EFTA00149721.pdf

From: "Bulletin Intelligence" <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Public Affairs News Briefing Friday, May 21, 2021 Date: Fri, 21 May 2021 10:29:59 +0000 Importan c Normal e: Mobile version and searchable archives available at fbi.bulletinintelligence.com. L;1B1 News Briefing TO: THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR STAFF DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 6:30 AM EDT TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS LEADING THE NEWS • Psaki Calls GOP Opposition To Capitol Riot Commission "Incredibly Disappointing." • Biden Signs Anti-Asian-American Hate Crimes Bill Into Law. • Biden Sees "Genuine Opportunity" For Peace As Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Takes Effect. CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Affidavit Contradicts FBI Testimony That Capitol Rioters Had No Guns. • Three More Associates Of Right-Wing Groups Arrested In Connection To Capitol Riot. • House Passes Capitol Security Bill By One Vote. COUNTER-TERRORISM • DHS To Track Domestic Extremists On Social Media. COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE • Prosecutors Say 18 Electronic Devices Seized From Giuliani And Firm. • Asked About COVID Lab Leak Theory, Psaki Maintains Call For Independent Investigation. • Congress To Hold Joint Hearings On Key Air Force, Pentagon Leaders Next Week. • Senate May Increase DARPA Budget By Billions. • Military Times Interviews SOCOM Commander On "The Future Of SOF." • Canadian Infectious Disease Specialists Collaborated With China. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • FBI Probing Colorado Asian-American Teen's 2017 Death As Possible Hate Crime. • Rochester Mayor's Husband Pleads Not Guilty To Drug And Weapons Charges. • Nooses Discovered At Construction Site Of Amazon Facility In Connecticut. • FBI Digs Up Human Remains In Florida. • FBI Still Probing Drone Flight Near CBP Helicopter In Arizona. • FBI Brought In To Search For Missing Nebraska Boy. • WPost: Brown's Death Must Be Fully Investigated. • Arkansas Teacher's Assistant Arrested On Child Pornography Charges. • Texas Businessman Indicted For Child Sex Crimes. • Former School Nurse Faces Child Porn Charges In Tennessee. • FBI Raids Home In San Diego. EFTA00149721 • FBI Assistance In Search For Missing Nebraska Boy Noted. • Alabama Man Gets 6.5 Years For Child Porn. • Man Charged With Murder In 40-Year-Old Texas Cold Case. • Minnesota Man Faces Murder Charge 11 Years After Wife's Death. • Four Face Illegal Gambling Charges After FBI Raid In Kentucky. • FBI Arrests New Hampshire Man In String Of Gas Station Robberies. • Secret Informants Played Significant Role In Cincinnati Corruption Probe. • Allegedly Unruly Plane Passenger Charged With Cocaine Possession. • Honolulu Police Department Seizing Drugs During Illegal Gambling Crackdown. FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • Politico Analysis: New York AG Is "All In" On Manhattan Criminal Probe Of Trump Organization. • New Jersey Congressman Made Money On Stock Sales Amid Pandemic. CYBER DIVISION • Colonial Pipeline CEO To Appear Before House Homeland Security Committee. • CNA Financial Paid $40M To Hackers In March. • Regulators Looking At Cryptocurrency Oversight, Transaction Reporting. • Biden Order On Software Security Gets Favorable Reception From Experts. • Tulsa City Administration Did Not Engage Hacker. • Researchers Uncover Leak 100M Users From 23 Android Apps. • Science Policy Nominee Passes Senate Commerce Committee Vote. • Arizona Secretary of State Advises Replacement Of Voting Equipment. • Indonesia Investigating Potential Leak Of Social Security Data. LABORATORY • Director Of DC Crime Lab Resigns After Audit Report. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • Warren And Moulton Seeks Answers On Walsh's Role In Police Commissioner Controversy. • US Park Police Officers In San Francisco To Wear Body Cameras. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • Lopez Obrador Comments On Investigation Involving Governor Of Mexican State. LAWFUL ACCESS • MI5 Head Criticizes Facebook's Encryption Plan. OTHER FBI NEWS • Politico: Trump Sought To Oust Wray Last Spring. • Trump DOJ Secretly Obtained CNN Reporter's Phone, Email Records. • Wray Taps Merrill As New Hawaii SAC. • FBI Agent Says Chinese Communist Party Is Greatest Threat In US. OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • New COVID Cases Fall Below 30K. • Fauci, Pfizer, And Moderna CEOs: Booster Shots Will Be Needed Within A Year Of Being Vaccinated. • Public Health Experts Express New Concern Over Vaccination Gaps Across US. • Vaccine Data Highlight Growing Disparity In Access For Black Americans. • WPost Analysis: Biden Failed To "Follow The Science" Through Latest CDC Update. • Republicans Continue To Challenge Pelosi Over Mask Usage. • Maryland Announces Vaccine Lottery. • Seattle's Vaccination Campaigned Lauded. EFTA00149722 • US Depending On "Honor System" For Summer Travelers. • Republicans Have Not Moved From Initial Offer In Infrastructure Talks. • Treasury Has Distributed $105.3B In COVID Aid To State And Local Governments. • Lenders "Overwhelmed," Borrowers "Panicking" As PPP Winds Down. • Restaurant Revitalization Fund Seeing High Demand. • House Democrats Propose Changes To Biden's Inheritance Tax Proposal. • Administration Proposes Lower-Than-Expected 15% Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate. • Politico Analysis: Biden Has Moved Leftward On Taxes And Spending. • Biden Order Directs Agencies To Mitigate Financial Risk Of Climate Change. • Treasury Details Plan To Raise $700B Through New Tax Compliance Measures. • Senate Panel Approves OSTP Nominee Lander. • ICE Will No Longer Detain Immigrants In Two Jails Facing Federal Probes. • Administration Releases Wildfire Strategy. • Four House Democrats Urge Leaders To Push Through Voting Rights Bills. • WPost Analysis: Roberts No Longer A Swing Vote After Barrett's Confirmation To SCOTUS. • Chris Cuomo Was Involved In Strategy Calls About Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Brother. • WPost: Postal Reform Measure Is Good, But Insufficient. INTERNATIONAL NEWS • WTO