EFTA01655631.pdf

From: "Strother, Megan Marie (IMD) (FBI)" -4 To: "Laff, Kimberlie Ann (IMD) (FBI)" <MIME> Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - DRAFT: FBI Daily News Briefing - March 5, 2025 Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:13:29 +0000 Importance: Normal From: FBI News Briefing •<. > Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 5:00 AM To: FBINewsBriefing_Draft < Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - DRAFT: FBI Daily News Briefing - March 5, 2025 View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation - March 05, 2025 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 • President Trump Takes Victory Lap in Speech to Congress, Democrats Protest • U.S. Lists DOJ, FBI Buildings in Washington for Possible Sale • Trump Administration Expels Senior FBI Officials, Sparks Fears of Wider Purge Amid Jan. 6 Inquiry • Continued Reporting: Top FBI Official in New York Forced Out After Resisting Trump Purge of Agents • Continued Reporting: AG Bondi Says 'Truckload of Evidence' Related to Epstein Case Has Been Delivered to FBI Headquarters COUNTERTERRORISM • John Kerry 'Systematically Derailed' FBI Probe of Iranian Terrorists While Pursuing Nuclear Deal • Jordanian Quantico Breach Suspect Freed Under Biden Arrested Again by ICE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • Fired U.S. Government Workers With Top Security Clearances Were Not Given Exit Briefings, Sources Say CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Democrats Lodge Complaint Against Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove in New York Over Eric Adams Case • California Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for Hate Crime Beating in Culver City EFTA01655631  • Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Child Pornography • Climate Groups Were Counting on $20 Billion. President Trump Won't Let Them Access It. • Dozens of Canadians Are Charged in $21 Million 'Grandparent Scam' • Continued Reporting: Search for Missing Two-Year-Old Boy Dane Paulsen in Oregon Now Focuses on River • Rep. Kiley Calls for FBI to Investigate California High-Speed Rail Project • Fugitive Found Dead in Stolen Car by FBI SWAT Team at South Nashville Home • Trans Vegan Cult Member Linked to Vermont Border Agent Killing Was Person of Interest in Parente Murders • Suspect in Custody After Three People Killed on Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota • Continued Reporting: Feds Seek Records Tied to Ousted Illinois Mayor's Boyfriend • Continued Reporting: Feeding Our Future Trial • Former Hawaii Prison Guard Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Inmates • Atlanta Inspector General's Office Staff Accuse City Officials of Retaliation, Refer Investigations to Feds • Former New York School Administrator Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography • FBI Files Shed Some Light on Shanquella Robinson Investigation • Florida Police, FBI Search for Titusville Woman Missing Under "Highly Suspicious Circumstances" • FBI, HSI Conduct Joint Operation, Make Arrest in Connection to Crypto Investment Scheme • Continued Reporting: FBI Looking for More Victims of East Memphis Doctor CYBER DIVISION • Continued Reporting: Trump Administration Halts Offensive Cyber Operations Against Russia INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • Ex-Surgeon Tells French Court He Used Status to Sexually Abuse Children OTHER FBI NEWS • Courts Push Back on DOJ's Effort to Expand Reach of President Trump's Jan. 6 Pardon • During Immigration Raid, DHS Secretary Noem Says ICE Bringing 'Consequences' • Top Federal Prosecutor in Washington Takes New Step to Respond to Gun Crimes • U.S. Health Agency Says Employees Can Apply for Early Retirement • Federal Judge Awards $2 Million to Family of Man Killed by FBI Agent in Failed Hostage Rescue • FBI Jacksonville's Historic Search for Justice • UT Martin Hosts FBI Collegiate Academy • New FBI Atlanta Head Says Agency's Biggest Goal Is Keeping Georgians Safe • FBI Tampa Reminds the Public to 'Take a Beat' During National Consumer Protection Week • FBI Training Exercise Shows Coordination at the U.S.-Mexico Border OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Trump Still Wants to Move His Hush Money Case to Federal Court as He Appeals • Republicans Target Four 'Sanctuary' Cities as Trump Pushes Mass Deportations • Trump Administration Readies Order to Bolster U.S. Shipbuilders, Punish China • How Federal Workers Are Dealing With the $1 Limit on Their Corporate Cards • Trump Administration Disbands Two Committees Advising on Economic Stats • RFK Jr.'s Health Department Heightens Scrutiny of Vaccines • DOJ Cites Trump Order to Put Cognizant Execs Bribery Trial On Hold • Coast Guard Intercepts Russian Nationals, Dominican Republic Migrants • Trump's Justice Department Throws Lifeline to GOP Clerk in Prison for 2020 Election Tampering EFTA01655632  • D.C. Prosecutor Drops Bid to Investigate Schumer for Purported Threat BIG PICTURE • Wall Street Journal • New York Times • Washington Post • Fox News • CNN • NBC News • CBS News • ABC News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS President Trump Takes Victory Lap in Speech to Congress, Democrats Protest Reuters (03/05, Oliphant, Mason, Slattery) and the Associated Press (03/04, Goldin) reported that President Donald Trump delivered a 100-minute-long televised speech to Congress that largely focused on domestic policy rather than foreign affairs. He made brief mentions of Ukraine, the Middle East, and national security, reiterating past positions and announcing a critical minerals deal with Ukraine and the detention of a terrorism suspect. Much of his address highlighted his conservative agenda, including proposed tax cuts, a border bill, and various executive orders on social issues. The speech prompted protests from Democrats, some of whom left the chamber, and skepticism regarding Trump's handling of inflation and overall economic