FBI Executes Search Order at Fulton County Elections Center
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents executed a court-authorized search order at a warehouse serving as Fulton County's election hub on Wednesday, according to CBS News. The search took place at the Fulton County Elections Hub Operations Center, located at 5600 Campbellton Fairburn Road.
Agents wearing camouflage vests were observed entering and exiting the warehouse. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the law enforcement action but did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the investigation, stating that it was ongoing.
A source familiar with the investigation told CBS News that the search was connected to the 2020 election, in which Democrats narrowly won Georgia's electoral college votes. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that their agency was not involved in the search.
Federal Agents Involved in Minneapolis Shooting Placed on Leave
In Minneapolis, two federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, were placed on administrative leave, sources told ABC News. The shooting, which occurred on Saturday, has escalated tensions in the city.
The decision to place the agents on leave contradicts an earlier statement by Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who said on Saturday that the Customs and Border Protection officers were still on the job, working in a different city for their safety, according to CBS News.
The news of the administrative leave followed the release of a government report obtained by CBS News, which confirmed that two federal agents fired their weapons during the shooting of Pretti. The incident marked the second shooting of a U.S. citizen this month by federal agents in Minneapolis, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7, according to ABC News.
Senate Democrats Outline Demands Amid Government Shutdown Threat
In Washington, D.C., Senate Democrats on Wednesday outlined a list of demands to reform immigration enforcement in exchange for voting to fund part of the government, CBS News reported. With funding set to expire on Saturday, Congress has passed six of 12 funding measures so far. The Senate was poised this week to approve the remaining six bills, including a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, after they were sent over from the House as one package.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated at a news conference that Senate Democrats were united on a set of common-sense and necessary policy goals to rein in ICE and end the violence. The demands included a "masks off, body cameras on" policy.
Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, ending a string of three consecutive quarter-point rate cuts, ABC News reported. The central bank is grappling with a combination of elevated inflation and sluggish hiring.
The move marked the first interest-rate decision since news surfaced earlier this month of a federal criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The choice to maintain interest rates at their current level echoed a cautious approach outlined by Powell last month, before reports of the investigation into his conduct.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment