Diplomatic tensions have taken a dramatic turn as questions emerge over possible US engagement with Reza Amiri Moghadam, who reportedly appears on the FBI’s most wanted list. He is linked to the abduction of a retired FBI agent, a case that has remained unresolved for years. Adding to the intrigue, the envoy briefly posted about incoming negotiations before deleting it. The controversy casts a shadow over already sensitive Iran-US talks.


Who is Reza Amiri Moghadam; Iran's Ambassador To Pakistan On FBI's Most Wanted List

Iran's Ambassador To Pakistan Is On FBI's Most Wanted List

The FBI has warned U.S. law enforcement of a heightened threat from Iran against U.S. military, government, and Jewish sites, according to a recent intelligence report. The alert noted that the Iranian government could pose a “persistent threat” to key targets on American soil, prompting increased vigilance by federal, state, and local agencies. 


FBI Warned Admin of Plot Against US Military & Jewish Sites 

Iran-linked hacker group Handala claims it breached the personal email of Kash Patel, releasing photos and documents online. U.S. officials say the materials appear authentic, though the full extent of the cyberattack remains unclear. The incident raises serious concerns about cybersecurity at the highest levels.

Breaking: Iran-linked Hackers 'Handala' Claim Breach of FBI Director’s Personal Emai

Donald Trump has been condemned as a “vile, disgusting man” and a “sick human being” after gloating over the death of Robert Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Mueller, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who led a politically explosive investigation into Trump, died on Friday aged 81, triggering a callous reaction from the US president.

"Good, I'm Glad": Trump Condemned For 'Disgusting Reaction' to Ex-FBI Chief's Death

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into the US Counter Terrorism Chief Joe Kent for allegedly leaking classified information. The enquiry predates resignation of Joe Kent on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Joe Kent, who was reporting to the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said in his resignation that Iran posed “no imminent threat", as the Trump administration had justified for a preemptive attack.The investigation was reportedly launched months ahead, first reported by Semafor. The allegations revolve around improperly sharing classified information, said four people aware of the matter to Semafor. Trump aides and allies immediately denounced Kent as a leaker just after he resigned.&nbsp;Kent has served 11 combat deployments in his more than 20-year-long career in the Army Special Forces, before serving in Syria. His wife, Shannon Kent, was killed in a bombing in Syria, where she was working as a Navy cryptologist.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Former Counterterrorism Chief Joe Kent tells Tucker Carlson he was blocked from investigating the assassination of Charlie Kirk by the FBI. <a href="https://t.co/JTxefRDlJj">pic.twitter.com/JTxefRDlJj</a>&mdash; Remarks (@remarks) <a href="https://twitter.com/remarks/status/2034450775405941113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/laura-loomer-joe-kent-row-iran-war-trump-tulsi-gabbard-1773813080372">Joe Kent's old tweet about Pro-Israel activist Laura Loomer goes viral as she calls for Tulsi Gabbard's resignation</a>The Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, pushed back against Kent, saying the President's Office can decide what constitutes an imminent threat. Her office acts to coordinate intelligence, which provides Trump with the best information possible. But in a congressional meeting, she declined to answer whether Iran's nuclear program poses an “imminent threat”.While speaking with Tucker Carlson, Joe Kent also suggested that there are “no reins on Israelis" and “they want the region to descend into chaos”. &nbsp;"I know the Israeli officials - some in intelligence, some in government- will come to US government officials and they will say all kinds of things that we know from our intelligence just simply isn’t true," said Kent on Tucker Carlson's show.&nbsp;He also said that there would be an attempt to “discredit” him, but he would appreciate a chance to speak to the US President Donald Trump. Kent, a Trump loyalist, suggested that Trump is listening to this, and he also knows that this war is not going well for them.&nbsp;

