lester >> stephanie gosk, thank you. as stephanie reported, there are growing calls for alex accosta to resign as labor secretary and tonight president trump is weighing in. nbc's peter alexander has that part of the story from the white house. >> reporter: despite those calls for alex accosta's resignation, tonight president trump is praising him >> i can tell you that for 2 1/2 years he's been just an excellent secretary of labor. he's done a fantastic job. >> reporter: the president says he first met accosta when he nominated him in 2017, years after accosta worked on that controversial plea deal for billionaire jeffrey epstein. now president trump says his administration will examine accosta's handling of that case. >> i feel very badly, actually, for secretary accosta. i know him as somebody who has worked hard and done a good job i feel badly about that situation, but we're going to be looking at that and looking at it very closely. >> reporter: but the white house had already announced last march that accosta's rol

stephanie gosk is there with a firsthand look >> reporter: at jeffrey epstein's private caribbean get away in the u.s. virgin islands, grounds workers still go about their jobs, reluctant to talk. >> excuse me can i just talk to you for a second >> reporter: epstein pleaded not guilty to federal charges. he's accused of recruiting a network of young girls he sexually abused at his mansions in florida and new york. no mention of this island, but authorities say he declared it his primary residence, with a massive main house, eccentric statues and manicured lines of palm trees epstein bought little saint james in 1998, and he built a sprawling compound here. for years he looked across the water at this other island, great saint james. he bought that one in 2016 now his attorneys say the two t6 million. >>> epstein engineered near total privacy. 24-hour security and guard dogs >> i was absolutely told that things that occurred on the island were matters of privacy and were not to be discussed and that at no time i was ever to interact with any of the guests >> reporter: steve scully work

in dramatic moments as two of epstein's accusers confronted him in court our stephanie gosk was there >> reporter: there was a lot more in jeffrey epstein's $77 million mansion besides hundreds of photos of young women, according to prosecutors the fbi found piles of cash, diamonds, and an expired foreign passport from the 1980s with epstein's photo, but under a different name his residence listed as saudi arabia together with at least $500 million in wealth, prosecutors told the federal judge today epstein is an extreme flight risk while two of his accusers testified that he is a risk to the public, as well. >> these were girls who were procured, transported across state lines, kept under supervision. >> reporter: courtney wild says she was 14 when she was abused annie farmer, 16 when she says she met epstein. >> there is a real danger presented, and hearing directly from the victims, the only way that anyone's really going to understand what it really means. >> reporter: federal prosecutors also alleged epstein paid $350,000 to co-conspirators to influence them epstein's defense arg

stephanie gosk has the latest. >> reporter: jeffery epstein is not going back to his $77 million mansion, at least for now. citing his great wealth and vast resources, a federal judge ruled epstein must stay in jail before trial. the 66-year-old pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges. if convicted he could be sentenced up to 45 years in prison only by taking away the freedom of jeffery epstein can we restore the freedom of these victims. in his decision, the judge said there was clear and convincing evidence that epstein was still dangerous. specifically pointing out the testimony of two accusers. one of them courtney wild, who says epstein abused her when she was 14 years old. >> as long as the victims speak up, he isn't going to get away this time. >> reporter: prosecutors argued epstein was an extreme flight risk worth more than $500 million, cash, diamonds, and an expired passport with a false name found in a safe in his mansion the financier who once partied nderouse arrest and ed t ground his private jet the judge said i doubt that any bail package can overcome danger to the

here is nbc's stephanie gosk ♪ >> reporter: in queens this morning, they celebrated a life ofrve. >> man who served, defended, protected, 'til his last dying day. >> reporter: nypd veteran luis alvarez used his final days, his last remaining energy, to make sure those suffering from 9/11-related illnesses would get the support they needed. from hospice, he sent a handwritten note to the senate majority leader days after his moving testimony on capitol hill >> never forget to take care of the 9/11 responders >> reporter: today david alvarez spoke of his dad's courage and commitment >> before he became an american hero, he was mine >> reporter: alvarez joined the u.s. marines at the age of 18 >> the camaraderie, the guy sitting next to you is your brother, and you'll give your life for him, he'll give his life for you >> reporter: it's that kind of camaraderie he said he felt during his 20 years with the nypd he and his fellow officers worked for months shoulder to shoulder at ground zero the night before he died, the 53-yold couldn't sleep exhausted, he said, from walking in his dream

