New Jersey mayors demand action for mysterious drone sightings in the northeast. Watch for more details!

FBI Asks Public For Help With New Drone Sightings in New Jersey

The FBI has issued a statement addressing ongoing mystery drone sightings that have now spread from New Jersey to New York, urging public cooperation in their investigation. It comes as Bay Ridge, Brooklyn residents reported drones on Sunday night, joining numerous sightings across New Jersey in recent weeks. Watch to know more!

USA News: Mystery Drone Sightings Reach New York, FBI Issues Statement | World News | WION

Industrialist Gautam S Adani, his nephew Sagar S Adani and several executives of his firm Adani Green Energy have been charged in the US over a $250 million bribery scheme in India for getting renewable energy contracts that would have earned projected profits of more than $2 billion after tax.&nbsp;

The charges unveiled by the US justice department late Wednesday (Nov 21) alleged that several Adani officials engaged in bribing Indian officials in a multi-year scheme from 2020 to 2024. These bribes were hidden from US investors who were approached by the Adani group to raise billions of dollars, it alleged.

The charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, the justice department said in a release. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The investigation is being carried out by FBI along with other financial crime agencies. 
 
Watch: Gautam Adani Charged By US Over Alleged $250 Million Bribe Plot

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Gautam S Adani and the other business executives "allegedly bribed the Indian government to finance lucrative contracts designed to benefit their businesses" and "defrauded investors by raising capital on the basis of false statements about bribery and corruption...[and] allegedly attempted to conceal the bribery conspiracy by obstructing the government’s investigation," claimed FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. &nbsp;

The offences were for "massive state energy supply contracts through corruption and fraud at the expense of US investors."

"The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt, deceptive and obstructive conduct that violates US law, no matter where in the world it occurs,” the release&nbsp;quoted Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lisa H Miller as saying.

Here are the details and specific allegations against Adani and his executives,&nbsp;along with a response from Adani Green.

<h2>What did the US Justice Department say about Adani charges?</h2>

The justice department alleged that the Adani executives ran a scheme 'to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes and conceal' the scheme from US investors.&nbsp;

The bribes, allegedly worth more than $250 million, were promised to Indian government officials to secure solar energy contracts, said the release issued by the US Attorney's Office in Eastern District of New York.

<h2>Who are the Adani-linked&nbsp;executives indicted by US justice department?</h2>

The US justice depatment named as defendants Gautam S Adani, aged 62; Sagar S Adani, 30; Vneet S Jain, 53; Ranjit Gupta, 54; Cyril Cabanes, 50; Saurabh Agarwal, 48; Deepak Malhotra, 45; and Rupesh Agarwal, 50.

<h2>What did the US justice department indictment say about Gautam Adani bribe scheme?</h2>

&gt; The five-count criminal indictment unsealed in a Brooklyn federal court charged the Adani executives with 'conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud' in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from US investors and global financial institutions based on false and misleading statements. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/major-setback-for-adani-group-sebi-issues-notice-as-chairperson-buch-faces-scrutiny-770755">Also read: Major setback for Adani Group, SEBI issues notice as chairperson Buch faces scrutiny</a>

&gt; It specifically charged Ranjit Gupta, Rupesh Agarwal, Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal and Deepak Malhotra with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

They allegedly orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars.

&gt; Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from US and international investors, said United States Attorney Peace Breon Peace when announcing the charges.&nbsp;

<h2>What exactly is the Adani bribe scheme as alleged by US Justice&nbsp;Department?</h2>

&gt; The scheme was to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials, to lie to investors and banks to raise billions of dollars, and to obstruct justice, stated Deputy Assistant Attorney General Miller. &nbsp;

&gt; Between 2020 and 2024, the executives allegedly bribed Indian government officials for contracts projected to generate $2 billion in profits after tax for 20 years. &nbsp;

&gt; "On several occasions, Gautam S. Adani personally met with an Indian government official to advance the bribery scheme, and the defendants held in-person meetings with each other to discuss aspects of its execution," the justice department alleged. &nbsp;

&gt; The executives 'frequently discussed their efforts on the bribery scheme' including through an electronic messaging application and 'extensively documented their corrupt efforts,' it claimed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hindenburg-vs-adani-sebi-chief-madhabis-link-needs-judicial-probe-ex-official-eas-sarma-tells-wion-749745">Also read: Hindenburg vs Adani: Sebi chief Madhabi's links need judicial probe, ex-official EAS Sarma tells WION</a>

&gt; Sagar R Adani, alleged the US department, 'used his cellular phone to track specific details of the bribes offered and promised to government officials'.

&gt; Vneet S Jaain used his cellular phone to photograph a document summarising various bribe amounts a US issuer owed the company for its respective portion of the bribes, alleged the justice department.

&gt; Rupesh Agarwal 'prepared and distributed to other defendants multiple analyses using PowerPoint and Excel', summarising various options for paying and concealing bribe payments, it claimed.

&gt; Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S Jaain 'conspired to misrepresent' Adani Green's anti-bribery and corruption practices and conceal the scheme from US investors and international financial institutions in order to obtain financing, it alleged.

&gt; Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S Jaain caused Adani Green Energy and some of its subsidiaries 'to raise capital on the basis of false and misleading statements in connection with two US dollar-denominated syndicate loans totalling more than $2 billion from investors and two bond offerings for more than $1 billion underwritten by international financial institutions, which were marketed and sold to investors in the US, claimed the US justice department.

&gt; Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S. Jaain caused Adani Green 'to make false statements in their consolidated financial statements and to the market and investors regarding the bribery scheme, it alleged.

&gt; Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal 'conspired to obstruct the grand jury, FBI and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigations into the bribery scheme, said the indictment. &nbsp;

&gt; They agreed to delete electronic materials related to the bribery scheme, including emails, electronic messages and 'bribery analyses.

&gt; They later withheld material information from an internal investigation by a US issuer company and 'falsely denied their participation' in the scheme to representatives of the FBI, DOJ and SEC at meetings in Brooklyn, New York. On this account, Cabanes, Agarwal, Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal have been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice.

<h2>How has Adani Green responded to charges?</h2>

In a statement, an Adani Group spokesperson said&nbsp;the allegations "are baseless and denied." 
 
As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, said the spokesperson, "the charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."

"All possible legal recourse will be sought," it added. 
 
Earlier, Adani Green said in a statement:&nbsp; "The United States Department of Justice and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission have issued a criminal indictment and brought a civil complaint, respectively, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, against our Board members, Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani. The United States Department of Justice have also included our Board member, Vneet Jaain, in such criminal indictment."

In light of these developments, it added, "our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD-denominated bond offerings."

&nbsp;

Industrialist Gautam S Adani, his nephew Sagar S Adani and several executives of his firm Adani Green Energy have been charged in the US over a $250 million bribery scheme in India for getting renewable energy contracts that would have earned projected profits of more than $2 billion after tax.

Industrialist Gautam S Adani, his nephew Sagar S Adani and several executives of his firm Adani Green Energy have been charged in the US over a $250 million bribery scheme in India for getting renewable energy contracts that would have earned projected profits of more than $2 billion after tax. The charges unveiled by the US justice department late Wednesday (Nov 21) alleged that several Adani officials engaged in bribing Indian officials in a multi-year scheme from 2020 to 2024. These bribes were hidden from US investors who were approached by the Adani group to raise billions of dollars, it alleged. The charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, the justice department said in a release. The investigation is being carried out by FBI along with other financial crime agencies. Watch: Gautam Adani Charged By US Over Alleged $250 Million Bribe Plot × Gautam S Adani and the other business executives "allegedly bribed the Indian government to finance lucrative contracts designed to benefit their businesses" and "defrauded investors by raising capital on the basis of false statements about bribery and corruption...[and] allegedly attempted to conceal the bribery conspiracy by obstructing the government’s investigation," claimed FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. The offences were for "massive state energy supply contracts through corruption and fraud at the expense of US investors." "The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt, deceptive and obstructive conduct that violates US law, no matter where in the world it occurs,” the release quoted Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lisa H Miller as saying. Here are the details and specific allegations against Adani and his executives, along with a response from Adani Green. What did the US Justice Department say about Adani charges? The justice department alleged that the Adani executives ran a scheme 'to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes and conceal' the scheme from US investors. The bribes, allegedly worth more than $250 million, were promised to Indian government officials to secure solar energy contracts, said the release issued by the US Attorney's Office in Eastern District of New York. Who are the Adani-linked executives indicted by US justice department? The US justice depatment named as defendants Gautam S Adani, aged 62; Sagar S Adani, 30; Vneet S Jain, 53; Ranjit Gupta, 54; Cyril Cabanes, 50; Saurabh Agarwal, 48; Deepak Malhotra, 45; and Rupesh Agarwal, 50. What did the US justice department indictment say about Gautam Adani bribe scheme? > The five-count criminal indictment unsealed in a Brooklyn federal court charged the Adani executives with 'conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud' in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from US investors and global financial institutions based on false and misleading statements. Also read: Major setback for Adani Group, SEBI issues notice as chairperson Buch faces scrutiny > It specifically charged Ranjit Gupta, Rupesh Agarwal, Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal and Deepak Malhotra with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. They allegedly orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars. > Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from US and international investors, said United States Attorney Peace Breon Peace when announcing the charges. What exactly is the Adani bribe scheme as alleged by US Justice Department? > The scheme was to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials, to lie to investors and banks to raise billions of dollars, and to obstruct justice, stated Deputy Assistant Attorney General Miller. > Between 2020 and 2024, the executives allegedly bribed Indian government officials for contracts projected to generate $2 billion in profits after tax for 20 years. > "On several occasions, Gautam S. Adani personally met with an Indian government official to advance the bribery scheme, and the defendants held in-person meetings with each other to discuss aspects of its execution," the justice department alleged. > The executives 'frequently discussed their efforts on the bribery scheme' including through an electronic messaging application and 'extensively documented their corrupt efforts,' it claimed. Also read: Hindenburg vs Adani: Sebi chief Madhabi's links need judicial probe, ex-official EAS Sarma tells WION > Sagar R Adani, alleged the US department, 'used his cellular phone to track specific details of the bribes offered and promised to government officials'. > Vneet S Jaain used his cellular phone to photograph a document summarising various bribe amounts a US issuer owed the company for its respective portion of the bribes, alleged the justice department. > Rupesh Agarwal 'prepared and distributed to other defendants multiple analyses using PowerPoint and Excel', summarising various options for paying and concealing bribe payments, it claimed. > Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S Jaain 'conspired to misrepresent' Adani Green's anti-bribery and corruption practices and conceal the scheme from US investors and international financial institutions in order to obtain financing, it alleged. > Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S Jaain caused Adani Green Energy and some of its subsidiaries 'to raise capital on the basis of false and misleading statements in connection with two US dollar-denominated syndicate loans totalling more than $2 billion from investors and two bond offerings for more than $1 billion underwritten by international financial institutions, which were marketed and sold to investors in the US, claimed the US justice department. > Gautam S Adani, Sagar R Adani and Vneet S. Jaain caused Adani Green 'to make false statements in their consolidated financial statements and to the market and investors regarding the bribery scheme, it alleged. > Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal 'conspired to obstruct the grand jury, FBI and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigations into the bribery scheme, said the indictment. > They agreed to delete electronic materials related to the bribery scheme, including emails, electronic messages and 'bribery analyses. > They later withheld material information from an internal investigation by a US issuer company and 'falsely denied their participation' in the scheme to representatives of the FBI, DOJ and SEC at meetings in Brooklyn, New York. On this account, Cabanes, Agarwal, Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal have been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice. How has Adani Green responded to charges? In a statement, an Adani Group spokesperson said the allegations "are baseless and denied." As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, said the spokesperson, "the charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty." "All possible legal recourse will be sought," it added. Earlier, Adani Green said in a statement: "The United States Department of Justice and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission have issued a criminal indictment and brought a civil complaint, respectively, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, against our Board members, Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani. The United States Department of Justice have also included our Board member, Vneet Jaain, in such criminal indictment." In light of these developments, it added, "our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD-denominated bond offerings."

Gautam Adani indicted in US over multimillion dollar bribery: What are the charges? What you should know

A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange in an effort to “reboot” the US government, according to the FBI.

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Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, from Coral Springs, Florida, was charged with attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building involved in interstate commerce.

The FBI began investigating Yener in February after receiving a tip that he was storing materials related to bomb-making in a storage unit. Agents searched the area after obtaining a search warrant. They found “bomb-making sketches, numerous watches with timers electronic circuit boards and other electronics that can be utilised to build bombs.&nbsp;

According to the FBI, Yener had also been conducting online searches about bomb-making since 2017.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/laken-riley-murder-man-accused-of-killing-us-nursing-student-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-777866">Laken Riley murder: Accused man sentenced to life in prison without parole</a>

In March, Yener admitted to authorities during questioning that he had knowledge of making “rockets” and “bombs” and had previously tried to join a "domestic extremist group." He also revealed that in 2015, he had considered travelling to Iraq to join ISIS but ultimately decided against it because he doubted the group’s ability to meet its objectives.

Yener allegedly told undercover FBI agents that he planned to detonate the bomb during the week before Thanksgiving, targeting the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan. Court documents state that his goal was to “reboot” the US government.&nbsp;

<h2>'I feel like Bin Laden'</h2>

“There is one place that would be hella easy… the stock exchange, that would be a great hit. Tons of people would support it. They would see it and think dude, this guy makes sense, they are [profanity] robbing us. So that's perfect,” he told the agent.

“I feel like Bin Laden,” he told the undercover agent.

Weeks before his arrest, Yener had modified two-way radios to function as remote triggers for explosives. He also planned to wear a disguise while planting the device, according to court filings.

Yener appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon, where it was decided he would remain in custody while awaiting trial.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange in an effort to “reboot” the US government, according to the FBI.

A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange in an effort to “reboot” the US government, according to the FBI. Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, from Coral Springs, Florida, was charged with attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building involved in interstate commerce. The FBI began investigating Yener in February after receiving a tip that he was storing materials related to bomb-making in a storage unit. Agents searched the area after obtaining a search warrant. They found “bomb-making sketches, numerous watches with timers electronic circuit boards and other electronics that can be utilised to build bombs. According to the FBI, Yener had also been conducting online searches about bomb-making since 2017. Also read: Laken Riley murder: Accused man sentenced to life in prison without parole In March, Yener admitted to authorities during questioning that he had knowledge of making “rockets” and “bombs” and had previously tried to join a "domestic extremist group." He also revealed that in 2015, he had considered travelling to Iraq to join ISIS but ultimately decided against it because he doubted the group’s ability to meet its objectives. Yener allegedly told undercover FBI agents that he planned to detonate the bomb during the week before Thanksgiving, targeting the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan. Court documents state that his goal was to “reboot” the US government. 'I feel like Bin Laden' “There is one place that would be hella easy… the stock exchange, that would be a great hit. Tons of people would support it. They would see it and think dude, this guy makes sense, they are [profanity] robbing us. So that's perfect,” he told the agent. “I feel like Bin Laden,” he told the undercover agent. Weeks before his arrest, Yener had modified two-way radios to function as remote triggers for explosives. He also planned to wear a disguise while planting the device, according to court filings. Yener appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon, where it was decided he would remain in custody while awaiting trial. (With inputs from agencies)

‘I feel like Bin Laden,’ Florida man arrested by FBI for planning to bomb NYSE to 'reboot' US government

According to reports, President-elect Donald Trump is considering appointing Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Patel is a known loyalist of Trump. Born in New York in 1980 to Indian immigrant parents from East Africa, Kash Patel has roots in Vadodara, Gujarat. The push for Patel's appointment has come from some of Trump's longest-serving advisers. As a result, Pakistan finds itself in a complicated situation.

Donald Trump Loyalist Kash Patel to Be Named Next FBI Director? | GRAVITAS

United States President-elect Donald Trump has bypassed standard background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for some of his controversial cabinet appointees, to minimise the chances of them being rejected during the Senate confirmation for any conflict of interest, reported CNN.&nbsp;

These background checks have been a longstanding tradition for incoming presidential nominations and date back to the early Cold War days.

However, Trump has outsourced it to private investigators instead of the FBI.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-what-will-his-revenge-cabinet-do-to-the-us-and-world-who-can-stop-him-776402">Also read:&nbsp;Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him?</a>

According to Trump and his allies, the FBI system is plagued with issues that could hinder the President-elect's plan to quickly begin the work of implementing his agenda, people briefed on the plans reportedly said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the critics of this move have said that the intrusive background checks sometimes bring up embarrassing information used to inflict political damage.&nbsp;

The move to keep the FBI out of it lines up with a pre-election memo drafted by Trump's legal advisors and also fits with his enduring suspicion that the agency is part of what, without evidence, he believes to be a "deep state" machine within the federal government bent on undermining him.&nbsp;

Trump appointed Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, who has faced a two-year Department of Justice investigation into sex-trafficking allegations, which were eventually dropped without charges being lodged.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;The Return Of 'Dealmaker' Donald Trump | WION Wideangle

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This led to a further investigation by the House of Representatives ethics committee that had been due to culminate in a report this week before Gaetz effectively suspended its publication by resigning.

However, it was not immediately known which of Trump's picks will be&nbsp;spared by the routine FBI check.&nbsp;

Ultimately, the president holds the final authority on who he nominates to share intelligence with, regardless of the established protocol set in the wake of World War II, to ensure these selections don't have unknown foreign ties.&nbsp;

Dan Meyer, a national security attorney in Washington DC, said the incoming Trump administration “doesn’t want harmony.” They “don’t want the FBI to coordinate a norm; they want to hammer the norm,” he said.

Moreover, some of Trump’s advisers also circulated a memo ahead of the election, urging him to bypass the traditional background check process for some of his appointees, a source briefed on the memo told CNN.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President-elect Donald Trump has bypassed standard background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for some of his controversial cabinet appointees, to minimise the chances of them being rejected during the Senate confirmation for any conflict of interest, reported CNN.

United States President-elect Donald Trump has bypassed standard background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for some of his controversial cabinet appointees, to minimise the chances of them being rejected during the Senate confirmation for any conflict of interest, reported CNN. These background checks have been a longstanding tradition for incoming presidential nominations and date back to the early Cold War days. However, Trump has outsourced it to private investigators instead of the FBI. Also read: Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him? According to Trump and his allies, the FBI system is plagued with issues that could hinder the President-elect's plan to quickly begin the work of implementing his agenda, people briefed on the plans reportedly said. Meanwhile, the critics of this move have said that the intrusive background checks sometimes bring up embarrassing information used to inflict political damage. The move to keep the FBI out of it lines up with a pre-election memo drafted by Trump's legal advisors and also fits with his enduring suspicion that the agency is part of what, without evidence, he believes to be a "deep state" machine within the federal government bent on undermining him. Trump appointed Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, who has faced a two-year Department of Justice investigation into sex-trafficking allegations, which were eventually dropped without charges being lodged. Watch | The Return Of 'Dealmaker' Donald Trump | WION Wideangle × This led to a further investigation by the House of Representatives ethics committee that had been due to culminate in a report this week before Gaetz effectively suspended its publication by resigning. However, it was not immediately known which of Trump's picks will be spared by the routine FBI check. Ultimately, the president holds the final authority on who he nominates to share intelligence with, regardless of the established protocol set in the wake of World War II, to ensure these selections don't have unknown foreign ties. Dan Meyer, a national security attorney in Washington DC, said the incoming Trump administration “doesn’t want harmony.” They “don’t want the FBI to coordinate a norm; they want to hammer the norm,” he said. Moreover, some of Trump’s advisers also circulated a memo ahead of the election, urging him to bypass the traditional background check process for some of his appointees, a source briefed on the memo told CNN. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump skips FBI standard background checks for some of his Cabinet appointees

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.&nbsp;

Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security.

Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final.

WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General

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&nbsp;

<h2>ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA</h2>

Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver.&nbsp;

He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation.&nbsp;

Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tulsi-gabbard-newly-elected-trumps-spy-chief-served-in-us-military-for-over-two-decades-776235">Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades</a>

But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East.

