EFTA00164348.pdf

From: ' To: " Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - July 31, 2023 Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:57:36 +0000 Importance: Normal Hello Can I request to add my ASACs to this distro list? From: FBI News Briefing Sent: Monday, July 31, 2023 6:15:04 AM To: FBINewsBriefing < Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - July 31, 2023 View In Browser P,Federal Bureau of Investigation - July 31, 2023 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 • Suicide Bomber at Political Rally in Northwest Pakistan Kills at Least 44 People, Wounds Nearly 200 • Russia Says Two Drones Hit Buildings in Moscow in Latest Wave of Attacks • West African Leaders Threaten Force Against Niger Plotters • U.S. Nurse, Child Abducted in Haiti, Non-Profit Organization Says • How Native American Police Are Fighting the Crisis of Missing People COUNTERTERRORISM • California Man Arrested After FBI Search Found Explosive Devices, Nazi Propaganda • Judge Orders Release of Three of 'Newburgh Four' and Accuses FBI of 'Trolling for Terrorists' • Editorial: Hate Groups Tear at the Seams of Our Country COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • DoD Investigating Air Force Communications Breach EFTA00164348  • AOC's Campaign Keeps Paying Chinese Foreign Agent, FEC Filings Show • U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations • FBI Warns About China Theft of U.S. Al Technology • Brazil Rejects U.S. Extradition Request for Alleged Russian Spy CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Fresh Charges Tie Trump Even More Closely To Coverup Effort. That Could Deepen His Legal Woes • Trump Documents Case: Carlos De Oliveira and Walt Nauta Play Key Roles • Mar-A-Lago Employee Overseeing Surveillance Cameras Previously Received Target Letter in Trump Classified Documents Probe • Democrats Claim The GOP Is Withholding Evidence Contradicting Claims In Hunter Biden Probe • FBI Agents Not Charged in Death of Former Hogan Aide Roy McGrath • Ex-Puerto Rico Boxer Felix Verdejo Found Guilty on Two Charges Tied to Death of His Pregnant Lover • Breakthrough in Long Island Serial Killings Shines Light on the Many Unsolved Murders of Sex Workers • A Young Soldier, a Love Triangle and a Murder Prosecution With No Body • It Is Time for the FBI to Tell Us Who Killed Jimmy Hoffa • Fifteen Arrested in FBland Gun, Drug Bust InvolvingAgents Agent • Robert Chambers, NYC's 'Preppy Killer,' Is Released After 15 Years in Prison on Drug Charges • Minnesota Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Jail for Illegal Possession of Machine Gun, Meth • Sisters Went on a Cruise They Came Back With Kilos of Cocaine Worth up to $40K in Their Luggage, Feds Allege • Carlee Russell Charged With Falsely Reporting Her Own Kidnapping • Rapper G Herbo Pleads Guilty In Credit Card Fraud That Paid For Private Jets And Designer Puppies • Woman Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Mailing Racist Threats • Arizona Man Who Extorted Georgia Tech Gets PrisonOne-Yeare Year Prison for Architect Who Paid $100K in Bribes to Honolulu Building Permit Officials • Third Inmate Gets 24 Years For Federal Prison Murder Of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Leader • Appellate Court Rules That Missouri Man With Schizophrenia Can Be Executed After All • FBI Searching Georgia Home for Remains in 2016 Disappearance of 19-Year-Old Morgan Bauer • Man Questioned in Montana After Arizona Woman Reappears Following Four Years Missing • Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Sending Explicit Videos to Law Enforcement Posing as 15-Year-Old Girl • Coach's 'Sextortion' Scheme Unravels When Student Figures Out Who He Is, Feds Say • Ex-New Mexico Police Informant Headed to Prison After Admitting Five Bank Robberies to Feed Addiction • Couple Robbed of $150K in Cryptocurrency by Hostage Takers Who Threatened to Cut Off Man's Body Parts • Editorial: Trump Is Charged With a Coverup FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • Prosecutors Urge Judge to Jail Sam Bankman-Fried, Saying There Are No Conditions to Stop Him From Witness Tampering CYBER DIVISION EFTA00164349  • FBI Paints Grim Picture of Al as a Tool for Criminals • Senator Calls For Probe In Microsoft Breach LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • Federal Probe in Memphis Marks Latest Effort to Reform Law Enforcement INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • Judge Criticizes Prosecutors' Handling Of Venezuela Case Against Ex-Miami Congressman CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Jan. 6 Rioter Who Stole Radio In Attack Of D.C. Officer Fanone Sentenced To Four Years • A New Seton Hall University Report Profiles The People Prosecuted For Jan. 6 Insurrection • Bennie Thompson Says Jan. 6 Hearings Helped 'Pressure' DOJ To Bring Case Against Trump • What Does the Civil Rights Statute in Trump's Potential Jan. 6 Indictment Letter Mean? • Donald Trump Facing Third of 2023 Over Capitol Riot • Is Trump Indictment in Big Jan. 6 Case Imminent? Jack Smith's Background May Hold Hints OTHER FBI NEWS • The Secret History of Gun Rights: How Lawmakers Armed the N.R.A. • The FBI Surveilled J. Robert Oppenheimer for Months on One Man's Suggestion • Virgin Islands Says Epstein Money Will Pay for New Anti-Trafficking Plan INTERNATIONAL NEWS • America's Military Trails Russia and China in Race for the Melting Arctic • Saudi Arabia to Host Ukraine Peace Talks as Part of Western Effort to Woo Global South • North Korea Hasn't Answered U.S.'s Calls on Detained Soldier Travis King • Kim Jong Un Flaunts North Korea's Newest Weapons With Russia and China by His Side • Canada Is Ravaged by Fire. No One Has Paid More Dearly Than Indigenous People. • Italy Minister: Joining China's Belt and Road Was Atrocious' Decision • Ukraine to Start Talks With U.S. on Security Guarantees • French Embassy in Niger Is Attacked as Protesters Waving Russian Flags March Through Capital • Ukraine Again Reported Bringing War Deep