FBI – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com israelhayom english website Mon, 11 Aug 2025 08:25:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://www.israelhayom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-G_rTskDu_400x400-32x32.jpg FBI – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com 32 32 Trump dispatches FBI to combat crime in DC https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/11/trump-dispatches-fbi-to-combat-crime-in-dc/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/11/trump-dispatches-fbi-to-combat-crime-in-dc/#respond Mon, 11 Aug 2025 06:15:00 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1079615 Federal law enforcement resources are being significantly redirected toward Washington DC street-level crime prevention, with the FBI dispatching agents for overnight patrol shifts as President Donald Trump considers deploying the National Guard to the nation's capital. The development represents an escalation in Trump's aggressive approach to DC crime issues, according to The Washington Post. The […]

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Federal law enforcement resources are being significantly redirected toward Washington DC street-level crime prevention, with the FBI dispatching agents for overnight patrol shifts as President Donald Trump considers deploying the National Guard to the nation's capital. The development represents an escalation in Trump's aggressive approach to DC crime issues, according to The Washington Post.

The Trump administration has temporarily reassigned up to 120 FBI agents, primarily from the Washington Field Office, to work overnight alongside local DC police officers for at least one week, according to two individuals familiar with the deployment who spoke anonymously about internal staffing arrangements that remain unpublicized.

A decision regarding National Guard activation could materialize as early as Monday, when Trump has scheduled a White House news conference focusing on DC crime issues, according to a US official who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive operational matters, The Washington Post reported.

US President Donald Trump departs Trump Tower for a deposition two days after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York City, US, August 10, 2022 (Photo: Reuters/David 'Dee' Delgado) REUTERS

Trump drew comparisons Sunday between his planned DC crime intervention and his administration's stringent border immigration enforcement, declaring intentions to "immediately clear out the city's homeless population and take swift action against crime."

"Be prepared! There will be no 'MR. NICE GUY.' We want our Capital BACK," Trump stated in a Truth Social post.

White House officials declined to preview potential announcements, with one spokesperson explaining that "we won't get ahead of the president on any potential announcements, but the president has been clear that all options are on the table when it comes to making DC safe again."

The FBI agent deployment places counterintelligence, public corruption, and other specialized division personnel in street-level law enforcement roles despite their limited training in traffic stops and similar patrol activities. This reassignment diverts federal agents from their standard investigative responsibilities while Trump publicly characterizes the city as experiencing rampant violent crime.

Trump ordered federal law enforcement agents from multiple agencies to begin city street deployments last week while advocating for increased prosecution of juvenile offenders in adult court systems.

An FBI agent blocks media as ICE agents load a detained immigrant into an unmarked vehicle outside the Connecticut Superior Court on July 03, 2025 in Stamford, Connecticut (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images/AFP) Getty Images via AFP

Weekend staffing arrangements reveal the substantial FBI resources Trump's administration is redirecting toward local crime prevention, creating frustration within bureau ranks. FBI agents typically lack authority for conducting traffic stops, with their street roles potentially limited to supporting other agencies during such encounters.

The FBI deployment extends beyond DC, with agents from Philadelphia and other locations being brought in to augment federal law enforcement presence in the District, according to multiple sources familiar with operational planning.

Federal property is distributed throughout Washington, and local enforcement routinely coordinates with federal law enforcement for patrolling these areas and surrounding zones. However, the US Park Police and Secret Service, which possess greater street patrol experience, typically handle such responsibilities rather than the FBI.

Both the Secret Service and the US Secret Service Uniformed Division have received directives to initiate special DC patrol operations, according to a White House official who spoke anonymously regarding operational details.

Washington DC's unique status as a non-state jurisdiction grants the federal government distinctive authority over city affairs, even when local residents and elected officials object. The Home Rule Act of 1973 established DC residents' ability to elect their mayor and council members. A federal police force takeover would represent an extraordinary power assertion in a location where local leaders possess limited resistance mechanisms against federal intervention.

Trump has intensified his criticism of the nation's capital recently. The president posted a photograph last week of a former US DOGE Service staffer injured during an attempted carjacking. DC police subsequently arrested a 15-year-old Maryland boy and girl, charging them with unarmed carjacking. "I'm going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before," Trump wrote Sunday morning on Truth Social. "It's all going to happen very fast, just like the Border."