concerns. Overall, his approval ratings remained around 44%, indicating lingering doubts among the public. Fox News (03/04, Colton) reported that President Trump declared that "America is back" in his speech. The article highlighted President Trump's claims that his administration had accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplish in four or eight years. The Associated Press (03/04, Video) also published a video with President Trump saluting Director Patel and AG Bondi during the speech. Additional reporting on the story was provided by ABC News (03/04, Hoffman), CBS News (03/04, Doan, Pandise, Tin), CNBC (03/04, Breuninger), CNN (03/04, Liptak), NBC News (03/04, Kapur), New York Post (03/04, Nelson), New York Times (03/04, Miller), NPR (03/04, Shivaram), Politico (03/04, Stokols), The Hill (03/04, Stanage), USA Today. (03/04, Bailey, Anderson), Wall Street Journal (03/04, Gurman), Washington Examiner (03/04, Lim), Washington Post (03/04, Viser), and Washington Times (03/04, Wilson). The New York Times (03/04, Firestone) also posted an opinion piece on the story. President Trump Says U.S. Has Apprehended 'Top Terrorist' CNN (03/04, Rabinowitz, Cohen, et al.) reported that President Trump announced in his joint address to Congress that the U.S. is transporting a "top terrorist" involved in the 2021bombing at Kabul airport's Abbey Gate in Afghanistan. 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians were killed. According to the article, Mohammad Sharifullah, is being charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support for terrorism. "Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice," Trump said. The article also quoted Director Patel's post on X: "As President Trump just announced, I can report that tonight the FBI, DOJ, and CIA have extradited one of EFTA01655633 the terrorists responsible for the murder of the 13 American soldiers at Abbey Gate during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. One step closer to justice for these American heroes and their families." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Associated Press (03/04, Tucker, Miller), Axios (03/04, Ravid), AFP (03/04, Staff Writer), CBS News (03/05, Brennan, Freiman, LaPorta), Daily Wire (03/04, Mahieu), The Hill (03/04, Mitchell), The Independent (03/05, Bedigan), Newsmax (03/04, Swanson), Reuters (03/04, Shalal), Washington Examiner (03/04, Brest), and Wall Street Journal (03/04, Leary). U.S. Lists DOJ, FBI Buildings in Washington for Possible Sale The Associated Press (03/04, Colvin, Sisak) reported that the Trump administration has released a list of over 440 federal properties targeted for potential sale, including the FBI headquarters and the main Department of Justice building. According to the article, the list was later revised to 320 entries, with all properties in Washington, D.C. removed, including the J. Edgar Hoover Building and the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. The goal of selling these properties is to eliminate costly maintenance and save taxpayer dollars, with estimated annual savings of over $430 million in operating costs. The article explained that several of the buildings on the initial chopping block house agencies that Trump has long criticized and targeted, notably the FBI and Justice Department. The FBI and HUD headquarters are also prime examples of the brutalist architectural style that Trump has tried for years to eliminate, preferring traditional, neo-classical architecture instead. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Bloomberg (03/04, Korte, Wong), CNN (03/04, Blackburn, Mash), Fox Business (03/04, Casiano), The Daily Beast (03/04, Ornedo), The Independent (03/04, Feinberg), Newsmax (03/04, Koutsobinas), New York Times (03/04, Ngo, Jewett, O'Brien), Politico (03/04, Cai, Nguyen), Reuters (03/04, Sullivan, Reid), Seattle Times (03/04, Hutton), USA Today (03/04, Wire), and WJLA (ABC-7) (03/04, Bourque). Trump Administration Expels Senior FBI Officials, Sparks Fears of Wider Purge Amid Jan. 6 Inquiry The Wall Street Journal (03/04, Gurman, Barber, Viswanatha) reported that the Trump administration has ordered the expulsion of senior FBI officials, with over two dozen already pushed out. The expulsions target investigators and prosecutors involved in Trump probes, with thousands more potentially at risk of being fired, sparking fears of a mass purge. According to the article, Director Patel is expected to shrink the bureau's counterintelligence and counterterrorism work, and move agents from securities fraud, antitrust violations, and other white-collar cases to pursue drug-trafficking and violent street crime. Additionally, the article explained that thousands of FBI agents were ordered to answer a 12-question survey about their work on the Jan. 6 riot. Agents paused field work to complete the survey. The central question asked, "What was your role in the investigations or prosecutions relating to events that occurred at or near the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021." The article highlighted that last Thursday, Director Patel told lawmakers at his FBI confirmation that FBI employees would be protected from political retribution. "Every FBI employee will be held to the same standard and no one will be terminated for case assignments;' he said under oath. On Saturday, the FBI agents association in a note told its members not to resign or offer to resign: "While we would never advocate for physical noncompliance, you need to be clear your removal is not voluntary." The agents association followed up with another message Sunday, telling members to answer the Jan. 6 survey with a response that included the sentence, "I have not been advised of my rights in this matter." The article noted that the senior FBI executives given the Justice Department ultimatum last week had by the Monday deadline cleared out their offices and turned in their badges. Together, they represented close to 200 years of FBI experience. 