The FBI officially closed the J. Edgar Hoover Building office in Washington, D.C., on Friday.
Director Kash Patel announced the move after reports over the summer that headquarters would now be relocated to the Ronald Reagan Building.
“After more than 20 years of failed attempts, we finalized a plan to permanently close the FBI’s Hoover headquarters and move the workforce into a safe, modern facility. Working directly with President Trump and Congress, we accomplished what no one else could,” Patel posted to X on Friday.
He also said a plan for a $5 billion, newly built headquarters was scrapped.
“Instead, we selected the already-existing Reagan Building, saving billions and allowing the transition to begin immediately with required safety and infrastructure upgrades already underway. Once complete, most of the HQ FBI workforce will move in, and the rest are continuing in our ongoing push to put more manpower in the field, where they will remain,” he continued, adding that the Hoover Building “will be shut down permanently.”
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In July, General Services Administration Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael Peters said in a press release for the FBI that the decision to instead move to the Ronald Reagan building, which is only down the block from the Hoover building, would also cut costs on upkeep for the facility.
“This move not only provides a world-class location for the FBI’s public servants, but it also saves Americans billions of dollars on new construction and avoids more than $300 million in deferred maintenance costs at the J. Edgar Hoover facility,” Peters stated in July. “We are proud to partner with Director Patel to drive efficiency and improve the quality of space for a productive workforce in service to national security and taxpayers.”
The closure announcement comes amid other reports about the possible teardown of different federal buildings in the city, such as the Liberty Loan Building, Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, and the GSA Regional Office Building, according to the <a href="https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/controversy-over-new-arc-plans-as-ex-gsa-worker-claims-historic-buildings-at-risk-donald-trump-arc-de-triomphe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National News Desk</a>. However, the outlet reported that GSA Associate Administrator for Strategic Communications Marianne Copenhaver denied the accusations as “a manufactured narrative built on speculation.”
At the White House, Trump’s decision to demolish the East Wing and build a ballroom has earned both intense praise and criticism since it was announced in October.

Justice Department Announces Federal Enforcement Action Against International Criminal Organization

FBI Shuts Down Old Headquarters In Move That Could Save Taxpayers Billions

General

kash patel

Trump Administration

U.S.

Washington D.C.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released an alert on Dec. 19 warning that phony text messages and AI are being used to scam people in the orbits of high-level government officials in the United States.
&#8220;Since at least 2023, malicious actors have sent text messages and <abbr title="artificial intelligence">AI</abbr>-generated voice messages — techniques known as smishing and vishing, respectively — that claim to come from a senior U.S. official to establish rapport with targeted individuals,&#8221; The FBI wrote in an <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA251219">announcement</a>.
The bureau <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250515">released</a> a similar Public Service Announcement in May. It’s becoming increasingly common over the past two years for people to be duped by fake officials, including those from the Cabinet, Congress, and even the White House, according to the alert.
“Malicious actors are impersonating senior U.S. officials via text and AI-generated voice messages and targeting their contacts, including family members,” the FBI wrote in a <a href="https://x.com/FBI/status/2002083068245397752">recent tweet</a> on the issue. The alert noted that they will typically want to talk about policy or the news before getting them to another platform to continue the scam.
“In this scheme, actors reach out to victims and engage them in a brief conversation on a topic they are knowledgeable about. They quickly request to move the discussion to a secondary, encrypted messaging app,” the agency added.
When the “malicious actor” is able to move the conversation to an encrypted messaging software, like Signal or Telegram, they then might be asked to give away sensitive information like a passport, a code that would allow access to the “victim’s contact list,” and even “wire funds to an overseas financial institution under false pretenses.” As for the contact list request, it allows scammers to target others within that individual’s circle.
However, the FBI recommended that people take extra steps to verify whether or not a message is legitimate, like cross-checking phone numbers and other ways the person contacted.
The bureau acknowledged that the recent developments in AI have added an extra roadblock for people to identify these scams.
“AI-generated content has advanced to the point that it is often difficult to identify. When in doubt about the authenticity of someone wishing to communicate with you, contact your relevant security officials or the FBI for help,” the announcement stated.
Different types of AI scams have been increasing, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/artificial-intelligence-ai-scam-fraud-warning-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a> reported in October, as the technology rapidly develops.

