EFTA00164129.pdf

From: To: Cc: Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - [EXTERNAL] DOJ News Briefing for June 1, 2023 Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:14:18 +0000 Importance: Normal Hi, I have reached out to my team to see if an update to the bombing calls has been produced. I should have an answer shortly. It is great that your brother came to visit, and you were able to spend time with him and your parents! I will send you a quick note on FBlnet about the discussions. From: Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2023 9:35 AM To: Cc: Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - [EXTERNAL] DOJ News Briefing for June 1, 2023 — thank you for covering for me over at DOJ this morning — it was nice to get my little brother off to the airport and spend a short amount of time w/ my parents t: Your team did a great roll up a couple of months ago (believe cases were across WMDD/CID/ CTD along w/ working with OPE on a partner call on these bomb threats — do we have a current list/updated list /disposition on all the HBCU bomb related cases ? Not sure if the Oregon one is related Texas Southern Among HBCUs to Receive Mental Health Services Grants After Last Year's Bomb Threats The Houston Chronicle (05/31, Nickerson) reported that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded grants to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that were targeted by bomb threats in 2022. According to the article, Texas Southern University (TSU) is among the colleges receiving a grant, totaling $191,962, provided by Project SERV, a program that funds education-related services for schools following traumatic events. The article noted that TSU's former police chief, Mary Young, along with the Joint Terrorism Task Forces and FBI field offices, participated in the investigation into the bomb threat incidents, which involved at least 57 HBCUs across the country. Local Oregon Police Identify Two Students Involved in Bomb Threats The Register-Guard (05/31, Cyr) reported that two South Eugene High School students involved in the recent threats that prompted evacuations and lockdowns have been identified by the Eugene police. According to the article, the students and their families are cooperating with the investigation conducted by the police and the FBI, although they have not been charged or taken into custody. The article noted that the police believe the students used the internet to pay someone to make the threats, and the identity of the person paid is still under investigation. EFTA00164129 From: DOJ News Briefing Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2023 6:40 AM To: DOLNews.Clips2 (JMD) itt > Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - [EXTERNAL] D0J News Briefing for June 1, 2023 View in Browse ,Department of Justice June 01, 2023 Department of Justice Daily News Briefing IN THE NEWS • U.S. Files Civil Action Lawsuit On Jim Justice's Son Over Unpaid Civil Penalties JANUARY 6 INVESTIGATION • Trump White House Aides Subpoenaed in Firing of Election Security Expert MAR-A-LAGO SEARCH • Prosecutors Have Recording Of Trump Discussing Sensitive Iran Document • Continued Reporting: Prosecutors Scrutinize Handling of Security Footage by Trump Aides in Documents Case NATIONAL SECURITY • 'Fox Hunt' Trial Starts, Targeting China Program To Repatriate Dissidents • Fewer U.S. Companies Applied to Export Sensitive Technology to China Last Year • Iran Steps Up IAEA Cooperation Even as Uranium Stockpile Surges • Suspected Chinese Spies, Disguised As Tourists, Tried To Infiltrate Alaskan Military Bases • North Korean IT Workers Help Spy From UAE and Russia, UN Says CIVIL RIGHTS • Justice Department Should Investigate Beatings at Georgia Jail, Attorney Says • ESSA Bank Paying $3M to Settle Redlining Accusations in Philadelphia Area • Former Texas Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced for Using Excessive Force • Oklahoma High Court Strikes Down 2 Abortion Bans; Procedure Remains Illegal in Most Cases • Limits on Politics, Race Discussion in North Carolina Gov't Worker Hiring, Training Advance • Louisiana Lawmakers Reject Resolution That Opponents Say Target Diversity, Equity Efforts in Schools • Biden Proclaims June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Denounces Oppression • Continued Reporting: Education, Justice Depts Say Discrimination in School Discipline Remains 'Significant Concern' CIVIL LAW • FTC Charges Amazon With Privacy Violations Over Alexa and Ring Cameras • DMC, Former And Current Owners To Pay $29.7M Settlement In Alleged Medicare Kickback Scheme EFTA00164130 • Judge Rejects Boeing Request To Block Pain And Suffering Damages For Crash Victims Who Died Upon Impact • PG&E Reaches $50M Settlement In Fatal 2020 Fire As Charges Dismissed • Continued Reporting: Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten Should Be Freed Appeals Court Says CRIMINAL • Sen. Bob Menendez Met Businessman Under Scrutiny in Federal Probe • Grand Jury Charges Ex-GOP Candidate With Election Interference In Shootings At Lawmakers' Homes • 'Felt Like A Year': Worshipper Describes Fear During Gunman's Deadly Attack On Pittsburgh Synagogue • Alex Murdaugh Pleads Not Guilty — For Now — To Federal Wire Fraud And Money Laundering Charges • Former 'Family Feud' Contestant Timothy Bliefnick Guilty In Wife's Slaying • Texas Girl's Killer Faces New Murder Charges, With More Possible, Police Say • Jury Selection Begins As Parkland School Resource Officer Scot Peterson Faces A Rare Trial Over Police Conduct In A Mass Shooting On Campus • Federal Judge Halts Missouri Execution Of Man Convicted In Jail Break Killings • Danny Masterson Convicted Of 2 Counts Of Rape, 'That '70s Show' Actor Faces 30 Years To Life • Trump Asks Judge in Hush-Money Case to Step Aside • Tim Martin And Joanna Smith Indicted for National Gallery Art Attack With Declare Emergency • Three Drug Traffickers Found Possessing Methamphetamine Sentenced to Federal Prison • 2 Sentenced In Texas For $2.5M Container Homes Fraud ANTITRUST • American Airlines Says It Will Appeal a Ruling That Would Break up a Partnership With JetBlue ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES • A Poisonous Cold War Legacy That Defies a Solution • Continued Reporting: Sackett Decision Shrinks Federal Regulation of Wetlands TAX • Continued Reporting: California Construction Company Owner Guilty of Employment Tax Crimes IMMIGRATION • Revised DACA Program to Be Debated Before Texas Judge Who Previously Ruled Against It • 3 More GOP Governors Sending National Guard Troops to US-Mexico Border • U.S. Plans to Admit Nearly 40,000 Asylum-Seekers per Month Through Mobile App • Conservative Judge Offers Defense of 'Alien' in Immigration Case • Tucson Man Convicted After Lying to U.S. Immigration Officials OFFICE OF TRIBAL JUSTICE • U.S. DOJ Sues Northern Wisconsin Town Over Road Dispute With Lac du Flambeau Tribe • Bipartisan Bill Would Allow Tribes In Maine To Benefit From Federal Law, Stops Short Of Sovereignty • Arizona Governor Urging Biden To Designate Tribally Proposed Monument At Grand Canyon OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL • Trump Attacks Democratic 'Persecutors' as Massachusetts Attorney Rachael Rollins Resigns Over Leaks EFTA00164131 BANKRUPTCY COURTS • Continued Reporting: An Appeals Court Gave the Sacklers Legal Immunity. Here's What the Ruling Means. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) • Seventeen Friends, a Limo Crash and an FBI Informant: The Case That Rocked Upstate New York • Republicans Probing Bidens Step Up Threats Against FBI Chief Christopher Wray • FBI's Investigation Into a Cybercrime Gang Called "The Comm" DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) • California Advances Fentanyl Bills Focused on Prevention, Increased Penalties • Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Trafficking Organization Busted Through Operation Smoke and Mirrors BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES (ATF) • ATF Seizes 165 Firearms, Including 82 Ghost Guns, During San Diego Operation • ATF: Marijuana Users in Minnesota Can't Own Firearms Despite New Law • U.S. Attorney Joins ATF Officials In Targeting Gun Violence • As Short-Barreled Rifle Rule Takes Effect, Texas Is Fighting Feds Over Silencer Regs, Too • Utah Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Insurance Company Following House Fire U.S. MARSHALS SERVICES (USMS) • 14 Endangered Missing Children From Virginia Recovered in U.S. Marshals Operation • US Marshals Find Man Accused in Shooting of 3 KCK Officers Who Was Accidentally Released BOP/CORRECTIONS • Ghislaine Maxwell Fears Retaliation in Prison After Snitching on Two Violent Inmates: Report INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT / INTERPOL • South Africa Mulls Options On ICC Arrest Warrant For Potential Visitor Putin • Two Journalists Stand Trial in Iran for Stories That Sparked Protests • How a High-Value Russian Wanted by the U.S. Escaped From Italy • The Notorious Russian Jail Holding U.S. Journalist Evan Gershkovich ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS, AND SUPREME COURT • Aide Fired By George Santos Says He Got His Job After Sending Money To Republican's Deputy NATIONAL NEWS • House Oks Debt Ceiling Bill to Avoid Default Sends Biden-McCarthy Deal to Senate FRONT PAGE NEWS • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post LAST NIGHT'S NETWORK NEWS • ABC News • CBS News EFTA00164132 • NBC News PRIMETIME EDITORIALS • Fox News: Jesse Walters Primetime • CNN: Anderson Cooper 360 • MSNBC: All In With Chris Hayes WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS U.S. Files Civil Action Lawsuit On Jim Justice's Son Over Unpaid Civil Penalties Politico reported that the Justice Department is suing the coal empire of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice for failing to pay more than $5 million in civil penalties assessed by the Department of the Interior. According to the article, the 128-page civil action, filed Tuesday against 13 of the Justice family businesses and Justice's adult son, comes as the governor, a Republican, launches a Senate bid against Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The article indicated that the suit alleges that the businesses failed to pay fines for more than 100 violations of federal mining regulations that created "health and safety risks" or threatened "environmental harm." Justice Department attorneys, the article added, are seeking a court order to force the Justice companies to repay the fines, with interest. The Wall Street Journal reported that the violations included problems such as failing to maintain the face of a dam; allowing surface-water flows to erode haul roads; failing to take sediment-control measures; plugged culverts; and failure to properly dispose of non-coal waste. The article detailed that Christopher Kavanaugh, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, stressed the fact that the businesses were ordered more than 50 times to stop mining until the violations were fixed. Coverage by the Daily Caller added a quote from Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division, "Our environmental laws serve to protect communities against adverse effects of industrial activities including surface coal mining operations, through this suit, the Justice Department seeks to deliver accountability for defendants' repeated violations of the law and to recover the penalties they owe as a result of those violations." The Associated Press highlighted that West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, who was not named in the lawsuit, accused the Biden administration of retaliation. A Republican two-term governor, the article explained, Justice announced in April that he is running for Democrat Joe Manchin's U.S. Senate seat in 2024. This story was also reported on by CNBC, CNN, Fox News, Reuters, Bloomberg Law, The Daily. Beast, The Hill, The Daily Mail, the Washington Examiner, a second Washington Examiner article, Axios, The Guardian, The Washington Times, Newsweek, the HuffPost, Forbes, WVNS-CBS, the Charleston Gazette, the Center Square Broadcast coverage: Forbes, Fox News The Associated Press article was reprinted by the Washington Post, ABC News, CBS News, US News & World Report, The Hill, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Times Union, the Seattle Times, Federal News Network, WV News, and the New Haven Register. Back to Top JANUARY 6 INVESTIGATION Trump White House Aides Subpoenaed in Firing of Election Security Expert EFTA00164133 The New York Times reported that the special counsel investigating former President Donald J. Trump's efforts to cling to power after he lost the 2020 election has subpoenaed staff members from the Trump White House who may have been involved in firing the government cybersecurity official whose agency judged the election "the most secure in American history." According to the article, the team led by the special counsel, Jack Smith, has been asking witnesses about the events surrounding the firing of Christopher Krebs, who was the Trump administration's top cybersecurity official during the 2020 election. The article indicated that Mr. Krebs's assessment that the election was secure was at odds with Mr. Trump's baseless assertions that it was a "fraud on the American public." Mr. Smith's team, the article continued, is also seeking information about how White House officials, including in the Presidential Personnel Office, approached the Justice Department, which Mr. Trump turned to after his election loss as a way to try to stay in power. The article noted that the investigators appear focused on Mr. Trump's state of mind around the firing of Mr. Krebs, as well as on establishing a timeline of events leading up to the attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021. The latest subpoenas, issued roughly two weeks ago, the article added, went to officials in the personnel office. The story was also reported on by MSNBC, Reuters, the Rolling Stone, The Hill, The Guardian, Salon, Newsmax, Esquire, Truthout