Special Counsel Jack Smith has been appointed by the Justice Department to investigate former President Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the mishandling of classified government records. ABC News has reported that Smith has subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence as part of the inquiry, and other individuals may have been subpoenaed as well. Smith has also been investigating Trump's role in the attack and his handling of classified documents in key battleground states.
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Two people have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to damage energy facilities in connection with an alleged plot to attack the power grid in Baltimore, Maryland. Brandon Clint Russell, a neo-Nazi leader, and Sarah Beth Clendaniel were charged with conspiracy to damage energy facilities and allegedly planned to "completely destroy" the city. The FBI is continuing to investigate the case and is warning the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The House Judiciary Committee has issued subpoenas to the Department of Justice, FBI, and Department of Education as part of its investigation into the Biden administration's response to rising tensions and threats of violence surrounding school board meetings. The investigation is focused on whether the Justice Department strategy to address threats against teachers and school officials was abused to target conservative parents. This is the first set of subpoenas from the Judiciary's subcommittee dedicated to investigating the alleged weaponization of the federal government and could have far-reaching implications for the Biden administration.
Hunter Biden's lawyers have called for a criminal investigation into a number of right-wing political figures, including Rudy Giuliani, for allegedly accessing and disseminating personal data from a laptop left at a Delaware computer repair shop in 2019. The letters sent to the Delaware attorney general and the Justice Department allege that the individuals involved committed computer and other criminal violations to use the laptop contents against President Joe Biden. The Delaware attorney general's office has confirmed receipt of the letter and is reviewing it, though it is unclear if any criminal charges will be brought against the individuals involved.
The Justice Department has denied a request from House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan for sensitive information related to an ongoing investigation into classified documents found at President Joe Biden's home and a former office. In a letter, Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar stated that disclosing non-public information could jeopardize investigations, violate statutory requirements, and interfere with the Department's ability to conduct its investigations. However, the Department has already provided the committee with a significant amount of information related to the investigation.
The Justice Department has informed the Senate Intelligence Committee that it is actively working to brief lawmakers on the potential risks to national security posed by the discovery of classified documents in the possession of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The Department is working with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to provide information without harming the ongoing Special Counsel investigations, and has a policy of maintaining the confidentiality of such information. The Biden administration has taken steps to ensure that all documents are properly secured and that personnel have the appropriate security clearances, but the potential risks to national security remain unclear.
The FBI has taken down the website of the notorious Hive ransomware group, which has extorted over $100 million from 1,300 companies worldwide. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Justice Department had dismantled the international ransomware network, following a hospital attack in October. The FBI is urging organizations to take steps to protect themselves from ransomware, and encouraging victims to report attacks to law enforcement.
Two former Arkansas law enforcement officers have been charged with civil rights violations for using excessive force during the arrest of Randal Worcester, which was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The incident has sparked a national conversation about police brutality and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers. The findings of the investigation have been given to a special prosecutor, and it is unclear what the outcome of the case will be.