Trump announced in a separate Sunday social media post that Monday's 10 a.m. White House news conference will address the city's cleanliness, physical renovation, and general conditions. "The Mayor of DC, Muriel E. Bowser, is a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances, and the Crime Numbers get worse, and the City only gets dirtier and less attractive," Trump stated in an afternoon Truth Social post.

FBI tactical agents prepare as police search for a gunman who fled the scene of a shooting at a Rite Aid Distribution Center in Aberdeen, Maryland, USA, 20 September 2018 (Photo: EPA/Scott Serio) EPA

Bowser has been countering Trump's characterization of her city, emphasizing on MSNBC Sunday morning that crime rates have been decreasing in the nation's capital. DC violent crime statistics show a 26% decrease compared to this time in 2024, according to DC police data. Homicide rates have declined 12%. DC police have conducted approximately 900 juvenile arrests this year, representing almost 20% fewer than the same time frame last year. About 200 of those charges involve violent crimes, with at least four dozen related to carjacking. "If the priority is to show force in an American city, we know he can do that here," Bowser, who indicated her last Trump conversation occurred several weeks ago, stated on MSNBC. "But it won't be because there's a spike in crime."

The FBI agent reassignment has further demoralized Washington Field Office personnel, who believe they lack the expertise and training needed to effectively thwart carjackers, a situation exacerbated by their anger over recent agency dismissals they consider unwarranted. The Trump administration dismissed FBI personnel nationwide last week without explanation, including the Washington Field Office head.

"If DC doesn't get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they're not going to get away with it anymore," Trump wrote in a social media post last week that included a bloody image of the injured former DOGE staffer.

Trump ordered the creation of the "DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force" this spring, serving as a vehicle for his longstanding fixations on quality-of-life issues, including homeless encampments and graffiti throughout the city. Homeless advocates and DC residents criticized Trump's threats to remove homeless individuals from DC as inhumane, costly, and impractical on Sunday. "That money could be better spent getting folks housing and support," Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director at the National Homelessness Law Center, stated regarding the federal law enforcement presence in the District.

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'Death to the IDF': FBI probes car bombing in Missouri https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/06/death-to-the-idf-fbi-probes-car-bombing-in-missouri/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/06/death-to-the-idf-fbi-probes-car-bombing-in-missouri/#respond Wed, 06 Aug 2025 06:00:06 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1078649 Federal and local authorities are examining what they classify as a hate crime following the discovery of antisemitic vandalism and multiple vehicles destroyed by intentionally set fires in Clayton, Missouri. Fox News reported that investigators believe a resident was specifically targeted in the Tuesday morning attack. American IDF soldier targeted in 'HORRIFIC antisemitic attack' – […]

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Federal and local authorities are examining what they classify as a hate crime following the discovery of antisemitic vandalism and multiple vehicles destroyed by intentionally set fires in Clayton, Missouri. Fox News reported that investigators believe a resident was specifically targeted in the Tuesday morning attack.

Clayton Police Department officers arrived at the scene around 3:00 a.m. Tuesday, after receiving reports of vehicle fires, according to Fox News. The responding officers found that three automobiles had sustained fire damage from what investigators determined was an intentionally ignited blaze.

No injuries were documented in connection with the incident, though officers located antisemitic graffiti written on a city street near St. Louis, Fox News stated. Authorities have classified the episode as a hate crime based on preliminary findings suggesting the victim was deliberately chosen.

FBI officers and New Jersey police officers on November 1, 2017, in Paterson, New Jersey
(Photo: AFP/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) AFP

The FBI and St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit dispatched personnel to the location to support the ongoing investigation. Local television station First Alert 4 captured drone footage of the vandalism, which reportedly displayed the message "Death to the IDF," with portions of the text directed at a specific individual.

Clayton Mayor Bridget McAndrew characterized the incident as "an offensive and violent act of arson" that targeted a Clayton resident. "We will not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or violence based on someone's nationality, race, religion, or ideology," she stated in a Facebook post. "In Clayton, we are committed to fostering a community where every resident feels safe, valued, and welcome."

"This is not just an aspiration—it is our responsibility as neighbors and as citizens," McAndrew continued. "As such, I call upon all Clayton residents to join me in embracing the principles of respect, understanding, and inclusion that define who we are as a community."

