Text extracted via OCR from the original document. May contain errors from the scanning process.
From:
To:
Subject:
.
-
U
rc
airs ews ne mg
ursday, October 01, 2020
Priority: Normal
Sensitivity: None
Mobile version and searchable archives available at fbi.bulletinintelligence.com
<https://fbi.bulletinintelligence.com?d=201001&auth=x8vq4tks2n> .
<https://fbi.bulletinintelligence.com?d=201001&auth=x8vq4tks2n>
DATE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER I, 2020 6:30 AM EDT
TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS
Leading the News
• Comey Defends FBI's Trump-Russia Investigation In Testimony To Senate Panel.
Protests
• Cuccinelli: Trump Pushing Officials To Devote Proper Resources To Restore Peace.
• "Portland Sheriff' Says He "Will Never" Support Trump After President Claims Endorsement.
• Man Charged In Shooting Attack On Two Los Angeles County Deputies.
Operation LeGend
• Operation LeGend Helps St Louis Fight Soaring Homicide Rate.
• Kansas City Mayor Launches Law Enforcement Effort Modeled After Operation LeGend.
• Operation LeGend Assisting Memphis Police With Several Child Murders.
Counter-Terrorism
• Father And Son From US Charged With Joining Islamic State.
• Court Denies Bond To Texas Man Charged With Supporting ISIS.
Counter-Intelligence
• House Report: US Intel Unprepared To Counter Threats From China.
• Judge Rules DOJ Must Release Redacted Portions Of Mueller Report Before Election.
• Intel Officials Urged Ratcliffe Not To Disclose Unverified Russian Claims About Clinton.
• Andrew Weissmann Says He Hasn't Been Subpoenaed In Durham Probe.
• FBI Releases Film On Chinese Spy Recruitment Threat.
• FBI Says Risk Of Voter Fraud Low.
• Twitter Removes 130 Accounts For Attempting To Disrupt Discourse On Trump-Biden Debate.
• Russia Says It "Is Not Going To Intervene" In US Election.
• Few Governors Have Sought National Guard Assistance For Election.
• Fear About Voting Process Fuels "Unprecedented Scrutiny" Of Secretaries Of State.
• Privacy, Civil Rights Advocates Seek Transparency On Amazon Election Data Breaches.
• Sen. Cotton Proposes Food Technology Intelligence Office.
• Esper Visits Africa For First Time "Seeking To Push Back On Russia And China."
• "American Friends" Of Ecuadorean Embassy's Security Detail Allegedly Plotted To Kidnap Assange.
• Snowden Ordered By Judge To "Surrender Book Profits" To US.
• Pentagon Collaborating With Armed Services On JEDI Cloud Transition.
• Russian Intelligence Chief Says CIA Behind Unrest In Belarus.
• US, Allied Intelligence: North Korea Used Easing Of Tensions To Build, Safeguard Nuclear Capabilities.
• Japan's Defense Ministry Submits Largest-Ever Budget Request.
EFTA00136746
• US Sanctions Leading Cuban General.
• US Offers Millions In Rewards For Former Venezuelan Officials.
Criminal Investigations
• Judge Delays Release Of Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Recordings To Friday.
• Seagram's Heiress Sentenced To 81 Months In NXIVM Sex Slave Case.
• Baltimore Police Received Gun Trace Task Force Tip Well Before FBI Probe Surfaced.
• Navy Veteran Ruled Not Competent To Stand Trial In Virginia Slaying.
• New Mexico Prison Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Racketeering.
• Five Arrested In Canada In Alleged Kidnapping Of New York Couple.
• Trans Person Shot In Puerto Rico In Sixth Killing This Year.
• FBI Seeks Public's Help Identifying Man Who May Know Sexually Exploited Child.
• Continuing Coverage: Nebraska Woman Facing Murder Trial.
• Heroin Trafficking Probe Results In 14-Month Prison Sentence For Massachusetts Man.
• Virginia Man Sentenced Over Child Pornography.
• North Carolina Man Arrested On Murder Charge In New Jersey.
• Former SUNY Official Pleads Guilty To Falsifying Resume.
• Missouri Man Sentenced Over Child Pornography.
• Michigan Man Facing Hate Crimes Charges.
• US Marshals Operation Rescues 11 Missing Children In Louisiana.
• Tennessee Minor Charged With Sexploitation Charges.
• Convicted Sex Trafficker Arrested In Tennessee.
• New Jersey Men Charged With Participation In Gun Trafficking.
• Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty To Methamphetamine Trafficking.
Financial Crime & Corporate Scandals
• California Lobbyist Pleads Guilty In Los Angeles City Hall Bribery Probe.
• Former UAW President Pleads Guilty To Embezzling From Union.
• US Charges Hundreds In Connection With $6B Healthcare Fraud Takedown.
• US Charges Former California Businessman In Alleged Ponzi Scheme.
• US Charges Former Indiana Lawmaker, Gaming Executive In Campaign Donation Scheme.
• Hawaiian Defense Contractor Arrested For CARES Act Fraud.
Cyber Division
• FBI, CISA Warn Voters On Election-related Cyberattacks.
• Anthem Settles Data Breach Probe By State AGs For Nearly $40M.
• FBI To Unveil New Cyber Strategy During Virtual Event At Auburn University.
• FBI Reportedly Probing Possible Ransomware Attack Against California Casino.
• FBI Received 4,541 Cybercrime Complaints From South Carolina Last Year.
• DHS CIO Describes New Network Incident Response Strategy.
• Germany Planning Tougher Oversight of Huawei, Telecom Vendors.
• NSA Launches Cybersecurity Center.
• Hackers Increasingly Targeting Health Care Institutions.
• CMA CGM Says Data Possibly Stolen During Cyberattack.
• O'Brien: Chinese Hackers Targeted Trump Family, Campaign.
• Continuing Coverage: US Cyber Command Has New Senior Enlisted Leader.
• Security Experts Warn Of TikTok's Risk For Lawmakers.
Laboratory
• More Unknown Michigan Homicide Victims Being Exhumed In Effort At DNA Identification.
Law Enforcement Services
• Barr Pledges More Federal Aid To Help Deal With Oklahoma Tribal Crime.
International Relations
• FBI Helping Train Australian Police Officers To Catch Foreign Spies.
Other FBI News
• Nevada Court Approves $800M Settlement Between MGM Resorts, Shooting Victims.
Other Washington News
• Trump's Debate Comment On Proud Boys Draws Criticism From Republicans And Others.
EFTA00136747
• Cardinal Dolan Praises Barrett, Says Her Faith Should Be Respected.
• Trump: COVID Death Toll Would Be Higher If Biden Was President.
• Fauci Pushes Back At Trump For Misrepresenting His Stance On Masks.
• Atlas: "It's Destructive To Lock Down The Healthy."
• Birx Seeks To Reassure Americans Of Vaccine Safety.
• Modema Says Its Vaccine Won't Be Ready Until Spring 2021.
• FDA Broadens Investigation Of AstraZeneca's Coronavirus Vaccine Trial.
• White House Rejected CDC's Request For Cruise Ship Ban Extension.
• CDC Report On Meatpacking Plant Safety Procedures Was Revised To Soften Language.
• DOJ Opens Antitrust Investigation Into Medtronic Over Ventilator Manufacturing.
• As COVID Cases Rise, Insurers Reduce Coverage For Telehealth Visits.
• Mnuchin, Pelosi To Continue Talks On Coronavirus Aid Package.
• Senate Approves Stopgap Spending Bill.
• Wheeler Defends EPA Regulations During COVID.
• NFL Postpones Steelers-Titans Game After Players Test Positive.
• Administration Will No Longer Block Abortion Access For Immigrant Teens In Custody.
• Malinowski Faces QAnon Death Threats Following False Republican Ad.
• Senate Panel Approves Wolf For DHS Post.
• Whistleblower Complaints Lodged Against USAGM's Pack.
• Trump Cites Botched NYC Ballots As Evidence Of Problems With Mail-In Voting.
• Appeals Judges Uphold Lower Court's Order To Continue Census Count.
• Northern California Wildfires Threaten Tens Of Thousands Of Homes.
• Denver Moves To Rectify "Decades Of Discriminatory Municipal Planning."
• Marine F-35 Pilot Ejects Safely After Midair Collision.
• Hundreds Of Voting-Related Lawsuits Have Been Filed Across The Country.
International News
• China Approves Another Vaccine For Human Trials.
• UK Warns Outbreak Is Not Under Control.
• France's Daily New Cases Again Tops 10,000.
• Spain To Lock Down Madrid, Angering Regional Government.
• US Sanctions More Syrians In Push For Assad To End War.
• Taliban's Team Of Peace Negotiators Comprised Of "Old Guard."
• North Korea Continuing Building Nuclear Capability Amid Talks With Trump.
• Vatican Denies Pompeo An Audience With Pope Over China Tension.
• US, Taiwan Move Ahead With Joint Infrastructure Projects.
• Lawmakers Press Pentagon Over Lack Of Details On Germany Troop Cuts.
• Fighting Between Azerbaijan And Armenia Shows No Sign Of Abating.
• Cuccinelli: Foreign Powers "Haven't Been Able To Touch" Election Infrastructure.
• Bolsonaro Criticizes Biden For "Coward Threats" Over Amazon.
• US Embassy Worker In Ukraine Dies After Suspected Assault.
• Reports: UK Considered Sending Asylum Seekers To South Atlantic Island.
The Big Picture
• Headlines From Today's Front Pages.
Washington's Schedule
• Today's Events In Washington.
Leading the News
Comey Defends FBI's Trump-Russia Investigation In Testimony To Senate Panel.
In testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, former FBI Director James Comey defended his
oversight of the investigation of ties between President Trump's campaign and Russia. The AP
EFTA00136748
<https://apnews.corn/article/russia-donald-trump-confirmation-hearings-elections-judiciary-
5fe42a7cbcc135c7e8f0lbff3809e472> (9/30, Tucker, Jalonick) says that Republican senators "confronted"
Comey during the "politically charged" hearing, and the Washington Examiner
<https://www.washingtonexaminercorn/news/slippery-as-an-eel-republicans-slam-comey-for-evading-questions-
about-fbi-russia-investigation> (9/30, Picket, 448K) that Republicans "blasted" him "for failing to provide
forthright responses to their questions about the bureau's counterintelligence investigation into President
Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia." The Examiner says Comey "frustrated" Republicans on the committee "by
failing to recall information related to the investigation or saying it was never provided to him by subordinates."
The New York Times <https://vvwvv.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/us/politics/james-comey-fbi-russia-
investigation.html> (9/30, Fandos, 18.61 M) reports Republicans on the panel "were eager to portray President
Trump as a victim of a politically motivated smear by the F.B.I. that unfairly cast a shadow over his presidency.
And they contended that Mr. Comey was the ringleader."
The Washington Examiner <https://www.washingtonexaminercorn/news/ted-cruz-to-james-comey-this-
investigation-of-the-president-was-corrupt-and-fbi-was-politicized-and-weaponized> (9/30, 448K) reports Sen.