Phone lock to protect from cyber scam, online data fraud or identity theft. Laptop with hacker virus code in screen. Phishing, cybersecurity danger or ransomware attack.

Criminals Are Now Using AI To Impersonate Senior U.S. Officials, FBI Warns

FBI Warns Of Scam Where Criminals Pretend To Be High Level American Officials

Crime

scams

The Justice Department said that evidence reviewed by the FBI showed that a purported letter from the late Jeffrey Epstein to convicted child molester Larry Nassar was &#8220;clearly fake.&#8221; 
The 2019 letter, which was released on Tuesday as part of the latest Epstein <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-drops-30000-more-epstein-docs-that-include-accusations-against-trump?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DOJ+Drops+30%2C000+More+Epstein+Docs+That+Include+Accusations+Against+Trump">document drop</a>, included comments about Epstein taking the “short road home” and &#8220;our president&#8221; liking young girls. After the letter went viral, the Justice Department said the FBI would investigate its authenticity before later announcing it was not genuine. 
The FBI determined the letter to be fake, citing several inconsistencies: the handwriting did not appear to match Epstein’s; it was postmarked in Virginia three days after Epstein was found dead in a New York jail cell; and it lacked required information for outgoing federal jail mail. The letter did not include Epstein’s inmate number or housing unit, as is standard.
“There has been lots of sensationalism and even outright lies these past few days about the ‘Epstein Files.’ But let’s separate fact from fiction. Document production is just that. We produce documents, and sometimes this can result in releasing fake or false documents because they simply are in our possession because the law requires this,” <a href="https://x.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/2003612982161371186">said</a> Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. 
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“Case in point: the so-called Epstein Nassar letter is clearly FAKE &#8211; wrong handwriting, wrong return address, and postmarked three days after Epstein died. Fake videos of Epstein in his cell. Photos with no explanation. Sensational tales and lies by random people,” Blanche added. “These are not reality. We will continue to produce every document required by law. Let’s not let internet rumor engines outrun the facts.”
The letter was received at the federal prison where Nassar was being held and then flagged for the FBI. Nassar was convicted of sexually abusing young girls while being a doctor at Michigan State University and the trainer for the United States women’s Olympic gymnastics team.
“As you know by now, I have taken the ‘short route’ home. Good luck! We shared one thing … our love and caring for young ladies and the hope they’d reach their full potential. Our President also shares our love of young, nubile girls,” the letter reads. 
Around 30,000 documents related to Epstein were released by the Justice Department on Tuesday. The document release came after President Donald Trump signed a bill last month that mandated the department to release all the Epstein files. 
Trump has characterized questions about the case as a Democrat “hoax” meant to distract from his administration’s success. There has been no credible evidence that implicates Trump in any of Epstein’s misdeeds.

Patrick McMullan Archives

Justice Department Says Epstein Letter To Larry Nassar Is ‘Clearly Fake’

Department of Justice

Donald Trump

Jeffrey Epstein

Larry Nassar

Politics

Federal authorities have accused another Chinese researcher of smuggling biological materials into the United States, as the FBI cautions American universities about growing threats from the communist nation.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday that Chinese national Youhuang Xiang was arrested for allegedly smuggling genetic material from E. coli bacteria into the United States while working as a researcher at Indiana University. According to court documents, Xiang entered the country in 2023 on an educational exchange visa to secure a postdoctoral position at the school.
“This is yet another example of a researcher from China — given the privilege to work at a U.S. university — who then allegedly chose to take part in a scheme to circumvent U.S. laws and receive biological materials hidden in a package originating from China,” Patel posted on X. “The [FBI] and our CBP partners are committed to enforcing U.S. laws put in place to protect against this global threat to our economy and food supply. If not properly controlled, E. coli and other biological materials could inflict devastating disease to U.S. crops and cause significant financial loss to the U.S. economy.”
Xiang has been charged with conspiracy to commit smuggling, smuggling, and making false statements. He could face up to 20 years in prison and fines totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars if convicted. James Tunick, Xiang&#8217;s lawyer, disputed the allegations.
&#8220;Youhuang Xiang was legally working in the United States on a J-1 visa with a professor from the Biology Department at Indiana University to better wheat crop production in the United States,&#8221; Tunick told The Daily Wire. &#8220;The allegation that Youhuang smuggled E. coli into the United States is completely false and is not even charged by the United States Department of Justice.&#8221;
Xiang, whose <a href="https://biology.indiana.edu/about/research-associates/index.html">bio</a> says he specializes in “recognition specificity in host-pathogen interactions and engineering crop resistance to pathogen,” was first arrested on November 25. Information about the case was unsealed this week. 
In March 2024, Xiang requested that a person in China referred to as “Individual A” ship plasmid DNA from E. coli bacteria to his home in Bloomington, Indiana, according to the indictment. The material was shipped to him shortly after, concealed in a package of clothing items that &#8220;Individual A&#8221; declared included a men&#8217;s vest and women&#8217;s underwear, investigators said. The package allegedly came from Guangzhou Sci Tech Innovation Trading.
More than a year later, on November 23, 2025, Xiang landed in Chicago after returning from a trip to London, where agents with Customs and Border Protection questioned him. During that interview, he allegedly lied to them about the package he had sent to his home and about his ties to the Chinese government. 
Xiang was scheduled to remain at Indiana University through 2027 and was leading a research program focused on genome editing in wheat plants to increase resistance to fungal diseases.
The FBI was made aware of the shipment by CBP as part of an investigation into biological materials being smuggled into the United States from China, which is why he was questioned on November 23. 
“Information provided to the FBI by CBP included information about the history of shipments from China to certain individuals at IU conducting research into wheat pathogen Resistance,” the criminal complaint said. “That information indicated that XIANG was associated with that research and that XIANG received a shipment from China at his residence on March 28, 2024.”
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The FBI also thought it was “odd” that Xiang purchased and shipped “women’s underwear from China, and further assessed it as peculiar that a company by the name ‘Guangzhou Sci Tech Innovation Trading’ would sell underwear or clothing,” according to the complaint. 
A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674205219301625">paper</a> written by Xiang also listed his affiliation with the National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics in Shanghai, which raised flags for investigators. 
“I know from my training and experience that the PRC ‘Key Laboratories’ are overseen by the Chinese Government and have a history of concerning actions including technology transfer and theft of intellectual property,” the FBI agent who investigated the case wrote in the criminal complaint. 
Over the last few months, other Chinese researchers at American universities have been arrested for smuggling biological materials into the country. Multiple arrests have been made at the University of Michigan, where <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-makes-more-arrests-as-alarming-pattern-of-chinese-smuggling-continues">investigators said</a> that shipments of concealed biological materials related to roundworms were smuggled into the United States. 
President Donald Trump has faced criticism over the presence of Chinese students at American universities. While some critics have called for reducing the number of Chinese nationals admitted to U.S. schools, Trump has argued that their enrollment helps provide funding for American institutions.

