Jewish senator gives support to Iran deal

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran gained momentum in Congress on Friday as a key Jewish Democrat from New York bucked home-state opposition to back the deal.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s endorsement followed a personal appeal from Obama, and came despite opposition from New York’s senior senator, prominent Democrat Chuck Schumer, and other Jewish members in the New York congressional delegation. Iran has threatened to destroy Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vehemently opposed to the deal.

Nadler became the latest undeclared Democrat to break in favor of the historic agreement, which seeks to keep Iran from building a nuclear bomb in exchange for billions in international sanctions relief.

“I bring to my analysis the full weight of my responsibilities as a member of Congress, and my perspective as an American Jew who is both a Democrat and a strong supporter of Israel,” Nadler said in a statement.

Judge rules group can release video

LOS ANGELES – An anti-abortion group has a free speech right to release covert video of discussions with a California company that provides fetal tissue for research, even if the footage was illegally recorded, a judge ruled Friday.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joanne O’Donnell rejected efforts by StemExpress to block the videos, though she said the company likely will prevail in its lawsuit claiming its privacy was violated by an anti-abortion activist posing as a biomedical company employee.

While the ruling cleared the way for the release of yet another video by the little-known Center for Medical Progress, it was not clear how soon it might post it online. StemExpress said it disagreed with the ruling and was considering an appeal.

The Irvine-based anti-abortion group reignited the abortion debate after releasing undercover videos last month of Planned Parenthood officials discussing aborted fetal organs it provides for research.

Associated Press