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced on X that she had received briefings regarding the reported "car bombings" in St. Louis and alleged antisemitic vandalism. "Our office intends to hold the perpetrators accountable for these violent acts," she declared.

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis condemned the attacks. "As American Jewish organizations and proud St. Louisans, we condemn in the strongest terms the attack on members of our community last night," the federation stated. "This is more than vandalism; it is a hateful act of intimidation and only the latest example of what happens when antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric are normalized."

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Ex-employee testifies Trump visited Epstein's office https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/07/21/ex-employee-testifies-trump-visited-epsteins-office/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/07/21/ex-employee-testifies-trump-visited-epsteins-office/#respond Mon, 21 Jul 2025 06:00:17 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1074647 US President Donald Trump may appear in the sealed investigation files of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to testimony from a former employee of the sex offender and pedophile published Monday morning in the New York Times. Maria Farmer revealed that she had previously testified to the FBI about her former employer's relationship with the man […]

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US President Donald Trump may appear in the sealed investigation files of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to testimony from a former employee of the sex offender and pedophile published Monday morning in the New York Times.

Maria Farmer revealed that she had previously testified to the FBI about her former employer's relationship with the man who became president of the United States, following a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he appears in Epstein's investigation files – and the president's lawsuit in response to those claims.

In summer 1996, Farmer approached law enforcement authorities to complain about Epstein, following a sexual assault she suffered from him and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell. Farmer, who was then in her mid-twenties, also shared with authorities the abuse her younger sister Annie, then a teenager, suffered at Epstein's New Mexico ranch, when Maxwell touched her exposed chest. Farmer described the threats she faced from Epstein after the incident.

Farmer revealed that during her conversations with New York police and later with the FBI, she urged them to examine Epstein's circle extensively, including Donald Trump, two decades before he was elected president. In 2006, she was questioned again by the FBI about Epstein and repeated the same message.

Geoffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (Photo: API)

Her account represents one of the clearest indications yet about how Trump may have appeared in the unpublished investigation files in the case.

In interviews last week, Farmer said she has no evidence of criminal activity by Epstein's associates, but she expressed concern about what she saw as his pattern of pursuing teenage girls and young women while forming friendships with prominent figures like Trump and former President Bill Clinton.

Farmer's efforts to draw law enforcement attention to Epstein and his associates indicate how investigation files might contain embarrassing or politically problematic material for the president, even if he was never directly involved and never investigated.

"She's not here for you"

The encounter with Trump, Farmer said, occurred in 1996 when she was preparing to work for Epstein. She told authorities how late one night, Epstein unexpectedly called her to his offices in a luxury Manhattan building, and she arrived wearing short running shorts.

Trump then arrived dressed in a business suit and began walking around near her, as she described in her report to authorities. Farmer said she remembers feeling frightened when Trump stared at her exposed legs. Then Epstein entered the room, and she recalled him telling Trump, "No, no. She's not here for you."

Both men left the room, and Farmer said she heard Trump comment that he thought she was 16 years old. After she met with Trump, Farmer said, she had no other concerning interactions with him and didn't see him behave inappropriately with girls or women.

The White House disputed Farmer's account Friday night and cited Trump's decision to end his friendship with Epstein. "The president was never in his office," Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, said, referring to the pedophile. "The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep."

Previously, Farmer said she wondered how law enforcement authorities handled her complaints about Epstein in 1996 and 2006. Among other things, she said she wondered whether they had taken any action regarding her Trump-related concerns. She said she mentioned his name both times because of meetings that appeared close with Epstein and because of that disturbing encounter at the New York office.

Her mother said she remembers hearing about the Trump meeting around the time it occurred. Sister Annie also shared that she remembers Maria's story to the FBI about Epstein's meetings with influential people like Trump and Clinton.

Escaped and barricaded herself

Farmer, an artist, worked for Epstein in 1995 and 1996. Initially, to purchase art in his name, but later to supervise the entry and exit of girls, young women, and celebrities at the entrance to his Upper East Side home.

In 1996, she traveled to Epstein's estate in Ohio, at a compound developed by Leslie Wexner, then-CEO of Victoria's Secret. Epstein and Maxwell also came to the location.

Among other things, Farmer described being asked to massage Epstein's feet, after which he and Maxwell touched her violently until she escaped from the room and barricaded herself in another part of the building. Her artwork included nude figures, and she described how partially nude photos she had of her two younger sisters disappeared from her locked storage box.

