EFTA01656087.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing To: Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - DRAFT: FBI Daily News Briefing - September 19, 2024 Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:55:02 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation September 19, 2024 Seal Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Director Wray Says FBI Investigation of Trump Assassination Attempt Involves 'Full Force' of the Department • FBI Disrupts Second Chinese Hacking Group, Director Wray Says • FBI Says Iranian Hackers Tried but Failed to Interest Biden's Campaign in Stolen Trump Info • Body Found of Man Accused of Opening Fire on Kentucky Highway, Police Say COUNTERTERRORISM • Philadelphia Teen Hoped to Make Bombs for Terror Group and Considered Pride Attack COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • How Elon Musk Amplified Content From a Suspected Russian Election Interference Plot • Internal Watchdog Says State Department Mishandled Iran Envoy's Clearance • Microsoft President Says Election Has Become 'Iran vs. Trump; and 'Russia vs. Harris' • Opinion: Why the Secrecy Around the Foreign Source of the Springfield Hoax Bomb Threats? CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Veteran CIA Officer Who Drugged and Sexually Assaulted Dozens of Women Gets 30 Years in Prison • Continued Reporting: FBI Investigates Suspicious Packages Sent to Election Officials in Multiple States • Continued Reporting: Trump Assassination Attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania • A Former Officer Texted a Photo of the Bloodied Tyre Nichols to His Ex-Girlfriend • Continued Reporting: Jeffrey Epstein Accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell's Sex Crime Convictions Upheld on Appeal • Six Members of a Kansas Cult Convicted After Forcing Kids to Work 16 Hours a Day EFTA01656087  • Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Fantasy Football-Related Bomb, Mass Shooting Threats • California Woman Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Fraudulent Scheme to Steal California Unemployment Insurance Benefits • DC Council Begins Investigation Into Trayon White Over Bribery Accusations • FBI Conducts Investigation at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing In Indiana • Florida Sheriff Spending Detailed Amid Possible FBI Investigation • Two Juveniles Charged With Felonies for Allegedly Making School Shooting Threats in Indiana • FBI Agent Who Worked on North Carolina Girl Case 24 Years Ago Sees Hope in New Evidence FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • SEC Settles Insider Trading Case Tied to Theft From Law Firm CYBER DIVISION • Hackers Demand $6 Million for Files Stolen From Seattle Airport Operator in Cyberattack • CISA, FBI Issue Alert on Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerabilities • DOJ, FBI Need Better Metrics for Tracking Ransomware Disruption Efforts, Audit Finds INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • 51 Arrested Globally as Police Dismantle Encrypted Network, Ghost CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Texas Man Convicted Of Two Misdemeanor Counts for Joining the Mob on Jan. 6, 2021 • Wyoming Man Arrested by FBI for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach • Two Men Arrested in Northwest Ohio on Jan. 6 Riot Charges OTHER FBI NEWS • Ship Owner Cut Corners on Repairs Before Deadly Baltimore Bridge Collapse, U.S. Says in $100M Lawsuit • FBI Springfield Reminds Public There Are Consequences to Hoax Threats • FBI Launches Awareness Campaign After Sharp Increase in Various Scams • How an Overlooked County Landed the New FBI Headquarters and Tech Jobs • Congress Attempts to Dodge a Government Shutdown as Funding Push Fails to the House Over Controversial Voting Bill • Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Announces Long-Awaited Policy Banning Deputy Gangs • Continued Reporting: Texas Pipeline Burns for a Third Day; Residents Allowed to Return Home • Opinion: Trump Says Crime Is Up. The FBI Says It's Down. Who's Right? INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Lebanon Reels as More Devices Explode, Casualties Rise OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Sean Combs Must Stay in Jail Until Trial After Judge Rejects Appeal • Federal Reserve Signals End to Inflation Fight With a Sizable Half-Point Rate Cut EFTA01656088  • New Jersey's OceanFirst Bank Settles U.S. Redlining Charges • 111Republican Former Officials Endorse Harris, Say Trump Is 'Unfit to Serve' • EPA Retaliated Against Three Scientists, Says Watchdog • Work Has Begun on an Inauguration Stage at the Capitol. The Last One Became Part of Jan. 6 Attack • Trump Tries to Close Off a Chief Line of Attack: That He's a Danger to Democracy • Judge Trims Legal Fees for Office Depot Over 'Excessive' Billing in Copyright Case • Facebook Parent Meta Platforms Beats Lawsuit Over Apple Privacy, Sandberg Disclosures • Judge Dismisses an Assault Lawsuit Against Knicks Owner James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein • Trump Doubles Down on Calls to Shut down Government if GOP Can't Pass Stopgap With Election Security BIG PICTURE • New York Times WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Director Wray Says FBI Investigation of Trump Assassination Attempt Involves 'Full Force' of the Department Continued Reporting: Trump Assassination Attempt on Florida Golf Course Fox News (09/18, Hagstrom) and The Epoch Times (09/18, Phillips) reported that Director Wray emphasized that the FBI is devoting the "full force" of its resources to investigate the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump. Director Wray made these comments at the Aspen Cyber Summit, where he addressed the broader implications of the attack. He stated, "For the second time in just over two months, we've witnessed what appears to be an attempt to attack our democracy and our democratic process." He reassured the public of Trump's safety and stressed the ongoing nature of the investigation, noting that the FBI is working diligently