Good Thursday afternoon. An American man told NBC News he was freed after months in a Syrian prison, prosecutors are seeking an “ironclad” indictment in the CEO murder investigation, and U.S. senators are expressing “urgent concern” over mystery drones spotted over New Jersey.
Thursday, December 12, 2024 |
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Thursday, December 12, 2024 |
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Good Thursday afternoon. An American man told NBC News he was freed after months in a Syrian prison, prosecutors are seeking an “ironclad” indictment in the CEO murder investigation, and U.S. senators are expressing “urgent concern” over mystery drones spotted over New Jersey. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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American man found in Syria after being imprisoned for months |
A man identifying himself as a missing American told NBC News today that he spent months in a Syrian prison after crossing into the country on a “pilgrimage” to Damascus. The man, who told reporters his name is Travis Timmerman, said he had been detained for months by the Assad regime after entering the country on foot from Lebanon. Timmerman said he was released by rebel forces in recent days as they broke into prisons across the country after the fall of the regime. His discovery came as a surprise. It was not widely known that Timmerman, who went missing in Hungary in May, was in Syria. |
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“Ironclad” indictment in CEO shooting expected “any day now,” governor says |
Suspected killer Luigi Mangione will be indicted “any day now” for the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said today. “I trust the D.A. here in Manhattan to make sure that he puts forth an indictment that is going to be ironclad,” Hochul said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Hochul added that she would issue a warrant for Mangione’s extradition back to New York as soon as an indictment is returned. On Wednesday, police said the gun found on Mangione at the time of his arrest in Pennsylvania this week matched shell casings found at the crime scene, and that his fingerprints matched those found on a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper discovered nearby. Mangione remains in jail in Pennsylvania, where he has been denied bail, and is fighting extradition back to New York, a process that could take weeks. Mangione’s attorney has said he will plead not guilty to all charges. |
U.S. senators express “urgent concern” over New Jersey mystery drones |
The four U.S. senators from New York and New Jersey have asked the FBI, the FAA, and the Department of Homeland Security to brief them on the mysterious drones recently spotted over New Jersey and other states. “We write with urgent concern regarding the unmanned aerial system (UAS) activity that has affected communities across New York and New Jersey in recent days,” the senators wrote in a letter to those agencies. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut went a step further, calling for the drones to be “shot down, if necessary.” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has said the drones do not pose a risk to public safety, and the Pentagon said Wednesday it does not believe they are coming from a foreign adversary. |
Trump named Time Person of the Year, rings NYSE opening bell |
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Time has named President-elect Donald Trump its “Person of the Year” for the second time after he was first selected in 2016. Trump was chosen for “marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America's role in the world,” Time Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs wrote in a letter to readers. The president-elect marked the occasion this morning by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan. Trump beat out a short list of finalists for the Time honor, including his former rival Vice President Kamala Harris, his billionaire ally Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Princess Kate. |
Biden commutes nearly 1,500 sentences in largest single-day act of clemency |
President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 Americans and pardoning 39 more convicted of nonviolent crimes, the White House said today, describing it as “the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history.” “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement explaining his decision. All the 1,500 offenders are “non-violent” and have been placed on home confinement for at least one year under the Covid-19-era CARES Act, the White House said, adding that they had shown “successful rehabilitation and a strong commitment to making their communities safer.” The move comes after the president faced backlash for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, on federal gun and tax charges, despite his repeated vows not to do so. |
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What else we're watching: |
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Three men have accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape and sexual assault in separate lawsuits filed today. Combs’ legal team responded: “These complaints are full of lies. We will prove them false and seek sanctions against every unethical lawyer who filed fictional claims against him.” |
We’re tracking an Arctic blast of cold sweeping across the country today from the Midwest to the Northeast, with more lake effect snow in the forecast for the Great Lakes region. |
Country music star Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment misdemeanor charges for throwing a chair off the roof of a Nashville bar in April, and was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI rehab center. |
The FBI missed a “basic step” when gathering intelligence in the lead-up to the January 6th attack on the Capitol, according to a long-awaited Justice Department inspector general report released today. |
Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke told NBC News how he escaped the Franklin Fire as the flames spread through Malibu this week, with the help of some quick-thinking neighbors. |
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has moved to finalized a rule that could cap bank overdraft fees at $5. |
It’s official: Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been hired as the new coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, the school announced. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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