LAFAYETTE, La. — Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi, a man accused of participating in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in federal court in Louisiana.
Al-Muhtadi, 33, appeared before a judge for an arraignment in an orange prison jumpsuit, shackled at the hands and feet. As he entered the courtroom, he stumbled slightly over his shackles. He greeted his attorneys and interpreter, who had flown in to Lafayette for the hearing, with a “Good afternoon.”
The judge informed al-Muhtadi he had been indicted by a grand jury on two counts — conspiracy to provide material support to a terror organization resulting in death and fraud and misuse of visa permits.
Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi loads a gun at his home in Oklahoma.
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United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
In court documents unsealed last week, Al-Muhtadi is accused of being a member of the National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a paramilitary group that has fought alongside Hamas and participated in the 2023 attack.
Prosecutors claim he coordinated a “group of armed fighters” to cross into Israel after hearing about Hamas’ attack. He allegedly told one man to “bring the rifles” and another to “get ready.” Prosecutors say he also sent messages asking for ammunition and a bulletproof vest for another man.
Al-Muhtadi submitted a U.S. visa application in June 2024, where, according to court documents, he denied being a member or representative of a terror organization, having any skills or training, including firearm usage, and ever engaging in terrorist activities.
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Al-Muhtadi is one of the first to face charges in a U.S. court for allegedly helping Hamas with the attack.
On Wednesday, al-Muhtadi told the judge he understood the counts before him and pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution reminded the judge that deportation to Israel would be a possible penalty in this case. The max penalty for the first count is life in prison, the max penalty for the latter is 10 years. Both counts are connected to his alleged involvement with the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack against Israel. He’s also accused of lying on his visa application form to gain entry into the U.S.
For now, his attorney waived his right to a detention hearing, and al-Muhtadi signed the waiver in court. Thus, the judge said she is issuing an order for detention pending trial.
The prosecution noted to the judge that the case is complex, involving classified documents litigation, and will therefore require certain classified information protections under the Patriot Act. They said they plan to propose a protective order governing discovery in the case.
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After the hearing ended, al-Muhtadi’s attorney, Aaron Adams, was heard telling his client, “so far so good.” The defendant was heard asking Adams more about jail conditions, including how his family is doing.
Asked about that conversation, Adams said, “no comment.”
Prosecutors in the case also declined to comment and referred all press inquiries to a public relations spokesperson. CBS News has sent emails to that spokesperson for comment.
States that saw their budgets balloon during the pandemic are now grappling with the hangover as federal aid dries up, The Center Square writes.
COVID-era stimulus—and the higher baselines lawmakers built on top of it—helped fuel major spending expansions in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Washington. But with the federal government $38 trillion in debt and pulling back on assistance, those same states are scrambling to balance budgets without layoffs or service cuts.
Louisiana is a prime example: State spending rose more than 27% from 2019 to 2022 and another 14% since 2023, part of a decade-long 71% climb. Analysts split on what’s driving the surge. Erin Bendily of the Pelican Institute warns that Louisiana’s growing reliance on federal dollars is “not sustainable,” while Invest in Louisiana’s Jan Moller argues most of the growth stems from Medicaid expansion and health care costs.
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Gov. Jeff Landry says his proposed budget aims for flat funding and tighter controls on spending.
The last day of November will be one to remember for sports fans in Louisiana.
Here’s what all happened on a crazy Sunday that made for a busy day for the folks tasked with putting this newspaper together.
• The New Orleans Saints found their offense in the second half and almost climbed out of a 16-point hole against the Miami Dolphins.
• Cam Jordan found the fountain of youth yet again.
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• Kellen Moore found out that receiver Devaughn Vele is indeed on the Saints’ roster.
• LSU found its head coach.
• Tulane found out that it is now in the market for one.
• Oh, and a guy from Northern Ireland (Charlie Smyth) booted a 56-yard field goal on his very first field goal attempt in an NFL game.
Smyth followed that up with a successful onside kick that gave the Saints a chance late in what ended up being a 21-17 loss to the Dolphins. History was on Smyth’s side on the onside kick. The last time the Saints tried one at Hard Rock Stadium was Thomas Morstead’s “Ambush” to start the second half of Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. Smyth’s kick landed right in the arms of Vele, much the same way that many of Tyler Shough’s passes did.
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Vele, acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos in August because the Saints needed a big-bodied receiver, had rarely been used. He had nine catches before Sunday. He almost equaled that in one game, hauling in eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. The Saints, unfortunately, weren’t able to move the ball much on their final drive that stalled on a failed fourth-and-1 attempt at the Dolphins’ 36-yard line.
“It was an unfortunate ending,” Moore said afterward.
He certainly wasn’t the only one talking about unfortunate endings. Fans of Ole Miss football were no doubt saying the same thing (except with a whole lot more curse words included) as Lane Kiffin made it official that he was leaving Oxford and heading to Baton Rouge to be LSU’s next football coach. Kiffin was hoping to stick around and coach the Rebels in the College Football Playoff but said Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter denied that request.
Meanwhile, Tulane coach Jon Sumrall made it official Sunday that he has accepted the Florida job. Sumrall could have been in a Kiffin-like situation with Tulane headed to the playoffs if they beat North Texas for the American Conference championship Saturday at Yulman Stadium. But the Green Wave administration has decided to let Sumrall stick around and coach Saturday’s game and continue to the playoffs if the Wave advances.
Fan bases at both Ole Miss and Tulane are split on whether their now exes should be allowed to stick around after the divorces.
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“We just believe that it’s the right thing to do for our student-athletes,” Tulane athletic director David Harris said in a statement. “We are just really appreciative that he has the love and concern for his players first and foremost in his mind, that he wants to help them finish the right way.”
After that, Sumrall will head to Florida, about five hours north of where the Saints (2-10) were handed yet another loss Sunday.
The Saints’ offense struggled early, gaining just 63 yards in the first half that ended with them trailing 16-0. A bright spot was the 36-year-old Cam Jordan sacking Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa twice. Jordan now has 6½ sacks, the most he’s had since 2022.
He’d much rather have those sacks come with some wins.
“We are a team that keeps fighting,” Jordan said. “When you are fighting an uphill battle, eventually you have to reach the top of the hill. We are taking shots and we are swinging, and you just wish they would fall in our favor.”
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The only thing falling in the Saints’ favor is their chances of landing the No. 1 draft pick. With the New York Jets upsetting the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Saints currently hold the No. 2 draft pick.
The Saints return to Florida next week to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have won the last three games against the Saints and are looking to make it four straight for the first time in series history.
A Saints’ upset of the Bucs sounds crazy.
Not quite as crazy as this last Sunday in November was, though.
Linda McLain reached the end of her two-year sentence at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women in July, but it would be another month before she could leave. It took those 30 extra days for her to find a residential facility that met the terms of her supervised release. Her wait time is an indication […]
