FBI in the headlines now over high-profile probes and oversight questions: director under scrutiny for blending gov work with personal time; ongoing cases loom. Biog: federal law-enforcement agency leading internal security, counterterrorism, and criminal investigations.
In early February 2026, the FBI issued a confidential alert warning that Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise drone attack from an unidentified vessel off the California coast if the US struck Iran. Officials, including the White House and California Governor Gavin Newsom, emphasize no credible or imminent threat exists, but security measures remain heightened amid ongoing US-Iran conflict.
An unidentified police officer was shot in Washington, D.C., while working on an investigation. The officer was hit in the shoulder, airlifted to hospital, and is in serious but stable condition. Authorities are searching for two suspects, with federal support involved.
Recent weeks have seen a surge in violence, with settler attacks in the West Bank following the death of an Israeli teen, and a deadly attack on a Michigan synagogue linked to international tensions. Both incidents highlight rising security concerns and political tensions.
Robert Mueller, former FBI director and special counsel in the Trump-Russia investigation, died on Friday at age 81. Known for transforming the FBI post-9/11 and leading the contentious 2019 investigation into Russian interference, his death prompts reflection on his legacy in law enforcement and politics.
Alen Zheng, 20, allegedly planted an IED at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa on March 10. His sister Ann Mary Zheng, 27, helped him evade law enforcement after he fled to China. The device was later found in a secluded area. Both face federal charges; the brother remains at large.
Shelly Renee Kittleson, a US freelance journalist, was kidnapped from a Baghdad street. Iraqi authorities believe she is held in the city, with suspicions pointing to Iran-linked militia Kataib Hezbollah. She had been warned of threats before her abduction, and a suspect was arrested during the chase.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing since February 1 after her Tucson home was broken into. Despite a large-scale investigation, including DNA evidence and ransom notes, there are no signs of her. Her family has offered a $1 million reward, and authorities believe she was abducted or kidnapped. Savannah Guthrie has returned to NBC's Today show amid ongoing uncertainty.
A suspected gang member from El Salvador, wanted for questioning in a homicide, attempted to run over officers in Patterson, California. ICE officers fired defensive shots, and the suspect was hospitalized. The incident highlights rising vehicular attacks against immigration enforcement since 2025.
ICE agents have fired shots at a suspect in Patterson, California, after he attempted to run them over with his vehicle. The suspect, wanted in El Salvador for murder, was injured and taken to a hospital. The incident is under investigation, with the FBI involved. The suspect's condition remains unknown.
Freelance US journalist Shelly Kittleson has been released after being kidnapped in Baghdad on March 31. Iraqi and US officials have been coordinating to secure her freedom; Kataib Hezbollah-linked militants are being blamed and a video showing Kittleson under duress has been circulated. Many foreign journalists have left Baghdad and embassies are urging departures.
A Florida teen has been indicted on murder and sexual abuse charges after the death of his stepsister aboard the Carnival Horizon in November. The case has shifted from juvenile to adult prosecution, with ongoing investigations into the circumstances of her death in international waters.
Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, has been charged with attempted murder and arson after throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's San Francisco home and threatening to burn down OpenAI's headquarters. Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas, carried an anti-AI manifesto with threats against Altman, and faces federal and state charges that could lead to life imprisonment. No injuries have been reported.
Two United Airlines flights have been diverted due to potential security threats involving beeping noises. Passengers have been evacuated safely, and bomb squads have found no explosives. The incidents occurred within 24 hours, prompting heightened security measures and investigations at Pittsburgh and Dulles airports.
Iran's leadership remains in place despite recent upheavals, with the Revolutionary Guards gaining influence. The country is refusing US concessions, emphasizing military readiness and regional control, while internal factions continue power struggles. Negotiations are stalled as Iran consolidates its military and political authority.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted 43 individuals tied to the Mexican Mafia in a sweeping operation across Orange County, with cases spanning murder, kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking. Authorities have seized firearms, cash and narcotics as part of the ongoing effort to disrupt the gang’s reach from prisons to the streets.
Minnesota lawmakers have pressed for documents and communications linked to the Feeding Our Future fraud case, including potentially those between Ilhan Omar’s office and defendants. The request comes as a federal investigation and state oversight continue to unfold, with 22 search warrants executed and new evidence tied to the MEALS Act and Safari Restaurant.
The Justice Department has indicted James Comey in North Carolina on threats-related charges tied to a seashell photo marked “86 47.” Prosecutors must prove intent to threaten a president, a high bar given Comey’s public statements that he did not intend violence. The case is the second criminal matter involving Comey and the Trump administration’s pursuit of political opponents.
Former FBI director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury in North Carolina over a May 2025 Instagram photo showing seashells arranged as "86 47," which prosecutors say a reasonable recipient would interpret as a threat to President Trump; Comey has surrendered, pleaded innocent and vowed to fight the charges.