our stephanie gosk reports. >> reporter: billionaire, socialite, accused sex trafficker >> the alleged behavior shocked the conscience >> reporter: federal prosecutors say jeffrey epstein created a network of dozens of victims, some as young as 14, who he sexually abused from 2002 to 2005 at his estate in florida and mansion innew york city. th vast trove of photographs of young women and girls overt weekend. hundreds and perhapsthousands suggestive photographs. epstein was arrested on saturday when his private jet landed from paris he was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for the purpose of sex victims were initially recruited to provide massages, according to the indictment, which would become increasingly sexual in nature >> the victims all underage girls at the time of the conduct, were given hundreds of dollars in cash after each encounter, either by epstein or by one of epstein's employees. >> reporter: the 66-year-old has palled around with some of the most powerful in politics and business, including bill clinton and president trump. today he pleaded

stephanie gosk has a closer look >> reporter: when luis alvarez o appearedn capitol hill in june, theffort it took to get there could be seen on his face. >> you made me come down here -- >> reporter: days later, the n.y.p.d. veteran was put in hospice. the cancer he developed from months working at ground zero was no longer treatable. but alvarez didn't stop fighting a handwritten note obtained by nbc news shows he made a personal plea to senate majorith leader mit mcconnell senator mcconnell, i don't know if you remember me my name is detective louis g. alvarez, he writes i want you to know my time to leave this world is fa approaching. my goal and legacy in this world the bill would extend benefits to victims of 9/11 related illnesses for 70 years >> we can't wait another -- >> reporter: early saturday alvarez died the funeral is on wednesday. his commitment to the cause, something he hoped his children would remember >> i taught them, you start a job, you finish rit >>eporter: the note to mcconnell delivered by 9/11 first responders came with a gift alvarez's n.y.p.d. shield. as a

stephanie gosk, nbc news >> what a great story to end the week on. that's "nightly news" for this friday i'm lester holt. >>> dear president -- [ bleep ]. >> nobody respects you. >> right now at 6:00, making her position very well-known. new video shows a woman lashing out at president trump supporters in the south bay. we're learning more about the role she once played in politics. >>> plus, smoke that drifted into the bay from the campfire. scientists want to know what it did to your health. they're asking you -- what they're asking you to do. >> first, if you've got ac, get ready to crank it up. we're under a microclimate weather alert. plenty of triple digit temperatures as we head into the weekend. the news at 6:00 starts now. we begin with breaking news. a police officer involved in a multicar crash in san jose. we've been on the story since our 5:00 newscast. >>> we're at the crash site at the intersection of mckee and jackson near regional medical center. what have you learned? >> reporter: jessica, we're learning a lot from witnesses and fro

stephanie gosk and the questions over what happened inside his cell. >> reporter: jeffrey epstein was found on the floor of his cell semiconscious in a fetal position with marks around his neck. there are conflicting explanations from multiple law enforcement sources. one theory is that epstein tried to take his own life. another is that the 66-year-old faked a suicide to try to get transferred from this notorious jail in manhattan. but the possibility that epstein was attacked is also being considered. two people familiar with the incident tell nbc's new york station that epstein shared a sell with nick, a rmerolice of accused of mur ueioned but is not a suspect. >> he did nothing wrong at all. and he's not being investigated for doing anything wrong. he's not been accused of doing anything wrong. >> reporter: a judge denied epstein's bail after he pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges leaving him locked up until trial, a sharp contrast to his luxury homes in new mexico, new york, and the caribbean. local zoning permits show epstein was expanding his compound from this island

