Salman Rushdie's stabber rejects plea deal involving terrorism charge with lesser jail term

Hadi Matar, the 26-year-old accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in 2022, has declined a plea deal on Tuesday that would have lowered his state prison sentence but could lead to a federal terrorism-related charge, according to his attorney, Nathaniel Barone. Matar remains in custody without bail following the attack that took place as Rushdie was preparing to speak at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. Rushdie suffered significant injuries, including blindness in one eye and over a dozen stab wounds.