Breaking overnight, new figures showing just how hot the summer has been and will be today. In the west and in the south, the flood alerts and dramatic high water rescues hiring Ellen.
Former President Trump outlines his plan to appoint Elon Musk to a government position. Meanwhile, why Trump is headed to court today and what new fundraising numbers show about the state of the race.
Sounding the alarm one year after contaminated eyedrops killed four people. The investigation into why so many drug manufacturing plants are going uninspected.
A star athlete from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack allegedly burned by her ex-boyfriend. Why her father is blaming police.
Caught on camera. The toddler lost in this massive corn maze. The technology that helped police find him.
Taylor Swift and the nail biter in Kansas City overnight. The tow that made all the difference.
And later, how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
From ABC News this is America this morning.
Good Friday morning, everyone. I'm Andrew Dymburt and I'm Rhiannon ally.
Good morning to all of you. We begin with new charges in connection with that deadly school shooting in Georgia this week, which claimed the lives of two students and two teachers.
The suspect's father has now been arrested and charged with murder as new details emerge about the family's past. This morning, a Georgia father is the latest parent in the U.S. to face charges in connection with a school shooting allegedly carried out by their child. Authorities have arrested Colin Gray, the father of Colt gray, the 14 year old accused of killing two students and two teachers at his high school near Atlanta Wednesday.
These charges stem from Mr. Gray knowingly allowing his son, Colt, to possess a weapon.
Colin Gray is charged with two counts of second degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children. Investigators say his son used an AR style rifle in the attack at Apalachee High School. ABC news has learned the gun was a Christmas gift from his father. The teen was previously investigated by law enforcement in May of last year, when the FBI says he had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school. At the time, his father told investigators there were guns in the house, but Colt did not have, quote, unsupervised access, adding his son was being picked on at school. Colin was recorded then telling investigators he was teaching his son about hunting and guns to divert his attention from video games.
We do a lot of shooting, we do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year.
When shots rang out in the school Wednesday, teachers were able to quickly alert authorities of their location with wearable panic buttons that use GPS. Seen in this demonstration.
You have the ability to trigger the crisis alert platform.
And it alerts us that there is an active situation at the school for whatever reason, and that was pressed.
Colin Gray's arrest comes months after James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced to prison in connection with a school shooting in Michigan carried out by their son. The first parents in the U.S. convicted for a school shooting committed by their child. Meanwhile, back in Georgia, Colt Gray's aunt, is revealing details about the teen's troubled home life, telling ABC news Colt was begging for months for help with his mental health, adding the adults around him failed him. Colt Gray is due in court today facing murder charges. He will be tried as an adult. No word on when his father will be in court.
Breaking overnight, new figures now confirmed this summer was the hottest on record for the northern hemisphere. The western U.S. is baking under some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far, with triple digits expected today in Los Angeles and record highs in the northwest and the risk for wildfires also dangerously high. Two teens are facing arson charges for sparking this brush fire in Riverside, California, back in July, which destroyed seven homes, causing $30 million in damage. They allegedly used illegal Legal fireworks.
Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. The president's son surprised prosecutors by taking a plea deal to avoid what could have become an embarrassing trial. He could face up to 17 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines. Biden issued a statement saying when it became clear to me that prosecutors were focused not on justice but dehumanizing me for my actions during my addiction, there was only one path left for me. I will not subject my family to more pain. He'll be sentenced in December.
Former President Trump will be back in court today, taking a break from the campaign trail he spent yesterday talking about taxes and hiring Elon Musk. ABC's em Nguyen has the details on that. Good morning.
Rhiannon. Good morning. Former President Trump outlined his economic vision and promised to put Elon Musk in charge of government efficiency. But today, the focus for Trump will be in a New York courtroom. Former President Trump has scheduled a news conference today at Trump Tower after he heads to court. Trump is set to hear arguments today in his appeal of the judgment, holding him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. Yesterday, Trump outlined his economic agenda, saying he wants to cut the tax rate to 15% for companies that make products in the U.S. and punish companies that outsource jobs.
If you outsource offshore or replace American workers, you're not eligible for any of these benefits. In fact, you will pay a very substantial tariff when a product comes in from another country.
Trump also vowing to create a government efficiency commission, an idea suggested by Elon Musk.
A complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms.
Trump said Musk would lead the commission, which critics say could pose a conflict of interest because some of Musk's companies are regulated by the government. The high cost of daycare also a subject on the campaign trail. Trump's running mate JD Vance, suggesting costs could come down if regulations were eliminated.
Don't force every early child care specialist to go and get a six year college degree where they've got a whole lot of debt, and Americans are much poorer because they're paying out the wazoo for daycare. Empower working families. Empower people who want to do these things for a living. And that's what we got to do for.
Their economic platform. The Harris Wallace ticket has vowed to expand the child tax credit and fight corporate price gouging, and they're promising tax relief for small businesses. Harris's running mate, Tim Walz in Pennsylvania sharpening his attack on Trump.
Whenever Donald Trump's talking about America, he's talking America. He does not believe in the promise of America, and he continues to put this country down.
New figures out this morning, expected to show the Harris campaign raised more than $300 million last month, more than double what the Trump campaign raised. Meanwhile, JD Vance is facing criticism for his remarks about the school shooting in Georgia, suggesting school shootings have become a, quote, fact of life. Vance says better security is needed to make sure schools are no longer soft targets. Andrew.
All right. Adam. Thank you. A potential strike is threatening ports on the East coast and the Gulf Coast. Talks between the country's largest longshoremen union and port owners are stalled. One major issue is automation. The contract deadline is September 30th.
A public health concern. That is how experts describe a new study that finds the FDA is behind way behind on critical inspections of factories that make everything from antibiotics to cancer therapies. Here's ABC's Andrea Fujii.
This morning a new study sounding the alarm on drug safety. The Associated Press found since the pandemic, nearly 2000 drug manufacturing facilities are overdue for FDA inspections. The agency already under scrutiny from Congress.
It is past time the FDA addresses these issues. People's lives depend on it.
The plant's overdue for inspection account for 42% of the facilities registered worldwide. Most are in the U.S., but more than 300 are in India and China, which make up the largest source of drug ingredients used in low cost prescriptions.
The failure of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Quality to go out and inspect these establishments is a public health concern.
Concerns that can have deadly effects. Last year, four Americans died and a dozen more were blinded from tainted eye drops made in a factory in India. So why is the FDA behind? During Covid, it stopped all but the most critical inspections. Now it's trying to catch up with far fewer employees. More than 200 inspection jobs are currently unfilled. Many former employees left for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
We have a lot of work to do. As long as the marketplace is working the way it is.
The FDA insists the U.S. drug supply is the safest in the world, but it hasn't said when it expects to complete those overdue inspections. Rhiannon. Andrew.
Andrea. Thank you. More rain and flooding is expected on the Gulf Coast. We've seen dozens of high water rescues in Texas this week. People clinging to trees. Louisiana to northern Florida are at risk today. Let's check your Friday forecast. Reporter.
Good morning. We're dealing with some drenching rain across the Gulf Coast states. New Orleans, we're very concerned about flooding for you. Also, Georgia and Alabama into South Carolina late this evening. Soaking rain. Some of you in southern Louisiana will see between 8 and 12in of rain for the storm total from what fell at midweek all the way through Friday and Saturday. And we're going to have some very heavy rain, 4 to 8in for areas near I-10. Meanwhile, the northwest near record heat for some for AccuWeather. I'm Jeff Cornish for ABC news.
Coming up, why the government is now investigating airline reward programs.
But first, what led to this bizarre crash on a busy interstate? And a warning.
To parents after a teen falls victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. We'll tell you what's happening now to those responsible.
This isn't shocking. Whenever news.
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Truck driver has been charged with reckless driving in Virginia after this, slamming his big rig into this highway. Sign the bed separated from the cab there and as you can see, landed upright. The driver luckily was not injured.
Now to Michigan and a warning to parents after a 17 year old fell victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. Those responsible are now facing justice. This morning, a pair of Nigerian scammers are behind bars here in the U.S., convicted in an internet con that turned deadly.
They solicited and received a compromising image, and then they immediately turned to blackmail their victims, hounding them for money and even urging their victims to kill themselves if they couldn't pay.
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were found guilty of conspiracy to sexually exploit a minor after they extorted Michigan teenager Jordan Demay. The 17 year old homecoming king later took his own life, thrusting so-called sextortion into the national spotlight.
It started out with the supposed girl saying, hey, we have some friends in common.
The two men targeted Dumais by pretending to be a high school girl named Danny, eventually convincing Tommy to send explicit photos of himself. The scammers then demanded $1,000, threatening if he didn't pay, they would send those compromising photos to his friends and family. Danny died by suicide just hours later.
When I think about the things that they said to him. It hurts me so bad as a mom to think about what he went through in the last hours.
But now some closure for Demi's family. The Ogoshi brothers yesterday were sentenced to 17 years in prison. The first conviction in an alleged sextortion ring involving more than 100 victims.
This is a serious threat that is only getting worse and it can happen fast. We know that the time from initial contact to Jordan's passing was a mere two hours.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can always call 988. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Really tragic story. The Biden administration is investigating airline reward programs. They want to make sure customers are getting a fair deal. The transportation department is asking American, Delta, southwest and United for detailed reports on their loyalty benefits. Among the concerns whether the airlines are changing the terms of their reward points without proper notice or charging extra fees to redeem those points. The airlines say they have been transparent.
Coming up, a tiger on the run after escaping from a zoo.
Also ahead, a star from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack, shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country.
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Betrayal is one of the hardest types of trauma to overcome.
This is her knight in shining armor.
Everything felt right.
All of a sudden, I found this hidden folder. I opened it. I don't think I can say it. I'm sorry.
It's shocking. My stomach just dropped.
He just really didn't think I had it in me to do something.
So I did. Betrayal of father's Secret. The all new season on Hulu.
It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
We had several.
Suspects.
All these kinds of leads.
A known serial killer in your area. Could he be involved?
We're actually finding key evidence that could have slipped through the cracks.
Her last hours on this earth were horrific.
This beautiful young girl. Police will find out what happened.
At wit's end. The hunt for a killer. Only on Hulu.
A toddler missing in this 100 acre cornfield in Wisconsin has been found safe after police used a drone with thermal imaging to find him. The three year old was chasing a cat when it got dark. He was found unharmed about a half a mile from his house.
Some border towns in Texas are on alert after a tiger escaped from a nearby zoo. That zoo is in Reynosa, Mexico, just across from Hidalgo, Texas. Experts warn tigers are excellent swimmers fully capable of crossing the Rio Grande.
We turn now to the shocking death of a runner from the Paris Olympics. Her killing is shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country. And the details are so Disturbing this morning. Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei has died after what police say was a gruesome attack in her home country of Kenya.
It is a very, very, very sad day for us.
They say Cheptegei's ex-boyfriend was seen pouring liquid on her before setting her on fire. They say the two had been arguing over a plot of land. Cheptegei's heartbroken father says he had warned police about the ex-boyfriend's threatening behavior. Cheptegei is the third elite female athlete murdered in Kenya in the last three years, all allegedly killed by their partners.
What we're hearing is that these men who murder these women are drawn to them because of the money and the fame from their their track and field, from their running careers.
Kenya has seen a dramatic increase in femicide in recent years, with an estimated 47 women killed each week, one of the highest rates in Africa.
My hope and prayer is that she will find justice. And finally, we have systems at work that enable women to be free from oppressive behavior, such as this by men.
The sports world and the world at large is absolutely outraged, as they should be. There's definitely not enough protection for these athletes. If there was sufficient protection, they'd be alive.
Murder charges against her ex-boyfriend are expected soon.
After a surge in tourism. You may soon need a ticket to see the famed Trevi Fountain. Officials in Rome are considering a ticket plan that would limit visit times and charge around $2. Venice recently tried limiting crowds by charging for entry as well.
Coming up, how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
But first, the tow that made all the difference in the NFL season opener.
With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television.
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You see here. ABC's David Muir, the most watched newscast in America. More Americans watch World News Tonight with David Muir than any other newscast. They both want to be your next president. Now, finally, Donald Trump.
We will soon be a great nation again.
Kamala Harris, do we believe in the.
Promise of America face to face?
Historic. The ABC news presidential debate, moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis Tuesday live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
From the 2024 campaign trail in Erie, Pennsylvania. I'm Rachel Scott. Wherever the story is, we'll take you there.
You're streaming ABC news live.
Time to check the pulse. We begin with a dramatic start to the NFL season.
Yes, the Chiefs and the Ravens served up an instant classic with Taylor Swift in the house. The Swifts, the Chiefs most famous fan, supporting her boyfriend, chief Travis Kelce in a denim outfit.
Maybe they should change the name to the Swifts. The game came down to the final play. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finds a receiver in the endzone. But wait. The replay showed his toe was on the line, so he's out of bounds. No touchdowns. That means the Chiefs won 27 to 20. Patrick Mahomes offered some advice to that receiver wear white cleats next time. Also last night, American Jessica Pegula booked her place in the U.S. open women's final, advancing after a slow start. It will be her first major tournament final. Next, the die in Doritos that makes your fingers orange could lead to a medical breakthrough. Yeah.
Researchers use the chemical to make the bodies of mice see through. They rub the solution on the mice, and their skin became transparent, allowing them to see blood vessels and muscle fibers.
It works by changing how the body refracts light. The skin returns to normal after washing off the chemicals. Scientists hope the technique can one day be used on humans to detect tumors and other ailments without surgery. Next. Good news for fans of Red lobster.
Yes, the restaurant chain is emerging from bankruptcy. A judge has approved a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep all of its current locations open, and all 30,000 employees will get to keep their jobs. Next, a real estate deal in Southern California.
In exchange for half $1 million, you can get half a house. This one bedroom, one bath home was hit by a gigantic tree, shattering half the house, but the other half is still okay. What a bargain. And finally, how about seeking higher ground?
A tiny frog had to do it. It was pouring near Orlando. But look closely at that small ball in the water. Even smaller frogs safely perched on top of it. Look at that. The perfect escape.
Top headlines. Next.
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Tonight, the dangerously hot West tracking excessive heat warnings. Plus, just days before the much anticipated debate, the state of the race. World News Tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast.
Let's go. The ship is incredible. It feels like living in a science fiction movie.
We just saw what no one has seen before.
Wow. Look at that. Oh my gosh. Well, dead ahead. Jurgen.
We are heading into the unknown. Hammer.
Hammer. Hammer. It doesn't get any more cutting edge than this.
More top stories. Now. The father of the teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers at a Georgia high school, has been arrested and is facing murder charges. Authorities say he knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon, which he allegedly bought him as a Christmas gift. His son is due in court today, also facing murder charges.
The FBI has raided the homes of two top aides to New York Mayor Eric Adams. Agents also seized the phones of other city officials, part of a federal corruption investigation.
The government's monthly jobs report is out today. It is expected to show a slowing but steady job market. It could help determine the size of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut that is expected later this month.
Vaping among high school students has hit a ten year low. New figures show the rate of teens using e-cigarettes fell to under 6% this year.
Today's weather reigned for much of the east. Storms in the Ohio Valley and more rain on the Gulf Coast record heat in the west.
And finally the couple going back to where it all began. Here's our.
Danny new. Hey, I don't bite.
It might not be common, but it is possible to meet the love of your life at an early age.
Used to write like little notes and little words with her name on it.
Just ask Emma and Marcus here, who not only met in first grade, but actually just got married at the very elementary school where that life changing moment took place.
It was definitely surreal.
Harris Elementary School in their hometown of Saint Charles, Missouri, congratulated them on Facebook this week, with dozens of commenters offering their love stories and wishing them well. One person writing this is the cutest love story heart. Now, the way Marcus and Emma's love story goes is they met in first grade, started texting a little bit in middle school, and then officially became boyfriend girlfriend during their freshman year of high school. When Marcus pulled out this smooth line, kept talking.
Up his dad and how awesome his dad was and fun guy. And I was like, well, when am I going to get to meet him? Like, he sounds great. And he says, well, only my girlfriends get to meet my dad.
Let's go. Fast forward 12 years and through many Chiefs games, and these two longtime sweethearts just tied the knot a few weeks ago outside some very familiar halls. But this might be the cutest part. The VIP of the event was their dog, Bella, who has a very special history with them. You see, Marcus actually gave this beagle mix to Emma for her birthday when she turned 16. Teen. Clearly, Marcus knew they were going to be together for a long time. And before a larger ceremony and reception in Mexico later this year, Emma, Marcus and Bella were elated to first make it official at the place where it all began.
It honestly turned out perfect.
By the way, guys, that upcoming ceremony in Mexico is actually going to be on the 12 year anniversary of that special day when Marcus dropped that smooth line about becoming his girlfriend clearly worked.
Of course he's smooth. He's a Chiefs fan. Yeah.
And they've been love at first sight. All right. That's what's making news in America. Have a great.
Weekend. Right now on America this morning. Father under arrest. The 14 year old Georgia school shooting suspect's father now facing murder charges along with his son. How? Police say the boy got the gun that was used in the attack. And what we're learning about the family's past.
Breaking overnight. New figures showing just how hot this summer has been and will be today. In the West and in the south, the flood alerts and dramatic high water rescues hiring Ellen.
Former President Trump outlines his plan to appoint Elon Musk to a government position. Meanwhile, why Trump is headed to court today and what new fundraising numbers show about the state of the race.
Sounding the alarm one year after contaminated air drops killed four people. The investigation into why so many drug manufacturing plants are going uninspected.
A star athlete from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack allegedly burned by her ex-boyfriend. Why her father is blaming police.
Caught on camera. The toddler lost in this massive corn maze. The technology that helped police find him.
Taylor Swift and the nail biter in Kansas City overnight. The tow that made all the difference.
And later, how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
From ABC News this is America this morning.
Good Friday morning, everyone.
I'm Andrew Dymburt and I'm Rhiannon ally. Good morning to all of you. We begin with new charges in connection with that deadly school shooting in Georgia this week, which claimed the lives of two students and two teachers.
The suspect's father has now been arrested and charged with murder as new details emerge about the family's past. This morning, a Georgia father is the latest parent in the U.S. to face charges in connection with a school shooting allegedly carried out by their child. Authorities have arrested Colin Gray, the father of Colt gray, the 14 year old accused of killing two students and two teachers at his high school near Atlanta Wednesday.
These charges stem from Mr. Gray knowingly allowing his son, Colt, to possess a weapon.
Colin Gray is charged with two counts of second degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Investigators say his son used an AR style rifle in the attack at Apalachee High School. ABC news has learned the gun was a Christmas gift from his father. The teen was previously investigated by law enforcement in May of last year, when the FBI says he had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school. At the time, his father told investigators there were guns in the house, but Colt did not have, quote, unsupervised access, adding his son was being picked on at school. Colin was recorded then telling investigators he was teaching his son about hunting and guns to divert his attention from video games.
We do a lot of shooting, we do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year.
When shots rang out in the school Wednesday, teachers were able to quickly alert authorities of their location with wearable panic buttons that use GPS. Seen in this demonstration.
You have the ability to trigger the crisis alert platform.
And it alerts us that there is an active situation at the school for whatever reason, and that was pressed.
Colin Gray's arrest comes months after James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced to prison in connection with a school shooting in Michigan carried out by their son. The first parents in the U.S. convicted for a school shooting committed by their child. Meanwhile, back in Georgia, Kolt, Gray's aunt, is revealing details about the teen's troubled home life, telling ABC news Kolt was begging for months for help with his mental health, adding the adults around him failed him. Kolt gray is due in court today facing murder charges. He will be tried as an adult. No word on when his father will be in court.
Breaking overnight, new figures now confirmed this summer was the hottest on record for the Northern hemisphere. The western U.S. is baking under some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far, with triple digits expected today in Los Angeles and record highs in the northwest and the risk for wildfires also dangerously high. Two teens are facing arson charges for sparking this brush fire in Riverside, California, back in July, which destroyed seven homes, causing $30 million in damage. They allegedly used illegal fireworks.
Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. The president's son surprised prosecutors by taking a plea deal to avoid what could have become an embarrassing trial. He could face up to 17 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines. Biden issued a statement saying when it became clear to me that prosecutors were focused not on justice but dehumanizing me for my actions during my addiction, there was only one path left for me. I will not subject my family to more pain. He'll be sentenced in December.
Former President Trump will be back in court today, taking a break from the campaign trail he spent yesterday talking about taxes and hiring Elon Musk. ABC's em Nguyen has the details on that. Good morning.
Rhiannon. Good morning. Former President Trump outlined his economic vision and promised to put Elon Musk in charge of government efficiency. But today, the focus for Trump will be in a New York courtroom. Former President Trump has scheduled a news conference today at Trump Tower after he heads to court. Trump is set to hear arguments today in his appeal of the judgment, holding him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. Yesterday, Trump outlined his economic agenda, saying he wants to cut the tax rate to 15% for companies that make products in the U.S. and punish companies that outsource jobs.
If you outsource offshore or replace American workers, you're not eligible for any of these benefits. In fact, you will pay a very substantial tariff when a product comes in from another country.
Trump also vowing to create a government efficiency commission, an idea suggested by Elon Musk.
A complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms.
Trump said Musk would lead the commission, which critics say could pose a conflict of interest because some of Musk's companies are regulated by the government. The high cost of daycare also a subject on the campaign trail. Trump's running mate J.D. Vance, suggesting costs could come down if regulations were eliminated.
Don't force every early child care specialist to go and get a six year college degree where they've got a whole lot of debt, and Americans are much poorer because they're paying out the wazoo for daycare. Empower working families, empower people who want to do these things for a living. And that's what we got to.
Do for their economic platform. The Harris Wallace ticket has vowed to expand the child tax credit, fight corporate price gouging, and they're promising tax relief for small businesses. Harris's running mate, Tim Walz in Pennsylvania sharpening his attack on Trump.
Whenever Donald Trump's talking about America, he's talking America. He does not believe in the promise of America, and he continues to put this country down.
New figures out this morning are expected to show the Harris campaign raised more than $300 million last month, more than double what the Trump campaign raised. Meanwhile, JD Vance is facing criticism for his remarks about the school shooting in Georgia, suggesting school shootings have become a, quote, fact of life. Vance says better security is needed to make sure schools are no longer soft targets. Andrew.
All right. Thank you. A potential strike is threatening ports on the East Coast and the Gulf Coast. Talks between the country's largest longshoremen union and port owners are stalled. One major issue is automation. The contract deadline is September 30th.
A public health concern. That is how experts describe a new study that finds the FDA is behind way behind on critical inspections of factories that make everything from antibiotics to cancer therapies. Here's ABC's Andrea Fujii.
This morning a new study sounding the alarm on drug safety. The Associated Press found since the pandemic, nearly 2000 drug manufacturing facilities are overdue for FDA inspections. The agency already under scrutiny from Congress.
It is past time the FDA addresses these issues. People's lives depend on it.
The plant's overdue for inspection account for 42% of the facilities registered worldwide. Most are in the U.S., but more than 300 are in India and China, which make up the largest source of drug ingredients used in low cost prescriptions.
The failure of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Quality to go out and inspect these establishments is a public health concern.
Concerns that can have deadly effects. Last year, four Americans died and a dozen more were blinded from tainted eye drops made in a factory in India. So why is the FDA behind? During Covid, it stopped all but the most critical inspections. Actions. Now it's trying to catch up with far fewer employees. More than 200 inspection jobs are currently unfilled. Many former employees left for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
We have a lot of work to do. As long as the marketplace is working the way it is.
The FDA insists the U.S. drug supply is the safest in the world, but it hasn't said when it expects to complete those overdue inspections. Rhiannon. Andrew.
Andrea. Thank you. More rain and flooding is expected on the Gulf Coast. We've seen dozens of high water rescues in Texas this week. People clinging to trees. Louisiana to northern Florida are at risk today. Let's check your Friday forecast. Reporter.
Good morning. We're dealing with some drenching rain across the Gulf Coast states. New Orleans, we're very concerned about flooding for you. Also Georgia and Alabama into South Carolina late this evening. Soaking rain. Some of you in southern Louisiana will see between 8 and 12in of rain for the storm total from what fell at midweek all the way through Friday and Saturday. And we're going to have some very heavy rain, 4 to 8in for areas near I-10. Meanwhile, in the northwest, near record heat for some. For AccuWeather I'm Jeff Cornish for ABC news.
Coming up, why the government is now investigating airline reward programs.
But first, what led to this bizarre crash on a busy interstate? And a warning.
To parents after a teen falls victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. We'll tell you what's happening now to those responsible.
It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
We had several suspects.
All these kinds of leads.
A known serial killer in your area. Could he be involved?
We're actually finding key evidence that could have slipped through the cracks.
Her last hours on this earth.
Were with.
Horrific.
This beautiful young girl. Police will find out what happened.
At wit's end. The hunt for a killer. Only on Hulu.
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Reporting from Portland International Airport. I'm Jacqueline Lee. Wherever the story is, we'll take you there. You're streaming ABC news Live.
A truck driver has been charged with reckless driving in Virginia after this, slamming his big rig into this highway. Sign the bed separated from the cab there and as you can see, landed upright. The driver luckily was not injured.
Now to Michigan and a warning to parents after a 17 year old fell victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. Those responsible are now facing justice. This morning, a pair of Nigerian scammers are behind bars here in the U.S., convicted in an internet con that turned deadly.
They solicited and received a compromising image, and then they immediately turned to blackmail their victims, hounding them for money and even urging their victims to kill themselves if they couldn't pay.
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were found guilty of conspiracy to sexually exploit a minor after they extorted Michigan teenager Jordan Demay. The 17 year old homecoming king later took his own life, thrusting so-called sextortion into the national spotlight.
It started out with the supposed girl saying, hey, we have some friends in common.
The two men targeted Dumais me by pretending to be a high school girl named Danny, eventually convincing Tommy to send explicit photos of himself. The scammers then demanded $1,000, threatening if he didn't pay, they would send those compromising photos to his friends and family. Danny died by suicide just hours later.
When I think about the things that they said to him. It hurts me so bad as a mom to think about what he went through in the last hours.
But now some closure for Demi's family. The Ogoshi brothers yesterday were sentenced to 17 years in prison. The first conviction in an alleged sextortion ring involving more than 100 victims.
This is a serious threat that is only getting worse and it can happen fast. We know that the time from initial contact to Jordan's passing was a mere two hours.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can always call 988. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Really tragic story. The Biden administration is investigating airline reward programs. They want to make sure customers are getting a fair deal. The transportation department is asking American, Delta, southwest and United for detailed reports on their loyalty benefits. Among the concerns whether the airlines are changing the terms of their reward points without proper notice or charging extra fees to redeem those points. The airlines say they have been transparent.
Coming up, a tiger on the run after escaping from a zoo.
Also ahead, a star from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack, shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country.
With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television.
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Wherever news breaks. It's so important to always remember that lives are changed here in London in Buffalo. Uvalde, Texas. Edinburgh, Scotland. Reporting from Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Ukrainian refugees here in Warsaw. We're heading to a small community outside of Mexico City, getting you behind the stories as they happen. ABC News Live Prime. We'll take you there.
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Did you kill John O'Keefe?
The trial of Karen Reed is now underway.
She's accused of second degree murder. Pleading not guilty.
Accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.
It's the true crime story of the summer.
Would you say that you were angry with John that night?
Yes. Now, exclusive personal video. And Karen Reed speaking out fully for herself. The all new 2020 tonight at nine eight central on ABC.
Welcome back. A toddler missing in this 100 acre cornfield in Wisconsin has been found safe after police used a drone with thermal imaging to find him. The three year old was chasing a cat when it got dark. He was found unharmed about a half a mile from his house.
Some border towns in Texas are on alert after a tiger escaped from a nearby zoo. That zoo is in Reynosa, Mexico, just across from Hidalgo, Texas. Experts warn tigers are excellent swimmers fully capable of crossing the Rio Grande.
We turn now to the shocking death of a runner from the Paris Olympics. Her killing is shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country. And the details are so disturbing. This morning, Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei has died after what police say was a gruesome attack in her home country of Kenya.
It is a very, very, very sad day for us.
They say Cheptegei's ex-boyfriend was seen pouring liquid on her before setting her on fire. They say the two had been arguing over a plot of land. Cheptegei's heartbroken father says he had warned police about the ex-boyfriend's threatening behavior. Cheptegei is the third elite female athlete murdered in Kenya in the last three years, all allegedly killed by their partners.
What we're hearing is that these men who murder these women are drawn to them because of the money and the fame from their their track and field, from their running careers.
Kenya has seen a dramatic increase in femicide in recent years, with an estimated 47 women killed each week, one of the highest rates in Africa.
My hope and prayer is that she will find justice. And finally, we have systems that work that enable women to be free from oppressive behavior, such as this by men.
The sports world and the world at large is absolutely outraged, as they should be. There's definitely not enough protection for these athletes. If there was sufficient protection, they'd be alive.
Murder charges against her ex-boyfriend are expected soon.
After a surge in tourism. You may soon need a ticket to see the famed Trevi Fountain. Officials in Rome are considering a ticket plan that would limit visit times and charge around $2. Venice recently tried limiting crowds by charging for entry as well.
Coming up, how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
But first, the tow that made all the difference in the NFL season opener.
It's lunchtime in America. So what are we serving up? Well, how.
About everything you need to know?
Give it to me. Your health, your money. Breaking news, pop culture with the biggest stars, music trends, and of course, good food. It's all coming up.
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Listen now to the daily news podcast honored with four Edward R Murrow Awards, and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to. Start here ABC news. Make it your daily first listen.
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Wherever you get your podcasts, start here. With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television.
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They both want to be.
Your next president. Now, finally, Donald Trump.
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Kamala Harris. Do we believe in the.
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The ABC news presidential debate, moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis. Tuesday live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Reporting from the volcano eruption in Grindavik, Iceland. I'm Marcus Moore. Wherever the story is, we'll take you there. You're streaming with ABC News Live.
Time to check the pulse. We begin with a dramatic start to the NFL season.
Yes, the Chiefs and the Ravens served up an instant classic with Taylor Swift in the house. The Swifts, the Chiefs most famous fan, supporting her boyfriend, chief Travis Kelce in a denim outfit.
Maybe they should change the name to the Swifts. The game came down to the final play. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finds a receiver in the endzone. But wait. The replay showed his toe was on the line, so he's out of bounds. No touchdowns. That means the Chiefs won 27 to 20. Patrick Mahomes offered some advice to that receiver wear white cleats next time. Also last night, American Jessica Pegula booked her place in the U.S. open women's final, advancing after a slow start. It will be her first major tournament final. Next, the die in Doritos that makes your fingers orange could lead to a medical breakthrough. Yeah.
Researchers use the chemical to make the bodies of mice see through. They rub the solution on the mice, and their skin became transparent, allowing them to see blood vessels and muscle fibers.
It works by changing how the body refracts light. The skin returns to normal after washing off the chemicals. Scientists hope the technique can one day be used on humans to detect tumors and other ailments without surgery. Next. Good news for fans of Red lobster.
Yes, the restaurant chain is emerging from bankruptcy. A judge has approved a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep all of its current locations open, and all 30,000 employees will get to keep their jobs. Next, a real estate deal in Southern California.
In exchange for half $1 million, you can get half a house. This one bedroom, one bath home was hit by a gigantic tree, shattering half the house, but the other half is still okay. What a bargain. And finally, how about seeking higher ground?
A tiny frog had to do it. It was pouring near Orlando. But look closely at that small ball in the water. Even smaller frogs safely perched on top of it. Look at that. The perfect escape.
Top headlines. Next.
It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
You had several suspects.
All these kinds of leads.
A known serial killer in your area. Could he.
Be involved? We're actually finding key evidence that could have slipped through the cracks.
Her last hours on this earth were horrific.
This beautiful young girl. Police will find out what happened.
At wit's end. The hunt for a killer. Only on Hulu. This morning.
I'm on my way. Yes. Old Dominion is on their way to GMA. The morning concert event Old Dominion this morning only on Good Morning America's summer concert series, sponsored by Wayfair. Why do so many people start their day here?
From ABC news. This is start here to be in the.
Know and get a different take on the day's top stories. A lot of.
News today, so let's get into it.
Listen now to the daily News podcast honored with four Edward R Murrow Awards, and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to. Start here ABC news. Make it your daily first listen.
Now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming.
Wherever you get your podcasts, start here.
Wherever news breaks. It's so important to always remember that lives are changed. Getting you behind the stories as they happen. ABC News Live Prime. We'll take you there.
Streaming free on ABC News Live.
Betrayal is one of the hardest types of trauma to overcome.
This is her knight in shining armor.
Everything felt right.
All of a sudden, I found this hidden folder. I opened it. I don't think I can say it. I'm sorry.
It's shocking. My stomach just dropped.
He just really didn't think I had it in me to do something.
So I did. Betrayal of father's secret. The all new season on Hulu.
More top stories now. The father of the teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers at a Georgia high school has been arrested and is facing murder charges. Authorities say he knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon, which he allegedly bought him as a Christmas gift. His son is due in court today, also facing murder charges.
The FBI has raided the homes of two top aides to New York Mayor Eric Adams. Agents also seized the phones of other city officials, part of a federal corruption investigation.
The government's monthly jobs report is out today. It is expected to show a slowing but steady job market. It could help determine the size of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut that is expected later this month.
Vaping among high school students has hit a ten year low. New figures show the rate of teens using e-cigarettes fell to under 6% this year.
Today's weather reigned for much of the east. Storms in the Ohio Valley and more rain on the Gulf Coast. Record heat in the west.
And finally the couple going back to where it all began.
Here's our Danny new.
Hey, I don't bite.
It might not be common, but it is possible to meet the love of your life at an early age.
Used to write like little notes and little words with her name on it.
Just ask Emma and Marcus here, who not only met in first grade, but actually just got married at the very elementary school where that life changing moment took place.
It was definitely surreal.
Harris Elementary School in their hometown of Saint Charles, Missouri, congratulated them on Facebook this week, with dozens of commenters offering their love stories and wishing them well. One person writing this is the cutest love story heart. Now, the way Marcus and Emma's love story goes is they met in first grade, started texting a little bit in middle school, and then officially became boyfriend girlfriend during their freshman year of high school. When Marcus pulled out this smooth line.
Kept talking up his dad and how awesome his dad was and fun guy. And I was like, well, when am I going to get to meet him? Like, he sounds great. And he says, well, only my girlfriends get to meet my dad. Let's go.
Fast forward 12 years and through many Chiefs games, and these two longtime sweethearts just tied the knot a few weeks ago outside some very familiar halls. But this might be the cutest part. The VIP of the event was their dog, Bella, who has a very special history with them. You see, Marcus actually gave this beagle mix to Emma for her birthday when she turned 16. Clearly, Marcus knew they were going to be together for a long time. And before a larger ceremony and reception in Mexico later this year, Emma, Marcus and Bella were elated to first make it official at the place where it all began.
It honestly turned out perfect.
By the way, guys, that upcoming ceremony in Mexico is actually going to be on the 12 year anniversary of that special day when Marcus dropped that smooth line about becoming his girlfriend clearly worked.
Of course he's smooth. He's a Chiefs fan.
Yeah, and they've been.
Love at first sight. All right. That's what's making news in America. Have a great.
Weekend. Right now on America this morning. Father under arrest. The 14 year old Georgia school shooting suspect's father now facing murder charges along with his son. How? Police say the boy got the gun that was used in the attack. And what we're learning about the family's past.
Breaking overnight, new figures showing just how hot this summer has been and will be today in the west and in the south, the flood alerts and dramatic high water rescues hiring Ellen.
Former President Trump outlines his plan to appoint Elon Musk to a government position. Meanwhile, why Trump is headed to court today and what new fundraising numbers show about the state of the race.
Sounding the alarm one year after contaminated eyedrops killed four people. The investigation into why so many drug manufacturing plants are going uninspected.
A star athlete from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack allegedly burned by her ex-boyfriend. Why her father is blaming police.
Caught on camera. The toddler lost in this massive corn maze. The technology that helped police find him.
Taylor Swift and the nail biter in Kansas City overnight. The tow that made all the difference.
And later, how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
From ABC News this is America this morning.
Good Friday morning, everyone.
I'm Andrew Dymburt and I'm Rhiannon ally. Good morning to all of you. We begin with new charges in connection with that deadly school shooting in Georgia this week, which claimed the lives of two students and two teachers.
The suspect's father has now been arrested and charged with murder as new details emerge about the family's past. This morning, a Georgia father is the latest parent in the U.S. to face charges in connection with a school shooting allegedly carried out by their child. Authorities have arrested Colin Gray, the father of Colt gray, the 14 year old accused of killing two students and two teachers at his high school near Atlanta Wednesday.
These charges stem from Mr. Gray knowingly allowing his son, Colt, to possess a weapon.
Colin Gray is charged with two counts of second degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Investigators say his son used an AR style rifle in the attack at Apalachee High School. ABC news has learned the gun was a Christmas gift from his father. The teen was previously investigated by law enforcement in May of last year, when the FBI says he had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school. At the time, his father told investigators there were guns in the house, but Colt did not have, quote, unsupervised access, adding his son was being picked on at school. Colin was recorded then telling investigators he was teaching his son about hunting and guns to divert his attention from video games.
We do a lot of shooting, we do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year.
When shots rang out in the school Wednesday, teachers were able to quickly alert authorities of their location with wearable panic buttons that use GPS seen in this demonstration.
You have the ability to trigger the crisis alert platform.
And it alerts us that there is an active situation at the school for whatever reason, and that was pressed.
Colin Gray's arrest comes months after James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced to prison in connection with a school shooting in Michigan carried out by their son. The first parents in the U.S. convicted for a school shooting committed by their child. Meanwhile, back in Georgia, Kolt, Gray's aunt, is revealing details about the teen's troubled home life, telling ABC news Kolt was begging for months for help with his mental health, adding the adults around him failed him. Kolt gray is due in court today facing murder charges. He will be tried as an adult. No word on when his father will be in court.
Breaking overnight, new figures now confirmed this summer was the hottest on record for the Northern hemisphere. The western U.S. is baking under some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far, with triple digits expected today in Los Angeles and record highs in the northwest and the risk for wildfires also dangerously high. Two teens are facing arson charges for sparking this brush fire in Riverside, California, back in July, which destroyed seven homes, causing $30 million in damage. They allegedly used illegal fireworks.
Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. The president's son surprised prosecutors by taking a plea deal to avoid what could have become an embarrassing trial. He could face up to 17 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines. Biden issued a statement saying when it became clear to me that prosecutors were focused not on justice but dehumanizing me for my actions during my addiction, there was only one path left for me. I will not subject my family to more pain. He'll be sentenced in December.
Former President Trump will be back in court today, taking a break from the campaign trail he spent yesterday talking about taxes and hiring Elon Musk. ABC's em Nguyen has the details on that. Good morning.
Rhiannon. Good morning. Former President Trump outlined his economic vision and promised to put Elon Musk in charge of government efficiency. But today, the focus for Trump will be in a New York courtroom. Former President Trump has scheduled a news conference today at Trump Tower after he heads to court. Trump is set to hear arguments today in his appeal of the judgment, holding him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. Yesterday, Trump outlined his economic agenda, saying he wants to cut the tax rate to 15% for companies that make products in the U.S. and punish companies that outsource jobs.
If you outsource offshore or replace American workers, you're not eligible for any of these benefits. In fact, you will pay a very substantial tariff when a product comes in from another country.
Trump also vowing to create a government efficiency commission, an idea suggested by Elon Musk.
A complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms.
Trump said Musk would lead the commission, which critics say could pose a conflict of interest because some of Musk's companies are regulated by the government. The high cost of daycare also a subject on the campaign trail. Trump's running mate JD Vance, suggesting costs could come down if regulations were eliminated.
Don't force every early child care specialist to go and get a six year college degree, where they've got a whole lot of debt, and Americans are much poorer because they're paying out the wazoo for daycare. Empower working families, empower people who want to do these things for a living. And that's what we got to do.
For their economic platform. The Harris Wallace ticket has vowed to expand the child tax credit, fight corporate price gouging, and they're promising tax relief for small businesses. Harris's running mate, Tim Walz in Pennsylvania, sharpening his attack on Trump.
Whenever Donald Trump's talking about America, he's talking America. He does not believe in the promise of America, and he continues to put this country down.
New figures out this morning expected to show the Harris campaign raised more than $300 million last month, more than double what the Trump campaign raised. Meanwhile, JD Vance is facing criticism for his remarks about the school shooting in Georgia, suggesting school shootings have become a, quote, fact of life. Vance says better security is needed to make sure schools are no longer soft targets. Andrew.
All right. Thank you. A potential strike is threatening ports on the East Coast and the Gulf Coast. Talks between the country's largest longshoremen union and port owners are stalled. One major issue is automation. The contract deadline is September 30th.
A public health concern. That is how experts describe a new study that finds the FDA is behind way behind on critical inspections of factories that make everything from antibiotics to cancer therapies. Here's ABC's Andrea Fujii.
This morning a new study sounding the alarm on drug safety. The Associated Press found that since the pandemic, nearly 2000 drug manufacturing facilities are overdue for FDA inspections. The agency already under scrutiny from Congress.
It is past time the FDA addresses these issues. People's lives depend on it.
The plant's overdue for inspection account for 42% of the facilities registered worldwide. Most are in the U.S., but more than 300 are in India and China, which make up the largest source of drug ingredients used in low cost prescriptions.
The failure of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Quality to go out and inspect these establishments is a public health concern.
Concerns that can have deadly effects. Last year, four Americans died and a dozen more were blinded from tainted eyedrops made in a factory in India. So why is the FDA behind? During Covid, it stopped all but the most critical Inspections. Now it's trying to catch up with far fewer employees. More than 200 inspection jobs are currently unfilled. Many former employees left for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
We have a lot of work to do. As long as the marketplace is working the way it is.
The FDA insists the U.S. drug supply is the safest in the world, but it hasn't said when it expects to complete those overdue inspections. Rhiannon. Andrew.
Andrea. Thank you. More rain and flooding is expected on the Gulf Coast. We've seen dozens of high water rescues in Texas this week. People clinging to trees. Louisiana to northern Florida are at risk today. Let's check your Friday forecast. Reporter.
Good morning. We're dealing with some drenching rain across the Gulf Coast states, New Orleans. We're very concerned about flooding for you. Also Georgia and Alabama into South Carolina late this evening. Soaking rain. Some of you in southern Louisiana will see between 8 and 12in of rain for the storm total from what fell at midweek all the way through Friday and Saturday. And we're going to have some very heavy rain, 4 to 8in for areas near I-10. Meanwhile, the northwest near record heat for some. For AccuWeather I'm Jeff Cornish for ABC news.
Coming up, why the government is now investigating airline reward programs.
But first, what led to this bizarre crash on a busy interstate and a.
Warning to parents after a teen falls victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. We'll tell you what's happening now to those responsible.
Whenever news breaks, we are.
Here in Israel, a nation at war.
In Rolling Fork. This tornado tore through this town.
From Lewiston, Maine.
The scene of a horrific mass.
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Strike. ABC News Live everywhere in Iceland.
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So what are we serving up? Well, how about everything you need to know?
Give it to me. Your health, your money. Breaking news. Pop culture with the biggest stars. Music trends, and of course, good food. It's all coming up on Gma3.
You're going to love it.
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What you need to know. A third hour of GMA in the afternoon. So, Jordan.
Afternoons for everything you need to.
Know. I love that. Me too.
Let's go. The ship is incredible. It feels like.
Living in a science fiction movie.
We just saw what no one has seen before.
Wow. Look at that. Oh my gosh. Well, that had taken.
We are heading into the unknown. Hammer.
Hammer. Hammer. It doesn't get any more cutting edge than this.
With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television. They both want to be your next president. Now, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump face to face. The ABC news presidential debate, moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis, Tuesday live on ABC and streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
Hey, good morning America, Rachel. Good morning America. Good morning America. Good morning America. Good morning America. Every day of your life.
A truck driver has been charged with reckless driving in Virginia after this, Slamming his big rig into this highway. Sign the bed separated from the cab there and as you can see, landed upright. The driver luckily was not injured.
Now to Michigan and a warning to parents after a 17 year old fell victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. Those responsible are now facing justice. This morning, a pair of Nigerian scammers are behind bars here in the U.S., convicted in an internet con that turned deadly.
They solicited and received a compromising image, and then they immediately turned to blackmail their victims, hounding them for money and even urging their victims to kill themselves if they couldn't pay.
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were found guilty of conspiracy to sexually exploit a minor after they extorted Michigan teenager Jordan Demay. The 17 year old homecoming king later took his own life, thrusting so-called sextortion into the national spotlight.
It started out with the supposed girl saying, hey, we have some friends in common.
The two men targeted Dumais by pretending to be a high school girl named Danny, eventually convincing Dumais to send explicit photos of himself. The scammers then demanded $1,000, threatening if he didn't pay, they would send those compromising photos to his friends and family. Dumais died by suicide just hours later.
When I think about the things that they said to him. It hurts me so bad as a mom to think about what he went through in the last hours.
But now, some closure for Dumas family. The Ogoshi brothers yesterday were sentenced to 17 years in prison. The first conviction in an alleged sextortion ring involving more than 100 victims.
This is a serious threat that is only getting worse and it can happen fast. We know that the time from initial contact to Jordan's passing was a mere two hours.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can always call 988. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Really tragic story. The Biden administration is investigating airline reward programs. They want to make sure customers are getting a fair deal. The transportation department is asking American, Delta, southwest and United for detailed reports on their loyalty benefits. Among the concerns whether the airlines are changing the terms of their reward points without proper notice or charging extra fees to redeem those points. The airlines say they have been transparent.
Coming up, a tiger on the run after escaping from a zoo.
Also ahead, a star from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack, shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country.
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More cutting edge than this.
Welcome back. A toddler missing in this 100 acre cornfield in Wisconsin has been found safe after police used a drone with thermal imaging to find him. The three year old was chasing a cat when it got dark. He was found unharmed about a half a mile from his house.
Some border towns in Texas are on alert after a tiger escaped from a nearby zoo. That zoo is in Reynosa, Mexico, just across from Hidalgo, Texas. Experts warn tigers are excellent swimmers fully capable of crossing the Rio Grande.
We turn now to the shocking death of a runner from the Paris Olympics. Her killing is shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country. And the details are so disturbing this morning. Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei has died after what police say was a gruesome attack in her home country of Kenya.
It is a very, very, very sad day for us.
They say Cheptegei's ex-boyfriend was seen pouring liquid on her before setting her on fire. They say the two had been arguing over a plot of land. Cheptegei's heartbroken father says he had warned police about the ex-boyfriend's threatening behavior. Cheptegei is the third elite female athlete murdered in Kenya in the last three years, all allegedly killed by their partners.
What we're hearing is that these men who murder these women are drawn to them because of the money and the fame from their their track and field, from their running careers.
Kenya has seen a dramatic increase in femicide in recent years, with an estimated 47 women killed each week, one of the highest rates in Africa.
My hope and prayer is that she will find justice. And finally, we have systems at work that enable women to be free from oppressive behavior, such as this by men.
The sports world and the world at large is absolutely outraged, as they should be. There's definitely not enough protection for these athletes. If there was sufficient protection, they'd be alive.
Murder charges against her ex-boyfriend are expected soon.
After a surge in tourism. You may soon need a ticket to see the famed Trevi Fountain. Officials in Rome are considering a ticket plan that would limit visit times and charge around $2. Venice recently tried limiting crowds by charging for entry as well.
Coming up, how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
But first, the tow that made all the difference in the NFL season opener.
Let's go. The ship is incredible.
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They both want to be your next president. Now finally, Donald Trump.
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Face to face. Historic. The ABC news presidential debate, moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis. Tuesday live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Reporting from Butler, Pennsylvania. One day after that assassination attempt on former President Trump, I'm Alex Presha. Wherever the story is, we'll take you there. You're streaming ABC news live.
Time to check the pulse. We begin with a dramatic start to the NFL season.
Yes, the Chiefs and the Ravens served up an instant classic with Taylor Swift in the house. The Swifts, the Chiefs most famous fan, supporting her boyfriend, chief Travis Kelce in a denim outfit.
Maybe they should change the name to the Swifts. The game came down to the final play. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finds a receiver in the endzone. But wait. The replay showed his toe was on the line, so he's out of bounds. No touchdowns. That means the Chiefs won 27 to 20. Patrick Mahomes offered some advice to that receiver. Wear white cleats next time. Also last night, American Jessica Pegula booked her place in the U.S. open women's final, advancing after a slow start. It will be her first major tournament final. Next, the die in Doritos that makes your fingers orange could lead to a medical breakthrough. Yeah.
Researchers use the chemical to make the bodies of mice see through. They rub the solution on the mice, and their skin became transparent, allowing them to see blood vessels and muscle fibers.
It works by changing how the body refracts light. The skin returns to normal after washing off the chemicals. Scientists hope the technique can one day be used on humans to detect tumors and other ailments without surgery. Next. Good news for fans of Red lobster.
Yes, the restaurant chain is emerging from bankruptcy. A judge has approved a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep all of its current locations open, and all 30,000 employees will get to keep their jobs. Next, a real estate deal in Southern California.
In exchange for half $1 million, you can get half a house. This one bedroom, one bath home was hit by a gigantic tree, shattering half the house, but the other half is still okay. What a bargain. And finally, how about seeking higher ground?
A tiny frog had to do it. It was pouring near Orlando. But look closely at that small ball in the water. Even smaller frogs safely perched on top of it. Look at that. The perfect escape.
Top headlines. Next.
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To catch you up with what happened overnight. Clashing over national security.
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Checking more top stories now. The father of the teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers at a Georgia high school has been arrested and is facing murder charges. Authorities say he knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon, which he allegedly bought him as a Christmas gift. His son is due in court today, also facing murder charges.
The FBI has raided the homes of two top aides to New York Mayor Eric Adams. Agents also seized the phones of other city officials, part of a federal corruption investigation.
The government's monthly jobs report is out today. It is expected to show a slowing but steady job market. It could help determine the size of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut that is expected later this month.
Vaping among high school students has hit a ten year low. New figures show the rate of teens using e-cigarettes fell to under 6% this year.
Today's weather reigned for much of the east. Storms in the Ohio Valley and more rain on the Gulf Coast. Record heat in the west.
And finally the couple going back to where it all began. Here's our.
Danny new. Hey, I don't bite.
It might not be common, but it is possible to meet the love of your life at an early age.
I used to write, like, little notes and little words with her name on it.
Just ask Emma and Marcus here, who not only met in first grade, but actually just got married at the very elementary school where that life changing moment took place.
It was definitely surreal.
Harris Elementary School in their hometown of Saint Charles, Missouri, congratulated them on Facebook this week, with dozens of commenters offering their love stories and wishing them well. One person writing this is the cutest love story heart. Now, the way Marcus and Emma's love story goes is they met in first grade, started texting a little bit in middle school, and then officially became boyfriend girlfriend during their freshman year of high school. When Marcus pulled out this smooth line, kept.
Talking up his dad and how awesome his dad was and fun guy. And I was like, well, when am I going to get to meet him? Like, he sounds great. And he says, well, only my girlfriends get to meet my dad.
Let's go. Fast forward 12 years and through many Chiefs games, and these two longtime sweethearts just tied the knot a few weeks ago outside some very familiar halls. But this might be the cutest part. The VIP of the event was their dog, Bella, who has a very special history with them. You see, Marcus actually gave this beagle mix to Emma for her birthday when she turned 16. Clearly, Marcus knew they were going to be together for a long time. And before a larger ceremony and reception in Mexico later this year, Emma, Marcus and Bella were elated to first make it official at the place where it all began.
It honestly turned out perfect.
By the way, guys, that upcoming ceremony in Mexico is actually going to be on the 12 year anniversary of that special day when Marcus dropped that smooth line about becoming his girlfriend clearly worked.
Of course he's smooth. He's a Chiefs fan.
Yeah, and they've been.
Love at first sight. All right. That's what's making news in America. Have a great.
Weekend.
It's Friday, September 6th. There was one gunman, but police say he wasn't the only killer. We start here. Georgia officials charge a suspect's father in a high school shooting.
His charges are directly connected with the actions of his son.
Police had already met with this family last year. What's changed between then and now? Hunter Biden puts up a fight and then pleads guilty. Anyway, he.
Simply just pleaded guilty and is willing to see whatever the punishment.
Is. Why he eventually admitted to federal tax evasion. And have you ever wondered what those scammy texts are about? Well, they're meant to financially fatten you up. It has a.
Rather dreadful name. It's called pig.
Butchering. Our team goes inside the shadowy world of crypto long cons. From ABC news. This is start here I'm Brad Mielke. In the aftermath of a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta, the question has been lingering could this have been prevented? We all.
Froze like.
Most of the students.
Froze. And then it took us.
A minute to figure out that it was real. Like it was actually gunshots going on.
When we.
Heard banging on the lockers. Our teacher ran out and didn't come back, and he was just there in the doorway, just laying there.
Police now say that 14 year old Colt gray committed the shooting with an AR platform style weapon. He's been arrested and charged with four counts of murder, and he'll be charged as an adult. Although under law, minors cannot face the death penalty regardless. And yet, authorities say the warning signs began well before this week. In fact, last year, when he was just 13 years old, gray and his family had been visited by police who were expressing concerns. There were warnings, including to his school, but no arrests. He was left with his father, Colin Gray, and then he packed up to go to a new school. But last night, in the wake of the shooting, police made a new startling announcement. They've now placed the suspected gunman's father, Colin Gray, under arrest as well. Let's go straight to ABC senior investigative reporter Mike Levine. Mike, what are they charging him with?
He's being charged with a whole lot of charges. Four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
He is in custody at this point in time. His charges are directly connected with the actions of his son and allowing him to possess a weapon.
Authorities said that the reason he is being charged, the reason he is now being held behind bars, is because he allegedly, quote, knowingly allowed his son to possess that weapon.
Wow. Okay, so let's back up here because both Colt Gray and Colin Gray, his father, were spoken to by police last year, and everyone's wondering, like, wait, so what happened there? Can you just catch us up? You've been going through these records?
Yeah. So documents came out yesterday about these interviews last year, May 2023. A post was written onto the platform discord, claiming that a school was going to be shut up in the near future, and that post was then sent to the FBI, who passed it on to local authorities in Georgia, who then tracked it down to the gray household, and they actually interviewed them.
Whatever or wherever this is coming from. This is no joke. No, like it's no joke.
But we wouldn't be here if it was.
No I.
Know.
Audio of these interviews were released, and in those interviews, both Colin and Colt said it was the wrong man.
So you haven't used discord in a few months, and you're. You're saying you didn't say anything like that? No, I don't, I'm.
Saying I have his TikTok.
Colt insisted it wasn't him. He said that yes, he had a discord account months earlier, but he had hadn't used it in a long time. And Colt's father actually told law enforcement authorities about how Colt had been having a tough time at school. That had been a tough time in Colt's life. The family had been evicted from their house. Colt's mother and two siblings went elsewhere, leaving Colton and his father to find a new home. Colt went to a new school, where his father told authorities he was being picked on. Every day we talk.
About it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happened. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
And because Colt was having such a hard time, his father said that he was really trying to make sure that Colt was doing okay. As he put it, he was at the school every day, and he said that he even had lots of conversations with Colt about school shootings, because he was trying to get Colt to go on a different path.
Wait, so they knew then that school shootings was like, this is a common profile, right? Like disaffected young man often. Then the next thing is, are there guns in the house? What what was the conversation about guns? Yeah.
So Colt's father told authorities, yes, we have guns in the house. He said he's a hunter and he's been trying to get his son into hunting. He wants his son to be outdoors because he plays too many video games basically is what he told police. Do you have.
Weapons in the house?
I do. Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down.
But he insisted to authorities, according to these documents that came out yesterday, that Colt didn't have, as authorities put it, unsupervised access to the guns.
I don't know anything about him saying like that. And I'm going to be mad as hell if he did. And then all the guns will go away and they won't be accessible to him.
At the same time, the local investigator still told Colt's father that those guns should be locked up. The local investigator wrote in his subsequent report, quote, I urged Colin to keep his firearms locked away. So.
Okay, so that's all a year, year and a half ago, right? Which I guess takes us to now. What changed? I mean, was, was the father allegedly lying then or like, did he give his kid a gun in the next year? Because, again, they're talking to investigators about the potential for mass shootings that, like, his son, could conceivably be a candidate for that. And yet we're hearing what actually, yeah. He was like, yeah, have an AR 15 style weapon. Not just a rifle, an assault style rifle. What are we supposed to take from that?
Yeah, authorities were asked at that press conference last night for more details about how we got here, and they really wouldn't answer those questions.
Well, I'm going to leave it at that. I mentioned it in the in the release that he knowingly allowed him to possess the weapon.
They just kept saying, all we will say is that the father, quote, knowingly allowed Colt to have that gun. Well, and.
Mike, I just can't help but thinking that last year it was just last year that kind of for the first time, parents were charged in a mass shooting. The parents of Ethan Crumbley, the school shooter in Michigan, were found guilty in contributing to these deaths. Now, less than a year later, we're seeing another parent perhaps held responsible for a school shooting. Is this kind of a continuation of that precedent in the eyes of law enforcement?
Well, there is certainly an issue going on that law enforcement is increasingly worried about. There are more mass shootings than there should be, and authorities are going to use any tool they can to try to stop them. And that seems to be what's happening now.
Right. And I mean, we've seen this with so many shooters before, access to guns, along with warning signs like we've seen law enforcement in many cases that have shown up to future shooters houses and had words and said, yeah, you know, I guess we can't charge anyone with anything right now. We'll keep an eye on this person. And yet then later something happens. No pleas here yet from either father or son. Mike Levine, our senior investigative reporter. Thanks a lot.
Thank you.
Next up on Start Here. The tax evasion wasn't enough. He also wanted to get away with a guiltless guilty plea. The legal machinations of Hunter Biden.
After the break. Whenever news breaks.
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Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was in court yesterday in the latest stop in his legal troubles tour. Remember, a jury has already convicted him earlier this year on federal gun charges in Delaware. But he's also facing federal tax evasion charges out in Los Angeles. Yesterday was supposed to be about jury selection in that case, until his lawyers told a judge he was willing to make a plea. But he had some conditions, and things got complicated quickly. ABC's Peter Haralambous spent his day in the courtroom. He's with us now. Peter, what's so strange about this to me is Hunter Biden had tried to avoid any trials with a plea a year ago. His plea got thrown out. What was he trying to do here?
Yeah.
So it was a little bit more than a year ago where Hunter Biden was in a Delaware courtroom trying to work out a plea agreement where he could avoid these trials that fell through. And Hunter Biden found himself dealing with two separate trials on different coasts. He had that Delaware trial in June where he was convicted, and he had this L.A. tax trial where prosecutors accused him of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. That was supposed to start yesterday morning. In fact, 120 nearby residents were reporting to court to be potential jurors when basically everything was upended by this surprise announcement from Hunter Biden's lawyers, who announced that they were actually seeking to change their plea from not guilty to guilty, but using this unique mechanism called an Alford plea, where basically Hunter would agree to plead guilty to the charges but maintain his innocence about the underlying conduct. Lawyers for Special Counsel David Weiss acted with complete surprise to this announcement. They told the judge overseeing the case that they had heard nothing about this until it was announced in court, and the judge overseeing the case promptly announced about a two hour delay so that both sides could figure out what exactly is going on here.
What's the rationale from the prosecutors to then? That's not just all the same of like, yeah, he's pleading guilty. He claims he didn't do it. But whatever. We get a guilty plea out of it. Yeah.
So the special counsel's office took issue with the fact that this kind of deal would, yes, technically result in a guilty plea, but it would prevent Hunter Biden from basically admitting to what he had done, as they alleged. So basically, they saw this as, in their words, an injustice, an example of kind of preferential treatment. And they simply said that they refused to go along with this idea of an Alford plea. So it seemed like Judge Scalzi was interested in entertaining at least the idea. By the afternoon, he had told both sides that he'd like to hear more arguments about it, that he would still consider accepting one of these. Alfred, please. Um, if he could learn a little bit more about why he should, even if the prosecutors in this case were objecting to it. Um, it was a bit odd. He was planning to send back the jurors and call the parties back to court on Friday morning, so that they could talk more about whether or not he should accept an Alford plea.
And Hunter's team asked for another 30 minutes so they could talk among themselves about their next steps. And in another surprise move, Hunter Biden's attorney showed back up in court in the afternoon and said, you know what? Forget about the Alford plea. Forget about those special conditions. We're just going to do a normal plea. He's going to plead guilty to every single one of these charges, and he's going to go on and plead.
Guilty after all. After all that, it's.
Honestly, it's a stunning twist in a legal drama that's been going on for years and has been defined by unexpected turns. In this case, Hunter ultimately pleaded guilty to each of the nine counts. In this case, that includes three felony charges. And it's interesting. It's not like this was a guilty plea in which prosecutors agreed to a lighter sentence. He simply just pleaded guilty and is willing to see whatever the punishment is, according to the judge, that includes up to 17 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines, which Hunter Biden will now need to face. He's got a sentencing scheduled for December 16th. Well, and.
So is that it, then? I mean, one of the reasons this was so historic was this was the first immediate family member of a sitting president to be convicted of a felony. And now there could be more, you know, felony convictions here. Is that it, though? Is that the end of the Hunter Biden saga?
Really? Never say never. In a way, yes. This puts away his two outstanding legal matters. He still has sentencing in both these cases in the Delaware case. He is sentencing in November in this case in Los Angeles in December. But it appears of the things he at least knows about, those have gone away. Also, you know, Hunter Biden's foreign business activities, which were expected to really come into the spotlight during this trial. Those were, you know, a major point for congressional Republicans who investigated it for years searching for impeachable conduct. They issued a report last month where they said they ultimately found what they believe to be impeachable conduct based on that foreign business activity, but they didn't really recommend any next steps. And the entire impeachment based on Hunter Biden seemed to fizzle in a way. This also comes as Hunter Biden's father, the President Joe Biden, is no longer running for office. He's basically a lame duck president, which has decreased a little bit of the heat that that Hunter Biden appears to be facing.
Yeah, I was going.
To say a lot tougher for Donald Trump and for Republicans to hang Hunter Biden around the neck of the presidential candidate because it's no longer a Biden, right? It's Kamala Harris. Peter Haralambous there in Los Angeles right now. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for having me, Brad.
Okay. One more quick break. When we come back, you can tell these texts are scammy, but you might not be able to put your finger on why our team is investigating, so you don't have to. One last thing is next.
First thing in the morning.
There's a lot going on.
We're still in a flash flood warning.
To catch you up with what happened overnight. Clashing over national security.
What's happening today? Tensions in the Middle East.
What people are talking about the worries on Wall Street.
Fast, straightforward.
With some fun in between. Catching up on sleep during the weekend could be good for your heart.
Non-alcoholic bars are popping up in a growing number of cities. That's the spirit. America. This morning, America's number one early morning.
News on ABC News Live.
Let's go. The ship is incredible. It feels like.
Living in a science fiction movie.
We just saw what no one has seen before.
Wow, look at that. Oh my God. Well. Dead ahead. Tegan, we are.
Heading into the unknown. Hammer.
Hammer. Hammer. It doesn't get any more cutting edge than this.
If you could have.
Brat pack may not exist. Would you? Mm.
I hated the Brat Pack. What a.
Disaster.
Why did we take it as an offense? It's Andrew. Hey, hey, hey.
Hello. With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC news, world news tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television.
Hi, I'm Andy and I'm Sabrina, and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every day. Like all you moms out there.
And you know what? We love really love pop culture. So listen now to our new podcast, Pop Culture Moms, wherever you get your podcasts.
Baywatch is a fantasy.
When you hear that theme song.
It was a wild.
Time and I.
Was a wild chick. Jason Momoa.
Exploded.
Carmen was a.
Bombshell.
Pam Anderson was an icon.
I'm really proud of everything I've done. Almost. Baywatch is a whirlwind of epic highs and bitter lows. Everyone likes to watch sexy things.
Did you kill John O'Keefe?
The trial of Karen Reed is now underway.
She's accused of second degree murder. Pleading not guilty.
Accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.
It's the true crime story of the summer.
Did you say that you were angry with John that night? Yes.
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And one last thing. Have you ever gotten a text from an unknown number that just says, hey, haven't seen you in a while. What's going on? And you're like, shoot, why don't I have this person's number? Or sometimes it clearly seems like a wrong number. I got one that said, hey, Andrea, we're still getting dinner. Please text me back. I'm waiting. And I'm like, oh no, this poor person's going to think they're being stood up by Andrea. I gotta set them straight. Well, it turns out these kinds of texts may actually be part of a crypto scam.
This is a scam that's so insidious.
It has a rather dreadful name. It's called pig.
Butchering.
That's ABC's Aaron Katersky from our investigative unit. And he's been reporting on scammers who use simple digital convos as a long con.
The name.
Comes from the.
Idea that.
You fatten up a pig.
Before.
Slaughter.
And here.
The idea is to.
Slowly lure.
Victims.
Into giving up, in some.
Cases, their life savings.
Aaron says it can start with one of those texts I mentioned earlier, maybe even a stranger on a dating app, because they don't necessarily sound scammy, right? People are just awkward. The problem is, by answering, you might be laying the groundwork to be buttered up. We met this one guy, Shai Polonsky.
You know, I was doing some online dating. You start liking people, and this one person kind of caught my eye and.
Said he'd been messaging a woman he thought was named Sandy.
Next thing you know, we're exchanging these messages all throughout the day and connecting in what felt like a pretty, you know, deep, real way, Shai said.
This woman portrayed herself as living only a half an hour away from his house in LA. She worked in real estate. She had a background in investing. They had never met in person, but they communicated via text. And that is when friendly conversations can turn into friendly financial advice.
He said that his business was struggling and she just so happened to have a solution, and that was an investment in cryptocurrency. Eventually the guy invested some money, was able to pull it out.
My initial investment was about $2,000. I made about $300 in a few minutes. But when he.
Invested more money, that's when the woman that he thought was named Sandy disappeared. Scammers locked up his account and all of his money was gone.
She's not alone in this, according to the FBI. Losses to investment scams have become much more widespread.
These kind of scams. In 2022 cost victims $3 billion. Fast forward just one year, 4.5 billion. The FBI can try to recover some money, but many people lose everything.
And those are just the reported losses. The FBI says many victims don't report being financially catfished because they're embarrassed they fell for the scam. Or maybe they don't even know they're a victim yet. And to complicate things, the scammers are really hard to find. James Barnacle is chief of the FBI's money laundering unit, and he says one of the reasons criminals choose crypto is because it's decentralized. It can move hands really, really quickly.
A bad guy can move that money from one wallet to another wallet laundering the money, laying the money, hiding the money from us to be able to follow the money.
But there's another side of this too, because you might be thinking, who is spending their whole day sending these texts? It just seems like a massive time suck for perhaps very little reward. Well, the person sending the scam text could be a victim themselves.
This is not necessarily a scheme by choice. You are a survivor of a scam compound. It's all over the world. There are these scam compounds where people who may have been down on their luck, lost a job, were looking for work, were promised work either in telemarketing or some other kind of thing.
In one case, a woman Aaron spoke to took a job she believed was headquartered in Thailand. She went through a whole interview process. She got a plane ticket from this.
Company, a woman that we're calling Sarah because she didn't want us to use her real name, said when she landed, she was told she'd be taken to company headquarters. Everything seemed fine.
It seems like, because every time I would call them, they would pick up.
Instead, she was brought across into Myanmar, where she was held against her will for nine months and made to perpetrate these scams. What was the scam?
The scam was getting people to invest into crypto.
This means that these criminal organizers are leaving a trail of financial devastation for some, and a whole other type of trauma for others. Sarah was held for ransom at this compound for nine months. She fled only after another victim who escaped paid money to get her out.
I used to work for like 20 hours. Sometimes I was not given milk. It's like a prison. It was like a horrible prison.
So what can you do to protect yourself from getting caught in the middle of this? Well, the golden rule is don't respond to numbers you don't know. Or if you do. Be very wary. But if you think you might be a victim, the FBI says report it as soon as possible. But perhaps the bigger takeaway here is a more basic reality if you can't put a face to a name online intimacy is not necessarily real intimacy, and financial intimacy should have the highest bar of all. By the way. Aaron did a great piece on ABC News Live Prime on this topic last night. You can watch the Crypto Con wherever you stream. Start here is produced by Kelly Torres, Jen Newman, Brenda Salinas Baker, Vika Aronson, Cameron Chertavian, Anthony Ali, Mara Milwaukee and Amir Williams. Ariel Chester is our social media producer. Josh Cohen is director of podcast programming. I'm our managing editor. Laura Mayer is our executive producer. Thanks to Lakisha Brown, John Newman, Tara Gimbel, and Liz Alessi.
Special thanks this week to Chris Barrie, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Elizabeth Schultzy and everyone who worked on our Labor Day special, including Jay O'Brien. Of course, Arthur Jones, the second since Tiana Basso and Eric Ortega. Still time to go back and check that out. It's a really relevant piece of reporting all the way through Election Day. I'm Brad Mielke. I'll see you next week.
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David.
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Right now on America this morning. Father under arrest. The 14 year old Georgia school shooting suspect's father now facing murder charges along with his son. How? Police say the boy got the gun that was used in the attack. And what we're learning about the family's past.
Breaking overnight, new figures showing just how hot this summer has been and will be today in the west and in the south. The flood alerts and dramatic high water rescues hiring Ellen.
Former President Trump outlines his plan to appoint Elon Musk to a government position. Meanwhile, why Trump is headed to court today and what new fundraising numbers show about the state of the race.
Sounding the alarm one year after contaminated eyedrops killed four people. The investigation into why so many drug manufacturing plants are going uninspected.
A star athlete from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack allegedly burned by her ex-boyfriend. Why her father is blaming police.
Caught on camera. The toddler lost in this massive corn maze. The technology that helped police find him.
Taylor Swift and the nail biter in Kansas City overnight. The tow that made all the difference.
And later how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
From ABC News this is America this morning.
Good Friday morning, everyone.
I'm Andrew Dymburt and I'm Rhiannon ally. Good morning to all of you. We begin with new charges in connection with that deadly school shooting in Georgia this week, which claimed the lives of two students and two teachers.
The suspect's father has now been arrested and charged with murder as new details emerge about the family's past. This morning, a Georgia father is the latest parent in the U.S. to face charges in connection with a school shooting allegedly carried out by their child. Authorities have arrested Colin Gray, the father of Colt gray, the 14 year old accused of killing two students and two teachers at his high school near Atlanta Wednesday.
These charges stem from Mr. Gray knowingly allowing his son, Colt, to possess a weapon.
Colin Gray is charged with two counts of second degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Investigators say his son used an AR style rifle in the attack at Apalachee High School. ABC news has learned the gun was a Christmas gift from his father. The teen was previously investigated by law enforcement in May of last year, when the FBI says he had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school. At the time, his father told investigators there were guns in the house, but Colt did not have, quote, unsupervised access, adding his son was being picked on at school. Colin was recorded then telling investigators he was teaching his son about hunting and guns to divert his attention from video games.
We do a lot of shooting, we do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year.
When shots rang out in the school Wednesday, teachers were able to quickly alert authorities of their location with wearable panic buttons that use GPS seen in this demonstration.
You have the ability to trigger the crisis alert platform.
And it alerts us that there is an active situation at the school for whatever reason, and that was pressed.
Colin Gray's arrest comes months after James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced to prison in connection with a school shooting in Michigan carried out by their son. The first parents in the U.S. convicted for a school shooting committed by their child. Meanwhile, back in Georgia, Colt, Gray's aunt, is revealing details about the teen's troubled home life, telling ABC news Colt was begging for months for help with his mental health, adding the adults around him failed him. Colt Gray is due in court today facing murder charges. He will be tried as an adult. No word on when his father will be in court.
Breaking overnight new figures now confirmed this summer was the hottest on record for the Northern hemisphere. The western U.S. is baking under some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far, with triple digits expected today in Los Angeles and record highs in the northwest and the risk for wildfires also dangerously high. Two teens are facing arson charges for sparking this brush fire in Riverside, California, back in July, which destroyed seven homes, causing $30 million in damage they allegedly used illegal fireworks.
Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. The president's son surprised prosecutors by taking a plea deal to avoid what could have become an embarrassing trial. He could face up to 17 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines. Biden issued a statement saying when it became clear to me that prosecutors were focused not on justice but dehumanizing me for my actions during my addiction, there was only one path left for me. I will not subject my family to more pain. He'll be sentenced in December.
Former President Trump will be back in court today, taking a break from the campaign trail he spent yesterday talking about taxes and hiring Elon Musk. ABC's em Nguyen has the details on that. Good morning.
Rhiannon. Good morning. Former President Trump outlined his economic vision and promised to put Elon Musk in charge of government efficiency. But today, the focus for Trump will be in a New York courtroom. Former President Trump has scheduled a news conference today at Trump Tower after he heads to court. Trump is set to hear arguments today in his appeal of the judgment, holding him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. Yesterday, Trump outlined his economic agenda, saying he wants to cut the tax rate to 15% for companies that make products in the U.S. and punish companies that outsource jobs.
If you outsource offshore or replace American workers, you're not eligible for any of these benefits. In fact, you will pay a very substantial tariff when a product comes in from another country.
Trump also vowing to create a government efficiency commission, an idea suggested by Elon Musk.
A complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms.
Trump said Musk would lead the commission, which critics say could pose a conflict of interest because some of Musk's companies are regulated by the government. The high cost of daycare also a subject on the campaign trail, Trump's running mate J.D. Vance, suggesting costs could come down if regulations were eliminated.
Don't force.
Every early.
Child care.
Specialist to go and get.
A six year college degree.
Where they've got a whole lot of debt, and Americans.
Are much poorer.
Because they're paying.
Out the wazoo for daycare. Empower working families.
Empower people who want to do these things for a living. And that's what we got to.
Do for their economic platform. The Harris Wallace ticket has vowed to expand the child tax credit and fight corporate price gouging, and they're promising tax relief for small businesses. Harris's running mate, Tim Walz in Pennsylvania sharpening his attack on Trump.
Whenever Donald Trump's talking about America, he's talking America. He does not believe in the promise of America, and he continues to put this country down.
New figures out this morning. Expected to show the Harris campaign raised more than $300 million last month, more than double what the Trump campaign raised. Meanwhile, JD Vance is facing criticism for his remarks about the school shooting in Georgia, suggesting school shootings have become a, quote, fact of life. Vance says better security is needed to make sure schools are no longer soft targets. Andrew.
All right. Adam. Thank you. A potential strike is threatening ports on the East Coast and the Gulf Coast. Talks between the country's largest longshoremen union and port owners are stalled. One major issue is automation. The contract deadline is September 30th.
A public health concern. That is how experts describe a new study that finds the FDA is behind way behind on critical inspections of factories that make everything from antibiotics to cancer therapies. Here's ABC's Andrea Fujii.
This morning a new study sounding the alarm on drug safety. The Associated Press found since the pandemic, nearly 2000 drug manufacturing facilities are overdue for FDA inspections. The agency already under scrutiny from Congress.
It is past time the FDA addresses these issues. People's lives depend on it.
The plants overdue for inspection account for 42% of the facilities registered worldwide. Most are in the U.S., but more than 300 are in India and China, which make up the largest source of drug ingredients used in low cost prescriptions.
The failure of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Quality to go out and inspect these establishments is a public health concern.
Concerns that can have deadly effects. Last year, four Americans died and a dozen more were blinded from tainted eyedrops made in a factory in India. So why is the FDA behind? During Covid, it stopped all but the most critical inspections. Now it's trying to catch up with far fewer employees. More than 200 inspection jobs are currently unfilled. Many former employees left for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
We have a lot of work to do. As long as the marketplace is working the way it is.
The FDA insists the U.S. drug supply is the safest in the world, but it hasn't said when it expects to complete those overdue inspections. Rhiannon. Andrew.
Andrea. Thank you. More rain and flooding is expected on the Gulf Coast. We've seen dozens of high water rescues in Texas this week. People clinging to trees. Louisiana to northern Florida are at risk today. Let's check your Friday forecast. Reporter.
Good morning. We're dealing with some drenching rain across the Gulf Coast states. New Orleans, we're very concerned about flooding for you. Also Georgia and Alabama into South Carolina late this evening. Soaking rain. Some of you in southern Louisiana will see between 8 and 12in of rain for the storm total from what fell at midweek all the way through Friday and Saturday. And we're going to have some very heavy rain, 4 to 8in for areas near I-10. Meanwhile, the northwest near record heat for some. For AccuWeather I'm Jeff Cornish for ABC news.
Coming up, why the government is now investigating airline reward programs.
But first, what led to this bizarre crash on a busy interstate? And a warning.
To parents after a teen falls victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. We'll tell you what's happening now to those responsible.
Let's go. The ship is incredible. It feels like.
Living in a.
Science fiction movie.
We just saw what no one has seen before.
Wow. Look at that. Oh my gosh. Well, that had dragons.
We are heading into the unknown. Hammer.
Hammer. Hammer. It doesn't get any more cutting edge than this.
With so much at stake, so much on the line. More Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television.
Get ready America! Every Friday, the hottest trends, styles and must have.
What's the right stuff to buy right now? I really love that it's time to buy the right stuff. Yes. And save big time too.
The right Stuff.
Fridays on GMA. You're going to love it. It's lunchtime in America.
So what are we serving up? Well, how about everything you need to know?
Give it to me. Your health, your money. Breaking news. Pop culture with the biggest stars. Music trends, and of course, good food. It's all coming up.
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We'll see you then.
I'll see you May 3rd. What you need to know. A third hour of GMA in the afternoon. So, Jordan.
Afternoons for everything you need to.
Know. I love that. Me too.
Did you kill John O'Keefe?
The trial of Karen Reed is now underway.
She's accused of second degree murder. Pleading not guilty.
Accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.
It's the true crime story of the summer.
Would you say that you were angry with John that night? Yes.
Now, exclusive personal video. And Karen Reed speaking out fully for herself. The all new 2020 tonight at nine eight central on ABC.
Hey. Good morning America. Good morning America. Good morning America. Good morning America. Good morning America. Every day of your life.
A truck driver has been charged with reckless driving in Virginia after this, slamming his big rig into the subway, sign the bed separated from the cab there and as you can see, landed upright. The driver luckily was not injured.
Now to Michigan and a warning to parents after a 17 year old fell victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. Those responsible are now facing justice. This morning, a pair of Nigerian scammers are behind bars here in the U.S., convicted in an internet con that turned deadly.
They solicited and received a compromising image, and then they immediately turned to blackmail their victims, hounding them for money and even urging their victims to kill themselves if they couldn't pay.
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were found guilty of conspiracy to sexually exploit a minor after they extorted Michigan teenager Jordan Demay. The 17 year old homecoming king later took his own life, thrusting so-called sextortion into the national spotlight.
It started out with the supposed girl saying, hey, we have.
Some friends in.
Common.
The two men targeted Dumais by pretending to be a high school girl named Danny, eventually convincing Dumais to send explicit photos of himself. The scammers then demanded $1,000, threatening if he didn't pay, they would send those compromising photos to his friends and family. Dumais died by suicide just hours later.
When I think about the things that they said to him. It hurts me so bad as a mom to think about what he went through in the last hours.
But now, some closure for Dumas family. The Ogoshi brothers yesterday were sentenced to 17 years in prison. The first conviction in an alleged sextortion ring involving more than 100 victims.
This is a serious threat that is only getting worse and it can happen fast. We know that the time from initial contact to Jordan's passing was a mere two hours.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can always call 988. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Really tragic story. The Biden administration is investigating airline reward programs. They want to make sure customers are getting a fair deal. The transportation department is asking American, Delta, southwest and United for detailed reports on their loyalty benefits. Among the concerns whether the airlines are changing the terms of their reward points without proper notice or charging extra fees to redeem those points. The airlines say they have been transparent.
Coming up, a tiger on the run after escaping from a zoo.
Also ahead, a star from the Paris Olympics dies after a gruesome attack, shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country.
Whenever news breaks, we are here in Israel, a nation at war. After that brutal surprise attack by Hamas on the.
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If you were coming of age in the 1980s, the.
Brat Pack was near the center of your cultural awareness. But for those of us experiencing.
It from the.
Inside, the Brat Pack was something very different.
If you could have a Brat Pack may not exist.
Would you? I hated the Brat Pack. What a.
Disaster.
Why did we take it as an offense?
Andrew, I'm not going to say we were the.
Beatles or anything.
Well, we didn't fail. Shea Stadium.
1985. I think we could have. Hey, hey.
Hey. Hello. Tuesday night. The most consequential moment of this campaign, Kamala Harris. Together, we will chart a new way forward. Donald Trump.
We will soon be a great nation again. Face to.
Face. Historic. The ABC news presidential debate, moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis, Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Welcome back. A toddler missing in this 100 acre cornfield in Wisconsin has been found safe after police used a drone with thermal imaging to find him. The three year old was chasing a cat when it got dark. He was found unharmed about a half a mile from his house.
Some border towns in Texas are on alert after a tiger escaped from a nearby zoo. That zoo is in Reynosa, Mexico, just across from Hidalgo, Texas. Experts warn tigers are excellent swimmers fully capable of crossing the Rio Grande.
We turn now to the shocking death of a runner from the Paris Olympics. Her killing is shining a light on the epidemic of violence against women in her country. And the details are so disturbing. This morning, Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei has died after what police say was a gruesome attack in her home country of Kenya.
She's a very, very, very sad day for us.
They say Cheptegei's ex-boyfriend was seen pouring liquid on her before setting her on fire. They say the two had been arguing over a plot of land. Cheptegei's heartbroken father says he had warned police about the ex-boyfriend's threatening behavior. Cheptegei is the third elite female athlete murdered in Kenya in the last three years, all allegedly killed by their partners.
What we're hearing is that these men who murder these women are drawn to them because of the money and the fame. From there, they're track and field from their running careers.
Kenya has seen a dramatic increase in femicide in recent years, with an estimated 47 women killed each week, one of the highest rates in Africa.
My hope and prayer is that she will find justice. And finally, we have systems at work that enable women to be free from oppressive behavior, such as this by men.
The sports world and the world at large is absolutely outraged, as they should be. There's definitely not enough protection for these athletes. If there was sufficient protection, they'd be alive.
Murder charges against her ex-boyfriend are expected soon.
After a surge in tourism. You may soon need a ticket to see the famed Trevi Fountain. Officials in Rome are considering a ticket plan that would limit visit times and charge around $2. Venice recently tried limiting crowds by charging for entry as well.
Coming up, how an ingredient in Doritos could lead to a medical breakthrough.
But first, the tow that made all the difference in the NFL season opener.
Let's go. The ship is incredible. It feels like.
Living in a science.
Fiction movie.
We just saw what no one has seen before.
Wow. Look at that. Oh my God. Wow. Dead ahead. Jurgen.
We are heading into the unknown. Hammer.
Hammer. Hammer. It doesn't get any more cutting edge than this.
Hi, I'm Andy, and I'm.
Sabrina, and we're moms juggling tons of stuff every day. Like all you moms out there. And you know what? We love? Really love pop culture. So listen now to our new podcast, Pop Culture Moms, wherever you get your podcasts.
With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television. Why do so many people start their day here?
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Listen now to the daily news podcast honored with four Edward R Murrow Awards, and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to. Start here ABC news make it your daily first listen.
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I'm ABC's Melissa O'Donnell in Corpus Christi, Texas, tracking.
Tropical storm Alberto. Wherever the story is, we'll take you there. You're streaming ABC news live.
Time to check the pulse. We begin with a dramatic start to the NFL season.
Yes. The Chiefs and the Ravens served up an instant classic with Taylor Swift in the house. The Swifts, the Chiefs most famous fan, supporting her boyfriend, chief Travis Kelce in a denim outfit.
Maybe they should change the name to the Swifts. The game came down to the final play. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finds a receiver in the endzone. But wait. The replay showed his toe was on the line, so he's out of bounds. No touchdowns. That means the Chiefs won 27 to 20. Patrick Mahomes offered some advice to that receiver wear white cleats next time. Also last night, American Jessica Pegula booked her place in the U.S. open women's final, advancing after a slow start. It will be her first major tournament final. Next, the die in Doritos that makes your fingers orange could lead to a medical breakthrough. Yeah.
Researchers use the chemical to make the bodies of mice see through. They rub the solution on the mice, and their skin became transparent, allowing them to see blood vessels and muscle fibers.
It works by changing how the body refracts light. The skin returns to normal after washing off the chemicals. Scientists hope the technique can one day be used on humans to detect tumors and other ailments without surgery. Next. Good news for fans of Red lobster.
Yes, the restaurant chain is emerging from bankruptcy. A judge has approved a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep all of its current locations open, and all 30,000 employees will get to keep their jobs. Next, a real estate deal in Southern California.
In exchange for half $1 million, you can get half a house. This one bedroom, one bath home was hit by a gigantic tree, shattering half the house, but the other half is still okay. What a bargain. And finally, how about seeking higher ground?
A tiny frog had to do it. It was pouring near Orlando. But look closely at that small ball in the water, even smaller frogs safely perched on top of it. Look at that. The perfect escape.
Top headlines next.
Whenever news breaks, we are.
Here in Israel. A nation at war in Rolling Fork.
This tornado tore through this town.
From Lewiston, Maine, the scene of.
A horrific mass shooting from the scene.
Of that deadly missile strike.
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More top stories. Now. The father of the teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers at a Georgia high school has been arrested and is facing murder charges. Authorities say he knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon, which he allegedly bought him as a Christmas gift. His son is due in court today, also facing murder charges.
The FBI has raided the homes of two top aides to New York Mayor Eric Adams. Agents also seized the phones of other city officials, part of a federal corruption investigation.
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Vaping among high school students has hit a ten year low. New figures show the rate of teens using e-cigarettes fell to under 6% this year.
Today's weather reigned for much of the east. Storms in the Ohio Valley and more rain on the Gulf Coast. Record heat in the west.
And finally the couple going back to where it all began. Here's our.
Danny new. Hey, I don't bite.
It might not be common, but it is possible to meet the love of your life at an early age.
I used to write, like, little notes and little words with her name on it.
Just ask Emma and Marcus here, who not only met in first grade, but actually just got married at the very elementary school where that life changing moment took place.
It was definitely surreal.
Harris Elementary School in their hometown of Saint Charles, Missouri, congratulated them on Facebook this week, with dozens of commenters offering their love stories and wishing them well. One person writing this is the cutest love story heart. Now, the way Marcus and Emma's love story goes is they met in first grade, started texting a little bit in middle school, and then officially became boyfriend girlfriend during their freshman year of high school. When Marcus pulled out this smooth line.
He kept talking up his dad and how awesome his dad was and fun guy. And I was like, well, when am I going to get to meet him? Like, he sounds great. And he says, well, only my girlfriends get to meet my dad. Let's go.
Fast forward 12 years and through many Chiefs games, and these two longtime sweethearts just tied the knot a few weeks ago outside some very familiar halls. But this might be the cutest part. The VIP of the event was their dog, Bella, who has a very special history with them. You see, Marcus actually gave this beagle mix to Emma for her birthday when she turned 16. Clearly, Marcus knew they were going to be together for a long time and before a larger ceremony and reception in Mexico later this year, Emma, Marcus and Bella were elated to first make it official at the place where it all began.
It honestly turned out perfect.
By the way, guys, that upcoming ceremony in Mexico is actually going to be on the 12 year anniversary of that special day when Marcus dropped that smooth line about becoming his girlfriend clearly worked.
Of course he's smooth. He's the Chiefs fan. Yeah, and.
They've been love at first sight. All right. That's what's making news in America. Have a great.
Weekend.
It's Friday, September 6th. There was one gunman, but police say he wasn't the only killer. We start here. Georgia officials charge a suspect's father in a high school shooting.
His charges are directly connected with the actions of his son.
Police had already met with this family last year. What's changed between then and now? Hunter Biden puts up a fight and then pleads guilty. Anyway, he.
Simply just pleaded guilty and is willing to see whatever the punishment is.
Why he eventually admitted to federal tax evasion. And have you ever wondered what those scammy texts are about? Well, they're meant to financially fatten you up.
It has a rather dreadful name. It's called pig butchering.
Our team goes inside the shadowy world of crypto long cons. From ABC news. This is start here I'm Brad Mielke. In the aftermath of a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta, the question has been lingering could this have been prevented?
We all froze like most of the students froze.
And then it took us a minute to figure out that it was real. Like it was actually gunshots going.
On when we heard banging on the lockers. Our teacher ran out and didn't come back, and he was just there in the doorway, just laying there.
Police now say that 14 year old Colt gray committed the shooting with an AR platform style weapon. He's been arrested and charged with four counts of murder, and he'll be charged as an adult. Although under law, minors cannot face the death penalty regardless. And yet, authorities say the warning signs began well before this week. In fact, last year, when he was just 13 years old, gray and his family had been visited by police who were expressing concerns. There were warnings, including to his school, but no arrests. He was left with his father, Colin Gray, and then he packed up to go to a new school. But last night, in the wake of the shooting, police made a new startling announcement. They've now placed the suspected gunman's father, Colin Gray, under arrest as well. Let's go straight to ABC senior investigative reporter Mike Levine. Mike, what are they charging him with?
He's being charged with a whole lot of charges. Four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
He is in custody at this point in time. His charges are directly connected with the actions of his son and allowing him to possess a weapon.
Authorities said that the reason he is being charged, the reason he is now being held behind bars, is because he allegedly, quote, knowingly allowed his son to possess that weapon.
Wow. Okay, so let's back up here because both Colt Gray and Colin Gray, his father, were spoken to by police last year, and everyone's wondering, like, wait, so what happened there? Can you just catch us up? You've been going through these records?
Yeah. So documents came out yesterday about these interviews last year, May 2023. A post was written onto the platform discord, claiming that a school was going to be shut up in the near future, and that post was then sent to the FBI, who passed it on to local authorities in Georgia, who then tracked it down to the gray household, and they actually interviewed them.
Whatever. Or wherever you come from, there's no joke. No, like it's no joke.
But we wouldn't be here if it.
Was no, I.
No audio.
Of these interviews were released. And in those interviews, both Colin and Colt said it was the wrong man.
So you haven't used discord in a few months, and you're. You're saying you didn't say anything like that? No, I won't say.
I have this TikTok.
Colt insisted it wasn't him. He said that yes, he had a discord account months earlier, but he had hadn't used it in a long time. And Colt's father actually told law enforcement authorities about how Colt had been having a tough time at school, that it had been a tough time in Colt's life. The family had been evicted from their house. Colt's mother and two siblings went elsewhere, leaving Colt and his father to find a new home. Colt went to a new school, where his father told authorities he was being picked on. Every day we.
Talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happened. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
And because Colt was having such a hard time, his father said that he was really trying to make sure that Colt was doing okay. As he put it, he was at the school every day, and he said that he even had lots of conversations with Colt about school shootings, because he was trying to get Colt to go on a different path.
Wait, so they knew then that school shootings was like, this is a common profile, right? Like disaffected young man often. And the next thing is, are there guns in the house? What what was the conversation about guns?
Yeah. So Colt's father told authorities, yes, we have guns in the house. He said he's a hunter and he's been trying to get his son into hunting. He wants his son to be outdoors because he plays too many video games, basically is what he told police.
Do you have weapons in the house? I do.
Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down.
But he insisted to authorities, according to these documents that came out yesterday, that Colt didn't have, as authorities put it, unsupervised access to the guns.
I don't know anything about him saying like that, and I'm going to be mad as hell if he did. And then all the guns will go away and they won't be accessible to him.
At the same time, the local investigators still told Colt's father that those guns should be locked up. The local investigative reporter.
Hi, I'm Diane Macedo. We have breaking news. The suspect in the Georgia school shooting that left four people dead is appearing in court for the first time. That 14 year old student is charged with four counts of felony murder. And the Georgia Bureau of Investigation expects more charges to follow. His father is also now charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. But again, this is the suspect himself, the suspected shooter in court right now there in Georgia.
Let's listen to provide counsel for you without cost to you. All right. I am going to inform you of a few other matters. Um, and I'm not going to ask you anything. Just inform you. So one is I want to make sure that you are aware that you have the right to remain silent. You don't have to say anything at all. And it's important to understand that, because anything you might say could be used against you at further proceedings associated with your case. Um. I want to inform you of the charges that you currently face. Um, in essence, you are charged With four counts of felony murder, as outlined in in the state warrants that have been issued against you, I want to make you aware that the maximum penalty for felony murder. So for each count, the maximum penalty is that you could be punishable by death by imprisonment for life without parole, or by imprisonment for life with the possibility of parole. If you have any questions about these charges, then I would urge you to discuss those with your attorney.
I would invite you, Mr. Harmon, to inform the court as to whether there's a request for bond at this time.
At this time, Your honor, there.
Is not a request.
For bond.
We will file the.
Appropriate motions if that becomes.
Necessary.
All right. Um, an indictment by the grand jury for most felony offenses or accusations. Um, well, you have the right to receive an indictment for these offenses. And I assume Mr. Brad Smith is here on behalf of the DA's office, or he is our district attorney, and he's accompanied by Miss Patricia Brooks, who is his chief assistant. Um, a preliminary hearing. You will have the right also to a preliminary hearing unless you make a bond, which, of course, at this point, there's no bond being requested or unless you waive such a hearing. You have the right to a speedy and public trial by a judge or a jury. You have the right to confront and cross-examine all witnesses. You have the right to call witnesses on your own behalf and testify in your own defense, if you so choose. As you sit here in this courtroom today, under the law, you are presumed innocent. Your refusal to testify at any point in any proceeding will not be used against you in determining whether you are guilty or not guilty.
Counsel, let me just inquire as to whether there are any other items that the court should address before we conclude this preliminary hearing. No, Your Honor.
No. Your Honor. Well, do you have one piece of information to convey to the court? There was a development yesterday afternoon that makes it necessary for our office to have alternate counsel appointed, and arrangements have already been made in that regard. I've already explained that to Mr. Gray. And alternate counsel will be appointed by the end of the day today.
All right. Thank you very much. Miss Donna Seagraves. All right. And with that, this hearing is concluded, and you may escort this defendant out.
Can we go to ten?
All right. With that, I understand that we have another, um, first appearance hearing. And I think that we're going to have a little bit of a recess before we conduct that. Unless everyone's ready to proceed with that. We're ready. I think I think that I told the the media outlet that I would recess briefly to allow them to kind of reconfigure what they're doing. And so we'll be in recess for a short time until I'm informed that that everyone's ready.
All right. Thank you.
We are looking at the courtroom there in Winder, Georgia, where the suspect in the Georgia school shooting just went before the judge. The judge started things off by informing that 14 year old defendant of his rights and of the charges against him. He's being charged as an adult with four counts of first degree murder for the deaths of two students and two teachers at that school. The judge informed him that those penalties are punishable by death or a life sentence, with or without parole, if he is convicted. Currently, the defense is not requesting bond, so it looks like that suspect will remain in custody. And we also now know his father is also facing charges. We will have a lot more on this case coming up in our 9:00 hour. Stay with us.
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Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was in court yesterday in the latest stop in his legal troubles tour. Remember, a jury has already convicted him earlier this year on federal gun charges in Delaware. But he's also facing federal tax evasion charges out in Los Angeles. Yesterday was supposed to be about jury selection in that case, until his lawyers told a judge he was willing to make a plea. But he had some conditions, and things got complicated quickly. ABC's Peter Colombo spent his day in the courtroom. He's with us now, Peter. What's so strange about this to me is Hunter Biden had tried to avoid any trials with a plea. A year ago, his plea got thrown out. What was he trying to do here?
Yeah. So it was a little bit more than a year ago where Hunter Biden was in a Delaware courtroom trying to work out a plea agreement where he could avoid these trials that fell through. And Hunter Biden found himself dealing with two separate trials on different coasts. He had that Delaware trial in June where he was convicted, and he had this L.A. tax trial where prosecutors accused him of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. That was supposed to start yesterday morning. In fact, 120 nearby residents were reporting to court to be potential jurors when basically everything was upended by this surprise announcement from Hunter Biden's lawyers, who announced that they were actually seeking to change their plea from not guilty to guilty, but using this unique mechanism called an Alford plea, where basically Hunter would agree to plead guilty to the charges but maintain his innocence about the underlying conduct. Lawyers for Special Counsel David Weiss acted with complete surprise to this announcement. They told the judge overseeing the case that they had heard nothing about this until it was announced in court, and the judge overseeing the case promptly announced about a two hour delay so that both sides could figure out what exactly is going on here.
Wait, what's the rationale from the prosecutors to then? That's not just all the same of like, yeah, he's pleading guilty. He claims he didn't do it, but whatever. We get a guilty plea out of it. Yeah.
So the special counsel's office took issue with the fact that this kind of deal would, yes, technically result in a guilty plea, but it would prevent Hunter Biden from basically admitting to what he had done as they alleged. So basically they saw this as, in their words, an injustice, an example of kind of preferential treatment. And they simply said that they refused to go along with this idea of an Alford plea. So it seemed like Judge Scalzi was interested in entertaining at least the idea. By the afternoon, he had told both sides that he'd like to hear more arguments about it, that he would still consider accepting one of these. Alford, please. Um, if he could learn a little bit more about why he should, even if the prosecutors in this case were objecting to it. Um, it was a bit odd. He was planning to send back the jurors and call the parties back to court on Friday morning, so that they could talk more about whether or not he should accept an Alford plea.
And hunters team asked for another 30 minutes so they could talk among themselves about their next steps. And in another surprise move, Hunter Biden's attorney showed back up in court in the afternoon and said, you know what? Forget about the Alford plea. Forget about those special conditions. We're just going to do a normal plea. He's going to plead guilty to every single one of these charges, and he's going.
To go and plead guilty.
After all. After all that.
It's honestly, it's a stunning twist in a legal drama that's been going on for years and has been defined by unexpected turns. In this case, Hunter ultimately pleaded guilty to each of the nine counts in this case, that includes three felony charges. And it's interesting. It's not like this was a guilty plea in which prosecutors agreed to a lighter sentence. He simply just pleaded guilty and is willing to see whatever the punishment is, according to the judge. That includes up to 17 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines, which Hunter Biden will now need to face. He's got a sentencing scheduled for December 16th.
Well, and so is that it, then? I mean, one of the reasons this was so historic was this was the first immediate family member of a sitting president to be convicted of a felony. And now there could be more, you know, felony convictions here. Is that it, though? Is that the end of the Hunter Biden saga.
Really? Never say never. In a way, yes. This puts away his two outstanding legal matters. He still has sentencing in both these cases in the Delaware case. He is sentencing in November, in this case in Los Angeles in December. But it appears of the things he at least knows about, those have gone away. Also, you know, Hunter Biden's foreign business activities, which were expected to really come into the spotlight during this trial, those were, you know, a major point for congressional Republicans who investigated it for years searching for impeachable conduct. They issued a report last month where they said they ultimately found what they believe to be impeachable conduct based on that foreign business activity, but they didn't really recommend any next steps. And the entire impeachment based on Hunter Biden seemed to fizzle. In a way, this also comes as Hunter Biden's father, the president Joe Biden, is no longer running for office. He's basically a lame duck president, which has decreased a little bit of the heat that that Hunter Biden appears to be facing.
Yeah, I was going to say a lot tougher for Donald Trump and for Republicans to hang Hunter Biden around the neck of the presidential candidate because it's no longer a Biden, right? It's Kamala Harris. Peter Haralambous there in Los Angeles right now. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for having me, Brad.
Okay, one more quick break. When we come back, you can tell these texts are scammy, but you might not be able to put your finger on why our team is investigating, so you don't have to. One last thing is next.
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And one last thing. Have you ever gotten a text from an unknown number that just says, hey, haven't seen you in a while. What's going on? And you're like, shoot, why don't I have this person's number? Or sometimes it clearly seems like a wrong number. I got one that said, hey, Andrea, are we still getting dinner? Please text me back. I'm waiting. And I'm like, oh no, this poor person's going to think they're being stood up by Andrea. I gotta set them straight. Well, it turns out these kinds of texts may actually be part of a crypto scam.
This is a scam that's so insidious. It has a rather dreadful name. It's called pig butchering.
That's ABC's Aaron Katersky from our investigative unit. And he's been reporting on scammers who use simple digital convos as a long con.
The name comes from the idea that you fatten up a pig before slaughter. And here the idea is to slowly lure victims into giving up, in some cases, their life savings.
Aaron says it can start with one of those texts I mentioned earlier, maybe even a stranger on a dating app, because they don't necessarily sound scammy, right? People are just awkward. The problem is, by answering, you might be laying the groundwork to be buttered up.
We met this one guy, Shai Polonsky.
You know, I was doing some online dating. You start liking people, and this one person kind of caught my eye.
And said he'd been messaging a woman he thought was named Sandy.
Next thing you know, we're exchanging these messages all throughout the day and connecting in what felt like a pretty, you know, deep, real way.
Shai said this woman portrayed herself as living only a half an hour away from his house in LA. She worked in real estate. She had a background in investing. They had never met in person, but they communicated via text. And that is when friendly conversations can turn into friendly financial advice.
He said that his business was struggling and she just so happened to have a solution, and that was an investment in cryptocurrency. Eventually the guy invested some money, was able to pull it out.
My initial investment was about $2,000. I made about $300 in a few minutes.
But when he invested more money, that's when the woman that he thought was named Sandy disappeared. Scammers locked up his account and all of his money was gone.
She's not alone in this, according to the FBI. Losses to investment scams have become much more widespread.
These kind of scams in 2022 cost victims $3 billion. Fast forward just one year, 4.5 billion. The FBI can try to recover some money, but many people lose everything. And those are just.
The reported losses. The FBI says many victims don't report being financially catfished because they're embarrassed they fell for the scam. Or maybe they don't even know they're a victim yet. And to complicate things, the scammers are really hard to find. James Barnacle is chief of the FBI's money laundering unit, and he says one of the reasons criminals choose crypto is because it's decentralized. It can move hands really, really quickly.
A bad guy can move that money from one wallet to another wallet. Laundering the money. Laying the money. Hiding the money from us to be able to follow the money.
But there's another side of this, too, because you might be thinking, who is spending their whole day sending these texts? It just seems like a massive time suck for perhaps a very little reward. Well, the person sending the scam text could be a victim themselves.
This is not necessarily a scheme by choice. You are a survivor of a scam compound. It's all over the world. There are these scam compounds where people who may have been down on their luck, lost a job, were looking for work, were promised work either in telemarketing or some other kind of thing.
In one case, a woman Aaron spoke to took a job she believed was headquartered in Thailand. She went through a whole interview process. She got a plane ticket from this company.
A woman that we're calling Sarah because she didn't want us to use her real name, said when she landed, she was told she'd be taken to company headquarters. Everything seemed fine.
It seems like, because every time I would call them, they would pick up.
Instead, she was brought across into Myanmar, where she was held against her will for nine months and made to perpetrate these scams. What was the scam?
The scam was getting people to invest into crypto.
This means that these criminal organizers are leaving a trail of financial devastation for some, and a whole other type of trauma for others. Sarah was held for ransom at this compound for nine months. She fled only after another victim who escaped paid money to get her out. I used to.
Work for like 20 hours. Sometimes I was not given milk. It's like a prison. It was like a horrible Treason.
So what can you do to protect yourself from getting caught in the middle of this? Well, the golden rule is don't respond to numbers you don't know. Or if you do. Be very wary. But if you think you might be a victim, the FBI says report it as soon as possible. But perhaps the bigger takeaway here is a more basic reality. If you can't put a face to a name online intimacy is not necessarily real intimacy. And financial intimacy should have the highest bar of all. By the way. Aaron did a great piece on ABC News Live Prime on this topic last night. You can watch the Crypto Con wherever you stream. Start here is produced by Kelly Torres, Jen Newman, Brenda Salinas Baker, Vika Aronson, Cameron Chertavian, Anthony Ali, Mara Milwaukee and Amir Williams. Ariel Chester is our social media producer. Josh Cohen is director of podcast programming. I'm our managing editor. Laura Mayer is our executive producer. Thanks to Lakisha Brown, John Newman, Tara Gimbel, and Liz Alessi.
Special thanks this week to Chris Berry, Jenny Wagnon courts, Elizabeth Schultzy and everyone who worked on our Labor Day special, including Jay O'Brien. Of course, Arthur Jones, The Second City, Tina Basso and Eric Ortega. Still time to go back and check that out. It's a really relevant piece of reporting all the way through Election Day. I'm Brad Mielke. I'll see you next week.
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Hi, I'm Diane Macedo today on ABC News Live. First breaking news. The 14 year old Georgia school shooting suspect appears in court charged as an adult with murder. The teen's father is also now under arrest. Why authorities say he should be held responsible for what his son did. As we learn more about the victims. Also breaking right now the pivotal new jobs report, why the fed is paying close attention, and what the numbers could mean for interest rates. Former President Trump expected in court today. He's appealing the verdict in his sex abuse case, while his lawyers say he deserves a new trial, as he also awaits a ruling on sentencing in his hush money case. And extreme weather on the move. Flash flooding is expected near the Gulf and extreme late season heat is scorching the west. The states facing the biggest threats and the impact this will have on your weekend. But first, that 14 year old suspect in the Apalachee school shooting is appearing in a Georgia courtroom this morning, as his father now also faces charges.
The teen was in court just moments ago facing four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected. The judge read the suspect, the charges he's facing and potential penalties, including death.
In essence, you are charged with four counts of felony murder, as outlined in in the state warrants that have been issued against you. I want to make you aware that the maximum penalty for felony murder. So for each count. The maximum penalty is that you could be punishable by death by imprisonment for life without parole or by imprisonment for life.
The alleged shooter is accused of killing two students, two teachers and injuring nine others. Now, his father is also charged with multiple felonies, including involuntary manslaughter, second degree murder and cruelty to children. He will be appearing in court shortly. ABC's Faith Abubey has the latest from Winder, Georgia. Faith, what stuck out to you from this first court appearance for the suspected shooter?
Well, Diane, we were hoping to see the suspected shooter's face, but based on how he was angled towards the judge, we couldn't really see his face. But we saw him walk into court. His blond hair. Just like we've seen in that mug shot. He sat there, his face trained to the judge, and listened to the judge as the judge read off his rights, and then informed him of the charges that are against him. And then, of course, asked his attorney whether they have any request for a bond at this time. His attorney says that they don't have that request, but it could potentially change if the situation changes. But it was very short, very typical. One thing that stood out to me is the fact that he wasn't asked whether he had a plea to enter, whether he is pleading guilty or not guilty. We didn't get any information about that, so we're hoping that will be in some sort of paperwork at a later date.
Diane and I wanted to clarify a part of the hearing, because you did hear the judge say that these charges carry a potential maximum penalty of a death penalty. But even though the suspect is being charged as an adult because he's a minor, can he actually face the death penalty here?
You know, according to legal experts. You know, due to a Supreme Court ruling, he can't face the death penalty. Minors are not allowed to be sentenced to death. And so even though that is the maximum sentence here that we heard the judge read off in court, the potential of that actually happening is slim to none. Based on what we know from the Supreme Court and what our legal experts are telling us at this point.
Diane and Faith, the suspect's father is also facing multiple charges. What are police saying about his role in this shooting?
You know, they're staying really tight lipped about exactly what led them to charge him with numerous charges. Even more charges than his own son, who allegedly, you know, brought an AR 15 style rifle to the school grounds and terrorized the school, the staff members, his classmates here and killed four people, allegedly injuring nine others. The father, now charged with not only murder and manslaughter, but also cruelty to children. Police telling us the reason behind that. This is as much as they would say. They say the reason behind that is because he knowingly allowed his teenager to have access to a gun. You remember we talked about this yesterday, Diane. The father did assure investigators last year when they were investigating him. They were investigating the son for a potential a post that was on discord, a social media platform that apparently he may have made. The father assured the investigators that the son did not have unsupervised access to a gun. And so at this point, investigators are charging him the father, with the fact that he allowed the son to access a gun.
Diane and Faith, it looks like they are bringing the suspect back into the courtroom.
Let's listen. It includes life without the possibility of parole or life with the possibility of parole. I also wanted to inform you that the court has set December 4th at 8:30 a.m. PM for your preliminary hearing. And that is, of course, subject to change as you secure new counsel later today and so forth. Is there anything else that needs to be addressed that anyone can think of?
No, Your Honor. No. Your Honor. All right.
So with that, you may escort Mr. Gray back out. Thank you.
There you have it. That judge in Winder, Georgia, clarifying to the suspect in the Georgia high school shooting that despite the fact that he is being charged with an adult, despite the fact that the charges he faced carry the potential for the death penalty because he is a minor, he actually will not face that potential death penalty. So what he is looking at, if convicted, is life in prison without parole, or potentially life in prison without parole. Let's go back quickly to our faith Abubey to just wrap this up, faith, you had just finished explaining this to us, but now we heard the judge there making that clear to the suspect that he actually cannot face the death penalty in this case, even though as an adult, if had it been an adult in his position, they would have potentially faced death penalty here. What are you watching for in terms of next steps in this case now, faith. Well, we're waiting.
For a lot of details still from police. They haven't been able to provide a lot of that because they keep saying that this is a fluid investigation. It's complex. There's a lot they have to consider. And also they don't want to, you know, jeopardize the integrity of this investigation. And so there are a lot of questions that are still unanswered at this point that they say they are just not at liberty to answer. And so we're hoping for more information. Of course, we're waiting to see if the father will be arraigned as well. And then the motions will begin. We'll actually see whether either of them will enter a plea. And then, of course, the community is continuing to mourn. There was a vigil here last night. There's a growing memorial here on campus. And then, of course, the kids have to somehow come back to school. No details on that at this point, Diane. All right.
ABC's faith abubey in Winder, Georgia. Faith. Thank you. And we have more breaking news this time on the jobs report. It's shedding some new light on a potential interest rate cut. U.S. employers added 142,000 jobs in August, falling short of analysts expectations. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 4.2%. ABC news business reporter Alexis Christoforous joins me for more on that. So, Alexis, break down these numbers for us. What does this tell you about the economy right now?
It shows us that hiring improved a little.
Bit last.
Month. That's welcome news versus what we saw in July. The unemployment rate inched down a little bit. So overall a pretty solid jobs report. Let's run through it quickly. 142,000 jobs added by employers. We were looking at a gain of 161,000. But you know what? This is a lot better than the 114,000 jobs we added in July. Remember, that sparked fears of a big slowdown in the job market. And that's also when we saw a big sell off on Wall Street. Not the case today. Stocks are really having a muted response to this report that we're seeing. Today, the unemployment rate inching down to 4.2% from 4.3% in July. And I just wanted to show you quickly, sort of where we've come from in terms of the unemployment rate, because in 2023 it was at 3.4%. That's the low point there, the longest stretch of unemployment below 4% in 50 years. It was in June when we started to see the unemployment rate crack that 4% mark, and now it's at 4.2%.
Where was the growth, construction and health care that they added the most jobs last month? Manufacturing those shed about 24,000. Do you want to say average hourly earnings up 3.8% year over year, outpacing inflation. Solid, but not anything to worry about when it comes to inflation.
Okay you say inflation. And you know what I'm going to ask next. The fed is expected to cut interest rates soon. How do you think this report could impact that.