stephanie gosk, nbc news >> a suspect is in a custodyer a killing spree heldos lngeles in suspense. at least six people were shot and four of them were killed in a shooting that took place across three locations here's nbc's mollie hunter >> reporter: the suspect is now in custody after a deadleey shooting spr across los angeles. >> he is armed with a .9 millimeterigh point semi auto. >> reporter: s.w.a.t. teams closing in later capturing police say hwent to an saragosa. apartment in the san fernando brother and father, and wounding his mother raiding the buildi next to me and i just saw ten police officers with guns, rifles and handguns going crazy gas station in north hollywood, he shot two people killing two people and leaving the other in criticon conditi on the run from there, he attempted to rob someone at an atm. then police say the same man boarded a bus tinearby, shoong a 6th person at close range. even asking people for clothes as he ran. lice have now confirmt the person shot on the bus has now died after that shooting, police tracked down the suspect walkina on a ny stre

stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york >>> he was once one of the most feared and ruthless drug lords in the world. today joaquin "el chapo" guzman was sentenced to life in prison but not before getting in a final word ron allen reports from the courthouse >> reporter: judgment day for crime kingpin joaquin guzman loeira, also known as el chapo, responsible for brutal murders and controlling much of the illegal drug trade across the u.s. for three decades, a $12.6 billion empire today, judge brian kogan accused el chapo of overwhelming evil and quickly imposed the mandatory sentence, life in prison, plus 30 more years. a dramatic end to a hunt from the 1990s to 2017 after two infamous escapes from mexican prisons, including one through a mile-long tunnel dug up to his cell >> never again will guzman pour poison over our borders, making billions while innocent lives are lost >> reporter: speaking for the first time in court, el chapo complained there's no justice here, calling his detention torture and inhumane >> we like to pretend that it was justice. it was not justice >> reporter: the

stephanie gosk, thank you. connect with the show at "velshi & ruhle."picks up the coverage right now. hello, friend. >> aloe to yohello to you, ali. i'm kasie hunt. the president's own department of homeland security has issued a scathing report on the squalid conditions found in a number of migrant detention centers along the border. the report from the dhs' office of the inspector general describes dangerous levels of overcrowding for long periods of time. in one facility, some

stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york >> sure has.t ahead, spiderman swings to a new box office record. plus phigolden why more older americans aren videgis r the golrlfo adce you're watching "early today." finally, an eggo thick and fluffy waffle all to myself, whoa. karen, karen you've got to try this. breakfast in bed? major. husband. points. would you l'eggo your eggo? well, here's to first dates! you look amazing. when your v-neck moregly like a u-neck... that's when you know, it's half-washed.wn try doy fabric conditioner. by conditioning d smoothingny fibers,rt stretchingan so clothes look newer, longer. downy and it's done. but one blows th allo many moisturizers...em out of the water hydro boost with hyaluronic acid to plump skin cells . so it bounces back.. neutrogena® and try our hydrating makeup. z3d2uz z16fz y3d2uy y16fy >>> we have one mission. you are coming with us >> this all seems like big time superhernd of stuff, and i'm just a friendly neighborhood spiderman, sir >> spiderman far from home it launched with a heroi

nbc's stephanie gosk joins us with the latest. >> reporter: federal prosecutors argue jeffrey epsteins both a flight risk ana risk to the community. a federal judge has agreed with them jeffrey epstein is not going back to his $77 million mansion. at least for now citing his great wealth and vast resources, a federal judge ruled epstein musty sta jail before trial. the 66-year-old pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges. ifed convict, he could be sentenced to up to 45 years in prison only >> only by takg away the freedom of jeffrey epstein can we restore the freedom of these victims. >> reporter: in his dgdecision, the jue said there was clear and convincing evidence that epstein was still dangerous. specifically pointing out the testimony of two accusers. one of them courtney wild, who says epstein abused her when she was 14 yrs old >> as long as the victims speak up, he isn't going to get away this time. >> reporter: prosecutors argued epstein was an extreme flight risk worth more than $500 million. cash, diamonds and an expired austrian passport with a false name found in a s

