EFTA00163736.pdf

From: "Knapp, Larissa L. (NSB) (FBI)" <LLKNAPP@fbi.gov> To: "Wells, Robert R. (CTD) (FBI)" <rrwellsgfbi.gov> Cc: "Raia, Christopher G. (NSB) (FBI)" <cgraiagfbi.gov>, "Jackson, Leonard D. II (CTD) (FBI)" <Idjacksongfbi.gov>, "Summers, Jennifer (CTD) (FBI)" <JSummers@tbi.gov> Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - December II, 2023 Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 20:30:29 +0000 Importance: Normal Any insight into this? Mexican Immigration Agents Detain Two Iranians Who They Say Were Under Observation by the FBI The Associated Press (12/08, Staff Writer) reported that Mexico's immigration agency said Friday its agents have detained two Iranians who they say were under observation by the FBI. The article noted that the National Immigration Institute did not say what the supposed FBI investigation was about. The agency said a total of five Iranians were detained along with their Haitian driver, who was acting as their guide on a highway between the Baja California border cities of Tijuana and Tecate on Wednesday. From: FBI News Briefing <fbinewsbriefing@barbaricum.com> Sent: Monday, December 11, 2023 6:25 AM To: FBINewsBriefing <FBINewsBriefing@ic.fbi.gov> Subject: (EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - December 11, 2023 View In Browser EFederal Bureau of Investigation - Seal December 11, 2023 Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Director Wray Set to Visit India First Visit in 12 Years • Trump Says He Won't Testify Again at His New York Fraud Trial • Appeals Court Upholds Gag Order on Trump in Washington Case but Narrows Restrictions on His Speech • Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Release Little Use-Of-Force Data COUNTERTERRORISM EFTA00163736  • Man Who Fired Shotgun Outside New York Synagogue Cited Events in the Mideast, Federal Agent Says • Mexican Immigration Agents Detain Two Iranians Who They Say Were Under Observation by the FBI • Woman Arrested After Driving Her Vehicle Through a Religious Group on a Sidewalk, Montana Police Say • U.S. Police Agencies Took Intelligence Directly From IDF, Leaked Files Show • FBI Investigating Threat Sent to Local Schools, Across Ohio • Rhode Island Man Charged With Making False Bomb Threat on Airplane • FBI Says Bomb Threat Emails Sent to Schools Across Texas Are 'Clearly Hoax Threats' COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • California Man Who Sent Computers To Iran Illegally Sentenced • George Soros Funneled More Than $50M to Iran-Sympathizer Groups Linked to Robert Malley • Ex-U.S. Ambassador Accused of Being a Cuban Spy Rose From Humble Origins • The U.S. Government's Most Powerful Spying Tool Is Fighting for Its Life • Cyber Command's Nakasone Urges Renewal of Foreign Spy Law CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Woman Charged With Attempted Arson of Martin Luther King Jr. Birthplace in Atlanta • Hunter Biden Indictment Alleges Postaddiction Fraud • Florida Teen Charged With Threatening New York City Subway • Maine's Congressional Delegation Calls for Army Investigation Into Lewiston Shooting • High-Profile Attacks on Derek Chauvin and Larry Nassar Put Spotlight on Violence in Federal Prisons • California Marriage Fraud Scheme Helped Over 300 People Obtain Green Cards • Dating Stammer Indicted for Stealing $1M • FBI Special Agent Laurie Giordano Uses Genetic Genealogy to Solve Mysteries Surrounding the Gilgo Beach Case • Rapper Quando Rondo Arrested by FBI • Michigan County Authorities Investigating After Posters of Israeli Hostages Taken Down • Former Jacksonville Jaguars Employee Accused of Stealing More Than $22 Million Has 'Serious Gambling Addiction; Says Lawyer • Southern California Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking Minors • Person Arrested for Allegedly Robbing TD Bank in Florida • Suspect in Multiple Chicago Bank Robberies Strikes Again, Still on the Loose • FBI Investigating After Man Robs Bank of America in Illinois While Implaig He Had Gun • Celebrity Cruises Worker Admits to Molesting Four Children in Ship's Youth Center CYBER DIVISION • FBI Says Cyberattack Was a Targeted 'Escalation' on Overlooked Technology • Some Seattle Cancer Center Patients Are Receiving Threatening Emails After Last Month's Data Breach LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • GOP Lawmaker's Bill Would Expand DOJ's Genealogy Testing for Cold Case Victims CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Prosecutors Ask Judge to Deny Trump's Request to Freeze Election Case • Jack Smith Seeks Focus on Before and After in Trump's Election-Interference Trial EFTA00163737  • Jack Smith Reveals Sweeping Scope of Bid to Debunk Trump Election Machine Claims • Jury Trial Will Decide How Much Giuliani Must Pay Election Workers Over False Election Fraud Claims • Former Cleveland Schools Worker Convicted for Role in Capitol Riots Released Early From Prison • Former Boston Police Officer to Plead Guilty to Attacking Capitol Police Officer During Jan. 6 Riot • Fox News Pushes Back Against Reporter's Suit Claiming He Was Fired for Challenging Jan. 6 Coverage • Continued Reporting: Former Police Chief Sentenced to 11 Years for Involvement in January 6 Capitol Attack OTHER FBI NEWS • Alabama Attorney General Criticizes FBI, SPLC Following New Report • Notorious Gambino Mob 'Gemini Twins' Hitman Linked to 11Murders, Dismemberments Paroled After Getting Life Sentence • Jim Jordan Probes Whether 'Spies Who Lie' Letter Signers Were CIA Workers INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Israel Says Strikes Are Targeting Three Hamas Strongholds • Drug Lords Go On Killing Spree to Hunt Down Corrupt Officers Who Stole Shipment in Mexico's Tijuana • International Bodies Reject Moves to Block Guatemala President-Elect From Taking Office • Life in Russian-Controlled Areas of Ukraine Is Grim. People Are Fleeing Through a Dangerous Corridor • In Inaugural Speech, Argentina's Javier Milei Prepares Nation for Painful Shock Adjustment • Officials Say a US Pilot Safely Ejected Before His F-16 Crashed Into the Sea off South Korea • Alarm Grows Over Weakened Militaries and Empty Arsenals in Europe • TikTok to Invest Over $1.5 Billion in Deal With Indonesia's GoTo Group • The Hamas Leader Who Studied Israel's Psyche—and Is Betting His Life on What He Learned • Pressure Rising on U.S. After Vetoing U.N. Call for a Cease-Fire in Gaza OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • House Impeachment Inquiry Enters Crucial Week as Republicans Prepare for Key Vote • Biden's Foreign-Policy Legacy Is Now Intertwined With Border Crisis at Home • Trump Takes 2024 Lead as Biden Approval Hits New Low, WSJ Poll Finds • Senate Heads Into Crucial Week to Strike Deal on Ukraine, Border • If Eric Adams Resigned, Andrew Cuomo Would Lead Pack of Potential Successors, Poll Says • Zelensky to Visit Washington With U.S. Aid to Ukraine in Doubt • Biden Heads to Philadelphia for Firefighters and Fundraising • Biden to Host Hanukkah Ceremony at the White House Amid Fears About Rising Antisemitism • Kevin McCarthy Endorses Trump for President and Would Consider Serving in His Cabinet • House Votes to Censure Democratic Rep. Bowman for Pulling a Fire Alarm in a Capitol Office Building BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • Financial Times • ABC News EFTA00163738  • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Director Wray Set to Visit India, First Visit in 12 Years WION (12/11, Video) reported that amid the controversy over an attempt to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday that Director Wray is likely to visit India this week. The Hindustan Times (12/11, Chauhan) specified that when Director Wray meets National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Dinkar Gupta this week, the latter will take up the issue of extradition of 26/11Mumbai attacks co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana to India. The article detailed that a U.S. court had, in May, ordered the extradition of the Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, who is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley during the 26/11attacks, to India but he was allowed time to file a motion against the extradition. The article added that as part of his first official visit to Delhi on Monday and Tuesday, Director Wray will have one-on-one meetings with Gupta, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Praveen Sood, chiefs of central intelligence agencies, senior officials of the ministries of home and external affairs and a visit to the Delhi Police headquarters. According to the article, during the meeting between Sood and Director Wray, discussions are set to be around cyber-enabled financial crimes, criminals targeting American citizens by operating call centers in India, economic offenders of Indian origin having links here as well as the use of cryptocurrencies by criminal networks and terrorists. Trump Says He Won't Testify Again at His New York Fraud Trial The Associated Press (12/10, Sisak, Colvin) reported that on Sunday, Donald Trump said he has decided against testifying for a second time at his New York civil fraud trial, posting on social media a day before his scheduled appearance that he "very successfully & conclusively" testified last month and saw no need to do so again. The article noted that the former president, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, had been expected to return to the witness stand Monday as a coda to his defense against New York Attorney General Letitia James ' lawsuit. According to the article, Trump wrote on his Truth Social Platform that "I have already testified to everything & have nothing more to say," leaving the final word among defense witnesses to an accounting expert hired by his legal team who testified last week that he found "no evidence, whatsoever, for any accounting fraud" in Trump's financial statements. Trump lawyer Christopher Kise said Sunday that, "President Trump has already testified. There is really nothing more to say to a judge who has imposed an unconstitutional gag order and thus far appears to have ignored President Trump's testimony and that of everyone else involved in the complex financial transactions at issue in the case." The New York Times (12/10, Bromwich) specified that a defense witness, Eli Bartov, an accounting professor at New York University, is instead expected to conclude the defense's case, to be followed by several rebuttal witnesses called by the attorney general's lawyers. The article mentioned that in January, both parties are expected to file final briefs, after which, the trial judge, Arthur F. Engoron, is expected to deliver his ruling. The article explained that Trump's testimony had been expected to cap off the defense's case, but his last-minute decision reflected some caution on his lawyers' part. The article detailed that when he first testified, in early November, the former president did not allow the witness stand or the formality of the courtroom to impede his usual belligerent style. Instead, the article continued, he lashed out at those he perceived as his enemies — including James and Justice Engoron — while admitting to some involvement in the conduct at the heart of the case. He also defended the financial statements, arguing that they were mere estimates and contained numerous disclaimers — points he was expected to repeat in his testimony Monday. The article added that two people with knowledge of Trump's decision said that his legal advisers were concerned that any further testimony would do more harm than good, given that they believe the judge is biased against the former president. Fox News (12/10, Stepheny Price), Reuters (12/10, Staff Writer), CNN (12/10, Herb, Scannell), NBC News (12/10, Reiss, EFTA00163739 Gregorian), CBS News (12/10, Kates), CNBC (12/10, Huddleston), Axios (12/10, Doherty), Al Jazeera (12/10, Staff Writer), Bloomberg (12/10, Diaz), Business Insider (12/10, Mark, Italiano), New York Post (12/10, DeGregory, Kochman), the Daily Mail (12/10, Lepore), The Guardian (12/10, Aratani, Rushe), the Wall Street Journal (12/10, Gershman), the HuffPost (12/10, Karanth), UPI (12/10, Jacobson), the Daily Beast (12/10, McDougall), Rolling Stone (12/10, Legaspi), the Washington Post (12/10, Barrett, Stein), the New York Daily News (12/10, Wilkinson), The Hill (12/10, Nazzaro, Lee), and USA Today (12/10, Bagchi, Jackson) also reported on the story Appeals Court Upholds Gag Order on Trump in Washington Case but Narrows Restrictions on His Speech The Associated Press (12/08, Richer, Tucker) reported that a federal appeals court in Washington largely upheld a gag order on Donald Trump in his 2020 election interference case on Friday, but narrowed the restrictions on his speech to allow the former president to criticize the special counsel who brought the case. According to the article, the three-judge panel's ruling modifies the gag order, permitting the Republican 2024 presidential front-runner to make disparaging comments about special counsel Jack Smith, but it reimposes limits on what he can say about known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses in the case and about court staff and other lawyers. The article indicated that the unanimous ruling was mostly a win for Smith's team, with the judges agreeing with prosecutors that Trump's often-incendiary comments about participants in the case could have a damaging practical impact and rejecting claims by defense attorneys that restrictions on the ex-president's speech amount to an unconstitutional muzzling. The New York Times (12/08, Feuer, Savage) explained that in its ruling, a three-judge panel sought to strike a cautious balance between what it called "two foundational constitutional values": the integrity of the judicial system and Trump's right to speak his mind. To that end, the article continued, the panel kept in place the gag order's original measures restricting Trump from attacking any members of Smith's staff or the court staff involved in the case. The article detailed that it also preserved provisions that allowed Trump to portray the prosecution as a political vendetta and to directly criticize the Biden administration and the Justice Department. The court expanded the restrictions, adding a measure barring Trump from commenting on the relatives of lawyers or court staff members involved in the case if the remarks were intended to interfere with how the trial participants were doing their jobs. However, the article noted, the court cut back on the gag order in two important ways: In addition to freeing Trump to go after Smith, the public face of the prosecution, it relaxed a flat restriction against targeting witnesses — allowing Trump to criticize them if his remarks were not connected to their roles in the case. The Washington Post (12/08, Weiner) noted that the appellate judges said they were limited in their ruling by the fact that Chutkan justified her order as necessary only to avoid influence on or harassment of participants in the trial. Should Chutkan issue a new gag order citing a need to avoid prejudicing potential jurors through misleading takes on the evidence, the appeals court could rule differently. But during oral argument Pillard suggested that might be a lost cause, saying "it's hard to see how this ... order is going to succeed in preventing a trial in the court of public opinion." The Hill (12/08, Suter) reported that former President Trump on Friday vowed to appeal a gag order issued by the judge overseeing his case related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. According to the article, Trump wrote in a Friday post on Truth Social "An Appeals Court has just largely upheld the Gag Order against me in the ridiculous J6 Case, where the Unselect January 6th Committee deleted and destroyed almost all Documents and Evidence, saying that I can be barred from talking and, in effect, telling the truth," and "In other words, people can speak violently and viciously against me, or attack me in any form, but I am not allowed to respond, in kind. What is becoming of our First Amendment, what is becoming of our Country? We will appeal this decision!" USA Today. (12/08, Bagchi), Reuters (12/08, Goudsward), The Guardian (12/08, Lowell), Politico (12/08, Gerstein, Cheney), the Wall Street Journal (12/08, Gurman, Barber), the New York Post (12/08, Christenson), NBC News (12/08, Barnes, Reilly, Gregorian), Roll Call (12/08, Macagnone), NPR (12/08, Johnson), CNN (12/08, Polantz, Lybrand, Reid), ABC News (12/08, Faulers, Mallin), CBS News (12/08, Quinn), Forbes (12/08, Durkee), The Hill (12/08, Beitsch), Slate (12/08, Katzberg), Axios (12/08, Doherty), Fox News (12/08, Price, Spunt), Bloomberg (12/08, Tillman), Deadline (12/08, Johnson), MSNBC (12/08, Rubin), the Daily Beast (12/08, Alfred), the Independent (12/08, O'Connell, Woodward), U.S. News & World Report (12/08, Hubbard), Newsweek (12/08, Dobkin), New York Daily News (12/08 Goldiner), and UPI (12/08, Cunningham) also reported on the story. EFTA00163740 Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Release Little Use-Of-Force Data NBC News (12/08, Kaplan, Murphy) reported that the DOJ's four main law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, operate with limited oversight regarding the use of force, especially in shootings. The article detailed that while the DOJ has compelled local police departments to release detailed data on police shootings through consent decrees, its own agencies are exempt from similar scrutiny. NBC News conducted a five-year analysis of shootings involving the ATF, DEA, FBI, and U.S. Marshals, revealing that from 2018 to 2022, 223 people were shot, resulting in 151 deaths. According to the article, the majority of incidents occurred during U.S. Marshals' operations, often involving large law enforcement teams, including deputized local police. The article specified that federal task force officers fired in about a third of the incidents, and in 47% of cases, federal officers were the only ones to fire. The article added that investigations into these shootings are typically conducted by local law enforcement or prosecutors, with only two cases found to have unjustified use of force. The article underscored that the report emphasizes the lack of transparency and accountability within DO1 agencies, shedding light on the challenges in assessing the frequency and justifiability of shootings involving federal officers. Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Man Who Fired Shotgun Outside New York Synagogue Cited Events in the Mideast, Federal Agent Says The Associated Press (12/08, Hill, Khan) reported that a man who fired a shotgun into the air outside a synagogue in New York's capital city is an Iraqi-born U.S. citizen who told investigators he felt affected by events in the Middle East, a federal agent said in a court filing. No one was injured by the gunfire Thursday afternoon outside Albany's Temple Israel, but children attending preschool had to shelter in place while police searched the area. The article noted that Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, was arrested a short distance away from the temple after laying down the shotgun, police said. He said "Free Palestine" when officers arrested him, according to Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins. The article mentioned that FBI spokesperson Sarah Ruane praised the "swift coordination" between federal, state, and local law enforcement. The New York Post (12/08, DeGregory) Epoch Times (12/09, Duchamps), the Guardian (12/08, Helmore), Newsweek (12/08, Carbonaro), USA TODAY (12/08, Osterman), and the Hill (12/08, Robertson) also reported on the story. Mexican Immigration Agents Detain Two Iranians Who They Say Were Under Observation by the FBI The Associated Press (12/08, Staff Writer) reported that Mexico's immigration agency said Friday its agents have detained two Iranians who they say were under observation by the FBI. The article noted that the National Immigration Institute did not say what the supposed FBI investigation was about. The agency said a total of five Iranians were detained along with their Haitian driver, who was acting as their guide on a highway between the Baja California border cities of Tijuana and Tecate on Wednesday. Woman Arrested After Driving Her Vehicle Through a Religious Group on a Sidewalk, Montana Police Say The Associated Press (12/10, Staff Writer) reported that a woman has been arrested after she drove her vehicle several times at or through a religious group demonstrating on a sidewalk, hitting and injuring one man, Montana police said Sunday. Genevienne Rancuret, 55, was pulled over by police in Billings on Saturday a few hours after the episode, and taken to jail on charges of felony assault with a weapon — the vehicle — felony criminal mischief, and driving under the influence, police said. The article noted that the 45-year-old man who was struck suffered minor injuries. Members of the group he was with, identified by police as Israelis for Christ, were holding signs and speaking through an amplifier at the time, a police spokesperson, Lt. Matt Lennick, said. Lennick said he did not have enough information to comment on what the motive could be. An update from police said the FBI was also reviewing what happened, along with local prosecutors, suggesting the federal agency was looking into whether it could be a bias-motivated crime. U.S. Police Agencies Took Intelligence Directly From IDF, Leaked Files Show EFTA00163741 The Guardian (12/08, Wilson) reported that hacked police files show U.S. law enforcement agencies for decades received analysis of incidents in the Israel-Palestine conflict directly from the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli thinktanks, training on domestic "Muslim extremists" from pro-Israel non-profits, and surveilled social media accounts of pro-Palestine activists in the U.S. The article noted that analysis of documents from the BlueLeaks trove of internal law enforcement documents found no indication that this was balanced by information from other Middle Eastern sources or U.S. Muslim community groups. Nor is there any indication that pro-Israel activists were subject to any specific scrutiny. The article added that the BlueLeaks trove was obtained and released by self- described hacktivists in June 2020. It contains material from more than 200 law enforcement agencies, including intelligence material disseminated by federally sponsored umbrella bodies such as fusion centers and high-intensity drug-trafficking area (Hidta) programs. FBI Investigating Threat Sent to Local Schools, Across Ohio WHIO (CBS-7) (12/10, Staff Writer) reported that law enforcement is investigating after multiple schools in Montgomery County and throughout Ohio received an email threat. The matter is currently under investigation by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to a media release Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. The article noted that the sheriff's office said there is no evidence supporting that these threats are credible and no imminent danger has been identified. Dayton Daily News (12/10, Staff Writer), Journal News (12/10, Staff Writer), and WJW (FOX-8) (12/10, Laura Morrison) also reported on the story. Rhode Island Man Charged With Making False Bomb Threat on Airplane CNN (12/09, Williams) reported that a Rhode Island man faces federal charges for allegedly making threats that forced a Florida flight bound for Providence to make an emergency landing, according to federal prosecutors in Florida. Evan Sims, 41, was charged with "false information and threats regarding the possession of an explosive on an airplane" after his alleged threats caused the flight to divert to Jacksonville, Florida, the Middle District of Florida US Attorney's Office said in a news release. The article noted that on December 5, Sims was traveling on Breeze Airways flight 717 from Orlando, Florida, when