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Day: October 22, 2025

  • New York. Governor Hochul Announces New Alcoa Power Contract Supporting 500 Jobs and Long-Term Investment in the North Country 

    New York. Governor Hochul Announces New Alcoa Power Contract Supporting 500 Jobs and Long-Term Investment in the North Country 

    Signed Contract with New York Power Authority for Low-Cost Hydropower includes Aluminum Manufacturer’s Commitment of $30 Million in Capital Investments. New York State Also Providing $6.2 Million in Incentives to Alcoa for Its Nearly $60M Rebuild and Modernization of a Portion of the Massena Plant.

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new power supply contract between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Alcoa, a leading aluminum producer and one of the North Country’s largest employers. The contract includes a commitment of $30 million in capital investments and supports 500 jobs at Alcoa’s Massena Plant for the next 10 years.  In addition to the contract, Alcoa is investing nearly $60 million through 2028 to rebuild and modernize a portion of the plant. This investment is made possible by the new energy contract as well as a $5.2 million capital grant and $1 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits from Empire State Development (ESD). This improvement will enable process stability and operational efficiency.

    “By securing good paying jobs and fostering investment, this agreement ensures Alcoa will continue to be a major presence in Massena while supporting New York families and communities,” Governor Hochul said. “The aluminum manufacturing industry has played a significant role in the nation’s economic development, and New York’s Alcoa facility has been at the forefront, driving economic growth and opportunity in the North Country.”  

    Today’s announcement of a signed contract by Alcoa and the Power Authority follows approval of the final contract terms by the Power Authority’s Board of Trustees and Governor Hochul. The contract includes a 240-megawatt (MW) allocation of low-cost power through its Preservation Power program to Alcoa for its Massena Plant in St. Lawrence County. This power allocation will support Alcoa’s operations through March 31, 2036, with options for two additional five-year extensions, contingent on maintaining a minimum of 500 full-time equivalent jobs and increased capital investments. Alcoa also has agreed to invest a minimum of $30 million in the plant’s operation over a period of ten years. If market conditions permit, Alcoa may extend the contract an additional ten years which would foster capital investments totaling $145 million over a 20-year period.

    Key Details of the Alcoa Contract: 

    • Power Allocation Quantity: 240 MW of low-cost NYPA hydropower to be provided through March 31, 2036. 
    • Employment Commitment: Alcoa will maintain a minimum of 500 full-time equivalent jobs at its Massena West Plant, an increase from the previous commitment of 450 jobs. 
    • Capital Investment: Under the agreement, Alcoa will invest at least $3 million annually at the facility, with a total minimum investment of $30 million over the initial 10-year term. Further, Alcoa will have the option to extend the contract by two additional five-year terms if it makes investments of $70 million by 2035 and an additional $60 million by 2040.
    • Plant Modernization: In addition to the contract, Alcoa is investing nearly $60 million through 2028 to rebuild and modernize Massena Operations’ anode bake furnace, a key component of the aluminum smelting process.

    New York Power Authority Chairman John R. Koelmel said, “The New York Power Authority’s renewal of our partnership with Alcoa is a testament to our commitment to driving economic development across New York. By providing low-cost hydropower, we are ensuring that Alcoa remains competitive so that it can continue its operations, invest in its facilities, and retain family-sustaining jobs in the North Country.” 

    New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “Alcoa has been a vital part of the North Country economy for more than 120 years. With Governor Hochul’s support, this new contract with one of the Power Authority’s oldest customers secures essential jobs and significant capital investments in the region. We are proud to continue our partnership with Alcoa and to support their growth and investment in the community.”

    NY State News

    Alcoa President and CEO William F. Oplinger said, “We are proud to make aluminum in New York and the United States. Long-term, competitively priced energy enables Alcoa to proceed with this important investment that will help us meet the demands of today while planning for tomorrow. We are extremely pleased to have worked with NYPA and ESD to achieve this outcome for our Massena Operations, which will bring economic benefits to the region and sustain American manufacturing.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “With its 100-plus-year history in Massena, Alcoa and its employees in the North Country have developed technologies and processes that have shaped the modern world. Thanks to support from Governor Hochul and New York State, Alcoa will continue to produce high-quality aluminum for flagship industries, supporting regional economic growth and driving innovation.”

    Village of Massena Mayor Greg Paquin said, “The approval of this new contract ensures continued growth, job creation, and investment at Alcoa’s Massena Operations. Governor Hochul’s approval underscores the lasting strength of St. Lawrence County’s partnership between Alcoa and NYPA.”