Cornfield and blue sky

Chinese National Accused Of Smuggling E. Coli DNA Into United States

Chinese National Accused of Smuggling E. Coli DNA Into United States

China

Communist China

Indiana

Smuggling

World

The suspect in the Brown University shooting has been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a New Hampshire storage facility, according to Fox News.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Police chief identifies Brown University shooting suspect in press conference after he&#8217;s found dead. <a href="https://t.co/rK8R6ouaAh">pic.twitter.com/rK8R6ouaAh</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/2001846650323841230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez identified the suspect as Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, 48, a former Brown student and Portuguese national, whose last known address was in Miami.
Valente is a legal permanent resident who attended Brown as a physics student in 2001. He re-entered the country in 2017 as a green card holder. Authorities believe he acted alone.
<div id="attachment_1017563" style="width: 497px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1017563" class="wp-image-1017563 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Claudio-Manuel-Neves-Valente-2-487x576.jpeg" alt="" width="487" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Claudio-Manuel-Neves-Valente-2-487x576.jpeg 487w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Claudio-Manuel-Neves-Valente-2-254x300.jpeg 254w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Claudio-Manuel-Neves-Valente-2-768x907.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Claudio-Manuel-Neves-Valente-2.jpeg 1206w" sizes=" (max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px" />Image via Providence Police Dept.</div>
Authorities confirmed that Valente killed MIT professor Nuno Loureiro in his home, less than 50 miles from Brown University. Valente previously attended the same university program as Loureiro in 1995, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
Law enforcement traced the suspect to a rental car location in Boston, and then to a storage facility in New Hampshire, where he was found deceased via a self-inflicted gunshot wound, along with the satchel seen on video footage and two firearms.
This marks the end of a 6-day-long manhunt that spanned three states and involved local, federal, and state law enforcement.
“I know this has been hard on all of us over the past five days,” Providence Mayor Smiley said at a Thursday night press conference. “Minutes have felt like hours, but the people of Providence have done what we’re best at – we’ve leaned on one another, come together and supported one another, and showed the nation what a tight knit community looks like.”
“Tonight our Providence neighbors can breathe a little easier,” Smiley said.
The Rhode Island press conference has yet to mention the shooting of an MIT professor. A separate news conference is planned in Boston around 10:30 p.m. EST.

Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente

Brown Shooting Suspect Found Dead By Suicide, Identity Released By Authorities

Brown University

New Hampshire

Police

Shooting

Police are investigating a potential connection between the Saturday shooting at Brown University and the Monday killing of an MIT professor in his home, based on information that has emerged in the last 24 hours.
Multiple people familiar with the investigation told <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/12/18/us-news/investigators-probing-ties-between-brown-university-and-mit-professor-shootings-days-into-separate-manhunts/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_social_post_id=626977137&amp;utm_social_handle_id=17469289&amp;utm_source=twitter">several</a> <a href="https://www.wpri.com/target-12/police-probe-potential-ties-between-brown-university-attack-and-mit-professor-slaying/">outlets</a> that federal, state, and local authorities are now examining evidence that the two crimes, which took place less than 50 miles apart, may be linked, marking a significant shift in both stalled investigations.
The violence began Saturday afternoon when an unidentified gunman killed two Brown University students — Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov — and injured nine others after opening fire inside Brown’s Barus &amp; Holley engineering building.
48 hours later, an assailant shot MIT professor Nuno Loureiro multiple times inside his Brookline, Massachusetts, home.
Authorities have yet to identify suspects in either case, and initially stated in a Tuesday press briefing that there “seems to be no connection” between the two shootings.
Providence police and the FBI have steadily released images and video depicting two persons of interest walking the streets around Brown University before and after the shooting, asking the public for any information to identify them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
ENHANCED VIDEO: We are releasing an enhanced video of the person of interest in the Brown University incident. Footage was captured on the East Side of Providence on Saturday afternoon before the incident.
Please share widely and contact the official tip line if you have… <a href="https://t.co/mewBSflOiO">pic.twitter.com/mewBSflOiO</a>
— Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2001035754898653196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Surveillance footage from Brown University captured the alleged shooting suspect — wearing a dark jacket, mask, and hat — walking around campus for hours before the attack around 4 p.m. Saturday. Multiple law enforcement agencies have expanded their search for video evidence, releasing a new map that widens the area of interest around the university.
A second person of interest was identified on Wednesday, depicted wearing a blue jacket and green hood, carrying a white satchel in the area of the shooting.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ENHANCED PHOTO: Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying and speaking to the individual shown in this photo who was in proximity of the person of interest.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the tip line at 401-272-3121. <a href="https://t.co/D1reRPCdZV">pic.twitter.com/D1reRPCdZV</a>
— Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2001390136857178172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Authorities urge anyone with information about either incident to contact law enforcement immediately at 401-272-3121.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: The FBI and <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProvidenceRIPD</a> are releasing new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University on 12/13/25. The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual.… <a href="https://t.co/OhpnsN9fds">pic.twitter.com/OhpnsN9fds</a>
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIBoston/status/2000690371072794682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Nuno Loureiro/Ella Cook

