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From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing" Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - July 22, 2025 Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:10:07 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation Seal July 22, 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 • Microsoft Issues An 'Active Attacks' Alert Over Hack Of Sharepoint File Sharing Software • Massive Release of FBI/DO1 Files on Martin Luther King Jr. • Hunter Biden Denies Cocaine Found in WH Was His After FBI Opens Probe • FBI Botched Investigation Into Hillary Clinton's Emails, Declassified Documents Allege • Continued Reporting: Jeffrey Epstein Accuser Urged FBI to Investigate Trump Decades Ago • Continued Reporting: President Trump Posts Al-Generated Video of Obama Being Arrested by FBI COUNTERTERRORISM • Improvised Explosive Device Set Off At California Target, Prompting FBI Investigation • Continued Reporting: Investigators Exploring Whether Grenades Found at Apartment Caused Sheriff's Department Blast • Continued Reporting: Virginia Man Pleads Guilty After More Than 150 Pipe Bombs Seized From His Home COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • Engineer Pleads Guilty to Stealing for Chinese Government's Benefit CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Slain U.S. Intern's Mother Warns After DC Shooting; FBI Offers $40K Reward • FBI Warns South Carolina Residents of Statewide Scam Using 'Spoofed' Phone Numbers • California Financial Advisor Charged With Allegedly Operating Long-Running $9.5 Million Ponzi Scheme • Tennessee Doctor Charged With Health Care Fraud EFTA01655328 • FBI Agent Convicted of Rape, Sex Assault of Young Women at Maryland Tattoo Shops • Shoppers Confront Federal Agents at Ontario Stater Bros. Markets, Video Shows • Pennsylvania Youth Ministry Leader Used 2-Way Mirror to Record Teens in Shower • Convicted Child Sex Traveler Sentenced For Attempting To Entice And Meet A 13-Year-Old Child • Illegal Immigrant From Indiana Arrested in North Carolina for Child Molestation Charges • Armed Serial Robber in Texas Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison CYBER DIVISION • After FBI Warning, Alaska Airlines Grounded; Salt Typhoon Suspected INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • U.S. Embassy Concludes Six-Week CT Training Initiative for Ghana's NIB OTHER FBI NEWS • Former NYPD Commissioner to Sue Adams, Ex-Spokesman Over Claims He Was 'Mentally Not Fit' INTERNATIONAL NEWS • In South Korea's Apple County', Farmers Beg Not to Be Sacrificed for U.S. Trade Deal • EU's 'Nuclear Option' of Moves Against Trump Tariff Threat • At Least 27 Dead, Mostly Children, in Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash • Swarms of Russian Drones Attack Ukraine Nightly as Moscow Puts New Emphasis on the Deadly Weapon • UK, Canada and 26 Other Countries Say the War in Gaza 'Must End Now' • Indian Vice President's Resignation Sparks Speculation • China Finds Cover-up in Lead Poisoning of 200 Children • China Confirms Exit Ban on Wells Fargo Banker • How China Curbed Its Oil Addiction—and Blunted a U.S. Pressure Point • Iran Will Not Give Up Nuclear Enrichment, Top Official Confirms in Exclusive Fox News Interview OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Judge Orders DOJ to Reinstate Legal Aid for Mentally Incompetent Migrants • Man Accused of Setting Fire to 11 NYPD Vehicles Is Arrested and Charged With Arson • U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Murder-Kidnapping Conviction in 1979 Missing Child Case • Judge Challenges Trump Administration in Hearing on Harvard Funding • Trump Ally Wants Powell Investigated by the Justice Department • Pentagon Withdraws 700 Marines From Los Angeles • Judge Gives Ex-Officer Nearly Three Years in Breonna Taylor Raid, Rebuffs DOJ Call for No Prison Time • Texas GOP Lawmakers Lead Summer Sprint to Redraw U.S. House Maps and Address Deadly Floods • Environmentalists' Lawsuit to Halt Alligator Alcatraz' Filed in Wrong Court, Florida Official Says • Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Judicial Watch's Illinois Voter Roll Lawsuit • Stephen Miller's Legal Group Asks Dal to Look Into 'Illegal DEI Practices' at Johns Hopkins • After Initial Request, U.S. Dal Has Not Obtained Wisconsin Voter Data • Jim Jordan Subpoenas DOJ Prosecutor Who Helped Investigate Donald Trump EFTA01655329 WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Microsoft Issues An 'Active Attacks' Alert Over Hack Of Sharepoint File Sharing Software Reuters (07/21, Pearson, Satter) reported that a cyber espionage operation has compromised around 100 organizations, mostly in the U.S. and Germany, including government organizations, by exploiting a previously unknown flaw in Microsoft's SharePoint software. The hack, dubbed a "zero-day" attack, allows spies to penetrate vulnerable servers and potentially drop a backdoor for continuous access. Microsoft has issued security updates, and thousands of entities remain potentially vulnerable to the attack, with over 8,000 servers possibly already compromised. The article highlighted that the FBI said on Sunday it was aware of the attacks and was working closely with its federal and private-sector partners, but offered no other details. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Washington Past (07/21, Menn, Nakashima), Associated Press (07/21, Chen), TechRepublic (07/21, Jackson), TechCrunch (07/21, Whittaker), USA Today (07/21, Alund), Forbes (07/21, Winder), The Verge (07/21, Weatherbed), CNBC (07/21, Palmer), CyberScoop (07/21, Kapko), Time (07/21, Lee), Dark Reading (07/21, Montalbano), Quartz (07/21, Parker), Axios (07/21, Sabin), Wall Street Journal (07/21, Kao), The Independent (07/21, Sommerlad), Cybersecurity Dive (07/21, Jones), Ars Technica (07/21, Goodin), Engadget (07/21, Dent), SecurityWeek (07/21, Kovacs), The Register (07/21, Speed), Fast Company (07/21, Snelling), ABC News (07/21, Date), Global News (07/21, Previl), and SC World (07/21, Zurier). Massive Release of FBI/DOJ Files on Martin Luther King Jr. Reuters (07/21, Singh) reported that the U.S. Justice Department has released over 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, including records from the FBI. According to the article, the files were released after President Donald Trump signed an order in January to make them public, and more documents are expected to be released. The article noted that the documents include records from the FBI, which had surveilled King as part of an effort to discredit him and his civil rights movement, and shed light on the events surrounding his death on April 4, 1968. The article highlighted that the FBI kept files on King in the 19S0s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Washington Past (07/21, Wells), Newsweek (07/21, Gooding, Castro), Associated Press (07/21, Barrow), Forbes (07/21, Roush), Fox News (07/21, Williams), Time (07/21, Popli), New York Post (07/21, Nava), Wall Street Journal (07/21, Pisani), The Guardian (07/21, Staff Writer), ABC News (07/21, Hensley), CBS News (07/21, Walsh), Washington Examiner (07/21, Zimmermann), Al Jazeera (07/21, Staff Writer), and Axias (07/21, Contreras). Hunter Biden Denies Cocaine Found in WH Was His After FBI Opens Probe Politico (07/21, Markus) reported that Hunter Biden denies that a bag of cocaine found in the White House in 2023 was his, stating he has not touched drugs or alcohol. The FBI has opened an investigation into the matter, which was previously inconclusive due to lack of evidence. Hunter Biden's denial comes after Deputy Director Bongino announced in May that the FBI would reopen or pursue several cases of "potential public interest" that "garnered public interest; including the found cocaine. Additional reporting on the story was provided by The Sun (07/21, Holaday), El Online (07/21, Evans), HuffPost (07/21, Grenoble), Times of India (07/21, Staff Writer), New York Magazine (07/21, Stieb), Axios (07/21, Lalljee), The Guardian (07/21, Helmore), Washington Examiner (07/21, Bullis, Quarshie, Goelz), Fox News (07/21, Creitz), Daily Mail (07/21, Schwab), New York Post (07/21, Christenson), and Daily Caller (07/21, Graham). FBI Botched Investigation Into Hillary Clinton's Emails, Declassified Documents Allege Fox News (07/21, Colton) reported that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley released declassified documents alleging the FBI botched its investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails under James Comey's leadership. According to the article, the documents claim the FBI failed to fully investigate Clinton's email usage and mishandling of classified information, and did not review thumb drives containing sensitive information. The article noted that Grassley's release suggests the FBI's approach to the Clinton investigation was negligent and perhaps intentionally lacking in effort, in contrast to its investigation of the Trump-Russia collusion allegations. "I warned EFTA01655330 years ago that the Clinton investigation failed to hit the mark, and I'm grateful the American people can finally see the facts for themselves," Grassley said in the press release. "After nearly a decade in the shadows, this information is now coming to light thanks to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel's dedicated efforts to fulfill my congressional request." The New York Post (07/21, King, Christenson) added that the FBI failed to thoroughly analyze thumb drives containing data from cyber intrusions at the State Department, including emails from former President Barack Obama, due to concerns about victim data privilege. The drives were relevant to the investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private server, but the FBI declined to comprehensively examine them, despite an internal memo suggesting it was necessary to assess national security risks. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley criticized the FBI's investigation, saying it showed an "extreme lack of effort and due diligence" and that former FBI Director James Comey's decision-making process "smacks of political infection". Additional reporting on the story was provided by New York Sun (07/21, Staff Writer), Washington Examiner (07/21, Deese), Hindustan Times (07/21, Banerjee), Times of India (07/21, Staff Writer), Daily Mail (07/21, Raasch), Newsweek (07/21, Castro), and Washington Times (07/21, Picket). Continued Reporting: Jeffrey Epstein Accuser Urged FBI to Investigate Trump Decades Ago The Guardian (07/21, Staff Writer) reported that S an artist who accused Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell of sexual assault in 1996, claims she urged the FBI to investigate Donald Trump and others close to Epstein at the time. According to the article, Farmer repeated her concerns about Trump to the FBI in 2006, citing an unsettling encounter with him in Epstein's offices in 1995. The White House has contested Farmer's account, stating that Trump ended his friendship with Epstein many years ago and denying any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Additional reporting on the story was provided by The Hill (07/21, Waldvogel), The Independent (07/21, O'Connell, Liddell, Sommerlad), The Daily Beast (07/21, Adolphus), and The Telegraph (07/21, Henderson). White House Throws Director Patel Under the Bus on Epstein The Daily Beast (07/21, Ewall-Wice) reported that the White House is trying to distance itself from the Jeffrey Epstein case by directing questions to the FBI. According to the article, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the decision to release more Epstein files is up to the FBI and AG Bondi, not the president. The president has changed his stance on the case, now referring to it as a "hoax" and blaming Democrats, after previously promising to release the files during his 2024 campaign. The article added that when pressed on Monday whether the President would call on Director Patel to do more, Leavitt once again tried to distance the White House from decision-making and said it was with the federal law enforcement agency. "The president has told the attorney general and the FBI director to release any credible evidence that they find, and he also signaled to them over the weekend to move forward with unsealing the grand jury documents that were under seal by various judges across the country," she claimed. White House Reacts to Report FBI Was Asked to Flag Trump in Epstein Files Newsweek (07/21, Whisnant) reported that the White House has responded to a report that the FBI was instructed to "flag" any records mentioning President Donald Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein files, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the White House was not aware of the instruction. Sen. Dick Durbin's office reportedly received information from an FBI whistleblower that around 1,000 agents were given this instruction, and Durbin has sent letters to AG Bondi and Director Patel seeking clarity on the matter. The FBI has declined to comment on the report, while President Trump has said that if the Dal or FBI want to release "credible" evidence related to Epstein, they should do so. Critics Say Trump Trying to Distract From Epstein ABC News (07/21, Deliso) reported that critics accuse President Donald Trump of trying to distract from the Jeffrey Epstein case by posting about various unrelated topics on social media. According to the article, Trump's recent posts include demanding a name change for the Washington Commanders football team, commenting on the Bryan Kohberger case, and criticizing the Wall Street Journal, among others. Critics, including Joe Walsh, Rev. Al Sharpton, and California Sen. Adam Schiff, believe Trump is attempting to divert attention away from the Epstein controversy and his administration's handling of the case. The BBC (07/21, Tawfik) also reported on the story. The Hill (07/21, Zirin) published an opinion piece on the story entitled "What's Going on With Trump and the Epstein Files?" Continued Reporting: President Trump Posts AI-Generated Video of Obama Being Arrested by FBI EFTA01655331 The Washington Times (07/21, Picket) reported that Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video on social media showing former President Barack Obama being arrested by FBI agents in the Oval Office. According to the article, the video was part of a series of posts related to newly declassified records accusing top Obama administration officials of conspiring against Trump in 2016. The article noted that DNI Tulsi Gabbard claims the Obama administration manufactured a bogus intelligence report about Russian interference, and is referring the documents to the Department of Justice for a criminal referral. The article highlighted that intelligence officials concluded that Russia did interfere with the election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee's computer network and the personal emails of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller's $32 million 2019 report into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election also concluded that Moscow "interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion." A Republican-led Senate investigation in 2020 also said the "committee found no reason to dispute the intelligence community's conclusions." The Mueller report also found that investigators "did not establish that the Trump Campaign coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities." Additional reporting on the story was provided by New York Times (07/21, Bigg), The Daily Beast (07/21, Harvey), NewsNation (07/21, Noury), The Hill (07/21, Waldvogel), Newsweek (07/21, Stanton), Rolling Stone (07/21, Ramirez, Suebsaeng), Time (07/21, Jeyaretnam), and The Independent (07/21, Sommerlad). Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Improvised Explosive Device Set Off At California Target, Prompting FBI Investigation Patch (07/21, Wittner) reported that an improvised explosive device was detonated at the Target store in San Ramon, California, during a commercial burglary. The device was used to gain entry to an ATM, causing damage to the store's interior, but no one was injured. The article noted that the San Ramon Police Department is working with the FBI to investigate the incident, and the community is not in immediate danger. Additional reporting on the story was provided by DanvilleSanRamon (07/21, Lyman) and Hoodline (07/21, Tanaka). Continued Reporting: Investigators Exploring Whether Grenades Found at Apartment Caused Sheriff's Department Blast The Associated Press (07/21, Weber) reported that investigators are exploring whether grenades found at a Santa Monica apartment complex caused a blast that killed 3 LA deputies: Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn. The deputies, who were part of the arson and explosives unit, had assisted local police after the discovery of the grenades. The article noted that the incident is being investigated by the LA County Sheriff's Department's homicide detectives, with assistance from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Los Angeles Times (07/21, Winton, Fry, Buchanan), KNBC (NBC-4) (07/21, Jeong), KTLA (CW-5) (07/21, Conybeare), KTTV (Fox-11) (07/21, Staff Writer), and KABC (ABC-7) (07/21, Munoz). Continued Reporting: Virginia Man Pleads Guilty After More Than 150 Pipe Bombs Seized From His Home WTTG (Fox-5) (07/21, Hurley) reported that Brad Spafford, a 36-year-old Virginia man, pleaded guilty to possessing over 150 improvised explosive devices and an unregistered short-barrel rifle. According to the article, federal agents seized the explosives, including 155 homemade pipe bombs, from Spafford's home in December 2024. Federal investigators allege Spafford used pictures of President Joe Biden for target practice at a shooting range and created a "go box" filled with weapons, medical supplies, and food for quick access in an emergency. The article highlighted that the explosives confiscated by the FBI are possibly the largest cache ever confiscated. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Engineer Pleads Guilty to Stealing for Chinese Government's Benefit KCAL (CBS-2) (07/21, Rodriguez) reported that Chenguang Gong, a former engineer, pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from a Southern California company. According to the article, He admitted to transferring over 3,600 files, including blueprints for missile tracking systems, to his personal storage devices. The article noted that Gong faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for September 29. The EFTA01655332 press release noted that the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, through the Counterintelligence Task Force in partnership with the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service and HSI, is investigating this matter. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Courthouse News (07/21, Riquelmy), Cybernews (07/22, Schappert), KTLA (CW-5) (07/21, Kiszla), Al Jazeera (07/22, Power), and The Epoch Times (07/21, McLaughlin). Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Slain U.S. Intern's Mother Warns After DC Shooting; FBI Offers $40K Reward Times of India (07/21, Staff Writer) reported that Tamara Jachym, the mother of slain U.S. intern Eric Tarpinian- Jachym, is urging police to bring his killers to justice, warning that they will strike again if not held accountable. According to the article, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, was fatally shot in Washington, DC, on June 30, and his mother is calling for swift action from law enforcement to prevent similar tragedies. The article noted that the FBI is offering a $40,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case, which is being investigated as a targeted shooting where Eric was struck unintentionally. FBI Warns South Carolina Residents of Statewide Scam Using 'Spoofed' Phone Numbers WIS (CW-10) (07/21, Wardlaw) reported that the FBI is warning South Carolina residents of a statewide scam where criminals pose as FBI agents using 'spoofed' phone numbers. Scammers threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they give them money or personal information, often claiming missed federal jury duty or an arrest warrant. The article noted that the FBI advises people to hang up on suspicious calls, verify the local field office phone number, and report incidents. Additional reporting