Ted Cruz (R-TX) "slammed" Comey "over his handling of the investigation." Cruz said, "Based upon what we
know about how you and your agency ran the FBI's anti-Trump investigation, you are either criminally corrupt
or completely incompetent.... And I don't believe you were incompetent ... Nobody trusts the FBI anymore
because of you, and that is your legacy."
The Washington Post <https://www.washingtonpost.corn/national-security/comey-senate-
hearing/2020/09/29/9500aafe-0laf-lIeb-897d-3a6201d6643f story.html> (9/30, Zapotosky, Barrett, 14.2M)
says Comey "defended the bureau's 2016 investigation into possible coordination between the Trump campaign
and Russia, pushing back on Senate Republicans' skeptical questions about the probe and taking particular aim at
Attorney General William P. Barr's assertion that it was unfounded." Comey "grew particularly exasperated
when asked about Barr's criticism that the FBI's decision to open the investigation into the 2016 Trump
campaign was based on insufficient evidence, saying he had `no idea what on earth' the attorney general was
talking about."
USA Today <https://www.usatoday.corn/story/news/politics/2020/09/30/ex-fbi-director-james-comey-testify-
senate-russia-investigation/3576210001/> (9/30, 10.31M) reports Comey "defended" the Russia investigation as
"essential." He said, "Overall, I'm proud of the work," but he "conceded that there were `significant and
important failings' in the bureau's repeated pursuit of surveillance authority to track former Trump campaign
adviser Carter Page, as part of the investigation." The Washington Times
<https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/30/james-comey-i-am-responsible-embarrassing-carter-p/>
(9/30, Mordock, 492K) says Comey "took responsibility for what he described as `embarrassing' errors the
bureau made in the course of its investigation" into Page. Comey told the panel, "It's embarrassing. It's sloppy.
I'm running out of words. ... There is no indication — and the inspector general would say it if he found it — that
people were doing bad things on purpose, but that doesn't make it any less concerning or embarrassing." A report
From DOJ IG "concluded the FBI's application to surveil Mr. Page was riddled with errors, mistakes and
omissions." Comey "insisted he was unaware of the bungling, drawing scoffs from Republicans."
Bloomberg <https://www.bloomberg.cotn/news/articles/2020-09-30/comey-graham-face-off-in-hearing-
examining-russia-probe-origins> (9/30, Strohm, 4.73M) reports, "Comey said the probe into whether people
close to Donald Trump conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election was largely conducted `by the
book' but that specific aspects of the inquiry fell short." Bloomberg adds, "Pressed on Wednesday by Senate
Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, who said the probe was based on faulty assumptions and evidence
tampering, Comey said he found the shortcomings — which included doctoring an email from the CIA — `deeply
disturbing.' But he backed an inspector general's report that concluded the probe was valid and not driven by
bias in the bureau's leadership."
CNN <https://www.cnntotn/2020/09/30/politics/james-comey-testimony-congressfindex.html> (9/30, Herb,
83.I6M) reports, "Comey pushed back against" Attorney General Barr's "attacks on the FBI's Russia
investigation, arguing on Wednesday that the Justice Department's efforts to dismiss charges against Trump's
EFTA00136749
first national security adviser Michael Flynn were `deeply concerning.' I have no idea what on Earth he is
talking about,' Comey said when asked to respond Barr's comments that the FBI's Russia investigation was
`abhorrent."' Comey is quoted saying, "The notion that the attorney general believes that was an illegitimate
endeavor to investigate that mystifies me."
Reuters <https://www.reuters.corn/article/us-usa-trump-russia-senate/ex-fbi-director-comey-to-testify-to-u-s-
senate-on-russia-probe-idUSKBN26L20M> (9/30, Landay, Hosenball) reports, "Graham and other Republicans
sought to pin some responsibility on Comey for the errors found in FBI applications for secret court warrants to
monitor the communications of Carter Page, who briefly served as a 2016 Trump campaign advisor. `To me this
is a stunning failure of the system to work,' said Graham, a staunch Trump supporter." Reuters adds, "Several
Republicans cited the case of a former FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, who pleaded guilty in August to doctoring
a CIA email submitted with an application so that it said that Page was not an agency source, when in fact, he
was. `I know nothing about Mr. Clinesmith other than what I've read,' Comey said."
The Washington Times <https://www.washingtontimes.corn/news/2020/sep/30/james-comey-admits-he-wouldnt-
have-signed-carter-p/> (9/30, Mordock, 492K) reports that Comey "admitted...that he wouldn't have signed the
warrant application to wiretap former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. `No. Not without a much fuller
discussion about how they were thinking about their obligations to the court,' Mr. Comey said in testimony
before the Senate Judiciary Committee." The Times adds, "Justice Department Inspector General Michael
Horowitz last year concluded the FBI made multiple errors when it asked the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court to approve a secret order to monitor Mr. Page in 2016 and 2017. The mistakes included multiple
inaccuracies and omission of exculpatory evidence. That application was renewed a total of three times and Mr.
Comey said Wednesday he signed off on the renewals."
The Hill <https://thehill.corn/policy/national-security/519029-comey-defends-fbi-russia-probe-from-gop-
criticism> (9/30, 2.98M) reports, "When asked by Graham whether it was "fair to say" the FBI investigation was
`not done by the book,' Comey replied: `No, I don't think that is fair to say.' His response did little to sway
Republicans, who spent the hours-long hearing quizzing him on the investigation and venting about the handling
of warrant applications. `God help us all if this was done by the book,' Graham said. 'It was such an egregious
violation of fairness, altering exculpatory information, failing to tell the court the unreliability of information...If
this is by the book, we need to rewrite the book and I promise you we will.'"
ABC News <https://abcnews.gototn/Politics/comey-defends-russia-investigation-essential-testimony-senate-
panel/stoty?id=73338331> (9/30, Mallin, 2.97M) reports, "Among other issues highlighted by Graham,
Horowitz criticized the FBI for its reliance in the Page surveillance on a dossier compiled by former British spy
Christopher Steele which included salacious allegations that Trump had been compromised by Russia. Attorney
General William Barr recently declassified information for Graham's committee revealing one of Steele's
primary sources for the dossier had previously been investigated for his ties to Russian intelligence."
NBC News <https://www.nbcnews.corn/politics/congress/comey-defends-russia-investigation-gop-senators-
remain-skeptical-n1241579> (9/30, Williams, 6.14M) reports, "Committee Democrats, by contrast, said the
inspector general's report concluded that the FBI had legitimate reasons for opening the investigation, after an
Australian diplomat told U.S. authorities that a Trump campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, had said Russians
offered him dirt on Hillary Clinton." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) "said the errors in the Page FISA application
were serious, `but they played no part in the broader Russia investigation.' Comey agreed. `The overarching
investigation was very important,' he said. `The Page slice of it, far less, given the scope."
Fox News <https://www.foxnews.com/politics/comey-hillary-clinton-trump-russia-probe> (9/30, Singman,
27.59M) reports that Comey "said it didn't `ring a bell' when asked whether he received an investigative referral
on Hillary Clinton purportedly approving `a plan' attempting to tie" Trump "to Russia and distract from her
email scandal before the 2016 election." Graham "asked Comey about the newly declassified information
released Tuesday by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe. `You don't remember getting an
investigatory lead from the intelligence community? Sept. 7, 2016, U.S. intelligence officials forwarded an
investigative referral to James Comey and Strzok regarding Clinton's approval of a plan [about] Trump...as a
EFTA00136750
means of distraction?' Graham asked Comey Wednesday. `That doesn't ring any bells with me,' Comey replied."
The New York Post <https://nypost.corn/2020/09/30/comey-clintons-claim-of-russia-scandal-doesnt-ring-a-
bellk (9/30, Nelson, 4.57M) reports, "Ratcliffe wrote that US intelligence officials 'forwarded an investigative
referral to FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok
regarding "U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's approval of a plan concerning U.S. Presidential
candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections as a means of distracting the public from
her use of a private mail server."' Handwritten notes from then-CIA Director John Brennan — also disclosed by
Ratcliffe — say Brennan briefed then-President Barack Obama on 'alleged approval by Hillary Clinton on July
26, 2016 of a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisors to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal
claiming interference by Russian security services.'
The Federalist <https://thefederalist.corn/2020/09/30/comey-its-not-my-job-to-make-sure-fisa-applications-are-
accurate/> (9/30, 126K) reports Chairman Graham "grill[ed]" Comey "about the '17 significant errors and
omissions' as well as the '50 errors in the FBI's Woods process' in applications to spy on" Page. Graham asked,
"Does the FBI director have any responsibility to make sure the facts are right when they're given to the court?"
Comey replied, "Not in connection with the certification. ... But in general the FBI director is responsible for
everything that is being done underneath the FBI director." Graham asked, "Do you wish that you had informed
the court that Mr. Page was in fact, working with the CIA, and that explains these contacts?" Comey said, "I
don't agree with your preamble. I don't think the record established that he was working with the CIA. I think
Horowitz found he was a contact." Comey was "shot down by Graham who said that there was an email
disclosing the relationship between Page and the CIA."
The Daily Caller <https://dailycaller.com/2020/09/30/comey-steele-dossier-danchenko/> (9/30, Ross, 716K) says
Comey "pleaded ignorance" throughout the hearing "regarding significant problems with the Steele dossier."
Matt Vespa writes on Townhall <https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2020/09/30/james-comey-i-know-
nothing-n2577205> (9/30, 177K) that Comey's testimony "can be summed up in three words. I. Know.
Nothing."
Wednesday afternoon, Trump retweeted a post <https://twitter.com/paulsperry /status/1311346585759080456>
from Hoover Institution media fellow Paul Sperry, which said, "BREAKING: Comey swears he doesn't
remember hearing anything about Steele's primary subsource, Igor Danchenko, being the subject of an FBI C.I.
investigation, as a suspected Russian agent, and doesn't recall his own CrossFire Hurricane team interviewing
Danchenko in Jan 2017" In his tweet <https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1311376983532679170> ,
Trump wrote, "LIAR!!!" Late Wednesday, Trump retweeted another post
<https://twitter.corn/paulsperryfitatus/1311442943643918336> from Sperry which said, "all this memory loss
and out-of-the-loop i dunnos is strange for a guy who took copious notes after playing a case agent spying on
Trump and locked them in his home safe, and wrote a book and is writing a second book now" Trump wrote
<https://twitter.corn/realDonaldTrump/status/1311493282120167424> in his tweet, "Comey is a disaster who
cheated and lied. How do you write books when you can't remember anything? Should be tried for treason. This
is ridiculous!"
In a tweet <https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1311457668826095616> Wednesday evening, Trump
wrote, "So when will something significant happen to James Comey? Got caught cold. He is either very dumb,
or one of the worst liars in political history. TOO LONG. EMBARRASSING!"
Fox News <https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lindsey-graham-comey-testimony-russia-probe> (9/30, Stabile,
27.59M) reports that Graham told "Hannity" on Wednesday that Page "deserves to be compensated" after
Comey "testified about the Russia investigation before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 'What happened here is
the Democratic Party hired a foreign agent, Christopher Steele, who enlisted a suspected Russian spy to create a
dossier that was a bunch of garbage, Russian disinformation,' Graham told host Sean Hannity. 'And the FBI
bought it hook, line and sinker, used it four times against an American citizen, a Trump campaign person, to get a
warrant. If that doesn't bother America, then something's wrong.' To my Democratic colleagues,' Graham
added, 'if the shoe were on the other foot, you'd be burning the place down.' Graham "characterized Comey as
EFTA00136751
having a 'convenient memory' of what was 'damning' to President Trump but denying any incriminating conduct
by his investigators."