Reports of an investigation into the former US Counter Terrorism Chief Joe Kent over alleged classified leaks surfaced. The investigation reportedly was going on for months.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into the US Counter Terrorism Chief Joe Kent for allegedly leaking classified information. The enquiry predates resignation of Joe Kent on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Joe Kent, who was reporting to the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said in his resignation that Iran posed “no imminent threat", as the Trump administration had justified for a preemptive attack. The investigation was reportedly launched months ahead, first reported by Semafor. The allegations revolve around improperly sharing classified information, said four people aware of the matter to Semafor. Trump aides and allies immediately denounced Kent as a leaker just after he resigned. Kent has served 11 combat deployments in his more than 20-year-long career in the Army Special Forces, before serving in Syria. His wife, Shannon Kent, was killed in a bombing in Syria, where she was working as a Navy cryptologist.

Reports of an investigation into the former US Counter Terrorism Chief Joe Kent over alleged classified leaks surfaced. The investigation reportedly was going on for months.&nbsp;

FBI investigates Joe Kent for alleged classified information leak

A deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Authorities say the gunman opened fire inside a classroom, killing one person and injuring two others before being subdued by students. The suspect, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, had previously been convicted in a case linked to support for ISIS. Law enforcement and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are now working with local authorities to determine the motive and whether the attacker acted alone. The university temporarily locked down the campus as investigations continue.


Virginia University Shooting: Suspect Also Killed In Shooting At University In Norfolk

From developments in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case to debate over President Donald Trump’s efforts to shape his presidential legacy, here are the stories drawing attention in WION Trending.


Nancy Guthrie Case | Trump’s Push For A Presidential Legacy | WION Trending

The search for Nancy Guthrie has entered its third week as the FBI investigates a recovered glove that reportedly matches a masked suspect seen on surveillance video. Authorities confirmed one person was detained and later released in connection with the case.


Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping: FBI Probing Recovered Glove's Purported Link To Suspect On Video 

Nancy Guthrie, mother of a prominent U.S. TV host, remains missing as authorities investigate her kidnapping. The FBI has released new video footage and photos showing an armed and masked individual believed to be involved. Law enforcement urges anyone with information to come forward.

Nancy Guthrie Abduction: FBI Publishes Footage in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case

Nancy Guthrie Still Missing: FBI Releases New Evidence in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Investigation

An internal email of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, included in the Epstein Files, shows that on March 17, 2025, FBI personnel were seeking guidance on how to redact images featuring unknown and unidentified victims with "former US Presidents and Secretary of States and other celebrities". The document reveals a disorganised redaction process and technical limitations, as the software does not have “IA facial recognition to assist with the identification of some public officials and celebrities”.&nbsp;"IMD-RIDS needs clear and specific guidance to redact those photographs. Some photographs depict: victims, unknown-unidentified females and males, former U.S. Presidents, the Secretary of State, and other celebrities. The software does not have IA facial recognition to assist with the identification of some of the public officials and celebrities," read the mail.&nbsp;

Screenshot EFTA01649154

Screenshot of EFTA01684203

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-files-mark-epstein-trump-authorised-murder-fbi-false-1770529199730">Epstein Files: Mark Epstein alleges Trump ‘authorised’ Jeffrey Epstein’s murder</a>The agents were requesting specific instructions on how to “redact”, “who is protected under this transparency task?” The document reviewers at the DOJ were supposed to black out victims' identities and information, which they failed horribly on numerous occasions, but they further failed to explain the rationale behind cases when they redacted public figures, government officials and other information from the documents.&nbsp;Another such email from March 12, 2025, reads, “As we were not provided with a list of names to be redacted, all names, phone numbers, DOBs, and email addresses were redacted, except for those relating to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Attorney names and other organisation names were also redacted. Sensitive law enforcement techniques were also redacted.” &nbsp;

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&nbsp;There were several occasions on which the DOJ did a sloppy job in redaction. It redacted the email ID of the individual who is instructing Jeffrey Epstein to kill someone on June 30, 2014. “I give you permission to kill him.” Something of this nature should warrant investigation. On another such ocassion a very public image of US President Donald Trump with face blacked out was spotted in a chat of Steve Bannon with the link to a Politico magazine article, but if you open the link to the article, you see the image of Donald Trump, so there is no rationale behind this redaction.According to another <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01649081.pdf">email </a>on March 11, 2025, the FBI Director Kash Patel asked to determine if there are any images of individuals on any videos which should be considered for prosecution. The Southern District of New York gave a lengthy reply implying that no one other than &nbsp;Epstein and Maxwell participated in the sexual abuse of victims, and there was no evidence of video recording of the abuse. Later, it mentioned that it found child sexual abuse material in one of Epstein's devices, which were allegedly obtained over the internet, not recorded or produced by him.&nbsp;

Internal FBI emails from the Epstein Files reveal confusion over redacting images of victims, former US presidents and celebrities, exposing DOJ redaction failures.

An internal email of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, included in the Epstein Files, shows that on March 17, 2025, FBI personnel were seeking guidance on how to redact images featuring unknown and unidentified victims with "former US Presidents and Secretary of States and other celebrities". The document reveals a disorganised redaction process and technical limitations, as the software does not have “IA facial recognition to assist with the identification of some public officials and celebrities”. "IMD-RIDS needs clear and specific guidance to redact those photographs. Some photographs depict: victims, unknown-unidentified females and males, former U.S. Presidents, the Secretary of State, and other celebrities. The software does not have IA facial recognition to assist with the identification of some of the public officials and celebrities," read the mail.

Internal FBI emails from the Epstein Files reveal confusion over redacting images of victims, former US presidents and celebrities, exposing DOJ redaction failures.

Epstein Files: FBI sought guidance to redact images of victims, former US Presidents and celebrities in 2025 emails

The search for Nancy Guthrie continues after blood was found inside her home, with no suspect identified so far. The FBI is now examining a purported ransom note as multi-county searches intensify in the missing person case.


Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Still Missing, FBI Probes Ransom Note 

The National Police Service will bring the work of existing agencies dealing with terrorism and crime, police helicopters, and regional organized crime units in England and Wales under one umbrella. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the NPS will lift the burden on 43 local police forces.


UK Plans 'British FBI' To Fight Complex Crime

The FBI, on Friday, said that it had disrupted a plot to attack a North Carolina grocery store and fast-food restaurant on New Year's Eve, arresting a man who officials said was inspired by the Islamic State group and had pledged loyalty to the extremist militants.

FBI Stops ‘ISIS-Inspired’ New Year’s Eve Attack in North Carolina, Teen Arrested 

FBI Foils 'ISIS-Inspired' New Year’s Eve Terror Plot in North Carolina, 18-year-old Held

The FBI said Friday it had thwarted a potential ISIS-inspired terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve in North Carolina.


FBI: Thwarted ISIS-inspired threat on New Year's eve

The man who police say killed two Brown University students and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist had cut short a promising academic career to take a modest software developer job back in his native Portugal before returning to the United States in 2017.
U.S. investigators, helped by their Portuguese colleagues, are still seeking a motive for the shootings carried out by Claudio Valente before his suicide. Officials have been looking into his academic past, which some of Valente’s former colleagues recall as an uneasy one.

Brown University Shooting Suspect Ex-Physics Graduate From M.I.T

The shooter at Brown University has a troubling past that is now drawing scrutiny from authorities and the public. Investigators are examining the individual’s history, motives, and possible warning signs leading up to the attack. 

Shooter Found Dead With Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

Dan Bongino is set to step down as FBI Deputy Director in January, marking the end of a brief and controversial tenure.

Dan Bongino to Quit as FBI Deputy Director; Ex-Podcaster to Step Down in January

FBI experts on Tuesday combed through the vicinity of a weekend mass shooting that killed two students at the elite Brown University, as the hunt for the gunman dragged into a fourth day.


