Americans’ perceptions of big tech companies have steadily deteriorated over the past 18 months as titans like Facebook, Twitter and Amazon receive an avalanche of bipartisan criticism, according to a new poll.

A new Gallup poll released Thursday shows that 45 percent of Americans have “somewhat” or “very” negative views of large tech companies, which were defined in the survey as firms “such as Amazon, Facebook and Google.”

The percent of Americans who had “somewhat” negative views remained the same from when the poll was taken in August 2019 — 23 percent — but the percentage of those with “very” negative views jumped from 10 percent to 22 percent. 

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Meanwhile, just 34 percent of Americans have “somewhat” or “very” positive views of Big Tech. The percentage of Americans with “somewhat” positive views dropped from 31 percent to 23 percent, and the percentage of those with “very” positive views fell from 15 percent to 11 percent. 

The declining views of large tech companies coincide with a rise in the percentage of Americans who think the government should increase regulations on the firms.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans said Washington should impose more regulations, a jump from 48 percent in 2019, while calls for decreased regulation stayed statistically the same.

The poll comes as both Democrats and Republicans rail against companies like Facebook and Twitter for various practices. Liberals have berated the platforms for what they say is a failure to take strong enough action to curtail hate speech and disinformation, while conservatives have accused social media companies of putting dampers on right-leaning pages. 

Changes in the opinion of the tech titans are particularly stark among Republicans and independents. The percentage of self-identified Republicans who had positive views of the firms fell from 43 percent to 20 percent, while support from independents fell from 43 percent to 33 percent. Positive views among Democrats held steady at 49 percent. 

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Support for increased regulation is bipartisan, with majorities of Republicans, independents and Democrats backing boosted oversight. In 2019, fewer than 50 percent of Republicans and independents supported more regulation.

“Views of Big Tech have grown more negative as the industry has drawn the ire of Republicans who view it as anti-conservative. Although Democrats view large technology companies positively on balance, they join Republicans in supporting increased government regulation of them as concerns have arisen about their size and power,” Gallup wrote.

“There is bipartisan agreement about some antitrust issues as they relate to the large technology companies, although partisans disagree about how to address them. Beyond this, they also disagree about what regulations need to address, with Republicans focusing on the alleged censoring of conservative voices, while Democrats see a need for addressing misinformation and hate speech online.”

The Gallup poll surveyed 906 adults from Jan. 21-Feb. 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The poll was conducted after the Jan. 6 riot on Capitol Hill.

In reaction to the insurrection by the pro-Trump mob, Twitter permanently suspended then-President TrumpDonald TrumpFederal prosecutors investigated Proud Boys ties to Roger Stone in 2019 case: CNN Overnight Defense: One-third of service members decline coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack | US, Japan reach cost sharing agreement Trump ‘won’t say yet’ if he’s running in 2024 MORE from its platform, while Facebook indefinitely banned him. Google, Amazon and Apple also removed the social media platform Parler, which has gained popularity among conservatives.

Happy Thursday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

THE TOPLINE: NATO expanding troops in Iraq

NATO will expand its security training mission in Iraq by thousands of troops following a deadly rocket attack on a military air base earlier this week.

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The 30-member alliance will increase its personnel in Iraq from 500 to around 4,000, a move to prevent the war-torn country from becoming a breeding ground for terrorists, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Thursday.

“ISIS still operates in Iraq and we need to make sure they’re not able to return,” Stoltenberg told reporters at the end of a two-day virtual NATO defense ministers meeting.

What the increase means: He said NATO’s efforts will now include more Iraqi security institutions and areas beyond Baghdad, though their presence “is conditions-based and increases in troop numbers will be incremental.”

He added that the Iraqi government had made a request for the expanded mission, which will begin in the coming months.

The forces already there: NATO has been in Iraq since 2004 to train Iraqi security forces. Its current training mission, which began in 2018, is meant to help the Iraqi forces prevent ISIS from resurging. 

The increase in NATO troops could possibly ease pressure on U.S. forces in Iraq, where about 2,500 troops are based for a mission separate from the alliance.

Will the US also increase?: A senior Defense official told reporters earlier this week that the Pentagon “welcomes NATO’s increased focus on Iraq,” but would not say if the U.S. would add more troops to the training mission.

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Response to attack: Plans for an expanded NATO footprint follows the rocket attack Monday on Erbil International Airport, a military air base in northern Iraq, which killed a civilian contractor and injured nine people, including a U.S. service member.