on the story was provided by WCIV (ABC-4) (07/21, Quinn), WJBF (ABC-6) (07/21, Wise), and WRDW (CBS-12) (07/21, Staff Writer). California Financial Advisor Charged With Allegedly Operating Long-Running $9.5 Million Ponzi Scheme fxnewsgroup (07/22, Nikolova) reported that the SEC has filed a lawsuit against Edwin Emmett Lickiss, Jr. for operating a Ponzi scheme. Lickiss allegedly sold fraudulent promissory notes to approximately 80 investors, collecting at least $12.7 million between 2018 and 2024. The SEC accuses Lickiss of violating securities laws and seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and civil monetary penalties. The press release noted that the prosecution resulted from an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. Tennessee Doctor Charged With Health Care Fraud Times News (07/21, Mazur) reported that Dr. Scott McLain, a physician at Kingsport Primary Care, has been federally charged with health care benefit fraud and unauthorized distribution of controlled substances. According to the article, the charges stem from allegedly issuing prescriptions to friends and romantic interests outside of professional practice and billing insurance for excessive services. The article highlighted that the affidavit, filed by FBI Special Agent Reanna E. O'Hare, states that McLain's charges are the result of a multi-year joint investigation with the DEA and the Medicaid Fraud Control Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Multiple sources said the physician prescribed controlled substances like oxycodone, hydrocodone, phentermine, and Xanax "without requiring them to come in for office visits." FBI Agent Convicted of Rape, Sex Assault of Young Women at Maryland Tattoo Shops WTTG (Fox-5) (07/21, Hurley) reported that Eduardo Valdivia, a 41-year-old FBI agent, was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting at least three young women. According to the article, Valdivia was convicted of six counts of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense, with the crimes occurring at his tattoo studio and a nearby hotel. Valdivia had been working as a supervisory special agent with the FBI for over a decade when he was arrested in November 2024. WDCW (CW-50) (07/21, Allen) also reported on the story. Shoppers Confront Federal Agents at Ontario Stater Bros. Markets, Video Shows KABC (ABC-7) (07/21, Staff Writer) reported that federal agents from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were at a Stater Bros. Markets location in Ontario, California. According to the article, the agents detained a man at an adjacent coffee shop, causing him to spill hot coffee on himself, and were met with hostility from bystanders. The Ontario Police Department responded to a possible assault of a federal agent, but their role was limited to that incident, while the federal agents claimed to be conducting a targeted enforcement operation. EFTA01655333 Pennsylvania Youth Ministry Leader Used 2-Way Mirror to Record Teens in Shower PennLive (07/21, Bergmueller) reported that Daniel Reed, 51, former assistant director of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ministries, has been charged with producing child pornography. According to the article, Reed used a two- way mirror to secretly record teenage girls showering at the ministry's facility in Thompsontown between 2023 and 2024. The article noted that the facility hosted children aged 10 to 18 years old, and Reed's actions were uncovered by the FBI. Additional reporting on the story was provided by WNEP (ABC-16) (07/21, Kohut) and WGAL (NBC-8) (07/21, Staff Writer). Convicted Child Sex Traveler Sentenced For Attempting To Entice And Meet A 13-Year-Old Child Hoodline (07/21, Caldwell) reported that Jeremy Wayne Leggett, a 37-year-old registered child sex offender from Jacksonville, has been sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison. According to the article, Leggett pleaded guilty to using the internet to entice a child after an undercover FBI agent, posing as a 13-year-old, engaged in conversation with him on a social media app. The article noted that the case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a coordinated effort by law enforcement agencies to address child sexual exploitation and abuse, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. Illegal Immigrant From Indiana Arrested in North Carolina for Child Molestation Charges WJZY (Fox-46) (07/21, Jennes) reported that Marvin Jose Vasquez-Martinez, a 19-year-old Honduran national who was in the United States unlawfully, was arrested in Iredell County, North Carolina, on Wednesday, July 16, for multiple crimes involving rape and child molestation, according to the FBI Charlotte. According to the article, the arrest was made by law enforcement officials from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, and the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, in coordination with the FBI Indianapolis, which utilized technical surveillance methods to help locate Vasquez-Martinez. Vasquez-Martinez was wanted in Hendricks County, Indiana, on felony charges of rape and child molestation, and he allegedly fled the area around May 2025, with a history of previous arrests for auto theft, resisting law enforcement, and possession of marijuana. Armed Serial Robber in Texas Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison Dallas News (07/21, Chakraborty) reported that Charles Brownlee, a 37-year-old armed serial robber, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for robbing five cash store businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to the article, the robberies occurred in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine, with Brownlee using a gun and disguising himself with a medical mask and different outfits. The article noted that several agencies, including the FBI's Dallas Field Office, were involved in the investigation, the release said. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION After FBI Warning, Alaska Airlines Grounded; Salt Typhoon Suspected Forbes (07/21, Sayegh) reported that Alaska Airlines grounded its mainline aircraft due to a "technology issue", highlighting the fragility of flight infrastructure and raising concerns about resilience in the face of digital disruption. According to the article, the incident is not an isolated glitch, but rather part of a growing trend of digital fragility in the airline industry, which is increasingly dependent on digital systems with limited resilience and redundancy. The aviation sector's vulnerability to cyberattacks, as demonstrated by threat actors like Salt Typhoon, underscores the need for the industry to be treated as critical infrastructure, with investments in cybersecurity, threat modeling, and coordinated response planning. The article highlighted that the FBI issued a chilling warning in June that America's airlines are under active cyber threat. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS U.S. Embassy Concludes Six-Week CT Training Initiative for Ghana's NIB Ghana News Agency (07/21, Junior) reported that the U.S. Embassy's FBI Legal Attaché Office has completed a six- week counterterrorism training initiative for Ghana's National Intelligence Bureau-Counterterrorism Directorate (NIB-CTD). According to the article, thirty-five NIB-CTD officers participated in the training, which covered six critical areas, including counterterrorism investigations and human rights compliance. The article noted that a team EFTA01655334 of instructors from the FBI Academy at Quantico, prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of Kenya and Ghana's Attorney General's Department delivered the comprehensive curriculum. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS Former NYPD Commissioner to Sue Adams, Ex-Spokesman Over Claims He Was 'Mentally Not Fit' The New York Post (07/21, McCarthy, Senzamici) reported that former NYPD commissioner Tom Donlon is suing Mayor Eric Adams and ex-spokesman Tarik Sheppard for $10 million over claims that he was too old and "mentally not fit". According to the article, the lawsuit alleges that Adams and Sheppard made defamatory statements about Donlon's mental health after he filed a federal lawsuit accusing them of running a criminal operation in the NYPD. Donlon's attorney claims that the statements were a deliberate attack to silence a whistleblower and damage his reputation. The article highlighted that the notice of claim filed by Donlon alleges that Sheppard made false statements about him on TV, including claims that his phones were taken by the FBI and that he was showing signs of cognitive issues, all of which Donlon denies. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL NEWS In South Korea's 'Apple County', Farmers Beg Not to Be Sacrificed for U.S. Trade Deal Reuters EU's 'Nuclear Option' of Moves Against Trump Tariff Threat Reuters At Least 27 Dead, Mostly Children, in Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash Reuters Swarms of Russian Drones Attack Ukraine Nightly as Moscow Puts New Emphasis on the Deadly Weapon Associated Press UK, Canada and 26 Other Countries Say the War in Gaza 'Must End Now' Associated Press Indian Vice President's Resignation Sparks Speculation BBC China Finds Cover-up in Lead Poisoning of 200 Children BBC China Confirms Exit Ban on Wells Fargo Banker Wall Street Journal How China Curbed Its Oil Addiction—and Blunted a U.S. Pressure Point Wall Street Journal Iran Will Not Give Up Nuclear Enrichment, Top Official Confirms in Exclusive Fox News Interview Fox News Back to Top OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS Judge Orders DOJ to Reinstate Legal Aid for Mentally Incompetent Migrants Courthouse News Service, Bloomberg, Daily Caller, USA TODAY, Washington Times Man Accused of Setting Fire to 11 NYPD Vehicles Is Arrested and Charged With Arson Associated Press, New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News, Fox News EFTA01655335 U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Murder-Kidnapping Conviction in 1979 Missing Child Case Reuters, NBC News, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, New York Times Judge Challenges Trump Administration in Hearing on Harvard Funding New