This report I think held special significance for the fed. It's the last one they're going to see before their meeting in just two weeks. I don't think it brings us real clarity as to the size of that interest rate cut. We were hoping this would tell us whether or not the fed is going to move more aggressively with a half point cut, or stick with a quarter point cut. I think they've made it pretty clear we're due for a cut, and that the fed has sort of moved its attention away from inflation, which seems to be behaving, and at least it's below 3% and moving closer to the Fed's 2%. The fed now is focused on the job market. They want to make sure the labor market doesn't slow down too much. I guess the challenge for the fed always is these reports are backward looking. Once you start to see a slowdown here, it's almost too late. It's already happened. So the fed wants to be, you know, get in front of it. And they could get aggressive when we could get a half point rate cut in just a couple of weeks.
All right. We'll be watching I know you will be business reporter Alexis Christoforous. Thanks, Alexis. And former President Trump is expected in court this morning for his appeal of the E. Jean Carroll judgment, holding him liable for sexual abuse. Trump's lawyers are arguing the judge should not have excluded evidence of the former president's state of mind during the trial. His appearance today is voluntary and comes just four days before his first debate with Vice President Harris. ABC News senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky joins me for more on that. And what can we expect to hear in court today?
We're going to hear former President Trump's attorneys try to convince a three judge panel of the second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that he deserves a new trial, because the original trial judge made mistakes in allowing certain evidence before the jury and excluding certain evidence from the trial. Trump's attorneys are upset that the Access Hollywood tape, on which Trump is heard boasting about groping women, was allowed to be heard by the jury. They also say that the judge should not have allowed testimony of other women who say that former President Trump, decades ago sexually abused them. Trump has denied all of this wrongdoing, but the jury was convinced that not only did he sexually assaulted Jean Carroll in the mid 1990s in a department store dressing room, he later defamed her when he denied that account and awarded him awarded her $5 million.
And today, another judge is set to decide whether Trump will be sentenced in his New York hush money case in less than two weeks. He's been trying to get that case moved to federal court to delay his sentencing. So what's the latest on that one?
Yeah, he's tried all sorts of ways to delay sentencing, which is scheduled for September 18th. You remember, Diane just down the block, former President Trump was convicted as charged all 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to a hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. And he's appealing that or wants to appeal that. But he doesn't even want to be sentenced before the election. And he says that the proper thing to do would be to push it off until after the election. If the trial judge doesn't do it in state court. He's trying to move the whole case into federal court just to gum up the works and get the delay that he's seeking.
Senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky. Thanks, Aaron. And we will be following this story all morning. We will bring you the latest from the courtroom right here on ABC News Live. And a judge will decide whether Hunter Biden will go to jail after pleading guilty to nine tax related charges. The president's son was accused of dodging $1.4 million in taxes while spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on cars, clothing, escorts, drugs and luxury hotels. Now, the guilty plea allows him to avoid a lengthy and potentially embarrassing trial. ABC News Chief Justice correspondent Pierre Thomas has the latest.
Dianne. Good morning. Hunter Biden took a surprise and dramatic move during his fate to the mercy of the court, with the very real prospect of years in prison. The fate of Hunter Biden, now in the hands of a California federal judge. The president's son, in a dramatic and surprise move, pleading guilty to felony tax charges with no agreement for leniency from federal prosecutors. Hunter Biden pleaded guilty nine times to three felonies, including tax evasion and six misdemeanors. Biden had been accused of engaging in a scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes, while spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on exotic cars, escorts and drugs. The stunning guilty plea could land Biden in prison for up to 17 years and force him to pay more than $1 million in fines.
This plea prevents that kind of show trial that would have not provided all the facts or served any real point in justice.
In a statement, Hunter Biden saying, I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment. And so I've decided to plead guilty. Biden's surprising move coming just as jury selection was about to get underway. But Biden catching the special counsel completely off guard, telling the court he wanted to enter something called an Alford plea, where he would plead guilty but maintain his innocence. Special counsel attorney Leo Wise immediately pushing back, saying, I want to make something crystal clear. The United States opposes an Alford plea, emphasizing Biden maintaining his innocence was a nonstarter. The white House yesterday again reiterating that President Biden will not commute his son's sentence nor pardon him, something he told ABC's David Muir in June.
As we sit here.
In Normandy, your son Hunter is.
On trial.
And I know that you cannot speak about an ongoing federal prosecution. But let me ask you, will you accept the jury's outcome, their verdict, no matter what it is?
Yes.
And have you ruled out a.
Pardon for your son?
Yes.
With that, one of the most consequential DOJ cases in recent history, the prosecution of a sitting president's son nears a close. Biden will be sentenced in December. Diane.
Chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas. Thank you. And ABC news legal contributor and author of the new book, Pardon Power How the Pardon System Works and Why. Kim Whaley joins me now for more. Kim, I want to get to the pardon part, but first I want to talk about sentencing because Hunter Biden is facing up to 17 years in jail. So how likely is that to happen? What do you think he could get here given his decision to make this open plea?
Well, keep in mind also, he has that other jury conviction that could lead up to 25.
They'll probably be concurrent. But I think.
The fact.
That he.
Uh.
Pled guilty and he admitted to these offenses that he doesn't have any.
Prior prior.
Criminal record. Um, these are, you know, only I think under 2% of people in his tax bracket are actually audited in this way by the IRS. So I think there's a number of factors that could lead to a much lower sentence than the maximum, or even some kind of probation or supervised release. The judge will have to apply the federal sentencing guidelines and take all these things into account. But pretty much everything other than this guilty verdict probably points to leniency here.
Now, President Biden previously told ABC news that he would not pardon his son. The white House press secretary doubled down on that yesterday, but he can always change his mind. So what are the implications of a pardon here? And what's the likelihood he could get one from the next administration if Vice President Harris wins the election?
Well, you know, as I say in the book, this would not be the first time that a president would consider a pardon for a family member. Bill Clinton did it for his brother in law. Donald Trump pardoned Jared Kushner's father. So there's a history of that. And for the same reasons as I indicated, that Hunter Biden might get some leniency. He might get be on the top of the pile for a pardon, maybe under a Kamala Harris administration.
All right. ABC news legal contributor Kim Whaley. Kim. Thank you.
Thank you.
And pardon power, how the system works and why is out now, wherever books are sold. And now we are going to a Georgia courtroom where the father of the suspect in the Apalachee High School shooting is appearing in court. After being arrested overnight. He's facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree murder, eight counts of cruelty to children. Investigators say they believe he gave that AR style gun used in the shooting to his son. Let's listen.
All right. Thank you.
All right. Um.
Okay. I'm sorry.
Just to make sure that. The system is working, and. All right, so, um, the following aren't questions that I'm going to ask. I'm just informing you of some things. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you at further hearings or at a trial on the charges that you're facing. For this hearing, you're not going to be questioned about facts and circumstances surrounding your charges. Um, you are currently charged with and you'll be provided with copies of the warrants if you don't already have them. You're currently charged with two counts of felony murder in the second degree. Uh, you're charged with four counts of felony involuntary manslaughter. You're charged with eight counts of felony cruelty to children in the second degree. Now, for these offenses, uh, for the felony murder counts, um, in the second degree. Felony murder in the second degree, the maximum imprisonment, the maximum penalty for each count is up to 30 years imprisonment for felony involuntary manslaughter. Of course, again, there are four counts.
The maximum penalty for. For each of those offenses is ten years imprisonment. For the eight felony cruelty to children counts. The maximum penalty under the law for each of those eight counts is ten years of imprisonment, for a maximum total of possible penalty for the charges that you currently are facing of 180 years imprisonment. If you have questions about these charges, which I assume that you will, the court urges you to discuss those with your attorney. Um, let me inquire as to whether there's a motion for bond if. If Mr. Gray is moving for bond at this time.
No, sir. Not at this time. We will allow alternate.
Counsel.
To make that decision.
All right. Thank you. And I also need to inform you that you have the right to an indictment by a grand jury. Um, and you also have the right to a preliminary hearing unless you make bond or waive such a hearing. You have the right to a speedy and public trial by a judge or a jury. You have the right to confront and cross-examine all witnesses. You have the right to call witnesses on your own behalf and testify in your own defense, if you so choose. I want to make it clear to you, Mr. Gray, that you are presumed innocent. Your refusal to testify at any point will not cannot be used against you in determining whether you are guilty of or not guilty. I mentioned the first appearance hearing a moment ago that is being set for you for December 4th, 2024 at 8:30 a.m.. Currently, that's set to take place in the Magistrate Court of Barrow County. It could be subject to change, but I just want you to know that that is the date that we currently have.
In fact, counsel, could you approach, please? I have, um. This, uh. Let's see. I need to scratch this out. This document that discusses bond and gives the date of the preliminary preliminary hearing. And I guess I could sign that, and he could just get a copy of it. And then the warrants are attached to that. So that so. I would like for him to sign it. Please.
Sign right there.
Just getting a copy of it. He is giving you a copy.
He's going to give you a copy. What?
Do you want me to go ahead and give him his copy?
Yes, please.
And the page.
Continues on the first. And are these his copies of the warrants.
Are provided and they say service copies on them, so I assume that they're for him. Okay. Sergeant Briscoe, do you concur with that? Is that what those copies are for? Yes, sir. Those are for the detention center. So he's got his own copies, or he'll have them provided. All right. So the detention center wants to hold on to those. All right. Let me. And thank you, Miss Seagraves. I want to certainly acknowledge the presence of our district attorney, Mr. Brad Smith. And he's assisted by his chief assistant, Patricia Brooks. Is there anything else, counsel, that the court needs to address that I have neglected to address? No, Your.
Honor. No, sir. Not at this time.
All right. I do want to thank Those who are in the gallery, who have an interest and who have appeared. I appreciate the decorum that has been maintained throughout these, this proceeding or both of these proceedings today. And with that, this matter is adjourned.
The attorney who is going to represent you, I think my name.
Is James Rogers. We're going to make that official later today. But he'll come and see you probably the first part.
Of next week. Okay.
You were looking at Colin Gray facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children for the shooting suspected to have been executed by his son at Apalachee High School in Georgia yesterday. Sources say investigators believe he gave his son that AR 15 used in the shooting as a Christmas present, and this was after an encounter with the FBI, where the FBI suspected his son had posted a threat about a school shooting, and Colin Gray had assured the FBI his son had no unsupervised access to guns. He is now facing several felony charges. The judge laid out not only those charges, but the maximum potential penalties if he's convicted of them, saying that he could face up to 180 years of imprisonment here. We, of course, will be watching this case closely. And this comes after we saw the suspect himself that 14 year old appear in court also just moments ago, where the judge laid out his rights to him and also read to him the charges he is facing and the max penalty.
He could face life in prison without parole if convicted. We'll be right back.
Whenever news breaks.
We are here in.
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We are part of an operation since our combat operation center.
We're approaching.
The gate. Militants came in from different directions.
We're reactor.
So you have a couple loaded and ready to go. The house is destroyed, but the flag.
Not a tear in it.
How important it made the USA. Great work.
I appreciate you. Thank you. Ismail. David. David, I'm David Muir. I know who you are. You do? Every night.
ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast Tuesday night. The most consequential moment of this campaign, Kamala Harris. Together, we will chart a new way forward. Donald Trump.
We will soon be a great nation again.
Face to face. Historic. The ABC news presidential debate moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis. Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Welcome back to ABC News Live. First Vice President Harris is preparing for her first debate with former President Trump. Harris and Trump are off the campaign trail, with just four days until the debate and just 60 days left until Election Day. ABC News Senior White House correspondent Selina Wang joins me now from Pittsburgh for more. Selina, what are Harris and Trump saying ahead of this debate, and how are they preparing?
Yeah, Diane. Well, Vice.
President Harris, she is hunkered down here in downtown Pittsburgh in a hotel room with her top aides. She is taking this debate preparation very seriously to put this into context. This will be Donald Trump's seventh general election presidential debate. This will be vice President Harris's first. They've never spoken to each other before. And Donald Trump and Vice President Harris have never even been in the same room together. I'm told that Harris has already done a few mock debates, and that she is focusing on how to attack Donald Trump and get under his skin while keeping her calm. But it is clear that Harris is coming into this debate.
With all.
The momentum behind her. Her campaign says.
That they've.
Raised $361 million in August.
Diane, that is nearly.
Triple the amount that Trump's campaign raised in the same time period. And her campaign is also touting the grassroots support, saying that 1.3 million donors made their first donations this cycle. Now it is a total.
Split screen.
With Donald Trump. He is going to be in a courtroom today. He's also giving a press conference.
His team has said that he does not.
Need traditional debate preparation, because he views these town halls and press conferences and interviews as his form of preparing and studying. But he is having these informal meetings about policy with his advisers, including with former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard. Now, remember, Gabbard had gone up against Vice President Harris during the 2020 Democratic primaries. And Gabbard is saying that Donald Trump should focus on how Harris has changed her positions since then.
All right. Selina Wang in Pittsburgh for us. Selina. Thank you. And that first presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris is on Tuesday night. You can watch it right here on ABC News Live at 9 p.m. eastern. Coming up, our Matt Gutman goes one on one with Karen Reed. What she's saying about the night her Boston police officer boyfriend was found dead, as she now faces a second trial. Also ahead, a judge assaulted by a defendant who came flying over the bench is now testifying in his trial. How she's recalling those moments. Plus, Red lobster is planning a comeback. The court decision putting the seafood chain one step closer to exiting bankruptcy.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, thanks for streaming with us. You are looking at Trump Tower in New York City on this Friday, and we have a lot of news to get to. Here's the rundown. Right now, a pilot and passenger are critically injured after a small plane crashed on the streets of Hawthorne, California, overnight. The Cessna Skyhawk was in pieces and on fire when L.A. County fire crews responded to the scene. Those two people injured were taken to the hospital. Thankfully, no one else was hurt. The hip hop world is mourning the death of rapper Rich Homie Quan. The Atlanta artist, whose legal name is Da Quintus DeVante Lamar, gained fame for his trap genre singles like Type of Way and Flex. The Fulton County Medical Examiner confirms to The Associated Press the rapper died at an Atlanta hospital. Details on cause of death are not yet known, but an autopsy scheduled for today. Rich Homie Quan was 34. Red lobster is emerging from bankruptcy. A judge has approved a restructuring plan that allows a restaurant chain to keep all its current locations open, meaning 30,000 employees can keep their jobs, and the Massachusetts woman accused of hitting her police officer boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him to die is giving her first full sit down interview since her case ended in a mistrial.
Karen Reed spoke with ABC news chief national correspondent Matt Gutman about the case, one week before her new trial is set to begin.
Three Karen Reed. The high profile murder trial captivated millions and dividing a tight knit Massachusetts suburb. Justice for JJ and now, for the first time, Karen Reed, accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, giving her full version of events that night. Would you say that you were angry with John that night?
Yes.
Could you have been angry enough and slightly drunk because he had annoyed you, that in a fit of rage you just backed up and never tried to tap him? I would not to try to kill him, but try to to.
Tap him with my.
£6,000 full size SUV to hit John's body with my car? No.
The sensational murder case ending in a mistrial this summer after the jury was deadlocked. Prosecutors accusing then 41 year old Reid of hitting her boyfriend, police officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV in 2022. After a night of drinking and then leaving him to die in the snow. It all started on a Friday night in January 2022. Reid and O'Keefe drinking with their friends at a local bar. Later that night, Reid says she last saw John after dropping him off at an after party at a home on Fairview Road before going home to sleep. She says she awoke in the middle of the night and he wasn't home.
I called a few of his buddies, their wives. Now I have an immense sense of dread, like a fright in me that I have not experienced before.
Do you expect to see him lying on the street, drunk or passed out?
I was worried he might have gotten hit by a plow.
Reed meets up with some of John's friends, and they all return to the house where the after party was. And then she spots him in the snow.
His eyes were shut and he had spots of blood in different areas on his face, and he was still not stiff, but but still it was cold.
John O'Keefe is soon declared dead, but the investigation is about to explode. Investigators finding pieces of a tail light they say is from Reed's car at the crime scene.
I was talking to my best friend on the phone and I said, there's a lot of cops circling. And I said, I think I'm gonna get arrested.
Reed was later charged with second degree murder and pleaded not guilty. ABC news granted exclusive access behind the scenes as Reed prepared for her trial.
Hiding out like this, you just watch the world pass you by and you're you're going through the motions. Pun intended. And, uh, but, you know, it could all end. I could be convicted in.
The months leading up to the trial. Reached defense team arguing and hearings and filings. A stunning new theory that the injuries on John O'Keefe's body were not consistent with him being hit by a car. They claimed she was framed.
There are people in that house that are actually.
Responsible for his death and.
Who murdered him.
And there are others in the house who are covering up that murder.
The prosecution insisting that no one at the party had anything to do with O'Keefe's death, saying he never even entered the Fairview Road home and they denied that Reid was being framed.
All eyes will be on this courthouse in Dedham.
The trial soon drawing national attention. And after 29 days deadlocking the jury, I'm.
Declaring a mistrial in this.
Case. Family and friends. Remembering John, the son who always dreamed of being a police officer.
He was lost in this whole circus, and I think none of us want him to be lost. So I think we were all waiting for that it to be finally over so we can finally grieve.
I mean, that could be another 18 months.
It could be.
Another five years.
And we're going to be there.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And, Diane. Karen Reed's legal troubles are set to continue that retrial for second degree murder set for January and just this past month, which is what John O'Keefe's family members were referring to in the piece. His family filing a wrongful death suit. They told me they are never going to stop fighting for justice for John. As for Karen Reed's team, they also plan to fight on saying there's no quit in them. Diane.
All right. ABC News Chief national correspondent Matt Gutman. Thank you. And for more of Matt's interview with Karen Reed, tune in to 2020, which airs tonight, 9 p.m. eight central on ABC and streaming on Hulu. and the Nevada judge, attacked by a defendant in her own courtroom, is opening up about the incident. Judge Mary Kay Holthus took the stand to testify in the trial. She says she was knocked out of her shoes and didn't think she'd make it out of that room. ABC's Stephanie Ramos has more.
31 year old Diambra Redin.
The man seen in this video leaping over a judicial bench accused of attacking District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus in Las Vegas was back in court Thursday. Redin is accused of attacking Holthus while she was sentencing him for attempted battery charges in January. As she was preparing to hand down a sentence read and launched toward her, the judge recalling those terrifying moments as she testified against him.
I smashed into the wall.
He was on me, and then I was being pulled down. I had closed my eyes. I was trying to protect my face.
And my head.
Holthus recalling being hit so hard she was knocked out of her shoes.
The level of force he used the entire time was superhuman.
It took four men, including Holthus law clerk, to get Redden off of her.
It was, um, scary. I didn't think I was going to get out of there.
Reddin's defense team and family say he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. But the day of the attack, the judge says she didn't notice any signs of mental distress. Redden has pleaded guilty to attempted murder but claiming he is mentally ill. He is set to be sentenced on November 7th.
Diane Stephanie Ramos, thank you. And the FBI says agents are now investigating the inner circle of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Authorities say they raided the homes of two of his top deputies and subpoenaed the cell phones of high ranking NYPD officials. ABC's senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky has more.
The mayor of New York insists he and his administration are clean and cooperating.
I'm not aware of any misdoings and I'm going.
To again.
Follow the rules.
The mayor says he can't fathom why, but sources tell ABC news federal prosecutors and the FBI have opened new investigations focused on City Hall and the NYPD, including many of the administration's senior leaders. Investigators have seized the phones of Police Commissioner Edward Caban and at least a half dozen other top NYPD officials. And in pre-dawn raids, they searched the homes of two deputy mayors and the schools chancellor. No charges have been filed, and the mayor says his administration has nothing to hide.
We're going to comply with whatever rules, and we're going to follow the law, and we're going to make sure that whatever information is needed, we're going to turn over that information. For most of.
His three years in office, Adams and his campaign have faced scrutiny over whether they took illegal foreign money. The FBI seized his phones last November. Sources say the new investigations are separate. City Hall says there's no indication the mayor himself is a target of any investigation.
Aaron Katersky, thank you. And a new study shows the FDA is behind on critical inspections of factories responsible for making everything from antibiotics to cancer therapies. The public health concern stems from the Covid 19 pandemic's effect on the U.S. drug supply. ABC's Andrea Fujii has more.
A new study sounding the alarm on drug safety. The Associated Press found since the pandemic, nearly 2000 drug manufacturing facilities are overdue for FDA inspections, the agency already under scrutiny from Congress.
It is past time the FDA addresses these issues. People's lives depend on it.
The plant's overdue for inspection account for 42% of the facilities registered worldwide. Most are in the U.S., but more than 300 are in India and China, which make up the largest source of drug ingredients used in low cost prescriptions.
The failure of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Quality to go out and inspect these establishments is a public health concern.
Concerns that can have deadly effects. Last year, four Americans died and a dozen more were blinded from tainted eye drops made in a factory in India. So why is the FDA behind? During Covid, it stopped all but the most critical inspections. Now it's trying to catch up with far fewer employees. More than 200 inspection jobs are currently unfilled. Many former employees left for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
We have a lot of work to do as long as the marketplace is working the way it is.
Andrea Fujii Thank you. Coming up, cell phones and students, why some parents say they don't want to see smartphones banned from schools, and the expert advice to help them feel comfortable with the new trend.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. For seven states now have some kind of ban on cell phones in schools. And many parents say they actually aren't happy about the growing movement, despite teachers saying they are seeing positive results. ABC's Deborah Roberts has more on this growing debate.
Many kids are heading back to their.
Classrooms this year with a new rule.
Leave your cell phone behind.
This is.
Really thrilling that states.
And.
Schools, school districts.
All over the.
Country and indeed all.
Over the world.
This year are saying enough.
For students, it's an adjustment to a new reality. How is this working from what you're understanding?
Do you have to think.
Back, like when you and I were in high school? Imagine you're in ninth grade and they.
Said, you.
Can bring in your television set. You can bring in.
Your TiVo.
Or your VCR, you can bring in your walkie talkies, a paint by night, whatever you want. Bring it in, have it on your desk while the teacher is talking. How do you think that would have gone? Not very well. But if you have a smartphone in your pocket, that's what you have.
Social psychologist.
And author.
Of The.
Anxious Generation.
Jonathan Hight, has long argued that smartphones are stealing our kids childhoods. Encouraged by the new actions in schools, he says they're seeing immediate impact on students.
I've never found a school that said, we went phone free and boy, was that terrible. We had to reverse it. We hear laughter in the hallways. We haven't heard this much laughter in the hallways in ten years.
Hight warns that research shows the mental health toll cellphones are having on kids who become consumed with content, often feeling insecure about their own lives and growing distracted during school.
The phone is always more interesting than everything else going on around you. That's why our kids are getting hooked.
But with schools taking a tougher approach to protect students, some of their parents aren't buying in. Like Larry Mccuen, a father of five whose 13 year old twins attend Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C..
What's your your.
Overall.
Feeling about the ban on phones at your kid's.
School? They should just let the kids have it and just try to have the parents like like myself dictate. Tell the kids, please stay off your phone when you're not supposed to be on your phone.
He says his kids need their phones for schoolwork during class, and he worries about their safety. The twins were in a school lockdown last year and he couldn't reach them.
No one knew what was going on.
He's not alone. Maryland mom Janina Greene wants her daughters to be able to reach her if something frightening happens.
I think the kids should have access to their phones.
At all times.
She communicates frequently with them throughout the day, including to coordinate schedules.
I don't want to keep going through the school and it'll be quickly overwhelming for them if they have to do that for every parent.
She argues it's the teacher's responsibility to police the classroom.
I understand that they don't want them to use it to disrupt class, but to me, kids kind of have to learn self-control because as an adult, they're going to need self-control. So they're going to have to learn when it's appropriate to take out their phone and when it's not.
What about the parents who will.
Say, we worry about.
Emergencies? We want our kid to have access to the phone. Heaven forbid something happens during the course of the day.
I certainly understand that fear. I've got a 14 year old and an 18 year old. But what do the experts say? Our kids have been practicing what to do in these circumstances. Imagine you send your kid to one school where everyone has a phone on them. What's going to happen at the first sign of any trouble? Half the class is going to be calling their parents, saying, mom, mom, there's something going on. There's something going on. Uh, and now you can't respond. This is not safe. What you want is a school where the students are doing what they're supposed to do in an emergency. That's the best outcome for your kids.
It's understandable that after a tragedy like the one we saw this week, that parents are jittery about not being in touch with their children, which has led some schools to have different approaches about how to limit phones. But experts like Hite caution that it's difficult for kids to have their phones on them and not be distracted by notifications. We're going to talk more about how intense those notifications are in our next report. And of course, Hite offers more info and resources for parents and families online at Anxious generation.com. Diane.
All right. Deborah Roberts, thank you. And it's time now for our weekly segment Tell It Like It Is, where ABC news contributor Doctor Loke Patel shares health advice on the topics that matter most to you. And today, Doctor Patel is here to answer some of your questions. So, Doctor Patel, let's start things off with Mike from Phoenix. Mike asks, does taking creatine help with muscle recovery?
I'm glad that someone is asking this question.
Because it means.
That you are doing strength training, which is.
Great for your body. The short.
Answer is there.
Is mixed studies about whether or not creatine actually.
Helps with muscle recovery.
Now creatine to back it up.
No biochemistry.
Lecture here.
Helps with the ratio of ATP to ADP.
Go a couple lines down the pathway.
Mitochondria is the powerhouse.
Of the cell.
We get more cellular energy.
So there is some data to suggest that taking creatine can help with athletic performance. But when it comes to muscle recovery, stick with what works. Hydration, a nutritious snack and some rest and making sure you're getting adequate sleep that's the best for your muscles. And reminder creatine supplements are.
Not tightly.
Regulated by the FDA. They may cause side effects, and it's not recommended for anyone under the age of 18.
And Alex from New York City writes can people get mpox after getting vaccinated? What about the strain in Africa?
This is a very important.
Question, especially with what's happening in headlines now. Important reminder that no vaccine is 100% effective. The vaccine genius, according to two studies, is.
Somewhere between.
70 to 90% effective. But we do know that it can prevent severe illness if someone does catch it after they're fully vaccinated. Now, the people who should be going out there and talking about getting the vaccine are those who may have exposure to others, who may have mpox commercial sex workers or groups of men who have sex with men who may have more than one sexual partner, or a recent diagnosis of an STD. Now, regarding the strains, clade two is what is present right now. That is what we're talking about when we talk about the research clade one, that strain of mpox is what is causing the outbreak in Africa. And unpublished studies do suggest the vaccine works over there. But guess what? We have no cases of clade one here. But it is important that everyone spreads awareness and knows whether or not they should go see a doctor about a potential exposure or a new rash.
And Beth from new Jersey says, okay, I'm not supposed to shower with my contacts in. But then how am I supposed to see in the shower? This is a good question.
Yeah, Beth gets two.
Stars for.
Number one, knowing that we should not get our contacts submerged with non sterilized water, and also because this is like a question that people have and no one knows to ask. So if you are visually impaired and you're taking a shower it's important that you put safety as number one. So consider things like high contrast objects in your shower, potentially putting an S or a C on the shampoo and conditioner. Soap on a rope is an interesting trick I recently learned about. You can think about getting bars installed, a nonstick mat, and proper lighting now, as Beth knows, but hopefully everyone else will soon know. Contacts should not be in contact with Unsterilized water. That could be a pool, a shower, or a lake, because any contaminants in that water can actually have direct access to your eyes. That is not a good thing for swimmers out there. You get that prescription goggles and hey, I guess prescription goggles work also in the shower, but that's not very realistic.
All right, Doctor Patel, I want to see those goggles. I think you might have an invention. They're coming. Doctor Patel, thank you. And if you have questions for Doctor Patel or maybe some invention suggestions, just leave him a message on our Instagram feed. He might answer your question right here on Friday. Coming up back to school season is here. So how do you get your kids back to a decent sleep schedule? Doctor Sujay Kansagra, aka at that Sleep doc is here with some tips on how to set your kids up for sleep success after summer break.
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With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television. It's the most consequential moment of this campaign now. Kamala Harris, Donald Trump face to face the ABC news presidential debate, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis. Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First it is time for Macedo Methods, where I show you some of my favorite hacks to make life a little easier. But today I have a special guest joining me for his tips on getting your kids back on a sleep schedule after summer break. Professor and director of the Duke Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, Doctor Sujay Kansagra, aka at that Sleep doc is joining me now for more on this. Doctor Kansagra, so great to have you on. I always love when we get to chat like this.
Absolutely. Same here.
So talk me through this because summer means late sunsets. That usually means later bedtimes, later wake up times for kids. But that can be really tough when school starts, because they can't always fall asleep early enough to get enough sleep before you need to wake them up for school. And then this is the kicker. The little ones then might be overtired the next night, which also makes it hard for them to fall asleep. So what are your tips to undo this? Because this can turn into a bad cycle.
Yes, absolutely. School start times.
It's tough. What we're asking kids to do.
Is move their circadian rhythm earlier, because during summertime it's very easy to delay that circadian rhythm, and there are some tips to get your kid back on track. First of all, light exposure is really the key when it comes to timing of light. So getting less light at nighttime for 30 minutes prior to bed, getting plenty of bright lights in the morning can be very helpful. You want to move the schedule slowly if you have the time, so 10 to 15 minutes a day move up their bedtime and their wake up time. It's great if you can time their meals earlier as well. That actually helps set the circadian rhythm, believe it or not. And you want to make sure the schedule stays the same weekdays and weekends. That's super important to keeping on track.
Okay, what about teens because they have the same issues. Plus they also usually have delayed circadian rhythms. They are natural night owls, and many of them have even earlier wake up times than the little ones. So how do you help them given that mismatch?
Yeah, schools start incredibly early, which is unfortunate. You know, the goal is for high school to start at 830 or later. But that's not the reality in some situations, depending on how delayed the teen is, this is where melatonin may play a role. Of course. Speak to your health care provider. But low dose of melatonin 2 to 6 hours prior to the current sleep onset time can actually help advance the circadian rhythm. Now, in super delayed cases where children are going to bed at like 4 or 5 in the morning, waking up in the afternoon, and now they have to advance by like 6 or 7 hours. There's a therapy called chronotherapy. And this is really interesting, in which you delay your bedtime by two hours every single night and then sleeping as long as you want, and doing the opposite of what I just told you, getting lots of light prior to bedtime and keeping things dim in the morning. And what you do is you essentially push back two hours every single night until you've delayed around the entire clock, and then they're lined back up again.
So you've pushed their bedtime so late that they've reached a normal bedtime again. And that's when you get strict again. Avoid the light at nighttime and lots of bright lights in the morning.
And I want to stress something you said low dose of melatonin. Because you and I both know this is one of the most misused supplements out there. So can you talk just a little bit more about that, the timing and the dosage that people want to be looking for here, because I know some people are giving their kids, you know, four milligrams of melatonin at night, right? At bedtime.
Yeah, absolutely. And again, I'll emphasize definitely speak with your health care provider. But we think it's actually the timing in which you give the melatonin that's more important than the actual dosage. So I'm looking at half a milligram to milligram doses and 2 to 6 hours prior to the current sleep onset time. We think that's probably all you need. I rarely even for, you know, older children will go over three milligrams of melatonin and you want to get it from a reliable source because we know based on studies, because it's not FDA regulated, they can put all sorts of stuff in these bottles and the doses are all over the place. So you really want to go to a reliable pharmacy that you trust.
All right, doctor, I have so much more we could talk about. We are out of time, sadly. Always great to have you. Thank you.
Thank you. Sleep well, my friend.
Thank you. Same to you. And thank you for watching. I'm Diane Macedo. The news never stops, and neither do we. You can find ABC News Live anywhere you stream live news on the ABC news app or on ABC news.com. And we have a lot more news for you after the break. Stay with us.
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Hi, I'm Diane Macedo today on ABC News Live. First, the 14 year old Georgia school shooting suspect appears in court charged as an adult with murder. The teen's father is also now under arrest. Why? Authorities say he should be held responsible for what his son did. As we learn more about the victims. The pivotal new jobs report why the fed is paying close attention, and what the numbers could mean for interest rates. And former President Trump expected in court today he's appealing the verdict in his sex abuse case. Why his lawyers say he deserved a new trial, as he also awaits a ruling on sentencing in his hush money case. But first, we start with former President Trump in a New York City courthouse for that appeal of the E Jean Carroll judgment, holding him liable for sexual abuse. Trump's lawyers are arguing the judge should not have excluded evidence of the former president's state of mind during the trial. His appearance today is voluntary and comes just four days before his first debate with Vice President Harris.
ABC news senior reporter Katherine Faulders joins me now, along with ABC news legal contributor Brian Buchmeyer. For more, thank you both for coming on. Katherine, what can we expect to hear in court today?
Yeah. Look, so this is going to.
Be a really short.
Hearing.
This is before the appeals court.
So a three judge panel here, each side is allotted ten minutes for arguments.
So Trump's lawyers will have ten minutes. Obviously the lawyers will have ten minutes. This isn't probably going to be over 30 minutes. And I think the point that you made Diane at the top, that this is voluntary, that Trump doesn't have to attend. This is crucial when we talk about this. He doesn't have to be there in court. This is typically would be a.
Smaller hearing, if you will.
Even though it is his appeal of this 2023 judgment. And then, of course, after this hearing, Trump will go down to Trump Tower and then hold a press conference. You remember he liked to talk in the hallways of the courts at his New York case, for example. That won't happen here because there's no cameras in court. So then he will go hold a press conference. He's trying to use this a bit to his political advantage. So I think after court you will see something similar to what we were so used to seeing beforehand.
Brian, how do you see this playing out? How strong do you think Trump's case is for an appeal?
I think it's an interesting case. I wouldn't say it's the.
Strongest of.
Cases. There are.
Some arguments that.
Evidence should not have been included.
Or some evidence should have been included. And that's a typical appeal that you hear. And so it's really going to come down to whether or not Judge Juan Merchan abused his discretion in allowing certain evidence to come in or not. I don't think it's a landslide case for Donald Trump in any way, shape or form, but he does have some good arguments.
Catherine, today, another judge is also set to decide whether Trump will be sentenced in his New York hush money case in less than two weeks. He's been trying to get this case moved to federal court to delay that sentencing. So where does that stand?
Yeah, he's not going to get the case moved to federal court. He's attempted to do this a couple of times. But the main thing is that sentencing that's going to come later in September. Trump's lawyers have asked the judge to delay that sentencing because of the election. They want Trump to be sentenced. After the election, the DA's office took no position on what Trump was saying. So of course now it's left to the judge that will come today. According to the judge and prosecutors who revealed this from the judge. And we don't really have a timeline on when that will come. But we will know today whether Trump's sentencing will be delayed or not.
And, Brian, how likely do you think it is that they do go ahead and delay this sentence until after the election?
In my mind, it's really about the punishment here. And just a quick correction. The second circuit case that's not vollmarshausen. That's engoron. That's a different case. This is the Walmart case in my mind, he's facing up to four years in prison for falsifying business records, that's very unlikely. I think we're more in the range of community service, maybe, and probation. And so for the judge here, if he's thinking, you know what, I've already kind of decided I'm not going to put him in jail. He can appeal these cases while he's outside on liberty, uh, petitioning the case or or running for the presidency. So I think there's a likelihood that the judge says, you know what? Let's just get this over with. Guys like, I'm not going to put him in jail, and you guys can appeal as you go further on this case, let's get this done and move to the next step. But if jail is a consideration, I can see that giving the judge more of a pause to say I'm not going to incarcerate him while he's got so much going on and he's running for the for the president of the United States.
Interesting.
Katherine Faulders. Brian Buchmeyer, thank you both. And we will be following both of those cases all morning. We'll bring you the latest from the courtroom on ABC News Live. And the 14 year old suspect in the Apalachee school shooting and his father are now in custody after making their first appearances in a Georgia courtroom this morning. That teen suspected shooter faces four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected. The judge in the case read him his charges earlier this morning and laid out the potential penalties here. He's accused of killing two students and two teachers and injuring nine others could face a life sentence. The alleged shooter's father also appeared in court this morning. The judge read him the multiple felonies he is charged with, including involuntary manslaughter, second degree murder and cruelty to children. And ABC's faith abubey is there outside the school, along with ABC news legal contributor Brian Buchmeyer. Again here with me on set to unpack this. So, Faith, I want us to start with what happened in court because you were watching these appearances.
What stood out to you about how they both went down?
Well, Diane, this was the first time we actually got to see a cold gray after this shooting here at the campus, here in winter, at the high school, Apalachee High School here. And we saw him in that signature blonde hair that we saw in the mugshot. He walked into court wearing what appears to be the detention center uniform. He sat there. He looked straight at the judge as the judge was reading off the charges, reading him his rights. And then the father also came in. He was rocking back and forth as he was listening to the judge. At times he would look down. He would close his eyes. He just kept going back and forth, back and forth. What we did learn, though, this was a situation where neither of them entered a plea. They are not requesting a bond, so they are still in custody at this point. But also, the judge didn't ask any questions about the circumstances of why they were there. He did not ask any questions about the facts in this case.
And here's more from the judge as he was telling them what penalty they could face if they were convicted.
In essence, you're charged with four counts of felony murder, as outlined in in the state warrants that have been issued against you. I want to make you aware that the maximum penalty for felony murder. So for each count. The maximum penalty is that you could be punishable by death, by imprisonment for life without parole or by imprisonment for life.
Savannah, back to you.
Yeah. And, Diane, the judge actually came back a little later, called them all back, including the suspect there, and actually clarified that because he's a minor, he's not facing the death penalty. So the most he could face is life in prison without parole. He could also face life in prison with the possibility of parole as well. Also, right now, we don't know if they had any interaction. There was any interaction between the father and the son. But you heard we actually heard from the father. We didn't hear from Coach Gray in court, but the father actually spoke to the judge. He answered some questions and you could just hear him. He's speaking very softly and again, once again. One thing that stood out to me, he just kept rocking back and forth as he was listening to that judge.
Yeah. He did. Brian, I want to unpack this part of the death penalty because this created some confusion in the courtroom and out. He is being charged despite being 14 years old as an adult. And yet as a minor, he cannot face the death penalty. How does that work and why?
Yes, he's charged as an adult if he because of his age. There's a Supreme Court case called Miller v Alabama, where basically it says that a person under a certain age doesn't have the mens rea or the mental capacity to commit a crime that is so heinous that you would put them to death. There have to be hearings, and there would have to be other safeguards to ensure whether or not he does face the death penalty at the end of the day, but because he's being charged as an adult, it's on the table. But it kind of a situation of it's on the table, off the table because of the level of charge, but also the age based on state and Supreme Court law.
And then let's talk about the dad here, because his father is now also facing charges. The judge laid out the charges and the penalties, saying in total, if convicted, he could face up to 180 years in prison, essentially a life sentence here. So what kind of precedent are they working off of here in order to bring charges against the father? Because they don't think he was actually involved in this shooting, but they're saying he should be held responsible because they believe he provided this gun to his son.
Yeah. In terms of precedents, I think that the Crumbley case out of Michigan is what everyone is going to be thinking about in a case like this, where you have what's called vicarious liability, where you're liable for a third party's actions, no one is saying that the father went into the school and pulled the trigger himself. But what they're arguing is through, especially the murder in the second degree and the child charges as well, is that he was so negligent and reckless in providing the firearm in missing the red flags of his. His son's mental health issues and the outcries that we're hearing and coming out in reporting of this case, that it was reckless and negligent of him to believe that this would not have occurred and that he is liable for the damages, namely the murders and the injuries that his son created. And so that's the precedent. That's the idea. Michigan's already done it. Georgia seems well on the way to doing it. And I think as we see more of these cases, unfortunately we might see more of these cases.
This precedent may grow. All right.
Faith Abubey Brian Buchmeyer, thank you both. And we have breaking news. The new jobs report is shedding some new light on a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. U.S. employers added 142,000 jobs in August, falling short of analysts expectations. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 4.2%. ABC's Elizabeth Schulze joins us from Washington with more on that. Elizabeth, what do these numbers tell you about the state of the economy right now and the potential for an interest rate cut?
Diane, what this tells.
You is that job growth is.
Clearly slowing down. 142,000 jobs.
Is better.
Than what we had saw in the month of July. Remember, that report in July was really weak, and it was.
Actually revised.
Lower down to 89,000 jobs. So this.
Was a.
Rebound. And it's good news that the unemployment rate did tick down a little bit. But when you look at the big picture of the jobs market, this is a market.
That is.
Genuinely slowing down. In other words, hiring isn't happening as fast. And what we're seeing is that it.
Is harder to get a job if you're looking for a.
Job. The American economy.
Is still.
Strong and steady.
Overall, but there are some signs of clear weakening.
Here. When you think about.
What that means for the Federal Reserve.
Diane, the.
Question is just how much is that weakening happening and how quickly does the fed need to act? The fed has said it knows that inflation is now pretty much under control back at its 2% target. So now the fed is looking at this cooling jobs market to determine how much it should lower interest rates, which would make it cheaper for businesses to borrow money for consumers to borrow money. The expectation is that the fed will cut rates in less than two weeks at its meeting. It's unclear from this report how big that rate cut will be. Some analysts I'm talking to, Diane, say there should be a bigger rate cut because of the slowdown that we're seeing in the jobs market.
And Elizabeth, how has the Biden administration responding to the report?
So we heard the president in a statement that was just released, tout these numbers. He's touting his record of job growth and the administration, but at the same time acknowledging that because inflation is now in a better position, we shouldn't wait too long. There shouldn't be this weakening in jobs for a longer time. And we're here at the Labor Department in Washington. Diane, I just had a chance to speak with the acting labor secretary to ask her if she's worried that this hiring slowdown could be the sign of a bigger downturn in the economy. Here's what she said.
I think we are. You know, we reached a state that defies all expectations, in which we continue to see job growth. We continue to see strong consumer spending. You know, so many indicators of the economy show that we, you know, we've done what many people thought would not be possible. And so I think about it, as you know, we've reached a cruising altitude and, you know, and we and we want to keep it up.
No signs that that's just going to crash at this point. Exactly.
No, no. In fact, the opposite. Right. Most indicators demonstrate that we are, you know, that the economy is doing well.
So the Biden administration, Diane, trying to tout the fact that the economy at this point is on track to achieve that coveted soft landing. We've been talking about it for months. The idea that inflation is better, it's back to where it generally is in a healthy economy, and the jobs market is cooling off, but they're still hiring happening. If that can continue and the U.S. can avoid a recession, that would really be a victory. The administration would want to tout, obviously, a victory for the broader American economy, too.
And I want to bring in our business reporter, Alexis Christoforous, because, Alexis, the markets are now reacting to this. What sticks out to you there?
Well, it shows that it's not the reaction we saw a month ago when we saw just 114,000 jobs added, and that really fueled concerns that we could be seeing a sharp slowdown in the job market, which perhaps could lead to some sort of a bigger slowdown, like a recession. So today it seems as though investors are sort of shrugging off this report. It's a foregone conclusion that we'll get that rate cut. They believe in a couple of weeks. The question is by how much? I can tell you. I've been on the phone with a few economists. Most say this report shows the job market's in pretty good shape. It's not falling off a cliff. And we'll probably get that more subdued quarter point rate cut from the Fed on September 18th.
All right Elizabeth Chelsea Alexis Christoforous thank you both. Vice President Harris is preparing for her first debate with former President Trump. Harris and Trump are off the campaign trail with just four days until that debate and just 60 days until Election Day. ABC News Senior White House correspondent Selina Wang has the latest.
Vice President Harris is hunkered.
Down with her team here in.
Downtown Pittsburgh in a hotel.
I'm told that she's taking debate preparation very seriously.
This is going to be Donald Trump's.
Seventh general election presidential.
Debate. This will be Vice President Harris's first.
They've never even been in the same room together. Vice President Harris has never even spoken.
To Donald Trump. I'm told that she's.
Already done a few.
Mock debates.
And that she's.
Also honing in.
On her attacks on Donald Trump and how she's going to get under his skin without losing her own calm.
Now it is clear, though, that Vice President Harris is going into this debate with.
The momentum.
Behind her.
Her campaign says that.
She raised her campaign, raised $361.
Million in.
August.
That is nearly triple.
The amount that Trump.
Raised at the same.
Time period.
They're also touting the grass roots.
Support.
Saying that 1.3.
Million donors made.
Their first donation this cycle. Now, in a complete split screen, Donald Trump today is going to be giving a press conference. He's going to be in a courtroom, and.
His team has made.
Clear that he does not need traditional debate preparation. He sees these town halls, a press conference he's doing today, and interviews with media outlets as his form of debate preparation. But he is having meetings with advisers on policy, including former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard. Remember, Gabbard had gone up against Vice President Harris back during the 2020 Democratic primaries. Gabbard is saying that Trump should focus on how Harris has changed her positions since then. Donald Trump has also been told by his aides to focus on the issues, instead of personal attacks on Vice President Harris. Diane.
All right. Selina Wang in Pittsburgh. Thank you. The first presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris is on Tuesday night. You can watch it right here on ABC News Live at 9 p.m. eastern. And millions of Americans along the Gulf Coast are under threat for flash flooding. Parts of the South have been hammered by rain for days now. The city of Jacksonville is under a flood watch. Meanwhile, the West Coast is scorching under dangerous and record breaking heat. Phoenix hit 116 degrees yesterday and is bracing for more sweltering temperatures today. ABC News Meteorologist Melissa Griffin is tracking the forecast. So where are you seeing the biggest flood threats and heat threats today?
Well, Diane, let's start.
In the Gulf Coast because it's.
Been days of rain for these.
Areas. We're talking since the holiday weekend and it's not over yet. We still have the stationary front parked over the Gulf Coast, and that's where we're going to continue to see those rounds of rain to continue across these areas. And it's not just for parts of Louisiana, Florida, but also into the Carolinas through tonight. It is that significant flood threat, though, for the New Orleans area for the second day in a row that I'm also concerned about, those spots could see more than half a foot of rain. So really watching for that. Now let's talk about the heat, because Phoenix, Arizona 116, that broke an all time record for the latest temperature this hot in September, not only Phoenix but also Portland, Oregon. And remember, Phoenix is also seeing 56 days this year with temperatures over 110 degrees. The heat not over yet. We're still watching these 60 plus million Americans under alerts for excessive heat from Phoenix and Palm Springs. A little bit cooler than yesterday, but still dangerously hot, stretching all the way to places like the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle could reach the 90s again today. They just did yesterday, 97 in Portland, 102 in Medford. And with all of that heat, you have the threat for fires as well. So red flag warnings are also in effect for parts of the Pacific Northwest. It expands into the weekend. Places like Spokane could see records three days in a row through Sunday and in parts of Montana records possible into early next week. So it's still feeling just like summer out there.
All right Melissa Griffin thank you. Coming up, a warning to parents after a teen falls victim to a growing scam known as sextortion. What's being done now to hold criminals responsible.
Whenever news breaks.
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It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
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Suspects.
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A known.
Serial killer in your.
Area. Could he be involved?
We're actually finding.
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Tuesday night. The most consequential moment of this campaign, Kamala Harris.
Together, we will chart a new way forward. Donald Trump.
We will soon be a great nation again.
Face to face. Historic. The ABC news presidential debate moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis. Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, federal prosecutors are warning parents about a dangerous sextortion scam. Two Nigerian brothers accused of running an international sextortion ring have been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison. The two admit to sexually extorting teenage boys and young men across the U.S., including a Michigan teen who took his own life. ABC's Andrew Dymburt has more.
A pair of Nigerian scammers are behind bars here in the U.S., convicted in an internet con that turned deadly.
They solicited and received a compromising image, and then they immediately turned to blackmail their victims, hounding them for money and even urging their victims to kill.
Themselves.
If they couldn't pay.
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were found guilty of conspiracy to sexually exploit a minor after they extorted Michigan teenager Jordan Demay. The 17 year old homecoming king later took his own life, thrusting so-called sextortion into the national spotlight.
It started out with the.
Supposed.
Girl saying.
Hey, we have some friends in common.
The two men targeted Dumais by pretending to be a high school girl named Danny, eventually convincing Dumais to send explicit photos of himself. The scammers then demanded $1,000, threatening if he didn't pay, they would send those compromising photos to his friends and family. Dumais died by suicide just hours later.
When I think about the things that they said to him. It hurts me so bad as a mom to think about what he went through in the last hours.
But now, some closure for Dumas family. The Ogoshi brothers yesterday were sentenced to 17 years in prison. The first conviction in an alleged sextortion ring involving more than 100 victims.
This is a serious threat that is only getting worse and it can happen fast. We know that the time from initial contact to Jordan's passing was a mere two hours.
Andrew Dymburt. Thank you. Coming up, GMA lifestyle contributor Lori Bergamotto joins us for The Right Stuff. She's got her best picks for the products you will need to pack back to school lunches. It's time for the right stuff. When we come back.
To turn it up. Slow down cause we're here and now.
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Here in.
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Coming of age in the.
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But for those of us Experiencing it from the inside.
The Brat Pack was.
Something very different. If you could have, the Brat Pack may not exist.
Would you?
I hated the Brat Pack. What a.
Disaster! Why did.
We take it as an offense.
Andrew? I'm not going to say we were the Beatles.
Well, we didn't sell Shea Stadium, 1985.
I think we could have. Hey hey hey.
Ta da! With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC news world News tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television. Why do so many people start their day here?
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Can't live without love. Can't live without music. Music. Turn it up so loud that we can't come down. We're feeling that rush.
You know that music means it is time for the right stuff here on ABC News Live. First we have our friend, GMA lifestyle contributor Lori Bergamotto here because every Friday Lori brings us some of her favorite products. And this back to school week, She has some must products. Must have products for packing lunch. So reminder you can shop these products in whatever. Laurie shared on Good Morning America. By scanning that QR code in the bottom left corner of your screen. And Laurie, I just told you the first product you're showing is all over my social media feeds.
So they're gone completely viral.
And it's the snack box friends.
So this one is closed.
But this one, if.
You don't mind, I'm going to pull the top off. Do I.
Mind? No, I'm getting involved.
Veggie straws. Diane.
So this we.
Actually got turned on to. You said it's all over social. Yeah.
We actually at GMA have a Moms Minute series on our site. And Bethany who works on that.
Series, she was like, this thing has been a game changer for my family. Why? So as you can see here, it is clear. You can see all of your options, which I feel like you're such a person.
I'm a very visual person.
Everything. So this is like a great way to see that. Also, your kids can get involved. And don't you feel like. I mean, you have kids, I have kids. If they have a hand in what goes in these little boxes. Don't you feel like there's so much more likely to eat it?
Also, you.
Put this in the fridge and then when they say, I'm hungry, you say, well, go to the fridge and get it yourself.
Exactly. And the.
Fact that you can take these little guys out, you know, a lot of moms that I read online, a lot of moms, what they're doing is they're packing little lunches, like maybe.
Two at a time.
For the week. So they're saying, okay, here's your cheese and your fruit and your vegetables or whatever. Putting it in the fridge. And then maybe Monday through Wednesday that is done. And you've just bought yourself so much time. I love that you're enjoying the veggie straws.
I'm enjoying all of it. They're Cheerios in here. There's melon in.
Here. But there's so many things. Great healthy choices, really affordable. And like you said, it is viral. And it's viral for a reason. You guys. It's fantastic. Great for sporting.
Events. Erin's saying we.
Have to move on, but I don't want to. So I'm going to bring.
It with me. We're going to bring those veggie straws. Okay. This is great. This is adorable right? This is great if you have multiple kids or you're doing something that requires more food. But this is good.
For adults, too.
Exactly.
As evidenced by Diana. But we're moving along to these whisk wear. Stackable. So what's so cool about this? It's a third of a cup, a cup and a cup. You can just unscrew the lid here and there. Oh they're like.
A bunch of little cups.
They're a bunch of little cups. So they're great because they're like I said they're stackable. The lid can go on any one. So if you want to use all three you can put them in a stack. If you want to just use one.
It probably also fits in the side pocket of the backpack.
Oh, you know it does, Diane. And it's fantastic because you know for my kids I have three kids. I have a little kid. And then I have two big kids. And what's great about it is I can just take one of these, put it in the car. There are snacks in there. There are snacks in this one.
I think I see oh, yeah, I see Cheez-Its in here.
And the oh, I love it. Cheez-It. Who doesn't love a Cheez-It? They're so good. But the other thing about this is they come in a lot of different characters so your kids can get involved in that way as well. And they're really affordable and everything's on Amazon and we have Jesus at the ready.
Like Lori Bergamotto thank you friend. And to shop these products and more of the right stuff, you can scan the QR code on the bottom left of your screen for your weekly roundup of the best lifestyle content from Lori and GMA. Catch GMA Life Weekends eight 3930 11:30 a.m. eastern here on ABC News Live and also streaming on Hulu. As always, thanks for streaming with us. I'm Diane Macedo, ABC News Live is here for you anytime you need, we're on Hulu, Disney+, Roku, pretty much anywhere you can stream live news and of course on abcnews.com. Can you catch one? Thanks, friend. Ready?
Oh, here we go.
Oh, I did not. We'll be right back.
What does it take to be the most watched newscast in America?
An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
Since their combat operations center.
We're approaching the gate now. Militants came in from 4 or 5 different directions. Operational nuclear reactor. So you have a couple loaded and.
Ready to go.
The house is destroyed, but the flag, there's not a tear in it.
Not a tear in it.
How important is this label right here? Made the USA. Look at your smile.
You're proud of this.
I love it. Great work.
Hi. Where are you? Where are you? Appreciate you.
Thank you. David. Good to meet you.
Hey. Smile. David.
David. Yes, yes.
I'm David Muir.
I know who you are. You do?
Every night.
ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast. Tuesday night, the most consequential moment of this campaign. Kamala Harris.
Together, we will chart a new way forward Donald Trump. We will soon be a great nation again. Face to face. Historic.
The ABC news presidential debate moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis. Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, thanks for streaming with us. You are looking at Trump Tower in New York City on this Friday. And we have a lot of news to get to. Here's a rundown right now of pilot and passenger are critically injured after a small plane crashed on the streets of Hawthorne, California, overnight. The Cessna Skyhawk was in pieces and on fire when L.A. County fire crews responded to the scene. Those two people injured were taken to the hospital. Thankfully, no one else was hurt. The hip hop world is mourning the death of rapper Rich Homie Quan. The Atlanta artist, whose legal name is Devonte Lamar, gained fame for his trap genre singles like Type of Way and Flex. The Fulton County Medical Examiner confirms to the Associated Press that the rapper died at an Atlanta hospital. Details on cause of death are not yet known, but an autopsy scheduled for today. Rich Homie Quan was 34. Red lobster is emerging from bankruptcy. A judge has approved a restructuring plan that allows a restaurant chain to keep all its current locations open, meaning 30,000 employees can keep their jobs.
And the Massachusetts woman accused of hitting her police officer boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him to die is giving her first full sit down interview since her case ended in a mistrial. Karen Reed spoke with ABC news chief national correspondent Matt Gutman about the case, one week before her new trial is set to begin.
Free Karen Reed. The high profile murder trial, captivating millions and dividing a tight knit Massachusetts suburb. Justice for JJ and now, for the first time, Karen Reed, accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, giving her full version of events that night. Would you say that you were angry with John that night?
Yes.
Could you have been angry enough and slightly drunk because he had annoyed you, that in a fit of rage you just backed up and.
Never tried to.
Tap him? I would not try to kill him, but try to to.
Tap him with my £6,000 full size SUV to hit John's body with my car. No.
The sensational murder case ending in a mistrial this summer after the jury was deadlocked. Prosecutors accusing then 41 year old Reed of hitting her boyfriend, police officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV in 2022. After a night of drinking and then leaving him to die in the snow. It all started on a Friday night in January 2022. Reid and O'Keefe drinking with their friends at a local bar. Later that night, Reid says she last saw John after dropping him off at an after party at a home on Fairview Road before going home to sleep. She says she awoke in the middle of the night and he wasn't home.
I called a few of his buddies, their wives. Now I have an immense sense of dread, like a fright in me that I have not experienced before.
