Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is now accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking network and ordering multiple murders. The FBI is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest, highlighting his dangerous nature.

FBI is offering $10 mn for Olympian turned drug lord Ryan Wedding

Newly appointed director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel who officially took oath on Friday (Feb 21) on the Bhagavad Gita has sparked discussions.
His decision to take the oath on the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, has drawn parallels to his past criticism of Western media coverage of Ayodhya's Ram Temple.
Kash Patel has been confirmed as the ninth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after a narrow US Senate vote of 51-49.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-about-us-trumps-third-attack-on-21-mn-usaid-8746942">'$21 mn going to my friend PM Modi for voter turnout&rsquo; Trump&rsquo;s third swipe on USAID</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Kash Patel takes stance on Ram Temple</h2>
Although Kash Patel has regularly affirmed his love for the United States and his commitment towards America, he also once took a strong stance against major Western media organisations regarding Ayodhya's Ram Temple.
Several media outlets framed the Ram Temple&rsquo;s consecration on January 22, 2024, as a symbol of rising Hindu nationalism. However, Kash Patel lashed out at this narrative, criticising the reports for fixating on the Babri Masjid demolition dispute while overlooking the site's deep-rooted Hindu heritage.
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He accused major Western media organisations of focusing only on the last 50 years of history while ignoring the preceding 500 years.
"To bring things really up to date, the opening of Ram's temple, when PM Modi went there, all Washington newspapers only covered the last 50 years of history. They forgot the 500 preceding years. Whether or not you are Hindu or Muslim, there was a Hindu temple there for one of the quintessential gods in the Hindu pantheon in 1500 that was toppled, and they have been trying to get it back for 500 years," The Times of India quoted Kash Patel as saying.
<h2 dir="ltr">&ldquo;Disinformation campaign&rdquo;</h2>
He described the US media's coverage as a &ldquo;disinformation campaign&rdquo;.
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"But the Washington establishment forgot that part of history to put on what I believe is a disinformation campaign that's harmful to India and the PM's (Narendra Modi) position. They're using that because I think they liken Trump and Modi as similar figures and the establishment class in Washington doesn't want that to be the case," Patel added.
<h2 dir="ltr">Patel&rsquo;s commitment to Hindu heritage</h2>
Patel played a key role in crafting Donald Trump's speech during his visit to Ahmedabad, India, ensuring it resonated with the local audience. Patel reportedly added references to iconic Indian figures Sachin Tendulkar and Swami Vivekananda, aiming to strike a chord with the audience.
Notably, Kash Patel has not shied away from showing his Hindu traditionalism. During his Senate confirmation hearing as well, he had touched his parents' feet, a gesture which is considered as a sign of respect in Indian culture. He even included the chant of 'Jai Shri Krishna' in his closing statement at the Senate, reaffirming his faith in his cultural and spiritual roots.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Kash Patel, the new FBI director, chose the Bhagavad Gita for his oath, sparking discussions about his past views on media portrayals of the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Newly appointed director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel who officially took oath on Friday (Feb 21) on the Bhagavad Gita has sparked discussions. His decision to take the oath on the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, has drawn parallels to his past criticism of Western media coverage of Ayodhya's Ram Temple. Kash Patel has been confirmed as the ninth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after a narrow US Senate vote of 51-49. Also read | '$21 mn going to my friend PM Modi for voter turnout’ Trump’s third swipe on USAID Kash Patel takes stance on Ram Temple Although Kash Patel has regularly affirmed his love for the United States and his commitment towards America, he also once took a strong stance against major Western media organisations regarding Ayodhya's Ram Temple. Several media outlets framed the Ram Temple’s consecration on January 22, 2024, as a symbol of rising Hindu nationalism. However, Kash Patel lashed out at this narrative, criticising the reports for fixating on the Babri Masjid demolition dispute while overlooking the site's deep-rooted Hindu heritage. Also read | Zelensky backing down on minerals deal? Ukrainian Prez's video suggests Trump may have won this round of negotiations He accused major Western media organisations of focusing only on the last 50 years of history while ignoring the preceding 500 years. "To bring things really up to date, the opening of Ram's temple, when PM Modi went there, all Washington newspapers only covered the last 50 years of history. They forgot the 500 preceding years. Whether or not you are Hindu or Muslim, there was a Hindu temple there for one of the quintessential gods in the Hindu pantheon in 1500 that was toppled, and they have been trying to get it back for 500 years," The Times of India quoted Kash Patel as saying. “Disinformation campaign” He described the US media's coverage as a “disinformation campaign”. Also read | 'False and fabricated': Why was Indian-American Ruby Dhalla disqualified from Canada PM race? "But the Washington establishment forgot that part of history to put on what I believe is a disinformation campaign that's harmful to India and the PM's (Narendra Modi) position. They're using that because I think they liken Trump and Modi as similar figures and the establishment class in Washington doesn't want that to be the case," Patel added. Patel’s commitment to Hindu heritage Patel played a key role in crafting Donald Trump's speech during his visit to Ahmedabad, India, ensuring it resonated with the local audience. Patel reportedly added references to iconic Indian figures Sachin Tendulkar and Swami Vivekananda, aiming to strike a chord with the audience. Notably, Kash Patel has not shied away from showing his Hindu traditionalism. During his Senate confirmation hearing as well, he had touched his parents' feet, a gesture which is considered as a sign of respect in Indian culture. He even included the chant of 'Jai Shri Krishna' in his closing statement at the Senate, reaffirming his faith in his cultural and spiritual roots. (With inputs from agencies)

Embracing roots: FBI chief Kash Patel's notable displays of Hindu heritage

US President Donald Trump has officially signed the commission to confirm Kash Patel as the Ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Watch this report for more details!

Kash Patel becomes ninth director of Federal Bureau of Investigation

The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has accused Kash Patel, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">President Trump&rsquo;s</a> choice for FBI director, of arranging firings at the bureau before being confirmed.
In a letter to the Justice Department&rsquo;s inspector general cited by The New York Times, Senator Richard J. Durbin from Illinois said he had &ldquo;highly credible information from multiple sources&rdquo; that Patel secretly helped remove career officials from the FBI.
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<h2>'Misconduct is beyond the pale'</h2>
&ldquo;This alleged misconduct is beyond the pale and must be investigated immediately,&rdquo; Durbin wrote to Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz.
This claim comes as the committee is set to vote on Patel&rsquo;s nomination on Thursday. Durbin warned that if true, then Emil Bove, the acting second-in-command at the Justice Department, had fired civil servants &ldquo;only because a private citizen asked.&rdquo; He also suggested that Patel &ldquo;may have lied under oath&rdquo; during his confirmation hearing last month.
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Durbin&rsquo;s letter, which The New York Times cited, described a meeting between Bove, who has led efforts to fire Justice Department prosecutors and FBI officials. In this meeting, Bove reportedly told officials that he &ldquo;received multiple calls from Stephen Miller the night before. Miller was pressuring him because Patel wanted the FBI to remove targeted employees faster as DOJ had already done with prosecutors,&rdquo; according to the letter.
<h2>'KP wants movement at FBI'</h2>
Durbin cited information from &ldquo;multiple sources&rdquo; and included notes from the meeting. The notes read, &ldquo;KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ.&rdquo;
During his Senate testimony last month, Patel said he was &ldquo;not aware&rdquo; of any Trump administration plans to fire FBI officials linked to investigations into Trump. He also claimed, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going on right now over there.&rdquo;
However, Durbin claimed that a new group of Trump appointees at the FBI had kept Patel informed. According to Durbin, every member of this group called the FBI director&rsquo;s advisory team and told at least one FBI official before Patel&rsquo;s confirmation hearing on January 30 that they had spoken directly with him.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-loyalist-or-fbi-reformer-us-presidents-fbi-pick-kash-patel-grilled-in-heated-senate-hearing-8676264">'Trump loyalist or FBI reformer?' US President's FBI pick Kash Patel grilled in heated Senate hearing</a>
Just hours after Patel&rsquo;s testimony, reports emerged that about six senior FBI officials had been told they would be fired within days if they didn&rsquo;t resign or retire. The next day, an FBI-wide memo said Bove had ordered their removal and asked for the names of all agents involved in investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Bove had previously worked as one of Trump&rsquo;s criminal defence lawyers before being made acting deputy attorney general. This put him in charge of prosecutors he had recently fought against in court.
On 29 January, the FBI&rsquo;s acting leaders, Brian Driscoll and Robert C. Kissane, held a meeting where they warned that &ldquo;a lot of names were on the list&rdquo; and that top supervisors would have to retire or be fired.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: During his Senate testimony last month, Patel said he was “not aware” of any Trump administration plans to fire FBI officials linked to investigations into Trump. 

