As of Monday, four intelligence agents had been placed on administrative leave pending investigations. The affidavit mentions significant gifts that the two defendants allegedly gave to federal agents. According to the document, Taherzadeh allegedly provided a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the White House complex with a one-year “penthouse apartment for rent” at a cost of about $ 40,200. Taherzadegh allegedly offered to buy a $ 2,000 gun for a Secret Service agent for the first lady’s bodyguard, the affidavit said. It was not immediately clear whether the agent for the details of the first lady or the agent assigned to the White House complex was among the four released. The Secret Service said in a statement to CNN, “The Secret Service has worked, and continues to work, with law enforcement partners in this ongoing investigation. All staff involved in this matter are on administrative leave and do not have access to “Secret Service facilities, equipment and systems. The Secret Service adheres to the highest levels of professional standards and conduct and will remain in active coordination with the Ministries of Justice and Homeland Security.” CNN contacted DHS for comment. Taherzadeh and Ali reportedly acquired assault rifles, revolvers and other items to pose as federal agents. According to the affidavit, Taherzadeh allegedly gave gifts to federal agents, such as “iPhones, surveillance systems, a drone, a flat-screen TV, a case for storing a weapon, a generator and law enforcement tools,” he told agents for whom they were paid. from DHS. The affidavit alleges that Taherzadeh also lured an individual to investigate a government contractor for the Department of Defense and the Information Community as part of a “recruitment process” for DHS Internal Security Investigations. FBI agents were spotted entering an apartment building in Washington Navy Yard on Wednesday afternoon. An FBI spokesman told CNN that agents were conducting a court-ordered investigation at the site. A source familiar with the situation said that the FBI raid is related to the arrest of the two men. Taherzadeh and Ali’s alleged trick was uncovered when a U.S. Postal Inspector began investigating an alleged attack on a USPS letter carrier in an apartment complex where the two men allegedly owned several units, according to court documents. The inspector interviewed the men as possible witnesses to the attack and identified themselves as U.S. Special Police investigators investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack as well as gang activity, the documents said. Throughout the investigation, the inspector learned that the two men had given gifts to USSS members. The inspector provided the information to the Office of the Inspector General of DHS, which then contacted the FBI, according to the affidavit. CNN was unable to identify the two men’s lawyers. They are currently being held and will be brought before U.S. District Court in Washington on Thursday before Judge G. Michael Harvey. CNN’s David Shortell contributed to this report.