The militant Shia group Saraya Awliya al-Dam claimed credit for the attack, though the Biden administration has not publicly confirmed who is responsible for the strike.

The State Department on Wednesday vowed “consequences for any group responsible for this attack.”

 

Suspended head of Army War College faces sexual misconduct investigation

The suspended head of the Army War College is being investigated over allegations of sexual misconduct, numerous outlets reported Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Maranian “was suspended from his duties for an allegation of inappropriate touching unrelated to his current position,” Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told Military.com in a statement.

Special agents from Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating the allegation, Smith added.

Further details: Task and Purpose reported that Maranian is under investigation over alleged abusive sexual contact with an Army civilian, and that a military protective order was issued against him on Feb. 9, the day he was suspended.

“No further information will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigative process,” Smith said. “These are allegations at this time, and MG Maranian is presumed innocent until and if proven otherwise.”

A long-time problem: The Army for years has struggled to curtail sexual harassment and assault within the ranks, an effort that was ramped up following an independent review at Fort Hood in Texas that found leadership failures allowed unchecked and widespread sexual assault and violence.

New pledges: Army Secretary John Whitley, the service’s top civilian leader, last week called on the force to combat “corrosive behavior” including discrimination, extremist views and sexual harassment.

And Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinOvernight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq Suspended head of Army War College faces sexual misconduct investigation Overnight Defense: One-third of service members decline coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack | US, Japan reach cost sharing agreement MORE during his nomination hearing pledged to “fight hard to stamp out sexual assault.”

 

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Biden shifts approach to Saudi leaders

President BidenJoe BidenDeath toll from winter weather rises to at least 40: AP On The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off Top political donor sentenced to 12 years in prison for illegal campaign contributions MORE is shifting the U.S. approach to Saudi Arabia by turning away from the priority diplomatic access given to certain Saudi officials during the Trump administration, which gave the kingdom a prominent role in America’s Middle East policy.

Biden is expected to speak at some point with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, signaling a downgrade in relations with the kingdom’s day-to-day ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, an outsize figure on the world stage.

‘Recalibrate’ relationship: The pointed emphasis that Biden will communicate with the Saudi king, a move described by White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiOvernight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq Biden immigration bill reveals hardened battle lines in post-Trump era Cruz takes hits at home for leaving during crisis MORE as an effort to “recalibrate” the relationship between Washington and Riyadh, indicates the president is taking steps toward his commitment to more forcefully confront Riyadh over its human rights abuses while still working together on shared goals.

How Trump handled it: The crown prince played a prominent role in the Trump administration’s approach to the Middle East, reportedly exchanging WhatsApp messages with former White House senior adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerOvernight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq Biden shifts approach to Saudi leaders LIVE COVERAGE: Democrats focus on Trump remarks before attack on Capitol MORE, helping pave the way for the Abraham Accords, opening relations between Israel and Gulf and African nations.

But the crown prince also alienated Washington over his alleged role in ordering the killing and dismemberment of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in October 2018.

Trump notably downplayed the crown prince’s role in Khashoggi’s killing in an effort to maintain strong bilateral ties, writing in an extraordinary statement that “maybe he did and maybe he didn’t” have knowledge of the plot against the journalist who wrote for The Washington Post.

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Rolling back: Biden’s director of national intelligence, Avril HainesAvril HainesOvernight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq Biden shifts approach to Saudi leaders The opportunity of Biden’s Cabinet MORE, has committed to declassifying the U.S. intelligence report on Khashoggi’s death that reportedly concluded Crown Prince Mohammed personally ordered the killing.

Biden administration officials have welcomed the Abraham Accords from the Trump era as a positive development, but already taken steps to roll back U.S. support for Saudi actions viewed as contributing to human rights atrocities.

Read the rest here.

 

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW 

The House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security will hold a hearing on “A Pathway for Peace in Afghanistan: Examining the Findings and Recommendations of the Afghanistan Study Group,” with former Sen. Kelly AyotteKelly Ann AyotteOvernight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq Overnight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Study group recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal MORE (R-N.H.), and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, at 10:30 a.m. 

U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Jean-Michel MacronOvernight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq Zaid Jilani responds to NYT report on leftist ideas creating turmoil in France Getting Europe’s help on China MORE will participate in a Munich Security Conference virtual event on “A New Transatlantic Agenda,” at 11:15 a.m. 