    Town of Massena Supervisor Susan Bellor said, “The new Alcoa contract approved today by Governor Hochul is welcome news for St. Lawrence County and the North Country. Aluminum manufacturing has been the economic bedrock of this region for generations, and this new contract signals continued economic stability for many years to come.”

    St. Lawrence County Legislature Chair David Forsythe said, “This agreement represents a vital partnership between Alcoa and the New York Power Authority. One that secures 500 good-paying jobs, drives continued investment in our region, and ensures that our communities benefit from the responsible use of our local hydroelectric resources.”

    The contract provisions build on a seven-year agreement approved by NYPA in 2019. The 2019 agreement provided 240 MW of low-cost St. Lawrence-FDR hydropower in return for Alcoa’s commitment to retain 450 jobs at the aluminum company’s smelting plant in Massena. 

    Companies like Alcoa have been pivotal in supplying materials essential for various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and construction. This sector’s contributions have been vital for national growth and innovation. Alcoa is one of the first customers to receive power from the Power Authority’s St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project when the plant began operating in 1958. The contract signing marks another significant milestone in Governor Hochul’s commitment to foster economic development and job retention in the North Country. NYPA’s Preservation Power program uses low-cost hydroelectric power from the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project to support businesses in St. Lawrence, Franklin and Jefferson counties. Alcoa signed its original contract with NYPA in July 1955, more than three years before the St. Lawrence-FDR project—the Power Authority’s first generating plant—began producing electricity. 

    NY State Governor’s Press Office

    October 22, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Sources: Governor.ny.gov , Midtown Tribune News

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • New York. Governor Hochul Delivers Remarks at JPMorgan Chase Tower Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Video)

    New York. Governor Hochul Delivers Remarks at JPMorgan Chase Tower Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Video)

    At the JPMorgan Chase Tower ribbon cutting, Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated New York City’s comeback and the strength of its financial services sector, calling the new headquarters a bold investment that signals long-term confidence in the city’s economy. Praising JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon, Hochul highlighted Manhattan’s surging real estate market and a 28% rise in New York State FinTech jobs since 2021, crediting the project—designed by architect Norman Foster—and the 10,000 workers who built it as a symbol of resilience, ambition, and partnership. Framing the tower as a beacon of growth and energy, she urged, “Do not bet against New York City,” positioning the development as proof that the future of finance is being built here and now.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

     What a spectacular day this is. I could not be prouder to be a New Yorker or Governor at this moment in history because I believe that future generations will look back at this time and say, “Yes, despite a global pandemic that brought other cities to its knees, we came roaring back, because guess what? That’s what New Yorkers do.” So congratulations to JP Morgan Chase and Jamie Dimon for having the fortitude to see a path forward when others were starting to shrink back. And to all of those who say, “I don’t know about New York. Another business may be leaving to go to some other, one of the 49 states.” I guess there’s 49 other states. That’s what I’m told.

    But to have this investment at this moment in time sends an extraordinary signal of confidence, and I might even add a little bit of New York audacity and boldness and ambition and audacity, because that’s who we are to our core. So when others say, “Well, financial services, I’m not sure what’s the future.” This is the future, my friends, we are living the future in this moment and relish that, feel the energy.

    If we’re going to go by here and say, what the hell…? What? I’m sorry. What happened here? Mother, forgive me,the job has done this to me — but now Manhattan is the hottest real estate market since 2006. And did anyone foresee this happening? The hottest real estate market? The place where people are coming back to the offices? Because we had someone who says, “Come back to the offices and if you come back to the offices, I’ll give you a place you’re never going to want to even go home. It’s so incredible here.”

    So to all your family members, explain the long hours, explain the extra time needed in the gym or in eating in one of the incredible restaurants. Because this is a sense of place. Indeed, it is a city. And to reimagine the fact that FinTech jobs in our state have grown by 28 percent, just since 2021. Coincidentally, that’s when I became governor. I will not take credit for that. That’s 14 times the national average.

    So I’m making this point loud and clear. Do not bet against New York. Do not bet against New York City. Do not bet against our financial services sector because we are strong. We’re as strong as the bronze pillars you see right here that surround us with that sense of strength and endurance, because that’s what this building reflects. And I think about what went into this process and our architect – what an incredible leader he is, Norman Foster.

    And I was just wondering if you have time afterward, maybe we could take a walk down to Penn Station. Just saying – the President said he’ll pay for it. They can do a new ballroom in the White House. Why not make this magnificent? I digress a little bit. I’m sorry. But to JP Morgan, the institution, we’re so proud of the history over two centuries of helping us build the infrastructure of its time, but enduring into the future. And to have the inspiration of Deepak Chopra here today, reminds us that there are visionary corporate leaders who also think about beyond the economy and corporations and business. They think about the spiritual self and how to lift up all those who consider themselves part of the JP Morgan Chase family.