Comey Says Russians Have "Some Dirt" On Trump. The Washington Times
<https://vvww.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/30/james-comey-suggests-russians-have-dirt-donald-tru>
(9/30, Dinan, 492K) reports that Comey "said Wednesday that the only explanation he can see for President
Trump's actions on Russia is that Moscow has some dirt on him, and urged voters to take that into consideration
when they cast ballots." Comey said, "It's difficult to explain his conduct, his statements, in any other way."
Comey Says Biden Never Raised Prospect Of Prosecuting Flynn Under The Logan Act. Breitbart
<https://www.breitbart.corn/crime/2020/09/30/james-comey-denies-that-joe-biden-brought-up-logan-act-in-
michael-flynn-case/> (9/30, Pollak, 673K) reports Comey testified that Joe Biden "never raised the prospect of
prosecuting then-incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn under the Logan Act." Comey "said that
Biden never suggested prosecuting Flynn under the Logan Act, and that he would have remembered if it
happened, because it would have been 'highly inappropriate.'
Comey: DOJ's Move To Drop Flynn Prosecution "Deeply Disturbing." Politico
<https://vvwvv.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/comey-hearing-doj-flynn-423734> (9/30, Cheney, Desiderio,
4.29M) reports, "Comey said on Wednesday that the Justice Department's attempt to drop the prosecution of
Michael Flynn is 'deeply concerning,' suggesting President Donald Trump's former national security adviser is
receiving special treatment and key pieces of evidence have been misrepresented. 'It's deeply concerning
because this guy is getting treated in a way that nobody's been treated before,' Comey said during public
testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee." Politico adds, "Under questioning, Comey also sought to
undercut a specific premise of Flynn's legal defense. Flynn in 2017 pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his
dealing with the ambassador to Russia, but recently the Justice Department dropped the prosecution. The DOJ's
move is currently being challenged."
Protests
Cuccinelli: Trump Pushing Officials To Devote Proper Resources To Restore Peace.
Acting Deputy DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said on the Steve Gruber Show
<https://stevegruber.podbean.corn/e/ken-cuccinelli-law-and-order-election-security-and-protecting-american-
workers/> (9/30) that "the President, when he uses a bully pulpit the last four or five months, dealing with the
violence going on, it's to push governors and mayors and so forth to use the resources they already have and the
authorities they already to have to bring peace to their cities and he offers them help. So, it's the opposite of
starting the fight." Cuccinelli said, "When you bring enough responsible police force to bear, and that can
include National Guard, you get peace in the streets and the President has said repeatedly that's what he wants
for these cities, is peace, so they can live their lives, go to work, raise their families without having to be afraid
or have their city burned down."
"Portland Sheriff" Says He "Will Never" Support Trump After President Claims Endorsement.
USA Today <https://www.usatoday.corn/story/news/politics/2020/09/30/presidential-debate-portland-area-
sheriff-never-endorse-trump/3585416001/> (9/30, Yancey-Bragg, 10.31M) reports Multnomah, Oregon County
Sheriff Mike Reese "said he has never and 'will never' support President Donald Trump after the president
claimed the 'Portland sheriff' endorsed him during the first presidential debate Tuesday night." Trump claimed
he was endorsed by Reese during an exchange with Joe Biden. Reese tweeted
<https://twitter.com/SheriffReese/status/1311125507757416449> shortly afterwards, "In tonight's presidential
EFTA00136752
debate the President said the `Portland Sheriff' supports him. As the Multnomah County Sheriff I have never
supported Donald Trump and will never support him."
Portland Asks US To Rescind Federal Deputization Of City Police. The AP <https://apnews.com/article/arrests-
portland-racial-injustice-8f24de6f6e784a38409ed1f6c40aba7a> (9/30, Flaccus) reports Portland Mayor Ted
Wheeler "has asked US officials to end the federal deputation of dozens of police officers in Oregon's largest
city as part of the response to ongoing protests in the city." Wheeler said late Tuesday that he had "asked the U.S.
attorney's office to withdraw the designation" that deputized the officers. The AP notes that 56 Portland officers
"were deputized before a rally in the city last weekend by the far-right Proud Boys group."
Man Charged In Shooting Attack On Two Los Angeles County Deputies.
The Los Angeles Times <https://wvvw.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-30/suspect-charged-shooting-attack-
los-angeles-sheriffs-deputies-compton> (9/30, Winton, 4.64M) reports Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie
Lacey announced charges Wednesday "against a man in the shooting attack on two deputies at the Compton
Metro station earlier this month." Attempted murder charges were filed against Deonte Lee Murray, 36, "who
was taken into custody Sept. 15 after a lengthy standoff in Lynwood in connection with a separate case." Capt.
Kent Wegener said Wednesday that a ballistic comparison of a pistol found in Murray's car "revealed that the .40
caliber pistol was the same weapon used in the attack on the deputies."
On the CBS Evening News <https://playvideo.bulletinintelligence.corn/0a3766315b514b46a043176c9a206c86?
pubid=fbi> (9/30, story 5, 1:35, O'Donnell, 3.95M), Carter Evans said that at the time of Murray's arrest,
"officials were adamant the cases were unrelated." ABC World News Tonight
<https://playvideo.bulletinintelligence.corn/4b7ca323acf948a1951917ec49beda757pubid=fbi> (9/30, story 5,
1:35, Muir, 6.98M) reported, "The sheriff said he didn't know what the motive might be, but did allude to rising
anti-police sentiment."
The AP <https://apnews.corn/article/arrests-los-angeles-shootings-archive-
c0eee5a37550850608a1ecd8ecb01811> (9/30, Dazio) reports Murray is being held on $6.15 million bail, and the
New York Times <https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/us/deonte-murray-deputies-shooting.html> (9/30,
Levenson, 18.61M) says he plead not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior
Court.
Operation LeGend
Operation LeGend Helps St Louis Fight Soaring Homicide Rate.
KSDK-TV <https://www.ksdk.corn/article/news/investigations/st-louis-homicide-rate-brealcs-record-amid-
covid19/63-60aa0060-e4bf-42a3-a0b0-4c46043b1d78> St. Louis (9/30, Richey, 493K) reports from St. Louis,
"As of this week, St. Louis toppled its own record for homicides per resident for all but one of the last 50 years.
In 1993, there were 267 homicides within city limits. By the end of the year, there had been almost 70 homicides
for every 100,000 residents in the city. So far in 2020, there have been around 68 homicides for every 100,000
city residents." KSDK-TV adds that Major Shawn Dace, "commander in the Bureau of Investigations for the St.
Louis Metropolitan Police Department," said the department "got a little extra help from the Department of
Justice's Operation Legend starting in August." Dace "said Operation Legend has accomplished a lot in St. Louis
already, including more than three hundred arrests for violent crime in St. Louis. He noted that 33 of those arrests
were for homicides."
EFTA00136753
Kansas City Mayor Launches Law Enforcement Effort Modeled After Operation LeGend.
The Kansas City (MO) Star <https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article246116220.html> (9/30, Rice,
549K) reports, "In response to the city's dramatic and ongoing surge of violent crime, Mayor Quinton Lucas on
Wednesday announced a four-pronged plan that he said would help reverse the trend and build stronger
community ties." The Star adds, "Emphasis of the new effort, called Reform Project KC, will focus on
prevention, intervention, enforcement and administrative reforms, or `trust-building activities.' Lucas said his
plan would seek to unify existing resources, and create new ones, in an effort to reduce shootings and killings."
According to the Star, "The enforcement portion would be modeled after the Operation LeGend, the federal
initiative launched this summer that aimed to get killers off the streets. It was named for 4-year-old LeGend
Taliferro, who was shot and killed in Kansas City while sleeping in June."
Operation LeGend Assisting Memphis Police With Several Child Murders.
WHBQ-TV <https://www.foxl3memphis.corn/rss-snd/fbi-assisting-memphis-police-with-several-child-
murders/F2YNZDMPHNHLXOFVUJBNRZVICEA> Memphis, TN (9/30, Coy, 23K) reports, "Memphis police
have reported a staggering number of young people murdered in 2020. So far this year, 27 children have been
killed. Nine of the cases remain unsolved, according to MPD." WHBQ-TV adds, "FOX 13 has learned some of
the suspects are now on the FBI's radar due to Operation Legend. According to MPD, in 12 of the juvenile
homicides, investigators have either identified or arrested a suspect." According to WHBQ-TV, "A spokesman
for the FBI Memphis told FOX13 if a suspect is under federal investigation for gang and drug crimes when the
juvenile murder happened, then the case could be part of Operation Legend."
Counter-Terrorism
Father And Son From US Charged With Joining Islamic State.
The AP <https://www.usnews.corn/news/us/articles/2020-09-30/father-son-from-us-charged-with-joining-
islamic-state> (9/30) reports from Miami, Florida, "A father and son accused of traveling from the U.S. to Syria
and joining the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham are facing terrorism charges in South Florida, prosecutors
said." Emraan Ali, 53, "a U.S. citizen born in Trinidad & Tobago, and Jihad Ali, 19, a U.S. citizen born in New
York, made their initial court appearances Wednesday in Miami federal court, according to records. The father is
charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, and the son is charged with
conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS." The AP adds, "According to criminal complaints, Emraan Ali
took his family to Syria to join the Islamic State group in March 2015. Both Emraan Ali and Jihad Ali received
military and religious training and served as fighters in support of the terrorist organization, prosecutors said."
WTSP-TV <https://www.wtsp.corn/article/news/crime/father-and-son-charged-with-providing-support-to-
isis/67-064bd9ce-7032-4169-b57b-4c8b175261bd> St. Petersburg, FL (9/30, 119K) reports, "The complaint said
Emraan Ali also served in other roles in support of ISIS. According to the complaint, Jihad Ali was 14 or 15
years old when he attended ISIS military training. In March 2019, the DOJ said Emraan Ali and Jihad Ali
surrendered to the Syrian Democratic Forces near Baghuz. The investigation and charges were announced by
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of
Florida Ariana Fajardo Orshan, FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Miami Field Office George Piro and
members of the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force."
Court Denies Bond To Texas Man Charged With Supporting ISIS.
EFTA00136754
ICABB-TV <https://foxsanantonio.coin/news/locaUcourt-area-man-accused-of-supporting-isis-will-not-be-let-
out-on-bond> San Antonio (9/30, 54K) reports from Gonzales, Texas, "An area man accused of providing
support to the terrorist group ISIS is considered a flight risk and will continue to be held." The court "decided as
much Wednesday during Jaylyn Christopher Molina's detention hearing. FBI investigators say Molina, along
with a South Carolina man, Kristopher Sean Matthews, discussed the planning of terrorist attacks in the United
States and overseas in a private group chat. They say in those forums, Molina posted instructions on how to train
with an AK-47 and make a bomb."
