Historic First Bank of the United States Building to Reopen

Philly Daily, where my On Crime column appears, reports the Independence National Historical Park and Independence Historical Trust announced that there will be a public ribbon cutting on July 1 to celebrate the multi-year, $43 million renovation of the historic First Bank of the United States.

"For more than two centuries, the First Bank building has stood as a symbol of the nation's transition from revolution to republic," said Steve Sims, superintendent of Independence National Historical Park. "The building connects the victory of the Revolution to the difficult work of creating a functioning government, economy, and civic identity in the years that followed." 

You can read the rest of the piece via the link below:

Historic First Bank of the United States Building to Reopen – Philly Daily 

My Philly Daily On Crime Column Q&A With Criag Johson, The Author Of 'The Brothers McKay'

Philly Daily ran my On Crime column with my Q&A with Craig Johnson (seen in the above photo), the author of The Brother McKay.

You can read the column via the link below or the following text:

Paul Davis: Q&A with Craig Johnson, the author of The Brothers McKay – Philly Daily

I look forward to every new Craig Johnson crime novel about his modern Sheriff Walt Longmire. I first became acquainted with the big and tough yet compassionate fictional lawman by watching the fine TV Longmire series, first on A&E and later on Netflix.

I recently read and enjoyed Craig Johnson’s latest Longmire novel, The Brothers McKay. Although the series is set in Wyoming, there is a Philadelphia connection in this novel, as there are in his earlier novels.

I reached out to Craig Johnson and asked him why his latest novel pays homage to Dostoevsky’s classic novel? 

Johnson: When I was fourteen, my father gave me The Brothers Karamazov, and I thought it was the worst murder mystery ever written. It always bothered me that a writer of Dostoevsky’s caliber could’ve been so amateurish in assembling the plot but then found that the work was supposed to be three volumes, only one of which he finished before his death. I always thought he was throwing us a red-herring and wondered who the actual murderer was and decided to take a crack at it myself, but with a Wyoming twist.

For those readers who don’t know Sheriff Longmire, how would you describe him? 

Johnson: Walt Longmire is the sheriff of the least populated county in Wyoming, a veteran who is remarkably well-read and has quite the sense of humor. He’s spawned twenty-two novels, three novellas, a collection of short stories and a hit TV series on Netflix.

How would you describe Pepper McKay, the first murder victim in the novel? 

Johnson: The most hated man in Absaroka County, McKay is found dead in a trout stream and there’s no lack of potential suspects, even Walt. In one scene Longmire is questioning a heavy equipment operator who seems a little too pleased concerning the passing of McKay.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all week, how did he die?”

I hitched my thumbs in my gun belt. “Someone hit him in the head with a rock.”

“Well, that’s downright biblical.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Do you mind if I ask where you were Tuesday night?”

“Hell, I was out picking out a rock—where do you think I was?”

You offer numerous suspects and other characters in the novel, but the best new one in my view is the mule named Borax (I’m old enough to get the reference to the Death Valley Days TV series and the Borax Twenty Mule Team sponsor). What inspired you to write about a mule and Longmire’s interaction with the animal?

Johnson: Heading into a monstrous wildfire in a box canyon, I knew that Walt was going to need some backup and that human backup probably wasn’t going to be that much help. My grandfather was a blacksmith, and he loved mules for their patient, stolid nature. As a guide in the Grand Canyon once told me, “I’ve never met a suicidal mule.” And that definitely describes Borax.

You write about a devastating fire. Is the fire based on an actual event?

Johnson: We had a particularly wet spring and then a dry summer on the high plains a few years back and the amount and ferocity of wildfires that season was horrendous. There was one that was only about three miles from my ranch there at the base of the Bighorn Mountains and if you’ve never seen fire on that scale, it can be awe inspiring and terribly frightening.

What is Longmire’s (and your) connection to Philadelphia? 

Johnson: In the books, Walt’s daughter is a lawyer in Philadelphia who eventually becomes the Attorney General for the State of Wyoming. My wife and I have two daughters and a granddaughter there, and Philadelphia is where I originally met my wife while doing graduate work at Temple University.

As usual, you add a bit of Philly into your novels set in Wyoming. So, what is a nice Philly Italian girl doing in Wyoming?

Johnson: Walt’s second in command in the sheriff’s department is Victoria Moretti. Vic is a Philly transplant with a father and four brothers who are officers with the Philadelphia Police Department, and she knows more about forensics and ballistics than Longmire ever will. She originally moved to Wyoming with her engineer husband, but then he moved on to Alaska, and they got a divorce which leads to an on-again-off-again relationship with Walt.

