Skip to main content

tv   ABC World News Tonight With David Muir  ABC  May 31, 2024 3:30pm-4:01pm PDT

3:30 pm
with experts from around the bay area. world news tonight with david muir is next, and i'll see you back here at four. >> david: tonight, breaking news. for the first time, president biden on donald trump's guilty verdict. and donald trump's fury today at trump tower. also tonight, the deadly explosion at that bank and apartment building. new images tonight. one of the victims being rescued. what you might not remember from 9/11. what they were willing to do. first, former president donald trump railing against his conviction on 34 felony counts.
3:31 pm
trump attacking the judge today, who will decide his fate, the judge who will sentence trump in just weeks. tonight, president biden making his first comments on the verdict and what he said about those jurors. also, president biden saying it is time to end the war, revealing to the world today the offer that's been made to hamas to try to get a cease-fire, to try to get the hostages out, and what israel and hamas are now indicating. tonight, a retired four-star navy admiral charged with bribery. what he's accused of doing. that harrowing new body camera video just moments after a deadly explosion in a then-story building with that bank and apartments. you will see firefighters carrying a woman up a ladder to get her out. the dramatic scene in court. the woman sentenced for helping her boyfriend kill his wife, a mother of four, and dispose of the evidence. the mother's children speaking out for the first time. their message to the woman who helped take their mother's life. the actor from "general
quote
3:32 pm
hospital" shot and killed. tonight for the first time, the friend who was right there and who witnessed the horror. we're tracking severe storms and flash flooding from texas to colorado. the system then moving east. multiple states this weekend, possible tornados, damaging winds. we'll track it. crowning a new spelling bee champion tonight. could you spell several words in just a matter of seconds? >> sciniph. voussoir. >> david: it's only the second time they've had to do this. "america strong" tonight. the air force lieutenant general, father, husband what he was willing to do on 9/11. he was in the air on that fateful day, and what he and one other pilot were ready to do. >> david: good evening. it is great to have you with us here on a friday night. we go din with former president
3:33 pm
donald trump ace fury at trump tower today, unleashing after being found guilty on 34 felony counts. tonight here for the first time, president biden breaking his silence on the verdict and what he said about the jurors in this case. abc's rachel scott leading us off. >> reporter: tonight, president biden speaking out for the first time since his rival, former president donald trump, was convicted of 34 felony counts, declaring the verdict should be respected. >> the american principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed. >> reporter: biden praising the regular americans who sat on the 12-person jury, saying trump was given every opportunity to defend himself and denouncing trump's efforts to undermine the criminal justice system. >> it's reckless. it's dangerous. it's irresponsible. for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict. our justice system. the justice system should be respected, and we should never
3:34 pm
allow anyone to tear it down. >> reporter: but from trump today, defiance and fury. at trump tower, the former president lashing out in a 33-minute speech making the outrageous claim that the u.s. is fascist. >> this is a case where, if they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone. >> reporter: trump claiming he's done nothing wrong. >> i paid a lawyer, a legal expense, and a bookkeeper, without any knowledge from me, correctly marked it down in the books. >> reporter: but the jury saw it differently. seven men, five women. those jurors selected by both the defense and the prosecution from all walks of life, determining trump did commit crimes, convicting him on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. concealing $a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star stormy daniels to keep her story from voters before the 2016 election. tonight, questions about whether trump violated the gag order still in place and bringing up
3:35 pm
his former friend and fixer, michael cohen. >> i'm not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. but you know, he's a sleaze bag. >> reporter: judge juan merchan, who held trump in criminal content ten times, fining him $10,000 during the trial, has said if trump violates the order again, he'd risk going to jail. trump attacked him, too, calling him a devil and a tyrant. it will be merchan who sentences the former president on july 11th, just four days before he's set to accept the republican nomination for president. >> david: let's bring in rachel scott with us in new york. rachel reported on what donald trump said today, going after the judge. we should point out, this is the very judge who will decide trump's fate in a matter of weeks? >> it is, david. the sentencing is set for july 11th, four days before the republican national convention. it will be up to judge juan merchan to decide whether the former president gets prison time, home confinement, probation, or fines. tonight, so many are questioning why the former president would go after the very judge who's ultimately responsible for
3:36 pm
deciding his fate. >> david: in a matter of weeks here. we'll be on that as well, of course. thank you for this week. the other major headline from the white house tonight, president biden taking the dramatic move of going public with the deal being offered to hamas, revealing to the world the offer that's been made to try to get a cease-fire, to try to get the hostages out, and to get more humanitarian aid into gaza. the president tonight saying it is time for this war to end and israel and hamas what they're indicating already tonight. mary bruce at the white house. >> reporter: tonight in a dramatic move, president biden laying out in great detail for the world to see the cease-fire deal israel has put on the table, challenging hamas to get on board as biden himself faces growing political pressure here at home. >> it's time for this war to end. >> reporter: the president in stark terms assuring that hamas has been drastically degraded. >> at this point, hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another october 7th.