Throughout subsequent years, Farmer faced criticism from individuals questioning her credibility. Notably, she wasn't summoned to testify during Maxwell's 2021 trial and conviction for conspiracy with Epstein involving sexual exploitation and abuse of girls.

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Trump targets hundreds of federal buildings for sale https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/03/05/trump-targets-hundreds-of-federal-buildings-for-sale/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/03/05/trump-targets-hundreds-of-federal-buildings-for-sale/#respond Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:00:53 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1041533   The Trump administration has identified more than 440 federal properties for closure or sale as part of its effort to downsize government, AP reported Tuesday, before abruptly revising the list hours later to just 320 properties with notable Washington D.C. buildings removed. According to AP, the initial list published by the General Services Administration […]

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The Trump administration has identified more than 440 federal properties for closure or sale as part of its effort to downsize government, AP reported Tuesday, before abruptly revising the list hours later to just 320 properties with notable Washington D.C. buildings removed.

According to AP, the initial list published by the General Services Administration (GSA) included some of America's most recognizable buildings, including the J. Edgar Hoover Building housing FBI headquarters and the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. The first list also included the Old Post Office building, where President Donald Trump once operated a hotel, and headquarters of numerous agencies including the Department of Labor and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The FBI's J. Edgar Hoover headquarters building is seen in Washington, Nov. 2, 2016 (Photo: AP/Cliff Owen) AP

After publishing the extensive list of 443 properties, the administration issued a revised version with only 320 entries, none in Washington D.C. When questioned about the changes, the GSA did not immediately provide explanations for why so many properties had been removed.

Properties targeted outside Washington included the Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center in Indiana, the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco, and the US mission to the United Nations in New York, spanning nearly every state in the country.

"We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties for disposal," the GSA said of the original list, according to the news report. Selling the properties "ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal space," and "helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions."

The property designations are part of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's unprecedented initiative to reduce the federal workforce and cut government spending. They claim selling these buildings could save hundreds of millions of dollars while dramatically reshaping how major Congressional-funded Cabinet agencies function. The administration has also ordered federal workers to report to offices daily.

US Representative Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) holds a "Musk Steals" protest sign with fellow Democrats as US President Donald Trump speaks during an address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025 (Photo: Win McNamee/ AFP) AFP

Eliminating federal office space has been a top priority for the new administration. Last month, GSA regional managers were instructed to begin terminating leases on all approximately 7,500 federal offices nationwide. In a follow-up meeting, they were reportedly told to aim for terminating up to 300 leases daily, according to an employee who spoke anonymously fearing retaliation.

The administration is also seeking to sell federal buildings named after civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and Rosa Parks in Detroit, as well as the Montgomery, Alabama bus station that was crucial in the civil rights movement and now operates as the Freedom Rides Museum.

The GSA's Public Buildings Service said most properties deemed unnecessary are office spaces. "Decades of funding deficiencies have resulted in many of these buildings becoming functionally obsolete and unsuitable for use by our federal workforce," they explained. The GSA indicated it will consider the buildings' futures "in an orderly fashion to ensure taxpayers no longer pay for empty and underutilized federal office space, or the significant maintenance costs associated with long-term building ownership potentially saving more than $430 million in annual operating costs."

According to the agency, the 443 buildings initially listed span almost 80 million rentable square feet and are currently owned and maintained by the GSA.

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Mississippi man jailed for antisemitic threats https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/11/29/mississippi-man-jailed-for-antisemitic-threats/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/11/29/mississippi-man-jailed-for-antisemitic-threats/#respond Fri, 29 Nov 2024 02:30:19 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1015219   A federal court in Philadelphia has sentenced Donbon Farish, a 29-year-old Mississippi resident, to two years in prison followed by three years of probation for orchestrating an antisemitic harassment campaign targeting synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in Pennsylvania. According to the June 2023 indictment, Farish conducted a series of threatening phone calls to Jewish institutions […]

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A federal court in Philadelphia has sentenced Donbon Farish, a 29-year-old Mississippi resident, to two years in prison followed by three years of probation for orchestrating an antisemitic harassment campaign targeting synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in Pennsylvania.

According to the June 2023 indictment, Farish conducted a series of threatening phone calls to Jewish institutions across Pennsylvania's Eastern District, employing VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology to conceal his identity.