to uncover the details of the incident. Director Wray further elaborated, "I'm relieved that former President Trump is safe, and I want the American people to know the men and women of the FBI are working tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened. Our work is very much ongoing, and we're just a few days into the investigation, so we're limited in what we can say at this point." While highlighting the early stages of the investigation, he outlined the extensive resources being mobilized, saying, "What I can say is that we have dedicated the full force of the FBI to this investigation, and that runs the gamut from criminal to national security resources ... from tactical support to evidence response teams ... from forensic scientists to operational technology personnel. Together, we're working around the clock to investigate this." The articles also detailed the involvement of various law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service and the Florida Attorney General's office. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, allegedly waited for nearly 12 hours on a golf course before being discovered by Secret Service agents. Routh is currently in custody, facing federal gun charges, with his next court appearance scheduled for September 1. In response to the incident, Secret Service acting director Ronald Rowe traveled to West Palm Beach, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered a state-level investigation. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies have criticized Democrats, claiming that extreme rhetoric from the opposing party is fueling violence against the former president. According to the articles, on Sept. 16, FBI special agent Jeffrey Veltri said at a news conference that Routh "invoked his right to an attorney" when FBI agents tried to interview him after he was arrested by sheriff's deputies in Martin County, Florida. In 2019, the FBI received a tip that Routh, a convicted felon, was in possession of a firearm, and the case was ultimately closed, Veltri said. In 2002, Routh was convicted of having possession of a weapon of mass destruction related to an incident in North Carolina, the FBI has said. The articles noted that Routh's social media posts and comments he made to media outlets suggest he was an avid backer of Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia. Routh also made posts on social media platform X that were critical of Trump and wrote a self- published, Ukraine-focused book in 2023 that suggested that Iran should kill the former president. "The subject had an active online presence, and we are going through what he posted and any searches conducted online," EFTA01656089 Veltri said. "In addition, we are going through media reports and public statements he made that he wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers and others to fight for Ukraine." Hawaii News Now (09/18, Huff) noted that the FBI descended on an Oahu home Tuesday, looking for evidence against Routh. The FBI evidence collection team arrived at his house at about 8 a.m., and an FBI Public Information Officer said they were conducting "court-approved activities." USSS Makes Pitch for More Resources While Congress Seeks to Hold Them Responsible CNN (09/18, Grayer, Cohen) reported that acting USSS Director Ronald Rowe is requesting additional resources from Congress following two apparent assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump. The article explained that while some lawmakers acknowledge the need for increased funding, others, like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Michael Waltz, express concerns about mismanagement within the agency and demand accountability before approving more resources. The article highlighted that the House task force created to investigate the assassination attempt against Trump at his July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, is working behind the scenes to expand its probe to also include Sunday's apparent assassination attempt. The panel has already requested a full briefing with the Department of Justice and FBI by the end of this week on top of continuing their ongoing investigation into the first assassination attempt against Trump. FBI Agent Leading Trump Assassination Probe Faces Allegations ofAnti-Trump Bias Fox News (09/18, Colton) also reported that FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri, who is leading the investigation into the second assassination attempt on former President Trump, is facing allegations of anti-Trump bias. According to a whistleblower's account presented to Congress last year, Veltri allegedly posted anti-Trump rhetoric on social media, although the FBI has dismissed these claims as "demonstrably false." During a Monday press conference, Veltri addressed the seriousness of the investigation, stating, "We view this as extremely serious and are determined to provide answers as to what led up to the events that took place." He acknowledged that the investigation is still in its early stages, saying, "I want to emphasize we are just a little over 24 hours into this investigation, so we are going to provide as much as we can publicly while our investigation is ongoing. We must also stress the U.S. attorney's office is pursuing charges, and that limits some details we can publicly disclose." Despite Veltri's assurances, reports resurfaced regarding a whistleblower's 2022 testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, which alleged that Veltri was ordered by the FBI to delete anti-Trump posts from his social media. The whistleblower claimed that Veltri's anti-Trump sentiments were well known, and that top FBI officials, including Director Wray, instructed him to scrub his accounts to prevent public exposure of his political bias. The FBI has reiterated its support for Veltri, stating in response to the resurfaced allegations, "The FBI has full confidence in SAC Veltri's leadership of the Miami Field Office and the investigation of the attempted assassination of former President Trump. This investigation is of the highest priority of the FBI." The bureau emphasized that the investigation involves "hundreds of personnel" from various FBI offices and is being conducted thoroughly and "by the book." In addition to the current claims, the whistleblower also alleged that Veltri played a role in improperly suspending security clearances for FBI agents with conservative views. The whistleblower's lawyer, Tristan Leavitt, has called for a full audit of the FBI's security clearance process, specifically highlighting Veltri and other officials' alleged involvement in political bias. FBI's Ryan Routh Tip Highlights Vetting Demand Challenge, Former Agent Says Fox News (09/19, Coulter) reported that Routh was the subject of an FBI tip in 2019. The tip alleged that Routh was a felon in possession of a firearm, but the complainant did not verify the information when interviewed. Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Scott Duffey explained that the FBI receives numerous tips daily, and while tips involving threats to life are prioritized, many tips do not lead to interviews or further action if there is no clear violation of the law or imminent danger. "If the individual is not coming off as being an imminent danger to themselves, the community, or the FBI agent and hasn't given up any information that is incriminating, the FBI agent has the ability to write down the information and put it in a file," Duffey said. "Then it will be forever in a file at the FBI. The FBI can share or forward that information to local police and say, 'Is there something that you have that could be done?' Additional reporting on the story was provided by the Washington Post (09/18, Dawsey, Scherer) (2) (3), Associated Press (09/18, Richer, Matat), BBC (09/18, FitzGerald, Drenon), USA Today (09/18, Kochi), MSNBC (09/18, Benen), Al Jazeera (09/18, Asiedu, Sherman), Washington Times (09/18, Ferrechio). EFTA01656090 Fox News (09/18, Video) provided video coverage of Director Wray's statements. FBI Disrupts Second Chinese Hacking Group, Director Wray Says Reuters (09/18, Satter) reported that U.S. law enforcement has successfully disrupted a second Chinese hacking group, referred to as "Flax Typhoon," which had compromised thousands of devices. Director Wray announced the disruption at a cybersecurity conference in Washington, explaining that Flax Typhoon was run by a Chinese company called the Integrity Technology Group, which posed as an IT firm but actually "collected intelligence and performed reconnaissance for Chinese government security agencies." According to the article, Director Wray said the operation against Flax Typhoon took place last week "as part of our ongoing efforts to take China's botnets offline." Like Volt Typhoon, he said that Flax Typhoon was targeting critical infrastructure, but also corporations, media organizations, universities, and government agencies. To help camouflage their operations, Flax Typhoon routed their malicious traffic through something called "a botnet," a network of hijacked devices that in this case included cameras and digital storage devices, Director Wray said. He added that when the FBI tried to take control of the botnet's infrastructure, the hackers responded with a cyberattack before abandoning the fight. He then warned that the FBI would continue to clash with China's hackers. The Associated Press (09/18, Tucker) reported that Director Wray said that "Flax Typhoon's actions caused real harm to its victims, who had to devote precious time to clean up the mess when they discovered the malware." He also explained, "This was another successful disruption, but make no mistake — it's just one round in a much longer fight. The Chinese government is going to continue to target your organizations and our critical infrastructure, either by their own hand or concealed through their proxies, and we'll continue to work with our partners to identify their malicious activity, disrupt their hacking campaigns, and bring them to light." The press release quoted FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate: "The disruption of this worldwide botnet is part of the FBI's commitment to using technical operations to help protect victims, expose publicly the scope of these criminal hacking campaigns, and to use the adversary's tools against them to remove malicious infrastructure from the virtual battlefield. The FBI's unique legal authorities allowed it to lead an international operation with partners that collectively disconnected this botnet from its China-based hackers at Integrity Technology Group." Additional reporting on the story was provided by the Washington Post (09/18, Menn, Nakashima), Fox News (09/18, Sorace), CNN (09/18, Lyngaas), the Washington Times (09/18, Lovelace), CyberScoop (09/18, Starks, Vicens, Vasquez), The Record (09/18, Warminksky), MeriTalk (09/18, Burgan), BleepingComputer (09/18, Ilascu), The Epoch Times (09/18, Thornebrooke), Inside Cybersecurity (09/18, Friedman), VOA News (09/18, Seldin), AFP (09/18, Staff Writer), SecurityWeek (09/18, Naraine), TechCrunch (09/18, Franceschi-Bicchierai), The Record (09/18, Martin), Security Boulevard (09/18, Burt), UPI (09/19, Coote), and Law360 (09/19, Berg). FBI Says Iranian Hackers Tried but Failed to Interest Biden's Campaign in Stolen Trump Info The Associated Press (09/18, Klepper, Tucker) reported that Iranian hackers attempted to interest President Joe Biden's campaign in stolen information from Donald Trump's campaign, according to statements from the FBI and other federal agencies. The emails, containing excerpts of non-public Trump campaign material, were sent in an effort to interfere in the 2024 election. According to the article, there is no indication that anyone associated with Biden's campaign responded to these emails, which were perceived as phishing attempts. The FBI and other agencies have linked these actions to Tehran, describing the hack as part of a broader effort to undermine voters' trust in the election. The article noted that the FBI informed Trump aides that hacked information had been sent to Biden's campaign, just days before the Trump campaign publicly acknowledged the breach. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Reuters (09/18, Pitas, Singh), the New York Times (09/18, Thrush), the Washington Post (09/18, Dawsey), CNN (09/18, Rabinowitz, Perez, Lyngaas), Fox News (09/18, Rumpf-Whitten), ABC News (09/18, Date, Barr, Sarnoff), NBC News (09/18, Kosnar, Richards), CBS News (09/18, Staff Writer), Politico (09/18, Miller, Sakellariadis), USA Today (09/18, Meyer), BBC (09/18, Debusmann Jr, Epstein), the Washington Examiner (09/18, O'Keefe), New York Post (09/18, Griffin), The Hill (09/18, Beitsch), Bloomberg (09/18, Strohm), The Telegraph (09/18, White), The Independent (09/18, Marcus), The Daily Beast (09/18, McDougall), CyberScoop (09/18, Johnson), AFP (09/18, Staff Writer), and UPI (09/18, Walsh). Body Found of Man Accused of Opening Fire on Kentucky Highway, Police Say The Associated Press (09/18, Schreiner) and the Washington Post (09/18, lati) reported that law enforcement officials in Kentucky announced on Wednesday that they had found a body believed to be the man accused of opening fire on a significant Kentucky highway this month, injuring several people and inciting an 11-day manhunt. The articles explained that Kentucky State Police troopers and two civilians searching among deep brush behind Exit 49 of Interstate 75 on Wednesday came across a deceased person police believe to be Joseph Couch, 32. EFTA01656091 According to reports, State Police Commissioner Phillip "P.J." Burnett Jr. said at a news conference that vultures circling overhead and the smell of decomposing flesh led police and the civilians, who had also been looking for Couch, to the body. The body will be transported on Thursday to Frankfort, Ky., where a state police lab is located, to be formally identified. Spectrum News (09/18, Staff Writer) added that Burnett Jr. thanked the FBI and other agencies assisting with the search. A tweet on WKYT (CBS-21) (09/18, Umbro) stated that "@FBILouisville says FBI stands "strong" and "united" with local law enforcement as the search for Couch shifts from forest manhunt to an active investigation." The story was also reported on by ABC News (09/18, Hutchinson, Pereira), BBC (09/18, Faguy), CBS News (09/18, Sundby, Tanyos), CNN (09/18, Simonson), Fox News (09/18, Betz), NBC News (09/18, Smith, Cohen), the New York Post (09/18, Griffin), the New York Times (09/18, Selig, Sanders), Reuters (09/18, Trotta), USA TODAY (09/18, Baarlaer, Nguyen), and the Washington Post (09/18, Telford, Weil). Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Philadelphia Teen Hoped to Make Bombs for Terror Group and Considered Pride Attack NBC News (09/18, Mitman) reported that an 18-year-old Philadelphia teen, Muhyyee-ud-din Abdul-Rahman, has been charged in connection with an alleged plot to make bombs for a terror group and had considered targeting the city's LGBTQ community during last year's Pride March. According to the article, FBI agents raided Abdul- Rahman's home, where bomb-making materials were discovered, and officials revealed that he communicated with Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (KIP), a group affiliated with AI-Qaeda, with plans to travel to Syria to become a bomb- maker. The article noted that Abdul-Rahman had searched for parade locations, including trashcans along the Pride March route, and was found with tactical gear, military items, and other equipment at the time of his arrest. Additional reporting on the story was provided by the Associated Press (09/18, Shipkowski), CBS News (09/18, Ballesteros, Seiders, Snyder), WPVI (ABC-6) (09/18, Ballesteros), WCAU (NBC-10) (09/18, Mitman), WTXF (Fox-29) (09/18, Payne), the Philadelphia Inquirer (09/18, Palmer), and Newsmax (09/18, McManus). Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE How Elon Musk Amplified Content From a Suspected Russian Election Interference Plot NBC News (09/18, Ingram) reported that Elon Musk repeatedly amplified content from Tenet Media, which was allegedly part of a Russian covert operation to influence U.S. public opinion before the 2024 election. According to the article, FBI Director Christopher Wray described the operation as an attempt to "trick Americans into unwittingly consuming foreign propaganda," with Tenet Media ceasing operations after a federal indictment linked its employees to Russia-backed media. The article noted that Musk's engagement with Tenet Media's content appeared to be unwitting, as he shared their posts over 60 times, amplifying conservative, Russia-aligned viewpoints. Internal Watchdog Says State Department Mishandled Iran Envoy's Clearance Politico (09/18, Toosi) reported that the State Department mishandled the security clearance suspension of Iran special envoy Rob Malley, causing "significant confusion" about his permitted work activities. According to the article, Malley's clearance was suspended over a year ago, and he has since been under FBI investigation for allegedly mishandling classified information, including potentially moving it to his personal email. The article noted that the FBI probe is also examining whether foreign actors could have accessed the information, while Republican lawmakers continue to question both the FBI investigation and the State Department's handling of Malley's leave. Microsoft President Says Election Has Become 'Iran vs. Trump; and 'Russia vs. Harris' WIRED (09/18, Cameron) reported that representatives from Google, Apple, and Meta testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on the need to address foreign influence campaigns ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections. According to the article, Senator Mark Warner stressed the importance of combating disinformation funded by Russia, Iran, and China, while the FBI revealed in an affidavit that it had seized 32 Russian-linked domains used for spreading propaganda, including AI-generated content. The article noted that despite tech companies' efforts to ban entities like RT, Russian influence actors have repeatedly used their platforms