WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she has “overwhelming support” from House Democrats to become the next speaker of the House. Asked if sexism might block her second act, she shot back that’s a question for the mostly male lawmakers signing a letter against her.

A group of 17 Democrats led by Rep. Seth Moulton D-Mass., have pledged to vote against Pelosi’s return as the first female speaker of the House. The list includes a dozen incumbents and five newcomers, including two Democrats whose races have not yet been decided. It includes just three women.

The 78-year-old Californian was bombarded with questions Thursday as Democrats — who took control of the House with their biggest midterm victories since Watergate — prepared to huddle privately with new members and begin sorting out the leadership battle.

One letter-signer, Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, has said that other lawmakers are urging her to run. She’s an ally of Ohio Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, who challenged Pelosi two years ago.

Pelosi has faced challenges before but this one — fueled by incumbents who feel shut out of leadership and newcomers calling for changes at the top — poses the biggest threat yet.

But Pelosi also acknowledges the discomfort some lawmakers face because she’s the GOP’s favorite election-year villain. Some 137,000 ads were run against her this election cycle, she said. “It makes it hard on the candidates,” she conceded.

Pointing to Democrats’ midterm success, she added, “Obviously those ads didn’t work.”

Thousands recall officer hailed as hero in Calif. bar shooting

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — The sheriff’s sergeant who gave his life saving others during a mass shooting last week was remembered warmly Thursday as a deeply religious man devoted to family who could be counted on to never hesitate a moment to put his own life on the line.

Several thousand people, including hundreds of law enforcement officers from throughout California, packed the Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village for the emotional, 90-minute service honoring the life of Ron Helus, 54.

The gunman killed 12 people on Nov. 7 at a popular Southern California country bar before shooting himself to death. But authorities say Helus — the first officer into the bar — saved numerous others by immediately exchanging gunfire with the shooter, giving people time to flee.

Florida man pleads not guilty in pipe bombs case; trial date set

NEW YORK — The Florida man accused of sending pipe bombs to prominent critics of President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges — including five federal counts — carrying a potential mandatory penalty of life in prison.

Cesar Sayoc entered the plea through his lawyers during his appearance in Manhattan federal court.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff set a July 15, 2019, trial date.

The judge suggested earlier dates, but Sayoc’s attorneys said they needed more time to prepare given the amount of discovery in the case and a lack of staffing at the federal public defenders’ office of New York.

“This is a slightly more complex case than the average one,” federal defender Sarah Baumgartel told Rakoff.

Bangladesh scraps Rohingya return, says no one wants to go

COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh — The head of Bangladesh’s refugee commission said plans to begin the repatriation of 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar on Thursday were scrapped after officials were unable to find anyone who wanted to return.

The refugees “are not willing to go back now,” Refugee Commissioner Abul Kalam said, adding that officials “can’t force them to go” but will continue to try to “motivate them so it happens.”

Some on the repatriation list vanished into the sprawling refugee camps to avoid being sent home, while others joined a large protest against the plan.

More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar to escape killings and destruction of their villages by the military and Buddhist vigilantes.

Dartmouth sued after misconduct allegations

CONCORD, N.H. — Dartmouth College was sued Thursday for allegedly allowing three professors to create a culture in their department that encouraged drunken parties and subjected female students to harassment, groping and sexual assault.

Seven women filed the lawsuit in federal court in New Hampshire against the elite college’s trustees. It contends that professors William Kelley, Paul Whalen and Todd Heatherton harassed and touched women inappropriately, often while out partying at bars or at their homes where one hosted hot tub parties.

Kelley and Whalen are each accused of assaulting a student after a night of drinking, attempting to seduce women under their supervision and punishing those who rebuffed their advances in the Department of Psychological and Brain Science.

Louisville shooter charged with hate crimes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Federal prosecutors have charged a white man with federal hate crimes in the killings of two African-Americans at a grocery store last month.

A federal grand jury in Louisville returned three hate crime charges against 51-year-old Gregory Bush on Thursday afternoon.

U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman said Bush is charged with killing two people based on their race and attempting to kill a third person based on his race. Bush also was indicted on three firearms charges.

Police said Bush walked into a Kroger grocery store on Oct. 24 and shot one person, and then killed another in the parking lot.

Coleman said there has been a “specter that reared its head and laid across this community” since the Oct. 24 shootings.

Arms dealing: The Senate rejected an effort Thursday to block $300 million in weapon sales to Bahrain, but there’s growing unease in Congress about the U.S. role supporting the Saudi Arabia-led coalition’s military campaign in Yemen.

Facing a veto threat from the White House, the resolution failed 77-21.

In Brazil: Millions of Brazilians may be left without access to doctors due to the end of a program that brought Cuban physicians to rural and dangerous areas in Brazil. Cuba said Wednesday it would end the program after Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said it could continue only under certain conditions.