i want to bring back in stephanie gosk.tein is inside facing a judge who will decide whether or not he gets bail. that decision won't come down until thursday. there have been other updates, right? >> reporter: yeah, there certainly have. i'm going to take you back to the saturday that jeffrey epstein was arrested. you may remember that saturday the fbi searched his $77 million mansion here in new york city. we already knew that they found a safe in that mansion and they opened it up and found hundreds if not thousands of photos of what they describe as seemingly underage women. they also told the court today that inside that safe they found cash, they found diamonds. and they found an expired 1980s passport with jeffrey epstein's photo, but under a different name. in their description to the judge they said it was issued by a foreign country with an address for jeffrey epstein in saudi arabia. the judge said to the prosecutor, tell us more about this passport. that was all they said. they did not say what country the passp

nbc's stephanie gosk is following the story. >> reporter: billionaire hedge fund manager jeffrey epstein first aed of sexual assault against minors a decade ago is back in custody this morning and charged with federal sex crimes for the first time. the counts will include sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex. according to a law enforcement official, the 66-year-old financier who counts among his powerful friends, president trump and former president clinton and prince andrew was arrested saturday after he flew in from paris. authorities also raided his manhattan home, new charges come on the heels of reexamination of the case by the "miami-herald," inviting high school girls to his palm beach mansion. >> the young girls that were 13, 14 and 15, thought they were going there to get paid to give him a massage and instead what he did was he -- he pressed them further and further each time to have sexual and intimate relations. >> reporter: several of the teen gir girls spoke to the "miami-herald" accusing epstein of giving them money for massages which escalated into mol

here's stephanie gosk with tonight's "inspiring america." >> what does a little boy do when he meetsts the nfl ar know just how he feels. >> you're my hero. >> carson wentz is the quarterbacfor the philadelphia eagles. and while there are plenty of reasons to a bean of his skill, this 11-year-old adores wentz for how he handled two season ending injuries in the last two years. >> he said mom if carson can come back e from his kneand om fris back, i can do this. >> guys, it'sl footb day. >> giovanni has a rare genetic disorder that affects his mcles and bones. >> he's had 12 surgeries, everything from his eyes to ankles to hips. >> reporter: when things got tough, he channelled wentz who fought to get back to training camp this year, today taking time out to hug his biggest fan. >> it was everything. ept was amazing. >> rorter: because the only thing better than having a hero is realizing your hero also has a big heart stephanie gosk, nbc news. >> what a great story to end the week on. that's "nightly news" for this friday. i'm lester holth k you for watching everyone. and good night.

stephanie gosk is there with a firsthand look. >> reporter: at jeffrey epstein's private caribbean get away in the u.s. virgin islands, grounds workers still go about their jobs. reluctant to talk. >>> excuse me. can i just talk to you for a second? >>> epstein pleaded not guilty to federal charges. he's ais mansionlosda and new y. no mention of this island, but authorities say he declared it his statues, and manicured lines of palm trees. epstein bought little saint james in 1988, and he built a sprawling compound here. for years he looked across the water at this other island, great saint james. he bought that one in 2016. now his attorneys say the two together are worth just over $86 million. epstein engineered near total privacy, 24-hour security, and guard dogs. >> i was told things absolutely that occurred on the island were matters of privacy and not to be discussed and at no time was i to interact with any of the guests. >> reporter: steve scully worked on epstein's phone lines for years. >>> were they upped under 18? >> i'm not sure. >> reporter: he said he saw pictures of top

nbc's stephanie gosk has more. >> reporter: after pleading not guilty to sex trafficking charges, jeffrey epstein sits in a manhattan jail cell. a far cry from parties like this one in mar-a-lago. alongside donald trump in 2000 president trump distanced himself from the billionaire socialite. >> well, i knew him like everybody else in palm beach knew him people in palm beach knew him. he was a fixture in palm beach i had a falling out with him a long time ago. i don't think i've spoken to him for 15 years i wasn't a fan >> reporter: this is what the president told "new york" magazine in 2002 "i've known jeff for 15 years. terrific guy he's ae likes beautiful women as much as i do and many of them are on the younger side." epstein, who made hi people's m, moved in powerful circles, connected to more than one president. bill clinton's office released its own statement on monday. "president clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes jeffrey epstein pleaded guilty to in florida some years ago or those with which he has been recently charged in new york." adding that clinton hasn't spoken