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The Hudson Institute will hold a virtual discussion on “The Future of U.S. Seapower: A View from Congress,” with Rep. Joe CourtneyJoseph (Joe) D. CourtneyOvernight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq South Carolina Republican tests positive for coronavirus hours after speaking on House floor Rep. Rick Allen tests positive for COVID-19 MORE (D-Conn.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s seapower and projection forces subcommittee; and Rep. Robert Wittman (R-Va.), ranking member of the subpanel, at 12 p.m.  

 

ICYMI

— The Hill: Justice Dept. charges employees of Navy contractor with allegedly dumping contaminated water in Japan

— The Hill: US, allies warn Iran against blocking nuclear inspections

— The Hill: Capitol Police recommend fence around Capitol stay up until September: report

— The Hill: US journalist held in Syria released by al-Qaeda-linked group: reports

— The Hill: Senate Intelligence panel to hold hearing on SolarWinds breach next week

— The Hill: Opinion: Biden’s six-step strategy to rejoin the Iran nuclear agreement

— The Hill: Opinion: Defeating domestic terror requires confronting white supremacy across the globe

— The Hill: Opinion: A worried world wonders if America’s days are over

— The Washington Post: Pentagon awarded massive contract to Virginia company a U.S. senator called ‘fraudulent’ 

— Military Times: Concerns raised about COVID-19 vaccines reaching deployed troops

Japan and the United States have agreed to extend the arrangement on how much Tokyo pays to host U.S. troops on its soil for another year as the two countries continue to work out a new pact, the island nation announced Wednesday.

The current five-year arrangement, set to end after March, will now run until April 2022, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi announced.

Japan will pay about $1.9 billion to support roughly 55,000 U.S. forces stationed there through the extra year, and both governments are expected to sign the agreement soon, the Kyodo news agency reported.

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“This shows the two countries’ strong commitment to the bond of the Japan-U.S. alliance and enhances the credibility of the alliance,” Motegi told reporters.

Top Pentagon spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday referred questions on the details of the agreement to the State Department but said the United States is “very grateful for the support that we get from the Japanese government.”

The agreement follows efforts from former President TrumpDonald TrumpFederal prosecutors investigated Proud Boys ties to Roger Stone in 2019 case: CNN Overnight Defense: One-third of service members decline coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack | US, Japan reach cost sharing agreement Trump ‘won’t say yet’ if he’s running in 2024 MORE to pressure Japan to reportedly quadruple its payments for U.S. troops to $8 billion.

Countries that host permanent U.S. military installations traditionally pay a portion of the costs to house and equip the troops. The payment varies from country to country and in how it is given, with some allies — including Japan, which Washington uses as a base for operations in the larger Asia-Pacific region — making cash contributions.

But Trump repeatedly pressed for Tokyo and other allies to contribute more to global defense, as he continuously said their payments to the U.S. were one-sided and insufficient.

Trump also ordered a drawdown of nearly 12,000 U.S. troops from Germany as retribution for what he described as Berlin’s “delinquency” on its defense spending.

The Biden administration, however, has pledged to reinvigorate traditional U.S. alliances and froze any troop withdrawals from Germany while a global review of U.S. military force posture is completed.

Pfizer and BioNTech on Thursday announced a new trial aiming to test the safety and efficacy of its coronavirus vaccine among pregnant women. 

The companies, which together produced one of the two COVID-19 vaccines the Food and Drug Administration approved for emergency use in the U.S., said in a press release that it had given doses to its first group of participants in the new study, which aims to provide clear data on any impacts the inoculation may have for expectant mothers and their newborn children. 

William Gruber, senior vice president of Vaccine Clinical Research and Development at Pfizer, said in a statement along with the press release, “We are proud to start this study in pregnant women and continue to gather the evidence on safety and efficacy to potentially support the use of the vaccine by important subpopulations.” 

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Gruber went on to say, “Pregnant women have an increased risk of complications and developing severe COVID-19, which is why it is critical that we develop a vaccine that is safe and effective for this population.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women who are infected with COVID-19 have a higher chance of severe illnesses, including “ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death compared with non-pregnant women of reproductive age.” 

Pregnant women were excluded from the initial Pfizer-BioNTech clinical trials, and the most updated CDC guidance states that it is a “personal choice” for pregnant women on whether to get the coronavirus vaccine. 

Pfizer’s new trial will include about 4,000 healthy pregnant volunteers ages 18 and older who are anywhere from 24 to 34 weeks into their pregnancy, according to Thursday’s press release. 