'Everything Is on the Table' on DOJ Purge of Trump Haters, AG Pam Bondi Says USA TODAY (03/04, Meyer) reported that the DOJ has fired all of Jan. 6 special counsel Jack Smith's staff and is working to "root out" anyone at the department and FBI who it believes doesn't like President EFTA01655634 Donald Trump, Attorney General Bondi has confirmed. AG Bondi, in a Monday night interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, also said the Justice Department is looking at conducting investigations into the actions of Smith's team and also into the conduct of prosecutors and federal agents involved in the sprawling criminal probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. "Well, first and foremost, we got rid of the Jack Smith team. Gone. Those people are gone," AG Bondi said. "We're still trying to find ... a lot of people in the FBI and also in the Department of Justice who despise Donald Trump, despise us, don't want to be there. You have to do the right thing and right now we're going to root them out," AG Bondi said. "We will find them, and they will no longer be employed." The article added that AG Bondi told Hannity she's been working with recently confirmed Director Patel to cull the staff of people determined to be problematic. "We're starting at every level of the Justice Department, Sean, and getting rid of the worst of the worst. But there are a lot more people that shouldn't be there." The article highlighted that AG Bondi's statements on the Fox interview indicated a stark shift from her tone earlier this year. During her Jan. 15 Senate confirmation hearing, Bondi denied that she would engage in a politically motivated purge of the Justice Department. "Politics will not play a pare Bondi, a former two-term Florida attorney general, told senators. "I've demonstrated that my entire career as a prosecutor, as attorney general and I will continue to do that." Continued Reporting: Top FBI Official in New York Forced Out After Resisting Trump Purge of Agents The Guardian (03/04, Lakhani) and the Washington Post (03/04, Staff Writer) reported that James Dennehy, the FBI's top official in New York, was forced out after resisting the Trump Administration's purge of agents who investigated the January 6 assault on the Capitol. According to the article, Dennehy's removal comes after the departure of eight veteran FBI officials involved in criminal investigations into Trump, and may lead to further layoffs of career officers. The article noted that Dennehy had vowed to "dig in" and resist the purge, and his departure has raised concerns about the influence of Trump and his allies in the justice system. "Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own as good people are being walked out of the FBI," Dennehy wrote to staff last month. "And others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and FBI policy." The article noted that in his farewell email on Monday, Dennehy urged FBI officials to maintain the agency's independence. "As I leave today, I have an immense feeling of pride — to have represented an office of professionals who will always do the right thing for the right reasons; who will always seek the truth while upholding the rule of law," he wrote. "Who will always handle cases and evidence with an overabundance of caution and care for the innocent, the victims, and the process first; and who will always remain independent". Additional reporting on the story was provided by Daily Caller (03/04, Natta), The Hill (03/04, Beitsch), Indian Express (03/04, Staff Writer), MSNBC (03/04, Benen), and SAN (03/04, Nigrelli). Continued Reporting: AG Bondi Says 'Truckload of Evidence' Related to Epstein Case Has Been Delivered to FBI Headquarters The New York Post (03/04, Nava) reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi has received a large amount of evidence related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, which has been delivered to FBI headquarters. "I have the FBI going through them," AG Bondi said, adding that Director Patel "is going to get us a detailed report as to why" the documents had been withheld. "We're going to go through it, go through it as fast as we can, but go through it very cautiously to protect all the victims of Epstein because there are a lot of victimsr she said. AG Bondi reiterated that a "team" assembled by Director Patel is going to look over the documents "as fast" as possible so "we can get it out to the American people, because the American people have a right to know." Additional reporting on the story was provided by ABC News (03/04, Steakin, Faulders, Mallin), Daily Mail (03/04, Chain), Daily Wire (03/04, Schow), The Epoch Times (03/04, Stieber), and SAN (03/04, Nigrelli). EFTA01655635 Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM John Kerry 'Systematically Derailed' FBI Probe of Iranian Terrorists While Pursuing Nuclear Deal The New York Post (03/04, Christenson) reported that the Obama administration allegedly "systematically derailed" an FBI probe into Iranian terrorists to pursue a nuclear deal with Tehran. According to the article, then-Secretary of State John Kerry personally interfered to block arrests, contradicting his sworn testimony to Congress. The article noted that the administration's actions included abandoning dozens of Iran-related investigations and setting up a "shadow amnesty program" to protect Iranian criminals, according to whistleblowers. Newsmax (03/04, Reyner) also reported on the story. Jordanian Quantico Breach Suspect Freed Under Biden Arrested Again by ICE Fox News (03/04, Ruiz) reported that Hasan Yousef Hamdan, a 32-year-old Jordanian national, has been re-arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being previously released on bond. According to the article, Hamdan and Mohammad Khair Dabous, 28, were initially arrested for allegedly trespassing at Marine Corps Base Quantico in May 2024. The men allegedly claimed they were contracted drivers for Amazon and were