(NEW YORK) -- Charges were announced Monday against 14 people in connection with an alleged cocaine-trafficking operation involving students associated with two Penn State fraternities, the Pennsylvania attorney general's office said.

Thirteen current or former students, as well as a student's father, face felony or misdemeanor charges, according to a press release. At least four defendants are current students, the attorney general's office said.

"This was a coordinated and highly profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges," Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. "In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities."

Penn State officials placed the Delta Upsilon fraternity on an interim suspension, the school said in a statement. The other fraternity, Sigma Chi, where members were allegedly involved, is not recognized as an official fraternity at the school, the statement said.

The allegations stem from 2023 and 2024, Penn State said, adding that both fraternities operate off campus.

The investigation, which the attorney general dubbed "Operation Drugs Unlimited," found that two members of the group -- Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson -- were alleged to have been the main suppliers to the group, roles that included "making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for large quantities of cocaine," officials said.

"The cocaine was then cut and packaged -- primarily at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses -- and distributed mainly to Penn State University students," according to the attorney general's office.

Officials said they tracked how the cocaine was allegedly obtained, packaged and sold, saying, "Most of the payments were made in cash or via payment apps."

Abbatiello, 24, the alleged leader of the cocaine-trafficking ring, surrendered Tuesday morning, prosecutors said. He was denied bail at his arraignment

Abbatiello and Robinson, along with two others, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, face charges including felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related offenses, the attorney general's office said.

Another person, Robert Zanolla, faces charges of felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility, as well as related misdemeanors, the office said.

The eight remaining student-age defendants face misdemeanor counts of possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, the office said.

"Paul Robinson is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstructing the investigation," the release said, identifying him as the father of one of the students.

The charges were announced by Sunday's office in cooperation with the State College Police Department and the 54th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury.

"We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students," said Andrea Dowhower, Penn State's vice president for Student Affairs, in a statement.

Dowhower added, "Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations."

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(NEW YORK) -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a member of the San Diego Padres' minor league coaching staff, according to his family and the agency.

Oswaldo Pirela, the team's minor league catching coordinator who is based in Arizona, was detained Sunday morning at El Paso International Airport while he was traveling for work, his brother and mother told ABC News.

Pirela, 34, a married father of two daughters, entered the U.S. legally from Venezuela in 2014 and was allowed to remain in the country until 2018, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Tuesday. However, the agency alleged that he, "overstayed his welcome."

"When approached by law enforcement officers, he was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process," DHS said in a statement.

Pirela's family said in social media posts that he has done nothing wrong and is in the country legally.

"Oswaldo, like me and other members of our family, was directly affected by persecution from the Venezuelan regime. We came to the United States seeking safety through the legal process, applied for asylum through the proper channels, and have worked hard to build our lives and become contributing members of American society," his brother, Jorge Pirela, said in an Instagram post on Monday.

The Padres said in a statement to ABC News Tuesday that it is aware of Pirela's arrest.

"We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time," the team said.

A LinkedIn profile for Pirela, confirmed by his brother, said he played for the Texas Rangers from July 2008 to November 2011. After arriving in America in 2014, he worked landscape management before returning to baseball as a coach.

He has been with the Padres since 2024, according to the LinkedIn profile.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to compel the extradition of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent charged with assault over a nonfatal shooting and alleged false reporting during Operation Metro Surge. 

The ICE agent, Christian Castro, is accused of firing a gun at the front door of an occupied home in Minneapolis on Jan. 14, striking a Venezuelan man in the leg, then lying about the circumstances of the shooting, according to prosecutors.

Castro was charged in May with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. A Hennepin County District Court judge found probable cause for the charges and issued a nationwide warrant for Castro's arrest, according to Ellison's office.

On May 29, Texas Rangers located and arrested Castro, after which a Cameron County judge ordered him detained pending extradition proceedings, according to Ellison's office.

Four days after Castro's arrest, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sent Abbott an extradition request, but, according to Ellison's office, the Texas governor has "withheld a rendition warrant" directing law enforcement to transfer Castro back to Minnesota for prosecution.

"Now, Governor Abbott is trying to shield Castro from being held accountable for these serious charges by refusing to extradite him to Minnesota," Ellison said in a statement on Tuesday. "Abbott's refusal to extradite Castro is unconstitutional and violates federal law and Texas law. I will not stand for that, so I'm taking Abbott to court. Christian Castro will stand trial in Minnesota."

ABC News reached out to the Texas governor's office for comment on the Minnesota lawsuit but has not yet received a response.

The lawsuit also alleges that Manuel Trevino -- the sheriff of Cameron County, Texas, who is named as a defendant in the federal complaint -- has failed to make Castro available for extradition.

