George Papadopoulos considering withdrawing plea deal in Mueller probe, wife says
President Trump's former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos is considering withdrawing his plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller, his wife said Monday.
Law Enforcement & Intelligence
The latest coverage of the law enforcement community and all aspects of the U.S. intelligence.
More than 175 former national security officials denounce 'political litmus test' for clearances
By Gabriella Muñoz - The Washington Times
More than 175 former national security officials signed a letter Monday denouncing President Trump's crackdown on security clearances. Published August 20, 2018
Recent Stories
Officials believe body of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts found
Investigators have recovered a body believed to be that of a 20-year-old Iowa college student who vanished from a small town one month ago, a spokesman for a reward fund said Tuesday.
Chicago cops caught sleeping on job during another crime-filled weekend
The Chicago Police Department is facing scrutiny after two police officers where photographed sleeping on the job during another crime-filled weekend.
Trump suggests James Clapper wants to save his own security clearance
President Trump mocked former Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Tuesday by suggesting he criticized former CIA Director John O. Brennan only to save his own security clearance.
Trump, Giuliani say Brennan won't follow through on lawsuit
Both President Trump and top attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani hope former CIA Director John O. Brennan sues the president over the revocation of his security clearance
Pro-Trump Pentagon analyst stripped of security clearance launches 'deep state' lawsuit
A conservative watchdog group has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Adam Lovinger, the Trump-supporting Pentagon analyst whose security clearance was revoked. Mr. Lovinger had complained internally about lucrative contracts going to Stefan Halper, the FBI informant who spied on the president's campaign.
Third day of deliberations ends with no verdict in Paul Manafort trial
Jurors in the financial fraud trial of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort did not reach a verdict Monday, their third day of deliberations. Judge T.S. Ellis III dismissed the jury Monday night and they will reconvene Tuesday morning.
Trump dares Brennan to sue him: 'He's a political hack'
President Trump said Monday that he hoped John O. Brennan sues him and accused the former CIA director of being in cahoots with the Mueller investigation.
Trump says Bruce Ohr next to lose security clearance
President Trump said Friday his next target for stripping security clearance is high-ranking Justice Department official Bruce Ohr, and said it will probably happen quickly.
Manafort trial judge 'optimistic' verdict will come Friday
The federal judge overseeing the Paul Manafort criminal trial said he is "optimistic" a verdict would come Friday as jurors start their second day of deliberation.
Top former intel officials defend John Brennan in joint statement
More than a dozen former top security and intelligence officials have come together to denounce President Trump's move earlier this week to personally revoke the security clearance of former CIA Director John O. Brennan as "an attempt to stifle free speech."
Shanann Watts. slain Colorado mother, painted rosy picture of married life
Shanann Watts' Facebook page painted a portrait of a happy married life -- of a woman dedicated to her husband and their two young children. She called her husband "my ROCK!" and said he was "the best dad us girls could ask for."
John Brennan on Trump: 'Claims of no collusion are, in a word, hogwash'
Former CIA Director John O. Brennan said Thursday there is no question that President Trump colluded with Russia and accused a "desperate" Mr. Trump of stripping his security clearance in order to intimidate other opponents.
Trump-supporting Pentagon analyst stripped of security clearance after Stefan Halper complaints
A Trump-supporting Pentagon analyst was stripped of his security clearance by Obama-appointed officials after he complained of questionable government contracts to Stefan Halper, the FBI informant who spied on the Trump presidential campaign.
Brennan first to fall as Trump kicks off review of Obama officials' access
President Trump on Wednesday personally revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John O. Brennan, a bitter and vocal Trump critic, citing his "erratic conduct and behavior" as their clashes escalated over the special counsel's Russia investigation.
Christian baker vindicated by SCOTUS back in court for not baking a gender transitioning cake
Jack Phillips, the Christian baker who fought in the Supreme Court to preserve his right to refuse to make cakes for same-sex weddings, says he is now the target of harassment by Colorado and some of its more mischievous residents, who have made a crusade out of trying to force him to bake cakes offensive to him.
Catholic officials, Vatican systematically covered up priest sex abuse, report reveals
A landmark grand jury report says hundreds of priests preyed on boys and girls in six Pennsylvania dioceses, where at least 1,000 were sexually assaulted over decades as top church officials, including Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, and the Vatican systematically worked to cover it up.
Paul Manafort's attorneys rest without presenting evidence, witnesses
Defense attorneys for Paul Manafort rested their case Tuesday without calling any witnesses or presenting evidence, choosing instead to make their case in closing arguments set for Wednesday morning.