    And that’s what’s so extraordinary, Rob Speyer. What you have done here is magnificent. This is a testament to your company and its willingness to create a mark, a symbol of the future here. And I thank you for that as well. And Janno Lieber, thank you for putting up with all the stress that occurs when we’re trying to reimagine how we can deal with projects like these.

    So I’m going to say this, anytime you feel you need inspiration, you’re just turning on the news or watching your social media feeds and saying, when will it ever stop? These days are so dark and depressing, and what is happening from Washington to here. Take a breath. Read a good book, written by a famous author, calm down and know that the sheer grandeur of this building, the sheer grandeur of this space, should be enough to just calm you down and realize, wait a minute, we’re okay because we’re New Yorkers.

    Nothing ever can keep us down because we always rise up. It is our way. So embrace that sense of being a New Yorker because everybody else is envious of what we have right here, right now. You reminded me there’s no place on earth – no place on earth that has the daring and the boldest to do what we just did here.

    But you are part of this story and to Gary LaBarbera and to all the 10,000 men and women who came out here and rain and shine, we saw them working day in and day out. They can come by here with their children and grandchildren and say, “I help make this building,” and it’s going to be here long after any of us. And feel that sense of pride that comes from working with your hands like my dad and my grandpa does because they were steelworkers. So embrace that as well. And to our elected officials, we have Jerry Nadler from Congress here. Guess they’re not too busy down there right now these days, Jerry, I know you want to go back to work. I know.

    And all to our leaders in the State Assembly and the Senate and our city council, it is this partnership, this willingness of New Yorkers despite our differences — and we have many — we always come together. At the right moment in time, and that’s what this building symbolizes. Congratulations to everybody.

    October 21, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Sources: Governor.ny.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
    Midtown Tribune News

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  • NYC, Chicago, and Seven Other Local Governments Sue DHS/FEMA to Protect $100M+ in Emergency & Disaster Grants

    NYC, Chicago, and Seven Other Local Governments Sue DHS/FEMA to Protect $100M+ in Emergency & Disaster Grants

    New York City has joined a nine-jurisdiction coalition led by Chicago to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, aiming to block new FY2025 “Standard Terms and Conditions” the cities call unlawful and dangerous to public safety. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, argues that federal officials exceeded their authority by conditioning counterterrorism and disaster-preparedness funds—over $100 million nationally—on certifications that recipients do not run “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)” programs and that they comply with all of former President Donald Trump’s executive orders. NYC warns the cuts could hinder the NYPD’s radiological/nuclear detection efforts and transit system security, including active-shooter training and daily specialized deployments. The suit contends only Congress can change grant conditions and challenges a clause that could claw back triple the grant amounts, risking critical services. Joining NYC and Chicago are Denver, New Haven, Baltimore, Boston, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Ramsey County, MN.

    City of New York Files Lawsuit to Protect Over 100 Million in Federal Emergency and Disaster Grants

    City of New York Files Lawsuit to Protect Over $100 Million in Federal Emergency and Disaster Grants
    to Local Governments Nationwide

    – The City of New York — as part of a national coalition of nine local governments from across the country — has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), challenging the federal government’s effort to force cities and counties to agree to unlawful conditions to continue to receive over $100 million in federal funding for countering terrorism, disaster preparedness, and other public safety programs. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that without this funding, the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) ability to detect and defend against a radiological or nuclear attack could be compromised. Additionally, funding that supports the New York City transit system’s operational security capability and capacity, including active shooter training and deploying specialized teams within the transit system every day, could be affected.

    “Public safety has always been our administration’s North Star, which is why we have always fought for every penny from our state and federal counterparts to keep us safe,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We’ve hit historic lows in crime because we’ve always been willing to make the necessary investments, so now is not the time to go backwards. We are proud to join partners from across the nation, once again, in filing this lawsuit to keep New Yorkers, and Americans from across the nation, safe.”

    “Losing funding that helps the NYPD prevent terror attacks on our subways, bridges, and tunnels would be contrary to law, the intent of Congress, and put millions of New Yorkers at risk,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant.

    In each of the last three fiscal years, New York City has been awarded approximately $150 million in grant funding for critical emergency management programs at the NYPD, the New York City Department of Transportation, and other city agencies. However, in Fiscal Year 2025, as part of the “Standard Terms and Conditions,” DHS adopted unlawful new conditions requiring recipients to certify that they do not “operate any programs that advance or promote ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’,” and requiring compliance with all of President Donald Trump’s executive orders to be eligible to receive the funds. The DHS grants help local governments prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters such as acts of terrorism, mass shootings, cyber incidents, and other complex emergencies, putting critical services for numerous communities, including New York, at risk.