Brown University Shooting: Search for Brown University Shooter Continues

The FBI has arrested four alleged members of a radical pro-Palestinian offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front in Lucerne Valley, California, accusing them of plotting coordinated New Year’s Eve bombings at five locations across Los Angeles using improvised explosive devices. Prosecutors say the suspects, motivated by pro-Palestinian, anti-law-enforcement and anti-government ideology, face charges of conspiracy and possession of a destructive device, while a fifth linked individual was detained in New Orleans as part of a wider probe into a violent online network involving more than 350 subjects.​


FBI Arrests 4 Alleged TILF Members Over New Year’s Eve Bomb Plot in LA 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) foiled a "credible, imminent terrorist threat" over the weekend and arrested four individuals, allegedly members of a fundamentalist pro-Palestinian group accused of hatching a plot to carry out bombings in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve, FBI director Kash Patel said on Monday (Dec 15). The agency arrested another person for allegedly planning an attack in New Orleans. “They were allegedly planning coordinated IED bombing attacks on New Year’s Eve, targeting five separate locations across Los Angeles,” the FBI director wrote on X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Over the weekend, the <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a> disrupted a credible, imminent terrorist threat and arrested FOUR individuals connected to the Los Angeles area. The subjects self-identified as members of a radical offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), an extremist group motivated by… <a href="https://t.co/81NfM1Mvwi">pic.twitter.com/81NfM1Mvwi</a>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2000589113380987097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Patel further said those arrested belonged to a “radical offshoot” of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), a group that Patel described as “motivated by pro-Palestinian, anti-law-enforcement, and anti-government ideology.”&nbsp;US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday described TILF, the group accused of planning terror attacks, as “far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government and anti-capitalist.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/talks-with-us-not-easy-but-productive-ukraine-president-volodymyr-zelensky-1765818050054">Talks with US 'not easy' but 'productive': Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky</a>&nbsp;She further said that the coordinated bombings that the outfit was planning were multiple targets in California and set to take place on New Year's Eve. The group was also allegedly going to target US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and vehicles&nbsp;“This was an incredible effort by our US Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI to ensure Americans can live in peace,” the attorney general said. “We will continue to pursue these terror groups and bring them to justice.”&nbsp;

“They were allegedly planning coordinated IED bombing attacks on New Year’s Eve, targeting five separate locations across Los Angeles,” the FBI director wrote on X.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) foiled a "credible, imminent terrorist threat" over the weekend and arrested four individuals, allegedly members of a fundamentalist pro-Palestinian group accused of hatching a plot to carry out bombings in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve, FBI director Kash Patel said on Monday (Dec 15). The agency arrested another person for allegedly planning an attack in New Orleans. “They were allegedly planning coordinated IED bombing attacks on New Year’s Eve, targeting five separate locations across Los Angeles,” the FBI director wrote on X.

“They were allegedly planning coordinated IED bombing attacks on New Year’s Eve, targeting five separate locations across Los Angeles,” the FBI director wrote on X.

FBI arrests four in alleged New Year’s Eve bombing plot in Los Angeles

Authorities at Brown University confirm that the person of interest in the recent campus shooting has been released. Police and FBI teams continue to swarm the campus as investigations unfold.

Brown University Shooting: Person of Interest Released | Police & FBI Investigate

