CINCINNATI —

Jurors began hearing testimony Wednesday in P.G. Sittenfeld's political corruption trial.

The former Cincinnati councilman is accused of agreeing to approve a downtown development in exchange for campaign donations.

In her opening statements, prosecutor Emily Glatfelter called Sittenfeld an "ambitious politician" who traded "power for money." She told jurors he betrayed the people of Cincinnati who he was elected to serve.

Much of the opening statements centered around 435 Elm Street, the vacant property at the heart of this trial.

The property is owned by former Bengal turned developer, Chinedum Ndukwe.

"Chin" as he was referred to in the courtroom was secretly working for the FBI. Ndukwe introduced Sittenfeld to two men, Rob and Bryan.

They were undercover agents pretending to be investors.

Prosecutors said over the course of 18 months, the so-called investors gave Sittenfeld $40,000 in campaign donations in exchange for helping to move the 435 elm street development forward.

Glatfelter told jurors Sittenfeld said, "I can deliver the votes" and "I can always get a vote on my left and on my right."

Defense attorney Charlie Rittgers started his opening statements telling the jury "everything in life requires context" and "partial truth is not truth at all."

435 Elm Street was on Sittenfeld's radar before he met Rob and Bryan, Rittgers said.

He said it was an eyesore and was draining the city of $400,000 a year.

Rittgers said Sittenfeld isn't denying the meetings with the so-called investors nor is he denying he received $40,000 in campaign contributions, but the defense said nothing Sittenfeld did was illegal.

Rittgers said during the "scheme," undercover agents were the ones to first bring up the form of payment and amount they'd give.

Rittgers said Sittenfeld "always did what was best for the City of Cincinnati."

Rittgers also told the jury, the FBI paid Ndukwe $27,000 for his role in the "scheme."

Former city councilman Kevin Flynn was the first witness to be called by prosecutors.

Flynn testified about the role of city council, duties of the city manager and mayor and veto power.

Former economic development director for the city, Phil Denning was the second witness to be called.

Denning's testimony centered around development agreements and 435 Elm Street.

He said he had a conversation with Sittenfeld where Sittenfeld asked about the process for Ndukwe to develop the property.

Prosecutors are expected to call Nathan Holbrook, special agent for the FBI, to the stand Thursday morning.

Holbrook's testimony is expected to last all day.

For only the 11th time in its 72-year history, the Federal Bureau of Investigation added to its most-wanted list a woman whose accused of defrauding investors of more than $4 billion through a cryptocurrency company.

Ruja Ignatova, also known as the "Cryptoqueen," was added to the agency's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list on Thursday.

Ignatova is currently the only woman on the list.

According to the FBI, Ignatova co-founded OneCoin in 2014, which was promoted as a company that was the “Bitcoin killer."

Investigators said the 42-year-old and others marketed the Bulgaria-based company through a multi-level marketing strategy soliciting investors to give her billions of dollars, preying on those who may not have fully understood the ins and outs of cryptocurrencies, but were impressed by her resume and the company's marketing strategies, the agency said in a press release.

“OneCoin claimed to have a private blockchain,” said Special Agent Ronald Shimko. “This is in contrast to other virtual currencies, which have a decentralized and public blockchain. In this case, investors were just asked to trust OneCoin.”

On Oct. 12, 2017, a federal warrant was issued for her arrest.

The agency said that Ignatova might have been tipped off that U.S. and international authorities were investigating her. She was last seen on October 25, 2017, after traveling from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece.

In February 2018, she was indicted with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud, the FBI said.

The FBI has offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Ignatova's arrest.

WASHINGTON —

Former President Donald Trump said in a lengthy statement Monday that the FBI was conducting a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The circumstances were not immediately clear. Spokespeople for the FBI and the Justice Department did not return messages seeking comment Monday evening.

“After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” Trump said in his statement.

The Justice Department has been investigating the discovery of boxes of records containing classified information that were taken to Mar-a-Lago after Trump's presidency had concluded. It was not clear whether the FBI search was connected to that probe.

A separate investigation related to efforts by Trump allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol has also been intensifying in Washington.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The FBI has concluded that Alec Baldwin must have fired the gun normally on the set of "Rust" -- which took Halyna Hutchins' life ... this according to a new report.ABC News published a bombshell story Friday, claiming to have obtained a copy of the forensic analysis report recently completed by the Bureau ... which was examining all facets of the fatal accident in a broader investigation to see if criminal charges are warranted.Per ABC, citing part of the FBI report, the feds found that the revolver in question -- a single-action .45 Colt caliber F.lli Pietta — could not have been fired without someone pulling the trigger ... a determination they made after conducting accidental discharge testing.Unclear if they did this testing with the same exact gun Alec used, or a separate but identical one — but what the FBI notes in their reports is ... that gun, when working properly, will not release a bullet and primer simultaneously by just fiddling with the hammer alone.That's what Alec said he was doing when the shooting occurred. You'll recall ... in a sit-down interview with ABC, he claimed all he'd done was pull the hammer back and pose it for the camera while Halyna coached him on positioning. When they were done, he released the hammer ... and says it fired without him pulling the trigger. The rest, of course, is history.Well, that just doesn't make sense to FBI officials. Their report, per ABC, notes they set the hammer at varying angles and positions to see if they could make it fire without pulling the trigger ... but they say they couldn't. The only thing the hammer could do when de-cocked and then directly struck on its own (without pulling the trigger) was detonate the primer.That essentially means it could set off the actual gunshot sound itself, without discharging a bullet, according to the FBI — but that's obviously not what happened in AB's case.Now, this conclusion doesn't necessarily mean Alec is in hot water quite yet — again, we don't know if the testing they did here was with his gun or another ... it's totally possible the revolver he used that day did, in fact, malfunction and that he's telling the truth.These findings have been sent off to law enforcement officials in New Mexico, who are still conducting their investigation dating back to October. One of the things they're still waiting on, per an official statement from the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office, is phone records from Alec.He'd said a few months ago that he was cooperating and getting those records over to local law enforcement in New York (so that they could send it over to NM) — but it sounds like someone might be dragging their feet. Once that's in, the D.A. can have a review once and for all ... with their own findings, the FBI's findings, plus any accompanying documentation.

