the Danube River after Russian attacks closed off Black Sea ports that typically shipped 95% of Ukrainian grain exports. Though still comparatively small, the Danube has become a significant outlet, and barges have transported grain down the river to the Romanian port of Constanta, where it was loaded onto larger vessels for export. The story was also reported on by the Associated Press (07/24, Dana, Litvinova), Washington Post (07/24, Hudson, Galouchka), Fox News (07/24, Richard), Bloomberg (07/24, Ng), Axios (07/24, Saric), BBC News (07/24, Greenall), USA TODAY (07/24, Bacon, Ortiz), CNBC (07/24, Macias, Ward-Glenton), Reuters (07/24, Harmash, Balmforth), The Guardian (07/24, Chao-Fong, Banfield-Nwachi, Belam), Politico (07/24, Melkozerova), Al Jazeera (07/24, Siddiqui, Shankar, Alsaafin), the Independent (07/25, Rai, Zakir—Hussain), and the Washington Examiner (07/24, Rogan). Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Radical UK Islamist Preacher Anjem Choudary Charged With Three Terrorist Offences Reuters (07/24, MacLellan) reported that Anjem Choudary, a prominent British radical Islamist preacher, has been arrested and charged with three terrorism-related offenses, including membership and directing of a proscribed EFTA00160536 organization and encouraging support for such an organization. According to the article, Choudary, who previously served prison time for supporting Islamic State and praised those behind the 9/11 attacks, will appear in court in London. The article noted that alongside Choudary, a Canadian man, Khaled Hussein, was arrested upon arrival at Heathrow Airport and has also been charged with membership of a proscribed organization. AI Jazeera (07/24, Staff Writer), Associated Press (07/24, Staff Writer), BBC News (07/24, Seddon, Sandford), The Guardian (07/24, Gecsoyler), Telegraph (07/24, Stephens), and Independent (07/24, Dearden, Evans) also reported on the story. Taliban Persistently Refute al-Zawahiri's Death By U.S. Drone Strike, One Year On VOA News (07/24, Gul) reported that nearly a year after the U.S. killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Kabul, the Taliban continue to deny knowledge or involvement in his presence and death, which raises questions about their commitment to combating terrorism. According to the article, the U.S. claims that al- Zawahiri was sheltered by associates of the Taliban Interior Minister, and his killing contradicts the Taliban's assertions that Afghanistan is free from armed groups. The article noted that there are concerns over an increase in terrorism activities from groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which, according to a United Nations report, has around 4,000 leaders and fighters residing in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban authorities, who have denied these allegations. Man Plotted To Attack His Platoon With Strangers Online. But He Might Have Been the Only Conspirator Who Was Real. New York Magazine (07/24, Stieb) reported that Ethan Melzer, a U.S. Army private and member of the occultist far- right group Order of Nine Angles (O9A), planned to attack his own platoon during a deployment to a U.S. base in Turkey. According to the article, unbeknownst to him, one of his co-conspirators in the plot, who went by the name Red Hourglass, was an FBI informant. The article noted that the FBI arrested Melzer on June 10, 2020, as he prepared to deploy, and he subsequently admitted to the plot during his flight to Manhattan where he was indicted. The article added that his arrest showcased the FBI's heavy use of confidential sources to thwart terror plots and exemplified the challenges of distinguishing between serious and pretend threats in the context of online radicalization. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE The FBI's All-in on Section 702 Politico (07/24, Gedeon) reported that Director Wray has written to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to renew the Section 702 surveillance tool, which he claims has been instrumental in 97% of all raw technical reporting on malicious cyber actors and 92% of reporting on emerging tech in the first half of this year. According to the article, Director Wray's endorsement comes amid criticism from lawmakers who are concerned about privacy breaches since the tool has inadvertently captured American citizens' data and has been misused for domestic surveillance. The article noted that an undisclosed U.S. senator, state senator, and judge were improperly searched by agency analysts using the 702 databases, as revealed by a declassified court ruling, which along with previous misuse has raised questions about the tool's accountability and safeguards. Nikki Haley: 'Every Company Needs To Have a Plan B' on China CNBC (07/24, Breuninger) reported that Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate, and former U.N. ambassador, stated that American companies should stop seeing China as an economic competitor and start treating it as a national security threat. According to the article, Haley claimed that China's actions, including buying large portions of U.S. farmland, spreading propaganda, building up its naval fleet, and stealing U.S. intellectual property, pose a considerable economic and security threat. The article noted that this tough stance on China echoes the sentiments of Director Wray, who recently testified that no other country presents a "more comprehensive threat to our ideas, our innovation, and our economic security." U.S. Intelligence Agencies Reviewing Evidence in Discord Leak Case Washington Post (07/24, Harris, Barrett) reported that Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, charged with sharing classified documents online, won't stand trial for several months due to the volume of sensitive information involved in the case, according to federal prosecutors. According to the article, Teixeira, a 21-year-old EFTA00160537 IT professional from North Dighton, Massachusetts, has been in jail since his April arrest after FBI agents traced to him photos of classified documents posted online; he is accused of abusing his top-secret clearance to share U.S. intelligence assessments and other sensitive information on the Discord platform. The article noted that his friends revealed in recent interviews that Teixeira was motivated to keep them informed about the war in Ukraine and to share information not readily available to the public, but they also confirmed he understood the classified nature of the shared documents. Pro-China Influence Campaign Infiltrates U.S. News Websites The Washington Post (07/24, Cadell, Starks) and CNN (07/24, Lyngaas) reported that a Chinese marketing company, Shanghai Haixun Technology Co., Ltd., likely organized and promoted protests in Washington D.C. as part of a wider pro-Beijing influence campaign, using a network of over 70 fake news websites, according to cybersecurity firm Mandiant. According to the articles, the individuals hired for these protests, who included self-proclaimed musicians and actors from the D.C. area, were reportedly unaware of their role in a pro-China influence campaign. The articles noted that this comes amidst reports by the FBI that during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, pro-China propagandists engaged in "Russia-style influence activities" to stoke American divisions, pointing to Facebook's shutdown of accounts originating in China that posted memes mocking President Joe Biden and Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Death of Intellectually Disabled Inmate at Virginia Prison Drawing FBI Scrutiny, Document Shows The Associated Press (07/24, Rankin, Lavoie) reported that the FBI is looking into the death of an intellectually disabled inmate at a Virginia prison who's been identified as "a possible victim of a crime," the agency said in a document reviewed Monday by the Associated Press, months after a federal lawsuit was filed alleging the man was fatally beaten by correctional officers. The article added that the February 2022 death of Charles Givens, who was serving time for murder at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center, is the subject of a federal lawsuit alleging Givens was "sadistically tortured" and beaten before being found unresponsive at the southwest Virginia facility. Gilgo Beach Murders: Police Searching Suspect's Walk-in Vault ABC News (07/24, Katersky, Shapiro, Crudele) reported that "numerous" guns were kept inside a walk-in vault with a "big iron door" at the home of Gilgo Beach, New York, murder suspect Rex Heuermann, according to authorities. The article added that Heuermann had over 200 guns in his suburban Massapequa Park, Long Island, house, according to police, though