Nicolas Maduro seeks FBI's help in investigating drone assassination attempt in Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a sworn enemy of the U.S., has asked the FBI to help investigate what appeared to be a daring assassination attempt earlier this month involving a drone armed with explosives attacking him.
Evidence of child abuse at New Mexico compound under review
A court hearing is planned on allegations that children at a remote compound in northern New Mexico may have been trained in the use of firearms in preparation for a school shooting.
Peter Strzok, face of anti-Trump resistance in government, fired from FBI
FBI agent Peter Strzok became a face of anti-Trump resistance within the government. It's now cost him his job. Mr. Strzok confirmed Monday that he had been fired from the FBI, months after an internal watchdog revealed damning text messages he exchanged with paramour and fellow FBI employee Lisa Page vowing to "stop" Donald Trump's rise to the White House.
#BoycottElTiempo: Jeff Sessions photo at Houston Mexican restaurant sparks outrage
A Houston Mexican restaurant was forced to shut down its social media pages after a picture of the owner posing with Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions sparked a boycott.
Judge rules Mueller investigation is legal
A federal judge ruled Monday that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election is not illegal.
Nearly 90K pages of Kavanaugh docs released; vote set for September
Senators have released tens of thousands of pages of documents from Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh's time in the Bush White House, sending researchers scurrying as Washington prepares for his confirmation fight.
McConnell still sees speedy confirms for Kavanaugh
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday he still wants to have Judge Brett Kavanaugh confirmed and sitting on the Supreme Court by the start of the new term in October.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russian prime minister, warns U.S. against ramping up sanctions
Russia's prime minister sternly warned the United States on Friday against ramping up sanctions, saying that Moscow will retaliate with economic, political and unspecified "other" means.
D.C. hopeful strict weapons laws, fewer supremacists will limit 'Unite the Right' rally violence
The mayhem of Charlottesville was a year ago, but many of those charged with inciting or participating in the race-tinged clashes have yet to face final justice.
Judge's criticism of Mueller prosecutors may alter Manafort trial outcome, experts say
The judge overseeing the prosecution of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort opened Thursday's session with an apology of sorts, saying he'd been out of line in blasting the government's lawyers.
Michael Bever, Oklahoma teen, to serve 5 life terms for killing family
A 19-year-old Oklahoma man convicted of stabbing his parents and three siblings to death was sentenced Thursday to five life terms in prison to run consecutively, meaning that even with the possibility of parole he likely won't ever be released.
Reforming the criminal justice system
On May 22, the House of Representatives managed to pass the First Step Act prison reform by a vote of 360 to 59, an unheard of margin in today's deeply divided Congress. The bill is a long-overdue attempt to at least begin to reform the way those caught up in the criminal justice system are treated while in prison and how they are prepared to live once they have paid their debt to society.
Palmetto State ISIS: Man pleads guilty to supporting terror group
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force added a win under its belt on Wednesday after 19-year-old Zakaryia Abdin of South Carolina pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
Manafort's trial judge tears into Mueller's prosecutors
Prosecutors from special counsel Robert Mueller's office and Judge T.S. Ellis III argued Wednesday over the admission of evidence in the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
Rep. Chris Collins, early Trump supporter, arrested on insider trading charges
The FBI arrested Rep. Chris Collins Wednesday on charges of insider trading after the Securities and Exchange Commission accused him of passing on secret information about a failed clinical test to his son, who dumped 1.3 million shares of stock in a pharmaceutical company.
Debunking false claims against the police
Cop haters were no doubt disappointed when a police video showed clearly that the man shot and killed by police officers last month in Chicago was reaching for a gun.
Police nab illegal immigrant 'family' after man found to have raped girl
A woman turned her juvenile daughter over to a sexual predator to sneak them both into the U.S. in exchange for getting the mother a job, Homeland Security officials said Tuesday, detailing one of the horrific abuses that migrants are able to make of the immigration system.
Gates testified Manafort ordered him to fake loan, mortgage documents
Rick Gates testified Tuesday that he faked loan and mortgage documents at the request of his former boss, Paul Manafort.
Gates says he and Manafort were interviewed by FBI in 2014 about Ukraine work
Rick Gates said Tuesday he and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort were interviewed by the FBI in 2014 as part of a Ukrainian forfeiture probe.
Rick Gates testifies: Income 'difficult to come by' for Paul Manafort
Rick Gates said Tuesday that his former boss Paul Manafort's income streams had dried up after his friends in the Ukrainian government lost power, creating financial difficulties for the former Trump campaign chairman.