You introduce another Philadelphia area character in the novel who bonds briefly with your Undersheriff. Who is she, and will she reappear in future novels?

Johnson: Tammy Payson is a technical investigator for the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and another transplant from eastern Pennsylvania. She and Vic recharge with a conversation over the true meaning of jawn and we’ll definitely be seeing her again.

(Note: I’ve read about the Philadelphia area catch-all slang word jawn, a sort of Philly substitute for “thing,” but having grown up in South Philly and still live there, I’ve never heard anyone actually use the word).

Will Longmire return in yet another novel?

Johnson: Of course, I’m a happily indentured servant to Viking/Penguin Publishing. The next installment is Have Courage, the second anthology of Longmire Short Stories in November and then next year’s novel A Soft White Damn which will be out in May of 2027.

Will Longmire once again come to Philadelphia in a future novel, as he did in Kindness Goes Unpunished?   

Johnson: Never say never, I’ve gotten awfully used to those Phillies games, cheesesteaks and Yuengling Beer.

Paul Davis’s On Crime column appears here each week. He is also a contributor to Broad + Liberty and Counterterrorism magazine, He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com. 

U.S. Justice Department Sues California To Halt Glock Ban

The U.S. Justice Department released the information below:

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against California to halt the state’s newly enacted Glock Ban. The lawsuit also seeks to prevent enforcement of the state’s “Handgun Roster” — a list limiting legal firearms that individuals may purchase. The United States challenges both as unlawful under the Second Amendment.

“The Second Amendment is a sacred right belonging to all Americans, even those in California. California cannot ban the most popular type of handgun in America,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will work to stop this blatant trampling of our rights by the California government to protect the rights of lawful gun owners.”

“The Civil Rights Division will defend law-abiding citizens from states that seek to disarm them illegally,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit is yet another example of this Justice Department enforcing the Second Amendment by protecting citizens against unconstitutional state regulation of firearms.”

California’s new law would ban the retail purchase of common handguns manufactured by Glock and guns with similar firing mechanisms. The state’s existing “Handgun Roster” further limits the types of handguns citizens can lawfully purchase in California. The United States Supreme Court recently reaffirmed that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect the right to carry handguns outside the home for self-defense in Wolford v. Lopez. The Court reiterated that states cannot prevent citizens from using commonly used firearms for self-defense.

The Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section enforces the Second Amendment. If you believe your right to keep and bear arms is being infringed, please submit a complaint through www.justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section. 

My South Philly Review Crime Beat Column On The Heightened Threat Of Emerging Synthetic Drugs

You can click on the above to enlarge. 

How FBI Philadelphia Prepared To Secure The World Cup From Matches To Celebrations, The Bureau And Our Partners Are Postured For Safety

The FBI Philadelphia Field Office released the information below:

This summer, soccer fans will flock from every corner of the world to cities across North America to attend World Cup matches and related festivities.

Philadelphia, in particular, is hosting six of these matches and a fan festival within its local boundaries.

And since high-profile events demand elite-level security, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office is partnering with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) to ensure a safe experience for all.

Here’s a look at how the whole-of-government team prepared to secure this year’s World Cup.

National coordination, local specialization

On a nationwide level, the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is coordinating a whole-of-government effort to making the international soccer tournament a secure and enjoyable event for all.

The FBI’s role in this broader effort is to provide investigative, intelligence, and law enforcement support, as needed, in host cities across the United States.

"This is more than just security—this is about protecting America's legacy on the world stage," said FBI Director Kash Patel in a video about the Bureau's preparations to protect this year's World Cup events.

At the Headquarters level, this support includes the establishment of the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC). This interagency communications hub will keep the local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners in constant contact and coordination with one another—no matter how geographically spaced out they might be—for the extent of the World Cup. 