Police Investigating Potential Connection Between Brown University, MIT Shootings

Investigation

Murder

News

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino plans to leave the bureau next month.
Bongino posted his farewell announcement on X on Wednesday. Bongino’s message came soon after President Donald Trump <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2001398261685309668">hinted</a> at Bongino’s departure in comments made on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews, saying of Bongino, “I think he wants to go back to his show.”
“I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” <a href="https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/status/2001416238027935836">said</a> Bongino.
Trump appointed Bongino to the bureau in February. Bongino, before his career in conservative media, served in the New York Police Department and Secret Service. In the media, he was an adept watchdog over the Department of Justice and FBI, especially on scandals such as Operation Crossfire Hurricane and the Jeffrey Epstein saga.
Bongino recently wrapped one of his priorities for the FBI since coming into the deputy director role: identifying the suspected pipe bomber who planted bombs outside the Republican and Democratic headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021. Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-fbi-raids-home-of-suspected-january-6-pipe-bomber">noted</a> in a press conference that arresting the suspected bomber was “the best birthday present” Bongino could have asked for.
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The Department of Justice under Bondi has been roiled by controversies over the past year, including its handling of the so-called Epstein files and prosecutions targeting some of Trump&#8217;s chief antagonists.
White House chief-of-staff Susie Wiles was critical of Bondi in comments published recently in <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-2">Vanity Fair</a>. Wiles said Bondi mishandled the investigation into Epstein when she released old information to a group of right-wing reporters and internet influencers.
“I think she completely whiffed on appreciating that that was the very targeted group that cared about this,” Wiles said of the attorney general. “First she gave them binders full of nothingness. And then she said that the witness list, or the client list, was on her desk. There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn’t on her desk.”
Wiles was more complimentary of the FBI leadership.
“The people that really appreciated what a big deal this is are Kash [Patel] and [FBI deputy director] Dan Bongino,” she said. She noted that, before they were inside the department, Patel and Bongino had been two of the loudest voices calling for transparency on Epstein, suspecting that information on his connections to some elites had been buried in non-public government records.
After joining the FBI, Patel and Bongino investigated their hunch about the Epstein files. They later came to the conclusion that the so-called secret files did not exist, and said as much publicly.
The handling of the Epstein probe sparked tensions within the Justice Department. Bongino <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/11/epstein-files-dan-bongino-pam-bondi-trump">reportedly</a> took issue with Bondi’s handling of the situation in particular. At the time, the deputy head of the FBI was rumored to be on the way out over frustrations with the attorney general.

Dan Bongino

Dan Bongino Leaving FBI: ‘God Bless America, And All Those Who Defend Her’