3:37 pm
it's one of israel's main objectives in this war, and quite frankly, a righteous one. >> reporter: biden for the first time pulling back the curtain on negotiations. the first phase an initial six-week cease-fire with women, children, and the most vulnerable hostages returned in exchange for the release of hundreds of palestinian prisoners. israeli troops would withdraw from populated areas in gaza and humanitarian aid would surge in. what comes next, far more complicated. the temporary cease-fire would hold while israel and hamas negotiate a permanent plan. a full end to fighting and release of the remaining hostages. >> hamas needs to take the deal. >> reporter: just days after the israelis cautioned the war would continue through the end of the year, bide within a message to them too, urging prime minister benjamin netanyahu to stand behind this deal despite pressure from hardliners to keep up the fight. the president now declaring, enough is enough. >> it's time to begin this new stage. the hostages to come home.
3:38 pm
for israel to be secure. for the suffering to stop. >> reporter: tonight, israel is expressing its support for this plan. hamas saying they, too, view it positively, but there is still a long road ahead here. president biden clearly eager to get this done. he'd certainly like to see some progress from election day, david. >> david: mary bruce at the white house, thanks. tonight, the retired four-star admiral, once the number two officer in the navy, arrested on bribery charges. what he's accused of doing. here's martha rad dates. >> reporter: he is a retired four-star admiral holding the number two position in all of the navy. but this morning admiral robert burke was arrested at his home in florida on bribery charges for allegedly directing a lucrative government training contract to a private company that promised him a half a million dollar annual salary plus stock options after retirement. prosecutors say the bribery scheme happened over a two-year
3:39 pm
period from 2020 to 2022 tuesday at a time burke commanded thousands of u.s. forces as head of naval operations in europe and africa. the indictment says that within months of his retirement, burke went to work for the company and received his $500,000 salary. the u.s. attorney's office saying admiral burke not only "used his public office and his four-star status for his private gain," but tried to cover it up by "falsely implying" he had no role in awarding the contract. admiral burke has not yet been arraigned, so he has not yet entered a plea. david? >> david: martha raddatz reporting from washington. we're going to turn next here this evening to the harrowing new body camera video showing the moments after that deadly explosion at a bank and apartment building in youngstown, ohio. the video shows officers racing to the scene of that blast. the video showing firefighters desperately trying to save those trapped, pulling one woman from
3:40 pm
the debris. here's alex perez. >> reporter: tonight, dramatic video from an officer's body-worn camera shows the aftermath of a massive deadly explosion in youngstown, ohio. the sound of gas hissing as firefighters race to find survivors amid the rubble moments after the blast collapsed part of building's first floor into the basement. >> you hold this ladder! >> go, go! >> reporter: teams lowering a ladder into the crater. that firefighter carrying the victim up the ladder, out of the pits, on his back. >> my knee! >> reporter: screaming in pain as they move her away from the building. the blast at the 13-story apartment building killing an employee inside the bank on the first floor. seven others taken to the hospital. and david, construction crews were working in the basement, and officials believe they may have cut a gas line that was supposed to be out of service, causing that explosion. david? >> david: alex perez on this
3:41 pm
again tonight, thank you. in the northeast, the dramatic scene in a connecticut courtroom. the woman sentenced for helping her boyfriend kill his wife, a mother of four, and dispose of the evidence. here's stephanie ramos. >> reporter: tonight, gut-wrenching testimony at the sentencing for may sell troconis, the woman convicted of plotting with her boyfriend to kill his estranged wife, jennifer dulos, a connecticut mother of five. dulos' children speaking for the first time alongside pictures with their mother. >> i've been left with a hole inside of me that i know i will never be able to fill. >> reporter: jennifer dulos disappeared five years ago. after his arrest, husband fotis dulos took his own life, but prosecutor put troconis on trial, showing this video they said proved she helped dulos dispose of the evidence. dulos' daughter, christian, just 10 years old, saying this about the woman who conspired to kill her whom. >> troconis is the reason i feel completely lost and alone at
3:42 pm
lights, i cannot sleep. that day, i can barely remember it. >> reporter: through tears, troconis' only child asked the judge for mercy. >> i'm begging you to listen. i need my mom in my life. >> reporter: michelle troconis making her own plea. >> i deeply regret ever being in a relationship with fotis dulos and bringing my daughter, my family, and myself into our lives -- into his life. >> reporter: the judge sentencing troconis to 14 1/2 years. michelle troconis maintains her innocence. the family and friends of jennifer dulos had asked the judge for the maximum sentence of 45 years. david? >> david: stephanie ramos with us here tonight. we turn to the awful case, the actor from "general hospital" who was shot and killed. tonight here for the first time, the friend who was right there and who witnessed the horror speaking to our mola lenghi. >> reporter: just days after the fatal shooting of former "general hospital" actor
3:43 pm
johnny wactor, his co-worker and friend, anita joy, who was with him in those final moments, speaking out. can you take me back to that night? >> a man is down like on his knees putting a jack under the car and he had the car halfway jacked up, and we realize this is not tow people. >> reporter: the two had finished their bartending shift around 3:00 a.m. saturday in downtown los angeles and were walking in this are cars when police say they came across three suspects in masks attempting to steal wactor's catalytic converter, which contains valuable metals, enticing the thieves. joy says wactor approached one of the suspects who she says instantly opened fire, striking wactor in the chest. >> i had blood on my hands and so i ripped his shirt open, and he had a shot right to his chest. i was just screaming at him just trying to tell him to stay with me and i love him and don't go. >> reporter: the 37-year-old rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. >> they didn't even get the catalytic converter, that's what they were going for. they left with johnny's life instead. >> reporter: david, lapd says
3:44 pm
they are still searching for those three suspects who investigators say fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan, david. >> david: mola lenghi tonight, thank you. we do have a passing. the mother of former first lady michelle obama has arrived, marianne robinson. she famously lived there, helping to care for her granddaughters, and she was a trusted voice for her daughter. marian robinson was 86. when we come back here tonight, severe storms across several states and then moving east just as we start the weekend. possible tornados, damaging winds. we'll have the forecast. something many will not remember from 9/11. what two pilots in the air were willing to do. and less itch with dupixent. learer skin the number one prescribed biologic by dermatologists and allergists, that helps heal your skin from within. serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems such as eye pain or vision changes
3:45 pm
including blurred vision, joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. ask your eczema specialist about dupixent. (woman) purina one true instinct unlocked her true instincts. from day one, it's high-protein nutrition with real meat #1, ask your eczema specialist supporting her healthy energy and strong muscles. and the life she was born to live. (vo) purina one true instinct. a difference from day one. (♪ ) why did i keep missing out on this? before you were preventing migraine with qulipta? do you remember the pain, the worry, the canceled plans? and look at me now. you'll never truly forget migraine but qulipta reduces attacks making zero-migraine days possible. it's the only pill of its kind that blocks cgrp and is approved to prevent migraine of any frequency. to help give you that forget you get migraine feeling. don't take if allergic to qulipta. most common side effects are nausea, constipation and sleepiness. learn how abbvie could help you save. qulipta, the forget-you-get migraine medicine. you are bountiful. your skeleton can support two times your weight.
3:46 pm
it's in your nature to stand strong. supplement your bones with high-absorption magnesium. nature's bounty. it's in your nature. patients who have sensitive teeth but also want whiter teeth, they have to make a choice- one versus the other. new sensodyne clinical white, it provides 2 shades whiter teeth as well as providing 24/7 sensitivity protection. patients are going to love to see sensodyne on the shelf. [♪] patients are going how you feel can be affected by the bacteria in your gut. try new align probiotic bloating relief plus food digestion. it contains a probiotic to help relieve occasional bloating, plus vitamin b12 to aid digestion. try align probiotic. (vo) you might be used to living with your albuterol asthma rescue inhaler, but it's a bit of a dinosaur, because it only treats your symptoms, not inflammation. treating both symptoms and inflammation with rescue is supported by asthma experts. finally, there's a modern way to treat symptoms and asthma attacks.
3:47 pm
airsupra is the first ever dual-action rescue inhaler that treats your asthma symptoms and helps prevent attacks. airsupra is the only rescue fda-approved to do both. airsupra is an as-needed rescue inhaler and should not be used as a maintenance treatment for asthma. get medical help right away if your breathing does not improve, continues to worsen, or for serious allergic reactions. using airsupra more than prescribed could be life threatening. serious side effects include heart problems, increased risk of thrush or infections. welcome to the modern age of dual-action asthma rescue. ask your doctor if airsupra is right for you. >> david: tonight, severe storms and possible flash flooding from texas to colorado. at least two reported tornados near midland, texas, in the last 24 hours. that same system, texas to minnesota this weekend. when we come back here, something we have only seen twice ever at the spelling bee.
3:48 pm
then two pilots in the air on 9/11 and what they were ready to do. might be to blame. over-the-counter eye drops can provide temporary relief. xiidra can provide lasting relief. it targets inflammation that can cause dry eye disease. xiidra? no-o-o! xiidra treats the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. don't use if allergic to xiidra. common side effects include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when applied, and unusual taste sensation. why wait? ask your doctor about a 90-day prescription and pay as little as $0. xiidra. (grunt) life, diabetes, there's no slowing down. each day is a unique blend of people to see and things to do. that's why you choose glucerna to help manage blood sugar response. uniquely designed with carbsteady. glucerna. bring on the day. or the family hauler... he needs to protect it. this father's day, give him the gift of weathertech. from laser-measured floorliners and cargo liner to keep his interior pristine.
3:49 pm
to seat protector to guard against stains and sunshade to block harmful uv rays. the cupfone perfectly secures his phone while driving. order these american made products or a gift card at wt.com. happy father's day! it was one thing when my mom got alzheimer's, but then we started noticing things that seemed...off. she developed agitation that may happen with dementia due to alzheimer's disease. sometimes she'd fidget with her fingers, get suddenly overwhelmed, and even throw things. and that was just never her. so we asked her doctor what else we could do. rexulti is the only fda-approved medication proven to reduce agitation symptoms that may happen with dementia due to alzheimer's disease. rexulti can cause serious side effects. elderly dementia patients have increased risk of death or stroke. report fever, stiff muscles, and confusion, which can be life-threatening, or uncontrolled muscle movements, which may be permanent. high blood sugar which can lead to coma or death;
3:50 pm
weight gain; increased cholesterol; low white blood cells; unusual urges; dizziness on standing; falls; seizures; trouble swallowing, or sleepiness may occur. rexulti helped reduce my mom's symptoms. take action for your loved one. ask their doctor about rexulti. sometimes jonah wrestles with falling asleep... ...so he takes zzzquil. the world's #1 sleep aid brand. and wakes up feeling like himself. get the rest to be your best with non-habit forming zzzquil. ♪ ♪ i was born with wings, but psoriasis swooped in to clip them. it crushed my confidence. but no longer will psoriasis get a piece of me. i can love my skin again. with bimzelx. only bimzelx targets and blocks il-17a plus f to calm inflammation. i can control my plaques, and start getting myself back. bimzelx helps adults with moderate to severe psoriasis control plaques, to deliver clearer skin fast, for results that last.
3:51 pm
i will give myself back the freedom of shorts. dare to wear black again from head to toe. (♪) most people got 100% clear skin. some after the first dose. serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts and behavior, infections and lowered ability to fight them, liver problems, and inflammatory bowel disease, have occurred. tell your doctor if these happen or worsen, or if you've had a vaccine or plan to. (♪) start to get yourself back, with bimzelx. ask your dermatologist about bimzelx today. >> david: to the index. the new scripps national spelling bee champ racing to victory. a remarkable 29 words in 90 seconds in a very rare tie-breaking spell-off. >> panateire. sagaie. nachschlage. >> david: incredible.
3:52 pm
the 12 krerld winning the scripps cup and $50,000. when we come back here, two fighter pilots on 9/11 and what they were willing to do. vrayla. adding vraylar to an antidepressant is clinically proven to help relieve overall depression symptoms better than an antidepressant alone. and in vraylar clinical studies, most saw no substantial impact on weight. elderly dementia patients have increased risk of death or stroke. report unusual changes in behavior or suicidal thoughts. antidepressants can increase these in children and young adults. report fever, stiff muscles, or confusion, as these may be life-threatening, or uncontrolled muscle movements, which may be permanent. high blood sugar, which can lead to coma or death, weight gain, and high cholesterol may occur. movement dysfunction and restlessness are common side effects. stomach and sleep issues, dizziness, increased appetite, and fatigue are also common. side effects may not appear for several weeks. i didn't have to change my treatment. i just gave it a lift.
3:53 pm
ask about vraylar and learn how abbvie could help you save. always dry scoop before you run. listen to me, the hot dog diet got me shredded. it's time we listen to science. one a day is formulated with key nutrients to support whole body health. one a day. science that matters. ♪ stay ahead of your child's moderate—to—severe eczema, and they can show off clearer skin and less itch with dupixent. the number one prescribed biologic by dermatologists and allergists, that helps heal your child's skin from within. serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems such as eye pain or vision changes, including blurred vision, joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. ask your child's eczema specialist about dupixent. ♪ on your period, sudden gushes happen. say goodbye gush fears! thanks to always ultra thins... with rapiddry technology... that absorbs two times faster.
3:54 pm
hellooo clean and comfortable. always. fear no gush. when my doctor gave me breztri for my copd things changed for me. breztri gave me better breathing, symptom improvement, and reduced flare-ups. breztri won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. it is not for asthma. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. don't take breztri more than prescribed. breztri may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. ask your doctor about breztri. (♪) [shaking] itchy pet? (♪) with chewy, save 20% on your first pharmacy order so you can put an end to the itch. get flea and tick medication delivered right to your door. [panting] we all need fiber for our digestive health, but less than 10% of us get enough each day. good thing metamucil gummies are an easy way to get prebiotic, plant-based fiber. with the same amount of fiber as 2 cups of broccoli.
3:55 pm
metamucil gummies the easy way to get your daily fiber. >> david: finally tonight here, the f-16 fighter pilot, father, husband, and what he was willing to do on 9/11. he and another pilot were in the air, and they were ready, knowing it could have been their final mission. tonight, the gratitude, the send-off, all these years later. here's martha raddatz. >> reporter: you are watching u.s. air force lieutenant general mark sassaville suit up for the last time. >> have a good flight, sir. >> thank you. >> reporter: walking out to the fighter jet with his name on the side -- his call sign "sass." taking off from joint base
3:56 pm
andrews near washington. the same base where, 23 years ago, he was sent on a mission he thought could be his last. when you take off in your fighter jet, you don't really know what your mission is? >> we don't really know what our mission is. >> reporter: two two hijacked planes had hit the twin towers, and just a too miles away, another had hit the pentagon. >> one of the memories that will stay with me forever is seeing the pentagon on fire and being able to smell the fumes that were coming off of that. just the -- the burning concrete, the fuel from the airplane that had hit. i tell you, martha, what i was thinking about was december 7th, 1941. here we go again. >> reporter: he would get his orders along with f-16 pilot 26-year-old heather penny, find a rogue passenger jet united flight 93. their f-16s did not have missiles on board. it was a different time.
3:57 pm
so penny and sassaville -- sassaville with two young children at home -- decided they would ram the missing hijacked plane with their fighter jets. you both agreed that if you had to, you would engage in a suicide mission? >> it's a testament to sass' leadership that he didn't ask anyone else to lead that mission. he wouldn't ask anyone else to give what he was unwilling to give. >> reporter: the fighter pilots would later discover the passengers and crew on flight 93 had stormed the cockpit, the plane crashing into a shanksville, pennsylvania, field. >> if those heroes on 93 -- by the way, those are the real heroes. if they hadn't taken action and they hadn't done what needed to be done, it would have been a very different outcome for me and my family. >> reporter: but he kept quiet about his own role that day. when you went home, your wife and kids are there. what did you say? >> well, i said nothing at first. i hugged them and squeezed them
3:58 pm
very tightly. and i didn't tell them, actually, for awhile, what had happened. and i told them that i loved them. and i was going to be gone to work for a long time, because something very bad had happened to america. >> reporter: his wife, karen, and the kids were there for his retirement ceremony this week after some 40 years of service. >> there's been a tremendous honor and a privilege to serve and a truly rare opportunity for me and my family to make a difference. now you have the watch. thank you all. >> reporter: one last speech, and one last flight. karen moved to tears. his children, lauren and luke, waiting with pride. the fighter pilot who was prepared to give his own life to save others. >> oh, dad, so proud of you. oh, i love you. >> love you too. >> david: so tonight, we salute
3:59 pm
lieutenant general mark sassaville and retired major heather penny for their service and what they were willing to do on that fateful day. i'm david muir. thank you for being here with us this week. i'll see you on monday night. good night. and you've been given a legal dispersal order. >> dozens arrested after a tense standoff overnight at uc santa cruz. >> paul pelosi takes the stand today in the second of two trials of the man who attacked him while searching for nancy pelosi. >> regardless of cost, we still don't have the cans. >> big bucks spent and it seems like it's all going to waste. good afternoon. thanks for joining us. >> i'm larry biel and i'm kristen sze. let's begin today with a reprieve for craft beer pioneer. anchor brewing company, the brewery that shut down last year, now bought by the billionaire owner of chobani yogurt. >> this is a sign of hope for
4:00 pm
the city of san francisco. already struggling with shuttering businesses. >> might be old. it might be given up on. but it is the grand jewel, the essence of san francisco. it's the essence of this country that we can always bring it back stronger, better than ever before. i think the best time of san francisco is yet to come. >> we have team coverage today on the sale of anchor brewing, and what it means for san francisco. >> we begin our coverage with abc seven news reporter cornell bernard cornell. >> yeah, kristen and larry, it is the marriage of beer and yogurt. just not together. of course. city leaders, of course, calling this a very big deal for san francisco uh- the taproom and the factory you see behind me will be taken over by a billionaire who wants to make a very big investment here. >> the beer is just excellent. and i'm glad it's coming back. >> anchor brewing, home of anchor steam beer, could soon be back on tap. >> i think that's great. it's
4:01 pm
e