Into Russia With Attacks on Moscow and Border Region • At Least Five Dead and Seven Wounded in Clashes Inside Crowded Palestinian Refugee Camp in Lebanon • China Says U.S. Military Aid to Taiwan Will Not Deter Its Will to Unify the Island • China Using Families as 'Hostages' to Quash Uyghur Dissent Abroad • Ukraine War: Putin Says Russia Does Not Reject Peace Talks OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Continued Reporting: Trump Indictment • Continued Reporting: Biden Investigation • Ticketmaster Could Face New Legal Threat This Fall, Sources Say EFTA00164350  • After U.S. Bailout, the Trucking Firm Yellow Is Shutting Down • J&J Effort To Resolve Talc Lawsuits In Bankruptcy Fails A Second Time • Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks 'Ghost Gun' Ruling By Federal Judge • U.S. Seeks to End 2020 Airbus Criminal Case Over Bribery, Export Controls • Biden Administration To Give Some Migrants In Mexico Refugee Status In U.S. • Plaintiffs In High-Profile Redistricting Case Urge Judges To Toss Out Alabama's Controversial Congressional Map • Judge Blocks Arkansas Law Allowing Librarians To Be Criminally Charged Over 'Harmful' Materials • U.S. Asks Supreme Court To Delay Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Settlement • Portland's Turbulent Summer of 2020: Unrest, Drug Decriminalization, and Fentanyl's Lethal Surge • Automaker Tesla Is Opening More Showrooms On Tribal Lands To Avoid State Laws Barring Direct Sales • Republicans Urge New Bowe Bergdahl Trial After Judge Tosses Desertion Case • Judge Throws Out Trump's 'Big Lie' Defamation Lawsuit Against CNN BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • Financial Times • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Suicide Bomber at Political Rally in Northwest Pakistan Kills at Least 44 People, Wounds Nearly 200 The Associated Press (07/30, Khan, Khan) and the Wall Street Journal (07/30, Shah, Dawar) reported that during a political rally in northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan on Sunday, a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing at least 44 people and wounding nearly 200 in an attack aimed at weakening Pakistani Islamists. According to the articles, the bombing targeted a religious political party, Maulana Fazlur Rehman's Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which avows a hardline version of Islam but is not extreme enough for jihadists who view democracy as un-Islamic. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The stories also added that officials were announcing the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a Jamiat Ulema Islam party leader when the bomb went off in one of Pakistan's bloodiest attacks in recent years. Provincial police said in a statement that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives vest close to the stage where several senior leaders of the party were sitting. It said initial investigations suggested the Islamic State group — which operates in Afghanistan and is an enemy of the Afghan Taliban — could be behind the attack, and officers were still investigating. The Pakistan Taliban, or TM, said in a statement sent to The Associated Press that the bombing was aimed at setting Islamists against each other. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, said on the social media EFTA00164351 platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that "such crimes cannot be justified in any way?' The Taliban administration in Kabul insists that it won't allow the country's territory to be used against other nations and has reacted strongly against any perceived encroachment on its soil by Pakistan and other neighbors. The story was also reported on by the New York Times (07/30, Goldbaum, Rehman), Washington Post (07/30, Noack, Hussain, Khan), CBS News (07/30, Broadcast), CNN (07/30, Saifi, Goodwin), Reuters (07/30, Ahmad, Mehsud), BBC News (07/30, Davies, Durbin), The Guardian (07/30, Janjua), New York Post (07/30, Reyes), The Hill (07/30, Oshin), Independent (07/30, Drake), Al Jazeera (07/30, Staff Writer), and The Daily Beast (07/30, Uebelacker). Russia Says Two Drones Hit Buildings in Moscow in Latest Wave of Attacks Reuters (07/30, Groves, Jalonick) and the New York Times (07/30, Martinez, Troianovski) reported that on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian forces had fired at least three drones at Moscow, the latest in a wave of attacks in Russia demonstrating that few places are off limits after more than 17 months of war. According to the articles, Russia's Defence Ministry said it had brought down three Ukrainian drones that had tried to strike Moscow in the second attack in a week, damaging a high- rise building reported to house government offices. Nobody was hurt, and there was only minor damage to the facade of two office buildings in the Moskva-Citi business district, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The reports mention that one drone was destroyed in Odintsovo, outside Moscow, the Defense Ministry said, adding that two others struck commercial buildings in the capital after being intercepted by Russian air defenses. To maintain a military advantage and a feeling of surprise, Ukraine doesn't usually claim responsibility for attacks in Russia. However, senior Ukrainian officials said last week that Kyiv orchestrated recent drone attacks on Moscow. In his evening address on Sunday, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, did not explicitly mention the strikes in Moscow but noted that "gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia," including military and "symbolic" centers. The story was also reported on by the Associated Press (07/30, Staff Writer), Wall Street Journal (07/30, Broadcast), CNN (07/30, Broadcast), Axios (07/30, Falconer), BBC News (07/30, Waterhouse, Gregory), Bloomberg (07/30, Gismatullin), Politico (07/30, Melkozerova), NBC News (07/30, Sackur), USA TODAY (07/30, Bacon, Ortiz), The Hill (07/30, Sforza), Newsweek (07/30, Broadcast), the New York Post (07/30, O'Neill), and The Daily Beast (07/30, Quinn). West African Leaders Threaten Force Against Niger Plotters The Wall Street Journal (07/30, Hinshaw, Faucon) reported that West African leaders have threatened military intervention and imposed economic sanctions to restore democratic rule in Niger, following a military coup. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) stated that Niger's military junta has one week to return elected President Mohamed Bazoum to power. The coup, backed by Russia, threatens Nigeria's fight against its own internal Islamist insurgencies, which depends on cross-border coordination with Niger. This comes after recent coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, both countries that were formerly strong counterterrorism allies to the U.S. and France but have now shifted their allegiances towards Russia. According to the article, Niger is crucial for U.S. and European efforts to combat the spread of Islamic State and Al Qaeda in Africa, and the loss of Niger as an ally could greatly hinder these counterterrorism efforts. Reuters (07/28, Irish) added that French President Emmanuel Macron is prepared to back sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup in Niger, terming the power grab as "dangerous" and "illegitimate". France has made Niger the cornerstone of its counter-insurgency operations against Islamist militants in the Sahel region, and a successful coup could force a withdrawal of French troops. Amid a wave of anti-French sentiment and misinformation linked to Russia, Macron has called for the reinstatement of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, while the situation remains unclear regarding who is currently in control in Niger. Reporting from VOA News (07/29, Seldin) reported that the United States is warning mutineers who have seized control of Niger that U.S. support for the Western African nation will dry up unless President Mohamed Bazoum is released and returned to power. The EFTA00164352 threat Saturday by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to pull hundreds of millions of dollars in aid followed Friday's announcement by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guard, that he is Niger's new leader. "Let me be very, very clear," Blinken said at a news conference in Brisbane, Australia, following consultations with his Australian counterpart. "That support is in clear jeopardy." "Our economic and security partnership with Niger, which is significant, hundreds of millions of dollars, depends on the continuation of the democratic governance and constitutional order that has been disrupted," he said. The article noted that Niger has benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars worth of U.S. military aid and counterterrorism training and has been hosting about 1,100 U.S. troops. CNN (07/28, Brennan, Mawad, Briscoe, Goillandeau), The Guardian (07/29, Beaumont), Washington Post (07/29, Editorial Board), New York Times (07/30, Walsh), two articles from Reuters (07/30, Onuah, Dzirutwe), BBC News (07/30, Tangaza, Chothia), Wall Street Journal (07/28, Faucon), and NBC News (07/30, Kube, Gains, Luce) also reported on the story. U.S. Nurse, Child Abducted in Haiti, Non-Profit Organization Says ABC News (07/29, Deliso) reported that a New Hampshire woman named Alix Dorsainvil and her child have been kidnapped in Haiti, according to the faith-based organization, El Roi Haiti, where Dorsainvil works as a nurse. According to the article, the mother and child were abducted from the organization's campus near Port-Au-Prince. The U.S. State Department confirmed knowledge of the kidnapping of the two U.S. citizens and stated its continued work with Haitian authorities and U.S. interagency partners. The article noted that the incident comes amidst the State Department's advisories for U.S. citizens to leave Haiti as soon as possible and avoid traveling there due to widespread kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and inadequate health care infrastructure. The State Department has also ordered the evacuation of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency government employees in Haiti. Reuters (07/29, Grant, Wallis), CNN (07/30, Law, Pellish), NPR (07/29, Hernandez), CBS News (07/30, Czachor), New York Daily News (07/30, Wilkinson), Daily Mail (07/30, Sultan), NBC News (07/29, Jester, Romero), USA TODAY (07/30, Bacon, Ortiz), New York Post (07/30, Donlevy), The Daily Beast (07/30, Ramirez), The Guardian (07/30, Yang), The Hill (07/30, Sforza), People (07/30, Blanchet), Fox News (07/30, Rumpf- Whitten), and BBC News (07/30, Smith) also reported on the story. How Native American Police Are Fighting the Crisis of Missing People Reuters (07/28, Hay) reported that Detective Kathleen Lucero, Isleta Pueblo's chief criminal investigator, is advocating for missing indigenous individuals as part of the U.S. effort to address the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and relatives (MMIWR). According to the article, Lucero's proactive approach is not the norm in U.S. and tribal law enforcement due to jurisdictional challenges and resource limitations. Federal law enforcement officials acknowledge that Native American police are underfunded, contributing to inadequate investigations of missing cases. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is trying to improve this by better coordinating investigations and providing agents for them. The article detailed that FBI data shows little change in MMIWR statistics from 2016 to 2021. One hurdle is the lack of cooperation between law enforcement agencies, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. Raul Bujanda, special agent in charge of the FBI's New Mexico field office, said the agency's cooperation with other law enforcement agencies had improved, and he is helping the FBI develop a missing persons list for Native Americans, beginning with New Mexico. The article noted that Vangie Randall-Shorty, the mother of a murdered indigenous man, has criticized the FBI and Navajo Nation for blocking the BIA's investigation into her son's case. "These agencies can't even work together to solve Zachariah's case," said Randall-Shorty. Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM EFTA00164353 California Man Arrested After FBI Search Found Explosive Devices, Nazi Propaganda The Hill (07/29, Robertson) reported that a Los Angeles man, Ryan Bradford, believed to be linked with the white supremacist Peckerwood prison gang, was arrested after federal investigators found illegal firearms, 3D-printed gun parts, and an improvised explosive at his residence. According to the article, Bradford, a self-proclaimed anti-Semite, had been promoting the manufacturing of illegal weapons online, and called for the mass murder of Jewish people, according to the FBI assistant director Donald Alway. The article noted that investigators also found evidence that Bradford was teaching how to build grenades and other explosives on Telegram group chats, and he had planned to perpetrate violence motivated by his extremist ideology. KCAL (CBS-9) (07/28, Sharp, Rodriguez), NBC News (07/29, Helsel, Blankstein), and Patch (07/28, Austin) also reported on the story. Judge Orders Release of Three of 'Newburgh Four' and Accuses FBI of 'Trolling for Terrorists' Associated Press (07/28, Sisak, Peltz reported that three men, known as the "Newburgh Four," convicted in a post-9/11 terrorism plot to attack New York synagogues and National Guard planes, have been ordered to be released from prison by a judge who criticized their sentences as "unduly harsh and unjust," and condemned the FBI's involvement in radicalizing them. According to the article, the judge, U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, described the men as being entrapped by overzealous FBI agents and a questionable informant into a scheme they would not have otherwise considered, going so far as to label the United States as the real lead conspirator. The article noted that the judge reduced their initial 25-year sentences, imposed in 2011, to time served plus 90 days, emphasizing concerns for their health and her reservations about the case. Reuters (07/28, Mckay), New York Post (07/28, Reilly), Independent (07/28, Sisak, Peitz), CBS News (07/28, Staff Writer), and NBC News (07/28, Video) also reported on the story. Editorial: Hate Groups Tear at the Seams of Our Country An editorial from the Portland Press Herald (07/28, Editorial) reported that the United States is experiencing a resurgence of white supremacist movements, with an uptick in their propaganda, hate crimes, and activities meant to harm and intimidate minorities. In Maine, there have been neo-Nazi rallies, the distribution of racist literature, and efforts to build whites-only communities, indicating the movement's gaining momentum. The article noted that an FBI spokesperson noted that white supremacists are now the nation's top domestic terror threat, highlighting the urgent need for all who believe in the nation's core principles to stand against this dangerous trend. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE DoD Investigating Air Force Communications Breach Forbes (07/29, Brewster) reported that the Pentagon is investigating a "critical compromise" of communications across 17 Air Force facilities and a possible breach of FBI communications by an engineer at the Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee, following a tip-off about the engineer illicitly taking home government radio technologies. According to the article, upon raiding his home, law enforcement discovered he had "unauthorized administrator access" to radio communications tech used by the Air Education and Training Command, and a computer screen open to a Motorola radio programming software containing the entire Arnold Air Force Base communications system. The article noted that the search warrant indicates the FBI is collaborating with the Air Force on the ongoing investigation, and although the breadth or nature of the information taken is not detailed, evidence was found indicating EFTA00164354 the suspect may have had access to FBI and various Tennessee state agency communications. The Hill (07/29, Shapero), The Guardian (07/29, Yang), Washington Examiner (07/29, Goldsberry), Bloomberg (07/29, Diaz), New York Post (07/29, Vincent), and The Daily Beast (07/29, Fiallo) also reported on the story. AOC's Campaign Keeps Paying Chinese Foreign Agent, FEC Filings Show Fox News (07/28, Schoffstall) reported that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign has reportedly continued to finance advertisements in Sing Tao Newspapers, a U.S. subsidiary of a Chinese entity required by the DOJ to register as a foreign agent due to its political activities. According to the article, the paper, considered pro-Beijing, receives over half of its content from the Chinese company Star Production (Shenzhen) Limited and operates under China's media control operations, which involve censorship and information control. The article noted that the connection raises potential counterintelligence concerns given China's restrictive media environment and the fact that Ocasio- Cortez's campaign is the only one placing ads in this media during the second quarter, but no direct FBI involvement is mentioned in this context. U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations The New York Times (07/29, Sanger, Barnes) and CNN (07/29, lyer) reported that the Biden administration, along with U.S. military and intelligence officials, are concerned about malicious computer code believed to be planted by China in networks controlling the U.S.'s power grids, communication systems, and water supplies that are linked to military bases. Suspected to be a work of the People's Liberation Army, this malware could potentially disrupt U.S. military operations during the conflict, impacting not only military bases but also civilians as these systems serve regular American