The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden).&nbsp;

The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik.

Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance.&nbsp;

<h2>TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE&nbsp;</h2>

Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them.&nbsp;

The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment.&nbsp;

Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office.

Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents.&nbsp;

More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases.

Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department.

<h2>THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY</h2>

Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this.

Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office.&nbsp;

For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. 
Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration.

<h2>SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT</h2>

Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-tulsi-gabbard-nominated-to-head-us-intelligence-matt-gaetz-to-lead-justice-department-775994">Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department</a> 
&nbsp;

Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency.&nbsp;

There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him.

<h2>FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS</h2>

Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs.&nbsp;

Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office.&nbsp;

He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing.

This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts.&nbsp;

Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East.

Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations.

Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab.

<h2>GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS?</h2>

The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut.

<h2>ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES?</h2>

Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes.&nbsp;

For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'.

Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors.&nbsp;

<h2>HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC?</h2>

At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines.

<h2>BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP?</h2>

Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda.

This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation.

Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases. Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security. Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final. WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General × ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver. He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation. Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict. Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East. The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden). The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik. Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance. TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them. The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office. Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents. More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases. Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department. THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this. Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office. For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration. SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office. Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency. There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him. FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs. Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office. He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing. This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts. Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East. Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations. Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab. GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS? The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut. ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES? Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes. For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'. Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors. HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC? At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines. BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP? Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda. This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval. Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation. Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him?

US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Tuesday (Nov 12) arrested a CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) operative in Cambodia for allegedly leaking classified documents regarding Israel’s plans to strike Iran. According to a report by the New York Times, the operative, identified as Asif W Rahman, was presented in a federal court in Guam.

The NY Times report said that Rahman has been charged with willful retention and transmission of national defence information by a US federal court in Virginia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwijg_vavdmJAxV_yzgGHTOKDHMQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-terror-attack-plot-afghan-suspect-nasir-ahmad-tawhedi-once-worked-with-cia-reports-766538" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-terror-attack-plot-afghan-suspect-nasir-ahmad-tawhedi-once-worked-with-cia-reports-766538&amp;ved=2ahUKEwijg_vavdmJAxV_yzgGHTOKDHMQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">US election terror attack plot: Afghan suspect Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi once worked with CIA - Reports</a>

The indictment was prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

<h2>More about Asif W&nbsp;Rahman</h2>

Rahman worked for the CIA’s overseas operations and held top-secret security clearance. Thanks to his position in the CIA, Rahman had access to top-level classified information, including sensitive security-related documents and media.

The leak was identified after the classified documents were found circulating on the Telegram messaging app. Puzzled US officials earlier said they were not aware of the source of the leak.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwijg_vavdmJAxV_yzgGHTOKDHMQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-kashyap-kash-patel-in-line-to-become-cia-chief-under-new-trump-administration-774097" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-kashyap-kash-patel-in-line-to-become-cia-chief-under-new-trump-administration-774097&amp;ved=2ahUKEwijg_vavdmJAxV_yzgGHTOKDHMQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE">Indian-origin Kashyap `Kash` Patel in line to become CIA chief under new Trump administration: Report</a>

US officials in October had raised alarms over the leak of two intelligence documents, both related to Israel’s potential strikes on Iran amid the deepening crisis in West Asia.

According to Israeli media, the leak occurred Friday (Nov 8) as the Middle East Spectator Telegram channel said it had received the document from a source within the US intelligence community.

Iran on October 1 launched a massive missile and drone attack on Israel as a response to the killing of leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel retaliated last month with an airstrike on Iranian air defence batteries and military sites protecting crucial energy facilities. Now, Iran is threatening to launch another major strike on the Jewish nation, which would be the third this year if it actually happens.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday (Nov 12) that a third Iranian attack on Israel “would simply cripple Iran’s economy.”

“It would rob you of many more billions of dollars,” he said of a potential additional attack, after claiming that the October ballistic missile attack on Israel cost Tehran $2.3 billion.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Tuesday (Nov 12) arrested a CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) operative in Cambodia for allegedly leaking classified documents regarding Israel’s plans to strike Iran.

US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Tuesday (Nov 12) arrested a CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) operative in Cambodia for allegedly leaking classified documents regarding Israel’s plans to strike Iran. According to a report by the New York Times, the operative, identified as Asif W Rahman, was presented in a federal court in Guam. The NY Times report said that Rahman has been charged with willful retention and transmission of national defence information by a US federal court in Virginia. Also read: US election terror attack plot: Afghan suspect Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi once worked with CIA - Reports The indictment was prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. More about Asif W Rahman Rahman worked for the CIA’s overseas operations and held top-secret security clearance. Thanks to his position in the CIA, Rahman had access to top-level classified information, including sensitive security-related documents and media. The leak was identified after the classified documents were found circulating on the Telegram messaging app. Puzzled US officials earlier said they were not aware of the source of the leak. Also read: Indian-origin Kashyap `Kash` Patel in line to become CIA chief under new Trump administration: Report US officials in October had raised alarms over the leak of two intelligence documents, both related to Israel’s potential strikes on Iran amid the deepening crisis in West Asia. According to Israeli media, the leak occurred Friday (Nov 8) as the Middle East Spectator Telegram channel said it had received the document from a source within the US intelligence community. Iran on October 1 launched a massive missile and drone attack on Israel as a response to the killing of leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel retaliated last month with an airstrike on Iranian air defence batteries and military sites protecting crucial energy facilities. Now, Iran is threatening to launch another major strike on the Jewish nation, which would be the third this year if it actually happens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday (Nov 12) that a third Iranian attack on Israel “would simply cripple Iran’s economy.” “It would rob you of many more billions of dollars,” he said of a potential additional attack, after claiming that the October ballistic missile attack on Israel cost Tehran $2.3 billion. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI detains CIA official over leaking info about Israel’s strikes on Iran

The United States Justice Department Friday (Nov 8) made charges public in a case regarding a thwarted attempt by Iran to kill Donald Trump, the winner of the 2024 US presidential elections, back in September.

According to an official complaint filed at Manhattan federal court, an agent in the US was allegedly instructed by an Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard official to hatch a plan to kill the Republican leader, earlier this year.&nbsp;

The man has been identified as Farjad Shakeri. He was allegedly ordered by the Iranian official that if he fails to formulate a plan to kill Trump by September, they would have to delay it until the elections happen.

Shakeri reportedly told US federal investigative agency FBI that Iran anticipated Trump would lose the elections, which would make it easier for the Shi’ite nation to assassinate the GOP leader.

The plot was uncovered after the US Justice Department unsealed the court documents related to it days after Trump defeated Democratic rival Kamala Harris in polls marred by foreign interference, especially by nations like Russia, Iran, and China. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The United States Justice Department Friday (Nov 8) made charges public in a case regarding a thwarted attempt by Iran to kill Donald Trump, the winner of the 2024 US presidential elections, back in September.

The United States Justice Department Friday (Nov 8) made charges public in a case regarding a thwarted attempt by Iran to kill Donald Trump, the winner of the 2024 US presidential elections, back in September. According to an official complaint filed at Manhattan federal court, an agent in the US was allegedly instructed by an Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard official to hatch a plan to kill the Republican leader, earlier this year. The man has been identified as Farjad Shakeri. He was allegedly ordered by the Iranian official that if he fails to formulate a plan to kill Trump by September, they would have to delay it until the elections happen. Shakeri reportedly told US federal investigative agency FBI that Iran anticipated Trump would lose the elections, which would make it easier for the Shi’ite nation to assassinate the GOP leader. The plot was uncovered after the US Justice Department unsealed the court documents related to it days after Trump defeated Democratic rival Kamala Harris in polls marred by foreign interference, especially by nations like Russia, Iran, and China. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI foiled Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, criminal charges unsealed

Iran's foreign ministry on Saturday (Nov 9) described as "totally unfounded" US accusations of a plot by Tehran to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump. The foreign ministry "rejects allegations that Iran is implicated in an assassination attempt targeting former or current American officials," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement after US prosecutors announced charges over the alleged plot.

Iran's foreign ministry on Saturday (Nov 9) described as "totally unfounded" US accusations of a plot by Tehran to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump. The foreign ministry "rejects allegations that Iran is implicated in an assassination attempt targeting former or current American officials," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement after US prosecutors announced charges over the alleged plot. US prosecutors announced on Friday (Nov 8) that an Iranian man has been charged in an alleged assassination attempt on Trump. US said the foiled assassination plot on Trump was allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to avenge the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Also read | Trump wants trade war veteran Robert Lighthizer to run US trade policy: Report The 51-year-old Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national who is believed to be in Iran, was "tasked" by the IRGC with providing a plan to kill Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 US presidential election, the department said in a statement. Shakeri and two other men, Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, both from New York, were charged separately with plotting to kill an Iranian-American dissident in New York. Rivera and Loadholt are in US custody and made a court appearance in New York on Thursday. "The charges announced today expose Iran's continued brazen attempts to target US citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran," FBI Director Christopher Wray said. 'Money's not an issue' According to the criminal complaint against Shakeri, he allegedly disclosed the plot to assassinate Trump in telephone conversations with FBI agents in recent months. Also read | FEMA official directed aid workers to avoid houses with Trump signs, suspended: Report Shakeri held the conversations with FBI agents because he was hoping to obtain a sentence reduction for a person who is imprisoned in the United States, it said. Shakeri told the FBI he was approached by an IRGC official in September about organising the assassination of Trump. He allegedly told the IRGC official it would cost a "huge" amount of money, to which the official responded: "Money's not an issue." (With inputs from agencies)

Iran says Trump assassination claim by FBI 'totally unfounded'

Officials across the United States are examining reports of racist text messages targeting Black people,&nbsp;minors, students, and professionals from unknown numbers following the 2024 presidential election which Donald Trump won. These messages, some instructing recipients to "pick cotton at the nearest plantation," have surfaced in multiple US states, including California, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

The messages differ slightly but generally carry a similar theme, instructing recipients they’ve been “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.” Reports from local news and social media show that people in more than a dozen states have received these texts.