The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has accused Kash Patel, President Trump’s choice for FBI director, of arranging firings at the bureau before being confirmed. In a letter to the Justice Department’s inspector general cited by The New York Times, Senator Richard J. Durbin from Illinois said he had “highly credible information from multiple sources” that Patel secretly helped remove career officials from the FBI. Also read: 'US will control Gaza, Palestinians will be living beautifully elsewhere,' says Trump as he meets Jordan king 'Misconduct is beyond the pale' “This alleged misconduct is beyond the pale and must be investigated immediately,” Durbin wrote to Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. This claim comes as the committee is set to vote on Patel’s nomination on Thursday. Durbin warned that if true, then Emil Bove, the acting second-in-command at the Justice Department, had fired civil servants “only because a private citizen asked.” He also suggested that Patel “may have lied under oath” during his confirmation hearing last month. Also read: 'Return to intense fighting': Netanyahu warns of ending ceasefire if Hamas doesn't free hostages by Saturday Durbin’s letter, which The New York Times cited, described a meeting between Bove, who has led efforts to fire Justice Department prosecutors and FBI officials. In this meeting, Bove reportedly told officials that he “received multiple calls from Stephen Miller the night before. Miller was pressuring him because Patel wanted the FBI to remove targeted employees faster as DOJ had already done with prosecutors,” according to the letter. 'KP wants movement at FBI' Durbin cited information from “multiple sources” and included notes from the meeting. The notes read, “KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ.” During his Senate testimony last month, Patel said he was “not aware” of any Trump administration plans to fire FBI officials linked to investigations into Trump. He also claimed, “I don’t know what’s going on right now over there.” However, Durbin claimed that a new group of Trump appointees at the FBI had kept Patel informed. According to Durbin, every member of this group called the FBI director’s advisory team and told at least one FBI official before Patel’s confirmation hearing on January 30 that they had spoken directly with him. Also read: 'Trump loyalist or FBI reformer?' US President's FBI pick Kash Patel grilled in heated Senate hearing Just hours after Patel’s testimony, reports emerged that about six senior FBI officials had been told they would be fired within days if they didn’t resign or retire. The next day, an FBI-wide memo said Bove had ordered their removal and asked for the names of all agents involved in investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Bove had previously worked as one of Trump’s criminal defence lawyers before being made acting deputy attorney general. This put him in charge of prosecutors he had recently fought against in court. On 29 January, the FBI’s acting leaders, Brian Driscoll and Robert C. Kissane, held a meeting where they warned that “a lot of names were on the list” and that top supervisors would have to retire or be fired. (With inputs from agencies)

'Lied under oath': Trump’s FBI pick Kash Patel accused of 'secretly' arranging firings before confirmation

The FBI has provided the US Department of Justice with details of thousands of employees involved in investigations related to the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot, according to a report by CNN.
This request has unsettled many FBI employees, who suspect it is an attempt to compile a list of individuals potentially facing dismissal under the Trump administration.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memo on Friday titled 'Terminations', asking FBI officials to submit the information by noon on Tuesday, CNN reported. Bove had previously dismissed eight senior FBI officials responsible for overseeing cyber, national security, and criminal investigations.
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Sources told CNN that over 5,000 records were handed over, including employee ID numbers, job titles, and their involvement in the January 6 investigations. However, names were not included. The FBI consists of more than 13,000 agents and a total workforce of around 38,000 employees.
<h2>FBI employees file class-action lawsuit against Justice Department</h2>
On Tuesday, several FBI employees filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department, claiming that the demand for agents to complete a survey violated constitutional and privacy laws. The lawsuit alleges the survey was intended to "purge" personnel from the agency.
The plaintiffs have requested a federal judge to prevent the Trump administration from releasing or publishing the surveys and the information they contain.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-signs-executive-order-to-withdraw-us-from-un-bodied-alleges-anti-american-bias-8691643" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: Trump signs executive order to withdraw US from UN bodies, alleges &lsquo;anti-American bias&rsquo;</a>
&ldquo;The very act of compiling lists of persons who worked on matters that upset Donald Trump is retaliatory in nature, intended to intimidate FBI agents and other personnel, and to discourage them from reporting any future malfeasance by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump</a> and his agents,&rdquo; the lawsuit said.
According to the lawsuit, the survey required agents to disclose their roles within the FBI and their specific involvement in the January 6 investigations. 
This included whether they had executed arrests, participated in grand jury proceedings, or testified in court. The lawsuit was filed as a class-action complaint by several anonymous FBI employees.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-wants-ukraine-to-repay-us-aid-with-rare-earths-what-are-rare-earth-elements-8689845">Trump wants Ukraine to repay US aid with 'rare earths': What are they and why does he want them?</a>
Efforts to remove individuals linked to Trump-related investigations have faced resistance from agents. In a related development, the Justice Department recently dismissed over a dozen officials involved in federal criminal investigations concerning Trump. A letter from Acting Attorney General James McHenry informed the dismissed officials that they could not be "trusted" to "faithfully" execute Trump&rsquo;s agenda.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Over 5,000 records were handed over to the DOJ by the FBI, including employee ID numbers, job titles, and their involvement in the January 6 investigations. 

The FBI has provided the US Department of Justice with details of thousands of employees involved in investigations related to the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot, according to a report by CNN. This request has unsettled many FBI employees, who suspect it is an attempt to compile a list of individuals potentially facing dismissal under the Trump administration. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memo on Friday titled 'Terminations', asking FBI officials to submit the information by noon on Tuesday, CNN reported. Bove had previously dismissed eight senior FBI officials responsible for overseeing cyber, national security, and criminal investigations. Also read: Trump’s tariff war escalates: US suspends parcels from China 'until further notice' after Beijing hits back Sources told CNN that over 5,000 records were handed over, including employee ID numbers, job titles, and their involvement in the January 6 investigations. However, names were not included. The FBI consists of more than 13,000 agents and a total workforce of around 38,000 employees. FBI employees file class-action lawsuit against Justice Department On Tuesday, several FBI employees filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department, claiming that the demand for agents to complete a survey violated constitutional and privacy laws. The lawsuit alleges the survey was intended to "purge" personnel from the agency. The plaintiffs have requested a federal judge to prevent the Trump administration from releasing or publishing the surveys and the information they contain. Also read: Trump signs executive order to withdraw US from UN bodies, alleges ‘anti-American bias’ “The very act of compiling lists of persons who worked on matters that upset Donald Trump is retaliatory in nature, intended to intimidate FBI agents and other personnel, and to discourage them from reporting any future malfeasance by Donald Trump and his agents,” the lawsuit said. According to the lawsuit, the survey required agents to disclose their roles within the FBI and their specific involvement in the January 6 investigations. This included whether they had executed arrests, participated in grand jury proceedings, or testified in court. The lawsuit was filed as a class-action complaint by several anonymous FBI employees. Also read: Trump wants Ukraine to repay US aid with 'rare earths': What are they and why does he want them? Efforts to remove individuals linked to Trump-related investigations have faced resistance from agents. In a related development, the Justice Department recently dismissed over a dozen officials involved in federal criminal investigations concerning Trump. A letter from Acting Attorney General James McHenry informed the dismissed officials that they could not be "trusted" to "faithfully" execute Trump’s agenda. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump’s Justice Department reportedly has records of 5,000 Jan 6 investigators: FBI 'purge' coming?

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's FBI director nominee, appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing last week, joined by close friends and family seated in the front row.&nbsp;
Among them was country music artist Alexis Wilkins, who, as reported by Daily Mail, is Patel&rsquo;s girlfriend, whose presence sparked widespread curiosity about their relationship. &nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
And so the marathon weekend begins ❤️🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/UZsAHUG9fp">pic.twitter.com/UZsAHUG9fp</a>
&mdash; Alexis Wilkins (@AlexisWilkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexisWilkins/status/1880727332375421396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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<h2>Who is Alexis Wilkins?</h2>
Born on November 3, 1999, in Boston, Massachusetts, Wilkins spent her early years in England and Switzerland before settling in Arkansas. She later moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music.
Her songwriting journey began young&mdash;she released her first song at just eight years old. In 2020, she debuted as a solo artist with Holdin&rsquo; On, and in 2023, her EP Grit reached #4 on the iTunes chart, with the track Country Back climbing to #2 on the iTunes country rankings.
Wilkins has opened for renowned artists like Sara Evans and Lee Greenwood, best known for 'God Bless the USA'. Her music, often infused with patriotic themes, has amassed over a million streams across platforms.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-wants-ukraine-to-repay-us-aid-with-rare-earths-what-are-rare-earth-elements-8689845">Trump wants Ukraine to repay US aid with 'rare earths': What are they and why does he want them?</a>
Beyond music, Wilkins has carved a niche in conservative circles. She has spoken at the Reagan Ranch and Young America&rsquo;s Foundation events and is affiliated with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. She also serves as a spokesperson for PragerU and hosts the podcast 'Between the Headlines' on Rumble.
As per the sources who told DailyMail.com, Wilkins and Patel first met at a conservative ReAwaken America event in October 2022 and began dating in January 2023. Their relationship has since garnered public interest, particularly during Patel&rsquo;s recent confirmation hearing, when online searches about his personal life surged.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Trending | World: Wilkins released her first song at eight. In 2020, she debuted as a solo artist with Holdin’ On, and in 2023, her EP Grit reached #4 on the iTunes chart, with the track Country Back climbing to #2 on the iTunes country rankings. 

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's FBI director nominee, appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing last week, joined by close friends and family seated in the front row. Among them was country music artist Alexis Wilkins, who, as reported by Daily Mail, is Patel’s girlfriend, whose presence sparked widespread curiosity about their relationship. And so the marathon weekend begins ❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UZsAHUG9fp — Alexis Wilkins (@AlexisWilkins) January 18, 2025 Also Read | Elon Musk ‘deletes’ IRS Direct File programme team: Is free tax filing at risk in US? Who is Alexis Wilkins? Born on November 3, 1999, in Boston, Massachusetts, Wilkins spent her early years in England and Switzerland before settling in Arkansas. She later moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. Her songwriting journey began young—she released her first song at just eight years old. In 2020, she debuted as a solo artist with Holdin’ On, and in 2023, her EP Grit reached #4 on the iTunes chart, with the track Country Back climbing to #2 on the iTunes country rankings. Wilkins has opened for renowned artists like Sara Evans and Lee Greenwood, best known for 'God Bless the USA'. Her music, often infused with patriotic themes, has amassed over a million streams across platforms. Also Read | Trump wants Ukraine to repay US aid with 'rare earths': What are they and why does he want them? Beyond music, Wilkins has carved a niche in conservative circles. She has spoken at the Reagan Ranch and Young America’s Foundation events and is affiliated with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. She also serves as a spokesperson for PragerU and hosts the podcast 'Between the Headlines' on Rumble. As per the sources who told DailyMail.com, Wilkins and Patel first met at a conservative ReAwaken America event in October 2022 and began dating in January 2023. Their relationship has since garnered public interest, particularly during Patel’s recent confirmation hearing, when online searches about his personal life surged.

Who is Trump's FBI chief nominee Kash Patel's girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins?

Donald Trump&rsquo;s nominee for FBI Director, Kashyap Pramod Patel, a former chief of staff at the Department of Defense, appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing on Thursday (Jan 30).
Chuck Grassley, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, opened the hearing, saying that public trust in the FBI had reached its &ldquo;lowest rating in a century.&rdquo; He attributed this decline to &ldquo;abuse, lack of transparency and weaponisation of law enforcement.&rdquo;
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Addressing Patel directly, Grassley stressed that his role would be to &ldquo;restore&rdquo; public confidence, highlighting Patel&rsquo;s &ldquo;extensive background&rdquo; as an asset.
During the hearing, Grassley questioned Patel about QAnon, a widely discredited conspiracy theory alleging that Trump was secretly battling elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, business, and the media. Grassley directly asked Patel whether he was a &ldquo;follower or promoter&rdquo; of the theory, to which Patel firmly responded, &ldquo;No.&rdquo;
<h2>'Kash Patel doesn't meet the standard': Richard Durbin</h2>
Richard Durbin, the leading Democrat on the committee, voiced strong opposition to Patel&rsquo;s nomination, arguing that he lacked the &ldquo;experience,&rdquo; &ldquo;temperament,&rdquo; and &ldquo;judgment&rdquo; necessary for the role. &ldquo;After meeting with Patel and reviewing his record, I do not believe you meet the standard,&rdquo; Durbin said. He described Patel as someone who had &ldquo;left behind a trail of grievances&rdquo; and had a history of retaliating against those who disagreed with him.
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Durbin also pointed out that Donald Trump had previously dismissed his first FBI director, James Comey, and pressured his second, Christopher Wray, to step down. &ldquo;With Patel, however, obviously, the president has found a loyalist,&rdquo; he added.
<h2>Kash Patel's opening statement at Senate confirmation</h2>
In his opening statement, Patel spoke about his Indian heritage and how it had shaped his worldview. If confirmed, he pledged to uphold the FBI&rsquo;s primary mission: &ldquo;to investigate fully wherever there is a constitutional factual basis to do so.&rdquo;
Patel was also questioned about his stance on whether those involved in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, should have been pardoned by Trump. He responded, &ldquo;I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement, including in that group, any violence against law enforcement on January 6.&rdquo;
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, challenged Patel over past comments, particularly a social media post referencing an &ldquo;enemies list&rdquo; and saying, &ldquo;The manhunt starts tomorrow.&rdquo; The so-called enemies list, featured in the appendix of Patel&rsquo;s book, named individuals he described as part of the &ldquo;deep state,&rdquo; including former president Joe Biden, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Patel rejected the characterisation of the list as targeting opponents, saying, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not an enemies list. It&rsquo;s a total mischaracterisation.&rdquo; 
(With inputs from agencies)

World: In his opening statement, Patel spoke about his Indian heritage and how it had shaped his worldview. If confirmed, he pledged to uphold the FBI’s primary mission

Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, Kashyap Pramod Patel, a former chief of staff at the Department of Defense, appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing on Thursday (Jan 30). Chuck Grassley, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, opened the hearing, saying that public trust in the FBI had reached its “lowest rating in a century.” He attributed this decline to “abuse, lack of transparency and weaponisation of law enforcement.” Also read: 'Not Putin’s or Modi’s puppet’: Trump's US top spy pick Tulsi Gabbard defends loyalty at confirmation hearing Addressing Patel directly, Grassley stressed that his role would be to “restore” public confidence, highlighting Patel’s “extensive background” as an asset. During the hearing, Grassley questioned Patel about QAnon, a widely discredited conspiracy theory alleging that Trump was secretly battling elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, business, and the media. Grassley directly asked Patel whether he was a “follower or promoter” of the theory, to which Patel firmly responded, “No.” 'Kash Patel doesn't meet the standard': Richard Durbin Richard Durbin, the leading Democrat on the committee, voiced strong opposition to Patel’s nomination, arguing that he lacked the “experience,” “temperament,” and “judgment” necessary for the role. “After meeting with Patel and reviewing his record, I do not believe you meet the standard,” Durbin said. He described Patel as someone who had “left behind a trail of grievances” and had a history of retaliating against those who disagreed with him. Also read: 'Helicopter knew there was a plane': Trump, US transportation secretary say deadly Washington DC crash was ‘preventable’ Durbin also pointed out that Donald Trump had previously dismissed his first FBI director, James Comey, and pressured his second, Christopher Wray, to step down. “With Patel, however, obviously, the president has found a loyalist,” he added. Kash Patel's opening statement at Senate confirmation In his opening statement, Patel spoke about his Indian heritage and how it had shaped his worldview. If confirmed, he pledged to uphold the FBI’s primary mission: “to investigate fully wherever there is a constitutional factual basis to do so.” Patel was also questioned about his stance on whether those involved in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, should have been pardoned by Trump. He responded, “I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement, including in that group, any violence against law enforcement on January 6.” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, challenged Patel over past comments, particularly a social media post referencing an “enemies list” and saying, “The manhunt starts tomorrow.” The so-called enemies list, featured in the appendix of Patel’s book, named individuals he described as part of the “deep state,” including former president Joe Biden, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former National Security Adviser John Bolton. Patel rejected the characterisation of the list as targeting opponents, saying, “It’s not an enemies list. It’s a total mischaracterisation.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Trump loyalist or FBI reformer?' US President's FBI pick Kash Patel grilled in heated Senate hearing

An Indian man from Gujarat, Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, who brutally murdered his wife in 2015, is now on the top 10 most wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The agency took to the social media platform X on Thursday (Jan 16) and once again requested any information available regarding the 34-year-old criminal, as he is considered "armed and extremely dangerous".&nbsp;
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"Considered armed and extremely dangerous! Help the FBI find one of our Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel. If you have any information on Patel, a 34-year-old wanted for the violent murder of his wife, contact the FBI," the post said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5zbyinw-h1whlarv-o945ewqh">
WANTED&mdash;considered armed and extremely dangerous! Help the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> find one of our Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel. If you have any information on Patel, a 34-year-old wanted for the violent murder of his wife, contact the FBI. <a href="https://t.co/f4NEKw2Rvi">https://t.co/f4NEKw2Rvi</a> <a href="https://t.co/9TvpMPlIEp">pic.twitter.com/9TvpMPlIEp</a>
&mdash; FBI (@FBI) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI/status/1879600756719800320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
The FBI has promised to reward up to $250,000 for any information regarding Patel that will lead to his arrest.&nbsp;
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In the post, the agency shared 4 different photos of the man and said that he was subjected to first-degree and second-degree murder, the first and second degree of assault, along with the charge of carrying dangerous weapons.&nbsp;
As per the allegations, Patel and his wife Palak used to work at a Dunkin' Donuts in Hanover, Maryland, in 2015. He "stabbed" her multiple times using a kitchen knife in the backroom of the shop. The CCTV footage of the incident was also captured, which showed customers standing there. An arrest warrant was issued against him in 2015, after which he absconded.
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Gordon B Johnson, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office, said in a statement at the time, "The extremely violent nature of the crimes allegedly committed by Bhadreshkumar Patel earned him a place on the FBI's Top Ten List."&nbsp;
He further added that his department will "never forget" and will not rest until he is arrested.&nbsp;
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(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending | India News | FBI has promised to reward up to $250,000 for any information regarding Patel that will lead to his arrest. 

