Man accused of attacking Salman Rushdie rejects plea deal offered by lawyer

The New Jersey man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie is not interested in a plea deal that would reduce his state prison sentence but expose him to federal prison on a terrorism-related charge. Hadi Matar, 26, has been offered a deal to plead guilty to attempted murder in exchange for a 20-year state prison sentence, down from 25 years, and an additional federal charge that could result in 20 more years. Rushdie was blinded in one eye during the attack, and moderator Henry Reese was also wounded. Matar's lawyer stated that his client prefers to go to trial rather than accept the plea deal. The federal government believes there was support for the attack from a terrorist organization in the Middle East. Matar, who holds dual citizenship in Lebanon, was born in the U.S. and had a fake ID when he arrived at the event where the attack took place. Rushdie has slowly re-emerged into public life since the late 1990s. The judge instructed Matar to discuss the offer with his lawyer and provide a definitive answer at the next court appearance.