Do you expect to see him like lying on the street, drunk or passed out?
I was worried he might have gotten hit by a plow.
Reid meets up with some of John's friends, and they all return to the house where the after party was. And then she spots him in the snow.
His eyes were shut and he had spots of blood in different areas on his face, and he was still not stiff, but. But still it was cold.
John O'Keefe is soon declared dead, but the investigation is about to explode. Investigators finding pieces of a tail light they say is from Reids car at the crime scene.
I was talking to my best friend on the phone and I said, there's a lot of cops circling. And I said, I think I'm gonna get arrested.
Reid was later charged with second degree murder and pleaded not guilty. ABC news granted exclusive access behind the scenes as Reid prepared for her trial.
Hiding out like this, you just watch the world pass you by and you're you're going through the motions. Pun intended. And, uh, but, you know, it could all end. I could be convicted.
In the months leading up to the trial, Reid's defense team arguing in hearings and filings a stunning new theory that the injuries on John O'Keefe's body were not consistent with him being hit by a car. They claimed she was framed.
There are people in that.
House that are actually responsible for his death and who murdered him. And there are others in the house who are covering up that.
Murder, the.
Prosecution insisting that no one at the party had anything to do with O'Keefe's death, saying he never even entered the Fairview Road home and they denied that Reid was being framed.
All eyes will be on this courthouse in Dedham.
The trial soon drawing national attention. And after 29 days deadlocking the jury.
I'm declaring a mistrial in this case.
Family and friends. Remembering John, the son who always dreamed of being a police officer.
He was lost in this whole circus, and I think none of us want him to be lost. So I think we were all waiting for that it to be finally over so we can finally grieve.
I mean, that could be another 18 months.
It could be.
Another five years.
And we're going to be there.
Yeah. Absolutely.
And, Diane. Karen Reed's legal troubles are set to continue that retrial for second degree murder set for January and just this past month, which is what John O'Keefe's family members were referring to in the piece. His family filing a wrongful death suit. They told me they are never going to stop fighting for justice for John. As for Karen Reed's team, they also plan to fight on saying there's no quit in them. Diane.
All right. ABC News Chief national correspondent Matt Gutman. Thank you. And for more of Matt's interview with Karen Reed, tune in to 2020, which airs tonight, 9 p.m. eight central on ABC and streaming on Hulu. And the Nevada judge, attacked by a defendant in her own courtroom is opening up about the incident. Judge Mary Kay Holthus took the stand to testify in the trial. She says she was knocked out of her shoes and didn't think she'd make it out of that room. ABC's Stephanie Ramos has more.
31 year old Debra Reddin, the man seen in this video leaping over a judicial bench accused of attacking District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus in Las Vegas, was back in court Thursday. Retton is accused of attacking Holthus while she was sentencing him for attempted battery charges in January, as she was preparing to hand down a sentence read and launched toward her. The judge recalling those terrifying moments as she testified against him.
I smashed into the wall.
He was on me, and then I was being pulled down. I had closed my eyes. I was trying to protect my face and my head.
Holthus recalling being hit so hard she was knocked out of her shoes.
The level of force he used the entire time was superhuman.
It took four men, including Holthus law clerk, to get Redden off of her.
It was, um.
Scary. I didn't think I was going to get out of there.
Reddin's defense team and family say he was diagnosed with paranoid Schizophrenia. But the day of the attack, the judge says she didn't notice any signs of mental distress. Redden has pleaded guilty to attempted murder but claiming he is mentally ill. He is set to be sentenced on November 7th.
Diane Stephanie Ramos, thank you. And the FBI says agents are now investigating the inner circle of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Authorities say they raided the homes of two of his top deputies and subpoenaed the cell phones of high ranking NYPD officials. ABC's senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky has more.
The mayor of New York insists he and his administration are clean and cooperating.
I'm not aware of any misdoings, and I'm going to again follow the rules.
The mayor says he can't fathom why, but sources tell ABC news federal prosecutors and the FBI have opened new investigations focused on City Hall and the NYPD, including many of the administration's senior leaders. Investigators have seized the phones of Police Commissioner Edward Caban and at least a half dozen other top NYPD officials. And in pre-dawn raids, they searched the homes of two deputy mayors and the schools chancellor. No charges have been filed, and the mayor says his administration has nothing to hide.
We're going to comply with whatever rules, and we're going to follow the law, and we're going to make sure that whatever information is needed, we're going to turn over that information.
For most of his three years in office, Adams and his campaign have faced scrutiny over whether they took illegal foreign money. The FBI seized his phones last November. Sources say the new investigations are separate. City Hall says there's no indication the mayor himself is a target of any investigation.
Aaron Katersky, thank you. And a new study shows the FDA is behind on critical inspections of factories responsible for making everything from antibiotics to cancer therapies. The public health concern stems from the Covid 19 pandemic's effect on the U.S. drug supply. ABC's Andrea Fujii has more.
A new study sounding the alarm on drug safety. The Associated Press found since the pandemic, nearly 2000 drug manufacturing facilities are overdue for FDA inspections. The agency already under scrutiny from Congress.
It is past time the FDA addresses these issues. People's lives depend on it.
The plant's overdue for inspection account for 42% of the facilities registered worldwide. Most are in the U.S., but more than 300 are in India and China, which make up the largest source of drug ingredients used in low cost prescriptions.
The failure of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Quality to go out and inspect these establishments is a public health concern.
Concerns that can have deadly effects. Last year, four Americans died and a dozen more were blinded from tainted eye drops made in a factory in India. So why is the FDA behind during Covid, it stopped all but the most critical inspections. Now it's trying to catch up with far fewer employees. More than 200 inspection jobs are currently unfilled. Many former employees left for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
We have a lot of work to do as long as the marketplace is working the way it is.
Andrea Fujii Thank you. Coming up, cell phones and students, why some parents say they don't want to see smartphones banned from schools, and the expert advice to help them feel comfortable with the new trend.
What does it take to be the most watched newscast in America?
But operation to capture ISIS fighters?
This is their combat operation center.
We're approaching the gate now. Militants came in from 4 or 5 different directions. Operational nuclear reactor. So you have a couple loaded and ready to go. The house is destroyed, but the flag, there's not a tear in it, not a.
Tear in it.
How important is this label right here? Made in the USA. Look at your smile. You're proud of.
This, I love this.
Great work.
Hi. Where are you? Where are you? Appreciate you. Thank you.
Good to meet you.
It's me. David.
David? Yes, yes.
I'm David Muir.
I know who you are. You do?
Every night.
ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast.
If you were coming of age in the 1980s, the.
Brat Pack was near the center of your cultural awareness. But for those of us experiencing it from the inside, the Brat Pack was something very different.
If you could have the Brat Pack name.
Not exist, would you?
I hated the Brat Pack. What a.
Disaster.
Why did we take it as an offense?
Andrea, I'm not going to say we were the.
Beatles or anything.
Well, we didn't sell Shea Stadium.
1985 I think we could have. Hep. Hep hep.
Ta da! Why do so many people start their day here?
From ABC news. This is start here to be in the know.
And get a different take on the day's top stories. A lot of.
News today, so let's get into it.
Listen now to the daily news podcast honored with four Edward R Murrow Awards, and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to. Start here ABC news. Make it your daily first listen.
Now that's a part of the story I bet you didn't see coming. Wherever you get.
Your podcasts, start here.
Welcome back to ABC News Live. For seven states now have some kind of ban on cell phones in schools. And many parents say they actually aren't happy about the growing movement, despite teachers saying they are seeing positive results. ABC's Deborah Roberts has more on this growing debate.
Many kids are heading back to their classrooms this year with a new rule. Leave your cell phone behind.
This is really thrilling that states and schools, school districts all over the country and indeed all over the world this year are saying enough.
For students, it's an adjustment to a new reality. How is this working from what you're understanding?
You have to think back. Like when you and I were in high school. Imagine you're in ninth grade and they said, you can bring in your television set. You can bring in your TiVo or your VCR, you can bring in your walkie talkies, a paint by whatever you want. Bring it in, have it on your desk while the teacher is talking. How do you think that would have gone? Not very well. But if you have a smartphone in your pocket, that's what you have.
Social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Hight, has long argued that smartphones are stealing our kids childhoods. Encouraged by the new actions in schools, he says they're seeing immediate impact on students.
I've never found a school that said, we went phone free and boy, was that terrible. We had to reverse it. We hear laughter in the hallways. We haven't heard this much laughter in the hallways in ten years.
He warns that research shows the mental health toll. Cell phones are having on kids who become consumed with content, often feeling insecure about their own lives and growing distracted during school.
The phone is always more interesting than everything else going on around you. That's why our kids are getting hooked.
But with schools taking a tougher approach to protect students, some of their parents aren't buying in. Like Larry Mccuen, a father of five whose 13 year old twins attend Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C.. What's your your.
Overall.
Feeling about the ban on phones at your kid's school?
They should just let the kids have it and just try to have the parents like like myself dictate. Tell the kids, please stay off your phone when you're not supposed to be on your phone.
He says his kids need their phones for schoolwork during class and he worries about their safety. The twins were in a school lockdown last year and he couldn't reach them.
No one knew what was going on.
He's not alone. Maryland mom Janina Greene wants her daughters to be able to reach her if something frightening happens.
I think the kids should have access to their phones at all times.
She communicates frequently with them throughout the day, including to coordinate schedules.
I don't want to keep going through the school, and it'll be quickly overwhelming for them if they have to do that for every parent.
She argues it's the teacher's responsibility to police the classroom.
I understand that they don't want them to use it to disrupt class, but to me, kids kind of have to learn self-control because as an adult, they're going to need self-control. So they're going to have to learn when it's appropriate to take out their phone and when it's not.
What about the parents who will say we worry about emergencies? We want our kid to have access to the phone. Heaven forbid something happens during the course of the day.
I certainly understand that fear. I've got a 14 year old and an 18 year old, but what do the experts say? Our kids have been practicing what to do in these circumstances. Imagine you send your kid to one school where everyone has a phone on them. What's going to happen at the first sign of any trouble? Half the class is going to be calling their parents, saying, mom, mom, there's something going on. There's something going on. Uh, and now you can't respond. This is not safe. What you want is a school where the students are doing what they're supposed to do in an emergency. That's the best outcome for your kids.
It's understandable that after a tragedy like the one we saw this week, that parents are jittery about not being in touch with their children, which has led some schools to have different approaches about how to limit phones. But experts like Hite caution that it's difficult for kids to have their phones on them and not be distracted by notifications. We're going to talk more about how intense those notifications are in our next report. And of course, height offers more info and resources for parents and families online at Anxious generation.com Diane. All right.
Deborah Roberts, thank you. And it's time now for our weekly segment Tell It Like It Is, where ABC news contributor Doctor Loke Patel shares health advice on the topics that matter most to you. And today, Doctor Patel is here to answer some of your questions. So, Doctor Patel, let's start things off with Mike from Phoenix. Mike asks, does taking creatine help with muscle recovery?
I'm glad that.
Someone is asking this question because it means that you are doing strength training, which is great for your body. The short answer is there is mixed studies about whether or not creatine actually helps with muscle recovery. Now creatine to back it up. No biochemistry lecture here. Helps with the ratio of ATP to ADP. Go a couple lines down the pathway. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. We get more cellular energy. So there is some data to suggest that taking creatine can help with athletic performance. But when it comes to muscle recovery, stick with what works hydration, a nutritious snack, and some rest, and making sure you're getting adequate sleep that's the best for your muscles. And reminder creatine supplements are not tightly regulated by the FDA. They may cause side effects, and it's not recommended for anyone under the age of 18.
And Alex from New York City writes, can people get mpox after getting vaccinated? What about the strain in Africa?
This is a very important question, especially with what's happening in headlines now. Important reminder that no vaccine is 100% effective. The Mpox vaccine genius, according to two studies, is somewhere between 70 to 90% effective. But we do know that it can prevent severe illness if someone does catch it after they're fully vaccinated. Now, the people who should be going out there and talking about getting the vaccine are those who may have exposure to others, who may have mpox commercial sex workers or groups of men who have sex with men who may have more than one sexual partner, or a recent diagnosis of an STD. Now, regarding the strains, clade two is what is present right now. That is what we're talking about when we talk about the research clade one, that strain of mpox is what is causing the outbreak in Africa. And unpublished studies do suggest the vaccine works over there. But guess what? We have no cases of clade one here. But it is important that everyone spreads awareness and knows whether or not they should go see a doctor about a potential mpox exposure or a new rash.
And Beth from new Jersey says, okay, I'm not supposed to shower with my contacts in, but then how am I supposed to see in the shower? This is a good question.
Yeah, Beth gets two stars for number one, knowing that we should not get our contacts submerged with non sterilized water, and also because this is a question that people have and no one knows to ask. So if you are visually impaired and you're taking a shower it's important that you put safety as number one. So consider things like high contrast objects in your shower, potentially putting an S or a C on the shampoo and conditioner. Soap on a rope is an interesting trick I recently learned about. You can think about getting bars installed, a nonstick mat, and proper lighting now, as Beth knows, but hopefully everyone else will soon know. Contacts should not be in contact with Unsterilized water. That could be a pool, a shower, or a lake, because any contaminants in that water can actually have direct access to your eyes. That is not a good thing for swimmers out there. You can have prescription goggles and hey, I guess prescription goggles work also in the shower, but that's not very realistic.
All right, Doctor Patel, I want to see those goggles. I think you might have an invention. They're coming, doctor Patel, thank you. And if you have questions for Doctor Patel or maybe some invention suggestions, just leave him a message on our Instagram feed. He might answer your question right here on Friday. Coming up back to school season is here. So how do you get your kids back to a decent sleep schedule? Doctor Sujay Kansagra, aka at that Sleep doc is here with some tips on how to set your kids up for sleep success after summer break.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, it is time for Misato Methods, where I show you some of my favorite hacks to make life a little easier. But today I have a special guest joining me for his tips on getting your kids back on a sleep schedule after summer break. Professor and director of the Duke Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, Doctor Sujay Kansagra, aka at that Sleep doc is joining me now for more on this. Doctor Kansagra, so great to have you on. I always love when we get to chat like this.
Absolutely. Same here.
So talk me through this because summer means late sunsets. That usually means later bedtimes, later wake up times for kids. But that can be really tough when school starts, because they can't always fall asleep early enough to get enough sleep before you need to wake them up for school. And then this is the kicker. The little ones then might be overtired the next night, which also makes it hard for them to fall asleep. So what are your tips to undo this? Because this can turn into a bad cycle.
Yes, absolutely. School start times. It's tough. What we're asking kids to do is move their circadian rhythm earlier, because during summertime it's very easy to delay that circadian rhythm. And there are some tips to get your kid back on track. First of all, light exposure is really the key when it comes to timing of light. So getting less light at nighttime for 30 minutes prior to bed, but getting plenty of bright lights in the morning can be very helpful. You want to move the schedule slowly if you have the time, so 10 to 15 minutes a day move up their bedtime and their wake up time. It's great if you can time their meals earlier as well. That actually helps set the circadian rhythm, believe it or not. And you want to make sure the schedule stays the same weekdays and weekends. That's super important to keeping on track.
Okay. What about teens? Because they have the same issues. Plus they also usually have delayed circadian rhythms. They are natural night owls, and many of them have even earlier wake up times than the little ones. So how do you help them given that mismatch?
Yeah, schools start incredibly early, which is unfortunate. You know, the goal is for high school to start at 830 or later. But that's not the reality in some situations, depending on how delayed the teen is. This is where melatonin may play a role of course. Speak to your health care provider. But low dose of melatonin 2 to 6 hours prior to the current sleep onset time can actually help advance the circadian rhythm. Now, in super delayed cases where children are going to bed at like 4 or 5 in the morning, waking up in the afternoon, and now they have to advance by like 6 or 7 hours. There's a therapy called chronotherapy. And this is really interesting, in which you delay your bedtime by two hours every single night and then sleeping as long as you want, and doing the opposite of what I just told you, getting lots of light prior to bedtime and keeping things dim in the morning. And what you do is you essentially push back two hours every single night until you've delayed around the entire clock, and then they're lined back up again.
So you've pushed their bedtime so late that they've reached a normal bedtime again, and that's when you get strict again. Avoid the light at nighttime and lots of bright lights in the morning.
And I want to stress something you said low dose of melatonin. Because you and I both know this is one of the most misused supplements out there. So can you talk just a little bit more about that, the timing and the dosage that people want to be looking for here? Because I know some people are giving their kids, you know, four milligrams of melatonin at night, right? At bedtime.
Yeah, absolutely. And again, I'll emphasize definitely speak with your health care provider. But we think it's actually the timing in which you give the melatonin that's more important than the actual dosage. So I'm looking at half a milligram to milligram doses and 2 to 6 hours prior to the current sleep onset time. We think that's probably all you need. I rarely even for, you know, older children will go over three milligrams of melatonin and you want to get it from a reliable source, because we know based on studies, because it's not FDA regulated, they can put all sorts of stuff in these bottles and the doses are all over the place. So you really want to go to a reliable pharmacy that you trust.
All right, Doctor Sujay, I have so much more we could talk about. We are out of time, sadly. Always great to have you. Thank you.
Thank you. Sleep well, my friend.
Thank you. Same to you. And thank you for watching. I'm Diane Macedo. The news never stops and neither do we. You can find ABC News Live anywhere. You stream live news on the ABC news app or on ABC news.com. And we have a lot more news for you after the break. Stay with us.
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Hi, I'm Diane Macedo. Let's get right to our top story. A federal appeals court is now set to decide former President Trump's request for a new civil trial in the defamation and assault case by E Jean Carroll. Trump's lawyers are arguing the judge should not have admitted certain things into evidence, including the Access Hollywood tape and testimony by some other witnesses there. His appearance today was voluntary, and it comes just four days before his first debate with Vice President Harris. ABC News senior investigative correspondent Erin Katersky joins me now, along with ABC news legal contributor Brian Buchmeyer for more. Erin, this was a lot about what should and should not have been allowed in this original trial. So what's the latest from court?
The entire appeal rests on whether the trial judge, Lewis Kaplan, made errors in admitting certain evidence and keeping certain evidence out. And the federal appeals court here, just a short while ago, Diane reminded the defense it is very hard to overturn a jury's verdict in a civil case based on evidentiary matters. But the defense for Donald Trump gave it their best shot, arguing the trial judge was wrong to allow the jury to hear the Access Hollywood tape and to allow the testimony of two women besides Eugene Carroll, who say that former President Trump groped them on prior occasions decades ago, which he denies.
Brian, how do you see this playing out? How strong do you think Trump's case is, and what do you make of the judge's reaction trying to, you know, read the tea leaves here a little bit?
Yes, it really is reading the tea leaves. This is a high hurdle. It's not necessarily how strong or weak an argument is. It's how high of a hurdle it is for the defense to ultimately get a new case. The judge is correct. Trying to overturn a jury's ruling by evidentiary value in a civil case is difficult. But what we're talking about here is that the defense is saying that propensity information, information that showed that Donald Trump had a propensity to assault women should not have come in that Access Hollywood tape. The two witnesses that testified. But even though they're arguing it wasn't a crime at the time, we're not talking about a specific sexual abuse, just his propensity to commit sexual abuse crimes, that it's a lack of mistake, that it wasn't just done to kind of like muddy the waters or discredit him, but that this isn't a mistake. He knows what he's doing and he's done it before in the past. That's what the prosecution is arguing. And that, in many ways, is a proper reason to bring in such evidence.
So it's it's a high hurdle for them to try to overcome.
Erin, what are the next steps in this case?
The panel did not immediately rule. So Diane will be waiting to see what this what this appeals court decides whether to grant former President Trump the new trial that he's seeking. The judges said they would take the case under advisement, but they they did acknowledge that they are looking at certain things that appear to be of first impression, meaning no other case in the circuit has ever quite presented this kind of stuff before. One of the main questions is, is the very nature of the way e Jean Carroll sued former President Trump under a new state law called the Adult Survivors Act. That really opened a window of time for adult survivors of alleged sexual assault to sue their. Their attackers and some of the evidentiary issues have not come into play that way before, so the judges said they would take their time to render a decision.
And Brian, today, another judge is set to decide whether Trump will be sentenced in his New York hush money case in less than two weeks. They've been trying to get that case, the defense. That case moved to a federal court to delay his sentencing. And this is sort of a two part issue. Do they move it to federal court? And if not, do they still delay his sentencing? How do you see that one playing out? Yeah, I.
Don't see the move to federal court working out for him. I don't see the grounds for it, the purpose for it. The arguments that I've seen so far seem, um, I won't say imaginative, but let's say creative and I can see the logic behind it, but I don't see a judge saying, you know, this is going to be the precedent. Now we're going to allow people to remove their case to the feds once they've been convicted by a jury of their peers in the state. I don't think that's a path they're going to want to create going forward. And in terms of pushing it back, I think it really depends on the judge when it comes to what he has in mind for the punishment. I don't think that jail is on the table here. I think it's probation and community service, something lesser. And if it's that sentence him, move on, let him appeal and let's keep it moving. I don't see a reason to keep delaying that far in advance.
Aaron Katersky Brian Buchmeyer, thank you both and we will be following these cases. We'll bring you the latest from the courtroom here on ABC News Live. Meanwhile, the 14 year old suspect in the Apalachee school shooting and his father are in custody, making their first appearances in a Georgia courtroom earlier this morning. The teen faces four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected. He's accused of killing two students and two teachers and injuring nine others. His father also appeared in court this morning. He's being charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree murder and cruelty to children. And. ABC's faith abubey is there in Winder, Georgia, outside the school where the shooting took place. Faith, you were watching these court appearances. Let's start with the one for the suspect himself. The judge sort of laid out these charges, and then there was some confusion over whether or not he could face the death penalty. Walk us through what happened there.
Yeah. So it was actually remarkable just to see the suspect walking to court. We were seeing him for the first time since the shooting here, that 14 year old, we were told we couldn't show his face on camera. And so we saw him walk towards the attorneys desk there. He sat down and just faced the judge the entire time, just answering the judge with, you know, just one word answers as the judge was asking him questions. The judge then read his rights to him, then read the charges to him. And then we got to the penalty portion of that hearing, the judge saying that, you know, his maximum potential sentence, if he were to be convicted, would be life in prison without parole. Originally, the judge had mistakenly said that it would be the death penalty. However, because he's a minor. The judge brought the brought him back, along with his attorneys, to clarify that the worst he could possibly face would be life in prison without parole. There's also life in prison with a possibility of the of parole on the table as well.
And then moments later we went to the father. The father walked in. He was shackled, wearing a prison garb. He sat down. We saw him rocking back and forth, sometimes closing his eyes. He seemed emotional at times. When he spoke to the judge, he sounded shaky. He was soft spoken. And then the judge also did the same thing he did with the son. Read him his rights, read him his charges, and told him if he were to be convicted on all of his charges, he faces up to 180 years behind bars. And so, of course, this is just the beginning. There were no questions about the circumstances surrounding this case. There were no fact questions to tease out the facts here. There is another hearing that is scheduled for December 14th for both of them, Diane.
All right. Faith. Abubey. Thank you. And let's bring in Washington Post investigative reporter Sara Blakely, who has been speaking to a family member of the suspected shooter here. Sara, thanks for coming on. You know, this suspect's aunt told you, and I'm quoting here. He was begging for help from everybody around him, and she says another quote. The adults around him failed him. So what picture is she painting here of her nephew, and why is she blaming the adults in his world for this?
So she said that her nephew had made it clear to people around him, adults in his.
Life, that.
He was suffering from severe mental health issues. She didn't elaborate, but but that's how she described it. And and various adults in his life tried to intervene, most notably his aunt, who you see quoted there, but also his grandmother. And what we've come to understand through text messages that this aunt provided is that the grandmother actually went to the school the week before the shooting, happened to meet with a counselor in order to try to set up therapy for this 14 year old. So that was that was, you know, seven days or less prior to the shooting happening.
Now his father is now also being charged. He was arrested last night. He was in court this morning. And sources are saying that this is hinging on the accusation that he made this gun available to his son, gave it to him as a Christmas present. Even after they had this encounter with the FBI, where there were concerns that this this teenager may have made a threat about a school shooting. So what are you learning about that interaction with law enforcement and and what happened after that to get this father now charged.
So I understand from this teen's grandfather. So the father of his mother, to be clear that that there are several family members who were concerned about the teenager having access to weapons in the house. What the grandfather told me was that if if his grandson had not had a weapon or access to a weapon, then he wouldn't have killed four people. And that's certainly the feeling of several family members. Again, those who were trying to intervene. What we also understand about the home life is that the parents had a very difficult relationship. This teen's mother and father had at times lived together, at times not, and certainly family members were concerned that that unstable home life contributed to this. This 14 year old's, um, you know, his path towards eventually, um, Shooting and killing for four people at Apalachee High School.
Sarah, in so many of these cases, and unfortunately, there are so many that we cover, they're often in the aftermath are all these red flags and warning signs that were missed. Do you get the sense from the people who were close to him that they believe that this tragedy, that that this crime was preventable?
I certainly think that his aunt, who I've spoken with, believes that there were various opportunities in this, this youth's life to intervene. She herself did try to intervene. She said the grandparents also tried to intervene. We do know, as you mentioned, of a case in which the FBI presented a tip to the Jackson Sheriff's Office. This would have been in 2023, um, saying that they had information that a discord account that they thought belonged to to this teenager. Colt Gray, you know, had been making threats about a school shooting online. Ultimately, that case was closed out after the sheriff's office said it was not able to substantiate the tip. It was not able to connect the teenager to the account making threats. In the end, they closed it. There's still information coming out about that case, but certainly at the time, an officer noted in his report that he had he had made contact with the father, who is now in custody. Um, and, and, you know, in connection with the shooting.
And he had told the father at the time when he was made aware that there were weapons in the house, that the father needed to keep those weapons safely locked up. And, um, there's still questions about where this teen got the weapons, but but certainly the charges against the father came with a statement that from law enforcement that he was being charged for making this weapon available to the teenager.
And Sarah, given what these family members are saying about what they believe to be the father's culpability in this. Essentially saying that he failed his son and given you're saying they went to the school, they went to law enforcement, are they do they feel there's any fault on that end?
I think that's a question that's better left to them to answer. But certainly they they have been very clear that they think that there were multiple failings by adults and, and other authority figures who were closest to this teenager in the lead up to the shooting.
All right. And we should mention both the suspect and his father will be back in court December 4th. And I know you'll be covering that. Sarah, we appreciate you coming on. Thank you. Washington Post investigative reporter Sarah Blaskey. Sarah, thanks.
Thank you.
And the new jobs report is shedding new light on a potential interest rate cut. U.S. employers added 142,000 jobs in August, falling short of analyst expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%. ABC's Elizabeth Chelsea is in Washington with more on that. Elizabeth, break down these numbers for us. What does this tell you about the economy and a potential interest rate cut.
So Diane these numbers tell you that hiring has really kind of shifted into this lower gear. We're seeing companies slow down the pace that they are adding workers to their payrolls, but there is still hiring going on. So when you think about the report that came out last week, that was actually revised, a lot lower 89,000 jobs in July. So that 142,000 that we got for last month in August, that's definitely an improvement. At the same time, what this shows is that the jobs market is now more of a concern for the Federal Reserve. Diane, we've been talking about for years how the fed has been focused on fighting inflation. Well, now it's pretty much said that inflation is under control and it wants to prevent a more drastic downturn in the jobs market. It's expected to cut interest rates within about two weeks at its next meeting. This jobs report doesn't really confirm one way or the other just how much it will cut interest rates. That's kind of the big question still is will it go for a typical quarter point rate cut or we'll go for that bigger rate cut?
The expectation currently is that it will go with a more gradual pace, but we are seeing the case be made a little bit here, that this downshift in the jobs market could mean the fed will have to do a little bit more to catch up with how much weakening is happening in the jobs market going forward if it continues.
All right. I want to bring in business reporter Alexis Christoforous. Alexis, the markets are also reacting to this today. What does that tell you about how economists and investors are looking at this?
You know, initially there was very little reaction from the market. And then they had a chance to dive in and to absorb it and to try to parse it through. And we are seeing a pretty substantial sell off right now on Wall Street. I think the concern is there was no real clarity here. We don't know if the fed is going to cut by that 50 basis point or a half percent or a quarter point. You know, this report points to a softening job market, but not a job market that's about to fall into a recession. There are some areas of strength here. The unemployment rate did inch down from 4.3% to 4.2%. Wages actually grew a pretty solid 3.8% compared to the same time last year. So because of those sort of pockets of strength in this report, there are some economists who are saying you don't need that aggressive half point interest rate cut from the fed. A quarter point will do. At the same time, some economists believe the fed may be behind the curve.
And they're coming to this a little too late, and that perhaps the slowdown in the job market is more severe than they first thought.
All right. Elizabeth. Alexis Christoforous, thank you both. Vice President Harris is preparing for her first debate with former President Trump. Harris and Trump are off the campaign trail with just four days until that debate. And just 60 days until Election Day. ABC News White House correspondent MaryAlice parks joins me now for more. MaryAlice, what's Harris saying ahead of this debate and how is she preparing for it?
Yeah, she's hunkered down now in Pittsburgh. She has been with her closest advisers, people that have been with her for a long time, but also who are new to this campaign. They're going through issues. We know that before she left for Pittsburgh here in D.C., she actually was able to squeeze in a few full length mock debates. She actually did those at her alma mater, Howard. But look, she's taking time off the trail of these next few days to really focus here. I imagine a big part of why she picked Pittsburgh is that she will venture out on occasion. It's, of course, a battleground, part of a battleground state. And she wants to be able to spend some time with voters in between all of that debate prep. What's going to be interesting here is how she gets ready for specifically squaring off against Trump. Of course, he is not new to presidential debates. He has done over five. This is her first presidential debate, and not only her first time squaring off against him, but her first time even meeting him, being with him sort of head to head in the room with him.
So interesting. Of course, that's largely because he did not participate in the inauguration back in 2021, but this is going to be an interesting moment for her as she figures out how to not only get her own message across, but how she counters being next to him. He is obviously not new to this and comes with really sort of unique strategy for these debates.
Diane and MaryAlice. While speaking in Arizona, Trump's running mate, Senator JD Vance, said that he's sure the late Senator John McCain disagreed with Trump on a host of issues, but that he still thinks McCain would not support Harris if he were still alive because of the southern border. What do you make of that of that strategy, trying to ally the late senator with Trump now?
Risky, Diane, risky for Vance to bring up the late Senator John McCain. Remember, in 2020, Joe Biden was able to flip Arizona blue, largely because a lot of those more moderate McCain Republicans really rejected Trump, rejected Trumpism, and, of course, just bringing up his name at all, I think reminds Arizona voters of that feud, if you call it that, sort of what the insults that Trump over the years have has lobbed against McCain. You know, we saw him way back when talk about McCain as not really a war hero. He said, in his view, because he was someone who was captured. You know, he's over the years made fun of McCain's injuries that he sort of received during during his time captured and during war. You know, I'm thinking about the fact that the last few days, John McCain's own son came out and said that he switched his voter registration to make sure that he would, could and plan to vote for Kamala Harris. I mean, the reality is that there's been a really tough relationship between the McCain family and Trump and many of Trump's supporters.
And so I think it's risky for Vance to sort of go down that road and talk about the family at all. You know, interesting too, In those remarks. A lot of Democrats, seizing on the fact that Vance also seemed to suggest that gun violence and specifically these school shootings, we saw, again, just a horrific school shooting this week. Vance, in that same sort of interview, talked about how how even though it was a really sad reality, he basically hinted at the idea that that gun violence is just a way of life or a part of life in America. You know, there's a lot of Democrats really seizing on that. It's going to be tough for him to answer questions about that comment as well Diane.
All right, MaryAlice parks, thank you. And the first presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris is Tuesday night. You can watch that right here on ABC News Live at 9 p.m. eastern. Coming up, the death of an American woman in the West Bank. What we're learning about her and the tragic way she died.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, a West Bank hospital says an American woman is dead after being shot at a protest. The Associated Press reports witnesses and Palestinian media say the 26 year old was shot in the head by Israeli troops. Foreign correspondent Marcus Moore joins me now from Jerusalem with the latest on that. Marcus, what are you learning so far about this death and how it happened?
Well, Diane.
Still.
Information is still coming in very preliminary at this point.
But the woman who we are talking.
About has been identified.
As 26 year old Aisha Ezgi, and she's a dual American Turkish citizen. And she was in the West Bank, has been part of efforts to protect Palestinian farmers from Israeli settlers. And she was reportedly taking part in an anti-settlement march when, according to earlier reports, IDF soldiers shot her in the head during some type of clashes that were happening at the time. Now, based on a statement that we received from the IDF, it does not appear that she was the target of the IDF soldiers and that perhaps they were targeting someone else when she was hit. Again, these are these details are are still very cloudy and murky at this point. But we know that she was killed. She was rushed to an area hospital where she later died. Now, U.S. officials, in a statement offered their condolences and said that they are looking in to the circumstances here. While Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs put out a statement condemning the shooting, saying in part that Ezgi was murdered by the Netanyahu government and that that Israel is trying to intimidate anyone who comes to the aid of Palestinians as his death comes at a time, Diane, of heightened tension in the region.
Israel has been carrying out a number of operations this week in the West Bank. Those operations continue. And of course, as new information comes out on this, this incident, we'll of course, pass it along, Diane.
All right.
Our foreign correspondent, Marcus Moore in Jerusalem. Thanks, Marcus. Coming up, former President Trump in court today appealing for a new trial in the E. Jean Carroll civil sexual abuse case. These are live pictures of Trump Tower where the former president is set to speak at any moment. We will take a quick break and have more on that when we come back. Stay with.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, former President Trump is set to speak as a federal appeals court is deciding his request for a new civil trial in the defamation and sex assault case by E Jean Carroll. The appeals court appeared skeptical of Trump's push for a new trial, telling the defense it would be, quote, very hard to overturn the jury's verdict here. ABC News senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott is there at Trump Tower. Rachel, what's the latest there?
Yeah, we're told that the former.
President is.
Going to come down here at.
Trump Tower and deliver remarks any moment. We know that this is coming at a consequential moment in this campaign, Diane.
We are just.
Four days out from the very first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President.
Donald Trump.
We know that his legal issues have also been top of mind for the former president. He's been railing against them on social media.
And the lead up.
To today. And so we know that he is appearing in court in New York, but also on social media. You know, he's also been talking about this hush money trial as well, where he was convicted on those 34 counts of falsifying business records. We know there's been this back and forth over when he is going to be sentenced, whether or not that will be September 18th, whether or not that will be after the election. So expect the former president today to touch on some of that as well. We are told that he's also expected to take some questions. And so again, with early voting now starting in just about two weeks here and this, this race being neck and neck, the former president here gearing up for this debate, but taking a very different approach than Vice President Kamala Harris, who has hunkered down in Pennsylvania. The former president here, he's going to be taking questions. And he still has a rally this weekend.
Diane and I want to bring in our legal contributor, Brian Buchmeyer, because Brian Trump's team is focusing here on what was and wasn't allowed in this trial, both in terms of evidence and in terms of witnesses. What do you make of the judge's reactions to those arguments today?
Well, it makes a lot of sense because this is a difficult hurdle to overcome. Even just putting aside the arguments themselves, understanding what the standard is in which these judges are going to be evaluating this, there are two different standards that I think would apply here. If it's de novo, that's a Latin phrase meaning from the beginning, the judges can come in and then look at the evidence for themselves and kind of make a decision as to whether or not evidence should have been admitted or not admitted based on their application of the law. But if it's if it's abuse of discretion, that's looking at it from the standpoint of, okay, the judge said that X is going to happen. Was this within the realm of possibility? Did they abuse their discretion in making this choice? It could be right or wrong, but if they didn't abuse their discretion, you still stick with that ruling. I think it's going to be the abuse of discretion. And if that's the standard, it's that much harder for Donald Trump's team to win.
Now, one of the things they're taking issue with is the Access Hollywood tape. Break down those arguments for us and where you feel like the judges are landing there. Yeah.
So the Access Hollywood tape, we all know about it. I don't need to repeat what he said on that tape, but whether or not it comes in, whether it's about propensity, just showing that this is a bad person who does bad things, that would not be proper. But if this comes in for a reason of to prove motive, intent, lack of mistake, common scheme or plan, or something or something of that nature, that's when when the the, the prosecution gets to come in and bring that in or, or Eugene Carroll's team gets to bring that in. If the judge feels that, or the panel of judges feels that the judge abused their discretion in allowing this to come in. Then that can overturn the case. It's less about the actual contents of it and more about its applicability, relevance, and how it came into the case.
And is it the same questions at play with them taking issue with other witnesses who were called other women accusing Trump?
It's the same issue in terms of the admissibility. Different statements, different witnesses, different evidence are admitted for different reasons. So they'll have different criteria or different elements in which to argue. But it's under the larger umbrella of this should have come in or this should not have come in. And the judge made an error in doing so. Evaluate the judge and see whether or not this is appropriate to come in or not.
Rachel, obviously there are legal implications here for Trump, and he's trying to get this legally reversed and retried. But there are also political implications. You're talking about the Republican nominee for president. The election is just 60 days away. So what are the political implications of how this appeals court might rule today.
Yeah. And there certainly are political implications here, Diane, because if you just remember, just a few months ago, we were standing here, I was on the air with you, as the former president was also delivering remarks right after he was convicted on those 34 counts of falsifying business records. It's also a question of how much Democrats really want to put the former president's legal troubles front and center. And now, with this critical stretch until Election Day, it's a question for Democrats if they're going to really hone in on this message that Vice President Kamala Harris is running against a convicted felon who's also facing legal trouble and a lot of other different areas, or if they're going to direct this towards the issues. When you look at the polling, you know, obviously coming out of the former president being convicted, we saw how much Americans did care about that conviction. But at the same time, the leading issues are also the economy, inflation, crime, immigration. Those are things that are also top of mind to Americans.
So some of this will be back in the news and headlines that the former president is just simply not want to see. But there are also big questions for Democrats about whether or not this is going to play into their ads. With just about 60 days to go until the election, Diane.
And I want to bring in our Aaron Katersky, who is outside that appeals court. Aaron, what's the latest there in court and when do you expect we'll hear from these judges on how they're going to rule?
It could be a while. They said they take the case under advisement. Former President Trump came to court on a voluntary basis, not compulsory. And he sat and he listened for about 20 minutes of of oral arguments as he's pushing for a new trial after he was held liable for defaming and sexually assaulting magazine columnist E Jean Carroll. And the jury awarded her $5 million in damages. And the whole matter really rests on evidentiary issues, whether the judge properly or improperly allowed some testimony and other evidence into the trial. Trump didn't say anything during these proceedings. Left it all to his lawyer, who told the judge that the Access Hollywood tape and certain testimony from women who were not e Jean Carroll were improperly allowed.
And Erin, this also comes as his different legal team, different court are also trying to get his sentencing delayed. As Rachel mentioned in that other case of falsifying documents. What's the latest on that and what's the likelihood that this goes his way, given there are sort of two parts to this argument. One is that they want the case moved to federal court, and the other is that they want the sentencing delayed until after the election.
And I think if the sentencing is delayed, they may drop their bid to move it into federal court. This is all kind of a gambit to push everything until after the election. But Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the former president's criminal hush money case in a courthouse just down the block, says he's going to rule today On whether he is going to postpone the sentencing until after the election. As the former president has requested. He hasn't given any hints as to how he might rule. He's already delayed the sentencing once, at Trump's request, so bumping it up to less than two months before the election. It kind of came as Trump's own doing, but the Manhattan District Attorney's office did not take a position, saying it's up to the judge to decide what to do here. So if the judge does move it, he won't get any objection from prosecutors.
All right. And I want to bring in our executive editorial producer, John Santucci. John, what's at stake for Trump in both of these rulings? Well, I mean.
Listen, as.
Far as the rulings.
Are concerned, you know, if they.
Have a.
Sentencing before the election, obviously not good already to be a convicted felon, to be a convicted felon with a sentencing with actually a, you know, a fine finale, if you will, not exactly something voters really want to have front lobe as they're heading into the ballot box come November.
As far as Jean Carroll is concerned.
Look, that's a case.
Forget the money for a second. Just the storyline is horrible for Donald Trump. So that's a case that voters maybe didn't totally forget about. But let's recognize we've had a.
Very busy.
Year, guys, for this.
Year. We've been in.
Several.
Different courtrooms.
That was the.
Case, if you can believe it. We were all together in January. There's been a lot.
Of action that's happened.
Since then. So I think for the Trump team, they are very much hoping to move the ball forward.
If you will.
And in some ways, a little bit of what we saw yesterday with the calendar that was set in the DC case, get all of this moving ahead past November, don't have too much activity over the next couple of weeks. I think what's going to be interesting here in this press conference that we're going to watch happen in a couple of minutes here, is that no unforced errors? Because the reality is that outside of some campaign events, this is really one of the last times we're going to see Donald Trump. Diane, take any questions from voters leading up to our debate on Tuesday.
And looking at that chart, you can see our Rachel Scott there in her red jacket. Let's go back to Rachel now and get the update because Rachel you know, he. Former President Trump was in court today. He didn't have to be. He doesn't have to be there at Trump Tower today. And yet there he is. So let's listen in to the former president and then talk a little bit about what this period of time looks like and how crucial it is, the way he is spending his time right now and why he chose to be there. Let's listen to the former president.
So thank you very much, everybody, for being here. This is a long and complicated web and story, but it all goes back to the DOJ and Kamala and Sleepy Joe and all the rest of them. Uh, we have a whole rigged election system. Nobody's ever seen anything like what's happening now. I understand yesterday they're bringing up Russia, Russia, Russia again that they've done for years. Never found any anything. But they should be looking at China, China, China, Iran, Iran, Iran, lots of other places. I haven't spoken to anybody from Russia in years. They know that. But it's a scam. But it all goes back to the DOJ because we had a trial today. It's an appeal of a ridiculous verdict of a woman I have never met. I don't know, I have no idea who she is. She wrote a book and she made a ridiculous story up. She put it in her book. And we're now appealing the decision. We had an extremely hostile judge appointed by Clinton.
Very good friends of Clinton. Uh, I guess he married, presided over the marriage ceremony of one of the lawyers on the case against us. And, uh, it's very sad. Judge Lewis Kaplan. Angry man. He was so angry. I went to the trial. I've been in a lot of litigation over the years. I've never seen such anger or wanted to throw one of our attorneys in jail who was threatened her with jail. Nobody's ever seen anything like it. Over. Over nothing. Nobody's ever. I've never seen such anger. But all of our judges. I mean, we had a brilliant judge and I think a very fair judge in Florida. I think we have another judge who's very fair. I just asked for a fair. I don't want anything different from anybody else. I just asked for fairness. We have another judge or a couple of judges I think are fair. Then we have other judges that I think the whole thing is I think the system is a disgrace. the case that we met on today.
And then we're going to talk about job numbers, which are horrible, by the way. Horrible like really bad. And you know that. I'm sure you won't report on it, but the job numbers are terrible. Uh, we're going to talk about the appeal today. We had a great appellate lawyer go down representing us, and I think John did a very good job. You have a matter of minutes to speak. It's a very complex thing because it was a setup, a rigged deal. They had two witnesses. And before I start, I have no idea who this woman is. They have a picture from, they say about 40 years ago, a picture. And the picture depicts her and her husband on a celebrity line where I was the celebrity. I was been a celebrity for a long time, and they were shaking my hands along with hundreds of other people. Nobody even knows where it is. The problem is, she doesn't know the date of this incident. She doesn't know when.
She doesn't know. Was it in the 90s? Could it have been further than that? She has no idea when. And people do that because you don't want to give a specific date. And then you find out that Trump or whoever it was, was in Europe. So they tend to do that. They take long periods so that this way hopefully he was in New York at that time. But this is a disgraceful case and disgraceful in particular, because it's about a former president of the United States who is now leading in the polls to be the president again. And this is being worked with the DOJ, Department of Justice, as are all of these cases. They all come out Atlanta. Fani. That is all. Department of justice. Nobody knew that. The case with Judge Engoron the most overturned judge in the state. That is very close, because they sent their team from the DOJ to help him, the district attorney, Alvin Bragg. That was all worked with. Again, they sent a top operative from the department, from the DOJ Department of, I call it the Department of Injustice because they're using the Department of Justice to rig the campaign.
These cases are disgraceful. Now, they're brought, for the most part, in front of very hostile areas where Republicans get 3 or 4%, like downtown Manhattan, in front of very hostile judges, like hostile like you wouldn't believe. Judge Merchant, Judge Engoron and Judge Kaplan, all of them hostile areas and very, very hostile judges. I've never seen anything like it. And very bad thing in this case, New York, very bad thing for New York. Businesses won't come to New York because of what took place with Judge Engoron, I can tell you that, and probably the rest of them also. But this case involved a woman who wrote a book, and I guess she said something in the book. That's when I first heard about it. I first heard about it in the white House. And of course, I denied the story because it's not true. I have no idea who the woman is, and I never met her. Now, I don't know about a picture that was taken 40 years ago with her husband on a celebrity line, so I don't think that counts.
But as far as I know, I never met her. I never touched her. I have I would have had no interest in And meeting her in any way, shape or form. Her husband was a news anchor, actually, John Johnson, a very nice guy. She called him horrible things. We weren't allowed to say that in the trial. She said horrible things about him. I guess they're since divorced. He's a very nice guy, African American, and she said very bad things. We weren't allowed to use that in the trial, which surprised a lot of people. But she made up a story, a fabricated 100% that I attacked her at Bergdorf Goodman. You know, it's a very interesting I don't think they were allowed to use this either. Her favorite show is Law and Order, and there's an almost exact story as her story in Law and Order about being attacked in the dressing room of a department store. I don't know if they used the name of the store, but that's her favorite show, Law and Order.
She said that, and anyway, this evolved into a defamation case against me because I disputed her words, because I told the truth. We were called. I was in the white House, and I said, no, it never happened. I didn't even know what they were talking about. This was I think I was in the Oval Office. Sir, do you know anything about this? And this had to do with the book. And she had a few pages in a book making this claim, by the way, there was never a claim. There was never a police report. There was never anything mentioned. There was never publicity 30 or 40 years ago whenever it took place. Nobody knows. She doesn't know when it took place. When did it take place? She has no idea. She thinks it was in the 1990s. She thinks it was in the 1990s. And the judge? We had two trials. We asked for a consolidation. He said no. The reason he said no is he'd rather have double the publicity.
Because that's bad for me. Very bad because I'm running for president. And this is not the kind of publicity you like. And whether it's true or not, it's horrible. And in this case, it's so false. It's a made up, fabricated story by somebody, I think initially just looking to promote a book. And when they called me, I denied the story. I got sued essentially for defamation because I'm denying a story where I'm right I should be suing her for defamation. So that's where it is now. There were two witnesses. One is a woman who's followed me for years, she said. In 1979, I was in an airplane with her commercial flight, and we became very intimate. I just sat down, I think I had the book the Art of the deal. I was famous then too. I've been famous for a long time and we're sitting in first class, according to her. Never happened, by the way. Totally made up story. She's a Clinton person too, by the way.
Big Clinton person. She made up the story and so many years ago, and I think it would be 1979, one of my many people behind me could correct it, but I think she said 1979. It's a long time ago. And I sat down. I believe I had some pretty big success then, and I was being talked about a lot. Maybe the art of the deal was out, you know, sometime after that, I'm not sure, but I was well known and passengers are coming into the plane and she said I was making out with her. And then after 15 minutes and then she changed her story a couple of times. Maybe it was quicker That I grabbed her at a certain part and that was when she had enough. Now. So think of the impracticality of this. I'm famous, I'm in a plane, people are coming into the plane and I'm looking at a woman, and I grab her and I start kissing her and making out with her. What are the chances of that happening?
What are the chances? And frankly, I know you're going to say it's a terrible thing to say, but it couldn't have happened. It didn't happen. And she would not have been the chosen one. She would not have been the chosen one. She has gone around for years saying the story. Everywhere I go. She says this story and it's a total lie. Now, I assume she'll sue me now for defamation. Like I got sued by E Jean Carroll, who interestingly said she's been hurt. Damaged. But she's made more money since she did this than she ever made in her life. She gets paid a lot of money to go talk bad things about me. So remember this? This whole thing started along with just about every other case I'm involved with, with the political campaign of Harris and who's having a bad time because she can't talk of Harris and Joe Biden. This was election interference. It all is. It's all fabricated but fabricated in front of very friendly judges for them and in very friendly areas for them.
If you get a jury, it's very hard to win in a jury where you have 3 or 4 or 5% Republican votes. Very, very tough. Actually two witnesses. One is named Jessica Leeds. So she she was up again. She can't get rid of her. She was up. She said I was in an airplane doing that. A couple of things. You have an armrest in planes back in those days. Oh, by the way, she didn't know anything about the flight. Where were we were going? Where? I was in very few flights. I was in New York. Guy building, New York building I was. There are very few airplanes. I will tell you, in those days, 1979, I think it's a long time ago, but you had the armrest and in the old days they didn't move. Okay. But she said she then got out and she went to the back of the plane. And that was the end of the story, I think. And this story has followed me for years.
But just to finish with her, Jessica Leeds no police reports, no witnesses, no corroboration of any kind, no criminal suggestions, no nothing. Then you have another one. And this one is a writer for people magazine, who I actually thought was very nice. She came to Mar-A-Lago and she wrote the most beautiful story you've ever seen. It was a love story about Melania and myself, a love story and people magazine. And that was it. It was a cover, I think, but it was a beautiful story. You would. Everybody would love to have that marriage. She said the nicest things about me, about Melania. You have the story. I mean, you can read the story. And her name was whoever. Let's see. Her name. Was who? Smirnoff. Yeah. I don't have it. Whatever her name was, I don't know the lady, so perhaps it's much better that way. But I really don't know the lady. So she wrote this beautiful story and about, I don't know, years later.
No police reports, no anything. Years later, the same person they called up. Did you attack at Mar-A-Lago? This woman, this writer, whatever her name is. And she was a witness in a case. Her and leads with the two witnesses. Only two witnesses. Did you attack her? I said, who is she? And they said she writes for people magazine. I said, I don't know anything about the lady. If I had a story long ago, years before about people. But it was a very nice story. So, I don't know. It has to be made up because I don't know what you're talking about. It turned out that the same lady that wrote this beautiful story years later said I attacked her. Now think of this. Oh, and she said the butler knew everything. The old expression. The butler did it right. Very famous in crime stories. Well, the butler was Toni Senecal worked for me for a long time. He was at. He was retired at that time.
That was years later. He retired. He was retired when this hoax came out. And what happened is he totally confirmed my story. And he didn't even work for me anymore. He passed away a couple of years ago. A good man. He said the woman was crazy. It never happened. I was the one that served her. Whatever they. She was drinking and I was there, and nothing ever happened. But you don't need the butler. All you have to do is read the story. Think of this. A woman comes into Mar-A-Lago. Interviews me about a love story. A story about my wife and myself. And during that interview. I attacked her and pushed her up against the wall. Violently. Okay. And then she leaves. And she writes a perfect story. A perfect story. She doesn't mention the event again. There's nothing on file at all. Zero. There was no complaints. There were no complaints to people magazine. There was no witness. There was nothing.
Yeah, well, there was a witness, the butler. And he's already said everything. He's already told this story. Because this story likewise like leads, this story has followed me around. I could go through many, many other stories outside of this. You know, it's very funny. When you're rich and famous, you get a lot of people come up with a lot of stories, but your writers and some of you are legitimate writers and some of you aren't. Some of you are fake news and some of you are real news. But put yourself in my position. I'm running for president and I have all these cases all of a sudden come, come out and they're fake.
We are watching former President Trump speaking at Trump Tower in New York City after attending a hearing over his appeal for a new trial in the E! Jean Carroll sexual abuse civil case. Trump called the case a long and complicated web, blaming the Justice Department, President Biden and Vice President Harris. He also talked about the economy, calling today's job numbers terrible. We have full team coverage, and I want to go straight to our senior investigative correspondent, Aaron Katersky, who is there outside the appeals court, because, Aaron, we just heard Trump, by my count, at least three times, say he doesn't even know E Jean Carroll and that her story is a lie, but he has already lost in court for doing that very thing, for denying her story, because the jury found him liable for that assault and for defaming her in the past by denying it. So could he have just subjected himself to another defamation case here?
I mean, it's certainly possible if e Jean Carroll and her attorney were listening. Diane, the former president, certainly came close to the line, if not went over it. And repeating the very defamation of Jean Carroll, for which he was held liable and ordered to pay $5 million. And that is now appealing. So there's no small amount of irony that on the day he's appealing the outcome of the defamation case by E Jean Carroll, he's repeating some of the very same words that the jury found were defamatory. So it is a bit of a risk for him. We don't know whether he, Jean Carroll, would pursue another case. But if she's listening in, I think her ears might perk up.
Brian, what.
Does this do? I want to bring in our legal contributor, Brian Buchmeyer. What does this do for this case at the appeals court? Are these two things separate in terms of new comments, and how likely is it that Carroll could try to take him to court again, being she already has one against him multiple times, not only because of the original case, but because he continued to talk about it, continued to deny it. Yeah.
So it short answer. It should not affect the appeal because the appeal should be focused on the issues that occurred in that trial. But judges are human. If you're if you're looking at this as a second circuit judge, and you said we just had oral arguments about this, we just talked about this issue. You're getting more funds as they accrue over time. And then you have this hearing immediately after you do this. Like that can weigh on any human's mind, who is probably looking at this from a negative perspective. And so it shouldn't legally. But it might in terms of more defamation lawsuits. Absolutely possible. He said the words but a big part of of defamation is also damages. It would have to come forward and say, after all of what happened and for whatever reason, these specific statements damaged her in one way, shape or form. I can't imagine what those damages would be. That would be an argument for her, but I think that would be something that Donald Trump would push back on.
Yes, you're potentially making false statements, is what he would argue. But what are the damages at this point of him saying in this presser, I didn't know her, I this never happened. That would be an issue for litigation.
And let's go to our executive editorial producer, John Santucci. Because, John, you can't ignore the timing here. It's four days until the debate, just 60 days until Election Day. He didn't have to be in court today. He doesn't have to be there at Trump Tower holding this press conference. Why does he go to these hearings that he doesn't have to attend? And why go through so much detail in this press conference that could potentially put him in more legal trouble when he doesn't have to be there at all.
I mean, you have to scratch your head a little bit because you would think right now, if you're four days from a debate, you'd be doing, gee, I don't know, debate prep. But I suppose this is maybe a better usage of time. It's rather perplexing what exactly is going on right now, because this is a case based on the facts of the case that I can tell you and most of our colleagues that cover Donald Trump and his team will tell you the Trump team has wanted to run away from this case more than anything else. It is not a good storyline. Talking about an incident at Bergdorf Goodman's allegedly assaulting a woman, just something that the Trump team has known for a while. This was one just run from it. It does nothing good for us. So to go through the whole narrative, remind voters frankly, of how this began with Donald Trump going to this courthouse when, again, as you noted, he didn't have to today. He didn't have to. Then when the case was going on.
It just brings the campaign, if you will, to a darker moment that they frankly thought they had gotten through. To your question of why he does this. It's the same reason why, during early proceedings in the New York attorney general's case, the Manhattan DA's case, before it was in trial, the Florida case, the D.C. case, he goes because he has believed repeatedly that the cases help him politically. Not good personally, certainly not good financially. Between the fine that came out in the Jean Carroll case and the New York attorney general's case, a half $1 billion between the two. When you do the math. But he somehow has this fixation that while I'm in court, the voters, the die hard supporters, the people that he spoke about years ago, that I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a supporter die. And he believes that that will motivate his voters to go to the polls and look at what he said at the top of his remarks. Right. That these were cases and charges brought by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Let's repeat yet again, all of these probes began well before Donald Trump was out of office, and especially in the New York probes, e Jean Carroll started looking into suing him for defamation many, many months and years before all of this, based on the comments he had made. And Brian.
He didn't just mention E Jean Carroll, he also went out of his way to mention by name some other women who have accused him of unwanted sexual advances. Does that open him up to potential defamation lawsuits from those women now?
Absolutely. And I think you commented on this because I'm looking at him going through his notes, and the page looks pretty small. Like, does he just have the names of these people and they're just rattling them off is not just saying it's how he's going about it. It looks like he's making directed attacks to these people. But again, it comes back to the damages. And so if the women can say, I heard the statement, it was made, it was false and it damaged me in a, b, C type of way, then yeah, that's defamation. But of course, I think the major pushback here from Donald Trump and his attorneys would be, what are the damages? We've already gone through this litigation. Your name has been out there. He might have said a false statement, but what are the damage? I think that would be the larger issue at play.
Can I make one other point, because something you and I were talking about while we were watching this, about the notes that were going on, you had asked me, you know, if those legal notes or whatnot. Those are his notes. Let's be clear. His attorneys don't want him doing this. Diane.
All right. Aaron Katersky, Brian Buckmire, John Santucci. Thank you all. The news never stops, and neither do we. Keep it here. We'll be right back.
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Hi, I'm Diane Macedo. We have breaking news. Former President Trump is speaking after attending a hearing over his appeal for a new trial in the E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse civil case. Trump called the case a long and complicated web, even calling it rigged at one point blaming the Justice Department, President Biden and even Vice President Harris. He also talked about the economy, calling today's job numbers terrible. We have full team coverage with just 60 days to go until this election, I want to start off with our senior investigative correspondent, Aaron Katersky, who is outside the courthouse where this case is now playing out. And Aaron, we heard these accusations from the president before. More than anything, calling this a rigged case, a rigged election system, and essentially blaming the DOJ and the Biden administration for the fact that he's ever faced this case at all. Can you walk us through those arguments? I don't believe he's ever presented any evidence for that. So where is this coming from?
Well, he's returning to themes that have worked for him politically in the past, and that is his grievances over being charged both criminally and civilly. And the outcomes generally have not been in his favor. He's been convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records. He has been held liable for business fraud and ordered to pay a nearly half billion dollar judgment. And he has been found liable of defaming and sexually assaulting Jean Carroll, and on two occasions he's been ordered to pay a combined $90 million to her. Today, he appealed one of those judgments and asked for a new trial. He didn't say anything while he appeared in court. When I asked him if he was satisfied with how his lawyers argued today, he ignored the question. But when he then ventured uptown to Trump Tower, he unloaded on the legal system and specifically again on Jean Carroll, appearing to repeat the very defamatory remarks that got him in trouble in the first place. Diane.
And I want to bring in our executive editorial producer, John Santucci, on this, because, John, as soon as I think we all perked up a little bit when we heard him saying what he was saying, that he didn't know Jean Carroll, that this story was a lie because he not only faced the original case, which he lost, but he also had to pay additional fines because Trump continued to deny this case. Deny knowing Carroll. Deny her story, which the court considered defamation. So did he just open himself up to potentially more fines for defamation here?
I'm looking out of the corner of my eye because the lawyer next to me. Yeah, I see.
Brian nodding his.
Head. I mean, he's pretty good at this, as we know. Yeah, look, it certainly would seem that way, even to the non-lawyer sitting here. You agree? Okay, so I'm just for confirmation, but. Yeah. What are you doing? I mean, you've got you've literally got a debate in four days. This is a story that every person around Donald Trump has said, let's move forward. Let's get away from this. Aaron mentions there, you know, about the lawyers that are flanking him, Donald Trump, according to tweets that I'm seeing from reporters that are in the room still as he is, he's going on and I see one of those lawyers speaking now. He said he wasn't too happy with the legal talent that's been with him. I mean, to think about insulting your lawyers as they're right there with you. Um, I find it strange that we know Donald Trump believes these cases. Diane. Having them frontal lobe are good for him politically. But the reality is, as we talked about earlier, the facts of this case was something that everybody wanted to run away from.
And Donald Trump definitely went for these proceedings when they were going on. But let's be clear, like today did not need to be there. It's the campaign playbook, if you will. Donald Trump's campaign was being played in the courtroom during the primaries. Many people remember Ron DeSantis saying it believed that's what helped Donald Trump secure the Republican nomination. But now this is the general. Now it's time to move forward and bringing people back to days like today, not something the campaign team is excited about.
And I want to go to our senior white House correspondent, Selina Wang, because, Selina, we have heard former President Trump accuse President Biden of somehow being involved in some of these cases, saying, you know, the DOJ was behind this, that it was politically motivated. Now we're hearing him mention Vice President Harris as well. So how do you expect the Harris campaign to respond to this, particularly with that debate now just four days away?
Yeah. Look, I think this.
Just goes to the.
Split screen.
While Vice President Harris.
Has hunkered down here in Pittsburgh.
Preparing for the debate, you have Trump in the courtroom now.
Giving this press conference.
And I was just speaking to a source.
Close to the.
Vice president. And this really goes.
To the.
Contrast that she's.
Going to try and draw during.
The debate, that.
Donald Trump is someone who's only focused.
On himself versus the American people.
You heard him in the press conference.
They're really focusing on railing against the legal.
System, railing.
Against his.
Legal woes.
Rather than focusing on the issues that are top of mind for the American.
People, which includes the economy, which he did.
Briefly talk about, as well as issues like immigration, reproductive.
Rights, etc.. So Vice President.
Harris, she is ready to draw that.
Contrast.
She's also going to be focusing on her record, which of course, she is a former prosecutor who her campaign has been ready to tout a former prosecutor versus a convicted felon. And that imagery of Donald Trump in the courtroom only goes again to highlight their split screen. I'm told that the vice president, she is taking this debate very seriously to put all of this into context. This is going to be Donald Trump's seventh general election presidential debate. It's going to be vice President Harris's first. They've never met each other before. They've never even spoken to each other before. So she's taking all of this very seriously. I'm told that for most of today, Diane, she's focused on these policy sessions and meetings to strategize with.
Her top advisers, hunkered down here.
In Pittsburgh.
And let's go to our legal contributor, Brian Buchmeyer. Because, Brian, today we not only heard Trump deny knowing E! Jean Carroll denying her story, but he also mentioned other women who have accused him of unwanted sexual advances, naming them outright and also denying their stories. How risky is that for him? It's very.
Risky. It's like I'm looking at the attorneys that are flanking him and being like, no reaction. No. No emotional like, let me be very clear. Do I think there's a legal argument that he did not defame those women? Absolutely. And I keep reiterating the damages aspect. You go after damages and no damages here. He made a false statement. Whatever it is, it's his opinion. There are legal arguments that he can get from underneath this, but why get that close to having an issue here like that? That would be my concern. Bringing up the names, talking about potential falsities, things that they can maybe bring back evidence and say, you did know me. Here's a text message. Here's this. It's opening himself up to potential liability that is completely unnecessary. So why he may prevail in the long run through some legal gymnastics that are obviously available to him? Why get that close?
And, Erin, this is all coming after Trump was was in court in that appeals court just to watch. He didn't have to be there, but his attorneys were making the argument that he deserves a new trial here because, among other things, they are taking issue with the admission of the Access Hollywood tape in this case and some other witnesses who testified to these unwanted sexual advances. Kind of painting a picture of a history here with Trump. So what did you make of the arguments today in court and the reaction from the judges to those arguments?
Well, the women that former President Trump brought up in his remarks are the women who testified on behalf of E. Jean Carroll and who told a story that her side said showed Trump has a propensity to grope and attack women without consent. And the question for the appellate judges that that Trump wants to bring up is whether that testimony should have been allowed. For example, Jessica Leeds alleged that in 1979 she was on a plane seated in first class, headed to New York with Donald Trump when they were chatting casually and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he shoves his hand up her skirt. Uh, Trump's attorneys said that that should not have been allowed because in 1979, groping someone on an airplane was not explicitly against the law. There's a dispute about that that each side has. But regardless, Carroll's side says that it shows Trump had a propensity, just like the Access Hollywood tape does, because on the tape, Trump has heard bragging about grabbing women. So the appellate justices will have to wrestle with whether the trial judge properly allowed this evidence, or whether it should have been inadmissible, and whether the jury rendered a verdict based on improperly admissible evidence.
And Brian, I can't help but hear this and think, Harvey Weinstein, I know these cases are different civil versus criminal, among other differences. But Weinstein had a conviction overturned because of the judge allowing former witnesses, other accusers to come forward. Does Trump's team have a point here that they should not have allowed these women? How do they draw the line between what should and shouldn't be allowed in that respect?
All right. Let me try this. If I can condense this as much as possible. So what we're arguing here is about propensity. And then typically in a criminal setting you can't use propensity information to show that someone is more likely to commit a crime just because Brian likes to throw his cell phone from time to time, it doesn't mean that on this specific occasion that he did. And when it comes to criminal law, you're allowed to use potentially propensity evidence for certain reasons. We use a mimic acronym for motive, identity, lack of mistake intent, or common scheme or plan. And so if you use what could be considered propensity for those reasons, then it does come in. But from a civil setting, different rules, different different different procedures. And in Harvey Weinstein there were I think wasn't didn't, wasn't prepared for this all that much. But I think there were like 4 or 5 charged women and then there were like seven uncharged women. And so for the sheer number of uncharged versus charged, the the court said too much.
But in this case, we're talking about one woman, Jean Carroll, and then two others who brought in potentially propensity information. So 1 to 2 very different than like 5 to 7. And so it's a matter of numbers as well as law and areas of law that differ, but generally it's under the very same large, large umbrella.
And you said it could make a difference whether they are trying to use these women to paint him as a bad guy or use this as, as evidence of a pattern of behavior and intent. Right.
So like the easiest one and I know this is kind of comical to use, but if you remember, like Home alone, like the bandits, when they're like stuffed in the, the socks, like have the place like overflow after robbing a place. Right. Well, you're not saying that. And then if you show evidence of them robbing multiple places and doing the same thing of flooding the sink, you're using to show that that's their identity. I'm not using to show they have a propensity of robbing places. I'm like, look that mimic analogy again, or that acronym. That's their identity or common scheme of plan. This is the thing that they do when they go and rob other places. Right. But for and then Donald Trump is saying you're not using it for that purpose to show identity or lack of mistake or whatever, you're just trying to use it for propensity, which is improper, but it's a fact specific issue, right?
Are you trying to make me look bad, or are you trying to show that there was evidence behind this?
Exactly.
All right. Aaron, Brian. We try. We try to break it down here. Aaron. Brian, Selena and John. Thank you all. Meanwhile, the 14 year old suspect in the Apalachee school shooting and his father are in custody, making their first appearances in a Georgia courtroom earlier this morning. The teen faces four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected. He's accused of killing two students and two teachers and injuring nine others. His father also appeared in court this morning. He's being charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree murder and cruelty to children. And. ABC's faith abubey is there in Winder, Georgia, outside the school where the shooting took place. Faith, you were watching these court appearances. Let's start with the one for the suspect himself. The judge sort of laid out these charges, and then there was some confusion over whether or not he could face the death penalty. Walk us through what happened there.
Yeah. So it was actually remarkable just to see the suspect walk into court. We were seeing him for the first time since the shooting here. That 14 year old. We were told we couldn't show his face on camera. And so we saw him walk towards the attorney's desk. There he sat down and just faced the judge the entire time, just answering the judge with just one word answers as the judge was asking him questions. The judge then read his rights to him, then read the charges to him. And then we got to the penalty portion of that hearing. The judge saying that, you know, his maximum potential sentence, if he were to be convicted, would be life in prison without parole. Originally, the judge had mistakenly said that it would be the death penalty. However, because he's a minor, the judge brought the brought him back, along with his attorneys to clarify that the worst he could possibly face would be life in prison without parole. There's also life in prison, with the possibility of the of parole on the table as well.
And then moments later we went to the father. The father walked in. He was shackled, wearing a prison garb. He sat down. We saw him rocking back and forth, sometimes closing his eyes. He seemed emotional at times. When he spoke to the judge, he sounded shaky. He was soft spoken. And then the judge also did the same thing he did with the son. Read him his rights, read him his charges, and told him if he were to be convicted on all of his charges, he faces up to 180 years behind bars. And so, of course, this is just the beginning. There were no questions about the circumstances surrounding this case. There were no factual questions to tease out the facts here. There is another hearing that is scheduled for December 14th for both of them, Diane.
All right. Faith. Abubey. Thank you. And the new jobs report is shedding new light on a potential interest rate cut. U.S. employers added 142,000 jobs in August, falling short of analysts expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%. ABC's Elizabeth Chelsea is in Washington with more on that. Elizabeth, break down these numbers for us. What does this tell you about the economy and a potential interest rate cut?
So, Diane, these numbers tell you that hiring has really kind of shifted into this lower gear. We're seeing companies slow down the pace that they are adding workers to their payrolls, but there is still hiring going on. So when you think about the report that came out last week, that was actually revised, a lot lower 89,000 jobs in July. So that 142,000 that we got for last month in August, that's definitely an improvement. At the same time, what this shows is that the jobs market is now more of a concern for the Federal Reserve. Diane, we've been talking about for years how the fed has been focused on fighting inflation. Well, now it's pretty much said that inflation is under control and it wants to prevent a more drastic downturn in the jobs market. It's expected to cut interest rates within about two weeks at its next meeting. This jobs report doesn't really confirm one way or the other just how much it will cut interest rates. That's kind of the big question still, is will it go for a typical quarter point rate cut, or we'll go for that bigger rate cut.
The expectation currently is that we'll go with a more gradual pace, but we are seeing the case be made a little bit here, that this downshift in the jobs market could mean the fed will have to do a little bit more to catch up with how much weakening is happening in the jobs market going forward if it continues.
All right. I want to bring in business reporter Alexis Christoforous. Alexis, the markets are also reacting to this today. What does that tell you about how economists and investors are looking at this?
You know, initially there was very little reaction from the market. And then they had a chance to dive in and to absorb it and to try to parse it through. And we are seeing a pretty substantial sell off right now on Wall Street. I think the concern is there was no real clarity here. We don't know if the fed is going to cut by that 50 basis point, or half a percent or a quarter point. You know, this report points to a softening job market, but not a job market that's about to fall into a recession. There are some areas of strength here. The unemployment rate did inch down from 4.3% to 4.2%. Wages actually grew a pretty solid 3.8% compared to the same time last year. So because of those sort of pockets of strength in this report, there are some economists who are saying you don't need that aggressive half point interest rate cut from the fed. A quarter point will do. At the same time, some economists believe the fed may be behind the curve.
And they're coming to this a little too late, and that perhaps the slowdown in the job market is more severe than they first thought. All right.
Elizabeth Chelsea Alexis Christoforous, thank you both. Coming up, a warning to parents about so-called sextortion and a teen taking his own life. What's being done now to hold criminals responsible?
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, federal prosecutors are warning parents about a dangerous sextortion scam. Two Nigerian brothers accused of running an international sextortion ring have been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison. The two admit to sexually extorting teenage boys and young men across the U.S., including a Michigan teen who took his own life. ABC's Andrew Dymburt has more.
A pair of Nigerian scammers are behind bars here in the U.S., convicted in an internet con that turned deadly.
They solicited and received a.
Compromising.
Image, and then they immediately.
Turned.
To blackmail their victims, hounding them for money and even urging their victims to kill.
Themselves if they.
Couldn't pay.
Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were found guilty of conspiracy to sexually exploit a minor after they extorted Michigan teenager Jordan Demay. The 17 year old homecoming king later took his own life, thrusting so-called sextortion into the national spotlight.
It started out with the.
Supposed.
Girl saying, hey, we have some friends in common.
The two men targeted Dumais by pretending to be a high school girl named Danny, eventually convincing Dumais to send explicit photos of himself. The scammers then demanded $1,000, threatening if he didn't pay, they would send those compromising photos to his friends and family. Dumais died by suicide just hours later.
When I think about the things that they said to him. It hurts me so bad as a mom to think about what he went through in the last hours.
But now, some closure for Dumas family. The Ogoshi brothers yesterday were sentenced to 17 years in prison. The first conviction in an alleged sextortion ring involving more than 100 victims.
This is a serious threat that is only getting worse and it can happen fast. We know that the time from initial contact to Jordan's passing was a mere two hours.
Two hours? Wow. Andrew Dymburt. Thank you. Coming up, the American athlete racking up medals at the Paralympics. Oksana masters is speaking out on how it felt to win gold and the other sports she's preparing for in the Winter games after this.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, it is day nine of the Paralympics and team USA's Oksana masters is on fire. She earned her second medal of the 2024 Paris Games on Thursday, and her 19th overall, defending gold in the women's para cycling H5 road race. That win came just 24 hours after Masters came in, first in a major comeback win for the H5 individual time trial on Wednesday. And Oksana is joining me now from Paris with more on this. So great to talk to you. Thanks for coming on. Two medals. Two gold medals for that in two days. How are you feeling?
Oh my gosh I'm feeling absolutely just on cloud nine. It does not. It has not hit me yet.
What just happened at all.
We have to talk about that photo finish in that first race. What was your reaction when you found out you won gold in.
The first race? In the time trial? I had no idea at all that to cross the finish line. And then very faintly, I heard the announcer say, and it is gold for team USA. And I was like, what did they just say? Gold when I found out I lost it?
If all of that's not impressive enough, you're also a multi-sport athlete. You won your first Paralympic medal in rowing at the London Olympics in 2012, kept it going on the U.S. Para-nordic skiing team in 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics. How did you get interested in all these different sports and what made you try them all?
I think it was just when.
All the doors were.
Closing.
On what I thought I knew I was wanting to do with my life.
And not and the other ones.
Opening.
I was not afraid to walk through those and.
Trying something.
New and just being.
Fearless in the.
Unknown.
And I had no idea I was going to continue the winter summer sports at all. And I'm just so lucky to have an incredible team that just helps me allow these opportunities to try these new sports. And I think it's okay to do more than one sport. Life's too short.
You've also been open about living with post-traumatic stress disorder after suffering years of child abuse in an orphanage. Why is it so important to you to share that part of your story?
It was so important to share the part of the story because, especially in the media, I saw it was hard to see power strokes within my story because I. You can't just celebrate as an athlete and as as just a person all the aha moments that you made it in life. It's it's those hard, challenging things that you also went through. You have to acknowledge and honor those parts of the journey because it all makes it into one. And the more we talk about when you have a successful athlete.
And you.
Know someone else opened the door for them, Michael Phelps and so many athletes are doing that too, and normalizing it. And that is okay. Especially, you know, after sharing that, I had so many messages from from other people that were in similar situations or something that is triggering for them, and you don't feel alone in it, you don't feel like the weird one out and you don't know what's happening and how to process it, and I did. I was so afraid to share that and how to process it and to be able to show it is okay that we're humans. We're constantly growing and evolving, and it's okay to lean on each other. And, you know, sometimes even the best, the best athletes have, these adversities are always going to come up and make it challenging, but you're not alone in it.
It's such an empowering message. So what's next for you now you're done with these games, Oksana. So Milan 2026, LA 2028. What are you looking at?
Those two things specifically I have my eyes on next for Milan 2026 and quarantine and for cross-country skiing, biathlon and of course LA 2028. A home games would be the most dream place for me to end my Paralympic career and representing team USA. And I know I'm getting older and the competition is getting younger, so I would love a medal there. But more importantly, I just want to be part of that scene, that legacy of specifically women in sport and Paralympic sport growing for team USA.
All right. Well we will be watching team USA's Oksana masters. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
It's our pleasure and thank you for watching. I'm Diane Macedo. The news never stops and neither do we. We'll be right back.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, thanks for streaming with us. You are looking at Trump Tower in New York City on this Friday, and we have a lot of news to get to. Here's the rundown. Right now, a pilot and passenger are critically injured after a small plane crashed on the streets of Hawthorne, California, overnight. The Cessna Skyhawk was in pieces and on fire when L.A. County fire crews responded to the scene. Those two people injured were taken to the hospital. Thankfully, no one else was hurt. The hip hop world is mourning the death of rapper Rich Homie Quan. The Atlanta artist, whose legal name is DeVante Lamar, gained fame for his trap genre singles like Type of Way and Flex. The Fulton County Medical Examiner confirms to the Associated Press that the rapper died at an Atlanta hospital. Details on cause of death are not yet known, but an autopsy scheduled for today. Rich Homie Quan was 34. Red lobster is emerging from bankruptcy. A judge has approved a restructuring plan that allows the restaurant chain to keep all its current locations open, meaning 30,000 employees can keep their jobs.
And the Massachusetts woman accused of hitting her police officer boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him to die is giving her first full sit down interview since her case ended in a mistrial. Karen Reed spoke with ABC news chief national correspondent Matt Gutman about the case, one week before her new trial is set to begin.
Karen Reed, The high profile murder trial captivated millions and dividing a tight knit Massachusetts suburb. Justice for JJ and now, for the first time, Karen Reed, accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, giving her full version of events that night. Would you say that you were angry with John that night?
Yes.
Could you have been angry enough and slightly drunk because he had annoyed you, that in a fit of rage you just backed up and.
Never tried to.
Tap him? I would not try to kill him, but try to to.
Tap him with my £6,000 full size SUV to hit John's body with my car. No.
The sensational murder case ending in a mistrial this summer after the jury was deadlocked. Prosecutors accusing then 41 year old Reed of hitting her boyfriend, police officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV in 2022. After a night of drinking and then leaving him to die in the snow. It all started on a Friday night in January 2022. Reid and O'Keefe drinking with their friends at a local bar later that night. Reid says she last saw John after dropping him off at an after party at a home on Fairview Road, before going home to sleep. She says she awoke in the middle of the night and he wasn't home.
I called a few of his buddies, their wives. Now I have an immense sense of dread, like a fright in me that I have not experienced before.
Do you expect to see him lying on the street, drunk or passed out?
I was worried he might have gotten hit by a plow.
Reid meets up with some of John's friends, and they all return to the house where the after party was. And then she spots him in the snow.
His eyes were shut and he had spots of blood in different areas on his face, and he was still not stiff, but But still, it was cold.
John O'Keefe is soon declared dead, but the investigation is about to explode. Investigators finding pieces of a tail light they say is from Reids car at the crime scene.
I was talking to my best friend on the phone and I said, there's a lot of cops circling. And I said, I think I'm gonna get arrested.
Reid was later charged with second degree murder and pleaded not guilty. ABC news granted exclusive access behind the scenes as Reid prepared for her trial.
Hiding out like this, you just watch the world pass you by and you're you're going through the motions. Pun intended. And, uh. But, you know, it could all end. I could be convicted.
In the months leading up to the trial, Reid's defense team arguing in hearings and filings a stunning new theory that the injuries on John O'Keefe's body were not consistent with him being hit by a car. They claimed she was framed.
There are people in that.
House that are actually responsible for his death and who murdered him. And there are others in the house who are covering up that murder.
The prosecution insisting that no one at the party had anything to do with O'Keefe's death, saying he never even entered the Fairview Road home and they denied that Reid was being framed.
All eyes will be on this.
Courthouse in Dedham.
The trial soon drawing national attention. And after 29 days deadlocking the jury.
I'm declaring a mistrial in this case.
Family and friends. Remembering John, the son who always dreamed of being a police officer.
He was lost.
In this whole.
Circus.
And I think none of us want him to be.
Lost.
So I think we were all waiting for that it to be finally over so we can finally grieve.
I mean, that could be another 18 months.
It could be another five years.
And we're going to be there.
Yeah. Absolutely.
And Diane. Karen Reed's legal troubles are set to continue that retrial for second degree murder set for January and just this past month, which is what John O'Keefe's family members were referring to in the piece. His family filing a wrongful death suit. They told me they are never going to stop fighting for justice for John. As for Karen Reed's team, they also plan to fight on saying there's no quit in them. Diane. All right.
ABC News Chief national correspondent Matt Gutman. Thank you. And for more of Matt's interview with Karen Reed, tune into 2020, which airs tonight, 9 p.m. eight central on ABC and streaming on Hulu. And the Nevada judge, attacked by a defendant in her own courtroom is opening up about the incident. Judge Mary Kay Holthus took the stand to testify in the trial. She says she was knocked out of her shoes and didn't think she'd make it out of that room. ABC's Stephanie Ramos has more.
31 year old Debra Redin, the man seen in this video leaping over a judicial bench accused of attacking District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus in Las Vegas, was back in court Thursday. Retton is accused of attacking Holthus while she was sentencing him for attempted battery charges in January. As she was preparing to hand down a sentence read and launched toward her. The judge recalling those terrifying moments as she testified against him.
I smashed into the wall.
He was on me, and then I was being pulled down. I had closed my eyes. I was trying to protect my face and my head.
Holthus recalling being hit so hard she was knocked out of her.
Shoes.
The level of force he used the entire time was superhuman.
It took four men, including Holthus law clerk, to get Reddin off of her.
It was, um.
Scary. I didn't think I was going to get out of there.
Reddin's defense team and family say he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. But the day of the attack, the judge says she didn't notice any signs of mental distress. Redden has pleaded guilty to attempted murder but claiming he is mentally ill. He is set to be sentenced on November 7th.
Diane Stephanie Ramos, thank you. And the FBI says agents are now investigating the inner circle of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Authorities say they raided the homes of two of his top deputies and subpoenaed the cell phones of high ranking NYPD officials. ABC's senior investigative correspondent Erin Katersky has more.
The mayor of New York insists he and his administration are clean and cooperating.
I'm not aware.
Of any.
Misdoings.
And I'm going to.
Again follow the rules.
The mayor says he can't fathom why, but sources tell ABC news federal prosecutors and the FBI have opened new investigations focused on City Hall and the NYPD, including many of the administration's senior leaders. Investigators have seized the phones of Police Commissioner Edward Caban and at least a half dozen other top NYPD officials. And in pre-dawn raids, they searched the homes of two deputy mayors and the schools chancellor. No charges have been filed, and the mayor says his administration has nothing to hide.
We're going to comply with whatever rules, and we're going to follow the law, and we're going to make sure that.
Whatever information is needed, we're going to turn.
Over that information.
For most of his three years in office, Adams and his campaign have faced scrutiny over whether they took illegal foreign money. The FBI seized his phones last November. Sources say the new investigations are separate. City Hall says there's no indication the mayor himself is a target of any investigation.
Aaron Katersky, thank you. And a new study shows the FDA is behind on critical inspections of factories responsible for making everything from antibiotics to cancer therapies. The public health concern stems from the Covid 19 pandemic's effect on the U.S. drug supply. ABC's Andrea Fujii has more.
A new study sounding the alarm on drug safety. The Associated Press found since the pandemic, nearly 2000 drug manufacturing facilities are overdue for FDA inspections. The agency already under scrutiny from Congress.
It is past time the FDA addresses these issues. People's lives depend on it.
The plants overdue for inspection account for 42% of the facilities registered worldwide. Most are in the U.S., but more than 300 are in India and China, which make up the largest source of drug ingredients used in low cost prescriptions.
The failure of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Quality to go out and inspect these establishments.
Is a public health concern.
Concerns that can have deadly effects. Last year, four Americans died and a dozen more were blinded from tainted eye drops made in a factory in India. So why is the FDA behind? During Covid, it stopped all but the most critical inspections. Now it's trying to catch up with far fewer employees. More than 200 inspection jobs are currently unfilled. Many former employees left for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
We have a lot of work to do as long as the marketplace is working the way it is.
Andrea Fujii Thank you. Coming up, cell phones and students, why some parents say they don't want to see smartphones banned from schools, and the expert advice to help them feel comfortable with the new trend.
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An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
This is their combat operation center.
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The Brat Pack name not exist, would you? Huh? I hated the Brat Pack. What a.
Disaster.
Why did we take it as an offense?
Andrew, I'm not going to say we were the Beatles or anything.
Well, we didn't sell Shea Stadium, 1985. I think we could have. Hey hey hey.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. For seven states now have some kind of ban on cell phones in schools. And many parents say they actually aren't happy about the growing movement, despite teachers saying they are seeing positive results. ABC's Deborah Roberts has more on this growing debate.
Many kids are heading back to their classrooms this year with a new rule. Leave your cell phone behind.
This is really thrilling that states and schools, school districts all over the country and indeed all over the world this year are saying enough.
For students, it's an adjustment to a new reality. How is this working from what you're understanding?
You have to think back. Like when you and I were in high school. Imagine you're in ninth grade and they said, you can bring in your television set. You can bring in your TiVo or your VCR, you can bring in your walkie talkies, a paint by night, whatever you want. Bring it in, have it on your desk while the teacher is talking. How do you think that would have gone? Not very well, but if you have a smartphone in your pocket, that's what you have.
Social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Hight has long argued that smartphones are stealing our kids childhoods. Encouraged by the new actions in schools, he says they're seeing immediate impact on students.
I've never found a school that said, we went phone free and boy, was that terrible. We had to reverse it. We hear laughter in the hallways. We haven't heard this much laughter in the hallways in ten years.
Hight warns that research shows the mental health toll cellphones are having on kids who become consumed with content, often feeling insecure about their own lives and growing distracted during school.
The phone is always more interesting than everything else going on around you. That's why our kids are getting hooked.
But with schools taking a tougher approach to protect students, some of their parents aren't buying in. Like Larry Mccuen, a father of five whose 13 year old twins attend Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C.. What's your.
Your.
Overall feeling about the ban on phones at your kid's school?
They should just let the kids have it and just try to have the parents like like myself dictate. Tell the kids, please stay off your phone when you're not supposed to be on your phone.
He says his kids need their phones for schoolwork during class, and he worries about their safety. The twins were in a school lockdown last year and he couldn't reach them.
No one knew what was going on.
He's not alone. Maryland mom Janina Greene wants her daughters to be able to reach her if something frightening happens.
I think the kids should have access to their phones at all times.
She communicates frequently with them throughout the day, including to coordinate schedules.
I don't want to keep going through the school, and it'll be quickly overwhelming for them if they have to do that for every parent.
She argues it's the teacher's responsibility to police the classroom.
I understand that they don't want them to use it to disrupt class, but to me, kids kind of have to learn self-control because as an adult, they're going to need self-control. So they're going to have to learn when it's appropriate to take out that phone and when it's not.
What about the parents who will say we worry about emergencies? We want our kid to have access to the phone. Heaven forbid something happens during the course of the day.
I certainly understand that fear. I've got a 14 year old and an 18 year old, but what do the experts say? Our kids have been practicing what to do in these circumstances. Imagine you send your kid to one school where everyone has a phone on them. What's going to happen at the first sign of any trouble? Half the class is going to be calling their parents, saying, mom, mom, there's something going on. There's something going on. Uh, and now you can't respond. This is not safe. What you want is a school where the students are doing what they're supposed to do in an emergency. That's the best outcome for your kids.
It's understandable that after a tragedy like the one we saw this week, that parents are jittery about not being in touch with their children, which has led some schools to have different approaches about how to limit phones. But experts like Hite caution that it's difficult for kids to have their phones on them and not be distracted by notifications. We're going to talk more about how intense those notifications are in our next report. And of course, height offers more info and resources for parents and families online at Anxious generation.com Diane. All right.
Deborah Roberts, thank you. And it's time now for our weekly segment Tell It Like It Is, where ABC news contributor Doctor Loke Patel shares health advice on the topics that matter most to you. And today, Doctor Patel is here to answer some of your questions. So, Doctor Patel, let's start things off with Mike from Phoenix. Mike asks, does taking creatine help with muscle recovery?
I'm glad that someone is asking this.
Question because it means that you are.
Doing strength training.
Which is great for your body. The short answer is there is mixed studies about whether or not creatine actually helps with muscle recovery. Now creatine to back it up. No biochemistry lecture here. Helps with the ratio of ATP to ADP. Go a couple lines down the pathway. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. We get more cellular energy. So there is some data to suggest that taking creatine can help with athletic performance. But when it comes to muscle recovery, stick with what works hydration and nutritious snack and some rest and making sure you're getting adequate sleep that's the best for your muscles. And reminder creatine supplements are not tightly regulated by the FDA. They may cause side.
Effects, and it's not.
Recommended for anyone under the age of 18.
And Alex from New York City writes, can people get mpox after getting vaccinated? What about the strain in Africa?
This is a very important question, especially with what's happening in headlines now. Important reminder that no vaccine is 100% effective. The Mpox vaccine genius, according to two studies, is somewhere between 70 to 90% effective. But we do know that it can prevent severe illness if someone does catch it after they're fully vaccinated. Now, the people who should be going out there and talking about getting the vaccine are those who may have exposure to others, who may have commercial sex workers, or groups of men who have sex with men who may have more than one sexual partner, or a recent diagnosis of an STD. Now, regarding the strains, clade two is what is present right now. That is what we're talking about when we talk about the research clade one, that strain of mpox is what is causing the outbreak in Africa. And unpublished studies do suggest the vaccine works over there. But guess what? We have no cases of clade one here. But it is important that everyone spreads awareness and knows whether or not they should go see a doctor about a potential exposure or a new rash.
And Beth from new Jersey says, okay, I'm not supposed to shower with my contacts in, but then how am I supposed to see in the shower? This is a good question.
Yeah, Beth gets two stars for number one, knowing that we should not get our contacts submerged with non sterilized water, and also because this is a question that people have and no one knows to ask. So if you are visually impaired and you're taking a shower it's important that you put safety as number one. So consider things like high contrast objects in your shower, potentially putting an S or a C on the shampoo and conditioner. Soap on a rope is an interesting trick I recently learned about. You can think about getting bars installed, a nonstick mat, and proper lighting now, as Beth knows, but hopefully everyone else will soon know. Contacts should not be in contact with Unsterilized water. That could be a pool, a shower, or a lake, because any contaminants on that water can absolutely have direct access to your eyes. That is not a good thing for swimmers out there. You can have prescription goggles and hey, I guess prescription goggles work also in the shower, but that's not very realistic.
All right, Doctor Patel, I want to see those goggles. I think you might have an invention there. Coming, doctor Patel, thank you. And if you have questions for Doctor Patel or maybe some invention suggestions, just leave him a message on our Instagram feed. He might answer your question right here on Friday. Coming up back to school season is here. So how do you get your kids back to a decent sleep schedule? Doctor Sujay Kansagra Consagra aka at that sleep doc is here with some tips on how to set your kids up for sleep success after summer break.
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Something terrible had happened to her.
You had several suspects, all.
These kinds of leads.
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Welcome back to ABC News Live. First, it is time for the methods where I show you some of my favorite hacks to make life a little easier. But today I have a special guest joining me for his tips on getting your kids back on a sleep schedule after summer break. Professor and director of the Duke Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, Doctor Sujay Kansagra, aka at that Sleep doc is joining me now for more on this. Doctor Kansagra, so great to have you on. I always love when we get to chat like this.
Absolutely. Same here.
So talk me through this because summer means late sunsets. That usually means later bedtimes, later wake up times for kids. But that can be really tough when school starts because they can't always fall asleep early enough to get enough sleep before you need to wake them up for school. And then this is the kicker. The little ones then might be overtired the next night, which also makes it hard for them to fall asleep. So what are your tips to undo this? Because this can turn into a bad cycle.
Yes, absolutely. School start times. It's tough. What we're asking kids to do is move their circadian rhythm earlier, because during summertime it's very easy to delay that circadian rhythm. And there are some tips to get your kid back on track. First of all, light exposure is really the key when it comes to timing of light. So getting less light at nighttime for 30 minutes prior to bed, but getting plenty of bright lights in the morning can be very helpful. You want to move the schedule slowly if you have the time, so 10 to 15 minutes a day move up their bedtime and their wake up time. It's great if you can time their meals earlier as well. That actually helps set the circadian rhythm, believe it or not. And you want to make sure the schedule stays the same weekdays and weekends. That's super important to keeping on track.
Okay. What about teens? Because they have the same issues. Plus they also usually have delayed circadian rhythms. They are natural night owls, and many of them have even earlier wake up times than the little ones. So how do you help them given that mismatch?
Yeah. Schools start incredibly early, which is unfortunate. You know, the goal is for high school to start at 830 or later. But that's not the reality in some situations, depending on how delayed the teen is. This is where melatonin may play a role of course speak to your health care provider. But low dose of melatonin 2 to 6 hours prior to the current sleep onset time can actually help advance the circadian rhythm. Now, in super delayed cases where children are going to bed at like 4 or 5 in the morning, waking up in the afternoon, and now they have to advance by like 6 or 7 hours. There's a therapy called chronotherapy. And this is really interesting, in which you delay your bedtime by two hours every single night and then sleep in as long as you want. And doing the opposite of what I just told you, getting lots of light prior to bedtime and keeping things dim in the morning. And what you do is you essentially push back two hours every single night until you've delayed around the entire clock, and then they're lined back up again.
So you've pushed their bedtime so late that they've reached a normal bedtime again, and that's when you get strict again. Avoid the light at nighttime and lots of bright lights in the morning.
And I want to stress something you said low dose of melatonin. Because you and I both know this is one of the most misused supplements out there. So can you talk just a little bit more about that, the timing and the dosage that people want to be looking for here? Because I know some people are giving their kids, you know, four milligrams of melatonin at night, right? At bedtime.
Yeah, absolutely. And again, I'll emphasize definitely speak with your health care provider. But we think it's actually the timing in which you give the melatonin that's more important than the actual dosage. So I'm looking at half a milligram to milligram doses and 2 to 6 hours prior to the current sleep onset time. We think that's probably all you need. I rarely, even for older children, will go over three milligrams of melatonin, and you want to get it from a reliable source, because we know based on studies, because it's not FDA regulated, they can put all sorts of stuff in these bottles and the doses are all over the place. So you really want to go to a reliable pharmacy that you trust.
All right, doctor, I have so much more we could talk about, but we are out of time, sadly. Always great to have you. Thank you.
Thank you. Sleep well, my friend.
Thank you. Same to you. And thank you for watching. I'm Diane Macedo. The news never stops, and neither do we. You can find ABC News Live anywhere. You stream live news on the ABC news app or on ABC news.com. And we have a lot more news for you after the break. Stay with us.
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Right now on ABC News Live. Appealing the verdict in his sex abuse case with writer E Jean Carroll and holding a press conference slamming her testimony. Once again, we've got the latest from court and what former President Trump just told reporters. Plus, for the first time, we hear his dad admit his son knew where the guns were in the house. You'll hear the chilling audio when cops came knocking at his door, and how his father allegedly gave his 14 year old son an AR 15 for Christmas the latest charges in the Georgia mass shooting case this hour. And the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in the month of August. Next up, interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. What it means for your money. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips. Our top story this hour is Trump lashing out the former president attacking the woman who's accused him of of sexual misconduct right after attending a court hearing requesting a new civil trial in the sex assault and defamation cases brought by E Jean Carroll. Trump, unloading a barrage of grievances at what was supposed to be a news conference at Trump Tower before leaving without taking any questions.
And in this case, it's so false. It's a made up, fabricated story by somebody. I think initially just looking to promote a book. And when they called me, I denied the story. I got sued essentially for defamation because I'm denying a story where I'm right I should be suing her for defamation.
Senior investigative correspondent Eric Kantorski joining me now from New York. So, Eric, first off, did Trump just defame E Jean Carroll once again?
It's kind of sounded like it, Kyra. He repeated a number of statements that the jury at the trial found to be defamatory, and the jury ended up awarding former President Trump or awarding Carroll $5 million in damages that former President Trump has to pay. He's now appealing, and that's what brought him here to court today. But to hear him say some of the very same things, and remind his audience that he was held liable for a sexual assault is a, you know, curious political choice. And yet, speaking about his legal cases and airing his grievances about his legal predicaments has always worked for him politically.
So kind of walk us through, Aaron. What happened inside court this morning?
Former President Trump came in, didn't say anything, but he had a nice, friendly interaction with a sketch artist who was drawing him at most of his appearances in court. Otherwise, he didn't say anything. Left it to his lawyer to argue that he deserves a new trial because, the defense argues, the judge improperly allowed some evidence into the case where Trump was held liable for defaming Eugene Carroll and sexually assaulting her. The defense says that the jury never should have heard the Access Hollywood tape where Trump is, is heard boasting about grabbing women and never should have heard from two women who were not. E Jean Carroll, who claimed that Trump sexually assaulted them decades earlier, which Trump denies. And Jean Carroll's point is that this shows Trump had a propensity for for for attacking women. And that's just what E. Jean Carroll said happened to her in the dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid 1990s.
And now we're expecting Aaron. Word on whether another judge will actually delay the sentencing in Trump's hush money case. What can you tell us about that one?
At any moment, Judge Juan Merchan is expected to rule on former President Trump's request to push his sentencing from September 18th, well beyond the November election. This is a request that Trump has made directly to the judge. He's also tried to move the whole case into federal court to to gum up the works and delay it if the judge doesn't go along. So we're waiting to hear. Prosecutors signaled in a letter that the decision would be coming today. Told it could be coming really any time now. As the judge weighs when to sentence Trump. At some point, he's going to have to be sentenced. Kyra, after he was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records, he faces up to four years in jail. We're not sure that the judge is prepared to send him there, but. But nonetheless, that remains in the offing.
Sure does. Erin. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Joining me now, a man who's very familiar with the unique set of challenges, shall we say, that Trump brings for a lawyer, Ty Cobb was white House special counsel during the Trump administration and has since turned into a fierce Trump critic. Ty, it's always great to see you. So question for you with regard to this press conference that just went down, did we just watch in real time how difficult it is to be Donald Trump's lawyer? And did we just watch the beginning of another defamation suit, do you think?
I think.
So. Certainly.
He defamed her.
Um, you know.
Whether.
Her $88 million.
Is enough.
To.
Forestall, uh, another suit.
Remains to be seen. But certainly he came out and did the same things that he's, you know, lost twice on to the tune of, you know, $88 million. So I think, uh, I wouldn't be surprised to see her, Sue.
So, you know, he ditched the election subversion hearing yesterday, but takes a day off the campaign trail to come to New York to do a presser on his sex abuse case. Why?
You know, I have no idea. I mean, seriously.
Um, uh.
You know, it's it's impossible to make rhyme or reason out of most of the things that he does. Uh, uh, like this. Um, if I was his lawyers, I would not have actually had him there. I think he probably wanted to be there. I think he probably expected that the the appellate hearing might generate some, um, you know, some news. And he wanted to be part of the news cycle, but I don't, I think, but for his appearance, you know, this would have been a, you know, a paragraph on page three or maybe page one, but not a not a big deal. Um, and the hearing itself was largely unremarkable, focused on, you know, a couple of discrete issues. Um, nothing that I think should give him any confidence. Although, you know, the propensity, uh, issues with regard to other potential victims of the same kind of conduct is always a thorny issue on appeal. But, uh, you know, to to come out of that hearing, um, you know, we're not a single judge, uh, perceived that Eugene Carroll had made up, uh, these allegations and argued that she had fabricated them, I think is just, uh, remarkable and certainly contrary to his lawyer's advice.
Well, and let me just follow up on that. I mean, despite his 34 felony convictions. Trump is still managed to dodge jail time and trials. In other cases, he continues to deny any wrongdoing with any of these charges. He makes appeals, you know. Does Trump just have good lawyers who, by the way, he threw under the bus right there at that press conference or, you know, is he able to to roll like this because he was president of the United States?
So that's an excellent question. I think that's probably on everybody's mind. I think a large part of America just assumes that, um, you know, he's he's gotten very lucky. And the reality is he has in terms of, um, particularly a couple of the cases, the case in Florida where you've got a, you know, inept, arguably partisan, biased judge, um, you know, who could have easily gotten that case to trial? That case probably should have gone to trial a couple of months ago. Um, and, you know, dismissed it. um, shall certainly be reversed. You've got the, uh, the e Jean Carroll case where, you know, things are actually not going his way. He's lost twice. He's not going to not likely to win this appeal. Um, or the or the next appeal. Um, in the in the related case, you've got the two, um, you've got the January 6th case, of course, where, um, you know, the delays are more understandable.
They raised constitutional issues for the first time in the history of the Republic, where, you know, we're not used to having criminals as presidents. And when when you have an alleged criminal as a president, it raises issues that, you know, the Supreme Court understandably wants to take an interest in and should, um, and that case is, you know, going to be delayed at least a year if it goes to trial and it won't go to trial. Of course, if Trump wins because he'll have it dismissed. But should he lose, it'll go to trial sometime next year. Um, after the Supreme Court, uh, assesses whatever Judge Chutkan is going to do and gives her further direction if necessary. Likewise, in the Florida case, that will be reinstituted and go to trial late next year if or maybe later, depending on whether or not Judge Cannon is removed, as several amicus briefs seem to request of the 11th Circuit, and there's a strong possibility she could be removed, although perhaps not at this time, but certainly before trial, because she will not be able to help herself and will certainly air again.
And then you've got, um, uh, you know, the Fani Willis case, which of course had its own problems. Uh, you have to consider Trump lucky there because of the poor judgment, uh, exercised by the district attorney, uh, and her special counsel and their romantic relationship. Um, so, yes, he's had a lot of luck. Some of some of the delays are understandable, particularly in the January 6th case, but elsewhere. Um, no. And he he will he will certainly, you know, qualify for a substantial jail time in the January 6th case. And the classified information case should either get to trial and that will, as I say, only happen if he does not does not win in November.
Well, Ty, speaking of delays, stay with me, Aaron. Katersky. You're just getting news about another sentencing for Trump being delayed. This in his New York case.
Judge Juan Merchan, in a letter posted just moments ago, said he would delay former President Trump's sentencing in his criminal hush money case, the one where Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to a hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. The judge did not set a new date, but he said it would be pushed in all likelihood past the November election. Notably, in the letter, the judge said Trump was bolstering his argument with a series of of grievances that are unsubstantiated, and the judge said he would not address those. But because he found that prosecutors did not oppose the idea of pushing sentencing past the November election, the judge said he would in fact do so.
Aaron. Thank you and Ty. Here we go again. Just as we're talking about how he's able to keep delaying these cases once again. Uh, Ty, uh, sentencing delayed.
Yeah. I think you have to fault the prosecutors for this one. It's not on the judge. Um, had the prosecutors opposed, uh, Trump's request for further delay, I think the judge would have had the platform in which to deny the request. But in the absence of their opposition, it would have been unusual for the judge to do it on his own. So I understand completely why the judge did what he did. I'm not, uh, I'm not too sanguine about, uh, whatever motivated the prosecutors not to not to push for the sentencing as scheduled. It's already been. It's already been long overdue. So, um, it's, uh, it's a little bit of a surprise. Um, you know, in the, in the at 30,000ft. But at the same time, given the prosecutors, uh, you know, decision not to oppose Trump's request for the delay, uh, the judge certainly, uh, was not going to do this on his own.
Got it. Now, I do want to get one question in about this letter that you wrote to to the Georgia governor urging him to override some changes to the Georgia election board. Why did you decide to do this?
Well, um, first of all, let me make it really clear that I was I was, uh, you know, very, very enthusiastic about the content of the letter and very supportive. But I'm one of, you know, many lawyers and I don't deserve any special recognition from among that group. But the reality is, um, you know, there's a lot of there's a lot of damage being done or people are attempting to do at the roots of our democracy. Um, you know, elections have consequences, and those consequences can only be as effective as the integrity of those elections. You've got three commissioners in Georgia who have had meetings without notice. They've run roughshod over the process. They've, uh, hired outside counsel beyond the attorney general, which is, uh, does not appear to be, uh, authorized in their case. And they've created a perception that contrary to the law, um, that they have some role in the certification of Georgia state elections and federal elections. Uh, whereas that's not the case.
It's really a court, uh, court determined process. So I think I wrote it because I'm concerned not just in Georgia, but around the country with some of the activity on both sides that I think goes against some of the democratic principles we have. And I think it's very important to protect, uh, to protect elections and the integrity of elections so that so that people have faith in, in their government and can follow, can follow the law and adhere to the rule of law, which is what distinguishes us or has over time from most other countries.
Ted Cobb, always great to talk to you, especially on days like this. Appreciate you. Thank you. Nice to be with.
You, Kara. Always nice to be with you. Thank you dear.
You bet. Well, first, the chilling audio and now an arrest. New developments to tell you about in that deadly school shooting in Georgia. The father of 14 year old suspect Cole Gray has now been arrested, charged with second degree murder in his son's rampage. That left two students and two teachers dead. 54 year old Colin Gray is now facing 180 years in prison. He and his son both appearing in court for the very first time today. You can see Colin. They're clearly on edge while a judge read him his rights. We're also learning more about the FBI investigation into those threatening posts that his son, Colt gray, apparently made last year on the social media platform discord, including threats to actually shoot up a school. We have now obtained the actual audio recording, where the local sheriff visits the gray family home and speaks with Colt gray and his father, Colin, the sheriff, asking them about weapons in the home. Listen to this.
Do you have do you have weapons.
In the house? I do. Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down. Okay. We actually we do a lot of shooting. We do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year. He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do and how to use them and not use them. I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happened. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
Wow.
Our Phil Lipof has been listening to that recording as well, along with our legal contributor and trial attorney, Brian Buchmeyer. Phil, I want to start with you. We're going to get to the audio in just a second, but tell us more about what happened in court today where father and son both were.
Yeah. Well, separately.
They faced a judge and they heard their.
Charges. The 14 year old alleged shooter in this case, four counts of felony murder he faces. And in.
Georgia, he.
Could face the death penalty. Except he's a minor. He is being tried as an adult, but what he will face is life in prison. His father, 54 year old Colin, as you mentioned, came before a judge shortly thereafter.
His charges are.
Different, but.
I'll read them to.
You. It's two counts of felony murder in the second.
Degree, four.
Counts of felony involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of felony cruelty. Similar to the last time we saw parents charged in a school shooting. He faces the rest of his life in prison as well.
So, Brian, sources are now telling us that investigators believe that it was dad that gifted his son an AR 15 rifle for Christmas. That would have been seven months after that. Sheriff came to the house asking about weapons and and and Colt gray making those deadly threats. Is there, I guess first, I want your reaction to that. And I guess I want to follow up with should anything else or I guess, could anything else legally could have, could have happened at that point?
Yeah. So my response, both as an attorney and a father is somewhat shocking because it's a simple concept of math. You have law enforcement show up at your home and talk about what your son is purported to have put on social media, and you have that conversation that we hear from the father saying, we have these conversations. He knows about the dangers. He knows not to do this. We've talked about school shootings and the guns, or at least the hunting guns. At that point, they were accessible to him. And then for whatever reason, he decides, you know what, AR 15? Let's let's buy that as a Christmas gift for my child. It's knowledge, understanding the red flags, not observing the red flags, and then purchasing a deadly weapon that the child cannot legally possess in the, in the in the state that he's in. And then the death that occurs, that's how he's being prosecuted. And so it's somewhat shocking. And all this evidence is what's leading up to these charges.
Right? Okay. And I want to follow up too. And by the way, there's the mug shot that we're finally seeing now of the suspect, 14 year old Colt gray. So, Phil, what stood out to you about this recording?
Well, just like Brian said, and we've been sitting here talking before you came to us, you know, as a as a father, as a parent. Kira, you know this. You don't want to necessarily take the full responsibility for everything your child does. However, in a situation like this, when you read the recordings, his father says, yes, we have weapons.
In the house.
His father says, yes, he's getting picked on at school and I know he's getting picked on at school. He knows the seriousness of what these weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and how not to use them. He lays everything out. He is told by law enforcement that his son has made this threat. His son denied it, but then he went and bought him. You know, one of the most powerful rifles that you can buy on the market An AR style rifle that is used in almost all of these school shootings. After all of this, after admitting his son is picked on at school and in those recordings, he said, that's why I spend so much time up there at school just to make sure he's okay. That was part of the recordings to Kira.
Yeah. It's just it's unbelievable. Just the fact that we're able to hear these conversations that happened a year ago. And, Brian, this is the second time now, in just the past couple of years, that a parent has been charged in a school shooting that was carried out by their kid. Is this a new trend, do you think? Are we going to see more of this?
Yeah, I think I think one is an anomaly to some extent. I think you're talking about the Crumbley parents who were charged. Two, I think is definitely appropriate to start saying, is this a trend? But if we start seeing three, 4 or 5 more, then yes, this is a trend. And I think what we're seeing is prosecutors are getting wise to the idea that jurors Society in which jurors are selected from are okay with the idea of parents being held liable if there's a certain equation to that. And I think the equation that we're seeing both in the indictment here of the father as well as the Crumbley parents in Michigan, is red flags ignored, providing the firearm to the child while those red flags are present, and then not addressing either of those two points leading to death. I think those things amount to involuntary manslaughter in Georgia. That amounts to murder in the second degree. And it's what we saw in Michigan as well, and potentially in other states.
Yeah. And we can we can talk about weapons laws and access to weapons and um, but but also we've got to talk about parenting. I mean, this was just bad parenting as it was in the other mass shooting case as well. And we'll just continue to have the conversation about everything tied to this extremely sad case. Phil Bryan, appreciate you both. Thank you. Coming up, major economic news today with a less than stellar jobs report. We're going to have all the details for you next.
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So glad you're streaming with us on this Friday. Let's talk about the economy now and the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in August, just a little short of what analysts were expecting. The unemployment rate also fell to 4.2%. It comes as the Federal Reserve preps to cut interest rates for the first time in four years, making it cheaper to take out a mortgage, car loan or even pay off credit card debt. Let's bring in our business guru, Alexis Christoforous. So let's talk about what this jobs report just tells you about the state of the economy right now.
Well, it shows us that, you know, the job market continues to slow down gradually. We were expecting the economy to have added more jobs, 161,000. We got 142,000. And remember in July, when the report showed 114,000 jobs added and Wall Street had this big sell off, there was concern the job market was going to fall into a recession. Today we found out even fewer jobs were added. They were revised lower, so just 86,000 jobs were added. So there is that concern now among investors that perhaps, you know, the concern has shifted away from high inflation to a slowing labor market that could possibly push our economy into recession. On the on the the good points in this report, if you want to point to some strengths, the unemployment rate, it dipped from 4.3 to 4.2% and wages grew 3.8% over the past year. Solid growth not gangbusters, but it is outpacing inflation, which we know is just below 3%. Kira.
So, Alexis, the fed is supposed to cut interest rates this month, right? So how big of a cut are we looking at?
We were hoping that this report would give us real clarity. Are they going to cut by a quarter point, or are they going to cut by a more aggressive half point? It's going to be the first interest rate cut we've seen in four years. And some economists are now saying that the fed needs to get aggressive in two weeks. That meeting is going to be September 17th and 18th, that they need to get ahead of the slowdown we're seeing in the job market to prevent the economy from slipping into a recession. So it's still anybody's guess. And I think you're seeing that play out today in the stock market where we're seeing another big sell off. Investors concerned and unclear as to just what the fed is going to do in two weeks.
Alexis, thank you so much. Happy Friday.
And to you my friend.
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Glad you're streaming with us. Some of the other headlines that we're tracking for you today on ABC News Live. The white House calling for an investigation after an American woman is shot and killed at a protest in the West Bank. Apparently, the 26 year old was a foreign solidarity activist working in the area to protect Palestinian farmers from attacks by Israeli settlers. Secretary of state just made these comments on the matter or just made comments on the matter. The IDF is investigating what happened. And Boeing's troubled Starliner capsule heading back to Earth today without the two astronauts it carried to the ISS. That was supposed to be an eight day test flight, as you know. Well, now it's stretching into a three month trip. Those astronauts will hopefully get home early next year. Well, the news never stops. Neither do we. You can find us anywhere. You stream live news, and if you're on the go, we are on the ABC news app at ABC news.com to I'm Kyra Phillips. Glad you're streaming with us.
