FBI: February 2012 | TPMMuckraker

About | Subscribe | RSS

TPMMuckraker
FBI: February 2012

Man Charged In U.S. Capitol Terror Sting Switched Target At Least Five Times

Ryan J. Reilly | February 17, 2012, 5:05PM

The man arrested in an FBI terror sting just as he was allegedly about to attempt what he thought would be a suicide attack on the U.S. Capitol had several other targets in mind before he eventually settled on his final plan, according to federal authorities.

An affidavit from an FBI agent filed in federal court Friday says that Amine El Khalifi planned to explode a bomb at an office building in Alexandria that contained military offices, then wanted to attack a synagogue, then decided to target an Army general, then a government building, then a restaurant next to that building because it was frequented by military officials.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Amine El Khalifi, Counterterrorism, FBI, FBI Sting, Terror Plot, Terrorism

FBI Sting

Feds Say Man Arrested In Terror Sting Wanted To Bomb Capitol

Ryan J. Reilly | February 17, 2012, 1:46PM

Updated 3:19PM

Another FBI terrorism sting operation has led to the arrest of a man who allegedly believed he was plotting an attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Virginia resident Amine El Khalifi, 29, had been under federal scrutiny for around a year and had overstayed his visitor visa for a number of years, the Associated Press reported.

Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd confirmed to TPM that there was an arrest of a suspect in connection with a terrorism investigation and that the arrest "was the culmination of an undercover operation during which the suspect was closely monitored by law enforcement."

PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Amine El Khalifi, FBI, FBI Sting, Justice Department, Terrorism

Michael Grimm

GOP Rep Michael Grimm: I'd Be 'Very Stupid' To Take Cash Near FBI Building

Ryan J. Reilly | February 3, 2012, 4:25PM

House Speaker John Boehner said Friday that he was "not familiar with the details" of the unfolding campaign finance scandal involving Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY). Let's bring him up to speed.

The New York Times reported this week that Grimm worked closely with Ofer Biton (a top aide to the orthodox Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto) back in 2009 to recruit the rabbi's followers to donate to Grimm's campaign. Together, they collected more than $500,000 for his campaign, helping convince Republican leaders Grimm was a viable candidate.

Now Biton is now under investigation by the FBI, which just happens to be Grimm's former employer. Grimm himself is accused of accepting a cash donation of $5,000 "near the FBI building" and three followers of the rabbi told the New York Times that Grimm or Biton said they would find ways for the campaign to accept donations over the legal limit.