In his communications with Jewish institution representatives, Farish repeatedly invoked the Holocaust, while shouting various antisemitic threats, including "Heil Hitler," "All Jews must die," "We will put you in labor camps," "Destroy the Jews," and "Hitler should have finished the job."

Leisure park for children, forbidden to Jews in Paris, France, November 1942 (Photo: LAPI/Roger Viollet/Getty Images) Roger Viollet/Getty Images

"The antisemitic harassment and threats perpetrated by Farish spread terror among his victims, whose sense of security was fundamentally shaken by fears of potential escalation and physical violence," Federal Prosecutor Jacqueline Romero stated. "Every individual, regardless of their faith or background, has the right to feel secure in their community."

FBI Philadelphia Office Director Wayne Jacobs emphasized: "No member of our community should have to live in fear, regardless of where they work, reside, or practice their religion. This sentence demonstrates that the FBI and our partners at the Federal Prosecutor's Office will not tolerate heinous threats designed to undermine community security."

As part of a plea agreement reached in June, Farish admitted guilt to charges of internet harassment and five counts of misuse and harassment through communication devices. He also acknowledged selecting his victims based on their religious identity.

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Canada foils Iranian plot to assassinate Jewish human rights advocate https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/11/18/canada-foils-iranian-plot-to-assassinate-jewish-human-rights-advocate/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/11/18/canada-foils-iranian-plot-to-assassinate-jewish-human-rights-advocate/#respond Mon, 18 Nov 2024 07:00:02 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1012397   According to reporting by The Globe and Mail, Canadian law enforcement authorities recently foiled an Iranian plot to assassinate Irwin Cotler, a prominent human rights advocate and outspoken critic of Tehran's leadership. Authorities identified two suspects in the assassination plot, though their current status, whether arrested or fled, remains unclear. Cotler was informed on […]

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According to reporting by The Globe and Mail, Canadian law enforcement authorities recently foiled an Iranian plot to assassinate Irwin Cotler, a prominent human rights advocate and outspoken critic of Tehran's leadership.

Authorities identified two suspects in the assassination plot, though their current status, whether arrested or fled, remains unclear. Cotler was informed on Thursday that the threat level against him had been significantly reduced.

The Jewish 84-year-old has been under 24/7 Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) protection for over a year following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) informed him he was a high-profile target of Iran. His security detail includes bulletproof vehicles, heavily armed officers and additional protective measures.

Since 2008, he has spearheaded a global campaign to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. He has also represented Iranian political prisoners and strongly supports Israel. In June, following opposition party pressure, Canada joined the United States in declaring the IRGC a banned terrorist group. Ottawa cut diplomatic relations with Iran over a decade ago. Cotler served as Canada's first special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism from 2020 to 2023. He currently chairs the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights internationally.

 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also contacted Cotler regarding an unsealed New York indictment involving an Iranian murder-for-hire operation, the source said. While not named in the indictment, the FBI indicated to Cotler that his name emerged during their investigation.

On Oct. 22, the US Justice Department charged senior IRGC official Ruhollah Bazghandi in connection with a 2022 plot to kill American human-rights activist Masih Alinejad, allegedly using Eastern European criminal organizations in New York. "That is happening more and more with intelligence services using criminals to do work for them, and it gives them plausible deniability," said Alan Treddenick, a former CSIS station chief in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, the US Justice Department charged Farhad Shakeri, described as an Iranian government operative previously imprisoned in America for robbery, in an alleged IRGC-ordered plot to kill Donald Trump and Alinejad. Shakeri remains at large in Iran. Two other men face charges for allegedly being recruited by Shakeri to surveil and kill Alinejad.

Daniel Stanton, former CSIS senior manager and current director of the national-security program at the University of Ottawa Professional Development Institute, who recently hosted Alinejad, said Iran targets high-profile critics like Cotler and Alinejad as a warning to others.

"Regimes like Iran and also India want to hit the most high-profile, outspoken critics and dissidents because that sends a message to the people who don't have that status to basically shut up," Stanton said. "A lot of these intelligence agencies find it difficult to operate in countries like Canada and the United States, so they have to hire unscrupulous proxies to carry out the dirty work and that is easy to detect."