Head: Developing World Should Be Producing Vaccines. • NYTimes Analysis: Global Vaccination Effort Suffers Repeated Setbacks. • China Says It Is Providing Vaccines To Almost 40 African Nations. • WHO: New Cases In Europe Down 60% In A Month. • EU Announces Updated Rules Ahead Of Summer Travel Season. • Brazilian Company Completes First Locally Produced Batch Of Sputnik V. • Lancet Study Finds Africans Are More Likely To Die From COVID. • European Parliament Declines To Ratify Pact With China Over Human Rights Abuses. • Russian Ambassador To UK Says G7 Pushing Russia And China Together. • South Korea's Moon To Discuss Climate With Biden Friday. • NYTimes Analysis: North Korean Nuclear Program Here To Stay. • Kremlin: Lavrov-Blinken Meeting A "Positive Signal" Ahead Of Potential Biden-Putin Summit. • Merkel Welcomes Biden's Nord Stream Sanctions Waiver. • Blinken Says US Not Seeking To Purchase Greenland. • Rouhani: Biden Has Agreed To Lift Sanctions On Iran Imposed By Trump. • US Imposes Sanctions On Yemeni Houthi Military Leaders. • Russia And Iran Competing For Syrian Oil, Mining, And Construction Projects. • African Union Urges Joint Civilian-Military Provisional Government In Chad. • NYTimes Reporter Deported By Ethiopia. • Nigerian Boko Haram Leader "Badly Wounded." • African Union Calls For Power Sharing In Chad. • Ethiopia Expels Irish NYTimes Reporter. • Spain, Morocco At Odds Over Border Controls, Separatist Leader. THE BIG PICTURE • Headlines From Today's Front Pages. WASHINGTON'S SCHEDULE • Today's Events In Washington. LEADING THE NEWS EFTA00149723 Psaki Calls GOP Opposition To Capitol Riot Commission "Incredibly Disappointing." The Hill (5/20, Samuels, 5.69M) reports a day after the House passed a bill to establish a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol with limited support from Republicans, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called GOP opposition to the measure "incredibly disappointing." Psaki said at a press briefing, "The attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 was an unprecedented assault on our democracy. ... It demands a full and independent investigation into what happened. This is not a political issue in the President's view, this is a question of how we secure our democracy and the rule of law. So it's incredibly disappointing to see how many representatives have opted to turn this into a political issue instead of doing what's right." Psaki would not comment "on whether the White House would support moving forward on some type of investigation with only Democratic support." Reuters (5/20) says 35 House Republicans "joined the 219 majority Democrats" in voting to create a commission. Reuters says the vote "would appear to weaken" House Minority Leader McCarthy, "who hopes to become speaker of the 435-member House if his party can assemble a majority with just five more seats in the November 2022 congressional election." But McCarthy "denied any loss to his leadership. ... He told reporters that he had expected a larger number of Republicans to break ranks." The Wall Street Journal (5/20, Peterson, Wise, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports on McCarthy's efforts to restore unity within the GOP caucus. The Journal says if Republicans win back the majority in 2022, McCarthy will need the support of the caucus' conservative and moderate factions if he is to become speaker. The Boston Globe (5/20, 1.04M) reports the level of Republican support for the measure in the House "raises the prospect that the measure could pass the Senate as well. At the moment that appears unlikely, but it also cannot be ruled out altogether. Yes, there is a chance." Since January, "there has not yet been a case where 10 Republican votes have broken a filibuster on a controversial bill. So this might be an uphill battle, but if you really squint, you can almost make out a path." However, the New York Times (5/20, Russonello, 20.6M) says "it appears unlikely to pass the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to override the threat of a filibuster. It's the latest sign, and possibly the clearest yet, that Trump retains an iron grip on the party's direction." McCarthy Says He Would Be Willing To Testify Before Commission. Politico (5/20, Forgey, 6.73M) reports McCarthy "said on Thursday that he would be willing to testify before an independent commission investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection about his conversation with then- President Donald Trump as the attack on the Capitol unfolded." McCarthy told reporters, "Sure, next question." The Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) says McCarthy is one of several Republicans opposed to creating a commission who "are potential witnesses to what former president Donald Trump and his aides were saying and doing as the mob laid siege." In an exchange with reporters, "McCarthy declined to say whether he thinks lawmakers issued a subpoena to testify before the commission should comply." He said, "That's a hypothetical. Talk to me if it goes through," and then he "remained silent when asked whether anyone who spoke with Trump on Jan. 6 should testify." Trump Blasts "Wayward" House Republicans Who Voted For Commission. The Hill (5/20, Oshin, 5.69M) reports Trump on Thursday "took aim" at the 35 House Republicans who voted to establish the commission. Trump said in a statement, "See, 35 wayward Republicans - they just can't help themselves. We have much better policy and are much better for the Country, but the Democrats stick together, the Republicans don't. They don't have the Romney's, Little Ben Sasse's, and Cheney's of the world. ... Unfortunately, we do. Sometimes there are consequences to being ineffective and weak. The voters understand!" Brennan Discusses House Vote On January 6 Commission. MSNBC (5/20, 8.1M) interviews former CIA director John Brennan and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) to "discuss how although the bill to establish an independent January 6th commission passed the House, 175 GOP members still voted against it." EFTA00149724 Biden Signs Anti-Asian-American Hate Crimes Bill Into Law. On ABC World News TonightVi (5/20, story 4, 2:35, 5.47M), David Muir said President Biden took "historic action to protect Asian Americans in this country amid that dramatic rise in attacks" on Thursday, "signing into law an anti-Asian hate crimes bill [that] was overwhelmingly approved by Congress." Kristen Welker said on NBC Nightly NewsVi (5/20, story 5, 0:45, Holt, 5.2M), "There are few bipartisan moments in Washington, but this was one of them. ... The bill improves hate crime tracking and bolsters support for state and local officials. The President called hatred and racism `the ugly poison that has long haunted our nation.' It's worth noting this was one of the first large indoor gatherings of the Biden Administration, [with] almost everyone without a mask." The AP (5/20, Superville) reports Biden "lavished praise on Democrats and Republicans for approving the bill by lopsided margins and sending it to the White House for his signature. Several dozen lawmakers attended the bill signing ceremony, one of the largest groups to visit the Biden White House during the pandemic. The House approved the bill 364-62 this week, following the Senate's 94-1 vote in April." The Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) says Biden "praised [the] rare congressional bipartisanship" that led to the bill's passage. The Post notes that Biden thanked Senate Minority Leader McConnell, saying, "We simply haven't seen this kind of bipartisanship for much too long in Washington. You're showing that our democracy can work and deliver for the American people just days after the mass shooting in Atlanta area." On its website, NPR (5/20, Sprunt, 3.69M) reports that Vice President Harris "introduced Biden ahead of the signing and reflected on the increase in violence against Asian Americans." The New York Times (5/20, Edmondson, Tankersley, 20.6M) reports Harris "thanked Democratic and Republican lawmakers for joining together to pass the legislation. `This bill brings us one step closer to stopping hate, not just against Asian-Americans, but for all Americans; Ms. Harris said." Biden said, "We are committed to stopping the hatred and the bias." Axios (5/20, Gonzalez, 1.26M) quotes Harris as saying, "History will remember this day and this moment when our nation took action to combat hate. ... This bill brings us one step closer to stopping hate, not only for Asian Americans, but for all Americans." USA Today (5/20, Collins, 12.7M) reports, "More than 6,600 anti-Asian hate incidents have been reported in the year since the pandemic arrived in the U.S., according to Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit group that tracks incidents of hate and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States." The Los Angeles Times (5/20, 3.37M) reports Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), who attended the signing event, "said people of Asian descent had been experiencing `fear, anxiety and terror' over the last year, and that she expects the new law will increase law enforcement's focus on hate crimes." Axios (5/20, King, 1.26M) reports that Biden, Harris, "and other White House officials" also met Thursday with members of the Asian American Foundation, "a newly formed philanthropic group aimed at fighting racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders." Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), who was born in Vietnam, writes in USA Today (5/20, 12.7M), "I grew up in a trailer park in rural Virginia, virtually the only Asian family in a mostly white community. Like any child who is different, I was teased. But more often, I was treated with kindness. ... I have faith that, for every American who would curse Asian Americans to our face, there are far more Americans of every political stripe who've got our back - a welcome reminder of President Bill Clinton's adage that `there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America." Reuters (5/20), Politico (5/20, Niedzwiadek, 6.73M), The Hill (5/20, 5.69M), and the CNN (5/20, Vazquez, 89.21M) website also report. The CBS Evening NewsVi (5/20, story 3, 0:20, O'Donnell, 4.11M) had a brief item on the signing. Biden Sees "Genuine Opportunity" For Peace As Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Takes Effect. EFTA00149725 A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect early Friday morning after 11 days of conflict. The ceasefire, which was announced shortly before the three broadcast network newscasts aired, led all three of those programs. On ABC World News TonightVi (5/20, lead story, 4:50, 5.47M), David Muir said President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the announcement, and later appeared "before the cameras, saying he supported Israel's right to defend itself, but also saying Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live safely and securely." ABC's Matt Gutman: "There has been a notable deescalation over the past couple of days. ... But for the first time in 11 days, right now, there is absolute quiet here and about 15 million Palestinians and Israelis living in this small patch of land hope that it stays this way and that this tenuous ceasefire holds." On the CBS Evening NewsVi (5/20, lead story, 3:30, 4.11M), Norah O'Donnell reported that Biden "said the US would provide rapid humanitarian assistance, and that Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live safely and securely. The truce follows last-minute negotiations led by Egypt after days of what the White House has called `quiet intensive diplomacy,' but tonight Gaza is largely without power and water, and Israel is still reeling from 11 days in the crosshairs of an estimated 4,000 Hamas rockets. All of which is to say that tonight's truce is fragile at best." Lester Holt said on NBC Nightly NewsVi (5/20, lead story, 2:30, 5.2M) that Biden "applaud[ed] the truce and calling it an opportunity, as the world holds its breath that the peace can take hold." NBC's Richard Engel: "After more than 4,000 Hamas rockets fired indiscriminately at Israeli cities, killing at least 13 Israelis, and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in retaliation, killing more than 230, including at least 65 children, tonight a