Ellison's office said the attorney general will also be requesting a temporary restraining order "barring the Cameron County Sheriff's Office from releasing Castro."

The Cameron County sheriff declined to comment on the lawsuit.

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(WASHINGTON) -- A power failure aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer operating in the South China Sea last month left the ship's crew without potable water, hot food, working toilets or air conditioning for four days.

The outage stemmed from an engineering failure aboard the USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a 7th Fleet spokesperson, said in a statement to ABC News.

The incident adds to concerns about the strain on the Navy as it juggles the Iran war and an expanding slate of global commitments.

The Benfold, a 30-year-old ship, was sailing with the George Washington carrier strike group on July 24 when an issue with the ship's generators caused a complete loss of power aboard the destroyer, according to Comer.

The George Washington strike group is slated to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, where the carrier and its crew have faced an extended deployment supporting the Iran war.

"There were no injuries to the crew, who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism, and unwavering steadiness in their response," Comer said of the power failure on the Benfold.

It's unclear why the incident wasn't disclosed by the sea service at the time.

ABC News reached out to the Navy for more information about the circumstances surrounding the power outage.

The Benfold was towed by contracted tugboats to Subic Bay in the Philippines, arriving July 28, where Navy maintenance specialists met the ship to begin repairs. Sailors were provided food and moved into contracted lodging ashore beginning the following day, Comer said.

Power was restored July 30, and repairs were completed on Aug. 7; the Benfold departed Subic Bay a day later, Comer added.

It’s unclear whether the Benfold returned to its home port of Japan or continued to sail with the Washington. 

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(NEW YORK) -- Charges were announced Monday against 14 people in connection with an alleged cocaine-trafficking operation involving students associated with two Penn State fraternities, the Pennsylvania attorney general's office said.

Thirteen current or former students, as well as a student's father, face felony or misdemeanor charges, according to a press release. At least four defendants are current students, the attorney general's office said.

"This was a coordinated and highly profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges," Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. "In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities."

Penn State officials placed the Delta Upsilon fraternity on an interim suspension, the school said in a statement. The other fraternity, Sigma Chi, where members were allegedly involved, is not recognized as an official fraternity at the school, the statement said.

The allegations stem from 2023 and 2024, Penn State said, adding that both fraternities operate off campus.

The investigation, which the attorney general dubbed "Operation Drugs Unlimited," found that two members of the group -- Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson -- were alleged to have been the main suppliers to the group, roles that included "making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for large quantities of cocaine," officials said.

"The cocaine was then cut and packaged -- primarily at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses -- and distributed mainly to Penn State University students," according to the attorney general's office.

Officials said they tracked how the cocaine was allegedly obtained, packaged and sold, saying, "Most of the payments were made in cash or via payment apps."

Abbatiello and Robinson, along with two others, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, face charges including felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related offenses, the office said. Another person, Robert Zanolla, faces charges of felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility, as well as related misdemeanors, the office said.

The eight remaining student-age defendants face misdemeanor counts of possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, the office said.

"Paul Robinson is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstructing the investigation," the release said, identifying him as the father of one of the students.

The charges were announced by Sunday's office in cooperation with the State College Police Department and the 54th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury.

"We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students," said Andrea Dowhower, Penn State's vice president for Student Affairs, in a statement.

Dowhower added, "Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations."

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Department of Justice has asked an appeals court to reinstate the criminal human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

In May, a federal judge granted Abrego Garcia's motion to dismiss the case, finding that the federal government failed to rebut Abrego Garcia's "presumption of vindictiveness."

"Because the presumption of vindictiveness remains unrebutted, the indictment must be dismissed," U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw wrote in May.

In a brief filed Monday, attorneys for the DOJ urged an appellate court to overturn Judge Crenshaw's May ruling, arguing that the decision to indict Abrego Garcia was supported by "legitimate reasons."

"The decision to seek an indictment against Abrego Garcia for human smuggling was made by career prosecutors based on the evidence, the law, and their firm belief that there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Abrego Garcia had committed the offenses charged," the DOJ said in a press release. "The indictment and prosecution of Abrego Garcia in the Middle District of Tennessee was not vindictive, and the evidence before the district court established that it was not."

Abrego Garcia, who had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, was deported in March of last year to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison -- despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation to that country due to a fear of persecution -- after the Trump administration claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, which he denies.

He was brought back to the U.S. last June to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee, after which U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis released him from ICE detention while he awaited trial.

In May, Judge Crenshaw highlighted the involvement of high-ranking DOJ officials in the case, pointing to public statements made by then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to conclude that the government could not justify its sudden shift from wanting to deport Abrego Garcia to prosecuting him.

In its filing Monday, the DOJ argued that Blanche's public comments in an interview regarding the deportation case "do not reflect a vindictive motive."

"At a minimum, nothing in his interview supports an inference that the United States pursued charges 'solely' to retaliate against Abrego for his civil suit," the DOJ argued. "The district court's contrary reasoning -- which did not even address the full quotation -- is illogical and clearly erroneous."

The criminal charges in Tennessee stem from a 2022 traffic stop disclosed in an April 2025 press release issued by the Department of Homeland Security, which touted a "bombshell investigative report" alleging that Abrego Garcia was a suspected human trafficker. He was not charged or arrested during the traffic stop, which lasted for more than an hour. 

"Instead of investigating the November 2022 traffic stop to identify who was responsible for the human smuggling, Blanche started the investigation to implicate Abrego," Judge Crenshaw wrote in May. "He did so to justify the Executive Branch's decision to remove him to El Salvador."

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(NEW YORK) -- A judge in New York on Monday gave prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office until Oct. 9 to respond to Luigi Mangione's motion to dismiss his state murder indictment, effectively meaning that Mangione's state murder trial -- which had been set to begin on Sept. 8 -- is adjourned.

Judge Gregory Carro set Dec. 10 as the next possible court date.

Mangione is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court eight days later, on Dec. 18, and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

On Friday, Mangione pleaded guilty to both federal stalking counts in his federal case and admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.

"I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died," he said in court, adding, "I knew what I was doing was illegal."

Immediately following Mangione's guilty plea, his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the charges he's facing in state court under New York's double jeopardy law.

"New York law does not permit a person to be prosecuted and punished twice for the exact same crime under a statute that governs successive prosecutions," defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told reporters Friday.

Mangione pleaded not guilty in his state case and was set to go on trial on charges of murder in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second-degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined a request from President Donald Trump to reconsider its rejection of his appeal in the 2023 E. Jean Carroll case.

The decision means it's the end of the line for Trump's bid to overturn a $5 million jury award to Carroll, which the writer's representatives said was paid in July.

The Court did not explain its decision and there were no noted dissents. No request for a rehearing has been granted since the 1960s. 

A jury determined in 2023 that Trump was liable for sexually abusing Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s, and that he defamed her in a 2022 social media post by calling her allegations "a Hoax and a lie" and saying "This woman is not my type!"

In 2024, following a separate trial, Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages to Carroll for defaming her in 2019 when he denied her allegations of sexual abuse.

Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, is continuing to appeal that judgment with a petition to the justices currently pending. They are expected to decide later this year whether or not to take up the case.

In his appeal, Trump alleges that his 2019 comments about Carroll -- which were later found to be defamatory -- were "official" statements as president and therefore immune from use in a legal case against him.

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(LOS ANGELES) -- The fight over Nick Reiner's trust fund is expected to play out Monday in probate court in Los Angeles, with the 32-year-old looking to access money from the fund for his defense.

Nick Reiner is accused of fatally stabbing his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner, in the family's home in December.

An indictment unsealed last week charges Nick Reiner with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait, according to prosecutors. He also faces a special allegation that he used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife. The 32-year-old pleaded not guilty and has been appointed a public defender.

Nick Reiner is now looking to access more than $500,000 he says he's owed from a trust fund, saying he wants to use that money for his legal defense.

A financial steward for the trust fund argues that a piece of California law known as the "slayer statute" prevents a person from receiving trust fund money from a person they intentionally killed.

The steward said Nick Reiner is innocent until proven guilty, and if he's found not guilty, he would get the money. However, if the funds were given to Nick Reiner now and he were later found guilty, there would be no way of getting the money back.

Nick Reiner remains held on no bond and is next due in court on Sept. 15 for a pretrial hearing. No trial date has been set.

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(NEW YORK) -- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Indonesia just hours after a more powerful magnitude 7.7 quake struck off the coast of the eastern part of the country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

At least 47 people have been killed, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), with the earthquakes knocking down some buildings and leading hundreds to evacuate amid fears of a tsunami, officials said.

At least six others were injured and two more are missing, according to the Associated Press.

More than 300 houses were destroyed or damaged, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency.

More than 100 public facilities have also been destroyed or damaged, including 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, six offices and five places of worship.

Emergency crews, including members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, were conducting evacuations and assessing damage.

The agency said the earthquake, which struck shortly before 5 a.m. local time, was strongly felt across the province of East Nusa Tenggara.

The quake initially triggered fears of a tsunami, and a warning from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, issuing alerts to stay away from beaches and calls for people to evacuate. However, those warnings later expired, according to the Associated Press.

Before then, about 2,000 residents in the Nagekeo Regency on the Flores island "carried out self-evacuation as a precautionary measure after the earthquake and due to the early warning of a tsunami," the disaster management agency said.

The earthquake's epicenter was located about 60 kilometers north-northwest of Ende in Indonesia's Flores region at a depth of about 10 kilometers, according to USGS.

There were a number of strong aftershocks reported nearby, including a 6.1 quake and a 5.9 quake also north of Ende, according to the USGS. 

Photos from the area showed damage to buildings. 

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(NEW YORK) -- Tropical Storm Lala continues to track through the central Pacific Ocean and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday.

As of 11 p.m. ET, Lala was moving west-northwest at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and is approximately 440 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hawaii County -- the Big Island -- remains under a hurricane warning, according to the NHC.

Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning was issued for Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, as well as Oahu and Kauai Counties, including the islands of Kauai and Niihau.

Lala is forecasted to continue gradually strengthening Friday into Saturday as it makes a close approach to the Big Island early Saturday.

Hawaii braces for storm
At a press briefing on Friday, Hawaii officials urged residents to prepare for heavy rain, damaging winds and flooding.

"This is a serious moment," Gov. Josh Green said Friday during the briefing with state, county and federal emergency officials.

About 180 Hawaii National Guard members were activated and positioned across the state to support rescue operations. High-water vehicles were also placed in each county, and additional military and federal resources were available if needed.

Green signed an emergency proclamation allowing the state to quickly use resources from a $100 million disaster fund.

Schools and state education offices on Hawaii Island, Maui, Lanai and Molokai were closing for the weekend, with events canceled.

Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said shelters would open at 6 p.m. and would accept pets. Beaches, parks, landfills and transfer stations were closing through Saturday, and mass transit service was being suspended.

Latest forecast
Heavy rainfall and gusty winds were expected to begin impacting the Big Island Friday, bringing the possibility of life-threatening mudslides and landslides, especially across areas with steep terrain.

Hurricane conditions were expected on the Big Island on Saturday.

Lala is forecast to bring 8 to 12 inches of rain across Maui and the Big Island, with totals reaching up to 25 inches in the higher elevations of the Big Island. The remainder of the Hawaiian Islands are forecasted to receive 4 to 6 inches of rainfall.

Large and dangerous surf, especially on the Big Island, is also expected this weekend. The greatest impacts are expected along exposed windward and southern shores. The prolonged period of heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.

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(PETERSBURG, Va.) -- A lockdown has been lifted at Virginia State University after a shooting outside residence halls left five people injured, one of them critically. No arrests have been made in the shooting.

Officers responded near the VSU Quad Annexes at around 1:30 a.m. local time Saturday to find five individuals suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the university.

All five individuals were transferred to area hospitals. One is in critical condition while the four others have non-life threatening injuries.

"Although the lockdown has been lifted, members of the VSU community are asked to remain mindful of the ongoing law enforcement activity and avoid the immediate area where investigators are processing the scene," the university said Saturday morning.

A significant law enforcement presence remains on campus while the investigation continues, the university said.

Chesterfield County Police are leading the investigation, with assistance from Virginia State University Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information related to the shooting is urged to contact Chesterfield County Police at 804-748-1251, Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660, or VSU Police at 804-524-5411.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom to continue after a lower court put it on pause.

The administration on Friday asked the high court for an emergency stay of the injunction, which would halt substantial portions of the above-ground construction of the White House East Wing and ballroom while litigation plays out over its legality.

The injunction is set to take effect on Aug. 21 unless the Supreme Court acts.

The district court order would still allow below-ground construction or any other measures necessary to protect national security and the president's safety.

Solicitor General John Sauer called the injunction "extraordinary and unlawful," arguing that it would put the security of the president and his family at risk and override the advice of the nation's top military, intelligence and law enforcement officials. 

"If allowed to go into effect, the injunction would wrongfully install a single district judge as sole arbiter of what further construction is 'strictly necessary' to protect the safety of the President, his family, staff members, and visitors to the White House, including foreign dignitaries, and presidents and prime ministers of other countries," Sauer wrote. 

The district court concluded that President Donald Trump lacks the authority to overhaul the White House without congressional approval. A divided federal appeals court upheld the ruling earlier this month. 

In his appeal to the justices to intervene, Sauer suggested halting construction would directly put the life of the president at risk, citing six "recent assassination attempts," including "the threat of a missile attack against Air Force One on July 8."

"The President of the United States of America is not a tenant, but rather the sole, elected head of the Executive Branch, and Congress has authorized him to renovate, secure, and protect the White House and its grounds, as other Presidents  have been allowed to do, without exception," he wrote. 