    The lawsuit — led by the City of Chicago in Illinois and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division — states that new funding conditions added by the heads of federal agencies are unconstitutional and an overreach by the executive branch, which does not have the authority to change conditions related to federal grants without the approval of Congress.

    The lawsuit resists efforts by the federal administration to coerce local governments into accepting these unlawful grant conditions, including a condition that puts at risk three times the amount of the grants based on vague and undefined requirements — further endangering critical services for New Yorkers.

    Joining New York City and Chicago in filing the lawsuit are the cities of Denver, Colorado; New Haven, Connecticut; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Saint Paul Minnesota; as well as the county of Ramsey, Minnesota.

    Office of the Mayor

    October 21, 2025 NEW YORK

    Sources:  NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY,com
    Midtown Tribune news

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  • New York. Adams, Aviles-Ramos, Kaufman Kick Off 2026 ‘Battle of the Boroughs’ Esports; Students to Redesign Sunset Park’s Pier 6

    New York. Adams, Aviles-Ramos, Kaufman Kick Off 2026 ‘Battle of the Boroughs’ Esports; Students to Redesign Sunset Park’s Pier 6

    Battle of the Boroughs NYC news 2025

    Oct. 21, 2025—Mayor Eric Adams, Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos and MOME Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman launched the sixth annual “Battle of the Boroughs,” a Minecraft Education esports contest inviting K–12 students to reimagine Pier 6 at the MADE Bush Terminal Campus in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The city will baseline $60,000 to support technology needs for participants and educators; team submissions are open now through Jan. 16, 2026, via the New York City Public Schools website. Top entries will advance to in-person borough qualifiers and a Mayor’s Cup Final at the 2026 New York City Video Game Festival. The program aligns with City Hall’s digital-games push as the local industry grows to roughly 380 studios, 7,900 jobs and an estimated $2.6 billion in economic impact.

    Mayor Adams, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos, Commissioner Kaufman Kick Off 2026 “Battle of the Boroughs” E-Sports Competition

     – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman today launched the first round of the sixth annual New York City Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Esports Competition (BOTB). Through BOTB, K-12 students compete to build a more inclusive, sustainable, future-ready New York City in Minecraft while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, for the first time, the Adams administration will baseline $60,000 for the annual competition to support critical technology needs for participants and educators. Submissions for student teams are open now and close on January 16, 2026. Information on how to join the challenge, as well as entry-level training courses for educators to bring digital gaming into their classrooms, is available on the New York City Public Schools website.

    “We’re not just making sure our students are prepared to join the digital gaming industry but training them to lead it — that is what this competition is all about,” said Mayor Adams. “By encouraging students to learn computer science, build critical thinking skills, and explore sustainable design, we are both engaging our young people today and laying the foundation for good-paying careers after they graduate. Congratulations to last year’s winners and good luck to this year’s teams!”

    “The annual Battle of the Boroughs competition showcases the incredible potential of our students when they’re given the tools and the platform to thrive,” said Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos. “The new funding set aside by New York City Public Schools to support this initiative will help us to celebrate and lift the creativity and innovation of our young people even further. I’m proud of every student who participates, and I’m grateful to the educators and partners who continue to support them every step of the way.”

    “The annual Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs competition is back, with the earliest entry date yet, so that even more students across the five boroughs get an opportunity to enter and take a meaningful step towards an education and career in the city’s burgeoning digital games industry,” said MOME Commissioner Kaufman. “The Adams administration and our office are committed to supporting digital game development through the Battle of the Boroughs competition leading to the Mayor’s Cup Final and the second annual New York City Video Game Festival in the spring of 2026.”

    “The Battle of the Boroughs empowers the next generation of New Yorkers to use digital gaming technology to reimagine city spaces, inspiring NYCEDC and our continuous revitalization work,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “The competition is an outstanding opportunity to engage students across the five boroughs in city planning, digital innovation, and sustainability, and NYCEDC looks forward each year to seeing the visionary concepts from our city’s young minds.”

    BOTB — which was developed in partnership with Minecraft Education and builds on Mayor Adams’ Digital Gaming Initiative, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done (GSD) — is a scholastic digital gaming competition in which elementary, middle, and high school students compete to design future-ready city spaces. Through the competition, students explore the five boroughs, learn more about New York City’s sustainability plans, and develop valuable computer science and critical thinking skills.