Counter-Intelligence
House Report: US Intel Unprepared To Counter Threats From China.
The Washington Post <https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/house-intelligence-committee-china-
report/2020/09/30/1d7b49d2-02a7-11eb-b7ed-141dd88560ea_story.html> (9/30, Demirjian, 14.2M) says a new
report from the House Intelligence Committee "warns that if the United States does not significantly change its
approach to China, it will risk falling behind the rising superpower, creating economic, security and health
consequences for decades to come." According to the Post, "The committee released a 37-page summary of the
report on Wednesday, after the panel approved it by a voice vote. The document, written by Democrats on the
panel, is the product of nearly a two-year investigation that began in early 2019."
According to Politico <https://www.politico.corn/news/2020/09/30/spy-community-china-threat-423702> (9/30,
Matishak, 4.29M), the report concludes that "the U.S. intelligence community has failed to keep pace with the
technological and political strides made by China over the last two decades, a lag that risks leaving policymakers
permanently in the dark about a growing, strategic challenge to the country's national security.... `Absent a
significant realignment of resources, the U.S. government and intelligence community will fail to achieve the
outcomes required to enable continued U.S. competition with China on the global stage for decades to come, and
to protect the U.S. health and security,' the summary warns."
The New York Times <https://vvwvv.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/us/politics/house-intelligence-china.html> (9/30,
Barnes, 18.61M) reports the US "could fall behind in its global competition with China without additional
resources to develop better intelligence on the Chinese government, and spy agencies must focus more on the
challenge of pandemics and trade, according to a report by the Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee
released Wednesday." The warnings "were similar to the conclusions of a Republican study on China also
released Wednesday." While that report "has a wider focus, it too called for a more aggressive stance toward
China and better defenses against Chinese theft of intellectual property and efforts to influence American
politics."
The Hill <https://thehill.corn/policy/national-security/519001-house-panel-says-us-intelligence-community-not-
equipped-to-address> (9/30, 2.98M) adds that the report "said the IC places `insufficient emphasis and focus' on
`soft threats,' such as viral pandemics and climate change, and that if the IC did not modernize systems to
increase focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence, national security could be undermined." Foreign
Policy <https://foreignpolicy.corn/2020/09/30/united-states-risk-outpaced-falling-behind-china-new-house-
intelligence-cortunittee-report-finds/> (9/30, Mackinnon, 340K) reports that a Democratic official on the
committee said on background, "COVID-19 cropped up as a very real world example while we were drafting
and finalizing this report. At least for us it really does crystallize some of the nontraditional threats that can
emanate out of China."
CBS News <https://www.cbsnews.coin/news/house-intelligence-committee-report-china-us-intelligence-not-
sufficiently-adapted/> (9/30, Gazis, 3.68M) says that the report, "based on hundreds of hours of interviews with
EFTA00136755
intelligence officers and quality checks of thousands of analytic products, also evaluated the intelligence
community's budget allocations. The final report includes more than two dozen public, and more than 100
classified, recommendations." Reuters <https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-china-intelligence-democrats/-us-
democrats-call-for-intelligence-overhaul-to-counter-china-idUSL8N2GRO58> (9/30, Brunnstrom) reports that
the report "called for a broadening of programs to mentor the next generation of China analysts and said agencies
should consider 'reskilling' programs for those working in counterterrorism."
CNN <https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/30/politics/house-intelligence-committee-china-deep-dive/index.html>
(9/30, Cohen, 83.16M) reports that House Intel Chair Adam Schiff said "our nation's intelligence agencies have
a lot of work to do to fully address the challenge posed by China." He added, "The stakes are enormous. We
must do everything possible to accurately predict and characterize Beijing's intent, or we will continue to
struggle to understand how and why the leadership of the CCP makes decisions, and fail to respond effectively.
The good news is that we still have time to adapt."
The Wall Street Journal <https://wwvv.wsj.corn/articles/house-committee-says-u-s-spy-agencies-are-failing-
china-challenge-11601478089> (9/30, O'Keeffe, Strobel, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports that in a
statement, DNI Ratcliffe said, "I'm glad to see that there's congressional recognition of what I've been saying
since my confirmation: China poses a greater national security threat to the U.S. than any other nation." NBC
News <https://wvvw.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/u-s-intel-agencies-failing-counter-threat-china-says-
house-n1241417> (9/30, Dilanian, 6.14M) reports that Ratcliffe added, "As DNI, I'm committing the
Intelligence Community resources needed to fully understand the threat posed by China and provide
policymakers with the best intelligence to counter China's activities."
Fox News <https://www.foxnews.corn/politics/us-intel-agencies-failing-to-address-growing-threat-from-china-
report-says> (9/30, Henney, 27.59M) also runs a report, as does Public Radio International
<https://vvww.pri.org/stories/2020-09-30/schiff-us-power-confront-hard-targets-china-has-really-atrophied>
(9/30, 28K), and the Washington Examiner <https://www.washingtonexaminer.corn/news/house-intel-panel-
report-us-intelligence-cornmunity-has-not-sufficiently-adapted-to-rise-of-china> (9/30, Dunleavy, 448K).
Judge Rules DOJ Must Release Redacted Portions Of Mueller Report Before Election.
BuzzFeed News <https://www.buzzfeednews.corn/article/jasonleopold/judge-orders-more-mueller-report-
unredacted> (9/30, Leopold, Bensinger) reports a federal judge has ruled "that the Justice Department
improperly redacted significant portions of the Mueller report and must release those sections by Nov. 2, just one
day before the presidential election." In a 40-page opinion "released Wednesday, US District Court Judge Reggie
Walton said the agency violated federal law when it redacted sections of the report dealing with, among other
things, discussions within the special counsel's office about whether to charge certain individuals with crimes."
At the same time, the judge 'ruled that the government was right to redact much of the Mueller report under
separate exemptions that are designed to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, law enforcement
techniques and procedures, and individuals' privacy."
The Hill <https://thehill.corn/homenews/administration/518981-judge-orders-doj-to-publish-info-redacted-as-
privileged-from-mueller> (9/30, Neidig, 2.98M) reports the specific redactions "he took issue with cover the
decisionmaking process within former special counsel Robert Mueller's team over whether to charge certain
people with crimes during the probe." Walton wrote "the Court concludes that the Department has failed to
satisfy its burden to demonstrate that the withheld material is protected by the deliberative process privilege."
Newsweek <https://www.newsweek.corn/judge-rules-donald-trump-admin-failed-justify-robert-mueller-report-
redactions-orders-doj-publish-1535456> (9/30, Martin, I.53M) also reports.
Intel Officials Urged Ratcliffe Not To Disclose Unverified Russian Claims About Clinton.
EFTA00136756
The Wall Street Journal <https://www.wsj.corn/articles/intelligence-officials-urged-trump-spy-chief-not-to-
disclose-unverified-russian-claims-about-clinton-11601499238> (9/30, Volz, Subscription Publication, 7.57M)
reports DNI Ratcliffe ignored pleas from senior US intelligence officials not to release information about
Russian intelligence containing unverified allegations about Hillary Clinton and the 2016 election, according to
people familiar with the matter. Intelligence officials feared that sharing the information with Congress would
give credence to the unsubstantiated allegations.
Politico <https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/john-ratcliffe-russia-briefing-424125> (9/30, Desiderio,
Cheney, 4.29M), meanwhile, reports that Ratcliffe "raced to arrange a briefing for senators on Tuesday night,
according to three congressional sources, after declassifying [the] unverified Russian intelligence assessment."
The "hastily assembled briefing...caught staffers off-guard and exacerbated concerns about what Democrats said
was the deployment of Russian disinformation to support" President Trump's "effort to discredit the
investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with the Russian government."
Andrew Weissmann Says He Hasn't Been Subpoenaed In Durham Probe.
CBS News <https://www.cbsnews.coin/news/durham-probe-andrew-weissman-not-subpoenaed/> (9/30, Quinn,
3.68M) reports Andrew Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor "who was a top official in special counsel
Robert Mueller's office, said Wednesday he has not been subpoenaed by US Attorney John Durham, who is
conducting a sweeping review of the origins of the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016
presidential election and the Trump campaign's ties to Russia." Weissmann told CBSN, "I have not been
subpoenaed and I don't anticipate it," adding, "I'm happy to give any information I have. I don't think, given
what I understand he's looking at, which is the genesis of the Russia investigation, which I was involved in, I
don't suspect that I'm going to have particularly relevant information."
The Washington Examiner <https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mueller-prosecutor-andrew-
weissmann-says-he-would-be-happy-to-share-information-with-john-durham> (9/30, Chaitin, 448K) reports
Weissman added, "I don't think, given what I understand he's looking at, which is the genesis of the Russia
investigation, which I was involved in. I don't suspect that I'm going to have particularly relevant information."
Sen. Graham Suggests Inviting Andrew Weissmann To Testify. The Washington Examiner
<https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/lindsey-graham-floats-inviting-mueller-prosecutor-andrew-
weissmann-to-testify> (9/30, Chaitin, 448K) reports Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham
during a hearing with former FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday "floated an invitation for a top
prosecutor in former special counsel Robert Mueller's team who has criticized the Russia investigation." After
noting "that Mueller had declined his invitation to testify, Graham delivered a general invitation to committee
members in the room to request Weissmann as a witness." Graham told Comey, "If you want [Andrew]
Weissmann to come, I would invite him." Mueller released a "rare statement on Tuesday to defend the Russia
investigation as Weissmann has gone around in a media blitz to promote his new book and said the special
counsel investigation "absolutely" let people down." In particular, he "said Mueller's team erred in choosing not
to subpoena Trump to testify and not reaching a decision on whether Trump obstructed justice."
DOJ Lawyer Who Signed Carter Page Warrants "Now Regrets Doing So." The Daily Caller
<https://dailycaller.corn/2020/09/30/carter-page-fisa-warrant-doji> (9/30, Ross, 716K) reports the Justice
Department attorney who "signed the four surveillance warrant applications against Carter Page says they would
not have done had they known of the information withheld by the FBI, according to a letter sent to the Senate
this month." Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) read "portions of the letter at the beginning of a Senate Judiciary
Committee hearing with former FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday." The attorney, who works in the
DOJ's Office of Intelligence (O1) "is not identified in the letter." The attorney signed "all four of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants granted against Page." The letter reads, "The O1 attorney advises
EFTA00136757
that had he/she been aware of the significant errors and omissions identified by the OIG and the errors in the
Woods process, he/she would not have signed the filed Page FISA applications."
Sen. Lee Argues FBI FISA Abuse "Inevitable." National Review <https://www.nationalreview.com/news/sen-
mike-lee-argues-fisa-abuse-was-inevitable-demands-statute-be-reformed-or-eliminated/> (9/30, McArdle, 731K)
reports Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) on Wednesday "lambasted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant
process, saying the abuse that took place during the FBI's investigation of collusion between the Trump
campaign and Russia was inevitable given the lack of civil liberties protections included in the statute."
Rep. Collins Demands Wray Resign. The Washington Times
<hftps://vvww.washingtontimes.corn/news/2020/sep/30/doug-collins-urges-fbi-director-to-resigm-over-new/>
(9/30, Blake, 492K) reports Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) wrote a "terse letter telling FBI Director Christopher A.