for paid ads. The Hill (09/18, Nazzaro) added that Microsoft President Brad Smith highlighted the serious threat of foreign actors, including EFTA01656092 Russia, Iran, and China, attempting to influence the 2024 U.S. election. According to the article, Smith referenced an FBI announcement about Iranian hacking targeting the Trump campaign and Russia's involvement in a disinformation video falsely accusing Kamala Harris of a hit-and-run. The article noted that the FBI observed "increasingly aggressive Iranian activity" this election cycle, while Smith urged the tech community to defend against foreign influence, especially through Al-generated content. Opinion: Why the Secrecy Around the Foreign Source of the Springfield Hoax Bomb Threats? An opinion piece from the National Review (09/18, Geraghty) reported that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's office has not disclosed the foreign source behind a series of bomb threat hoaxes targeting Springfield schools, aiming to prevent further threats. According to the article, the FBI has publicly warned that Russia, China, and Iran seek to influence the 2024 election by sowing discord, which aligns with the motives behind these threats. The article noted that the Intelligence Community views Russia as the leading foreign influence actor, with Iran increasing efforts and China focusing on down-ballot races. The author assessed that the government's lack of transparency raises concerns about its handling of foreign threats and national security. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Veteran CIA Officer Who Drugged and Sexually Assaulted Dozens of Women Gets 30 Years in Prison The Associated Press (09/18, Mustian, Goodman) reported that a longtime CIA officer who drugged, photographed and sexually assaulted more than two dozen women in postings around the world was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Wednesday after an emotional hearing in which victims described being deceived by a man who appeared kind, educated and part of an agency "that is supposed to protect the world from evil." According to the article, Brian Jeffrey Raymond, with a graying beard and orange prison jumpsuit, sat dejectedly as he heard his punishment for one of the most egregious misconduct cases in the CIA's history. It was chronicled in his own library of more than 500 images that showed him in some cases straddling and groping his nude, unconscious victims. Prosecutors say the 48-year-old Raymond's assaults date to 2006 and tracked his career in Mexico, Peru, and other countries, all following a similar pattern. A DOJ press release quoted FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office, who said, "For 14 years, Raymond exploited his trusted position as a U.S. government representative to lure women into his confidence, he then drugged and sexually assaulted them and took explicit photos and videos of them without their consent. The FBI thanks the brave women who shared information that furthered this investigation. We recognize our domestic and foreign law enforcement partners who helped bring Raymond to justice for his reprehensible crimes?' Fox News (09/18, Casiano), Washington Post (09/18, Hsu), and Newsweek (09/18, Venegas) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: FBI Investigates Suspicious Packages Sent to Election Officials in Mukiple States The New York Post (09/18, King) reported that election officials in more than a dozen states have received suspicious packages in recent days, triggering security fears less than seven weeks before millions of Americans go to the polls to elect the next president and Congress. Several state election offices, including in Kansas and Iowa, were briefly evacuated after receiving the parcels, which have not been found to contain hazardous material. The article quoted spokespeople for the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and FBI, who said, "Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and safely collect the letters, we are also working with our partners to determine how many letters were sent, the individual or individuals responsible for the letters, and the motive behind the letters." In at least one case, the sender of a package was listed as the "United States Traitor Elimination Army?' Many of the bundles contained a white, powdery substance, according to local officials. USA TODAY (09/18, Gomez), the Guardian (09/18, Tait), and CBS News (09/18, Video) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: Trump Assassination Attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania The Secret Service's Failure to Halt a Tragedy at a Trump Rally The New York Times (09/18, Sullivan, Kelly) reported that several lapses are emerging as key reasons the U.S. Secret Service failed to protect former President Donald J. Trump from an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13 in Butler, Pa., a New York Times investigation has found. According to the article, the agency's failures at the Butler Farm Show grounds — where a gunman's bullets grazed Trump's ear, wounded two rally attendees and killed another — are expected to be laid bare in coming weeks in an internal assessment delivered by the Secret Service EFTA01656093 itself and in a report from an independent Senate investigation. But the pressures on the agency have taken on even greater urgency in light of what the FBI identified as another attempt on Mr. Trump's life at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday. The article mentioned that Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut and the chairman of a Senate subcommittee investigating the security failures in Butler, said that what happened on July 13 was clearly preventable. "Some of the lapses," he said, "are so egregious as to be almost unbelievable:' Interviews with federal, state and local officials and a review of documents provide an outline of how the planning process left vulnerabilities that allowed a 20-year-old video game enthusiast to open fire on Trump. The article stated that the most glaring