    Mayor Adams today also announced the prompt for the first round of this year’s competition: to reimagine Pier 6 at the MADE Bush Terminal Campus in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. In August 2025, the Adams administration broke ground on a transformation of the actual Pier 6, which will create an engaging new open space for community residents and tenants of the MADE Bush Terminal Campus. The campus offers modern facilities and gathering space to promote manufacturing and business activity along the Sunset Park waterfront. In the first round of the competition, students are encouraged to create alternative designs for the project. Top submissions will compete at an in-person qualifying round in each borough. The BOTB Mayor’s Cup Final will take place during the 2nd Annual New York City Video Game Festival in the spring of 2026, presented by MOME.

    As part of today’s announcement, Mayor Adams also celebrated last year’s winning student teams:

    Since coming into office, the Adams administration has made historic investments to establish New York City as a leading hub for digital games, including investing over $2 million in CUNY’s first-ever Game Design Bachelor’s Degree; launching the NYC Summer of Games initiative to shine a light on all digital events in the city throughout the summer; creating the first-ever Game Development Industry Council to advise the city’s policies and programs in the games development sector; and supporting game and workforce development though the “Made in NY” Developer Grant, the “Made in NY” Animation Training Program, and the NYU Game Design Future Lab. Collectively, this work is helping to spur the digital games industry and create good-paying jobs for New Yorkers.

    The city’s digital gaming industry has continued to grow under the Adams administration. Since 2019, the number of game development studios in New York City has increased by 90 percent, to 380 studios today; the number of industry jobs has increased by four percent, to 7,900 jobs; and the economic impact of the industry has increased by 30 percent, to $2.6 billion.

    “Battle of the Boroughs has proven that, when you give students a platform like Minecraft to show their creativity and critical thinking skills, they come together in amazing ways to solve complex challenges,” said Allison Matthews, head, Minecraft Education at Mojang Studios. “In this new AI era, these skills have never been more important. We are thrilled to be part of this year’s kickoff with Microsoft and can’t wait to see what’s crafted during the competition.”

    Office of the Mayor

    October 21, 2025 NEW YORK

    Sources:  NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
    Midtown Tribune News

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  •  U.S. Department of Justice: Government Employee Arrested for Unlawful Retention of National Defense Information

     U.S. Department of Justice: Government Employee Arrested for Unlawful Retention of National Defense Information

    U.S. Department of Justice Government Employee Arrested USA News

    Ashley Tellis, 64, a U.S. citizen residing in Vienna, Virginia, was arrested on Oct. 11 in connection with his alleged unlawful retention of classified national defense information. Tellis appeared today in the Eastern District of Virginia for a detention hearing.

    “Safeguarding our country’s national defense information is a top priority,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Sue J. Bai of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “For those entrusted with our country’s most sensitive information, protecting it is a privilege and solemn responsibility. With the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and agents, we will hold this defendant accountable for breaching that trust and exploiting his security clearance to unlawfully retain classified information detailing our military capabilities.”

    “The FBI arrested Ashley Tellis, a senior advisor at the Department of State and a contractor within the Department of Defense, for allegedly removing over a thousand pages of classified national defense information from government facilities and storing them in his home,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “This arrest should serve as a stark warning to anyone thinking about undermining national security. The FBI and our partners will do everything within our power to find you and hold you accountable.”

    “We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic. The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”

    “U.S. government security clearance holders are entrusted to keep our nation’s most sensitive secrets safe,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “By allegedly removing classified documents from government facilities and storing them in his basement, Mr. Tellis betrayed that trust. The FBI and our federal partners acted quickly to execute a court-authorized search warrant and arrest Tellis to protect our national security and prevent highly classified defense information from falling into the wrong hands.”

    According to court documents, Tellis held a Top Secret security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. He has worked for the U.S. Department of State since 2001 and currently serves in addition as a contractor for the Department of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

    As alleged, Tellis accessed classified documents on multiple occasions from secured facilities, including a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) at the Department of Defense and a secure computer system at the Department of State. In one instance, Tellis altered the filename of a classified document, printed portions of it under the altered title, and then deleted the re-named file. In another incident, he was observed placing classified materials into a notepad and concealing them within his personal briefcase before leaving a secured government facility.

    During a court-authorized search of Tellis’s residence, investigators recovered over 1,000 pages of documents with classification markings, including materials labeled SECRET and/or TOP SECRET. These documents were found in locked filing cabinets, in a basement home office, and in trash bags stored in a basement utility area.

    The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Schlessinger for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Updated October 21, 2025

    Sources:  U.S. Department of Justice . Midtown Tribune News

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