FBI PUBLIC AFFAIRS - DIRECTOR'S AM NEWS BRIEFING TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 5:00 AM EDT New York's Eastern District To Expand Civil Rights Unit To Probe Bias Crimes. Newsday (NY) (3/29, 776K) reports that "federal prosecutors on Long Island on Monday announced an expanded effort to investigate alleged hate crimes in the wake of an increase in violence targeting Asian Americans." Acting US Attorney Mark Lesko for the Eastern District said the office's existing Civil Rights Section will double in size as a result" from three to six prosecutors, "though more will be assigned on an as-needed basis." The head of the FBI in New York, William Sweeney, said of the EDNY's expanded unit: "We can't investigate what we don't know, however, so I would urge anyone who has been the victim of a hate crime, or anyone who has witnessed a hate crime, to report this information to the FBI by calling 1.800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Victims should know that information may be reported anonymously and in their native language." No Evidence Colorado Shooting Suspect Illegally Entered Country, Bought Stolen Gun Despite Internet Claims. In a fact check piece, USA Today (3/29, Rouan, 12.7M) reports on the claim that "the suspect in the mass shooting in a Boulder, Colorado, grocery store entered the U.S. illegally through Mexico and bought a stolen gun." However, the "man accused of killing 10 people in a Colorado grocery store on March 22 was born in Syria, and law enforcement officials said he bought the gun days before carrying out the mass shooting." Meanwhile, "no evidence has emerged to suggest Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, of Arvada, Colorado, entered the U.S. illegally or illegally purchased the gun police said he used." Man Photographed In Capitol With Zip-tie Cuffs, His Mother Win Pretrial Release. The Washington Post (3/29, Weiner, 10.52M) reports that "a man photographed inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot with a handful of plastic