The government argued that it is likely to win on appeal in the case, insisting that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks standing to bring the lawsuit and that federal law has long allowed presidents to undertake the "care, maintenance, repair, alteration, refurbishment, and improvement ... of the Executive Residence at the White House." 

The Supreme Court is expected to seek a response from the National Trust for Historic Preservation sometime in the next week before rendering a decision on the stay. 

Sauer indicated that the administration also plans to ask the Supreme Court to take the case up for expedited oral argument and decision on the merits. 

Separately, the administration's filing appeared to provide new details about the state of the construction operation. 

The government asserts that it is "on time" and "under budget" and that "zero taxpayer dollars are needed or required." 

Though there is no mention of the White House's $1 billion funding request to Congress for White House hardening and enhancements for evolving threats and technology which have been widely seen by lawmakers as related to Trump's ballroom.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday formally asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an audit of the project and its funding.

“The scale of this project, the destruction of historic architecture, the opaque and unorthodox combination of public funds with private funding sources, and the absence of standard federal review processes raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and stewardship of this national landmark,” the lawmakers wrote.

Sauer claimed in Friday's filing that the project is 65% complete and that $200 million has been spent or committed to date. 

He says a 250-person crew is working 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. The structure is said to be 5 stories deep and 70-feet above ground across 50,000 square feet. 

The administration's filing also includes sworn declarations from some of the most senior officials in the government, including from the secretary of state, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as the heads of the FBI and Secret Service, in an effort to dramatically lay out the national security justifications for the ballroom.

One White House official also said in a declaration that the construction is simply too far along for the project to be safely stopped.

"[I]f work is stopped in line with the district court’s injunction, it will be a disaster,” wrote Joshua Fisher, the White House director of management and administration.  "Quite frankly, if the building were tragically ordered to be taken down, or even altered, by the court, there would be no way to do so."

Fisher says the concrete-and-steel superstructure is now "beyond the point of no return," adding that the freestanding walls "cannot be left as-is without being tied together with the designed structural steel."

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(WASHINGTON) -- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect who allegedly vandalized the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., saying in a post on social media that her office filed two felony charges against a woman, with a penalty of "up to ten years in prison."

In the post, Pirro identified the suspect as Melissa L. Farris and said Farris is in custody. An attorney for Farris could not immediately be reached for comment.

"Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom," Pirro wrote.

According to ABC affiliate WJLA, U.S. Park Police launched an investigation on Thursday after red paint was dumped onto the walls and floor of the Atlantic pavilion, and a substance poured into the fountain caused it to bubble.

A witness photographed a woman authorities later identified as Farris in the apparent act of spray painting the WWII Memorial on Thursday before Farris fled, according to the statement of facts filed in federal court. 

When the witness passed the images on to law enforcement, a U.S. Park Police officer recognized Farris as someone they had arrested on Aug. 10 -- just a few days prior -- for unlawfully camping on federal property a few blocks from the WWII Memorial, according to the complaint. 

Authorities found social media postings, including a livestream video before the alleged vandalism and another video where she allegedly admits to damaging the memorial and says she was surprised that no one immediately arrested her, according to the complaint.

“Why the [expletive] didn’t I get arrested?  You don’t think that’s weird," she said in the video, according to court records. 

Farris is charged with depredation against property of the U.S. and destruction of a veterans' memorial.

When asked for comment on the incident, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said: "The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII. The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated."

Friends of the World War II Memorial, a group dedicated to preserving the monument, called the vandalism "unacceptable."

"There are many places in our country for expression, debate, and disagreement. A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism," the group wrote in a statement.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the incident on Thursday.

"Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II," Trump wrote in a social media post.

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(NEW YORK) -- Alex Murdaugh appeared in a South Carolina courtroom on Friday for a hearing to work out some key issues ahead of his April 2027 retrial, including where it will take place, what evidence will be permitted, and how much of Murdaugh's testimony from the first trial will be available to prosecutors. 

Judge Debra McCaslin agreed that Murdaugh would be unable to receive a fair retrial in Colleton County, where the original trial took place, but she has not decided on where the trial will be held.

She ruled that the trial cannot take place anywhere in the 14th Circuit, where Colleton is located. She will issue an order later on the new venue.

After the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s conviction for murdering his wife and son earlier this year -- citing jury tampering by the court clerk in the case -- McCaslin scheduled his retrial for April 5, 2027. 

Murdaugh is pushing to dismiss the case -- accusing the lead investigator of misconduct -- and argues he cannot have a fair trial in some of the South Carolina counties where his family name has been "synonymous with the local legal system for nearly a century." 

The judge did not rule on the defense's motion to dismiss the case on Friday because prosecutors have not responded.

Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian called the Colleton County Courthouse the "scene of the crime" when it comes to the jury tampering by the Clerk of Court that triggered the new trial, calling it "poison."

The defense has lobbied to have the trial heard in Charleston, but State Attorney Creighton Waters said the expense would be an undue financial burden for the state, saying he is a steward of taxpayer money.

Murdaugh showed little reaction to the ruling on Friday.

McCaslin said she intends to stick to the trial start date she set. In a hearing that lasted over three hours, McCaslin moved through a list of motions from both sides. 

McCaslin ruled that Murdaugh's testimony from his prior trial may be used in the new trial, subject to what is being testified.

McCaslin will not allow the defense to use Murdaugh's polygraph test at trial, warning that the defense could face being held in contempt or even a mistrial if the test is mentioned.

The judge also ruled that if the defense plans to use data from Murdaugh's phone at trial, it must give prosecutors notice and access.

Both sides will work on the jury questionnaire, and the judge will directly supervise jury selection.

Citing jury tampering by Clerk of Court Becky Hill and the reason behind the retrial, the defense asked that it be privy to the full potential jury list before the trial. Harpootlian implied that Hill's intervention in the case may have begun as early as jury selection.

The South Carolina Supreme Court in May threw out Murdaugh's double murder conviction due to misconduct by a court clerk who communicated with some of the jurors during the trial and influenced their deliberations. 

"Both the State and Murdaugh's defense skillfully presented their cases to the jury as the trial court deftly presided over this complicated and high-profile matter. However, their efforts were in vain because Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury," the ruling said. 

Murdaugh's $600,000 civil lawsuit against Hill over the matter was dismissed this month.

Murdaugh, who remains in prison because he pleaded guilty to separate financial crimes, was sentenced to 27 years on state charges and 40 years on federal charges. While he had admitted to lying to and stealing from his clients, Murdaugh has maintained his innocence related to the deaths of his wife and son. 

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(NEW YORK) -- Luigi Mangione admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as he pleaded guilty Friday to two federal stalking counts.

Mangione, wearing tan prison clothes, addressed the court himself, saying, "After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back ... I learned UnitedHealth would be holding an investor conference in New York City."

"I then researched the event online. I observed the annual conference of America's largest healthcare organization with the stated mission to make the healthcare system better for everyone," he said.

"I traveled to New York and emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to kill Brian Thompson ... I shot Mr. Thompson in the back," he said, adding, "I knew what I was doing was illegal."

Earlier in the hearing, defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told the court, "Mr. Mangione is prepared to plead guilty to the indictment at this time," and Mangione himself then affirmed he was prepared to plead guilty.

Members of Thompson's family, including his wife and mother, are sitting in the front row of the courtroom, marking the first time they’re appearing in court. Thompson’s wife appeared to be crying as the hearing began. Executives from UnitedHealthcare are also in attendance.

When asked for his full name, Mangione replied, "Luigi Nicolas Mangione," and he affirmed his age, 28, and schooling at the University of Pennsylvania.

He told the judge he took a sleep medication two days ago but said it did not cloud his judgment.

The judge asked Mangione if he understood that he'd give up his right to a trial if he pleaded guilty, and Mangione responded yes.

Federal prosecutor Dominic Gentile explained that Mangione stalked Thompson with the intent to kill him and his conduct resulted in Thompson’s death.

U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett told Mangione a guilty plea would expose him to a possible life sentence. 

"Do you understand that?" the judge asked, and Mangione replied, "yes."

The judge confirmed there is no plea deal.

A guilty plea could complicate Mangione's murder prosecution in state court, where trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. His federal trial was set for Jan. 5.

Defense attorneys have already tried to dismiss the murder charges on double jeopardy grounds. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is prepared to move forward, arguing stalking and murder address different harms.

About three dozen members of the public -- including at least one person who camped out in a tent overnight -- lined up outside the courthouse Friday morning to try to secure a seat in the courtroom.

Mangione's supporters are often outspoken during his hearings, but there were little-to-no demonstrators on Friday morning. And with the federal court limiting what members of the public can wear, Mangione's supporters were not donning their normal shirts proclaiming his innocence.

Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan, and he was captured in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that Mangione was indicted on first-degree murder charges on Dec. 17, 2024, and federal prosecutors announced separate charges of stalking and murder on Dec. 19, 2024. 

Mangione pleaded not guilty in the separate state and federal cases.

The charges in both cases have narrowed over the last year. In the federal case, Garnett in January threw out the murder and firearm charges, leaving two counts: stalking - travel in interstate commerce and stalking - use of interstate facilities.

In the state case, Judge Gregory Carro last September dismissed the first-degree murder and terrorism charges. In the state case, Mangione is still charged with murder in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second-degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree.

