NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Nov. 18

Tonight, the Epstein files now on the brink of release. Moments ago, the Senate passing that bill, following the overwhelming vote in the House, now it's up to the president to make them public. The major reversal from Republicans, now nearly unanimous to release them. The celebrations from survivors who fought so hard for this. President Trump's outbursts at reporters who asked about the Epstein story, and new questions tonight about what the files could reveal. The controversial welcome. President Trump side-by-side in the Oval Office with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the man the CIA says was responsible for the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Breaking news just in, the popular singer David now a suspect in the death of a 15-year-old girl whose body was found inside his car. An NFL quarterback's home robbed during his first game, $200,000 worth of items stolen. The latest in a spree of high-profile celebrity break-ins, including Keanu Reeves, how his stolen items were finally found. The fiery crash landing, stunning video from inside a plane as it crashes. Passengers fleeing as the jet erupts into flames, how everyone on board survived. The stunning twist in a cold case after more than three decades, how a group of college students helped solve the murder. The explosive new lawsuit from Karen Reed, suing some of her accusers for conspiring to frame her. The new scam caught on camera, a man tricked into pumping tens of thousands of dollars into an ATM, convinced his bank was telling him to do it. How police intervene. And the latest attraction sending tourists into a frenzy in Venice, a dolphin splashing through the city's iconic canals. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. As we come on the air tonight, the Epstein files are on the verge of release after a dramatic day on Capitol Hill. Just moments ago, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would force the Justice Department to release unclassified files related to the convicted sex offender. Many of Epstein's victims emotionally, you see them right here gathering on Capitol Hill and hugging as the bill passed. It comes after the bill cleared the House overwhelmingly this afternoon. The final tally in the lower chamber, 427 to one. The bill could head to President Trump's desk as soon as this week. And he said yesterday that he would sign it into law. The big question tonight, what's inside the files and how soon could they be public? Hallie Jackson has been tracking it all and starts us off tonight. The bill is passed. What looked like a long shot, tonight just one step from becoming law. The House nearly unanimously passing a bill to force the release of Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein with only one Republican voting no. It's time for the Epstein class to go to be held accountable. Then the Senate moving quickly to clear it too. House lawmakers acknowledging some Epstein abuse survivors in Washington to witness the moment, including the family of Virginia Roberts Dufresne, one of the most prominent Epstein accusers who died by suicide earlier this year. What does this moment mean to you? She did it, she did it. She paved the way for the survivors to continue to come forward and to continue to fight. At the Capitol, a candlelight vigil for survivors. President Trump resisted backing the bill for months before a surprising political pivot, now saying he'll sign it into law. In an Oval Office meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince, the President bristling at a series of questions, including about Epstein. Mr. President, why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now? You know, it's not the question that I mind, it's your attitude. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert, but I guess I turned out to be right. He gave me none, zero, no money to me, but he gave money to Democrats. That coming just days after the President snapped at a Bloomberg reporter attempting to ask a follow-up question about Epstein. Something incriminating in the Fox News. The White House saying the reporter last week behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way, but Bloomberg saying they asked questions without fear or favor. President Trump has directed the DOJ to investigate Democrats connected to Epstein, even after the Justice Department suggested it close the case this summer. Any active investigation could let the Justice Department withhold certain documents. What makes you think you would actually, if this bill passes, see these files, that the public would see them? There are a thousand survivors. They can't open enough investigations to cover up everything that's in these files. President Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein. His allies in Congress blasting Democrats. They don't care about the victims. They only care about one thing, and that's trying to embarrass Donald Trump. They hope and pray there's something in these documents that will embarrass Trump. Now, fallout growing from the Epstein scandal with Larry Summers, the Treasury Secretary under former President Bill Clinton, saying he's stepping back from public commitments after emails showed extensive correspondence between Summers and the sex offender. Summers saying he's deeply ashamed of his actions. Hallie joins us now live. Hallie, these documents could be released as early as this week. Do we know what exactly is in these Epstein files? So, Tom, the bill directs the DOJ to release things like travel records, internal DOJ communications, but remember, victims' privacy and any active investigations will be a factor. A senior White House official says the bill will be signed once it gets to the president, and that will start the 30-day clock for the Justice Department. Tom? All right, Hallie, thank you. We're gonna stay in Washington now. President Trump also today meeting with Saudi Arabia's crown prince. His first meeting at the White House since the murder of a prominent journalist that the U.S. believes the Saudi leader was behind. The president weighing in on that case today. Here's Garrett Hake. Tonight, President Trump rolling out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, offering the kingdom's de facto ruler a lavish welcome, including an honor guard on horseback and a military flyover, including several F-35 jets, the same type of advanced fighters the president plans to sell to Saudi Arabia. President Trump touting Saudi Arabia's $600 billion of investments in the U.S. What it really means for everybody that really counts is jobs, a lot of jobs. Now saying the Saudi investment could rise You're saying to me now that the $600 billion will be $1 trillion. Definitely, because what we are signing it will facilitate that and we will go on it. That friendly reception for the crown prince, a major reversal from the international ostracism he faced after the CIA concluded he ordered the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. President Trump interrupting a question about the killing. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about, whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it and we can leave it at that. The crown prince, who has denied ordering the murder, responded. We've improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that and it's painful and it's a huge mistake. While President Trump was pressed about his family's business dealings in Saudi Arabia, including Trump-branded luxury properties. I have nothing to do with the family business. I have left and I've devoted 100% of my energy. What my family does is fine. They do business all over. They've done very little with Saudi Arabia, actually. The crown prince also suggesting he could join President Trump's signature Abraham Accords, normalizing relations with Israel if there is a path to a Palestinian state. I think you have a very good feeling toward the Abraham Accords. Yes, definitely, Mr. President. We want peace for the Israelis. We want peace for the Palestinians. All right, with that, Garrett joins us now live from the White House and Garrett, the Saudi crown prince was also pressed today about the role of Saudi Arabia and the 9-11 terror attacks. Yeah, Tom, the crown prince said he felt the pain of victims' families and condemned the attacks, but the 9-11 Families Group tonight called it imperative that any Saudi government official who conspired with the attackers be brought to the U.S. to face justice. Tom? Okay, Garrett Haig for us. Also breaking tonight, the singer David is now being identified as a suspect weeks after the remains of a teenager were found in a Tesla that belonged to him, according to an LAPD source. Camila Bernal has the late-breaking developments. Tonight, singer David now a suspect in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas, according to a Los Angeles police source with direct knowledge of the investigation telling NBC4 Los Angeles. The 15-year-old's decomposed remains were found in September inside a Tesla registered to him at a Los Angeles tow yard. But the girl was reported missing last year, according to authorities. Now, the LAPD source saying David has not been cooperative, adding Rivas' death likely occurred in the spring and that the singer likely had help in dismembering and disposing of the body. Law enforcement sources have said the remains were not intact, and according to the medical examiner, it appeared the girl, who was described as having wavy black hair and weighing about 71 pounds, had been dead inside the Tesla for an extended period of time. The singer David, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, rose to fame on TikTok and was on tour when the body was found this summer. Now, David at the center of this gruesome and devastating investigation. And Rivas' remains were identified through forensics, but we still don't know the circumstances around how she went missing or how she died. Tom. Camila Bernal on those new developments tonight. Camila, thank you. In Ohio, yet another break in targeting an NFL star. Cleveland Browns quarterback Shadur Sanders' home was burglarized during his NFL debut as he was playing. And as Steve Patterson explains, it's just the latest in a growing rash of high-profile crimes. As Cleveland Browns quarterback Shadur Sanders completed his very first pass in the NFL this Sunday, police say a team of thieves were inside his suburban Ohio home. It all took less than an NFL quarter. The Medina County Sheriff's Department says surveillance video shows three suspects wearing masks and gloves breaking into Sanders' home at 646 by 658 just 12 minutes later. They left with various property belonging to Sanders. Authorities estimate the stolen property is worth at least $200,000. Sanders is the latest in a rash of celebrities whose luxury homes have been invaded while away at well-publicized events. Kathy Hilton. Police say Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars Kathy Hilton and Sutton Straxhomes were both struck Saturday while they took to the stage at BravoCon in Las Vegas. I don't sit at the table. Your family does. But at least one star's horror story is getting a Hollywood ending. In 2023, thieves made off with millions in items stolen from Keanu Reeves' home, including six watches, one with serious sentimental value inscribed from the set of John Wick. Today, the FBI announcing the wristwear is reunited with its rightful owner after a theft ring bust in Chile. The final scene, Reeves penning a handwritten letter of appreciation. Steve Patterson, NBC News. And we have some incredible video we wanna show you now, a dramatic crash landing in Africa. But what's so stunning is not just that everyone survived, but that passengers actually filmed the crash and their escape as it all played out. Here's Keir Simmons. Watch as a passenger's phone records a harrowing crash landing in Africa's Democratic Republic of Congo. The moment of touchdown, then the terrifying seconds as it skids off the runway. This video from inside the plane, capturing an alarm sounding as people jump out of the aircraft, the camera revealing the chartered jet in flames, thick black smoke pouring from the back of the aircraft as the men call to each other. While firefighters rush to douse the plane with water. Tonight, miraculous footage and miraculously, reports from Colwesi Airport say there were no injuries or fatalities. As pictures show, much of the plane turned to ash. The plane's owner, Airjet, releasing a statement expressing a deep sense of responsibility and confirming no casualties. Around 20 people were on board, including a government minister. The government delegation was on their way to Lawalaba province to visit a copper mine that collapsed last week, killing dozens. That tragedy almost leading to another. Senor! An investigation has not yet identified the cause of a crash that could have been so much worse. Keir Simmons, NBC News, Dubai. Back here at home in Texas, a cold case spanning decades may be one step closer to justice. The big break not coming from