On Monday, September 1st, the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office arrested Zachary Charles Newell, a 25-year-old man, for communicating threats of mass violence. The arrest followed an FBI notification regarding a hate-motivated threat Newell allegedly posted targeting an unnamed black preschool. Newell was charged with Communicating a Threat of Mass Violence on Educational Property and was initially given a secured bond. However, the Sheriff’s Office collaborated with the FBI to transfer him to federal custody later that day. Authorities have confirmed the safety of the community and are taking all threats seriously, encouraging anyone with information to contact 911.
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L. Nicole Dunn, a prominent former FBI agent with 16 years of service, resigned from the bureau, citing concerns about the agency’s current state. Dunn criticized the FBI’s new leadership, which dismantled the DEI office, eliminated the college degree requirement, and shortened training, claiming these changes jeopardize national security. She also warned that the agency is losing experienced agents while “fast-tracking” less qualified individuals, potentially leading to a crisis. Dunn attributed her forced departure to her race, calling for those in power to address the lowering of standards within the FBI.
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Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, is suing former FBI agent Kyle Seraphin for defamation. The lawsuit alleges Seraphin falsely claimed Wilkins, a country singer, is a foreign agent involved in a “honeypot” operation. Seraphin, a conservative podcaster, made these accusations on his show, claiming Wilkins was manipulating Patel. Wilkins is seeking at least $5 million in damages for the alleged defamatory statements.
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Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe found Ghislaine Maxwell’s interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former Trump attorney, to be suspicious. Maxwell brought up Donald Trump unprompted and repeatedly referred to him as “President Trump” seemingly knowing what Blanche wanted to hear. McCabe believes Maxwell aimed to deliver information to gain attention and approval from the administration, while Blanche likely sought details regarding Trump’s involvement or lack thereof. The unconventional release of the recording and transcript, without traditional witnesses, further raised concerns, suggesting both Maxwell and the administration achieved their desired outcomes.
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The FBI has returned a valuable manuscript page signed by Hernán Cortés to Mexico, nearly five centuries after its creation and decades after its theft. The document details logistics related to Cortés’s journey to New Spain, a territory vital to Mexico’s history, and dates back to 1527, a significant year for the formation of royal and religious institutions. Originally stored in Mexico’s national archives, the page was discovered missing in 1993, with the FBI’s art crime team later locating it in the United States. This marks the second Cortés document returned by the FBI to Mexico, highlighting its commitment to protecting cultural property.
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FBI dispatches agents to D.C. streets as Trump vows crackdown on crime, and it’s hard not to be taken aback by the implications. The idea of federal agents, individuals who likely invested significant time and effort in specialized training, suddenly repurposed as street-level law enforcement feels, well, a bit odd. One can’t help but wonder if those agents, many with advanced degrees and a clear vision of their career trajectory, are thrilled about this reassignment. It evokes a sense of being used, of their skills and ambitions being sidelined for a seemingly performative act.
The focus on D.C. is particularly striking.… Continue reading
FBI Director Kash Patel removed three senior agency officials—Walter Giardina, Brian Driscoll, and Steven Jensen—from their positions, specifically targeting those involved in investigations related to the January 6th Capitol riot. Giardina, a Marine combat veteran, was accused of “poor judgment” and “lack of impartiality,” according to an unauthenticated notice. The firings appear to be part of Patel’s effort to align the FBI with former President Trump’s agenda. Driscoll was reportedly dismissed for refusing to provide a list of agents involved in the January 6 investigations, while Jensen’s ousting occurred following pressure from specific political groups.
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Gov. JB Pritzker dismissed the notion of FBI agents arresting Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled to Illinois to halt a Republican redistricting plan, calling the situation “grandstanding.” Pritzker welcomed the FBI to Illinois, but clarified that they could not arrest the visiting lawmakers due to a lack of federal law prohibiting their presence. The drama began when Texas Democrats left the state to delay a special session called to address devastating floods and a Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan aimed at gaining seats. Pritzker mentioned that Illinois is considering its options, including a potential new map, if Texas Republicans proceed with their plans, and has welcomed the Texas Democrats to the state.
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FBI granted request to locate fleeing Texas House Democrats, Sen. Cornyn says, and frankly, it feels like we’ve stumbled into a political thriller. The whole situation is loaded with so much potential for conflict, and the implications are significant. It’s hard to ignore the layers of hypocrisy and the precedent being set here.
The core issue is this: Texas House Democrats, in an effort to prevent the passage of certain legislation, left the state and are currently in Illinois. Senator John Cornyn has stated that the FBI has been asked to help locate them. Now, on the surface, that might seem innocuous.… Continue reading
Newly released FBI data reveals a significant decrease in both violent and property crime in 2024, contradicting former President Donald Trump’s assertions of a surging crime wave. The report indicates a 4.5% drop in violent crime and an 8.1% decrease in property crime, with declines across all violent crime categories. This data directly contrasts with Trump’s frequent claims on the campaign trail, where he blamed Democrats and immigrants for rising crime rates, a narrative used to justify his mass deportation policies. Despite previous attempts to discredit the FBI’s data, this report highlights a safer America during the last year of Joe Biden’s presidency.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood