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From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing" Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - July 31, 2025 Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:15:07 +0000 Importance: Normal ce. View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation Seal July 31, 2025 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 • FBI To Establish Base In New Zealand, After Director Patel Visit • Director Patel Finds 'Burn Bags' of Trump-Russia Documents in Secret Room • Continued Reporting: Schumer Calls on FBI to Conduct Counterintelligence Threat Assessment on Epstein Files • Suspect Arrested in Killings of Couple Hiking With Daughters in Arkansas COUNTERTERRORISM • Homeland Security's Noem Says U.S. To Share Biometric Data With Chile 'To Track Criminals' • Senate Approves Trump's Pick for Top Counterterrorism Post • North Carolina Townhome Explosion Forces 20 People To Leave Homes COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • Continued Reporting: American Leader in Semiconductor Design Agrees To Pay $140M Over China Export Violations • Opinion: How to Combat China's Transnational Repression CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • DOJ, FBI Investigate Brutal Cincinnati Assault Captured in Viral Video • Person Sought in Oklahoma City Homicide Found Dead Inside West Topeka Home • 3rd Person Charged in Gunfight That Killed Bystander Buying Happy Meals for Grandkids, FBI Says • Man Sentenced for Setting Guard Shack on Fire at FBI Chicago Office • Former Manager Charged With Embezzling $500,000 From Georgia Trucking Company • FBI Probing Alleged Sexual Assault on Carnival Cruise Ship EFTA01655304 • Ohio Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill Congressman • Man Now Faces Federal Arson Charge For Post Office Attack In California • Texas Parolee Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography • Delaware Felon Robbed Two Banks and Possessed Untraceable "Ghost Gun" • Chilean Authorities Hand Over $125K in Watches Stolen From Keanu Reeves to the FBI CYBER DIVISION • Continued Reporting: What We Know About the Cybercrime Group Scattered Spider • Continued Reporting: FBI, National Guard Assist in Minnesota as Cyber-Attackers Force Shutdown of Internet-Based Systems • Continued Reporting: FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Do Not Share These Texts INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Tsunami Waves Reach U.S. After Powerful Russia Quake Forces Pacific Evacuations • U.S. Sanctions Brazilian Judge Alexandre de Moraes, Who's Overseeing Case Against Trump Ally lair Bolsonaro • Dozens Killed While Seeking Food in Gaza as U.S. Envoy Heads to Israel • U.S. Imposes Sweeping New Sanctions on Iran Oil Trading Network • Ukraine Parliament to Vote on Law to Restore Powers of Anti-Corruption Bodies • European Recognition of a Palestinian State Would Leave Israel More Isolated • Dozens Dead in Angola as Violence Erupts Over Government Plans to Eliminate Fuel Subsidies • EU Nations Aim for Billions in Defense Loans • China Promises to Help Companies Slammed by Tariffs, as Talks With the U.S. Left in Limbo • Thailand and Cambodia Reaffirm Ceasefire After China-Brokered Meeting in Shanghai OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Fed Holds Rates Steady but Sees First Double Dissent in Three Decades • NTSB Finds Army Chopper in Fatal Midair Crash With Plane Was Above Altitude Limit • Kamala Harris Decides Not to Run for Governor of California • Senate Panel Advances Bill to Ban Congressional Stock Trading • Virginia Councilman Set on Fire in Personal Attack at His Office: Police • Democratic Lawmakers Sue Over ICE's New Policy Limiting Access to Detention Centers • Trump Administration Is Launching a New Private Health Tracking System With Big Tech's Help • Texas Republicans Get a Bigger House Edge Under a New Map, Meeting Trump's Goals • U.S. Repatriates a Child From Sprawling Camp in Northeastern Syria Holding Families of ISIS Fighters • Trump Administration Strikes Deal With Brown University to Restore Funding WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS FBI To Establish Base In New Zealand, After Director Patel Visit Reuters (07/30, Craymer) reported that the FBI has opened a standalone office in New Zealand's capital in part to improve the United States and New Zealand's ability to counter China's presence in the Pacific region, Director Patel said on Thursday. He said in a statement that opening a dedicated law enforcement attache office in EFTA01655305 Wellington would strengthen and enhance Washington's longstanding co-operation with one of its key partners in the southwestern Pacific. "Some of the most important global issues of our times are the ones that New Zealand and America work on together —countering the CCP (the Communist Party of China) in the Indo PACOM theatre, countering the narcotics trade, working together against cyber intrusions and ransomware operations and most importantly protecting our respective citizenry," Director Patel added in a video released by the U.S. Embassy in Wellington. The article explained that the FBI has had a suboffice in New Zealand since 2017, and the two countries work closely on policing issues, including child exploitation and organised crime. New Zealand and the U.S. have been working more closely together amid concerns about China's increasing influence in the Pacific. They are both members of the intelligence sharing partnership known as the Five Eyes, which also includes Australia, Canada, and the UK. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Daily Mail (07/30, Caralle), Bloomberg (07/30, Brockett), Al Jazeera (07/31, Staff Writer), The Guardian (07/30, Corlett), NZ Herald (07/31, Coughlan, Pearse), RNZ (07/30, Palmer), The Post (07/30, Manch). Director Patel Finds 'Bum Bags' of Trump-Russia Documents in Secret Room The New York Post (07/30, Nerozzi) reported that Director Patel discovered "burn bags" containing thousands of documents related to the Trump-Russia probe during the 2016 campaign, including a classified annex to the 2023 report by special counsel John Durham, in a secret room at the FBI's DC headquarters. According to the article, the 29-page annex, which has never been publicly released, includes details of the intelligence reviewed by Durham and will be declassified and turned over to Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley for eventual public release. The documents found by Patel were discovered in a purported secret room that was previously hidden from the world, and it is unclear whether they had reached their destruction date or were preserved due to an oversight by officials. The article explained that last month, Director Patel hinted at the discovery in an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan. "When I first got to the bureau, I found a room that former FBI Director James Comey and others hid from the world in the Hoover Building, full of documents and computer hard drives that no one had ever seen or heard off he said. "They locked the key and hid access and just said, 'No one's ever gonna find this place.'" The annex reportedly includes information that foreign sources warned the U.S. intelligence community that the FBI would help spread a narrative that the 2016 Trump campaign illegally colluded with the Kremlin to win the election, before the bureau launched the "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation in July 2016. The article highlighted that the discovery was made by a team that includes Director Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and acting National Security Agency Director William Hartman. President Trump has stated that he wants everything to be shown as long as it is fair and reasonable. The Guardian (07/30, Tait) reported that a former CIA officer, Susan Miller, has responded to Gabbard's accusations that Barack Obama and his national security team engaged in a "treasonous conspiracy" against Donald Trump, calling the allegations "false" and "misrepresentations". Miller, who helped lead the intelligence assessments on alleged Russia interference in the 2016 presidential election, says Gabbard's claims are based on a lack of understanding of espionage practices and are an attempt to "rewrite history". Gabbard's allegations have been denied by other high- level officials, including James Clapper and John Brennan, who have called her claims "patently false" and accused her of trying to distract attention from other issues. Additional reporting on the story was provided by The National Desk (07/30, Botelho), Fox News (07/30, Singman), Times of India (07/30, Staff Writer), Hindustan Times (07/30, Bajaj), Daily Mail (07/30, Goodin, Caralle), Raw Story (07/30, Burris), Tampa Free Press (07/30, Shockey), Newsmax (07/30, McCarthy), Breitbart (07/30, Bois), Washington Times (07/30, Wilson), and The Times (07/30, Charter). Continued Reporting: Schumer Calls on FBI to Conduct Counterintelligence Threat Assessment on Epstein Files Fox News (07/30, Wallace) reported that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment on the Jeffrey Epstein files to determine potential national security risks. According to the article, Schumer wants the assessment to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign intelligence agencies and to develop mitigation strategies to counter these threats. The article noted that the call comes amid concerns that foreign actors, such as Russia, North Korea, or China, could access the Epstein files and use the information to blackmail President Donald Trump or other senior government officials. ABC News (07/30, Murray) added that Senate Democrats are using a little-known law to force the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The law requires federal agencies to provide information if at least five committee members request it, and all seven Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee have invoked this law. The Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Gary Peters, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, are seeking the release of the files by August 15 and may seek recourse in the courts if cooperation is EFTA01655306 not achieved. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Fox News (07/30, Wallace, Hagstrom), CBS News (07/30, Hubbard), Axios (07/30, Walker), New York Times (07/30, Gold), Politico (07/30, Carney), and The Hill (07/30, Weaver). Grand Jury Witnesses Against Epstein and Maxwell Were All Investigators The New York Times (07/30, Weiser) reported that the DOJ has revealed that the witnesses who testified before federal grand juries in New York investigating sex-trafficking allegations against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were all members of law enforcement, including an FBI agent and a New York City police detective who was part of the FBI's child exploitation and human trafficking task force. According to the article, no victims testified in the grand jury proceedings, but many later testified at Maxwell's 2021 trial and have made their accounts public in civil litigation. The article noted that the DOJ has requested to unseal grand jury transcripts in the Epstein and Maxwell cases, citing public interest and a need to dispel criticism and conspiracy theories surrounding the cases. Additional reporting on the story was provided by The Hill (07/30, Fields), the Washington Post (07/30, Roebuck), Associated Press (07/30, Neumeister), The Daily Beast (07/30, Brancolini), New York Post (07/30, DeGregory, Kochman), USA Today (07/30, Bagchi), Forbes (07/30, Durkee), CBS News (07/30, Rosen), CNBC (07/30, Mangan), ABC News (07/30, Faulders, Mallin, Charalambous), and CNN (07/30, Reid) (2). FBI and DOJ's Version of Epstein Cell Door Video Does Not Cut Out 'Missing Minute' The Independent (07/30, Keller) and Newsweek (07/30, Rahman) reported that a federal source claims the "missing minute" in the Jeffrey Epstein jail video may never have been missing, with investigators having a copy of the footage with the intact time interval. According to the articles, the FBI and DOJ had released nearly 11 hours of surveillance video, which showed a time-stamp jump, prompting speculation that the footage was deliberately withheld. The articles noted that despite officials describing the released video as "full raw" and "unedited", a government source says investigators have a version of the footage with the full time interval, contradicting initial reports of a missing minute. Additional reporting on Jeffrey Epstein was provided by The Independent (07/30, Baio) and Axios (07/30, Scribner). Suspect Arrested in Killings of Couple Hiking With Daughters in Arkansas NBC News (07/30, Helsel) reported that a suspect, James Andrew McGann, 28, has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in the killings of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. According to the article, the couple was attacked and killed on an Arkansas hiking trail at Devil's Den State Park in front of their daughters, aged 7 and 9, who were not injured and are safe with family members. "Clinton and Cristen died heroes, protecting their little girls, and they deserve justice. They will forever live on in all of our hearts;' the family said in an earlier statement. The article noted that McGann was arrested after a days-long manhunt, and authorities are still investigating the motive behind the killings. ABC News (07/30, Deliso) highlighted that the FBI assisted the Arkansas State Police with its investigation "by providing additional manpower and specialized resources." Additional reporting on the story was provided by CNN (07/30, Faheld, Reiss), NewsNation (07/30, Taub), Fox News (07/30, Shaw), Associated Press (07/30, Demillo), Daily Mail (07/30, Gordon), The Independent (07/30, Hawkinson, Dobkin), Axios (07/30, Golden), and Hindustan Times (07/31, Banerjee). Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Homeland Security's Noem Says U.S. To Share Biometric Data With Chile 'To Track Criminals' The Associated Press (07/30, Staff Writer) reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Wednesday during a visit to Chile that the U.S. will deploy biometric technologies in partnership with Chile to control migration and disrupt criminal networks. Noem said while signing the preliminary agreement with Chile's Security Minister Luis Corder° and Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo, "This arrangement is going to serve as a bridge to help Chile and the United States work towards bringing criminals to justice and knowing who is in our countries perpetuating crimes. This increased cooperation between our countries is extremely important to track criminals, terrorists and dangerous individuals." The plan comes as the Trump administration seeks to bolster regional cooperation in its clampdown against transnational criminal groups, including Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the White House. The bilateral agreement allows Chilean officials to identify potentially dangerous migrants entering or exiting the country and share their biometric EFTA01655307 data, such as fingerprints and iris scans, with the Department of Homeland Security to prevent their travel to the U.S. According to the article, the FBI and Chile most recently teamed up to disrupt South American criminal networks allegedly responsible for a string of burglaries targeting the multimillion-dollar homes of high-profile celebrities and professional athletes in the U.S. and Europe. The suspects, among them Chilean nationals, are now facing charges in Florida. Senate Approves Trump's Pick for Top Counterterrorism Post The New York Times (07/30, Schmitt) reported that the Senate has confirmed Joe Kent as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center in a 52-to-44 party-line vote. Kent, a former Army Green Beret and CIA paramilitary officer, has been controversial due to his promotion of conspiracy theories and links to extremist groups. Despite criticism from Democrats, Kent was approved to lead the counterterrorism center, which analyzes and shares counterterrorism information to address threats to the United States. The article highlighted that Kent said that the FBI played a role in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and should be dismantled. Additional reporting on the story was provided by the Washington Post (07/30, Strobel, Masih), MSNBC (07/30, Benen), Associated Press (07/30, Groves), Raw Story (07/30, Chapman), Breitbart (07/30, Weibel), Washington State Standard (07/30, Cornfield). North Carolina Townhome Explosion Forces 20 People To Leave Homes WRAL (NBC-5) (07/30, Gallagher) reported that one man was hospitalized and about 20 people were forced to leave their homes following a house explosion in Angier on Wednesday morning. Angier police said firefighters found a man outside, around the back of the house. His arms were badly burned from the fire. The investigation brought in the FBI, the ATF, and bomb squads from the State Bureau of Investigation and Raleigh police. The cause of the explosion is not known. Angier police said at least three homes were damaged and possibly more, depending on further investigation. The story was also reported on by WTVD (ABC-11) (07/30, Hoggard) and WNCN (CBS-17) (07/30, Watson, 'Caber). Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Continued Reporting: American Leader in Semiconductor Design Agrees To Pay $140M Over China Export Violations KHARON (07/30, Bacic) reported that Cadence Design Systems Inc., a U.S. semiconductor design leader, has agreed to plead guilty and pay $140 million for unlawfully exporting design tools to a restricted Chinese military university. According to the article, the company will pay over $140 million in aggregate net criminal and civil penalties, including nearly $118 million in criminal penalties and over $95 million in civil penalties to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The article noted that Cadence admitted to conspiring to commit export control violations from 2015 to 2021, and has implemented a strong export compliance program to prevent further illegal transmission of American technology. "Protecting the U.S. semiconductor industry is critical to our national defense," said Assistant Director Roman Rozhaysky of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division in the press release. "Working with NUDT, which has been on the entity list for a decade for its work to advance China's military capabilities, is unacceptable. The FBI will stop at nothing to defend the homeland from China's Communist Party." Deputy Director Bongino posted a statement on X: "This week, Cadence Design Systems Inc., a multinational electronic design automation software and hardware company, plead GUILTY to committing criminal export violations and will pay more than $140 MILLION in criminal and civil penalties. Cadence sold SENSITIVE semiconductor design tools and technology to a RESTRICTED Chinese military university involved in the development of supercomputers which are believed to support military and nuclear explosion simulations in China. Our country's talented technology innovators — particularly within Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry — stand amongst the best in the world. Your FBI, along with our partners, will continue to protect our most sensitive industries and innovators from reaching the hands of our ENEMIES. This plea deal is a wakeup call for the semiconductor industry to take our export control laws SERIOUSLY and to better monitor where our leading-edge technology is going. The FBI will never stop working to identify and stop these ILLEGAL actions. I'd like to highlight the great work of @FBISanFrancisco, the FBI Counterintelligence Division, and the @CommerceGov for their continued efforts to safeguard this technology. This work is CRITICAL to defending the homeland and protecting you, the American people. God bless America, and all those who defend Her." EFTA01655308 Opinion: How to Combat China's Transnational Repression An opinion piece published by The National Interest (07/30, Pang) reported that the Chinese government is using transnational repression to silence critics and exert control over diaspora communities in Western countries, often through coercive tactics such as computer hacking, doxxing, and threatening victims and their families. According to the article, the U.S. government has recently ramped up efforts to combat transnational repression, with Congress introducing bipartisan bills such as the Transnational Repression Policy Act and the SHIELD Against CCP Act to establish a working group and implement stricter sanctions against perpetrators. The author assessed that the securitization of transnational repression has led to a trade-off between progressive human rights advocacy and a security-oriented approach, with some bills proposing measures that could tighten border controls and restrict immigration, potentially compromising efforts to reform the immigration system and protect vulnerable diaspora communities. The author highlighted that only recently have Congress, the FBI, the DOJ, and the DHS ramped up their efforts to combat this chronically overlooked, non-conventional security threat. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DOJ, FBI Investigate Brutal Cincinnati Assault Captured in Viral Video Fox News (07/30, D'Abrosca) reported that the FBI and the DOJ are investigating a brutal assault in downtown Cincinnati that was captured in a viral video. The incident occurred on Saturday and left several people injured, with three suspects arrested and charged with various offenses. The DOJ is considering potential federal hate crime charges, with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stating that federal law may apply if race was a motivation for the attack. On Sunday night, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon intimated about potential federal hate crime charges. "Our federal hate crimes laws apply to ALL Americans. We [at the DOJ Civil Rights Division] will monitor closely how local authorities handle this attack," she said on X regarding the beatings. "Nobody in our great nation should be the victim of such a crime, and where race is a motivation, federal law may apply." Additional reporting on the story was provided by BBC (07/30, Wendling), Cincinnati Enquirer (07/30, Tucker, Wartman), WXIX (Fox-19) (07/30, Baker), WLWT (NBC-5) (07/30, Keel), WKRC (ABC-12) (07/30, Madden). Person Sought in Oklahoma City Homicide Found Dead Inside West Topeka Home WIBW (CBS-13) (07/30, Anderson) reported that Carlos Slaughter, 51, a suspect wanted in connection with a homicide in Oklahoma City, was found dead in a home in west Topeka. The homicide in Oklahoma City involved Kellie Slaughter, 45, who was found dead with injuries consistent with a homicide. Police are investigating Carlos Slaughter's death as a possible suicide after a standoff with law enforcement officers at the Topeka home. The FBI is assisting local police in the investigation. 3rd Person Charged in Gunfight That Killed Bystander Buying Happy Meals for Grandkids, FBI Says KTRK (ABC-13) (07/30, Staff Writer) reported that a third person, Tyler Jordan, has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly shooting at a McDonald's in north Houston. According to the article, the shooting took place when a fight broke out between two groups of people inside the restaurant, resulting in multiple shots being fired, and Jorge Arbaiza was unfortunately caught in the crossfire and killed. FBI Houston announced the charges on Wednesday, bringing the total number of people charged in connection with the incident to three. Man Sentenced for Setting Guard Shack on Fire at FBI Chicago Office WLS (ABC-7) (7/30, Staff Writer) reported that James Lofton has been sentenced to 22 months for setting a guard shack on fire at the FBI's Chicago office in 2022. Lofton pled guilty to depredation of government property in February 2025 and will be on supervised release for three years after completing his time. He was ordered to pay $3,900 in restitution for the incident, which was caught on security cameras and resulted in no injuries. Former Manager Charged With Embezzling $500,000 From Georgia Trucking Company WSB (ABC-2) (07/30, Staff Writer) reported that Dustin Jarrard, a 38-year-old former operations manager, was indicted for wire fraud after allegedly embezzling over $500,000 from Tribe Transportation, a trucking company in Gainesville. According to the article, Jarrard submitted fake reimbursement requests for non-employee drivers and recruited company drivers to participate in his scheme, with the drivers transferring some of the ill-gotten money to him for personal use. The article noted that Jarrard was arraigned after being indicted by a federal grand jury EFTA01655309 and faces charges for abusing his position of trust and embezzling funds for personal use. "This case is a clear example of financial fraud fueled by greed," said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. FBI Probing Alleged Sexual Assault on Carnival Cruise Ship Fox News (7/30, Sabes) reported that the FBI is investigating sexual assault allegations on the Carnival Breeze cruise ship, which is based out of Galveston, Texas. According to the article, the alleged incident occurred on a 4-day cruise that included a stop in Cozumel, Mexico, and returned to Galveston on Monday. The article noted that the FBI is also investigating a death on a different Galveston-based cruise ship, the Carnival Dream, which was determined to be due to natural causes by the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office. "FBI Houston is aware of allegations of a sexual assault that occurred on the Carnival Breeze cruise ship, which docked in Galveston on 07/28/2025," the FBI spokesperson wrote. "As is customary with crimes aboard a cruise ship, an FBI Maritime Liaison Agent, based out of the Texas City Resident Agency, is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and the cruise line regarding this incident. Also keeping in line with case reviews or open investigations, the FBI will not be providing additional details or updates regarding these matters." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Daily Mail (07/30, Acton-Taylor), KVEO (NBC-23) (07/30, Gonzalez), and Hoodline (07/30, Ford). Ohio Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill Congressman NBC News (7/30, Richards, Kosnar) reported that an Ohio man, Jeffrey Dorsey, 60, has been arrested and charged with threatening to kill Rep. Jim Jordan over potential Medicaid cuts. The threat was made in a voicemail left on Jordan's Washington, D.C., office line, in which Dorsey stated he would harm Jordan if he voted to cut Medicaid. According to the article, the FBI said that it called the phone associated with the threatening message this week and that the voice of the person who answered resembled the voice in the voicemail message left with the lawmaker's office. Spectrum News (7/30, Staff Writer) highlighted a statement made by FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena latarola: "The FBI takes all threats seriously. Threats to harm others, including public officials, will never be tolerated." The Dispatch (7/30, Meighan) also reported on the story. Man Now Faces Federal Arson Charge For Post Office Attack In California The Mercury News (07/30, Salonga) reported that Richard Tillman, 44, of San Jose, faces a federal arson charge for allegedly driving a car into a post office and setting it ablaze. He has been charged with malicious destruction of government property by fire and could face 5-20 years in prison if convicted. Tillman is also facing local charges, including felony arson and vandalism, and is currently in federal custody at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. The article noted that the lead agency in the arson investigation was the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, backed by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Texas Parolee Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography MyTexasDaily.com (07/30, Richards) reported that a 39-year-old parolee from Beaumont has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. James Richard Rollins pleaded guilty and received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 29. The article detailed that law enforcement was alerted in October 2023 by a parole supervisor who had possession of Rollins' phone containing child pornography. The phone was found to have numerous explicit images and videos, including those of prepubescent children. Rollins admitted to downloading and viewing these materials, with the investigation attributing 3,680 images to him. It was noted that the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Justice Department in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The initiative aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders while rescuing victims. The case was investigated by the FBI and Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove. Delaware Felon Robbed Two Banks and Possessed Untraceable "Ghost Gun" 1st State Update (7/30, Staff Writer) reported that Joshua Lewis, 37, of Newark, Delaware, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for robbing two Delaware banks. The banks, Artisans' Bank and Shore United Bank, were robbed on February 10 and 15, 2023, with Lewis stealing over $6,000. Lewis, a person with previous felony convictions, also possessed ammunition and a "ghost gun", leading to the sentence pronounced by Judge Gregory Williams. The article highlighted that the case was investigated by the FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force. "Multiple bank employees, who were simply doing their jobs, must now deal with the pain and trauma inflicted on them by Joshua Lewis. He threatened violence without regard for who he hurt and how," said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. "May this sentence be a reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement EFTA01655310 partners will do all we can to protect the safety and security of our communities while holding violent offenders accountable." Additional reporting on the story was provided by WDEL-AM (07/30, Staff Writer), Delaware Live (07/30, Rutz), and WGMD-FM (07/30, Ciccanti). Chilean Authorities Hand Over $125K in Watches Stolen From Keanu Reeves to the FBI Fox News (07/30, Compton) reported that Chilean authorities have handed over $125,000 in watches stolen from Keanu Reeves to the FBI. According to the article, the six watches, including a Rolex, were recovered during police raids in Chile's capital, Santiago, and will be returned to the Canadian actor. The article noted that the watches were stolen from Reeves' home in Los Angeles in December 2023, and their recovery is part of an investigation into a string of high-profile break-ins targeting American luxury homes. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Continued Reporting: What We Know About the Cybercrime Group Scattered Spider The Cyber Security Dive (07/30, Jones) reported that Scattered Spider, a cybercrime group, uses social-engineering tactics to trick companies into handing over user credentials and bypassing multifactor authentication. According to the article, the group, also known as Muddled Libra, Octo Tempest, Scatter Swine, and UNC3944, has targeted various industries, including hospitality, telecommunications, retail, insurance, and transportation. Scattered Spider is considered a serious threat to U.S. organizations, with estimated losses of over $100 million from a single attack on MGM Resorts, and has been linked to multiple high-profile hacks, including those of Clorox, Marks & Spencer, and Aflac. The article highlighted that the FBI and the CISA on Tuesday warned that Scattered Spider is deploying new techniques to launch attacks against multiple industries. Continued Reporting: FBI, National Guard Assist in Minnesota as Cyber-Attackers Force Shutdown of Internet-Based Systems TechExplore (07/30, Melo) reported that St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter declared a state of local emergency due to a cyber attack on the city's Internet-based systems. According to the article, the investigation into the cyber attack is being treated as a criminal matter, with the FBI and national cybersecurity experts assisting the city, and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has stated that the attack was a "deliberate, coordinated, digital attack carried out by a sophisticated external actor". The article noted that as a result of the cyber attack, most city services remain offline, except for 911 and other public safety operations, and the city has initiated a "complete network shutdown" to contain the incident, disabling public-facing Internet computer terminals and Internet-based systems. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Ars Technica (07/30, Anderson) and The Guardian (07/30, Staff Writer). Continued Reporting: FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Do Not Share These Texts Forbes (07/31, Doffman) reported that the FBI is warning iPhone and Android users to be cautious of fraudulent texts and voice messages sent by "malicious actors" who aim to gain access to personal accounts, and users should never reply to messages from unknown senders. The article added that the bureau advises users to set up two- factor authentication (2FA) on any account that allows it and never disable it, but notes that most 2FA codes are delivered by text, which can be sent to others, and users should never share these codes with anyone. According to the FBI, malicious actors may use social engineering techniques to convince users to disclose their 2FA codes, which can allow attackers to compromise and take over accounts, and even if the request comes from someone the user knows, they should never provide a 2FA code over email, SMS/MMS, or encrypted messaging. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL NEWS Tsunami Waves Reach U.S. After Powerful Russia Quake Forces Pacific Evacuations Wall Street Journal, BBC, USA TODAY, NPR U.S. Sanctions Brazilian Judge Alexandre de Moraes, Who's Overseeing Case Against Trump Ally Jair Bolsonaro CBS News, BBC, Politico, Fox News EFTA01655311 Dozens Killed While Seeking Food in Gaza as U.S. Envoy Heads to Israel Associated Press, Al Jazeera U.S. Imposes Sweeping New Sanctions on Iran Oil Trading Network Bloomberg Ukraine Parliament to Vote on Law to Restore Powers of Anti-Corruption Bodies The Guardian European Recognition of a Palestinian State Would Leave Israel More Isolated Wall Street Journal Dozens Dead in Angola as Violence Erupts Over Government Plans to Eliminate Fuel Subsidies Fox News EU Nations Aim for Billions in Defense Loans Washington Times China Promises to Help Companies Slammed by Tariffs, as Talks With the U.S. Left in Limbo Washington Times Thailand and Cambodia Reaffirm Ceasefire After China-Brokered Meeting in Shanghai Associated Press Back to Top OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS Fed Holds Rates Steady but Sees First Double Dissent in Three Decades The Hill, Reuters, NBC News, CBS News, Wall Street Journal NTSB Finds Army Chopper in Fatal Midair Crash With Plane Was Above Altitude Limit Associated Press, BBC, ABC News Kamala Harris Decides Not to Run for Governor of California NBC News, Politico, CNN Senate Panel Advances Bill to Ban Congressional Stock Trading The Hill, CBS News, Fox News Virginia Councilman Set on Fire in Personal Attack at His Office: Police ABC News, NBC News, CBS News Democratic Lawmakers Sue Over ICE's New Policy Limiting Access to Detention Centers CNN, Axios, Reuters Trump Administration Is Launching a New Private Health Tracking System With Big Tech's Help Associated Press, ABC News Texas Republicans Get a Bigger House Edge Under a New Map, Meeting Trump's Goals Associated Press, Politico U.S. Repatriates a Child From Sprawling Camp in Northeastern Syria Holding Families of ISIS Fighters CBS News Trump Administration Strikes Deal With Brown University to Restore Funding CBS News, NBC News Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE EFTA01655312 White House President Trump • 9:00 AM: In-Town Pool Call Time • 12:30 PM: The President has lunch with the Vice President • 1:00 PM: Press Briefing by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt • 4:00 PM: The President signs an Executive Order Vice President Vance • 12:30 PM: The President has lunch with the Vice President US Senate • Hearings to examine the nominations of Michael Powers of Virginia to be Deputy Under Secretary Amy Henninger of Virginia to be Director of Operational Test and Evaluation David Denton Jr. of Virginia to be General Counsel of the Department of the Navy and Benjamin Kohlmann of Texas to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy all of the Department of Defense. — 9:15 AM — Host: Armed Services • Business meeting to markup an original bill entitled "Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2026" and an original bill entitled "Departments of Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2026". - 9:30 AM — Host: Appropriations • Business meeting to consider the nominations of Jonathan McKernan of Tennessee to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury and Alex Adams of Idaho to be Assistant Secretary for Family Support Department of Health and Human Services. — 9:45 AM — Host: Finance • Hearings to examine the nominations of Bryan Switzer of Virginia to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Asia Textiles Investment Services and Intellectual Property) with the rank of Ambassador and Gustav Chiarello III of Virginia to be an Assistant Secretary and Michael