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FBI Raids Virginia Home of Former Trump Adviser Dimitri Simes Amid Allegations of Russian Ties

Published

1 month ago

August 17, 2024

The FBI executed a raid on August 13 at the Virginia home of Dimitri Simes, a prominent author, policy analyst, and former adviser to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Simes, who currently hosts a program on Russia’s state-controlled Channel One, was not present during the raid as he was abroad. He later expressed shock, saying he had not been informed of the search and remained unaware of any investigation involving him.

Initial reports of the raid came from Rappahannock News, which cited FBI sources. Simes, whose name is mentioned over 100 times in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 2019 report on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, voiced concerns about the motives behind the search. He described the incident as an intimidation tactic aimed at silencing dissenters, particularly those critical of U.S. foreign policy.

“I’m puzzled and concerned,” Simes stated in a public comment. “I have not seen a warrant. I was not contacted by any law enforcement or anyone else whatsoever.” He went on to suggest that the true purpose of the raid might not be to bring him in for questioning or arrest, but rather to discourage his return to the United States.

In an interview with Sputnik News, a Russian state-controlled media outlet, Simes speculated that the raid represented broader efforts by the U.S. government to suppress voices that challenge official narratives. “Clearly, this is an attempt to intimidate, not only somebody from Russia but anyone who goes against official policies and particularly against the deep state,” Simes asserted.

Simes’ son, Dimitri Simes Jr., echoed his father’s concerns. He claimed his father had not visited the United States since 2022 and hinted at a politically motivated effort by the Biden administration. In a tweet, Simes Jr. accused the administration of trying to stifle dissent on key geopolitical issues, particularly regarding Ukraine and Israel. “The Biden regime is terrified of being called out over Ukraine and Israel,” he wrote. “Elements of the Biden regime are trying to disrupt any possibility for de-escalation with Russia and plunge America into World War III.”

The raid has sparked a diplomatic response from Russia. Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, described the raid as part of a larger “witch-hunt” against those deemed undesirable by U.S. authorities, especially in the run-up to the 2024 election. Antonov condemned the actions as part of an ongoing campaign to target individuals who are perceived as Russian foreign agents operating in violation of U.S. foreign agent laws.

“These attacks by the U.S. authorities on the TV presenter of Channel One are one of many facts of the ‘witch hunt’ unfolding here with renewed vigor,” Antonov said. He expressed concern over the growing crackdown on dissenting voices in the U.S., adding, “We are certainly worried about what is happening.”

Antonov went on to accuse Washington of double standards, particularly when it comes to democracy and freedom of speech. He criticized the targeting of individuals simply for challenging U.S. policy, leading to actions such as home break-ins, searches, and the seizure of documents. “Hundreds of people are declared objectionable simply because they dare to contradict the administration’s policies,” he said.

The incident comes at a time when tensions between the U.S. and Russia are already high, with both nations locked in geopolitical conflicts over Ukraine, Syria, and broader issues of international influence. As investigations continue, the raid on Simes’ home is likely to fuel further debates about the limits of freedom of expression and the role of foreign influence in U.S. politics.

For now, the reasons behind the FBI’s actions remain unclear, and Simes has indicated that he will continue to seek answers while remaining abroad. “My suspicion is that instead of trying to get me to come to the United States and to interrogate me or even to arrest me, their real purpose is to make sure that I would not come back,” he said.

The FBI has yet to release an official statement regarding the nature of the investigation or the specific allegations that led to the raid on Simes’ home. Meanwhile, the situation has prompted concerns from both sides of the political spectrum about the implications of using federal law enforcement to target political figures with international ties.

The raid on Simes’ home serves as a flashpoint in the broader conversation about foreign influence in U.S. politics and the fine line between national security and political repression. As this story unfolds, it is clear that the issues raised by the raid will have lasting reverberations in both domestic and international political circles.

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Langford, Heim lead Rangers to wild 13-8 win over Blue Jays

Published

3 hours ago

September 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rookie Wyatt Langford homered, doubled twice and became the first Texas player this season to reach base five times, struggling Jonah Heim delivered a two-run single to break a sixth-inning tie and the Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-8 on Tuesday night.

Leody Taveras also had a homer among his three hits for the Rangers.

Langford, who also walked twice, has 12 homers and 25 doubles this season. He is hitting .345 in September.

“I think it’s really important to finish on a strong note,” Langford said. “I’m just going to keep trying to do that.”