Wray to resign Wednesday over developments some Democrats have rejected as Russian disinformation."
Collins told Wray he has proven to "unwilling or unable to bring accountability to the upper echelon of the FBI"
and should accordingly "do the right thing for this country and resign." The congressman cited details "that
emerged the day before due to Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, releasing newly declassified
information he received from the administration." Mr. Graham published a "letter Tuesday he received from
John Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman serving as President Trump's director of national intelligence
since earlier this year." In the letter, Ratcliffe "revealed U.S. intelligence agencies `obtained insight into Russian
intelligence analysis' involving the 2016 race White House race ultimately won by President Trump."
FBI Releases Film On Chinese Spy Recruitment Threat.
Bloomberg <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-30/fbi-releases-movie-to-alert-americans-of-
foreign-spy-threats> (9/30, Davalos, 4.73M) reports, "U.S. national intelligence agencies released a movie
Wednesday to raise awareness of how foreign intelligence entities use social media to target Americans."
According to Bloomberg, "The film, called `The Nevernight Connection,' tells the fictional account of a former
U.S. intelligence official who went to spy for the Chinese. The official was targeted by a Chinese foreign
intelligence service through a fake profile on a professional networking site and recruited to turn over classified
information. It was inspired by the true story of former Central Intelligence Agency officer Kevin Mallory, who
was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019 for passing national defense information to a Chinese intelligence
officer. The 30-minute film, released by the FBI and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, is free
and available on the FBI's website."
The Washington Times <https://www.washingtontimes.corn/news/2020/sep/30/fbi-produces-film-chinese-spy-
recruitment-threat/> (9/30, Gertz, 492K) reports, "In the video, a gum-chewing Chinese hacker is shown posting
a notice on a fictional social networking site in a bid to contact people with access to secrets who may be
recruited as spies. The email entices a U.S. intelligence community expert who was a former underwater warfare
specialist at a Naval Support Facility Dahlgren in Virginia. The specialist is offered $1,500 to produce a white
paper on how advanced technology will affect undersea exploration." The Times adds, "Alan E. Kohler, FBI
assistant director for counterintelligence said in a statement the movie `highlights [how] foreign intelligence
services are posing as headhunters and consultants on professional networking sites to aggressively target
Americans."
FBI Says Risk Of Voter Fraud Low.
KTSM-TV/Nexstar <https://www.ktsm.com/news/your-local-election-hq/fbi-says-risk-of-mail-in-voter-fraud-is-
low-despite-claims-in-debate/> El Paso, TX (9/30) reports the FBI is urging people "to beware of disinformation
designed to undermine the 2020 elections." FBI El Paso Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Britton Boyd
told the outlet, "On a national level, the FBI has not seen any coordinated efforts to manipulate the elections."
EFTA00136758
Boyd adds, "These are crimes that happen more on a local basis. Here in the El Paso region, it's been very
uncommon for any allegations that have been substantiated that would affect an election." The FBI's El Paso
Division "says the risk for election crimes continues to be low despite the President's claims to the contrary."
Britton "said the FBI hopes voters will critically evaluate the sources of their information, and be diligent about
seeking (and sharing) accurate and reliable information."
KGUN-TV <https://www.kgun9.corn/news/election-2020/fbi-on-the-case-for-election-security> Tucson, AZ
(10/1, Smith, 61K) reports FBI agents are "watching for the sort of lies and frauds that interfere with your right
to vote." FBI Tucson Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Steven Patterson "says a lot of that happens on
social media, email and texts." Patterson says, "We work with the Postal Inspectors office, as part of our
partnership. And again, working with the state and the county is, as well. So I'm standing here today, but we are
all working in partnership, and very much aware of trying to ensure that we are keeping everything as safe and
smooth as it's been going for the last few hundred years."
Twitter Removes 130 Accounts For Attempting To Disrupt Discourse On Trump-Biden Debate.
Reuters <https://www.usnews.corn/news/technology/articles/2020-09-30/twitter-removes-130-accounts-
disrupting-public-conversation-during-trump-biden-debate> (9/30, Bhalla) reports Twitter on Wednesday said "it
had removed 130 accounts, as they were attempting to disrupt the public conversation during the first US
presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden." Twitter removed the accounts,
"which appeared to originate in Iran, `based on intel' provided by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
it said in a tweet." The accounts had "very low engagement and did not make an impact on the public
conversation, the social media giant said, adding, that the accounts and their content will be published in full
once the investigation is complete." KRON-TV/Nexstar <https://vvww.kron4.com/news/national/fbi-130-twitter-
accounts-removed-for-trying-to-disrupt-presidential-debate-conversation> San Francisco (9/30, Rodriguez,
87K) reports the intelligence "was provided by the FBI. An investigation has since been launched."
Russia Says It "Is Not Going To Intervene" In US Election.
The Washington Times <https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/30/kremlin-says-russia-not-going-
intervene-us-electio/> (9/30, Toms, 492K) reports Russia is intensely following the "US presidential election
between President Trump and his Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden, Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov said
Wednesday following the first debate, but he insisted Moscow will not intervene." In a conference call with
reporters, Peskov said, "Of course, we are spotting new turns in US political culture. But we do not want to make
any assessments or make any statements as this could be immediately viewed as an attempt to intervene. Russia
has never, is not and is not going to intervene in US domestic affairs."
Few Governors Have Sought National Guard Assistance For Election.
The Kansas City (MO) Star <https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-
govemment/election/article246128340.html> (9/30, Copp, 549K) reports the National Guard is prepared to "help
with security at polling sites, sort ballots or bolster cybersecurity for the November elections, but so far few
governors have requested that assistance, Guard units across the country told McClatchy on Wednesday."
National Guard spokesman Army Master Sgt. Michael Houk said that governors can request units under state
control to provide "defensive cybersecurity in some states, as well as assisting in setting up polling stations,
sorting ballots, and providing physical security for citizen safety and protection." The Kentucky National Guard,
"has been asked by the governor to assist polling locations in the 2020 election with tasks such as cybersecurity
help or even directing traffic." The service members who "provide support for the general election will be in
EFTA00136759
civilian clothes, said Kentucky National Guard spokesman Maj. Stephen Martin." Only one other Guard unit
"contacted by McClatchy, Washington state, said it would be providing polling site assistance, but limited to
cybersecurity."
Fear About Voting Process Fuels "Unprecedented Scrutiny" Of Secretaries Of State.
Politico <https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/secretaries-of-state-races-423378> (9/30, Geller, 4.29M)
reports Americans are expressing "unprecedented distrust in the voting process," which has led to
"unprecedented scrutiny of the nation's secretaries of state." And in Washington state, Democratic nominee Gael
Tarleton took to Twitter to accuse Republican Secretary Kim Wyman of standing by while Trump "undermined
faith in our state's electoral system."
Privacy, Civil Rights Advocates Seek Transparency On Amazon Election Data Breaches.
The Hill <https://thehill.corn/policy/cybersecurity/519056-privacy-civil-rights-groups-demand-transparency-
from-amazon-on-election> (10/1, 2.98M) reports a group of more than "a dozen privacy and civil rights
organizations on Thursday demanded that Amazon disclose information about breaches of election data in order
to increase the company's public transparency ahead of November." Groups including Color of Change "and
Demand Progress cited past incidents reported by Reuters that involved voter data, stored on Amazon Cloud
servers, being left exposed online in expressing concerns about Amazon security." They noted "that one or more
of Amazon's election services will be used in 40 states this year." In the leter, the groups warn, "A single breach
could have catastrophic consequences for election integrity in dozens of states." While the groups
"acknowledged that the election officials involved would have some responsibility for election data security, they
warned that this did not mean Amazon should abdicate all involvement."
Sen. Cotton Proposes Food Technology Intelligence Office.
The Washington Examiner <https://wwvv.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/tom-cotton-proposes-intel-
office-to-stop-china-from-stealing-food-technology> (9/30, Drucker, 448K) reports Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) is
proposing the "establishment of an intelligence office inside the Agriculture Department to prevent China from
stealing proprietary food technology developed by American corporations." Cotton introduced the "Agriculture
Intelligence Measures Act Wednesday with co-author Rep. Rick Crawford, a fellow Arkansas Republican." The
bill would allow "the Agriculture Department to use existing U.S. intelligence assets to investigate plots to steal
information on scientifically patented crops." The legislation also "aims to provide the federal officials with
greater capability to prevent attempts to sabotage American farming, such as the recent discovery of suspicious
packages of seeds that appear to have been mailed from China to the United States."
KAIT-TV <https://www.kait8.com/2020/09/30/agriculture-be-protected-foreign-espionage-bills-sponsors-say-
with-new-billk Jonesboro, AR (9/30, 42K) also reports.
Esper Visits Africa For First Time "Seeking To Push Back On Russia And China."
CNN <https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/30/politics/esper-africa-trip/index.html> (9/30, 83.16M) reports Secretary
of Defense Mark Esper made his "first visit to Africa Wednesday, a trip aimed in part at pushing back on Russian
and Chinese influence in the region." Esper arrived in Tunisia "to meet with top officials, including the country's
president, Kais Saied." During a meeting "at the Tunisian Defense Ministry, Esper and his counterpart" signed a
EFTA00136760
"ten-year Roadmap of Defense Cooperation." Esper said during his speech that the US "will continue to deepen
our alliances and partnerships across the continent, including with Tunisia, where your democratic government
and sovereignty have made much of our work in the region possible." He added, "We look forward to expanding
this relationship to help Tunisia protect its maritime ports and land borders, deter terrorism, and keep the
corrosive efforts of autocratic regimes out of your country."
"American Friends" Of Ecuadorean Embassy's Security Detail Allegedly Plotted To Kidnap Assange.
Bloomberg <https://www.bloomberg.coin/news/articles/2020-09-30/-american-friends-plotted-to-kidnap-
assange-from-embassy> (9/30, Browning, 4.73M) reports officials at a private security agency "that was meant
to be guarding the Ecuadorean embassy in London were actually carrying out a very different task: spying on
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, according to a court filing." Staff discussed a "plot to kidnap the Australian
from his hideout in the building," CCTV cameras "were changed to allow for sound recording," and fire
extinguishers were bugged. The allegations were made "in written testimony of a former employee of the
Spanish security firm at a hearing where Assange is fighting attempts to have him extradited to the US." The
activities were carried out "at the behest of `American friends,' the employee of UC Global, whose identity
wasn't released by the London court, said in a legal filing Wednesday." Assange's attorney, Mark Summers, said
in a separate filing the agency was "acting on the instructions of US intelligence."
The Guardian (UK) <https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/30/us-intelligence-sources-discussed-
poisoning-julian-assange-court-told> (9/30, Quinn, 4.19M) reports "plans to poison or kidnap" Assange "were
discussed between sources in US intelligence and a private security firm that spied extensively on the WikiLeaks
co-founder, a court has been told." James Lewis, "acting for the US government, told the court on Tuesday that
the US case was likely to be that the evidence" of the former UC Global employees was "wholly irrelevant."