Broadcast coverage: MSNBC's Deadline White House The Reuters article was reprinted by The Guardian Back to Top MAR-A-LAGO SEARCH Prosecutors Have Recording Of Trump Discussing Sensitive Iran Document The Washington Post reported that special counsel Jack Smith has obtained a 2021 recording in which Donald Trump appears to brag about having a classified document related to Iran, suggesting the former president understood both the legal and security concerns around his possession of such restricted information. According to the article, the recording was made at a meeting at Trump's golf course in Bedminster, N.J., and features Trump describing a multi-page document that he claims is about possibly attacking Iran, expressing a desire to share that information with others but also making some kind of acknowledgment that he shouldn't do so. For the Justice Department, the article highlighted, evidence that Trump knew he had classified material, and understood the restrictions on sharing it, would be an important part of any charging decision. The New York Times detailed that on the recording, Mr. Trump began railing about his handpicked chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, who was described in media accounts at the time as having guarded against Mr. Trump's striking Iran in the final days of the presidency. Mr. Trump, the article continued, then began referencing a document that he had with him, saying that it had been compiled by General Milley and was related to attacking Iran. The article added that among other comments, he mentioned his classification abilities during the discussion, and can be heard handling paper on the tape, though it is not clear whether it was the document in question. CNN reported that the July 2021 meeting was held at Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, with two people working on the autobiography of Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows as well as aides employed by the former president, including communications specialist Margo Martin. The article highlighted that the attendees did not have security clearances that would allow them access to classified information. Meadows, the article noted, didn't attend the meeting. The article explained that Meadows' autobiography includes an account of what appears to be the same meeting, during which Trump "recalls a four-page report typed up by (Trump's former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) Mark Milley himself. The article specified that it contained the general's own plan to attack Iran, deploying massive numbers of troops, something he urged President Trump to do more than once during his presidency. The story was also reported on by the Associated Press, the Rolling Stone, Forbes, the Daily Beast, a second Daily Beast article, Business Insider, ABC News, CBS News, MSNBC, Newsweek, HuffPost, The EFTA00164134 Guardian, the Washington Examiner, Reuters, the New York Post, USA Today, The Hill, the Independent, HuffPost Broadcast coverage: CNN The Associated Press article was reprinted by the Washington Post, ABC News, the Chicago Tribune, US News & World Report, the Independent, the Miami Herald, the Seattle Times, WV News, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Kansas City Star, The Columbian, Federal News Network, the Modesto Bee Continued Reporting: Prosecutors Scrutinize Handling of Security Footage by Trump Aides in Documents Case The New York limes provided continued reporting on prosecutors working for the special counsel Jack Smith, who in the past six months have sought to determine whether former President Donald J. Trump obstructed the government's efforts to retrieve a trove of classified documents he took from the White House. More recently, the article noted, investigators also appear to be pursuing a related question: whether Mr. Trump and some of his aides sought to interfere with the government's attempt to obtain security camera footage from Mar-a-Lago that could shed light on how those documents were stored and who had access to them. The article indicated that the search for answers on this second issue has taken investigators deep into the bowels of Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump's private club and residence in Florida, as they pose questions to an expanding cast of low-level workers at the compound. Some of the workers, the article continued, played a role in either securing boxes of material in a storage room at Mar-a-Lago or maintaining video footage from a security camera that was mounted outside the room. The article detailed that two weeks ago, the latest of these employees, an information technology worker named Yuscil Taveras, appeared before a grand jury in Washington, and was asked questions about his dealings with two other Trump employees: Walt Nauta, a longtime aide to Mr. Trump who served as one of his valets in the White House, and Carlos Deoliveira, described by one person familiar with the events as the head of maintenance at Mar-a-Lago. Phone records, the article elaborated, show that Mr. Deoliveira called Mr. Taveras last summer, and prosecutors wanted to know why. The article explained that the call caught the government's attention because it was placed shortly after prosecutors issued a subpoena to Mr. Trump's company, the Trump Organization, demanding the footage from the surveillance camera near the storage room. The call, the article pointed out, also occurred just weeks after Mr. Deoliveira helped Mr. Nauta move boxes of documents into the storage room — the same room that Mr. Deoliveira at one point fitted with a lock. The article underscored that the movement of the boxes into the room took place at another key moment: on the day before prosecutors descended on Mar-a-Lago for a meeting with Mr. Trump's lawyers intended to get him to comply with a demand to return all classified documents. Back to Top NATIONAL SECURITY `Fox Hunt' Trial Starts, Targeting China Program To Repatriate Dissidents The Washington Post reported that a retired New York police sergeant and two other men illegally participated in a Chinese government program to threaten and harass a New Jersey couple to try to force them to return to China. According to the article, the proceeding in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn is expected to shed light on the Chinese government's extrajudicial efforts to force Chinese nationals that Beijing officials view as criminals or threats to the country to return against their will. The article indicated that authorities said the case is the first in a campaign known as "Operation Fox Hunt" to go to trial in a U.S. courtroom. Justice Department officials, the article continued, said the initiative has involved threats against family members of its targets, spying and harassment. The article detailed that in 2020, the Brooklyn U.S. attorney's office charged former police officer Michael McMahon, who allegedly participated in illegal conduct involving China's government by investigating and tracking a pair of its targets in New Jersey while working as a private investigator. Two Chinese men living in New York — Yong Zhu and Congying Zhen, the article elaborated, — are also on trial and accused of participating in EFTA00164135 the effort. The defendants, the article specified, face charges related to acting as illegal foreign agents and interstate stalking. The article noted that each man faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Irisa Chen, the article added, said in her opening statement Wednesday that McMahon was hired to conduct surveillance and background checks for the Chinese government. Reuters reported that McMahon, charged with acting as an illegal Chinese agent for allegedly intimidating a U.S.-based fugitive from China, went on trial on Wednesday and argued he did not know that country's government was behind a private surveillance job he took. The article detailed that in his opening statement before a federal jury, McMahon's lawyer, Lawrence Lustberg, said his client was told he was working for a Chinese construction company trying to recover assets, and alerted local law enforcement to his activities. However, the article pointed out, Irisa Chen, a prosecutor, said McMahon searched the target's name on the intemet and even met a Chinese official during the course of his work, suggesting he saw through the "vague" cover story. Chen, the article added, said "McMahon knew this was not the true reason," but "He looked the other way." The story was also reported on by ABC News, the New York Times, the Associated Press The Associated Press article was reprinted by the Washington Post, ABC News, US News & World Report, the Seattle Times, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Spectrum News, Federal News Network, The Hill Fewer U.S. Companies Applied to Export Sensitive Technology to China Last Year The Wall Street Journal reported that fewer U.S. companies are applying to export sensitive technologies to China amid growing government scrutiny of the flow of goods to the country, especially those with potential military applications. According to the article, Thea Rozman Kendler, assistant secretary of commerce for export administration at the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, said in prepared remarks delivered before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Wednesday that applications to export sensitive technology and goods to China dropped by 26.2% between 2021 and 2022. The article indicated that Kendler attributed the decline to the scrutiny the Commerce Department gives to know-your-customer checks and to its guidance on export red flags. Iran Steps Up IAEA Cooperation Even as Uranium Stockpile Surges Bloomberg reported that Iran has re-installed monitoring equipment and boosted its cooperation with international inspectors even as its engineers added to stockpiles of uranium enriched closer to weapons grade. According to the article, the findings published in the International Atomic Energy Agency's quarterly report on Iran reduces the likelihood that the Islamic Republic will face censure when diplomats convene June 6 to discuss its nuclear program. The article indicated that IAEA inspectors had raised concerns in March over the presence of uranium particles enriched to 84% levels of purity and chided Iran's slow response to separate investigations, raising the prospect of worsening tensions in the Middle East. On Wednesday, the article added, agency inspectors wrote they "had no further questions" about the presence of those highly-enriched particles and accepted Iran's explanation. Suspected Chinese Spies, Disguised As Tourists, Tried To Infiltrate Alaskan Military Bases USA Today reported that Chinese citizens posing as tourists but suspected of being spies have made several attempts in recent years to gain access to military facilities in this vast state studded with sensitive bases. The article detailed that in one incident, a vehicle with Chinese citizens blew past a security checkpoint at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, several soldiers told USA TODAY. According to the article, the vehicle was eventually stopped, and a search found a drone inside the vehicle. The occupants, the article continued, claimed they were tourists who had gotten lost. The article noted that many of the encounters have been chalked up to innocent mistakes by foreign visitors intent on viewing the northern lights and other attractions in Alaska, but other attempts to enter U.S. military bases, however, seem to be probes to learn about U.S. military capabilities in Alaska. The story was also reported on by The Daily Caller North Korean IT Workers Help Spy From UAE and Russia, UN Says EFTA00164136 Bloomberg reported that Oh Chung Song and Kim Sang Man, two North Korean nationals, reportedly lived abroad while working for Kim Jong Un's government, with Kim receiving over $2 million in cryptocurrency payments from tech workers in Russia and China, which were funneled to the North Korean government. According to the article, this strategy, part of an effort to skirt international sanctions, highlights how North Korea leverages its overseas workers and cyber capabilities, as evidenced by the estimated $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency stolen by suspected North Korean hackers. Back to Top CIVIL RIGHTS Justice Department Should Investigate Beatings at Georgia Jail, Attorney Says The Associated Press reported that an attorney for two men whose beatings by guards were recorded by security cameras at a county jail in Georgia called Wednesday for the U.S. Justice Department to investigate what he called a systemic pattern of sheriff's officers abusing detainees. The article mentioned civil rights attorney Harry Daniels, who told reporters at a news conference outside the Camden County, GA Sheriff's Office that "they are beating people indiscriminately inside this jail." The article highlighted that the three white deputies accused of punching Jarrett Hobbs were arrested and fired last fall. The article added that on May 18, a grand jury indicted them on misdemeanor charges of battery and felony charges of violating their oaths of office. The article stated that Daniels and Timothy Bessent, president of the Camden County NAACP, said more needs to be done because those two cases weren't isolated. The story was also reported on by WSB-ABC and WJAX-CBS. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by the Washington Post, Daily Mail, Fox News, The Independent, U.S. News & World Report, ABC News, SFGate, Houston Chronicle, Star Tribune, San Diego Union Tribune Washington Times and the New Haven Register. ESSA Bank Paying $3M to Settle Redlining Accusations in Philadelphia Area Reuters reported that the Dal said on Wednesday that ESSA Bank & Trust has agreed to pay over $3 million to resolve allegations it engaged in lending discrimination by redlining majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in and around Philadelphia. The article noted that a complaint filed in federal court alleges the bank engaged in the discriminatory behavior from at least 2017 to 2021. The Philadelphia Business Journal highlighted that the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibit financial institutions from such discrimination when providing mortgage lending services. The article noted that federal prosecutors said the Justice Department began investigating ESSA's lending practices after receiving a Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. referral. The article added that iin a statement Wednesday afternoon, ESSA said the settlement includes no civil penalties. Former Texas Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced for Using Excessive Force WMBD-CBS reported that a former Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office deputy was sentenced for using excessive force Wednesday. The article stated that according to the DOJ, 62-year-old Steven Shelton was sentenced to 44 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to violating an arrestee's civil rights. The article highlighted that while acting as the Chief Deputy of the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 21, 2021, Shelton repeatedly struck a handcuffed and compliant arrestee in the face in the Rolling Oaks area of Wills Point, Texas. The article quoted Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who said that the "defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer by violently assaulting and injuring a handcuffed arrestee, violating the victim's civil rights and the public's trust." The article added that according to Assistant AG Clarke, the DOJ "will continue to hold accountable those officers who abuse their authority, wherever such abuses occur." Oklahoma High Court Strikes Down 2 Abortion Bans; Procedure Remains Illegal in Most Cases EFTA00164137 The Associated Press reported that the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that two state laws banning abortion are unconstitutional, but the procedure remains illegal in the state in nearly all cases except life-threatening situations. The article stated that in a 6-3 ruling, the high court said the two bans are unconstitutional because they require a "medical emergency" before a doctor can perform an abortion. The article noted that the court said this language conflicts with a previous ruling it issued in March that determined the Oklahoma Constitution provides an "inherent right of a pregnant woman to terminate a pregnancy when necessary to preserve her life." According to the article, the court's decision was welcomed by doctors who said uncertainty about the state's abortion laws often forced them to make women facing severe medical complications and nonviable pregnancies to wait for their condition to worsen before they could perform an abortion. The story was also reported on by the New York Times, Washington Post, The Independent, Bloomberg, The Hill, Axios, and the Washington Examiner. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by the Washington Post, Fox News, NBC News, CBS News, ABC News, Los Angeles Times, Politico, HuffPost, Daily Mail, MSN, Yahoo News, U.S. News & World Report, SFGate, Houston Chronicle, Seattle Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Star Tribune, San Diego Union Tribune, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Limits on Politics, Race Discussion in North Carolina Gov't Worker Hiring, Training Advance The Associated Press reported that North Carolina government personnel laws would prohibit job applicants from being forced to opine about politics and culture to get hired and forbid employee trainers from promoting certain concepts in Republican legislation getting close to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's desk. The article noted that the full House voted 72-46 on Wednesday for a measure that also would block the promotion of beliefs related to race and sex that some lawmakers have likened to "critical race theory." According to the article, the Senate approved a narrower version of the bill in early May. The article stated that senators now must decide whether to accept the House version, which would also spread the proposed hiring and training limits beyond state agencies and departments to the University of North Carolina and community college systems. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by the Miami Herald, Kansas City Star, Fort Worth Star- Telegram, and the Charlotte Observer. Louisiana Lawmakers Reject Resolution That Opponents Say Target Diversity, Equity Efforts in Schools The Associated Press reported that Republicans in Louisiana rejected a resolution Wednesday that sought to request K-12 schools and institutions of higher education submit a report of all programs and activities related to critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion. The article noted that the resolution, authored by Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges, came before the House Committee of Education for consideration and stemmed from "concerns" about how much money is being spent specifically on the programs and because "activities offered by the state's education institutions merit further examination." According to the article, proponents argued that the measure was simply being proposed to further look into the cost of the programs. The article noted that opponents of the resolution, which included Louisiana's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said that the legislation was unnecessary and worried about how it defined DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — and critical race theory. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by the Washington Post, Daily Mail, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo News, SFGate, Houston Chronicle, Star Tribune, San Diego Union Tribune, New Haven Register, and the Killeen Daily Herald. Biden Proclaims June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Denounces Oppression Advocate reported that on the last day of May, President Biden issued a proclamation Wednesday from the White House declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month. According to the article, it comes amid a wave of conservative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. The article noted that Biden EFTA00164138 referenced the laws Republican-led legislatures have introduced in states nationwide, calling it an "inflection point." The article pointed out that according to the President, the "[DOJJ is combating laws that target transgender children, and the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have proposed new rules to protect LGBTQJ+ Americans from discrimination in health care, at school, and in sports." Continued Reporting: Education, Justice Depts Say Discrimination in School Discipline Remains `Significant Concern' K-12 Dive provided continued reporting on a joint Dear Colleague letter issued Friday from the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, who advised schools to ensure their discipline policies and practices don't discriminate against students based on race, color or national origin. The article stated that the departments' investigations into districts' compliance with Title VI — the federal civil rights law that protects against such discrimination — "have demonstrated that discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in student discipline was, and continues to be, a significant concern." Back to Top CIVIL LAW FTC Charges Amazon With Privacy Violations Over Alexa and Ring Cameras The Associated Press reported that Amazon agreed Wednesday to pay a $25 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kids' voice and location data recorded by its popular Alexa voice assistant, and that separately, the company agreed to pay $5.8 million in customer refunds for alleged privacy violations involving its doorbell camera Ring. The article noted that the Alexa-related action orders Amazon to overhaul its data deletion practices and impose stricter, more transparent privacy measures. It also obliges the tech giant to delete certain data collected by its intemet-connected digital assistant. The article then quoted Samuel Levine, the FCT consumer protection chief, saying in a statement that, "Amazon's history of misleading parents, keeping children's recordings indefinitely, and flouting parents' deletion requests violated COPPA (the Child Online Privacy Protection Act) and sacrificed privacy for profits." Coverage by the Washington Post focused on the fact that a lawsuit by the Department of Justice filed on behalf of the FTC claimed more than 800,000 children under the age of 13 have their own Alexa profiles. The article also added that the $25 million fine is significantly smaller than penalties other tech companies have paid federal regulators for privacy transgressions against children, but it is representative of the FTC's broad scrutiny of Amazon's sprawling businesses. The article highlighted that the FTC for years has also been investigating Amazon for potential violations of U.S. antitrust laws, in a wide-ranging case that opened under the Trump administration in 2019. This story was also reported on by The Guardian, Reuters, CNBC News, ayc News, CNN, Tech Crunch, Fortune, CBS News, The Verge, Axios, the Wall Street Journal, The Hill, USA Today and the New York Times The Associated Press' article was reprinted by ABC News, Le Monde, the Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, The San Diego Union Tribune, Detroit News, Spectrum News, Federal News Network, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, The Durango Herald, The Morganton News Herald, the Enterprise Journal, the Idaho State Journal and the Union Bulletin DMC, Former And Current Owners To Pay $29.7M Settlement In Alleged Medicare Kickback Scheme The Detroit News reported the Detroit Medical Center and its current and previous owners agreed to pay a $29.7 million settlement to resolve allegations the companies operated a kickback scheme and falsified Medicare claims for roughly three years, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. The article noted that Federal prosecutors alleged that DMC's Sinai-Grace and Harper University hospitals set up an arrangement to encourage physicians to refer Medicare patients to DMC facilities and the DMC selected EFTA00164139 13 physicians who had referred large numbers of patients to its hospitals and provided the services of DMC-employed practitioners to those physicians at no cost or below fair market value between 2014 and 2017. The article commented that the Justice Department said DMC "provided kickbacks" to those referring physicians, and that U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan said in a statement that, "This outcome makes clear that when doctors refer patients for care at hospitals, they must do so based on their own professional judgment and the medical needs of their patients, not personal financial benefit, our office stands ready to scrutinize even the most complicated financial arrangements and to pursue justice wherever appropriate." The article continued stating that Tenet and Vanguard agreed to pay the $29.7 million settlement along with DMC. The article concluded with a statement from Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston saying that "The Justice Department will pursue improper arrangements that have the potential to compromise physicians' medical judgment, physicians should evaluate where to send patients for medical services based on the quality of care the patients will receive, not the financial benefits that the physicians will reap." This story was also reported on by GetAbout Columbia Judge Rejects Boeing Request To Block Pain And Suffering Damages For Crash Victims Who Died Upon Impact CNN reported that Federal Judge Jorge Alonso rejected arguments from attorneys for Boeing that it should not have to pay for the pain and suffering of 157 victims of a March 2019 Boeing 737 Max crash because they all died on impact. The article explained that Alonso, who will preside over the trial due to start in federal court in Chicago next month, said that Boeing's attorney had argued that under the law "evidence of pre-impact fright and terror is not relevant," because "the evidence tends to show that the passengers had no time to experience conscious pain and suffering after injury because they died immediately upon impact." The article added that Alonso rejected that argument and opened the way for pain and suffering to be considered when determining compensation for the victims' family members saying that, "A jury could reasonably infer from the evidence that will be presented at trial that the passengers on... [the flight] perceived that they were going to crash, horrifically, to their certain death." The article noted that the flight was an Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed on March 10, 2019 and that it was the second such crash involving a 737 Max in less than six months and it led to a 20-month grounding of the jet worldwide, during which time investigators found a design flaw by Boeing was the major cause of the crashes. This story was also reported on by The Washington Post and The Seattle Times PG&E Reaches $SOM Settlement In Fatal 2020 Fire As Charges Dismissed Axios reported that a California judge on Wednesday dismissed all criminal charges against Pacific Gas & Electric in the deadly Zogg Fire and PG&E agreed to a $50 million civil settlement with Shasta County officials over the matter. The article explained that the utility was charged with manslaughter and other crimes in connection with the Northern California wildfire that killed four people, including an 8-year-old girl, and burned hundreds of homes in 2020 after investigators found the blaze was sparked by a tree that fell onto a PG&E transmission line. The article then cited that Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said in a statement Wednesday that due to the ruling, she moved to secure an agreement with PG&E that protects the community