York Times, Associated Press, CNN, Fox News, Wall Street Journal Trump Ally Wants Powell Investigated by the Justice Department Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Reuters, Washington Examiner, Fox News Pentagon Withdraws 700 Marines From Los Angeles Associated Press, Fox News, Reuters, USA TODAY, Washington Examiner Judge Gives Ex-Officer Nearly Three Years in Breonna Taylor Raid, Rebuffs DOJ Call for No Prison Time Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, ABC News, Reuters Texas GOP Lawmakers Lead Summer Sprint to Redraw U.S. House Maps and Address Deadly Floods Associated Press, ABC News, New York Times Environmentalists' Lawsuit to Halt 'Alligator Alcatraz' Filed in Wrong Court, Florida Official Says Associated Press Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Judicial Watch's Illinois Voter Roll Lawsuit Just the News Stephen Miller's Legal Group Asks DOJ to Look Into 'Illegal DEI Practices' at Johns Hopkins The Guardian After Initial Request, U.S. DOJ Has Not Obtained Wisconsin Voter Data Wisconsin Examiner Jim Jordan Subpoenas DOJ Prosecutor Who Helped Investigate Donald Trump Politico Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE White House President Trump • 9:00 AM: In-Town Pool Call Time • 11:00 AM: The President greets the President of the Republic of the Philippines • 11:15 AM: The President participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of the Republic of the Philippines • 11:45 AM: The President participates in a Bilateral Lunch with the President of the Republic of the Philippines • 7:00 PM: The President participates in a Reception with Republican Members of Congress Vice President Vance • No official presidential schedule released or announced. US Senate • Hearings to examine the nominations of Vice Admiral Frank M. Bradley USN to be admiral and Commander United States Special Operation Command and Lieutenant General Dagvin R.M. Anderson USAF to be EFTA01655336 general and Commander United States Africa Command. — 9:30 AM — Host: Armed Services • Business meeting to consider the nominations of Joseph Barloon of Maryland to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Geneva Office) with the rank of Ambassador and Brian Morrissey Jr. of Virginia to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury. — 9:45 AM — Host: Finance • Hearings to examine the nomination of Jason Evans of Texas to be an Under Secretary of State (Management — 10:00 AM — Host: Foreign Relations • Hearings to examine issues impacting the trucking and commercial bus industries. — 10:00 AM — Host: Commerce, Science, and Transportation • Hearings to examine 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. — 10:15 AM — Host: Finance • Hearings to examine securing the skies focusing on law enforcement drones and public safety. — 10:15 AM — Host: Judiciary • Hearings to examine criminal aliens in America. — 2:30 PM — Host: Judiciary • Hearings to examine the status of democracy and human rights in Hong Kong focusing on five years after the PRC's judicial takeover. — 2:30 PM — Host: Foreign Relations US House of Representatives • Markup: Various Measures — 09:45 AM — Host: Committee on Small Businesses • Hearing: Bid Protest Reform: Understanding the Problem — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform • Markup: Various Measures. — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs • Hearing: Fully Operational: Stuxnet 15 Years Later and the Evolution of Cyber Threats to Critical Infrastructure. — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Homeland Security • Hearing: Foreign Abuse of U.S. Courts. — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on the Judiciary • Hearing: Ensuring Patient Safety: Oversight of the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant System. — 10:15 AM — Host: Committee on Energy and Commerce • Hearing: "Restoring Trust: Enhancing Transparency and Oversight at EBSA". — 10:15 AM — Host: Committee on Education and Workforce • Hearing: Oversight hearing titled Permitting Purgatory: Restoring Common Sense to NEPA Reviews. — 10:15 AM — Host: Committee on Natural Resources • Hearing: Strengthening American Energy: A Review of Pipeline Safety Policy. — 10:30 AM — Host: Committee on Energy and Commerce • Markup: Fiscal Year 2026 Interior Environment and Related Agencies Bill. — 10:30 AM — Host: Committee on Appropriations • Hearing: Clean Rolls Secure Elections: Reviewing Voter List Maintenance Standards. — 10:30 AM — Host: Committee on House Administration • Hearing: The New Atomic Age: Advancing Americas Energy Future. — 1:00 PM — Host: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform • Hearing: Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States - "Lessons Learned: An Examination of Major Security Incidents at Mass Gathering Events" — 2:30 PM — Host: Committee on Homeland Security EFTA01655337 • Hearing: "Future of United States Maritime Part 1: Review of Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Maritime Commission Budget Request". — 2:00 PM — Host: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure • Hearing: Joint Health and Oversight Subcommittee Hearing on Medicare Advantage: Past Lessons Present Insights Future Opportunities. — 2:00 PM — Host: Committee on Ways and Means • Hearing: Oversight: Counting the Money: Preventing Fraud and Abuse in VAs Bonus Payment Practices for VA Employees. — 2:30 PM — Host: Committee on Veterans' Affairs • Hearing: Legislative hearing on: H.R. 180 Rep. McClintock Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025 H.R. 3706 Rep. Babin SUSHI Act H.R. 3831 Rep. Webster Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025H.R. 4033 Rep. Fine Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act of 2025 H.R. 4293 Rep. Ciscomani To amend the Sikes Act to increase flexibility with respect to cooperative and interagency agreements for land management off of installations. H.R. 4294 Rep. Elfreth. — 2:15 PM — Host: Committee on Natural Resources • Hearing: Examining the Trump Administrations Work Combatting Transnational Cartels in Indian Country. — 2:30 PM — Host: Committee on Natural Resources Cabinet Members • Secretary of State Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State. Visitors • No events scheduled. General Events • 14th annual Municipal Finance Conference — Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Location: Online event, 8:45 AM. The annual Municipal Finance Conference brings together academics, practitioners, issuers, and regulators to discuss recent research on municipal capital markets and state and local fiscal issues. The conference is a joint venture of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institution, the Rosenberg Institute of Global Finance at Brandeis International Business School, the Mitch Daniels School of Business at Purdue University, the Harris School of Public Policy at University of Chicago, and the MI School of Public Affairs at University of Texas at Austin. The 2025 conference will primarily be held in person, with livestream options for remote viewers, on July 22 and 23 at 1777 F St. NW. • The Heritage Foundation: The 2025 B.C. Lee Lecture featuring Congressman John Moolenaar — Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Location: Online event, 10:30 AM. Decades of U.S. engagement with China, fueled by trade and manufacturing policies that empowered the Chinese Communist Party, have left the U.S. dependent on China. Critical supply chains, from vital rare-earth elements to key pharmaceutical products, remain largely or wholly dependent on the Chinese Communist Party. • American Progress: An Urgent Warning from Texas: A Conversation on Defending Democracy and Fighting Authoritarianism in the States — Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Location: Online event, 1:30 PM. In states across the country, American democracy is being hollowed out from within. Elected leaders are using democratic tools to antidemocratic ends, systematically eroding our institutions not through violence but through law. Texas' legislature will soon consider taking the extraordinary step of redistricting in the middle of a decade, potentially diluting the votes of millions of Texans and swaying the balance of power in Congress. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) has spent years fighting voter suppression while organizing people in every part of Texas, and he is a leader in the fight against emerging authoritarianism at the state level. Norm Eisen is litigating numerous cases around the nation as part of his ongoing efforts to fight for a stronger democracy. • AEI: Meet the Stars: Screening the FREE Initiative's Mini-Documentary Films — Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Location: AEI Auditorium, 5:30 PM. How do you inspire a sense of agency in young people? According to AEI's Ian Rowe, family, religion, education, and entrepreneurship are the foundational building blocks of agency. EFTA01655338 • Atlantic Council: Israel's Noach Hacker on the resilience of the Israeli economy in times of war — Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Location: Online event, 10:00 AM. Minister of Economic Affairs at the Israeli Embassy Noach Hacker discusses why the Israeli economy has proven surprisingly resilient over the past two years. • Atlantic Council: What new geopolitical shifts mean for the South Caucasus — Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Location: Online event, 2:00 PM. The Eurasia Center discusses changes taking place among the countries of the South Caucasus and power players in the region. • Hudson Institute: How Trump's Tariffs Will Affect US-Taiwan Relations — Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Location: Online event, 8:00 AM. Taiwan's status as a leading semiconductor manufacturer makes it a crucial partner to the United States as Washington seeks to recalibrate its global trade strategy. But President Donald Trump's potential imposition of 15 to 32 percent tariffs on other Taiwanese goods has created significant uncertainty in Taipei at a critical inflection point for US-Taiwan relations. Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. 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