An Indian man from Gujarat, Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, who brutally murdered his wife in 2015, is now on the top 10 most wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The agency took to the social media platform X on Thursday (Jan 16) and once again requested any information available regarding the 34-year-old criminal, as he is considered "armed and extremely dangerous". Also read | Trump's inauguration portrait is recreated version of his 2023 mugshot? Internet says so "Considered armed and extremely dangerous! Help the FBI find one of our Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel. If you have any information on Patel, a 34-year-old wanted for the violent murder of his wife, contact the FBI," the post said. WANTED—considered armed and extremely dangerous! Help the #FBI find one of our Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel. If you have any information on Patel, a 34-year-old wanted for the violent murder of his wife, contact the FBI. https://t.co/f4NEKw2Rvi pic.twitter.com/9TvpMPlIEp — FBI (@FBI) January 15, 2025 The FBI has promised to reward up to $250,000 for any information regarding Patel that will lead to his arrest. Also read | Italian police force female activists to 'strip, remove underwear' and do squats In the post, the agency shared 4 different photos of the man and said that he was subjected to first-degree and second-degree murder, the first and second degree of assault, along with the charge of carrying dangerous weapons. As per the allegations, Patel and his wife Palak used to work at a Dunkin' Donuts in Hanover, Maryland, in 2015. He "stabbed" her multiple times using a kitchen knife in the backroom of the shop. The CCTV footage of the incident was also captured, which showed customers standing there. An arrest warrant was issued against him in 2015, after which he absconded. Also read | WATCH | Albanian PM goes down on one knee, surprises Giorgia Meloni with scarf on birthday Gordon B Johnson, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office, said in a statement at the time, "The extremely violent nature of the crimes allegedly committed by Bhadreshkumar Patel earned him a place on the FBI's Top Ten List." He further added that his department will "never forget" and will not rest until he is arrested. Also read | British PM Keir Starmer in Ukraine to sign 'landmark 100-year' partnership. What is it? (With inputs from agencies)

Who is the Indian man on FBI's top 10 most wanted list with reward of up to $250,000?

Amid efforts to bring the devastating wildfires in California under control, an unauthorized drone collided with a firefighting aircraft last week, and the FBI is currently seeking information about the incident. Watch in for more details!

California wildfires: FBI hunts drone operator that downed aircraft

The man responsible for the truck attack in New Orleans is reported to have constructed two bombs using a highly rare explosive compound. Senior law enforcement officials have stated that this compound has never been used in any previous terrorist attack in the U.S. or Europe. Watch in for more details!

New Orleans Attack Renews USA's Terrorism Fears

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Major Revelation On New Orleans 'Terror Attack'

Law enforcement officials have identified a U.S. Army soldier from Colorado as a likely person inside a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. 
This incident was initially thought of as a terror attack, as it took place hours after the New Orleans mass carnage on Thursday. The FBI stated that it has yet to uncover any conclusive connection between the tragic New Year's Day truck attack in New Orleans, which claimed 15 lives. Watch in for more details!

Cybertruck Explosion Outside Trump's Hotel Probably A Suicide?

The FBI has now released fresh surveillance footage to help revive the search for the suspect responsible for planting five bombs in Washington DC on the night before the January 6, 2021 Capitol Riot. Watch in for more details!

US: FBI's Hunt Intensifies For Suspect Behind Washington DC Pipe Bombs

U.S. President Joe Biden has stated that the suspect in the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and acted alone. The driver, identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar A, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas, drove his truck into a crowd celebrating New Year's, killing at least 15 people and injuring over 30.

New Orleans Terror Attack: Joe Biden Vows 'No Safe Harbour' For Terrorist Groups In US

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Thursday (January 2) it now believes that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man behind the deadly New Orleans attack that left 15 dead, including himself, acted alone in the recent attack. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/multiple-people-involved-in-new-orleans-attack-authorities-8585950">FBI</a> also said that the suspect joined Islamic State before carrying out the attack.
Initially, the FBI had suggested that Jabbar might not have acted alone. However, during a press conference held alongside Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell, Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI's counter-terrorism division, shared the latest development in the ongoing probe.
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<h2>No 'definitive link' between New Orleans attack and cybertruck explosion: FBI</h2>
&ldquo;We cannot ease the grief people in this community and across the nation are feeling at this time,&rdquo; Raia said. The FBI also said that it did not find any 'definitive link' between the New Orleans attack and the cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas. However, it added that the investigation is still in the early stages.
As per FBI, Jabbar picked up the vehicle used in the attack on 30 December in Houston, Texas, before driving it to New Orleans. During his journey, he uploaded several videos online.
In one video, Jabbar disclosed that he had initially planned to harm his family but decided against it, claiming such an act would not represent the "war between the believers and the disbelievers."&nbsp;
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&ldquo;This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,&rdquo; Raia said during the press conference. He added that the suspect&rsquo;s video recordings indicated that he joined the Islamic State before carrying out the attack.&nbsp;
The FBI said that Jabbar also planted two homemade bombs on Bourbon Street. "We did obtain surveillance footage showing Jabbar placing the devices where they were found," Raia said of the bombs hidden in coolers.
When asked about why Jabbar selected Bourbon Street as the site of the attack, Raia said that investigators&nbsp;assume it is because there would have been a lot of people out on New Year's Eve.
He added that in the coming days, law enforcement will try to figure out the suspect's "path to radicalisation".
"He was 100% inspired by ISIS," Raia added.
<h2>What happened during the New Orleans attack?</h2>
Police said that a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-were-the-victims-of-the-new-orleans-attack-8585578">Bourbon Street</a> at approximately 3:15 am on Wednesday (January 1). The attack resulted in 15 deaths and left over 35 people injured.&nbsp;
Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described Jabbar as "hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did," adding that he aimed to "run over as many people as he could."
During the attack, Jabbar also shot two police officers, who are now in stable condition. The FBI reported that he was killed in a gunfight with police.
(With inputs from agencies)

World news | Trending: Initially, the FBI had suggested that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man behind the deadly New Orleans attack might not have acted alone. "He was 100% inspired by ISIS," FBI added.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Thursday (January 2) it now believes that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man behind the deadly New Orleans attack that left 15 dead, including himself, acted alone in the recent attack. The FBI also said that the suspect joined Islamic State before carrying out the attack. Initially, the FBI had suggested that Jabbar might not have acted alone. However, during a press conference held alongside Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell, Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI's counter-terrorism division, shared the latest development in the ongoing probe. Also read: Indian PM Narendra Modi condemns 'cowardly terrorist attack' in New Orleans that killed 15 No 'definitive link' between New Orleans attack and cybertruck explosion: FBI “We cannot ease the grief people in this community and across the nation are feeling at this time,” Raia said. The FBI also said that it did not find any 'definitive link' between the New Orleans attack and the cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas. However, it added that the investigation is still in the early stages. As per FBI, Jabbar picked up the vehicle used in the attack on 30 December in Houston, Texas, before driving it to New Orleans. During his journey, he uploaded several videos online. In one video, Jabbar disclosed that he had initially planned to harm his family but decided against it, claiming such an act would not represent the "war between the believers and the disbelievers." Also read: ‘Free Tommy Robinson’: Elon Musk demands release of jailed UK far-right leader; slams PM Starmer “This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,” Raia said during the press conference. He added that the suspect’s video recordings indicated that he joined the Islamic State before carrying out the attack. The FBI said that Jabbar also planted two homemade bombs on Bourbon Street. "We did obtain surveillance footage showing Jabbar placing the devices where they were found," Raia said of the bombs hidden in coolers. When asked about why Jabbar selected Bourbon Street as the site of the attack, Raia said that investigators assume it is because there would have been a lot of people out on New Year's Eve. He added that in the coming days, law enforcement will try to figure out the suspect's "path to radicalisation". "He was 100% inspired by ISIS," Raia added. What happened during the New Orleans attack? Police said that a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 am on Wednesday (January 1). The attack resulted in 15 deaths and left over 35 people injured. Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described Jabbar as "hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did," adding that he aimed to "run over as many people as he could." During the attack, Jabbar also shot two police officers, who are now in stable condition. The FBI reported that he was killed in a gunfight with police. (With inputs from agencies)

New Orleans attack: FBI says Shamsud-Din Jabbar acted solo, no 'definitive link' to cybertruck explosion

Deadly truck crash in New Orleans leaves 10 dead and 30 injured on New Year’s Day. The vehicle was reportedly a truck that sped into a crowd, crashing at high speed. Watch in to learn more.

