EFTA01658246.pdf

From To Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Public Affairs News Briefing Thursday, July 30, 2020 Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2020 10:27:56 +0000 Importanc Normal e: From: Bulletin Intelligence Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 6:26:29 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) To: [email protected] Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Public Affairs News Briefing Thursday, July 30, 2020 Mobile version and searchable archives available at fbi.bulletinintelligence.com. 'FBI News Briefing TO: THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR STAFF DATE: THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 6:30 AM EDT TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS LEADING THE NEWS • Federal Agents To Begin Phased Withdrawal From Portland. PROTESTS • Administration Announces Deployment Of Agents To Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit. • Federal Agents Headed For Detroit. • Cleveland To See 25 New Federal Agents In Operation Legend. • Milwaukee To Get More Than 25 Federal Agents. • Two Protesters Charged In Attack On Wisconsin State Lawmaker. • US Charges Eight Pittsburgh Protesters. • Seattle Police Union Leader Rejects Mayor's Claim Trump Using Agents As "Dry Run For Martial Law." • Oakland Approves Resolution To Keep City "Safe" From "Trump's Federal Agents." • Morgan, Miller: Democrats Emboldening Protesters By Failing To Condemn Violence. • Poll: Support Drops For Protests, But Many Disapprove Of Trump's Response. • Pentagon Training Course Refers To Protesters, Journalists As "Adversaries." • UN Rights Panel Questions Police Tactics Against Protesters. • Video Of NYPD Pulling Protester Into Unmarked Van Draws Criticism. • Whistleblower Alleges LAPD Encouraged Excessive Force And Retaliation. • Minneapolis Police Search For Man Who Incited Violent Protests. • NYTimes Analysis: Demings Has Complicated History With Police Misconduct. EFTA01658246 • Floyd Hologram To Tour US And Replace Confederate Statues. COUNTER-TERRORISM • California Man Named As Alleged White Supremacist Leader. COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE • Justice Department Agrees To Release FBI Texts From McCabe. • FBI Memo Highlights Mystery Sources Tied To Steele Dossier. • Barr Says He Won't Wait Until After Election To Reveal Durham's Findings. • US Expands Espionage Charges Against Former Twitter Employees. • Arkansas Professor Indicted After Allegedly Hiding China Ties To Secure NASA Grant Money • US Officials Claim Russia Is Behind Coronavirus Disinformation Campaign. • Trump Says He Did Not Raise Taliban Bounties Allegations In Call With Putin. • House Panel Votes To Give All Members Access To Classified Intelligence On Foreign "Disinformation" Campaign. • "Gang Of Eight" At Odds Over Releasing Information On Election Interference. • Federalist: Schiff Seeks To Start Another Russian Interference Probe. • Brennan Memoir Says Trump Denied Him Access To Documents And Notes. • FireEye Reports New Disinformation Campaign From Eastern Europe. • New Study Warns Germany is Emerging As Key Target For Russia, China Interference. • Op-Ed: The US-China Consulate Closures May Impact Espionage. • Op-Ed: US Intelligence Community Needs To Keep Up Pressure On China's Spying. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Judge Denies Ghislaine Maxwell's Bid To Keep Records Sealed. • Mississippi Man Charged With Shooting Federal Agent Appears In Court. • US Probing Shipments Of Mysterious Seeds. • Suspected Illinois Serial Killer Charged In Connection To 1997 Murder. • Reputed Leader Of Chicago Gang Among Several Charged In Gun, Drug Probe. • New York Pastor Arrested For Minor Solicitation. • Massachusetts Men Charged In Connection To Shooting. • FBI Agents Searching Boston's North End Neighborhood. • FBI Investigating New Mexico Cold Case. • FBI Investigating Serial Bank Robber In Illinois. • Continuing Coverage: Missouri Men Charged In Connection To Kidnapping. • Alabama Pair Indicted In Connection To Murder Of Child. • New York Man Charged With Sex Trafficking Of A Minor. • Florida Judge Announces Delay In Bribery Trial. • Reputed Nevada Boogaloo Faces New Child Sex Charge. FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • California Financier Sentenced In College Admissions Probe. • Tennessee Lawmaker Charged With Stealing Federal Funds. • Texas Bank Reports $13.2M "Ponzi-Style Fraud." • US Charges New Jersey Family With Contracting Fraud. • Former Ohio Public Official Sentenced For Bribery. • Federal Prosecutors: Former Uber Engineer Should Get 27 Months In Prison. • Avenatti Cannot Afford To Pay Lawyer. • Former Maryland Lawmaker Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Bribery. CYBER DIVISION EFTA01658247 • Cybersecurity Firm: Chinese State-Backed Hackers Infiltrated Vatican. • TikTok Dismisses Senate Concerns Over Chinese Threat To Election Security. • Cybercrime Ramps Up Amid Coronavirus Chaos, Costing Companies Billions. • CISA Announces Second President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition. • Experts Warn Medical Devices May Create Additional Opportunities For Hackers To Target Hospitals. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • China Denies Harboring 1MDB Fugitive. OTHER FBI NEWS • Trump Defends Use Of COVID-19 Bill To Fund New FBI HQ. • Puerto Rico Power Company Says "Sabotage" May Have Caused Blackout. OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • US COVID Fatality Rate Down Significantly From April And May. • Trump Stands By Retweet Of Doctors Touting Hydroxychloroquine. • Fauci, Birx, Carson Advocate Use Of Face Masks. • Pelosi To Institute Mandatory Mask Policy For House After Gohmert Tests Positive. • Officials Identifying Priority Groups For Initial COVID Vaccinations. • Lancet Editor Tells WPost Why He Thinks US, Europe Mishandled Outbreak. • In North Carolina, Pence And DeVos Promote Reopening Of Schools. • Weingarten: Florida, Arizona, Texas Teachers Could Strike Over Unsafe Working Conditions. • Florida Schools Announce Remote Classes As DeSantis Says State Will Have In-Person Learning. • DHS Draws Judicial Rebuke Over False Statements In New York Travel Case. • Cuccinelli Defends Administration's Actions On DACA. • Trump Says He Will Act Against Big Tech If Congress Does Not. • WPost Analysis: Tata Nomination Appears "To Be In Trouble." • Senate Democrats Criticize Pompeo For Reducing State Department Staff. • Trump Touts Move To Stave Off "Low Income Housing" In Suburbs. • Treasury To Loan Postal Service $10B In Return For "Last-Mile" Contract Details. • Ginsburg Undergoes Nonsurgical Medical Procedure. • Obama To Deliver Eulogy At Lewis' Funeral. • Navy's First Black Female Fighter Pilot To Get Her Wings Friday. INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Nations That Seemed To Quell Earlier Outbreaks Experiencing Summer Surge. • UN Agencies Predict Mass Starvation Due To Pandemic. • NYTimes Analysis: Pandemic Further Undermining Democratic Norms In Latin America. • Iran Launches Underground Ballistic Missiles During Exercise. • Israel Criticizes Twitter For Allowing Khamenei's Anti-Semitic Tweets. • US Sanctions Syrian Officials, Entities In Push To End War. • Following Trump's Direction, Pentagon Plans To Remove Some Troops From Germany. • Space Force: Russia Testing Anti-Satellite Weapons. • Activity Suggests Ongoing Operations At North Korean Nuclear Complex. • Four Arrested In Hong Kong Under Security Law. • Turkey Passes Law Imposing Government Control Over Social Media. • WPost Blasts Azerbaijani President For Imprisoning Opposition. THE BIG PICTURE • Headlines From Today's Front Pages. WASHINGTON'S SCHEDULE EFTA01658248 • Today's Events In Washington. LEADING THE NEWS Federal Agents To Begin Phased Withdrawal From Portland. President Trump on Wednesday tweeted, "If the Federal Government and its brilliant Law Enforcement (Homeland) didn't go into Portland one week ago, there would be no Portland - It would be burned and beaten to the ground. If the Mayor and Governor do not stop the Crime and Violence from the Anarchists and Agitators immediately, the Federal Government will go in and do the job that local law enforcement was supposed to do!" Trump later tweeted, "@FoxNews reported incorrectly what the Federal Government is doing with respect to Portland. We are demanding that the Governor & Mayor do their job or we will do it for them. To complicated to discuss in a Tweet, but bad reporting by Fox (possibly on purpose!). @DHSgov" Fox News (7/29, Wallace, 27.59M) reports on its website that federal agents deployed in Portland will begin a "phased withdrawal" from the city's downtown area starting Thursday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) announced earlier Wednesday. Acting DHS Secretary Wolf said in a statement that he and Brown had reached a joint plan to end "the violent activity in Portland directed at federal properties and law enforcement officers." In his statement, Wolf said President Trump and the Administration have been consistent in their message that "violent criminal activity" directed at federal properties and law enforcement will not be tolerated and that "state and local leaders must step forward and police their communities." Later Wednesday, Wolf alleged on Fox News' Ingraham Angle (7/29) that Brown is using "very irresponsible" language. "She is describing law enforcement officers, civil law enforcement officers who wake up every day you come up with a badge on come up with the uniform on and protect the community and federal officers, as an occupying force and responsible for the violence we see in Portland. ... It is the violent rioters and criminals that we have seen over 60 days that are the occupying force." The AP (7/29, Selsky, Ranen) reports Brown announced federal agents will begin a "phased withdrawal" from the city as they "work alongside state police to guard the exterior of the courthouse." A "limited number of other federal agents," however, "will remain inside the courthouse." CNBC (7/29, Higgins, 3.62M) says on its website, "While Brown's statement indicated that some federal officers, including all Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, will depart as soon as Thursday, Wolf indicated that DHS agents will remain." Wolf "wrote that the DHS would keep its personnel in Portland 'until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure." Wolf, Politico (7/29, Cohen, 4.29M) reports, "said he was pleased that Oregon officials had agreed to maintain the first line of defense for the courthouse, but he also suggested that a lackadaisical response from Brown and Portland city officials essentially forced the feds to make their controversial move to call in reinforcements." Wolf is quoted as saying, "If she would've done it earlier, we would've been able to address the situation very differently. ... If violent individuals decide to commit a conscious decision to break federal law, we're going to hold those people accountable. With Oregon State Police there, we hope it doesn't get to that. ...That's what occurs in every other city across the country. We hope that's what's going to occur there as well." The Federalist (7/29, Reynolds, 126K) reports that while "Wolf and Brown both claimed to have reached a decision together," their announcements "emphasize very different aspects" of what it calls "an ambiguous agreement." The New York Times (7/29, Al, Baker, 18.61M), meanwhile, reports that "hours before the announcement of the agreement, President Trump doubled down on the need for the increased federal presence in Portland." Trump is quoted as saying, "You hear all sorts of reports about us EFTA01658249 leaving. We're not leaving until they've secured their city. We told the governor. We told the mayor. Secure your city. If they don't secure their city soon, we have no choice. We're going to have to go in and clean it out." The Washington Times (7/29, Dinan, 492K) calls the agreement "a possible solution to months of violent clashes that have stained the city," the AP (7/29, Flaccus, Balsamo) notes "each side declared victory," while the Washington Post (7/29, Al, Berman, Miroff, Lang, Fahrenthold, 14.2M) says "the specific timing of how this would play out remained unclear." On its editorial page, the Wall Street Journal (7/29, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) welcomes the announcement, which it says puts the responsibility to restore order back on state and local leaders. USA Today (7/29, Hauck, 10.31M), the Wall Street Journal (7/29, Al, Levy, Gurman, Subscription Publication, 7.57M), Townhall (7/29, O'Brien, 177K), and the Daily Caller (7/29, Talcott, 716K), among other news outlets, also report on the announcement. Former Prosecutor Warns Trump Making Cities Less Safe. Former federal prosecutor Michael J. Stern argues in USA Today (7/29, 10.31M) that Trump "has cast the battle between protesters and federal law enforcement in the same way he cast `The Apprentice' - with heroes and villains and an audience that does not know it is being played." Trump's "Portland strategy," Stern says, is: "Look tough and beat Biden. But he's making cities less safe." PROTESTS Administration Announces Deployment Of Agents To Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit. Reuters (7/29, Chiacu, Alper, Hay, Borter, Layne), meanwhile, reports "the withdrawal in Oregon coincided with the announcement of a deployment of federal law enforcement officials to Cleveland, Milwaukee and Detroit, expanding a separate program aimed at curtailing a surge of murders and other violent crimes in some cities." NBC Nightly NewsVi (7/29, story 5, 2:00, Holt, 5.97M) said as part of the operation, the Administration is "sending federal agents, not tactical teams, to help fight crime" in the more cities. USA Today (7/29, Phillips, 10.31M) reports the Justice Department plans to send 42 agents to Detroit and "more than 25 each to Cleveland and Milwaukee - cities that officials said have seen rising violent crime rates." The federal officers, drawn from "the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies, will help local and state officials in ongoing criminal investigations, according to the Justice Department." Fox News (7/29, Blitzer, 27.59M) reports, "The initiative first launched in Kansas City, Mo., on July 8, and expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque one week ago." Detroit, Cleveland, and Milwaukee "will see increased resources from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that will aim to reduce crime, particularly gun violence." CNN (7/29, Perez, 83.16M) reports that the federal agents "will work on gun and other criminal cases previously identified as within federal jurisdiction in coordination with local and federal prosecutors. Justice officials previously announced that hundreds of federal officers were being sent to Chicago, Kansas City and Albuquerque as part of an initiative called Operation Legend." The Hill (7/29, Samuels, 2.98M) reports, "The department cited increases in violent crime in each of the cities, noting homicides and shootings are up in all three places compared to 2019. President Trump last week announced similar deployments of federal agents to Chicago and Albuquerque as part of Operation Legend, which is named for a young victim of gun violence in Kansas City. The administration has repeatedly invoked the program to argue Trump is imposing law and order." The New York Post (7/29, Feuerherd, 4.57M) reports, "Operation Legend is named after 4- year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed in Kansas City while she was sleeping, and EFTA01658250 launched earlier this month in the city." The CBS Evening NewsVi (7/29, story 6, 2:00, O'Donnell, 4.28M) reported the Administration announced Wednesday that it is expanding "Operation Legend" sending "additional federal agents outside of Oregon, it says, to combat upticks in violence in Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Detroit. Detroit's chief of police welcomes the federal support to combat violent crime, but says he doesn't need their help with protesters." Detroit Police Chief James Craig: "We never requested support for any protest-related activity. We do support...anything to reduce violence in our city." The Washington Times (7/29, Chasmar, 492K) reports Chief Craig "said Tuesday his city isn't seeing the riots that are occurring in other major cities across the country because his police department is supported by the mayor and fellow Detroiters who are `fed up' with the `misguided radicals' fomenting chaos." The Washington Times (7/29, Mordock, 492K) reports Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Twitter Wednesday "assured residents his city didn't initiate the surge in federal officers." Duggan tweeted, "Today's announcement of additional federal agency staff was not initiated by the City of Detroit. So long as they are used in the continuing effort to enforce federal laws on illegal gun trafficking and gang violence, DPD will continue its strong partnership with those agencies." Meanwhile, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett last week said he was "extremely concerned" about the deployment. US Attorney Distinguishes Federal Role In Portland From Crime-Fighting Assistance In Other Cities. The AP (7/29, Richmond) reports that on Wednesday, federal prosecutors "worked...to dispel concerns that federal agents headed to a number of U.S. cities will be used to break up protests, insisting that the agents will work side-by-side with local and state investigators to solve violent crimes." President Trump "announced last week that he was sending agents to more U.S. cities...to combat a rise in violent crime." Matthew Krueger, the US Attorney in Milwaukee, "told reporters during a news conference...that the media was confusing agents' missions," and that "agents being sent to cities other than Portland were part of a U.S. Department of Justice effort to bolster manpower in high-crime cities." Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D- WI) "said that after speaking with Krueger, she is supportive of the operation in Milwaukee," but "faulted Trump's administration for not being clear from the outset." Federal Agents Headed For Detroit. The AP (7/29) reports from Detroit, "Federal agents being sent to Detroit by the Trump administration will help local authorities fight violent crime and won't interfere with protests against racism or excessive force by police, the region's top federal prosecutor said Wednesday." US Attorney Matthew Schneider "dismissed as `irresponsible rhetoric' any suggestion that the government wants to quash dissent in Michigan, seeking to allay fears that they would have a role similar to the one agents have had at protests in Portland, Oregon, in recent weeks. Instead, he stressed that they would be helping local law enforcement combat a rise in violent crime in Detroit. `The United States Department of Justice will not sit on the sidelines while murderers spread violence in our neighborhoods,' Schneider told reporters as he described a `surge' of agents and deputy marshals in Detroit." The Detroit News (7/29, Ferretti, 825K) reports, "Schneider told The News last week that he was actively working with Washington, D.C., to `bring more federal resources and more federal law enforcement agents to Michigan.' The effort, he noted, is an extension of Operation Relentless Pursuit, a program rolled out in Detroit last winter by U.S. Attorney General William Barr." The News adds, "The program to assist local law enforcement establish new task forces to track down the most violent offenders also is targeted at Memphis, Baltimore, Kansas City, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Albuquerque, Barr said in December when he announced the program alongside Craig and leaders of the FBI, ATF, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service." The Detroit Free Press (7/29, Baldas, 1.52M) reports, "Federal law enforcement agencies have a message for Detroit: We are coming to help your city fight violence, not harass or EFTA01658251 intimidate your protesters. `Let me be perfectly clear ... there are no federal troops coming to Detroit, or anywhere in Michigan to interfere with protesters," Schneider said Wednesday. The Free Press adds, "Many Detroiters have expressed concern and fears about the federal intervention as it comes amidst a national Black Lives Matter movement that has turned violent in other cities across the country. Detroit protests have thus far been mostly peaceful, though many locals fear their city could turn into another Portland, where chaos and mayhem broke out following the arrival of federal agents," but "that's not why federal agents are coming here, the leaders stressed on Wednesday." MLive (MI> (7/29, Afana, 925K) reports, "The plan is to send 42 federal agents from the FBI, DEA, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Marshals to Detroit to fight gun and gang violence. The city will also get $1 million to combat gang and gun violence from the Bureau of Justice Assistance." Schneider "cited a spike in violent crime as the reason. He said homicides have increased by 31% in Detroit. `These numbers keep going up. This flood in violence keeps threatening our safety. More and more, our children are being caught in the crossfire and murdered in senseless gun violence; Schneider said, referring to the May 21 death of Nathaniel Mesiah Roby, a 4-year-old who was shot in his home." The Detroit Metro Times (7/29, Neavling, 219K) reports, "As long as the agents leave protesters alone, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and police Chief James Craig said they support the additional resources." WDIV-TV Detroit (7/29, Johncox, 460K) reports from Detroit, "FBI Special Agent in Charge Steve D'Antuono announced during a news conference Wednesday a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the death of a 4-year-old boy in Detroit." Nathaniel "Messiah" Roby-Townsend "died just after midnight on May 21 when someone fired shots into his family's home on Birwood Street near Seven Mile Road. Family members said the children were in bed when someone drove by and opened fire, hitting Nathaniel. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead." Among local news outlets also reporting are WJR-AM Detroit (7/29, 19K), WJBK-TV Detroit (7/29, 103K), WDIV-TV Detroit (7/29, Johncox, 460K), WXYZ-TV Detroit (7/29, Chowdhry, 236K), WXYZ-TV Detroit (7/29, 236K), WJBK-TV Detroit (7/29, 103K), Deadline Detroit (7/29, Lengel), and WWJ-TV Detroit (7/29). Cleveland To See 25 New Federal Agents In Operation Legend. The Cleveland Plain Dealer (7/29, Caniglia, 895K) reports, "Federal authorities said Wednesday that Cleveland will get 25 federal agents over the next several months to stem a spike in violent crime." The Plain Dealer adds, "Nearly $10 million in federal money also will go toward hiring 30 Cleveland police officers and seven state officers, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman told reporters at a press conference. 'We can't waste any time here; Herdman said, citing a 35 percent increase in shootings in the city over the same time last year. Homicides have jumped 32 percent, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. Herdman's comments came days after the White House announced that the U.S. Justice Department selected Cleveland and a handful of other cities would receive additional federal officers." WEWS-TV Cleveland (7/29, Vanallen) reports, "On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio, along with the Cleveland Division of Police, Mayor Frank Jackson, and other federal partners, dispelled rumors about `Operation Legend' and what's been done in the city as a result of an effort that has been in the planning stages since 2019. 'First Operation Legend is a violent crime reduction effort. Period; said Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. 