ceasefire. Israel's security cabinet said it unanimously approved an Egyptian initiative for Israel and Hamas to simultaneously stop their attacks." Biden: "My conversation with President Netanyahu, I commended him for the decision to bring the current hostilities to a close." The AP (5/20) reports Biden "hailed the cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, saying he sees a `genuine opportunity' toward the larger goal of building a lasting peace in the Middle East." The President "credited the Egyptian government with playing a crucial role in brokering the cease-fire and said he and top White House aides were intensely involved in an `hour by hour' effort to stop the bloodletting." Netanyahu's office "said Israel accepted the Egyptian proposal after a late-night meeting of his Security Cabinet. Hamas quickly followed suit and said it would honor the deal." Bloomberg (5/20, Ramadan, Hodali, 3.57M) reports, "As cries of `Allah Akbar,' or `God is the greatest,' blasted from loudspeakers of mosques all over the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate" the announcement. However, Reuters (5/20, al- Mughrabi, Williams) reports that in the lead-up to the 2:00 a.m. IDT start of the ceasefire, "the sides traded blows again. ... Sirens warned of incoming rockets in Israeli border communities, and a Reuters reporter heard an air strike in Gaza." The Times Of Israel (5/20, 53K) says the "tenuous nature" of the agreement was "highlighted with violence and threats continuing until minutes before the deadline." The Washington Post (5/20, Hendrix, Morris, Rubin, Balousha, Miller, 10.52M) also reports that "the two sides continued to launch rockets and air strikes against each other even as the agreement was announced." The New York Times (5/20, Kingsley, 20.6M) reports under the headline "Israel And Hamas Agree To End A Brief War That Reverberated Worldwide" that "after more than 10 days of fighting that has taken hundreds of lives and inspired protests and diplomatic efforts around the world, Israel and Hamas agreed" to the ceasefire. The agreement "is expected to conclude an intensive exchange in which Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, fired rockets into Israel and Israel bombed targets in Gaza." USA Today (5/20, Shesgreen, 12.7M) says the ceasefire "followed growing U.S. and international pressure on Israel to call off [its] military operation." The Wall Street Journal (5/20, Schwartz, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports Israelis officials told Egyptian negotiators on Thursday that Israel was willing to stop attacks but would EFTA00149726 not discuss any deal linking the Gaza violence to events in Jerusalem. The Los Angeles Times (5/20, 3.37M) reports under the headline "Under Growing Pressure, Israeli Cabinet Approves Cease-Fire With Hamas" that Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz "said Israel had achieved its goal of drastically degrading the militants' military capabilities." Andrea Mitchell said on NBC Nightly NewsVi (5/20, story 2, 0:40, Holt, 5.2M), "The President significantly escalated his pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu [Wednesday] after some fellow Democrats said he should be more forceful. ... Netanyahu is pointedly calling the ceasefire an Egyptian initiative, not crediting US diplomacy." Nahal Toosi of Politico (5/20, 6.73M) writes, "As Biden administration officials sought to end the latest Israeli-Palestinian fighting, they kept two numbers in mind: 2012 and 2014," when "the last two major conflagrations between Israel and Hamas militants" took place. Biden aides "knew they couldn't stop Israel from retaliating when Hamas began firing rockets at Israeli cities on May 10. They decided instead to try to make sure the fighting was as short and with few casualties as possible - in other words, more like 2012 than 2014." The New York Post (5/20, Lapin, 7.45M) reports United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "told the General Assembly on Thursday that `the fighting must stop immediately,' calling the continued hostilities between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups `unacceptable:" On Wednesday, Biden "had urged for a `significant de-escalation' - which Netanyahu publicly rebuffed, vowing to forge ahead with military operations." The Jerusalem Post (5/20, 58K) reports, "The security cabinet unanimously agreed to a `mutual and unconditional' cessation of hostilities, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office." Axios (5/20, Ravid, Lawler, 1.26M) and the CNN (5/20, Tal, 89.21M) and Fox News (5/20, Ruiz, 23.99M) websites also report, while in an editorial, the Wall Street Journal (5/20, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) says that while the ceasefire is good news, Biden shifted from solid support for Israel at the start of the crisis to a softer position after criticism from progressives. The Journal says the US must reaffirm its commitment to its allies in the region, and to containing radical militants. Fareed Zakaria writes in the Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) that violence between the Israelis and Palestinians "can only be resolved through moral persuasion." Zakaria describes "a seismic shift that has taken place over the past few decades," which has left Israel as "the superpower of the Middle East." While "Israel is powerful compared to its neighbors," it is "close to invulnerable compared to the Palestinians," so it "doesn't have any practical reasons to make a deal with the Palestinians. ... What is left is morality." White House Sees Ceasefire As Indicator Of Success Of Biden's Approach. Mary Bruce said on ABC World News TonightVi (5/20, story 2, 1:10, Muir, 5.47M), "This was the first big foreign policy test for this President, and Biden walked a fine line throughout. He was facing growing pressure from his own party to take a tougher stance on Israel, and you seemed to see the President nod to that tonight in his remarks, saying, quote, `I believe the Palestinians and Israelis deserve to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and democracy.' White House sources I've talked to feel that this all