The nation in brief

QUOTE OF THE DAY “I am responsible for what happens under my watch. I am heartbroken that someone I permitted into that circle of trust for the last five years betrayed my trust.” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in an apology for a four-day traffic jam in Fort Lee, whose mayor didn’t endorse him for re-election, that was caused by lane closings triggered by an aide as political revenge Article, 1ATeen admits to lesser charge in sex case

MARYVILLE, Mo. - A Missouri man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old schoolmate when he was 17 pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor child endangerment - a far less serious crime than the rape charges the girl and her family had been pursuing.

Matt Barnett entered the plea during a court hearing in his hometown of Maryville, a college town about 85 miles north of Kansas City. He was sentenced to two years of probation and a four-month suspended jail term, and he can’t drink, go to bars or contact the girl, Daisy Coleman, or her family.

Jean Peters Baker, who was pulled in as a special prosecutor to re-examine the case in October, said she had spoken to Daisy and her mother, Melinda Coleman, and that both were “satisfied” with her decision to press the child-endangerment count.

The Associated Press generally doesn’t name alleged victims of sexual assault but is naming Daisy because she and her mother have granted public interviews.

Daisy alleged that Barnett raped her at a house party in January 2012, when he was a senior and she was a freshman at Maryville High School. Barnett says the sex was consensual.

Indian diplomat leaves on U.S. orders

NEW YORK - An Indian diplomat accused of lying about how much she paid her housekeeper was ordered out of the United States on Thursday after she was indicted on two criminal charges and Indian authorities refused to waive her immunity, authorities said.

Devyani Khobragade, who had been strip-searched when arrested, left the country by plane Thursday night after being charged by a federal grand jury with visa fraud and making false statements in a case that has triggered an outcry in India, a senior U.S. official said. She’s accused of fraudulently obtaining a work visa for her New York housekeeper.

A U.S. government official in Washington who spoke on condition of anonymity said the U.S. accepted India’s request to accredit her to the United Nations, which confers broader immunity than what she enjoyed as a consular official.

The U.S. asked the government of India to waive the immunity, but the Indians refused, so the U.S. then “requested her departure,” the official said.

Authorities say Khobragade claimed to pay her Indian maid $4,500 per month but gave her far less than the U.S.

minimum wage.

The charges will remain pending until she goes to court to face them, through a waiver of immunity or her return to the U.S. without immunity status, the letter from the office of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

Search ends for 5th copter crewman

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Rescuers called off their search Thursday for a sailor missing since a Navy helicopter with five crew members aboard crashed in the ocean off the Virginia coast, the Coast Guard said.

Two people died in the Wednesday crash, and two others were hospitalized.

The Coast Guard had searched an area of 500 square miles by air and sea for more than 30 hours before calling off the active search at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, said Capt. John Little, Coast Guard section commander.

Little said the frigid weather in the Atlantic Ocean contributed to the decision to end the active rescue effort.

Of the two survivors, one was released from the hospital Thursday, and the other could be released as soon as today, said Capt. Todd Flannery, the commander of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic at a news conference Thursday.

Supply ship blasts off for space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A privately launched supply ship rocketed toward the International Space Station on Thursday after a series of delays.

Orbital Sciences Corp. launched its unmanned Antares rocket from Wallops Island, Va., offering a view to nearby states along the East Coast. It successfully hoisted a capsule packed with 3,000 pounds of equipment and experiments provided by NASA, as well as food and even some ants for an educational project. Christmas presents also are on board for the six space station residents; the delivery is a month late.

The spacecraft, named Cygnus, should reach the station Sunday. The orbiting outpost was zooming over the Atlantic, near Brazil, when the Antares blasted off.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 01/10/2014

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