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My grandson received this text message this morning. This is the kind of shit black people have been subjected to all my life. This text is going around to young black people. It ain’t funny &amp; laughter won’t be the consequence for whoever the cowardly MF is if I find (it). <a href="https://t.co/0OjKhUdcA1">pic.twitter.com/0OjKhUdcA1</a>
— Virvus Jones (@VirvusJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirvusJ/status/1854528257606951111?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The senders of these messages are unknown, and a complete list of recipients isn’t available. TextNow, a messaging app, believes that these texts were part of a "widespread, coordinated attack" and has stated that it is cooperating with partners to investigate and block similar accounts.&nbsp;

TextNow told CNN, "We do not tolerate or condone the use of our service to send harassing or spam messages and will work with the authorities to prevent these individuals from doing so in the future."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clueless-us-voters-googled-where-to-vote-for-biden-in-trump-vs-harris-contest-774642">Clueless US voters Googled ‘where to vote for Biden’ in Trump vs Harris fight</a>

Derrick Johnson, CEO of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), commented on the wider implications, saying, “The unfortunate reality of electing a president who, historically, has embraced and at times encouraged hate, is unfolding before our eyes.”&nbsp;

Johnson described the messages as a troubling sign of rising racist rhetoric across the country.

“These messages represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country, who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesday’s election results,” he added.

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I have been made aware of racist and vile spam text messages individuals have received throughout Louisiana. I have directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate the origins of these disgusting texts that only intend to divide us. I urge anyone who received… <a href="https://t.co/akz37kYbXq">pic.twitter.com/akz37kYbXq</a>
— Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGLizMurrill/status/1854665157953380622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Leaders from both political parties have condemned the messages, vowing to identify and stop those responsible. A Trump campaign representative, Karoline Leavitt, clarified that the campaign “has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/he-regained-youth-internet-startled-as-super-sharp-biden-delivers-powerful-speech-774620">‘He regained youth,’ internet startled as ‘super sharp’ Biden delivers powerful speech</a>

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said, "Hate has no place in our country. These racist text messages targeting Black New Yorkers, including children and teens, are despicable. Any New Yorker who gets these texts should contact us: https://ag.ny.gov/file-complaint/civil-rights.”

“The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter,” the FBI said in a statement Thursday (Nov 7).

Louisiana&nbsp;Attorney General Liz Murrill, a Republican, took to X and said, “I have been made aware of racist and vile spam text messages individuals have received throughout Louisiana. I have directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate the origins of these disgusting texts that only intend to divide us. I urge anyone who received a text to contact my office at (800) 351-4889.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Officials across the United States are examining reports of racist text messages targeting Black people, minors, students, and professionals from unknown numbers following the 2024 presidential election which Donald Trump won.

Officials across the United States are examining reports of racist text messages targeting Black people, minors, students, and professionals from unknown numbers following the 2024 presidential election which Donald Trump won. These messages, some instructing recipients to "pick cotton at the nearest plantation," have surfaced in multiple US states, including California, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The messages differ slightly but generally carry a similar theme, instructing recipients they’ve been “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.” Reports from local news and social media show that people in more than a dozen states have received these texts. My grandson received this text message this morning. This is the kind of shit black people have been subjected to all my life. This text is going around to young black people. It ain’t funny & laughter won’t be the consequence for whoever the cowardly MF is if I find (it). pic.twitter.com/0OjKhUdcA1 — Virvus Jones (@VirvusJ) November 7, 2024 × The senders of these messages are unknown, and a complete list of recipients isn’t available. TextNow, a messaging app, believes that these texts were part of a "widespread, coordinated attack" and has stated that it is cooperating with partners to investigate and block similar accounts. TextNow told CNN, "We do not tolerate or condone the use of our service to send harassing or spam messages and will work with the authorities to prevent these individuals from doing so in the future." Also read: Clueless US voters Googled ‘where to vote for Biden’ in Trump vs Harris fight Derrick Johnson, CEO of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), commented on the wider implications, saying, “The unfortunate reality of electing a president who, historically, has embraced and at times encouraged hate, is unfolding before our eyes.” Johnson described the messages as a troubling sign of rising racist rhetoric across the country. “These messages represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country, who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesday’s election results,” he added. I have been made aware of racist and vile spam text messages individuals have received throughout Louisiana. I have directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate the origins of these disgusting texts that only intend to divide us. I urge anyone who received… pic.twitter.com/akz37kYbXq — Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) November 7, 2024 × Leaders from both political parties have condemned the messages, vowing to identify and stop those responsible. A Trump campaign representative, Karoline Leavitt, clarified that the campaign “has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.” Also read: ‘He regained youth,’ internet startled as ‘super sharp’ Biden delivers powerful speech New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said, "Hate has no place in our country. These racist text messages targeting Black New Yorkers, including children and teens, are despicable. Any New Yorker who gets these texts should contact us: https://ag.ny.gov/file-complaint/civil-rights.” “The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter,” the FBI said in a statement Thursday (Nov 7). Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, a Republican, took to X and said, “I have been made aware of racist and vile spam text messages individuals have received throughout Louisiana. I have directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate the origins of these disgusting texts that only intend to divide us. I urge anyone who received a text to contact my office at (800) 351-4889.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘Pick cotton at nearest plantation’: Racist texts sent to Black people across US, FBI opens probe

As the United States general election nears the finishing line on Tuesday (Nov 5), there have been reports of 'bomb threats' of Russian origin, apart from bad weather and voting machine glitches that led to delays or extensions of polling time.

The email threats were described by authorities and the FBI as 'non-credible' amid reports that foreign adversaries including Russia and China were trying to disrupt the US election process.

Watch: US Election: Capitol Hill: Man With Flare Gun Arrested | Voting Extended In Pennsylvania County

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There have been some arrests, amid long lines that broke records in some states as Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris race for the White House in a supertight presidential election.

The bomb threats were received over email at some polling stations in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia, leading to delays as law enforcement cleared the areas.

The FBI said the threats "appear to originate from Russian email domains" adding that no threat was credible thus far.

In Georgia, a key battleground state, the bomb threats were reported in Union City near the capital Atlanta, leading to the temporary shutting of two polling stations, CNN reported citing Nadine Williams, Fulton County Registration and Elections Director.

Similarly, a station was evacuated in the state's Gwinnett County for nearly an hour over a bomb threat, local police said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2024-stay-in-line-too-big-to-rig-exhorts-trump-is-he-already-crying-foul-773701">Also read: US Election 2024: 'STAY IN LINE - TOO BIG TO RIG', exhorts Trump. Is he already crying foul?</a> 
 
In Michigan, bomb threats that were initially reported to be serious were found non-credible after a probe, CNN quoted the state's Attorney General Dana Nessel as saying.

All bomb threats were traced to email IDs with domains registered in Russia.

Some polling stations saw delays due to voter ID checking, and malfunctioning voting machines in an election closely scrutinised, vote by vote.

Election officials are seeking to prevent a repeat of 2020 when Trump claimed fraud, which he appeared to repeat already through some social media posts on Tuesday.

CNN cited Cait Conley, senior adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as saying that there were no significant national-level incidents impacting election security.

The turnout has been impressive, with Michigan breaking the record that it already holds for the largest number of votes polled.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2024-donald-trump-and-his-india-connection-773647">Also read: US Election 2024: Donald Trump and his India connection</a> 
 
Sporadic incidents of violence and some arrests have been reported in Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Washington DC, while voting machines malfunctioned in a Pennsylvania booth leading to an extension of polling time.

Trump also raised doubts about the conduct of elections.&nbsp;"A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law enforcement coming!!!” he wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Massive security is in place, including snipers and drones securing polling locations, apart from 350 National Guard personnel and monitoring of cyber threats.

Security has been beefed up and troops are on standby in the national capital Washington, DC and 18 states including some battlegrounds.

(With inputs from agencies)

As the United States general election nears the finishing line on Tuesday (Nov 5), there have been reports of 'bomb threats' of Russian origin, apart from bad weather and voting machine glitches that led to delays or extensions of polling time.

As the United States general election nears the finishing line on Tuesday (Nov 5), there have been reports of 'bomb threats' of Russian origin, apart from bad weather and voting machine glitches that led to delays or extensions of polling time. The email threats were described by authorities and the FBI as 'non-credible' amid reports that foreign adversaries including Russia and China were trying to disrupt the US election process. Watch: US Election: Capitol Hill: Man With Flare Gun Arrested | Voting Extended In Pennsylvania County × There have been some arrests, amid long lines that broke records in some states as Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris race for the White House in a supertight presidential election. The bomb threats were received over email at some polling stations in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia, leading to delays as law enforcement cleared the areas. The FBI said the threats "appear to originate from Russian email domains" adding that no threat was credible thus far. In Georgia, a key battleground state, the bomb threats were reported in Union City near the capital Atlanta, leading to the temporary shutting of two polling stations, CNN reported citing Nadine Williams, Fulton County Registration and Elections Director. Similarly, a station was evacuated in the state's Gwinnett County for nearly an hour over a bomb threat, local police said. Also read: US Election 2024: 'STAY IN LINE - TOO BIG TO RIG', exhorts Trump. Is he already crying foul? In Michigan, bomb threats that were initially reported to be serious were found non-credible after a probe, CNN quoted the state's Attorney General Dana Nessel as saying. All bomb threats were traced to email IDs with domains registered in Russia. Some polling stations saw delays due to voter ID checking, and malfunctioning voting machines in an election closely scrutinised, vote by vote. Election officials are seeking to prevent a repeat of 2020 when Trump claimed fraud, which he appeared to repeat already through some social media posts on Tuesday. CNN cited Cait Conley, senior adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as saying that there were no significant national-level incidents impacting election security. The turnout has been impressive, with Michigan breaking the record that it already holds for the largest number of votes polled. Also read: US Election 2024: Donald Trump and his India connection Sporadic incidents of violence and some arrests have been reported in Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Washington DC, while voting machines malfunctioned in a Pennsylvania booth leading to an extension of polling time. Trump also raised doubts about the conduct of elections. "A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law enforcement coming!!!” he wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. Massive security is in place, including snipers and drones securing polling locations, apart from 350 National Guard personnel and monitoring of cyber threats. Security has been beefed up and troops are on standby in the national capital Washington, DC and 18 states including some battlegrounds. (With inputs from agencies)

US election: 'Bomb threats of Russian origin', machine glitches delay polling in some states

The United States has charged a former Indian official for his role in a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader. 39-year-old Vikash Yadav is charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire and money laundering. He's the second Indian national after Nikhil Gupta to be charged in the alleged plot to kill Pannun.

