News Wrap: Colorado Gov. Polis commuting sentence of Tina Peters

Amna Nawaz:

In Colorado, where Governor Jared Polis says he is commuting the sentence of election denier Tina Peters. The former mesa county clerk had served less than two years of her roughly nine-year sentence for her role in a plot to examine voting machines after the 2020 election.

Governor Polis, a Democrat, outlined his reasoning in a letter to Peters today, writing that -- quote -- "You deserve to spend time in prison for these offenses. However, this is an extremely unusual and lengthy sentence for a first-time offender who committed nonviolent crimes."

President Trump has pressured Colorado's leaders to free Peters. She's set to be released on parole on June 1.

The Justice Department announced the arrest of an Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 terror attacks in retaliation for the war in Iran. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi appeared in a New York courtroom to face charges that he provided material support to Iranian-backed terrorist groups.

Officials say he and his associates were behind a shooting at a U.S. Consulate in Toronto and the stabbing of two Jewish men in London, among others. They say al-Saadi, seen here on the right, also sought to attack a New York synagogue last month. Al-Saadi's lawyers say he's a political prisoner. He was not legally required to enter a plea.

The Justice Department also said today it's seeking the death penalty for the man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., last year. Elias Rodriguez faces federal hate crime and murder charges in the shooting deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they left the Capital Jewish Museum after an event last may.

According to court documents, Rodriguez said shortly after the shooting -- quote -- "I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza."

He's pleaded not guilty to all 13 counts against him.

Health officials in Gaza say Israeli strikes today killed at least seven Palestinians, including a child. Israel says its attack targeted Hamas' top military chief there, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, though his fate is unclear.

Footage from our producer in Gaza shows the crowds and the chaos at the high-rise where the strikes hit. Locals rushed to evacuate people, including many women and children. Al-Haddad is the most senior Hamas official to be targeted by Israel since a cease-fire went into effect last October.

Separately, State Department officials say Israel and Lebanon have extended their ongoing cease-fire by another 45 days, following talks today in Washington, though both sides have accused the other of breaking that truce.

Africa's leading public health agency says an Ebola outbreak has killed at least 65 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Officials say more than 240 suspected infections have been reported so far in the remote northeastern province of Ituri; 13 cases have already been confirmed.

The World Health Organization says it has a team there investigating the outbreak and a stockpile of vaccines ready to go, depending on what strain of Ebola this turns out to be.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, World Health Organization:

We also have vaccines that can be prepositioned. The DRC has experience with working with vaccines before.

So, as this outbreak unfolds, as more information becomes available, we are ready to provide those through mechanisms that already exist should it turn out to be a strain that can be a vaccine -- where a vaccine can be used.

Amna Nawaz:

In a statement, African health officials say they hope to know soon which specific type of virus is spreading in Ituri.

Meantime, officials in neighboring Uganda say a Congolese man died after being admitted to a hospital there. They say his case was -- quote -- "imported from Congo" and that Uganda has not yet confirmed any local infections.

Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen is ending his bid for reelection and says his state's redistricting effort is the reason.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN):

I don't want to quit. I'm not a quitter. But these districts were drawn to beat me. They were drawn to defeat me.

Amna Nawaz:

The 76-year-old Democrat told reporters today that it was -- quote -- "the most difficult moment I have had as an elected official," but added that he would reconsider if Tennessee reverses course on its new map.

Cohen has represented his Memphis-based district for about two decades. Tennessee was the first state to pass new congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court largely gutted the Voting Rights Act last month. Republicans in Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina have taken similar steps.

President Trump announced plans for a sculpture garden honoring prominent Americans in Washington, D.C.'s West Potomac Park. The area is located along the Potomac River, near the Lincoln Memorial and not far from the National Mall. It's also home to several fields and volleyball courts.

In a social media post, the president said the National Garden of American Heroes would feature statues of -- quote -- "our illustrious founding fathers, military warriors, religious leaders, and more." But there are questions about whether the project would need congressional approval, given that the area is on federal land.

A judge in New York declared a mistrial today in a case against Harvey Weinstein that has already gone to trial three times. The jury was deadlocked on whether the disgraced former Hollywood mogul raped actress and hair stylist Jessica Mann in a New York hotel room in 2013.

His lawyers had argued that the encounter was consensual. Weinstein's been convicted of other sex crimes and remains behind bars. A hearing is scheduled for next month, when prosecutors are expected to confirm whether they will seek a fourth trial.

On Wall Street today, stocks pulled back from their recent highs. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 500 points on the day. The Nasdaq lost 400 points, or more than 1.5 percent. The S&P 500 also closed sharply lower to end the week.