he only had permits for 92 firearms, according to prosecutors. Investigators have looked in the vault and dug up Heuermann's backyard as the search for evidence continues, Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said Monday. The article noted that one theory investigators are exploring is whether Heuermann, a husband and father of two, killed any of his alleged victims inside his house. The article mentioned that Heuermann, a New York City architect, was arrested on July 13 for the murders of three sex workers -- Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello -- whose bodies were found covered in burlap on Long Island's South Shore in 2010. The young women disappeared in 2009 and 2010. Home-Invasion Murder Suspect's Blood on Doorknob Led to Arrest Four Decades Later Fox News (07/24, Conklin) reported that Minneapolis police say they have cracked a 1984 cold-case murder and assault thanks to new DNA technology. The article stated that authorities named Matthew Russell Brown, 66, as the suspect accused of murdering Robert Miller inside his south Minneapolis apartment on July 17, 1984, when Brown would have been 27 years old. The article added that MPD said in a press release that its investigators, along with FBI agents, interviewed Brown last month. He was living in Illinois at the time. MPD homicide investigators "assigned to the FBI's Cold Case Task Force have been working diligently with the BCA Forensics Lab" for more than eight years "to identify DNA found at the scene and narrow down a possible list of suspects," which led them to Brown, MPD said Friday. WCCO (CBS-4) (07/24, Murphy) also reported on the story. Fury as Man Who Killed Black Victim in 'Hate Crime' Not Yet Charged Newsweek (07/24, Rahman) reported that father-of-two Jon "Mike" Rone Jr., 42, was killed outside Liquor Land in Kansas City, Missouri, at around 2:30 p.m. on July 4. According to a probable cause statement, multiple witnesses said the suspect, Sean W. Tonkin, was "repeatedly using the word 'n*****1 prior to and during a verbal alteration EFTA00160538 with the victim." The article noted that questions were raised about whether the homeowner, Andrew Lester, would be protected from prosecution by the state's self-defense law after he was briefly detained and released following the shooting. He was later charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The article mentioned that an FBI spokesperson said the bureau is "aware of the incident and is in contact with our law enforcement partners." The Rolling Stone (07/24, Dickinson) also reported on the story. Bryan Kohberger Claims DNA May Have Been Planted at Idaho Murders Scene — As Alibi Deadline Looms The Independent (07/24, Sharp) reported that Bryan Kohberger has claimed that the DNA evidence tying him to the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students may have been planted at the crime scene — as the deadline for him to give an alibi for the slaying looms. The article added that in a recent court filing in Latah County Court, the 28-year-old criminology student suggested that police officers could have somehow placed his DNA on the knife sheath which was left behind by the killer at the college rental home in Moscow, Idaho. The article noted that prosecutors fired back at the suggestion that the evidence was "rigged", writing in a filing that "the State is at a loss as to how that theory supports a claim that the IGG information is material to the preparation of his defense". The article mentioned that according to the affidavit in the case, the FBI used genetic genealogy databases to try to identify the DNA source. Trash was then collected from the suspect's parents' home in the Poconos Mountains and a familial match — from Mr Kohberger's father — was made to the sheath, according to the criminal affidavit. NCIS, FBI Lead Cold Case Training to Local & Regional Law Enforcers KUAM (NBC-8) (07/24, Hirayama) reported that local and regional law enforcement officers learning from the best in cold case and advanced homicide investigation training. It's crucial training as we have about 100 unsolved cases and as many families still waiting for answers. The article added that dozens of law enforcement officers around the region gathering at the Westin Resort Guam on Monday for a cold case training led by seasoned instructors coming all the way from Quantico, Virginia. In coordination with the Guam Police Department, the four days of training are being led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the FBI. The article noted that officers from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, GPD and local prosecutors are learning the best practices from renowned instructors like retired NCIS operational representative Louis Eliopulos and FBI behavioral profiler Timothy Keel. He Built a Booming Black Market Empire Inside L.A. County Jails. It Ended With His Murder The Los Angeles Times (07/24, Ormseth) reported that Michael Torres, 59, ran one of the most intricate and lucrative black market businesses in Los Angeles County; the jails. The article added that his tenure running this illicit empire ended two weeks ago when two inmates stabbed him to death on the yard of California State Prison, Sacramento. New players are already muscling in on the jails. The article noted that the illegal economy of the Los Angeles County jail system moves along twin tracks: the trade of drugs and extorted commissary items inside the walls, and the exchange of money on the outside. The article stated that Torres took sole control over the jails after Mexican Mafia member, Armando "Perico" Ochoa, a high-ranking member of the MS-13 gang was sent to prison, the MS-13 member, Nelson Comandari, told the FBI. Atlanta Suburb Strives To Recover Nearly $800,000 Lost in Email Scam The Associated Press (07/24, Staff Writer) reported that an Atlanta suburb is trying to recover nearly $800,000 that it lost in an email scam. The city of East Point lost money in 2021 after someone hacked the city's email system and sent four fake invoices from city email addresses asking for money to be wired to a fake company. The losses became public knowledge after they were discussed in an audit report presented at a Thursday meeting. The article added that several East Point City Council members say administrators should have disclosed the loss earlier. City Council member Stephanie Gordon questioned how city employees could wire that much money with no oversight from managers. The article noted that City Manager Deron King said staff didn't tell the council because FBI agents were investigating and he wasn't sure how much they could share. He said changes have been made, including requiring multiple people to sign off on wire transfers. Former U.S. Prison Employee to Admit to Accepting Payments From Rajaratnam Reuters (07/25, Raymond) reported that a former employee of a federal prison in Massachusetts has agreed to plead guilty to secretly accepting thousands of dollars from Raj Rajaratnam while the Galleon Group hedge fund founder was serving time for insider trading, according to court records and a person familiar with the matter. The article added that federal prosecutors in Boston on Monday said William Tidwell accepted over $90,000 in benefits EFTA00160539 and a $50,000 property loan from a high net-worth inmate while working as a correctional counselor at the Federal Medical Center Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts. Court papers only identified the former inmate as "Individual 1." A person familiar with the matter said he was Rajaratnam, who was sentenced in 2011 to 11 years in prison and was released early in 2019. Third Person Charged in Arson Attack on California Planned Parenthood NBC News (07/24, Helsel) reported that a federal grand jury has indicted three men, including an active-duty Marine, in the firebombing attack on a Southern California Planned Parenthood clinic last year, prosecutors said Monday. The Marine, Chance Brannon, 23, and another California man, Tibet Ergul, 21, were arrested last month and charged in the March 13, 2022, firebombing at the Costa Mesa facility. The article added that both men, as well as a Florida man, Xavier Batten, 21, were indicted on July 14 and the indictment was unsealed Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said. The article noted that someone who was friends with Brannon and Ergul tipped off the FBI after the law enforcement agency asked for help identifying two people seen in security video footage, according to court documents. Ergul had sent that person messages about the arson, including a photo showing the firebomb, the documents say. The Los Angeles Times (07/24, Winton), KCAL (CBS-9) (07/24, Staff Writer), and the Guardian (07/24, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Carlee Russell Has Admitted She Wasn't Kidnapped, Her Attorney Says The Huffington Post (07/24, Moorhouse) reported that Carlee Russell, the 25-year-old Alabama woman whose account of her mysterious 48-hour disappearance was questioned by police, admitted she was not kidnapped, authorities said in a news conference Monday. The article noted that after a massive nationwide search involving the Hoover Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals, Russell returned home on foot. A 911 caller said that Russell was "unresponsive but breathing," but police said she was conscious and speaking when first responders arrived. She was transported to a hospital. Before being treated and released, Russell told detectives an elaborate story about being abducted by a couple that night, Derzis said in a news conference on July 19. Scammers Are Impersonating Law Enforcement, and the Call You Get May Convincing, Authorities Warn WBTS (NBC-10) (07/24, Gaydos) reported that scammers are targeting Americans and threatening them with an arrest. The U.S. Marshals and FBI say they are hearing about this scam on a daily basis and there have been a large number of these calls in Massachusetts. The article noted that scammers are very convincing, they'll provide victims with a badge number, names of law enforcement officials and judges, and courthouse addresses. They will spoof the phone number so it appears on caller ID as if it is coming from a government agency or the court. Gang Violence in Cleveland a High Priority for FBI as Justice Dept. Pushes Steeper Charges WOIO (CBS-19) (07/24, Nelson) reported that a high-ranking agent at the FBI's Cleveland office says gang violence is a top threat for investigators nationwide and in Northeast Ohio. The article quoted Todd Krajeck, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Cleveland field office, who said, "Gang violence has certainly always been an issue but this year, in particular in Cleveland, seems to be more violent than normal, partnerships are the key to pretty much everything we work in the FBI. Investigating gang activity and disrupting gangs is no different. We depend on our partnership specifically with the Cleveland Division of Police. We work hand in hand with their gang impact unit." Georgia Police and FBI Investigating Racist Flyers Thrown Across Several Neighborhoods WANE (CBS-46) (07/24, Video) reported that the City of Hampton and the FBI are investigating flyers promoting white supremacy that were thrown into several neighborhoods. Madalina Cojocari Vanished After Getting off Her School Bus. Her Parents Never Even Reported Her Missing The Independent (07/24. Sharp) reported that it's been eight months since 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari was last seen arriving home after a day of school. But for one of those months, no one was even looking for her. In April, she turned 12 years old — with no one knowing where she was, what she was doing, or whether she was even able to celebrate it. The article added that while the sixth-grader's mother and stepfather have been behind bars in North Carolina for many months, investigators have still been unable to get to the bottom of what they know about the young girl's disappearance. The article mentioned that since the alarm was raised for the missing 11-year-old, over 100 law enforcement officials from agencies including Cornelius Police Department, the FBI and the SBI have EFTA00160540 worked to help find her. Multiple searches have been carried out at the family home for clues as to her whereabouts. Democrat's Child Porn Charges Draw Conservative Outrage Newsweek (07/24, Zurick) reported that the news that a former Democratic lawmaker faces charges over allegedly colluding with a daycare center employee to obtain child pornography sparked an avalanche of conservative condemnation. The article added that Stacie Marie Laughton, 39, of Nashua, New Hampshire, was arrested and charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and aiding and abetting on June 22, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston. Federal prosecutors say that Laughton showed several people nude photos of children as young as three that she received from her "intimate partner" who worked at a daycare facility. Six Men Arrested on Child Sex Charges by Alabama Police and FBI WBRC (Fox-6) (07/24, Staff Writer) reported that six people were arrested after the Homewood Police Department's Special Investigations Unit partnered with the FBI in the ongoing effort to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. The article added that Homewood Police and the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force made the arrests July 20 and July 21 as part of Operation Cross Country. New Mexico State Police Sergeant Faces Child Pornography Charges KOAT (ABC-10) (07/24, Kahn) reported that a New Mexico State Police sergeant has been charged with transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to court documents. The article added that the Albuquerque office of the FBI received a tip in April that an image showing child sexual abuse was found in an account associated with a phone number linked to Sam A. Clouthier of Carlsbad, the document said. The article noted that Clouthier is a sergeant with the New Mexico State Police, as well as a high school basketball official affiliated with the NMAA, the document said. Acting on a search warrant, the FBI found 34 more photos of child sexual abuse in the online account linked to Clouthier, the document said. The article mentioned that Clouthier was interviewed by the FBI July 20, and said he had downloaded and viewed illegal images of young girls for a long time, according to the court document. FBI Operation Cross Country Helps Locate High Risk Runaways in East Hawai'i KPUA (07/24, Staff Writer) reported that on Friday, July 21, the Hawai'i County Police Department participated in the FBI's Operation Cross Country XIII. Operation Cross Country is a coordinated operation among the FBI, other federal agencies, state and local police, and social services agencies across the country to locate and recover runaways considered "high risk" and/or "endangered." NXIVM Cult Leader Keith Raniere Claims FBI Planted Child Porn Found on His Computer as He Seeks New Trial for Sex Trafficking Crimes The Daily Mail (07/24, Kuepper) reported that NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere has claimed that the child pornography found on his computer was planted by the FBI as he hopes to get a new trial for the sex trafficking crimes he is currently serving 120 years for. The article stated that Raniere said he could prove that the evidence against him was planted, but prosecutors shut down his latest attempt to get a new trial, saying it was 'entirely without merit', according to a response filed in Brooklyn federal court on Friday. They also said his motion should be denied since it is 'untimely, unfounded, legally unsupported, and contrary to the evidence adduced at trial'. The article mentioned that it is Raniere's third attempt to get a new trial since he was sentenced to 120 years in prison after he was convicted in 2019 of all charges of sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and racketeering charges with underlying acts that included possession of child pornography, extortion and identify theft. The article added that his legal team's report pointed to alleged 'anomalies with the FBI search', such as the unusual manner in which agents collected evidence from Raniere's study at a home in Halfmoon, New York in March 2018. The FBI 'Hung up on Me': Epstein Victim Fox News (07/24, Video) posted an interview where Jeffrey Epstein survivor and her lawyer Jennifer Freeman describe her encounter with Epstein and how the FBI responded. FBI Offers $25K Reward for Cold Case Murder of Seven Year Old Girl WBKO (ABC-13) (07/24, Video) reported that the FBI is offering a $25k reward for cold case murder of a seven-year- old girl who was found in Robertson County, Tennessee. EFTA00160541 Back to Top FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS DOJ Corporate Crime Policies Survive Challenge in Cognizant Case Reuters (07/24, Frankel) reported that the DM policy of incentivizing companies to self-report criminal conduct and cooperate with prosecutors in building cases against executives has emerged unscathed from a challenge that threatened to disrupt the way federal prosecutors investigate corporate crime. The article added that U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty of Newark, New Jersey, ruled on Friday that two former Cognizant Technology Solutions executives facing a criminal trial for alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cannot suppress evidence obtained by private lawyers during Cognizant's internal investigation of an alleged $2.5 million bribe paid to Indian officials overseeing a Cognizant construction project. McNulty acknowledged that Cognizant was motivated to cooperate with prosecutors after informing the DOJ about the "facilitation payment" But the government's subsequent investigation, he said, was sufficiently independent to protect the defendant's constitutional rights. The article noted that the defendants insisted that DOJ policies that reward corporations for cooperating with the government incentivize companies to scapegoat individual executives. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Florida Senator Calls for FBI Investigation Into Recent Health Care Data Breaches WFLA (NBC-8) (07/24, Patterson) reported that in just three weeks, three hospitals with patients in the Tampa Bay area have been targets of cyberattacks. The article added that HCA Health Care was the first to announce it fell victim to a data breach. Last week, Tampa General Hospital also reported a data breach that exposed the private information of 1.2 million patients and former patients to hackers. This week, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital announced a third-party software vendor, MOVEit, was also hit with a cyberattack. The article noted that Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is calling for a full FBI investigation, and wants to bring the impacted groups together to analyze what happened and develop systems to prevent it from happening in the future. The article quoted Scott, who said, "It's people's personal information, that's number one. Number two, we've got to be careful because people need health care, and if they have the ability to impact our healthcare institutions it could impact someone's ability to get emergency care or care at some point, I think it's very important for the federal government, led by the FBI really gets a handle why this is happening and how we can stop it?' Washington Tries to Add Some Teeth to Its Cyberdefenses Foreign Policy (07/24, lyengar) reported that in mid-May, a Chinese-based hacking group infiltrated more than two dozen organizations, including some U.S. government agencies, such as the State and Commerce departments, as well as the email accounts of U.S. officials such as Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The hackers had free rein for a month. All the while North Korea remains an advanced, persistent threat, hoovering up sensitive information and stealing cryptocurrency to fund its missile and nuclear programs. The article noted that all of those concerns made the rollout this month of the Biden administration's long-awaited cybersecurity plan all the more timely, coming just days after public acknowledgment of the Chinese hack. The only problem is that the big implementation plan is long on aspirations—if notably less ambitious than the road map laid out this spring—and short on the very kinds of details that could make greater cybersecurity a reality during the administration's remaining time in office. The article mentioned that the implementation plan, published this month, lays out concrete steps to protect U.S. pipelines, electrical grids, the water supply, and other key infrastructure from being ground to a halt by devastating cyberattacks and to prevent hackers from infiltrating the emails of senior U.S. government officials, as China has done. The article stated that the implementation plan sets concrete timelines to achieve each goal of the cybersecurity strategy and assigns a host of agencies—including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI—with oversight and coordination of specific efforts. Back to Top LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES EFTA00160542 Effort to Curb Police Use of Google Data Stalls as California Lawmakers Struggle to Shield Abortion Seekers The Los Angeles Times (07/24, Wong) reported that law enforcement leaders see Google location data as essential for solving crimes, but civil rights groups fear such warrants will infringe on the privacy of innocent bystanders. The number of geofence warrants Google reports receiving from U.S. law enforcement increased from 982 in 2018 to 11,554 in 2020, the most recent data released show. The article noted that concerns about the controversial law enforcement tool were heightened after the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion last year. As states banned or restricted abortions, civil rights groups feared that law enforcers could use Google data to figure out whether a woman planned to illegally end her pregnancy. Even though abortion remains legal in California, advocates worried that officials in states that prohibit abortion could use geofence warrants to track down people who come here for the procedure. The article added that data reported to the California Department of Justice show geofence warrants have been used this year in various criminal investigations, including a felony hit-and-run in San Diego and a homicide in Riverside. California authorities have also used geofence warrants to investigate a Mexican mafia killing and other crimes. The FBI turned to Google data to figure out who was inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. The article stated that Hayley Tsukayama, senior legislative activist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which pushed for the bill, said AB 793 proposed banning all geofence warrants because there were concerns more targeted legislation would have loopholes that could still result in law enforcement identifying abortion seekers. Narrowing the bill, she said, is difficult for some of those reasons. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Defense Lawyers Push Judge to Reveal Secret Country that Helped FBI Wiretap the World VICE (07/24, Cox) reported that for the worldwide Operation Trojan Shield, the FBI secretly ran an encrypted phone company. Now defense teams are demanding the FBI reveal which unnamed third country helped intercept messages of their clients. The article added that a team of defense lawyers has asked a judge to reveal which unnamed country helped the FBI wiretap criminals around the world by intercepting tens of millions of messages sent across an encrypted phone platform the FBI secretly managed called "Anom." The article noted that the news provides the first substantial legal challenge in the U.S. to the FBI's operation of its tech company, which resulted in the arrest of more than a thousand alleged criminals, tons of drugs, and over a hundred weapons. The article stated that from 2018 to 2021, the FBI secretly ran an encrypted phone company called Anom. The phones that these sorts of companies offer are a crucial part of serious organized crime in the 21st century. Their use of end-to- end encryption allows customers to securely coordinate drug shipments, assassinations, and launder money. The FBI and its Australian partners worked with Anom's creator turned confidential human source (CHS) to stealthily add a mechanism to intercept all messages sent across the platform. For years, Anom's customers used a tool that instead of protecting the content of their messages, piped them to law enforcement agencies. FBI Returns Manuscript Signed by Hernan Cortes in 1527 to AGN in Mexico The CONAN Daily (07/24, Altatis) reported that on April 27, 1527, Cortes signed a payment order authorizing the purchase of rose sugar for the pharmacy in exchange for 12 gold pesos. The manuscript is believed to be one of the documents unlawfully removed from a collection of documents about a Spanish expedition to Central America in 1527 that is housed in the Archivo General de la Nacion in Mexico City, Mexico. The article stated that in the early 1990s, the manuscript was sold by an auction house in California, United States. From there, it passed through several hands before being consigned by a person in Florida, USA to an auction house in Massachusetts, USA, according to FBI's Art Crime Team supervisor Kristin Kock. The article noted that in June 2023, an AGN representative alerted the FBI, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA, that the manuscript was up for sale online by an auction house based in Massachusetts. The auction house was contacted and served with a seizure warrant. The auction house removed the manuscript from the upcoming auction and turned it over to the FBI. On July 19, 2023, the FBI and the embassy of the U.S. in Mexico returned the manuscript at a ceremony at the AGN. Back to Top CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS EFTA00160543 Special Counsel Received Documents From Giuliani Team That Tried To Find Fraud After 2020 Election CNN (07/24, Reid, Cohen, Sneed) reported that the special counsel Jack Smith received documents related to debunked conspiracies and unfounded claims about the 2020 election fraud, previously withheld by former New York Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik. According to the article, these documents include files asserting widespread irregularities, faulty statistical analyses suggesting fraudulent activities, and opposition research on a senior Dominion Voting Systems employee. The article noted that documents also reveal communications between investigators hired by Rudy Giuliani, including Kerik, about debunked reports of irregularities in Michigan's Antrim County, which Trump continued to endorse even on the day of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. NBC News (07/24, Haake, Shabad), The Daily Beast (07/24, Pagliery), Newsweek (07/24, Kika), and The Hill (07/24, Beitsch) also reported on the story. Man Who Beat Officer With Flagpole During Capitol Riot Is Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison The Associated Press (07/24, Kunzelman) reported that Peter Francis Stager, an Arkansas truck driver who assaulted a police officer with a flagpole during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, has been sentenced to over four years in prison. According to the article, after participating in one of the most violent episodes of the riot, he was later captured on video advocating death for all Capitol law enforcement officers. The article noted that Stager, who pleaded guilty in February to assaulting police with a dangerous weapon, was among over 1,000 individuals charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot, with nearly 600 already sentenced and more than half receiving prison terms ranging from three days to 18 years. Axias (07/24, Habeshian), CBS News (07/24, Staff Writer), New York Times (07/24, Feuer), and NBC News (07/24, Reilly) also reported on the story. Florida Couple Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Associated Press (07/24, Staff Writer) reported that a Florida couple, Jamie and Jennifer Buteau, pleaded guilty to their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, with Jamie admitting to a felony offense of assaulting law enforcement officers, while Jennifer confessed to a misdemeanor of demonstrating inside the Capitol building. According to court documents, the Buteaus joined the mob objecting to the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory, with Jamie throwing a chair at Capitol Police officers during the event. The article expalined that their guilty pleas add to the over 1,000 individuals arrested nationwide for crimes related to the Capitol breach, of which over 350 were charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The press release noted that the case is being investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office, which identified Jamie Buteau as #188 in its seeking information photos, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, with significant assistance provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and FBI's Jacksonville Field Office. WUSA (CBS-9) (07/24, Fischer), WKMG (CBS- 6) (07/24, Sandoval), and Raw Story (07/24, Rubin) also reported on the story. Special Counsel Scrutinizing February 2020 Meeting Where Trump Praised U.S. Election Security Protections CNN (07/24, Lyngaas, Atwood, Cohen, Perez) reported that Special Counsel Jack Smith's office is investigating a February 2020 meeting where then-President Trump praised the security of U.S. elections, suggesting the FBI and Department of Homeland Security publicly acknowledge their efforts in enhancing election systems. According to the article, the counsel's office is interviewing former officials to understand Trump's knowledge and stance on election security before he started propagating voter-fraud conspiracy theories. The article noted that this probe is seen as a move to gain insights into Trump's mindset and whether he retaliated against officials for contradicting his narrative about election security, and if his private expressions of confidence in U.S. elections could counter his defense that he believed the election was stolen in relation to the January 6 Capitol riot. Unanswered Questions About Trump's Looming Jan. 6 Indictment Independent (07/24, Sommerlad) reported that Donald Trump is likely to face his third indictment this year over efforts to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election results and his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, according to a letter from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, which identifies him as the target of a grand jury investigation. According to the article, this development follows previous charges related to hush money payments during the 2016 campaign and alleged mishandling of classified documents post-presidency. The article noted that the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack recommended potential charges including inciting or aiding an insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and conspiracy to make a false statement, while the letter to Trump reportedly lists conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under color of law, and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant as possible charges. The Hill (07/24, Stanage) also reported on the story. EFTA00160544 Former Trump DOJ Official Richard Donoghue Has Met With the Special Counsel's Office NBC News (07/24, Dienst, Winter, Richards) reported that former senior D0J official Richard Donoghue has confirmed that he was interviewed by special counsel Jack Smith's office in relation to the investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, though he has not been called to testify before the federal grand jury. According to the article, Donoghue previously testified before the House Jan. 6 committee, recalling that former President Trump had urged Justice Department officials to declare the 2020 election corrupt, a move Donoghue and then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen resisted. The article noted that Donoghue's testimony also included revelations about a "farfetched" video promoted by then White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, which claimed intelligence agencies used Italian military satellites to alter votes, a claim Donoghue dismissed as "pure insanity." Majority Says Federal Prosecutors Have Strong Case Against Trump in Jan. 6 Probe The Hill (07/24, Gans) reported that a Harvard University CAPS/Harris Poll reveals that 57% of registered voters perceive the potential case against former President Trump related to the January 6 Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election as strong, indicating it could be a reason for Trump to not run for president in 2024. According to the article, over half of the respondents (55%) said a third indictment against Trump would be a cause for him to withdraw from the 2024 race. The article noted that while 56% believe an additional indictment would politically harm Trump, an equal proportion expect he will be acquitted if charged. Former NYPD Commissioner Turning Over Documents to Georgia Election Workers Suing Giuliani The Hill (07/24, Lee) reported that former New York Police Department Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who was involved in investigating election fraud claims for the Trump campaign, will provide documents to two Georgia poll workers suing Rudy Giuliani, ex-Trump attorney, for defamation. According to the article, these poll workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, were falsely accused by Giuliani of election fraud during the 2020 elections, claims which were later debunked by three law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. The article noted that Kerik has also submitted these documents to the special counsel investigating Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, in relation to the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump Causes Confusion by Sharing Meme Calling Jan 6 a 'Government Staged Riot' Even Though He Was in Power Independent (07/24, Rissman) reported that former President Donald Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, shared a meme suggesting that the government orchestrated the January 6 Capitol riot, a claim made despite the fact he was President during that time. According to the article, this action comes as Special Counsel Jack Smith's criminal investigation into the January 6 incident approaches the indictment