FBI Releases Wanted Poster For Vikash Yadav

In 1940, the Nazis seized a Claude Monet pastel and seven other works of art from Adalbert "Bela" and Hilda Parlagi, a Jewish couple forced to flee their Vienna home after Austria was annexed into Adolf Hitler's Germany.

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After the war, Bela Parlagi searched for his art to no avail until his death in 1981. His son continued the search without success until he died in 2012.

But on Wednesday (Oct&nbsp;8), more than 80 years later, Parlagi's granddaughters Helen Lowe and Francoise Parlagi were reunited with the missing Monet after the FBI and a Britain-based nonprofit located it in the United States.

"We never give up looking," said Anne Webber, the co-chair of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, the non-profit that started helping Parlagis' heirs search for the missing art in 2014. "It's the one thing about this work, you have to be very persistent."

The 7- by 11-inch (18- by 28-centimetre) pastel, called "Bord de Mer," dates back to 1865 and features a scene from France's Normandy shoreline.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/un-chief-guterres-urges-peace-in-lebanon-addresses-myanmar-crisis-at-asean-un-summit-in-laos-766671">UN chief Guterres urges peace in Lebanon, addresses Myanmar crisis at ASEAN-United Nations summit in Laos</a>

The family stored the piece with the rest of their belongings at a shipping company warehouse in 1938. The Nazis seized their property in 1940 and the Monet pastel was sold at auction in 1941.

The FBI got involved in 2021, after the commission discovered that a New Orleans-based art dealer had acquired the painting in 2017 and sold it to private collectors in 2019.

The FBI recovered the painting in 2023, after it appeared for sale at a Houston-based gallery.

The FBI said the owners of the pastel - Bridget Vita and her late husband Kevin Schlamp, did not realise the Nazis had stolen the Monet and they voluntarily surrendered it.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/obama-tells-black-men-to-stop-excuses-and-support-harris-instead-of-trump-766675">US presidential election: Obama tells Black men to stop 'excuses' and support Harris instead of Trump</a>

In March, the Parlagi family recovered another artwork when the Austrian government returned a chalk drawing of German composer Richard Wagner by Franz von Lenbach, after the commission located it at the Albertina Museum in Vienna.

Webber, who advises anyone buying art to carefully check its provenance, estimates about 90 per cent&nbsp;of the artwork and other possessions stolen by the Nazis is still missing.

The Parlagi family is still searching for six artworks, including a signed watercolour by Paul Signac called Seine in Paris, and the FBI's investigation is ongoing.

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.

In 1940, the Nazis seized a Claude Monet pastel and seven other works of art from Adalbert "Bela" and Hilda Parlagi, a Jewish couple forced to flee their Vienna home after Austria was annexed into Adolf Hitler's Germany.

In 1940, the Nazis seized a Claude Monet pastel and seven other works of art from Adalbert "Bela" and Hilda Parlagi, a Jewish couple forced to flee their Vienna home after Austria was annexed into Adolf Hitler's Germany. After the war, Bela Parlagi searched for his art to no avail until his death in 1981. His son continued the search without success until he died in 2012. But on Wednesday (Oct 8), more than 80 years later, Parlagi's granddaughters Helen Lowe and Francoise Parlagi were reunited with the missing Monet after the FBI and a Britain-based nonprofit located it in the United States. "We never give up looking," said Anne Webber, the co-chair of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, the non-profit that started helping Parlagis' heirs search for the missing art in 2014. "It's the one thing about this work, you have to be very persistent." The 7- by 11-inch (18- by 28-centimetre) pastel, called "Bord de Mer," dates back to 1865 and features a scene from France's Normandy shoreline. Also Read | UN chief Guterres urges peace in Lebanon, addresses Myanmar crisis at ASEAN-United Nations summit in Laos The family stored the piece with the rest of their belongings at a shipping company warehouse in 1938. The Nazis seized their property in 1940 and the Monet pastel was sold at auction in 1941. The FBI got involved in 2021, after the commission discovered that a New Orleans-based art dealer had acquired the painting in 2017 and sold it to private collectors in 2019. The FBI recovered the painting in 2023, after it appeared for sale at a Houston-based gallery. The FBI said the owners of the pastel - Bridget Vita and her late husband Kevin Schlamp, did not realise the Nazis had stolen the Monet and they voluntarily surrendered it. Also Read | US presidential election: Obama tells Black men to stop 'excuses' and support Harris instead of Trump In March, the Parlagi family recovered another artwork when the Austrian government returned a chalk drawing of German composer Richard Wagner by Franz von Lenbach, after the commission located it at the Albertina Museum in Vienna. Webber, who advises anyone buying art to carefully check its provenance, estimates about 90 per cent of the artwork and other possessions stolen by the Nazis is still missing. The Parlagi family is still searching for six artworks, including a signed watercolour by Paul Signac called Seine in Paris, and the FBI's investigation is ongoing. 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 returns Nazi-looted Monet pastel to Jewish owners after 84 years

With each passing day the election drama in the country is scaling new heights. The FBI has made new revelations in a case relating to election interference and it involves Iran. Watch in for more details!

US Elections: Did Iran Hack Trump's Campaign Documents?

US law enforcement has disrupted a second major Chinese hacking group nicknamed "Flax Typhoon" and wrested thousands of compromised devices from its grasp, FBI Director Christopher Wray said on Wednesday.

FBI Director: US disrupted second Chinese hacking group

America's FBI and Postal Service are investigating suspicious mail containing a white powder substance after it was reportedly sent to election offices in at least 16 states this week. Watch in for more details!

US: Suspicious mail sent to at least 16 election offices

America's FBI and Postal Service are investigating suspicious mail containing a white powder substance this after it was reportedly sent to election offices in at least 16 states this week. Watch to know more.

At least 16 election offices receive suspicious mail

Donald Trump's wife and former first lady, Melania Trump, has slammed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for trampling her freedoms when the agency conducted a raid at her Mar-a-Lago residence.&nbsp;

In a video clip posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Melania, while promoting her upcoming memoir, stated that what happened to her must serve as a warning for the Americans.&nbsp;

"I never imagined my privacy would be invaded by the government here in America," said Melania in the video.&nbsp;

"The FBI raided my home in Florida and searched through my personal belongings. This is not just my story, it serves as a warning to all Americans, a reminder that our freedom and rights must be respected," she added.&nbsp;

In the clip, text from the Fourth Amendment of the IS constitution was also prominently displayed.&nbsp;The Fourth Amendment protects US citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.

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— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP/status/1834937662207103146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-donald-trump-says-entitled-to-make-personal-attacks-750776" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;US Elections 2024: Donald Trump says 'entitled to make personal attacks'</a>

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<h2>Classified documents case</h2>

Notably, the FBI executed a search warrant on August 8, 2022, in connection to classified documents supposedly kept at Trump's Florida home.&nbsp;

The raid resulted in the recovery of approximately 11,000 documents, including over 100 documents marked as classified and at least 18 marked as "top secret'. 48 empty folders marked as classified were also discovered.&nbsp;

"After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” Trump said at the time of the raid.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melania-trump-wants-kamala-harris-to-win-ex-donald-trump-aide-makes-surprising-claim-755264">Also read |&nbsp;'Melania Trump wants Kamala Harris to win': Ex-Donald Trump aide makes surprising claim</a>

The former president also stated that her wife felt "very violated" by the search by the FBI.&nbsp;

“She felt very violated. I mean, this is a terrible thing. They go into her closet, they go through her dresses, and who knows what else. And it wasn’t left the way it—they found it,” said Trump.&nbsp;

In July this year, the&nbsp;Florida-based&nbsp;District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the criminal case against Trump.&nbsp;Cannon ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was leading the prosecution, was unlawfully appointed to his role and did not have the authority to bring the case.

Notably, Smith was appointed by&nbsp;Attorney General Merrick Garlandin in 2022 to lead the investigation into Trump. However, the former president's counsel argued that Smith's appointment violated the US Constitution as his office was not created by Congress and he was not confirmed by the Senate.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump's wife and former first lady, Melania Trump, has slammed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for trampling her freedoms when the agency conducted a raid at her Mar-a-Lago residence.

Donald Trump's wife and former first lady, Melania Trump, has slammed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for trampling her freedoms when the agency conducted a raid at her Mar-a-Lago residence. In a video clip posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Melania, while promoting her upcoming memoir, stated that what happened to her must serve as a warning for the Americans. "I never imagined my privacy would be invaded by the government here in America," said Melania in the video. "The FBI raided my home in Florida and searched through my personal belongings. This is not just my story, it serves as a warning to all Americans, a reminder that our freedom and rights must be respected," she added. In the clip, text from the Fourth Amendment of the IS constitution was also prominently displayed. The Fourth Amendment protects US citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. https://t.co/ZCTwZSqZND pic.twitter.com/RxGQPFGZP3 — MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) September 14, 2024 × Watch | US Elections 2024: Donald Trump says 'entitled to make personal attacks' Classified documents case Notably, the FBI executed a search warrant on August 8, 2022, in connection to classified documents supposedly kept at Trump's Florida home. The raid resulted in the recovery of approximately 11,000 documents, including over 100 documents marked as classified and at least 18 marked as "top secret'. 48 empty folders marked as classified were also discovered. "After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” Trump said at the time of the raid. Also read | 'Melania Trump wants Kamala Harris to win': Ex-Donald Trump aide makes surprising claim The former president also stated that her wife felt "very violated" by the search by the FBI. “She felt very violated. I mean, this is a terrible thing. They go into her closet, they go through her dresses, and who knows what else. And it wasn’t left the way it—they found it,” said Trump. In July this year, the Florida-based District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the criminal case against Trump. Cannon ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was leading the prosecution, was unlawfully appointed to his role and did not have the authority to bring the case. Notably, Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garlandin in 2022 to lead the investigation into Trump. However, the former president's counsel argued that Smith's appointment violated the US Constitution as his office was not created by Congress and he was not confirmed by the Senate. (With inputs from agencies)

'Never imagined...': Melania Trump slams FBI for 'invading' her privacy

An estimate from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) indicates that consumers lost over $5.6 billion last year as a result of crypto fraud. This is a 45% increase from 2022.