A federal judge in Florida has dismissed former President Donald Trump's lawsuit against former first lady Hillary Clinton and former top FBI officials, calling it a "200-page political manifesto."

According to his lawsuit, Trump claimed the former Democratic presidential nominee, former FBI Director James Comey, and others conspired against him by claiming that he coordinated with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election, USA Today reported.

On Thursday, District Judge Donald Middlebrooks dismissed the case, saying that the lawsuit contained “glaring structural deficiencies” and that many of the “characterizations of events are implausible," the Associated Press reported.

In his lawsuit, Trump claimed that Clinton and the Democratic National Committee "worked together with a single self-serving purpose: to vilify Donald J. Trump," USA Today reported.

In his ruling, Middlebrooks wrote that none of Trump's claims supported that there was a conspiracy against him, the Associated Press reported.

In 2019, special counsel Robert Mueller's concluded after a special investigation that investigators "did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities," the Associated Press reported.

According to the news outlet, Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, said the former President would appeal the dismissal.

The FBI said on Thursday it had received credible information about a "broad" threat to synagogues in New Jersey.The FBI's Newark office released a statement urging synagogues to "take all security precautions to protect your community and facility."The alert was posted after officials discovered an online threat directed broadly at synagogues in New Jersey, a law enforcement official said. The posting, though, did not target any specific synagogue by name, the official said. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.More specific details weren't released, and a message was left with the FBI in Newark.In Jersey City, Mayor Steven Fulop said police would be posted at the city's seven synagogues and foot patrols would be added in the broader Jewish community. In 2019, two assailants motivated by anti-Jewish hate killed three people in a kosher market in Jersey City, along with a police officer.Police officers armed with rifles guarded a synagogue one city over, in Hoboken, where the public safety director also announced increased patrols in Jewish communities.Five years ago, two New Jersey men were sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted for a series of attacks in 2012 that included the firebombings of two synagogues. They also threw a Molotov cocktail into the home of a rabbi as he slept with his wife and children.Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, whose district encompasses part of the area in northern New Jersey affected by those attacks, said in a statement Thursday that recent comments by Kanye West and the social media post shared by NBA star Kyrie Irving have contributed to the problem."I am deeply concerned and outraged by today's alert from the FBI," Gottheimer said. "This is what happens after years of antisemitic comments from public figures, including, most recently, Kanye West, Kyrie Irving, and others," he said.___Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report.

Friday evening, Milwaukee police said someone shot and killed a United States Postal Service carrier while he was delivering mail.

The United States Postal Inspection Service identified the victim as Aundre Cross. Police said he was in his 40s.

For over 18 years, Cross delivered the mail and smiles.

"Aundre came to work every day with a smile on his face. If you was sad, he was going to make sure gonna get a smile. He's going to make you laugh every day," said Melissa Carter, a friend and coworker to Cross.

Video shared with sister station WISN 12 News by Elaxex Trammel, a resident on his route, showed him laughing and smiling while delivering her mail just hours before he was killed.

"If you had a bad morning, he could come in loud, joyful, change your whole mood. Forget what you were even upset about," said Cross' friend and coworker, Jyfena Brown, "He was a good person. Had three beautiful kids, a wife. Imagine how they feel, two weeks before Christmas."

Surveillance video obtained by sister stationWISN 12 News captured the gunfire and a subject running to a car. The car appears to resemble the same car on the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's wanted poster. The wanted poster says the suspect vehicle is a silver Audi Q5 SUV with tinted windows.

"Being a carrier in Milwaukee is very scary now. And you are alone on the route. It's just literally you and the mail," Brown said.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) involved in the homicide.

Postal workers gathered Saturday evening, where Cross spent the last moments of his life, to mourn the loss of one of their own.

"It's sad to see someone good like him. It just hurts because he didn't deserve this at all," Brown said.

Milwaukee police ask anyone with information to contact them at 414-935-7272 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips App.

Watch the video above for the full story.

The FBI said it concluded that COVID-19 likely originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, the bureau’s director Christopher Wray announced late Tuesday.

The assessment came following years of debate as other government officials have suggested that the virus likely came from a wet market in the region.

“The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan,” Wray said. “I will just make the observation that the Chinese government has been doing its best to try to thwart and obfuscate the work here, the work that we're doing, the work that our U.S. government and close foreign partners are doing.”

In 2021, the office of the director of national intelligence said in a declassified report that it judged “the virus was not developed as a biological weapon.”

“Most agencies also assess with low confidence that SARS-CoV-2 probably was not genetically engineered; however, two agencies believe there was not sufficient evidence to make an assessment either way,” the report added.

U.S. intelligence believes cases of COVID-19 start popping up no later than November 2019, with clusters of cases forming in December 2019.

Within months, and despite lockdowns in much of China, cases began spreading worldwide, disrupting daily life.

But the U.S. and other world governments say that China has made it challenging for them to trace the virus back to its origins.

“The (intelligence community) — and the global scientific community — lacks clinical samples or a complete understanding of epidemiological data from the earliest COVID-19 cases. If we obtain information on the earliest cases that identified a location of interest or occupational exposure, it may alter our evaluation of hypotheses,” wrote the office of the director of national intelligence in its 2021 report.

