EFTA00160751.pdf

From: ' To:" "< Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Public Affairs News Briefing Monday, May 17, 2021 Date: Mon, 17 May 2021 10:26:10 +0000 Importanc Normal e: Mobile version and searchable archives available at fbi.bulletinintelligence.com. FBI News Briefing TO: THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR STAFF DATE: MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 6:30 AM EDT TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS LEADING THE NEWS • DarkSide Operations Shutting Down. CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • At Least 411 Suspects Have Been "Swept Up" In Probe Regarding Capitol Attack. • Capitol Siege Defendant To Appear In Court After Allegedly Shooting Mountain Lion During Release. • Washington Man Charged In Capitol Siege Probe. • Prosecutors Say Proud Boys Formed Smaller Group For January 6. • Prosecutors Say Texas Capitol Siege Suspect Avoided FBI For 20 Days. • New York Man Charged In Capitol Siege Probe. • Arkansas Man Charged In Capitol Riot Probe. • Deal Reached On Establishment Of Jan. 6 Commission. • Rep. Gohmert Says Capitol Siege Was Not An "Armed Insurrection." • Upton Criticizes Republican Efforts To Downplay January 6 Attack. PROTESTS • Arraignment For Ex-Officers Charged With Breaching Floyd's Constitutional Rights Scheduled For July. • Portland, Oregon Mayor "Grateful" For Biden's Reversal Of Trump Order Sending Federal Agents Amid Protests. COUNTER-TERRORISM • FBI, DHS Report Finds Deaths At Hands Of Racially Motivated Extremists On The Rise In US. • DHS Officials Outline Plan To Analyze Social Media To Understand Extremist Narratives. • Capitol Siege Fuels Congressional Debate Over Domestic Terror Laws. • WPost Analysis: Far-Right People Of Color Challenge Media Representations. • Prosecutors Say Texas Bomber Detailed Activities, Filmed Blasts On YouTube Channel. • Florida Man Pleads Guilty To Facilitating Bomb-Making Video For IS. • Joint Base Andrews Takes Man Who Claimed He Had A Bomb In His Car Into Custody. • Bomb-Making Materials Found In Connecticut Home. • US Joins Worldwide Effort To Curb Extremist Violence Online. • Lawmakers Seek Release Of FBI Documents On Saudi 9/11 Links. EFTA00160751 • Guantanamo Detainee Agrees To Give Up Right To Give Testimony On Alleged CIA Interrogation Program. • Air Marshal National Council Criticizes Use Of Federal Air Marshals For Congressional Security Over "High Risk" Flights. COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE • NYTimes Analysis: Private Spying Increasingly "Manipulating The News." • Former Ohio State Professor Sentenced To 37 Months In Prison For Scheme To Share Work With China. • Former Army Captain Sentenced To 15 Years for Spying For Russia. • Opinion: Immigrants "Critical" To Intelligence Community's Success. • Russia Designates US, Czech Republic "Unfriendly States," Limiting Embassy Hires. • Blinken Expected To Focus On Climate Change And Russia During Overseas Trip. • Space Force Officer Removed After Claiming Marxism Is Invading Military. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Florida Politician Tied To Gaetz Probe Pleads Guilty To Six Charges, Agrees To Cooperate With Feds. • Hearing Regarding Ghaisar Shooting Set For August. • Police Shooting Of Rugby Player In Hawaii Turns Into "Cause Calèbre" In South Africa. • Politico Analysis: Numerous Women Played Key Role In Enabling Epstein's Sex Trafficking Ring. • CVS Employee Charged With Stealing COVID Vaccination Cards. • Police Identify Man Arrested In Connection With Slaying Of Texas Four-Year-Old. • FBI Probing Round Of Shootings In Portland, Oregon. • US Charges New Jersey Woman With Threatening FBI Informant In Drug Case. • Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Identify Two Victims In Triple Homicide Probe. • FBI Issues Alert On Missing 12-Year-Old Virginia Girl. • Border Patrol Agents Fatally Shoot Man In California After Pursuit. • Armed Carjackers Rob Ohio Woman Who Had Been Held Captive For A Decade. • Husband Of Missing Colorado Woman Filed 2020 Presidential Ballot On Her Behalf. • Police Say Pennsylvania Woman May Have Been Victim Of Serial Killer. • Defense Expected To Rest Case In Sex-Trafficking Trial Of Arkansas Man. • US Charges New York Man With Child Sex Trafficking. • Multiple Drug Traffickers In Georgia Enter Guilty Pleas. • Meth Case Defendant Gets Long Prison Sentence. • West Virginia Drug Investigation Leads To 12 Arrests. EMPLOYMENT • High School Students Encouraged To Apply For San Antonio FBI Teen Academy. FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • Swiss Life Holding To Pay $77.4M To Resolve US Criminal Tax Evasion Charges. • Former Massachusetts Mayor Convicted On Corruption Charges. • Georgia Man Pleads Guilty To Investment Fraud Scheme. • Subpoenas Show FBI Probe Of Pennsylvania Pension Fund Seeks Evidence Of Kickbacks, Bribery. CYBER DIVISION • Facebook Loses Challenge To Preliminary Ruling On Suspension Of EU-US Data Flows. • Cyber Deterrence, Workforce Concerns "Dominate" During House Cyber Hearing. • FTC Warns About Cryptocurrency Scams. • Warner: Bipartisan Backing For Breach-Reporting Law. • Krebs Lauds Biden's Cybersecurity Order As "A Really Ambitious Plan." EFTA00160752 • Ireland's Healthcare System Forced To Shut Down Systems After Ransomware Attack. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • New York City Pride Celebration Will Move To Decrease "Presence Of Law Enforcement At Its Events." • Rising Violence Leading To Increased Calls For Police Investment. • Police Departments Readying For Violent Summer. • Minneapolis Suburb In Which Wright Was Shot To Vote On Resolution Regarding Policing. • NYTimes Analysis: Custody Deaths Of Black Individuals Attributed To Sickle Cell Trait. • Police Use Of Facial Recognition Technology Prompts Increased Oversight Calls. • Biden Police Week Statement Includes Language Regarding "Deep Sense Of Distrust" With Respect To Police From Black Americans. • Death Of Black Man After Officers Used Pepper Spray, Tasers Against Him In South Carolina Detention Facility Prompts Outrage. • San Diego Officers Being Investigated After Being Captured On Video Punching Black Man. • Remains From Philadelphia Police Bombing That Officials Indicated Were Cremated Found. • Hundreds Rally In Oakland Against Anti-Asian Violence. • Axios Analysis: Federally Mandated Police Reform Linked To Surges In Violent Crime. • Pennsylvanians To Vote On Proposed Safeguards Against Racial Discrimination. • Tulsa Race Massacre Commission Removes Oklahoma Governor From Panel. • Columbus Officials Agree To Pay $10M Settlement To Hill's Family. • Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Indicted On Charges Asserting They Lied In Investigation. • Woman Whose Daughter Was Killed By Father Is Striving To Improve Family Court System. • Family Warned Officials About North Carolina Man's Mental State Ahead Of Police Standoff That Ended With Five Dead, Including Himself. • Deputy US Marshal Accused Of Executing Scheme "In Which He Posed Online As His Ex-Girlfriend." INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • Reputed Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Trafficking. OTHER FBI NEWS • FBI Reclassifies 2017 Baseball Field Shooting Of Lawmakers As Domestic Terrorism. • Minnesota FBI Crisis Negotiator Discusses Navigating Hostage Situations. • Project Veritas Founder Criticizes NYTimes Over "Hit Piece." • Drug-Related Deaths In Honolulu Reached Five-Year High In 2020. • Federal Government In DC "Largely Dependent On Remote Work" During Pandemic. OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Walensky And Fauci Defend CDC's New Guidance For Masks. • Administration Turns To "Community Corps" To Bolster Vaccination Rates. • Fauci: Pandemic Has Exposed "Undeniable Effects Of Racism" In US. • WSJournal Says Warren Reveals True Reason Progressives Support Vaccine IP Waiver. • Biden Advisers Discern Political Challenge From Inflation Uptick. • Budget Deficit Climbed To $1.9T During Fiscal Year's First Seven Months. • Biden Revokes Six Trump Executive Orders. • Public Health Officials Shift Goal From Saving Doses To Vaccinating Anyone "Who Wants The Shot." • Experts Debate Best Way To Quickly Boost Less Wealthy Nations' Vaccine Supplies. • Senators To Propose Investing $52B In Domestic Semiconductor Production. • Tech Companies Urge Court To Allow H-1B Holders' Spouses To Continue To Work In The US. • Survey Suggests Americans Believe Inflation Will Surge. • HHS Diverts Over $2 Billion Toward Covering Costs Of Sheltering Unaccompanied Immigrant Children. EFTA00160753 • Scientists Relieved US Has Dodged Variant Threat So Far. • Anti-Vaccine Advocates Embrace Social Media To Spread Misinformation Online. • Ernst And Gillibrand Look To Overhaul DOD's Handling Of Sexual Assault Cases. • White House Projects Steadiness In Face Of Problems, As Republicans Portray Chaos. • Evacuations Ordered As Wildfire Nears Los Angeles. • Train Carrying Hazardous Materials Derails In Iowa. • Despite Recent Legal Defeat, NRA Retains Influence Over Gun Control Debate. • Secret Service's Recovery From Scandal During Obama Administration Said To Be Set Back By Trump. • Senate Democrats Urge Garland Not To Appeal Court Order To Release Trump Obstruction Memo. • House Republicans Pick Stefanik To Replace Cheney As Conference Chair. • Footage Shows Greene Targeting Ocasio-Cortez In 2019. INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Biden Says Administration Seeking "Sustained Calm" Between Israel And Palestinians. • UNICEF Director Asks G7 Countries To Donate COVID Vaccine Supplies. • UK Prepares For Major Reopening, But New Indian Variant Sparks Anxiety. • Some Indian States Extend Lockdowns As Bodies Of Possible COVID Victims Found Near Rivers. • Data Indicate COVID Is Killing Youngest In Brazil At Unusually High Rate. • South Africa To Expand COVID Vaccine Rollout With Pfizer Doses. • Pandemic Leading To Refugee Waves Across World. • LATimes Analysis: El Salvador's President Moving Toward Autocracy. • Burmese Anti-Junta Militia Retreats From Town. • WPost: Chinese Oppression Of Uyghurs Fits UN Definition Of "Genocide." • Sudanese Soldiers Face Civilian Prosecution After Protest Killings. • NYTimes Sees Hope For Libya. THE BIG PICTURE • Headlines From Today's Front Pages. WASHINGTON'S SCHEDULE • Today's Events In Washington. LEADING THE NEWS DarkSide Operations Shutting Down. The Wall Street Journal (5/14, Volz, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports the ransomware group DarkSide, which is accused of causing the hack on Colonial Pipeline, has told hacking associates that it will cease operations, security research firms said. On ABC World News TonightVi (5/14, story 4, 2:18, Muir, 6.01M), Erielle Reshef reported that despite DarkSide's claim, "experts we talked to say it's more likely their operations were disrupted by law enforcement." Reuters (5/14, Menn) reports that "multiple ransomware groups claimed they were shutting down or scaling back operations on Friday as the U.S. government ramped up pressure while tech companies, cryptocurrency exchanges and others worried about getting caught in the crossfire." DarkSide "said it was going out of business after losing access to some of its servers. Another major criminal gang said it would forbid encryption attacks on critical infrastructure, and forums where such gangs recruit partners said they were banning ads related to ransomware, analysts said." The New York Times (5/14, Schwirtz, Perlroth, 20.6M) reports that in a statement "written in Russian and provided to The New York Times on Friday by the cybersecurity firm Intel 471, DarkSide said it had lost access to the public-facing portion of its online system, including its blog and payment server, as well as funds that it said had EFTA00160754 been withdrawn to an unknown account. It said the group's main web page and other public- facing resources would go offline within 48 hours." The Washington Post (5/14, 10.52M) reports that the FBI "declined to comment on whether the U.S. government had played a hand in shutting down DarkSide's website. The DarkSide Leaks blog on the 'dark web' has been down since midday Thursday." CNN (5/14, Sands, Bertrand, 89.21M) reports that a pair of cyber experts "cautioned that if the site was seized by US authorities, it would likely have a notice of seizure on the site with law enforcement logos. But Dave Kennedy, a former National Security Agency hacker who now serves as president and CEO of the information security firm TrustedSec, said that depends on where the group's servers resided." The New York Post (5/14, Feuer, 7.45M) also reports on the shutdown. Incident Continues To Highlight Ransomware Debate. The Washington Post (5/15, Al, Nakashima, Lerman, 10.52M) reports the "dilemma" of paying or not paying ransom after cyberattacks "is faced by thousands of other companies, schools, governments, and other entities around the world every year." While ransomware is not new, "it really exploded in the last several years, with the rise of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin that are difficult to trace and can be transferred electronically without the assistance of banks or other institutions that are regulated by governments." USA Today (5/15, Wagner, 12.7M) reports that the "reported ransom payment" by Colonial "to cyber hackers may spur even more criminal malware attacks on critical U.S. targets, according to cybersecurity experts, and could fuel calls for a ban on such payments." ABC World News TonightVi (5/15, story 5, 0:32, Johnson, 3.64M) broadcast in another story companies are paying up in ransomware attacks at an increasing rate. The story said, "A recent report found that there's been a 300% increase in the amount of money paid in these types of attacks since 2019. And experts warn that last year alone, nearly 2,400 US government agencies, schools and healthcare facilities were targeted by ransomware attacks." Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Mayorkas and Commerce Secretary Raimondo in a CNBC (5/14, 7.34M) op-ed argue the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline offers "an opportunity for every organization to shore up its cyber defenses." They add companies "don't have to do it alone and there are affordable solutions for every budget. That is why the Departments of Homeland Security and Commerce are working together to help businesses both prevent and respond to ransomware attacks." Lawmakers Reintroduce Pipeline Security Act. According to The Hill (5/14, 5.69M), "A bipartisan group of more than a dozen House lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to defend pipelines against cyberattacks, with the bill coming on the heels of the devastating ransomware attack that forced the shutdown of Colonial Pipeline." The Hill reports the Pipeline Security Act "would codify the responsibility of both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) responsibility for securing pipelines against threats," and "also require TSA to update pipeline security guidelines and conduct risk assessments, create a personnel strategy for staffing its Pipeline Security Section and improve congressional oversight of TSA's pipeline efforts." In a statement, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), who is leading the effort to pass the bill, said, "It's become clear that cyber-attacks on our critical infrastructure are national security and economic threats to the homeland." Colonial Pipeline Back To Normal Operations. CNN (5/15, Crawford, Stracqualursi, 89.21M) reports Colonial Pipeline "said Saturday that its pipeline system has returned to 'normal operations' after a crippling cyberattack forced a six-day shutdown." The company "said its team 'worked safely and tirelessly around the clock' to restore operations and thanked the White House, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, the FBI and other government agencies for their support." The Washington Post (5/15, Shavin, 10.52M) reports "the pinch of fuel shortages and higher prices in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack" is being felt in transportation EFTA00160755 networks. The sudden price hikes and pump shortages have "added a new layer of difficulty to what was already considered a difficult job," at a time when inventory management is an essential part of the recovery from "the pandemic recession." Indeed, "as consumer spending heats up, the economy needs more truck drivers, not fewer, especially to help alleviate the current gasoline shortages." Hiring for short-haul truck drivers has been hot since November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but "not everyone agrees there is a driver shortage." While groups such as the National Tank Truck Carriers say the pandemic has exacerbated shortages of drivers, groups such as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association say very high turnover rates and inadequate pay and benefits are why hiring is difficult. The Washington Post (5/15, Englund, 10.52M) reports that "even as American fossil fuel producers proudly declared the country to be energy independent once more in recent years, the energy sector has stripped redundancy out of its systems, at the risk of leaving customers in the lurch when things go wrong." From "aging" pipelines and grid networks, "often retrofitted with new technology in an effort to keep up," to the rising threats of "climate change" and "terrorism," experts say US energy infrastructure is vulnerable despite its "efficiency." The Biden infrastructure plan would introduce "an investment tax credit to spur the building of at least 20 gigawatts of new high-voltage-capacity power lines, and the creation of a Grid Development Authority to further the effort," but when it comes to adding resilience to fossil fuel transportation networks, things are "more complicated." Former deputy administrator of PHMSA Drue Pearce "said she doubts 'there is a pipeline company in the country that doesn't have a robust system' of security, though the federal government has declined to mandate them." Additional Coverage. CNBC (5/14, Sigalos, 7.34M) reports that the hack "was not the first domino to fall in a world-ending spate of sudden attacks on America's critical