New Orleans Truck Attack: Suspect Shamsud-din Jabbar Had An ISIS Flag On Truck

Billionaire Elon Musk on Thursday (Jan 2) sparked yet another controversy as he called out FBI's New Orleans division over a social media post where the agents can be seen wearing Taylor Swift-themed friendship bracelets.
The Tesla CEO took to his official X handle and reshared a post by Senator Marsha Blackburn in which she wrote, "This is what the FBI New Orleans has been doing," alongside the image of the agents donning bracelets.
"Return the FBI to its mission of investigating criminals and terrorists," she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5f4crw4-dhnu5l94-4jegnd81">
This is what the FBI New Orleans has been doing. Return the FBI to its mission of investigating criminals and terrorists. <a href="https://twitter.com/Kash_Patel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kash_Patel</a> <a href="https://t.co/5R96fZyDjg">https://t.co/5R96fZyDjg</a>
&mdash; Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarshaBlackburn/status/1874635993887977918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
The contentious post was originally shared on the authorities' official Facebook page on October 27, 2024.
This comes in the wake of a deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, where a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 am on Wednesday (Jan 1), killing 15 people.
New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described the driver as being &ldquo;hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.&rdquo; She further added that the driver&rsquo;s intention appeared to be to &ldquo;run over as many people as he could.&rdquo; Additionally, two police officers were shot by the suspect, but both are now in stable condition.
The FBI said that the suspect died following a gunfight with the police. After the truck came to a stop, the driver opened fire on officers, who returned fire, leading to his death.
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<h2>'Attacker inspired by ISIS'</h2>
The driver has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar who reportedly was inspired by Islamic State as an ISIS flag was found in his vehicle and he also posted some videos on social media expressing a desire to kill hours before the incident took place.
United States President Joe Biden said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found ISIS-inspired videos that Jabbar posted on social media where he expressed a desire to kill
"The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill. The ISIS flag was found in his vehicle which he rented to conduct this attack. Possible explosives were found in the vehicle as well, and more explosives were found nearby...The investigation is continuing to be active and no one should jump to conclusions," Biden said.
(With inputs from agencies)

This comes in the wake of a deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, where a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 am on Wednesday (Jan 1), killing 15 people.

Billionaire Elon Musk on Thursday (Jan 2) sparked yet another controversy as he called out FBI's New Orleans division over a social media post where the agents can be seen wearing Taylor Swift-themed friendship bracelets. The Tesla CEO took to his official X handle and reshared a post by Senator Marsha Blackburn in which she wrote, "This is what the FBI New Orleans has been doing," alongside the image of the agents donning bracelets. "Return the FBI to its mission of investigating criminals and terrorists," she added. This is what the FBI New Orleans has been doing. Return the FBI to its mission of investigating criminals and terrorists. @Kash_Patel https://t.co/5R96fZyDjg — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 2, 2025 The contentious post was originally shared on the authorities' official Facebook page on October 27, 2024. This comes in the wake of a deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, where a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 am on Wednesday (Jan 1), killing 15 people. New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described the driver as being “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.” She further added that the driver’s intention appeared to be to “run over as many people as he could.” Additionally, two police officers were shot by the suspect, but both are now in stable condition. The FBI said that the suspect died following a gunfight with the police. After the truck came to a stop, the driver opened fire on officers, who returned fire, leading to his death. Also read: Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas, incident being probed as possible terror act 'Attacker inspired by ISIS' The driver has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar who reportedly was inspired by Islamic State as an ISIS flag was found in his vehicle and he also posted some videos on social media expressing a desire to kill hours before the incident took place. United States President Joe Biden said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found ISIS-inspired videos that Jabbar posted on social media where he expressed a desire to kill "The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill. The ISIS flag was found in his vehicle which he rented to conduct this attack. Possible explosives were found in the vehicle as well, and more explosives were found nearby...The investigation is continuing to be active and no one should jump to conclusions," Biden said. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk slams FBI agents over donning Taylor Swift-themed friendship bracelets amid New Orleans attack

At least ten people lost their lives and over 35 were injured in New Orleans after a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd during the early hours of New Year’s Day and opened fire when his vehicle came to a halt. As per media reports, the injured have been admitted to different hospitals. As per a report by CNN, the suspect behind the attack was shot dead by law enforcement officers. Watch in to learn more.

New Orleans terror attack: FBI identifies suspected attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabbar

New Orleans Truck Attack: FBI probing incident as 'terrorist attack'

The suspect involved in the deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans has been identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, a senior law enforcement source told The Guardian.
Jabbar, aged 42, is a US citizen living in Texas. Reports indicate he has a prior criminal record that includes theft and driving with a suspended licence. 
The truck used to kill 10 in the massacre came into the US from Mexico&nbsp;through Eagle Pass, Texas, over a month ago, though some&nbsp;earlier reports erroneously said that it entered&nbsp;two days before the incident.
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During the attack, Jabbar was wearing body armour and driving a rental truck that carried a black flag. According to the FBI, a flag for an IS group was found in the pickup truck driven into the crowd.
Reacting to the incident, outgoing US President Joe Biden said, &ldquo;I have been continually briefed since early this morning by federal law enforcement leadership and my homeland security team, including Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and the Mayor of New Orleans regarding the horrific incident that occurred there overnight."
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He added, &ldquo;The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury. I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind.&rdquo;
<h2>What happened during the New Orleans attack?</h2>
Police said that a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 am on Wednesday (January 1). The attack resulted in 10 deaths and left over 35 people injured.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-we-know-so-far-about-new-years-day-attack-in-new-orleans-8583494">What we know so far about New Year&rsquo;s day attack in New Orleans</a>
New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described the driver as being &ldquo;hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.&rdquo; She further added that the driver&rsquo;s intention appeared to be to &ldquo;run over as many people as he could.&rdquo; Additionally, two police officers were shot by the suspect, but both are now in stable condition.
The FBI said that the suspect died following a gunfight with the police. After the truck came to a stop, Jabbar opened fire on officers, who returned fire, leading to his death. 
(With inputs from agencies)

World, Trending: Jabbar, aged 42, is a US citizen living in Texas. Reports indicate he has a prior criminal record that includes theft and driving with a suspended licence.

The suspect involved in the deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans has been identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, a senior law enforcement source told The Guardian. Jabbar, aged 42, is a US citizen living in Texas. Reports indicate he has a prior criminal record that includes theft and driving with a suspended licence. The truck used to kill 10 in the massacre came into the US from Mexico through Eagle Pass, Texas, over a month ago, though some earlier reports erroneously said that it entered two days before the incident. Also read: ‘Act of pure evil,’ Trump links deadly New Orleans truck attack to illegal immigration During the attack, Jabbar was wearing body armour and driving a rental truck that carried a black flag. According to the FBI, a flag for an IS group was found in the pickup truck driven into the crowd. Reacting to the incident, outgoing US President Joe Biden said, “I have been continually briefed since early this morning by federal law enforcement leadership and my homeland security team, including Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and the Mayor of New Orleans regarding the horrific incident that occurred there overnight." Also read: New Orleans attack: 10 killed as man ploughs truck into New Year crowd; suspect shot dead He added, “The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury. I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind.” What happened during the New Orleans attack? Police said that a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 am on Wednesday (January 1). The attack resulted in 10 deaths and left over 35 people injured. Also read: What we know so far about New Year’s day attack in New Orleans New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described the driver as being “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.” She further added that the driver’s intention appeared to be to “run over as many people as he could.” Additionally, two police officers were shot by the suspect, but both are now in stable condition. The FBI said that the suspect died following a gunfight with the police. After the truck came to a stop, Jabbar opened fire on officers, who returned fire, leading to his death. (With inputs from agencies)

Suspect behind New Orleans truck attack identified as US citizen Shamsud Din Jabbar