Statements Claim Assange Bugged In Ecuadorian Embassy. The AP
<https://www.usnews.corn/news/world/articles/2020-09-30/assange-bugged-while-at-ecuadorian-embassy-ulc-
court-told> (9/30, Pylas) reports Julian Assange's conversations "in the latter part of his 7-year stay at the
Ecuadorian Embassy in London were systematically bugged, even in the toilet, a London court heard
Wednesday." In written statements "at Assange's extradition hearing, two anonymous witnesses who worked for
a Spanish firm with a security contract at the embassy said the WikiLeaks founder faced an intensifying bugging
operation from 2017 onwards after Donald Trump became US president." Judge Vanessa Baraitser on Tuesday
"granted the two witnesses anonymity amid fears for their safety." Lawyers acting on "behalf of the US
government did not contest the submission of the anonymous statements but said they were largely irrelevant to
the matter under consideration in London's Old Bailey court."
Snowden Ordered By Judge To "Surrender Book Profits" To US.
Bloomberg <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-30/snowden-ordered-by-judge-to-surrender-
book-profits-to-u-s> (9/30, 4.73M) reports a US District Judge Liam O'Grady in Virginia on Tuesday ordered
Edward Snowden to "relinquish $4.2 million in profits from his tell-all memoir about his work in U.S.
intelligence because he did not submit the manuscript for government review before publishing." Snowden also
must "give up profits stemming from paid speeches that he gave without authorization, and sacrifice potential
future profits from the distribution or adaptation of his 2019 memoir." The government had "argued that
Snowden was required to submit the manuscript for his book for review under secrecy agreements he signed
with the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency." In his order, O'Grady "agreed with that
assessment," writing that Snowden "breached his contractual and fiduciary obligations to the CIA and the NSA
by publishing Permanent Record and giving prepared remarks within the scope of his prepublication review
obligations."
EFTA00136761
Stars And Stripes <https://www.stripestotn/news/us/virginia-judge-orders-snowden-to-surrender-4-2-million-in-
book-profits-1.646929> (9/30, Yaffe-Bellany, 30K) and The Washington Times
<https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/30/edward-snowden-nsa-leaker-ordered-by-federal-judge/>
(9/30, Blake, 492K) also report.
Pentagon Collaborating With Armed Services On JEDI Cloud Transition.
C4ISR & Networks <https://www.c4ismet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2020/09/30/pentagons-cio-shop-
teams-with-armed-services-to-prep-for-move-to-jedi-cloud/> (9/30, Eversden) reports the Pentagon's top IT
official "said Wednesday that his office has spent the last few months preparing the armed services to migrate to
the department's long-delayed enterprise cloud as soon as it becomes available." During a Defense Writers
Group roundtable, Pentagio CIO Dana Deasy said, "We're doing a lot of work with the services on getting them
prepared to move their [software] development processes and cycles to DevOps so when the [Joint Enterprise
Defense Infrastructure] cloud finally does get awarded, we're not starting at Day One." The JEDI cloud is an
"important piece of the Joint All-Domain Command and Control concept, an initiative through which the
services want to connect sensors and shooters." Cloud, data and artificial intelligence "are core elements to
enabling JADC2." Using data for "joint war fighting is the top priority of the department's forthcoming data
strategy, which Deasy said he expects will be released in the next 30 days."
Russian Intelligence Chief Says CIA Behind Unrest In Belarus.
Newsweek <https://www.newsweek.com/russia-intel-chief-blames-us-cia-belarus-unrest-1535287> (9/30,
Brennan, 1.53M) reports Russian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin "accused the CIA and
Pentagon of training militants to foment unrest in Belarus, as Moscow continues to defend its beleaguered ally
President Alexander Lukashenko." Naryshkin said Tuesday "without providing any evidence to support the
assertion — that the US is training fighters in neighboring nations and sending them into Belarus to support
protests against Lukashenko." According to TASS, Naryshkin told the intelligence service's press division on
Tuesday, "Fighters for renewed Belarus are trained in Poland, Georgia, Ukraine and the Baltic states with
participation of instructors from the CIA and the Pentagon as well as U.S. non-governmental organizations
affiliated with the Department of State." Naryshkin said the US is "using the dirtiest methods for rocking the
boat in Belarus," accusing the State Department of exploiting "extremist elements in protests."
US, Allied Intelligence: North Korea Used Easing Of Tensions To Build, Safeguard Nuclear Capabilities.
The Washington Post <https://www.washingtonpost.corn/national-security/trump-kim-north-korea-
nuclear/2020/09/30/267305c8-032b-lIeb-b7ed-141dd88560ea_stoty.html> (9/30, Warrick, Denyer, 14.2M)
reports since 2018, at six North Korean missile bases, "workers dug a maze of new tunnels and bunkers,
allowing North Korea to move weapons around" while southeast of Pyongyang, "new buildings sprouted across
an industrial complex that was processing uranium for as many as 15 new bombs, according to current and
former US and South Korean officials, as well as a report by a United Nations panel of experts." While North
Korea has refrained "from carrying out provocative tests of its most advanced weapon systems, it never stopped
working on them, US intelligence officials said." New evidence suggests that "Kim took advantage of the lull by
improving his ability to hide his most powerful weapons and shield them from future attacks." The easing of
tensions has also "opened new routes for circumventing sanctions while his factories quietly churn out more
nuclear warheads and bigger missiles to carry them, current and former U.S. intelligence analysts and nuclear
experts say."
EFTA00136762
Japan's Defense Ministry Submits Largest-Ever Budget Request.
Stars And Stripes <https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/japan-s-defense-ministry-seeks-52-billion-for-next-
fiscal-year-its-largest-budget-request-ever-1.646901> (9/30, Kusumoto, 30K) reports Japan's Ministry of
Defense, "under a new administration, on Wednesday proposed the eighth consecutive hike and its largest-ever
defense budget, about $52 billion." The budget request for "fiscal year 2021, about 5.49 trillion yen, is a 3.3%
increase over the 5.32 trillion yen, or about $50 billion, approved for the current fiscal year." Japan's fiscal year
begins in April. The request states, "In order to realize cross-domain operations, the Self-Defense Forces will
acquire and strengthen capabilities in new domains, which are space, cyberspace and electromagnetic spectrum
by focusing resources and leveraging Japan's superb science and technology." The budget request includes
funding "for setting up a specialized electronic warfare unit at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Asaka
and upgrading the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Space Operation Squadron, which works closely with US Space
Command." The squadron will be "upgraded to a group by adding another 50 personnel, according to defense
ministry officials."
US Sanctions Leading Cuban General.
The Miami Herald <https://www.miamiherald.corn/news/nation-
world/world/americas/cuba/article246116830.html> (9/30, Garnez Torres, 1.09M) reports the US on Wednesday
sanctioned "Gen. Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja, the former son-in-law of Cuban leader Raul Castro,
who manages most of the Cuban economy as head of the powerful conglomerate of military companies
GAESA." The Treasury Department included Lopez-Calleja "on the list of specially designated nationals and
blocked persons." The listing freezes "his assets in the US or under the control of US persons" and prohibits US
individuals and companies from dealing with him. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "The revenue generated
from the economic activities of GAESA is used to oppress the Cuban people and to fund Cuba's parasitic,
colonial domination of Venezuela. Today's action demonstrates the United States' long-standing commitment to
ending economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government or its military, intelligence, and
security agencies or personnel at the expense of the Cuban and Venezuelan people."
The AP <https://wwvv.usnews.corn/news/politics/articles/2020-09-30/us-imposes-sanctions-on-cubas-raul-
castros-son-in-law> (9/30, Lee) reports the sanction "steps up" the US "campaign against the communist island's
government ahead of the US presidential election in November." The AP says the announcement is the
"administration's latest action against Cuba and comes just two days after it imposed sanctions on a debit card
operation that allowed Cubans to buy food, appliances and other items with money sent by relatives in the
United States."
US Offers Millions In Rewards For Former Venezuelan Officials.
The Miami Herald <https://www.miamiherald.corn/news/locaUarticle246103210.html> (9/30, Weaver, 1.09M)
reports the US government has issued "wanted posters for three ex-Venezuelan officials accused in Miami
federal court of exporting cocaine from Colombia and extorting bribes from drug smugglers in exchange for
protecting them." The three ex-Venezuelan officials "are accused in Miami federal court of exporting cocaine
from Colombia and extorting bribes from drug smugglers in exchange for protecting them." US Attorney Ariana
Fajardo Orshan said in a statement, "Corrupt Venezuelan officials who lined their pockets by protecting drug
traffickers from detection and arrest enabled the entry of enormous amounts of dangerous drugs into the United
States." DEA Special Agent in Charge in Miami Keith Weis said that "the rewards for information leading to
their whereabouts and capture will add another significant level of pressure" to bring them to justice.
EFTA00136763
Criminal Investigations
Judge Delays Release Of Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Recordings To Friday.
The CBS Evening News <https://playvideo.bulletinintelligence.corn/979dc74915064a49af2db937ea2be2df?
pubid=fbi> New York (9/30, story 7, 0:20, O'Donnell, 3.95M) reported a judge on Wednesday "gave Kentucky's
attorney general an extension until Friday to release grand jury recordings in the Breonna Taylor shooting death.
Daniel Cameron wanted more time to redact witness names. A member of the grand jury pushed to get the
proceedings released, claiming Cameron misrepresented their deliberations." NBC Nightly News
<https://playvideo.bulletinintelligence.corn/9cde28278187475bb1be0c1de61a18a2?pubid=fbi> (9/30, story 7,
0:20, Holt, 5.69M) reported, "Taylor's family hopes the recordings will shed new light on why the grand jury did
not indict any officers for her death."
The AP <https://apnews.com/article/breonna-taylor-shootings-kentucky-louisville-mitch-mcconnell-
35a19c6e80ffa711da6781d28144b81a> (9/30, Lovan, Blackburn) reports Judge Ann Bailey Smith gave the
attorney general "until noon on Friday" to release the recordings, but the Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal
<https://vvww.courier-joumal.com/sto/y/news/local/breonna-taylor/2020/09/30/daniel-cameron-wants-release-
delayed-breonna-taylor-grand-jury-recordings/3585473001/> (9/30, 368K) reports Cameron had asked for a one-
week extension in a motion filed Tuesday. The Washington Post
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/30/breonna-taylor-grand-jury-recording-release-delayedk
(9/30, Iati, Berman, Knowles, 14.2M) and New York Times <https://www.nytimes.corn/2020/09/30/us/breonna-
taylor-jury-facts-case.html> (9/30, Wright, Bogel-Burroughs, 18.61 M), among other news outlets, also report the
delay.
Seagram's Heiress Sentenced To 81 Months In NXIVM Sex Slave Case.
The AP <https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/heiress-faces-sentencing-in-upstate-new-york-sex-slave-
case/2020/09/30/159d0122-02db-Ileb-b92e-029676f9ebec_story.html> (9/30, Hays) reports from New York,
"An heir to the Seagram's liquor fortune was sentenced Wednesday to an 81-month prison term and immediately
thrown behind bars for her role as an unwavering benefactor of Keith Raniere, the disgraced self-improvement
gum convicted of turning women into sex slaves who were branded with his initials." US District Judge
Nicholas Garaufis "gave Clare Bronfman the harsh sentence at a hearing lasting more than three hours and
featuring emotional statements from several victims gathered in a courtroom under strict coronavirus safety
protocols. The judge repeatedly scolded Clare Bronfman for standing by Raniere and his upstate New York
organization, even after the evidence made clear she eventually became aware of his sex-trafficking scheme."