and as part of the resolution, PG&E has agreed to pay $45 million to support organizations that dedicated to rebuilding and assisting communities affected by the fire. The article added that it has also agreed to a $5 million penalty to Shasta County. This story was also reported on by the Sacramento Bee, The Guardian, Market Screener, CBS News, El Paso Inc. the Record Spotlight Reuters and the Los Angeles Times Continued Reporting: Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten Should Be Freed, Appeals Court Says The Washington Post continued reporting on Leslie Van Houten, a former Charles Manson follower who was sentenced to life in prison for a gruesome 1969 double murder, claiming that she could soon walk out of a correction facility in Corona, Calif., after a court ruled she should be released on parole. The article explained that EFTA00164140 the ruling overturns Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) decision in 2020 denying Van Houten's release, which the California Board of Parole Hearings recommended. The article cited that on Tuesday, the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles said in a 2-1 opinion that there is no "evidence to support the Governor's conclusions" that Van Houten didn't meet the parole requirements. The outlet featured an interview with Van Houten's attorney Nancy Tetreault, in which she said that Van Houten has undergone years of therapy and rehabilitation at the California Institute for Women correctional facility, where she has come to terms with the crimes and Manson's influence over her, "The crimes were what they were. They were terrible, but she really is a wonderful person now." Back to Top CRIMINAL Sen. Bob Menendez Met Businessman Under Scrutiny in Federal Probe The Wall Street Journal reported that Sen. Bob Menendez hosted a 2018 meeting in his Washington, D.C., office with a New Jersey businessman who is a focus of a federal public-corruption probe of the Democratic lawmaker that has broadened in recent weeks, and that the meeting, which hasn't been previously reported, came months before the businessman, Wael Hana, secured a contract with Egyptian officials for certifying halal meat exports. The article explained that the contract is a key part of the probe examining whether Menendez, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, or his wife received gifts in exchange for political favors. The article detailed that Nadine Arslanian, who married Menendez in 2020, attended the 2018 meeting along with Egyptian diplomats and a New Jersey lawyer who is an associate of Hana. The article contextualized that year, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi decided they wanted one company to control all imports of halal meat, and that in May 2019 Hana's company became the sole certifier of halal meat exported from the U.S. to Egypt. The article highlighted that the current investigation, run out of the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York, is separate from one which led to earlier federal corruption charges against Menendez that ended in mistrial. The article further explained that prosecutors investigating Menendez recently began broadening the probe by examining a real estate deal involving New Jersey developer Fred Daibes, an associate of Hana and Menendez who has donated to the lawmaker's campaigns. Grand Jury Charges Ex-GOP Candidate With Election Interference In Shootings At Lawmakers' Homes The Associated Press reported that a failed political candidate, Solomon Pena, has been indicted on federal charges including election interference in connection with a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in Albuquerque, according to a grand jury indictment that was unsealed Wednesday. The article claimed that the indictment aimed at Pena and two alleged accomplices with additional conspiracy and weapons-related charges in connection with the shootings in December 2022 and January of this year on the homes of four Democratic officials, including the current state House speaker. The article noted that the attacks came amid a surge of threats and acts of intimidation against election workers and public officials across the country after former President Donald Trump and his allies spread false claims about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. The article quoted U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez who highlighted that the shootings targeted the homes of two county commissioners shortly after their certification of the 2022 election, saying that, "Pena targeted several of these public officials because, in their official capacity, they certified the election, which he lost. In America, voters pick their leaders and would-be leaders don't get to pick which voters they heed, which rules apply to them, or which laws to follow." The article specified that Elizabeth Honce, a defense attorney for Pena, said her client maintains his innocence, and that Pena has been held without bail since his January arrest on charges in state district court related to the shootings. The article claimed that those charges will be dismissed in deference to the federal indictment as Pena is transferred to federal custody, and that federal charges were also filed against 22-year-old Jose Louise Trujillo and 41-year-old Demetrio Trujillo on allegations that they assisted Pena in obtaining vehicles and firearms. This story was also reported on by CNN, Axios, Source New Mexico, the Albuquerque Journal, Reuters, Politico, the New York Times, The Washington Times, St. Joseph News-Press, KRQ EFTA00164141 CBS and KCBD-FOX The Associated Press' article was reprinted by the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Houston Chronicle, U.S. News & World Report, The Hour, the Morgantown News Herald, The San Diego Union- Tribune, the Toronto Star The Hill the Federal News Network Midland Daily News and the Billings Gazette 'Felt Like A Year': Worshipper Describes Fear During Gunman's Deadly Attack On Pittsburgh Synagogue The Associated Press reported on the second day of the trial of the man who carried out the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, in which jurors heard the personal accounts of those who were in the Tree of Life synagogue on the October 2018 day it was attacked. The article detailed the experiences of Carol Black, 71, who recalled how she remained hidden even as she saw congregant Mel Wax, who had been hiding close to her, drop dead after the gunman shot him. The article then explained that the testimony came in the trial of Robert Bowers, a truck driver from the Pittsburgh suburb of Baldwin who could face the death penalty if he's convicted of some of the 63 counts he faces in the Oct. 27, 2018, attack, which claimed the lives of worshipers from three congregations who were using the synagogue that day: New Light, Dor Hadash and the Tree of Life. The article noted that prosecutors, who rejected Bowers' offer to plead guilty in exchange for removing the possibility that he could be sentenced to death, have said Bowers made incriminating statements to investigators and left an online trail of antisemitic statements that shows the attack was motivated by religious hatred. Coverage by CNN emphasized that a powerful image of a Jewish prayer book damaged with a bullet hole was released as evidence Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette added that the state House passed a resolution condemning antisemitism as Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial continues. This story was also reported on by Politico, Haaretz, KDKA-CBS, the Albany Herald, TIME, the Daily. Beast, The Times Of Israel, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, CBS News and The Independent The Associated Press' article was reprinted by Politico, ABC News, The Globe And Mail, The Morning Call The Hill, ABC News, El Pais, The Morganton News Herald, The Boston Globe Stars And Stripes the Centre Daily Times, the Waco Tribune Herald and the Alton Telegraph Alex Murdaugh Pleads Not Guilty — For Now — To Federal Wire Fraud And Money Laundering Charges The Associated Press reported that Alex Murdaugh was arraigned Wednesday on federal money laundering and wire fraud charges for indictments saying he stole money from his clients, and although he pleaded not guilty for now, his lawyer said that might change soon. The article explained that Murdaugh is already serving a life sentence in a South Carolina state prison for killing his wife and son, and the details of the 22 financial charges aren't new. The article stated that State prosecutors have indicted Murdaugh on similar charges, saying he diverted money meant for clients and a wrongful death settlement for his family's longtime housekeeper who fell at Murdaugh's home to his own bank accounts. The article emphasized that a federal guilty plea to the charges that can mean decades in prison would guarantee a long time behind bars for Murdaugh even if his pending appeal of his double murder conviction was successful, and that he also faces around 100 other state charges, including stealing from clients and his family's law firm, insurance fraud and tax evasion. This story was also reported on by HuffPost The Associated Press' article was reprinted by NBC News, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, South Carolina Public Radio, Detroit News, The Independent, The Journal, the Laredo Morning Times, the National Post, the Orlando Sentinel, The Globe And Mail, The Hill and The Columbian Former 'Family Feud' Contestant Timothy Bliefnick Guilty In Wife's Slaying The Associated Press reported that a jury Wednesday convicted Timothy Bliefnick, a former contestant on the television game show "Family Feud" of first-degree murder and home invasion in the slaying of his EFTA00164142 estranged wife, Rebecca Bliefnick, in western Illinois. The article claimed that the Adams County Circuit Court jury in Quincy deliberated about four hours after Timothy Bliefnick did not testify and the defense did not call any evidence. The article added that Bliefnick is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 11. The article explained that the body of Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, was found by a family member inside her Quincy home after she failed to pick up her children from school and she had been shot multiple times. The article said that Timothy Bliefnick was arrested March 13, 12 days after his Quincy home was searched. This story was also reported on by the New York Post, Fox News, Court TV, The Daily Beast and Entertainment Today The Associated Press' article was reprinted by ABC News, the Chicago Sun Times, U.S. News & World Report, the Toronto Sun, the Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times, The Independent, The San Diego Union Tribune, AOL and The San Francisco Chronicle Texas Girl's Killer Faces New Murder Charges, With More Possible, Police Say The Associated Press' reported that a man run out of multiple cities and towns across Texas after he served prison time for the slaying of an 8-year-old girl in the 1980s has been arrested in connection with two other murders, and police say they are reopening several cold cases that could be linked to him. The article specified that Raul Meza Jr., 62, was arrested Monday in the deaths of Jesse Fraga and Gloria Lofton, Austin police announced Tuesday, and that he remained jailed Wednesday and is facing charges including capital murder. The article quoted Austin Police Department detective Katie Conner in a news conference saying that eight to 10 cold cases going back to 1996 are being investigated as possibly connected to Meza, and the number could rise. The article noted that when Meza was arrested, police said, he was carrying a backpack containing zip ties, a flashlight, duct tape and a .22 caliber pistol with extra rounds. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by U.S. News & World Report, the Waco Tribune-Herald, the Toronto Star, the Huron Daily Tribune, the Times Union, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Federal News Network and the Longview News Journal Jury Selection Begins As Parkland School Resource Officer Scot Peterson Faces A Rare Trial Over Police Conduct In A Mass Shooting On Campus CNN reported that jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday in the trial of the former school resource officer, Scot Peterson, who remained outside a Parkland, Florida, high school as a gunman massacred 17 people, marking the rare prosecution of a law enforcement officer over his response to a mass shooting. The article explained that Peterson has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including seven counts of felony child neglect, three counts of culpable negligence and one count of perjury in connection with the shooting and statements he made afterward. The article cited that Peterson, 60, failed to follow his training by remaining behind a position of cover for at least 45 minutes, prosecutors say, while the 19- year-old shooter roamed the halls of the school's 1200 building, killing 14 children and three staff members and leaving 17 others injured. The article claimed that Peterson has maintained he did nothing wrong, saying that he didn't enter the 1200 building because he didn't know where the gunfire was coming from and could not have found and engaged the shooter in time to protect the victims. The article added that his attorneys argue he was not properly equipped to confront a shooter with an AR-15. The article mentioned that the court is in the process of whittling 500 potential jurors in Peterson's case down to a panel of six, plus four alternates. This story was also reported on by the Washington Post, WMTV-NBC, WFLX-FOX and ABC News Federal Judge Halts Missouri Execution Of Man Convicted In Jail Break Killings The Associated Press reported that U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough on Wednesday halted next week's scheduled execution of a man convicted of killing two Missouri jailers amid questions about the literacy of a juror in the case. The article specified that Bough ruled that Michael Andrew Tisius' execution at the state prison in Bonne Terre should be delayed to give the court time for a hearing on the juror, and that the delay comes after Tisius' lawyers earlier this month claimed a juror in his 2010 resentencing could not read or write. The article noted that Missouri law requires jurors to be able to read and speak English, EFTA00164143 and in an affidavit signed by the juror May 3, the juror stated "someone at the courthouse" helped him fill out his juror questionnaire. The article said that the judge wants more information, especially since after admitting in one affidavit he cannot read, in another he clarifies that, "I sometimes say that I cannot read or write, but it is more accurate to say that I cannot read or write very well." The article added that Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty and the Missouri NAACP on Tuesday asked Republican Gov. Mike Parson to spare Tisius' life, citing his age at the time of the killings, along with other factors. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, The Kansas City Star, The Seattle Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the National Post, Toronto Star, Federal News Network, Times Union, the Joplin Globe, CT Insider The Record and the Washington Post Danny Masterson Convicted Of 2 Counts Of Rape, 'That '70s Show' Actor Faces 30 Years To Life The Associated Press reported "That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson was led out in handcuffs from a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday and could get 30 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty on two of three counts of rape at his second trial, in which the Church of Scientology played a central role. The article explained how the jury of seven women and five men reached the verdict after deliberating for seven days spread over two weeks, but that they could not reach a verdict on the third count, that alleged Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend. The article said that they had voted 8-4 in favor of conviction, and that Masterson, 47, will be held without bail until he is sentenced. The article further explained that after a deadlocked jury led to a mistrial in December, prosecutors retried Masterson, saying he drugged and forcibly raped three women in his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003 and they said he used his prominence in the church where all three women were also members at the time to avoid consequences for decades. This story was also reported on by The BBC, The Guardian, Variety, Sky News, Fox News, the Daily. Mail, the New York Times, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, Vulture, Reuters, CBS News, People,National World, the Daily Beast, CNN, the Washington Post, the New York Post, Forbes, ABC News, USA Today and NBC News The Associated Press' article was reprinted by CBS News, The Hill, ABC News, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Denver Post, the Hartford Courant, the Boston Herald, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Orlando Sentinel, The Morning Call, the Manila Times, and the Sun Sentinel Trump Asks Judge in Hush-Money Case to Step Aside The New York Times reported that former President Donald J. Trump is asking the judge overseeing his criminal case in Manhattan to step aside, citing ties between the judge's family and Democratic causes, Mr. Trump's lawyers said in a statement Wednesday. The article reported that the motion for recusal, which has not yet been filed publicly, represents the latest effort by Mr. Trump's lawyers to move his case away from the judge, Juan M. Merchan of State Supreme Court in Manhattan. The article added that on Tuesday, the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, filed court papers opposing that effort, and he is expected to oppose the effort to get Justice Merchan to recuse himself. The article explained that Mr. Bragg's case centers on a hush-money payment to a porn star in the last days of the 2016 presidential campaign and the $130,000 payment, made by Mr. Trump's former fixer, bought the silence of the porn star, who was otherwise poised to tell her story of a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump. The article continued to state that Mr. Trump has denied the accusations against him, that he falsified records to cover up the potential sex scandal, and has lashed out at both Mr. Bragg and Justice Merchan, noting that both are Democrats. The article cited that their motion to recuse faces something of an uphill climb: The decision rests in the hands of Justice Merchan, who also presided over the unrelated tax fraud trial last year of Mr. Trump's company, the company's lawyers sought Justice Merchan's recusal in that case as well, but he declined to step aside. The article included that under New York State rules on judicial conduct, a judge should disqualify himself or herself from a case if a relative within the sixth degree had "an interest that would be substantially affected by the proceeding." The article noted that Ms. Merchan's work on Democratic campaigns does not give her enough of an interest to qualify, according to experts. EFTA00164144 Tim Martin And Joanna Smith Indicted for National Gallery Art Attack With Declare Emergency Forbes reported that after a protest at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. charges indicate Tim Martin and his "co-conspirator" Joanna Smith, along with unnamed other members of the Declare Emergency organization, researched and targeted "The Little Dancer," by Edgar Degas, and alerted media representatives in advance. The article stated that the charges are predicated on an excess of $100 damages, though the official amount was not provided in the filings. The article added the Department of Justice notice indicates the cost was $2,400. The article highlighted that charges are thought to result in as much as a five-year prison sentence and a fine of $250,000, although extreme measures could occur in the United Kingdom, where Phoebe Plummer remained on house arrest until her trial date was set. The article noted that Plummer faces up to 30 years of incarceration across three incidents at 10 years each, and an "unlimited fine." The article concluded that the U.S. case is being investigated by the FBI's Art Crime Team, with assistance from National Gallery of Art Police and U.S. Park Police, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, and that Martin is currently seeking legal representation. Three Drug Traffickers Found Possessing Methamphetamine Sentenced to Federal Prison KTVE-FOX reported that 30 -year-old Jacque Pierre Young of Arcadia, was sentenced to 27 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The article noted that based on evidence acquired by agents with the Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team, a search warrant was obtained for an apartment on East California Avenue in Ruston, Louisiana. The article added that on February 2, 2023 Young pleaded guilty to the charges. The article stated that two other drug traffickers were also sent to prison in another unrelated drug case, and that specifically 37-year-old Marianno Goldsmith and 32-year-old Thomas Boswell, both of Florida, were each sentenced to 151 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 2 Sentenced In Texas For $2.5M Container Homes Fraud Law360 reported that two men, Leslie Robert Burk of El Paso and Ethan Sturgis Day of Idyl!wild, California, were sentenced to federal prison for their role in a container homes scheme in which they defrauded more than 40 people out of more than $2.5 million, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. The article explained that the two received 25- and nine-year sentences, respectively, from U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo on Tuesday, according to a statement from the DOJ, and that Burk was convicted on 23 charges while Day was convicted on 22 counts by a federal jury in June 2022. The article specified that charges included wire fraud, money laundering and bankruptcy fraud, according to court records. The article then recapped that in April 2019, both men were named in a 33-count indictment, and they were arrested in 2019 by the FBI, which was investigating the pair. The article stated that as the principals of Atomic Container Homes Inc. and other similarly named businesses, the two men enticed people into contracts to build shipping container homes through their website and after receiving the victims' money, the two would either not deliver on the contractual agreement or deliver subpar container homes. Back to Top ANTITRUST American Airlines Says It Will Appeal a Ruling That Would Break up a Partnership With JetBlue The Associated Press reported that American Airlines said Wednesday it will appeal a court decision that would force the airline to break up its partnership with JetBlue Airways in the Northeast. According to the article, American and JetBlue face a late-June deadline to end the agreement in which they coordinate flights and share revenue. The article stated that the Justice Department sued to block the alliance, and a federal judge ruled last week that the partnership violates antitrust law. The article quoted American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, who said during an investor conference that "in the meantime, we are going to have to work with (the Justice Department), work with JetBlue, to find out exactly what we do in the EFTA00164145 interim." The article noted that losing the alliance would be a setback for American, which would need to find another way to grow in New York and Boston, where it has retreated over many years in the face of competition from Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The article highlighted that U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston ruled that with their partnership, American and JetBlue were "replacing full-throated competition with broad cooperation." The storyline was also reported on by Reuters, Bloomberg, and CNBC. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by MSN, Yahoo News, The Independent, CBS News, U.S. News & World Report, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Back to Top ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES A Poisonous Cold War Legacy That Defies a Solution The New York Times reported that from 1950 to 1990, the U.S. Energy Department produced an average of four nuclear bombs every day, turning them out of hastily built factories with few environmental safeguards that left behind a vast legacy of toxic radioactive waste. The article focused on the Hanford Site in Washington State, where engineers sent to clean up the mess after the Cold War discovered 54 million gallons of highly radioactive sludge left from producing the plutonium in America's atomic bombs, and that cleaning out the underground tanks that were leaching poisonous waste toward the Columbia River just six miles away and somehow stabilizing it for permanent disposal presented one of the most complex chemical problems ever encountered. The article highlighted that the Energy Department has been in closed-door negotiations with state officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, trying to revamp the cleanup plan, but many fear the most likely compromises, which could be announced in the coming months, will put the speed and quality of the cleanup at risk. The article claimed that the government now appears to be seriously evaluating the need to leave thousands of gallons of leftover waste buried forever in Hanford's shallow underground tanks Continued Reporting: Sackett Decision Shrinks Federal Regulation of Wetlands The National Law Review continued reporting on the May 25, 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that significantly narrowed the extent of wetlands within the definition of "waters of the United States", and, therefore, within the jurisdiction of the federal Clean Water Act. The article added that under the majority opinion in Sackett v. EPA, the Court held that "waters" are limited to "only those relatively permanent standing or continuously flowing bodies of water" that are described as "streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes" and to "adjacent" wetlands that are "indistinguishable" from those bodies of water. The article highlighted that as Justice Samuel Alito stated: Federally regulated wetlands "must be indistinguishably part of a body of water that itself constitutes 'waters' under the CWA, wetlands that are separate from traditional navigable waters cannot be considered part of those waters, even if they are located nearby." The article mentioned that the Sackett litigation involves Michael and Chantell Sackett, who have been unable to build a house because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined that a wetland on their Idaho property was a WOTUS. The article stated that according to the justices, a wetland is broadly considered to be a WOTUS if it, alone or in combination with similarly situated lands in the region, significantly affects the chemical, physical and biological integrity of navigable waters. The article wrote that the Sackett ruling has immediate, practical consequences, with the elimination of the "significant nexus" test, the extent of wetlands considered to be WOTUS will markedly decrease, thereby decreasing the need for Corps permitting for land development, pipeline construction and other earth disturbance activities. Back to Top TAX Continued Reporting: California Construction Company Owner Guilty of Employment Tax Crimes EFTA00164146 CPA Practice Advisor provided continued reporting on Larry Kudsk, a California man who was sentenced in late May to 12 months in prison for willfully failing to account for and pay over employment taxes. The article stated that according to court documents and statements made in court, Kudsk operated two construction businesses, Kudsk Construction, Inc., and M. Gutierrez, Inc. The article noted that these companies served as general contractors or subcontractors, including on some government projects. The article added that in addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White ordered Kudsk to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $244,973 in restitution to the United States. Back to Top IMMIGRATION Revised DACA Program to Be Debated Before Texas Judge Who Previously Ruled Against It The Associated Press reported that a revised version of a federal policy that prevents the deportation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children is set to be debated Thursday before a federal judge who previously ruled the program illegal. The article stated that attorneys representing the nine states that have sued to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, lawyers for the U.S. Justice Department, and DACA recipients were scheduled to appear at a court hearing before U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen. The article noted that in 2021, Hanen declared DACA illegal, ruling that the program had not been subjected to public notice and comment periods required under the federal Administrative Procedures Act. The article added that Hanen also said the states seeking to stop it had standing to file their lawsuit because they had been harmed by the program. According to the article, the new version of DACA took effect in October and was subject to public comments as part of a formal rule- making process. The article commented that while Hanen is not expected to immediately rule after Thursday's court hearing, whatever decision he makes is expected to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court for a third time. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by the Washington Post, MSN, Daily Mail, Yahoo News, U.S. News & World Report, SFGate, Houston Chronicle, Miami Herald, Kansas City Star, Atlanta Journal- Constitution, Star Tribune, San Diego Union Tribune, Fort Worth Star Telegram, and the Charlotte Observer. 3 More GOP Governors Sending National Guard Troops to US-Mexico Border The Associated Press reported that the governors of Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina on Wednesday joined a growing list of Republican leaders sending their state National Guard soldiers or other state law enforcement officers to the U.S. border with Mexico. The article stated that Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced an executive order directing the deployment of 100 Virginia National Guard soldiers and 21 support personnel. The article added that South Carolina's Henry McMaster and West Virginia's Jim Justice announced their deployments shortly thereafter, also in response to a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. According to the article, the announcements bring to at least eight the number of Republican- led states deploying soldiers or offering other assistance in the weeks since Abbott appealed for help. The article quoted Youngkin, who said that "the ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state." The article highlighted that the Virginia deployment and others from Republican-led states have specifically been in support of Texas' Operation Lone Star, which is separate from the active duty and National Guard troops working with the Customs and Border Protection. The story was also reported on by the Washington Post, NBC News, Fox News, The Hill, Axios, The Associated Press' article was reprinted by the Washington Post, Yahoo News, Miami Herald, Newsmax, Kansas City Star, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Star Tribune, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Washington Times, Military Times, Charlotte Observer. and The Independent. U.S. Plans to Admit Nearly 40,000 Asylum-Seekers per Month Through Mobile App EFTA00164147 CBS News reported that according to Department of Homeland Security officials, the Biden administration is planning to dramatically expand the processing of asylum-seekers along the U.S.-Mexico border by admitting nearly 40,000 migrants at official crossings each month, an unprecedented number. The article noted that starting in June, officials will allow more migrants waiting in Mexico to secure an appointment to enter the U.S. through a government phone app known as CBP One, which the Biden administration has transformed into the main gateway to the American asylum system. The article highlighted that DHS officials said that U.S. border officials are preparing to distribute 1,250 appointments each day — or roughly 38,750 each month — to migrants in Mexico so they can present themselves at ports of entry for an opportunity to be allowed inside the country to request asylum. The article stated that previously, U.S. officials processed just over 20,000 asylum-seekers each month under the CBP One system, which President Biden unveiled in January as an orderly process to discourage migrants from entering the U.S. illegally by crossing between ports of entry. Conservative Judge Offers Defense of 'Alien' in Immigration Case Bloomberg Law reported that in a concurrence to an immigration opinion, fifth Circuit Judge James C. Ho said the term "alien" shouldn't be seen as offensive. The article stated that in an immigration concurrence Tuesday, Ho used his own immigration history to disapprove of the majority's use of "noncitizen" where the 2018 Fifth Circuit opinion cited used the term "alien." The article highlighted that the Biden administration has pushed executive agencies, including the Justice Department, not to use "the terms 'alien' or 'illegal alien' to describe migrants" outside a previously issued statute or legal document, in a move to "develop welcoming strategies that promote integration, inclusion, and citizenship." According to the article, the concurrence came as the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rejected an appeal from a Cambodian immigrant who argued that a Pennsylvania robbery statute was too broad to match the federal version that would trigger deportation. Tucson Man Convicted After Lying to U.S. Immigration Officials The Arizona Daily Star reported that a former Bosnian refugee who settled in Tucson has been convicted of lying about his ties to police and military forces linked to violent acts during the 1990s war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The article stated that a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona said that Sinisa Djurdjic, 50, migrated to Tucson under the United States refugee program in 2000. According to the article, Djurdjic was convicted in federal court here May 19 of visa fraud and unlawful procurement of citizenship. The article noted that the verdict came after a nine-day jury trial presided over by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps. The article commented that the case dates back to 2009 when Homeland Security Investigations began an investigation into a former member of a police brigade suspected of committing numerous atrocities during the war. The article highlighted that U.S. agents made multiple trips to Bosnia, conducted interviews with numerous witnesses and gathered documentation from the Bosnian and Serbian governments, as well as from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague. The storyline was also reported on by The Center Square. Back to Top OFFICE OF TRIBAL JUSTICE U.S. DOJ Sues Northern Wisconsin Town Over Road Dispute With Lac du Flambeau Tribe The Wisconsin State Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has sued the town of Lac du Flambeau over an ongoing dispute with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, arguing the northern Wisconsin town's roads trespass on tribal land. The article specified that the DOJ on behalf of itself and as a trustee for the tribe and 76 individual landowners filed the complaint Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, and that in court filings, the DOJ states the complaint was filed to "protect land to which the United States holds title" through the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the tribe and affected landowners. The article explained that the lawsuit seeks "declaratory relief, damages, and ejectment to remedy the Town of Lac du Flambeau's intentional and unauthorized use and occupancy of that land as part of the Town's road system." EFTA00164148 Bipartisan Bill Would Allow Tribes In Maine To Benefit From Federal Law, Stops Short Of Sovereignty The Associated Press reported that new legislation would allow Native Americans in Maine to benefit from federal laws despite terms of a land claims settlement, providing help to Wabanaki tribes while stopping short of full sovereignty that they've long sought. The article explained that the bipartisan proposal introduced by Democratic House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross forbids the creation of tribal casinos without state permission and keeps intact existing criminal jurisdictions, removing potential stumbling blocks to allowing tribes to benefit from laws meant to help them. The article quoted Ross saying that, "With this bill, we have the opportunity to right this wrong," noting that the bill is a step toward greater sovereignty sought by tribes. The article then mentioned that the administration of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills opposed the proposal, and her general counsel warned Wednesday that the bill could lead to confusion and litigation. The article described that tribes in the state are governed by the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 that stipulates they're bound by state law, treating tribal reservations much like municipalities and generally barring federal laws that undermine state law, and that sets them apart from the other 570 federally recognized tribes. The Associated Press' article was reprinted by WCSH-NBC, U.S. News & World Report, The Eagle Tribune, the Washington Times, the Waco Tribune Herald, Fox News, Tulsa World, The Morganton News Herald, the Caledonian Record and Bangor Daily News Arizona Governor Urging Biden To Designate Tribally Proposed Monument At Grand Canyon The Associated Press reported that Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is urging President Joe Biden to use the Antiquities Act to designate the tribally proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The article explained that in a letter, Hobbs told Biden that she is committed to preserving cultural and natural treasures throughout Arizona and said the Grand Canyon is a "culturally sacred place stewarded by Indigenous Peoples for centuries." The article added that Hobbs wrote that in addition to tribal voices, her office has "heard from people across the political spectrum including sporting groups, faith leaders, outdoor recreation businesses, conservation groups and others from a broad array of interests that support this monument designation," and that she "can think of no better use of the Antiquities Act than to protect our state's namesake treasure." The Associated Press' article was reprinted by ABC News, the Washington Post, U.S News & World Report, The Independent, The Seattle Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Independent, the Toronto Star, Federal News Network and the Times Union Back to Top OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL Trump Attacks Democratic `Persecutors' as Massachusetts Attorney Rachael Rollins Resigns Over Leaks The Washington Examiner reported former President Trump slammed Democratic "persecutors" in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, comparing the prosecutors to Massachusetts attorney Rachael Rollins, who resigned after allegedly leaking sensitive information earlier this month. The article stated that according to two federal reports released on May 17, Rollins allegedly leaked sensitive information from the Justice Department to a reporter in an attempt to influence a local election for a friend. The article noted that a report from the inspector general's office said Rollins lied during an interview about the information she gave to the journalist. According to the article, Rollins also allegedly lied to investigators and attended a fundraiser with first lady Jill Biden. The story was also reported on by Newsweek. EFTA00164149 Back to Top BANKRUPTCY COURTS Continued Reporting: An Appeals Court Gave the Sacklers Legal Immunity. Here's What the Ruling Means. The New York Times provided continued reporting on the federal appeals court that allowed members of the billionaire Sackler family to be shielded from all civil opioid claims related to their company, Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription painkiller OxyContin. The article noted that in exchange, they have agreed to make payments of up to $6 billion to thousands of plaintiffs in now-suspended lawsuits. The article stated that the ruling was part of a court review of a bankruptcy restructuring plan for Purdue, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in September 2019. Companies in bankruptcy customarily get protection from legal claims; owners who have not filed for personal bankruptcy usually do not. The article added that legal experts say that the ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has implications for the Purdue case specifically and for owners of companies seeking bankruptcy generally. The article highlighted that the strongest candidate to keep attacking Sacklers' legal shields is the U.S. Trustee Program, an office within the Department of Justice that serves as a watchdog over bankruptcy proceedings. Back to Top FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) Seventeen Friends, a Limo Crash and an FBI Informant: The Case That Rocked Upstate New York The Wall Street Journal reported that the man who rented out the limousine involved in one of the state's deadliest recent vehicle crashes was sentenced Wednesday to between five and 15 years in prison, capping a yearslong legal battle that has captivated upstate New York. According to the article, Nauman Hussain, 