Sheldon Thomas, a 35-year-old man wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for 18 years, was released Thursday after Brooklyn's Conviction Review Unit found that his initial arrest was based on a witness identification error. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez vacated Thomas' conviction, noting that it was a "tragic example of a witness identification gone wrong". Thomas is the first person to be exonerated by the Conviction Review Unit since it was established in 2014 and is now free and reunited with his family.
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A shooting occurred in a building used by Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg, Germany on Thursday evening, resulting in six fatalities and seven injuries. Hamburg Police were quickly on the scene and believe the shooter was among the victims. The motive for the shooting is not yet known and the investigation is ongoing.
Avril Haines and William Burns, President Joe Biden's top intelligence advisers, testified before the Senate and House Intelligence Committees, highlighting the threats posed by China and Russia. Haines identified China as the biggest threat to U.S. national security, while Burns warned of Russia's increasing aggression in Ukraine. The U.S. must remain vigilant in order to protect its national security.
Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, a Republican, has been leaving supportive and potentially flirtatious comments and emojis under risque social media photos posted by a 20-year-old performer from Knoxville. McNally's comments have raised eyebrows, especially in light of his support of bills targeting LGBTQ people, and it remains to be seen how the public will respond. The 79-year-old's spokesperson has attributed the comments to his "prolific" social media commenting abilities.
Norfolk Southern train derailed Thursday morning in Calhoun County, Alabama, hours before company CEO Alan Shaw was due to testify to lawmakers about a February 3rd derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Approximately 30 cars derailed, but there were no reports of injuries or hazardous material leaks. Norfolk Southern is currently working with local officials to investigate the cause of the incident.
A jury in Cincinnati has found former Ohio State House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges guilty of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving bribery and money laundering. This verdict is the result of a $60 million bribery scheme, the largest corruption case in Ohio's history, in which Householder and his associates received money in exchange for Householder's support of a $1 billion bailout. The verdict sends a strong message that illegal acts will not be tolerated in Ohio, and Householder and Borges will face sentencing at a later date with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Roger Ng, a former Goldman Sachs banker, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday for his role in the embezzlement, laundering, and bribery of Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. The charges stem from $6.5 billion in bonds that Goldman Sachs helped 1MDB sell, of which $4.5 billion was embezzled and used to finance luxury items. Ng denied the charges, but the court's sentence stands as a reminder of the consequences of financial fraud and corruption.
Nikki Haley, former South Carolina Governor and Republican presidential candidate, has called for changes to Social Security and Medicare programs, including raising the retirement age for younger generations. This call for entitlement reform has been met with criticism from former President Donald Trump, who is also running for the Republican nomination. The issue of entitlement reform will be a major factor in the 2024 GOP presidential primary campaign, as the candidates' positions on the issue will likely affect the outcome.