Pfizer and BioNTech said the trial will “evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of two doses” of the vaccine 21 days apart, with half of the participants receiving the actual inoculation and half getting a placebo. 

Each woman is expected to participate in the study for seven to 10 months, with researchers looking for any side effects in women, including miscarriage. 

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The researchers will also monitor the infants until they reach approximately 6 months of age to detect any adverse reactions, as well as the possibility of a vaccinated mother transferring protective antibody to the child while in the womb. 

The press release added that those mothers given the placebo will have the opportunity after the study to receive the vaccine. 

The additional trial comes as Pfizer, as well as Moderna and AstraZeneca, all have clinical trials underway to determine the safety and efficacy of vaccinations among children, as the inoculations have largely been tested and approved by countries for emergency use for people as young as 16.

Happy Thursday and welcome back to On The Money, which—again—is not a cat. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.

See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your newsletter, you can subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/1NxxW2N.

Write us with tips, suggestions and news: slane@thehill.com, njagoda@thehill.com and nelis@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @SylvanLane, @NJagoda and @NivElis.

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THE BIG DEAL—House panel debates GameStop frenzy, trading apps: Democrats and Republicans on the House Financial Services panel sparred Thursday over what, if anything, Congress should do in response to the GameStop trading frenzy and the technology platforms that fueled the rapid rise — and sudden spiral — in more than a dozen stocks.

What didn’t happen: The hearing itself revealed little new information about the forces behind the GameStop rally, the rationale behind Robinhood’s response, or whether it complied with regulations at each turning point of the frenzy. Representatives from Citadel Securities, Reddit and Melvin Capital also faced few questions about their specific conduct and took few hard stances on the future of regulations.

If you were expecting any of that, you’re out of luck for now. Still, the hearing did expose the partisan gulf between lawmakers about how to handle the situation.

Deep divides: Members of the House Financial Services Committee were deeply divided along party lines over whether stock trading applications like Robinhood need to be reigned in after a Reddit-orchestrated short squeeze on struggling companies roiled the market in January.

• “Many Americans feel that the system is stacked against them, and no matter what, Wall Street always wins,” said Rep. Maxine WatersMaxine Moore WatersOn The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off House panel spars over GameStop frenzy, trading apps House gears up for first GameStop stock hearing MORE (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Financial Services panel.
• “Instead of shutting the American public out through new regulations, new forms of taxation, or so-called protections, let’s use this opportunity instead to side with them,” countered Rep. Patrick McHenryPatrick Timothy McHenryOn The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off House panel spars over GameStop frenzy, trading apps Robinhood CEO, regulators to testify at House hearing on GameStop frenzy MORE (N.C.), the panel’s top Republican.

I’ve got the whole hearing wrapped up here.

What to watch going forward:

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• Waters said that there will be at least one more hearing on the GameStop frenzy featuring the SEC and other regulators. That could reveal more information about any potential illegal conduct (or at least investigations into it).
• Democrats are likely to push legislation to boost disclosure into short-selling, bolster capital requirements for brokers, and other measures unlikely to get much Republican support. The SEC will also face pressure to impose new rules itself.
• Lawmakers also said they would keep a close eye on how Robinhood responds to customers who may have lost money because of the stock purchase shutdown.

One striking moment: Rep. Sean CastenSean CastenOn The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off House panel spars over GameStop frenzy, trading apps OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Energy issues rule allowing companies to develop own efficiency tests for products | GOP lawmakers push back on Federal Reserve’s climate risk efforts MORE (D-Ill.) invoked the story of Alex Kearns, a 20-year-old who died by suicide last year after believing he had accrued roughly $730,000 in losses on Robinhood.

After Tenev expressed his condolences to Kearns’s family, which sued Robinhood, and explained steps the company took to improve customer service, Casten called Robinhood’s helpline on speakerphone as if he were a customer in dire need of guidance.

A brief pre-recorded message encouraged Robinhood customers to reach out to the company with concerns via email before hanging up on Casten.

 

LEADING THE DAY

Manchin meets with advocates pushing for $15 minimum wage: Advocates in favor of raising the federal minimum wage met with Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinOn The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off Manchin meets with advocates pushing for minimum wage Conservative groups seek to bolster opposition to Biden’s HHS pick MORE (W.Va.) on Thursday in hopes of convincing the moderate Democrat to reconsider his opposition to a $15 an hour rate.

Manchin, who has signaled support for a smaller minimum wage increase, held the virtual meeting with representatives from groups such as the Poor People’s Campaign and Service Employees International Union.