Billing records of an Internet social media platform and interviews with another user helped the FBI identify a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman as a suspect in the leak of highly classified military documents, according to court records unsealed Friday.

The new details came as Jack Teixeira, 21, appeared in court to face charges under the Espionage Act of unauthorized removal and retention of classified and national defense information.

A federal magistrate judge ordered him held until a detention hearing next week.

Teixeira was arrested by heavily armed tactical agents on Thursday following a weeklong criminal investigation into the disclosure of the government records, a breach that exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments on the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues.

He appeared in court Friday in tan jail clothes for a brief proceeding at which U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennesy ordered him held pending a hearing next Wednesday.

Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Billing records the FBI obtained from Discord, which has said it was cooperating with the bureau, helped lead investigators to Teixeira, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed Friday.

According to the document, the FBI interviewed someone familiar with Teixeira’s online posts on Monday. That person, who is not identified in the affidavit, told the FBI that a username linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December.

The affidavit suggests Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he “had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace.”

That’s different from what posters have told The Associated Press and other media outlets, saying the user they would call “the O.G.” started posting images of documents because he was annoyed other users weren’t taking him seriously.

The affidavit also alleges Teixeira was detected on April 6 – the day The New York Times first published a story about the breach of documents – searching for the word “leak” in a classified system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks.

The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported, moving to reassure allies and assess the scope of damage.

Video below: National Guardsman arrested in connection with classified document leak

The classified documents — which have not been individually authenticated in public by U.S. officials — range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons.

In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as “the O.G.” by a member of the online chat group. Known as Thug Shaker Central, the group drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In that discussion, “the O.G.” would for months post material that he said was classified — originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers.

It was not immediately clear how Teixeira would have had access to the records, but a Defense Department official told the AP on Thursday that as an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks, the young Guardsman would have had a higher level of security clearance

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement issued after the arrest, said the Pentagon would conduct a review of its “intelligence access, accountability and control procedures” to prevent such a leak from happening again.

___

AP writers Tucker and Merchant reported from Washington.

The FBI is issuing a warning about a new scam that's costing victims millions of dollars.

A news release from the FBI alerts mobile carriers and the public about an increase in Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swapping, in which criminals steal money from virtual currency accounts.

SIM swapping may not be what you think it is. It doesn't mean a cybercriminal has to physically take your SIM card, the memory chips that make your phone yours, according to McAfee, a global computer security software company.

SIM swapping is now happening remotely when scammers can access and use your personal information to impersonate you and convince the mobile carrier of your phone to reassign your phone number to a new SIM card. That's when scammers can gain control of your phone data, change your passwords and access your accounts.

Between January 2018 and December 2020, the FBI said its Internet Crime Complaint Center received 320 complaints related to SIM swapping incidents that resulted in losses of $12 million.

In 2021, the center received 1,611 SIM swapping complaints about losses of $68 million.

SIM swapping targets mobile carriers to access victims' bank accounts, virtual currency accounts and other sensitive information through a few techniques.

Scammers sometimes use social engineering to impersonate the victim and trick the mobile carrier to switch the victim's mobile number to a SIM card in the scammer's possession.

They may also conduct SIM swap schemes to pay off mobile carrier employees to switch a victim's mobile number to a SIM card in their possession.

Scammers can also use phishing techniques to deceive employees to download malware that is then used to hack the mobile carrier system to carry out the SIM swap.

Once a scammer swaps the SIM, the victim's calls, texts and other data are downloaded to the scammer's device, which allows them to use "forgot password" or "account recovery" options with the victim's accounts associated with their email and phone number.

SIM swaps can even outsmart two-factor authentication, where mobile app providers send a link or one-time passcode through text to a victim's phone number. SIM swapping allows scammers access despite this process to log in, reset passwords and gain control of the victims' accounts.

In its news release, the FBI provided some advice to avoid SIM swapping scams:

• Don't advertise information about your financial assets, including ownership or investment in cryptocurrency, on social media.

• Don't provide mobile number account information over the phone, including your account password and pin. Verify the call by dialing the customer service line of your mobile phone carrier.

• Try to avoid posting your mobile phone number, address and other personal information online.

• Use different passwords for your online accounts.

• Use strong multi-factor authentication methods like biometrics, physical security tokens or standalone authentication applications to access your online accounts.

• Don't store passwords, usernames or login information on mobile device apps.

If you think you're the victim of SIM swapping, you should contact your mobile carrier immediately to regain control of your phone number. You should also access your online accounts, change your passwords and contact your bank to place an alert on your accounts for any suspicious login attempts or transactions.

The FBI recommends reporting any information about suspicious account activity to local law enforcement, your local FBI field office or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

RICHFIELD, Minn — Two suspects were arrested and a handgun was recovered following a shooting outside a school in Richfield, Minnesota, authorities said.

The shooting left a student dead and another critically injured.

Police chief Jay Henthorne called the incident a “tragic day in the city of Richfield.”

Police officers found the two students with injuries outside the school Tuesday afternoon.

Special agents from the ATF and FBI also responded to the scene.

Both students taken to a hospital and one of them died after arriving.

Nearby schools immediately went into lockdown.

The lockdowns were lifted after police initially searched the area and did not find the suspects.

The suspects were found after police acted on search warrants at two different addresses, authorities said.

Top officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security warned in a letter Monday that faith-based communities will likely remain targets for violence, urging state and local partners to evaluate their security postures for mass gathering events and at houses of worship.

"Faith-based communities have and will likely continue to be targets of violence by both domestic violent extremists and those inspired by foreign terrorists," said the letter from Paul Abbate, FBI deputy director, and John D. Cohen, the top intelligence official at DHS.