FBI: Crypto fraud increased 45% last year to $5.6 billion

A 14-year-old gunman on Wednesday (Sep 4) killed four people, including two students and two teachers, and wounded nine others during a shooting spree at a high school in the US state of Georgia. The shooter, also a student at the school, had apparently been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) radar for over a year for threats to commit a school shooting.

Although a minor, the gunman would be&nbsp;charged with murder and tried as an adult, said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The shooting happened near the town of Winder, about 45 miles (72 kilometres) northeast of Atlanta, the state capital.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:198,&quot;w&quot;:574,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2035}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-multiple-students-injured-casualties-expected-in-shooting-at-georgia-high-school-755931">US: At least 4 dead, over two dozen wounded in shooting at Georgia high school</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:234,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2071}">Why didn't the FBI take action sooner?</h2>

According to an AFP report, the FBI late on Wednesday revealed that the shooter was brought to its attention more than a year ago. At the time, the county sheriff's office had interviewed the-then 13-year-old suspect and his father. The child had denied the threats, however; he was flagged to the school officials for monitoring.

County sheriff Jud Smith told the press that it was not yet clear if the shooter targeted people specifically or if it was random shooting. Furthermore, the weapon used is yet to be identified.

The shooter was subdued by the school resource officer.

County sheriff smith said that the officer "engaged him".

"The shooter quickly realized that if he did not give up that it would end with an OIS — an officer-involved shooting. He gave up, got on the ground, and the deputy took him into custody."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fact-check-does-kamala-harris-want-to-shut-down-x-elon-musk-robert-f-kennedy-jr-claim-so-755785">Fact check: Does Kamala Harris want to shut down X? Elon Musk, Robert F Kennedy Jr claim so</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:478,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2315}">'Sick and deranged monster'</h2>

Shortly after the shooting,&nbsp;Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump said that the shooter was a&nbsp;"sick and deranged monster."

While US President Joe Biden expressed his grief and said he was mourning the dead.

"Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal," he said.

Democratic Party presidential candidate Vice President&nbsp;Kamala Harris&nbsp;speaking at a campaign event in New Hampshire said it was time to end the "epidemic of gun violence."

(With inputs from agencies)

A 14-year-old gunman on Wednesday (Sep 4) killed four people, including two students and two teachers, and wounded nine others during a shooting spree at a high school in the US state of Georgia.

A 14-year-old gunman on Wednesday (Sep 4) killed four people, including two students and two teachers, and wounded nine others during a shooting spree at a high school in the US state of Georgia. The shooter, also a student at the school, had apparently been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) radar for over a year for threats to commit a school shooting. Although a minor, the gunman would be charged with murder and tried as an adult, said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The shooting happened near the town of Winder, about 45 miles (72 kilometres) northeast of Atlanta, the state capital. Also read | US: At least 4 dead, over two dozen wounded in shooting at Georgia high school Why didn't the FBI take action sooner? According to an AFP report, the FBI late on Wednesday revealed that the shooter was brought to its attention more than a year ago. At the time, the county sheriff's office had interviewed the-then 13-year-old suspect and his father. The child had denied the threats, however; he was flagged to the school officials for monitoring. County sheriff Jud Smith told the press that it was not yet clear if the shooter targeted people specifically or if it was random shooting. Furthermore, the weapon used is yet to be identified. The shooter was subdued by the school resource officer. County sheriff smith said that the officer "engaged him". "The shooter quickly realized that if he did not give up that it would end with an OIS — an officer-involved shooting. He gave up, got on the ground, and the deputy took him into custody." Also read | Fact check: Does Kamala Harris want to shut down X? Elon Musk, Robert F Kennedy Jr claim so 'Sick and deranged monster' Shortly after the shooting, Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump said that the shooter was a "sick and deranged monster." While US President Joe Biden expressed his grief and said he was mourning the dead. "Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal," he said. Democratic Party presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at a campaign event in New Hampshire said it was time to end the "epidemic of gun violence." (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia high school shooting: 14-year-old shooter had been on FBI's radar for over a year

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a probe to ascertain whether Iranian state actors were behind the recent hacking attempt on Donald Trump's presidential campaign.&nbsp;

“We can confirm the FBI is investigating the matter,” the agency said in a statement on Monday (Aug 12).&nbsp;

Additionally, the premier security agency is investigating if the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign was also targeted by the Iranian hackers, according to a CBS report.&nbsp;

Notably, it was Trump's campaign last week that claimed it had been hacked and suggested Iranian actors were involved in&nbsp;stealing and distributing internal documents.

The hackers reportedly distributed documents and a dossier on Trump's vice-presidential pick, JD Vance. Apparently, a US media outlet received emails with the campaign material, starting July 22, from a source that refused to identify themselves.&nbsp;

The document was dated Feb. 23, almost five months before Trump selected Vance as his running mate.

"These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process," Donald Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.&nbsp;

"The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House. Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications is doing the bidding of America's enemies and doing exactly what they want," Cheung added.

Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) stated that Trump's campaign was sent a phishing email which led to the hacking attempt. A phishing email is designed to look trustworthy but once a user clicks on the malicious link, the hacker is able to enter their network.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Trump said the hackers were "only able to gather publicly available information" but raised further concerns about the threat of another Iranian attack.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-donald-trump-and-kamala-harris-say-theyve-agreed-to-sept-10-debate-748740" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;US elections 2024: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris say they've agreed to Sept 10 debate</a>

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<h2>What did Microsoft say?&nbsp;</h2>

The allegations by the Trump campaign surfaced a day after Microsoft in a report revealed that&nbsp;Iran was evolving its tactics for the elections which is likely to have global implications.

"A group run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit sent a spear-phishing email to a high-ranking official of a presidential campaign” and “another group with assessed links to the IRGC compromised a user account with minimal access permissions at a county-level government,” the report said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/microsoft-researchers-report-iran-hackers-targeting-us-officials-before-election-748728" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Microsoft researchers report Iran hackers targeting US officials before election</a>

The report added that another Tehran-backed group had been launching "secret" news sites that used AI to lift content from legitimate news sites, and targeted US voters on opposite sides of the political spectrum.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a probe to ascertain whether Iranian state actors were behind the recent hacking attempt on Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a probe to ascertain whether Iranian state actors were behind the recent hacking attempt on Donald Trump's presidential campaign. “We can confirm the FBI is investigating the matter,” the agency said in a statement on Monday (Aug 12). Additionally, the premier security agency is investigating if the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign was also targeted by the Iranian hackers, according to a CBS report. Notably, it was Trump's campaign last week that claimed it had been hacked and suggested Iranian actors were involved in stealing and distributing internal documents. The hackers reportedly distributed documents and a dossier on Trump's vice-presidential pick, JD Vance. Apparently, a US media outlet received emails with the campaign material, starting July 22, from a source that refused to identify themselves. The document was dated Feb. 23, almost five months before Trump selected Vance as his running mate. "These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process," Donald Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. "The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House. Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications is doing the bidding of America's enemies and doing exactly what they want," Cheung added. Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) stated that Trump's campaign was sent a phishing email which led to the hacking attempt. A phishing email is designed to look trustworthy but once a user clicks on the malicious link, the hacker is able to enter their network. Meanwhile, Trump said the hackers were "only able to gather publicly available information" but raised further concerns about the threat of another Iranian attack. Watch | US elections 2024: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris say they've agreed to Sept 10 debate What did Microsoft say? The allegations by the Trump campaign surfaced a day after Microsoft in a report revealed that Iran was evolving its tactics for the elections which is likely to have global implications. "A group run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit sent a spear-phishing email to a high-ranking official of a presidential campaign” and “another group with assessed links to the IRGC compromised a user account with minimal access permissions at a county-level government,” the report said. Also read | Microsoft researchers report Iran hackers targeting US officials before election The report added that another Tehran-backed group had been launching "secret" news sites that used AI to lift content from legitimate news sites, and targeted US voters on opposite sides of the political spectrum. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI probing if Iran hacked Trump's presidential campaign

New information has emerged from the investigation of former US President Donald Trump's assassination attempt. An FBI official revealed that the shooter was identified by the law enforcement officers 90 minutes before the Pennsylvania man tried to assassinate Republican presidential candidate.

Trump assassination bid: Trump to give FBI victim interview

Trump assassination bid: Police identified Trump gunman 90 minutes earlier, says FBI officer

Former US president Donald Trump has agreed to the FBI's request to sit down for a 'victim interview' after he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt earlier this month during a political rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

FBI special agent Kevin Rojek said&nbsp;the interview with the former president would be "a standard victim interview" that the agency would do for any other victim of crime under any other circumstances.

"We want to get his perspective on what he observed. The interview with the former president will follow the same protocol as any other victim interview we conduct," said Rojek.&nbsp;

Trump's would-be assassination was 20-year-old Thomas Crooks who fired eight bullets from an AR-15 rifle while being only 130 metres away from the Republican leader.&nbsp;

The FBI have so far interviewed dozens of people associated with Crooks, including family members, schoolmates and colleagues.&nbsp;

"We have learned the subject was highly intelligent, attended college and maintained steady employment," Rojek said. "His primary social circle appears to be limited to his immediate family as we believe he had few friends and acquaintances."