The background: 

• The minimum wage increase is one of the most divisive parts of President BidenJoe BidenDeath toll from winter weather rises to at least 40: AP On The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off Top political donor sentenced to 12 years in prison for illegal campaign contributions MORE‘s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that is making its way through Congress. 
• The proposal would increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25, where it has stood since 2009, to $15 by 2025. 
• Manchin and fellow Democratic moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) have balked at supporting the wage component of the relief bill, posing a critical challenge for Democrats given their slim tie-breaking advantage in the 50-50 Senate.

How the meeting went: Not great.

Barber and others on the call pushed back against Manchin’s opposition to a $15 an hour wage, arguing the dollar amount was already a compromise in that it still fails to meet current costs of living across the country.

Pam Garrison, who earns the minimum wage and is part of the Poor People’s Campaign state chapter, said Manchin’s responses in the meeting were a “cop out.”

“The minimum wage has never been sufficient to feed my family and to survive on,” Garrison said. “If you’ve never lived in poverty, you have no idea mentally, physically, emotionally, what it does to you and wears on you.”

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The Hill’s Marty Johnson takes us there.

 

Yellen urges country to go big on COVID relief: As Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) met with advocates pushing to increase the federal minimum wage, other top Democratic officials were making the case for President Biden’s stimulus plan.

Treasury Secretary Janet YellenJanet Louise YellenOn The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off Yellen pushes for COVID-19 relief: ‘The price of doing too little is much higher than the price of doing something big’ Biden meets with labor, business on COVID-19 relief MORE argued in a Thursday interview with CNBC that it’s crucial to go big on the next round of coronavirus relief legislation.

“We think it’s very important to have a big package [that] addresses the pain this has caused — 15 million Americans behind on their rent, 24 million adults and 12 million children who don’t have enough to eat, small businesses failing,” Yellen told the network’s Sara Eisen.

“I think the price of doing too little is much higher than the price of doing something big. We think that the benefits will far outweigh the costs in the longer run,” she added, repeating a phrase she has frequently used to argue for a larger stimulus.

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The Hill’s Zack Budryk gives us a recap here.

GOP pushback: Republicans are pushing back on Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief plan, with GOP lawmakers zeroing in on potentially hundreds of billions in unspent funds from previous rescue packages.

Republicans in favor of a coronavirus measure that carries a smaller price tag say the combination of unobligated funds and an improving economic outlook mean Democrats need to scale back their ambitions for the latest relief bill.

“It is estimated that approximately $1 trillion in existing COVID-19 funding has yet to be spent,” said Rep. Jason SmithJason Thomas SmithOn The Money: House panel spars over GameStop, Robinhood | Manchin meets with advocates for wage | Yellen says go big, GOP says hold off GOP highlights unspent relief funds in criticizing Biden plan Senate Democrats likely to face key test of unity on 2022 budget MORE (Mo.), the top Republican on the House Budget Committee.

“Before President Biden and congressional Democrats try to pass trillions more in spending, the American people need, at the very least, a thorough and accurate accounting of the trillions of dollars already approved.”

The Hill’s Niv Elis explains here.

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New jobs numbers: The latest debate comes as the Labor Department released new data Thursday showing that initial jobless claims surged to a seasonally adjusted 861,000 in the second week of February, a sign that the labor market continues to struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

 

GOOD TO KNOW

• A group of Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday urged the IRS to extend the tax-filing season beyond the current April 15 deadline in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
• More than 100 million workers across the world’s top eight economies may be forced to change occupations by 2030 due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report released Thursday. 
• House Democrats on Thursday rolled out legislation to boost tax enforcement on wealthy individuals and corporations.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

• A coalition of trade organizations filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Maryland state government over passage of a bill that imposes a tax on digital ad revenue.
• Walmart on Thursday announced that it will be raising the pay for 425,000 employees across the country.

The Justice Department (DOJ) announced charges Wednesday against three North Korean individuals for allegedly stealing $1.3 billion in cash and cryptocurrency from U.S. groups and conducting a series of cyberattacks, including the 2014 Sony Pictures hack. 

The indictment charges three North Korean nationals — Jon Chang Hyok, Kim Il and Park Jin Hyok — as engaging in cyberattacks against the U.S. as part of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s military intelligence agency. 

The group, also known as “Lazarus,” was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2019 for targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. Park was previously charged by the DOJ for involvement in the Sony hack in 2018. 