infrastructure, according to several cybersecurity experts who spoke to CNBC. It was more likely the product of sloppy internal security practices and a textbook hack-and-pay gone wrong." CNBC adds, "Ransomware attacks like this are common, but they typically don't aim to knock infrastructure offline. It appears as if DarkSide, like most attackers, was motivated by financial gain rather than compromising America's supply of gas." CNN Business (5/16, Duffy, 27.61M) reports that for years, "it was generally believed that only a state-supported bad actor would be able to hack into and paralyze critical US infrastructure — and that such a thing was unlikely because doing so could be tantamount to declaring war. But that's not the case anymore. DarkSide, the criminal gang that the FBI has confirmed was behind the Colonial attack, isn't believed to be state-backed." Schiff: Colonial Pipeline Attack Shows Critical Infrastructure Is Not Adequately Protected. House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff was asked on CBS' Face The NationVI (5/16, 2.36M) what the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack exposed about the country's vulnerabilities. Schiff said, "That our critical infrastructure is just not adequately protected. This is something that we knew before this attack, but now we can see so graphically, and I think it really calls upon the government to insist that a lot of this critical infrastructure that's in private hands be better protected. And if it means the government is going to have to set out minimum security standards, cybersecurity standards for private industry and critical infrastructure, then that's what we need to do. But we're all too vulnerable." Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said on CNN's State Of The UnionVi (5/16, 671K), "It's certainly a wake-up call. I led a year-long initiative for the NGA on rebuilding America's infrastructure, and part of that was focused on resiliency and on securing our energy assets and cybersecurity is a huge issue. We are going to continue to deal with the problems. This showed the vulnerability. It was just a tremendous problem that we have got to address. That's one of the reasons why we need to get a bipartisan consensus on an infrastructure bill." Gasoline Shortages Slowly Easing. Reuters (5/16) reports gasoline shortages on the East Coast "slowly eased on Sunday as the country's largest fuel pipeline network recovered from a crippling cyberattack." Reuters says, "Refiners and fuel distributors are racing to recover EFTA00160756 before the Memorial Day holiday weekend at the end of May, the traditional start of the peak- demand summer driving season." ABC World News TonightVi (5/16, story 5, 0:20, Davis, 4.06M) provided similar coverage. Barrasso Says US Needs More Pipelines. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) said on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures (5/16), "We need more pipelines, not fewer pipelines. Pipelines are our lifeline for energy, for our economy, for jobs. This Administration has been asleep at the switch on this. If one pipeline goes down and can cause this amount of panic and these long lines, it tells you vulnerable we are." Jenkins, Jr.: Hackers Were Unwise To Mess With US Gas Prices. The Wall Street Journal (5/14, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) columnist Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. wrote that Russian hacking group DarkSide, which was responsible for the Colonial Pipeline hack, may not have known the impact the attack would have on US gasoline supplies. Jenkins said the attackers likely had little idea that freezing Colonial's HR and customer accounts data would lead to gasoline shortages across the East Coast. Jenkins said the biggest lesson from the incident belongs to the hackers, as the response sparked by the US' extreme sensitivity to gasoline prices likely was not worth the $5 million collected from Colonial. More Commentary. In his column for The Hill (5/15, 5.69M), Jonathan Turley criticizes the Administration for failing to label the Colonial hackers as terrorists. CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS At Least 411 Suspects Have Been "Swept Up" In Probe Regarding Capitol Attack. The Washington Post (5/15, Al, Barrett, Hauslohner, Hsu, Still, 10.52M) reports the ongoing criminal investigation concerning the January 6 attack upon the US Capitol "has swept up at least 411 suspects in what federal officials have called an unprecedented domestic attack on a branch of the U.S. government." A Post analysis of court filings indicates that "those charged publicly so far with federal crimes hail from 259 counties spread across 44 states and D.C." However, the filings reveal that even while "prosecutors build cases alleging prior planning and coordination, the majority of those facing criminal charges were not known members of self- styled militias or other organized extremist groups." CBS News (5/14, McDonald, 5.39M) reports, "Plea discussions have begun for some of the more than 400 defendants facing charges in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack, but in some cases, the sheer magnitude of the investigation is complicating efforts to move forward with cases and secure plea deals." According to CBS News, "During the discovery process, a part of the criminal case where prosecutors review and share relevant evidence with defendants, prosecutors have had to wade through an unwieldy volume of evidence from the Capitol riot - including more than 15,000 hours of body camera and surveillance video, hundreds of thousands of FBI tips and over 80,000 reports and 93,000 attachments related to law enforcement interviews and other investigative steps." WPost Analysis: House Continues To Be "Consumed By The Fallout From" Capitol Attack. A Washington Post (5/14, 10.52M) analysis discussed "a week's worth of events that demonstrated just how, four and a half months after insurrectionists supporting Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, the House is still consumed by the fallout