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Right now on ABC News Live. Appealing the verdict in his sex abuse case with writer E Jean Carroll and holding a press conference slamming her testimony once again, we've got the latest from court and what former President Trump just told reporters. Plus, for the first time, we hear his dad admit his son knew where the guns were in the house. You'll hear the chilling audio when cops came knocking at his door, and how his father allegedly gave his 14 year old son an AR 15 for Christmas. The latest charges in the Georgia mass shooting case this hour, and the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in the month of August. Next up, interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. What it means for your money. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips. Our top story this hour is Trump lashing out the former president attacking the woman who's accused him of of sexual misconduct right after attending a court hearing requesting a new civil trial in the sex assault and defamation cases brought by E Jean Carroll. Trump unloading a barrage of grievances at what was supposed to be a news conference at Trump Tower before leaving without taking any questions.
And in this case, it's so false. It's a made up, fabricated story by somebody, I think initially just looking to promote a book. And when they called me, I denied the story. I got sued essentially for defamation because I'm denying a story where I'm right I should be suing her for defamation.
Senior investigative correspondent Eric Kontarsky joining me now from New York. So, Aaron, first off, did Trump just defame E Jean Carroll once again?
It's kind of sounded like it, Kyra. He repeated a number of statements that the jury at the trial found to be defamatory, and the jury ended up awarding former President Trump or awarding Carroll $5 million in damages that former President Trump has to pay. He's now appealing, and that's what brought him here to court today. But to hear him say some of the very same things and remind his audience that he was held liable for a sexual assault is a, you know, curious political choice. And yet, speaking about his legal cases and airing his grievances about his legal predicaments has always worked for him politically.
So kind of walk us through. Aaron, what happened inside court this morning?
Former President Trump came in, didn't say anything, but he had a nice, friendly interaction with a sketch artist who was drawing him at most of his appearances in court. Otherwise, he didn't say anything. Left it to his lawyer to argue that he deserves a new trial because, the defense argues, the judge improperly allowed some evidence into the case where Trump was held liable for defaming Eugene Carroll and sexually assaulting her. The defense says that the jury never should have heard the Access Hollywood tape where Trump is is heard boasting about grabbing women and never should have heard from two women who were not. E Jean Carroll, who claimed that that Trump sexually assaulted them decades earlier, which Trump denies. And Jean Carroll's point is that this shows Trump had a propensity for, for for attacking women. And that's just what E! Jean Carroll said happened to her in the dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid 1990s.
And now we're expecting Aaron. Word on whether another judge will actually delay the sentencing in Trump's hush money case. What can you tell us about that one?
At any moment, Judge Juan Merchan is expected to rule on former President Trump's request to push his sentencing from September 18th, well beyond the November election. This is a request that Trump has made directly to the judge. He's also tried to move the whole case into federal court to to gum up the works and delay it. If the judge doesn't go along. So we're waiting to hear. Prosecutors signaled in a letter that the decision would be coming today, told it could be coming really any time now. As the judge weighs when to sentence Trump. At some point, he's going to have to be sentenced, Kyra. After he was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records, he faces up to four years in jail. We're not sure that the judge is prepared to send him there. But but nonetheless, that remains in the offing.
Sure does. Erin. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Joining me now, a man who's very familiar with the unique set of challenges, shall we say, that Trump brings for a lawyer, Ty Cobb was white House special counsel during the Trump administration and has since turned into a fierce Trump critic. Ty, it's always great to see you. So question for you with regard to this press conference that just went down, did we just watch it real time, how difficult it is to be Donald Trump's lawyer? And did we just watch the beginning of another defamation suit, do you think?
I think so. Certainly. He defamed her. Um, you know, whether her $88 million is enough to forestall, uh, another suit remains to be seen. But certainly he came out and did the same things that he's, you know, lost twice on to the tune of, you know, $88 million. So I think I wouldn't be surprised to see her, Sue.
So, you know, he ditched the election subversion hearing yesterday, but takes a day off the campaign trail to come to New York to do a presser on his sex abuse case. Why?
You know, I have no idea. I mean, seriously, uh, you know, it's it's impossible to make rhyme or reason out of most of the things that he does. Like this. If I was his lawyers, I would not have actually had him there. I think he probably wanted to be there. I think he probably expected that the the appellate hearing might generate some, um, you know, some news. And he wanted to be part of the news cycle, but I don't, I think, but for his appearance, you know, this would have been a, you know, a paragraph on page three or maybe page one, but not a not a big deal. Um, and the hearing itself was largely unremarkable, focused on, you know, a couple of discrete issues. Um, nothing that I think should give him any confidence. Although, you know, the propensity, uh, issues with regard to other potential victims of the same kind of conduct is always a thorny issue on appeal.
But, uh, you know, to to come out of that hearing, um, you know, we're not a single judge, uh, perceived that e Jean Carroll had made up, uh, these allegations and argued that she had fabricated them, I think is just, uh, remarkable and certainly contrary to his lawyer's advice.
Well, and let me just follow up on that. I mean, despite his 34 felony convictions, Trump is still managed to dodge jail time and trials. In other cases, he continues to deny any wrongdoing with any of these charges. He makes appeals, you know, does Trump just have good lawyers who, by the way, he threw under the bus right there at that press conference or, you know, is he able to to roll like this because he was president of the United States?
So that's an excellent question. I think that's probably on everybody's mind. I think a large part of America just assumes that, um, you know, he's he's gotten very lucky. And the reality is he has in terms of, um, particularly a couple of the cases, the case in Florida where you've got a, you know, inept, arguably partisan, biased judge, um, you know, who could have easily gotten that case to trial? The case probably should have gone to trial a couple of months ago. Um, and, you know, dismissed it. Um, she'll certainly be reversed. Uh, you've got the, uh, the e Jean Carroll case where, you know, things are actually not going his way. He's lost twice. He's not going to not likely to win this appeal. Um, or the or the next appeal. Um, in the in the related case, uh, you've got the two, um, you've got the January 6th case, of course, Where, um, you know, the delays are more understandable.
They raised constitutional issues for the first time in the history of the Republic, where we're not used to having criminals as presidents. And when when you have an alleged criminal as a president, it raises issues that, you know, the Supreme Court understandably wants to take an interest in and should, um, and that case is, you know, uh, going to be delayed at least a year if it goes to trial and it won't go to trial. Of course, if Trump wins because he'll have it dismissed, but should he lose, it will go to trial sometime next year. Um, after the Supreme Court, uh, assesses whatever Judge Chutkan uh is going to do and gives her further direction if necessary. Uh, likewise, in the Florida case, that will be reinstituted and go to trial late next year if or maybe later, uh, depending on whether or not, uh, Judge Cannon is removed as several, uh, amicus briefs seem to request of the 11th Circuit, and there's a strong possibility she could be removed, although perhaps not at this time, but certainly before trial, because she will not be able to help herself and will certainly air again.
And then you've got, um, uh, you know, the Fannie Willis case, which of course, had its own problems. Uh, you have to consider Trump lucky there because of the poor judgment, uh, exercised by the district attorney, uh, and her special counsel and their romantic relationship. Um, so, yes, he's had a lot of luck. Some of some of the delays are understandable, um, particularly in the January 6th case, but elsewhere. Um, no. And he he will he will certainly, you know, qualify for substantial jail time in the January 6th case. And the classified information case should either get to trial. Um, and that will, as I say, only happen if he does not, um, does not win in November.
Well, Ty, speaking of delays, stay with me, Aaron Katersky. You're just getting news about another sentencing for Trump being delayed this in his New York case.
Judge Juan Merchan, in a letter posted just moments ago, said he would delay former President Trump's sentencing in his criminal hush money case, the one where Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to a hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. The judge did not set a new date, but he said it would be pushed in all likelihood past the November election. Notably, in the letter, the judge said Trump was bolstering his argument with a series of of grievances that are unsubstantiated, and the judge said he would not address those. But because he found that prosecutors did not oppose the idea of pushing sentencing past the November election, the judge said he would in fact do so.
Aaron, thank you. And Ty, here we go again, just as we're talking about how he's able to keep delaying these cases once again, Thai sentencing delayed.
Yeah, I think you have to fault the prosecutors for this one. It's not on the judge. Had the prosecutors opposed to Trump's request for further delay? I think the judge would have had the platform in which to deny the request. But in the absence of their opposition, it would have been unusual for the judge to do it on his own. So I understand completely why the judge did what he did. I'm not, uh, I'm not too sanguine about whatever motivated the prosecutors not to not to push for the sentencing as scheduled. It's already been it's already been long overdue. So, um, it's, uh, it's a little bit of a surprise. Um, you know, in the, in the at 30,000ft. But at the same time, given the prosecutors, uh, you know, decision not to oppose Trump's request for the delay, uh, the judge certainly, uh, was not going to do this on his own.
Got it. Now, I do want to get one question in about this letter that you wrote to to the Georgia governor urging him to override some changes to the Georgia election board. Why did you decide to do this?
Well, um, first of all, let me make it really clear that I was I was, uh, you know, very, very enthusiastic about the content of the letter and very supportive. But I'm one of, you know, many lawyers and I don't deserve any special recognition from among that group. But the reality is, um, you know, there's a lot of there's a lot of damage, uh, being done or people are attempting to do at the roots of our democracy. Um, you know, elections have consequences, and those consequences can only be as effective as the integrity of those elections. You've got three commissioners in Georgia who have had meetings without notice. They've run roughshod over the process. They've hired outside counsel. Beyond the attorney general, which is, uh, does not appear to be. Uh, authorized in their case. And, uh, they've created a perception that. Contrary to the law, um, that they have some role in the certification of. Georgia state elections and federal elections.
Uh, whereas that's not the case. It's really a court, uh, court determined process. So I think I wrote it because I'm concerned not just in Georgia, but around the country with some of the activity on both sides that I think goes against some of the democratic principles we have. And I think it's very important to protect, uh, to protect elections and the integrity of elections so that, uh, so that people have faith in, in their government and, uh, can follow, can follow the law and adhere to the rule of law, which is what distinguishes us or has over time from most other countries.
Ted Cobb, always great to talk to you, especially on days like this. Appreciate you. Thank you. Nice to be with you, Kara.
Always nice to be with you. Thank you, dear.
You bet. Well, first, the chilling audio and now an arrest. New developments to tell you about in that deadly school shooting in Georgia. The father of 14 year old suspect Cole Gray has now been arrested, charged with second degree murder in his son's rampage. That left two students and two teachers dead. 54 year old Colin Gray is now facing 180 years in prison. He and his son both appearing in court for the very first time today. You can see Colin. They're clearly on edge while a judge read him his rights. We're also learning more about the FBI investigation into those threatening posts that his son, Cole Gray, apparently made last year on the social media platform discord, including threats to actually shoot up a school. We have now obtained the actual audio recording with the local sheriff, visits the gray family home and speaks with Colt gray and his father, Colin, the sheriff, asking them about weapons in the home. Listen to this.
You have. Do you have weapons in the house?
I do. Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down. Okay. We actually we do a lot of shooting. We do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year. He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do and how to use them and not use them. I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happen. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And. Is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
Wow. Our Phil Lipof has been listening to that recording as well, along with our legal contributor and trial attorney, Brian Buchmeyer. Phil, I want to start with you. We're going to get to the audio in just a second. But tell us more about what happened in court today where father and son both were.
Yeah. Well, separately, they faced.
A judge and they heard their charges. The 14 year old alleged shooter in this case, four counts of felony murder he faces. And in Georgia, he could face the death penalty. Except he's a minor. He is being tried as an adult, but what he will face is life in prison. His father, 54 year old Colin, as you mentioned, came before a judge shortly thereafter. His charges are different, but I'll read them to you. It's two counts of felony murder in the second degree, four counts of felony involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of felony cruelty. Similar to the last time we saw parents charged in a school shooting. He faces the rest of his life in prison as well.
So, Brian, sources are now telling us that investigators believe that it was dad that gifted his son an AR 15 rifle for Christmas. That would have been seven months after that. Sheriff came to the house asking about weapons and and and Colt gray making those deadly threats. Is there, I guess first, I want your reaction to that. And I guess I want to follow up with should anything else or I guess, could anything else legally could have, could have happened at that point.
Yeah. So I my response, both as an attorney and a father is somewhat shocking because it's a simple concept of math. You have law enforcement show up at your home and talk about what your son is purported to have put on social media, and you have that conversation that we hear from the father saying, we have these conversations. He knows about the dangers. He knows not to do this. We've talked about school shootings and the guns, or at least the hunting guns at that point, they were accessible to him. And then for whatever reason, he decides, you know what, AR 15? Let's let's buy that as a Christmas gift for my child. It's knowledge, understanding the red flags, not observing the red flags, and then purchasing a deadly weapon that the child cannot legally possess in the, in the in the state that he's in. And then the death that occurs, that's how he's being prosecuted. And so it's somewhat shocking. And all this evidence is what's leading up to these charges.
Right. Okay. And I want to follow up too. And by the way, there's the mug shot that we're finally seeing now of the suspect, 14 year old Colt gray. So, Phil, what stood out to you about this recording?
Well, just like Brian said.
And we've been sitting here talking before you came to us, you know, as a as a father, as a parent carer, you know, this. You don't want to necessarily take the full responsibility for everything your child does.
However, in.
A situation like this, when you read the recordings, his father says, yes, we have weapons in the house. His father says yes, he's getting picked on at school and I know he's getting picked on at school. He knows the seriousness of what these weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and how not to use them. He lays everything out. He is told by law enforcement that his son has made this threat. His son denied it, but then he went and bought him. You know, one of the most powerful rifles that you can buy on the market, an AR style rifle that is used in almost all of these school shootings. After all of this, after admitting his son is picked on at school and in those recordings, he said, that's why I spend so much time up there at school just to make sure he's okay. That was part of the recordings, too, Kiera.
Yeah, it's just it's unbelievable. Just the fact that we're able to hear these conversations That happened a year ago. And Brian, this is the second time now, in just the past couple of years, that a parent has been charged in a school shooting that was carried out by their kid. Is this a new trend, do you think? Are we going to see more of this?
Yeah, I think I think one is an anomaly to some extent. I think you're talking about the Crumbley parents who were charged. Two, I think is definitely appropriate to start saying, is this a trend? But if we start seeing three, 4 or 5 more, then yes, this is a trend. And I think what we're seeing is prosecutors are getting wise to the idea that jurors society in which jurors are selected from, are okay with the idea of parents being held liable if there's a certain equation to that. And I think the equation that we're seeing both in the indictment here of the father as well as the Crumbley parents in Michigan, is red flags ignored, providing the firearm to the child while those red flags are present and then not addressing either of those two points leading to death. I think those things amount to involuntary manslaughter in Georgia. That amounts to murder in the second degree. And it's what we saw in Michigan as well, and potentially in other states.
Yeah. And we can we can talk about weapons laws and access to weapons. And, um, but also we've got to talk about parenting. I mean, this was just bad parenting as it was in the other mass shooting case as well. And we'll just continue to have the conversation about everything tied to this extremely sad case. Phil Bryant, appreciate you both. Thank you. Coming up, major economic news today with a less than stellar jobs report. We're going to have all the details for you next.
With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television. Nightline. The stories that shape your world, that shape your life. Dramatic. Stunning. Empowering.
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So glad you're streaming with us on this Friday. Let's talk about the economy now and the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in August, just a little short of what analysts were expecting. The unemployment rate also fell to 4.2%. It comes as the Federal Reserve preps to cut interest rates for the first time in four years, making it cheaper to take out a mortgage, car loan or even pay off credit card debt. Let's bring in our business guru, Alexis Christoforous. So let's talk about what this jobs report just tells you about the state of the economy right now.
Well, it shows us that, you know, the job market continues to slow down gradually. We were expecting the economy to have added more jobs 161,000. We got 142,000. And remember in July, when the report showed 114,000 jobs added and Wall Street had this big sell off, there was concern the job market was going to fall into a recession. Today we found out even fewer jobs were added. They were revised lower, so just 86,000 jobs were added. So there is that concern now among investors that perhaps, you know, the concern has shifted away from high inflation to a slowing labor market that could possibly push our economy into recession. On the on the the good points in this report, if you want to point to some strengths, the unemployment rate, it dipped from 4.3% to 4.2% and wages grew 3.8% over the past year. Solid growth not gangbusters, but it is outpacing inflation, which we know is just below 3%. Kyra.
So, Alexis, the fed is supposed to cut interest rates this month, right? So how big of a cut are we looking at?
We were hoping that this report would give us real clarity. Are they going to cut by a quarter point or are they going to cut by a more aggressive half point? It's going to be the first interest rate cut we've seen in four years. And some economists are now saying that the fed needs to get aggressive in two weeks. That meeting is going to be September 17th and 18th, that they need to get ahead of the slowdown we're seeing in the job market to prevent the economy from slipping into a recession. So it's still anybody's guess. And I think you're seeing that play out today in the stock market where we're seeing another big sell off. Investors concerned and unclear as to just what the fed is going to do in two weeks.
Alexis, thank you so much. Happy Friday.
And to you my friend.
All right. Straight ahead. An American killed in the West Bank. And now the white House is calling for an investigation. We've got all the details. Next.
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We're glad you're streaming with us. Some of the other headlines that we're tracking for you today on ABC News Live. The white House calling for an investigation after an American woman is shot and killed at a protest in the West Bank. Apparently, the 26 year old was a foreign solidarity activist working in the area to protect Palestinian farmers from attacks by Israeli settlers. Secretary of state just made these comments on the matter. The IDF is investigating what happened and Boeing's troubled Starliner capsule heading back to Earth today. Without the two astronauts it carried to the ISS. That was supposed to be an eight day test flight, as you know. Well, now it's stretching into a three month trip. Those astronauts will hopefully get home early next year. Well, the news never stops. Neither do we. You can find us anywhere. You stream live news. And if you're on the go, we are on the ABC news app at ABC news.com to I'm Kyra Phillips. Glad you're streaming with us. And don't forget that is the site of the first presidential debate with VP Kamala Harris and former President Trump.
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Right now on ABC News Live. Breaking news, sentencing and former President Donald Trump's hush money trial now delayed till after the election. We've got the full details. Plus, for the first time we hear his dad admit his son knew where the guns were in their house. You'll hear the audio when cops came knocking at Colt Gray's door, and how his father allegedly gave his 14 year old son an AR 15 for Christmas, the latest charges in the Georgia mass shooting case this hour, and the U.S. adding 102 40,000 jobs in the month of August. Next up, interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. What it means for your money. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips. We do begin with that breaking news. It looks like former President Donald Trump will not face the consequences of his hush money conviction before the 2024 election. A judge in New York now delaying sentencing in his criminal case after he was found guilty on 34 charges related to those payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing and is trying to get the case just thrown out on grounds of presidential immunity.
Our senior investigative correspondent, Aaron Katersky, joins me now from New York. So sentencing is now November 26th. But what happens if Trump wins the election? Aaron.
Good question Kyra. And I think the short answer is we don't know. Undoubtedly, if the former president wins the election, his attorneys would try to say he's the, you know, the forthcoming president. He's the president elect and therefore cannot be sentenced. But I'm not sure that argument would necessarily hold water. A sitting president probably could not go through the criminal justice system, especially the way Trump sees it. But we don't know anything about a president elect. So it's a it's a good hypothetical question. But as of now, the former president will be sentenced for falsifying business records here in New York on November 26th, meaning, though, that the voters will not have resolution of the case before they make their pick in November.
So you're actually in lower Manhattan today for Another Trump legal matter. There was a hearing today on his push for a new civil trial in the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault and defamation case. What's the latest on that?
He's asking a federal appeals court to give him a new trial, because he says the jury's decision to say that he owes Jean Carroll $5 million because he defamed her and sexually assaulted her cannot stand. His attorney made a number of arguments related to evidence, saying that the judge was wrong to allow the jury to hear the Access Hollywood tape, where Trump is overheard boasting about grabbing women was wrong to allow the testimony of women who said Trump assaulted them decades ago, which he denies. And Jean Carroll's attorney said all that evidence shows a propensity for Trump to do the thing that E Jean Carroll says he did and that they say is part of the reason, perhaps, why why he was held liable.
So Trump actually spoke to the media after that court hearing. Aaron, I know you were listening. He attacked E Jean Carroll and the other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. Here's part of what he said.
And in this case, it's so false. It's a made up, fabricated story by somebody. I think initially just looking to promote a book. And when they called me, I denied the story. I got sued essentially for defamation because I'm denying a story where I'm right I should be suing her for defamation.
Yeah, he got sued in E! Jean Carroll one. Did he just defame her once again?
It's certainly possible. In fact, I was talking to E. Jean Carroll's attorney, Robbie Kaplan, who said, as she said before, all options are on the table. She was listening to to those remarks and found that Trump was repeating statements the jury decided were defamatory of E! Jean Carroll. It's possible she could bring another action as a result. We don't know that she will, but. But Trump does at least risk that possibility.
All right. Aaron Katersky there for us in New York following all the cases for us, sometimes hard to keep up. Aaron appreciate you. So first the chilling audio and now an arrest. New developments to tell you about today in that deadly school shooting in Georgia. The father of 14 year old suspect Cole Gray has been arrested, charged with second degree murder in his son's alleged rampage. That left two students and two teachers dead. 54 year old Colin Gray could now face 180 years in prison, he and his son both appearing separately in court for the first time today. Colin Gray You can see they are clearly on edge as a judge read him his rights. We're also learning more about the FBI investigation into those threatening posts that Cole Gray, who you see here, apparently made last year on the social media platform discord, including threats to shoot up a school. We've now obtained the actual audio recording, where investigators visit the gray family home and speak with Cole Gray and his father, Colin. The investigator asked them about weapons in the home.
Do you have any? Do you have weapons in the house?
I do. Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down. Okay. We actually we do a lot of shooting. We do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year. He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do and how to use them and not use them. I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happen. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
Our faith Abubey continues to remain on the ground there in Georgia. Joins me now along with our legal contributor and trial attorney, Brian Buchmeyer. So, Faith, let's first we'll get to the audio in just a second. But what's just the latest from police there regarding their investigation?
Well, Kyra, we've been talking for a while now about potentially more charges coming. And now we're learning more about what is holding what the holdup is. According to the Da, at the time that they filed charges against the shooting suspect, they didn't have a lot of information about some of the victims who were still in the hospital. And so now they're starting to get that information in. And so they're hoping within the next few weeks they'll be able to add those charges. There is a grand jury meeting that's happening on October 17th. And so if he's indicted there, if the more charges are added there, there will be an arraignment that will be scheduled after that. And then we're expecting the suspect, the shooting suspect and his father to be back in court for their preliminary hearing on December 4th. Kara.
So, Brian, during that 2023 visit to the gray home, the sheriff actually speaks with Colt and his father about these threats on discord, and at one point even says he hopes that Colt wasn't lying to him. Let's listen to this moment.
God forbid something happened and I didn't do my job. That'd be.
I'd feel pretty.
Bad about that. So I just want.
To make sure you understand that if something like that.
Happens, or you hear something like that to.
Report it. Yeah. Tell. Tell your dad. Tell the teacher.
Like I told him, I would promise I would never say something. So you haven't used discord in a few months? Oh, no.
And you're.
You're saying you didn't say anything like that? No. This is going to do a little report saying that, uh, pretty much what we've done in reference to this and that we talked and he's saying that you didn't say anything like that. And I got to take your word, and I hope you're being honest with me. I'm not saying you're lying, but it's it's a serious thing. It's it's not unusual for people to lie to police.
Wow.
Well, Brian, the sheriff's office says there was no probable cause to make an arrest at that time. But is this really all that they could have done.
So really, it's a state specific question as to what the legislature of Georgia affords the law enforcement to do when it comes to potential threats like this, but I think they are correct. All the information that I've heard at the time in which this recording had occurred, the inability to properly associate that discord message with the the shooter who was speaking there, and also the information they collected, probable cause, meaning the belief based on all the information collected that a crime did is or will happen. I don't see enough there. I don't think they could have arrested him for any specific case. Also, my understanding is that the the AR type of firearm wasn't purchased until some months, some seven months after the fact. And so if all that were there were hunting rifles that were properly stored by Georgia law, they wouldn't have enough. I think. Now the question is, looking back, unfortunately, that's what we often do in these school shooting cases. Looking back, how can we prevent this? How can we better equip law enforcement and parents with the ability to spot potential shooters and get them the services, help and take firearms away from them, their access to firearms away from them in a way that we don't have more stories like this, right?
Yeah. Point well made. And faith, you have been speaking with students and a number of people within that community. What more are we learning about the victims and even the background of of Colt gray?
Yeah. Kara, you know, one of the bright spots out of all of this darkness that we've been talking about for the last few days are the injured victims, who, according to the local authorities here, are expected to make a full recovery. A number of them have been released from the hospital. Just a few of them remain in the hospital this afternoon, and so more and more of them will be able to be released. And then they're all expected to recover well and go back to their normal lives. But of course, there's nothing normal about what they're experiencing here. In fact, there have been vigils that have been held here on campus for several days now. In fact, there's a growing memorial that's closer to the building where people have been stopping by dropping off bouquets of flowers and remembering those four victims who died. We're waiting for more details about any memorials for them, any funeral arrangements for them as well. And so this community is still rallying together. They're going through the grief grieving process.
But of course, that bright spot is the fact that those who were injured are expected to make a full recovery.
Kyra and Brian, this is now the second time in the past couple of years that we've seen a parent charged for a school shooting carried out by their kid. Do we see this now as a new trend?
I think if anything, this is the beginning of a trend where prosecutors are seeing not only this conversation that's playing out on on ABC and so many other reports and the conversation that parents and society is having that they think that it is appropriate under certain certain circumstances, sorry, that a parent can be found liable criminally for the actions of their child They've already successfully got a conviction in Michigan. Georgia is going to try it out now. I think all prosecutors across the country are looking at the facts that amount to the different crimes in Georgia. It's murder in the second degree and involuntary manslaughter in Michigan. It was involuntary manslaughter. And I think we might see more of these cases where parents don't address the red flags, provide firearms for their child, and that access is lax in a way that that child can then take that firearm and commit mass shootings. I think this, unfortunately, is there more to come?
All right. Faith Abubey Brian Buckmire, thank you both. Turning now to the race for the white House, we are officially 59 days away from Election Day now, and just four days away from the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. And it's happening right here on ABC News Live. Sources telling us the vice president is spending most of her time right now in battleground Pennsylvania, huddled with her team on debate strategy. Our senior white House correspondent, Selina Wang, is in Pittsburgh following the Harris campaign. So what more do we know about Harris's debate prep? Give us the details. Selina.
Yeah. Kara. Well, a source close to the vice president tells me that today she's mostly hunkered down with her team, focused on the strategy and policy debate sessions. I'm told she's taking all of this very seriously to put all of this into context. This will be Donald Trump's seventh general election presidential debate. This will be Vice President Harris's first. They've never even spoken to each other, let alone really been in the same room together. I'm told that she's got a few goals for this debate. She wants to stay on message, go after Trump, get under his skin while staying calm, and she wants to focus on her message about the future. She's going to be honing in on her economic plans. Some of those more detailed plans she's laid out about helping the middle.
Class, helping making housing more affordable, Lowering.
Costs for everyday Americans and the new plans she laid out this week about helping small businesses. She also wants to draw the contrast here. She's going to cast herself as someone who's optimistic and forward looking versus Donald Trump, who she'll argue is dark and divisive. She's going to want to draw that contrast both from a policy perspective and really a personality perspective as well. Kyra.
So in the past, Kamala Harris has said that her experience as a prosecutor has actually prepared her for moments like this, moments like running against Trump. Remember this?
So in those roles, I took on.
Perpetrators of all kinds.
Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who scammed.
Consumers.
And cheaters who broke the rules.
For their own gain.
So hear me when I say.
I know Donald Trump's type.
So what do you think? Are we going to hear this same argument again on Tuesday, do you think?
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, I'm told.
That Harris understands that a lot of Americans still don't really know her background, and she's going to lean into her background as a former prosecutor, as an attorney general. So she's likely going to make that argument. And part.
Of drawing that.
Contrast as well is she wants to paint Donald Trump as someone who's only out for himself versus Vice President Harris.
Who she's going to argue is out.
For the American people. So she's certainly going to lean into that part of her background. But here, another thing that's important to note is that she is going into this debate with a lot of momentum behind her. Her campaign just announcing today that last month they raised $361 million. That's nearly triple the amount that Donald Trump's campaign raised in that same time period. And what that means, Kyra, is that in the remaining months of this campaign, she can really focus on hitting these battleground states and campaigning, rather than having to continually reach out to these big time donors.
Well, and how do you think just what you're learning about the vice president, how she's prepping and preparing compared to Donald Trump? Apparently not much preparation going on. Then again, he loves to jump into these things and just sort of wing it as we've seen in the past.
Yeah, I mean, it is a total split screen. You've got Vice President Harris, she's studying hard here in Pittsburgh. Donald Trump, he was in a courtroom then gave that press conference. But Trump and his team have always said that he doesn't need traditional debate preparation because doing things like that press conference today, giving out interviews, doing town halls, that is part of his debate preparation. But we do know that he is having these informal meetings on policy with advisers, advisers, including former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard. And remember, Gabbard had actually gone against Vice President Harris on the debate stage back in the 2020 Democratic primaries. And Gabbard has said that Trump should focus on how Harris has changed her positions on a number of issues since then. So that is likely to be a line of attack from Donald Trump that Harris has flip flopped on these issues.
All right, Selina Wang for us there in Pittsburgh, thank you so much, Selina. See you soon. September 10th. Vice President Harris and former President Trump, as you know, set to debate for the very first time. And it's going to happen right here on ABC News Live, September 10th, 9:00 9:00 eastern. You can watch it right here with us. We'll be there, by the way, too. Coming up, major economic news today with less than a stellar jobs report. Alexis Christoforous has all the details for us.
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So glad you're streaming with us. To the economy now, the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in August, a little short of what analysts were expecting. The unemployment rate also fell to 4.2%. It comes as the Federal Reserve preps to cut interest rates for the first time in four years, making it cheaper to take out a mortgage, a car loan and even pay off a credit card and its debt. Let's bring in our team money. Alexis Christoforous and Elizabeth Schultz. Elizabeth, let's talk about what this jobs report just tells us about where we stand right now with our money and where we're going.
You know, this tells us that the jobs market is really slowing down. Companies, employers are still adding jobs. They're still hiring every month, but they are hiring now at a much slower pace even than they were at the start of the year. It's harder to get a job now than it would have been a couple months back, or definitely at this time last year. So what this says the jobs market is cooling. That's actually what the Federal Reserve has been wanting to do as long as it's bringing down inflation. I asked the labor secretary today, the acting Labor secretary, Kyra, does this mean that the US is in the clear of a bigger downturn, or is there still a risk that the jobs market significantly cools and poses a bigger threat to the economy? Here's what she said.
I think we are. You know, we reached a state that defies all expectations, in which we continue to see job growth. We continue to see strong consumer spending. You know, so many indicators of the economy show that we, you know, we've done what many people thought would not be possible. And so I think about it as we've reached a cruising altitude and, you know, and we and we want to keep it up.
No signs that that's just going to crash at this point. Exactly.
No, no. In fact the opposite. Right. Most indicators demonstrate that we are, you know, that the economy is doing well.
You'll remember here after the jobs report last month, there were concerns of a much broader slowdown in July. Now, only 89,000 jobs were added to the workforce. So those revisions lower for other months are a cause for concern that show that hiring might be slowing more than expected. The question is, does this continue in the months ahead? We're going to really going to have to look at if employers do start pulling back and how much to determine the path for the economy. And obviously the path for people who are on the job hunt going forward to.
All right. Well, Alexis, the fed is expected to cut interest rates this month now. So how could today's report impact that you think today's.
Report is huge for the Federal Reserve. It's the last jobs report they're going to see before their meeting in just two weeks. And many on Wall Street believe the question is not if, but by how much the fed is going to cut interest rates. Is it a quarter point or that more aggressive half point cut? And I think if you just look at the way the stock market's been reacting today, the concern now is the job market is slowing too much and the fed has been too slow to respond. I do want to point out that there was some fed talk today, if you will. A Federal Reserve governor, Christopher Waller was speaking at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and he said that he is, quote, open minded about the potential for a bigger rate cut if it were warranted. Some economists are saying today's jobs report is a clear signal that the fed needs to get aggressive.
And so, Elizabeth, what impact could an interest rate cut have? You know, just heading into November, you think people will feel it in their wallets for sure.
So I think the important context here is that interest rates will start going down, but probably not going to feel that immediately, regardless of exactly how much the fed cuts by that quarter point or half point that Alexis was talking about what the direction here is that rates are going to go down, but this is going to be over the course of a year. As one economist was just telling me, what we've got now is the expected rate cut in September. So just a couple of weeks, possibly two more rate cuts this year here, but then a whole series into next year. So this year is kind of like the appetizer for these interest rate cuts. Next year would be the entree. What that does mean ultimately is lower borrowing costs. Borrowing costs aren't going to go back to where they were, but they will be a little bit less expensive when you're talking about those car loans, mortgages and paying off credit card debt that you carry month to month.
Elizabeth. Alexis, thank you both. Well, Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft scheduled for a return trip to Earth tonight, but that's without the two astronauts that it carried to the International Space Station earlier this year. Trevor Ault joins us now with the latest on this pretty crazy story. Hey, Trevor.
Hey there. So the.
Starliner was supposed.
To be in space for just eight days, but it's now been more than three.
Months.
And when it.
Finally undocks from.
The International.
Space Station this evening, it will be leaving.
Its crew behind.
Well, on the way up, the.
Starliner suffered helium leaks.
And a problem with the control.
Thrusters. So for some time it was unclear how astronauts Butch Wilmore.
And Suni Williams.
Would ever.
Get home.
NASA officials.
Say there were.
Many tense meetings with Boeing. They ultimately decided it would be too risky to bring them home on board the Starliner. So instead, Butch and Sunny are going to be staying.
At the International.
Space Station until February. That will make it.
An eight month mission for them. Then they will be riding home with one of Boeing's competitors, a SpaceX Crew Dragon that's.
Set to launch up to space later.
This month. So now the Starliner will begin its journey back tonight around six.
They're going to be using a different maneuver that they.
Would have if the astronauts.
Had been on board. Starliner should land in New Mexico just after midnight.
That is assuming.
Everything goes according to.
Plan. Kyra.
All right, we'll track it. Trevor, thanks so much. And coming up, an American woman could win the U.S. open final tomorrow. How she got there. When we come back.
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All right. Thanks for streaming with us. We've got some other top headlines that we're following for you this hour. Doctors offices here in the U.S. will get some of the first ever self-swab tests for HPV. The FDA approving clinical use of these tests in May. HPV is most commonly sexually transmitted disease in this country can also lead to an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Video game performers reaching a deal with multiple video game companies after being on strike for more than a month, Sag-Aftra and those companies reaching an interim agreement, which includes wage improvements and protecting and protections from exploitive uses of artificial intelligence. That strike isn't fully over, with some still holding out against major companies, including Disney, the parent company of ABC news. And for the first time in 22 years, American players have reached both the men's and women's finals. At the U.S. open, Jessica Pegula punched her ticket by rallying after dropping the first set of her semifinal matchup. She's going to face off against number two ranked Arina Sabalenka Wiener, winner of this year's Australian Open tomorrow.
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It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
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Right now on ABC News Live. Appealing the verdict in his sex abuse case with writer E Jean Carroll and holding a press conference slamming her testimony once again, we've got the latest from court and what former President Trump just told reporters. Plus, for the first time, we hear his dad admit his son knew where the guns were in the house. You'll hear the chilling audio when cops came knocking at his door, and how his father allegedly gave his 14 year old son an AR 15 for Christmas. The latest charges in the Georgia mass shooting case this hour, and the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in the month of August. Next up, interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. What it means for your money. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips. Our top story this hour is Trump lashing out the former president attacking the woman who's accused him of of sexual misconduct right after attending a court hearing requesting a new civil trial in the sex assault and defamation cases brought by E Jean Carroll. Trump, unloading a barrage of grievances at what was supposed to be a news conference at Trump Tower before leaving without taking any questions.
And in this case, it's so false. It's a made up, fabricated story by somebody, I think initially just looking to promote a book. And when they called me, I denied the story. I got sued essentially for defamation because I'm denying a story where I'm right I should be suing her for defamation.
Senior investigative correspondent Eric Kantorski joining me now from New York. So, Eric, first off, did Trump just defame E Jean Carroll once again?
It's kind of sounded like it, Kyra. He repeated a number of statements that the jury at the trial found to be defamatory, and the jury ended up awarding former President Trump or awarding Carroll $5 million in damages that former President Trump has to pay. He's now appealing, and that's what brought him here to court today. But to hear him say some of the very same things and remind his audience that he was held liable for a sexual assault is a, you know, curious political choice. And yet speaking about his legal cases and airing his grievances about his legal predicaments has always worked for him politically.
So kind of walk us through Aaron. What happened inside court this morning?
Former President Trump came in, didn't say anything, but he had a nice, friendly interaction with a sketch artist who was drawing him at most of his appearances in court. Otherwise, he didn't say anything. Left it to his lawyer to argue that he deserves a new trial because, the defense argues, the judge improperly allowed some evidence into the case where Trump was held liable for defaming Eugene Carroll and sexually assaulting her. The defense says that the jury never should have heard the Access Hollywood tape where Trump is is heard boasting about grabbing women and never should have heard from two women who were not. Jean Carroll, who claim that that Trump sexually assaulted them decades earlier, which Trump denies, And Jean Carroll's point is that this shows Trump had a propensity for, for for attacking women. And that's just what E! Jean Carroll said happened to her in the dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid 1990s.
And now we're expecting, Erin, word on whether another judge will actually delay the sentencing in Trump's hush money case. What can you tell us about that one?
At any moment, Judge Juan Merchan is expected to rule on former President Trump's request to push his sentencing from September 18th, well beyond the November election. This is a request that Trump has made directly to the judge. He's also tried to move the whole case into federal court to to gum up the works and delay it if the judge doesn't go along. So we're waiting to hear, uh, prosecutors signaled in a letter that the decision would be coming today. Told it could be coming really any time now. As the judge weighs when to sentence Trump. At some point, he's going to have to be sent to Sakura after he was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records. He faces up to four years in jail. We're not sure that the judge is prepared to send him there, but. But nonetheless, that remains in the offing.
Sure does. Erin. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Joining me now, a man who's very familiar with the unique set of challenges, shall we say, that Trump brings for a lawyer, Ty Cobb was white House special counsel during the Trump administration and has since turned into a fierce Trump critic. Ty, it's always great to see you. So question for you with regard to this press conference that just went down, did we just watch in real time how difficult it is to be Donald Trump's lawyer? And did we just watch the beginning of another defamation suit, do you think?
I think so. Certainly. He defamed her. Um, you know whether her $88 million is enough to forestall, uh, another suit remains to be seen. But certainly he came out and did the same things that he's, you know, lost twice on to the tune of, you know, $88 million. So I think, uh, I wouldn't be surprised to see her, Sue.
So, you know, he ditched the election subversion hearing yesterday, but takes a day off the campaign trail to come to New York to do a presser on his sex abuse case. Why?
You know, I have no idea. I mean, seriously, uh, you know, it's it's impossible to make rhyme or reason out of most of the things that he does. Like this. Um, if I was his lawyers, I would not have actually had him there. I think he probably wanted to be there. I think he probably expected that the the appellate hearing might generate some, um, you know, some news. And he wanted to be part of the news cycle, but I don't, I think, but for his appearance, you know, this would have been a, you know, a paragraph on page three or maybe page one, but not a not a big deal. Um, And the hearing itself was largely unremarkable, focused on, you know, a couple of discrete issues. Um, nothing that I think should give him any confidence, although, you know, the propensity, uh, issues with regard to other potential victims of the same kind of conduct is always a thorny issue on appeal.
But, uh, you know, to to come out of that hearing, um, you know, we're not a single judge, uh, perceived that e Jean Carroll had made up, uh, these allegations and argued that she had fabricated them, I think is just, uh, remarkable and certainly contrary to his lawyer's advice.
Well, and let me just follow up on that. I mean, despite his 34 felony convictions, Trump has still managed to dodge jail time and trials. In other cases, he continues to deny any wrongdoing with any of these charges. He makes appeals, you know. Does Trump just have good lawyers who, by the way, he threw under the bus right there at that press conference or, you know, is he able to to roll like this because he was president of the United States?
So that's an excellent question. I think that's probably on everybody's mind. I think a large part of America just assumes that, um, you know, he's he's gotten very lucky. And the reality is he has in terms of, um, particularly a couple of the cases, the case in Florida where you've got a, you know, inept, arguably partisan, biased judge, um, you know, who could have easily gotten that case to trial? That case probably should have gone to trial a couple of months ago. Um, and, you know, dismissed it. Um, she'll certainly be reversed. You've got the, uh, the e Jean Carroll case where, you know, things are actually not going his way. He's lost twice. He's not going to not likely to win this appeal. Um, or the or the next appeal in the. In the related case, you've got the two, you've got the January 6th case, of course, where um, you know, the delays are more understandable.
They raise constitutional issues for the first time in the history of the Republic, where we're not used to having criminals as presidents. And when when you have an alleged criminal as a president, it raises issues that, you know, the Supreme Court understandably wants to take an interest in and should, um, and that case is, you know, uh, going to be delayed at least a year if it goes to trial and it won't go to trial. Of course, if Trump wins because he'll have it dismissed, but should he lose, it will go to trial sometime next year. Um, after the Supreme Court, uh, assesses whatever Judge Chutkan uh is going to do and gives her further direction if necessary. Uh, likewise, in the Florida case, that will be reinstituted and go to trial late next year if or maybe later, uh, depending on whether or not, uh, Judge Cannon is removed as several, amicus briefs seem to request of the 11th Circuit, and there's a strong possibility she could be removed, although perhaps not at this time, but certainly before trial, because she will not be able to help herself and will certainly air again.
And then you've got, um, uh, you know, the Fannie Willis case, which of course, had its own problems. Uh, you have to consider Trump lucky there because of the poor judgment, uh, exercised by the district attorney, uh, and her special counsel and their romantic relationship. Um, so, yes, he's had a lot of luck. Some of some of the delays are understandable, um, particularly in the January 6th case, but elsewhere. Um, no. And he he will he will certainly, you know, qualify for substantial jail time in the January 6th case. And the classified information case should either get to trial. Um, and that will, as I say, only happen if he does not, um, does not win in November.
Well, Ty, speaking of delays, stay with me. Aaron Katersky, you're just getting news about another sentencing for Trump being delayed. This in his New York case.
Judge Juan Merchan, in a letter posted just moments ago, said he would delay former President Trump's sentencing in his criminal hush money case, the one where Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to a hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. The judge did not set a new date, but he said it would be pushed in all likelihood past the November election. Notably, in the letter, the judge said Trump was bolstering his argument with a series of of grievances that are unsubstantiated, and the judge said he would not address those. But because he found that prosecutors did not oppose the idea of pushing sentencing past the November election, the judge said he would in fact do so.
Aaron. Thank you. And here we go again. Just as we're talking about how he's able to keep delaying these cases once again. Uh, Ty. Uh, sentencing delayed.
Yeah. I think you have to fault the prosecutors for this one. It's not on the judge. Um, had the prosecutors opposed, uh, Trump's request for further delay, I think the judge would have had the platform, um, in which to deny the request. But in the absence of their opposition, it would have been unusual for the judge to do it on his own. So I understand completely why the judge did what he did. I'm not, uh, I'm not too sanguine about, uh, whatever motivated the prosecutors not to not to push for the sentencing as scheduled. It's already been it's already been long overdue. So, um, it's, uh, it's a little bit of a surprise. Um, you know, in the, in the at 30,000ft. But at the same time, given the prosecutors, You know, decision not to oppose Trump's request for the delay. The judge certainly was not going to do this on his own.
Got it. Now, I do want to get one question in about this letter that you wrote to to the Georgia governor urging him to override some changes to the Georgia election board. Why did you decide to do this?
Well, first of all, let me make it really clear that I was I was, you know, very, very enthusiastic about the content of the letter and very supportive. But I'm one of, you know, many lawyers and I don't deserve any special recognition from among that group. But the reality is, um, you know, there's a lot of there's a lot of damage, uh, being done or people are attempting to do at the roots of our democracy. Um, you know, elections have consequences, and those consequences can only be as effective as the integrity of those elections. You've got three commissioners in Georgia who have had meetings without notice. They've run roughshod over the process. They've hired outside counsel beyond the attorney general, which is, uh, does not appear to be, uh, authorized in their case. And, uh, they've created a perception that contrary to the law, um, that they have some role in the certification of Georgia state elections and federal elections. Uh, whereas that's not the case.
It's really a court, uh, court determined process. So I think I wrote it because I'm concerned not just in Georgia, but around the country with some of the activity on both sides that I think goes against some of the democratic principles we have. And I think it's very important to protect, uh, to protect elections and the integrity of elections, so that so that people have faith in, in their government and can follow, can follow the law and adhere to the rule of law, which is what distinguishes us or has over time from most other countries.
Ted Cobb, always great to talk to you, especially on days like this. Appreciate you. Thank you. Nice to be with.
You, Kara. Always nice to be with you. Thank you, dear.
You bet. Well, first, the chilling audio and now an arrest. New developments to tell you about in that deadly school shooting in Georgia. The father of 14 year old suspect Cole Gray has now been arrested, charged with second degree murder in his son's rampage. That left two students and two teachers dead. 54 year old Colin Gray is now facing 180 years in prison. He and his son both appearing in court for the very first time today. You can see Colin. They're clearly on edge while a judge read him his rights. We're also learning more about the FBI investigation into those threatening posts that his son, Colt gray, apparently made last year on the social media platform discord, including threats to actually shoot up a school. We have now obtained the actual audio recording, where the local sheriff visits the gray family home and speaks with Colt gray and his father, Colin, the sheriff, asking them about weapons in the home. Listen to this.
You have do you have weapons in the house? I do.
Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down. Okay. We actually we do a lot of shooting. We do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year. He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do and how to use them and not use them. I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happen. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
Wow. Our Phil Lipof has been listening to that recording as well, along with our legal contributor and trial attorney, Brian Buchmeyer. Phil, I want to start with you. We're going to get to the audio in just a second, but tell us more about what happened in court today where father and son both were.
Yeah. Well, separately, they faced.
A judge and they heard their charges. The 14 year old alleged shooter in this case, four counts of felony murder he faces. And in Georgia, he could face the death penalty. Except he's a minor. He is being tried as an adult, but what he will face is life in prison. His father, 54 year old Colin, as you mentioned, came before a judge shortly thereafter. His charges are different, but I'll read them to you. It's two counts of felony murder in the second degree, four counts of felony involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of felony cruelty. Similar to the last time we saw parents charged In a school shooting. He faces the rest of his life in prison as well.
So Brian's sources are now telling us that investigators believe that it was dad that gifted his son an AR 15 rifle for Christmas. That would have been seven months after that. Sheriff came to the house asking about weapons and and and Colt gray making those deadly threats. Is there, I guess first I want your reaction to that. And I guess I want to follow up with should anything else or I guess, could anything else legally could have, could have happened at that point.
Yeah. So I my response, both as an attorney and a father is somewhat shocking because it's a simple concept of math. You have law enforcement show up at your home and talk about what your son is purported to have put on social media, and you have that conversation that we hear from the father saying, we have these conversations. He knows about the dangers. He knows not to do this. We've talked about school shootings and the guns, or at least the hunting guns. At that point, they were accessible to him. And then for whatever reason, he decides, you know what, AR 15? Let's let's buy that as a Christmas gift for my child. It's knowledge, understanding the red flags, not observing the red flags, and then purchasing a deadly weapon that the child cannot legally possess in the, in the in the state that he's in. And then the death that occurs, that's how he's being prosecuted. And so it's somewhat shocking. And all this evidence is what's leading up to these charges.
Right? Okay. And I want to follow up too. And by the way, there's the mug shot that we're finally seeing now of the suspect, 14 year old Colt gray. So, Phil, what stood out to you about this recording?
Well, just like Brian said, and we've been sitting here talking before you came to us, you know, as a as a father, as a parent carer. You know this. You don't want to necessarily take the full responsibility for everything your child does. However, in a situation like this, when you read the recordings, his father says, yes, we have weapons in the house. His father says yes, he's getting picked on at school and I know he's getting picked on at school. He knows the seriousness of what these weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and how not to use them. He lays everything out. He is told by law enforcement that his son has made this threat. His son denied it, but then he went and bought him. You know, one of the most powerful rifles that you can buy on the market, an AR style rifle that is used in almost all of these school shootings. After all of this, after admitting his son is picked on at school and in those recordings, he said, that's why I spend so much time up there at school just to make sure he's.
Okay.
That was part of the recordings, too. Kara.
Yeah. It's just it's unbelievable. Just the fact that we're able to hear these conversations that happened a year ago. And, Brian, this is the second time now, in just the past couple of years, that a parent has been charged in a school shooting that was carried out by their kid. Is this a new trend, do you think are we going to see more of this?
Yeah, I think I think one is an anomaly to some extent. I think you're talking about the Crumbley parents who were charged. Two, I think is definitely appropriate to start saying, is this a trend? But if we start seeing three, 4 or 5 more, then yes, this is a trend. And I think what we're seeing is prosecutors are getting wise to the idea that jurors society, in which jurors are selected from, are okay with the idea of parents being held liable if there's a certain equation to that. And I think the equation that we're seeing both in the indictment here of the father as well as the Crumbley parents in Michigan, is red flags ignored. Providing the firearm to the child while those red flags are present, and then not addressing either of those two points leading to death, I think those things amount to involuntary manslaughter. In Georgia, that amounts to murder in the second degree. And it's what we saw in Michigan as well, and potentially in other states.
Yeah. And we can we can talk about weapons laws and access to weapons and, um, but but also we've got to talk about parenting. I mean, this was just bad parenting as it was in the other mass shooting case as well. And we'll just continue to have the conversation about everything tied to this extremely sad case. Phil Bryant, appreciate you both. Thank you. Coming up, major economic news today with a less than stellar jobs report. We're going to have all the details for you next.
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I'm so glad you're streaming with us on this Friday. Let's talk about the economy now in the U.S., adding 142,000 jobs in August, just a little short of what analysts were expecting. The unemployment rate also fell to 4.2%. It comes as the Federal Reserve preps to cut interest rates for the first time in four years, making it cheaper to take out a mortgage, car loan or even pay off credit card debt. Let's bring in our business guru, Alexis Christoforous. So let's talk about what this jobs report just tells you about the state of the economy right now.
Well, it shows us that, you know, the job market continues to slow down gradually. We were expecting the economy to have added more jobs, 161,000. We got 142,000. And remember in July, when the report showed 114,000 jobs added and Wall Street had this big sell off, there was concern the job market was going to fall into a recession. Today we found out even fewer jobs were added. They were revised lower, so just 86,000 jobs were added. So there is that concern now among investors that perhaps, you know, the concern has shifted away from high inflation to a slowing labor market that could possibly push our economy into recession. On the on the the good points in this report, if you want to point to some strengths, the unemployment rate, it dipped from 4.3 to 4.2% and wages grew 3.8% over the past year. Solid growth not gangbusters, but it is outpacing inflation, which we know is just below 3%. Kira.
So, Alexis, the fed is supposed to cut interest rates this month, right? So how big of a cut are we looking at?
We were hoping that this report would give us real clarity. Are they going to cut by a quarter point, or are they going to cut by a more aggressive half point? It's going to be the first interest rate cut we've seen in four years. And some economists are now saying that the fed needs to get aggressive in two weeks. That meeting is going to be September 17th and 18th that they need to get ahead of the slowdown we're seeing in the job market to prevent the economy from slipping into a recession. So it's still anybody's guess. And I think you're seeing that play out today in the stock market where we're seeing another big sell off. Investors concerned and unclear as to just what the fed is going to do in two weeks.
Alexis, thank you so much. Happy Friday.
And to you my friend.
All right. Straight ahead. An American killed in the West Bank. And now the white House is calling for an investigation. We've got all the details next.
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We're glad you're streaming with us. Some of the other headlines that we're tracking for you today on ABC News Live. The white House calling for an investigation after an American woman is shot and killed at a protest in the West Bank. Apparently, the 26 year old was a foreign solidarity activist working in the area to protect Palestinian farmers from attacks by Israeli settlers. Secretary of state just made these comments on the matter. The IDF is investigating what happened. And Boeing's troubled Starliner capsule heading back to Earth today without the two astronauts it carried to the ISS that was supposed to be an eight day test flight, as you know. Well, now it's stretching into a three month trip. Those astronauts will hopefully get home early next year. Well, the news never stops. Neither do we. You can find us anywhere. You stream live news, and if you're on the go, we are on the ABC news app at ABC news.com, too. I'm Kyra Phillips. Glad you're streaming with us. And don't forget that is the site of the first presidential debate with VP Kamala Harris and former President Trump.
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Breaking news, sentencing and former President Donald Trump's.
Hush money.
Trial has now been delayed until after the election in November. We're going to have full details coming up.
Plus, for the first time, we we hear his dad admit his son knew where the guns were in the house. You will hear the audio when cops came knocking at his door, and how his father allegedly gave his 14 year old son an AR 15 for Christmas, the latest charges in the Georgia mass shooting case this hour.
And the United States economy added 142,000 jobs in the month of August. Next up, interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. What it all means for your money.
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips.
And I'm Terry Moran. And our top story at this hour kicking the can down the road, you might call it a judge in New York City has delayed sentencing in former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money case. That means he won't face any sentencing in this case before the election.
Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing and is trying to get the case thrown out on grounds of presidential immunity. Senior investigative correspondent Eric Katersky joins us now from New York. So, Aaron, let's just kind of break down this decision. And with the sentencing now set for November 26th, what happens if Trump wins the election?
Don't know. We don't know of any precedent for a president elect to go through any kind of criminal justice procedure here. But for now, the sentencing of September 18th is delayed. And it seemed Judge Juan Merchan did so. Reluctantly. He went out of his way to say that the court is fair. It is apolitical. But he also said the public's confidence in the integrity of our judicial system demands a sentencing hearing that is entirely focused on the verdict of the jury and the weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors, free from distraction or distortion. And former President Trump had argued that the election was just going to muddy the waters. So the judge, however, reluctantly, decided to push the sentencing until November 26th, when former President Trump would, in theory, face up to four years in jail for falsifying business records.
And if he does win, that's a constitutional question. There is some case law, I think, about whether a state court has any control over a sitting president for subpoenas and such like that. I think Thomas Jefferson was subpoenaed. So we'll see what happens. But you're actually in lower Manhattan today for another one of Trump's legal matters, Aaron. A hearing on his effort to get a new trial in that sexual assault and defamation case brought by E Jean Carroll. So what happened?
Well, a three judge panel from the second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was pretty frank, with former President Trump's defense attorney, Terry, telling him it's going to be a rather tall order to overturn the jury's verdict on evidentiary concerns. And that's what the defense is, arguing that certain evidence was admitted improperly. And they point to the Access Hollywood tape on which Trump is heard boasting about grabbing women. And they point to the testimony of two other women who said that Trump sexually assaulted them. What Carroll's attorneys said showed a propensity by Trump to commit the kinds of actions that Jean Carroll is describing, and the jury ultimately held Trump liable for defaming and assaulting Carroll, awarding her a $5 million damage award. But but Trump says that evidence was improper.
So Trump spoke to the media. You were listening right after the court hearing, he attacked Jean Carroll, Erin and the other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. Let's just listen to a part of what he said here.
And in this case, it's so false. It's a made up, fabricated story by Somebody, I think initially just looking to promote a book, and when they called me, I denied the story. I got sued essentially for defamation because I'm denying a story where I'm right I should be suing her for defamation.
I should remind folks that Eugene Carroll won that lawsuit. So didn't Trump just defame her once again? Erin.
It sounded like the former president was Kyra, repeating statements that the jury found to be defamatory toward Jean Carroll. And we know that Carroll's lawyer was listening because Roberta Kaplan sent me a message saying that, as I've said before, all options are on the table, not ruling out, trying to go after former President Trump again. And Carroll was successful in a subsequent lawsuit in which she was awarded $83 million by a jury. And Trump is also appealing that award here at the second circuit as well.