The Daily Beast <https://www.thedailybeast.corn/seagrams-heiress-clare-bronfman-sentenced-to-81-months-in-
nxivm-sex-cult-case?ref=home> (9/30, Melendez, I.39M) reports, "For years, Seagram's liquor empire heiress
Clare Bronfman dedicated her time—and millions—to NXIVM as its operations director and one of its largest
donors, going to extreme lengths to protect the self-help group and its leader," but "on Wednesday, the 41-year-
old was sentenced to 81 months in prison for her role in the purported cult that branded women and manipulated
them into master-slave relationships. She pleaded guilty a year ago to conspiracy to conceal and harbor illegal
aliens for financial gain, and fraudulent use of identification." Prosecutors "had asked the judge to give her a 60-
month sentence, arguing that she had shown continued loyalty to NXIVM's founder Keith Raniere and made
`obsessive' attempts to investigate and intimidate possible critics of NXIVM," but Judge Garaufis "believed she
deserved additional time. He gave her almost seven years in prison, a $500,000 fine and $96,605 restitution to be
paid to one of the victims."
The Albany (NY) Times Union <https://vvwvv.timesunion.corn/news/article/Clare-Bronfman-faces-judge-for-
sentencing-in-15608551.php> (9/30, Gavin, 457K) reports, "Prosecutors said Bronfman, who was in NXIVM
EFTA00136764
alongside her older sister, Sara Bronfman-Igtet, used her wealth to recruit immigrants - usually women — into
NXIVM-related groups under the idea that they would get a scholarship or work. But Bronftnan instead got a
work-force of recruits desperate to earn a living and who were dependent on her and NXIVM to stay in the
country. Prosecutors have said Bronfman helped Raniere target the company's perceived enemies, which
included members of the organization who defected."
Baltimore Police Received Gun Trace Task Force Tip Well Before FBI Probe Surfaced.
The Baltimore Sun <https://www.baltimoresun.corn/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-gttf-tip-jenlcins-20200930-
snvalbvIjvg6tbfp3h2nn3vkxe-story.html> (9/30, Fenton, 1.33M) reports, "Baltimore Police internal affairs
received a tip that Gun Trace Task Force ringleader Wayne Jenkins was robbing drug dealers more than a year
before he was charged by the FBI with committing robberies, according to a new court filing. That tip came from
a Baltimore police officer who did not give the information to his own department, but instead told a local
reporter," who "in turn passed it on to Internal Affairs, according to records obtained by attorneys in civil
lawsuits against the department." The Sun adds, "The filings show internal affairs received dozens of complaints
of alleged wrongdoing and criminal activity by officers in the GTTF sphere going back to at least 2012. The
extent of the criminal activity by the officers did not become public until a federal grand jury issued sweeping
charges in 2017, eventually sending nearly a dozen officers to federal prison, including a 25-year sentence for
Jenkins."
Navy Veteran Ruled Not Competent To Stand Trial In Virginia Slaying.
The Washington Post <https://www.washingtonpost.com/locaUpublic-safety/us-navy-veteran-ruled-not-
competent-to-stand-trial-in-va-slaying/2020/09/30/c3682748-0324-11eb-a2db-417cddf4816a_stoty.html> (9/30,
Hedgpeth, 14.2M) reports, "A retired Navy petty officer who was indicted in connection with the death of a 19-
year-old Virginia college student has been found incompetent to stand trial." US District Judge Raymond A.
Jackson for the Eastern District of Virginia "decided Tuesday that Eric B. Brown was not competent to stand trial
in the kidnapping and slaying of Ashanti Billie due to mental illness." The Post adds, "The case dates to 2017
when Billie, who was a 19-year-old Virginia Beach college student, went missing as she was on her way to work
at a sandwich shop at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Norfolk. She was later found dead. Brown was
charged in connection with her abduction in November 2017. And in December 2018, a federal grand jury
indicted Brown on charges including kidnapping resulting in death, sexual abuse and stalking. According to
court documents filed by his lawyers, Brown has been diagnosed with schizophrenia."
WVEC-TV <https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/ashanti-billie-mother-reacts-to-ruling-working-to-
push-additional-legislation/291-a322a0d1-2691-4ee6-adaa-25a350fbaecl> Hampton Roads, VA (9/30,
Clemmons, 49K) reports, "Ashanti's mother, Brandy Billie-Moore said the family is devastated by the ruling.
`It's not what we were expecting,' Billie-Moore said. `We're disheartened, but it's not the fault of the FBI. The
good news is he still won't be walking free. We're still seeking to have him committed to a GOV facility."'
Brown "was diagnosed with schizophrenia and involuntarily medicated at Butner Federal Medical Center with
one antipsychotic drug. He was considered incompetent to stand trial for 18 months. At the time, federal
prosecutors sought to give him one more antipsychotic drug which could have required a court order since
Brown refused to take medication."
New Mexico Prison Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Racketeering.
The Los Alamos (NM) Daily Post <https://ladailypost.cornabi-snm-gang-member-baby-g-pleads-guilty-to-
racketeeringP (9/30, Clark) reports from Albuquerque, New Mexico, "Jonathan `Baby G' Gomez, a member of
EFTA00136765
the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang, pleaded guilty Sept. 25 to a racketeer influenced and corrupt
organization (RICO) indictment." The indictment, "to which Gomez pleaded guilty, details various acts and
communications since 2002 in which Gomez participated in relation to his membership in the organization. As
described in the indictment, those communications discussed gang business, including illicit activities, and
coordinated acts of violence, some of which were facilitated, directed or ordered by Gomez. The FBI and the
New Mexico Department of Corrections investigated this case."
Five Arrested In Canada In Alleged Kidnapping Of New York Couple.
The Adirondack (NY) Daily Enterprise <https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.coln/news/local-
news/2020/09/moira-couple-found-safe-after-disappearance/> (9/30, 16K) reports, "Five people have been
arrested by Canadian authorities in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a couple from the town of Moira."
The Daily Enterprise adds, "Three people were arrested Tuesday as they left a residence in the Quebec city of
Magog, which is located about 75 miles east of Montreal, Surete du Quebec Sgt. Claude Denis said. The Moira
couple — James and Sandra Helm, whom Denis described as hostages — were located at the residence."
According to the Daily Enterprise, "The SQ is continuing to work with multiple U.S. and Canadian law
enforcement agencies, including the FBI, New York State Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services, Denis said. The FBI issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon saying
only the 'international kidnapping investigation' is ongoing and the agency continues to work with both U.S. and
Canadian law enforcement."
The Globe and Mail (CAN) <https://www.theglobeandmail.corn/canada/article-five-quebecers-arrested-in-
connection-with-suspected-kidnapping-of-new-2/> (9/30, 1.04M) also reports.
Trans Person Shot In Puerto Rico In Sixth Killing This Year.
The AP <https://www.sfchronicle.corn/news/article/Trans-person-shot-in-Puerto-Rico-in-6th-killing-
15608827.php> (9/30, Coto) reports from San Juan, Puerto Rico, "Authorities said a transgender woman was
fatally shot Wednesday in southwest Puerto Rico, the sixth such killing this year." Michelle Ramos Vargas, 33,
"was found along an isolated road near a farm in the town of San German, according to officials, who said they
were investigating whether it was a hate crime. Police officer Manuel Cruz told The Associated Press that the
victim had apparently worked as a bartender and was studying nursing and was shot several times in the head."
According to the AP, "The bodies of two transgender women were found inside a charred car in southeast Puerto
Rico in April. The FBI took over the investigation after two men were arrested in that case. Also that month, a
transgender woman was killed in prison."
FBI Seeks Public's Help Identifying Man Who May Know Sexually Exploited Child.
The Lincoln (NE) Journal Star <https://journalstar.com/newsnocal/crime-and-courtsai-asks-for-help-
identifying-man-who-may-lcnow-child-being-sexually-exploited/article_9668219c-c780-5c6f-b5a5-
003a5720f6e2.html> (9/30, Johnson, 399K) reports, "FBI agents on Wednesday asked for help identifying a man
they believe knows the identity of a child being sexually exploited." According to the Journal Star, "The FBI
Omaha field office disseminated images of the man, they refer to as John Doe 42. FBI agents are trying to
identify this man believed to have key information about the identity of a child being sexually exploited." The
Journal Star adds, "In a news release, FBI spokeswoman Amy E. Adams said initial videos of the man shown
with a child were first recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and data extracted
from that video indicates it was created in October 2015."
EFTA00136766
WYFF-TV <https://www.wyff4.com/article/fbi-needs-public-for-help-finding-john-doe-in-national-child-sex-
assault-investigation/34223794> Greenville, SC (9/30, 398K) reports, "The FBI in Columbia on Wednesday
released photos and audio recordings of the voice of a man special agents said had information about a child
sexual assault victim. `Somebody out there will know this guy,' Don Wood, FBI special agent in Columbia,
said." WYFF-TV adds, "Initial video of the unidentified man investigators are calling John Doe 42 shown with a
child was first recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in August of 2019, officials
said. The EXIF data embedded within the video files indicated that the files were produced in October of 2015,
according to investigators. Officials believe critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an
ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. `It has been assessed John Doe 42 speaks with a southern accent, but
we cannot conclude he is actually in the south,' Wood said."
KTSA-AM <https://www.ktsa.cornabi-searching-for-john-doe-42-in-child-sexual-exploitation-investigationk
San Antonio (9/30, 3K) reports, "The FBI believes the man is between the ages of 50 and 65. This individual is
being sought as part of the FBI's Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives,
both of which represent strategic partnerships between the FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children."
Continuing Coverage: Nebraska Woman Facing Murder Trial.
The Lincoln (NE) Journal Star <https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/helped-by-hotel-clerks-
who-cal led-in-tips-fbi-closed-in-on-boswell-and-trai Warticle_7a718781-3e08-5b95-8d2e-5b3b1b956b11 html>
(9/30, Pilger, 399K) reports that the murder trial of Bailey Boswell continued Wednesday. Days Inn manager
Hunter Birdsall testified Wednesday.
The Omaha (NE) World-Herald <https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/crime-and-courts/evidence-found-
in-hotel-rooms-sug,gests-boswell-trail-mightve-planned-to-flee-into-wilderness/article_1781aec9-412d-5d29-
8577-e02f85d62c7e.html> (9/30, 641 K) reports that the authorities closed in on Boswell on November 28, 2017,
when motel clerk Jennie Bloom called in a tip to the Lincoln police after seeing her photo.
Heroin Trafficking Probe Results In 14-Month Prison Sentence For Massachusetts Man.