accused of posing as delivery drivers. Military police stopped them at the gate, but the driver allegedly ignored them and tried to move into the compound. "A student overstay somehow gets in contact with someone illegally crossing into the U.S. on the other side of the country. Both of them wind up in that truck," Dave Katz, a former federal firearms instructor who has worked at Quantico and is now the CEO of Global Security Group, said. "There is no possible explanation for what happened other than a sinister one." Quantico is a Marine Corps base that also houses training facilities and a lab for the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration, which could be potential terror targets, Katz said. The article added that the reason for Hamdan's new arrest is unclear, but he and Dabous still face immigration proceedings after charges related to the breach were dismissed without prejudice. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Fired U.S. Government Workers With Top Security Clearances Were Not Given Exit Briefings, Sources Say Reuters (03/04, Gardner, Landay) reported that some U.S. government workers with top security clearances, fired in recent mass layoffs overseen by Elon Musk, were not given standard exit briefings, posing a counterintelligence risk. According to the article, the lack of exit briefings means these workers were not reminded of non-disclosure agreements and were not instructed on what to do if approached by foreign adversaries. The article noted that Kevin Carroll, a former undercover CIA officer, said the failure to conduct final briefings for U.S. officials holding top-secret clearances was a "terrible" counterintelligence risk. "When you get read off the program, they remind you that you agreed to keep information confidential and it would violate the Espionage Act if you don't," he said. The article does not contain a direct FBI mention. An opinion piece from The Bulletin (03/04, Walton) assessed that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) poses a counterintelligence disaster due to inadequate security standards when accessing sensitive U.S. databases. According to the article, the abrupt layoff of hundreds of thousands of US federal civil servants creates a fertile ground for hostile foreign intelligence services to recruit disgruntled employees. Back to Top EFTA01655636 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Democrats Lodge Complaint Against Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove in New York Over Eric Adams Case The New York Times (03/04, Bromwich) reported that Senate Democrats on Tuesday asked a New York committee that disciplines lawyers to investigate whether the acting deputy attorney general violated rules of professional conduct by demanding that prosecutors abandon a corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams of New York City. The request, filed by the 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked the New York group to determine whether the official, Emil Bove III, "should be subject to disciplinary action." According to the article, New York's attorney grievance committees allow lawyers to police their own. The committees, which work in private, can recommend disciplinary measures to an appeals court, including disbarment in extraordinary cases. The article mentioned that last month, Bove, a former criminal defense lawyer for President Trump, ordered Manhattan prosecutors to abandon their case against Adams. The order caused upheaval within the Department of Justice, leading to the resignation of at least eight prosecutors, including the acting U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Danielle R. Sassoon. The article noted that the Democratic senators cited Sassoon's resignation letter as they detailed their concerns to an attorney grievance committee in Manhattan, writing that Bove had "explicitly premised the dismissal of charges against Mayor Eric L. Adams upon the extraction of a political favor." The senators also noted that prosecutors have asked that the case be dismissed without prejudice, meaning that they could bring charges anew, calling the arrangement "inherently coercive." Forbes (03/04, Durkee), and CNN (03/04, Rabinowitz) also reported on the story. California Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for Hate Crime Beating in Culver City CBS News (03/04, Rodriguez) reported that a federal judge sentenced a homeless man from California to more than four years in prison for a racially motivated attack in 2021. The DOJ said 38-year-old Jesse Allen Lindsey, a transient with a last known address in Fontana, pleaded guilty to one hate crime count in December 2024. Prosecutors said he was already in state prison on an unrelated conviction when a federal grand jury indicted him earlier this year. The attack happened on June 14, 2021, in Culver City. Investigators claimed that Lindsey punched the woman in the face after she did not give him a lighter or cigarette. The article quoted FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis, who said, "The facts of this case shock the conscience. Mr. Lindsey's actions were heinous, despicable, and inhumane." Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Child Pornography CBS News (03/04, Singleton) reported that a Michigan man was sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography online. Ethan Eversman, 25, of Ionia, was accused of requesting explicit videos from a 15-year-old in New York and sharing the videos with another person, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Officials say Eversman was a corrections officer with the Eaton County Sheriffs Office. The article quoted Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, who said, "Today's sentencing of Ethan Eversman, a former Corrections Deputy, reinforces the FBI's unwavering commitment to enforcing the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement. Members from the FBI's Lansing Resident Agency, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the Michigan State Police, worked tirelessly throughout this investigation, in an effort to halt Mr. Eversman's predatory actions. I also want to express my gratitude to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Michigan for their vital role in ensuring this child predator faces justice." Climate Groups Were Counting on $20 Billion. President Trump Won't Let Them Access It. EFTA01655637 The New York Times (03/04, Friedman, Brown, Savage) reported that two weeks after their bank accounts were frozen amid a swirl of investigations by the Trump administration, nonprofit organizations that were supposed to receive $20 billion to help curb climate change are still unable to withdraw money, raising concerns about their ability to pay staff. According to the article, the accounts were frozen by Citibank, which holds the money, after Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, suggested there was potential fraud and the FBI and DOJ launched investigations. Those inquiries went forward despite the determination by a top federal prosecutor that there was not enough evidence to open a grand jury criminal probe. The article stated that Zeldin has criticized the policy and the structure of the program that was created by Congress and run by the Biden administration. He called for the money to be returned to the federal government. This week, he asked for a third, concurrent investigation by his agency's acting inspector general. Breitbart (03/04, Moran) also reported on the story. Dozens of Canadians Are Charged in $21 Million 'Grandparent Scam' The New York Times (03/04, Sanders) reported that more than two dozen Canadians defrauded hundreds of vulnerable Americans out of $21million over three years in what the authorities called a "Grandparent Scam." The article added that on Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Vermont announced that 25 Canadian nationals had been charged with conspiring to defraud Americans in 45 states. All of those accused are from Ontario or Quebec, and 23 had been arrested in Canada as of Tuesday afternoon, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, the conspirators placed phone calls from centers in and near Montreal between the summer of 2021 and June 4, 2024, as part of the scheme. The 25 Canadians whose indictments were unsealed on Tuesday joined nine Americans who had previously been charged in the "Grandparent Scam," the authorities said. The article mentioned that the FBI warned that grandparent schemes targeting older adults are common. A DOJ press release noted that the case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. NBC News (03/04, Romero) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: Search for Missing Two-Year-Old Boy Dane Paulsen in Oregon Now Focuses on River ABC News (03/04, Forrester) reported that a massive search continues for an Oregon toddler who was reported missing on Saturday afternoon, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department. At a news conference Tuesday, authorities said they are now concentrating their search for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen along the Siletz River near his home, saying the evidence now indicates the toddler was at the river's edge before his disappearance. The boy was reported missing at approximately 4:25 p.m. Saturday and was last seen playing in the front yard of his family's Siletz, Oregon, home, "out of sight of his parents," the sheriff's department said in a statement on Sunday. The article mentioned that the Lincoln County Major Crime Team and the FBI are also assisting with the investigation and any new leads, authorities said. The FBI's Victim Service Division is also providing resources to Paulsen's family, officials said. As of Tuesday, at least 195 tips have been investigated, according to the sheriff's department. KATU (ABC-2) (03/04, Slaughter, Aljobory), and the Daily Mail (03/04, Gable) also reported on the story. Rep. Kiley Calls for FBI to Investigate California High-Speed Rail Project KCRA (NBC-3) (03/04, Weber) reported that California Congressman Kevin Kiley on Tuesday formally requested that Director Patel open an investigation into the state's high-speed rail project. Shortly after, the California High-Speed Rail Authority responded, saying it welcomed the investigation. According to the article, in a letter shared on social media platform X, Kiley called the high-speed rail project an issue that deserves Director Patel's attention. The request for an investigation comes one month after President Donald Trump called it the "worst managed project" he's ever seen and said he would also investigate it. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation also announced a review of the project last month. The EFTA01655638 bullet train between San Francisco and Los Angeles was originally passed by voters as Proposition lA in 2008 with an estimated $33 billion price tag. It has since swelled to a cost of more than $120 billion, and most of the money needed to complete it has yet to materialize. To date, $13 billion has been spent, according to the state. The article quoted Kiley, who said, "Because the project has consumed billions in federal funding, the FBI has both the authority, and I would argue the responsibility, to pursue these questions and deliver answers to the American people. The Public Integrity Division is uniquely qualified to root out any corruption, recover stolen funds, and restore confidence that our tax dollars are being stewarded carefully." KXTV (ABC-10) (03/04, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Fugitive Found Dead in Stolen Car by FBI SWAT Team at South Nashville Home WSMV (NBC-4) (03/04, Wethington) reported that the Metro Nashville Police Department has released new information on Tuesday morning's standoff at a home in South Nashville that ended in the death of a fugitive. MNPD reports that 30-year-old Myles Owens V was