detectives, but a special group of college students working with police. Our Morgan Chesky picks up the story from there. In Arlington, Texas, the 1991 murder of Cynthia Gonzalez had become a case gone cold. The grief never subsided. It came in waves year after year. Jessica Roberts, just six years old when her mother left home, never to return. Police found Gonzalez's body days later, shot and killed. A case that for 34 years had no suspect until police called on backup. The investigators, a class at UT Arlington. Where criminology students get access to real cold cases. We had to comb through about four or 500 files. Students noticed Gonzalez was friends with a woman named Janie Perkins. The file showed the two shared a romantic partner who before the murder broke up with Perkins to be with Gonzalez instead. This really came down to old fashioned police work. Perkins arrested days later for capital murder. Her attorney maintaining she's innocent. It was connecting all the pieces of the puzzle together and realizing that the suspect made statements and knew things that only the killer would know. Cold case no more, officers broke the news to the class. The collegiate sleuths emotional and a daughter now one step closer to justice. They have given me relief, closure and given me hope for all of these other cases that need help to be solved. Morgan Chesky, NBC News. And when we return in 60 seconds, the scam caught on camera. A man pumping tens of thousands of dollars into an ATM. How police tried to stop him and what you need to watch out for. We'll explain. We're back with an alarming video showing police stepping in to stop an 80 year old Vietnam war vet from being scammed. The con began with a computer alert that the man thought was from his bank. Here's Liz Kreutz. Hey, what are we doing? This is the moment a police officer in South Florida intervened to stop an elderly man who was in the middle of being scammed. Stop putting money in, stop. The victim, 80 year old veteran, Ted Viskowski, who authorities say was sending money through a Bitcoin ATM to criminals posing as his bank. A Chase Bank is on the telephone. No, Chase Bank's not on the telephone. You can see in the body camera video, the victim's face blurred by police, how confused the man is as officers try to convince him to stop, at one point, even taking away his phone. Who am I speaking with? Who are you? I'm the police. If you're police, I'm Donald Trump, okay? Let's get this man as much of his money back as we can, because he's being scammed right now. Viskowski telling our station, NBC6 in Miami, it all began with a pop-up on his computer that said his money was about to be stolen. The thieves told him the only way to stop it was to quickly withdraw cash from his bank and put it into a Bitcoin ATM. It looked so real on the screen. Authorities say Viskowski's son saw the withdrawals and called police, but by the time they arrived, he had already deposited nearly $58,000. How did this happen with me? You know, what was I thinking? According to the FTC, fraud losses from Bitcoin ATM scams are skyrocketing, annual losses now topping more than $100 million. And Florida police are trying to track down Viskowski's money, but part of what makes it so challenging is that cryptocurrency transactions can't be reversed. Tom. All right, Liz, thanks for the warning there. We are back in a moment with the new legal twist in the Karen Reid case, how she's now suing her accusers, and why a single loose wire was behind that catastrophic crash that took down the Baltimore Bridge last year. That's next. Welcome back. The legal battle over a new Texas congressional map is likely headed to the Supreme Court now. A panel of federal judges blocked that new map that passed over protests during a special session and set off a nationwide redistricting battle, including in California. It would likely help Republicans pick up five U.S. House seats in Texas. The governor in that state says the state will appeal the ruling. The NTSB today revealing it was a single loose wire that sent that ship crashing into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge last year. The agency found the loose wire led to an electrical blackout on the container ship causing that collision. Six workers on that bridge were killed. The NTSB chair said the tragedy could have been prevented. There's a new legal twist in the Karen Reid case. Reid is now suing eight investigators, even witnesses from her trial, claiming that some of them used their law enforcement connections to frame her for the killing of her then boyfriend, police officer John O'Keefe. Reid was found not guilty on all charges except a drunk driving charge in June. And heart-stopping dash cam footage. Look at this, this is out of New Jersey where two police officers rescued a man from a burning car on the side of a highway. The two pull the unconscious driver out and drag him to safety. Just seconds before this happens, the entire car erupts in flames. The 26-year-old driver is now recovering. Okay, when we come back, have you heard about this one? The Dolphin of Venice. The unexpected new attraction and why it won't leave one of the most visited sites in the world. That's next. Venice is famous for its Grand Canal and St. Mark's Square, but it's not the city's history or architecture that's winning over visitors these days. Our Emily Ikeda with the wildlife sighting that's wowing the city. Venice's famed gondola rides just got even more charming. Thanks to a new local, rolling, jumping, and flipping its way through this lagoon. To Venetians and visitors' delight. There it is right there. One vacationer capturing this video of the marine mammal last month. And some specifically setting out to find the dolphin and its aquatic acrobatics. Local officials say the dolphin, who has taken on the nickname Mimo, was first spotted in St. Mark's Basin this summer and has popped up more frequently in recent weeks. But the heavily trafficked waterway is a risk to the dolphin prompting local rescue teams to try and nudge Mimo back out to open sea with acoustic devices. It was right there, did you see it there? Though for now, Mimo not ready for this trip to Venice to end quite yet. Emily Ikeda, NBC News. Mimo, one more reason to visit Venice. That's nightly news for this Tuesday. I'm Tom Yamas, thanks so much for watching. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night. We thank you for watching and remember, stay updated on breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or watch live on our YouTube channel.