National News at a Glance

Geneticists Criticize Use of Science by White Supremacists to Justify ‘Racial Purity’

In an unusual statement on the role of science in the resurgence of white supremacy in America, the American Society of Human Genetics on Friday denounced “attempts to link genetics and racial supremacy.” The statement, in the November issue of the group’s scientific journal, The American Journal of Human Genetics, said the concept of “racial purity” was scientifically meaningless. As newly visible and often-virulent groups of white nationalists have invoked genetic research to claim racial superiority, some geneticists have suggested that the field was not doing enough to counter the claims.

Justice Department Accuses Russians of Interfering in Midterm Elections

Russians working for a close ally of President Vladimir Putin are engaging in an elaborate campaign of “information warfare” to interfere with the U.S. midterm elections next month, federal prosecutors said Friday in unsealing charges against a woman they called the project’s “chief accountant.” Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova, 44, of St. Petersburg, managed a multimillion-dollar budget for the effort to “sow division and discord” in the U.S. political system, according to a criminal complaint. The operation was the latest evidence that Putin had brushed off a broad Western campaign aimed at deterring Russian intrusions in Europe and the United States.

Governor of Alaska Suspends Campaign Amid Sinking Polls

Gov. Bill Walker of Alaska, a political independent who has been fighting an uphill battle for a second term, suspended his campaign Friday and announced he was throwing his support behind his Democratic challenger. “I believe we cannot win a three-way race,” said Walker, a former Republican who left his party to win election as an independent in 2014. Walker said he had concluded that former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, “has a better chance of running a competitive race” against their Republican opponent, Mike J. Dunleavy, a well-financed former state senator. "Alaskans deserve a choice other than Mike Dunleavy,” Walker said.

Man Charged With Threatening to Murder 2 Senators Who Supported Kavanaugh

A Long Island man was arrested Friday on charges that he made death threats against two U.S. senators in retaliation for their support of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Ronald DeRisi, 74, threatened to murder the senators — who were not named — in more than 10 voicemail messages to their offices, according to a complaint by the U.S. Capitol Police. In them, DeRisi, of Smithtown, New York, used threats of bodily harm laced with expletives to discourage the senators from voting to approve Kavanaugh’s nomination. A federal judge Friday ordered DeRisi detained because he could pose a danger to the community. He also ordered a psychological evaluation.

USC to Pay $215 Million Over Sex Abuse Scandal

The University of Southern California has agreed to pay $215 million to settle a federal lawsuit filed by hundreds of women who say that they were sexually abused by the former gynecologist at the student health center and that school officials did not address their complaints. The settlement still needs to be approved by the court. Under its terms, patients of Dr. George Tyndall will be eligible for $2,500 payments, whether or not they have alleged abuse. Women who allege the worst abuse and offer additional information will be eligible for up to $20,000. Those willing to be screened by a psychologist could receive a maximum of $250,000.

Founder of Proud Boys Says He’s Arranging Surrender of Men in Brawl

Gavin McInnes, 48, founder of the far-right group the Proud Boys, said Friday that he was arranging the surrender of several members whom the police were seeking in connection with a brawl outside a Republican club in Manhattan last weekend. By late Friday afternoon, two of the nine men sought by police had been arrested. A police official said a lawyer representing at least four of the suspects had called the 19th Precinct on Friday to work out the details of their surrender. At the same time, a senior official said police have opened a broad criminal inquiry into the group’s activities.

Three Florida Police Officers Are Sent to Prison for False Arrests

Three former Florida police officers were sentenced to prison this week for conspiring to falsely arrest people to improve the department’s crime statistics — at the instruction of their police chief in Biscayne Park, a village in Miami-Dade County. On Thursday, Guillermo Ravelo, 37, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for the conspiracy and for striking a handcuffed driver in the head during a traffic stop. That sentencing came two days after former Officers Charlie Dayoub, 39, and Raul Fernandez were sentenced to 12 months in prison. Both pleaded guilty in August. The police chief, Raimundo Atesiano, 53, has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing in November.