found dead by an apparent suicide. According to the article, an FBI SWAT team entered the home after making announcements for Owens to surrender and confirming he was inside. He was then found inside a stolen sedan in the garage with a gunshot wound to the head. MNPD said a gun was found on his right side. Police said Owens was wanted on an outstanding federal criminal complaint charging him with possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. He also had 20 outstanding failure-to-appear-in-court charges in Davidson County and two in Williamson County. WZTV (Fox-17) (03/04, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Trans Vegan Cult Member Linked to Vermont Border Agent Killing Was Person of Interest in Parents' Murders Fox News (03/04, Whitten) reported that a member of a transgender, vegan cult linked to the killing of a Vermont border agent was also a person of interest in the murder of their parents. During a wellness check on Jan. 3, 2023, the bodies of 72-year-old Richard and 69-year-old Rita Zajko were found dead at their home in Chester Heights Borough, Pennsylvania. The Delaware County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the deaths, which occurred on Dec. 31, 2022, as homicides. The article added that more than a year later, the incident remains an "active investigation" by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). According to the PSP, the couple were found with a firearm inside their home. The firearm "has been linked" to a person of interest in the January 2025 shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland. Michelle Zajko, the daughter of Richard and Rita, was linked to the firearms found in Teresa Youngblut and Felix "Ophelia" Bauckholt's vehicle during Maland's shooting. "An investigation into the border agent shooting revealed that the weapon used in the killing of the Customs and Border Patrol agent was purchased by a person of interest in the murders of Rita and Richard Zajko," a spokesperson with the PSP said. Suspect in Custody After Three People Killed on Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota USA TODAY (03/04, Bragg) reported that a suspect is in custody Tuesday after three members of the Spirit Lake tribe were found dead following a "tragic shooting incident" in St. Michael's, North Dakota, a tribal leader announced. The Bureau of Indian Affairs notified the Spirit Lake Tribal Council of the deadly incident Tuesday morning and law enforcement apprehended a suspect Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement from Lonna J. Street, chairwoman of the Spirit Lake Tribe. The article noted that the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said earlier Tuesday that officials were looking for a 25-year-old male suspect with no criminal record in connection to the shooting of three people inside a home. The council said in a previous statement that the "incident" occurred within the boundaries of the reservation. The article EFTA01655639 added that the outlet has reached out to local law enforcement, the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for more information about the investigation. Continued Reporting: Feds Seek Records Tied to Ousted Illinois Mayor's Boyfriend The New York Post (03/04, Crane) reported that the feds are seeking records from ex-Dolton Mayo Tiffany Henyard's boyfriend and others over a development project in the Illinois town — as authorities continue to separately probe the newly ousted mayor for alleged money mismanagement. The article mentioned that the Village of Dolton was hit with the federal subpoena on Feb. 25 over land allegedly once owned by the now-former mayor's boyfriend. The summons demands documents dating back to 2014, including citations, code violations and all communications between property owners, tenants and village personnel tied to the project. The 41-year-old, who was first elected mayor in 2021, has faced accusations of overseeing off-the-rails spending during her tumultuous mayoral term, including claims she misappropriated taxpayer money to cover personal expenses like a police security detail and lavish travel. Continued Reporting: Feeding Our Future Trial The Minnesota Star Tribune (03/04, Meitrodt) reported that as federal investigators were closing in on Aimee Bock's $200 million operation, the founder of Feeding Our Future found new ways to personally collect hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to an FBI forensic accountant who testified at her trial Tuesday. The article added that the accountant, Lacra Blackwell, said Bock boasted of her money-making prowess to her then-boyfriend, felon Malcolm Watson, who she berated in a series of messages for not pulling his weight in the relationship, which prosecutors showed the jury on Tuesday. The article mentioned that Bock has been accused by prosecutors of organizing a pay-for-play scheme in which dozens of alleged conspirators stole $250 million by pretending to feed thousands of children each day at sites across Minnesota. Former Hawaii Prison Guard Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Inmates KITV (ABC-4) (03/04, Martinez) reported that the DOJ announced that a former Hawaii prison guard recently pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting inmates. On Monday, March 3, 2025, 47-year-old Mikael Rivera from Kapolei, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of inmates under his custody or control. The article added that Rivera was a correctional officer at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu from 2014 to 2018. According to court documents, while on duty, Rivera committed multiple sexual acts with one inmate who didn't consent and engaged in sexually abusive conduct with two additional inmates under his supervision. The article mentioned that the Dal-OIG is investigating the case with help from the FBI. Atlanta Inspector General's Office Staff Accuse City Officials of Retaliation, Refer Investigations to Feds