Related video above: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu: ‘Racial justice is deeply embedded in every policy decision we need to make’

Online forums linked to domestic violent extremists have referenced Jewish targets tied to conspiracy theories about COVID-19, the outcome of the 2020 election and "even the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and resettlement of Afghans to the United States," according to the letter obtained by CNN.

The joint notice comes two days after the Colleyville, Texas, hostage standoff at Congregation Beth Israel, which the FBI is investigating as a terrorist incident.

The investigation into Saturday's incident is still in its "initial phases," the officials said, adding that "while this appears to be an isolated incident, and there are currently no additional specific and credible threats associated with it, we will continue to monitor all reporting to ensure this incident is not a catalyst for similar attacks."

The officials pointed out that the U.S. is in a period of "heightened threat," which includes threats from domestic violent extremists and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists.

The threat is exacerbated by a divided society and the global pandemic, according to the letter, which says that in some cases, social stressors and other personal factors have mixed with ideological issues, resulting in violence.

"Foreign influence actors have also promoted narratives online intended to sow discord in the U.S. and foreign terrorist groups continue to encourage followers to conduct attacks and use social media to incite violence," the letter notes.

On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said DHS will work with Congress to increase funding so faith-based communities can upgrade their security and protect themselves against terrorism, hate crimes and targeted violence.

Congregation Beth Israel was a recipient of DHS grant funding as part of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, according to Mayorkas.

Funding, which is administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, can be used in several ways, such as enhancing physical security, installing cameras, hiring security guards and cybersecurity upgrades. Other grant funding goes toward prevention and response programs to equip communities to identify when individuals are moving down the path to violence.

"This kind of threat did not begin when this attack started yesterday, and it will not end with the hostages free," Mayorkas said during a media briefing.

He said the "harsh reality" is that there continues to be a "rise in the language of hate and its connectivity to violence."

"We need to ensure that we not only protect our houses of worship and all places of assembly, but that we become aware of the signs that someone is going down a path toward violence," Mayorkas told reporters.

CNN reported last week that a year after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, homeland security and law enforcement officials nationwide were bracing for potential "unprecedented" levels of violence in the year ahead.

The country remains polarized, and many people are angry and frustrated about their individual selves or society's conditions after two years of COVID-19 upheaval, turbulent economic conditions and government restrictions, sources and nongovernmental researchers told CNN.

COLLEYVILLE, Texas —

Authorities say a man apparently took hostages Saturday during services at a synagogue near Fort Worth, Texas.

The Colleyville Police Department tweeted Saturday afternoon that it was conducting SWAT operations at the address of Congregation Beth Israel.

FBI Dallas spokeswoman Katie Chaumont said an FBI SWAT team was also at the scene and that crisis negotiators had been communicating with someone inside the synagogue. But she could not say whether the person was armed and she declined to describe what the person had said to authorities, citing operational sensitivity.

Police were first called to the synagogue around 11 a.m. and people were evacuated from the surrounding neighborhood soon after that, Chaumont said.

There have been no reported injuries, Chaumont said, and authorities weren't certain how many people were in the synagogue.

"It’s an evolving situation, and we have a lot of law enforcement personnel on scene," Chaumont said.

Law enforcement shut down access to the roads surrounding the synagogue Saturday afternoon.

The services were being livestreamed on the synagogue's Facebook page for a time. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that an angry man could be heard ranting and talking about religion at times during the livestream, which didn't show what was happening inside the synagogue.

Shortly before 2 p.m., the man said, "You got to do something. I don’t want to see this guy dead." Moments later, the feed cut out.

The man, who used profanities, repeatedly mentioned his sister, Islam and that he thought he was going to die, the Star-Telegram reported.

Colleyville, a community of about 26,000 people, is about 15 miles northeast of Fort Worth.

Six FBI agents were investigated for allegedly soliciting prostitution, trafficking drugs and failing to report unofficial interactions for foreign nationals while on assignment overseas, a Justice Department watchdog says.

The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General released an investigative report on Tuesday that accuses four FBI officials of soliciting, procuring and accepting sex from prostitutes while on duty in a foreign country and lying about it.

A fifth official also allegedly "solicited commercial sex overseas" and a sixth official knew about their alleged misconduct but didn't report it, according to the report.

The alleged actions by all six of the unidentified FBI officials are in violation of Justice Department and FBI policies, according to the report.

Of the five officials accused of misconduct, two resigned, two retired and one was removed while the inspector general was investigating the incidents.

During the investigation, four of the FBI officials "lacked candor about their interactions with prostitutes and other misconduct during OIG compelled interviews and compelled polygraph examinations," the inspector general said, adding that one person "made false statements in an OIG compelled interview and compelled polygraph examination in violation of federal law, when the official denied having engaged in sex acts with a prostitute."

Furthermore, one of the FBI officials gave another official a package of "approximately 100 white pills" to take to a foreign law enforcement officer, the report states.

Stephanie Logan, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General, said that there is no additional information to share about its investigation and recommended filing a Freedom of Information Act request. CNN has filed a FOIA request.

The inspector general's office referred its report to the FBI "for appropriate action."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Republican speaker of the Ohio House and four other people were arrested Tuesday in a $60 million federal bribery investigation, a person briefed on the matter said, as the FBI raided the legislative leader’s rural farm.

Watch Live: U.S. Attorney David DeVillers' press conference on the arrests

Speaker Larry Householder was one of the driving forces behind a roughly $1 billion financial rescue for Ohio’s two nuclear power plants, which appeared to be tied to several targets of the investigation. The legislation added a new fee to every electricity bill in the state and directed over $150 million a year through 2026 to the plants near Cleveland and Toledo.

Prosecutors would not discuss details of the case. U.S. Attorney David DeVillers’ office planned to hold a news conference later in the day.

Also arrested were Householder adviser Jeffrey Longstreth, longtime Statehouse lobbyist Neil Clark, former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matthew Borges and Juan Cespedes, co-founder of The Oxley Group, a Columbus-based consulting firm.

Authorities were also seeking a sixth suspect, the person said.

Previous attempts to bail out the nuclear plants had stalled in the Legislature before Householder became speaker. Months after taking over, he rolled out a new plan to subsidize the plants and eliminate renewable energy incentives. The proposal was approved a year ago despite opposition from many business leaders and the manufacturing industry.

FirstEnergy Corp., whose former subsidiaries owned the plants, donated heavily to Householder’s campaigns and his backers in the Ohio House. The utility’s political action committee contributed $25,000 to Householder’s campaign in 2018, according to an analysis by Common Cause Ohio, a government watchdog.

Hours ahead of the news conference, FBI agents were at Householder’s farm in Glenford in rural Perry County. FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren said only that they were carrying out “law enforcement activity.” The Perry County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it was assisting.

Borges has increasingly been on the outs with the Ohio Republican Party establishment since it was taken over by devotees of President Donald Trump. He was recently censured by the party’s central committee, including for helping launch a PAC in June to turn out GOP voters for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The PAC is backed by a group of prominent Republican operatives that include a former White House communications director, Anthony Scaramucci.

Clark is one of Ohio’s best connected lobbyists, representing a high-powered stable of clients from the pharmaceutical, gambling and alcoholic beverage industries, among others.

Cespedes is a former investment officer with the Ohio Treasurer’s Office who was appointed by then-Gov. John Kasich as commissioner for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, where he oversees a team effort to stop discrimination in the state. His term ends on July 29.

Attempts to reach Householder, Borges and Clark were unsuccessful. A message seeking comment was also left with the House communications office.

Householder is a veteran state lawmaker who’s in his second stint as speaker. He held the same position from 2001 to 2004. He left state politics more than a decade ago because of term limits and returned in 2016 and took up a contentious fight to win back the chamber’s top job.

At the time he left office, he and several top advisers were under federal investigation for alleged money laundering and irregular campaign practices. The government closed the case without filing charges.

Householder is the second Ohio House speaker to come under investigation in just over two years.

Former Republican Speaker Cliff Rosenberger was investigated in 2018 amid an FBI inquiry into his travel, lavish lifestyle and a condo he rented from a wealthy GOP donor. Rosenberger, who has maintained he broke no laws, has not been charged, but the investigation remains open.

GRAFTON, Wis. —

Police have arrested a fired pharmacist who is accused of intentionally spoiling more than 500 COVID-19 vaccines at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wisconsin.

The FBI and the Food & Drug Administration are investigating the person who left 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine out of a pharmacy refrigerator at Aurora Medical Center-Grafton.

The person's name is not being released until formal charges are filed.

Advocate Aurora Health now says it was an intentional act. The person in question Wednesday admitted they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration.

After an internal investigation, it was first believed to be human error.

The vials were discovered outside the refrigerator Dec. 26. Aurora Health President Dr. Jeff Bahr spoke about the incident Thursday during a news conference.

"Over the subsequent days, as we continued our internal review, we became increasingly suspicious of the behavior of the individual in question," Bahr said. "The individual was suspended and after multiple interviews over the course of the week, admitted yesterday to intentionally removing the vaccine from refrigeration."

The Moderna vaccine can be out of refrigeration for 12 hours.

"We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine. This was a violation of our core values, and the individual is no longer employed by us," Advocate Aurora Health said.

Grafton police said Aurora Corporate Security called them at 6:18 p.m. Wednesday about an employee tampering with the vials of COVID-19 vaccine.

It said it was investigating, along with the federal agencies.

"This matter is being actively investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration and the Grafton Police Department," Grafton police said.

Officers said the value of the spoiled vaccines was between $8,000 and $11,000.

"Grafton detectives indicate that the individual knew the spoiled vaccinations would be useless and that people who received the vaccinations would think they had been vaccinated against the virus when in fact they were not," police said in a statement to sister station WISN-TV.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said before any facility becomes a COVID-19 vaccine provider, they require extensive registration and training for storing and handling the vaccine.

"DHS requires any wasted vaccine to be reported, investigated and addressed through a written plan of improvement," the department said.

State health officials said they were now working with Aurora to make sure an incident like this never happens again.

"We feel strongly that our processes are sound, but again, this fell more to this being a bad actor involved than a bad process," Bahr said.

He added that 57 doses were able to be administered after they were found outside the refrigerator.

But Bahr said hospital officials also learned the vials were left out longer than originally reported and may not be as effective in combating the virus.

Those vaccine recipients have been notified of the situation, Bahr said.

Police said the pharmacist could be charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property.

He was being held in the Ozaukee County Jail.

The remaining doses of the vaccine that were left out of the refrigerator were discarded.

Bahr said the doses were not tampered with.

"Immediately upon notification, DHS followed up with Aurora and has worked closely with them as they have investigated the situation, reviewed their processes and implemented improvements," Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said in response to the incident. "We will continue to work with our healthcare partners to get as many shots in arms as quickly and safely as possible."

Investigators have not released a motive in the case.

CNN contributed.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a public service announcement Tuesday warning users of smart home devices of being hacked for "swatting" incidents.

In the PSA, the FBI asked users to use "complex and unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication" to protect against the attacks after they were notified of hackers using stolen email passwords to access them.

"Offenders have been using victims’ smart devices, including video and audio capable home surveillance devices, to carry out swatting attacks," the PSA read. "To gain access to smart devices, offenders are likely taking advantage of customers who re-use their email passwords for their smart devices. The offenders use stolen email passwords to log into the smart device and hijack features, including the live-stream camera and device speakers."