'There are additional resources that are being provided to state and local law enforcement to assist in traditional crime-fighting that will be directed at gang violence, narcotics-related shootings, and illegal firearms. What it is not is an introduction of federal police. It is not an introduction of federal uniform personnel and it's not an introduction of federal agents to protect federal property." EFTA01658252  WKYC-TV Cleveland (7/29, 223K) reports, "As Cleveland authorities introduced the launch of 'Operation Legend' - a violent crime reduction effort in the city - they also announced a $25,000 reward regarding the murder of a 17-year-old boy." WKYC-TV adds, "Officials with the Cleveland Division of the FBI are asking for the public's help in finding the person(s) responsible for the May 25 shooting, which claimed the life of Eric Hakizimana as he stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of W. 80th and Detroit. Eric Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland FBI, discussed details of the teen's death during a press conference Wednesday morning. 'Eric was violently pulled from his vehicle, shot and left to die on the streets of Cleveland. His murderer then drove away in Eric's vehicle." WEWS-TV Cleveland (7/29) reports, "Police said an unknown male approached Hakizimana's car, dragged him out of the vehicle, shot him and fled the area in his vehicle. 'Eric and his family are refugees from their home country of the Democratic Republic Congo, having fled violence and war there for a refugee camp in Uganda. Eric and his family came to the United States unable to imagine violence would follow them to a street light at West 80th and Detroit with the sudden and tragic loss of their son,' Smith said. A $25,000 reward is being offered as part of funds allocated from 'Operation Legend." WKYC-TV Cleveland (7/29, 223K) also reports. Milwaukee To Get More Than 25 Federal Agents. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (7/29, Spicuzza, 632K) reports, "More than 25 federal agents will be coming to Milwaukee as part of Operation Legend, a program aimed at addressing violent crime, Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. attorney for Wisconsin's Eastern District, said Wednesday." The Journal Sentinel adds, "Agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Marshals Service will join work that's already underway by existing federal, state and local task forces, Krueger said. Ten of the federal agents will be assigned to work in Milwaukee temporarily to provide 'immediate assistance,' and the others will be assigned over the next year to provide long-term assistance, he said." WDJT-TV Milwaukee (7/29, 65K) reports, "Between 25 and 30 federal agents will be coming to Milwaukee through the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshal Service and the DEA to expand on existing partnerships with the Milwaukee Police Department. 'These aren't beat cops,' Wisconsin Eastern District U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger said. 'These are trained investigators, who do often longer term investigations or who know how to do a deeper dive on things:" Milwaukee "is one of six cities currently involved in 'Operation Legend,' along with Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Kansas City and Albequerque." WDJT-TV adds, "The city's homicide rate is currently 85 percent higher than it was at this time last year. 'That's the reason why we need to focus our attention to reduce violent crime in this area,' Milwaukee FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes said." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (7/29, Dirr, 632K) reports, "Federal officials on Wednesday announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person who killed Qunyonce Louis-Moore, 16, in Milwaukee. She was fatally shot about 10:30 p.m. on June 30 while on a walk with friends on the 3400 block of North 8th Street. Qunyonce died at the scene. 'Please, I beg you, if you have any information at all please, please come forward and let us know, and we will do everything we can to bring justice to the individual that took her life,' said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes, calling Qunyonce's homicide a 'senseless act.'" WISN-TV Milwaukee (7/29, 265K) also reports. Two Protesters Charged In Attack On Wisconsin State Lawmaker. The Wisconsin State Journal (7/29, Treleven, 372K) reports that "tips from a former physical therapy client and from co-workers led police to the identities of two women who were arrested this week for the alleged attack on state Sen. Tim Carpenter last month during a Downtown protest, according to court documents filed Wednesday." Kerida E. O'Reilly and Samantha R. EFTA01658253 Hamer, both of Madison, were charged Wednesday "with substantial battery as party to a crime for the alleged attack on Carpenter." The New York Times (7/29, Hauser, 18.61M) reports Carpenter "said on June 24 that he was punched and kicked in the head after he took a cellphone video of protesters who had been marching through downtown Madison for several hours to protest police violence and racism." US Charges Eight Pittsburgh Protesters. KDKA-TV Pittsburgh (7/29, 144K) reports, "Eight Pittsburgh protesters who were involved in the May 30 demonstrations in downtown Pittsburgh have been criminally indicted, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady's office. The people indicted include 31-year-old George Allen of Pittsburgh, 25-year-old Nicholas Lucia of Pittsburgh, 25-year-old Andrew Augustyniak-Duncan of Carnegie, 24-year-old Raekwon Dac Blankenship of Pittsburgh, 24-year-old Devin Montgomery of Pittsburgh, 22-year-old Da'Jon Lengyel of McKees Rocks, 35-year-old Christopher West of Pittsburgh and 29-year-old Brandon Benson of Pittsburgh." The Gant (PA) Daily (7/29, Shirey) reports, "The alleged criminal acts occurred while Pittsburgh Police officers were engaged in responding to the violent demonstration in downtown Pittsburgh on May 30, at the same time that many other citizens were lawfully protesting over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn. The indictments were returned under seal on July 22, and the final two indictments were unsealed on Wednesday. 'The actions of the accused were uncalled for and prevented law enforcement officers from carrying out their duties to protect and serve our community,' said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. 