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Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers announced the charges during a press call on Wednesday, noting that pushing back against malicious North Korean activity “requires global awareness, condemnation, and cooperative disruption.”

“With this indictment and related disruptions, the United States continues to do its part,” Demers said. 

The three alleged North Korean hackers, who are currently at large, were charged with a massive range of worldwide malicious cyber activities. 

These included the theft of around $81 million from a Bangladeshi bank, the 2017 WannaCry cyberattack that impacted hundreds of thousands of computer systems across 150 countries, phishing campaigns against Defense and State Department employees since 2016 and the theft over $1.3 billion in cryptocurrency from a range of organizations through the use of malicious software. 

The indictment also charges the three North Korean nationals with involvement in the cyberattack against Sony Entertainment in 2014 which was widely seen as revenge for the release of “The Interview,” a film critical of the North Korean government. 

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They are also accused of involvement in cyberattacks against AMC Theatres in 2015, which showed “The Interview,” and the branch of Mammoth Screen, which produced a fictional television series set in North Korea.

The three North Koreans were indicted the same day charges were unsealed against Ghaleb Alaumary for allegedly serving as a key money launderer for the North Korean government. 

Alaumary pleaded guilty to organizing a team to launder millions of dollars obtained by North Korean actors through ATM cash-out schemes, and from banks in Bangladesh, India and Malta. He is being prosecuted in Georgia. 

“The department’s criminal charges are uniquely credible forms of attribution — we can prove these allegations beyond a reasonable doubt using only unclassified, admissible evidence,” Demers said. “They are the only way in which the department speaks. If the choice here is between remaining silent while we at the department watch nations engage in malicious, norms-violating cyber activity, or charge these cases, the choice is obvious — we will charge them.” 

Demers told reporters that the case illustrated the different objectives of North Korea versus other adversarial nation states such as China, Russia or Iran.

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“Their need as a country is for currency because of their economic system and sanctions placed on them, so they use their cyber capabilities to get currency wherever they can get it and that’s not really what we see from actors in China or Iran,” Demers said. “The North Koreans are very focused on this need for currency.”

The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service also participated in investigating the case.

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate noted in a statement Wednesday that the new charges were an expansion of previous charges against Park and the North Korean government announced in 2018.

“The ongoing targeting, compromise, and cyber-enabled theft by North Korea from global victims was met with the outstanding, persistent investigative efforts of the FBI in close collaboration with U.S. and foreign partners,” Abbate said. “By arresting facilitators, seizing funds, and charging those responsible for the hacking conspiracy, the FBI continues to impose consequences and hold North Korea accountable for its/their criminal cyber activity.”

The FBI, the Treasury Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency put out an alert in conjunction with the charges warning of a specific North Korean malware virus known as “AppleJeus” used to target cryptocurrency exchanges. 

“These cyber actors have targeted organizations for cryptocurrency theft in over 30 countries during the past year alone,” the agencies wrote in the joint alert. “It is likely that these actors view modified cryptocurrency trading applications as a means to circumvent international sanctions on North Korea—the applications enable them to gain entry into companies that conduct cryptocurrency transactions and steal cryptocurrency from victim accounts.”

Federal authorities put out an alert last year warning that North Korean hackers were stepping up efforts to target financial institutions. 

The charges on Wednesday were announced ahead of an expected announcement from the White House on a cybersecurity matter, with Anne Neuberger, President BidenJoe BidenFeds investigating Cuomo’s handling of nursing home outbreaks Overnight Defense: One-third of service members decline coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack | US, Japan reach cost sharing agreement On The Money: Biden faces backlash from left on student loans | Where things stand on the COVID-19 relief measure | Retail sales rebound MORE’s deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, set to address the press this afternoon.

A woman who was shot by police in Myanmar during protests against the recent military coup has died, becoming the first casualty in this month’s demonstrations. 

Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, who was about to turn 20, was shot in the head on Feb. 9 during a protest in the capital city Naypyitaw, the Associated Press reported. 

Although the army has toughened up recently and has been arresting thousands of protesters, Khine is the first known to have died at the hands of the military. 

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“Please participate and continue fighting until we achieve our goal,” said her sister Mya Thatoe Nwe. 

The army has been aggressive towards the demonstrators, putting armored vehicles on the streets while pointing guns and firing rubber bullets and slingshots into the crowds, which have been protesting ever since the military coup on Feb. 1.

