[NYPOST] Author Salman Rushdie was off a ventilator and in good spirits Saturday, a day after being stabbed as he went to give a lecture in upstate Chautauqua, his agent confirmed.Rushdie, 75, remained at death's door but was said to be "talking (and joking)", fellow author Aatish Taseer tweeted.
Rushdie’s agent Andrew Wylie confirmed the update, a day after saying author was likely to lose an eye.
The author also suffered a damaged liver and severed nerves in his arm, the agent said.
Hadi Matar, 24, pleaded not guilty
"Wudn't me."
to attempted murder and assault charges in connection with the shocking public attack at a nonprofit education and retreat center.
Prosecutors said Matar had preplanned the assault, getting an advance pass to Rushdie’s lecture with a fake ID.
#BREAKING: Hadi Mattar was in direct contact with members of #Iran’s IRGC on social media ahead of the attack on Salman Rushdie, European & Middle Eastern intelligence officials tell VICE. IRGC was also in contact via social media in Bolton plot.https://t.co/cToic0at17
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) August 14, 2022