he began arguing with the woman he was traveling with before takeoff, a criminal complaint filed Wednesday by the office says. According to the article, Sims partially stood in his seat as the plane ascended, exclaiming that he wanted to get off the flight. He said "approximately two times" his travel partner had a bomb on the plane, according to the complaint. The flight was then diverted to Jacksonville International Airport, and a search by bomb-detection dogs did not find a bomb, authorities said. The article mentioned that the TSA, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Airport Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case. USA TODAY (12/08, Nathan Diller) also reported on the story. FBI Says Bomb Threat Emails Sent to Schools Across Texas Are 'Clearly Hoax Threats' KETK (Fox-51) (12/08, Good) reported that multiple schools across Texas said they received a bomb threat email on Friday that the FBI has determined to be "clearly hoax threats." The article noted that many of the school districts said the threat came from someone claiming to be a Russian terrorist. Lufkin ISD said they received one of these threats around 7:42 a.m., and that it was being investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the state, including the FBI. According to the article, in the email, the sender claimed their partners from the terrorist organization had planted explosives set to detonate at a certain time in retaliation for support given to Ukraine. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE California Man Who Sent Computers To Iran Illegally Sentenced Patch (12/08, Ceja) reported that Dana Point resident Johnny Tourino has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $20,000 for illegally sending computer servers to Iran. The article detailed that Tourino, along with his company, Spectra, and others, violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by purchasing and sending servers to Iran without the required licenses from January 2014 to July 2017. The article explained that the servers were dual-use commercial goods with military or strategic applications, regulated for anti-terrorism and national security reasons. Tourino falsely claimed the servers were destined for Kuwait and Slovenia, but they were intended for Bank Mellat, an Iranian financial institution. The article highlighted that under IEEPA, it is a crime to EFTA00163742 willfully export or attempt to export items to Iran without a license from the U.S. government. The article noted that these are items authorities have determined could be detrimental to regional stability and national security. A DOJ press release quoted Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, who stated that "Defendant Tourino conspired to illegally export restricted equipment to a foreign adversary and took steps to conceal his activities to avoid law enforcement scrutiny," adding that, "Tourino's activity violated U.S. economic and trade sanctions and, in the process, potentially aided an oppressive terrorist regime and put America's long-term security interests at risk." George Soros Funneled More Than $50M to Iran-Sympathizer Groups Linked to Robert Malley The New York Post (1209, Calder, Linge) reported that far-left billionaire George Soros has reportedly funneled over $50 million to Iran-sympathizer groups, influencing the Biden White House's stance on defanging U.S. sanctions and supporting a renewed nuclear deal. According to the article, Soros has donated $46.7 million since 2016 to the International Crisis Group (ICG), linked to an alleged Iranian plot to manipulate US policy. The article added that Robert Malley, former U.S. special envoy to Iran and under FBI investigation for mishandling classified material, was the ICG's president before joining the Biden administration in 2021. The ICG, funded by Soros, is accused of downplaying Iranian human rights abuses and advancing Iranian propaganda. The article detailed that Soros's financial support has indirectly reached Iran apologists through groups like the Ploughshares Fund and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Ex-U.S. Ambassador Accused of Being a Cuban Spy Rose From Humble Origins The New York Times (12/08, Londono, Robles, Adams) reported that the indictment of Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador accused of spying for Cuba, has raised questions among colleagues about what was real and what was deception in his life. The article specified that Rocha's journey from poverty in Harlem to the State Department's top echelons began with a scholarship to the Taft School in 1965. Federal prosecutors allege that Cuba recruited Rocha in the 1970s, relying on him as he rose through the State Department's ranks. The article detailed that the indictment charges him with acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, wire fraud, and lying on passport applications, but not espionage. The article added that the FBI may file espionage charges if evidence of disclosing classified information emerges. The article noted that Rocha's 21 years in government provided access to valuable information for Cuba and its allies, prompting concerns about a lengthy damage assessment. The Guardian (12/10, Tait) stated that the indictment details cloak-and-dagger meetings with an undercover FBI officer, where Rocha openly discussed his work as a Cuban agent, describing how he created a false right-wing persona. According to the article, the revelations have shocked the U.S. intelligence community, prompting an urgent damage assessment. The U.S. Government's Most Powerful Spying Tool Is Fighting for Its Life The Wall Street Journal (12/10, Volz) reported that the Biden administration's efforts to renew legislation that allows the U.S. to track the electronic communications of terrorists, spies, and hackers overseas is facing an uphill battle amid increasing opposition from some members of both political parties and a looming end-of-year deadline. For