stephanie gosk, nbc news >>> a suspect is in custody after a killing spree held los angeles in suspenseat least six people were shot and four of them were killed in a shooting that took place across three locations here's nbc's mollie hunter >> reporter: the suspect is now in custody after a deadly shooting spree across los angeles. >> he is armed with a .9 millimeter high point semi auto. >> here we go. they're searching. >> reporter: s.w.a.t. teams closing in, later capturing 26-year-old jerry dean zaragoza. police say he went to an apartment in the san fernando valley, shooting and killing his brother and father, and wounding his mother >> i just saw police just raiding the building next to me and i just saw ten police officers with guns, rifles and handguns going crazy >> reporter: hours later at a gas station in north hollywood, he shot two people, killing his girlfriend and leaving another in critical condition. on the run from there, he attempted to rob someone at an atm. then police say the same man boarded a bus nearby, shooting . even asking people for clothes as he ran. polic

stephanie gosk, nbc news. >> coming up, we'll tell you the secrets to saving on the road this july 4thla is not a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. with otezla, 75% clearer skin is achievable. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. uprespiratoryhould monitor your tract infectionop treatment.pe and headache may occur. tell your doctor about your medicines and if you're pregnant or planning to be. ready to treat differently with a pill? otezla. show more of you. ♪ mmm, exactly!ug liberty mutual customizes your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. nice! but uh, what's up with your partner? oh! we just spend all day telling everyone how we customize car insurance because no two people are alike, so... limu gets a little confused when he sees another bird that looks exactly like him. ya... he'

stephanie gosk, nbc news. >> what a great story to end the week on. news" for this friday. i'm lester holt. thank you for watching everyone. and good night. >> uncle steve, can i call you uncle steve? steve: that's what i am. announcer: his confusing texts. >> i met a guy and he sent me a message. steve: in an effort to clear this up, i found him. [cheers and applause] >> hey, uncle steve. announcer: plus -- there's only time for they! >> whoo! announcer: put your hands together for your host, steve harvey! ♪ cheers and applause] steve: thank y'all. thank you very much. i appreciate y'all. [crowd chanting "steve"] steve: thank y'all. all right, that's good. all right. that's good. some different kind of energy in ere today. [cheers and applause] ou know what they call that? you know what they call that? they call that youthful exuberance. hey, i was thinking the other day i think that every situation should have a truth teller in it. remember how kids -- kids used to tell on everybody. they call them tattle tales. they used to tell on everything. i th

stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york. a >> rememberingrue american hero. >>> also outside new york tod travel nightmare just as millions hit the road for the holiday rush. this garbage truck sh ot off an overpass and landed on the busy ghway that leads into the lincoln tunnel injuring several people including a 15-year-old girl. >>> and it's going to be a hot and humid 4th with threat of severe storms for millions of americans. meteorologist dylan dryer is tracking it all. dylan, a lot of people traveling this weekend. >> reporter: if you are traveling on thursday, we wilsee pop up showers and storms especially up and down the east coast. that could lead to slowdowns on the road. most of the countrwi just be dealing with heat and the humidity. temperatures are summerlike. in the 90s. it will feel like the mid to upper 90s. we should see afternoon thunderstorms fizz out in times for fireworks thursday evening. but the best chance for heavy rain is across the upper midwest. friday florida and the southeast has the best chan

berit berger, vicki ward, tom winter, stephanie gosk, thank you. >>> still ahead a leaked memo leads between to a spat between the president and america's greatest ally. the british ambassador calling donald trump inept. >>> i'm joined live by senator kirsten gillibrand about to kick off her trump broken promises bus tour in rust belt states. >>> but first, breaking news. elizabeth warren rakes in more cash in the second quarter than kamala harris and bernie sanders. what does it mean for her standing in the race? e race i have one kid in each branch of the military. when i have a child deployed, having a reliable network means everything. (vo) the network more people rely on, gives you more. like a special price for military families and big savings when you switch. that's verizon. look limu. a civilian buying a new car.ug let's go. limu's right. liberty mutual can save you money by customizing your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. oh... yeah, i've been a customer for years. huh... only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ who used expedia