Executive

Pam Bondi

Police in Rhode Island released &#8220;enhanced&#8221; footage on Tuesday of a person of interest in the shooting at Brown University that left two dead and nine injured as the hunt for the gunman continues. 
The Providence Police Department released the footage of a person of interest walking down the street before the shooting took place. The footage shows a person wearing a hat and mask walking along the street and through neighborhoods a few hours before the attack. 
“We are releasing an enhanced video of the person of interest in the Brown University incident. Footage was captured on the East Side of Providence on Saturday afternoon before the incident,” they posted on X. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ENHANCED VIDEO: We are releasing an enhanced video of the person of interest in the Brown University incident. Footage was captured on the East Side of Providence on Saturday afternoon before the incident.
Please share widely and contact the official tip line if you have… <a href="https://t.co/mewBSflOiO">pic.twitter.com/mewBSflOiO</a>
— Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2001035754898653196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The university has faced criticism over the little amount of footage they have released so far related to the shooting, including from President Donald Trump. 
“Why did Brown University have so few Security Cameras? There can be no excuse for that,” Trump posted on Truth Social. &#8220;In the modern age, it just doesn’t get worse!!!”
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During a press conference, authorities were asked about the lack of footage released to the public so far. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said that there was additional footage that showed “chaos” after the shooting, but none that would help identify the attacker.
“There are cameras that they have in place in an effort to protect their students. And unfortunately here, given location, given age of building there, we just don&#8217;t have additional video footage,” he said. “Trust me, I wish we did, but we don&#8217;t.”
The FBI, which is assisting in the investigation, also shared the footage and asked for anyone with tips on the incident or the person of interest to report it to the authorities. They are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the culprit. 
The manhunt for the gunman has now entered day five as police have still not named any suspects or motive. There have been reports that the gunman shouted something during the shooting, but law enforcement have not yet confirmed that. 
“There&#8217;s nothing about what we know was perhaps said that indicates any kind of motive that is related at all to ethnicity or political outlook or culture. There&#8217;s nothing at all that we know right now about that. And I think that is a dangerous road to go down, particularly in today&#8217;s environment,” Neronha said. 
The two students who were killed in the attack have been identified as 19-year-old University College Republicans Vice President Ella Cook and 18-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.

MixCollage-17-Dec-2025-07-24-AM-4947

Police Release ‘Enhanced’ Footage Of Brown University Person Of Interest As Manhunt Continues

Mass Shooting

Rhode Island

Violent Crime

President Donald Trump sues the BBC for billions of dollars as the White House rebuffs a controversial exposé, newly declassified documents cast suspicion on the Mar-a-Lago raid, and the University of Michigan launches an investigation as the Sherrone Moore scandal deepens.
It’s Wednesday, December 17, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and the video version can be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-251217-member-exclusive?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+Show+Episodes+Carousel">seen on The Daily Wire</a>:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Vs. The BBC</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1016197 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Trump-Battles-BBC-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Trump-Battles-BBC-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Trump-Battles-BBC-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Trump-Battles-BBC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Trump-Battles-BBC-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Trump-Battles-BBC.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
President Trump has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-files-5-billion-lawsuit-against-bbc-over-malicious-documentary">launched</a> a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC as he continues to clash with media outlets at home and abroad. This week, the president filed a 46-page lawsuit in a federal court in Miami, accusing the BBC of defamation and violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. He is looking for $10 billion from the broadcaster. The suit stems from a documentary the BBC released ahead of the 2024 election titled, “Trump: A Second Chance.” The film spliced together two quotes from Trump&#8217;s speech that were said about an hour apart, making it appear as if the president called for violence at the U.S. Capitol and leaving out Trump’s request to protest &#8220;peacefully and patriotically.&#8221; The lawsuit accused the BBC of “intentionally, maliciously and deceptively doctoring [Trump’s] speech in a brazen attempt to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Messages Reveal DOJ Pushed For Mar-a-Lago Raid Over FBI Objections</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1016199 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Mar-A-Lago-Misgivings-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Mar-A-Lago-Misgivings-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Mar-A-Lago-Misgivings-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Mar-A-Lago-Misgivings-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Mar-A-Lago-Misgivings-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Mar-A-Lago-Misgivings.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
The FBI did not believe it had the proper justification to raid Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, but the Biden Justice Department pushed for it anyway. Messages <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-agents-worried-there-was-no-cause-to-raid-mar-a-lago-biden-doj-made-them-do-it-anyway?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=FBI+Agents+Worried+There+Was+No+Cause+To+Raid+Mar-a-Lago%3B+Biden+DOJ+Made+Them+Do+It+Anyway">released</a> by the FBI detail that agents involved in the investigation into classified documents kept at President Trump’s Florida home believed that search warrants obtained for the raid lacked proper predicate. FBI agents also discussed a combative relationship the Biden Justice Department had started with Trump’s legal team, and expressed concern about FBI agents standing in the crossfire between the DOJ and Trump’s team.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Michigan Probes Athletics Department After Moore Ouster</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1016201 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Michigan-Scandal-Deepens-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Michigan-Scandal-Deepens-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Michigan-Scandal-Deepens-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Michigan-Scandal-Deepens-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Michigan-Scandal-Deepens-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Michigan-Scandal-Deepens.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
The University of Michigan is looking into its athletics department following the firing of head football coach Sherrone Moore and his subsequent arrest. Moore was fired last week after an inappropriate relationship with a staffer was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/moore-comes-to-light-after-michigan-head-football-coach-arrested-following-surprise-firing">revealed</a>. Now, the University of Michigan has commissioned an investigation into the practices and culture of its entire athletics department. The investigation will be handled by the same Chicago-based law firm that opened an inquiry earlier this fall into Moore’s affair.

