Tuesday morning news: December 24, 2024

Mangioni »The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare entered his plea today in a Manhattan courtroom:

NATS (Magione in court):

 JUDGE: Charging with the crime of murder in the first degree and other related charges. Have you agreed to this indictment, sir? Guilty or not guilty?

MANGIONE: Not guilty.

The Manhattan district attorney formally charged Luigi Mangione last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism.

He was shackled and seated in court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his not guilty plea.

His attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told the judge today that she’s concerned her client can’t get a fair trial in New York City due to public comments by Mayor Eric Adams.

AGNIFILO:  The mayor was talking to jurors, future potential jurors that he is talking to and calling this man a terrorist. So, uh, Your Honor, I just want to make a record of this and put everyone on notice that this has to stop. My client is entitled to, uh, to a fair, fair trial in the presumption of innocence.

The state case will run parallel to his federal prosecution.

Biden commutes death row sentences » President Biden is commuting the sentences of dozens of death row inmates. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Almost every federal prisoner sentenced to death and will instead serve life in prison without parole.

Biden granted a reprieve to 37 of the 40 death row inmates.

The White House says only those convicted of terrorism-related crimes or hate-motivated mass murder will remain on death row.

President Biden says that’s consistent with other commutations he has issued in the past.

The move comes just weeks before Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office.

Biden said he couldn't allow a new administration to resume executions.

Trump will be sworn into office exactly four weeks from today.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Panama Canal » The president of Panama is balking President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that the United States may look to reassert control over the Panama Canal.

President José Raúl Mulino said in response:

MULINO: Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its surroundings belong to PANAMA and will continue to belong to Panama. The sovereignty and independence of our country are non-negotiable.

Trump in response said—quote—“We’ll see about that.”

That all comes after the president-elect this week decried the fees that Panama now charges US vessels to use the canal after it was built decades earlier at great cost to the United States.

TRUMP:  The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama, I say very foolishly, by the United States.

He said if Panama does not begin treating the U.S. fairly, his administration will demand that the canal be returned to the United States.

Trump didn't explain how such a takeover would be possible, given that then-President Jimmy Carter signed over control of the canal in 1977.

Illegal immigrant arrested in subway attack » In New York City, an illegal immigrant is facing murder and arson charges after a grizzly attack inside a subway car.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect walked up to a woman as she was sleeping in a seated position.

TISCH:   The suspect used what we believe to be a lighter to ignite the victim's clothing, which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds.

Police say he then watched the woman die.

The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, a Guatemalan national who re-entered the country illegally after being deported in 2018.

Authorities do not believe the attacker knew the victim.

House ethics Gaetz report » The House Ethics Committee has released a scathing report on former Congressman Matt Geatz. The panel could have withheld the report after he resigned last month, but voted to publish it anyway.

WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: The report accused Gaetz of regularly engaging with prostitutes and using illegal drugs like cocaine and ecstasy while in office.

It cited what it called significant evidence of that misconduct.

Gaetz quickly fired back on social media, saying the money he gave to women were gifts, rather than payments for sex.

The report also accused him of engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old, which he also strongly denies.

The Florida Republican resigned his House seat right after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for attorney general last month.

But with no path to confirmation in the Senate, Gaetz withdrew from consideration.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

Clinton hospitalization » Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to a hospital in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was admitted in the “afternoon for testing and observation,” But a spokesman said the former president—quote—“remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving.”

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: how best to respond to bird flu cases in cows. Plus, why some Christians choose not to celebrate Christmas…

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