School board wants court to hold Florida Sun Sentinel in contempt over Parkland shooter report
The Broward County School Board appealed to a Florida judge to hold the South Florida Sun Sentinel in contempt of court over a recent article about the Parkland shooter, the paper itself reported Monday night.
Refugee charged with murder was in ICE custody in 2016
An Iraqi refugee now charged with attempted murder of a Colorado police officer was actually in ICE custody in 2016, but was ordered released thanks to a court decision that ruled his previous convictions for assault and a host of other crimes weren't serious enough to deport him.
Paul Manafort's 'right-hand man' Rick Gates testifies they committed crimes together
Rick Gates said Monday that he and former business partner Paul Manafort did commit fraud together, as the key witness took the stand in the first case that the Russia investigation's special counsel has taken to trial.
Court ruling freed refugee who's now charged with attempted murder of cop
An Iraqi refugee now charged with attempted murder of a Colorado police officer was actually in ICE custody in 2016 but was ordered released thanks to a court decision that ruled his previous convictions for assault and a host of other crimes weren't serious enough to deport him.
Rahm Emanuel blames Chicago violence on 'shortage of values'
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel blamed the city's massive crime problem on a "shortage of values" after at least 75 people were shot over the weekend.
Rudy Giuliani: Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel's legacy is 'more murders in his city than ever before'
President Trump's current attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani touted mayoral candidate Garry McCarthy and went after Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Monday, saying that his legacy is a record amount of murder in the city.
NYC police seek info for dead baby floating near Brooklyn Bridge
Police in New York City are looking for answers in the death of a baby found floating in the East River in an area popular with tourists near the Brooklyn Bridge and South Street Seaport.
Virginia woman charged in shooting that left 1 child dead, 1 injured
A Virginia woman is charged in a double shooting that left one child dead and another injured.
Republicans deny partisanship in release of Kavanaugh documents
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee pushed back Sunday against charges from Democrats that partisanship is tainting the review of documents related to Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh's work for the federal government.
Manafort's attorneys will try to portray Gates as bungling, corrupt business partner
Defense attorneys for former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort last week made a point of asking trial witnesses about Rick Gates' intelligence, signaling a key element in their strategy to pin blame on Mr. Manafort's former business partner for what federal prosecutors say was massive bank and tax fraud.
Stalling: Witnesses, survivors of 9/11 fear al Qaeda mastermind will never face trial
Despite having been captured in 2003 and first charged more than a decade ago in the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has yet to receive a trial date. Defense Department officials overseeing the military commission proceedings can offer little in the way of a timeline.
Christopher Steele broke FBI media rules after being 'admonished,' documents show
The FBI formally admonished ex-British spy Christopher Steele in early 2016 before he began investigating candidate Donald Trump, according to new documents.
Manafort accountant testifies about suspicious loan
Paul Manafort and Rick Gates would provide documentation for a suspicious foreign loan, an accountant who prepared Mr. Manafort's taxes.
Republicans to press ahead with Kavanaugh confirmation despite National Archives delay
The National Archives says it will take months to process the records Republicans have asked to see from Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh's previous government work, throwing a curveball at the GOP, which had hoped to review the documents, hold hearings and confirm him to the Supreme Court before October.
Nikolas Cruz case: Hearing on disclosure of school shooting suspect's education
Attorneys for Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz want a judge to prevent release of details of his education records to guarantee a fair trial.
Witnesses: Manafort couldn't keep up with insurance payments
Paul Manafort paid $450,000 for landscaping and $10,000 for a karaoke machine, but nearly lost his health insurance because he couldn't keep up with the payments, witnesses testified Thursday in the criminal trial of President Trump's one-time campaign manager.
Protecting Americans from violent offenders
As we enter the 2018 midterm season and the attendant legislative interregnum, Congress can and should take bipartisan action to protect us from repeat violent offenders.
National Archives to review all Kavanaugh records by October, potentially delaying confirmation
The National Archives said Thursday it would not be able to review all of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh's records until October, signaling a potential delay in his confirmation process.
'Fake invoices' add mystery to Manafort trial
Two more witnesses testifying Thursday in the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort identified what appeared to be fraudulent invoices from their companies.
Pope Francis changes death penalty teaching, now 'inadmissible'
Pope Francis has changed Catholic Church teaching about the death penalty, saying in a new policy published Thursday that it is always "inadmissible" because it "attacks" the inherent dignity of all humans.
Robert Mueller offers Trump team new proposal for interview
In negotiations over a possible interview by prosecutors, special counsel Robert Mueller's team has offered the White House format changes, perhaps willing to limit some questions asked of President Donald Trump or accept some answers in writing, according to a person briefed on the proposal.