joining me now is nbc's stephanie gosk at the courthouse in new york and barbara mckwoqu, former u.s.y here with me in aspen. stephanie, tell me what happened in court today. >> reporter: this was a quick hearing. this judge wasted no time. he said jeffrey epstein will not get bail. and if he's convicted on these two charges, sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for the purpose of sex he could be sentenced to up to 45 years. he's 66 years old. that could mean the rest of his life. the judge said there was clear and convincing evidence that jeffrey epstein is still a risk to the public. he then went on to say there's a preponderance of the evidence that he's a flight risk. his wealth is north of $500 million as far as they know. they talked about what the fbi agents found in his safe in jeffrey epstein's mansion, includi including, quote, piles of cash, loose diamonds, an expired foreign passport from the 80s that had jeffrey epstein's photo, but not his name. his defense team had said that was used when he was traveling to the middle east as a jewish man he was worried for

in on his private jet, jumps on h private helicopter, and pops on over to the island >> nbc's stephanie goskn st. thomas stephanie, thank you >>> climate changere activists a hoping to make their message stick at the u.spi. catol. extinctionay rebellion ss this group superglued theelves to this entrance hoping to intercept members of congress and tell them to declare a climate emergency. the group says eight activists were charged with resisting arrest and were held overnight in jail. this demonstration comes as scientists say this ju o'on strak to become the earth'tts hoest month on record ever and extreme weather has just slammed into the east coast. a tornado was confirmed on cape cod. it ripped the roof right off that hotel >> nbc's meteorologist janessa webb is here to tell us more >> this is just a cold front that will not go away g re we are see make its way offshore across the northeast in areas of the mid-atlantic,ut still a few showers from philadelphia to new york this morning. the cloud coverage going to stay in place across the northeast until about that noon, 1:00 hour but the

stephanie gosk is live outside the federal courthouse in lower manhattan and glen kirsh near is a formereral prosecutor and msnbc legal analyst. his bail hearing began about an hour ago. give us a sense of what's happened in the court so far. >> reporter: a lot has kind of unravelled. it started with the judge saying this is not going to be a short hearing at all and he's not actually going to provide a decision today but rather at 9:30 on thursday. we just wrapped up -- or heard from for the first time, i think he may still be talking, martin wineberg, one of the defense attorneys for epstein. he's argued that that non-prosecution agreement we've been talking so much signed over a decade ago should protect jeffrey epstein from these current charges. he goes on to say that jeffrey epstein has not been charged with anything that took place after that was signed, trying to point out that he is no threat to the community. judge burrman asking him alas specifically, don't chances of recidivism go up as the sexual predator gets older? some back and forth. and talking about a search that the f

stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york >>> a number of 2020 democratic candidates have rushed to defend a rival senator kamala harris after some on social media questioned her racial identity including the president's son donald trump, jr. andrea mitchell has the story >> reporter: kamala harris riding a wave since her break out debate performance she's now facing tweets challenging her identity as a black american to speak out on race >> as the only black person on this stage, i would like to speak on the question of race. >> donald trump jr. tweeting thts true wow, questioning whether harris is african-american. the president's elder son later deleted the tweet, a spokesman saying once folks saw he was misconstruing the intent of the tweet, he quickly deleted it but trump's senior adviser katrina pearson also tweeted obama is actually african-american kamala harris is not who is best to speak for the african-american community in february harris compared a tax like this to the birther movement the president once championed >> this is the same thing they did to barack. >> yes >> this is

stephanie gosk heen covering the story. what do we know? >> good morning to you guys.e know jeffrey epstein is said to be back inai a j cell on suicide watch. the incident comes just days after a judge ordered that he remain behind bars until his trial on sex trafficking charges. investigators now working to figure out what happened. this morning, conf cting accounts about what took place insi jeffreyn's jail cell. sources close to st teihe inepvestigation say he was foun in a secure area of the metropolitan correctional center semiconscious, in a fetal position, with marks on his neck. two sources tell nbc news that epstein tried to hang himself. with a third person noting the injuries were not ou may have been an attempt from epstein to be transferred to another facility, but the possibility that epstein wasta ed by someone else is also being looked at. another inmate, a former police officer charged with murder, was questioned, according to a fourth source. an attorney for that inte says his client had no involvement. this week, epstein's attorneys appealed the deci

stephanie gosk, thank you. and as stephanie just reported, there are growing calls by democrats for alex accosta to resign as labor secretary. and tonight president trump is weighing in. nbc's peter alexander has that part of the story from the white house. >> reporter: despite those calls for alex accosta's resignation, tonight president trump is praising him. >> i can tell you thatanstic jo. >> reporter: the president says he first metta costa when he o controversial plea deal for billionaire jeffrey epstein. now president trump says his administration will examine accosta's handling of that case. >> i feel very badly, actually, for secretary accosta because i've known him as being somebody that worked so hard and has done such a good job. i feel very badly about that whole situation. but we're going to be looking at that and looking at it very closely. >> reporter: but the white house had already announced last march that accosta's role as u.s. attorney in epstein's plea deal was under review, though no updat

in other words, he could be in prison for the rest of his life. >> thanks to stephanie gosk for that. we just heard from president trump on the squad again. we'll bring that to you shortly. what is he trying to achieve with these continuous attacks? that's coming up. too many people in pain settle for a restless night's sleep. there's a better choice. aleve pm. the only one to combine a safe sleep aid and the 12-hour pain-relieving strength of aleve that dares to last into the morning. so you feel refreshed. aleve pm. there's a better choice. here, hello! starts with -hi!mple... how can i help? a data plan for everyone. everyone? everyone. let's send to everyone! [ camera clicking ] wifi up there? -ahhh. sure, why not? how'd he get out?! a camera might figure it out. that was easy! glad i could help. at xfinity, we're here to make life simple. easy. awesome. so come ask, shop, discover at your xfinity store today. >>> when your supporters last night were chanting, send her back, why didn't you stop them? why didn't you ask them to stop saying that? >> well, number one, i think i did.

. >> joining us now our colleague stephanie gosk. what else did we learn from hearing from ms.d and her attorney this afternoon? it's tough to hear this. >> it is. what is interesting about courtney wild is that she came forward back in 2005, and she started talking to law enforcement then. she actually reached out to brad edwards, her attorney who you see there in 2008 and said, according to him, i need help getting in touch with the government. he said, what do you mean? well, i need to know what's going on with the epstein case. i haven't heard from them. i don't understand what's happening. and it was then brad edwards that filed a complaint against the government for not sharing information. it was the genesis of a lawsuit that you'll remember in february there was a federal judge that ruled that the victims' rights were violated in the way that the nonprosecution agreement was arranged between then u.s. attorney alex acosta and epstein and his attorneys, right? so she was critical in a large part of that case. but now bringing it up to today, what you're seeing is a call

stephanie gosk is in the caribbean this morning and has been looking into this.o you. i'm in a narrow canal between little james island and great st. james island. jeffrey epstein owns th. the only way to get out is by boat, unless like epstein, you have your own private helicopter. ou can get a sense how isolated it is here. the charges he faces have no relation to this place, but locals tell us they have long wondered what was going on out here. from the air, opulence is on display. two pools, perfectly manicured beaches lined with palm trees, surrounded by turquoise waters. tourists snorkel here daily to check out the turtles neano the w infamous island. epsteinsed to flyut here, we're told, on his private chopper, after flying into st. thomas on his privatejet. >> how are you? >> reporter: it is not easy to get to. we had to hire a boat captain. when youove to st. thomas, four years ago, how long did it take before people started talkingbout jeffrey epstein? >> it was immediate. the first day i took this boat out, h we a training captain i went out with. that