The Daily Hampshire (MA) Gazette <https://www.gazettenet.com/Holyoke-man-sentenced-36532186> (9/30,
3K) reports, "Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston
Field Division," was among the officials who announced that Massachusetts resident Jayson Quinones has
received a 14-month prison sentence. The article says the arrest of Quinones, who "pleaded guilty to distributing
and possessing with intent to distribute heroin," was the result of an investigation that focused on heroin
trafficking in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The Springfield (MA) Republican
<https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/09/jayson-quinones-of-holyoke-sentenced-to-14-months-for-distributing-
heroin.html> (9/30, Johnson, 395K) also covers this story.
Virginia Man Sentenced Over Child Pornography.
WCYB-TV <http://wcyb.com/news/local/clintwood-man-sentenced-to-180-months-in-prison-on-attempted-
child-pornography-charges> Bristol, VA (9/30, Clay, 64K) reports Gregory Lynn McKnight "has been sentenced
to 180 months in prison for attempted production of child pornography and traveling interstate commerce for
illicit sexual conduct." The investigation "began after the parents of a minor female informed local a law
enforcement agency that McKnight had contacted their daughter on social media and began sending messages of
a sexual nature to her."
EFTA00136767
North Carolina Man Arrested On Murder Charge In New Jersey.
BreakingAC (NJ) <https://breakingactom/2020/09/atlantic-city-police-help-capture-n-c-murder-suspect/> (9/30)
reports John Oiley Mitchell, who is "accused of killing Tameka Minor," was arrested Wednesday in Atlantic City
by New Jersey police officers and FBI agents.
Press of Atlantic City (NJ) <https://pressofatlanticcity.corn/news/crime/atlantic-city-police-fbi-arrem-alleged-
fugitive-in-north-carolina-homicide/article_ab8936f5-80ac-5ea3-97ff-2edble95b9d3.html> (9/30, 177K) also
reports.
Former SUNY Official Pleads Guilty To Falsifying Resume.
The Albany (NY) Times Union <https://vvwvv.timesunion.corn/news/article/Former-SUNY-Upstate-Medical-
official-pleads-15608835.php> (9/30, Lyons, 457K) reports former SUNY Upstate Medical University official
Sergio Garcia "pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor criminal charge Wednesday to settle allegations that he had
falsified his professional background on the resume he submitted when applying for the $340,000-a-year job."
He "is expected to be sentenced on Nov. 13 to a conditional discharge with restitution."
Missouri Man Sentenced Over Child Pornography.
KFVS-TV <https://www.kfvs12.com/2020/09/30/ftedericktown-man-sentenced-years-federal-prison-possessing-
child-pornography/> Cape Girardeau, MO (9/30, Ladd, 39K) reports Justin Paul Pierce "was sentenced to serve
10 years in federal prison on child pornography charges." FBI agents "executed a search warrant at Pierce's
home in Fredericktown in March of 2019 after receiving a cyber tip from a social networking site."
Michigan Man Facing Hate Crimes Charges.
The Detroit Free Press <https://www.freep.corn/story/news/local/michigan/macomb/2020/09/30/warren-man-
arrested-hate-crimes/3586151001/> (9/30, 1.52M) reports that an unidentified man "is expected to be arraigned
Thursday on multiple felony charges in connection with three racially motivated attacks on a Black family in
Warren earlier in September." The authorities "said the man lives in the area and confessed to the crimes as well
as other crimes, including one against a white resident about a mile away in the same week as the attacks against
Eddie and Candace Hall."
NBC News <https://www.nbcnews.corn/news/us-news/suspect-accused-targeting-michigan-family-black-lives-
matter-sign-window-n1241608> (9/30, 6.14M) reports that the victims "had gunshots fired at their home, their
vehicles' tires slashed, a rock thrown through their front window and racist threats written on their cars."
US Marshals Operation Rescues 11 Missing Children In Louisiana.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune <https://www.nola.com/news/crimejolice/article_0de494a8-0363-11eb-
bc3d-df47000d4d21.html> (9/30, 480K) reports that law enforcement officials "said Wednesday that the U.S.
Marshals office located 11 children from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, including the recovery of a 16-year-old boy who
EFTA00136768
was allegedly involved in a gang in New Orleans that handled guns." The FBI New Orleans Field Office
supported the two-month-long investigation.
WDSU-TV <https://www.wdsu.com/article/us-marshals-recover-11-children-in-new-orleans-in-operation-
summer-rescue/34226397> New Orleans (9/30, Team, 61K) reports that Operation Summer Rescue 2020 "ran
from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 and focused on missing and endangered runaways." The US Marshals "say that several
arrests were made during the children's recoveries, to include an adult male who was arrested for aggravated
statutory rape."
Tennessee Minor Charged With Sexploitation Charges.
WKRN-TV <https://www.wkm.corn/news/crime-tracker/16-year-old-portland-boy-charged-with-dozens-of-sex-
crimes-in-multi-state-investigation/> Nashville, TN (9/30, 73K) reports that an unidentified 16-year-old
Tennessee boy "is the target of a multi-state sexploitation case that involved not only Portland Police but both the
TBI and FBI." The authorities "say the teen used the internet to create fake identities and hard to trace IP
addresses as he coerced dozens of teenage girls in multiple states into sending him nude photos and more." The
investigation "began 20 months ago in February 2019 when a Portland father reported that his daughter had been
victimized by the teen." He "is charged with 39 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, 5 counts of
stalking, and 5 counts of extortion."
Convicted Sex Trafficker Arrested In Tennessee.
The Rogersville (TN) Review <https://www.therogersvillereview.corn/rogersville/article_310c4c9a-94b3-5ffie-
88cd-cee8968b0412.html> (9/30, Goley, 16K) reports convicted sex trafficker Marcus Douglas Washington "was
arrested in Rogersville on Sept. 26 after reportedly passing out under the influence of drugs and driving into a
ditch."
New Jersey Men Charged With Participation In Gun Trafficking.
Central Jersey (NJ) <https://centraljersey.corn/2020/09/30/local-residents-among-five-charged-in-connection-
with-gun-trafficking-conspiracy/> (9/30, 1K) reports Enrique Quijada, Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria, and Waldin
Espinosa-Ozoria "are each charged by criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to engage in the business
of unlicensed firearms dealing." The FBI supported the investigation.
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty To Methamphetamine Trafficking.
WLOX-TV <http://www.wlox.corn/2020/09/30/pass-christian-man-pleads-guilty-trafficking-over-pounds-
methk Biloxi, MS (9/30, Staff, 24K) reports Aaron Conrad Whavers "pleaded guilty to possession with intent to
distribute methamphetamine from California to Mississippi" on Wednesday. He "faces at least 10 years or up to
life in prison after agents recovered approximately 114 pounds of methamphetamine in Harrison County in
2019."
Financial Crime & Corporate Scandals
EFTA00136769
California Lobbyist Pleads Guilty In Los Angeles City Hall Bribery Probe.
The Los Angeles Daily News <https://www.dailynews.corn/2020/09/30/porter-ranch-lobbyist-pleads-guilty-in-
la-city-hall-bribery-scheme/> (9/30, 232K) reports from Los Angeles, "A longtime lobbyist and former Los
Angeles City Hall official pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of conspiring with now-suspended
Councilman Jose Huizar in a bribery scheme." Morrie Goldman "entered his guilty plea to a felony count of
conspiring to commit bribery and honest services mail fraud in the government's ongoing investigation of
corruption at City Hall. Goldman faces up to five years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for Dec. 14,
according to the U.S. Attorney's Office." Goldman, 57, of Porter Ranch, California, "was one of several people
who established two political action committees, one of which purportedly supported a variety of causes but
actually was created to primarily benefit the City Council campaign of a relative of Huizar's who was planning
to run for his council seat, according to federal prosecutors."
Former UAW President Pleads Guilty To Embezzling From Union.
The Detroit News <https://www.detroitnews.corn/story/business/autos/2020/09/30/uaw-president-dennis-
williams/3585291001/> (9/30, Snell, 825K) reports former UAW President Dennis Williams "pleaded guilty
Wednesday to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the union, giving federal prosecutors a second
landmark conviction in a years-long crackdown on auto industry corruption." Williams' plea comes nearly four
months "after Gary Jones, his successor, admitted to helping steal more than $1 million from rank-and-file
workers." Williams "is the 15th person convicted of a crime following an investigation that has revealed labor
leaders and auto executives broke federal labor laws, stole union funds and received bribes and illegal benefits
from union contractors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV executives."
The Detroit Free Press <https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2020/09/30/dennis-williams-resigns-uaw-
plea/3586400001/> (9/30, Lawrence, 1.52M) says Williams "admitted Wednesday to a federal judge that he
suspected the money that was paying for his golf, meals and other goodies connected to conferences, including
lengthy rental stays in Palm Springs for him and his friends, was bought with union funds, but he chose to do
nothing despite an obligation to act." Williams told Judge Paul Borman, "I made a deliberate and conscious
decision not to press the matter even though I strongly suspected that If I looked into how Gary Jones was
funding these benefits I would find union funds were being misused. As secretary-treasurer and (later) as
president I could have investigated into the source of these funds or directed my staff to do so. It was within my
power and it was my duty as a UAW officer to do so, but I deliberately looked away." The AP
<https://www.usnews.corn/news/us/articles/2020-09-30/ex-uaw-president-pleads-guilty-in-embezzlement-
scheme> (9/30) reports former UAW president Gary Jones has also been convicted.
US Charges Hundreds In Connection With $6B Healthcare Fraud Takedown.
FierceHealthcare <https://www. fiercehealthcare.com/payer/doj-charges-hundreds-connection-6b-healthcare-
fraud-largest-takedown-ever> (9/30, Minemyer, 146K) reports, "The Department of Justice charged 345 people
across 51 federal districts in the largest healthcare fraud takedown in the agency's history." Federal prosecutors
"said the charges were in connection cases responsible for more than $6 billion in losses. Among those charged
were more than 100 doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, according to DOJ. The billions in false
claims were submitted to both public and private insurers, DOJ said, with more than $4.5 billion connected to
telemedicine schemes." FierceHealthcare adds, "The national takedowns were conducted jointly between DOJ,
the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, various U.S. Attorney's
offices and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the announcement."
Modern Healthcare <https://www.modenthealthcare.com/govemmentffeds-charge-hundreds-individuals-6-
EFTA00136770
billion-healthcare-fraud> (9/30, Kacik, Subscription Publication, 214K) reports the healthcare fraud investigation
involved claims submitted to federal healthcare programs and private insurance companies for substance use
disorder treatment and other services. The AP <https://www.pbs.orgrnewshour/health/watch-justice-department-
announces-largest-healthcare-fraud-takedown> (9/30) and the Wall Street Journal
<https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-charges-hundreds-with-medical-fraud-11601502219> (9/30,
Subscription Publication, 7.57M) also report.
US Charges Former California Businessman In Alleged Ponzi Scheme.
The Marin (CA) Independent Journal <https://vvww.marinij.corn/2020/09/30/feds-charge-former-novato-
businessman-in-massive-ponzi-scheme/> (9/30, Houston, 95K) reports, "Federal criminal investigators this week
charged a former Novato businessman of operating a massive Ponzi scheme, defrauding more than a thousand
investors and embezzling tens of millions of dollars to personally enrich himself." According to the Independent
Journal, "The U.S. Securities and Exchang