The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized over 150 homemade bombs in a record Virginia farm raid. According to court documents filed on Monday (Dec 30), this might be the investigative agency's largest-ever seizure of explosives. According to reports, the suspect is a far-right supporter.
<h2>Where were the bombs found?</h2>
The alarmingly high number of explosives were discovered during a search of the family home of 36-year-old Brad Spafford. The search was carried out after a neighbour tipped off the FBI that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and homemade ammunition. The scale of the cache has sent alarm bells ringing and raised concerns over its potential implications. &nbsp;
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<h2>Extremist allegations</h2>
The court filing detailed a chilling inventory of items found on the property that Spafford shared with his wife and two young children. Agents discovered pipe bombs in a bedroom backpack, a jar of highly unstable HMTD explosives labelled "Do Not Touch" stored in a freezer alongside food, and a notebook containing instructions for crafting explosives, including grenades. &nbsp;
Spafford, a machine shop worker, reportedly used pictures of US President Joe Biden for target practice and voiced support for political assassinations, according to the documents.&nbsp;
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A neighbour also told the FBI that Spafford had considered fortifying his property with "a 360-degree turret for a 50-calibre firearm on the roof."
Some of the explosives had stickers written &ldquo;#NoLivesMatter&rdquo;.
This could be a reference to No Lives Matter, described by Homeland Security officials as a far-right group active on apps like Telegram.
No Lives Matter advocates targeted attacks, mass killings, criminal activity, self-harm and animal abuse, the New York Times reported citing the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
<h2>Charges against the man</h2>
Currently charged with unlawful possession of a rifle, Spafford is expected to face additional charges related to the explosives, each carrying a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors described the cache as a significant threat to public safety. &nbsp;
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However, Spafford's attorneys argued for his release, and in a separate filing described him as "a hard-working family man with no criminal record." &nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Know more about the FBI's largest-ever explosives seizure in history as over 150 homemade bombs were found at a Virginia farm, shocking the local community and authorities.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized over 150 homemade bombs in a record Virginia farm raid. According to court documents filed on Monday (Dec 30), this might be the investigative agency's largest-ever seizure of explosives. According to reports, the suspect is a far-right supporter. Where were the bombs found? The alarmingly high number of explosives were discovered during a search of the family home of 36-year-old Brad Spafford. The search was carried out after a neighbour tipped off the FBI that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and homemade ammunition. The scale of the cache has sent alarm bells ringing and raised concerns over its potential implications. Also read | New Year begins with Houthi missile attacks on Israel; one intercepted Extremist allegations The court filing detailed a chilling inventory of items found on the property that Spafford shared with his wife and two young children. Agents discovered pipe bombs in a bedroom backpack, a jar of highly unstable HMTD explosives labelled "Do Not Touch" stored in a freezer alongside food, and a notebook containing instructions for crafting explosives, including grenades. Spafford, a machine shop worker, reportedly used pictures of US President Joe Biden for target practice and voiced support for political assassinations, according to the documents. Also read | OpenAI whistleblower death: Indian-origin victim's mother alleges foul play A neighbour also told the FBI that Spafford had considered fortifying his property with "a 360-degree turret for a 50-calibre firearm on the roof." Some of the explosives had stickers written “#NoLivesMatter”. This could be a reference to No Lives Matter, described by Homeland Security officials as a far-right group active on apps like Telegram. No Lives Matter advocates targeted attacks, mass killings, criminal activity, self-harm and animal abuse, the New York Times reported citing the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Charges against the man Currently charged with unlawful possession of a rifle, Spafford is expected to face additional charges related to the explosives, each carrying a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors described the cache as a significant threat to public safety. Also read | From tragedy to triumph: Five personalities who defined 2024 However, Spafford's attorneys argued for his release, and in a separate filing described him as "a hard-working family man with no criminal record." (With inputs from agencies)

FBI seizes record cache of explosives in Virginia farm raid; suspect backed far-right

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reportedly issued a strict warning to pro sports leagues that organised theft groups are looting professional NBA and NFL players and their homes while they are out playing or travelling. Recently, the houses of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Cincinnate Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Donic and NBA guardrs Mike Conley Jr. and Bobby Portis have been among the burglarised properties.
Notably, at least nine professional athletes' homes were allegedly burglarised by organised theft groups in a span of three months, in September-November.
The FBI didn't note any of the above cases specifically, but warned the leagues involving such players. The investigating agency further claimed that the homes of professional athletes of the NFL and NBA have been reported, which contain high-end items such as designer handbags, jewellery, watches, cash, etc.
Further, the NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to their players after recent break-ins.
Some of these acts have been carried out during road games. As a result of these acts, the players -- both in the NFL and NBA -- have been left concerned about their families while they are out on the road during the leagues.
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<h2>'These homes are targeted due to the perception they may have high-end goods'</h2>
"These homes are targeted for burglary due to the perception they may have high-end goods like designer handbags, jewellery, watches, and cash,&rdquo; the FBI said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News.
&ldquo;While many burglaries occur while homes are unoccupied, some burglaries occur while residents are home. In these instances, individuals are encouraged to seek law enforcement help and avoid engaging with criminals, as they may be armed or use violence if confronted,&rdquo; the report further added. (With inputs from agencies)

NBA, NFL, Sports | FBI gives strict warning to sports leagues after string of burglaries targeting NFL, NBA athletes and their homes - Report

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reportedly issued a strict warning to pro sports leagues that organised theft groups are looting professional NBA and NFL players and their homes while they are out playing or travelling. Recently, the houses of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Cincinnate Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Donic and NBA guardrs Mike Conley Jr. and Bobby Portis have been among the burglarised properties. Notably, at least nine professional athletes' homes were allegedly burglarised by organised theft groups in a span of three months, in September-November. The FBI didn't note any of the above cases specifically, but warned the leagues involving such players. The investigating agency further claimed that the homes of professional athletes of the NFL and NBA have been reported, which contain high-end items such as designer handbags, jewellery, watches, cash, etc. Further, the NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to their players after recent break-ins. Some of these acts have been carried out during road games. As a result of these acts, the players -- both in the NFL and NBA -- have been left concerned about their families while they are out on the road during the leagues. Also read: Former England coach Gareth Southgate knighted in New Year Honours 'These homes are targeted due to the perception they may have high-end goods' "These homes are targeted for burglary due to the perception they may have high-end goods like designer handbags, jewellery, watches, and cash,” the FBI said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News. “While many burglaries occur while homes are unoccupied, some burglaries occur while residents are home. In these instances, individuals are encouraged to seek law enforcement help and avoid engaging with criminals, as they may be armed or use violence if confronted,” the report further added. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI gives strict warning to sports leagues after series of burglaries targeting NFL, NBA athletes: Report

It's been years since the U.S. investigated the cause of COVID-19. The FBI has now claimed that they found evidence suggesting the virus was caused by a lab leak but were not allowed to brief the president. Watch in for more details!

