Al Qaeda claims responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack. North Korea says show us the evidence. And John Boehner’s bartender is held in a murder plot.
It’s Wednesday and here are the 5 things to know for your New Day
CHARLIE HEBDO NEW ISSUE
We did it: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility today for last week’s deadly attack at France’s Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper. The development came as the new edition of the publication hit newsstands. It’s the first one since the terror attack on its headquarters in Paris. Up to three million copies have been printed. It’s a far cry from the typical run of 60,000. Still, you may have a hard time finding a copy in the U.S. It’s not typically carried on American newsstands. If you just have to have it, you can order a year’s subscription on Amazon. Barnes and Noble says it has no plans to stock it. Seventeen people died in last week’s violence, including 12 at the Charlie Hebdo offices.
HOUSE IMMIGRATION
Congressional challenge: A sizable group of House Republicans are looking to butt heads with the Obama administration over the President’s immigration overhaul. Conservatives are pushing an all-or-nothing funding measure that ties money for the Department of Homeland Security to the rollback of last year’s immigration reform executive order. Not only are Democrats standing in the way, but moderate members of the GOP are too. Messing with funds for homeland security may not play well just a week after the Paris terror attacks.
NORTH KOREA SONY HACK
Show us the proof: North Korea is sticking to its story that it had nothing to do with the massive computer hack at Sony, and wants the U.S. to present the evidence. The U.S. government believes Pyongyang was behind the hacking of Sony Pictures over that company’s production of “The Interview,” a comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea has vehemently denied responsibility. But at the same time, it has blamed the U.S. government for being behind the making of the film and warned that America’s “citadels” will be attacked, dwarfing the Sony hack.
TSARNAEV DELAY REQUEST
Delay requested: Attorneys for Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev want a delay in his trial following the France terror attacks. His attorneys are asking the court to suspend jury selection, which began last week, for at least one month. They feel the violence would prejudice the jury pool. Tsarnaev is accused of plotting with his brother and carrying out an attack near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed three people, wounded more than 260.
BOEHNER’S BARTENDER
Be careful who you drink with: John Boehner’s former bartender in Ohio apparently had it out for the House Speaker. Or at least the voices in his head did. Michael Hoyt used to serve Boehner at a country club in West Chester. He told police he heard voices that told him Boehner was evil. He thought the Ohio Republican was the devil. He blamed Boehner for the Ebola outbreak. And he thought the speaker was mean to him. Hoyt apparently made the plans to shoot Boehner or poison his wine after being fired from the country club. He was indicted last week on charges that he planned to murder him.