phase, with Trump himself identified as a "target" in the probe. The article noted that in response to Trump's actions, several of his fellow Republicans, including Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis, have expressed varied degrees of concern or critique about his conduct leading up to the Capitol attack. Jan. 6 Rioter Says His Supreme Court Petition Could Affect 'Hundreds' of DOJ Cases Washington Examiner (07/24, Deese) reported that Edward Lang, a defendant in the January 6 Capitol riot case, has appealed to the Supreme Court to dismiss an obstruction of justice charge against him, arguing its broad application could implicate anyone involved in a demonstration that becomes violent. According to the article, Lang, accused of assaulting police officers during the riot according to an FBI affidavit, won a dismissal of the charge in a lower court but had that ruling overturned on appeal. The article noted that Lang's lawyer, Norm Pattis, argues that the statute is being too broadly applied and that its use, even potentially against former President Donald Trump, may chill political speech and dissuade people from attending public events out of fear of imprisonment. Mike Pence Won't Call the Former President's Actions 'Criminal' People (07/24, Chamlee) reported that former Vice President Mike Pence stated that despite President Donald Trump's "reckless" words prior to the January 6 Capitol riot, he is not yet convinced they were criminal, in an interview on CNN. According to the article, this comes amid an ongoing grand jury investigation into the Capitol riot and Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The article noted that Pence's comments are noteworthy given the threats he faced during the riot when Trump supporters chanted "Hang Mike Pence" as they breached the Capitol. Texts Show Mark Meadows Ridiculing Trump's Election Lies EFTA00160545 MSNBC (07/24, Benen) reported that former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly joked about President Trump's baseless claims of election fraud in private communications, according to text messages scrutinized by federal prosecutors and revealed by The Washington Post. According to the article, these messages illustrate that even individuals close to Trump, including his own campaign manager, lawyers, data experts, DOJ, and Department of Homeland Security appointees, did not believe his assertions about election fraud. The article noted that despite this, Meadows played a significant role during the January 6 Capitol riot, was involved in the fake elector's scheme, and was frequently in touch with far-right GOP members of Congress about efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. GOP Field's Jan. 6 Tightrope Axios (07/24, Basu) reported that leading GOP candidates are struggling to respond to Donald Trump's potential third indictment related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, treading a delicate line between condemning Trump and satisfying their base. According to the article, Special Counsel Jack Smith's inquiry into the riot extends beyond Trump's words on the day, with charges under consideration including deprivation of rights, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., and witness tampering. The article noted that key figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley have all recently downplayed Trump's role in the riot, implying his actions were not criminal, a stance that risks empowering Trump and could backfire if Smith's indictment proves damning. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS The Virginia Delegation Is Balking at New FBI Headquarters Criteria, Continuing Their Fight to Bring the Bureau to the Commonwealth. Politico (07/24, McManus) reported that Virginia lawmakers are keeping up their fight to bring the FBI's new headquarters to Springfield, Va., despite the General Services Administration's recent announcement of adjusted selection criteria that seemed to favor Maryland. The article added that in a letter to GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan and Director Wray, Virginia's congressional delegation and governor gave another pitch highlighting the Springfield site's proximity to the Quantico training facility, the region's strong transportation network, and money they say the federal government would save since the site is already federally owned. The article mentioned that Maryland's bid got a big boost in recent weeks when the federal General Services Administration changed its criteria for selecting a site, putting more weight behind costs and social impact and deemphasizing proximity to the FBI training site at Quantico. The group urged the GSA and FBI to use "fair, fact-based analysis of the critical attributes outlined throughout this project, and we encourage you to draw this process to a close, sooner rather than later." Pennsylvania Police Sergeant Jeffrey Murphy Receives FBI LEEDA Trilogy Award The Glenside Local (07/24, Genova) reported that Sergeant Jeffrey Murphy of the Cheltenham Township Police Department recently received the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA) Trilogy Award for completing a segment of the Leadership Academy last week. The article noted that according to the Department's post, "This three-week course is designed to develop and maintain great leaders, exposing them to various leadership styles and philosophies from experienced educators and former executives of law enforcement agencies." FBI Investigations, Not Like You See on TV WEEK (NBC-25) (07/24, Sells) reported that Special Agent and Senior Lead Michael Maguire wouldn't consider himself a first responder, but he is often one of the first people at the scene of a crime after it happens. He operates out of the Peoria FBI office, with its regional anchor in Springfield, Illinois. The article noted that he's been with the FBI since 2010 and in ERT since 2012. Typically he is gathering evidence for the FBI for all types of crime, but the ERT can be called to help other federal agencies as well as state and local police forces upon their request. The article mentioned that Maguire and the Springfield FBI office showed off some of their tools and techniques used at the scene to dispel common myths perpetrated by primetime TV. Finding evidence is never as fast, clear and clean as police procedural dramas make it seem. "It's not as clean of a process as people think," Maguire said. He said the job takes patience, diligence and an eye for even the smallest detail. EFTA00160546 Back to Top INTERNATIONAL NEWS U.S. Weighs Potential Deal With China on Fentanyl • Wall Street Journal: U.S. Weighs Potential Deal With China on Fentanyl In Singapore, Loud Echoes of Beijing's Positions Generate Anxiety • Washington Post: In Singapore, Loud Echoes of Beijing's Positions Generate Anxiety U.S. Navy Secretary Says Australian Multination Military Exercise Demonstrates Unity to China • Associated Press: U.S. Navy Secretary Says Australian Multination Military Exercise Demonstrates Unity to China John Kerry in Beijing: Can U.S. and China Set Aside Rivalry for Climate Action? • BBC News: John Kerry in Beijing: Can U.S. and China Set Aside Rivalry for Climate Action? North Korea Hasn't Answered U.S.'s Calls on Detained Soldier Travis King • Wall Street Journal: North Korea Hasn't Answered U.S.'s Calls on Detained Soldier Travis King • Washington Post: UN Command, North Korea in Talks About Detained U.S. Soldier Travis King North Korea Fires Two Missiles After U.S. Submarine Arrives in South • Reuters: North Korea Fires Two Missiles After U.S. Submarine Arrives in South Ukraine's Stalled Offensive Puts Biden in Uneasy Political Position • Wall Street Journal: Ukraine's Stalled Offensive Puts Biden in Uneasy Political Position As Japan Aligns With U.S. Chip Curbs on China, Some in Tokyo Feel Uneasy • Reuters: As Japan Aligns With U.S. Chip Curbs on China, Some in Tokyo Feel Uneasy New Evacuations Ordered in Greece as High Winds and Heat Fuel Wildfires • Associated Press: New Evacuations Ordered in Greece as High Winds and Heat Fuel Wildfires Typhoon Doksuri: Taiwan Cancels Han Kuang Military Drills • BBC News: Typhoon Doksuri: Taiwan Cancels Han Kuang Military Drills Denmark Quran Burning: Muslim Nations Condemn Far Right Group's Action • BBC News: Denmark Quran Burning: Muslim Nations Condemn Far Right Group's Action Back to Top OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS Continued Reporting: Biden Investigation • Washington Examiner: Biden Investigation: Democrats Make Play To Discredit FBI Bribery Document • The Hill: McCarthy: Biden Probes 'Rising to the Level of Impeachment Inquiry' • Washington Post: Trump Wanted Ukraine To Impugn Biden. D.C. Republicans Finally Delivered. • Wall Street Journal: Opinion: Hunter Biden's Bargain Plea Continued Reporting: Trump Indictment EFTA00160547 • Newsweek: Ex-Trump Aide 'Had No Confidence' in Trump Protecting Classified Info Body of Obamas' Personal Chef Recovered From Martha's Vineyard Lake • Reuters: Body of Obamas' Personal Chef Recovered From Martha's Vineyard Lake • Associated Press: Obamas' Personal Chef Drowns Near Family's Home on Martha's Vineyard U.S. Supreme Court Faces 'Outright Defiance' From Alabama • CNN: U.S. Supreme Court Faces 'Outright Defiance' From Alabama Republican Infighting Could Stall House Spending Bills • Washington Examiner: Republican Infighting Could Stall House Spending Bills Why the Fed Isn't Ready to Declare Victory on Inflation • Wall Street Journal: Why the Fed Isn't Ready to Declare Victory on Inflation White House Says Biden Will Veto Republican-Backed Bills Over Spending Cuts • Reuters: White House Says Biden Will Veto Republican-Backed Bills Over Spending Cuts Abortion Measures Draw Biden Veto Threat • The Hill: Abortion Measures Draw Biden Veto Threat UFO Whistleblower To Go Before House Panel • The Hill: UFO Whistleblower To Go Before House Panel GOP, McCarthy on Collision Course Over Expunging Trump's Impeachments • The Hill: GOP, McCarthy on Collision Course Over Expunging Trump's Impeachments Trump Rages Over Legal Problems on Truth Social • The Hill: Trump Rages Over Legal Problems on Truth Social Marjorie Taylor Greene Rages at 'Stupid Conspiracy Theories' Made About Her • Newsweek: Marjorie Taylor Greene Rages at 'Stupid Conspiracy Theories' Made About Her Back to Top BIG PICTURE New York Times • Defying Unrest, Israel Adopts Law Weakening Supreme Court • Netanyahu Scores Another Victory, but at What Price? • What the Collapse of Spain's Far Right Means Going Forward • Seeking Full Honors, Some Ukrainian Families Wait to Bury Their Dead • Tech Firms Once Powered New York's Economy. Now They're Scaling Back. Wall Street Journal • Lenders Warned Not to Rig Data on Deposits • Protests Break Out in Israel After Judicial Revamp Passes • Appetite for IPOs Perks Up After Lull • U.S. Weighs Lifting Some Sanctions in China Fentanyl Deal • Sorority Consultants Help Women Dress to Impress During Rush EFTA00160548 • Effort to Clean Up ChatGPT Took A Heavy Human Toll Washington Post • Israeli Government Votes to Limit Court Power • Antibiotic Could Slow STIs, but at Some Cost • DNA Testing Casts Doubt on Verdicts in '97 Killing • A Defense of Diversity Fell to an Office That Lacks It • Ally's Defiant Turn to the Right Puts White House in a Tight Spot White House Wrestles With How to Respond to Defiant Turn to the Right Financial Times • U.S. Regulator Accuses Banks of Misreporting Deposit Data • Economists Counter Market Bets of Soft Landing • U.S. Security Officials Scrutinize Abu Dhabi's $3BN Fortress Takeover ABC News • U.S. Heat Wave Lingers in Southwest, Intensifies in Midwest; Corfu Evacuations Ordered as Greek Wildfires Spread Amid Heat Wave; Dal Sues Texas and Gov. Abbott Over Use of Buoys in Rio Grande to Stop Migrants. CBS News • Justice Department Sues Texas Over River Barrier; Alabama Woman Admits She Made up Kidnapping Story. NBC News • Biden Admin Suing Texas Over Buoy Barriers Dividing Southern Border; Heat Wave Setting Summer Records Across U.S.; Inside Norad's Mission to Defend U.S. Airspace. Fox News • Former President Trump Maintains Lead in Key Primary States; Jerusalem Erupts in Protest Over Limitation of Supreme Court Power; Scorching Hot Temperatures Move Across THE US. Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE White House President Biden • 10:00 AM: The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing • 12:00 PM: The President signs a proclamation to establish the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi; The Vice President participates • 3:00 PM: The President delivers remarks on expanding access to mental health care Vice President Harris • 12:00 PM: The President signs a proclamation to establish the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi; The Vice President participates US Senate EFTA00160549 • An oversight hearing to examine artificial intelligence, focusing on principles for regulation. — 3:00 PM — Host: Judiciary Committee US House of Representatives • Business Meeting: H.R. 4366 Military Construction Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2024• S.J. Res 9 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5 United States Code of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants• Lesser Prairie-Chicken• Threatened Status with Section 4d Rule for the Northern Distinct Population Segment and Endangered Status for the Southern Di — 3:00 PM — Host: Committee on Rules Cabinet Members • No events scheduled. Visitors • No events scheduled. General Events • Brookings Institution: Soldiers of democracy? The Tunisian military and the presidential coup — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: Online Event, 11:00 AM. Although long hailed for its professionalism, the Tunisian military aided President Kais Saied's power grab on July 25, 2021, by shuttering the parliament. Military courts have since prosecuted dissidents, while the country backslides toward authoritarianism. In his new book, "Soldiers of Democracy? Military Legacies and the Arab Spring," Brookings Nonresident Fellow Sharan Grewal examines the Tunisian military's role in Saied's coup, showing how the military's norms, interests, and politics have shaped its behavior. On July 25, two years after the coup, the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings will host a virtual discussion on the findings from Grewal's new book and the evolution of Tunisia's military. Expert panelists will examine key questions such as why the military agreed to close the parliament, how civil-military relations are shifting today, and the implications for U.S. policy. • Brookings Institution: Lost and broken: Rep. Adam Smith's reflections on mental health health care, and the US armed forces — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: The Brookings Institution, 2:00 PM. To most, he was at the peak of success — a husband and father, elected representative of the 9th District of the state of Washington, and top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Yet every day was a ruthless, unseen battle for Rep. Adam Smith. Debilitating anxiety, fear, and severe physical pain were his constant shadows. Thus began his six-year journey looking for the right diagnosis and treatment and facing the severe shortcomings of our nation's health care system and mental health stigmas. In his memoir "Lost and Broken: My Journey Back from Chronic Pain and Crippling Anxiety," Rep. Smith candidly details his path from rock bottom to self-love, self-worth, and understanding and shares what he learned along the way in the hope that he can help others facing similar challenges. On July 25, join the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology at Brookings for a fireside conversation with Rep. Smith on his personal story, mental health, and the health care system writ large, and, more specifically, the importance of addressing the state of mental health in our armed forces. • CSIS: The Dangers of Premature Peace Plans in the Russo-Ukrainian War — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: CSIS, 9:00 AM. Please join the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, in partnership with Chatham House, for a panel discussion on proposed ideas for a long- term plan for peace in Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion, and the dangers of certain peace plans. As discussed in this new report from Chatham House, the resolution of this war will have implications for the entire European security framework. For a Ukrainian victory to happen, there needs to be a vision for peace that both ensures Ukraine's territorial integrity and independence and inhibits Russia's ability to continue threatening its neighbors in the future. Conditions for success have ranged from completely restoring Ukraine's borders prior to 2014 to granting territorial concessions to Russia, and more. With new election EFTA00160550 cycles beginning in Western democracies, many are asking what peace could look like in this conflict, and how to support Ukraine in the aftermath. " CSIS: National Security and Spectrum for 56 — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: CSIS, 2:00 PM. The United States must allocate more mid-band spectrum for licensed commercial 5G use to enhance its economic and national security priorities. If it is not addressed, the present spectrum shortage in the United States could hinder technological