According to the FBI, swatting is when a hoax call is made to 911 to report an immediate threat to human life that leads to a response from law enforcement and the S.W.A.T. team.

The FBI said these incidents are motivated by revenge or a prank.

"They then call emergency services to report a crime at the victims’ residence," the PSA stated. "As law enforcement responds to the residence, the offender watches the live stream footage and engages with the responding police through the camera and speakers. In some cases, the offender also live streams the incident on shared online community platforms."

The FBI also advised users not to duplicate passwords between different online accounts to protect themselves better.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Authorities in Washington D.C. are asking the public to help identify persons of interest who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) released photos Thursday of numerous individuals who officers say committed various criminal acts in the district following President Donald Trump’s “Save America” rally.

Most of the people in the images are facing unlawful entry charges after they violently forced their way into the Capitol. Others may also be charged for stolen property, as some took items from the building when they exited.

The insurgent mob of Pro-Trump protesters prompted the Capitol to lock down and delayed Congress from confirming President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.

In the end, four people died amid the protests that sought to overturn the election in President Donald Trump’s favor. One person was shot by a police officer, and the others suffered medical emergencies.

In a statement, Metro police said there are peaceful protests in D.C. on a daily basis and that the same rules apply for all demonstrations. So, when demonstrators destroy property or hurt others, police say they’ll take action.

“MPD rarely has to make an arrest at a demonstration but in the event that we do, know that it will be done safely and respectfully,” wrote the department.

Anyone who can identify the individuals in the released images or has knowledge of any of the incidents is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text tips to the department's tip line at 50411.

The MPD currently offers a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for a crime committed in D.C.

FBI also investigating the riot

The FBI says it’s also seeking information related to the violent activity seen at the Capitol building on Wednesday. In a statement, the bureau said it’s asking the public to help identify the individuals who actively instigated violence in D.C.

If you witnessed unlawful violent actions, the FBI says to submit any information, photos or videos that could be relevant at fbi.gov/USCapitol.

“Please use this form to submit any images, videos, or other multimedia files you have related to possible violations of federal law committed,” wrote the FBI. “Our goal is to preserve the public’s constitutional right to protest by protecting everyone from violence and other criminal activity.”

You can also call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-‪800-225-5324) to verbally report tips and/or information related to this investigation.

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Officials in Florida will resume the search for 23-year-old Brian Laundrie on Wednesday, a day after the FBI confirmed that remains found in Wyoming were those of his fiancée, 22-year-old Gabby Petito.

As of Tuesday, the FBI is the lead agency in the search for Laundrie, who remains a person of interest in Petito's disappearance and death.

On Monday, the North Port Police Department called off the search for Laundrie in a 25,000 acre stretch of Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County.

"At this time, we currently believe we have exhausted all avenues in searching of the grounds there (Carlton Reserve)," a spokesperson with NPPD said in a statement Monday. "Law enforcement agencies continue to search for Brian Laundrie. More updates when available."

However, the FBI resumed the search on Tuesday when they took over the case.

Authorities are now searching an area about 30 minutes from the initial ground of Carlton Reserve that police searched over the weekend.

Close to a dozen agencies are aiding in the search for Laundrie, including the North Port Police Department, the FBI, the Florida Wildlife Commission, sheriff's offices in Sarasota, Lee and Charlotte counties and police departments in Sarasota and Venice. K9 search and rescue teams are also assisting in the search.

Law enforcement is well-equipped to conduct its search.

"ATVs, UTVs, we have multiple drone operators that have been sent out in numerous teams, so we'll mix the resources and deploy them out so if they encounter flooded areas or terrain they can't access with these wheeled vehicles, we'll deploy our drones directly out into the wooded areas," Officer Joe Fussell with North Port Police Department said.

While authorities have several tools to help them in the search, tough terrain and wet weather have hindered the investigation.

North Port Police said the Carlton Reserve is a vast and unforgiving location, with water waist-deep in many areas. Crews are having to wade through gator and snake-infested swamps and flooded hiking and biking trails.

"Terrain is very difficult," Fussell said. "Essentially, 75% of it is underwater, and other areas that are dry, we're trying to clear. We are expecting to get wet by the end of the day and check the entire area for Brian Laundrie."

Authorities are using bloodhound dogs in the search. However, a former FBI agent who has worked in finding people in extreme environments said the amount of water in the area makes the search difficult for the dogs.

"They lose the sense that they're unable to continue tracking that scent," former FBI Special Agent Brian Kensel said. "I understand a few days ago; law enforcement did pick up some clothing, pieces of apparel from Brian Laundrie's house for that very purpose before they started the search yesterday, I believe."

When asked why the search was called off on Monday but resumed the very next day, Kensel had the same question.

"I saw that. I saw the announcement last night that we feel we've exhausted all methods — so, means — to search. And then something obviously changed overnight in terms of the information that was developed," Kensel said.

There have been reports that Laundrie was spotted in Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. However, authorities said that after further investigation, those claims did not hold true.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office released a statement via Twitter addressing rumors that Laundrie had been taken into custody.

Despite rumors on social media this evening, #BrianLaundrie is NOT IN THE CUSTODY of our agency at this time. We can confirm we have received reports of “suspected sightings” however, none have been accurate. pic.twitter.com/MrW4bKwuc2

— SarasotaSheriff (@SarasotaSheriff) September 22, 2021

This story was originally published by Vanessa Araiza on Scripps station WFTS in Tampa, Florida.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has unsealed a 17-page document that reveals a man's alleged attempt to pay to kill the woman who accused Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant of sexual assault in 2003.

In the heavily redacted documents released last week, a Swiss bodybuilder who had a California driver's license allegedly offered Bryant to kill his accuser for $3 million.