To this date,&nbsp;the premier security agency of the US has&nbsp; not been able to decipher the motive behind the shooting as&nbsp;Crooks had not posted anything incendiary for either side of the political spectrum.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-shooting-trumps-shooter-quiet-lonely-bullied-740959" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Trump shooting: Trump's shooter 'quiet', 'lonely', 'bullied'</a>

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<h2>Agencies knew about Crooks' movement&nbsp;</h2>

On Sunday (Jul 28), media reports claimed that security agencies, particularly the Secret Service, knew about Crooks' movements at least 100 minutes before he pulled the trigger.&nbsp;

In the immediate aftermath of the assassination bid, multiple videos had emerged showcasing the rallygoers alerting the security agencies about the presence of an odd-looking man on the roof of the building.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-shooter-thomas-crooks-was-spotted-by-cops-nearly-100-minutes-before-shooting-report-745175">Also read |&nbsp;Trump shooter Thomas Crooks was spotted by cops nearly 100 minutes before shooting: Report</a>

<h2>Crooks searched for Trump and Biden</h2>

According to FBI,&nbsp;Crooks had searched for Trump as well as President Joe Biden in the lead-up to the events of July 13.&nbsp;

FBI added that the 20-year-old searched for dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats were earlier expected to certify Biden's nomination for the re-election bid.

Crooks had also placed explosives&nbsp;in his car and reports indicate that he planned to blow it up after surviving the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US president Donald Trump has agreed to the FBI's request to sit down for a 'victim interview' after he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt earlier this month during a political rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

Former US president Donald Trump has agreed to the FBI's request to sit down for a 'victim interview' after he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt earlier this month during a political rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. FBI special agent Kevin Rojek said the interview with the former president would be "a standard victim interview" that the agency would do for any other victim of crime under any other circumstances. "We want to get his perspective on what he observed. The interview with the former president will follow the same protocol as any other victim interview we conduct," said Rojek. Trump's would-be assassination was 20-year-old Thomas Crooks who fired eight bullets from an AR-15 rifle while being only 130 metres away from the Republican leader. The FBI have so far interviewed dozens of people associated with Crooks, including family members, schoolmates and colleagues. "We have learned the subject was highly intelligent, attended college and maintained steady employment," Rojek said. "His primary social circle appears to be limited to his immediate family as we believe he had few friends and acquaintances." To this date, the premier security agency of the US has not been able to decipher the motive behind the shooting as Crooks had not posted anything incendiary for either side of the political spectrum. Watch | Trump shooting: Trump's shooter 'quiet', 'lonely', 'bullied' Agencies knew about Crooks' movement On Sunday (Jul 28), media reports claimed that security agencies, particularly the Secret Service, knew about Crooks' movements at least 100 minutes before he pulled the trigger. In the immediate aftermath of the assassination bid, multiple videos had emerged showcasing the rallygoers alerting the security agencies about the presence of an odd-looking man on the roof of the building. Also read | Trump shooter Thomas Crooks was spotted by cops nearly 100 minutes before shooting: Report Crooks searched for Trump and Biden According to FBI, Crooks had searched for Trump as well as President Joe Biden in the lead-up to the events of July 13. FBI added that the 20-year-old searched for dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats were earlier expected to certify Biden's nomination for the re-election bid. Crooks had also placed explosives in his car and reports indicate that he planned to blow it up after surviving the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump agrees to sit with FBI for ‘victim interview’ about assassination attempt

The FBI is seeking to interview former US President Donald Trump in its investigation of the assassination attempt to obtain a victim statement. Watch in for more details!

US: FBI seeking to interview Donald Trump as part of assassination attempt probe

Former US president Donald Trump was certainly hit by an assassin's bullet or a piece of one, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Friday (July 26).

"What struck former President Donald Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject's rifle," the FBI said in a statement.

It may be recalled here, Trump's right ear was covered in blood on July 13 after he was injured during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-fbi-director-wray-demands-resignation-over-biden-health-cover-up-744206" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Trump goes after FBI Director Wray, demands his resignation over Biden health cover-up</a>

The FBI considered the assault -- in which a gunman fired eight bullets from outside the event's security perimeter -- an ‘assassination attempt’.

However, FBI chief Christopher Wray earlier told US lawmakers that there was some doubt as to "whether or not it's a bullet or shrapnel that, you know, that hit his ear."&nbsp;

"With respect to former president Trump, there’s some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray told Representative Jim Jordan during the testimony.&nbsp;

“As I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet… in addition to causing the grazing, could have landed somewhere else," he added.

Following the&nbsp;statement from the FBI—Trump has long alleged is part of a "deep state" conspiring against him—the Republican posted on his Truth Social platform, "I assume that's the best apology that we'll get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!"

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-fbi-director-for-questioning-if-he-was-struck-by-bullet-during-assassination-bid-744435">Trump blasts FBI director for questioning if he was struck by bullet during assassination bid</a>

Taking a further dig&nbsp;at Wray Trump wrote, “FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively ‘uneventful’ – Wrong!”.

However, Trump also posted a letter from his former White House doctor saying the wound was almost certainly due to a bullet.

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Notably, two rally attendees were seriously wounded in the attack, and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter was shot dead. The gunman was killed by a US Secret Service sniper immediately after the incident.

Since the shooting, Trump has made the attack a significant part of his campaign pitches, telling a crowd in Michigan that he "took a bullet for democracy."

Trump to hold another rally at site of assassination attempt

Donald Trump said on Friday he will return to the Pennsylvania town where he survived an assassination attempt.

"I will be going back to Butler, Pennsylvania, for a big and beautiful rally," former President Trump wrote on his Truth Social site, without providing details on when or where the rally would take place.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US president Donald Trump was certainly hit by an assassin's bullet or a piece of one, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Friday (July 26). "What struck former President Donald Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject's rifle," the FBI said in a statement.

Former US president Donald Trump was certainly hit by an assassin's bullet or a piece of one, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Friday (July 26). "What struck former President Donald Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject's rifle," the FBI said in a statement. It may be recalled here, Trump's right ear was covered in blood on July 13 after he was injured during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Also read | Trump goes after FBI Director Wray, demands his resignation over Biden health cover-up The FBI considered the assault -- in which a gunman fired eight bullets from outside the event's security perimeter -- an ‘assassination attempt’. However, FBI chief Christopher Wray earlier told US lawmakers that there was some doubt as to "whether or not it's a bullet or shrapnel that, you know, that hit his ear." "With respect to former president Trump, there’s some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray told Representative Jim Jordan during the testimony. “As I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet… in addition to causing the grazing, could have landed somewhere else," he added. Following the statement from the FBI—Trump has long alleged is part of a "deep state" conspiring against him—the Republican posted on his Truth Social platform, "I assume that's the best apology that we'll get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!" Also read: Trump blasts FBI director for questioning if he was struck by bullet during assassination bid Taking a further dig at Wray Trump wrote, “FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively ‘uneventful’ – Wrong!”. However, Trump also posted a letter from his former White House doctor saying the wound was almost certainly due to a bullet. × Notably, two rally attendees were seriously wounded in the attack, and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter was shot dead. The gunman was killed by a US Secret Service sniper immediately after the incident. Since the shooting, Trump has made the attack a significant part of his campaign pitches, telling a crowd in Michigan that he "took a bullet for democracy." Trump to hold another rally at site of assassination attempt Donald Trump said on Friday he will return to the Pennsylvania town where he survived an assassination attempt. "I will be going back to Butler, Pennsylvania, for a big and beautiful rally," former President Trump wrote on his Truth Social site, without providing details on when or where the rally would take place. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI confirms Trump was struck by bullet in assassination attempt

Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.

US: FBI's one-line statement on Trump's ear wound

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Christopher Wray has said there were doubts if former United States president Donald Trump was hit by a bullet during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this month.&nbsp;

Trump claims he was hit by a bullet that grazed the upper portion of his right ear after he moved his head just in time to avoid getting shot in the head. However, the FBI director has his suspicions.&nbsp;

"With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray said while testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee.&nbsp;

“As I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet… in addition to causing the grazing, could have landed somewhere else," he added.&nbsp;

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MAGA is BIG MAD at FBI Director Chris Wray for pointing out what many have been questioning: 
 
“With respect to former president Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.” 
 
🍿<a href="https://t.co/igUTMH04St">pic.twitter.com/igUTMH04St</a>
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtCandee/status/1816487414074061161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Notably, 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, had fired a volley of eight rounds towards the former US president using an AR-15 rifle while he was addressing the rally in an open field.&nbsp;

Wray said his team had accounted for all the shots in the cartridges, including the ones that killed a rallygoer and wounded two others. Wray highlighted that Crooks' gun had a collapsible stock that made it easy to hide the gun.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-secret-service-director-grilled-by-lawmakers-on-trump-assassination-attempt-743179" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;US Secret Service director grilled by lawmakers on Trump assassination attempt</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-secret-service-director-grilled-by-lawmakers-on-trump-assassination-attempt-743179/embed" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

<h2>FBI surprised&nbsp;</h2>

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the FBI had thrown the US Secret Service under the bus by claiming it was 'surprising' that the shooter was able to fire the rifle.&nbsp;

“It is surprising but, to get all the details of that will come out later in the investigation," said Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office when asked if he was surprised at the number of shots.&nbsp;

"The Secret Service really needs to answer that question,” Rojek stated, adding that the FBI was only there to support the Secret Service who were in charge of securing the scene.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-fbi-director-wray-demands-resignation-over-biden-health-cover-up-744206">Also read |&nbsp;Trump blasts FBI Director Wray, demands his resignation over Biden health cover-up</a>

The premier security agency last week confirmed that Crooks had searched for Trump as well as his successor Joe Biden in the lead-up to the events of July 13.&nbsp;

FBI added that Crooks searched for dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats were previously expected to certify Biden's nomination for the president before he dropped out of the race.