The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (03/04, Bunch) reported that a handful of senior employees in Atlanta's Office of the Inspector General on Monday sent a five-page letter to federal and state authorities, along with city officials, referring eight criminal investigations launched by the government watchdog office in 2023 and 2024. The OIG staff all requested whistleblower protections against any retaliation caused by the letter, and cited recent legislation passed by the Atlanta City Council that, they argue, prohibits the office from investigating criminal activity. According to the article, the March 3 letter refers to the ongoing probes by the DOJ and the FBI. The article added that the allegations range from misconduct, like contracts being awarded to political donors, to millions of dollars funneled to organizations connected to city staff. The letter also details alleged inappropriate pressure on union members during bargaining conversations, and use of contractors for personal projects. Former New York School Administrator Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography EFTA01655640 WKBW (ABC-7) (03/04, Staff Writer) reported that the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that 51-year-old Matthew Fisher, a former administrator at the Gow School in South Wales, has pleaded guilty to the production of child pornography. The article added that according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, between June 2022 and November 2023, Fisher lived on campus while employed at the Gow School, and he used hidden cameras to create and attempt to create videos of at least five minor males engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Investigators said they seized several of Fisher's electronic devices and found child pornography depicting the five minor males and other yet-to-be-identified minor individuals. A DOJ press release noted that the plea is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. FBI Files Shed Some Light on Shanquella Robinson Investigation WSOC (ABC-9) (03/04, Bruno) reported that the FBI is starting to release files in response to multiple Freedom of Information Act requests by the reporting outlet dating back to 2023. The FBI released two parts of documents related to the Shanquella Robinson investigation. The agency is continuing to search for responsive records and more may be released in the coming months. The article mentioned that Shanquella Robinson went to Cabo, Mexico, in 2022 with six people she considered friends. She never returned home. Her father says her travel-mates told him she died of alcohol poisoning. An autopsy in Mexico claimed she died of neck and spinal cord injuries. A video also surfaced of Robinson being attacked by someone on the trip. The article noted that about a month after she died, FBI records show they spoke to a person, whose name was redacted from the file, who referenced that fight and said, "They aren't sure what happened." But the unknown person claimed Robinson's friends said she was drinking and "hit her head on the toilet?' The documents say the person also told investigators they saw pictures of Robinson's body and said, "There are bruises on her and she looks like she was stomped on:' The person also believed there were cameras in the house. A lot of the information is still being protected by the FBI and was redacted in the files. That includes interviews with people who said they had information about the case and social media accounts associated with her travel-mates. The FBI kept track of all of their social media accounts from Dropbox to Twitter. The article added that the FBI files say agents searched Robinson's phone. What they found in the phone is redacted. The files also state that in November 2022, authorities in Mexico told the FBI they needed to interview someone on the trip so they could get a temporary detention order. Mexican prosecutors eventually would issue an arrest warrant, but no one was ever extradited. The Robinson family is suing all of the travel-mates, including the person they say is seen hitting Robinson in the video. Court records show she changed her name and now lives in Connecticut. Florida Police, FBI Search for Titusville Woman Missing Under "Highly Suspicious Circumstances" WFTV (ABC-9) (03/04, Maggiore) reported that Titusville Police are asking the community for help in the case of a 72-year-old woman who is missing under "highly suspicious circumstances?' Police said Jesse Kirk was reported missing by a friend around 9 AM on March 4th when she did not show up for her morning walk, which was highly unusual for her to miss. Investigators later found Kirks burned car in a remote area of Christmas in Orange County near State Road 50. The article added that investigators said when they visited Kirk's home in Titusville, they found 35-year-old David Armstrong Barber lurking in the area. According to police Barber had several new burns on him and appeared to be suspicious. He was ultimately arrested for Loitering and Prowling in the area. Detectives later discovered Barber is the estranged boyfriend of Kirk's niece. The article mentioned that the Brevard County Sheriff's Office and the FBI are assisting Titusville Police on the case. FBI, HSI Conduct Joint Operation, Make Arrest in Connection to Crypto Investment Scheme EFTA01655641 The Southern Sentinel (03/05, Givens) reported that officials with the Tippah County Sheriff's Department, FBI, and the Homeland Security Investigations federal law enforcement agency conducted a joint operation in Ripley on Thursday, Feb. 27 that led to the arrest of Qiyu Lin, a Chinese national who is being accused of defrauding a Tippah County resident out of a "substantial" amount of money through a cryptocurrency investment scheme. The article added that according to TCSD officials, a local resident contacted the department to report suspicions that an investment plan they were contributing funds towards