Man accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers pleads not guilty

Elias Rodriguez, 31, faces nine counts, including murder of a foreign official and carrying out a hate crime resulting in death. He requested a jury trial through his public defender, Elizabeth Mullin, on Thursday at his arraignment, where he appeared engaged and nodded along as the judge addressed his counsel and government lawyers. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, an appointee of former President Obama, acknowledged the “serious nature” of the charges against Rodriguez and designated the case as complex at the government’s request, over no objection from the defense (Read more at Kron 4).