from that horrific day." One of these events occurred on Wednesday, when a freshman Republican utilized a hearing probing "the attacks as a platform to compare the insurrection - which left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer, and at least 140 officers injured - to tourists going through the building." The Post adds, "Later that evening, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) - whom some Democrats have accused of aiding the Jan. 6 rioters - stomped out of the House chamber and down the steps screaming at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) about why she wouldn't debate her on policy." EFTA00160757 Capitol Siege Defendant To Appear In Court After Allegedly Shooting Mountain Lion During Release. The Hill (5/15, 5.69M) reports, "A suspect in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol is set to appear in court on Monday after he allegedly shot a mountain lion during his pre-trial release, according to court records." A judge in Washington, DC on Friday "revoked pre-trial release for Patrick Montgomery, who was arrested in Colorado in January in connection with the riot. The court found there was 'probable cause' to believe that Montgomery had committed a crime, and was 'unlikely to abide by any condition or combination of conditions of release." Federal prosecutors on Wednesday "filed a motion seeking to revoke Montgomery's pre-trial release after they were made aware that he shot a mountain lion with a .357 magnum handgun on March 31 at a wildlife park in Denver." Washington Man Charged In Capitol Siege Probe. The AP (5/14) reports from Seattle, "A suburban Seattle man has been arrested and charged with entering the U.S. Capitol with a pro-Trump mob during the Jan. 6 deadly insurrection." Joseph Elliott Zlab, 51, of Lake Forest Park, Washington, "was arrested Thursday in Everett, an FBI spokesman told The Seattle Times. Zlab was charged with one count of unauthorized entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, charging documents show." Zlab "made an initial appearance in federal court in Seattle on Thursday. According to an FBI affidavit, a man matching Zlab's description was seen in widely disseminated photographs and video entering the Capitol with the mob that forced their way into the building while Congress was certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Ten days later, the FBI received an anonymous tip that Zlab was in the Capitol that day and gave the name of Zlab's business." Prosecutors Say Proud Boys Formed Smaller Group For January 6. NBC News (5/14, Williams, 4.91M) reports, "The far-right Proud Boys designated a small group of members to plan and carry out their activities at the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to newly filed court documents that provide additional information about the group's inner workings," but "investigators have yet to establish who formulated the plan to storm the Capitol grounds and enter the building." NBC News adds, "In late December, prosecutors said, Proud Boys Chairman Enrique Tarrio announced the creation of a special chapter within the organization, calling it the Ministry of Self Defense. Its members included Tarrio and four men since charged with conspiracy in the Capitol siege - Ethan Nordean of Washington state, Joseph Biggs of Florida, Zachary Rehl of Pennsylvania, and Charles Donohoe of North Carolina." The Philadelphia Inquirer (5/14, Roebuck) reports, "A week before the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, top leaders of the Proud Boys convened a video chat to discuss the organization's plans for Washington that day. And Zach Rehl, president of the group's Philadelphia chapter, took a leading role in guiding that conversation, federal prosecutors now say." The Inquirer adds, "Hoping to avoid mistakes from past rallies that had devolved into open street brawls with far-left activists, the group decided this time they would maintain a lower profile. They'd leave their traditional black-and-gold polo shirts at home, equip themselves with encrypted radios, and focus their attentions on riling up Inormies' - or unaffiliated supporters of President Donald Trump - they could hide behind. 'We're doing a completely different operation,' Rehl allegedly told the others. 'There's gonna be a lot of contingencies and plans that are laid out. There's gonna be teams that are gonna be put together." The Los Angeles Times (5/16, Read, 3.37M) reports on Nordean's role. Prosecutors Say Texas Capitol Siege Suspect Avoided FBI For 20 Days. The San Antonio Express-News (5/14, 685K) reports, "A former Kerrville man and his girlfriend who were accused of forcing their way into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 with other rioters allegedly fled Texas and tried to stay 'off the grid' to evade the FBI, federal prosecutors said." EFTA00160758 Bradley Stuart Bennett "turned himself in 20 days after the FBI went to the Kerrville home he shared with then-girlfriend Elizabeth Rose Williams to arrest them both. His lawyer, Al Watkins, asserted during a hearing in Washington, D.C., that Bennett was not trying to elude authorities. Watkins said Bennett was moving from Texas to his home state of North Carolina after breaking up with Williams." Bennett and Williams "are charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct and knowingly entering a restricted building." New York Man Charged In Capitol Siege Probe. The Herkimer (NY) Times Telegram (5/14) reports, "A New Hartford man has been charged in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, according to federal court filings." Eric Bochene, 49, "is charged with two counts of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and two counts of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Bochene was arrested Thursday and had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice." The Times Telegram adds, "The FBI was first notified of Bochene's possible presence at the Capitol after the Albany field office received several tips, prompting an investigation. The field office first received an