houses and businesses too. According to the articles, there has been an ongoing effort to hunt down and eradicate this hidden malware; however, its full extent remains uncertain due to its sophistication. The articles noted that although the White House has not directly mentioned China or the military bases in its statements, it emphasizes rigorous cybersecurity practices and the protection of critical infrastructure. The National Security Agency's director of cybersecurity, Rob Joyce, has particularly highlighted the disturbing disruptive potential of these intrusions. FBI Warns About China Theft of U.S. Al Technology VOA News (07/29, Farivar) reported that senior FBI officials have stated that China and other adversaries are stealing U.S. artificial intelligence (Al) technology to advance their own Al programs and to conduct foreign influence campaigns. According to the article, Director Wray emphasized China's Al intentions, noting the country's ability to leverage Al for powerful hacking efforts, after "years stealing both our innovation and massive troves of data." The article noted that the FBI is concerned about future threats from foreign adversaries exploiting stolen U.S. Al technology, with a particular focus on the possible deployment of such technology in significant instances such as the 2024 presidential election. Brazil Rejects U.S. Extradition Request for Alleged Russian Spy The Washington Post (07/28, Avi-Yonah) reported that Brazilian justice officials have stated they cannot approve a U.S. extradition request for Sergey Cherkasov, a man alleged by the U.S. Justice Department to be a Russian spy because they are already processing Moscow's extradition request for him. According to the article, Cherkasov, charged with acting as an illegal agent of a Russian intelligence service and other crimes in the U.S., is currently serving a sentence in Brazil on charges of using fraudulent documents. The article noted that Cherkasov was considered a potential bargaining chip for a prisoner swap with the U.S., in exchange for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held in Russia on espionage allegations. Back to Top EFTA00164355 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Fresh Charges Tie Trump Even More Closely To Coverup Effort. That Could Deepen His Legal Woes The Associated Press (07/29, Tucker, Richer) reported that former President Donald Trump sought to delete Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage to obstruct the DOJ's investigation into his handling of classified documents. The article stated that the latest criminal charges unsealed Thursday deepen Trump's legal jeopardy, alleging a more central role for the former president than previously known in a cover-up that prosecutors say was meant to prevent them from recovering top-secret documents he took with him after he left the White House. Coming as Trump braces for possible additional indictments related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the new allegations strengthen special counsel Jack Smith's already powerful case against Trump while undercutting potential defenses floated by the former president, experts say. The article added that the new Florida charges came as a surprise given that Trump and his legal team have been focused on the prospect of an additional indictment in Washington — possibly within days — related to his efforts to cling to power after he lost to President Joe Biden. Trump received a letter this month informing him that he's a target in that probe, and his lawyers met Thursday with special counsel Jack Smith's office. The article noted that hours after that meeting, Smith revealed the new classified documents case charges on top of a 38-count indictment issued last month against Trump and his valet, Walt Nauta. The updated indictment includes a detailed chronology of phone conversations and other interactions between Trump, Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, in the days after the Justice Department last June drafted a subpoena for security camera footage at Mar-a- Lago. The article mentioned that the video from the home would ultimately become vital to the government's case because, prosecutors said, it shows Nauta moving boxes in and out of a storage room — an act alleged to have been done at Trump's direction and to hide records not only from investigators but Trump's lawyers. ABC News (07/28, Mallin, Pereira), the Independent (07/28, Sharp), USA TODAY (07/28, Jansen, Jackson), Reuters (07/28, Jackson, Chiacu), AlJazeera (07/28, Staff Writer), Fox News (07/30, Wallace), CNBC (07/28, Breuninger), Washington Post (07/30, Stein), Huffington Post (07/30, Vera), and timelines by the Wall Street Journal (07/28, Gurman), and the Washington Post (07/28, Bump), also reported on the story. Trump Documents Case: Carlos De Oliveira and Walt Nauta Play Key Roles The New York Times (07/30, Feuer, Haberman, Protess) reported that Carlos De Oliveira and Walt Nauta, who were hired by former President Donald J. Trump despite past troubles, rely on him for their legal fees — and are now his co-defendants. The article added that the release of new details on Thursday in an updated indictment by the special counsel, Jack Smith, underscored the extent to which low-level workers like Mr. De Oliveira — lacking Mr. Trump's reserves of power, fame, and money — have become embroiled in the government's attempts to hold the former president accountable for threatening national security. The article stated that Mr. Nauta was central to the first part of the scheme, moving boxes from the room at least five times at Mr. Trump's direction. All of that took place during a critical moment in the government's investigation: the weeks between the issuance of a subpoena last year demanding the return of all classified documents in Mr. Trump's possession and a visit to Mar-a-Lago shortly after by prosecutors seeking to collect the materials. The article noted that people in Mr. Trump's orbit are