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(FREEPORT, Fla.) -- Isabelle Johnson, a suspected murderer who authorities say had been using multiple disguises and identities, has been arrested and taken into custody, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

“We got her,” officials said in a post on social media late Thursday. “Isabelle Johnson is in custody.”

Johnson, 38, has been charged with the murder of 43-year-old Jason Christopher Coulthart who was found dead in a shallow grave in June in Florida after he had gone missing in May, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say Johnson used multiple identities to evade authorities, calling her a "master manipulator."

Coulthart was reported missing on May 24 after he was last seen leaving the College Condominiums complex in Florida, according to the sheriff's office.

Unidentified remains were found on a Freeport, Florida, property on June 25 -- after investigators were able to identify where Coulthart's body had been buried, according to the sheriff's office.

A DNA match confirmed the remains were Coulthart's in July, the sheriff's office said.

Five others have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, including two people accused of aiding Johnson evade investigators, the sheriff's office said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Kennedy Center board voted on Thursday to close the famed cultural institution for two years for renovations and to again add President Donald Trump’s name to the facade, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the board, said in a statement.

This is a developing story.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Wednesday demanding more information about the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln amid the war with Iran and raising further questions about the Navy's ability to preserve service members' well-being while sustaining its current "operational tempo." 

In his letter, Sen. Richard Blumenthal noted the Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has gone more than 200 days without a port call. 

"There have been widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system, which have caused many care packages en route to the ship to be lost in transit for months," Blumenthal wrote. "These reports warrant immediate attention, but they also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force, particularly as this Administration repeatedly commits U.S. forces to conflicts of its own choosing and increasingly relies on aircraft carriers to sustain those operations."

His letter comes amid reports that the sailors are exhausted and, according to Military Times, one family member alleges a sailor attempted to go overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln.

A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that a sailor went overboard last month from the Lincoln and was quickly recovered. The incident is under investigation, the official said. 

Hegseth on Thursday pushed back on reports of a sailor going overboard from the Lincoln and accounts of sailors struggling through an unusually long deployment have been "completely misrepresented."

"We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment," Hegseth told Newsmax. "Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody."

A Navy official told ABC News in a statement that the Lincoln has not seen an uptick in mental health issues and has "not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship."

But it acknowledged sailors are strained.

"We know that extended deployments place a significant strain on our service members and their families, and we are grateful for the resilience and sacrifices they make in support of our nation's security," the statement said. 

A U.S. official told ABC News on Thursday that the Navy's data shows its not uncommon for suicidal ideation to occur on deployed ships and that typically the rates are higher at the start of a deployment. The official said the data shows the Lincoln is following that trend and so far there have been no deaths or suicides since the it departed from San Diego last November.

The 5,000 sailors aboard the carrier have access to mental health assistance as well as chaplains, according to the official.

The ship was slated for a normal six-month deployment to the Pacific but has been extended on an unusually long nine-month deployment due to the war with Iran, where it was redirected earlier this year. It's not clear when it will be allowed home and is currently serving in North Arabian Sea.

Cao told Lincoln families during a town hall last week that another carrier will eventually swap out with the Lincoln, though he did not provide a timeline.

A U.S. official told ABC News on Thursday that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is homeported in Japan, will replace the Lincoln as part of a long-planned rotation of ships.

Blumenthal notes in his letter that the Lincoln is not an isolated case, highlighting the prolonged deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford earlier this year.  

"Recent carrier deployments have repeatedly stretched beyond their originally anticipated durations, suggesting that extended deployments may be becoming a feature rather than an exception of the Navy's force-generation model," Blumenthal wrote. 

Blumenthal wrote that Lincoln's extended deployment is especially concerning because of the war. 

"The Administration has yet to adequately explain the objectives, end state, or anticipated duration of those operations. If the Administration intends to maintain a prolonged military campaign or an elevated carrier presence in the region, it must explain how it intends to ensure today's operational requirements do not create tomorrow's readiness crisis," Blumenthal wrote. 

The letter requests responses from Hegseth and Cao about the Navy's plan for sustaining carrier strike groups in the Middle East for the next 12 to 24 months, about who authorized extensions of the Lincoln's deployments and when, and about what military objective the Lincoln's extended deployment is aimed at achieving.

Blumenthal also requests an accounting of the "habitability, supply and quality-of-life problems" aboard the Lincoln, and he asks for further information on what metrics the Navy is using to address "fatigue, morale, mental health and crew readiness."

Blumenthal is not the only Democrat to weigh in. 