MRN_251217_V1

Morning Brief: Trump Sues BBC, More Revelations On Mar-a-Lago Raid, And Michigan’s Sweeping Athletics Probe

Morning Brief: Trump Sues BBC, FBI Objected To MAL Raid, And UM’s Sweeping Probe After Moore Ouster

Joe Biden

Michigan

Morning Wire

University of Michigan

Shooting At Brown University In Providence Leaves Multiple People Dead And Injured

Violent Migrants Are Invading And Western Leaders Are Surrendering Without A Fight

Europe

France

Matt Walsh

Muslim Immigration

Opinion

Radical Islamic Terror

Riots

FBI agents worried that they did not have probable cause for the raid on President Donald Trump&#8217;s Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago, but went ahead with it anyway under pressure from then-President Joe Biden&#8217;s Justice Department.
A <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-doubted-probable-cause-mar-a-lago-raid-pushed-forward-amid-pressure-from-biden-doj-emails-reveal">report</a> published Tuesday by Fox News Digital detailed a number of emails between the FBI and the DOJ regarding concerns that Trump had taken classified documents to his Florida home — and how to best resolve the situation — and the DOJ ignored the FBI agents assigned to the case who repeatedly suggested alternatives to an outright raid of the property.
&#8220;Very little has been developed related to who might be culpable for mishandling the documents,&#8221; one FBI official — identified as an assistant special agent in charge — wrote to Anthony Riedlinger, another FBI official. &#8220;From the interviews, [Washington Field Office] has gathered information suggesting that there may be additional boxes (presumably of the same type as were sent back to NARA in January) at Mar-a-Lago.&#8221;
The official added that while they were in the process of drafting a search warrant, there were &#8220;some concerns that the information is single source, has not been corroborated, and may be dated.&#8221;
&#8220;DOJ CES opines, however, that the SW’s meet the probable cause standard,&#8221; the official said, but went on to note that the WFO still had reservations and had suggested instead that they have a conversation with Trump&#8217;s attorneys, informing them that the FBI was moving on a search warrant in the hopes of encouraging cooperation rather than confrontation.
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&#8220;At a minimum, even if the former president’s attorney is correct and the documents were all declassified (or believed to be declassified), it can be reasonably argued that the documents remain sensitive and should be properly secured until the matter of classification is sorted out,&#8221; the official added, noting that they could still move forward with the search warrant process at the same time.
Weeks passed and then another email from an unnamed FBI agent stated, &#8220;We haven’t generated any new facts, but keep being given draft after draft after draft.&#8221;
The agent made it clear that the case was viewed as a nonstarter and an overall waste of time: &#8220;Absent a witness coming forward with recent information about classified on site, at what point is it fair to table this? It is time consuming for the team, and not productive if there are no new facts supporting PC (probable cause)?&#8221;
Yet another email stated that officials within the WFO did &#8220;not believe (and has articulated to DOJ CES), that we have established probable cause for the search warrant for classified records at Mar a Lago.&#8221;
Additionally, FBI officials asserted that plans for a raid should be set aside in favor of &#8220;alternative, less intrusive and likelier quicker options for resolution.&#8221;
&#8220;The FBI intends for the execution of the warrant to be handled in a professional, low key manner, and to be mindful of the optics of the search,&#8221; another agent wrote, noting that Deputy Assistant Attorney General George Toscas had said he &#8220;frankly doesn’t give a damn about the optics.&#8221;
&#8220;I understand that this request may not go well at DOJ, however, it is the FBI serving and executing the search and it will be our personnel who will have to deal with the reaction to that first contact,&#8221; the agent added.
The raid went ahead on August 8, 2022.
FBI Director Kash Patel <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2000999942303998185">confirmed</a> the report in an X post on Tuesday, saying, &#8220;It’s true &#8211; we just turned over documents to Capitol Hill to be made public showing the FBI told DOJ they did not have probable cause for raiding President Trump’s home in Mar A Lago but DOJ “didn’t give a damn” and did it anyway.&#8221;