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, and Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, takes part in a press conference about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's investigation into "violent criminal activity in Canada with connections to India," on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, October 14, 2024 (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable) REUTERS

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei called the allegations a "repulsive" plot by Israel and Iranian dissidents to "complicate matters between America and Iran."

US authorities say the IRGC's elite Quds Force has historically targeted critics and recently began outsourcing assassination plots to organized crime groups and violent criminals. Iran's Quds Force operates as a clandestine wing of the IRGC, responsible for foreign operations, including arming Hezbollah and Hamas and conducting assassinations.

 Cotler, a renowned international human-rights lawyer, has criticized many authoritarian governments, including Iran, for its role in the 2020 downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which killed about 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents, as well as Tehran's funding of Hamas.

He warned that authoritarian regimes are waging a war against Western countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and many of those in Europe "through three primary methods – electoral interference, transnational repression, and the spreading of harmful disinformation."

In 2015, Cotler founded the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, a Montreal-based organization dedicated to promoting human rights, advocating for political prisoners, and combatting injustice around the world. The group works in memory of Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved 100,000 Jews during the Second World War by issuing them diplomatic passports and sheltering them in safe houses.

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FBI: Iranian hackers sent Trump data to Biden https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/09/19/fbi-says-iranian-hackers-sent-trump-data-to-biden/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/09/19/fbi-says-iranian-hackers-sent-trump-data-to-biden/#respond Thu, 19 Sep 2024 01:30:08 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=998113   The FBI, along with two other government agencies, has reported that Iranian hackers sent "unsolicited emails" containing stolen material from Former President Donald Trump's campaign to individuals associated with his Democratic rival's campaign. The information, which was not publicly available, was sent to people linked to President Joe Biden's campaign, according to a statement […]

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The FBI, along with two other government agencies, has reported that Iranian hackers sent "unsolicited emails" containing stolen material from Former President Donald Trump's campaign to individuals associated with his Democratic rival's campaign. The information, which was not publicly available, was sent to people linked to President Joe Biden's campaign, according to a statement released on Wednesday, reports NBC News.

The FBI, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency jointly stated that there was "currently no information" indicating that recipients associated with Biden's campaign had responded to these emails. The agencies condemned these actions as part of an effort "to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our electoral process."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian and his cabinet in Tehran, Iran, August 27, 2024 (Photo: Reuters/WANA) Reuters/WANA

Last month, the agencies confirmed that Iran was behind efforts this year to compromise the presidential campaigns of both parties. This came after Trump's campaign accused Iran of a hacking attempt in June. The statement also revealed that Iranian hackers have continued to attempt to transmit nonpublic stolen material related to Trump's campaign to media organizations since late June. The FBI is actively tracking this activity.

The agencies warned of increasing foreign efforts to interfere in US elections ahead of November, particularly from Russia, Iran, and China. These countries are "trying by some measure to exacerbate divisions in US society for their own benefit, and see election periods as moments of vulnerability," the statement said.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, responded to the news in a statement: "Iranians wanted to help Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee, because they know President Trump will restore his tough sanctions and stand against their reign of terror." Trump himself weighed in on the matter through a Truth Social post, claiming, "Harris and her campaign were illegally spying on me. To be known as the Iran, Iran, Iran case!"

Morgan Finkelstein, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, stated that the campaign has cooperated with law enforcement since learning about the hacking effort. "We're not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign; a few individuals were targeted on their personal emails with what looked like a spam or phishing attempt," Finkelstein said.

Three federal law enforcement sources confirmed the accuracy of the Harris campaign's statement. They said law enforcement agencies tracked the stolen information from the Trump campaign and determined that several people linked to Biden's campaign received emails containing the information. The recipients reportedly never responded to the emails and may not have even opened them, as they appeared to be phishing attempts.

Last month, Google's Threat Analysis Group reported that an Iranian hacker group tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns in a phishing operation in May and June.

The Justice Department plans to file criminal charges in connection with the hacking of Trump's campaign, according to two law enforcement officials. A spokesperson for Iran's mission to the United Nations has denied the country's role in the operation.

This is not the first time Iran has been accused of election meddling. In 2021, the Justice Department indicted two Iranians over a "cyber-enabled" campaign to intimidate and influence American voters during the 2020 presidential election.