Note: You can read my Philly Daily On Crime column about security in Philadelphia during the World Cup games via the link below:

Paul Davis On Crime: My Philly Daily On Crime Column: Safeguarding The FIFA World Cup Events In Philadelphia                 

Former U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton, II Pleads Guilty To Violating the Espionage Act

The U.S. Justice Department released the information below:

John R. Bolton, II, 77, of Bethesda, Maryland, pleaded guilty in federal court to willfully retaining national defense information. Bolton used personal accounts to send classified information to family members who were unauthorized to access such information, including a personal email account that was later hacked by a cyber actor allegedly linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“John Bolton held a position of extraordinary public trust as the country’s top National Security Advisor, and he betrayed that trust, jeopardizing our nation’s security,” said Hayden O’Byrne, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division. “Today’s resolution ought to send a message to other public officials whom the public has entrusted with classified, national defense information. If you willfully mishandle these state secrets, the Department of Justice, led by the National Security Division, will investigate and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”         

“Mr. Bolton knew the damage mishandling confidential material could cause to national security, and yet he still committed this misconduct and put American lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O’Hayes for the District of Maryland. “Keeping Americans safe has always been, and will always be, the top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. No one is above the law, and so anyone who endangers our national security will be brought to justice.”

“By his own admission, John Bolton willfully and carelessly copied top secret information into his personal notes and then transmitted those secrets to unauthorized family members,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “When guardians of our nation’s secrets play fast and loose with classified information, it opens the door for foreign adversaries to get their hands on it, which is exactly what happened. This plea stands as a reminder: the FBI will remain steadfast in our pursuit of anyone who puts the security of America’s secrets at risk.”

“Americans’ safety and security were needlessly put at risk by Bolton's reckless and illegal actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “In this case, the worst happened — our most sensitive government secrets were stolen by an adversary. Today's guilty plea is a testament to the diligent work by investigators and prosecutors to ensure anyone jeopardizing our national security is held accountable.”

Bolton served as the National Security Advisor to the President of the United States between April 2018 and September 2019. According to court documents, during this time, Bolton incorporated highly sensitive classified information that he had learned in the course of his official duties into documents that he wrote about his daily activities, which he referred to as “diary” entries. The documents contained information classified up to the TOP SECRET level, as well as Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), including foreign adversaries’ military operation plans, covert U.S. government actions in foreign countries, and intelligence about adversary foreign leaders obtained from clandestine human sources and intercepted communications. 

Bolton sent these documents to two family members who were not authorized to access, receive, or possess classified information. He sent the documents via non-governmental email accounts and a non-governmental messaging application which were not approved for processing classified information, and he retained copies at his home in Bethesda where they were not permitted to be stored.   

According to court documents, Bolton’s personal email account was hacked by a cyber actor believed to be associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran after Bolton left office in September 2019. Bolton reported that hack to law enforcement but did not tell the agents or anyone else in the U.S. government that the account contained national defense information.

In October 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Maryland indicted Bolton on 18 counts of willfully transmitting and retaining national defense information. 

The plea agreement filed today resolves all 18 counts. According to the plea agreement, Bolton will face a maximum penalty of 60 months in prison. The defendant also agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine. Further, under federal law as noted in the plea agreement, Bolton’s conviction prohibits Bolton or his survivors from collecting an annuity or federal retirement pay. The Hon. Theodore D. Chuang, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland, set Bolton’s sentencing date for Oct. 28.

The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case with key support from FBI’s Counterintelligence & Espionage Division, FBI New York Office, and FBI’s Operational Technology Division.

Acting Deputy Chief Tanner Kroeger and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. Multiple former prosecutors in both offices made significant contributions to the yearslong investigation.                         

FBI: Foreign Virtual Targeting Using Online Job Offers To Recruit Insiders

The FBI released a warning about virtual targeting via offers to recruit insiders:  

Recruiter: “We are impressed by your government experience. We’d like to offer you paid consulting work.”

Federal retiree: “Consulting? What kind of work?”

The message sounded like a perfect opportunity. A recently retired military analyst wanting to stay professionally active was approached online by someone claiming to represent an international consulting company.

The recruiter praised the analyst’s expertise and offered flexible, remote assignments writing short reports. The work appeared harmless. The pay was generous. The recruiter seemed professional.

But the opportunity was not what it seemed.

“Foreign intelligence services frequently use professional networking websites, social media platforms, and job boards to identify and target individuals under the guise of consulting or employment,” said Roman Rozhavsky, the assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division.

The tactic is known as virtual targeting, a strategy that some foreign intelligence services use to find new intelligence sources. Instead of meeting in person, foreign actors use online platforms to identify and recruit individuals with access to sensitive or classified information.

Using false online identities, they may pose as recruiters, consulting firm representatives, researchers, or analysts to establish professional relationships and collect information that supports their intelligence objectives.

Foreign intelligence services rely heavily on online platforms because they provide direct access to potential targets. Among U.S. foreign adversaries, China is by far the most prolific practitioner.

You can read the rest of the piece via the link below:

 Foreign Virtual Targeting — FBI