The FBI Executes A Search Warrant At Former President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Estate

FBI Agents Worried There Was No Cause To Raid Mar-a-Lago; Biden DOJ Made Them Do It Anyway

classified documents

Mar-a-Lago

Authorities have released new images and video of a person of interest related to a mass shooting at Brown University while the FBI has offered a $50,000 bounty.
Law enforcement have been attempting to track down a gunman who killed two students and injured nine others on Saturday. Authorities had detained a “person of interest” early on Sunday, but released him after concluding he did not commit the shooting.
The new video and reward offer come as law enforcement have continued a frenzied search to find the shooter. Local officials on Sunday asked residents in Providence, Rhode Island, for additional information, tips, videos, and images of the person of interest after he was caught on CCTV footage in the area of the university.
“The FBI and [the Providence Police Department] are releasing new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University on 12/13/25. The [FBI] is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual,” the bureau’s Boston office said in a post on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: The FBI and <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProvidenceRIPD</a> are releasing new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University on 12/13/25. The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual.… <a href="https://t.co/OhpnsN9fds">pic.twitter.com/OhpnsN9fds</a>
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIBoston/status/2000690371072794682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
The Providence Police Department released additional videos of what appears to be the person of interest dressed in black clothing with a mask on.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨2/4 We are requesting the public&#8217;s assistance in identifying a person of interest in Saturday&#8217;s incident at Brown University. Please share these video clips and direct all tips to 401-272-3121 or <a href="https://t.co/8a1yEMYJya">https://t.co/8a1yEMYJya</a> <a href="https://t.co/5hLiqRDtC4">pic.twitter.com/5hLiqRDtC4</a>
— Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2000701552663654740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley attempted to reassure the public on Monday that there is no active threat despite the shooter still being at large.
“Ever since 4:05 on Saturday, which is when the call came in for [the Brown University shooting] there has been no new credible specific threat anywhere in the Providence community,” Smiley <a href="https://x.com/RedWave_Press/status/2000696187725467805">said</a> at a press conference on Monday.
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Unconvinced reporters pushed Smiley on his basis for claiming that the community remains safe. Officials have increased police presence throughout Providence and at Brown University while the hunt for the shooter continues.
A gunman on Saturday stormed into a classroom in Brown’s engineering department and killed two students, Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. Cook was from Alabama and served as vice president of the university’s Republican Club. Umurzokov was an Uzbek national in his first year at the school.

Brown suspect

Authorities Release New Footage, Offer $50,000 Bounty For Brown Shooting Person Of Interest

Authorities Release New Footage, Offer $50,000 Bounty For Brown Shooting Suspect

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