Steve Neavling

Two FBI agents who were part of an elite rescue team were killed in Virginia when they plunged to their deaths during a counter terrorism exercise, CBS News reports.

Special Agents Christopher Lorek and Stephen Shaw, who are members of the bureau’s hostage rescue team, were killed when the helicopter involved in the exercise encountered problems.

“The FBI agents were participating in a maritime counterterrorism exercise involving helicopters and a ship,” Special Agent Ann Todd, an FBI spokeswoman, wrote in an email to CBS News on Monday. “The agents were in the process of fast-roping from the aircraft onto the ship when the helicopter encountered difficulties. The agents tragically fell a significant distance and suffered fatal injuries.”

The rescue team is highly trained and is often compared to the FBI version of the Navy Seals, CBS News wrote.

Whitey Bulger/fbi

Federal prosecutors said they will not release the name of the confidential informant involved in the case against mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger, the Boston Herald reports.

The defense attorneys maintain the informant helped the FBI determine what others may say during testimony.

Prosecutors dismissed the allegations as ” street talk” and “rumors.”

“The FBI has advised that the informant had no first-hand knowledge of any of this information, and indeed had no direct contact with the relevant individuals discussed in the FBI report: Kevin Weeks, John Martorano, Pat Nee, Jack Curran, Patrick Linskey, Michael Linskey, Richard Buccheri and Kevin Weeks’ former girlfriend,” prosecutors said in court papers filed Monday.

The prosecutors added that the defense is “free to impugn government witnesses’ credibility through vigorous cross-examination, and may ask witnesses about prior inconsistent statements.”

The General Services Association soon will begin accepting proposals to relocate FBI headquarters beginning this summer, the Kingstowne-Rose Hill Patch reports.

The FBI has received numerous preliminary proposals from surrounding cities to be home to the new FBI headquarters.

The current headquarters in Washington D.C. is outdated and crumbling, the GSA has said.

The FBI is looking for land that is close to the metro station and Beltway.

Konrad Motyka/ticklethewire.com photo

The FBI Agents Association issued a statement on the deaths of FBI agents Christopher Lorek and Stephen Shaw, who died in an accident while training off the coast of Virginia Beach. The two were members of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team.

FBIAA President Konrad Motyka stated:

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lorek and Shaw families during this very difficult time. The bravery and dedication of Special Agents Lorek and Shaw will not be forgotten, and FBIAA and our 12,000 members stand with the families and send our condolences for their loss.”

Steve Neavling

Critics are questioning why the FBI still relies on polygraph tests to determine whether job applicants are fit to be agents, The Sacramento Bee reports.

Many experts have concluded polygraph testing is not an accurate way to determine whether someone is lying, especially during a job interview, the Bee wrote.

Records examined by the Bee found that 30% of about 13,000 annual job applicants fail the job screening. Of those, 40% failed because of the polygraph test.

Polygraphs are especially prone to errors when questions are vague, like they are in job interviews.

“I was called a lazy, lying, drug dealing junkie by a man who doesn’t know me , my stellar background or my societal contributions,” wrote one black applicant in Baltimore, who said he was told he qualified for a job except for his polygraph test failure. “Just because I am young and black does not automatically denote that I have ever used any illegal drugs.”

Steve Neavling

The FBI is joining an investigation into violations in Rep. Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign fund, MinnPost reports.

Authorities are focusing on alleged campaign finance violations from Bachmann’s failed bid for presidency last year.

State and federal ethics committees have been reviewing whether the presidential campaign fund, MichelePAC, was used to pay an Iowa state senator, MinnPost wrote.

The FBI plans to interview Bachmann’s former chief of staff and a director of her Iowa GOP presidential campaign, according to MinnPost.

Louis Freeh

Former FBI Director Louis Freeh urged graduating students Saturday to give back to their community during a commencement speech at St. Anselm College, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.

“We should all strive to help create a more perfect union,” said Freeh, who was selected because of his commitment to law enforcement, the Union Leader wrote.

Freeh also remarked about a time when his 2-year-old son pushed his older brother into a pond at the Rose Garden during the nomination process by President Bill Clinton. When the 2-year-old lied and told the president that he didn’t shove his brother, Clinton said the lawyer in the young boy made him proud.

By Allan Lengel

Two FBI agents who were part of the FBI’s ultra-elite Hostage Rescue Team were killed Friday during a training accident involving a helicopter off the coast of Virginia Beach, Fox News reported.

Fox reported that a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Norfolk office, Vanessa Torres, confirmed Sunday the accident occurred Friday afternoon off the Virginia Beach coast, but did not provide additional details. The FBI said, Fox reported.

In a press release, the FBI said:

Two FBI special agents were tragically killed Friday during a training exercise off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Special Agent Christopher Lorek and Special Agent Stephen Shaw were members of the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, part of the Critical Incident Response Group based at Quantico, Virginia. The cause of the incident is under review.

In a statement, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller said, “We mourn the loss of two brave and courageous men. Like all who serve on the Hostage Rescue Team, they accept the highest risk each and every day, when training and on operational missions, to keep our nation safe. Our hearts are with their wives, children, and other loved ones who feel their loss most deeply. And they will always be part of the FBI Family.”

Special Agent Lorek, age 41, joined the FBI in 1996. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, ages 11 and 8. Special Agent Shaw, 40, joined the FBI in 2005 and is survived by his wife; a daughter, age 3; and a son, age 1.

The agents were identified as Christopher Lorek and Stephen Shaw.