A dozen former FBI agents have filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel, accusing him of unlawfully firing them for de-escalating a tense situation during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing. The agents were fired in September 2025 for taking a knee during the 2020 protest in Washington, DC. The suit, lodged Monday (Dec 8) in federal court, also names the FBI, the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Office of the President.<h2>Fired for refusing to escalate?</h2>The group of former FBI agents — nine women and three men — claim they were dismissed in retaliation for trying to defuse a tense encounter during the nationwide racial justice demonstrations that followed the killing of George Floyd. At the time, they were assigned to counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations in the capital.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/6-dead-in-cambodia-after-fresh-clashes-along-thailand-border-cambodian-defence-ministry-1765242975781">6 dead in Cambodia after fresh clashes along Thailand border: Cambodian defence ministry</a>According to the complaint, the agents were patrolling on June 4, 2020, when they came upon what they described as a "mob" made up of "hostile individuals alongside families with young children". The lawsuit says the agents chose to kneel as a way to calm the situation, avoid provoking violence and prevent the risk of a clash in which someone might grab an agent’s weapon.Photos of the agents kneeling in their FBI gear circulated widely online, sparking criticism from some who claimed they were taking part in a political protest. But the lawsuit argues the move worked, preventing escalation at a moment when distrust between law enforcement and the public was already high.The filing says "In addition to de-escalating, the one-legged kneeling position allowed Plaintiffs to maintain control of their firearms and ability to observe the volatile assemblage while demonstrating a level-headed law enforcement presence that avoided the use of unnecessary force against civilians," states the lawsuit filed by former federal prosecutor Mary Dohrmann. "Plaintiffs did not need to discharge their firearms that day," the lawsuit reads, adding, "Plaintiffs saved American lives."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-us-israel-and-qatar-hold-a-secret-meeting-on-gaza-peace-deal-report-suggests-highest-level-meeting-happened-in-new-york-1765155726180">Did US, Israel and Qatar hold a secret meeting on Gaza peace deal? Report says..</a><h2>Justice Department review vs Kash Patel</h2>A Justice Department review conducted after the protests found the agents had acted within FBI policy. But after the Trump administration returned, Patel ordered a new internal review in June. Three months later, all twelve agents were fired. Each received a letter accusing them of "unprofessional conduct and a lack of impartiality in carrying out duties, leading to the political weaponisation of government".Collectively, the former agents have nearly 200 years of FBI experience, with careers ranging from six years to more than 27. Their lawsuit argues that Patel and the FBI violated their due process rights and retaliated against them for decisions made in the interest of public safety. They are asking to be reinstated, paid back wages and benefits, and to have all records of their dismissals removed. &nbsp;

Twelve ex-FBI agents say they were fired for taking a knee to calm a tense George Floyd protest. Now they’re suing Kash Patel, claiming they saved lives and got punished anyway. So what really happened that day?

A dozen former FBI agents have filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel, accusing him of unlawfully firing them for de-escalating a tense situation during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing. The agents were fired in September 2025 for taking a knee during the 2020 protest in Washington, DC. The suit, lodged Monday (Dec 8) in federal court, also names the FBI, the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Office of the President. Fired for refusing to escalate? The group of former FBI agents — nine women and three men — claim they were dismissed in retaliation for trying to defuse a tense encounter during the nationwide racial justice demonstrations that followed the killing of George Floyd. At the time, they were assigned to counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations in the capital. Also read | 6 dead in Cambodia after fresh clashes along Thailand border: Cambodian defence ministry According to the complaint, the agents were patrolling on June 4, 2020, when they came upon what they described as a "mob" made up of "hostile individuals alongside families with young children". The lawsuit says the agents chose to kneel as a way to calm the situation, avoid provoking violence and prevent the risk of a clash in which someone might grab an agent’s weapon. Photos of the agents kneeling in their FBI gear circulated widely online, sparking criticism from some who claimed they were taking part in a political protest. But the lawsuit argues the move worked, preventing escalation at a moment when distrust between law enforcement and the public was already high. The filing says "In addition to de-escalating, the one-legged kneeling position allowed Plaintiffs to maintain control of their firearms and ability to observe the volatile assemblage while demonstrating a level-headed law enforcement presence that avoided the use of unnecessary force against civilians," states the lawsuit filed by former federal prosecutor Mary Dohrmann. "Plaintiffs did not need to discharge their firearms that day," the lawsuit reads, adding, "Plaintiffs saved American lives." Also read | Did US, Israel and Qatar hold a secret meeting on Gaza peace deal? Report says.. Justice Department review vs Kash Patel A Justice Department review conducted after the protests found the agents had acted within FBI policy. But after the Trump administration returned, Patel ordered a new internal review in June. Three months later, all twelve agents were fired. Each received a letter accusing them of "unprofessional conduct and a lack of impartiality in carrying out duties, leading to the political weaponisation of government". Collectively, the former agents have nearly 200 years of FBI experience, with careers ranging from six years to more than 27. Their lawsuit argues that Patel and the FBI violated their due process rights and retaliated against them for decisions made in the interest of public safety. They are asking to be reinstated, paid back wages and benefits, and to have all records of their dismissals removed.