innovation and give China a path to global leadership in the increasingly connected twenty-first century. Join CSIS for a fireside chat on the strategic national security imperative for reallocating spectrum for 56 with Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, followed by a panel of industry experts. Additional panelist information is forthcoming. To learn more, listen to this podcast for an insider's look at spectrum allocation, and check out these CSIS publications on spectrum, the national security benefits of reallocating spectrum, and U.S. leadership in next-generation networks. " CSIS: National Security and Spectrum for 56 — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: CSIS, 2:00 PM. The United States must allocate more mid-band spectrum for licensed commercial 5G use to enhance its economic and national security priorities. If it is not addressed, the present spectrum shortage in the United States could hinder technological innovation and give China a path to global leadership in the increasingly connected twenty-first century. Join CSIS for a fireside chat on the strategic national security imperative for reallocating spectrum for 56 with Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, followed by a panel of industry experts. Additional panelist information is forthcoming. To learn more, listen to this podcast for an insiders look at spectrum allocation, and check out these CSIS publications on spectrum, the national security benefits of reallocating spectrum, and U.S. leadership in next-generation networks. " CATO Institute: Tax Expenditures and Tax Reform — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: CATO Institute, 12:00 PM. The 118th Congress is considering several tax reform proposals. Down the road, presidential candidates may propose tax reforms, and Congress will extend or allow to expire provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. When Congress considers tax changes, tax expenditures usually come into play. In recent years, policymakers have battled over the state and local tax deduction, energy tax incentives, capital expensing, and many other tax provisions. Which tax expenditures are justified? How are official tax expenditure lists flawed? Have recent tax changes increased or decreased tax expenditures? What reforms are needed for a simpler and flatter tax system? Please join us at noon on Tuesday, July 25, in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2060, as our panel of experts discuss tax expenditures, tax reform, and what's next on Washington's tax agenda. • PIIE: Summers and Zoellick on industrial policy and US foreign policy — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: Online Event, 9:30 AM. Lawrence H. Summers and Robert B. Zoellick both oppose various elements of "the new Washington Consensus" that is emerging against trade and for industrial policy. They share their different perspectives on the impact of this new approach on the US and global economies in a discussion hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PliE) on July 25, 2023. Zoellick has written on the subject in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that President Biden's "industrial policy doesn't serve consumers, but its rules and subsidies will be hard to undo." Adam S. Posen contributed to the topic in a Foreign Policy essay in March, "America's Zero-Sum Economics Doesn't Add Up." Summers and Zoellick have also coauthored two recent pieces in Foreign Affairs and the Washington Post on using Russia's seized assets for rebuilding Ukraine. A Q&A with PlIE president Adam S. Posen follows. " Atlantic Council: The rising female workforce in Saudi Arabia and its impact on the private sector — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: Online Event, 12:00 PM. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has seen a remarkable increase in the participation of women in the private sector. This shift is fueled by a combination of factors, including proactive government policies advocating for women's economic empowerment, rising educational attainment among Saudi women, and increased demand for female labor in the private sector. As a result, from late 2018 to the end of 2022, the labor force participation rate for Saudi women has been on the rise, moving from 20 percent to 35 percent. Recognizing this positive dynamic, the Atlantic Council's Women Innovators Fellowship (Win) is hosting a workshop titled 'The rising female workforce in Saudi Arabia and its impact on the private sector'. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, July 25th, from 12:00-1:00 pm ET/7:00-8:00 pm KSA Time. The Win Fellowship is led by the Atlantic Council's empowerME initiative in cooperation with Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business with support from US Embassy in EFTA00160551 Riyadh and PepsiCo. Our yearlong program, running from June 2023 to March 2024, is providing thirty-four Saudi women entrepreneurs the opportunity to extend their networks, gain practical knowledge, and develop meaningful US-Saudi people-to-people and business ties. This will empower them to scale their businesses at the local, regional, and global levels. The Atlantic Council is also set to produce publications featuring insights, case studies, and policy recommendations as part of the program. . Wilson Center: To Speak or Not to Speak: Rights and Democracy in Bangladesh — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: Online Event, 10:30 AM. This event, an address by Dr. Shahidul Alam, a photojournalist and activist from Bangladesh, marks the 2023 Asma Jahangir Memorial Lecture. It is part of an annual lecture series in honor of the late Asma Jahangir, a leading human rights activist from Pakistan who passed away in 2018. The lecture features an annual address by a distinguished scholar, opinion leader, or activist who addresses issues of democracy and human rights in South Asia. This series is hosted by the Wilson Center's Asia Program and South Asia Institute, and South Asia Democracy Watch (SDW), a nonprofit organization that promotes social justice, human rights, and equality in South Asia through educational programs, conferences, and symposia. In his lecture, Alam will speak about his past and current work as a photojournalist documenting rights and democracy in Bangladesh. He will also speak about his past incarceration, his current situation, and the broader state of play with rights and democracy in Bangladesh today. • Wilson Center: A Conversation on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: Wilson Center, 12:30 PM. Working closely with its partners and allies to ensure stability and security in the Indo-Pacific has been a priority for the Biden administration. Launched in May 2022, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is the cornerstone of the White House's strategy in the world's most dynamic region. IPEF aims to enhance economic partnerships that would bolster a rules-based order and promote growth. At the helm of advancing IPEF is Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Please join us on Tuesday, July 25 for a fireside chat with Secretary Raimondo and Dr. Sadek Wahba, Chair of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (WISC) and Chairman and Managing Partner, I Squared Capital. The discussion will focus on the path forward for IPEF and Secretary Raimondo's efforts to enhance American economic security and spur private sector investment in areas of strategic economic importance. The event will include a conversation with a panel of experts as well as speakers including Ambassador Mark A. Green, President & CEO of the Wilson Center, and the Hon. Mark Kennedy, Director, Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (WISC) at the Wilson Center. . The Hudson Institute: Lessons from the World War II Arsenal of Democracy — Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Location: The Hudson Institute, 1:00 PM. To defend Ukraine against Russia and deter China from invading Taiwan, the United States needs to rapidly increase weapons production and enhance its arms. Tapping American innovation and rebuilding the US defense industrial base will be crucial. The mobilization effort during World War II offers a range of lessons for policymakers today on how to stimulate innovation, collaboration, and growth to rebuild the "arsenal of democracy." Senior Fellow and Director of the China Center Miles Yu will introduce this session. Distinguished Fellow Lewis Libby will moderate a panel with three leading historians on this topic: Professor Larrie D. Ferreiro, Professor Mark Wilson, and Hudson Senior Fellow Arthur Herman. 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