anonymous tip from someone who heard 'Eric Bochenek' had contacted a mutual acquaintance to brag he was one of the first people in the Capitol, charging documents said." Arkansas Man Charged In Capitol Riot Probe. The Arkansas Times (5/16, Brantley, 61K) reports that JT Mott, of Yellville, Arkansas, "has been charged with being among the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6." Mott was charged on May 11. Federal prosecutors said Mott was charged on May 11 "with two counts each of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds." The Times adds that "the case was helped by information from other witnesses and Facebook photos and messages. Much of the information provided concerned another unidentified person who, witnesses told the FBI, traveled with Mott to Washington from El Reno, Okla. The FBI statement said they'd also found a Facebook post by Mott's wife indicating his plans to travel to Washington for Jan. 6 and a GoFundMe account to raise money to pay for the trip to support 'protesting corruption." Deal Reached On Establishment Of Jan. 6 Commission. The AP (5/14, Jalonick, Freking) reports "the top Democratic and Republican members of the House Homeland Security Committee have reached an agreement on legislation to form a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol." According to the AP, "Under the terms of the agreement announced Friday, the commission would have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, five from each party. It would have subpoena power and be charged with issuing a final report by Dec. 31, along recommendations to prevent future attacks." Axios (5/14, 1.26M) says, "Legislation will establish a 10-person bipartisan commission. Five commissioners, including the chair, will be appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The other five, including the vice chair, will be appointed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell." In a statement, House Homeland Security Chair Benny Thompson said, "Inaction - or just moving on - is simply not an option." According to Axios, Thompson "negotiated the deal with" ranking member John Katko (R-NY). However, the Washington Post (5/14, 10.52M) says, "While Democrats and some Republicans cheered the announcement, GOP leaders remained dismissive, arguing that a commission had to be tasked with investigating more than just the insurrection if its intention was truly to make the Capitol and its people safer." According to the Post, "Earlier negotiations between...Pelosi and congressional GOP leaders broke down when Republicans demanded that the panel look into far-left radicalism as well." Reuters (5/14) reports that McCarthy "told EFTA00160759 reporters that he had not signed off on the lawmakers' deal and said the commission should look at events that came before and after Jan. 6, including an unrelated incident in April when a motorist rammed a car into a pair of Capitol Police officers, killing one." The New York Times (5/14, Fandos, 20.6M) reports that Democrats also "plan to move ahead with a vote on a bill that would provide $1.9 billion to bolster the Capitol's defenses and police force, reimburse the National Guard and other law enforcement for protecting the complex in the attack's aftermath and cover costs related to the coronavirus pandemic." According to the Times, "Republican leaders have not yet endorsed the spending either, calling it premature." Bloomberg (5/14, Dennis, 3.57M) reports that House Majority Leader Hoyer's office" said the full chamber next week will vote on the bill setting up the commission." Katko, "one of the Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump," said, "We have a fair, solid bill that will deliver answers on the federal response and preparedness to ensure nothing like this happens ever again." Rep. Gohmert Says Capitol Siege Was Not An "Armed Insurrection." The Hill (5/14, Castronuovo, 5.69M) reports, "Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), a staunch ally of former President Trump, argued Friday there was no evidence that the Jan. 6 mob attack at the Capitol was an 'armed insurrection,' despite multiple rioters being charged with unlawful possession of firearms and other weapons." Gohmert "made the comment in remarks from the House floor after arguing that the FBI was 'unfairly' targeting supporters of the former president and that the Justice Department under President Biden is 'criminalizing political protests, but only political protests by Republicans or conservatives." Gohmert is quoted as saying, "There's no evidence ... that this was an armed insurrection. Not one person has been charged with bringing a firearm to the Capitol ... no one brought a gun into this building." The Hill adds, "Gohmert's comments come despite the fact that multiple people charged in connection to the Jan. 6 attack have been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon." Upton Criticizes Republican Efforts To Downplay January 6 Attack. CNN (5/16, Cole, 89.21M) reports on its website that Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) "called out an effort by some of his GOP colleagues to downplay the Capitol insurrection" on Sunday, "saying their 'bogus' claims about the deadly attack are evidence of a need to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the incident." Upton said on CNN, "It's absolutely bogus. You know, I was there. I watched a number of the folks walk down to the White House and then back. I have a balcony on my office. So I saw them go down. I heard the noise - the flash bangs, I smelled some of the gas as it moved my way." Upton's comments "come as a rift in his party grows between members who are offering an inaccurate account of the insurrection and those who have consistently condemned the violence on January 6 while also casting blame on former President Donald Trump and his 2020 election lies for the attack." Axios (5/16, Rummler, 1.26M) reports the some GOP lawmakers "have attempted to downplay the Jan. 6 insurrection, which left five people dead, by saying the mob was similar to 'a normal tourist