was a scam. Department officials investigated and determined that the individuals suspicions were merited, and set up a joint operation with the FBI and HSI to catch the individual or individuals involved. According to department officials, individuals involved in the scam would drive from out of state to Tippah County and pick up cash payments from the local resident, under the premise that the funds would be invested in Bitcoin. Continued Reporting: FBI Looking for More Victims of East Memphis Doctor Newsnation (03/04, Arthur) reported that the FBI announced it is looking for more potential victims of Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, who they say were patients at the Poplar Avenue Clinic. On Friday, Kumar was indicted on 23 various counts of allegedly coercing people into sexual acts, healthcare fraud, and reusing single-use devices on patients. Investigators believe he targeted patients between September 2019 and April 2024. The FBI says the doctor who owns the clinic specializes in oncology and gynecology. Allegations against Kumar are laid out in a 28-page indictment. One allegation said, "Kumar reused hysteroscope medical devices marked as 'single use' on his patients without properly cleaning, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing." Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Continued Reporting: Trump Administration Halts Offensive Cyber Operations Against Russia Axios (03/04, Sabin) reported that the U.S. Cyber Command has been ordered to pause planning offensive cyber operations against Russia, which could impact the country's ability to respond to cyber threats. According to the article, the move is part of President Trump's efforts to reset diplomatic ties with Russia, and has been celebrated by the Kremlin, but criticized by cybersecurity experts who warn it could take months to recover from. The article noted that the pause in operations could allow Russian cyber operatives to re-wire their networks and disguise their activities, making it harder for the US to detect and respond to cyber threats from Russia and other countries. The article highlighted that the administration has also reportedly reassigned dozens of FBI officials investigating foreign election interference — which Russia has repeatedly been accused of. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Ex-Surgeon Tells French Court He Used Status to Sexually Abuse Children The Guardian (03/04, Chrisafis) reported that a former French surgeon on trial for the sexual abuse of hundreds of patients has told the court he used his status as a doctor to attack children but still believed he was a good medical practitioner. "I was a surgeon who benefited from my status to attack children, I don't deny that," Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, told a court in Vannes, Brittany, on Tuesday, in what is one of France's largest ever child abuse cases. The article noted that the digestive surgeon, who often operated on children with appendicitis, is accused of attacking 299 patients at a dozen hospitals across France between 1989 and 2014, most of them children aged under 15, with an average age of 11. EFTA01655642 He is accused of targeting some when they were under anaesthetic, in the post-surgery recovery room or in their hospital beds. The article added that evidence in the four-month trial will include handwritten notebooks in which Le Scouarnec listed patients' initials and his alleged crimes against them. Police cross- checked the notebooks with hospital records to identify potential victims — some had been unconscious and anaesthetised at the time and were told of the alleged abuse for the first time ahead of the trial. According to the article, despite Le Scouarnec being flagged to French authorities by the FBI in 2004 for viewing child abuse imagery on the dark web, for which he was convicted and given a four-year suspended prison sentence in France in 2005, he was never prevented from working with children and continued to gain prestigious jobs in hospitals across the country, including in Brittany and the west of France. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS Courts Push Back on DOJ's Effort to Expand Reach of President Trump's Jan. 6 Pardon Politico (03/04, Cheney) reported that federal judges are pumping the brakes on the DOJ's newfound claim that President Donald Trump's blanket pardon of Jan. 6 defendants was meant to cover a broad list of crimes that have nothing to do with the attack on the Capitol. The article stated that it began with a tense hearing before a Trump-appointed district judge in Washington, D.C. last week. Since then, three federal appeals courts have also signaled skepticism about the scope of Trump's Jan. 6 clemency. The article mentioned that federal prosecutors have begun claiming in recent weeks that Trump intended to absolve Jan. 6 rioters for many unrelated crimes the FBI discovered during the nationwide investigation into the attack on the Capitol. But some judges and legal experts say that interpretation is strained. The article noted that the conflict flared most recently in California in the case of a Jan. 6 defendant with a history of domestic violence. The defendant, Benjamin Martin, claimed Trump's blanket pardon also covered his unrelated conviction for illegally possessing firearms. Martin argued that the gun conviction was "related" to the events of Jan. 6 because FBI agents discovered the illegal weapons in Martin's home while they were executing a search warrant for separate evidence of the Jan. 6 riot. During Immigration Raid, DHS Secretary Noem Says ICE Bringing 'Consequences' ABC News (03/04, Scott, Shalvey, et al.) reported that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is bringing "consequences" during raids in Virginia on Tuesday. "There are consequences," said Noem, who was present during the pre-operation debrief. The raids were assisted by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcoh