Nightly News Full Broadcast - March 12

heated moments on Capitol Hill tonight special counsel who investigated President Biden's handling of classified documents grilled by lawmakers special counsel Robert Herd defending his year-long investigation, saying it did not exonerate the president Democrats criticize her for disparage Biden's memory in his report Republicans demand to know why he ultimately decided not to impeach the president. Our team in the capital also cheated on the massive explosion that destroyed a home in Pennsylvania. Two people died. What caused? Whistleblower who raised safety concerns about Boeing found dead. What the authorities say. comes as we learn new details about that Boeing plane flying from Australia that suddenly fell in midair.

White House announces $300 million in new weapons for Ukraine despite stalemate in Congress. Where is the money from Haiti? In the chaos, the Prime Minister says he resigned after armed gangs invaded the capital, so who is in charge now in the crackdown on retail theft? Police at the mansion say it's the headquarters of a ring that sells stolen goods on Amazon, and months after I spoke to his father, we finally learned what happened to a 19-year-old. A year-old Israeli-American soldier, believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas, speaks to NBC Nightly News with Lester Hol. Good evening and welcome to the special counsel who led the investigation into President Biden's handling of classified documents, today he found himself in the middle of a partisan storm.

Robert slapped her both. parties while testifying before the House Judiciary Committee for several hours and defended his decision not to prosecute the president despite finding that he intentionally withheld and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen, the special counsel also explained why in your final report. He described the president as an older man with a bad memory. Democrats accused it of being politically motivated, while both Republicans and Democrats sought to draw contrasts between the Biden investigation and the criminal charges currently facing former President Donald Trump when he told the panel in the case that President Biden did not identify evidence of which was raised to the level of proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.

Additionally, tonight the publicly released transcripts of the first interview with the president offer new insight into the investigation. Our Gabe Gutiérrez has this report helping sa tonight. The firestorm over the president. Biden's Handling of Classified Documents Is Reigniting You Exonerate Mr. Ella, It's My Time Special Counsel Robert Ella, a former Trump-appointed U.S. attorney testifying about his report recommending no charges be filed, we identify evidence that the president intentionally withheld classified materials after the end of his vice presidency. However, she did not identify evidence that it met the Beyond a Reasonable Doubt level of proof that she advocated, including damaging details about President Biden's mental acuity, including that the 81-year-old president had diminished faculties and would appear before a jury. like an old man with a bad memory I didn't sanitize my explanation or unfairly disparage the president, but both Republicans questioned her.

Joe Biden broke the law, but because he is a forgetful old man who would appear sympathetic to a jury, Mr. She decided not to press charges and the Democrats. you chose a general pejorative reference to the president you understood when he made that decision, didn't you, Mr. Herr? You would cause a political storm with that language, wouldn't you? Congresswoman, politics played no role in my investigative steps, she wrote to President Biden. He couldn't remember when he was vice president or even the year her son Bo died. The president said he was outraged. He frankly insulted him about his son when the question was asked.

I thought to myself that it wasn't their business, but rather the transcript of Her interview released today confirmed that it was the president himself who mentioned his son's death, as NBC News previously reported that the president asked what month Bo died. , oh God, on May 30 and others responded that 2015, the president then asks if it was in 2015, he had died, why The president says it was Robert she who mentioned her son's death when the transcript shows otherwise. Well, the transcript clearly shows that the special counsel was asking the president about the book he wrote about the unfortunate untimely death of his son.

Classified documents were found in President Biden's former offices, his Delaware home and his garage were returned today. Democrats compared the case to that of former President Trump, who pleaded not guilty to criminal charges for allegedly mishandling classified documents she wrote, while Trump was given multiple opportunities to return documents he allegedly made. Otherwise and recruited others to destroy evidence, desperate quest to make up a problem is a distraction from the 91 federal and state charges Donald Trump now faces, according to her report, President Biden shared classified material with his ghostwriter , although the president disputes that Republicans say his motives included an $8 million book.

Go ahead, it wasn't just 8 million dollars, it was also his pride ego and the money, that's why he knowingly violated the rules that you agree with, sir, that language and it appears in the report and we identified evidence that supports it. Those evaluations, the White House says this is the case now closed and as a special Council report authorized the president, but Republicans are expected to make his age an issue in the next campaign late today, President Biden assured officially the nomination. Lester Gabe Gutierre is starting us off. shut down thanks in Pennsylvania neighborhood shaken after deadly home explosion killed at least two people near Pittsburgh Emily ketta in investigation Tonight Officials in western Pennsylvania are investigating what caused a massive explosion that killed to a man and a woman and destroyed this house, Shell from a basement is All that's left I'm on the scene I have a house on the ground completely on the ground happened just before 9:00 a.m.

The explosion was captured on surveillance video sending debris above the tree line and damaging several nearby homes. Witnesses felt its Force across the river and from miles away it sounded like a bomb going off. Everything was in rubble. The fire department is located just down the hill from the explosion site. We all felt and heard the explosion. We instantly did a quick search trying. to find the occupants unfortunately we were able to find two deceased occupants, the victims son identified the couple on NBC News as David and Helen Mitchell. The deadly incident comes exactly 7 months since another explosion at a house in Alag County that killed six people with no cause identified. been fingered in latest tragedy officials say there was private gas well and propane tanks at home Department of Environmental Protection ATF and fire marshal now investigating devastating explosion that left this community shocked Emily eeta NBC

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now a Boeing in the spotlight a Whistleblower who raised safety concerns has been found dead, authorities say he took his own life and it comes as we learn new details about a terrifying mid-air crash involving a Boe plane.

Here's Tom Castell, the focus of investigators in that terrifying plummet off New Zealand that injured dozens. Passengers say the LATAM pilot claimed he suddenly lost control of the Bo 787 when the flight data computers shut down. In 2016, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive for the 787 warning that if the flight control computers are not reset every 22 days, they could shut down on their own. which could result in unresponsive flight controls and a temporary loss of controllability, investigators will look into whether the plane became completely powerless at any point in the past three weeks, meanwhile, two months since it occurred. the max9 in the air, emergency sources close to the investigation say Boeing failed 33 of 89 FAA audits, confirming that it identified non-compliance issues in Boeing's manufacturing process control.

Handling and storage of parts and product control. If we see something that requires us to cease production or shoot something down, we will do so in In an email, Boeing's head of commercial aircraft today asked all employees to closely follow every step of our manufacturing procedures and processes, while that in South Carolina a coroner says former Boeing whistleblower John Barnett took his own life before his upcoming trial against the company in 2019. 19 Barnett told NBC News that Boeing was putting profits before safety since On the first day, everything is based on the schedule and hurry up and do it, push your planes in a statement.

Boeing says we are saddened by the passing of Mr. Barnett and our thoughts are with his family. and friends under intense scrutiny, the company today asked all employees to be alert to safety or quality issues and speak clearly. That has prevented Congress from approving new aid to Ukraine for months. Pentagon officials say they were able to get the money through savings on long-term contracts with weapons manufacturers. Also tonight Prime Minister Hades announced that he will resign as armed gangs rampage through the capital. get more from Andrea Mitchell with criminal gangs invading her country Haitian Prime Minister Ariel HRI agreed to resign as soon as transitional government council is created his resignation under pressure after crisis meeting Secretary of State Tony Blink held with Caribbean leaders in Jamaica late at night a political crisis an escalation of violence unrest this has created an unsustainable situation for the Haian people HRI is widely blamed for the worst unrest in Haiti's long and troubled history gangs attacking police stations taking out to the jail prisoners looting the port thousands of displaced people are selling their things to survive the political and security crisis has become a humanitarian crisis.

Hry has denied a judge's report. He helped plan the assassination of Haiti's president in 2021. He promised to hold elections, but never a US special envoy to Haiti resigned to protest US policy there. What do you think is the critical problem? We have never let them choose their leaders. The United States needs to give them space just once. That's all anyone is asking in Florida's Haitian American community. Terry Isaac is desperate to rescue his wife and his six-month-old baby with a heart condition. He doesn't know where they are or those guys will eventually show up in his neighborhood and start shooting people and start doing crazy things.

The UN voted last year for Kenya to lead a multinational force to restore order, but tonight Kenya says it won. We will not enter until Haiti has a new government. Lester Andrea Mitchell, thanks now to the Supreme Court for the small Oregon town that is about to become the focal point for how cities across the country can handle homelessness. Liz CZ investigates Grants Pass. Oregon population 40,000. A small town facing a big problem. Look at that over the last two decades as outsiders moved in. Housing costs rose, forcing increasing numbers of people onto the streets. What is it like to be homeless in Grant's Pass?

It's an absolute nightmare. Helen Cruz, who was the homeless person has been here for 5 years and feels that the strict anti-camping ordinances, including fines for sleeping in any public space, violated her constitutional rights, the eth amendment, cruel and unusual punishment. I probably have at least $6-$8,000 in fines, fines, fines, yes, but the flip side, officials say it's a tent city, our city deserves to have the ability to hold people accountable for their wrongdoing. behavior and, ultimately, our citizens cannot use the park spaces. A heated legal battle has dragged on for years and now the final decision is in the hands of the Supreme Court.

What's happening here in Grant's Pass is a microcosm of an issue playing out in communities large and small across the country and, ultimately, how the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions in this case could determine how cities from across the country can address their homelessness crisis. California Governor Gavin Newsome is among a number of Democratic lawmakers who aretaking the more conservative side of this issue and in an unexpected political turn hoping that the current conservative Supreme Court will also side with them. Newsome's office petitions the court on behalf of Grant's Pass arguing that banning anti-camping ordinances has crippled cities. like Los Angeles and San Francisco, effectively preventing them from removing people from public streets, these Court decisions have really tied the city's hands and frozen the status quo, which is really unacceptable, but Ed Johnson, who represents grants, approves homeless residents, says lawmakers like Nome is deflecting blame and siding with the city for political reasons amid pressure from voters fed up with the rise in homelessness if the Supreme Court sides with city of Grants Pass, what does that mean for other cities?

Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, well, those cities aren't. trying to do what Grant's Pass is trying to do Grant's Pass wants to make it illegal on every inch of property 24 hours a day, the problem is that if that is allowed many cities will simply try to kick all the homeless people out of their community and I have to go somewhere for Helen, who now cleans houses and lives in this church. The fear of the next Supreme Court ruling is overwhelming. I don't even want to think about what's going to happen. It is an uncertainty that no one wants to think about not winning. solution when housing is limited and nowhere to go Liz CZ NBC News Grants Pass Oregon in just 60 seconds the big battle over Tik Tock lawmakers in Washington on the eve of a critical vote could end up banning the popular app nationwide now we're back with a crucial moment in congress with the house sent to vote tomorrow on a bill that could lead to a ban on Tik Tock in the US Savannah sers is on Capitol Hill for us tonight what is the latest version of Savannah Lester, the lead sponsors of this bill say to me, are cautiously optimistic that they have the two-thirds majority they need.

After all, it passed out of committee with a rare bipartisan 50-to-zero vote. Now the bill would force Tik Tock to divest from Chinese parent company Bite Dance within six months or face a possible ban in the US, but today Lester I've been talking to the creators Tik Tok brought here to the Capitol. They say this bill decimates their small businesses and infringes on their right to free speech. If passed by the House, this bill could face a tougher situation. rise in the Senate or some leaders have expressed concern about taking action against an app that 170 million Americans seem to enjoy Lester Savannah sers thank you, we'll be back in a moment with a revealing look at retail crime and how goods stolen from the shelves of stores end up for sale online now we're back with the CNBC investigation into theft of r for months CNBC gained exclusive access to the California Highway Patrol as they targeted organized crime rings that steal merchandise and sell it online here's CNBC's Courtney Reagan a convoy of law enforcement vehicles are about to descend on an unlikely location: a mansion in San Diego County with its own Vineyard and Chapel.

Police believe it is also the headquarters of a lucrative theft ring that steals items from Ala Beauty Supply and other retailers and resells them on Amazon while authorities tell us they have the ring's alleged leader in handcuffs. Her name is Michelle Mack and, according to the search warrant, she is accused of giving a dozen women across the country a list of stores and products to target these Ulta beauty products and then ending up in an Amazon Digital storefront called to deep discount online makeup store the next morning a team unloads the aisle along with CHP officers $387,000 in stolen items I think people feel it's useless I want the retailers and the victims of this to know that That's not it's true.

For months we had exclusive access to the California Highway Patrol to get an up-close look at how they fight organized retail crime. Retailers specifically pointing to theft as a growing problem in recent years include Target Foot Locker, Walgreens and Ulta. We are absolutely sick of Ulta Beauty. CEO Dave Kemell spoke to us in an exclusive interview about the topic. What do you think in this case, as we're talking about, in California, what Amazon could have done to know that these were stolen goods? What I would say more generally is that there is technology. available, you know, use of advanced data and analytics capabilities to try to understand behaviors that are indicative of the resale of stolen goods.

Amazon declined an on-camera interview, but a spokesperson said we invest more than $1 billion a year and employ thousands of people to fight fraud. adding that it uses sophisticated detection and prevention solutions, as Michelle Mack has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, grand larceny and receiving stolen property. Her husband and seven other people related to the network were also charged and pleaded not guilty. NBC News Courtney Reagan Bonsol California and next for us tonight for months they have been waiting for Hamas to release their American son tonight two parents shocking

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finally after months thinking he was a hostage eai hen's parents learned that Hamas killed his son on October 7, 19- A year-old Israeli-American has been mourning here and abroad for the past 158 ​​days.

The American Hen's family believed that her son was being held by H. That he had been kidnapped while defending Israel on October 7. Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 people that day tonight. His parents said that now they learned that I was among them, our hearts are broken, they wrote that we would have done anything to bring him home alive, let's say you have children, yes, I only know where they slept last night, we don't. I'll think about that for a second. I spoke with relatives of Americans missing last November, including II's father, Ruby. We decided with the help of others to create this dark T that basically says "bring them home now" in English and in Hebrew it says. uh, I left my heart in Gaza Eti's parents remember her son as a shining light for his family and friends who love basketball and playing basketball with his brothers.

My family is a holocaust. Surviving what happened on October 7 is the Holocaust again. Hamas is still holding more than 100 hostages, at least five Americans, including II's father, often photographed holding an hourglass writing, we have gotten to know all the families who are waiting for their loved ones and we will not let From working until each hostage returns home, a group brought together by a nightmare comes together in the morning and that's the

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news this Tuesday, thanks for watching. I'm Lester Holt, take care of yourselves and each other. Good evening, thanks for watching. Stay up to date on the latest news and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us. us on social media