FBI 'blocked from informing Biden' about COVID lab leak

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who found evidence that a Chinese lab leak caused COVID-19, was "silenced" and was not allowed to present the findings from the August 2021 report to US President Joe Biden, The New York Post reported.&nbsp;
The report concluded that the virus behind COVID-19 was "probably not genetically engineered".&nbsp;
During that time, a popular theory emerged, suggesting that the virus spread from a bat at a Wuhan wet market, the place where the virus was first reported in 2019.&nbsp;
President Biden ordered an inquiry in May 2021 by US intelligence agencies and national laboratories. The National Intelligence Council (NIC), a body of senior intelligence officers organised the review, in which the findings were presented by Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence (DNI), and two of her senior analysts, to President Biden and his top aides.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-lab-leak-likely-behind-covid-pandemic-finds-us-investigation-780981" rel="dofollow">Also read: Wuhan lab leak likely behind Covid pandemic, finds US investigation STORY HIGHLIGHTS</a>
Jason Bannan, a former senior scientist at the FBI, said that he is surprised that the findings were not presented to the president, given the agency's confidence in its assessment.&nbsp;
Bannan, a microbiologist and former senior FBI scientist, spent much of his life investigating the origins of COVID-19, along with the FBI.
He was excluded from a key National Intelligence Council (NIC) briefing with US President Biden, The New York Post reported.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-likely-to-pick-john-hopkins-surgeon-covid-mandate-martin-makary-to-lead-fda-say-sources-778076" rel="dofollow">Also read: Trump likely to pick John Hopkins surgeon, COVID mandate critic Martin Makary to lead FDA, say sources</a>
&ldquo;The scientists who had the subject matter expertise were silenced,&rdquo; a source said according to the Post, adding that the US President and other officials were "completely unwitting" about the evidence.&nbsp;
Bannan also stressed that the FBI was the only agency that firmly believed the virus likely originated from a laboratory, yet it wasn&rsquo;t invited to share its findings.&nbsp;
<h2>'Surprising that White House didn't ask'</h2>
&ldquo;Being the only agency that assessed that a laboratory origin was more likely, and the agency that expressed the highest level of confidence in its analysis of the source of the pandemic, we anticipated the FBI would be asked to attend the briefing,&rdquo; Bannan said.
&nbsp;&ldquo;I find it surprising that the White House didn&rsquo;t ask," he added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-sent-covid-test-kits-to-putin-while-americans-died-explosive-new-book-reveals-his-shocking-betrayal-765783" rel="dofollow">Also read: Trump sent COVID test kits to Putin while Americans died? Explosive new book reveals his shocking betrayal</a>
Meanwhile, whistleblower Lt. Col. Joseph Murphy said that federal grant documents outlining a "blueprint" for engineering viruses like SARS-CoV-2 were inappropriately classified.
Bannan has now emphasised the need to reexamine what was left out of the intelligence community&rsquo;s review.&nbsp;
&ldquo;What ended up on the intelligence community&rsquo;s cutting-room floor needs to be re-examined," he said.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Jason Bannan, a former senior scientist at the FBI, said that he is surprised that the findings were not presented to the president, given the agency's confidence in its assessment. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who found evidence that a Chinese lab leak caused COVID-19, was "silenced" and was not allowed to present the findings from the August 2021 report to US President Joe Biden, The New York Post reported. The report concluded that the virus behind COVID-19 was "probably not genetically engineered". During that time, a popular theory emerged, suggesting that the virus spread from a bat at a Wuhan wet market, the place where the virus was first reported in 2019. President Biden ordered an inquiry in May 2021 by US intelligence agencies and national laboratories. The National Intelligence Council (NIC), a body of senior intelligence officers organised the review, in which the findings were presented by Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence (DNI), and two of her senior analysts, to President Biden and his top aides. Also read: Wuhan lab leak likely behind Covid pandemic, finds US investigation STORY HIGHLIGHTS Jason Bannan, a former senior scientist at the FBI, said that he is surprised that the findings were not presented to the president, given the agency's confidence in its assessment. Bannan, a microbiologist and former senior FBI scientist, spent much of his life investigating the origins of COVID-19, along with the FBI. He was excluded from a key National Intelligence Council (NIC) briefing with US President Biden, The New York Post reported. Also read: Trump likely to pick John Hopkins surgeon, COVID mandate critic Martin Makary to lead FDA, say sources “The scientists who had the subject matter expertise were silenced,” a source said according to the Post, adding that the US President and other officials were "completely unwitting" about the evidence. Bannan also stressed that the FBI was the only agency that firmly believed the virus likely originated from a laboratory, yet it wasn’t invited to share its findings. 'Surprising that White House didn't ask' “Being the only agency that assessed that a laboratory origin was more likely, and the agency that expressed the highest level of confidence in its analysis of the source of the pandemic, we anticipated the FBI would be asked to attend the briefing,” Bannan said. “I find it surprising that the White House didn’t ask," he added. Also read: Trump sent COVID test kits to Putin while Americans died? Explosive new book reveals his shocking betrayal Meanwhile, whistleblower Lt. Col. Joseph Murphy said that federal grant documents outlining a "blueprint" for engineering viruses like SARS-CoV-2 were inappropriately classified. Bannan has now emphasised the need to reexamine what was left out of the intelligence community’s review. “What ended up on the intelligence community’s cutting-room floor needs to be re-examined," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

US spy chiefs 'silenced' FBI from briefing Joe Biden about COVID lab leak evidence: Report

Washington, United States
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Japan’s National Police Agency have said that a North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, stole cryptocurrency worth $308 million from Japan-based exchange DMM Bitcoin earlier this year in May.
TraderTraitor, known to be a part of Lazarus Group, targets multiple employees from the same organisation at the same time. The infamous Lazarus Group is allegedly linked to Pyongyang authorities and has been accused of hacking into Sony Pictures for mocking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the film The Interview.
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“The theft of cryptocurrency worth $308 million US dollars from the Japan-based cryptocurrency company DMM by North Korean cyber actors,” the FBI stated in a statement on Monday (Dec 23).
The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March.
They then sent a malicious code under the guise of a pre-employment test on a GitHub page, which allowed hackers to gain access to their system and impersonate the employee.
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In late May, the hackers manipulated a legitimate transaction request by a DMM employee. According to the FBI, the attack led to losses of 4,502.9 BTC, worth $308 million, which were transferred to TraderTraitor-controlled wallets.
“The FBI, National Police Agency of Japan, and other U.S. government and international partners will continue to expose and combat North Korea’s use of illicit activities—including cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft—to generate revenue for the regime,” the FBI added in its statement. 
According to a 2020 US military report, North Korea’s cyber-warfare agency, Bureau 121, has over 6,000 members operating from several countries. The program can be tracked back to at least the mid-1990s.
(With inputs from agencies)

The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March



Washington, United States The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Japan’s National Police Agency have said that a North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, stole cryptocurrency worth $308 million from Japan-based exchange DMM Bitcoin earlier this year in May. TraderTraitor, known to be a part of Lazarus Group, targets multiple employees from the same organisation at the same time. The infamous Lazarus Group is allegedly linked to Pyongyang authorities and has been accused of hacking into Sony Pictures for mocking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the film The Interview. Also read | Luxury brands to consider accepting crypto payments as bitcoin soars “The theft of cryptocurrency worth $308 million US dollars from the Japan-based cryptocurrency company DMM by North Korean cyber actors,” the FBI stated in a statement on Monday (Dec 23). The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March. They then sent a malicious code under the guise of a pre-employment test on a GitHub page, which allowed hackers to gain access to their system and impersonate the employee. Also read | Honda-Nissan merger: What you need to know In late May, the hackers manipulated a legitimate transaction request by a DMM employee. According to the FBI, the attack led to losses of 4,502.9 BTC, worth $308 million, which were transferred to TraderTraitor-controlled wallets. “The FBI, National Police Agency of Japan, and other U.S. government and international partners will continue to expose and combat North Korea’s use of illicit activities—including cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft—to generate revenue for the regime,” the FBI added in its statement. According to a 2020 US military report, North Korea’s cyber-warfare agency, Bureau 121, has over 6,000 members operating from several countries. The program can be tracked back to at least the mid-1990s. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korean cyber actors behind $308 million cryptocurrency heist, say US and Japan

The US&nbsp;Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Japan’s National Police Agency have said that a North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, stole&nbsp;cryptocurrency worth $308 million from Japan-based exchange DMM Bitcoin earlier this year in May.

TraderTraitor, known to be a part of Lazarus Group, targets multiple employees from the same organisation at the same time. The infamous Lazarus Group is allegedly linked to Pyongyang authorities and has been accused of hacking into Sony Pictures for mocking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the film The Interview.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/luxury-brands-to-consider-accepting-crypto-payments-as-bitcoin-soars-785112">Luxury brands to consider accepting crypto payments as bitcoin soars</a>

“The theft of cryptocurrency worth $308 million US dollars from the Japan-based cryptocurrency company DMM by North Korean cyber actors,” the FBI stated in a statement on Monday (Dec 23).

The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March.

They then sent a malicious code under the guise of a pre-employment test on a GitHub page, which allowed hackers to gain access to their system and impersonate the employee.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/honda-nissan-merger-what-you-need-to-know-786402">Honda-Nissan merger: What you need to know</a>

In late May, the hackers manipulated a legitimate transaction request by a DMM employee. According to the FBI, the attack led to losses of 4,502.9 BTC, worth $308 million, which were transferred to TraderTraitor-controlled wallets.

“The FBI, National Police Agency of Japan, and other U.S. government and international partners will continue to expose and combat North Korea’s use of illicit activities—including cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft—to generate revenue for the regime,” the FBI added in its statement.&nbsp;

According to a 2020 US military report, North Korea’s cyber-warfare agency, Bureau 121, has over 6,000 members operating from several countries. The program can be tracked back to at least the mid-1990s.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Japan’s National Police Agency have said that a North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, stole cryptocurrency worth $308 million from Japan-based exchange DMM Bitcoin earlier this year in May.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Japan’s National Police Agency have said that a North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, stole cryptocurrency worth $308 million from Japan-based exchange DMM Bitcoin earlier this year in May. TraderTraitor, known to be a part of Lazarus Group, targets multiple employees from the same organisation at the same time. The infamous Lazarus Group is allegedly linked to Pyongyang authorities and has been accused of hacking into Sony Pictures for mocking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the film The Interview. Also read | Luxury brands to consider accepting crypto payments as bitcoin soars “The theft of cryptocurrency worth $308 million US dollars from the Japan-based cryptocurrency company DMM by North Korean cyber actors,” the FBI stated in a statement on Monday (Dec 23). The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March. They then sent a malicious code under the guise of a pre-employment test on a GitHub page, which allowed hackers to gain access to their system and impersonate the employee. Also read | Honda-Nissan merger: What you need to know In late May, the hackers manipulated a legitimate transaction request by a DMM employee. According to the FBI, the attack led to losses of 4,502.9 BTC, worth $308 million, which were transferred to TraderTraitor-controlled wallets. “The FBI, National Police Agency of Japan, and other U.S. government and international partners will continue to expose and combat North Korea’s use of illicit activities—including cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft—to generate revenue for the regime,” the FBI added in its statement. According to a 2020 US military report, North Korea’s cyber-warfare agency, Bureau 121, has over 6,000 members operating from several countries. The program can be tracked back to at least the mid-1990s. (With inputs from agencies)

The numerous reported drone sightings on the US east coast are no cause for concern, according to the White House. Watch this report for more details!