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Israeli pleads guilty to shipping aircraft parts to Russia, violating sanctions https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/09/12/israeli-pleads-guilty-to-shipping-aircrafts-to-russia-violating-sanctions/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/09/12/israeli-pleads-guilty-to-shipping-aircrafts-to-russia-violating-sanctions/#respond Thu, 12 Sep 2024 04:30:13 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=996055   An Israeli freight forwarder has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for violating export restrictions imposed on Russia, the US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. Gal Haimovich, 49, admitted to his role in a scheme to illegally ship aircraft parts and avionics from US manufacturers and suppliers to Russia, including for the benefit of […]

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An Israeli freight forwarder has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for violating export restrictions imposed on Russia, the US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. Gal Haimovich, 49, admitted to his role in a scheme to illegally ship aircraft parts and avionics from US manufacturers and suppliers to Russia, including for the benefit of sanctioned Russian airline companies.

According to court documents, Haimovich owned an international freight forwarding company that was part of a group of companies operating in various countries, including the United States and Israel. Between March 2022 and May 2023, Haimovich allegedly facilitated the export of aircraft parts and avionics, some with missile technology applications, from the US to Russian customers through third-party transshippers.

The scheme involved deceiving US-based manufacturers and suppliers about the ultimate destination of the goods. In one instance, Haimovich arranged for the shipment of an air data module to Russia for Siberia Airlines (S7 Airlines) in August 2022, falsely informing the US supplier that the part was destined for the Maldives.

Haimovich's sentencing hearing has been set for November 22. Assistant US Attorney Christopher Browne for the Southern District of Florida, who is prosecuting the case, stated, "This case demonstrates our commitment to enforcing export control laws and preventing the illegal flow of sensitive technologies to Russia."

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the development of unmanned aircraft at the Rudnyovo industrial park in Moscow, Russia, April 27, 2023 (Photo: Reuters/Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin) via REUTERS

Haimovich agreed to the entry of a forfeiture money judgment of $2,024,435 and the forfeiture of various aircraft parts and components. The defendant billed Russian customers, including S7 Airlines, more than $2 million for the illegal export of aircraft parts and avionics from the US to Russia during the specified period.

The case was investigated by the Department of Commerce's Office of Export Enforcement and the FBI. It is being coordinated through the Justice Department's Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing sanctions and economic countermeasures imposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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Hezbollah member wanted for role in 1985 hijacking dies https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/10/10/hezbollah-member-wanted-for-role-in-1985-hijacking-dies/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/10/10/hezbollah-member-wanted-for-role-in-1985-hijacking-dies/#respond Sun, 10 Oct 2021 11:33:52 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=698863   Ali Atwa, a senior Hezbollah operative who was on the FBI's most-wanted list for his role in one of the most notorious plane hijackings in aviation history, has died, the Lebanese terrorist group said Saturday. Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter Atwa, who was believed to be in his early 60s, died of […]

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Ali Atwa, a senior Hezbollah operative who was on the FBI's most-wanted list for his role in one of the most notorious plane hijackings in aviation history, has died, the Lebanese terrorist group said Saturday.

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Atwa, who was believed to be in his early 60s, died of complications related to cancer, Hezbollah said.

Atwa was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2001 with two other alleged participants in the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847. The ordeal, which began in Athens, Greece on June 14, lasted 16 days and left a US Navy diver on the plane dead.

The hijackers demanded the release of Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

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FBI: Trump supporters plan armed protests ahead of Inauguration Day https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/01/12/fbi-trump-supporters-plan-armed-protests-ahead-of-inauguration-day/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/01/12/fbi-trump-supporters-plan-armed-protests-ahead-of-inauguration-day/#respond Tue, 12 Jan 2021 15:57:01 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=576899   An internal FBI bulletin warned that Trump supporters are planning armed protests that may start later this week and extend through President-elect Joe Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration, officials said.   Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter "Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from Jan. 16 through at least Jan. 20, […]

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An internal FBI bulletin warned that Trump supporters are planning armed protests that may start later this week and extend through President-elect Joe Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration, officials said.

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"Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from Jan. 16 through at least Jan. 20, and at the US Capitol from Jan. 17 through Jan. 20," the bulletin said, according to one official.

The FBI issued at least one other bulletin before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, the second official said.

"While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is supporting our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners with maintaining public safety in the communities we serve," the bureau said in a statement.

"Our efforts are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity."

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