California Governor Ends Opposition to Parole for Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he will no longer fight against the parole of Leslie Van Houten, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson. Van Houten, who has spent over 50 years in prison for her involvement in the Manson family's murderous spree in 1969, was granted parole by a California appeals court in May. The governor has decided not to appeal the decision, stating that further efforts would be unlikely to succeed. Van Houten's attorney expects her to be released in the coming weeks.