years, the article explained, privacy advocates have criticized the law, but Congress renewed the legislation twice with broad bipartisan support. The article detailed that Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is among the most powerful tools wielded by U.S. spy agencies. According to the article, information collected by it contributes to more than half of the intelligence briefed daily to the president. The article stated that Section 702 has faced criticism for its warrantless gathering of communications data from Americans, leading to a polarized political environment. The article added that the FBI has acknowledged past abuses, and the legislation is on the verge of expiration or significant curtailment, with some Republicans and Democrats split on its renewal. The Biden administration is pushing for renewal, emphasizing its importance for national security, but faces skepticism and opposition from lawmakers seeking reforms. Fox News (12/08, Pergram) specified that Director Wray testified before a Senate panel earlier this week that he had "never seen a time where all the threats or so many of the threats are all elevated, all at exactly the same time." The article stated that the intelligence community is very wary of FISA Section 702 going dark at the end of the year unless Congress renews it amid the current, volatile threat matrix. However, the article indicated that conservatives have crowed for years that they will not reauthorize FISA without significant reforms. The EFTA00163743 article mentioned that the House Rules Committee plans to consider two competing proposals to reform FISA on Monday. One is from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH). The other is from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH). The Jordan plan enjoys broad, bipartisan support. The intelligence community prefers the Turner option — as does the Senate. Cyber Command's Nakasone Urges Renewal of Foreign Spy Law C4ISRNET (12/08, Colin Demarest) reported that U.S. Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, the leader of U.S. Cyber Command urged Congress to renew a contentious foreign spy program as lawmakers debate its future. According to the article, Gen. Nakasone, who also heads the National Security Agency, on Dec. 8 described Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as "the most important authority that we utilize day in, day out." A lapse, he said at an Intelligence and National Security Alliance event here, would be disastrous. The article noted that Section 702 allows the government to collect and review communications like emails and text messages of foreigners abroad, including when they are in touch with Americans. The article explained that the power is set to expire at the end of the month, following renewal in 2018. The article specified that the Biden administration is pushing for reauthorization while also battling criticism from groups that say it is ripe for abuse and amounts to a warrantless dragnet. Nakasone rejected the criticisms Friday. The article quoted Gen. Nakasone who stated that, "As the director of the National Security Agency, I will tell you that our focus is not only national security. It's also the protection of our civil liberties and privacy," adding that, "This is an authority with oversight and transparency that allows both of those things." Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Woman Charged With Attempted Arson of Martin Luther King Jr. Birthplace in Atlanta The Associated Press (12/08, Staff Writer) reported that Atlanta police have arrested a woman who's accused of trying to burn down the birthplace of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta. The article stated that officers arrested the 26-year-old woman around 5:45 p.m. Thursday after responding to a report of vandalism in process at the two-story home in the historic Auburn Avenue Historic District, according to a police statement. Police say a preliminary investigation shows the woman had poured gasoline on the property before people at the site stopped her. The article mentioned that the police report says the woman was taken to a hospital for a psychological evaluation. She's charged with second-degree attempted arson and interference with government property. The historic site is now a museum owned and operated by the National Park Service. NBC News (12/08, Burke, Cusumano) reported that the FBI said it was aware of the incident, but could not comment further. The New York Times (12/08, Yoon), USA TODAY (12/08, DeLetter, Bragg), the Hill (12/08, Robertson), New York Post (12/08, Pollina), CBS News (12/08, Tanyos), Huffington Post (12/08, Golgowski), Wall Street Journal (12/08, Arbel), the Guardian (12/08, Oladipo), Fox News (12/08, Mion), CNN (12/09, Alsup, Elamroussi), BBC (12/08, Cabral), the Daily Mail (12/08, Farrell), and the Washington Post (12/08, Bella) also reported on the story. Hunter Biden Indictment Alleges Postaddiction Fraud The Wall Street Journal (12/08, Rubin, Linskey, Barber) reported that in early 2020, while his father was on the cusp of a political turnaround that would propel him to the Democratic presidential nomination, Hunter Biden went to his accountants to clean up a lingering personal issue: his failure to have filed taxes for 2017 and 2018. The article noted that by his own account, the younger Biden had been sober since June 2019. But during that attempt to resolve his tax mess, he created a far more serious one for himself, according to federal prosecutors, who charged him Thursday with nine tax offenses, including three felonies. The article mentioned that the six misdemeanors stem from Hunter Biden's failure to file returns or pay taxes for several years during a drug-fueled spending frenzy, according to prosecutors. But the felony charges all come from that critical period in early 2020 that was, as prosecutors noted, "well after he had regained his sobriety." The article stated that under the indictment returned Thursday in