Sen. Chris Coons, the top Democrat on the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee, told CNN on Thursday that reports of a sailor jumping from the ship are "another reminder of how the president and his team, while asking for a huge increase in defense spending for all sorts of exotic new undertakings like the Trump-class battleship or Golden Dome missile defense system, are not making the investments in the daily lives and the care and the support of our sailors and soldiers, airmen and marines that they deserve."

Coons said this is an example of how the U.S. has "pushed our Navy to the limit."

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said in a statement to ABC News, "President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are committed to ensuring that the brave American patriots serving our country in uniform are equipped with the resources necessary to counter any threat to the United States." Coons said he is only aware of media reports about the Lincoln and has not been briefed on it. 

Coons blamed "unscheduled, unplanned deployments to the Southern Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific for repeated strikes against Venezuela and alleged drug boats, long deployments into the Middle East" and the "now six month war against Iran and deployments around the world because of increasing threats" for straining the Navy. 

Democrats earlier this year blocked the Senate from proceeding with consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act, a massive, must-pass defense bill that authorizes pay raises for the troops and funding for the military, due to their objection to the administration's actions in Iran that Congress has not authorized. 

A number Democrats in Congress have posted concerns about the Lincoln. Sen Ruben Gallego called for the Navy to allow a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the Lincoln and investigate.

Sen. Mary Kelly wrote that "long deployments are hard" but that "they are a lot harder when the mission isn't well defined and there is no end in sight."

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(NEW YORK) -- Amid floodwaters already up to the roofs of some homes and turning the streets of multiple cities into rushing rivers, Midwest residents are bracing for more severe storms on Thursday.

"When I looked out my window, I saw my fence floating past my window," Karlie Frey, a resident of hard-hit Cambridge City, Indiana, told ABC Indianapolis affiliate station WRTV.

After being evacuated from her home on Wednesday via a rescue boat, Frey, who has lived in Cambridge City since 2009, said, "I've never seen it get this bad."

Indiana, which recorded three storm-related deaths this week, was in the path of more severe storms expected to pound the Midwest on Thursday.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency on Thursday.

"Hoosiers' safety is my top priority. Our state response is fully mobilized, resources are moving where they're needed, and we will continue working around the clock to support every impacted community," Braun said in a social media post on Thursday.

Braun is expected to meet with first responders in Cambridge City and survey the damage there to "ensure state resources are available to support the response and recovery efforts," the governor's office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, rescue operations resumed on Thursday for one person in Delaware County, Indiana, who was among four people who reportedly went into the Mississinewa River on Wednesday during significant flooding, authorities said. Three others were rescued from the river on Wednesday night, officials noted.

Flood watches also remained in effect in Iowa, Kentucky and North Carolina, where showers and storms are possible on Thursday, keeping the threat of more flooding in place.

Like in recent days, storms expected from Des Moines, Iowa, to Lexington, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee, have the potential to train, or remain stationary, over the same areas, and could produce rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said severe isolated storms on Thursday are expected to occur across Iowa and Illinois, including the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Springfield and Peoria.

The storms are expected to be accompanied by damaging winds, large hail and possible tornadoes.

Dangerous heat will also be a factor from the Midwest and Plains to the Southeast, all the way down to South Florida. More than 100 million people in over 15 states are under heat alerts on Thursday as a heat dome remains parked over the country's Mid-South region.

Extreme heat warnings are in effect for Wichita, Kansas City, St. Louis and Paducah, Kentucky. Heat indices, which include humidity, will make it feel 111 in St. Louis and 110 in Kansas City.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to assess the damage from storms, floods, and at least five tornadoes, including three in southwest Chicago suburbs, that devastated the Midwest over the past two days.

Images from flooded areas of Cambridge City and elsewhere in Henry County showed floodwaters up to the roofs of some homes and many flooded streets impassable.

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Cambridge City Town Council President Jim McLane described the flood in his small town of 1,700 people as "pretty devastating."

McLane said he has lived in the area for 60 years and had never seen flooding "anything remotely compared to this." He said flood waters rose "several feet higher than most people have seen it here before."

McLane described a seven-to-eight-block area of flooded homes in Cambridge City, and said dozens of people had to be rescued by boat.

Henry County Sheriff John Sproles said more than 50 people were rescued on Wednesday from a flooded apartment complex in Henry County.

Henry County officials are also investigating a possible tornado that moved through New Castle, Indiana, on Wednesday, toppling trees and ripping the roof off a commercial building.

Sproles said he is concerned about additional rainfall hitting the area.

"Any more rain is really going to put us into much more significant problems," he said.

Eric Stiles, who owns a plumbing company in Indiana, posted a video this week of damage caused by severe storms that hit Munster, Indiana, on Tuesday. The footage showed a line of massive trees uprooted in one residential neighborhood.

"It's like driving through a war zone," Stiles said in the video.

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