(With inputs from agencies)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Christopher Wray has said there were doubts if former United States president Donald Trump was hit by a bullet during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this month.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Christopher Wray has said there were doubts if former United States president Donald Trump was hit by a bullet during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this month. Trump claims he was hit by a bullet that grazed the upper portion of his right ear after he moved his head just in time to avoid getting shot in the head. However, the FBI director has his suspicions. "With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray said while testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee. “As I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet… in addition to causing the grazing, could have landed somewhere else," he added. MAGA is BIG MAD at FBI Director Chris Wray for pointing out what many have been questioning: “With respect to former president Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.” 🍿pic.twitter.com/igUTMH04St — Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) July 25, 2024 × Notably, 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, had fired a volley of eight rounds towards the former US president using an AR-15 rifle while he was addressing the rally in an open field. Wray said his team had accounted for all the shots in the cartridges, including the ones that killed a rallygoer and wounded two others. Wray highlighted that Crooks' gun had a collapsible stock that made it easy to hide the gun. Watch | US Secret Service director grilled by lawmakers on Trump assassination attempt FBI surprised In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the FBI had thrown the US Secret Service under the bus by claiming it was 'surprising' that the shooter was able to fire the rifle. “It is surprising but, to get all the details of that will come out later in the investigation," said Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office when asked if he was surprised at the number of shots. "The Secret Service really needs to answer that question,” Rojek stated, adding that the FBI was only there to support the Secret Service who were in charge of securing the scene. Also read | Trump blasts FBI Director Wray, demands his resignation over Biden health cover-up The premier security agency last week confirmed that Crooks had searched for Trump as well as his successor Joe Biden in the lead-up to the events of July 13. FBI added that Crooks searched for dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats were previously expected to certify Biden's nomination for the president before he dropped out of the race. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI director unsure if bullet hit Trump, says it could've been shrapnel

Donald Trump has slammed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray after the latter raised doubts about whether the former United States president was hit by a bullet during the assassination attempt, earlier this month.&nbsp;

Trump took to his Truth Social account and posted a lengthy message where he took shots at Wray as well as President Joe Biden over his deteriorating cognitive abilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively ‘uneventful’ – Wrong!” Trump wrote on the social media platform.&nbsp;

The former president&nbsp;claims he was hit by a bullet that grazed the upper portion of his right ear after he moved his head just in time to avoid getting shot in the head.

"No, it was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel. The hospital called it a 'bullet wound to the ear,'&nbsp;and that is what it was. No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!"&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-secret-service-director-grilled-by-lawmakers-on-trump-assassination-attempt-743179" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;US Secret Service director grilled by lawmakers on Trump assassination attempt</a>

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<h2>What did Wray claim?</h2>

The FBI director raised suspicions over the validity of Trump's claims during the testimony in front of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday (Jul 24).&nbsp;

"With respect to former president Trump, there’s some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray told Representative&nbsp;Jim Jordan during the testimony.&nbsp;

“As I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet… in addition to causing the grazing, could have landed somewhere else," he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-fbi-director-wray-demands-resignation-over-biden-health-cover-up-744206">Also read |&nbsp;Trump goes after FBI Director Wray, demands his resignation over Biden health cover-up</a>

Notably, 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, had fired a volley of eight rounds towards the former US president using an AR-15 rifle while he was addressing the rally in an open field.

It was only after one of the bullets grazed Trump and killed a rallygoer that the Secret Service was able to neutralise Crooks.&nbsp;

The FBI chief&nbsp;said his team had accounted for all the shots in the cartridges, including the ones that killed a rallygoer and wounded two others. Wray highlighted that Crooks' gun had a collapsible stock that made it easy to hide the gun.

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump has slammed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray after the latter raised doubts about whether the former United States president was hit by a bullet during the assassination attempt, earlier this month.

Donald Trump has slammed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray after the latter raised doubts about whether the former United States president was hit by a bullet during the assassination attempt, earlier this month. Trump took to his Truth Social account and posted a lengthy message where he took shots at Wray as well as President Joe Biden over his deteriorating cognitive abilities. “FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively ‘uneventful’ – Wrong!” Trump wrote on the social media platform. The former president claims he was hit by a bullet that grazed the upper portion of his right ear after he moved his head just in time to avoid getting shot in the head. "No, it was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel. The hospital called it a 'bullet wound to the ear,' and that is what it was. No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!" × Watch | US Secret Service director grilled by lawmakers on Trump assassination attempt What did Wray claim? The FBI director raised suspicions over the validity of Trump's claims during the testimony in front of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday (Jul 24). "With respect to former president Trump, there’s some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray told Representative Jim Jordan during the testimony. “As I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet… in addition to causing the grazing, could have landed somewhere else," he added. Also read | Trump goes after FBI Director Wray, demands his resignation over Biden health cover-up Notably, 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, had fired a volley of eight rounds towards the former US president using an AR-15 rifle while he was addressing the rally in an open field. It was only after one of the bullets grazed Trump and killed a rallygoer that the Secret Service was able to neutralise Crooks. The FBI chief said his team had accounted for all the shots in the cartridges, including the ones that killed a rallygoer and wounded two others. Wray highlighted that Crooks' gun had a collapsible stock that made it easy to hide the gun. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump blasts FBI director for questioning if he was struck by bullet during assassination bid

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told members of Congress on Wednesday (Jul&nbsp;17) that gunman Thomas Crooks, who attempted to kill former United States President Donald Trump had used his smartphone to search for images of the Republican leader as well as his successor&nbsp;Joe Biden.&nbsp;&nbsp;

FBI stated that Crooks also searched for&nbsp;dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats are expected to certify Biden's nomination for president.

Despite&nbsp;uncovering and cracking two of Crooks' mobile phones, the FBI said it had not found any definitive evidence to suggest that the 20-year-old shooter had strong partisan political views.&nbsp;

Further investigation of Crooks'&nbsp;devices revealed that he also searched about the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, and US Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Crooks was killed by the US Secret Service (SS) last Saturday (Jul 13) after he fired multiple rounds from an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in a bid to&nbsp;assassinate Trump. The former president was saved by mere inches as the bullet meant for his head, only grazed the top portion of his right ear.&nbsp;

Prior to being neutralised by the SS, Crooks managed to evade the heavy security arrangement and climbed to the roof of a building that brought him within a 130-metre radius of Trump. Reports indicate that the 20-year-old had pointed his rifle at a local law enforcement officer who had climbed the roof and moments later managed to take a shot at Trump.&nbsp;

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Secret Service spotted the shooter on the roof TWENTY MINUTES before the shooting. It’s becoming increasingly untenable to attribute this entirely to incompetence. It is inconceivable that Trump was allowed to take the stage ten minutes after a man who’d already been identified…
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1813918150305501355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-suspected-trump-rally-shooter-was-a-quiet-lonely-bullied-child-in-school-reports-740885" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;US: Suspected Trump rally shooter was a 'quiet', 'lonely' &amp; 'bullied' child in school: Reports</a>

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<h2>Who was Thomas Crooks?</h2>

According to reports Crooks was a loner who had been bullied in high school.&nbsp;Crooks' former classmates at Bethel Park High School described him as smart but standoffish who maintained his distance and could often be spotted wearing headphones and sitting alone at lunch - looking at his phone.&nbsp;

"He sat by himself, didn't talk to anyone, didn't even try to make conversation.&nbsp;He was an odd kid&nbsp;but nothing about him seemed dangerous," said Crooks' schoolmate,&nbsp;17-year-old Liam Campbell.&nbsp;

"Just a normal person who seemed like he didn't like talking to people."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/secret-service-chief-confronted-by-gop-senators-over-trump-assassination-bid-742056">Also read |&nbsp;US Secret Service chief confronted by GOP senators over Trump assassination bid</a>

Since the incident, numerous witnesses have come forward and claimed that they informed the&nbsp;Secret Service officials and other local authorities about the presence of Crooks but no action was taken.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told members of Congress on Wednesday (Jul 17) that gunman Thomas Crooks, who attempted to kill former United States President Donald Trump had used his smartphone to search for images of the Republican leader as well as his successor Joe Biden.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told members of Congress on Wednesday (Jul 17) that gunman Thomas Crooks, who attempted to kill former United States President Donald Trump had used his smartphone to search for images of the Republican leader as well as his successor Joe Biden. FBI stated that Crooks also searched for dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats are expected to certify Biden's nomination for president. Despite uncovering and cracking two of Crooks' mobile phones, the FBI said it had not found any definitive evidence to suggest that the 20-year-old shooter had strong partisan political views. Further investigation of Crooks' devices revealed that he also searched about the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, and US Attorney General Merrick Garland. Crooks was killed by the US Secret Service (SS) last Saturday (Jul 13) after he fired multiple rounds from an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in a bid to assassinate Trump. The former president was saved by mere inches as the bullet meant for his head, only grazed the top portion of his right ear. Prior to being neutralised by the SS, Crooks managed to evade the heavy security arrangement and climbed to the roof of a building that brought him within a 130-metre radius of Trump. Reports indicate that the 20-year-old had pointed his rifle at a local law enforcement officer who had climbed the roof and moments later managed to take a shot at Trump. Secret Service spotted the shooter on the roof TWENTY MINUTES before the shooting. It’s becoming increasingly untenable to attribute this entirely to incompetence. It is inconceivable that Trump was allowed to take the stage ten minutes after a man who’d already been identified… — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 18, 2024 × Watch | US: Suspected Trump rally shooter was a 'quiet', 'lonely' & 'bullied' child in school: Reports Who was Thomas Crooks? According to reports Crooks was a loner who had been bullied in high school. Crooks' former classmates at Bethel Park High School described him as smart but standoffish who maintained his distance and could often be spotted wearing headphones and sitting alone at lunch - looking at his phone. "He sat by himself, didn't talk to anyone, didn't even try to make conversation. He was an odd kid but nothing about him seemed dangerous," said Crooks' schoolmate, 17-year-old Liam Campbell. "Just a normal person who seemed like he didn't like talking to people." Also read | US Secret Service chief confronted by GOP senators over Trump assassination bid Since the incident, numerous witnesses have come forward and claimed that they informed the Secret Service officials and other local authorities about the presence of Crooks but no action was taken. (With inputs from agencies)

REVEALED! What gunman Thomas Crooks searched prior to his assassination bid on Donald Trump

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