Although the suspect's name was redacted in the report, he was later identified by several news outlets as Patrick Graber. On Sept. 18, 2003, Graber was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office and FBI agents when he met undercover agents while trying to collect a $1 million payment.

The probe into the alleged murder-for-hire plot began after Bryant's security received a FedEx envelope, with a letter inside stating that "he could make Bryant's problem with respect to the sexual assault case go away for a fee."

The letter was brought to the attention of Bryant's lawyer, who, along with Bryant's security, turned it over to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

According to the Associated Press, Graber was ultimately sentenced in 2004 to three years in prison after pleading no contest to grand theft in April when prosecutors dropped several charges, including solicitation to commit murder.

The Denver Post reported that in July 2003, Bryant was in the Vail, Colorado, waiting to undergo knee surgery when a woman accused him of raping her in a hotel room. Bryant was arrested, but eventually, the charges were dropped after the accuser refused to testify.

The AP reported that Bryant later issued a statement apologizing for his “behavior that night and the consequences she suffered."

According to the AP, the woman and Bryant reached a civil settlement in 2005.

Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Southern California in January 2020.

Three Vermont troopers have resigned following allegations they may have violated federal law by creating fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards.

In a news release Tuesday, Vermont State Police confirmed the resignations and announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigations has launched a criminal probe into the alleged crimes. The investigation was first reported by journalists with VTDigger.

"If these allegations are proven true, it is reprehensible that state troopers would manipulate vaccination cards in the midst of a pandemic," Col. Matthew Birmingham said in a written statement.

Former troopers Shawn Sommers and Raymond Witkowski submitted their resignations on Aug. 10, according to the agency. That came one day after another trooper notified supervisors within state police about their alleged actions.

A third trooper, David Pfindel, resigned Sept. 3 following an additional investigation by the Department of Public Safety.

The release from state police notes that the alleged creation of fake vaccine cards was "immediately" reported to supervisors and, soon after, federal authorities. Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling noted Tuesday the agency does "not believe there is anything more state police could have done to prevent this from occurring."

An investigation through FBI offices and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Burlington will continue. State police said they were unable to release the information prior to Tuesday as a result of the ongoing federal probe.

"The accusations in this case involve an extraordinary level of misconduct — a criminal violation of the law — and I could not be more upset and disappointed," Birmingham said.

Birmingham described himself as being "embarrassed" by the situation, adding it would likely result in a damaged public image for state police.

Sommers and Witkowski both joined the state police in the summer of 2016.

Pfindel joined the state police in 2014.

This is a developing report. Please refresh this page for updates.

WASHINGTON —

The head of the Ohio National Guard said he does not know why two soldiers were flagged by the FBI and pulled from their inaugural duties in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday night, the Ohio National Guard released the following statement:

"The 25,000 National Guard members supporting the presidential inauguration have been subject to vetting by the FBI and provided additional threat awareness training through the D.C. National Guard.

"We have been notified today that two Ohio National Guard Soldiers were flagged by the FBI. Out of an abundance of caution, the FBI removed them from the inaugural support mission.

"We do not have all the facts related to why the FBI flagged them, but it is our understanding at this time their removal was not due to criminal or threatening actions or activities."

On Wednesday morning, hours before the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Major General John Harris, Ohio National Guard's adjutant general, gave insight after two soldiers flagged by FBI general for the Ohio National Guard spoke to WLWT about the status and protocol of the two soldiers.

Maj. Gen. Harris said he still does not know what caused the Guard members to be flagged.

“We're waiting to get that information from the FBI and we'll determine what it is and we're conducting an investigation if necessary,” Maj. Gen. Harris said.

Currently Maj. Gen. Harris is overseeing more than 1,500 currently activated and deployed to Columbus and Washington D.C. He says the news of the two Guard members pulled from D.C. and sent home to Ohio is disconcerting but not shocking.

“It's not necessarily for extremism,” Maj. Gen. Harris said. “It could be for, you know, financial problems. It could be for any number of things. And so, it's while it may seem shocking that folks were sent home from the National Capital Region because of this FBI flag. It's something that's not quite shocking to us because it's a part of the routine screening that we do to ensure that we keep the National Capital Region as safe as possible. And generally, when someone's flagged it turns out they're not really a threat. But it's out of an abundance of caution that the FBI will take those measures.”

Maj. Gen. Harris says the two members flagged are still part of the Ohio National Guard. They are back in Ohio and are to report for duty and to await their next steps. He said each member deployed is screened internally but doesn’t know if more members of the ONG will be flagged.

“Before these folks left on the mission, they were all briefed on the requirements, not to be members of extremist organizations and every one of them signed a statement that they are not. Again, they were vetted by the FBI, but we're constantly vigilant,” Maj. Gen. Harris said.

WLWT asked Maj. Gen. Harris if considers the flagging “a miss” by the ONG.

“There are several moving parts to it so I won't say that it’s a miss,” Maj. Gen. Harris said. “Again I can't, I can't even tell you what it is.”

Maj. Gen. Harris said he wants to assure other members of the ONG and public that they can “trust the National Guard.”

“We work hard every day to ensure that we have that trust and if we find someone who can't live up to that value, it's our obligation and we weren't entirely as to ensure that they're not in our rank,” Maj. Gen. Harris said.

Maj. Gen. Harris said every member of the Guard will be rapid tested for COVID-19 upon returning to Ohio. That date has not yet been determined.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released new security footage of a person suspected of leaving pipe bombs near both the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters during the Capitol riot in January.

The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) have also upped the reward to $100,000.

The reward was $50,000 just two months ago.

The FBI has released more pictures, including the shoes the individual was supposedly wearing while planting the bombs.

According to the FBI, the suspect wore a face mask, grey hooded sweatshirt and black and light grey Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo.

