[EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - September 19, 2025
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| FederalBureau of Investigation - | September 19, 2025 |
| Seal | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) |
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Table of Contents
IN THE NEWS
- Continued Reporting: Director Patel Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Cartel Strikes, Mass Deportations, and Epstein Investigation Fallout
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Continued Reporting: Director Patel Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Cartel Strikes, Mass Deportations, and Epstein Investigation Fallout
News Nation Now (09/18, Resendiz) reported that President Trump authorized military strikes against Latin American drug cartels, with Director Patel testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee that cartels designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) must be treated like post-9/11terrorist groups. Director Patel said the FBI supports using military and intelligence resources, in coordination with Mexican authorities, to dismantle entire cartel networks rather than relying solely on traditional law enforcement methods. According to the article, Democratic senators questioned Director Patel on reports that 25 major FBI field offices were ordered to divert nearly half their agents toward mass deportation efforts and raised concerns about agent terminations and rushed hiring practices. The article noted that the more than four-hour hearing concluded with a heated exchange between Director Patel and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff over the FBI's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files. People (09/18, Brachfeld) reported that Director Patel faced criticism from 10 Jeffrey Epstein survivors after testifying to the U.S. Senate Oversight Committee that the bureau had "no credible information" that Epstein trafficked women and girls to other powerful men. The survivors cited deposition and Rep. Thomas Massie's claim that the FBI had a list of at least 20 alleged recipients of trafficked victims, including billionaires, politicians, and celebrities, based on witness interviews. According to the article, the survivors questioned why Director Patel, who has long criticized previous administrations for incomplete investigations, would now defer to their determinations instead of committing to releasing the FBI's FD302 witness interview files or pursuing further probes. They argued that victims and witnesses remain unheard and pressed Director Patel to ensure a full and unbiased investigation
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into Epstein's network. The article noted that the controversy comes amid shifting Justice Department positions on the so-called Epstein "client list" and renewed scrutiny over President Trump's past ties to Epstein. The Miami Herald (09/18, Brown, Goodin, Healy) added that a Republican lawmaker, Rep. Thomas Massie, revealed that the FBI has information on at least 20 people tied to Jeffrey Epstein, including a rock star, a royal prince, and at least six billionaires. The Los Angeles Times (09/18, Wilner) also reported on the story. MSNBC (09/18, Steele) published two opinion pieces on the story.
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