#FBI #News: #May2026 Developments gemini.google.com/share/1a66…
Here are the most significant recent developments and operations involving the FBI as of mid-May 2026:
Counterintelligence & Espionage:
$200,000 Reward for Defector Monica Witt: On May 14, the FBI’s Washington Field Office announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist. Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and was indicted in 2019 for espionage. She is accused of betraying her oath by transmitting classified national defense information to the Iranian regime and conducting research to help Iran target her former U.S. government colleagues.Institutional & Political Investigations
Indictment of Former Director James Comey: In a major development late last month, a federal grand jury in North Carolina indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making threats to harm President Trump. The two-count indictment stems from a May 2025 Instagram post that prosecutors allege was a serious expression of intent to do harm. Comey faces charges of Threatening the President and Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce.
Raid on Virginia Lawmaker’s Office: The FBI recently executed search warrants at the Portsmouth, Virginia, office of State Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas. The raid, which also included a search of a nearby cannabis dispensary, is reportedly part of a broader, ongoing public corruption investigation.Surveillance & Technology
Push for Nationwide License Plate Tracking: Procurement documents revealed on May 18 indicate that the FBI is actively seeking to purchase nationwide access to automated license plate readers (ALPRs) from commercial vendors. This initiative would potentially allow the agency to track the movements of vehicles—and by extension, individuals—across the country without a warrant, prompting renewed debate over privacy and the expansion of federal surveillance capabilities.
Domestic Security Responses
San Diego Islamic Center Shooting: On May 18, the FBI’s San Diego Field Office deployed special agents, evidence response personnel, and task force officers to assist local law enforcement following an active shooter incident at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The tragic event resulted in the deaths of three victims, as well as the two teenage suspects.
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 19, 2026
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