MAYVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A New Jersey man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie is considering his legal options after an offered plea deal that could impact his time in prison. The accused, Hadi Matar, was presented with a proposal in Chautauqua County Court that would involve pleading guilty to attempted murder in exchange for a maximum state prison sentence of 20 years, reduced from 25 years. Additionally, he would plead guilty to a potential federal charge related to supporting a designated terrorist organization, which could lead to an additional 20 years in prison.
Matar, aged 26, has been in custody since his arrest in 2022 following the alleged attack on Rushdie and moderator Henry Reese at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. Rushdie suffered injuries, including partial blindness in one eye, during the incident. Despite the proposed plea deal, Matar has maintained his plea of not guilty.