The military claims they had a right to overthrow the civilian government, saying there was election fraud that wasn’t thoroughly investigated. 

Officials say Khine was throwing rocks at police before she was shot and that they will be investigating the incident, according to the AP. Khine’s funeral is set for Sunday.

There has been international condemnation of the coup with the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada all announcing sanctions until proper leadership is restored.

The Biden administration rolled out new instructions to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers Thursday, temporarily restricting the causes agents can rely on for initiating deportation.

The enforcement priorities, which will be in effect for up to 90 days while ICE develops long-term guidelines, shrinks the types of convictions that allow for someone to be deported as a public safety threat.

The guidelines additionally allow for deportation of those who are deemed a national security threat due to terrorism or espionage concerns or who illegally crossed a U.S. border after Nov. 1 of last year.

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The policy will also create more oversight of ICE agents, requiring pre-approval before seeking to deport anyone that doesn’t meet the new criteria.

“By focusing our limited resources on cases that present threats to national security, border security, and public safety, our agency will more ably and effectively execute its law enforcement mission,” ICE Acting Director Tae Johnson said in a release.  

“Like every law enforcement agency at the local, state, and federal level, we must prioritize our efforts to achieve the greatest security and safety impact.”  

The order specifically notes agents are not required to arrest or remove anyone, and that ICE officers are expected to “exercise their discretion thoughtfully.”

“This is a great first step in terms of laying out clear priorities in terms of going after national and domestic threats for deportations, focusing on gang members and cartel members and terrorists as opposed to going after Juan the gardener or Maria the maid, which made no sense,” Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, told The Hill.

Those living in the U.S. undocumented will be deemed a public safety threat if they’ve been convicted of an aggravated felony, a term that includes violent crimes but can include some serious but nonviolent offenses. The memo also encourages a focus on those involved in gang activity.

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But the directive also encourages ICE officers to weigh a broad set of factors before pursuing deportation. 

“In evaluating whether an individual poses a threat to public safety, officers and agents are to consider the extensiveness, seriousness, and recency of any criminal activity, as well as mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, personal and family circumstances, health and medical factors, ties to the community, and evidence of rehabilitation,” ICE wrote in its release.

Though seeking to limit how criminal history can be used in the deportation process, officers will still hold considerable discretion, making it difficult to determine how the memo will be used in the field going forward.

That concerns the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

“While the Biden administration rightly acknowledges that immigrants are our family members, our coworkers, and our neighbors, for now it has chosen to continue giving ICE officers significant discretion to conduct operations that harm our communities and tear families apart,” Naureen Shah, senior advocacy and policy counsel for ACLU, said in a release.

“The interim enforcement priorities detailed today import the injustices of the criminal legal system and will lead to continued disproportionate deportations of Black and Brown immigrants. The priorities use sweeping and overbroad presumptions of threat that have for decades resulted in biased profiling,” Shah added.

The ACLU also criticized the portion of the policy allowing the arrest of anyone that crossed the border illegally after Nov. 1, something they say assumes that all recent border crossers are threats and conflicts with Biden’s attempts to redesign the asylum process.

ICE officers will also need to get approval from their superiors before they can proceed on cases that don’t strictly meet the criteria set out in the order — a departure that will require greater oversight from ICE’s 24 field offices.

“I think the new memo reflects what is likely a deep internal struggle between career personnel and new leadership in the department and agency which is trying to change the course for an agency with 7,000 staff,” said Jorge Loweree, policy director with the American Immigration Council. 

“There will certainly be growing pains along the way. It’s clear accountability is going to be a challenge. Getting ICE to be able to put into place a new enforcement paradigm after years when they’ve been able to do whatever they want to is no easy task.”

Tom Homan, who served as the acting director of ICE under former President TrumpDonald TrumpThune: Trump allies partaking in ‘cancel culture’ by punishing senators who voted to convict Biden administration open to restarting nuclear talks with Iran Trump-McConnell rift divides GOP donors MORE, said the Biden administration is putting too many barriers on ICE officers.

“They’ve got to call and ask their supervisor if they can enforce the laws that Congress enacted,” Homan said of the additional review required in some cases.

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“To say they care about public safety threats but to leave lots of criminals off that list is ridiculous,” he added. 

“If you cross the border just don’t get convicted of an aggravated felony and you’re off free. It’s another enticement for people to come to the United States.”

—Updated at 5:42 p.m.