White House Assures Drone Sightings in New Jersey Pose No Threat

FBI Director&nbsp;Christopher&nbsp;Wray&nbsp;announced on Wednesday (Dec 11) that he will resign in January before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

"After weeks of careful thought, I've decided the right thing for the bureau&nbsp;is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down,"&nbsp;Wray&nbsp;told bureau employees in remarks released by the FBI.

Trump, who is to be sworn in as president on January 20, has announced the nomination of staunch loyalist Kash Patel to replace&nbsp;Wray&nbsp;as the head of the top US law enforcement agency and he welcomed the FBI chief's resignation.

Wray&nbsp;was named by Trump in 2017 to head the 38,000-strong Federal Bureau of Intelligence but the incoming president has since soured on his choice.

Wray&nbsp;had three more years remaining in his 10-year term as FBI director but faced potentially being fired by Trump.

"The resignation of&nbsp;Christopher&nbsp;Wray&nbsp;is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

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"Under the leadership of&nbsp;Christopher&nbsp;Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America," Trump said.

The FBI raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in August 2022 to recover top-secret documents taken without authorisation from the White House.

Trump was indicted for mishandling classified documents and obstruction of justice but the case was dismissed by a Trump-appointed judge.

<h2>'Above partisanship and politics'</h2>

Wray, in his remarks to the FBI workforce, said stepping down "is the best&nbsp;way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing&nbsp;the values&nbsp;and principles&nbsp;that are so important&nbsp;to how we do our work."

"In terms of how we do the work, we've got to maintain our independence and objectivity -- staying above partisanship and politics," he said. "That's what the American people expect of us and that's what they deserve."

Patel, a former Trump advisor and Pentagon official, has been critical of the FBI and is known for his controversial views.

A fierce defender of the incoming president, Patel supports the Republican hardliner notion of an anti-Trump "deep state" of allegedly biased government bureaucrats working to stifle Trump from behind the scenes, even having written a book on the subject.

A son of Indian immigrants, Patel served in several high-level posts during Trump's first term including as a national security advisor and as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary.

Watch:&nbsp;US: What A Reelected Trump Can And Can't Do To Sway The Fed?

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Trump, in his Truth Social post, accused law enforcement officials of using "their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them."

"Kash Patel is the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency's History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon," he said.

"I look forward to Kash Patel's confirmation so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin."

Attorney General Merrick Garland praised&nbsp;Wray's "principled leadership" of the FBI, saying he had served "honourably and with integrity."

"The director of the FBI is responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations," Garland said in a statement. "That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear."

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.&nbsp;

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday (Dec 11) that he will resign in January before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. "After weeks of careful thought, I've decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down," Wray told bureau employees in remarks released by the FBI.

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday (Dec 11) that he will resign in January before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. "After weeks of careful thought, I've decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down," Wray told bureau employees in remarks released by the FBI. Trump, who is to be sworn in as president on January 20, has announced the nomination of staunch loyalist Kash Patel to replace Wray as the head of the top US law enforcement agency and he welcomed the FBI chief's resignation. Wray was named by Trump in 2017 to head the 38,000-strong Federal Bureau of Intelligence but the incoming president has since soured on his choice. Wray had three more years remaining in his 10-year term as FBI director but faced potentially being fired by Trump. "The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Also Read: Trump invites Xi to attend Jan 20 inauguration as Beijing braces for massive tariffs "Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America," Trump said. The FBI raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in August 2022 to recover top-secret documents taken without authorisation from the White House. Trump was indicted for mishandling classified documents and obstruction of justice but the case was dismissed by a Trump-appointed judge. 'Above partisanship and politics' Wray, in his remarks to the FBI workforce, said stepping down "is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work." "In terms of how we do the work, we've got to maintain our independence and objectivity -- staying above partisanship and politics," he said. "That's what the American people expect of us and that's what they deserve." Patel, a former Trump advisor and Pentagon official, has been critical of the FBI and is known for his controversial views. A fierce defender of the incoming president, Patel supports the Republican hardliner notion of an anti-Trump "deep state" of allegedly biased government bureaucrats working to stifle Trump from behind the scenes, even having written a book on the subject. A son of Indian immigrants, Patel served in several high-level posts during Trump's first term including as a national security advisor and as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary. Watch: US: What A Reelected Trump Can And Can't Do To Sway The Fed? Trump, in his Truth Social post, accused law enforcement officials of using "their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them." "Kash Patel is the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency's History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon," he said. "I look forward to Kash Patel's confirmation so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin." Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray's "principled leadership" of the FBI, saying he had served "honourably and with integrity." "The director of the FBI is responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations," Garland said in a statement. "That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear." (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

FBI chief Christopher Wray to step down before Trump takes office on Jan 20

The US justice department under former United States president Donald Trump secretly obtained call records of two members of Congress and 43 staffers, including, Kash Patel – Trump's pick to lead the FBI – CNN reported citing a watchdog report released on Tuesday (Dec 10)&nbsp;

Although Patel and two Congress members were not named in the report, sources familiar with the case told CNN that he&nbsp;was targeted. Patel was a staffer for the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee at the time.&nbsp;

The report further revealed that prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ)&nbsp;during the Trump administration even sought emails from journalists of CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

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The report said DOJ investigators issued a broad sweep based on the doubts regarding who may have had access to leaked sensitive information.&nbsp;

Seeking records was based on “the proximity in time between access to classified information and subsequent publication of the information… risks chilling Congress’s ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch,” the justice department’s inspector general wrote at the time.&nbsp;

He&nbsp;added that such a move “exposes congressional officials to having their records reviewed by the Department solely for conducting Congress’ constitutionally authorized oversight duties and creating, at a minimum, the appearance of inappropriate interference by the executive branch in legitimate oversight activity by the legislative branch”.

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However, no&nbsp;charges&nbsp;were recommended&nbsp;against anyone by the inspector general at the time.&nbsp;

<h2>Kash Patel to lead the FBI?</h2>

Trump on November 30 announced that&nbsp;loyalist Kashyap "Kash" Patel was his choice for director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).&nbsp;

Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced that Patel, a former Pentagon official, "will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" replacing current FBI Director Christopher Wray, another&nbsp;pick from his first term.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US justice department under former United States president Donald Trump secretly obtained call records of two members of Congress and 43 staffers, including, Kash Patel – Trump's pick to lead the FBI – CNN reported citing a watchdog report released on Tuesday (Dec 10) Although Patel and two Congress members were not named in the report, sources familiar with the case told CNN that he was targeted.

The US justice department under former United States president Donald Trump secretly obtained call records of two members of Congress and 43 staffers, including, Kash Patel – Trump's pick to lead the FBI – CNN reported citing a watchdog report released on Tuesday (Dec 10) Although Patel and two Congress members were not named in the report, sources familiar with the case told CNN that he was targeted. Patel was a staffer for the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee at the time. The report further revealed that prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Trump administration even sought emails from journalists of CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Watch | What is China's secretive military moves as it surrounds Taiwan The report said DOJ investigators issued a broad sweep based on the doubts regarding who may have had access to leaked sensitive information. Seeking records was based on “the proximity in time between access to classified information and subsequent publication of the information… risks chilling Congress’s ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch,” the justice department’s inspector general wrote at the time. He added that such a move “exposes congressional officials to having their records reviewed by the Department solely for conducting Congress’ constitutionally authorized oversight duties and creating, at a minimum, the appearance of inappropriate interference by the executive branch in legitimate oversight activity by the legislative branch”. Also read | 'Won't drop civil fraud case against Trump,' says New York AG However, no charges were recommended against anyone by the inspector general at the time. Kash Patel to lead the FBI? Trump on November 30 announced that loyalist Kashyap "Kash" Patel was his choice for director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced that Patel, a former Pentagon official, "will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" replacing current FBI Director Christopher Wray, another pick from his first term. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's DOJ secretly obtained call records of his FBI pick Kash Patel with other lawmakers

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