visit' and calling pro-Trump rioters 'peaceful patriots." The Hill (5/16, Schnell, 5.69M) reports that House Homeland Security Committee leaders "reached an agreement on Friday for legislation to establish a bipartisan 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack." PROTESTS Arraignment For Ex-Officers Charged With Breaching Floyd's Constitutional Rights Scheduled For July. EFTA00160760 The Washington Post (5/14, 10.52M) reported a scheduling order put out on Friday by US District Magistrate Judge Tony Leung indicated, in the Post's words, that ex-Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng - who were charged with breaching George Floyd's constitutional rights during a deadly May 2020 arrest - are going to "be arraigned on federal civil rights charges July 14 in Minneapolis, followed by an Aug. 2 trial to be held at the federal courthouse in St. Paul." However, a revised schedule that was filed subsequently "said the trial would occur on a 'date to be determined." Portland, Oregon Mayor "Grateful" For Biden's Reversal Of Trump Order Sending Federal Agents Amid Protests. Fox News (5/16, Stimson, 23.99M) reports, "Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler said Saturday he was grateful for the White House's 'support' after President Biden reversed a Trump administration order that allowed federal agents to intervene in the city's riots last summer. 'Thankful for the support of the current administration,' the embattled mayor, who narrowly won reelection, pointedly wrote on Twitter." Fox News adds, "The anti-rioting executive order was among several Biden reversed Friday through his own executive orders. Trump actions canceled by Biden included the former president's July order to create a garden of monuments to 'American Heroes' in response to damage to statues across the U.S. The Trump administration sent hundreds of federal agents to the Oregon city last summer to protect the federal courthouse, which had become a target of vandalism during weeks of destructive, anti- police rioting." COUNTER-TERRORISM FBI, DHS Report Finds Deaths At Hands Of Racially Motivated Extremists On The Rise In US. CNN (5/15, Wild, Sands, 89.21M) reports, "A newly released government report on domestic violent extremism warns lone wolf attackers with easily accessible weapons present the greatest terrorism threat to the US and the number of people dying at the hands of racially motivated extremists every year is on the rise since 2017." CNN adds, "The joint report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security shows 2019 was 'the most lethal year' for domestic violent extremist attacks since 1995 - with 32 people killed, 24 of them by White supremacists. The report focuses on data from 2017-2019. 'In 2019, the FBI and DHS assessed RMVEs (Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists), primarily those advocating for the superiority of the white race, likely would continue to be the most lethal DVE threat to the Homeland,' the report said." DHS, FBI Warn Domestic Extremists May Use Easing COVID Restrictions To Carry Out Attacks. Reuters (5/14) reports the Department of Homeland Security "warned on Friday that domestic extremists could take advantage of easing COVID-19 restrictions to launch attacks on a broader range of targets." ABC World News TonightVi (5/14, story 3, 0:56, Muir, 6.01M) and the CBS Evening NewsVi (5/14, story 3, 0:25, O'Donnell, 3.56M) provided similar coverage in brief broadcasts. Meanwhile, The Hill (5/14, Beitsch, 5.69M) says a joint DHS-FBI report that was released Friday "shortly after a DHS bulletin warning that easing COVID-19 restrictions could provide new opportunities for domestic extremists," cautions that "lone wolf actors pose the greatest terror threat as incidents of domestic extremism steadily rise." DHS Officials Outline Plan To Analyze Social Media To Understand Extremist Narratives. USA Today (5/14, 12.7M) reports that senior Department of Homeland Security officials have "outlined a new effort to analyze public social media posts in an effort to better understand EFTA00160761 extremist narratives and movements." This "new effort, which draws from research conducted by nonprofits, academia and the department itself, aims to identify narratives and campaigns that could lead to domestic terrorist attacks or violent incidents like the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol." New Zealand Prime Minister Urges World Leaders To Study Social Media Algorithms To Better Understand Violent Extremism. Reuters (5/14) reports, "New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that world leaders and tech firms looking to stamp out violent extremism online would need to focus efforts on understanding social media algorithms that drive content." She "was speaking at a virtual summit to mark the second anniversary of the global initiative to end online hate, called the Christchurch Call, launched by Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron in 2019 after a white supremacist killed 51 people at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch while live-streaming his rampage on Facebook." Capitol Siege Fuels Congressional Debate Over Domestic Terror Laws. The Hill (5/16, Gangitano, Neidig, 5.69M) reports, "The White House's focus on rising domestic extremism has sparked a debate over whether the U.S. needs new laws to fight it, with some groups concerned that such measures could lead to over surveillance of communities of color and infringe on First Amendment rights." According to The Hill, "The Jan. 6 riot that overran the Capitol and left multiple people dead has prompted the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress to prioritize white supremacists and various right-wing anti-government extremists as a top national security concern. It's still unclear how much momentum is behind any potential new domestic terrorism statute or what it would ultimately look like, but lawmakers' focus on the issue is already prompting debate about whether such legislation is needed and if it could do more harm than good." The Hill