Heim was 1-for-34 in September before he lined a single to right field off Tommy Nance (0-2) to score Adolis García and Nathaniel Lowe, giving Texas a 9-7 lead. Heim went to the plate hitting .212 with 53 RBIs after being voted an All-Star starter last season with a career-best 95 RBIs. He added a double in the eighth ahead of Taveras’ homer during a three-run inning.

Texas had 13 hits and left 13 men on. It was the Rangers’ highest-scoring game since a 15-8 win at Oakland on May 7.

Matt Festa (5-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win, giving him a 5-0 record in 13 appearances with the Rangers after being granted free agency by the New York Mets on July 7.

Nathan Eovaldi, a star of Texas’ 2023 run to the franchise’s first World Series championship, had his worst start of the year in what could have been his final home start with the Rangers. Eovaldi, who will be a free agent next season, allowed 11 hits (the most of his two seasons with Texas) and seven runs (tied for the most).

“I felt like early in the game they just had a few hits that found the holes, a few first-pitch base hits,” said Eovaldi, who is vested for a $20 million player option with Texas for 2025. “I think at the end of the day I just need to do a better job of executing my pitches.”

Eovaldi took a 7-3 lead into the fifth inning after the Rangers scored five unearned runs in the fourth. The Jays then scored four runs to knock out Eovaldi after 4 2/3 innings.

Six of the seven runs scored against Toronto starter Chris Bassitt in 3 2/3 innings were unearned. Bassitt had a throwing error during Texas’ two-run third inning.

“We didn’t help ourselves defensively, taking care of the ball to secure some outs,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

The Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a double and two singles, his most hits in a game since having four on Sept. 3. Guerrero is hitting .384 since the All-Star break.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette (calf) was activated and played for the first time since July 19, going 2 for 5 with an RBI. … OF Daulton Varsho (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list and will have rotator cuff surgery … INF Will Wagner (knee inflammation) was placed on the 60-day list.

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Chad Bradford (5-3, 3.97 ERA) will pitch Wednesday night’s game on extended five days’ rest after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and home runs (three) in 3 2/3 innings losing at Arizona on Sept. 14.

Blue Jays: RHP Bowden Francis (8-4, 3.50) has had two no-hitters get away in the ninth inning this season, including in his previous start against the New York Mets on Sept. 11. Francis is the first major-leaguer to have that happen since Rangers Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in 1989.

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Billie Jean King set to earn another honor with the Congressional Gold Medal

Published

4 hours ago

September 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

WASHINGTON (AP) — Billie Jean King will become the first individual female athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had passed the House of Representatives and would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.

The bill to honor King, the tennis Hall of Famer and activist, had already passed unanimously in the Senate.

Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that King’s “lifetime of advocacy and hard work changed the landscape for women and girls on the court, in the classroom, and the workplace.”

The bill was introduced last September on the 50th anniversary of King’s victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes,” still the most-watched tennis match of all-time. The medal, awarded by Congress for distinguished achievements and contributions to society, has previously been given to athletes including baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente, and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.

King had already been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has “broken barriers, led uncharted paths, and inspired countless people to stand proudly with courage and conviction in the fight for what is right.”

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Account tweaks for young Instagram users ‘minimum’ expected by B.C., David Eby says

Published

4 hours ago

September 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

SURREY, B.C. – Premier David Eby says new account control measures for young Instagram users introduced Tuesday by social media giant Meta are the “minimum” expected of tech companies to keep kids safe online.

The parent company of Instagram says users in Canada and elsewhere under 18 will have their accounts set to private by default starting Tuesday, restricting who can send messages, among other parental controls and settings.

Speaking at an unrelated event Tuesday, Eby says the province began talks with social media companies after threatening legislation that would put big tech companies on the hook for “significant potential damages” if they were found negligent in failing to keep kids safe from online predators.

Eby says the case of Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old from Prince George, B.C., who took his own life last year after being targeted by a predator on Snapchat, was “horrific and totally preventable.”

He says social media apps are “nothing special,” and should be held to the same child safety standards as anyone who operates a place that invites young people, whether it’s an amusement park, a playground or an online platform.

In a progress report released Tuesday about the province’s engagement with big tech companies including Google, Meta, TikTok, Spapchat and X, formerly known as Twitter, the provincial government says the companies are implementing changes, including a “trusted flagger” option to quickly remove intimate images.

— With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024

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