Stuart of West Virginia to be General Counsel both of the Department of Health and Human Services and Derek Theurer of Virginia to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury vice Jonathan Davidson. — 10:00 AM — Host: Finance • Hearings to examine making health care affordable focusing on solutions to lower costs and empower patients. — 10:00 AM — Host: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions US House of Representatives • No events scheduled. Cabinet Members • Secretary of State Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State. Visitors • No events scheduled. General Events • Peace Through Strength: U.S. Policy on Israel and the Middle East — Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: Online event, 9:00 AM. The Trump administration entered office with the Middle East engulfed in conflict following Hamas' invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023. Though the Twelve Days War between Israel and Iran has ended, the broader struggle to reshape the region is far from over. EFTA01655313 • CSIS: Lights Out? Wargaming a Chinese Blockade of Taiwan — Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: Online event, 1:00 PM. A potential blockade of Taiwan burst into the American consciousness in 2022 when China showed its displeasure about then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's visit by surrounding the island with missile impacts. This and subsequent Chinese exercises appeared to simulate a quarantine or blockade. This possibility was not a surprise to regional experts and the Taiwanese themselves, who had long been aware of this threat. Among the five types of joint campaigns discussed in Chinese doctrinal writing is the "joint blockade campaign" (Weiltiona), and the People's Liberation Army (PIA) has signaled that it would consider such blockade actions in the event that it took action against Taiwan. Such a blockade would not just affect China, Taiwan, and the United States. The disruption of international trade, particularly restrictions on computer chip production, would affect every country on the planet. • CSIS: U.S.-South Korea Shipbuilding and Maritime Dispute in the PMZ I The Capital Cable #118 — Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: Online event, 2:00 PM. Improving cooperation in shipbuilding has become a priority for the new Trump and Lee Jae-myung administrations. What are opportunities to leverage South Korea's shipbuilding capacity to improve U.S. naval and commercial shipbuilding capacity? On the other hand, China has built structures in the Provisional Measures Zone in the West Sea/Yellow Sea and employed gray zone tactics in the disputed region with South Korea to expand its territorial presence. What do we know about these structures, and what does this mean for China-South Korea relations? • CATO Institute: Cato University: Session I — Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: CATO Institute, 5:00 PM. Cato University is the Cato Institute's premier educational event for college students. Each program will explore classical liberal philosophy as a foundation for considering current policy issues. While the topics for each Cato University program will vary, the goal remains to bring together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country who share a commitment to liberty and learning and to provide participants an opportunity to form an enduring community through a one-of-a-kind experience. • Atlantic Council: Unpacking the new US-EU trade deal —Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: Online event, 11:00 AM. Experts discuss the new agreement announced on Sunday and what it means for transatlantic trade going forward. • Atlantic Council: Overlooked economic trends that could transform Latin America and the Caribbean — Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: Online event, 2:00 PM. Experts spotlight overlooked economic trends that could reshape Latin America and the Caribbean by impacting growth, investment, and development. • RAND: Policy Lab: Restoring U.S. and Allied Military Power and Influence— Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: Online event, 12:00 PM. Since the end of the Cold War, the character of modern warfare has evolved rapidly. A 2023 RAND report finds that U.S. defense strategy and posture are now "insolvent." In this Policy Lab, lead author David Ochmanek explains how to reverse this—and help ensure the United States and its allies can deter and defeat modern threats. • Hudson Institute: How Congress Can Rebuild US Shipbuilding and Boost Maritime Security , — Thursday, July 31, 2025. Location: Online event, 11:30 AM. For decades the United States Navy's and Coast Guard's fleets have been shrinking despite their increasing necessity. From the Gulf of America to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and beyond, US maritime forces have had to defend America and its allies with older and fewer ships and aircraft. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act will inject billions of dollars into the US shipbuilding and maritime industrial base, which can help to restore US Navy and Coast Guard capacity. But turning funding into capability will not be easy. The US maritime industry needs to address worker shortages, crumbling infrastructure, and inadequate commercial demand. Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. EFTA01655314