'The FBI respects the rights of people to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms but will not stand by and let those with a violent agenda take over peaceful protests." Seattle Police Union Leader Rejects Mayor's Claim Trump Using Agents As "Dry Run For Martial Law." Fox News (7/29, Kaplan, 27.59M) reports, "Denying federal law enforcement assistance to combat violence is 'unconscionable,' Seattle Police Officers Guild President Michael Solan told 'America's Newsroom' on Wednesday, reacting to comments made by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan earlier this week." Speaking on CNN Monday, Durkan said President Trump "clearly targeted cities run by Democratic mayors. He's said so himself. He's using law enforcement as a political tool." Durkan continued, "I hate to say it, but I really believe that we are seeing the dry run for martial law." In response, Solan said, "To deny any type of assistance from any law enforcement entity to me is unconscionable and I have yet to hear one elected official show concern for the officers that were hurt this past weekend." Seattle Mayor Loses Bid To Stop Recall Petition. The AP (7/29) reports that a judge "who ruled earlier this month that a recall petition against Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan could move ahead is holding to that decision." King County Superior Court Judge Mary E. Roberts on Wednesday "denied a motion by Durkan that asked Roberts to reconsider her July 10 ruling." Durkan "could appeal to a higher court, but the ruling marks another legal win" for his opponents "in what would be a long process to oust her from office in a special recall election." Oakland Approves Resolution To Keep City "Safe" From "Trump's Federal Agents." Fox News (7/29, Casiano, 27.59M) reports the Oakland City Council approved a resolution Tuesday to keep the city "safe from President Trump's federal agents." The "unanimous vote" approved legislation that cited the ongoing protests in Portland. Judge Restricts Use Of Force Against Protesters In Oakland. Axios (7/29, Ayesh, 521K) reports that a judge issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday "restricting police from using stinger grenades, rubber bullets and pepper balls against protesters in Oakland." US Magistrate Joseph Spero's injunction "follows a request from the Anti-Police Terror Project, a nonprofit watchdog group, which accused local police of using excessive force against Black Lives Matters protesters." The order, however, "does not apply to federal officers." EFTA01658254 Morgan, Miller: Democrats Emboldening Protesters By Failing To Condemn Violence. Acting CBP Commissioner Morgan said on WMAL-AM Washington (7/29), "I'm disgusted at" House Speaker Pelosi calling his officers stormtroopers. Morgan said such comments are "emboldening and encouraging what I refer to as violent criminal anarchists. ... This is politics being put before public safety." Morgan, appearing on Washington Watch (7/29, Morgan, Schweppe, Dennard, Gonzalez), said, "The last 62 days there have been peaceful protests that have been taken over, hijacked, by violent anarchists every single night with the willful intent to destroy federal property and hurt federal agents." White House senior advisor Stephen Miller said on WSB-AMVi Atlanta (7/29, 52K), "The Democratic Party decided to rally behind purposeless anarchists in Portland launching incendiary devices." Miller added, "Democrats have fully thrown in their lot with this new brand of domestic terrorism." In Portland there are "heroic law enforcement officers doing shifts in unimaginable circumstances, trying to keep federal property...safe." Rove: Biden Likely To Lose Support From Center For Failing To Condemn Protesters. Karl Rove, writing in his Wall Street Journal (7/29, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) column, welcomes the deal brokered by the Administration with authorities in Oregon. Rove also writes that by failing to condemn violent protesters in Portland, Joe Biden is likely to lose support from centrists voters who are tired of the violence. Poll: Support Drops For Protests, But Many Disapprove Of Trump's Response. Reuters (7/29, Kahn) reports that "Americans' support for the Black Lives Matter protests has declined since the immediate aftermath of the death of George Floyd in May renewed a national conversation on race, yet more than half still disapprove of President Donald Trump's response, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll." The July 27-28 poll "also showed a largely partisan reaction to Trump's decision to deploy federal agents to quell demonstrators." According to the poll, "52% of American adults say they are sympathetic" to the protesters, "about 12 percentage points lower than a similar poll that ran in mid-June." The poll also "showed 54% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the protests, which is only a slight improvement from a similar poll that ran in mid-June when 58% disapproved." AP Analysis: Trump's Focus On Crime Is A Campaign Gambit. Under the headline "As Crime Surges On His Watch, Trump Warns Of Biden's America," the AP (7/29, Madhani) reports the President is "painting a dystopian portrait of what Joe Biden's America might look like, asserting crime and chaos would ravage communities should the former vice president win the White House in November." The AP adds, "Left unsaid: A recent surge in violent crime in several American cities has happened on his watch." According to the AP, "With echoes of Richard Nixon's law-and-order campaign in 1968 - when American streets were rife with racial protests and Nixon campaigned vowing to crack down and restore order in an appeal tailored to white voters - Trump is trying to energize his conservative base while also making an appeal to a small patch of undecided voters by posing the question: Which man will keep you safer?" Pentagon Training Course Refers To Protesters, Journalists As "Adversaries." Politico (7/29, Seligman, 4.29M) reports that a "new mandatory Pentagon training course aimed at preventing leaks refers to protesters and journalists as 'adversaries' in