FBI

The individual also carried a ​backpack in their hand, the FBI said.

"Between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 5, 2021, an unknown individual placed two pipe bombs in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C.," the FBI said. "One pipe bomb was placed ​in an alley behind the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC), located at 310 First Street Southeast, and the other was placed next to a park bench near the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), located at 430 South Capitol Street Southeast #3."

According to the FBI, the devices' components included 1x8-inch threaded galvanized pipes, a kitchen timer, and homemade black powder.

FBI

The pipe bombs were planted as supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol and rioted as members of Congress counted the Electoral College votes.

The FBI said those with information could call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit tips online.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The former employee who shot and killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis was interviewed by FBI agents last year, after his mother called police to say that her son might commit “suicide by cop,” the bureau said Friday.

Coroners released the names of the victims late Friday, a little less than 24 hours after the latest mass shooting to rock the U.S. Four of them were members of Indianapolis’ Sikh community. The attack was another blow to the Asian American community a month after six people of Asian descent were killed in a mass shooting in the Atlanta area and amid ongoing attacks against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Marion County Coroner’s office identified the dead as Matthew R. Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; Amarjeet Johal, 66; Jaswinder Kaur, 64; Jaswinder Singh, 68; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Karli Smith, 19; and John Weisert, 74.

RELATED: Authorities identify 8 people killed in mass shooting at Indianapolis FedEx facility

The shooter was identified as Brandon Scott Hole, 19, of Indianapolis, Deputy Police Chief Craig McCartt told a news conference. Investigators searched a home in Indianapolis associated with Hole and seized evidence, including desktop computers and other electronic media, McCartt said.

Hole began firing randomly at people in the parking lot of the FedEx facility late Thursday, killing four, before entering the building, fatally shooting four more people and then turning the gun on himself, McCartt said. He said he did not know if Hole owned the gun legally.

“There was no confrontation with anyone that was there,” he said. “There was no disturbance, there was no argument. He just appeared to randomly start shooting.”

McCartt said the slayings took place in a matter of minutes, and that there were at least 100 people in the facility at the time. Many were changing shifts or were on their dinner break, he said. Several people were wounded, including five who were taken to the hospital.

RELATED: Son arrived moments after mom was wounded in Indianapolis FedEx shooting

“You deserved so much better than this,” a man who identified himself as the grandson of Johal tweeted Friday evening. Johal had planned to work a double shift Thursday so she could take Friday off, according to the grandson, who would not give his full name but identifies himself as “Komal” on his Twitter page. Johal later decided to grab her check and go home, and still had the check in her hand when police found her, Komal said.

“(What) a harsh and cruel world we live in,” he added.

Smith, the youngest of the victims, was last in contact with her family shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday, family members said in social media posts late Friday. Dominique Troutman, Smith’s sister, waited hours at the Holiday Inn for an update on her sister. “Words can’t even explain how I feel. ... I’m so hurt,” Troutman said in a Facebook post Friday night.

Weisert had been working as a bag handler at FedEx for four years, his wife, Carol, told WISH-TV. The couple was married nearly 50 years.

President Joe Biden said he had been briefed on the shooting and called gun violence “an epidemic” in the U.S.

“Too many Americans are dying every single day from gun violence. It stains our character and pierces the very soul of our nation,” he said in a statement. Later, he tweeted, “We can, and must, do more to reduce gun violence and save lives.”

RELATED: Indianapolis FedEx shooting is deadliest workplace mass shooting since start of pandemic

A FedEx employee said he was working inside the building Thursday night when he heard several gunshots in rapid succession.

“I see a man come out with a rifle in his hand and he starts firing and he starts yelling stuff that I could not understand,” Levi Miller told WTHR-TV. “What I ended up doing was ducking down to make sure he did not see me because I thought he would see me and he would shoot me.”

Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis field office, said Friday that agents questioned Hole last year after his mother called police to say that her son might commit “suicide by cop.” He said the FBI was called after items were found in Hole’s bedroom but he did not elaborate on what they were. He said agents found no evidence of a crime and that they did not identify Hole as espousing a racially motivated ideology. A police report obtained by The Associated Press shows that officers seized a pump-action shotgun from Hole’s home after responding to the mother’s call. Keenan said the gun was never returned.

McCartt said Hole was a former employee of FedEx and last worked for the company in 2020. The deputy police chief said he did not know why Hole left the job or if he had ties to the workers in the facility. He said police have not yet uncovered a motive for the shooting.

Police Chief Randal Taylor noted that a “significant” number of employees at the FedEx facility are members of the Sikh community, and the Sikh Coalition later issued a statement saying it was “sad to confirm” that at least four of those killed were community members.

The coalition, which identifies itself as the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S., said in the statement that it expected authorities to “conduct a full investigation — including the possibility of bias as a factor.”

Varun Nikore, executive director of the AAPI Victory Alliance, a national advocacy group for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, said in a statement that the shootings marked “yet another senseless massacre that has become a daily occurrence in this country.”

Nikore remarked that gun violence in the U.S. “is reflective of all of the spineless politicians who are beholden to the gun lobby.”

FedEx Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick Smith called the shooting a “senseless act of violence.”

“This is a devastating day, and words are hard to describe the emotions we all feel,” he wrote in an email to employees.

The killings marked the latest in a string of recent mass shootings across the country and the third mass shooting this year in Indianapolis. Five people, including a pregnant woman, were shot and killed in the city in January, and a man was accused of killing three adults and a child before abducting his daughter during at argument at a home in March. In other states last month, eight people were fatally shot at massage businesses in the Atlanta area, and 10 died in gunfire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the community must guard against resignation and “the assumption that this is simply how it must be and we might as well get used to it.”