Senators warn Washington 'still only scratching the surface' of Russian information warfare
Russia's campaign to warp U.S. social media is jeopardizing America's ability to conduct democratic debate heading into the November midterm elections, the bipartisan heads of the Senate Intelligence Committee warned Wednesday.
Recent Opinion Columns
Seven takeaways from the House memo detailing FBI's surveillance abuses
Republicans released a long-awaited memo Friday detailing government surveillance abuses, showing that the FBI would not have obtained a surveillance warrant for the Trump campaign without using information from a dubious partisan dossier.
The deceitful road to abortion
After Roe v. Wade plaintiff Norma McCorvey became a Christian and revealed that she had not been gang raped as her legal team had claimed, many Americans came to understand that this landmark ruling that legalized abortion was based on a lie.
Not my father's FBI
My father joined the FBI and, after a few years, was posted overseas. He then transferred to the CIA at its founding in 1947, where he spent the rest of his career.
From The Vault
Nikolas Cruz, suspect in Florida shooting, charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder
Nikolas Cruz, the suspect involved in the shooting at a Florida high school, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday after several hours of questioning by police.
BuzzFeed sues DNC seeking evidence corroborating dossier claim
BuzzFeed has sued the Democratic National Committee seeking evidence of the cyberattack it suffered during the 2016 White House race in hopes of substantiating claims contained in the salacious dossier it published detailing President Trump's alleged ties to Russia.
Dossier's 10 core collusion accusations remain unverified 20 months later
Christopher Steele's unproven dossier is a mix of felony charges against President Trump and his people, as well as supposed gossip inside the Kremlin over computer hacking and personnel firings.
Eric Holder: DOJ wrong to apologize to tea party groups for IRS scandal
Former Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said the Trump administration was wrong to have apologized to tea party groups snared in the IRS's targeting scandal, saying it was another example of the new team undercutting career people at the Justice Department who'd initially cleared the IRS of wrongdoing.
Newly released texts raise questions about Obama's role in Clinton probe
Text messages between FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, released Wednesday, raised serious questions about whether President Obama kept tabs on the bureau's 2016 investigation into Hillary Clinton, despite his assurances otherwise.
House GOP releases memo detailing FBI surveillance abuses against Trump campaign
Republicans released a long-awaited memo Friday detailing government surveillance abuses, showing that the FBI would not have obtained a surveillance warrant for the Trump campaign without using information from a dubious partisan dossier.
The Latest: FBI deputy director abruptly steps down
The Latest on the departure of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe (all times local):
U.S. Postal Service unwittingly smuggles Chinese opioids to American addicts
Purchasing opioids from China requires little more than a Google search, a credit card and a mailbox, senators said Thursday in a report that accuses the U.S. postal system of failing to "recognize and prepare for" a tide of packages containing deadly fentanyl.
Rasmussen: Half of U.S. voters see FBI as crooked
Roughly half of Americans of all political walks -- 49 percent, to be exact -- want a special prosecutor appointed to investigate the FBI for crooked and partisan dealings in their look-sees into Hillary Clinton and President Donald Trump.
Major U.S. cities report drop in homicides amid concerns of crime wave
Major U.S. cities reported 4.4 percent fewer homicides so far this year, the Brennan Center for Justice says in a new report being released Wednesday that appears to belie fears of a national crime wave.
9th U.S. Circuit Court judge resigns after sexual misconduct accusations
A prominent conservative federal judge will resign Monday from his seat on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after facing allegations of sexual harassment.
Dubious Trump dossier producer now targeted by Russian oligarchs for 'smear campaign'
Fusion GPS, the producer of the infamous Trump dossier, is fending off in court three of Russia's richest oligarchs by painting them as corrupt bankers in bed with President Vladimir Putin.
Trump admin. says overdoses are 'tip of the iceberg' in opioids crisis
Deadly overdoses are just the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to the opioids crisis, Trump administration officials argued Monday, saying that for every person who dies, there are dozens more hooked on prescription drugs or heroin.
Mueller removed investigator from team after discovering anti-Trump text messages
Special counsel Robert Mueller removed one of the FBI's top Russian counterintelligence investigators from his team after an internal probe found he sent messages that showed possible bias for Hillary Clinton and against President Trump, the special counsel's office said Saturday.
Questions remain about police response to Las Vegas massacre
A revised chronology given by investigators for the Las Vegas massacre is intensifying pressure for police to explain how quickly they responded to what would become the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