Twelve ex-FBI agents say they were fired for taking a knee to calm a tense George Floyd protest. Now they’re suing Kash Patel, claiming they saved lives and got punished anyway. So what really happened that day?

Ex-FBI agents sue Kash Patel, say they were fired for taking a knee to prevent bloodshed: The case explained

FBI Director Kash Patel is reportedly under investigation over allegations that he used the agency’s jet for personal trips.

 FBI Director Kash Patel Will Be Investigated for Using the Agency Jet for Personal Trips

President Donald Trump’s attempt to prosecute the ex-FBI chief has reportedly failed, marking a significant development in U.S. political and legal affairs.


Trump’s Bid to Prosecute Ex-FBI Chief Fails

FBI Director Kash Patel is facing major backlash after reports alleged he used a $60 million FBI jet to attend his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins’ performance at a wrestling event in Pennsylvania. 
Critics say it’s a misuse of taxpayer funds, especially during a government shutdown, while the FBI defends the trip as compliant — saying Patel reimbursed the cost in advance per bureau policy. 
Meanwhile, Patel has fired a senior aviation official, raising questions about retaliation.

FBI Director Kash Patel Under Fire for Alleged Jet Misuse for Girlfriend

FBI Director Kash Patel Under Fire for Using FBI Jet to Fly Girlfriend

There are strong signs of an inter-agency conflict underway. A bill in the US House of Representatives proposes shifting the lead of Federal Counter-Intelligence efforts from the FBI to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, by extension, a role for Tulsi Gabbard. FBI ‘strongly’ opposed such a move in a sharply worded letter to Congress.&nbsp;This is the second time the bureau has clashed with the Director of National Intelligence. Earlier, Joe Kent, the director of the counterterrorism centre, one of the closest advisors to Tulsi Gabbard, tried to access files related to the murder of Charlie Kirk and to investigate whether he had support from anyone else, a foreign power or another entity. FBI Director Kash Patel was troubled and believed Mr Kent was overstepping.&nbsp;This time around, it is about the Intelligence Authorisation Act, which proposes to overhaul counter-intelligence operations, elevating Gabbard's role from limited oversight and partial involvement to direct control of activities.The unclassified FBI letter obtained by the Times uses words like “vigorously disagrees with” and “strong objection,” expresses concern that it would cause “serious long-lasting” damage to national security. FBI asserted that it had a decade of experience in counterintelligence, and the DNI will push the agency through the labyrinth of bureaucracy. “Would a counterintelligence-related prosecution be considered an ‘activity’ that must receive approval from this new Director, outside of the current DOJ chain?" read the letter. "Would that give the new Director of the Counterintelligence Centre authority over the FBI/Attorney General for all counterintelligence investigations?”However, people in the intelligence community said that the letter is “a pre-emptive response" to a “deliberative process document" which is not final yet.&nbsp;On the one hand, this will diminish the statutory power of the FBI, which it holds over the counter-intelligence authority; on the other hand, this will give more authority to DNI (via Gabbard) to oversee the intelligence and law enforcement. The bill, if approved, will create a counter-intelligence czar. Officials argue that this was not the purpose of the creation of DNI, and the FBI argues that this could likely compromise operational integrity, due to possible confusion of jurisdiction between the DNI, the FBI and other organisations.&nbsp;“While our adversaries in the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, Iran and terrorist groups operate on a war footing against the United States, too often we have remained reactive, complacent and risk-averse,” said Senator Mark Warner.&nbsp;Moreover, there had been speculation within the intelligence community about Tulsi Gabbard, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute called her views ‘so wildly fringe that her potential appointment as DNI is genuinely alarming’. Tulsi, an Iraq War veteran, had called the Syrian conflict “regime-change war” fueled by the West and viewed Russia and the Assad regime as legitimate defenders against an extremist uprising. These are some controversial opinions to hold, and now her push to investigate Charlie Kirk's death for foreign involvement does not make her a desirable figure within the US intelligence community. However, if the role of Gabbard becomes highly partisan or politicised, then institutional trust might erode.&nbsp;

