EFTA01658539.pdf

From: To: Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Public Affairs News Briefing Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 10:26:55 +0000 Importan c Normal e: From: Bulletin Intelligence Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 6:26:28 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) To: [email protected] Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Public Affairs News Briefing Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Mobile version and searchable archives available at fbi.bulletinintelligence.com. FBI News Briefing TO: THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR STAFF DATE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 6:30 AM EDT TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS LEADING THE NEWS • US Charges Six Russian Intelligence Officers With Launching Cyberattacks. COUNTER-TERRORISM • Maryland Man Linked To "Boogaloo" Movement Faces Gun Charge. • Encrypted Apps May Conceal Full Evidence Of Whitmer Kidnapping Plot. • Administration Imposes Sanctions On Businessman Moving Al Qaeda Money Internationally. • Trump Says US Will Remove Sudan From Terrorism List If It Compensates Victims. • French Authorities Crack Down On Islamists In Wake Of Teacher's Decapitation. COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE • While Ratcliffe Says There Is No Evidence Hunter Biden Emails Are Part Of "Disinformation Campaign," FBI Still Investigating. • States, Voting Districts Work With Law Enforcement To Secure Elections. • State Department Officials Self-Isolating After Meeting With COVID-Positive Lebanese Spymaster. • NNSA: Helicopter Flew Over DC Mapping Natural Nuclear Radiation. • Congressman: US Must Sanction Russian Sovereign Debt To Protect Elections. • EU Struggles To Defend Against Russian Disinformation Campaigns. • Syrian Paper: US Officials Have Made Four Secret Trips To Damascus. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS EFTA01658539 • Two US Park Police Officers Surrender To Face Manslaughter Charges. • FBI Investigating Murder In Missouri. • West Virginia Man Sentenced Over Child Pornography. • Texas Man Charged With Bribery. • FBI Investigating Disappearance Of Michigan Minor. • Kansas Man Arrested Following Death Threats. • Smuggling Ring Arrested In New York. • Georgia Pair Sentenced For Drug Distribution. • Louisiana Men Indicted On Gun, Drug Trafficking Charges. • FBI Concludes Gang Probe In Louisiana. • Massachusetts Man Arrested Following FBI Task Force Search. • Operation In Massachusetts Leads To Four Arrests, Seizure Of Drugs, Firearms. • Tennessee Meth Case Defendant Sentenced To 151 Months In Prison. • FBI Investigating Oklahoma Shooting. • Virginia Man Sues Airbus Over Claims Of Lying To The FBI. FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • COVID-19 Scammers Driving Unemployment Fraud Across US. CYBER DIVISION • Cyberspace Solarium Commission Releases Follow-Up To March Report. • Lawsuit Alleges Indian Hackers Leaked Businessman's Emails. • Schools Learn To Deal With Increasing Risk Of Hacker Attacks As Online School Year Amid Pandemic Begins. • Pro-Iran Trolls Spreading Fake Scandals Posted On Legitimate News Sites By Hackers. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • US To Execute First Woman In Nearly 70 Years. • DO) IG Discusses Growing Threat Of Drones For Prison Smuggling Operations. OTHER FBI NEWS • Wray Under Fire In Run-Up To Election. • California Ballot Drop-Off Box Damaged By Suspected Arson. OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Senate To Work Over Weekend To Complete Barrett's Confirmation. • Trump Calls Fauci "A Disaster" And Health Experts "Idiots." • WPost Report: Atlas "Succeeded In Largely Sidelining" Other Task Force Members. • GAO To Investigate Administration's Influence Over CDC, FDA. • CDC Issues Recommendation For Masks On Planes, Other Public Transportation. • Top Military Leaders Permitted To Return To Pentagon For Work. • FEMA Threw Out Faulty Russian Ventilators. • COVID Cases Surging By 50% In Nearly One-Third Of States. • State Public Health Officials Finalizing Vaccine Distribution Plans. • Cuomo May Lift Restrictions On Some COVID Red Zones. • New Jersey COVID Cases Spike. • Wisconsin Judge Reimposes Governor's Capacity Limit Order. • Racism Blamed For High Rates Of Asian American COVID Deaths In San Francisco. • Large School Districts Are Reopening Campuses. • Doctors With Long-Haul COVID Symptoms Pushing For Better Care. • DO) Says Trump Denied Rape Accusation In Official Presidential Capacity. EFTA01658540 • Supreme Court Controls Fate Of Subpoena For Trump Tax Returns. • Administration Facilitates Ability To Discipline Federal Workers. • Republican Voters Embracing QAnon. • Devastating Wildfires Continue In Colorado. • Tsunami Warning Issued After 7.5 Magnitude Quake Off Alaska Coast. • New Yorker Suspends Toobin Following Report Of Improper Behavior. • SCOTUS Allows Pennsylvania To Count Ballots Received By November 6. • Chicago Police Save Man Hanging From Trump Tower. INTERNATIONAL NEWS • US Borders With Mexico And Canada To Remain Closed Until November 21. • Countries, Cities Impose Targeted Restrictions On COVID Hot Spots. • UNICEF To Stockpile More Than 500M Single-Dose Syringes For COVID Vaccine. • COVID Cases Hitting Record Highs In Europe. • Iran Sets New Record For Daily Deaths. • Top Palestinian Diplomat On Ventilator In Israeli Hospital. • Kenya Health Minister Warns Of Second Coronavirus Wave. • Abrams: US To Enact Preemptive Sanctions On Iran. • Turkey Abandoning Outpost Surrounded By Syrian Army. • Pakistan Lifts Ban On TikTok. • US Rescue Mission In Yemen Helped Pave Way For Israel-UAE Peace Deal. • Navalny Calls On Trump To Condemn His Attempted Assassination. • Retirees Demonstrate Against Lukashenko In Belarus. • Armenian, Azeri Leaders Both Say They Would Meet In Moscow For Peace Talks. • Morales Ally Triumphs In Bolivian Presidential Election. • Thai Authorities Move To Censor Coverage Of Student Demonstrations. • Indian Army Detains Chinese Soldier Who Strayed Over Border. • Chinese, Taiwanese Envoys Engaged In Fistfight During Fiji Event. • Beijing Blasts Trump's Climate Policies. • Differing Administration Response To Diplomats' Symptoms In China, Cuba Draw Scrutiny. THE BIG PICTURE • Headlines From Today's Front Pages. WASHINGTON'S SCHEDULE • Today's Events In Washington. LEADING THE NEWS US Charges Six Russian Intelligence Officers With Launching Cyberattacks. NBC Nightly NewsVI (10/19, story 8, 0:50, Holt, 5.28M) reported the US "is accusing six members of the Russian military of cyberattacks that caused blackouts and financial losses of nearly $1 billion." NBC (Williams) added "federal prosecutors say these Russians used some of the most destructive computer malware ever unleashed. The FBI says all six are intelligence officers in the Russian military. It says they knocked out electrical power in Ukraine during the winter, victimized the 2018 Olympics opening ceremony, and caused losses totaling nearly $1 billion." In addition, they were "accused of trying to interfere in the French elections in 2017, and hampering the UK's investigations into the poisoning of a Russian dissident and his daughter, but there are no new allegations tonight of Russian meddling in this year's election." The AP (10/19, Tucker) reports prosecutors say the attacks "were aimed at furthering the Kremlin's geopolitical interests and as retribution against its perceived enemies." EFTA01658541  The Washington Post (10/19, Nakashima, Barrett, 14.2M) reports FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich said the charges show that "time and again, Russia has made it clear they will not abide by accepted norms and instead they intend to continue their destructive and destabilizing cyber behavior." Reuters (10/19, Stubbs, Bing) reports, "U.S. officials would not say whether the timing of the announcement just ahead of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election was intended to serve as a warning to foreign, government-linked hacking groups." However, Jeff Pegues said on the CBS Evening NewsVi (10/19, story 4, 1:50, O'Donnell, 4.4M) the Justice Department's action "is widely seen as a warning to Russia. The message, stay out of the US election." The New York Times (10/19, Schmidt, Perlroth, 18.61M) reports, "It was unclear whether the Russian officers would stand trial for the charges." While Moscow "is highly unlikely to hand them over to be prosecuted," the charges "could potentially restrict their travels, and they could be arrested if they enter a country willing to turn them over to the United States." CNN (10/19, Carrega, 83.16M) reports, "The alleged hackers are officers of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), a military intelligence agency of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Monday's charges allege some of the most consequential political attacks levied by the Kremlin since its efforts to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election, including the hacking of Democratic Party email accounts." CNN adds, "The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued a federal arrest warrant for each of these defendants upon the grand jury's return of the indictment. They are all charged in seven counts: conspiracy to conduct computer fraud and abuse, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, damaging protected computers, and aggravated identity theft." The Washington Times (10/19, Mordock, 492K) reports, "Several of the countries targeted had blamed the Russian government for the hacks. However, this is the first time officials have targeted Russia for the attacks through criminal indictments. `As this case shows, no country has weaponized its cyber capabilities as maliciously and irresponsibly as Russia, wantonly causing unprecedented damage to pursue small tactical advantages to satisfy fits of spite,' Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers told reporters at a press conference announcing the charges." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (10/19, Ove, 616K) reports, "Among the victims in 2017 were Heritage Valley Health System in Western Pennsylvania, which spent $2 million to repair damage by the malware, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said at a Monday news conference in Washington, D.C." Brady "and other officials said the Russian officers are part of the same unit that the Justice Department said attempted to disrupt the 2016 election and the 2018 Olympics after Russian athletes had been banned for doping. The Justice Department said defendants, all former or current members of Unit 74455 based in Moscow, unleashed the NotPetya malware. The attacks caused nearly $1 billion in losses to three victims alone that are mentioned in the indictment. In addition to Heritage Valley, they are TNT Express B.V. (a FedEx subsidiary) and an unnamed U.S. pharmaceutical maker that paid $500 million to fix the damage." Politico (10/19, Geller, 4.29M) reports, "As officers of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, the six defendants launched a June 2017 malware campaign known as NotPetya, hacked the Ukrainian power grid in 2015 and 2016, and conducted the hack-and-leak operations that targeted the 2017 French elections, according to a newly unsealed indictment. NotPetya, which began in Ukraine, quickly escaped, causing devastating losses for companies around the world. The shipping giant Maersk saw its entire operation temporarily collapse as the malware locked up its computer systems. A White House report estimated the malware's total damages at $10 billion, according to Wired. It was the most destructive and widespread malware outbreak in history." Reuters (10/19, Stubbs, Bing) quotes Bowdich saying, "The FBI has repeatedly warned that Russia is a highly capable cyber adversary, and the information revealed in this indictment illustrates how pervasive and destructive Russia's cyber activities truly are." EFTA01658542  The Hill (10/19, 2.98M) reports, "Among the alleged attacks were hack-and-leak operations against the political party of now-French President Emanuel Macron in 2017, along with other French politicians. They are also alleged to have targeted the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, as retaliation for Russians being banned from participating in the games due to doping allegations. Further, the six Russian nationals were indicted in connection to attacks on the Ukrainian power grid and government agencies, which caused widespread power outages; for targeting two organizations involved in investigating the United Kingdom- based nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter; and for most recently targeting Georgian government agencies and companies." Axios (10/19, Rummler, 521K) reports, "FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich thanked Google, Cisco, Facebook and Twitter `for all stepping up and helping us with this investigation,' adding: `This is more common that we work together with our private sector partners than ever before.' KDKA-TV Pittsburgh (10/19, 144K) reports, "Along with the damage to the Heritage Valley Health System, they also caused damage and disruption in France, Georgia, the Netherlands, Korea, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. `The exceptional talent and dedication of our teams in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Oklahoma City who spent years tracking these members of the GRU is unmatched,' said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Christman. `These criminals underestimated the power of shared intelligence, resources, and expertise through law enforcement, private sector, and international partnerships." USA Today (10/19, 10.31M) and the Wall Street Journal (10/19, Volz, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) provide similar coverage. Among news outlets also reporting are ZDNet (10/19, Cimpanu, 299K), Business Insider (10/19, Holmes, 3.67M), NextGov (10/19, Baksh), UPI (10/19), Fox News (10/19, Blitzer, 27.59M), Vice (10/19, Franceschi, 2.11M), NPR (10/19, Lucas, Ewing, 3.12M), the Telegraph (VS). (10/19, Mendick, Cook, Murphy, 956K), MeriTalk (10/19, Polit), Courthouse News (10/19, Rodgers, 2K), the Daily Beast (10/19, Melendez, 1.39M), CBS News (10/19, Quinn, 3.68M), and the Daily Caller (10/19, 716K). COUNTER-TERRORISM Maryland Man Linked To "Boogaloo" Movement Faces Gun Charge. The AP (10/19) reports from Greenbelt, Maryland, "A Maryland man described by the FBI as a member of the anti-government "boogaloo" movement pleaded not guilty to a gun charge on Monday, court records show." Frank William Robertson Perry, 39, "remained jailed after his arraignment on a charge that he illegally possessed a rifle. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a 2002 burglary conviction, the FBI said. A grand jury indicted Perry on the charge after his Oct. 7 arrest." The FBI "identified Perry as a member of the boogaloo movement in September, an agent wrote in seeking a warrant to search the Dundalk home he shares with his girlfriend. Court records don't specify why the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force opened its investigation of Perry, who posted images associated with the boogaloo on a Facebook account that the FBI says belongs to him." WJZ-TV Baltimore (10/19, 74K) reports, "Agents found and seized a number of items from the basement bedroom, including a black tactical vest containing two ballistic plates located on the interior of the vest, two loaded rifle magazines located in pouches affixed to the exterior of the vest, a third loaded rifle magazine located on top of the vest and an Anderson Manufacturing rifle model AM-15 bearing serial number 20034967 which was partially concealed. They also found ammunition located inside a black box in the nightstand and other firearm-related accessories. The Anderson rifle was bought in parts by Perry and his girlfriend, who lived with Perry, a federal agent claimed in the affidavit. Perry allegedly put the rifle together." Encrypted Apps May Conceal Full Evidence Of Whitmer Kidnapping Plot. EFTA01658543 The Detroit Free Press (10/19, Nerbovig, 1.52M) reports, "Encrypted apps may keep the FBI from ever knowing if there is more documentation of the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer." The Free Press adds, "On the second day of a preliminary examination in which sufficient evidence was found to bind five of the six accused men over for proceedings before a grand jury, FBI Special Agent Richard Trask on Friday mentioned the FBI was hindered in its investigation into the group because some data was stored on an overseas server. The communication the FBI was able to enter in as evidence came from a confidential informant." According to the Free Press, "Technology overall played a crucial role in the planning and formulation of the alleged plot, including the use of Facebook to connect the men, according to an affidavit filed by Brian Russell, a detective sergeant with the Michigan State Police." Administration Imposes Sanctions On Businessman Moving Al Qaeda Money Internationally. The New York Times (10/19, Verma, 18.61M) reports, "The Trump administration on Monday imposed sanctions on an Australian-based businessman and his gemstone company for helping Al Qaeda move money," according to the Treasury Department. Officials "said Ahmed Luqman Talib traded in precious stones, allowing him to 'move funds internationally' for Al Qaeda." Talib "works around the world, including in Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey and the Persian Gulf region, the Treasury Department said in a statement." The Middle East Institute's Countering Terrorism and Extremism Program director, Charles Lister, said, "It goes to show that Al Qaeda still retains these kind of networks," adding they are now "kind of a miniature version of 10 or 15 years ago." The Washington Institute's director of counterterrorism and intelligence, Matthew Levitt, commented, "Governments and private sector have made it harder to move funds via formal and informal financial systems. ... It is interesting to see terrorists relying on gemstones, which are easy to move and hold value." Trump Says US Will Remove Sudan From Terrorism List If It Compensates Victims. President Trump on Monday tweeted, "GREAT news! New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 MILLION to U.S. terror victims and families. Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan!" The Wall Street Journal (10/19, Restuccia, McBride, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok thanked Trump after the tweet. The New York Times (10/19, lakes, Walsh, Schmitt, 18.61M) reports the State Department move "clear(s) the way for the East African nation's fragile government to seek international assistance and, potentially, normalized relations with Israel - a diplomatic goal for President Trump before the election next month." The Washington Post (10/19, Hudson, Bearak, 14.2M) reports US officials "expect" the "pre-election gambit...will lead to the country's recognition of Israel and payment of millions of dollars to the families of terrorism victims." According to Reuters (10/19, Spetalnick, Eltahir, Abdelaziz), "Sudan's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism dates to its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir and makes it difficult for its transitional government to access urgently needed debt relief and foreign financing." Reuters adds, "Many in Sudan say the designation, imposed in 1993 because Washington believed Bashir was supporting militant groups, has become outdated since he was removed last year and Sudan has long cooperated on counterterrorism." Meanwhile, the AP (10/19, Magdy) reports the announcement came after Treasury Secretary Mnuchin "traveled to Bahrain to cement the Gulf state's recognition of the Jewish state." Axios (10/19, Ravid, 521K) reports Sudan "is also expecting the U.S. to announce an aid package in coming days. It will include financial aid and wheat, medicine and oil shipments. Also in the mix are commitments by the Trump administration to mobilize private sector investments in Sudan and to organize a Sudan donors conference, according to Israeli and Sudanese sources." EFTA01658544 French Authorities Crack Down On Islamists In Wake Of Teacher's Decapitation. The New York Times (10/19, Nossiter, 18.61M) reports that "as a wave of anger continued to sweep over France following the decapitation of a high school teacher, the French police conducted dozens of raids on Monday targeting individuals associated with radical Islamists, and the government vowed to shut down Muslim aid organizations and expel dozens of foreign nationals for showing signs of radicalism." According to the Times, "Thousands of people took to the streets in cities around France over the weekend to demonstrate their horror at the killing on Friday, and politicians, especially on the right, jostled to sound the alarm against 'the enemy within,' as Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin put it in a radio interview, referring to the country's radicalized Muslims." The Wall Street Journal (10/19, Dalton, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports Darmanin said, "We must stop being naïve." Darmanin added, "There is no reconciliation possible with radical Islam." COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE While Ratcliffe Says There Is No Evidence Hunter Biden Emails Are Part Of "Disinformation Campaign," FBI Still Investigating. Fox News (10/19, Singman, 27.59M) reports DNI Ratcliffe, in an appearance on Fox Business on Monday, "said that Hunter Biden's laptop 'is not part of some Russian disinformation campaign,' amid claims from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff suggesting otherwise." Ratcliffe is quoted as saying, "It's funny that some of the people who complain the most about intelligence being politicized are the ones politicizing the intelligence." Ratcliffe continued, "Unfortunately, it is Adam Schiff who said the intelligence community believes the Hunter Biden laptop and emails on it are part of a Russian disinformation campaign." Ratcliffe added, "Let me be clear: the intelligence community doesn't believe that because there is no intelligence that supports that. And we have shared no intelligence with Adam Schiff, or any member of Congress." Breitbart (10/19, Poor, 673K) reports Ratcliffe said, "Apparently, Chairman Schiff wants anything against his preferred political candidate to be deemed as 'not real' and as using the intelligence community or attempting to use the intelligence community to say there's nothing to see here." Ratcliffe added, "Don't drag the intelligence community into this. Hunter Biden's laptop is not part of some Russian disinformation campaign, and I think it's clear that the American people know that." In addition, the New York Post (10/19, Moore, 4.57M) reports that Ratcliffe "said the computer is 'in the jurisdiction of the FBI:" Ratcliffe added, "The FBI has had possession of this." Ratcliffe said, "Without commenting on any investigation that they may or may not have, their investigation is not centered around Russian disinformation and the intelligence community is not playing any role with respect to that." However, USA Today (10/19, Johnson, 10.31M) reports Ratcliffe's comments that the emails "are not connected to a Russian disinformation effort" came "even as federal authorities continued to review whether the material was part of such a campaign." USA Today adds Ratcliffe "did not elaborate on the basis of his conclusion, though he acknowledged knowing 'little' about the material published by the New York Post." Similarly, NBC News (10/19, Dilanian, 6.14M) reports that Ratcliffe "insisted Monday that there is no evidence the Russians or other foreign actors were behind the emails allegedly found on a laptop linked to Hunter Biden, even as officials familiar with the matter tell NBC News the FBI continues to probe that question." In addition, the Daily Beast (10/19, Ackerman, Sommer, 1.39M) says Ratcliffe's assessment "gets out in front of the FBI, which took custody of the laptop and an external hard drive as early as in December, according to the New York Post." The FBI, according to a "congressional source," is "looking into the provenance of the material. And among the questions they're seeking to answer is whether the laptop dump is part of what the intelligence EFTA01658545 community's counterintelligence chief has already described as a Russian disinformation effort targeting the 2020 election." The Hill (10/19, Beavers, Concha, 2.98M) reports that in response to Ratcliffe, Patrick Boland, "a spokesman for Schiff, argued that the DNI is 'purposefully misrepresenting' the chairman's words to help Trump. Boland said Schiff stands behind his remarks to CNN." Schiff had previously told CNN, "Clearly, the origins of this whole smear are from the Kremlin, and the president is only too happy to have Kremlin help and try to amplify it." The Washington Examiner (10/19, Soellner, 448K) reports Boland added, "The new wave of attacks we are seeing on Vice President Biden are consistent with the false and unsubstantiated narratives that the President, his personal lawyer, and a sanctioned Russian agent have been pushing for well over a year." Breitbart (10/19, 673K) reports a "senior intelligence official" told them "on Monday there is no intelligence to support" Schiff's "assertion that recent reports about Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings are part of a Russian disinformation campaign." The Dallas Morning News (10/19, Cooper, 946K) says the story "centers around an email of questionable authenticity that the Post says it retrieved from a hard drive from a laptop provided by Trump's lawyer [Rudy) Giuliani, who has repeatedly pushed unfounded claims about the Bidens." In an exclusive, Mediaite (10/19, Hall, 327K) reports Giuliani "first approached" Fox News about the laptop, but its news division "chose not to run the story unless or until the sourcing and veracity of the emails could be properly vetted." The Daily Caller (10/19, Talcott, 716K) also reports it "has not independently confirmed the contents of the laptop." Also reporting on Ratcliffe's comments are Newsweek (10/19, Fearnow, 1.53M), National Review (10/19, Bernstein, 731K), Real Clear Politics (10/19, Hains, 825K), and the Washington Times (10/19, Scarborough, Boyer, Mordock, 492K), among others. Meanwhile, Morgan Bradford said on NBC Nightly NewsVi (10/19, story 10, 2:40, Holt, 5.28M) that "from the wrong election date on Twitter to fake robocalls," experts are "sounding the alarm about digital disinformation, aimed squarely at Black and Latino voters." Bradford added, "Since January, almost a quarter of the 13 million mentions of vote by mail on social media included misinformation, which is why digital disinformation experts...created virtual war rooms across the country, aimed at flagging and fighting false messages before they spread." Ratcliffe Expects More Indictments From Durham's Probe. Separately, Fox News (10/19, Singman, 27.59M) reports that Ratcliffe said "he believes there 'will be' and 'should be' more indictments coming from U.S. Attorney John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, based on the 'intelligence' he has access to." Meadows: Democrats, Not Russians, Spreading "Disinformation." The Washington Times (10/19, Scarborough, 492K) reports White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows "also made a Monday morning appearance, this one on Fox News." The Times adds that Meadows "suggested there is more damaging information to come tying the former vice president to wrongdoing," and "said that it is Democrats who are spreading laptop disinformation." Meadows said, "I'm not aware of any Russian disinformation campaign that would involve these emails or this laptop." Meadows added, "No defensive briefing, to my knowledge, has been given. And so, all of this narrative that is out there that would suggest that it's not real, that's the disinformation." Meadows continued, "You know, Adam Schiff came on and said oh, this is Russia, Russia, Russia. And again, I can tell you, this is Adam Schiff, once again, trying to spin a story that's not accurate. I think in the days to come you will see that Joe Biden will have a lot to answer for." Cruz Predicts Facebook, Twitter Facing "Potentially Serious Campaign Finance Violations" For Reaction To Hunter Biden Email Story. The Daily Caller (10/19, Kerr, 716K) reports Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, "told reporters Monday that Facebook and Twitter could face 'potentially serious campaign finance violations' for censoring stories unfavorable of Democrats while letting critical coverage of EFTA01658546 Republicans run rampant on their platforms." The Washington Free Beacon (10/19, Piro, 78K) reports Twitter and Facebook "suppressed the circulation of the New York Post's reporting about a trove of emails and documents from a laptop allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden." According to Cruz, "This poses the single greatest threat to free speech in America today. It poses the single greatest threat to democracy in America today." Former Senior US Intelligence Officials Claim Emails Have "Classic Earmarks Of A Russian Information Operation." Politico (10/19, Bertrand, 4.29M) reports that more than 50 former US senior intelligence officials "signed on to a letter outlining their belief that the recent disclosure of emails allegedly belonging to Joe Biden's son 'has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation." Politico adds that while the signatories "presented no new evidence, they said their national security experience had made them 'deeply suspicious that the Russian government played a significant role in this case' and cited several elements of the story that suggested the Kremlin's hand at work." Politico adds former Trump Administration officials "who signed the letter include Russ Travers, who served as National Counterterrorism Center acting director; Glenn Gerstell, the former NSA general counsel; Rick Ledgett, the former deputy NSA director; Marc Polymeropoulos, a retired CIA senior operations officer; and Cynthia Strand, who served as the CIA's deputy assistant director for global issues." In a piece for Defense One (10/19, 2K), Patrick Tucker cites a number of former IC officials criticizes Ratcliffe's claim. Trump Blasts "Corrupt Press" For Failing To Cover Allegations Against The Bidens. The Washington Post (10/19, Al, Scherer, Dawsey, 14.2M) reports that on Monday in a call with his campaign staff, President Trump maintained that Joe Biden ought to be "in jail," and is "a criminal." According to the Post, Trump "also made repeated references to alleged communications between Biden's son Hunter and foreign officials that have been reported in the New York Post in recent days." Trump is quoted as saying, "I think Joe Biden has a scandal coming up that will make him almost an impotent candidate. This scandal is so big. And the only thing he has going is he has a corrupt press who will not write about it." Breitbart (10/19, Spiering, 673K) reports the President "spoke as he prepared for a campaign rally in Prescott, Arizona." Fox News (10/19, Singman, 27.59M) says Joe Biden has "remained mum on questions about his knowledge of his son Hunter's overseas business dealings, which were discussed in a series of emails purportedly found on a laptop belonging to his son." According to Fox News, "The former vice president is not expected to host or attend any public events until Thursday - the date of the final presidential debate, where President Trump is expected to bring up allegations stemming from the emails." More Commentary. Michelle Goldberg writes for the New York Times (10/19, 18.61M) that so far, "the Hunter Biden laptop affair is a farcical retread of the Russian hack-and-leak operation that helped torpedo Hillary Clinton's presidential aspirations in 2016." She adds that if "there's an important story here, it's almost certainly about Giuliani's dirty tricks, not any wrongdoing by Joe Biden." In an op-ed for The Hill (10/19, 2.98M), former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy argues that the key here in this dispute is whether the laptop is what it is purported to be. States, Voting Districts Work With Law Enforcement To Secure Elections. Several states and localities are reportedly working with the FBI and US Attorneys to prepare for securing elections in the event of fraud or attempts to derail the vote. The Bangor (ME) Daily News (10/19, 198K) reports that in Maine, the "FBI will have agents in Portland on Election Day ready to investigate voter fraud." According to U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank, "Assistant U.S. Attorney John Osborn and Andrew McCormack will be in Portland and Bangor will handle complaints and oversee the federal response to them as part of the longstanding program." EFTA01658547  The Arkansas Democrat Gazette (10/19, 307K) reports that in Arkansas, "The Little Rock office of the FBI is preparing for election season with unique challenges between mail-in voting, increased foreign government intervention and more worry of political violence." The FBI faces "the increased number of countries attempting to influence the United States elections," according to FBI spokesman Connor Hagan. The spokesman explained, "We have DHS, FBI, both U.S. attorneys' offices in the eastern and western district [of Arkansas]. We've got the secretary of state for Arkansas and the Postal Inspection Service." Also reporting is the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (10/19, 77K). The Roanoke (VA) Star-Sentinel (10/19, 9K) reports that in Virginia, Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar "has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Virginia." As a result, Bubar "is responsible for overseeing the District's handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington." Additionally, the FBI "the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day." KPBS-TV San Diego (10/19, 2K) reports that in California, "The local U.S. Attorney's Office announced Monday that one of its prosecutors will oversee efforts to handle complaints of voting rights abuses and election fraud in the Southern District of California." Assistant U. S. Attorney Christopher P. Tenorio, who "has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the region," will "oversee local reports of potential election fraud and voting rights violations through Election Day, in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington, D.C." In addition, "the FBI will have special agents and an Election Crimes Coordinator available in field offices throughout the country to hear reports of potential fraud and other crimes related to the election." The Missouri Times (10/19) reports that in Missouri, "Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is working with national, state and local leaders to bolster the state's defenses in the lead up to the Nov. 3 general election." Ashcroft said, "Our office is working hand-in-hand with federal, state and local officials to safeguard the integrity of Missouri's elections." His office "will join officials" from DOD, ODNI, NSC, FBI, DHS, and CISA, "along with state partners from the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Administration's Information Technology Services Division." The groups "acts as a firewall, monitoring and assessing potential threats and sharing accurate information with federal, state and local leaders." State Department Officials Self-Isolating After Meeting With COVID-Positive Lebanese Spymaster. Politico (10/19, Toosi, 4.29M) reports, "Several US officials, including a senior figure at the State Department, are now self-isolating after meeting with a Lebanese spymaster who has tested positive for the coronavirus." CIA Director Haspel, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Hale, and National Security Adviser O'Brien "were among the Americans who met with Lebanon's Major Gen. Abbas Ibrahim during his recent visit to Washington, people familiar with the situation told POLITICO." Hale, "as well as several other employees from the State Department and other executive branch divisions, are now self-isolating for 14 days, a US official said." It is not clear whether Haspel is among those people, Politico days, and O'Brien "has already had the virus." NNSA: Helicopter Flew Over DC Mapping Natural Nuclear Radiation. The Washington Post (10/19, Hermann, 14.2M) reports, "A helicopter flying low over the Washington area on Monday was measuring naturally occurring background radiation as part of security efforts for the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration," according to the NNSA. The DOE agency "said flights in and around the District will continue, possibly until Nov. 6. Two flights are scheduled each day, and a total 20 to 25 hours are required to complete the survey." The twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter flights "will allow officials to update their maps showing EFTA01658548 radiation caused by natural decay, the agency said." An NNSA statement is quoted saying the flights are "part of standard preparations to protect public health and safety," and are "purely scientific in nature, and no surveillance or other form of monitoring will occur." Congressman: US Must Sanction Russian Sovereign Debt To Protect Elections. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) writes in an opinion piece for The Hill (10/19, 2.98M) that the Trump Administration has done "very little" to "hold Russia accountable for...attacks on our democracy." Since 2016, the intelligence community has warned "that the government of Russia is actively interfering in U.S. elections." More recently, ODNI, the director of the FBI, and the Treasury Department "have each publicly confirmed that Russia is working to influence the 2020 U.S. election." Sherman argues that of the "limited actions the administration has a taken to respond to Russian's malign activity, few of them have imposed any meaningful new penalties directly on the Russian government or Russian President Vladimir Putin." The California Congressman concludes the US needs to "deliver a clear message to Vladimir Putin that there will be meaningful consequences for his government violating our sovereignty through election interference," and that cutting off Russian access to "U.S. capital markets is the first and most critical step the United States can take towards doing that." EU Struggles To Defend Against Russian Disinformation Campaigns. Bloomberg (10/19, Halpin, 4.73M) reports, "More than five years after it began trying in earnest to combat Russian disinformation, the European Union is yet to substantially curtail its reach, Alberto Nardelli writes." The bloc "still has few defenses against sophisticated Kremlin campaigns designed to weaken cohesion in the west." After "Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was poisoned," the EU found "that some of the most popular coverage in Germany came from Kremlin-funded news organizations casting doubt on Berlin's conclusion that Moscow was to blame," for instance. However, the "limitations of the Kremlin's strategies also have been exposed in its attempts to promote far-right political parties and sow division in the EU." Bloomberg concludes that "while the virus of Kremlin information warfare can raise the temperature of already bitter social discourses in Europe and the U.S., competent, clear-eyed leadership remains the best antidote." Syrian Paper: US Officials Have Made Four Secret Trips To Damascus. Following up on reporting from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post (10/19, Dadouch, 14.2M) reports that in August, U.S. Ambassador Roger Carstens, "an envoy for hostage affairs," and Kash Patel, "a top White House counterterrorism adviser," traveled to Syria "for secret talks about the fate of missing American journalist Austin Tice, sanctions and the U.S. military presence in Syria, in rare high-level negotiations." The Post cites Al Watan, "a newspaper aligned with the Syrian government," which reported that Carstens and Patel "met with Ali Mamlouk, the head of Syria's intelligence agency, in his office in Damascus." The Post adds that Al Watan "said the trip was not the first visit by high-level U.S. diplomats and that three similar visits to Damascus have taken place in past years." In addition, "The newspaper stressed that, during the August visit, the Syrian government refused to discuss 'kidnapped' Americans and sanctions until effective talks on U.S. withdrawal from Syria were underway." The New York Times (10/19, Perez-Perla, 18.61M) reports that in 2017, former CIA Director Pompeo "called Mr. Mamlouk to open back-channel communications on Mr. Tice. Washington then sent an intermediary to see Mr. Mamlouk, the officials said." A year later, the CIA "sent a top agency official with expertise in the Middle East to meet Mr. Mamlouk in Damascus, where the official raised the case of Mr. Tice." Last year, after President Trump "ordered the withdrawal of most of the American troops in Syria," critics "questioned why the administration had not demanded anything from Syria in return, like the release of prisoners." EFTA01658549 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Two US Park Police Officers Surrender To Face Manslaughter Charges. On ABC World News TonightVI (10/19, story 5, 1:25, Muir, 7.01M), Adrienne Bankert reported two US Park Police officers "are turning themselves in, nearly three years after officials say they shot an unarmed motorist." Bankert added dash cam video "shows officers Lucas Vinyard and Alejandro Amaya chasing 25-year-old Bijan Ghaisar after he left the scene of a crash where he was rear-ended. The officers attempt to approach his vehicle twice with guns pointed at the car. Both times Ghaisar pulls away. The third time, officers block the 25-year-old, approaching the SUV, again guns drawn. The Jeep moves slightly. The officers then open fire into the car. In all, ten shots were fired." Bankert said that while the Justice Department in 2019 "found that Vinyard and Amaya had not committed any federal civil rights violations," a state investigation "followed, and the officers are now charged with manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm." The Washington Post (10/19, Jackman, 14.2M) says the officers "were booked into the jail, and appeared in green jail jumpsuits by video conference for their arraignment later Monday morning before Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Richard C. Gardiner. Gardiner allowed both Amaya and Vinyard to be released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning they did not have to pay any money to be released but will owe $10,000 if they fail to appear for court." FBI Investigating Murder In Missouri. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/19, Rice, 685K) reports that the FBI will "join St. Louis police and other law enforcement agencies this week in searching a lake at Forest Park for evidence in an ongoing homicide investigation." West Virginia Man Sentenced Over Child Pornography. The Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch (10/19, 87K) reports Jeremiah Alexander Taylor, who "pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography," was "sentenced in U.S. District Court in Huntington to serve a seven-and-a-half year prison sentence." The investigation began after an undercover FBI agent "posted several online bulletin messages on social media forums" frequented by individuals who have a sexual interest in children and incest. Taylor messaged agent, who later "determined Taylor appeared to be a member and participant of a child pornography group where group members posted thousands of images and videos of child porn." Texas Man Charged With Bribery. KRGV-TV Harlingen, TX (10/19) reports Brownsville school board trustee Sylvia P. Atkinson will face trial on October 26 on charges of bribery. He "was arrested in December 2019 after a FBI sting operation," which saw Atkinson accept money in order to place an item on the school board's agenda. FBI Investigating Disappearance Of Michigan Minor. The Lansing (MI) State Journal (10/19, 206K) reports that the FBI supported the investigation into the disappearance of two-year-old Phoenix Washington Jr, who was kidnapped by his father. Prosecutors are expected to "charge [Phoenix) Washington with home invasion, vehicle theft and parental kidnapping." Kansas Man Arrested Following Death Threats. The Washington Post (10/19, Bella, 14.2M) reports Meredith Dowty "was arrested Friday night on a charge of criminal threat for sending the frightening texts directed at" Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. EFTA01658550 Smuggling Ring Arrested In New York. Newsday (kW (10/19, 932K) reports that federal agents have disrupted a smuggling ring operating out of New York, which "used employees of Aeroflot Airlines based in the United States to smuggle into Russia $50 million worth of electronic goods." Eight people "were charged with failure to file export information, illegal exportation of electronic devices and conspiracy." Georgia Pair Sentenced For Drug Distribution. All On Georgia Chattooga County (10/19) reports former Georgia Department of Corrections officer Lekesia Lashea Harden and Tremayne O. Linder "were sentenced to federal prison for possession of drugs packaged for smuggling into prison." Harden "was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 10 years in prison," and Linder "was also sentenced to 10 years in prison." The FBI investigated the case. Louisiana Men Indicted On Gun, Drug Trafficking Charges. The Baton Rouge (th) Advocate (10/19, 399K) reports Tyjiri Anderson, Benjamin Fields, Albert Stewart III, Trayneil T. Gaines, Charles Anthony Brown, Marvin D. White, and Lorenzo D. Cain "have been indicted and arrested on federal gun and drug trafficking charges." They "were charged in separate indictments and arrested Oct. 13 as part of a coordinated federal interagency initiative to address narcotics trafficking and violent crime." FBI Concludes Gang Probe In Louisiana. The New Orleans Times-Picayune (10/19, 480K) reports that the FBI has concluded its gang probe into New Orleans' West 30s neighborhood, and it "culminated in the arrest of 18 people on 47 charges that include attempted murder, rape and other violent crimes." 22nd Judicial District Attorney Warren Montgomery "described the case as the largest and most comprehensive racketeering case on the north shore, involving a full-time FBI agent, Covington Police and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office." Massachusetts Man Arrested Following FBI Task Force Search. In online coverage, WLNE-TV Providence, RI (10/19) reports Massachusetts resident Kevin Nunes "was arrested after an investigation and search was conducted by the Fall River Police Department and Southeastern Massachusetts FBI Gang Task Force." Nunes "was charged with possession to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of a stun-gun, possession of a non- large capacity firearm in home and possession of ammunition without a Firearms Identification Card." Operation In Massachusetts Leads To Four Arrests, Seizure Of Drugs, Firearms. The Springfield (MA) Republican (10/16, Canton, 395K) reported that Massachusetts residents Ricky Almonte, Richard Almonte, Gilberto Rodriguez and Yadiell Dejesus "were arrested after a task force of local, state and federal law enforcement" workers executed search warrants in that state on Friday morning. The raid operation, which "the FBI Western Mass. Gang Task Force" participated in, led to the seizure of "numerous firearms and over 12,000 bags of heroin." The WWLP-TV Springfield, MA (10/16, 81K) Springfield, MA (10/16) website published a similar article. Tennessee Meth Case Defendant Sentenced To 151 Months In Prison. In online coverage, WBBJ-TV Jackson, TN (10/16) reported that Tennessee resident Anne Taylor Davis has been sentenced to 151 months in prison "for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine." Davis was arrested after "FBI agents, along with Dyersburg EFTA01658551 police, began investigating large-scale methamphetamine trafficking" in parts of Tennessee and Arkansas. FBI Investigating Oklahoma Shooting. KOTV-TV Tulsa, OK (10/19, Griffin, 108K) reports that the FBI "is now investigating a de