33 years old, was convicted this month of 20 counts of manslaughter for his role in the October 2018 crash that killed 20 people on a country road southwest of Albany. The victims, the article highlighted, include 17 friends who chartered the limousine for a birthday party, the driver and two people who were struck in the parking lot of the Apple Barrel Store + Café. The article indicated that the incident wrought a swath of grief in and around this community and rounds of finger- pointing among Hussain, state agencies and federal authorities. The article pointed out that it has also attracted the interest of a top member of Congress who is pushing the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release details about its ties to the defendant's father, Shahed Hussain, who was a confidential informant for the FBI in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Republicans Probing Bidens Step Up Threats Against FBI Chief Christopher Wray The Wall Street Journal reported that top Republican lawmakers on Wednesday escalated threats to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt over what they view as his stonewalling of a congressional investigation into the business dealings of President Biden and his family. The article indicated that following a phone call with Director Wray, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky and Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa assailed the Federal Bureau of Investigation director for not turning over a document that the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed as part of its investigation into the Biden family's business dealings. According to the article, Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and other Republicans have said the FBI record contains allegations that President Biden engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national during his vice presidency. Director Wray, the article detailed, offered to provide lawmakers a chance to view the information "in a secure manner to accommodate the committee while protecting the confidentiality and safety of sources and important investigative sensitivities," and the bureau said, "The FBI has continually demonstrated its commitment to working with the committee to accommodate its request," adding that it would continue to cooperate. However, the article pointed out, Comer said he was insisting that the bureau produce the document to the House committee. The Washington Post quoted Comer as saying, "If the FBI fails to hand over the FD-1023 form as required by the subpoena, the House Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings." The article noted that the FBI issued EFTA00164150 a statement as well, saying that Wray gave Corner "an opportunity to review information responsive to the subpoena in a secure manner to accommodate the committee, while protecting the confidentiality and safety of sources and important investigative sensitivities ... The FBI remains committed to cooperating with the Committee in good faith." The story was also reported on by CNN, NBC News, the HuffPost, the Washington Examiner, The Hill, the New York Post, from Fox News, National Review, The Daily Beast, Washington Times, Newsweek, Breitbart, HuffPost FBI's Investigation Into a Cybercrime Gang Called "The Comm" Vice reported that court records and Telegram messages revealed the FBI's investigation into a cybercrime gang called "the Comm" and a subgroup named "ACG." According to the article, the FBI is investigating a cybercriminal group called "the Comm" whose members are allegedly involved in a nationwide wave of swattings that impacted schools and universities earlier this year. The article noted that the FBI arrested at least one alleged member of the group, Braiden Williams, in May. FBI Special Agent Zachary Fuller, the article added, wrote in an affidavit, "I am currently involved in an investigation of cyberstalking by Williams and other co-conspirators who have threatened to commit bombings of numerous universities throughout the United States." Back to Top DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) California Advances Fentanyl Bills Focused on Prevention, Increased Penalties The Associated Press reported that California lawmakers have advanced more than a dozen bills aiming to address the fentanyl crisis, including some that would impose harsher prison sentences for dealers, ahead of a critical deadline this week. The article explained that Fentanyl overdoses are killing roughly 110 Californians each week, and lawmakers are divided on how best to stem the crisis. The article continued to state that some Democratic lawmakers support policies that focus on education, prevention and treatment, while Republicans and more moderate Democrats want more enforcement against fentanyl dealers. The article mentioned that State lawmakers across the country, including in Democratic-controlled legislatures such as Oregon and Nevada, have also considered harsher penalties on drug dealers, a tactic that many say would backfire-but the majority of 16 fentanyl bills that advanced this past week in California focused on education, prevention and treatment of fentanyl overdose. The article quoted Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino of Burbank, who authored the bill and stated that, "One would require public places such as schools, stadiums and concert venues to carry naloxone, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses. States that have made naloxone accessible, such as Massachusetts, are seeing a drop in overdose deaths, Our schools and other impacted places must have the tools needed to save lives, and parents should not have to wont' if emergency treatments are available to help in the moment of crisis." The article stated that lawmakers in the Assembly also passed a bill that would increase penalties for dealers for possessing more than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of fentanyl. The article noted that Democratic Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua, who authored the bill, said in a statement, "While we continue to provide resources for drug treatment and education, we cannot neglect the trafficking that spreads this poison throughout our community, one pill does kill; it only takes one time." The article wrote that Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, a vocal critic of his progressive Democratic colleagues on the fentanyl issue, said passing the bills is "a step in the right direction." The article added that the bills will now head to the second chamber. This article was reported on Hearald and Review, The Bizmarck Tribune and the Montana Standard The Associated Press' article was reprinted by ABC News, KNTV-NBC, CBS News, Cox, the Washington Post KESQ-TV and The San Diego Union-Tribune EFTA00164151 Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Trafficking Organization Busted Through Operation Smoke and Mirrors WOWK-TV reported that a Kanawha County man, Nicholas Confere, pleaded guilty Wednesday for his role in a drug trafficking organization that was busted through "Operation Smoke and Mirrors," according to the Department of Justice. The article stated the DOJ said the 35-year-old man arranged drug deals using a landline including buying and selling meth. The article noted Confere was charged with using a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense, and that he is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 20, 2023, and faces up to four years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The article continued that "Operation Smoke and Mirrors" is considered the largest drug bust operation in West Virginia history, and highlighted that US Attorney Will Thompson said that a federal grand jury returned three indictments charging 30 people for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that dealt large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl in the Charleston area and also charged another 24 people in state criminal complaints. The article added that the operation overall seized more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine along with 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 firearms, and $747,000 in cash. The article noted the operation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. Back to Top BUREAU OF ALCOHOL TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES (ATF) ATF Seizes 165 Firearms, Including 82 Ghost Guns, During San Diego Operation The San Diego Union Tribune reported that a three-month operation led by federal law enforcement agents and the San Diego Police Department resulted in the seizure of 165 firearms, including 82 "ghost guns" that have no serial number and are suspected of being privately made. The article stated that the campaign — which lasted from Feb. 1 to May 1 and was led by the ATF — has resulted in the prosecution of at least 29 people, some suspected of unlawfully manufacturing, selling or possessing firearms, and others suspected of committing related drug offenses. The article noted that about two-thirds of those defendants are being prosecuted in U.S. District Court, mostly on firearms charges, while the others were charged with drug offenses in San Diego Superior Court. The article mentioned U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman, who said that the firearms seized during the operation "were illegally possessed, used in an alleged crime or found at a crime scene." KSWB-FOX added that one of the 33 arrests was a 22-year-old Marine accused of selling 22 ghost guns. The article highlighted that according to Grossman, "Christian Ferrari, an active duty U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, was charged with illegally selling ghost guns to an undercover ATF agent." The story was also reported on by KFM1I-CRS and KGTV-ABC. ATF: Marijuana Users in Minnesota Can't Own Firearms Despite New Law The Hill reported that just one day after Minnesota legalized the recreational use of marijuana, the ATF warned that any current user of marijuana is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. The article stated that the AFT field office in St. Paul, MN issued the clarification Tuesday shortly after Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana. The article highlighted that the clarification states that under federal law, current users of marijuana are prohibited from possessing, receiving, transporting or shipping firearms or ammunition. The article quoted Jeff Reed, ATF's acting special agent in charge of the St. Paul Field Division, who said that "until marijuana is legalized federally, firearms owners and possessors should be mindful that it remains federally illegal to mix marijuana with firearms and ammunition." According to the article, the agency said that those looking to purchase firearms must attest whether they are a user of marijuana on their applications. The story was also reported on by CBS News and WJON-AM. EFTA00164152 U.S. Attorney Joins ATF Officials In Targeting Gun Violence The Register Herald reported that U.S. Attorney Will Thompson joined officials with the ATF and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) to provide high-tech assistance targeting gun violence to law enforcement agencies throughout the Southern District of West Virginia. The article stated that an ATF National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) mobile unit, operated in partnership with Appalachia HIDTA, deployed on Tuesday, to the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office in Beckley and the West Virginia State Police Academy in Dunbar, to conduct training for local law enforcement and provide investigative support by analyzing ballistic evidence from gun crimes. According to the article, the training will aid the ongoing support that NIBIN will provide law enforcement throughout the district. As Short-Barreled Rifle Rule Takes Effect, Texas Is Fighting Feds Over Silencer Regs, Too The Dallas Morning News reported that Texas sued the federal government to block enforcement of a new rule classifying certain pistols as short-barreled rifles that must be registered. The article stated that it's just one of several gun-related legal actions, including one over silencers, the state filed against federal authorities. The article highlighted that the new rule by the ATF took effect on Jan. 31, but the agency will begin enforcing it today after a 120-day grace period. According to the article, the Texas Attorney General's Office sued ATF to block enforcement of the new rule — one of many lawsuits filed nationwide. The article noted that over the past decade, federal authorities say that pistol braces have evolved, transforming pistols into assault rifles intended to be fired from the shoulder by those without disabilities. The article commented that many fire high-velocity rounds that pierce police body armor and as a result, the ATF reclassified such configurations as short-barreled rifles that must be registered with the agency to remain legal. According to the article, the failure to register these firearms is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Utah Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Insurance Company Following House Fire KTVX-ABC reported that a Tooele woman was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay more than $88,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to defrauding an insurance company. The article noted that according to the U.S. District Court of Utah, April Kristina Tinnes, 49, of Tooele pleaded guilty to wire fraud for creating a scheme to defraud Kemper Personal Insurance following a house fire between January 2021 and May 2021. The article stated that authorities reportedly discovered that Tinnes had deliberately started a fire to her home in Tooele on Jan. 16, 2021, so that she would receive insurance payments from Kemper Personal Insurance, as written in a policy for the home that was renewed in late 2020. The article added that on Wednesday, May 31, Tinnes has been ordered to serve one