>> stephanie gosk live in new york. steph, thank you.uch more to get to this hour, including political deja vu from bernie sanders. what about now? are they burned out? >>> plus, boeing facing another day of tough truths. this time on capitol hill. lawmakers handing the mic, giving them voice to what they call as boeing's faulty fleet. we will take you there live. we will take you there live. tt that needs to get done today. small things. big things. too hard to do alone things. day after day, you need to get it all done. and here to listen and help you through it all is bank of america. with the expertise and know-how you need to reach that blissful state of done-ness. so let's get after it. ♪ everything is all right what would you like the power to do?® ♪ all right and my side super soft? with the sleep number 360 smart bed you can both adjust your comfort with your sleep number setting. so, can it help us fall asleep faster? yes, by gently warming your feet. but can it help keep me asleep? absolutely, it intelligently senses your move

epstein sex trafficking case, labor secretary aleks x a acosta is defying calls for his head stephanie gosk reports. >> we did what we did because we wanted to see epstein go to jail he needed to go to jail >> reporter: today, labor secretary alex acosta, former u.s. attorney in florida, says accused sexker jeffrey epstein wouldn't have served any time in jail a decade ago if his office hadn't stepped in >> simply if you tell, the palm beach attorney's office was ready to let epstein walk free, no jail time, nothing. >> reporter: because of a deal struck in 2008, epstein pleaded guilty to state charges including soliciting prostitution from a minor, in exchange for avoiding federal prosecution. he was sentenced to 13 months, forced to regi ax offender, and make financial restitution with victims what some critics have called the deal of the century. in that agreement, the u.s. attorney makes it clear that his office and the fbi were investigating much more serious federal charges, including the ones epstein has pleaded not guilty to this week in new york. sex trafficking and conspiracy but

our stephanie gosk reports. >> reporter: billionaire, hedge fund manager, socialite, accused sex trafficker. >> the alleged behavior shocks the conscience. >> reporter: federal prosecutors say jeffrey epstein created a network of dozens of victims, some as young as 14 who he sexually abused from 2002 to 2005 at his estate in palm beach, florida, and mansion in new york city. according to documents, the fbi seized a vast trove of lewd photographs of young looking women or girls during a search epstein was arrested aris he was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for the purpose ex victimweco increasingly sexual in nature. victims, all underaged girls at the time of the alleged conduct, were given hundreds of dollars in cash after each encounter either by epstein or by one of epstein's employees. >> reporter: the 66-year-old has palled around with some of the most powerful in politics and business including bill clinton and president trump. today he pleaded not guilty to the charges which many including some officials and alleged victims say should have come more than

some of the victim shaming that could have taken place at trial 12 years ago >> our thanks to stephanie gosk for that report. >>> now to our interview with a new accuser that has come forward with allegations against epstein. she's not part of the indictment she says epstein rained her when she was in high school some of the descriptions are graphic. >> reporter: in 01, jennifer was 14 years old, a freshman at this new york high school, when one day she says a woman approached her outside >> the first time she brought up thname jeffrey epstein, how did she describe him to him? >> he's a great guy. she was just saying he's helped me, i struggled. he was similar to me >> when you think of her now, you use the phrase, you said the recruiter, yout felke she was looking for someone. >> 100%, yeah. >> reporter: she says weeks later, the recruiter brought her to epstein's townhouse blocks from her school. she says she and epstein talked, drank wine and she was given $300 by his secretary. after a few weeks of visits, she says she went alone to the massage room where she pressured her into giving hi

pelosi called on accosta to step down saying his agreement with epstein was unconscionable nbc's stephanie gosk has more. >> reporter: good morning, marlie well, jeffrey except stein has pleaded not guilty to the charges. he's hoping to get out of jail on baiifbut not federal prosecutors have their way they are saying that he be detained until his trial billionaire hedge fund manager, socialite accused sex trafficker >> the alleged behaviothr shocks e conscience >> reporter: federal prosecutors say jeffrey epstein created a network of dozens of vicmems, sos young as 14 who he sexually ased from 2002 to 2005 at his estate in palm beach, floridain, and mansion new york city, where according to court documents the fbi seized a vast trove of lewd photographs of young looking women or girls during a search over the weekend ndreds and perhaps thousands of sexually suggestive photographers. when his pri jet landed fromrday paris. he was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for the purpose of sex victims were initially recruited to provide massages, according to the indictment,