Aaron Katersky there in New York for us. Thanks, Aaron. Well, first, the chilling audio and now an arrest. New developments to tell you about in that deadly school shooting in Georgia. The father of 14 year old suspect Cole Gray has now been arrested, charged with second degree murder in his son's rampage. That left two students and two teachers dead. 54 year old Colin Gray could now face 180 years in prison, he and his son both appearing in separate court appearances for the first time today. Calling gray they're clearly on edge while a judge read him his rights.
We're also learning more about the FBI investigation into those threatening posts that Colt gray apparently made last year on the social media platform discord, including threats to shoot up a school. We have now obtained the actual audio recording, where investigators visit the gray family home and speak with Cole Gray and his father, Colin. An investigator asked them about weapons in the home you have.
Do you have weapons in the house? I do.
Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down. But we actually we do a lot of shooting. We do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year. He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do and how to use them and not use them. I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happen. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
Our faith Abubey is on the ground there in Georgia and joins me now or joins us now, rather, along with legal contributor and trial attorney Brian Buchmeyer. Also, former FBI agent and founder of Threat Zero Solutions, whose mission is to prevent school shootings. Doug Hart, Doug, great to have you part of this conversation. Faith, let's go ahead and start with you and just talk about what happened during the court appearances today.
Yeah. It was remarkable to finally lay lay eyes on the suspect. Police say inflicted so much pain on this community, allegedly killing four people, injuring nine others. He walked into the courtroom. You can see his bleach blond hair. There was really nothing else remarkable about him as a person. He looked just like any other teenager. He sat there and stared at the judge as the judge asked him questions, read him his rights, informed him about the charges against him, and then that judge told him he's facing a maximum penalty, the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole. And also moments later, his father also walked in the courtroom. We are not sure if they were able to interact outside the courtroom, but they had separate hearings. The father walked in there, he sat down. He answered questions from the judge as well. But what struck me about him was he just kept rocking back and forth. He sounded very soft. His voice was shaky, and also sometimes he even sounded like he was a little bit emotional.
He was breathing hard and answered all the questions that the judge had to ask him. The judge telling him that he faces a maximum of 180 years in prison. There were no discussions about the facts of this case, or the circumstances of why they were in that courtroom. They entered no plea, and also they didn't request any bond. And so their next court appearance, unless there are new charges filed in this case, their next court appearance will be on December 4th. Kiara.
Faith, thank you for that. Doug, I want to ask you about how schools look. This is now a plague on our country. Going back decades. We have not been able to do much to to to stop it. It seems maybe I'm wrong about that. So talk about what schools can do at this juncture of our history and whether prosecuting parents is now the second case, we're going to talk about that. Whether you think from a security standpoint that might help.
Yes. Thank you. Those are.
Great questions. You know, as we sit here today, we are 25 years post Columbine. And during that quarter century, we've learned a tremendous amount that indicates our ability to get in front of these situations and prevent these types of tragedies from taking place. We know what behaviors precede this kind of violence. We know where those behaviors are displayed. We know who sees those behaviors. And so we need to be doing more to educate our school communities, our teachers, staff, students, parents on on what to look for and then what to do when they see those things. And this is the piece that it's my belief is is largely missing amongst all of these efforts that that very, very good people are engaged in. But we need to think more and talk more about prevention, because the evidence indicates that we can stop these things from happening if we will pay attention to the right, uh, to the right things.
So what are those right things? Because, Bob, there were so many red flags. I mean, the FBI had the local sheriff. Um, Doug, go and talk, you know, to to this family. And still nothing happened. Was that the right way to do it when there were already red flags? I mean, I just would love to hear from your perspective because you're trying to prevent these types of situations, you know, how do you grab on to those red flags and do something at that moment?
Right. And and those are very good points. And that adds to this tragedy. It it appears to me that information was obtained and appropriately passed on and and followed up on. Oftentimes there's a misconception about law enforcement's ability to, um, affect an arrest, uh, in, in, in absence of a crime. And I, of course, don't know all the details of what took place in in that inquiry and investigation. But, uh, certainly when we have a person of concern such as this, it's vital that we, um, follow up and pay attention to and and assess, uh, through, through what we call the science of behavioral threat assessment, what, um, what risk that person might pose of, of violence. And so I don't want to armchair quarterback the steps that they took in May of 2023 when they initially contacted him. Um, oftentimes these things evolve over a period of weeks, months and even years before they come to fruition. So, um, that's one of the things that is a benefit.
We have to be able to, um, pay attention to those behaviors and keep small problems from becoming big problems.
Thank you. Doug. Now, Brian, I haven't looked into the history of charging parents with criminal conduct for the crimes children commit. I haven't seen it much. I've covered a lot of law over my career. Do you have a sense of that? Is this an innovation in law, and is it a good idea?
So, Terry, the concept you're talking about is legally called vicarious liability. It's being liable for the actions of another. Now, from a civil standpoint, that does happen a lot. Um, think of if you go to a bar and they serve you alcohol, if you drunkenly drive and hurt someone, someone who is injured by you can then sue the bar for overcharging you. That's vicarious liability. From a civil sense, but bringing it to the criminal context, that is very unique. That hasn't happened a lot. Now, are the laws on the book Arguably allowing for that to happen. Yes, we saw that in Michigan. We're now seeing that in Georgia, where, for example, the this father is facing murder in the second degree because he's being accused of creating the crime of what's called cruelty to children. That led to the death of another. And so that's why he's facing that murder in the second degree. So I think we're starting to see a trend. Prosecutors often look when when one prosecutor gets a conviction, they start to see how society and how potential jurors look at those charges and whether or not they're open to it or not.
And I think George is taking another kind of go at it here as well. If there's a conviction here, I would not be surprised if other prosecutors in other states are saying, okay, if we can find convictions in very select cases where there are parents who ignore red flags, who provide firearms for their children and they are not properly stored where they shouldn't have those firearms at all because of their age, that can lead to a criminal conviction. And I think we may see more of those in the future, unfortunately, I think.
All right. Faith. Brian. Doug, appreciate you all. Thanks so much. Well, clearly, clearly, there's much more to learn. And not just about a motive here, but about Colt gray, his background, his character, his struggles, and what was going on in his head that that led to this. And then there's his parents, a broken home. Now, we've learned that his mother has been charged with domestic abuse and drug charges, and that Colt and his father, Colin, were living on their own. A lot to unpack here and chief purpose officer at Headspace Health doctor Wisdom Powell is hopefully going to help us do that. Wisdom. When a kid like Colt gray is not only struggling with mental health issues, he's struggling with an unstable home life. Clearly, from what we're learning, what else can be done in a situation like this when the red flags are there?
This is really a.
Tragedy for us all. And as we've been calling.
Out, there were a.
Lot of warning signs here. And what we know for.
Sure is that when.
Children are.
Exposed.
To.
Bullying.
For example, there.
Is a risk for.
The use of guns.
To.
Or the carrying of guns in those situations. There are also plenty of. Evidence to suggest that individuals who display more aggression or experience. A sense of a diminished sense of control over their lives tend to turn to. Guns within these kinds of moments. So you're right. And the.
Other guest.
On your show who just appeared are right that there.
There were plenty of warning signs. The challenge for us.
All is to think about what we can do in these moments, one to prevent. But then how do we respond when they when these things happen? One of the things we know for sure is that when parents don't recognize that their children are feeling overwhelmed, or they respond slowly to that, that exacerbation of behavioral risk factors, children will act.
Out in ways to gain further attention.
And support.
And when children show up in schools, teachers can do things to.
Sort of.
Set off.
That early.
Warning.
Or alarm system to help galvanize more.
Support for the.
Child. I do.
Think it's important for us all to pay attention when we see children checking out, when we see them.
Experiencing.
More hopelessness or a sense.
Of helplessness.
Or when we see changes or shifts in their.
Moods or behaviors. Those can.
Be.
Early opportunities for us.
To intervene.
And provide more safety and support.
For the child.
Especially in our classrooms.
And in.
Contexts where.
They're being educated.
And wisdom as you're speaking. We're looking at that at the memorial down there in in Winder, Georgia. And I want to ask you about about that side, about the the kids, the peers, the the smaller kids, the the parents, the families, the community who are just obviously heartbroken, you know, what advice do you give to parents who, you know are trying to explain this to children, trying to make sense of it for them, trying to keep them from seeing this kind of behavior as a model, really, when they're in crisis.
100% true. I mean.
Even our surgeon general provided the latest warning about parental mental health, lifting up that 74%.
Of parents reported.
That school.
Shootings, or the possibility.
Of one, were a significant.
Source of stress.
So we're all on edge and worried about this and wondering what to do when it happens.
The first.
Thing I think.
That's important is to.
To to know what we can control and to and to focus on those things that are in front.
Of us to talk.
To our children.
In plain.
Language, ask open ended.
Questions.
Explain the events in an age appropriate way. I think it's very important that we provide children who are exposed, either.
Directly or.
Vicariously, from viewing it on the news or hearing about it with a sense of support and a place to lay down those burdens and.
Troubles.
For children that can look like encouraging them to use more art as a way to express themselves. For parents and teachers, it's about creating a mindful environment where children can find a moment to pause, take there, take a breath and reflect.
Those kinds of.
Resources.
And in-the-moment supports can be so helpful as children try to cope with what shouldn't be a commonplace in our US society. I mean, gun violence is a public health crisis. And I think that increasingly we're going to have to support teachers and parents in these efforts, unfortunately, to help them recalibrate their children in the aftermath of these tragedies. But the reality is that we can also encourage our children to focus on the good. There can be a tremendous amount of pressure now to pay attention to all the news, to doomscroll, to constantly focus on the negative parts of this tragedy. But as we're helping young people recalibrate, we want to make sure that we provide a firm place for them, a soft place for them to land, and also age appropriate.
Opportunities for.
Them to to metabolize the stress that comes along with, you know, being exposed to such a tragic, tragic event. Mm.
Wisdom. It's always great to have you along with us for these conversations. Means a lot to us. Helps us all. Thank you wisdom so much.
You're so welcome.
Okay. To happier news, maybe we're turning to the race to the white House. It's democracy. Come on. 59 days away now from Election Day. And we're also four days away from the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris right here on ABC news.
Now, that's exciting to talk about. Sources say that the VP is spending most of her time now in battleground Pennsylvania, actually huddling with her team on debate strategy. Our senior white House correspondent, Selina Wang, is there in Pittsburgh following the Harris campaign working through the rain forest. Appreciate it. Selina. So we understand that former Vice President Dick Cheney just announced he will also be supporting Kamala Harris, right alongside his daughter, Liz Cheney. Um, I'm just wondering if we're going to start seeing more of this.
I mean, look.
This really underscores the transformation of the Republican Party from traditional conservatism to this MAGA republicanism under the image of Donald Trump. I mean, Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney, they come from a very deeply conservative political family. They would disagree with Vice President Harris on a lot of issues. But what they're saying here is that they believe Donald Trump is the single biggest threat to America, to American democracy. So this is striking, but it's not altogether surprising, given that Liz Cheney has been one of the most outspoken Republican critics of Donald Trump. But really, if you looked at the RNC, you didn't have Dick Cheney there, no Mitt Romney, no George W Bush. It was an entirely more new cast of characters, these MAGA Republicans. But you have seen Vice President Harris campaign make a really concerted effort to reach out to these more traditional Republicans are hoping that these kinds of endorsements can make a dent with some of those more conservative Republicans and some of these swing districts and those critical battleground states. And at the DNC.
It was notable that you had some very well-known Republicans there. You had folks like Adam Kinzinger, but also some former Trump officials who gave remarks at the DNC.
Absolutely. And the parties have really switched a lot of voters. A lot of voters went from Democrat to Republican, mostly working class voters, and vice versa. Trump has completely scrambled the board of American politics. Well, let's turn to the debate. Selina, this is Kamala Harris's first presidential debate ever, a one on one. Obviously, she was involved in the primaries in 2020. Talk about this moment for her.
Yeah, I mean, Terry, it's her first.
Presidential general election debate, as you say. But it is Donald Trump's seventh. And these two candidates have never spoken to each other or even met each other before. Vice President Harris is taking all of this very seriously. I'm told that today by a source close to her that she's spending most of today huddled with her top aides talking about strategy and policy. And I'm told that there are really a few key goals that she has for this debate. She understands that a lot of Americans still don't really know her background, so she wants to lean into her background as a prosecutor, as an attorney general, as a senator, and her accomplishments in those roles and her middle class upbringing. She also wants to talk about her future plans. She wants to stay laser focused on that, including around the economy and lowering prices for everyday Americans. And then she also wants to draw that contrast with Donald Trump. She's going to convey him as someone who's only out for himself, only cares about himself, and she's going to paint him as a dark and divisive person.
And Terry, she also wants to get under Trump's skin while maintaining her own composure.
Tall order. Selina Wang in Pittsburgh for us. Thank you. Don't forget, September 10th, Vice President Harris and former President Trump set to debate for the first time right here on ABC News Live.
Again, that's September 10th, 9:00 eastern. You can watch it right here on ABC News Live. It'll be it'll be an event for sure. So coming up, major economic news today with a less than stellar jobs report. But that might be good news in some quarters. We'll have the details next.
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Glad you're streaming with us. Let's get to the economy, shall we? And the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in August. A little short of what analysts were expecting. But the unemployment rate also fell to 4.2%.
So all this comes as the Federal Reserve prepares to cut interest rates for the first time in four years. That will make it cheaper to take out a mortgage, car loan or pay off credit card debt. So mixed bag here. Let's bring in our business gurus, Alexis Christoforous and Elizabeth Schultz. Elizabeth, first to you. You're reporting on this jobs report. What does it tell you and the people you report on and talk to about the state of the economy right now?
A mixed bag indeed, Terry. This had a little bit of everything. You had that improvement in the actual number of jobs added in August compared to July. Remember that weak July report really raised alarms about the state of the economy. The state of hiring 142,000 jobs was a much more solid number, but still below expectations. And overall, when you take a step back and look at payroll employment, you see that trend there on the chart. It has been going down. What that means companies are still hiring, but they're hiring at a slower pace. It is harder to get a job now than it was even at the start of the year, and definitely compared to a year ago. So what this tells you is that the economy is now in a place where there is sort of steady job growth still, but it has been slowing down. And that is a bit concerning because this has really been the bright spot in the economy. Employers have continued to add to their payrolls every month. If we see a more significant slowdown in the jobs market, that could start to get a little bit more worrying that we're seeing this broader cooling in the economy, too.
All right, Alexis, the fed expected to cut interest rates this month. So how could today's report impact that.
Well economists think it's going to have a big influence on the Federal Reserve. It's not the last report they're going to see before their meeting in just two weeks. They're going to get fresh numbers on inflation and retail sales. But this is the last jobs report and we know Fed Chief Powell said recently he is concerned about the slowdown in the labor market and will do whatever it takes to prevent that slowdown from deepening. And we've really seen the the fed move or shift its focus away from inflation, which has been behaving, which is moving closer to the Fed's 2% target. Now it's at about 2.9%. And now they're focusing on a job market that is cooling off. And the question becomes is it cooling off too quickly? Is the fed too late to rescue? What could be an economy that is moving towards a recession? Most economists believe we're not there yet. The question, though, is how aggressive will the fed get when it cuts interest rates later this month? A quarter point, a half point, whatever it is, consumers aren't going to feel it in their wallets right away.
It's going to take a string of interest rate cuts over the course of months into next year for people to really start to see the difference in things like you mentioned mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and such for sure.
So, Elizabeth, to you, yesterday, Donald Trump was asked about how he would address rising child care costs during a campaign event in New York. It was an economic policy event. And here's his answer.
Look, child care is child care. It couldn't you know, there's something you have to have it in this country. You have to have it. But when you talk about those numbers, compared to the kind of numbers that I'm talking about, by taxing foreign nations at levels that they're not used to, but they'll get used to it very quickly, and it's not going to stop them from doing business with us. But they'll have a very substantial tax when they send product into our country. Those numbers are so much bigger than any numbers that we're talking about, including child care.
So, Elizabeth, what do you make of that answer? And, you know, in particular he talks about tariffs paying for childcare and things like that. He goes around he says this all the time. The tariffs will enrich the U.S. Treasury. What do you think of that?
You know, look. And, Terry, it's hard to make a lot of that answer, to be honest. As a policy reporter, you're digging for the details. And it's something that, frankly, we're just not getting a lot of those policy details from either former President Trump or from Vice President Harris when it comes to their economic proposals. But this is something that the former president is trying to float, this idea that they can raise revenue, that the federal government can have enough money to fund critically needed areas in the economy like childcare. We know that there is a chronic underfunding of child care that's contributed to shortages of child care workers and has led to higher costs for families. The idea that you could raise more revenue because of tariffs, that that could help offset that. A lot of the economists I talked to and asked about that concept, they say not exactly how government revenue and outlays work. That's not necessarily the best way. Ultimately, the way the government raises money is higher taxes.
That is not a popular message from either side when you're two months out from an election, though?
Yeah, that is for sure.
Absolutely. Elizabeth Alexis Christoforous, thank you very much.
Dynamic duo I love it.
I keep coming up with like these because I love them. All right. The news never stops. Neither does the love for Alexis and Chelsea. I'm Kyra Phillips.
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An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
Since their combat operation center.
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How important is this label right here? Made in USA. Look at your smile. You're proud of this, I love it.
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But for those of us experiencing it from the.
Inside, the.
Brat Pack was.
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If you could have the Brat Pack name not exist, would you? I hated the Brat Pack. What a.
Disaster! Why did we take it as an offense, Andrew?
I'm not going to say we were the Beatles or anything.
Well, we didn't fill Shea.
Stadium.
1985. I think we could have. Hey hey hey.
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Right now on ABC News Live. Breaking news, sentencing and former President Donald Trump's hush money trial now delayed until after the election. We've got the full details. Plus, for the first time, we hear his dad admit his son knew where the guns were in their house. You'll hear the audio when cops came knocking at Colt Gray's door, and how his father allegedly gave his 14 year old son an AR 15 for Christmas. The latest charges in the Georgia mass shooting case this hour, and the U.S. adding 102 40,000 jobs in the month of August. Next up, interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. What it means for your money. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips. We do begin with that breaking news. It looks like former President Donald Trump will not face the consequences of his hush money conviction before the 2024 election. A judge in New York now delaying sentencing in his criminal case after he was found guilty on 34 charges related to those payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing and is trying to get the case just thrown out on grounds of presidential immunity.
Our senior investigative correspondent, Aaron Katersky, joins me now from New York. So sentencing is now November 26th. But what happens if Trump wins the election? Erin.
Good question Kyra. And I think the short answer is we don't know. Undoubtedly, if the former president wins the election, his attorneys would try to say he's the, you know, the forthcoming president. He's the president elect and therefore cannot be sentenced. But I'm not sure that argument would necessarily hold water. A sitting president probably could not go through the criminal justice system, especially the way Trump sees it. But we don't know anything about a president elect. So it's a it's a good hypothetical question, but as of now, the former president will be sentenced for falsifying business records here in New York on November 26th, meaning, though, that the voters will not have resolution of the case before they make their pick in November.
So you're actually in lower Manhattan today for another Trump legal matter. There was a hearing today on his push for a new civil trial in the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault and defamation case. What's the latest on that?
He's asking a federal appeals court to give him a new trial. Because he says the jury's decision to say that he owes Jean Carroll $5 million because he defamed her and sexually assaulted her cannot stand. His attorney made a number of arguments related to evidence, saying that the judge was wrong to allow the jury to hear the Access Hollywood tape, where Trump is overheard boasting about grabbing women was wrong to allow the testimony of women who said Trump assaulted them decades ago, which he denies. And Annie Jean Carroll's attorney said all that evidence shows a propensity for Trump to do the thing that Jean Carroll says he did and that they say is part of the reason, perhaps, why why he was held liable.
So Trump actually spoke to the media after that court hearing. Erin, I know you were listening. He attacked Jean Carroll and the other women who've accused him of sexual misconduct. Here's part of what he said.
And in this case, it's so false. It's a made up, fabricated story by somebody, I think initially just looking to promote a book. And when they called me, I denied the story. I got sued essentially for defamation because I'm denying a story where I'm right. I should be suing her for defamation.
Yeah, he got sued in E! Jean Carroll one. Did he just defame her once again?
It's certainly possible. In fact, I was talking to Jean Carroll's attorney, Robbie Kaplan, who said, as she said before, all options are on the table. She was listening to to those remarks and found that Trump was repeating statements the jury decided were defamatory of E! Jean Carroll. It's possible she could bring another action as a result. We don't know that she will, but but Trump does at least risk that possibility.
All right. Aaron Katersky there for us in New York, following all the cases for us, sometimes hard to keep up. Aaron. Appreciate you. So first the chilling audio and now an arrest. New developments to tell you about today and that deadly school shooting in Georgia. The father of 14 year old suspect Cole Gray has been arrested, charged with second degree murder in his son's alleged rampage that left two students and two teachers dead. 54 year old Colin Gray could now face 180 years in prison, he and his son both appearing separately in court for the first time today. Colin Gray You can see they are clearly on edge as a judge read him his rights. We're also learning more about the FBI investigation into those threatening posts that Cole Gray, who you see here, apparently made last year on the social media platform discord, including threats to shoot up a school. We've now obtained the actual audio recording, where investigators visit the gray family home and speak with Cole Gray and his father, Colin. The investigator asked them about weapons in the home.
Do you have any? Do you have weapons in the house? I do.
Are they accessible to him? They are. I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they are down. Okay. We actually we do a lot of shooting. We do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year. He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do and how to use them and not use them. I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happen. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there.
Our faith Abubey continues to remain on the ground there in Georgia. Joins me now along with our legal contributor and trial attorney, Brian Buchmeyer. So, Faith, let's first we'll get to the audio in just a second. But what's just the latest from police there regarding their investigation?
Well, Kiera, we've been talking for a while now about potentially more charges coming, and now we're learning more about what is holding what the holdup is. According to the Da, at the time that they filed charges against the shooting suspect, they didn't have a lot of information about some of the victims who were still in the hospital. And so now they're starting to get that information in. And so they're hoping within the next few weeks they'll be able to add those charges. There is a grand jury meeting that's happening on October 17th. And so if he's indicted there, if the more charges are added there, there will be an arraignment that will be scheduled after that. And then we're expecting the suspect, the shooting suspect and his father to be back in court for their preliminary hearing on December 4th. Kara.
So, Brian, during that 2023 visit to the gray home, the sheriff actually speaks with Colt and his father about these threats on discord. And at one point, he even says he hopes that Colt wasn't lying to him. Let's listen to this moment.
God forbid something happened and I didn't do my job. That'd be. I'd feel pretty bad about that. So I just want to make sure you understand that if something like that happens, or you hear something like that to report it. Yeah. Tell. Tell your dad. Tell the teacher. Like I told him, I would promise I would never say something. So you haven't used discord in a few months? Oh, no. And you're. You're saying you didn't say anything like that? No. This is going to be a little report saying that, uh, pretty much what we've done in reference to this and that we talked and you saying that you didn't say anything like that. And I got to take your word, and I hope you're being honest with me. I'm not saying you're lying, but it's it's a serious thing. It's it's not unusual for people to lie to the police.
Wow.
Well, Brian, the sheriff's office says there was no probable cause to make an arrest at that time. But is this really all that they could have done?
So really, it's a state specific question as to what the legislature of Georgia affords the law enforcement to do when it comes to potential threats like this, but I think they are correct. All the information that I've heard at the time in which this recording had occurred, the inability to properly associate that discord message with the the shooter who was speaking there, and also the information they collected, probable cause, meaning the belief based on all the information collected that a crime did is or will happen. I don't see enough there. I don't think they could have arrested him for any specific case. Also, my understanding is that the the AR type firearm wasn't purchased until some months, some seven months after the fact. And so if all that were there were hunting rifles that were properly stored by Georgia law, they wouldn't have enough. I think. Now the question is, looking back, unfortunately, that's what we often do in these school shooting cases. Looking back, how can we prevent this? How can we better equip law enforcement and parents with the ability to spot potential shooters and get them the services, help and take firearms away from them, their access to firearms away from them in a way that we don't have more stories like this, right?
Yeah. Point well made. And faith, you have been speaking with students and a number of people within that community. What more are we learning about the victims and even the background of of Colt gray?
Yeah. Kara, you know, one of the bright spots out of all of this darkness that we've been talking about for the last few days are the injured victims, who, according to the local authorities here, are expected to make a full recovery. A number of them have been released from the hospital. Just a few of them remain in the hospital this afternoon, and so more and more of them will be able to be released. And then they're all expected to recover well and go back to their normal lives. But of course, there's nothing normal about what they're experiencing here. In fact, there have been vigils that have been held here on campus for several days now. In fact, there's a growing memorial that's closer to the building where people have been stopping by dropping off bouquets of flowers and remembering those four victims who died. We're waiting for more details about any memorials for them, any funeral arrangements for them as well. And so this community is still rallying together. They're going through the grief grieving process.
But of course, that bright spot is the fact that those who were injured are expected to make a full recovery.
Kyra and Brian, this is now the second time in the past couple of years that we've seen a parent charged for a school shooting carried out by their kid. Do we see this now as a new trend?
I think if anything, this is the beginning of a trend where prosecutors are seeing not only this conversation that's playing out on on ABC and so many other reports and the conversation that parents and society is having that they think that it is appropriate under certain certain circumstances. Sorry, that a parent can be found liable criminally for the actions of their child. They've already successfully got a conviction in Michigan. George is going to try it out now. I think all prosecutors across the country are looking at the facts that amount to the different crimes in Georgia. It's murder in the second degree and involuntary manslaughter in Michigan. It was involuntary manslaughter. And I think we might see more of these cases where parents don't address the red flags, provide firearms for their child, and that access is lax in a way that that child can then take that firearm and commit mass shootings. I think this, unfortunately, is there more to come?
All right. Faith Abubey Brian Buckmire, thank you both. Turning now to the race for the white House, we are officially 59 days away from Election Day now, and just four days away from the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. And it's happening right here on ABC News Live. Sources telling us the vice president is spending most of her time right now in battleground Pennsylvania, huddled with her team on debate strategy. Our senior white House correspondent Selina Wang, is in Pittsburgh following the Harris campaign. So what more do we know about Harris's debate prep? Give us the details. Selina.
Yeah. Kara. Well, a source close to the vice president tells me that today she's mostly hunkered down with her team, focused on the strategy and policy debate sessions. I'm told she's taking all of this very seriously to put all of this into context. This will be Donald Trump's seventh general election presidential debate. This will be Vice President Harris's first. They've never even spoken to each other, let alone really been in the same room together. I'm told that she's got a few goals for this debate. She wants to stay on message, go after Trump, get under his skin while staying calm, and she wants to focus on her message about the future. She's going to be honing in on her economic plans. Some of those more detailed plans she's laid out about helping the middle class, helping making housing more affordable, lowering costs for everyday Americans, and the new plans she laid out this week about helping small businesses. She also wants to draw the contrast here. She's going to cast herself as someone who's optimistic and forward looking versus Donald Trump, who she'll argue is dark and divisive.
She's going to want to draw that contrast both from a policy perspective and really a personality perspective as well.
Kira so in the past, Kamala Harris has said that her experience as a prosecutor has actually prepared her for moments like this, moments like running against Trump. Remember this?
So in those roles, I took on.
Perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who scammed consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say.
I know Donald Trump's type.
So what do you think? Are we going to hear this same argument again on Tuesday, do you think?
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, I'm told.
That Harris understands that a lot of Americans still don't really know her background, and she's going to lean into her background as a former prosecutor, as an attorney general. So she's likely going to make that argument. And part of drawing that contrast as well is she wants to paint Donald Trump as someone who's only out for himself versus Vice President Harris, who she's going to argue is out for the American people. So she's certainly going to lean into that part of her background. But, Kira, another thing that's important to note is that she is going into this debate with a lot of momentum behind her. Her campaign just announcing today that last month they raised $361 million. That's nearly triple the amount that Donald Trump's campaign raised in that same time period. And what that means, Kyra, is that in the remaining months of this campaign, she can really focus on hitting these battleground states and campaigning, rather than having to continually reach out to these big time donors.
Well, and how do you think just what you're learning about the vice president, how she's prepping and preparing compared to Donald Trump? Apparently not much preparation going on. Then again, he loves to jump into these things and just sort of wing it, as we've seen in the past.
Yeah, I mean, it is a total split screen. You've got Vice President Harris, she's studying hard here in Pittsburgh. Donald Trump, he was in a courtroom then gave that press conference. But Trump and his team have always said that he doesn't need traditional debate preparation, because doing things like that press conference today, giving out interviews, doing town halls, that is part of his debate preparation. But we do know that he is having these informal meetings on policy with advisers, advisers, including former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard. And remember, Gabbard had actually gone against Vice President Harris on the debate stage back in the 2020 Democratic primaries. And Gabbard has said that Trump should focus on how Harris has changed her positions on a number of issues since then. So that is likely to be a line of attack from Donald Trump that Harris has flip flopped on these issues.
All right, Selina Wang for us there in Pittsburgh, thank you so much, Selina. See you soon. September 10th. Vice President Harris and former President Trump, as you know, are set to debate for the very first time. And it's going to happen right here on ABC News Live September 10th, 9:00 9:00 eastern. You can watch it right here with us. We'll be there, by the way, too. Coming up, major economic news today with less than a stellar jobs report. Alexis Christoforous has all the details for us.
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From ABC news. This is start here to be in the know.
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So glad you're streaming with us. To the economy now, the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs in August, a little short of what analysts were expecting. The unemployment rate also fell to 4.2%. It comes as the Federal Reserve preps to cut interest rates for the first time in four years, making it cheaper to take out a mortgage, a car loan and even pay off a credit card and its debt. Let's bring in our team money. Alexis Christoforous and Elizabeth Schultz. Elizabeth, let's talk about what this jobs report just tells us about where we stand right now with our money and where we're going.
You know, Kara, this tells us that the jobs market is really slowing down. Companies, employers are still adding jobs. They're still hiring every month, but they are hiring now at a much slower pace even than they were at the start of the year. It's harder to get a job now than it would have been a couple months back, or definitely at this time last year. So what this says the jobs market is cooling. That's actually what the Federal Reserve has been wanting to do as long as it's bringing down inflation. I asked the labor secretary today, the acting labor secretary, Kyra. Does this mean that the US is in the clear of a bigger downturn, or is there still a risk that the jobs market significantly cools and poses a bigger threat to the economy? Here's what she said.
I think we are, you know, we reached a state that defies all expectations, in which we continue to see job growth. We continue to see strong consumer spending. You know, so many indicators of the economy show that we, you know, we've done what many people thought would not be possible. And so I think about it, as you know, we've reached a cruising altitude and, you know, and we and we want to keep it up.
No signs that that's just going to crash at this point. Exactly.
No, no. In fact, the opposite. Right. Most indicators demonstrate that we are, you know, that the economy is doing well.
You'll remember after the jobs report last month, there were concerns of a much broader slowdown in July. Now, only 89,000 jobs were added to the workforce. So those revisions lower for other months are a cause for concern that show that hiring might be slowing more than expected. The question is, does this continue in the months ahead? We're going to really going to have to look at if employers do start pulling back and how much to determine the path for the economy and obviously the path for people who are on the job hunt going forward to.
All right. Well, Alexis, the fed is expected to cut interest rates this month now. So how could today's report impact that you think today's.
Report is huge for the Federal Reserve. It's the last jobs report they're going to see before their meeting in just two weeks. And many on Wall Street believe the question is not if, but by how much the fed is going to cut interest rates. Is it a quarter point or that more aggressive half point cut? And I think if you just look at the way the stock market's been reacting today, the concern now is the job market is slowing too much and the fed has been too slow to respond. I do want to point out that there was some fed talk today, if you will. A Federal Reserve governor, Christopher Waller was speaking at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and he said that he is, quote, open minded about the potential for a bigger rate cut if it were warranted. Some economists are saying today's jobs report is a clear signal that the fed needs to get aggressive.
And so, Elizabeth, what impact could an interest rate cut have? You know, just heading into November, you think people will feel it in their wallets for sure.
So I think the important context here is that interest rates will start going down, but probably not going to feel that immediately, regardless of exactly how much the fed cuts by that quarter point or half point that Alexis was talking about, what the direction here is that rates are going to go down, but this is going to be over the course of a year. As one economist was just telling me, what we've got now is the expected rate cut in September. So just a couple of weeks, possibly two more rate cuts this year, Kiara, but then a whole series into next year. So this year is kind of like the appetizer for these interest rate cuts. Next year would be the entree. What that does mean ultimately is lower borrowing costs. Borrowing costs aren't going to go back to where they were, but they will be a little bit less expensive when you're talking about those car loans, mortgages and paying off credit card debt that you carry month to month.
Elizabeth. Alexis, thank you both. Well, Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft scheduled for a return trip to Earth tonight, but that's without the two astronauts that it carried to the International Space Station earlier this year. Trevor Ault joins us now with the latest on this pretty crazy story. Hey, Trevor.
Hey, there. So the.
Starliner was supposed.
To be in space for.
Just eight days, but it's now been more than three.
Months. And when it.
Finally undocked from the International Space Station this evening, it will be leaving its crew.
Behind.
Well, on the way up, the Starliner suffered helium leaks and a problem with the control thrusters.
So for some time it.
Was unclear.
How astronauts Butch.
Wilmore and Suni Williams would ever get home. NASA officials say there.
Were many tense.
Meetings with Boeing. They ultimately decided it would be too risky to bring them home on board the Starliner. So instead, Butch and Sunny are going to be staying at the International Space Station until February. That will make it an eight month mission for them.
Then they will be riding home with one of Boeing's competitors, a SpaceX.
Crew Dragon.
That's set to launch.
Up to space later this month.
So now the Starliner will begin its journey back tonight around six.
They're going to be using a different maneuver that they.
Would have if.
The astronauts had been on board. Starliner should land in New Mexico just after midnight. That is, assuming everything goes according to plan.
Kyra.
All right, we'll track it. Trevor, thanks so much. And coming up, an American woman could win the U.S. open final tomorrow. How she got there. When we come back.
What does it take to be the most watched newscast in America?
An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
This is the combat operations center.
We're approaching the gate now. Militants came in from 4 or 5 different directions. Operational nuclear reactor. So you have a couple loaded and ready to go. The house is destroyed, but the flag, There's not a tear in it.
Not a tear in it.
How important is this label right here? Made the USA. Look at your smile. You're proud of this, I love it. Great work.
Hi. Where are you? Where are you? I appreciate you. Thank you.
David. Good to meet you.
Ishmael.
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All right. Thanks for streaming with us. We've got some other top headlines that we're following for you this hour. Doctors offices here in the U.S. will get some of the first ever self-swab test for HPV. The FDA approved clinical use of these tests in May. HPV is most commonly sexually transmitted disease in this country can also lead to an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Video game performers reaching a deal with multiple video game companies after being on strike for more than a month. Sag-Aftra and those companies reaching an interim agreement, which includes wage improvements and protecting and protections from exploitative uses of artificial intelligence. That strike isn't fully over, with some still holding out against major companies, including Disney, the parent company of ABC news. And for the first time in 22 years, American players have reached both the men's and women's finals at the U.S. open. Jessica Pegula punched her ticket by rallying after dropping the first set of her semifinal matchup. She's going to face off against number two ranked Arina Sabalenka Wiener, winner of this year's Australian Open tomorrow.
The men's semifinal matches take place today, including the all American face off between Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. I am struggling with these names, folks. The news never stops. You can find us anywhere. You stream live news and if you're on the go. I do love tennis. It's just hard to keep up with the names. You know, the ABC news app and ABC news.com. Also I'm Kyra Phillips. Thanks for streaming with us. A lot more news and updates with the names perfectly pronounced. Oh yeah, don't forget Philly next week Tuesday night right here on ABC News Live, we will have the first presidential debate with Trump and Harris. You won't want to miss it.
What does it take to be the most watched newscast in America?
An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
Since their combat operation center.
We're approaching the gate now. Militants came in from 4 or 5 different directions. Operational nuclear reactor. So you have a couple loaded and ready to go. The house is destroyed. But the flag. There's not a tear in it. Not a tear in it. How important is this label right here? Made the U.S.A.. Look at your smile. You're proud of.
This. I love this.
Great work. Hi, mom. Where are you? Where are you? I appreciate.
You. Thank you. David. Good to.
Meet you.
Ismail. David.
David. Yes, yes.
I'm David Muir.
I know who you are. You do?
Every night on ABC's World News tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast.
If you were coming of age in the 1980s, the.
Brat Pack.
Was near the center.
Of your cultural awareness.
But for those of us experiencing it from the.
Inside.
The Brat Pack was something very different.
The critics agree. Hey hey hey hey hey, did the Brat pack. What a disaster.
Why did we take it as an offense?
Andrea, I'm not gonna say we were the Beatles or anything.
Well, we didn't sell Shea Stadium.
1985.
I think we could have. Hey, hey, hey.
Hello. This is ABC News Live.
The crush of.
Families on the.
Ground in Ukraine.
ABC News Live. America's number one streaming news. Anytime, anywhere. Streaming 24 over seven. Straight to you for free.
Thank you for making ABC News Live. America's number one streaming news.
Reporting from San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the path of Tropical Storm Ernesto. I'm Mike Ajaka. And wherever the story is, we'll take you there. You're now streaming ABC News Live.
Hello, I'm Terry Moran, and here are some of the top headlines we're watching at ABC News Live at this hour. A judge in New York City has delayed sentencing in former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money case, meaning he won't face sentencing in this case before the election. Trump was found guilty in May on 34 felony charges related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing, and he's trying to get this case thrown out on the grounds of presidential immunity. And in the former president's other legal woes, Trump attacked the woman who brought and won the sexual assault and defamation civil lawsuit against him in New York last year, immediately after he attended a court hearing requesting a new civil trial. In that case, Trump unloaded a barrage of grievances to reporters at Trump Tower. All of this is happening as former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney joins his daughter Liz, and publicly endorses Kamala Harris for president in 2024. And in just a few days, Vice President Harris and former President Trump are set to debate for the first time right here on ABC news.
Again, that's September 10th, 9:00 eastern. And you can watch it right here on ABC News Live. With the closing bell just rang on Wall Street. Stocks are down today with the Dow falling close to 1%. It's been a rough week for the market in general, with the S&P 500 on track for its worst weekly performance since March of last year. All this comes after the U.S. added 142,000 jobs in August. It's a bit below what analysts were expecting. Investors will now look to the Federal Reserve's meeting later this month, where the fed is expected to cut interest rates for the first time in four years. And the white House is calling for an investigation after an American woman was shot and killed at a protest in the West Bank. Apparently, the 26 year old was a foreign solidarity activist working in the area to protect Palestinian farmers from attacks by Israeli settlers. Israeli military authorities say that they are investigating. Thank you for streaming with us. I'm Terry Moran. ABC News Live is here for you anytime with the latest news, context and analysis.
And you can always find us on wherever you stream your news, on the ABC news app and of course, on ABC news.com. The news never stops and GMA three starts right now.
What you need to know.
Right now on GMA. Three the father of the.
Suspected teenage gunman in the Georgia high school shooting, now facing murder charges himself.
And the record breaking scorching heat in the West. Ginger Zee and our.
Team with the latest on the sizzling.
Temperatures.
Your voice, your vote.
With just weeks till Americans cast.
Their ballots in the.
Presidential election, one group is.
Warning how.
Project 2025 could negatively impact the black community.
So many stories.
As I traveled these ancient streets, I realized.
It was much deeper.
Than that.
Plus rendez vous in Paris. Usher joins us here on his new movie about to make its debut.
Also, some.
Tough talk about truth.
The important Faith Friday message.
As we head into the weekend.
Plus, switching out your summer beauty routine for those products and colors best suited for fall. Our new beauty glow up.
We're moving down memory lane with the chat and special performance from Old Dominion.
It took a while, but.
I don't know how I turned that around.
Honestly. American Jessica.
Pegula.
With the.
Huge court comeback.
Now heading to her first Grand Slam title match as Americans Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz square off tonight.
And the end of an era for women's soccer legend Alex Morgan kicking off her retirement with some personal news.
Now from Times Square. Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco.
Morgan.
With what.
You need to know.
Oh, yeah. It feels like a Friday. Good afternoon.
Everybody, and welcome to what You Need to Know as we wrap up another week here at Gma3. Our friend Rebecca Jarvis is with us today in for DeMarco. So good to have you.
It is great to see you.
It's great to see you, doctor Darien Sutton.
Good afternoon. Happy to be here.
We got a lot to talk about. Medical headlines, the high prescription drug costs. I mean, people are struggling to pay for these medications. What is this new study breaking down for us?
You know, this this report comes just after.
What we saw last month, which was the first.
Time we saw a federal government negotiation to lower drug prices.
The goal of that was to hopefully help Americans cut costs. And this new study, they show that many Americans are still suffering from the heavy weight of this. And they look at adults over the age of 65 who are on Medicare. Guys, that's about 20% of the population. It's estimated that 4% of older adults cannot afford their medications at all. Likely an underestimate given the fact that many go into debt trying to pay for their medication. Aside from that, 3% are skipping doses, delaying their medications because of the cost. And these two numbers equate to millions of people. I know they might not seem like large numbers, but they are quite large, and it seems that it disproportionately affects those who are vulnerable, specifically those who are food insecure, who don't know where their next meal is coming from, or six times more likely to not be able to afford their medications. Importantly, more importantly, those over the age of 65, more than almost 90% of them are using at least one medication.
So this is a problem many Americans are suffering from. When you look at the surveys, it's estimated that 30% are saying that they can't afford their medication. So likely all of this is an underestimate, something that needs to be addressed.
And one of.
The biggest reasons people.
End up in personal.
Bankruptcy is because.
Of their medical debts. Doctor Sutton, as lawmakers and pharmaceutical companies haggle.
Over what they're going to.
Do here.
What do you recommend for consumers?
I think that there are steps that each person can take. Might not work the same for every single person, but as long as you go through some of these steps, it might benefit you. Number one, asking your provider for things like generic prescriptions that might cut your cost there. Also, switching to mail order prescriptions instead of going to brick and mortar can also save you money. Asking for bulk prescriptions. The 90 day supply instead of the 30 day supply. Also looking for patient assistance programs. You can look for nonprofit organizations that can provide you coupons and discounts. And then lastly shopping local. Drug companies or drug prices, excuse me, are negotiated with pharmacies. So often if you shop local you might be able to find discounts there. Again, they might not work for everyone, but hopefully one of these steps can reduce those prices for some.
And I've.
Been able to see that.
With my own local pharmacy. And I.
Love that you always.
Point out that as a patient, you need.
To speak up for.
Yourself. Absolutely.
It's so important, especially with prices like this. It's a problem that needs to be addressed.
Doctor Sutton, thank you.
Of course.
And we turn now to ABC's em Nguyen in Washington with our latest headlines. Good afternoon em.
Good afternoon, Rebecca. Good to see you. And we begin with the new details in the deadly Georgia high school shooting. The 14 year old suspect's father now under arrest, also charged with murder. Sources telling ABC news he may have given the AR 15 to his son for Christmas. Authorities say that weapon was used to kill two classmates and two teachers. The accused teenager in court today, his lawyer declining to seek bail. And now to our team. Coverage of the extreme weather, starting with our ginger zee.
We have another day.
Of flash flood threat along the Gulf Coast. It's that stationary front doing what stationary does. Not moving much. And you're going to take this low pressure system and amp things up that Slidell Louisiana 4 to 6in from.
There back to Baton.
Rouge. And that was with the thing offshore. It's going to get closer today. So that same region including New Orleans has that significant flash flood threat.
Let's talk heat though.
That excessive heat warning goes all the way to the coast. Los Angeles could stay above 100 and up to Portland and Washington state, even northern Idaho. Now, not just the red flag warnings, but the heat warnings too. So let's get to Matt Rivers now, who is in that heat?
Hey good morning Ginger. Yeah, it's not all that comfortable here in Los Angeles, at least for now. It's not too bad, but in just a couple of hours, you're going to start to see here the kind of temperatures that you're talking about. This is not a place that's not totally unused to heat. But when we're talking about temperatures in the hundreds, certain parts of Los Angeles are kind of their own microclimates. Places like the Valley into the 110. You're talking about the kind of heat that really does have an impact on people's lives. There's a heat advisory in place all the way until Monday. And when you're talking about excess heat in California, you have to talk about the wildfire threat. Red flag warnings in place as well, because the higher the temperatures go, the higher the risk is for wildfires. And when you're talking about an impact to people's daily lives, we actually went to Chaminade High School in the Valley here in Los Angeles and talked to some of their student athletes who are practicing in this weather.
New state regulations in California have mandated that that the schools use a specific device that measures heat, humidity, sun exposure and the like, and it spits out a reading. That reading has to be below a certain level in order for the kids to practice, and that just hasn't been happening until like 6 p.m.. So you're getting some of these football practices happening much later. It's wreaking havoc on people's schedules, parents having, of course, to pick up their kids. The athletic director says, look, it's an inconvenience, but this is something that we just have to do to keep kids safe in this kind of heat.
I'm Matt Ginger.
Thank you so.
Much. And now to the latest job numbers. Hiring in the U.S., picking up a bit in August. The Labor Department reporting employers added 142,000 jobs, the unemployment rate dipping for the first time since March down to 4.2%. And 30 year old Jessica Pegula. With the remarkable comeback at the U.S. open, the American earning her first trip to a Grand Slam final as the American men battle it out. Frances Tiafoe versus Taylor Fritz. Whoever wins will be the first American man in a US open final since Andy Roddick in 2006. It's been a long time, and you can catch all the action on ESPN tonight. Of course we are looking out for soccer. We are looking out for tennis. But then there's also the NFL that's starting this week as well.
They had games last night. My husband was very excited about it. Thanks. There is much more ahead here on GMA three on this Friday. Your voice your vote. The pushback against project 2025 and later.
Getting your fall glow. We're going to switch out our summer products and give you some help from our friends at New Beauty. Stay with us.
Whenever news breaks.
We are here in Israel, a nation at war. After that brutal surprise attack by Hamas on the.
Ground in Ukraine, reporting from Lewiston, Maine.
The scene of a horrific mass.
Shooting. ABC News Live is right there everywhere.
From the scene of that deadly missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine.
Reporting from the earthquake in Turkey in Rolling Fork.
This tornado tore through this little town.
From the most devastating disaster.
In Hawaii from Charleston, South.
Carolina, on the 2024 campaign trail.
In Iceland. Let's go.
Traveling with the president in Mexico City. Wherever the story.
From the front lines from southern Israel.
Outside the Gaza Strip, in Beirut, from the FBI reporting.
From the nurses on the picket line here at ten Downing Street in London, streaming.
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Is, wherever the story is.
Wherever the story is, we're going to take you there. You're streaming ABC News Live.
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First thing in the morning.
There's a lot going on.
We're still in a.
Flash flood warning.
To catch you up with what happened overnight clashing over national security.
What's happening today? Tensions in the Middle East.
What people are talking about the worries on Wall Street.
Fast and straightforward.
With some fun in between. Catching up on sleep during the weekend could be good for your heart.
Non-alcoholic bars are popping up in a growing number of cities. That's the spirit. America. This morning, America's number one early morning news on ABC News Live.
Get ready America! Every Friday, the hottest trends.
Styles and must have. What's the right stuff to.
Buy right now? I really love that. It's time to buy the right stuff. Yes. And save big time too.
The right Stuff Fridays on GMA. You're going to love it.
With so much at stake, so much on the line, more Americans turn here than any other newscast. ABC News World News Tonight with David Muir, America's number one most watched newscast across all of television. Tuesday night the most consequential moment of this campaign Kamala Harris Together, we will chart a new way forward. Donald Trump, we will soon be.
A great nation again. Face to face.
Historic. The ABC news presidential debate moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis. Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Welcome back to Gma3. There's been a lot of talk surrounding project 2025 this election season.
The plan is a controversial set of proposals for the next Republican presidency written up by the Heritage Foundation. Now, one group fears how black voters could be affected if project 2025 is implemented. And joining us now is Color of Change President Rashad Robinson. Thank you so much for being here with us. Thanks for having me. So let's talk about this. Former President Trump has disavowed and really distanced himself from project 2025. So why does it even matter?
Well, so much about policy is personal. And so both.
Project.
2025 and Donald Trump have been very clear that part of their agenda on both, on both platforms is that they will dismantle.
The sort of career service.
Infrastructure of the federal.
Government, the people.
Who work, regardless of whether there's a Democrat or a.
Republican, and Project 2025 and Donald Trump both.
Want to replace.
Them with political appointees.
So where do the.
Political appointees come from under a Donald Trump administration? They come from the Heritage Foundation, they come from the Federalist Society. They come from the very people that have written this plan and have put it in place. Donald Trump as president will be one person, but he will be staffed by a range of people who have made this their mission. And we know from the last time when Donald Trump said some things that he wouldn't do and then went about doing them, that what we actually have to believe is the intention behind it. This project is funded and supported by all the very people that are fighting to put Donald Trump in office. And if he is elected, project 2025 will be the operating framework. And so I tell our folks at Color of Change, I tell our folks that we work with, I tell black Americans that our project 2024 needs to be voting.
And in terms of project 2025, what are the key provisions that Color of Change is most concerned about?
Well, a couple of things. One, across education, health, justice, they're going to dismantle the very infrastructure that enforces anti-discrimination our rules. And so whether it's the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, dismantling the tracking of racial data, dismantling and taking away sort of the enforcement mechanism. So it's like having speed limits, but no one to actually enforce those speed limits, getting rid of school lunches, getting rid of student debt relief, getting rid of all of the the tools that have been put in place to be able to advance more equity. A lot has been done. A lot of programs have been put in place to close the gaps on on homeownership, to make sure that people have access to loans and resources to start businesses, women, people of color, and that will be dismantled. So just think about it. A billionaire president would presiding over an administration that makes it hard for the little guy to be able even to start a small business, to be able to get a student loan, to get more education.
Turning this country back backwards and turning us all backwards and taking away sort of the very things that make America great, this idea that we can actually achieve more, have more opportunity than the generation before us.
You said voting was really important. How are you going to make sure those people show up to vote?
Well, we are going to educate. The research tells us in so many ways that people need to hear from folks in their networks, Trusted networks are so key. And so one thing that we have been pioneering for years at Color of Change, and with so many of our partners, is really working with volunteers, tens of thousands of volunteers around the country that through tech platforms, we give them the tools to be able to reach out through phones, through doors, through text messaging. And we're able to contact irregular voters, voters that don't show up in every election. One example is in Michigan alone. According to the secretary of state in Michigan, there are over a million young people that did not vote in the last election who were eligible to vote. So if we can just contact those folks and get percentages of those folks to turn out and vote, the ability to not just swing an election, but to make sure the election is swung by people who then now have more power to make the demands on the things that they care about.
Elections are not about giving politicians jobs. They are about helping to make everyday people's lives better. So we always pair our work around elections with the conversations about what do you do after the election? What does the accountability look like, and how do we want to have a conversation about making the systems and the structures that should serve all of us, actually serve all of us.
It's going to be a big year, that's for sure. Rashad Johnson, thank you so much. Rashad Robinson, thank you so much for being here. President of The Color of Change. We appreciate you. Thanks for having me.
And just ahead on Gma3 a Faith Friday conversation on truth.
And later, multi-platinum Grammy winner usher bringing his music to a theater near you. He joins us here. Stay with us.
Caller I don't know what it is, but it seems she's got me twisted.
So what does it take to be the most watched newscast in America?
An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
Since their combat operations center.
We're approaching the gate now. Militants came in from 4 or 5 different directions. Operational nuclear reactors. So you have a couple loaded and ready to go. The house is destroyed, but the flag, there's not a tear in it.
Not a tear in it.
How important is this label right here? Made the U.S.A.. Look at your smile. You're proud of this. I love it. Great work. Hi. Where are you? Where are you? I appreciate you.
Thank you. David.
Good to meet you.
It's me.
David. David? Yes, yes.
I'm David Muir.
I know who you are. You do?
Every night.
ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast. Whenever news breaks, we are.
Here in Israel. A nation at war.
In Rolling Fork, this tornado tore through this town.
From Lewiston, Maine.
The scene of a horrific mass.
Shooting from the scene of that deadly missile strike.
ABC News live everywhere in Iceland. Let's go.
On the 2024 campaign trail here at ten Downing Street.
Wherever the story is, we're.
Going to take you there.
You're streaming ABC News Live.
ABC News live.
You're streaming ABC News Live. ABC news.
Live streaming. Free everywhere.
First thing in the morning. There's a lot going on. We're still in a flash flood warning to catch you up with what happened overnight. Clashing over national security.
What's happening today? Tensions in the Middle East.
What people are talking about the worries on Wall Street.
Fast, straightforward.
With some fun in between. Catching up on sleep during the weekend could be good for your heart.
Non-alcoholic bars are popping up in a growing number of cities. That's the spirit. America. This morning, America's number one early morning news on ABC News Live.
Why do so many people start their day here?
From ABC news. This is start.
Here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories. Start here.
That's a part of the story. I bet you didn't see coming.
Make it your daily first. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Reporting from Miami.
Florida I'm Victor Oquendo.
Wherever the story is we'll take you there. You're streaming ABC news live.
She's got a baby.
Welcome back. It is Faith Friday and our next guest is an evangelist, author and podcast host who doesn't shy away from tough conversations with people of all faith backgrounds.
And his new book, How to Tell the Truth, tells the story of his path to finding faith. Please welcome Preston Perry. Thank you so much for being here. Thanks for having.
Me. You guys are.
Good at this.
I'm curious, what made you want to write this book?
Well, the.
Bible tells us to make disciples of all nations, right? And so I wanted to create a book that would encourage the everyday Christian to go out and have conversations with people, you know, to go out and share the gospel with the coworker, the family member.
To normalize.
Evangelism and apologetics. And so that's essentially why I wrote the book.
How do you start those conversations?
Can you take us inside of one?
Yeah. So for me, I always like to lead with like, emotional intelligence. Right. And so when I'm talking to someone, I always ask questions. I think Jesus modeled asking good questions. And I think when we ask questions, I think people teach you how to how to serve them. And so I asked them, you know, have you ever been to the church? Have you ever had bad experiences with the church? How was those how was those experiences? And they teach me how to how to serve them. Yeah.
So much of it is looking at someone else. We're so center focused these days. Absolutely. Yeah. We ask all of our Friday guests to give us words of wisdom as we head into the weekend. Do you have any words for us?
Yeah.
Be true to yourself when you're out there teaching. I think people really love authentic people who love Jesus. And so for me, I always want to lead with authenticity, but I don't want to shy away from the truth of the gospel. Be bold, but at the same time, be gracious. I think that would be my best advice.
Yeah, some good advice. Preston Perry. Thank you so much for being here with us today. And you can pick up a copy of his book, How to Tell the Truth everywhere books are sold. Or you can scan that QR code right there on the bottom of your screen if you'd like to purchase a copy.
And up next here on GMA three Rendezvous in Paris.
R&B legend usher joins us on his concert movie debut. We're back in. Just a bit caught up.
Got me feeling dead. Caught up. I'm losing control. Yes, girl.
What does it take to be the most watched newscast in America?
An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
Since their combat operation center.
We're approaching the gate now. Militants came in from 4 or 5 different directions. Operational nuclear reactor. So you have a couple loaded and ready to go. The house is destroyed. But the flag, there's not a tear in it, not a.
Tear in it.
How important is this label right here? Made in the USA. Look at your smile. You're proud of this, I love it.
Great work.
Hi. Where are you? Where are you? I appreciate you. Thank you.
David. Good to meet you.
Ismail. David.
David. Yes, yes.
I'm David Muir. I know who you are. You do? Every night.
ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast. Why do so many people start their day here?
From ABC news. This is start.
Here to be in the know and get a different take on the day's top stories. A lot of.
News today, so let's get into it.
Listen now to the daily news podcast honored with four Edward R Murrow Awards, and see why the New York Times calls it a news podcast worth listening to. Start here ABC news make it your daily first. Listen.
Now that's a part of the story. I bet you didn't see coming. Wherever you get.
Your podcasts, start here.
It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
We had several suspects.
All these kinds of leads.
A known serial killer in your area. Could he be involved?
We're actually finding key evidence that could have slipped through the cracks.
Her last hours on this earth were horrific.
This beautiful young girl.
Police will.
Find out what.
Happened.
At wit's end. The hunt for a killer. Only on Hulu.
Tuesday night. The most consequential moment of this campaign, Kamala Harris. Together, we will chart a new way forward Donald Trump. We will soon.
Be a great nation again.
Face to face. Historic. The ABC news presidential debate moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Doctor Daren is back and we are talking about vaping. The numbers are actually kind of encouraging.
Good news encouraging. You know, it's my life's goal to educate people about the risks of vaping. So in this new report from the CDC, it shows that half a million fewer U.S. middle and high school students are vaping in 2024 compared to 2023. It's a significant drop in e-cigarette use just in one year, likely driven from public health education and hopefully the education that I'm giving my friends every day, because these things can be so dangerous.
And a lot of people.
Think, okay, well, vapes have to be better for me than cigarettes.
What do you.
Say?
I have a I have such a planned response from that because I hear that so many times. Number one, the amount of nicotine in some of these vapes can equate to 20 to 40 cigarettes. So that alone is a risk that you have to acknowledge. Yes, vapes don't have tobacco often, but the nicotine itself can be harmful to our brain, our kidneys, and our lungs. And then the mechanism of vapes, that aerosolized air is actually a lot harder or hotter than you can imagine. And when that hits the delicate barriers of your lungs that can cause damage, that can lead to irreparable harm, that can lead to chronic lung injury over time. So it's so important to understand the risk of these things. And if you can put them away, throw them out.
How do you quit? What advice do you give to someone who's trying to quit?
I think number one, acknowledging that you might have a problem. Many people will say, well, I don't have a problem, I just enjoy them. If you cannot put it down and leave it down, then unfortunately you have a problem. So acknowledging that at first and then taking steps, reducing gradually I don't believe often cutting cold turkey is as easy or even realistic. So trying your best to reduce gradually and get an advocate, a partner, a friend to help keep you on track.
Find another treat.
Find another.
Treat.
Find another treat.
I don't know if that's the right advice. I'm not.
I was thinking exercise.
That's good.
Advice. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
If you were.
Coming of age in the 1980s, the.
Brat Pack was near the center.
Of your cultural.
Awareness.
But for those of us experiencing it from the.
Inside.
The Brat Pack was something very different.
The critics agree.
Hey hey hey hey hey, did the Brat Pack. What a.
Disaster. Why did we take it as an offense?
Andrew, I'm not going to say we were the Beatles or anything.
Well, we didn't sail Shea Stadium. 1985.
I think we could have. Hey hey hey. Hello.
What does it take to be the most watched newscast in America?
An operation to capture ISIS fighters.
Since their combat operation center.
We're approaching the gate now. militants came in from 4 or 5 different directions operational nuclear reactors. So you have a couple loaded and ready to go. The house is destroyed, but the flag, there's not a tear in it, not a tear in it. How important is this label right here? Made the U.S.A. look at your smile. You're proud of this, I love it. Great work.
Hi. Where are you? Where are you? I appreciate you.
Thank you. David. Good to meet you.
Ismail. David. David. Yes, yes.
I'm David Muir. I know who you are. You do? Every night.
ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir is America's most watched newscast.
First thing in the morning.
There's a lot going on.
We're still in a.
Flash flood warning.
To catch you up with what happened overnight. Clashing over national security.
What's happening today? Tensions in the Middle East, what.
People are talking about. The worries on Wall Street.
Fast, straightforward, with.
Some fun in between. Catching up on sleep during the weekend could be good for your heart.
Non-alcoholic bars are popping up in a growing number of cities. That's the spirit. America. This morning, America's number one early morning news on ABC News Live.
Whenever news breaks.
We are here in Israel, a nation at.
War in Rolling Fork. This tornado tore through this town.
From Lewiston, Maine.
The scene of a horrific mass shooting.
From the scene of that deadly missile.
Strike. ABC News Live everywhere in Iceland.
Let's go on the 2024 campaign trail here at ten Downing Street.
Wherever the story is, we're going to.
Take you there.
You're streaming ABC News Live.
ABC News live.
You're streaming ABC News live.
ABC news live streaming. Free everywhere.
Hello, I'm Terry Moran, and here are some of the top headlines we're watching at ABC News Live at this hour. A judge in New York City, has delayed sentencing and former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money case. That means he won't face sentencing in this case before the election. Trump was found guilty in May on 34 felony charges related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing, and he's trying to get this case thrown out on grounds of presidential immunity. And in the former president's other legal woes. Trump attacked E Jean Carroll. She's the woman who brought and won the sexual assault and defamation civil lawsuit against Trump in New York last year. He did so immediately after he attended a court hearing requesting a new civil trial in that case. He just unloaded a barrage of grievances to reporters at Trump Tower. All of this happening as former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney joins his daughter, Liz, in publicly endorsing Kamala Harris for president in 2024. And in just a few days, Vice President Harris and former President Trump are set to debate for the first time here on ABC news.
Again, that's September 10th at 9:00 eastern. And you can watch it right here on ABC News Live. Today, the alleged shooter and his father have been charged in connection with Wednesday's deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Made their first appearances in court. 14 year old Colt gray and his 54 year old father, Colin Gray, appeared before a judge separately in the same courtroom to face murder charges. Sources tell ABC news investigators believe Colin gave his teenage son an AR 15 style rifle for Christmas, which authorities say he used to kill two teachers and two students. Both Colin Gray and Colt gray are currently being held without bond, and they are due back in court December 4th. If they're convicted, they could each spend the rest of their lives behind bars. And Paris is hoping to honor the life of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Becca Cheptegei, who died this week in a horrific act of domestic violence when she was set on fire by her boyfriend. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo plans to name a sports venue after Cheptegei.
The Ugandan came in 44th while competing in the women's marathon at the Paris Olympics last month. Cheptegei died yesterday, shortly after being rushed to the hospital. Paris officials say this proposal will be determined in October. Thank you for streaming with us. I'm Terry Moran, ABC News Live is here for you anytime with the latest news, context and analysis. You can always find us wherever you stream your news, on the ABC news app and of course, on abcnews.com. The news never stops. There's more GMA right now.
Welcome back doctor. Daryn joins us now with a question from one of you. This one's from Barry K. How can you tell the difference between a cold and a sinus infection.
I think that's a great question. And to answer that question I brought a little graphic, you know that I love. Graphics that show this one specifically to patients all the time because we know the symptoms of a common cold. But when you have a sinus infection, it often involves your sinuses, and many of them exist in your face, behind your brow bone, behind your nose, in your cheek. On the left side of the screen is a normal sinus. Now that is clear filled full of air on the right side. As you can see, due to a bacterial infection or a viral infection, you have a buildup of fluid that causes that pressure and that pain that so many feel that discomfort with looks.
Nasty, feels.
Even nastier, especially around the eye and the cheekbone. How does it progress? How does it ultimately become a sinus infection and not a cold?
Great question. You know, often it's timing. And so again, these can be due to both viruses that cause the common cold and often bacteria. When it lasts for more than 5 to 7 days it's more likely a bacterial infection. And that's when you need antibiotics. And then before that you can do some simple measures at home to help reduce your symptoms.
I mean, is this something you can treat at home, or do you need to go to the doctor.
It is something you can treat at home. You can take some simple steps. I think the first step to being remember is you can take antihistamines. They often decrease that inflammation in the face and they can help soothe those symptoms. Also, if you think about nasal irrigation you know we all have those products at home. Our grandmothers, our grandfathers all use them. They can work. The one thing I'd say is make sure the water you're using with that is clean or sterile to prevent the rare but important risk of an infection. And then also something that my grandmother taught me using a hot bowl of water. You know, you boil water, you pour it in the bowl and you put a towel over your head and you inhale that steam, and that can help you break apart that mucus.
Doctor. Grandma, she's always got it.
Always got it.
Her and her ginger ale.
Yes. Always. So good. Thanks, doctor Darian. Of course. And coming up here next on GMA three. Time to switch up our beauty routines for the fall. We called in some help to sort through all the things the beauty Sarah Eggenberger is here.
And our chat and performance by Old Dominion. Stay with us.
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Welcome back to Gma3. Changing seasons means it's time to change up our beauty routines as well. And here to help us with all of our fall beauty swaps is the senior editor at large of New Beauty, Sarah Eggenberger.
And you can shop everything, all of these items at our website, good Morning america.com. Or scan the QR code.
Right.
On your screen.
It is so great to see you, Sarah.
I watched the show all the time, but this is our first time interacting and you and I are massively into products. I think that's pretty like common knowledge.
So walk us through.
All right, so we're talking about transitioning.
Our skin from summer where it's nice and glowy to now.
Fall. Love this time of year.
But what we see is our skin doesn't have that.
Radiance.
That it used to have in the summer because of the humidity and the oils and all those good things for your skin.
So instead of using.
Those mattifying serums, now we're stepping into more of the illuminating serums.
And so things are going.
To help to add that lit from within glow.
This is say.
And this is so universal, you.
Can incorporate this into anything.
Or anywhere you want to.
There's different tones.
So like a rose gold the bronze the gold. And you can actually include this into your moisturizer, into your foundation. You can just touch it on your face where you need it if you want to.
So you can.
Do lots of fun with.
This, but this just.
Kind of provides that lit.
From within glow. I love the.
Glow.
Oh yeah. Now do I have this, like, shiny nose?
We walked over here and both of us immediately were like, ooh, what are these? I know.
I love this because this is a.
Reusable eye patch. And so we noticed in the fall, our skin starts to dry out a little bit because that humidity temp drops significantly.
So instead of using the single use dew has created.
These multi use iPads where.
They're kind of like more of.
A silicone texture. Yeah. And so you.
Just need to put your eye or your eye cream whatever your preferred is.
And then you just lay these right on and it stays under your eyes. And so that way it actually traps the moisture and it really stays. I even have an eye cream on and it just stays in there.
It really helps to.
Support more the moisture, especially in the eye area where we tend to lose it the most. And you're basically using the.
Eye cream you already have.
And then putting that on top to really keep it in. Exactly.
I sleep in.
These. Yeah. And if.
You especially if you lay on your back, they'll stay on.
All night, which is incredible. Perfect. Yes. Okay, so here we went from, like, frizzy hair to now like dry hair in the fall. And so this is why it's spelled o u a I. so not to be confused with looking at this. And this is their hair oil.
It is so good.
You have to smell this. It is amazing.
To open this up.
For you because it is so nice, such a luxurious oil. It's going to do everything for you. It's going to solve all your problems at a great price point.
I want to eat it.
I know I love good smelling hair products, it's like right by your nose, so you want to smell good. But this helps to really add that hydration helps to like style your hair. It's a UV protection.
So good for blow.
Drying. All the things we've already spritzed with this. Oh gosh, this is so lovely, isn't it? So I feel like scent is kind of like the backbone of all. Like that is what you tend to go to. You want those warm, cozy scents. It kind of.
Elicits a vibe.
And so with that they have these beautiful candles and then also fragrance. The candles burn so clean. I love this ceramic container.
It really is a great vessel. And you can reuse those.
Put your makeup brushes in those, your pencils back to school and then also their perfume. We're just like you and I. We all sprayed that one. We all smell the same. It's just like a sprayed up, like, watch it. It smells so good. It's just.
These really high grade, lovely fragrances.
That last so long, and.
Everyone can kind of take their.
Unique scent and fall.
This is basically what we all need. The minute it gets cold outside.
Absolutely right. Even if your skincare game was like, great on your face, we tend to neglect our hands. So we.
Start to see the.
Fine lines, the wrinkles, all the stuff happening on our hands. But don't you worry. We have a solution with city. A city a hand serum.
Is going to provide this lightweight.
Gel. Now your hands are fully loaded. Yes. But it's so nice. It's lightweight, so you can keep it at your desk. Still type away in your car. Your cup.
Holder? Yeah.
Right away. Because you can put them in all different places. They work really.
Well and really nice.
I know, doesn't it? It's a great brand.
All in all, it's really a fragrance brand.
Plus like a skincare and body care and candle line.
It's wonderful.
Rare beauty. We all know about rare beauty.
So wonderful. I love this because I love fall and like having new palettes for colors. But this is their lip.
Oil by Rare.
Beauty. And so it's going to give you a lip oil tinted.
So it stays a little.
Bit longer. It doesn't move as much but you still get that hydration on your lips. And look at all these beautiful shades. I mean, I like layer them. I use them all individually. They're so good. I love the packaging. You can watch Only Murders in the Building and Selena.
Gomez's Rare Beauty, and it all comes together. Okay.
Finally a foundation. Foundation. This is a cult classic. Foundation Giorgio Armani. Foundation. It is beautiful because what happens in the fall and the winter, it gets drier. We need a liquid. It just adds a plumpness. Also, if you tend to change colors from seasons, I know you shouldn't. You should all be using sunscreen, but if you do, it's a good time to recheck your foundations and use a new formulation.
A lot of our.
Makeup artists use it. They love it. So good! Thank you so much for being here with us and to shop these items and more. Scan that QR code right there on your screen or head to Good Morning america.com.
And just ahead here on Gma3. Ushe has.
Been making.
Beautiful music for 30 years now. His new concert movie is about to debut.
Yes, and he is here at Gma3 in the studio to tell us all about it. Stay with us.
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It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
You had several suspects.
All these kinds of leads.
A known serial killer in your area. Could he be involved?
We're actually finding key evidence that could have slipped through the cracks.
Her last hours on this earth were horrific.
This beautiful young girl.
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Get ready. America! Every Friday, the hottest trends, styles and must have.
What's the right stuff to buy right now? I really love that. It's time to buy the right stuff. Yes. And save big time too.
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Fridays on GMA.
You're going to love it.
So many.
Stories.
As I traveled these ancient streets, I realized it's much deeper than that.
It's a special kind of love.
Constantly surrounding me.
Arousing my slightest desires.
Oh, we love it.
Welcome back to GMA three. That was a.
Look at the.
Steamy new film usher. Rendez vous in Paris. The R&B showman is now bringing his concert experience to fans in the new movie documenting his 2023 Paris shows.
And the legend himself is here. Please welcome multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning global superstar the one and only usher.
Thank you all. Hello. Good morning. Oh, hello.
Congratulations. I don't know where you found time to do all this because you've had your Vegas residency. You the half time show. I mean, then this film, which can we can we call it sexy? It's kind of sexy.
Well. Thank you. More, please.
Why did you choose Paris?
I chose Paris because for the years that I've gone there and enjoyed.
Fashion Week, I.
Wanted to do something that I felt like would kind.
Of, um.
You know, give us a place to go and a thing to celebrate. That obviously represents my culture, but more than anything, could allow me to, you know, partner with creatives, the designers that I worked with to create the wardrobe and also to it just elevated everything. I've been in Vegas with a very successful residency, so rendezvous was like a very special version of my ten show residency.
The real.
Eiffel Tower is is a little different than the Vegas Eiffel.
Tower, and it is play.
Magnifique. I love it.
It's wonderful. Bravo! You know, I.
Think about.
You, usher.
Three decades.
I grew up with your music, constantly reinventing and also on fashion and style. And you really are this icon. How do you. How do you do it? What are your inspirations and things that you put into this as you evolve over time?
You know what? I just.
I.
Try to.
Be.
As true as I.
Possibly can to the creative.
And I'm always mindful of what's next, as technology is kind of making its way into it. And I'm finding other ways to kind of engineer this idea of creating some way of preserving what I've created.
Can I ask you about something that I always see you do at your concerts? You serenade women, right? It's a thing.
It's a thing.
It's an army thing. It's a classic thing, you know, it's a, you know, I try my hardest to be mindful of the things that inspired me. You know, when I look back and I see Teddy.
Pendergrass.
And I see, you know, Marvin Gaye and the guys who really understood how to serenade the women, I go a little bit closer. But as.
We've seen.
Yeah.
There's a multitude of things. You know, we're talking about the connection between me and my kids, like my 15 year old, you know, he'll come to the show and he'll give me advice like, dad, you should do this. Try this. You know, you should sing more, dad. I'm like, okay, cool. Dance more here. Maybe go here. Let's let's create something that people can take away. Let's let's create usher books. I'm like, okay, cool, great. Um, but it's all about giving people an immersive kind of experience and whatever my culture represents, you know, in this case, I know we earlier got our usher.
I put him in the vault.
You did? Yeah.
But do you know how to use them? Please. So rather, you know, at weddings, we throw rice. Yes. You know, New Year's. We celebrate with confetti. Yes. At an usher show. We throw usher books. In this case, we throw francs.
And we saw a little clip of that also. That's in the film.
Yeah. Well, we did.
A premiere at the Apollo, and they were throwing francs all over the place, having a good time. I'm always trying my hardest to give people a bit of what the experience is. You know, when I'm creating in Atlanta, this is kind of something that happens, something we do.
People love being able to take something away.
Yeah. And then they do that.
Yeah. Yeah.
Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so.
Much. I had a good time making it. I hope that you guys really enjoyed it. Rendezvous in Paris is in theaters September the 12th to 15th. Limited amount of time. Make sure you guys get out there and show your support for it. Then get a chance to come to Las Vegas. Maybe get and get a chance to come to Paris. But you'll get a chance to enjoy this.
Yes. And you're on a world tour. Past. Present. Future. Yes. Go out there and support him. Yes.
Future with.
Usher on. Thank you. Usher.
Appreciate it. Thank you. Ladies.
And even more, great music is just ahead right here on GMA three. One of the biggest bands in the country music domain. Get ready for Old Dominion. We'll be right.
Back. So hold the phone I'm gonna kiss you like I'm coming home from war.
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Come on and let your hair down. I'm your midnight rider. Welcome back.
They have been lighting up the charts as one of the biggest names in country music, redefining the genre with their blend of country and rock.
Their greatest hits compilation, Oldies But Goodies was just released and they are with us now. Please welcome multi-platinum selling band Old Dominion.
It is so great to see you.
Guys, and it has just been such a wonder to watch your career.
Over these last years. This this last.
Decade.
Really? And you.
Thought you weren't going to make.
It? Yeah, that's what.
We kept telling ourselves.
Anyway.
What?
Why would you do such a thing? I think.
Just a little bit of.
Self-preservation. They're probably just protecting ourselves.
It's a.
Tough business. Yeah. It is.
But here you are. Yeah, we're.
Very, very.
Fortunate.
It's always easy to do that when you have a compilation of your best music. Oldies but goodies. So how did you figure out what songs to put in there?
Yeah, obviously we have quite a body.
Of work at this point.
But you know, during the last tour, our fans started bringing a lot of signs and making requests, and most of them were of songs that were not the like, quote hits.
But so we put the.
Hits on there, but we.
Also just filtered through all those requests and some of our favorites, and just tried.
To pick the best Little Mix tape that.
We could for.
Everybody. Mix tape.
I love that, especially as someone who listened to a lot of mix tapes back in my day. Thank you so much to all of you for being with us. For delighting fans, here is Old Dominion's album Oldies But Goodies. It is available today everywhere. Music is sold.
And.
Streamed.
Yeah. And then for all of you at home, you can actually listen to our Gma3 playlist by scanning the QR code right there on your screen. And now, without further ado, here is Old Dominion performing their hit song Memory Lane.
Yeah. Yeah.
If I can buy a house on memory lane, I'd put my money down.
And I'd sign.
My name on that little corner lot. Where it don't ever rain. We stay good as new. Like a fresh coat of paint. You'd be mine in the shine of a front porch light. Yeah. Might as well live there, baby. That's where I spend most of my time. Thinking about those sunsets that bled into jean jacket nights. Those Hang on a morning lost in Paradise. Still drunk on the feeling. When I close my eyes. You're pulling me closer. Your head on my shoulder. You never let go. And we never be over. If I could buy a house on memory lane. I wouldn't have to wonder. If you miss me the same I'd be loving you as usual. Telling you you're beautiful. Oh, I'd be happily delusional. Thinking bout those sunsets that late in the jean jacket. Nights. Those tangled up mornings. Lost in Paradise. Til drunk on the feeling. When I close my eyes. You're pulling me closer. Your head on my shoulder. We never let go.
And we never be over. Think about those sunsets and let energy antagonize those tangled up mornings. Lost in Paradise. Still drunk on a feeling. When I close my eyes. You're pulling me closer. Your head on my shoulder. You never let go. And we never be over. If I could buy a house on memory lane. I'd put my money down. And I'd sign.
My name on that little corner lot. Where it don't ever rain.
Baby me and you never fade, never fade.
We never fade.
We never fade, never fade. Thank you. Thank you.
And that is Old Dominion. And here we go, guys. And that is also what you need to know for this week. I'm Eva pilgrim.
I'm Rebecca Jarvis.
And I'm Doctor Darien.
And for.
All of us here at.
ABC news.
Make it a great weekend. Yeah.
Fresh coat of paint. We've been mired in the shine of a front porch light. Yeah, might as well live there, baby. That's where I spend most of my time thinking about those sunsets that bled into Jean jacket night. Why do so many.
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Hey. Good morning America.
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Washington right now on ABC News Live. Sentencing delayed.
Donald Trump.
Back in a New York courtroom for the first time in months, and a judge giving him what he wants, pushing back the sentencing in his criminal hush money trial until after the election, and the new developments since Trump's lawyers try to get his sexual assault case tossed out. The legal battle is just four days away from the ABC news presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris and the father charged in connection with his 14 year old son's alleged rampage in a Georgia high school. What it could change in the way courts look at parents responsibilities in a nation plagued by gun violence and the jobs report good, but not as good as what some were expecting, what it means for potential interest rate cuts and your money.
But we do.
Begin with the latest.
And former President Donald Trump's legal woes taking center stage once again in a New York City courtroom just four days until the ABC news presidential debate, the first and only scheduled matchup between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris today. New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan making an unprecedented decision, delaying Trump's sentencing in his hush money case until.
After Election.
Day in November. That means voters, when they go to the polls, won't know if the Republican nominee could face jail time for his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal that threatened his 2016 presidential campaign. Meantime, earlier this morning in a different courtroom, Trump's lawyers fighting to overturn the verdict in his sexual assault and defamation case brought by writer E Jean Carroll. His legal team arguing improper evidence was introduced in that civil trial during that 2023 trial. Carroll testified that Trump assaulted her in a New York department store in the mid 1990s, and then sued Trump for defamation in 2019 after he denied the attack and suggested that Carroll made up the story. Joining me to talk about all of this is ABC senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky and former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Tim Jansen. Welcome to both of you. Aaron, I do want to start with you, and I want to start with that hush money case, that conviction that Trump has faced. Now, his sentencing in the wake of that conviction is after November.
It is November 26th. Excuse me. That's going to be after Election Day. But before that, Judge Merchan also has to make a decision on Trump trying to get this case tossed out. Is that right?
That's right. Jay. The judge has been asked to give Trump a whole new a whole new life in New York by tossing out his conviction on grounds that the case violated the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. Judges have already said that paying hush money to a porn star had nothing to do with his official business, but the defense has argued that some evidence allowed at the trial should not have been because it should have been protected by that Supreme Court immunity decision. So Judge Morrison has now given himself until mid-November to make that decision before sentencing on November 26th.
So, Tim, I want to get into Judge Marchand's decision making here. He and his order. He says that this case is historic. He says that it's unprecedented. But then he also goes on to say he's going to treat Trump no differently than any other defendant. And defendants have gotten extensions in their sentencing before. And so he's going to give one to Trump, too. What do you make of that?
Well, I think that's true. Most defendants usually.
Do get a.
Continuance.
In sentencing for various reasons cooperation, illness or whatever. But this is not unlike any other case.
I think you have a judge.
Who's realistically.
Realizing that.
One, that.
Supreme Court.
Case could ultimately.
Affect the verdict. The last thing he.
Wants to do is.
Have a sentencing.
Right.
Sentenced Trump to prison.
Which would then have the Supreme Court intervene prior to the.
Election.
Indicating in an order that that conviction cannot stand. That's the last thing that the judge wants.
Prior to the election, prior to sentencing. So he's doing the right thing by at.
Least waiting till the.
Election. Ruling on the motion to.
Dismiss and then handle.
The sentencing.
To be clear.
Judge Merchan, in.
His order today doesn't specify one way or the other how he.
Thinks about that Trump argument as it relates to that Supreme Court case. But I take your point. Aaron, I want to go very quickly to the e. Jean Carroll case. Trump shows up in court today on his own volition. He doesn't have to be there. His lawyers are making that argument to try to get that case tossed out. Break down what happened in court today.
Trump's attorneys argued that some evidence was introduced at trial that shouldn't have been, namely, the Access Hollywood tape, on which Trump is heard bragging about grabbing women, and the testimony of two women who said Trump sexually abused them decades ago, which he denies. And Eugene Carroll's attorney says the evidence showed a propensity of Trump to do the kinds of things that Eugene Carroll described happened to her. The jury ultimately found for Carroll, holding Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation and ordering Trump to pay $5 million. The appellate panel today made clear to the defense that it would be a tall order to overturn a jury's verdict based on those kinds of evidentiary matters, but they they do understand the way the case was brought under a rather new New York law called the Adult Survivors Act makes this a case of first impression. And that is going to give the appellate judges pause.
Erin. Tim, thank.
You both for your time on this Friday night. We want to turn now to that teenage suspect in the Apalachee High School shooting. He and his father both making their first appearances in a Georgia courtroom this morning. The 14 year old alleged shooter faces four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected. He's accused of killing two students and two teachers and injuring nine others in a rampage on that school's campus Wednesday morning. The alleged shooter's father also was arraigned on multiple charges, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of second degree murder. Police allege that he allowed his son to possess that assault style rifle that he used in the attack, despite knowing that his son was a danger. Joining me now is ABC's Faith Abubey, who is in Winder, Georgia tonight for us where that shooting took place. And ABC news legal contributor John Lloyd, thank you both for this. Welcome in. Welcome. Thank you both for your time. Excuse me. Faith, I do want to start with you because you spoke with the family member of someone who was hospitalized in that attack just moments ago, I have learned.
What did they tell you?
Yeah. This was a mother. Her daughter was shot. These are new haunting details. We hadn't heard before about the horrors that played out in that building behind me. She says that her daughter was in class when the shooter came in and just started shooting. Her daughter, of course, was injured. Other classmates were shot. The daughter watched it all happen. The bloodbath that was that classroom that day. Her daughter is in the hospital, still recovering at this point. She does expect her to make a full recovery physically, but the emotional toll that this has taken on her, the emotional trauma that she's going to have to wade through over the next several years is something that she's worried about. She says. She is angry. She remembers being gutted when she heard that her daughter had been shot. She thought, you know, there was something happening in the school. Maybe it had been a fight or between two students, or just something not to the level of a mass shooting inside her daughter's school.
She says that authorities were right in charging the father here of the suspected shooter, and that she wants to see this all the way through. And again, she's still working through her emotions this evening. J faith.
You have been.
There at the scene of that shooting since Wednesday when it occurred. What have you seen transpire in this community? How are they.
Dealing.
With the aftermath of this tragedy?
You know, they're all rallying around each other as they are working through their grief. We've seen people come through here with bouquets of flowers, crying. Some people who didn't even go to school here, they go to neighboring schools. They live in neighboring counties just coming here to support this community. 1900 people in the school who were traumatized by what happened. Of course, they also lost four people here and also nine others were injured. A lot of the injured have been released from the hospital. But again, the parent telling us that her daughter is still in the hospital. We understand maybe at least one other person is in the hospital still. But again, this community is just doing the best they can to try to get some sort of closure and get some answers that may never come about why this happened.
At.
Another community in this country touched by gun violence. Sean, I want to turn to you here because there is a timeline to keep in mind here. In May of 2023, police interviewed this alleged shooter, and they interview his father because they suspect that this individual who's 14, when he commits this act, made some threats online last year. And then seven months after that. Sources tell ABC news that they believe this father purchased this assault style rifle used in this attack as a Christmas gift for his son. That's the fact pattern that essentially exists in this case in which the father has been charged. What do you make of that fact pattern and what do you make of these charges?
You know, Jay, when we.
Look at this fact pattern, what we see is that there was allegedly some concern about a.
School shooting.
A potential threat that may have.
Been given previously.
Then seven.
Months later.
The father purchases this firearm for the son. sun. That is not a fact pattern that works. Here we see these charges are being.
Levied against.
The father, because.
What they're saying.
Is that you were.
Aware of the potential.
Danger, and despite that, you purchased a.
Firearm.
And in Georgia, like many states, there's.
Parental responsibility laws.
That say.
You're responsible if your.
Child makes.
A willful.
And malicious.
Act and.
Injures another.
Faith Abubey Shawna Lloyd, thank you both.
Very much for your time on this Friday.
Night. We want to turn.
Now to new developments in the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. Pete Arredondo, the former school police chief charged in connection with the botched police response to that rampage, filed a motion today to have his indictment thrown out. His defense argues he was not at fault for that shooting. This is the first time that that Texas law has been used to charge a defendant in a case like this, and Arredondo's lawyers say the indictment, quote, may invoke a moral duty to perform his job well, but it fails to invoke a legal duty, end quote. No date has yet been set for his hearing on this motion. To the economy now and new U.S. jobs numbers, the U.S. added 142,000 jobs in August, falling just a bit short of what analysts had predicted. The unemployment rate also dropped to 4.2%. This comes as the Federal Reserve is preparing to cut interest rates for the first time in four years. So to talk about all of this numbers on this Friday night, we turn to ABC's Alexis Christoforous and Elizabeth Schultz breaking it all down for us Alexis I want to start with you.
What does this new jobs report say to you about the state of the US economy? Well, it shows us, Jay, that the the job market is okay. It's not as hot as it once was, and it's certainly not as as strong as many had expected. Just 142,000 jobs added is better than what we saw in July, when the economy added 114,000 jobs. And there was all this concern that the economy may be dragged into a recession by the labor market. But today, what was really, I think, really got the market worried today was that both the June and July job numbers were revised sharply lower, meaning that the job market was weaker than expected over the summer. So, you know, we did see some pockets of strength here. Wages were up 3.8% year over year. You mentioned the unemployment rate dipping to 4.2%. But I think it's undeniable that this job market that was so robust for so long has cooled down drastically. And now the fear is, is it going to cool down so much that it could drag the economy eventually into recession?
I, Elizabeth Schulze, is unlucky enough that she and I both work in the same bureau and were on a lot of the same teams, and our offices are right down the hallway from each other. And so I know that a lot of people ask Elizabeth Schulze, is the fed going to cut interest rates? When are they going to do it? And how big of a cut could that be? So Elizabeth, is the fed going to cut interest rates? When are they going to do it and how big of a cut could that be?
Well I know that our offices are close enough that you've heard me all day calling up much smarter people whose job it is to analyze the fed and ask them that exact question. Here's what I'm here's what they're telling me. I just got off the phone with a really smart trader on Wall Street. He said this report does not clarify that question at all. At the end of the day, there was something in this jobs report for the people who think the fed should cut a quarter of a percentage point or a half a percentage point. And really, what we do know is that the fed is on track to lower interest rates in less than two weeks. That would be the first fed rate cut in four years, as we know that would lower the cost for consumers. When it comes to your mortgage, to a new mortgage, when it comes to auto loans, paying off credit card debt. But the problem is right now that there is not a lot of clarity about is this a more intense slowdown in the jobs market, or is this kind of this gradual slowdown that the fed has actually been wanting to achieve?
We did not get an answer on that from fed officials today, though they did leave open the possibility of bigger rate cuts if the economy continues to slow down. The reality is that the inflation outlook. Inflation is about where the fed wants it to be. It's close to the Fed's target. That's good news. Now the fed is really turning its attention to trying to protect the jobs market, making sure we don't see more deterioration in jobs and in hiring as well.
Alexis, who is not unlucky enough to work in the same building as me very quickly. How did the markets react to those new jobs numbers today? Well, here in the New York office, we were looking at the play by play here on on Wall Street. They didn't love them because look, we know Wall Street doesn't love when things aren't crystal clear. There's a lot of there are a lot of question marks right now as we move closer to this fed meeting. The Dow and Nasdaq each off more than 400 points. The S&P 500, which we know is tied to lots of folks retirement savings, had its worst week since March of last year. So this market, you know, hoping for that interest rate cut. The question is how aggressive will the fed have to be in two weeks?
Elizabeth.
Alexis Christoforous, thank you both very much for your time on this Friday night and staying on the economy, which is a top issue on the minds of voters this election year. President Biden is visiting the battleground state of Michigan today, signing an executive order aimed at labor standards. Biden stopping by a labor organizing training center touting the move, which the administration has billed as the, quote, good jobs order. This move calls on federal agencies to adopt new rules to promote things like high wage manufacturing, jobs and workplace safety, as well as pathways to join a union. So joining me now to break this all down is ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang. Selina, thank you very much for your time. And you are in Pittsburgh, where the vice president is preparing for that upcoming debate. That's going to be right here on ABC news next week, four days away. How do you think that this union messaging, as well as just this overall economic messaging, is going to work into this debate?
And how do you think it's going to help them with those Rust Belt voters in places like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin?
Yeah. I mean, those.
Union workers, these union support is absolutely critical in these very important battleground states like here in Pennsylvania. In fact, just right ahead of me. You can't see it on camera, though. There's the United Steelworkers are actually here posted hoping that Vice President Harris is going to see their support since she is holed up here in Pittsburgh preparing for that debate. Now, I'm told from sources that Harris has a few critical goals that she wants to convey in this debate that, number one, she wants to talk about her background as a prosecutor, her middle class upbringing, her history as an attorney general and senator. She also wants to talk about her economic plan for the future, which includes efforts to make housing more affordable, lower costs for everyday Americans, and her plan as well to help small businesses. The third pillar of her strategy is going after Donald Trump. She wants to get under his skin while keeping her calm, and she wants to draw a contrast. Donald Trump, as someone who's out for himself, somebody who's going to help the wealthy and she's going to paint herself as somebody who's there to help the working class and everyday American J.
So Selena, there was this.
Headline today that would have been unthinkable eight years ago. Liz Cheney, former Republican congresswoman, saying that her father, former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, is going to be voting for Kamala Harris, Dick Cheney voting for a Democrat. Break down what she said today.
Yeah, Jay, I mean, this is a really striking endorsement here from a deeply conservative political family. Liz Cheney is saying that her father is going to support Vice President Kamala Harris because he believes that Donald Trump is the biggest single threat to America and American democracy. And what this really shows. Jay, is this transformation that we've seen in the Republican Party, away from traditional conservatism to a Maga republicanism that's really built under the image of former President Donald Trump. And the Harris campaign has been actively courting those types of more traditional Republican voters and independents in these swing states and battleground states. What's really notable is that the DNC, you had folks like Adam Kinzinger and even some former Trump officials that spoke on behalf and endorsing Vice President Harris. You were there at the RNC. J. There was no Dick Cheney. There was no Mitt Romney. There was none of those, no George W Bush, none of that traditional republicanism. It's really a transformed party that we've seen.
Selina Wang in Pittsburgh for us. Selina, thank you. And you heard us mention four days from now, on September 10th, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to debate for the first time right here on ABC news. Again, that is September 10th at 9 p.m. eastern. You can watch it right here where you are watching this very program on ABC News Live. And still ahead for us on this Friday night. A hospital in the West Bank says an American demonstrator is dead. The reports Israeli troops are involved and more for us after the break.
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It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
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Face to face. Historic. The ABC news presidential debate, moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis, Tuesday Night Live on ABC and streaming on ABC News Live, Hulu and Disney+. The ABC news presidential debate.
Welcome back. A West Bank hospital says an American woman is dead after being shot at a protest. Witnesses and Palestinian media say the 26 year old was shot in the head by Israeli troops. Foreign correspondent Marcus Moore joins us live now from Jerusalem with more. Marcus, I want to start with what more do we know about exactly what happened here?
Hi, Jay. Well, the 26 year old woman her age has been the one identified as the victim in this shooting. And we understand from her colleagues as as well as officials at the hospital that she was at the demonstration at an anti-settlement. Demonstration that was underway. They have been happening weekly, and this was another one of those events. And according to an IDF statement, they are saying that an agitator or an instigator in that group, um, attacked the IDF soldiers or was involved in clashes. And according to the IDF, um, that is when astronaut was was shot. We understand that she was not the the intended target according to the IDF, but she ended up getting shot in the head and was taken to the hospital where she died.
So, Marcus.
We know that this person is a dual U.S. Turkish citizen. How are both of those countries reacting to this news tonight?
Well, the U.S. came out with a statement saying that they're offering their condolences to her family and saying that they would wait to learn more about the circumstances of her death. There was a very strong condemnation on the other side from from Turkey. In fact, the president is quoted as saying that this was a barbaric incident that happened as they were trying to. He says Israel trying to stop this demonstration and trying to intimidate anyone who tries to support the Palestinians. So strong reactions coming in. J. As we are still waiting to learn more about exactly what happened in this incident.
Marcus Moore in Jerusalem for us. Marcus. Marcus, thank you, as always for your time. Still ahead for us. We've all heard of love at first sight, but you rarely hear about a married couple who met in the first grade where they returned to for their wedding. That is after the break.
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So we've all heard of childhood sweethearts. Usually that means that you met in high school. Not necessarily elementary school, but don't tell that to Missouri newlyweds Emma and Marcus. Their wedding ceremony was held at their elementary school because that is where they met in the first grade.
And I used to write, like, little notes and little words with her name on it, putting hearts on it and stuff.
So they texted through middle school. We've come to learn they officially became boyfriend and girlfriend freshman year of high school, so I was a little bit right. And then they tied the knot just weeks ago outside their first grade classroom where it all began, complete with their dog, Bella. And get this, Marcus gave Emma that dog as a birthday present for her sweet 16. Love is real, everybody, and there is much more news ahead for us right up here on ABC News Live. And we turn to politics in today's big story. Trump's legal battles and their impact on the November election. How the former president is navigating both the court of public opinion and also the criminal justice system. Our panel of experts weighing in on the race for the white House, just four days out from that ABC news debate between Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia and in our spotlight, a 14 year old now in custody. The suspect in yet another horrific school shooting in this country. His father now also facing criminal charges.
How all of this could change, how parents responsibilities are laid out in a country plagued by gun violence. Just moments from now.
What does it take To be the most watched newscast in America.
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It was a regular day for 19 year old Melissa Witt.
Something terrible had happened to her.
You had several suspects, all.
These kinds of.
Leads. A known serial killer in your area. Could he be involved?
We're actually finding key evidence that could have slipped through the cracks.
Her last hours on this earth were horrific.
This beautiful young girl.
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Find out what happened.
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Tuesday night. The most consequential moment of this campaign, Kamala Harris.
Together, we will chart a new way forward. Donald Trump, we will soon be a great nation again.
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I'm Jay O'Brien in Washington. And today's big story. Sentencing delayed. Donald Trump back in a New York courtroom for the first time in months. And a judge giving him what he wants, delaying the sentencing in his criminal hush money conviction until after the election. But could more rulings in this case come sooner than that? And the legal battle underway with just four days until the lights go up on the ABC news presidential debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. And in our spotlight tonight, the teenage suspect in yet another horrific school shooting. What prosecutors have now indicted his father with, and the way that these charges could upend the legal landscape for parents and their kids in a country plagued by gun violence. But we do begin with our big story. Former President Donald Trump walked into a New York City courtroom this morning, his first time back since his conviction in that criminal hush money trial more than three months ago. His legal woes taking center stage once again, just four days until the ABC news presidential debate, the first and only scheduled matchup between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Today, New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan making an unprecedented decision delaying Trump's sentencing in his hush money case until after Election Day in November. That means voters, when they go to the polls, won't know if the Republican nominee could face jail time for his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal that threatened his 2016 presidential campaign. Meantime, earlier this morning, Trump was in a different New York courtroom as his lawyers fought to overturn the verdict in his sexual assault and defamation case brought by writer E Jean Carroll. His legal team is arguing that that improper evidence was introduced in that civil trial. During that 2023 trial, Carroll testified that Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store in the mid 1990s and then defamed her in 2019 when he denied that attack and suggested that Carroll made up the story. Joining me to break down all of this, our expert in all things Trump legal drama is ABC news investigative reporter Olivia Rubin. Olivia, thank you, as always for your time.
I do want to start very quickly with that decision by Judge Juan Merchan, delaying the sentencing. What exactly did he say was his reasoning?
Well, Jay, it's.
A huge win for Donald Trump. And really, there was one.
Reason that was clear. And that was the presidential.
Election that.
Is just around the corner. Judge Merchan making very.
Clear that by the time this September 18th.
Sentencing came.
About, there would.
Have been just.
41.
Days until the election. And essentially saying that that would have been just too close and something as important, something as serious, something as potentially detrimental to a defendant as a sentencing deserves the respect to be done in a way that doesn't have that sort of.
Fodder around it.
And he did also say, you know, I.
You know.
Looking at something that Donald Trump has said a lot, which is that this.
Has been a witch hunt, that it's politically motivated.
Mershon made very clear that with this order, it should be clear moving.
Forward that the court is not interested in hurting anyone, is not.
Interested in favoring.
Anyone with his decision, and that should be put to rest.
Here. J.
Well, that's actually what I wanted to drill down on a little bit. So I'm holding in my hand here that order from Judge Mershon. And in it he talks about the historic nature of this case. He says it's unprecedented. And then he goes on to say that he's treating, in a way, Donald Trump, just like any other defendant who has requested a delay in sentencing and that defendants request these a lot for medical reasons or family commitments. Does Trump being treated like every other defendant kind of undercut that argument that he's made, that he is being victimized by the criminal justice system.
Well, it's a hard argument to make because on one hand, and.
Judge Mershon.
Lays this out on one hand, he is a criminal defendant, and he deserves the same rights that everyone else has. But at the same time, J. Mershon also writes that this moment, and this case is unlike any other in American history, that it has a unique place. So he has to balance both of those. Donald Trump cannot get away with things that other defendants would not get away with, but he also can't be held to a different standard. And again, when you have the potential next president of the United States saying he is being politically.
Persecuted.
That's something.
You're going to take into account.
Olivia, very quickly, you were in court today as Trump made that appearance, appearance on his own volition. He didn't have to be in court today for that Jean Carroll case. He's trying to get it tossed out. What stood out to you from that appearance in court today?
Well, the judges seemed skeptical. It was a three judge panel. Did not seem.
Inclined to toss.
Out that verdict. Basically, Trump's team is trying to say that evidence that should not have come in to that trial came in any way. That includes that infamous Access Hollywood tape that everyone's heard about, that that jury heard as well, as well as two other women who were allowed to testify saying that they, too, were assaulted by Donald Trump decades ago. They said that there was no reason that that evidence should have come in. But one of the justices at one point saying on evidentiary issues, it.
Would be very.
Hard to overturn that ruling. They did not rule. We'll expect that when they when they hand it down.
Olivia Rubin in court this morning on TV with us this night. Thank you very much for your time. As always, we want to bring in now our Big Story panel joining us today, Roma Darby, former deputy communications director for the Trump White House, Democratic strategist and former assistant secretary for public affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, Marcia Espinoza and ABC news contributor and former Republican Congressman John Katko of New York and former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Tim Jansen. Welcome in to all of you. Tim, I do want to start with you and this decision by Judge Merchan today as you went through it. What stands out to you the most? He says, I'll read from the judge directly. He says, quote, this matter is one that stands alone in a in a unique place in this nation's history. He seemingly acknowledging, look, this is unprecedented. But then he goes on to say, I'm going to treat Trump like every other defendant. Is that what stood out to you?
Well, it does.
Because he's saying one thing and doing another. Right.
This is unprecedented.
No one in in this.
Country has seen anything like this, that a presidential.
Candidate.
Who's about to do.
A debate.
And leading one major party is about to be sentenced before.
A judge, before the debate.
And the and.
The actual.
Election. That's unprecedented. Now he wants to treat him like.
Any, any.
Other defendant, but he's not any other defendant. And the Trump's team is claiming.
This was all.
Politically motivated. So this judge is kind of taking a very delicate balance here.
To ensure that.
Justice.
Goes forward.
But doesn't interfere with a presidential election.
Roma, I've got a packet sitting in front of me here on my desk. Of all of the things that Donald Trump has said about Judge Juan Merchan. He has talked about his daughter, as you know, he has said that the judge is, quote, a highly conflicted. He said a lot about Judge Juan Merchan. That is not very kind. But now this judge has done what Donald Trump wants. Does that undercut Trump's argument here, that he's being victimized by the system if he's getting what he wants in court?
Well, let's be clear to the viewers. The judge's daughter works for an.
Organization.
That supports Democrat candidates.
So Trump is simply addressing.
The fact doesn't.
Mean the judge does. To be clear, it doesn't mean the judge does. But continue.
Of course, but.
The judge is not simply doing.
A favor.
For Donald Trump. He's doing what should be done.
Which is delaying this because it is election.
Interference. Frankly, I.
Don't really expect his explanation to be accepted by most Republicans, because if this truly was.
To avoid.
Any.
Perception.
Of.
Election.
Interference, then they would not.
Have brought the case during the.
Primary election.
In the first.
Place.
There's a lot of timing issues.
Here, and so.
This doesn't really change much.
But when you come down.
To the American people and the voters.
Which is what this.
Is really about from a political perspective here, the voters going to the polls.
In.
November, the ones that are truly.
Going to change.
The outcome of the election are independent.
Voters. And I don't.
Believe that any.
One of them is.
Sitting here watching these.
Cases, choosing which president based on.
What happens with any of these cases against President Trump.
Well, Marcia, I kind of want to throw a similar question to you to pick up where Roma just left off, because when I'm not filling in, as I am on this fine evening for the great Kayna Whitworth, I cover Capitol Hill for ABC news, and one of the things Democrats will privately tell you on Capitol Hill is that they do believe with some of these legal dramas, Donald Trump, you know, his hand gets strengthened politically. He comes out of these stronger than he perhaps went in. Do you believe that the judge is in some way, you know, not doing Trump a favor by having this sentencing prior to the election?
I don't think so. Right. Today's visual was a reminder that just just days before the presidential debate, as you mentioned, Trump is in court again. It's a reminder that he's been sentenced with 34 felony convictions. He's also been found to have raped Jean Carroll and has admitted to assaulting others. So it's quite the split screen.
Again, Trump's true.
Paul Harris and Waltz are on the campaign.
Trail talking.
About the economy and boosting small And this is.
To be clear, he was found liable for sexual assault. That is what that trial adjudicated. But I want to turn to John Katko. Here John is a former federal prosecutor. So John is chomping at the bit to talk about the legal ness of all of this. And you don't get to because I have another question for you that I wanted to get your opinion on, which is Dick Cheney today saying through his daughter, Liz Cheney, that he will vote for Kamala Harris, this is unthinkable. You know, eight years ago, Dick Cheney voting for a Democrat. What do you make of that? And do you think that there are actually more Republicans like Dick Cheney who would do that? Or is he kind of on alone on an island here, an outlier?
I don't.
Think he's an.
Outlier as a whole. I mean.
He's not the first ex-member.
Of.
Congress that has.
Said they're going to vote.
For.
Kamala Harris.
In fact, there's a.
Slew of former.
Members who have gone on record saying they're going to support Kamala Harris.
Not so much because.
They agree with her, but because they view President Trump in a negative light. And that's, you know, that's part of what's going on with our party right now. We're going through tremendous turmoil and quite frankly. And until the chapter of Trump is over, we're going to have that turmoil. And whether that's good or bad, that's just the reality of what we have right now.
Definitely not the party of Dick Cheney and George Bush, though anymore. It is the party of Donald Trump, John, or.
Ronald Reagan, that's for sure.
Roma. Marcia. John. Tim, thank you, as always, for your time. Stay with us. Because still ahead for us. A 14 year old and his father are facing separate criminal charges after that horrific shooting at a school in Georgia. Why? This could change the way courts look at parents responsibility for their kids moments from now.
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I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, things that happened. Yeah. It's scary. Are you getting picked on at school? He is. He's getting picked on at school. And. Is everything okay? That's why I keep going up there, you know? Because you just never you never really know. And I don't want anything to happen to him.
That was a police interview from last year. The man you heard is Colin Gray, the father of the 14 year old suspect in Wednesday's shooting at Appalachia High School in Georgia. In our spotlight this evening, Colin Gray and his son are both now facing criminal charges and appeared in court together this morning. The father, indicted with two counts of felony murder and a host of other charges, after sources tell ABC news police believe he gifted his son that AR 15 style rifle used in the attack, even after being told his son was a threat. And after that interview with police that you just heard, by our count at ABC news, this is only the third time in American history that parents have been charged in connection with a mass shooting. The other was just months ago that Michigan couple sentenced to ten years in prison for failing to prevent their teenage son, Ethan Crumbley, from possessing the gun that he used to kill four students at his high school in 2021. To talk about all of this, we want to bring back our panel this evening, Marcia.
John. And joining us is ABC news contributor and Sirius XM radio host Mike muse and ABC news legal analyst Shawna Loyd. Thank you both for your time. Shawna, I do want to start with you. And how strong is the case that prosecutors have brought here in your view? I know it's early, and could this set some kind of a precedent given how rare this is, but the frequency at which we've been seeing it in recent months?
Well, let's just start with what we know.
What we.
Know is that the.
FBI.
Interviewed this.
Family for alleged threats against a school and a school shooting. So they spoke.
With the father.
They were aware. He was aware.
Later, he.
Allegedly bought this.
Gun for his son as a Christmas.
Present.
We all know that.
There are symptoms.
And things.
That lead up.
To school.
Shootings. He was.
Aware that his.
Son may potentially.
Have been a.
Threat, and still.
He gifted him this gun.
That is showing that he was not.
Responsible.
In his decision making, and that irresponsibility could potentially.
Put him on the hook for these charges. And that's what we're seeing.
Now, towards your second question.
What we're seeing is law enforcement.
And the state attorneys are taking actions.
In these school.
Shootings in a.
Way that they have never done before.
They are.
Looking to the parents.
To say that.
If you give.
A firearm.
To a child, you.
Are responsible.
Whether.
It's criminally.
Or civilly.
You are responsible for their.
Actions should they.
Injure another child.
And so what we're seeing from the crumbleys.
Is that this.
Is now being used in other states.
With similar laws.
Marcia, this country is plagued by gun violence and school shootings specifically. We just heard Shauna talk about renewed attention on parents, the kind that we haven't seen in previous years. Do you think this could be the tipping point to potentially change something?
We just don't know. It's unsettling. It's yet another school shooting that could have been prevented. And we know that guns are the leading killer of kids, so this father deserves everything coming to him. If he truly gave his son a child an assault rifle. An assault.
Rifle.
As a gift. And then we have our presidential candidates, Donald Trump, saying families should just get over these school shootings. And last night, JD Vance saying that shooting school shootings are a fact of life. It just doesn't have to be this way. So it is time for change.
John, I want to return back to the law here very quickly because you are a former prosecutor, as I made note of earlier. Is there a concern in your view that there is this kind of slippery slope where, you know, you start with a very serious case, and then there could be prosecutors that hold parents responsible for all number of things.
Well, there's always that concern. But listen, I'm an avid hunter and I've taught all my kids to hunt. I pounded safety into their heads from the moment they were teenagers. And I exposed them to weapons. And they're always under lock and key. What this father did was completely reprehensible and irresponsible. With that said, civil liability is rock solid here. Criminal liability is going to be interesting to see how it shakes out, but I'm all for the prosecutors trying to do this. What he did was really, really irresponsible and probably so reckless it probably warrants criminal prosecution.
Mike, to you, and this is a very hard question to ask, but there were a lot of things that went somewhat by the book, in this case to a degree. You know, the school has a very sophisticated security system where they can, you know, send a GPS coordinate to where the trouble is. The FBI got that threat, and they interviewed the father and they warned him. And then, of course, the father made his decisions that prosecutors allege that he made in subsequent of that point being, you know, with all of these things that transpired. What should change here to prevent this happening in the future?
I don't know.
Necessarily in the way.
That you laid out that case study, what could have.
Been done.
Differently. It seems.
Like every measure was taken in.
Terms of how to get to a potential shooting that is happening, but what's going to need to change is, is cases like this being brought forth to the parent holding them responsible. We say in a precedent that has happened in the state of Michigan where it's done because if the government and Congress isn't going to pass legislations and laws, that makes it much more difficult for these mass shootings to happen. You have to start holding people responsible besides just the shooter. And so if a minor is receiving a gun from a parent, and if that parent has not done the responsible thing of keeping it safe, locking it up, putting their children through gun safety, not being aware of their children's challenges, like with mental health, then the responsibility is on them and it will make all parents who have guns in the household think differently about how those guns are there and the intent on why it's there, and why are they giving their children guns as gifts, and particular assault rifles that are not being used for hunting.
And so I think these are a type of preventive measures that could stop mass shootings or at least slow down the frequency.
Mike. Marcia. John. Seana, thank you very much for your time on this Friday night and still ahead for us in our last call. Boeing's Starliner is finally set to reach Earth, but it will be without its passengers. Our panel weighs in on that next.
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Time now for our last call. The countdown is on for Boeing's Starliner capsule to return to Earth, but without its astronauts. This evening, it will begin to undock from the International Space Station and begin that long journey home. And weather permitting, the capsule will land at White Sands Missile Range Space Harbor in New Mexico as part of the final chapter in what some have called a disappointing test flight. And what was supposed to be an eight day mission has now turned into a multi-month escapade for those astronauts due to concerns over weather and operational readiness. To talk about all of this, I want to bring back the panel here. And, Mike, I do want to start with you because you are an engineer by education. In your view, did NASA make the right call here, having these astronauts hitch a ride with space X as opposed to the Starliner to get back home?
Absolutely.
When you want to do is call quality assurance. And so you want to make sure that you eliminate any risk as possible. And as it stands, there has been damage done to the Starliner. And so what you don't want to do is risk any possibility to cause human harm and human damage to that. I think that was very much responsible and ethical decision on behalf of Boeing, in conjunction with NASA to make that decision and also to to work in partnership with SpaceX. What we're seeing right now in this race to space, and also we're seeing the privatization of space, is that we also need to make sure that we look at this as a collaborative aspect, and not necessarily from a capitalistic monetary gains. Although we do live and exist in a capitalist society, these space missions are so delicate, the engineering has to be so spot on, and you want to make sure you have, just as we do in the tech and the coding community. With open sourcing, you want to make sure you have open technology and open systems so that we can get the best information, the best processes, the best supply chain to ensure that civilians now that are heading into space are as safe as possible.
And we're not racing to space for the fact of saying we got there first.
Marcia, I want to draw upon your communications background here very quickly. In your view. Is this an embarrassment for Boeing?
It certainly is a setback and a challenge for them, in addition to all of the other things that they have definitely had going on. So but look, I don't know much about aircrafts or space. All I'm trying to just stay positive and think about who's going to play them when this movie comes out. And I think that Tom Hanks is a shoo in for Butch.
We have we have limited time. John Katko, you get the last call here. And who would you rather be stuck in space with for many months? And why is it me?
Uh, probably Bruce Springsteen, so he could entertain me as long as they have some other pals to party with, too. So that'd be all right with me.
Cool. Thanks, man. Whatever. Mike and I are going to space without you. Me, Mike, Marcia, we're all going to space. We're leaving John Katko in Syracuse or Florida or whatever house he's in for that time of the year. Thank you very much. That is our last call for this half hour. Mike. Marcia, John, thank you. And thank.
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