A gunman wearing a gray‑white hoodie, gloves and a mask has shot two U.S. Bank employees in Berea, Kentucky. Authorities are pursuing leads, with law enforcement, the FBI and other agencies involved. Schools were briefly locked down as the investigation continues. The bank has expressed condolences and support for victims’ families.
A man wearing a gray-white hoodie, gloves and a mask has shot two U.S. Bank employees in Berea, Kentucky. Law enforcement are searching door to door with helicopters, drones and dogs; schools went into lockdown and families are being supported as investigations continue.
Authorities say a 69-year-old man has been charged in two shootings at K Towne Plaza and an adjacent apartment complex in Koreatown, Carrollton, Texas. Investigators indicate the victims knew the attacker and the incident involved a business-related dispute. The suspect has been detained and is being held in Denton County Jail as of today.
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly transmitting a threat against President Trump through a social media post showing seashells arranged to read “86 47.” The indictment marks a second case against Comey and comes amid broader discourse about political targeting within the DOJ and responses from Trump allies and critics.
Courts and lawmakers are negotiating mid-decade redistricting amid a Supreme Court ruling that weakens the Voting Rights Act. Alabama and Florida are among states revisiting congressional maps, with August special primaries and a looming federal review of district lines.
The investigation into former CIA director John Brennan has gained momentum, with FBI agents interviewing current and former CIA officers about Brennan’s role in producing a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that referenced the Steele dossier. Prosecutors are examining whether Brennan gave false testimony to Congress and how the dossier influenced the report.
Lu Jianwang has been acquitted on a conspiracy charge related to the Manhattan overseas police station case and remains free on bail pending sentencing; prosecutors argued he helped China locate a pro-democracy activist and acted as an unregistered foreign agent, while the defense framed the station as a community center.
The FBI has arrested former Brooklyn judge Edward H. King and Yechiel “Sam” Sprei after prosecutors allege they duped investors out of $6.5 million through fictitious real estate opportunities and misused attorney escrow accounts. The pair face wire fraud charges and potential 20-year prison terms; King resigned last year amid a judicial ethics probe.
Michail Chkhikvishvili, 22, has been sentenced in Brooklyn after pleading guilty to soliciting hate crimes and distributing materials on bombs and ricin. Prosecutors say he led the Maniac Murder Cult, distributed the Hater’s Handbook, and inspired real attacks, including a Nashville school shooting. He has expressed remorse in a letter to the judge.
The Pentagon has released over 160 previously classified files on UFOs, aliens and unidentified phenomena. The batch includes videos, photographs and witness accounts, with officials promising further releases in coming weeks. Skeptics warn the material remains inconclusive while some observers warn of possible concealment.
U.S. prosecutors have unsealed a complaint charging Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al‑Saadi with organising or supporting nearly 18–20 attacks across Europe, Canada and the United States tied to Iran‑backed Kataib Hezbollah and the IRGC. He has been transferred into U.S. custody, has appeared in Manhattan federal court and is being detained pending trial.
Since mid-May 2026, Republican-led legislatures in multiple Southern states have been moving to redraw congressional maps after a Supreme Court ruling weakened Voting Rights Act protections. Federal judges in Alabama have blocked a new map, South Carolina Republicans have delayed redistricting after defections, and state debates are shifting primary schedules and election plans ahead of the November midterms.
The NYPD has warned of unprecedented security demands this summer as World Cup, NBA Finals, Sail 250, and July 4 celebrations converge. Commissioner Tisch has authorized drone-mitigation plans and 12-hour shifts, while coordinating with the FBI and federal regulators to protect crowds across New York City.
Gunfire near the White House has prompted a security lockdown as responders have engaged a suspect. A bystander has been wounded and the suspect has been killed by law enforcement. President Trump has not been reported harmed and remains at the White House. Journalists on scene have described a chaotic scene and accounts indicate multiple gunshots.
Federal authorities have seized more than 300 gold bars, about $2 million in cash and dozens of luxury watches from a former CIA official amid an embezzlement probe. Investigators say the suspect claimed work-related expenses and alleged Navy Reserve service, with charges including theft of public funds.
CENTCOM has told lawmakers that there have been threat reports about adversaries exploiting commercial location data to surveil US personnel in theater. The disclosures, drawn from CENTCOM responses and a Pentagon letter, underpin concerns about data brokers and adtech as a national security issue, with lawmakers urging faster action to harden defenses on devices and browsers.
United Airlines Flight 2005, from Chicago to Minneapolis, has been diverted to Madison, Wisconsin, after an unruly passenger attempted to breach the cockpit. The plane has landed safely, and passengers resumed their journey to Minneapolis with no injuries reported. Federal and local authorities are leading the investigation.