described as beginning to worry about Mr. De Oliveira's loyalties after the FBI descended on Mar-a-Lago with a search warrant last summer and hauled away about 100 classified documents. Mar-A-Lago Employee Overseeing Surveillance Cameras Previously Received Target Letter in Trump Classified Documents Probe CNN (07/30, Cohen, Collins, Polantz) reported that Yuscil Taveras, a Mar-a-Lago employee who oversees the property's surveillance cameras, received a target letter from federal prosecutors after EFTA00164356 former President Donald Trump was first indicted in June on charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. The article added that Taveras also met with investigators following the initial indictment in the classified documents case overseen by special counsel Jack Smith, sources said. While it is unclear whether Taveras is cooperating with prosecutors, some of the new allegations against Trump that were included in a superseding indictment filed last week were based, at least in part, on information he provided during that interview. The article noted that unlike Trump's longtime valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager and new co-defendant Carlos De Oliveira, Taveras is not currently facing charges in the classified documents case despite having been informed he is a target in the probe. The article mentioned that he is at the center of the new accusations added to the indictment, including an exchange he had with De Oliveira on June 27, 2022. In that conversation, De Oliveira asked to have a private discussion in an "audio closet" with Taveras, including questioning how long the footage from the security tapes lasted and whether it could be deleted. When Taveras said "he would not know how to do that, and that he did not believe that he would have the rights to do that," De Oliveira said "the boss" wanted it deleted, according to the indictment. Forbes (07/28, Pequeno), the Daily Beast (07/30, Bachman), and the Independent (07/28, Rissman) also reported on the story. Democrats Claim The GOP Is Withholding Evidence Contradicting Claims In Hunter Biden Probe The Associated Press (07/28, Amiri) reported that House Democrats are demanding the release of a transcript from a new FBI witness that they say contradicts Republicans' claims in the expanding congressional inquiry into President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The article added that Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on House Oversight Committee, sent a letter Friday to Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the committee, asking him to produce the transcribed interview this month with an FBI agent who worked on the investigation into the younger Biden's taxes and foreign business dealings. The witness was interviewed on July 17. The article noted that the Maryland lawmaker claimed the closed-door interview with the unidentified agent conducted by committee staff "directly undermined" testimony released by Republicans last month from two IRS whistleblowers who allege that the Justice Department interfered with their yearslong investigation into Hunter Biden. The Daily Beast (07/28, Uebelacker), Axios (07/28, Kight), and the Hill (07/28, Brooks) also reported on the story. FBI Agents Not Charged in Death of Former Hogan Aide Roy McGrath The Associated Press (07/28, Witte) reported that a former Maryland political aide who failed to appear for his trial on federal corruption charges died after suffering two gunshot wounds — one of them self- inflicted — as FBI agents closed in on him in Tennessee, according to an autopsy report made public Friday. The article added that authorities said agents acted in self-defense, and there will be no charges against any of the agents involved. Roy McGrath died on April 4 near Knoxville, Tennessee, after he failed to appear at Baltimore's federal courthouse for his March 13 trial. The article noted that the news release also provided details about what happened leading up to the FBI agents closing in on McGrath. FBI agents in Baltimore asked if Knoxville agents could arrest McGrath, and they provided a copy of the warrant, a description of McGrath's vehicle, and information about McGrath's location. When agents responded, they found McGrath's vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop when the vehicle left a parking lot, according to the release. Despite the lights and sirens of the agents' vehicles, McGrath continued to drive until he was boxed in between two other businesses. The article stated that agents approached the vehicle and repeatedly announced, "FBI," and ordered McGrath to put his hands out the open driver's side window, the release said, but McGrath replied, "Nor and, "I have a gun, and it's loaded." Agents saw McGrath with a handgun raised to his right temple, and the way McGrath held the handgun placed agents within the trajectory of McGrath's gun, causing one agent to believe McGrath posed a threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury to himself and other agents, the release said. WJZ (CBS-13) EFTA00164357 (07/28, Hellgren), Washington Post (07/28, Thompson), the Baltimore Banner (07/28, Prudente), and Maryland Matters (07/28, Sears) also reported on the story. Ex-Puerto Rico Boxer Felix Verdejo Found Guilty on Two Charges Tied to Death of His Pregnant Lover The Associated Press (07/28, Staff Writer) reported that former Puerto Rican boxer Felix Verdejo was found guilty Friday on two charges related to the death of his 27-year-old pregnant lover. The verdict came after a 25-week trial in which the jury heard gruesome details about the April 2021killing of Keishla Rodriguez that shocked the U.S. territory. The article added that the jury convicted Verdejo on the charge of kidnapping that leads to a death and one count of causing the death of an unborn child. The 12 jurors could not reach unanimous verdicts on the charge of intercepting and stealing a vehicle with the consequence of causing death or the charge of