year in prison and pay over $88,000 in restitution, which she had paid in full. Back to Top U.S. MARSHALS SERVICES (USMS) 14 Endangered Missing Children From Virginia Recovered in U.S. Marshals Operation KVVU-FOX reported that the U.S. Marshals Service recovered 14 endangered children missing from Virginia during 'Operation We Will Find You,' a multi-state operation that located 225 missing kids from across the country. The article noted that officials say many of the children who were recovered during the 10-week operation were runaways or were abducted by noncustodial persons and say 169 children were recovered and 56 were safely located. The article emphasized that data released by the USMS shows that 86 percent of the children located in the operation were endangered runaways, nine percent were family abductions, and five percent were considered otherwise missing. This article was also reported on WAVY-NBC US Marshals Find Man Accused in Shooting of 3 KCK Officers Who Was Accidentally Released EFTA00164153 KCTV-CBS reported that the U.S. Marshals Service says a man, Jae'veon Mitchell-Locke, 22, accused in the shooting of three KCK officers, who was accidentally released from the Platte County Detention Center, was taken into custody in KCMG on Wednesday. The article noted that Jae'veon Mitchell-Locke, 22, was wanted in Wyandotte County for three counts of attempted capital murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated endangering of a child, and distribution of fentanyl. The article quoted Ronald Miller, a U.S. Marshal for the District of Kansas saying that, "The Marshals Service has a strong relationship with our state and local agencies, we worked diligently side by side with them on this case to bring it to a close." Back to Top BOP/CORRECTIONS Ghislaine Maxwell Fears Retaliation in Prison After Snitching on Two Violent Inmates: Report The Daily Mail reported that Ghislaine Maxwell is living in constant fear of a brutal beatdown behind bars after she ratted out two violent Cuban inmates for trying to extort her. The article noted that the pair were thrown in solitary confinement for 47 days after Maxwell reported them to authorities at FCI Tallahassee for demanding items from her commissary order. However, the article stated that Maxwell is now 'freaking out' because according to sources at the low-security Florida lockup, the two bullies have been released back into the general prison population and are out for revenge. The New York Post mentioned that Maxwell, who has been at the facility since July 2022, is apparently so terrified of retaliation that she's refusing to use showers where she fears she could be physically attacked. According to the article, she is also being escorted daily to and from her job at the prison library by a guard. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT / INTERPOL South Africa Mulls Options On ICC Arrest Warrant For Potential Visitor Putin Reuters reported that South Africa is mulling its options over an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin should he accept an invitation to a BRICS summit in August. The article explained that as a member of the ICC, South Africa would theoretically be required to arrest Putin under the warrant issued in March by the court, which accused him of the war crime of forcibly deporting children from Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine. The article noted that Moscow denies the allegations. The article then said that South Africa had on Jan. 25 already invited Putin to the Aug. 22-24 meeting in Johannesburg of BRICS leaders of emerging economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and that one option gaining traction among South African officials would be to ask the group's previous chair China to host the summit, said a senior government official. The article added that when asked whether Putin would attend the gathering, the Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russia would take part at the "proper level". Two Journalists Stand Trial in Iran for Stories That Sparked Protests The Washington Post reported that two female Iranian journalists went on trial behind closed doors this week for their reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked a popular uprising. The article explained that Mahsa Amini, 22, died in custody of Iran's "morality police" last year after she was detained for an alleged violation of the country's conservative dress code for women. The article highlighted that Elahe Mohammadi, a reporter with Ham- Mihan newspaper, and Niloofar Hamedi, of Shargh newspaper, brought early attention to the story, which set off widespread protests and a broader movement to end clerical rule. The article noted that the journalists, who have spent months in detentions, stand accused of "colluding with hostile powers" a charge they deny, which could carry a long sentence or the death penalty, however the government has not presented any evidence publicly backing up the allegations. The article emphasized that advocates and rights groups say the reporters have little hope of a fair trial or even basic due process under Iran's notoriously opaque and politicized judicial system. The article added that both women were arrested at the end of September and that in November, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the intelligence agency of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the guardians of Iran's security state, accused the U.S. CIA of orchestrating Hamedi and Mohammadi's reporting and helping to plan the nationwide, leaderless EFTA00164154 unrest. The article concluded that Mohammadi's trial opened Monday in Branch 15 of Iran's Revolutionary Court, a parallel judicial system tasked with protecting the Islamic Republic and Hamedi's trial began Tuesday in the same court overseen by Abulqasem Salavati, known as Iran's "hanging judge" for the frequency of his harsh rulings. How a High-Value Russian Wanted by the U.S. Escaped From Italy The Wall Street Journal reported that Kremlin-linked businessman, Artem Uss, accused of illegally exporting American military technology to Russia was arrested in Italy at the U.S.'s request suddenly vanished. The article explained that Uss, son of a powerful Russian politician close to President Vladimir Putin, was able to escape back to Moscow after Italy granted him house arrest, despite U.S. warnings that he would flee, and that Uss evaded Italian police using cars and an international network of helpers including a Serbian criminal gang. The article stated that the affair has created friction between the U.S. and Italy, denting efforts by Rome to present itself as a reliable partner in the West's confrontation with Moscow over the war in Ukraine. The article added that the event has also robbed the U.S. of a potentially valuable asset in prisoner exchanges for Americans held in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who the U.S. government deems wrongfully detained. The article noted that Italy had approved Artem Uss's extradition to the U.S., where he faced criminal charges for violating sanctions on military technology and oil as well as money laundering and, if found guilty, up to 30 years in prison. The Notorious Russian Jail Holding U.S. Journalist Evan Gershkovich The Washington Post reported that for decades, Lefortovo prison has been a symbol of oppression and control in Russia, especially for those who dare to challenge power, and that it is within these walls that American journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested in March, remains detained, awaiting trial on espionage charges which he, the White House and Gershkovich's employer, the Wall Street Journal, strongly deny. The article described the conditions inside the pretrial detention center, saying that the yellow-walled, four-story building was built in the shape of the letter K and designed to instill fear, isolation and despair. The article highlighted that the daily life of a prisoner inside the center, adding that prisoners can spend years there, such as aul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was at the prison for two years before being convicted on charges of espionage and is now serving a 16-year sentence at a penal colony. Back to Top ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS, AND SUPREME COURT Aide Fired By George Santos Says He Got His Job After Sending Money To Republican's Deputy The Associated Press reported that a man who briefly worked as an aide to U.S. Rep. George Santos says he got his job after sending a series of payments to one of the Republican's top deputies. According to the article, Derek Myers, 31, told staff of the House's ethics subcommittee during an interview Wednesday that while he was trying to get a job in Santos' congressional office in late January, he sent at least seven $150 payments to Santos' director of operations, Vish Burn. The article indicated that Myers shared details about the payments, including receipts and text messages, with The Associated Press. His account of how Burra helped him get hired, the article noted, hasn't previously been reported and raises questions about potential ethical improprieties around Santos. The article added that House investigators questioned Myers about the payments, documented in receipts and text messages, as part of a probe into workplace sexual harassment allegations Myers made after being dismissed from Santos' staff in February. The Associated Press article was reprinted by the Washington Post, ABC News, the Independent, US News & World Report, the Times Union, Federal News Network, the Seattle Times, the San Diego Union- Tribune, Spectrum News Back to Top NATIONAL NEWS House Oks Debt Ceiling Bill to Avoid Default, Sends Biden-McCarthy Deal to Senate EFTA00164155 The Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal reported that a sweeping bill has passed the House of Representatives, suspending the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and reducing spending in exchange for averting a government default, after Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden reached an agreement to prevent a government default that was inching closer. According to the reports, the 314-117 vote relied on support from both Republicans and Democrats. The article explained that passage of the deal sends the measure to the Senate, where leaders have promised quick action, and Biden has said he is eager to sign the measure into law. Reuters reported that in the Senate, leaders of both parties said they hoped to move to enact the legislation before the weekend. However, the article noted, a potential delay over amendment votes could complicate matters. The article added that Republicans said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell could need to allow votes on Republican amendments to ensure quick action, but Schumer appeared to rule out amendments on Wednesday, telling reporters: "We cannot send anything back to the House, plain and simple. We must avoid default." The story was also reported on by the New York Times the Washington Post ABC News CBS News CNBC CNN USA Today Fox News NBC News Business Insider Axios BBC Politico Al Jazeera Bloomberg, NPR, The Hill. The Guardian the New York Post Back to Top FRONT PAGE NEWS New York Times • House Passes Bill to Dodge Default in Bipartisan Vote • A Poisonous Cold War Remnant That Still Escapes a Solution • DeSantis Takes Pokes at Trump But Cautiously • Erdogan's Win Heightens Fears Of Homophobia • When Chefs Are Honored, and Investigated • Climate Crises Force Insurers To Recalculate Wall Street Journal • House Passes Debt-Ceiling Spending Deal • Dimon Accused Of Having Discussed Epstein • Fed Sets Up June Pause Hike Later • Town's Lawsuit Sparks Wave Of Environmental Litigation • You'll Want to Cut This One Out • Russian Sought by U.S. Fled Italy for Moscow Washington Post • Debt deal clears House • Parkland resource officer to face trial • The revolt of Christian home-schoolers • Texas welcomed Musk. Rural residents are unsure. • Senate leaders feeling time crunch on measure Back to Top LAST NIGHT'S NETWORK NEWS ABC News Debt deal packages makes its way through the House; Texas suspect eyed in up to 10 cold cases; Iowa building still too dangerous for search. CBS News House debates contentious debt ceiling bill; Army's first female deep-sea diver reflects on her journey. NBC News EFTA00164156 House votes on debt ceiling bill; GOP presidential race heating up as Pence and Christie expected to announce their candidacies; Wildfires in Canada impact air quality in U.S. cities. Back to Top PRIMETIME EDITORIALS Fox News: Jesse Walters Primetime Ginny Burton: We are destroying the very fabric of our nation; Comey's Trump-bashing book tour 'monetizing government service': Rubio; DeSantis and Trump teeing up 'unbelievable rodeo': Charlie Hurt. CNN: Anderson Cooper 360 Not available. MSNBC: All In With Chris Hayes Bernie Sanders says he will vote against debt ceiling deal; mpeached Texas AG Ken Paxton tries out Trump defense playbook; Hayes: Biden delivering on 2020 promises makes for a strong 2024 pitch. Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE White House President Biden • 11:40 AM: The President delivers the commencement address at the United States Air Force Academy • 4:20 PM: The President departs Colorado Springs, Colorado en route to Joint Base Andrews • 7:40 PM: The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route to the White House • 7:50 PM: The President arrives at the White House Vice President Harris • No events scheduled. U.S. Senate • Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2024 for the National Guard and Reserve. — 10:00 AM — Host: Foreign Relations Committee • Hearings to examine the reliability and resiliency of electric service in the United States in light of recent reliability assessments and alerts. — 10:00 AM — Host: Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. House of Representatives • No events scheduled. Other Events • No events scheduled. EFTA00164157 EFTA00164158