problem was the multiple levels of deficient and confusing communications between the Secret Service and the local law enforcement agencies it was working with that day. The most prominent of those breakdowns involve warehouses, owned by AGR International, next to the rally site. The gunman, Thomas Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa., climbed on the roof of one of them to shoot at Trump. The article noted that the Times documented in interviews a series of discussions between the Secret Service and local law enforcement officials about the warehouses, showing not only that the failure to secure them was avoidable but also that the risk was very much on the minds of the personnel charged with securing the area. On July 12, during a six-hour walk-through, the Secret Service was still discussing ways to prevent the warehouses from being accessed by the public, including the possibility of adding a police patrol or parking farm equipment nearby. Despite all the talk, the warehouses were left unguarded. A Former Officer Texted a Photo of the Bloodied Tyre Nichols to His Ex-Girlfriend The Associated Press (09/18, Sainz) reported that a former Memphis police officer charged in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols sent his ex-girlfriend a photo of the badly injured man on the night he was punched, kicked and hit with a police baton following a traffic stop, according to trial testimony Wednesday. Brittany Leake, a Memphis officer and Demetrius Haley's former girlfriend, testified during the criminal trial that she was on the phone with Haley when officers pulled Nichols over for a traffic stop. She said she heard a "commotion," including verbal orders for someone to give officers his hands. According to the article, the call ended, but Haley later texted the photo in a group chat comprising Haley, Leake and her godsister, she testified. Prosecutors displayed the photo for the jury. It showed Nichols with his eyes closed, on the ground with what appeared to be blood near his mouth and his hands behind his back. The article noted that Haley, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith are on trial after pleading not guilty to charges that they deprived Nichols of his civil rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering. The Memphis Police Department fired the three men, along with Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., after Nichols' death. The beating was caught on police video, which was released publicly. The officers were later indicted on the federal charges. Martin and Mills have taken plea deals. The article stated that earlier Wednesday, Martin was on the witness stand for a third day. Defense attorneys tried to show inconsistencies between Martin's statements to investigators and his court testimony. Martin acknowledged lying about what happened to Memphis Police Department internal investigators, to try to cover up and "justify what I did:' But Martin said he told the truth to FBI investigators after he pleaded guilty in August, including statements about feeling pressure on his duty belt where his gun was located during the traffic stop, but not being able to see if Nichols was trying to get his gun. Martin has testified that he said "let go of my gun" during the traffic stop. ABC News (09/18, Negussie) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: Jeffrey Epstein Accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell's Sex Crime Convictions Upheld on Appeal MSNBC (09/18, Rubin) reported that a federal appeals court upheld the sex crime convictions of Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell on Tuesday. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it found "no errors" in what it called a complex case, rejecting several arguments from Maxwell, including that Epstein's unusual non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida barred prosecutors from the Southern District of New York from bringing the case against her. According to the article, the Florida agreement, which followed state and federal investigations into allegations of Epstein's unlawful sexual activity, didn't bind the New York office, the three-judge 2nd Circuit panel ruled, despite the fact that the 2007 agreement said that the United States agreed not to bring any criminal charges against any potential Epstein co-conspirators. The article added that the panel cited precedent that says plea agreements only bind the U.S. Attorney's office in the district where the plea is entered, unless it affirmatively appears that the agreement contemplates a broader restriction. There's "nothing in the NPA that affirmatively shows that the NPA was intended to bind multiple districts,' the panel said, referring to the non- prosecution agreement, adding that nothing presented to the appellate judges indicated that the New York office EFTA01656094 was notified or had approved of the Florida agreement. Maxwell coordinated, facilitated and contributed to Epstein's sexual abuse of women and underage girls, the panel noted in recounting the history of the case. Six Members of a Kansas Cult Convicted After Forcing Kids to Work 16 Hours a Day The Independent (09/18, Bedigan) reported that six members of a Kansas-based cult have been convicted over a conspiracy in which they forced children as young as eight to work 16-hour days under the threat of "eternal hellfire." The former members of the United Nation of Islam kept dozens of victims in "deplorable conditions" in overcrowded facilities that were often overrun with mold and rats. According to the article, Kaaba Majeed, 50, Yunus Rassoul, 39, James Staton, 62, Randolph Rodney Hadley, 49, Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, 43, and Dana Peach, 60, were convicted of conspiracy to commit forced labor following a 26-day trial. The six defendants were all former high-ranking members of the cult, or were wives to the organization's founder, Royall Jenkins. A Dal press release quoted Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office, who said, "Under the guise of false pretenses and coercion, these victims, some of whom were as young as eight years old, endured inhumane and abhorrent conditions, today's convictions should serve as a stark warning that forced labor will not be tolerated by the FBI." Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Fantasy Football-Related Bomb, Mass Shooting Threats CBS News (09/18, Dougherty) reported that a Philadelphia man has pleaded guilty to making fake fantasy football- related bomb and mass shooting threats in Norway and Iowa, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In a news release, federal prosecutors said 25-year-old Matthew Gabriel pleaded guilty to two counts of interstate and foreign communication of a threat to injure. The incidents happened in August 2023 and March 2024. Federal prosecutors said Gabriel and a member of his fantasy football league got into an argument in their group chat in August 2023. After learning his league-mate was headed to Norway to study abroad, Gabriel submitted an anonymous online tip to the Norwegian Police Security Service, claiming the member of his group chat was planning to carry out a mass shooting. A DOJ press release quoted Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, who said, "You do not get to express emotions through violence or threats of violence, we thank our international partners for their assistance in bringing together this case. The FBI will continue to work alongside partners at all levels to protect our community." California Woman Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Fraudulent Scheme to Steal California Unemployment Insurance Benefits CBS News (09/18, Castaneda) reported that a judge sentenced a Northern California woman to nine years in prison on Tuesday for fraudulently obtaining more than $1 million in unemployment benefits during the height of the COVID pandemic. According to the article, Kaymeisha Keyes, 33, of San Joaquin County pleaded guilty in February to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft as part of a scheme to defraud the state's Employment Development Department. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California said Keyes filed dozens of fraudulent claims with the department to obtain unemployment benefits under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act between April 2020 and August 2021. The article added that according to prosecutors, Keyes collected stolen personal information from people, including names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers, and used their identities to file fraudulent claims of lost employment during the pandemic. Keyes used the third-party security firm ID.me to submit fake driver's licenses with photos of Keyes and her associates and requested the unemployment funds to be sent to addresses she controlled, including her home in Tracy. Once the unemployment funds, loaded on EDD debit cards, were in her possession, prosecutors said she activated the cards and spent the money on herself. The scheme sought more than $2 million in unemployment benefits; Keyes was able to obtain more than $1 million in EDD funds. A Dal press release noted that this case was the product of an investigation by the FBI, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Office of Correctional Safety, and the California EDD — Investigation Division with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. DC Council Begins Investigation Into Trayon White Over Bribery Accusations The Washington Examiner (09/18, Mallon) reported that the Council of the District of Columbia voted on Tuesday to conduct an investigation into Councilman Trayon White related to his federal bribery charges and other possible violations of council rules. The article added that this was the first council meeting since White was arrested by FBI agents outside of a luxury high-rise in the Navy Yard neighborhood last month. He is accused of accepting a $156,000 bribe in exchange for using his position of power to push for city officials to re-sign several contracts for violence intervention services valued at $5.2 million. White has pleaded not guilty on federal charges. The motion EFTA01656095 for the investigation was passed unanimously by the council, with White and Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie, the chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating White, both voting "present." FBI Conducts Investigation at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing In Indiana WRTV (ABC-6) (09/18, Howell) reported that federal agents, along with assistance from the Zionsville Police Department, conducted an investigation this morning at the Rahal Letterman Lanigan headquarters. The Indianapolis Star (09/18, Benbow) reported that Zionsville Mayor John Stehr said, "The FBI asked us to assist this morning as they served a warrant at the Rahal Letterman Lanigan headquarters building, our officers stayed outside as the FBI agents entered the building." Racer (09/18, Pruett) reported that the FBI is alleged to have instructed employees within RLL to leave their computers and related electronic devices in place, gather their belongings, and depart the building as agents began an investigation. The source of the investigation is alleged to involve a former employee of the Andretti Global IndyCar team, who left the team to join RLL in a senior engineering role, and the alleged transfer of intellectual property from their former team to their current team. The FBI is also alleged to have visited the Andretti shop in August to look for proof of possible IP-related improprieties. WXIN (Fox-59) (09/18, Schroeder) also reported on the story. Florida Sheriff Spending Detailed Amid Possible FBI Investigation WBBH (NBC-20) (09/18, Elias) reported that the outlet has uncovered new documents that reveal tens of thousands of tax dollars going to consulting fees inside the Lee County Sheriff's office each month. This is after allegations of money laundering and claims that Sheriff Carmine Marceno is under investigation by the FBI. According to the article, the contract for former