carrying a weapon to commit a violent crime. Fox News (07/30, Wallace) quoted FBI San Juan Special Agent in Charge, Joseph Gonzalez, who said, "There are damages which cannot ever be repaired, not even by a just verdict, in cases such as these, all we can do is give our all in the pursuit of justice. Today, I can say that my team did exactly that, and I am proud of their dedication. I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for the amazing work and the jury for their service. We did what we do and justice was served." ABC News (07/29, Deliso), Washington Post (07/29, Salcedo), CNN (07/29, Razek), New York Post (07/29, Shakhnazarova), People (07/29, Vasquez), the Sun (07/29, Burke), and the New York Daily News (07/29, Schladebeck) also reported on the story. Breakthrough in Long Island Serial Killings Shines Light on the Many Unsolved Murders of Sex Workers The Associated Press (07/30, Parry) reported that the discovery of four dead women in a drainage ditch just outside Atlantic City was shocking news in 2006. International media flocked to the seaside gambling resort. More than 100 detectives and prosecutors were assigned to investigate. Casino guests worried about safety, and the victims' fellow sex workers began carrying hidden knives. But as the years passed, the public's attention and fear faded, and the case of the "Eastbound Strangler" — so named for the direction the victims' heads were facing — remained unsolved. The article added that the arrest earlier this month of a man charged with killing three women whose remains were found on a Long Island beach in 2010 has breathed fresh life into another long-dormant case with obvious parallels; the Gilgo Beach serial killings involve a total of 11victims, most of whom were young, female sex workers. Yet the recent breakthrough, and the rekindling of public interest, only highlights a painful truth: Many similar cases — like the one in Atlantic City -- remain open. The article stated that the FBI would not say how many killings of sex workers in the U.S. remain unsolved. Media accounts and statements from local authorities show a long trail of open cases, from nine women whose bodies were found along highways in Massachusetts, to 11found dead in New Mexico, and eight more found amid the crawfish farms and swamps of southern Louisiana. The killings of other sex workers in Chicago, New Haven, Connecticut, and Ohio, among other places, also remain mysteries. A Young Soldier, a Love Triangle and a Murder Prosecution With No Body The Los Angeles Times (07/28, Ormseth, Chu) reported that Anna Laura Costa Porsborg flew to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, planning to spend a week taking in the sights with her boyfriend. She sent her mother in Brazil photographs from Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Then the messages stopped. After hearing nothing from her daughter for two days, Costa Porsborg's mother went to the Brazilian federal police, who contacted the FBI. The article added that law enforcement agents never found the 22-year-old. Her remains, they suspect, are somewhere in the Angeles National Forest. The article noted that the absence of her body has not stopped prosecutors from charging Costa Porsborg's boyfriend with her murder. The rare "no body" homicide prosecution was put to the test at a preliminary EFTA00164358 hearing Monday. Two detectives described the evidence that led them to conclude her boyfriend killed Costa Porsborg, left her body in their hotel room for two days, then buried her somewhere in the mountains above Los Angeles. The article stated that Gomes Akay has never told detectives where he left the body. Using his phone location data, authorities have identified a large swath of the Angeles National Forest within which her remains might have been buried. The article mentioned that an FBI agent and two investigators from the U.S. Army have searched for Costa Porsborg's body without success. It Is Time for the FBI to Tell Us Who Killed Jimmy Hoffa In a piece by Fox News (07/30, Shawn) the author stated that the FBI and Department of Justice can close the Jimmy Hoffa case and announce who they think did it. The author added that since July 30, 1975, when legendary Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, the claims, theories, and speculation have fueled one of the greatest mysteries in American history. The author claimed that it is time for the FBI to release the still redacted and hidden documents that remain classified and announce who investigators believe were responsible. The author noted that it appears that the answers end in Detroit. Fifteen Arrested in FBI Gun, and Drug Bust Involving 200+ Agents CBS News (07/28, Parry) reported that the FBI announced details Friday of a violent crime crackdown in Dallas. The article added that 15 people were arrested in the operation—which involved more than 200 officers and agents—between the FBI, Dallas Police, and the Dallas County Sheriff's Office. That's in addition to 19 other arrests before the crackdown. The article noted that those arrested are facing drug and firearms charges. If convicted, some face as many as 40 years in federal prison. The FBI says gangs and gang leaders were targeted as part of a two-year investigation. The suspects made their initial appearances in federal court Friday morning. The article quoted Chad Yarbrough, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office, who said, "It's not our goal to just put individuals in jail for a few days, but to build cases that cut into the capabilities of these gangs and criminal enterprises, putting the most violent offenders and facilitators behind bars for as long as we possibly can," Dallas News (07/28, Kelly), the Dallas Observer (07/28, Dearmore), Audacy (07/28, Greenstein), and the Star-Telegram (07/28, Lopez) also reported on the story. Robert Chambers, NYC's 'Preppy Killer,' Is Released After 15 Years in Prison on Drug Charges The Associated Press (07/29, Staff Writer) reported that Robert Chambers, better known to some as the "Preppy Killer;' was released after spending 15 years in prison for drug and assault charges, according to state records. Chambers spent a similar amount of time in prison after pleading guilty to strangling Jennifer Levin in New York City's Central Park during the summer of 1986. Chambers entered the plea to killing 18-year-old Levin as part of a deal when a jury could not reach a decision after nine days of deliberations. The article added that he was released in 2003 for that crime but again ran afoul of the law soon after. He was again arrested in 2007 for selling drugs out of his apartment. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison but was released Tuesday — four years early — from the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York, according to online inmate records maintained by the New York Department of Corrections. Chambers, now 56, will remain under supervision for up to five years, records show. Minnesota Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Jail for Illegal Possession of Machine Gun, Meth WCCO (CBS-4) (07/28, Staff Writer) reported that a 50-year-old Anoka man was sentenced to over six years in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun and meth, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger announced Friday. Darrian Mitchell Nguyen pleaded guilty in March to one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a machine gun. The article added that court documents say that the FBI received a tip from a confidential source, who said that Nguyen possessed explosive devices, firearms, and methamphetamine, and had shown interest in joining an anti-government group. EFTA00164359 The source said Nguyen kept these weapons in "secret" rooms built within his house. The article noted that the source said he owed Nguyen a debt because they lost Nguyen's drug money back in 2020. The source met up with Nguyen in July and, in an audio-recorded conversation, discussed settling the debt. During a meeting in August, Nguyen sold the source roughly 7.1grams of meth for $300. Nguyen was sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Sisters Went on a Cruise They Came Back With Kilos of Cocaine Worth up to $40K in Their Luggage, Feds Allege Business Insider (07/29, Lee) reported that two sisters recently took a weeklong cruise —touring the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Mexico — and came back with several kilos of cocaine hidden in the lining of their backpacks, a federal investigator alleged in a criminal complaint. The article noted that in total, about 4.75 kilograms of cocaine was hidden in the backpacks, which Summer Louis, a Homeland Security agent, estimated to be worth between $15,000 to $40,000, according to the complaint. Carlee Russell Charged With Falsely Reporting Her Own Kidnapping The Washington Post (07/28, Avi-Yonah) reported that Alabama authorities said Friday they have filed charges against a woman who admitted earlier this week to fabricating being kidnapped by the side of the interstate after stopping to help a toddler. The article stated that Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell has been charged with false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident, both misdemeanors that are punishable by up to one year in jail and a potential $6,000 fine. Russell turned herself into jail Friday and has been released on a $2,000 bond, Derzis added. Russell allegedly went missing on July 13 after calling 911. Her story received national attention and sparked a furious search. The article mentioned that the disappearance of Russell, who is Black, led to discussions online about the disproportionate number of Black people reported missing in the United States each year, and concerns that a fabricated disappearance would distract from what law enforcement figures show is a real problem. Black people make up roughly a third of missing persons despite comprising 14 percent of the U.S. population, FBI data show. The New York Post (07/28, Steinbuch) also reported on the story. Rapper G Herbo Pleads Guilty In Credit Card Fraud That Paid For Private Jets And Designer Puppies The Associated Press (07/28, Pratt) reported that the rapper G Herbo pleaded guilty Friday to his role in a scheme that used stolen credit card information to pay for a lavish lifestyle including private jets, exotic car rentals, a luxury vacation rental, and even expensive designer puppies. The article added that under a deal with prosecutors, the 27-year-old Chicago rapper, whose real name is Herbert Wright III, entered a guilty plea in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed several counts of aggravated identity theft. He also agreed to forfeit nearly $140,000, the amount he benefited from what prosecutors have said was a $1.5 million scheme that involved several other people. The Rolling Stone (07/29, Madarang), New York Daily News (07/28, Rosen), Deadline (07/28, Haring), Chicago Sun-Times (07/28, Staff Writer), and the Chicago Tribune (07/28, Meisner) also reported on the story. Woman Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Mailing Racist Threats The Associated Press (07/28, Staff Writer) reported that a Kentucky woman has been sentenced to nine years in prison for mailing racist threats to her neighbors, the Justice Department said. Suzanne Craft, 55, of Louisville, sent multiple threatening letters through the U.S. Postal Service in 2020 to an interracial family who lived in the same neighborhood, according to court documents. Many of the letters contained threats of violence and racial slurs, the Justice Department said in a statement. A jury convicted Craft in March of five counts of mailing threatening communications and found that the threats were racially motivated. The article added that Craft's sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, EFTA00164360 the statement on Thursday said. The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civi