shows Biden's approach to diplomacy working." Ed O'Keefe said on the CBS Evening NewsVi (5/20, story 2, 1:05, O'Donnell, 4.11M), "The White House has focused in recent days on what it calls `quiet intensive diplomacy' behind the scenes." Biden: "I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress, and I am committed to working for it." The Wall Street Journal (5/20, Salama, Siddiqui, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) looks at the long history between Biden and Netanyahu, particularly on Biden's role in smoothing over tensions between the Obama Administration and Israel during Biden's time as vice president. Politico (5/20, Leonard, 6.73M) reports Biden on Thursday "commended [Netanyahu] for drawing `the current hostilities' to an end." Sanders Resolution Calls For Blocking Sale Of US Weapons To Israel. Axios (5/20, Allassan, 1.26M) reports that on Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced a resolution "opposing the U.S. sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to the Israeli EFTA00149727 government." Similar House legislation was introduced on Wednesday. The Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) reports that Sanders' resolution "aims to halt the planned sale to Israel by the Biden administration of JDAMs, or Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and Small Diameter Bombs, as the worst hostilities in years continue between Israel and Hamas." Reuters (5/20) reports that Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Menendez "said he would oppose the Sanders resolution." WPost Examines Tlaib's Newfound "Political Relevance" In Mideast Debate. The Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) examines the increasing stature of Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), "the lone Palestinian American member of Congress," after she this week "stood face to face with the president of the United States on an airport tarmac and, for eight minutes, engaged in an animated conversation about the U.S. response to the latest outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestinians. Equally notable was the decision by President Biden later that day to praise Tlaib during an appearance in her hometown of Detroit." The Post says Tlaib has "suddenly gained political relevance in a fast-changing U.S. political debate about the Middle East." Biden Reportedly Leaning Toward Nides For Ambassador To Israel. Barak Ravid of Axios (5/20, 1.26M) reports that Biden is "closing in on his pick for ambassador to Israel, with Thomas Nides, a former deputy secretary of state, most likely to be the pick." Nides, "currently a Morgan Stanley executive, served as deputy secretary of state for management and resources under Barack Obama," and is close to Chief of Staff Klain. Ex-Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) "was seen as the other primary contender." CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS Affidavit Contradicts FBI Testimony That Capitol Rioters Had No Guns. The Washington Times (5/20, Scarborough, 626K) reports, "FBI Senate testimony that no Jan. 6 rioter carried a firearm inside U.S. Capitol restricted area is belied by a May 14 indictment accusing a Maryland man of 'unlawful possession of a firearm on Capitol grounds." The Times adds, "The federal indictment of Christopher M. Alberts also accuses him of carrying a pistol without a license and possessing a large capacity 'ammunition-feeding device.' The indictment, based on D.C. Metropolitan Police Department court affidavit dated Jan. 9, told of officers confronting Mr. Alberts on Capitol grounds as they tried to disperse the crowd." At a March 3 hearing, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) "asked Jill Sanborn, then the FBI's counter-terrorism chief, 'how many firearms were confiscated in the Capitol or on Capitol grounds during that day?." Sanborn "answered that 'to my knowledge, we have not recovered any on that day from any other arrests at the scene at this point, but I don't want to speak on behalf of Metro and Capitol Police. But, to my knowledge, none." Three More Associates Of Right-Wing Groups Arrested In Connection To Capitol Riot. The Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) reports "three more alleged associates of two right-wing groups" have been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The Post says, Daniel Lyons Scott "faces charges of assault on a federal officer, engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds and other counts." He "was arrested Thursday and had an initial court appearance in Tampa., Fla., according to the Justice Department and court records. ... Also arrested Thursday was James Breheny, 61, an alleged Bergen County, N.J., coordinator for the Oath Keepers. ... Separately, Arizona man Micajah Joel Jackson, 25, was arrested Tuesday after turning himself in to the FBI in Phoenix on charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct at the Capitol." House Passes Capitol Security Bill By One Vote. The AP (5/20) reports in a 213-212 vote Thursday, the House "approved $1.9 billion to fortify the Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection, as Democrats pushed past Republican opposition to try EFTA00149728 to harden the complex with retractable fencing and a quick-response force following the most violent domestic attack on Congress in history." The New York Times (5/20, Broadwater, 20.6M) says "progressive Democrats" joined every Republican in opposing the measure. The limes says "top Democrats cited" the lack of Republican support "as further evidence that the party is trying to rewrite the history of the mob violence that unfolded on Jan. 6 by downplaying or outright denying crucial facts and opposing efforts to investigate it." The Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) says the "slim and fraught victory in the House presages a difficult road ahead for the spending bill as written as it goes to the Senate," and CNN (5/20, Grayer, Foran, Wilson, Diaz, 89.21M) says on its website that the "narrow vote underscores how House Democratic leadership has little room for error in passing legislative priorities given the size of its current majority." Politico (5/20, Ferris, Wu, 6.73M) says the "tight" vote "came after an eleventh-hour scramble on the floor," with House Speaker Pelosi "and her top leadership huddling with their members to resolve issues from the caucus' far left. The group of liberal lawmakers, known as `the squad,' had objected to spending millions more dollars on the Capitol Police budget without more knowledge about whether some officers were indirectly complicit in the Jan. 6 riot." Politico adds that "after intense conversations with Democratic leaders on the floor, three progressives registered their discontent by voting present," while "three voted no." The Minneapolis Star Tribune (5/20, 855K) reports the three lawmakers who voted no - Reps. Cori Bush (D-MO), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) - said in a statement, "A bill that pours $1.9 billion into increased police surveillance and force without addressing the underlying threats of organized and violent white supremacy, radicalization, and disinformation that led to this attack will not prevent it from happening again." Omar "said she didn't feel Democratic leaders sufficiently explained how it would increase security." Forbes (5/20, Solender, 10.33M) says Republicans "all voted against the bill," with Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) "alleging in a floor speech Democrats abruptly halted bipartisan negotiations and drew up the bill on their own." The Hill (5/20, Lillis, Marcos, 5.69M) says, "Ironically, Democrats were given cover on Thursday by Republicans, who voted unanimously against the emergency security funding, which left them essentially powerless to go after members of the squad for doing the same." USA Today (5/20, Jansen, 12.7M) and Axios (5/20, 1.26M) provide similar coverage. Bloomberg (5/20, Litvan, House, 3.57M) reports that there are "concerns among some Republicans that the commission would create additional political peril. The House legislation establishing the 10-member panel requires a final report by Dec. 31, of this year, almost guaranteeing that it would resonate into 2022." Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), "who is undecided on the commission, said he considered the Dec. 31 deadline in the bill `aspirationals and that it was likely to get extended into the election year. `That would be the Democrats' dream,' he said." The Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) reports that Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), "a surprise vote to convict Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, announced Thursday that he opposes the establishment of an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate the deadly assault. ... `The Justice Department is currently conducting one of the largest federal criminal investigations in history and has already made hundreds of arrests. Congress has also been conducting multiple ongoing investigations,' Burr, who is retiring at the end of his term in 2022, said in a statement." Burr added, "I don't believe establishing a new commission is necessary or wise." Perry Bacon Jr. writes in the Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) that the nation's "biggest problem" is the Republican Party, which when given "a clear chance to move on from Trumpism after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol," has "instead continued its drift toward anti-democratic action and white grievance." The GOP "appears unlikely to suffer an electoral backlash because of our second, huge problem: America appears intractably polarized into Team Blue and Team Red." The country "could at least prepare for an anti-democratic GOP, but the past four months suggest our third huge problem: Our institutions aren't up to it. ... Nonpartisan institutions, EFTA00149729 faced with a choice of maintaining neutrality or upholding their core values, are often choosing the former." Michael Gerson writes in the Washington Post (5/20, 10.52M) that if Trump "has a political philosophy, one of its main tenets is toxic masculinity - the use of menace and swagger to cover his mental and moral impotence." Those who "resist Trump's will know they will be singled out by name. They will be exposed to political jeopardy and physical peril, particularly from activists who view the right to bear arms as the right to make armed threats." COUNTER-TERRORISM DHS To Track Domestic Extremists On Social Media. The AP (5/20, Merchant) reports the Department of Homeland Security plans to increase social media monitoring "as part of an enhanced focus on domestic violent extremism." The department "is exploring partnerships with tech companies, universities, and nonprofit groups to access publicly available data." DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas "has insisted that officials from the department's civil rights and civil liberties section be included in all discussions about the new programs," according to officials, and "the effort will not use artificial intelligence, nor will it track specific individuals." Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) said, "I support those efforts so long as (they) do not breach the wall between using intelligence assets that are supposed to be focused on foreign threats. ... You can't backdoor that by saying, 'We won't, but we'll pay Google to do that for us:" Civil rights advocates also are "closely following the plan." COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE Prosecutors Say 18 Electronic Devices Seized From Giuliani And Firm. The AP (5/20, Neumeister) reports from New York, "Eighteen electronic devices taken during raids last month on Rudy Giuliani's home and his law firm in a probe of his dealings in Ukraine belong to Giuliani and employees of his firm, Manhattan prosecutors revealed Thursday. The previously redacted facts were disclosed when prosecutors re-filed an April 29 letter on the public record in Manhattan federal court. The raids occurred April 28." Prosecutors "disclosed that 18 electronic devices were seized in the search of locations belonging to the former New York mayor and private lawyer to ex-President Donald Trump and his firm, Giuliani Partners LLC. Prosecutors said the devices belonged to Giuliani and 'certain employees' of Giuliani Partners. The letter had sought the appointment of a 'special master' to ensure nothing subject to attorney-client privilege was revealed to the government." The New York Post (5/20, Feuerherd, 7.45M) reports, "In a filing last week, Giuliani's attorney criticized the covert warrant the feds executed against him in 2019, arguing they treated the former mayor like a 'terrorist' or drug trafficker - and may have violated attorney- client privilege with the search. 'The [Southern District of New York) simply chose to treat a distinguished lawyer as if he was the head of a drug cartel or a terrorist, in order to create maximum prejudicial coverage of both Giuliani, and his most well-known client - the former President of the United States,' wrote his attorney, Robert Costello, referencing President Donald Trump." The Post adds, "The feds are investigating whether Giuliani failed to register as a foreign agent while working on behalf of Ukrainians in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election." The Washington Post (5/20, Jacobs, 10.52M) reports that Giuliani "cannot claim his profession should have shielded him from the search warrant for electronics executed at his home and office last month, federal prosecutors argued in a filing unsealed Thursday evening." Giuliani, "through his attorneys, has argued that because of the extensive business-related communications authorities are likely to find on his phones and computers, it is impossible for the Justice Department to sort through his data without infringing on the rights of his clients." EFTA00149730 The Post adds, "In late April, FBI agents acting on a warrant obtained by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan seized 18 electronic devices from Giuliani's New York home and office, including some belonging to employees of Giuliani Partners. A phone belonging to D.C.-area attorney Victoria Toensing also was recovered. Prosecutors argued in the letter motion that 'the mere fact that Giuliani and Toensing are lawyers does not mean that they are above the law or immune to criminal investigation." The Independent (UK) (5/20, 1.19M) reports, "Details of the raid were made public when the previously redacted letter to US District Judge Paul Oetken was unsealed on Thursday." Attorneys "argued in a court filing last week that prosecutors could not review the materials seized during the April raid until the defence received more information on Mr Giuliani's iCloud records seized in November 2019. Robert Costello wrote that much of the information is covered by attorney-client privilege, saying prosecutors were treating Mr Giuliani like a terrorist or head of a drug cartel. 'Given the complexity of Mr Giuliani's personal and professional relationships and the related communications, it is a near-impossible task to accurately list all individuals with whom Mr Giuliani had a privileged relationship or communications,' Mr Costello wrote." Forbes (5/20, Durkee, 10.33M) also reports. Asked About COVID Lab Leak Theory, Psaki Maintains Call For Independent Investigation. Fox News (5/20, Phillips, 23.99M) reports House Intelligence Republicans claim to have "significant circumstantial evidence" that Covid-19 "originated in a lab, but White House press secretary Jen Psaki refused to say whether the White House had seen evidence that would disprove the Republicans' point." In response to a question from Fox News' Peter Doocy, Psaki responded, that "disproving a negative...is never the responsible approach in our view, when it comes to getting to the bottom of the root causes of a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States," and that "our view continues to be that there needs to be an independent, transparent investigation and that needs to happen with the cooperation and data provided from the Chinese government." Congress To Hold Joint Hearings On Key Air Force, Pentagon Leaders Next Week. Defense News (5/20, Cohen, 73K) reports the Senate Armed Services Committee plans to "hold a joint confirmation hearing May 25 to vet President Joe Biden's nominees for Air Force secretary and two other key Pentagon posts." Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's former acquisition head "who also spent time in industry, is up for the secretary job overseeing the Air Force and Space Force." Heidi Shyu, previously the Army's "top acquisition official and a Raytheon alum, is under consideration to become undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. And Susanna Blume, who ran the Center for a New American Security's defense program, is nominated to direct the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office." Senate May Increase DARPA Budget By Billions. The Washington Times (5/20, Lovelace, 626K) reports DARPA is "poised to receive" billions of dollars in funding "originally intended for other agencies developing tech to counter China - without asking for it" as the Senate is considering amendments "to Democratic Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer's bill to fund tech innovation to outcompete China." Sen. Marco Rubio (R- FL) "floated the idea of giving" $100 billion originally proposed for the National Science Foundation (NSF) "to DARPA instead and Sen. Ben Sasse, Nebraska Republican, offered an amendment this week to double DARPA's budget to $7 billion." Military Times Interviews SOCOM Commander On "The Future Of SOF." In an interview Wednesday at the annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference, The Military Times (5/20, Altman, 845K) "sat down with Army Gen. Richard Clarke, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and talked about the future of SOCOM and SOF." Clarke EFTA00149731 talked about the "state of the special operators in the ranks - op-tempo, the threat of extremism, mental health during the COVID-era, and high-profile incidents of misconduct. He also talked about SOF's role in a potential conflict with Russia and China and, possibly, in Afghanistan after the troop withdrawal later this year." Clarke says that access and the "ability to influence because of that access and placement of ours is critical," adding that because "we have great allies and partners that we work with, that's providing us influence, and so that's our asymmetric advantage." Canadian Infectious Disease Specialists Collaborated With China. The Globe and Mail (CAN) (5/20, 1.09M) reports scientists working at Canada's "highest- security infectious-disease laboratory have been collaborating with Chinese military researchers to study and conduct experiments on deadly pathogens." Seven scientists in the "special pathogens unit at the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg and Chinese military researchers have conducted experiments and co-authored six studies on infectious diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever and Rift Valley fever." The publication dates of "the studies range from early 2016 to early 2020." The Globe and Mail "has also learned that one of the Chinese researchers, Feihu Yan, from the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Academy of Military Medical Sciences, worked for a period of time at the Winnipeg lab, a Level 4 facility equipped to handle some of the world's deadliest diseases." CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS FBI Probing Colorado Asian-American Teen's 2017 Death As Possible Hate Crime. NBC News (5/20, 4.91M) reports from Denver, "The FBI has revealed that it is investigating the 2017 death of an Asian American teenager in Colorado as a possible hate crime, a grisly case in which local authorities said she was purposefully set on fire and burned alive in her family's mountain community home." The FBI "said in a statement Monday to Denver news station KCNC-TV that it was looking into the death of 17-year-old Maggie Long as a `hate crime matter." NBC News adds, "Long's death was ruled a homicide, and authorities later released composite sketches of at least three men they believed were involved in her death. No arrests have been made. The FBI did not provide any information about why agents are looking at the possibility of a hate crime and did not immediately respond to telephone and email messages from The Associated Press on Tuesday." ABC News (5/20, 2.44M) reports that Denver SAC Michael Schneider said in a statement to ABC News, "The FBI is committed to combating hate crimes and condemns violence directed toward any individual or group. We are grateful for the community's support of Maggie's family and their patience with the ongoing investigation. The FBI continues to work with the Park County Sheriff's Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and we ask anyone who has information about this murder to contact the FBI immediately." CBS News (5/20, 5.39M) reports, "While the FBI declined to elaborate on its reasoning for now viewing the case as a potential hate crime, the agency reiterated its interest in hearing from anyone who may know something about what happened. Helpful information could include descriptions of individuals or vehicles seen in/around the vicinity of the property, individuals with demonstrated knowledge of what happened at the Long residence on the day of Maggie's murder, etc.' the FBI wrote." CBS News adds, "Long's body was found inside her family's home in December 2017 in Bailey, a mountain community about 45 miles southwest of Denver. A fire had broken out following a report of a disturbance. Investigators believe there was altercation between Long and her attackers before the fire started. Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw has said that Long was `purposely set on fire and burned alive." CNN (5/20, 89.21M) posts a video report on its website. Rochester Mayor's Husband Pleads Not Guilty To Drug And Weapons Charges. EFTA00149732 The AP (5/20, Thompson) reports that Timothy Granison, the husband of Rochester, New York, Mayor Lovely Warren (D), "pleaded not guilty Thursday to criminal drug and weapons charges, following a seven-month investigation that authorities said involved wiretaps and a police search of the home Granison shares with Warren." Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley said Granison "is among seven people charged so far with being part of `a midlevel drug organization that was infecting the city of Rochester." The New York limes (5/20, Nir, Closson, 20.6M) reports Warren "was not charged with a crime, and prosecutors have not suggested she was a target of the investigation. ... But Mr. Granison's arrest, and the discovery of 31 grams of powder in his possession that the police believe is cocaine - as well as a semiautomatic rifle and an unregistered handgun in Ms. Warren's home - threatened to once again upend Ms. Warren's re-election campaign." Warren said Thursday that she "was the victim of a vast conspiracy to discredit her just a month before the city's Democratic primary election." The Rochester (WI) Democrat & Chronicle (5/20, Sharp, 410K) reports Warren, "who was first elected as mayor in 2013 and is seeking her third four-year term as mayor, is facing a criminal trial later this year on allegations of campaign finance fraud. She has also faced intense criticism in the aftermath of the March 2020 death of Daniel Prude, a Black man whose death was linked to asphyxiation while in police control." Nooses Discovered At Construction Site Of Amazon Facility In Connecticut. Newsweek (5/20, 2.67M) reports work has halted at the construction site of an Amazon facility in Windsor, CT "after workers discovered seven nooses on-site." Workers, investigators, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) "are discussing the significance of the nooses," which historically have been seen as implied threats to African- Americans. Other nooses - or lengths of rope tied and hung in ways reminiscent of nooses - were discovered on several other occasions, both in late April. The Connecticut NAACP State Conference and Greater Hartford NAACP "expressed outrage about the noose" and "have asked for Amazon to do more to ensure worker safety." In a joint statement, both groups said, "These forms of hate crimes have had a detrimental stain on the current state of America's reality and for them to hit so close to home and wit