California, he faces not only allegations covering a longer stretch of time but more serious charges that carry a combined sentence of up to 17 years, although convicted criminal defendants typically receive a fraction of the maximum penalty. Hunter Biden's lawyers have said his taxes are now paid in full. But that wouldn't necessarily absolve him of criminal liability for claiming improper deductions or for intentionally not filing on time. The EFTA00163744 Washington Examiner (12/09, Willis), CNN (12/09, Liptak, Lee, Grayer), the Hill (12/08, Robertson), Newsweek (12/08, Plummer), Forbes (12/08, Erb), an additional Washington Examiner (12/08, Bedford) article, Aljazeera (12/08, Staff Writer), CBS News (12/08, Legare), MSNBC (12/09, Lim), NBC News (12/08, Video), and an opinion piece by the Hill (12/09, Turley) also reported on the story. Florida Teen Charged With Threatening New York City Subway The New York Post (12/10, Gibbon) reported that a man threatened to launch a subway massacre in the Big Apple, claiming he'd shoot "anybody I see" and kill dozens but was busted the day before he vowed to pull off the bloodshed, authorities say Robert Trout III, a 19-year-old New York native who currently lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., allegedly boasted online that he would shoot up New York City's subways on Thanksgiving, saying he had 60 bullets and "that's 60 shots, that's 60 people dead. The article noted that the troubled teen never had a chance to follow through on his disturbing alleged threats. He was busted by the FBI and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 22, just a day before Thanksgiving, and charged with "knowingly transmitting in interstate commerce a true threat," A DOJ press release stated that this case was investigated by the Pinellas Park Police Department and the FBI. Fox News (12/10, Price), UPI (12/09, Hilsman), the New York Daily News (12/09, Rosen), CBS News (12/09, Staff Writer), and the Tampa Bay Times (12/09, Sullivan) also reported on the story. Maine's Congressional Delegation Calls for Army Investigation Into Lewiston Shooting The Associated Press (12/09, Whittle) reported that Maine's congressional delegation is calling for the Army to investigate the events that led up to the October mass shooting - the deadliest in the state's history - by one of its reservists. The article noted that Robert Card killed 18 people in a bowling alley and a restaurant in Lewiston on Oct. 25, authorities said, and his body was found - with a self-inflicted gunshot wound -two days later. Reports soon began to emerge that the 40-year-old Card had spent two weeks in a psychiatric hospital and at roughly the same time was amassing weapons. Members of the Maine delegation called for the Department of the Army Inspector General to investigate following a meeting with families affected by the killings in Washington. According to the article, the delegation said Friday that Army officials have informed them that there will be an administrative investigation into the events that preceded Card's death. The members said in a statement that they have called for a separate, independent, concurrent investigation into the shootings that goes deeper than the administrative inquiry. The Hill (12/09, Thomas) also reported on the story. High-Profile Attacks on Derek Chauvin and Larry Nassar Put Spotlight on Violence in Federal Prisons The Associated Press (12/08, Sisak, Balsamo) reported that Derek Chauvin was stabbed nearly two dozen times in the law library at a federal prison in Arizona. Larry Nassar was knifed repeatedly in his cell at a federal penitentiary in Florida. The assaults of two notorious, high-profile federal prisoners by fellow inmates in recent months have renewed concerns about whether the chronically understaffed, crisis-plagued Federal Bureau of Prisons is capable of keeping people in its custody safe. The article noted that in the shadow of gangster James "Whitey" Bulger's 2018 beating death at a West Virginia federal penitentiary and financier Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 suicide at a Manhattan federal jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, the Bureau of Prisons is again under scrutiny for failing to protect high-profile prisoners from harm. The article added that Chauvin, 47, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020, was hospitalized for a week after he was assaulted Nov. 24 at a medium-security federal prison in Tucson, Arizona — the same complex where an inmate tried to shoot a visitor last year with a contraband gun. The article stated that John Turscak, the former Mexican Mafia gang leader and one-time FBI informant accused of attacking Chauvin, told investigators he thought about stabbing him for a month before seeing an opportunity to strike in the law library. The article mentioned that Turscak told the FBI that he attacked Chauvin because he is a high-profile inmate for killing Floyd, prosecutors said. Turscak said he chose Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, as a symbolic connection to the Black Lives Matter movement and the Mexican Mafia's "Black Hand" symbol, prosecutors said. USA TODAY (12/10, Bragg) also reported on the story. California Marriage Fraud Scheme Helped Over 300 People Obtain Green Cards The Los Angeles Times (12/08, Karabatur) reported that it was a midsummer day in 2021when Engilbert Ulan met with a newlywed couple in Los Angeles to help them prepare for questions they expected to face from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The husband, a 53-year-old foreign national, had begun the process of EFTA00163745 applying for a green card and needed to pass an interview scheduled for a few days later. He and his wife, a U.S. citizen, would have to prove their marriage was legitimate. Ulan moved them through the list of 211 possible questions that his boss, Marcialito "Mars" Biol Benitez, had provided. The article noted that according to federal prosecutors, Ulan knew the couple's marriage was bogus. By then, authorities say, he had already met with hundreds of Benitez's clients, who were recruited by brokers in a prolific marriage fraud scheme. The clients, many of whom were Brazilian nationals, paid up to $30,000 in cash for Benitez's services. The article mentioned that Ulan, 42, was convicted last week by a federal jury in Boston of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud. He now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The 49-year-old Benitez, who pleaded guilty in August to orchestrating the marriage fraud enterprise, testified against his former employee and could ultimately receive a shorter sentence than Ulan. The article added that Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston division, said in a statement that Ulan's conviction should "serve as a warning" to others who commit marriage fraud. The article quoted Cohen, who said, "It is the utmost honor and privilege to become an American citizen, but Engilbert Ulan made an absolute sham of that process, Mr. Ulan and his co-conspirators broke immigration laws that are in place to protect public safety and created an unfair disadvantage for those seeking to earn their citizenship lawfully." Dating Scammer Indicted for Stealing $1M USA TODAY (12/08, Thornton) reported that an Ohio man is scheduled to appear in federal court Friday after being indicted for scamming more than $1million from online dating site users who thought they were forming a romantic connection. As part of the alleged crimes, Benjamin Adu Acheampong is accused of conspiring with additional people to create online dating profiles and messaging unwitting users they would later target. After a victim believed they were building a romantic connection, Acheampong and others would convince them to send money by mail or wire transfer, U.S. attorneys allege. The article noted that over the course of two-and-a-half years, Acheampong, 37, scammed online dating connections out of more than $1million, officials said. He faces multiple fraud and money laundering charges, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. A DOJ press release stated that the FBI was involved in announcing the charges. FBI Special Agent Laurie Giordano Uses Genetic Genealogy to Solve Mysteries Surrounding the Gilgo Beach Case Newsday (12/09, DeStefano) reported that when FBI Special Agent Laurie Giordano adopted her son more than a decade ago, she had no idea her decision to become a parent would make her the "angel" who helped solve some of the mysteries surrounding the Gilgo Beach killings. The article noted that after the 2013 adoption of her nearly 11-year-old son — whose name she asked be kept confidential — Giordano began to help others do genealogical searches related to their own adoption experiences. That passion led her to become an expert genetic genealogist working with members of the Gilgo Beach task force which arrested suspected serial killer Rex A. Heuermann in July. Rapper Quando Rondo Arrested by FBI WJCL (ABC-22) (12/10, Cole) reported that the Savannah man, also known as rapper Quando Rondo, was arrested by the FBI. An FBI spokesperson said that 24-year-old Tyquian Bowman was taken into custody on federal drug charges. According to the article, Bowman is being accused of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act for being in a manager role of the Rollin' 60's gang. He is also being charged with the illegal use of communication for using a cell phone to set up the sale of marijuana. The Rolling Stone (12/09, Legaspi) also reported on the story. Michigan County Authorities Investigating After Posters of Israeli Hostages Taken Down WWI (CBS-62) (12/08, Powers) reported that authorities in an Oakland County community are investigating after two individuals were caught taking down posters of Israeli hostages Thursday afternoon. On Dec. 7, Huntington Woods Public Safety received a report of the incident and went to the scene. The article noted that according to police, two residents approached the two suspects when they saw them taking down the posters of Israeli hostages that were taken on Oct. 7, and a verbal altercation occurred. No one was physically assaulted, and there were no direct threats made toward the residents, police say. When police arrived, the two individuals who were taking EFTA00163746 down the posters had already left the area. The article stated that the two people were identified. Huntington Woods officers are working with the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and the FBI to investigate the incident. Former Jacksonville Jaguars Employee Accused of Stealing More Than $22 Million Has 'Serious Gambling Addiction: Says Lawyer CNN (12/08, Morse) reported that the former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars who has been accused of stealing more than $22 million from the NFL team to fund a lavish lifestyle suffers from a "serious gambling addiction," according to his lawyer. According to court documents filed in US District Court this week, Amit Patel is accused of wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction, stealing millions via the team's virtual credit card (VCC) system over a four-year period. The article added that Patel's attorney Alex King said that his client is "deeply remorseful and apologizes for his conduct" and that "approximately 99% of the funds misappropriated from the Jaguars' VCC were gambling losses." Patel primarily used the money to bet on football gambling websites, according to King, who added that "the losses were most significant in the final months leading up to the NFL's investigation." Southern California Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking Minors USA TODAY (12/08, Arredondo) reported that a California man was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for "recruiting and enticing" teenage girls, acting as their pimp, and using them for commercial sex work, the DOJ said Thursday. The article noted that United States