honorary deputy and consultant Ken Romano shows he was paid $5,700 a month and he claims he was ordered to give back $1,700 to the sheriff's father to help pay for a car. Meanwhile, the outlet has uncovered 14 other similar contracts with people who are receiving taxpayer money including a former state senator, a personal trainer, and even what appears to be a dog. The contracts combined total a whopping $53,000 a month in taxpayer money or $636,000 annually. Romano signed a contract to work as a contractor for Marceno and it shows he was paid $5,700 a month for what he said in a recording, was next to no work. "If I went in five times in the six months I worked there, it was a lot," Romano could be heard saying in a recording that has reportedly been turned over to the FBI by Marceno's former deputy and now write-in opponent in the November election. Romano said every month he would take $1,700 and funnel it to Marceno's father so he could pay for a Mercedes. The article added that FGCU Constitutional Law Professor Dr. Pamela Seay explained that with an active FBI investigation, it's more likely that not all participants, including the sheriff, have been asked not to comment until the investigation is complete. Two Juveniles Charged With Felonies for Allegedly Making School Shooting Threats in Indiana CBS News (09/18, Bizzle) reported that a 14-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy from Northwest Indiana are facing charges, accused of making threats about school shootings this week. The Lake County Sheriffs Department said a police officer on Sunday was made aware of a girl, 14, from Gary, Indiana, who reportedly posted a threatening comment to a TikTok video. The article added that during an investigation, the suspect told police she was viewing a video on TikTok and posted a comment about shooting at a school, but couldn't remember the exact statement and that it did not mention a specific school or student. Relatives of the girl confirmed that she had told them about the comment. The officer also learned that the FBI had been investigating the incident. They found the account where the post was made and tracked it to a phone at a Gary address. The account originally displaying the comment has since been banned by TikTok, the department said. The girl was placed into custody at the Lake County Juvenile Center and was charged with felony intimidation. FBI Agent Who Worked on North Carolina Girl Case 24 Years Ago Sees Hope in New Evidence WCNC (NBC-36) (09/18, Ruffes) reported that the disappearance of the 9-year-old from Shelby 24 years ago "haunts" retired FBI agent Richard Shaffer, who said he carried her photo with him for years. According to the article, it has been more than 24 years since Richard Shaffer arrived on scene in Shelby, called in by then-Cleveland County Sheriff Dan Crawford to help investigate the disappearance of a 9-year-old girl from her home. Even after all that time, the retired FBI agent still remembers the neighborhood and first interaction with Asha Degree's family. Investigators learned Asha disappeared from her bedroom in the middle of the night on Valentine's Day, sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. There was no sign of forced entry and no promising scent trail for search dogs to follow. The article added that at least two people claimed they saw a young female walking along North Carolina Highway 18 around 4 a.m. One person said when they turned around to check on her, the girl ran into the woods and was not seen again. Another tipster told detectives they saw a young woman get into a green EFTA01656096 car from the 1970s. The FBI said they were looking for a Ford Thunderbird or Lincoln Mark IV in connection with Degree's disappearance. The article noted that last week, several search scenes around Cleveland County and beyond stirred the community with curiosity and hope. Evidence collected included an older green vehicle similar in appearance to the one wanted in connection with Degree's disappearance. Days later, investigators confirmed the scenes were related to Asha's case and that new evidence pointed to her being a "victim of homicide," with her death concealed. While it is not the break in the case many were hoping to hear, it is a break that, Shaffer hopes, is the start of more answers for the Degree family. The Independent (09/18, Del Rey) also reported on the story. Back to Top FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS SEC Settles Insider Trading Case Tied to Theft From Law Firm Reuters (09/18, Thomas) reported that the cousin of an FBI trainee who illegally obtained information about a planned Merck & Co acquisition from U.S. law firm Covington & Burling has agreed to pay nearly $33,000 to settle civil insider trading charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The article added that the SEC on Wednesday entered a consent judgment against Philip Markin, who was accused of making more than $16,000 trading illegally on shares of Pandion Therapeutics after receiving information stolen by his cousin Seth, a former FBI agent-in-training. The article mentioned that Seth Markin pleaded guilty last year after prosecutors said he stole information about Merck's then-pending $1.85 billion acquisition of Pandion from his girlfriend at the time, a law firm associate at Covington who was working on the Merck deal at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seth Markin then tipped off others about the deal, including his cousin Philip, the SEC alleged. Seth Markin pleaded guilty to related criminal charges last year. The SEC also brought civil complaints against Seth Markin and two others who allegedly traded on Pandion stock, all of which have resulted in consent judgments against them. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Hackers Demand $6 Million for Files Stolen From Seattle Airport Operator in Cyberattack The Associated Press (09/18, Staff Writer) reported that hackers are demanding $6 million in bitcoin from the operator of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for do