adds, "Civil rights advocates are concerned that any bill adding punitive measures or increasing surveillance powers would expand a national security and law enforcement regime that some say is already overpowered and often focuses its force on disadvantaged groups in the U.S." WPost Analysis: Far-Right People Of Color Challenge Media Representations. The Washington Post (5/16, 10.52M) provides a profile of the small, but symbolic, community of far-right people of color, who "[are] at odds with images of White guys in self-styled militias wearing camouflage in the woods." Former Marine Brandon Rapolla is identified as one member. Rapolla "has participated in four armed standoffs with the federal government, including the 'Bundy Ranch' episode in 2014," and he "was active in two far-right factions - the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters." Prosecutors Say Texas Bomber Detailed Activities, Filmed Blasts On YouTube Channel. The Dallas Morning News (5/16, Jennings, 772K) reports, "Like many, Nicholas Lloyd Nelson created his YouTube channel last year to show off his interest and share tips. That pastime, however, consisted of making chemical explosives in his apartment and using them to blow up trees and blast deep craters in the ground in his suburban neighborhood, according to the FBI. Nelson, 37, a convicted felon living in Bedford, is now facing a federal charge after twice being caught with explosive materials, federal court records show." Nelson "was free on bail from his first arrest in February - for possessing bomb-making material - when he exploded a homemade device on April 7 in a drainage culvert off Forest Ridge Drive in Bedford, records say. For that, he was charged in state court with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of components of explosives." Florida Man Pleads Guilty To Facilitating Bomb-Making Video For IS. The Orlando (FL) Sentinel (5/14, Hylton, 599K) reports, "A Florida man is facing 20 years in federal prison for allegedly attempting to disseminate a bomb-making video for ISIS." Romeo EFTA00160762 Xavier Langhorne, of St. Augustine, Florida "pleaded guilty Thursday of attempting to provide material support and resources for the group, according to the Department of Justice. Throughout 2018 and 2019, he affirmed his support on various social media accounts, posted ISIS-produced videos on his YouTube account, and chatted with other like-minded people about ISIS, according to the department." The Sentinel adds, "In December 2018 and January 2019, Langhorne in a chat room expressed interest in making a video on how to improve the organization's bomb-making capabilities, prosecutors say. In February 2019, Langhorne, unbeknownst to him, was talking to an undercover FBI agent posing as someone working on behalf of ISIS, the DO) reported." The Florida Times-Union (5/14, Scanlan, 244K) reports, "Federal court documents say Langhorne pledged his allegiance to ISIS at some point in 2014, knowing that it was a designated foreign terrorist organization engaged in terrorism. He reaffirmed his support in 2018 and 2019 on various social media accounts and also posted terrorist group-produced videos to his YouTube, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. In late 2018 and early 2019 he said he wanted to create a video that would show how to make use of a deadly explosive while on an online chatroom, prosecutors said." In February 2019 Langhorne "began communicating with an undercover FBI agent posing as someone working on behalf of ISIS, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Langhorne told the agent he wanted help to create and post the instructional video. He also said the video should have disclaimers that it was intended for educational use so it would not be removed from social media." Joint Base Andrews Takes Man Who Claimed He Had A Bomb In His Car Into Custody. The Hill (5/14, Axelrod, 5.69M) reports Joint Base Andrews took a man into custody on Friday after he arrived at the Maryland base and claimed he had a bomb in his car, "though no explosives have been found, officials said." According to The Hill, "Bomb-sniffing dogs did not find any explosives upon an initial sweep of the person's car. An explosive ordinance disposal robot and an officer wearing a protective suit also checked the car." Bomb-Making Materials Found In Connecticut Home. The Willimantic (CT) Chronicle (5/14, Warren) reports that a Storrs, Connecticut man "was arrested by state police this week after possible bomb-making materials, firearms, narcotics and marijuana plants were found at his residence." Scott Barber, 31, "who is a convicted felon, was charged with various firearms explosives and drug-related charges. Barber has been charged with illegal transfer and purchase of a pistol/revolver; illegal possession of exploding fireworks; illegal possession of explosives; three counts of criminal possession of firearm; two counts of illegal transfer of large cap magazine; use of drug paraphernalia; and possession of and intent to sell narcotics. 'The success of this operation was as a result of the assistance received from the state police Emergency Services Unit (ESU), state police and FBI bomb squads, Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force, Eastern District Crime Squad and the Mansfield Resident Troopers office; a press release issued by state police this morning stated." US Joins Worldwide Effort To Curb Extremist Violence Online. The AP (5/14) reports French President Emmanuel Macron "and other leaders from tech giants and governments around the world - including the U.S. for the first time - gathered virtually on Saturday to find better ways to stop extremist violence from spreading online, while also respecting freedom of expression." The AP adds, "It was part of a global effort started by Macron and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after deadly attacks in their countries were streamed or shared on social networks." The US is among the five nations that "joined the effort, known as the Christchurch Call, for the first time this year." Lawmaker