A power struggle is brewing between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence over the counterintelligence efforts 

There are strong signs of an inter-agency conflict underway. A bill in the US House of Representatives proposes shifting the lead of Federal Counter-Intelligence efforts from the FBI to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, by extension, a role for Tulsi Gabbard. FBI ‘strongly’ opposed such a move in a sharply worded letter to Congress. This is the second time the bureau has clashed with the Director of National Intelligence. Earlier, Joe Kent, the director of the counterterrorism centre, one of the closest advisors to Tulsi Gabbard, tried to access files related to the murder of Charlie Kirk and to investigate whether he had support from anyone else, a foreign power or another entity. FBI Director Kash Patel was troubled and believed Mr Kent was overstepping. This time around, it is about the Intelligence Authorisation Act, which proposes to overhaul counter-intelligence operations, elevating Gabbard's role from limited oversight and partial involvement to direct control of activities. The unclassified FBI letter obtained by the Times uses words like “vigorously disagrees with” and “strong objection,” expresses concern that it would cause “serious long-lasting” damage to national security. FBI asserted that it had a decade of experience in counterintelligence, and the DNI will push the agency through the labyrinth of bureaucracy. “Would a counterintelligence-related prosecution be considered an ‘activity’ that must receive approval from this new Director, outside of the current DOJ chain?" read the letter. "Would that give the new Director of the Counterintelligence Centre authority over the FBI/Attorney General for all counterintelligence investigations?” However, people in the intelligence community said that the letter is “a pre-emptive response" to a “deliberative process document" which is not final yet. On the one hand, this will diminish the statutory power of the FBI, which it holds over the counter-intelligence authority; on the other hand, this will give more authority to DNI (via Gabbard) to oversee the intelligence and law enforcement. The bill, if approved, will create a counter-intelligence czar. Officials argue that this was not the purpose of the creation of DNI, and the FBI argues that this could likely compromise operational integrity, due to possible confusion of jurisdiction between the DNI, the FBI and other organisations. “While our adversaries in the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, Iran and terrorist groups operate on a war footing against the United States, too often we have remained reactive, complacent and risk-averse,” said Senator Mark Warner. Moreover, there had been speculation within the intelligence community about Tulsi Gabbard, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute called her views ‘so wildly fringe that her potential appointment as DNI is genuinely alarming’. Tulsi, an Iraq War veteran, had called the Syrian conflict “regime-change war” fueled by the West and viewed Russia and the Assad regime as legitimate defenders against an extremist uprising. These are some controversial opinions to hold, and now her push to investigate Charlie Kirk's death for foreign involvement does not make her a desirable figure within the US intelligence community. However, if the role of Gabbard becomes highly partisan or politicised, then institutional trust might erode.

A power struggle is brewing between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence over the counterintelligence efforts&nbsp;

FBI opposes House plan granting Tulsi Gabbard key counterintelligence role, signalling interagency rift

As the U.S. government shutdown drags on and federal workers go unpaid, FBI Director Kash Patel is facing a storm of criticism.
Reports say Patel used a government-registered jet to attend his girlfriend’s performance at a wrestling event in Pennsylvania raising fresh questions about misuse of public resources.
While Patel insists it’s mandatory for him to use government aircraft, this isn’t his first time facing scrutiny for personal trips on the Bureau’s jet.
Here’s how the controversy unfolded and why it’s sparking outrage across Washington.

FBI boss Kash Patel jets off on govt plane to see girlfriend as workers go unpaid amid shutdown 

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