a fictional scenario designed to teach Defense Department personnel how to better protect sensitive information." The training materials are public and include a video message from Defense Secretary Esper, "as well as a July 20 memo outlining his concerns about operational security and directing all DoD personnel - military, civilian and on-site contractors - to take the course within the next 60 days." UN Rights Panel Questions Police Tactics Against Protesters. The New York Times (7/29, Cumming-Bruce, 18.61M) reports, "Law-enforcement authorities are obligated to protect and facilitate peaceful demonstrations, an influential United Nations EFTA01658255 human rights panel said on Wednesday, challenging tactics the police have used against anti- racism protests in American cities and around the world." The UN Human Rights Committee said the international treaty "governing civil and political rights requires states to allow peaceful demonstrations, not to block or disrupt them without a compelling reason." Video Of NYPD Pulling Protester Into Unmarked Van Draws Criticism. The CBS Evening NewsVi (7/29, story 6, 2:00, O'Donnell, 4.28M) said "concerns around protest policing are heightening across the country, like this arrest of a protester by undercover NYPD officers yesterday who placed her in an unmarked vehicle." Mayor Bill de Blasio (D): "I think it was the wrong time and the wrong place to effectuate that arrest." ABC World News TonightVi (7/29, story 8, 0:25, Muir, 7.22M) reported that "witnesses say it was excessive." NBC Nightly NewsVi (7/29, story 5, 2:00, Holt, 5.97M) similarly said video of the arrest "has struck a raw nerve." NBC's Gabe Gutierrez added, "The NYPD said the protester was wanted for damaging police cameras during five separate incidents around City Hall." Fox News (7/29, Pagones, 27.59M) reports on its website that the NYPD released new video footage that "appears to show the woman...after she allegedly damaged city-owned surveillance cameras on five separate occasions, officials said." The woman, identified by "several social media accounts and reports," is believed to be 18-year-old Nikki Stone. The New York Times (7/29, Zaveri, Gold, 18.61M) reports Stone, police said, was "one of 12 protesters arrested on Tuesday," charged with "criminal mischief and making graffiti, which are misdemeanor offenses, and released early Wednesday morning." Whistleblower Alleges LAPD Encouraged Excessive Force And Retaliation. The Los Angeles Times (7/29, 4.64M) reports that a "longtime Los Angeles police SWAT sergeant is suing the LAPD, alleging the unit is run by a 'SWAT Mafia' of veteran cops who encourage the use of deadly force and ostracized him for revealing its behavior." Sgt. Tim Colomey, "who spent 11 years as a SWAT supervisor until last November, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging retaliation for revealing how a group of veteran officers controlled the tactical unit's operations and membership and punished him and other enemies for speaking out." Colomey alleges in the suit filed Tuesday that those leaders "glamorize the use of lethal force, and direct the promotions of officers who share the same values while maligning the reputations of officers who do not." Minneapolis Police Search For Man Who Incited Violent Protests. ABC World News TonightVi (7/29, story 7, 1:25, Muir, 7.22M) reported authorities in Minneapolis "say they are now searching for a man that they allege was seen in a viral video smashing windows and inciting violence after the death of George Floyd. They say he is a white supremacist who wanted to fuel racial unrest." ABC (Perez) added, "Investigators are working to obtain the man's cell phone location data. At this point, charges have not yet been filed." NYTimes Analysis: Demings Has Complicated History With Police Misconduct. The New York Times (7/29, Rosenthal, Mazzei, 18.61M) reports Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), a former Orlando police chief, has emerged as a finalist to be Joe Biden's running mate, but a review of her record shows a complicated history involving police misconduct. Crime sharply declined while Demings served as police chief, "but use of force by officers remained high." Police misconduct cases are "also the focus of renewed scrutiny for another top contender," Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), "who has been criticized for not aggressively prosecuting officers accused of wrongdoing as California's attorney general." Floyd Hologram To Tour US And Replace Confederate Statues. EFTA01658256  The New York Daily News (7/29, Braine, 2.52M) reported that a "hologram effigy" of George Floyd "will tour the US, traveling roughly along the route of the 1961 Freedom Rides." In Richmond, Virginia, the hologram "will replace the statue of Robert E. Lee," which protesters removed in June. I COUNTER-TERRORISM California Man Named As Alleged White Supremacist Leader. The Sacramento (CA) Bee (7/29, Stanton, 567K) reports, "The shadowy online white supremacist leader who is alleged to be a 27-year-old Orangevale man is one of the most violent extremists in the movement today, but his unmasking may result in his followers fleeing his influence, a researcher into American hate movements says." Andrew Richard Casarez, "who allegedly posted online for years as the 'Vic Mackey,' the leader of a Dylann Roof-worshipping group known as the 'Bowl Patrol; is under investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office for alleged hate crimes and earlier this month had a 9 mm firearm seized by detectives who obtained an emergency restraining order," but "But public reports of his identity — first by the website Anonymous Comrades Collective on July 7 and then by the Huffington Post a week ago - may scare off followers of the Bowl Patrol, said Cassie Miller, a senior research analyst with the Southern Poverty Law Center." COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE Justice Department Agrees To Release FBI Texts From McCabe. The Washington Examiner (7/29, Dunleavy, 448K) reports the Justice Department has agreed "to release at least some of fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe's text messages following a yearslong FOIA lawsuit pursued by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group." The Justice Department "told a DC federal court last week that it had found dozens of potentially relevant texts from the FBI official who played a key role in the Trump-Russia investigation and the Clinton emails investigation." DOJ lawyers "told the court and Judicial Watch that they would need until the end of August to review the records before agreeing to a production schedule." Judicial Watch first filed "its FOIA lawsuit for these McCabe text messages back in 2017 on behalf of retired FBI supervisory special agent Jeffrey Danik." FBI Memo Highlights Mystery Sources Tied To Steele Dossier. The Daily Caller (7/29, 716K) reports an FBI memo declassified this month" led to the revelation that Igor Danchenko was the primary source of information for dossier author Christopher Steele." Danchenko's statements to the FBI "have called into question some of the longstanding media narratives about the sourcing for Steele's dossier." In particular "is the role, if any, that a Belarusian-American businessman named Sergei Millian played as a source for Danchenko and Steele." Steele "told the FBI he believed that Millian was the source of several explosive allegations in the dossier." But Danchenko "told the FBI that he believes he may have talked to Millian just once in a brief phone call." Barr Says He Won't Wait Until After Election To Reveal Durham's Findings. The Washington Post (7/29, Zapotosky, Demirjian, 14.2M) reports Attorney General Barr "reiterated this week that he will not wait until after November's election to release whatever US Attorney John Durham finds in his examination of the FBI's 2016 investigation into President Trump's campaign, raising fears among Democrats that Barr and Durham could upend the presidential race with a late revelation." Republicans have been "eagerly awaiting Durham's findings — hopeful that the prosecutor Barr handpicked last year to investigate the investigation of possible coordination between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia will validate their fierce EFTA01658257 criticisms of the bureau." Democrats, meanwhile, "have worried" that Durham is "aiding a political stunt designed to undercut an investigation that dogged Trump's presidency." As the election draws near, both sides "have grown increasingly anxious, with liberals fretting over an October surprise, and Republicans wondering whether Durham's work could push into the next administration." Collins Insists Barr Has "Every Right" To Release Durham Report Before Election. Fox News (7/29, Kaplan, 27.59M) reports Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) "told 'Outnumbered Overtime' on Wednesday that Attorney General Barr has 'every right' to release the results of Durham's investigation into the Russia probe's origins before the 2020 election." Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) asked Barr, "Under oath, do you commit to not releasing any report by Mr. Durham before the November election?" The attorney general responded, "No," Mucarsel- Powell asked, "So you won't go by Department of Justice policy that you won't interfere in any political investigation before the November election?" Barr insisted, "We won't interfere. In fact, I made it clear I'm not going to tolerate it." US Expands Espionage Charges Against Former Twitter Employees. ZDNet (7/29, Kwan, 299K) reports, "Fresh off dismissing spying charges against two former Twitter employees and another individual on Tuesday, the US government has unfurled a new superseding indictment that accuses the three individuals of even more offences." ZDNet adds, "The two former Twitter employees, Ahmad Abouammo and Ali Alzabarah, and the third person named Ahmed Almutairi were originally charged with fraudulently accessing private information and acting as illegal agents of a foreign government for allegedly spying on Twitter users critical of the Saudi royal family. This time around, the individuals have been charged with seven offences instead of two. The charges include acting as an agent for a foreign government without notice to the attorney general; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; money laundering; destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations; aiding and abetting; and criminal forfeiture." Arkansas Professor Indicted After Allegedly Hiding China Ties To Secure NASA Grant Money Fox News (7/29, Ruiz, 27.59M) "Federal prosecutors have secured dozens of indictments on wire and passport fraud charges against a University of Arkansas professor who allegedly hid ties to China to obtain NASA grant money. Investigators arrested 63-year-old Simon Saw-Teong Ang in May on a single charge of wire fraud for allegedly hiding his ties to the Chinese government and Chinese businesses while receiving federal grant money. Now the Fayetteville, Ark. resident faces 42 counts of wire fraud and two counts of passport fraud after a grand jury indictment, the Justice Department (DO3) announced Wednesday." The AP (7/29) reports from Fayetteville, Arkansas, "A suspended University of Arkansas professor has been indicted on multiple wire and passport fraud counts." According to the AP, the "indictment returned Tuesday in Fayetteville, Arkansas, accuses Simon Saw-Teong Ang of failing to disclose close ties to the Chinese government and Chinese companies when he obtained federal grants. The university suspended the 63-year-old electrical engineering professor and removed him as director of the university's High Density Electronics Center after his May 8 arrest by federal agents. Ang is free on a $200,000 bond." The Arkansas Democrat Gazette (7/29, Adame, 307K) reports, "Simon Ang 'knowingly made materially fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions' on a 2016 NASA grant application and a 2017 U.S. Air Force grant application submitted by Ozark Integrated Circuits, Inc., states an indictment entered into the case record