President BidenJoe BidenBiden balks at K student loan forgiveness plan Biden offers to help woman in obtaining vaccine for son with preexisting condition Biden optimistic US will be in ‘very different circumstance’ with pandemic by Christmas MORE on Tuesday balked at forgiving $50,000 in student loan debt, saying he doesn’t have the power to do so unilaterally.

“I do think in this moment of economic pain and strain that we should be eliminating interest on the debts that are accumulated, No. 1. And No. 2, I’m prepared to write off the $10,000 debt, but not [$50,000],” Biden said, saying he doesn’t believe it can be done with presidential action.

The White House previously said the Office of Legal Counsel was reviewing whether Biden could unilaterally cancel federal student loan debt.

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That came after White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiBiden balks at K student loan forgiveness plan Biden says goal is to reopen schools five days a week in first 100 days Biden officials mull priorities after coronavirus relief bill MORE said Biden would sign a bill forgiving $10,000 of student loan debt if Congress passed a bill.

A group of Democratic lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerREAD: Trump statement ripping into McConnell A powerful tool to take on the Supreme Court — if Democrats use it right Senate passes bill to award Capitol Police officer Congressional Gold Medal MORE (N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenBiden balks at K student loan forgiveness plan Jamaal Bowman’s mother dies of COVID-19: ‘I share her legacy with all of you’ Impeachment managers wrap case with new warning on Trump MORE (Mass.) reintroduced a measure earlier this month calling on Biden to forgive up to $50,000 in federally held student debt per borrower.

Supporters argue that Biden has the authority and responsibility to forgive student debt as the coronavirus pandemic roils the U.S. economy and imposes the greatest burden on those least able to afford it.

The push to erase student loan debt is likely to run into GOP opposition, and some critics have questioned whether the Education secretary has the legal power to forgive student debt. 

HAPPY TUESDAY! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news. Here are some photos from around the world showing cities hit by record-setting snowstorms.

Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.

Signup for our newsletter and others HERE. 

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THE RESULTS ARE IN: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it is changing the way it evaluates risk from introducing chemicals, following a new report that criticized the agency’s approach under the Trump administration.

The new report, released Tuesday by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, said that the approach outlined in a 2018 guidance document “does not meet the criteria of ‘comprehensive, workable, objective, and transparent.’”

Read more about the report and the EPA’s move here. 

 

NO THANKS! Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D), who announced a 2022 Senate bid earlier this month, said in a statement Tuesday that he will not accept donations from the fossil fuel industry in his run.

Fetterman said in the statement obtained by The Hill via email that he had signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, under which candidates vow not to accept more than $200 from executives, lobbyists or PACs connected to the oil, gas or coal industries.

“I never have and never will take a dime from the fossil fuel industry,” Fetterman, who signed a similar pledge in his 2018 lieutenant governor run, said in a statement.

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Read more about the commitment here. 

 

SUIT UP: A group of 15 attorneys general is petitioning the courts to block the Biden administration from fulfilling automakers’ last minute request to the Trump administration to limit penalties for those who do not meet emissions standards.

A Jan. 14 rule from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved automakers’ request to delay taking into account inflation when fining car manufacturers for failing to comply with federal emissions regulations.

Read more about the lawsuit here. 

 

COMING SOON, TO A HOUSE FLOOR NEAR YOU: Next Wednesday, the House is expected to vote on a package of bills on public lands and waters, according to the chamber’s Natural Resources Committee

In a statement Tuesday, the committee said that the package would include bills introduced in the last Congress and this year. It will include measures aimed at conservation in Arizona, Colorado, California and Washington state.  

 

WHAT WE’RE READING:

Trump’s California water plan troubled federal biologists. They were sidelined, The Sacramento Bee and The Guardian report

150 years of spills: Philadelphia refinery cleanup highlights toxic legacy of fossil fuels, Reuters reports

Biden aims to isolate China on coal — but it could blow back on the U.S., Politico reports

 

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ICYMI: Stories from Tuesday and the long weekend…

15 states sue over Trump plan to limit penalties on automakers failing to meet emissions standards

Democrats propose executive actions on electric vehicle acquisitions

Photos from around the world show cities hit by record-setting snowstorms

Texas storm could spark increase in gas prices

IBM pledges net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

Oklahoma bill would push mountain lion hunting in response to increased sightings

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Bill Gates: Rich nations should move to ‘100 percent synthetic beef’

Fetterman pledges not to accept fossil fuel money in Pennsylvania Senate race

7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Japan

Trump EPA ripped over approach to chemical risk evaluations in new report