NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, August 2, 2024

Episode Date: August 3, 2024

Team USA wins medals in track, sailing and swimming; Joy and gratitude as Americans freed by Russia arrive home; Acting Secret Service head says warning about would-be Trump assassin never reached agents; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, Team USA off and running in track and field here in Paris, but heartbreak in the pool and on the soccer field. Sha'Carri Richardson and her Olympic debut flying to victory, and the amazing American come from behind finish in the 10,000 meters. But disappointment for star swimmer Caleb Dressel, failing to medal in the 50-meter freestyle, and the men's soccer team knocked out of its first Olympics since 2008. Our full coverage, the freed Americans back in the U.S. after the prisoners swap with Russia. Journalist Evan Grzeszkowicz, Marine veteran Paul Whelan reuniting with their families. We talk to relief family members tonight. Also this evening, Kamala Harris winning enough delegate votes to clinch the Democratic nomination

for president, the first black woman and the first Asian American at the top of a major party ticket. With the clock ticking, Harris this weekend meeting with her potential running mates. The state of emergency in Florida, a tropical storm warning and watches as a dangerous system takes aim. New on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the acting Secret Service chief revealing local police had warned the gunman was on the roof.

Why didn't that reach agents in time? And out to prove he's the fastest man in the world, the star sprinter running for redemption. This is NBC Nightly News. reporting tonight from the Olympics in Paris. Here is Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. Friday night in Paris where the Olympics host country has more reasons to celebrate tonight after French swimmer Leon Marchand won a fourth gold medal at these games, electrifying the crowd and this country, which right now is all about Merchan. But the U.S. adding more hardware, too. Swimmer Reagan

Smith earning her third silver medal of the games. On the men's side, Caleb Dressel falling short in both his races. But American medals in long distance running and sailing helped keep the U.S. ahead in the overall medal count with 43, nine of them gold. It was also a busy day of track and field featuring Sha'Carri Richardson, the American finish first in the 100 meter in her first Olympic race. She has now qualified for the semifinals. Tom Yamas has more from an exciting day here in the French capital. At the Stade de France, her Olympic debut race, sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson making her Olympic debut and reminding fans why she may be the fastest woman in the world. Sha'Carri Richardson ahead of the pack, job done in round one.

Easily winning her 100-meter heat and advancing. Has Grant Fisher got enough left in the tank? But it was U.S. distance runner Grant Fisher who put on an even bigger show, seeming to come out of nowhere. Grant Fisher is in with a shot of a medal! Stunning the crowd, medaling in the 10,000-meter. The cheers were just as loud at the pool. French superstar Léon Marchand thrilled the hometown crowd with a fourth gold,

while American Regan Smith won her third silver of these games. I fought to the last meter, so I couldn't ask for any more. But heartbreak for eight-time gold medalist Caleb Dressel, with two disappointing races today. Lots of drama out here today. On the French Riviera, the first medals were handed out in sailing. USA for a bronze medal here. And a day after winning gold in the all-around, today Simone Biles seeming to get political, posting, I love my black job, appearing to mock a recent comment

by former President Trump. Today I caught up with her teammates, Suni Lee and Jordan Childs, both still riding high. When Simone hit that final floor routine, what was that like? I started crying. I literally was bawling my eyes out. She's literally my ride or die, my best friend. Seeing her go through that and coming out on top, it was overwhelming. A year ago, Lee was battling two rare kidney diseases. Yesterday, she won her fifth Olympic medal. This one,

it's been a journey for you, so I wonder if it's different. Yeah, I feel like it's really different because last Olympics, you know, coming in, I wasn't really expecting to win the gold medal and having to go through everything that I went through, but making it to here has just been amazing. I wasn't expecting to even podium here, so I love my medal. There's still more gymnastics to come. Individual finals on beam, floor, vault, and bars. So you haven't seen the last of America's Golden Girls. And some updates tonight. In men's soccer, Team USA losing to Morocco, getting knocked out of competition.

And in tennis, a match for the ages. The youngest man to ever qualify for the finals. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz going head-to-head against the oldest man to ever qualify for the finals. The same man he beat at Wimbledon. Serbia's Novak Djokovic. And Lester, that takes place on Sunday. All right, Tom, thank you. Tonight, the world's fastest woman, Sha'Carri Richardson, hits the track covered starts at 8 Eastern here on NBC. None of those unforgettable scenes at Joint Base Andrews. Joy and gratitude as the Americans freed by Russia in that prisoner swap were welcomed home. Here's Gabe Gutierrez.

Tonight, three Americans finally free are back on U.S. soil. Evan Gruskowicz hoisting his overjoyed mother at Joint Base Andrews. A world away from just last month, when the Wall Street Journal reporter was sentenced in Russia for spying charges in what the U.S. called a sham trial. Gerskovich now urging action to help Russians still imprisoned. Basically, everybody I sat with is a political prisoner. And nobody, nobody, nobody knows them publicly. The historic prisoner swap involving seven countries, the largest and most complex since the Cold War. Other leaders trust you, you trust them, you get things done.

President Biden also welcoming home Paul Whelan, the former Marine later accepted the commander-in-chief's flag pen. Whelan had served time in a notorious Russian penal colony after being arrested on espionage charges in 2018. Yeah, I'm glad I'm home. I'm never going back there again. A third American, journalist and Russian dual citizen, Alsu Kermesheva, embracing her teenage daughters and husband. Alsu is not just my wife, but she is my best friend of more than 20 years. I'm glad that we're finally reunited. Today is her youngest daughter's 13th birthday. She and her older sister gave up tickets to a Taylor Swift concert in Poland to welcome mom back.

I think it's definitely one of the best birthday presents anyone can get. And about Taylor Swift, we're pretty upset about it, but definitely we think it was worth it. The White House is now touting Vice President Kamala Harris's role in the negotiations. She met with the German chancellor and the Slovenian prime minister at the Munich Security Conference in February. This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy.

But former President Donald Trump is calling the prisoner swap a win for Vladimir Putin. The Russians made a great deal. I'm not going to be criticizing it because it's good to have them home, but they got a phenomenal deal and that sets a very bad precedent. Tonight, other families are heartbroken. American school teacher Mark Fogle has been detained in Russia since 2021. His sister says he's been left behind. It's really one of the most incredible betrayals that I have lived through. I hope that they make it right. Today, the president promised he's not giving up on bringing Fogle home. And Gabe, what's next for the Americans who were released? Well, Lester, they'll now receive post-isolation treatment at Brook Army Medical Center in San

Antonio. That's the same facility that has helped reintegrate other prisoners such as Brittany Griner. There are still more than 40 Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world, Lester. All right, Gabe, thank you. And a milestone for Vice President Harris today, securing the Democratic nomination for president as she closes in on choosing a running mate. Dasha Burns is following it all for us. Tonight, Vice President Harris making it nearly official. The DNC saying she's won enough delegate votes to secure the Democratic nomination in a virtual roll call.

I know that we are excited about the future, but we also know that we got a lot of work to get there. She's expected to be named the nominee on Monday when she'll make history as the first woman of color at the top of a major party ticket. And tonight, new details on her running mate search. NBC News reporting these six shortlisters. And the vice president will be taking in-person meetings with finalists over the next 72 hours. Top contenders include Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. The vice president has a deeply personal decision to make. She will make the right decision for her and for the

country. Former President Trump weighing in today. I don't care. Let them do whatever. They still want to have open borders. I think if she picks Shapiro, who happens to be Jewish, she loses her little Palestinian base. Now, Republicans note Harris never won a vote in a primary or caucus, but Democrats point to record fundraising as evidence of party enthusiasm. Harris raking in $310 million in July, far outpacing the Trump campaign. Lester. Dasha Burns, thank you. Also tonight, we're watching a tropical storm warning in Florida as a dangerous system takes aim. A state of emergency declared in 54 counties with a system expected to strengthen into a tropical depression or storm before moving over Florida's west coast tomorrow night,

bringing up to a foot of rain. The acting head of the Secret Service said today his agency missed a critical warning in the moments before a gunman tried to assassinate former President Trump. Julia Ainsley with more on the breakdown in communication. Tonight, a stunning new admission from the Secret Service. It was so apparent to me that in this incident, in the final 30 seconds, there was clearly radio transmissions that may have happened on that local radio net that we did not have. Look what happened. In the seconds before a gunman opened fire on former President Trump,

local police sounded the alarm over their radios that a gunman was on the roof. Only the Secret Service didn't get that message. This is going to drive our operations going forward. Ronald Rowe, the new acting director of the Secret Service, taking questions from reporters today at the first press conference since the July 13th rally. Pressed by NBC News as to why Secret Service agents didn't know local police were communicating about the shooter, Rowe explained. We had our security room and then they had a unified command post. We have to rethink how we, you know, where we put our security rooms. Local and federal law enforcement who have

worked with Secret Service tell NBC News this type of coordination is critical. How important is it for Secret Service and local law enforcement to be together physically during an event? It's extremely vital so you have no communication gaps between the agencies. Today's revelations coming just days after Roe fell under sharp scrutiny from senators that demanded more answers. He promised the agency is doing a full review and will discipline or fire agents who should be held accountable. And tonight, the coroner's report obtained by her Pittsburgh affiliate WPXI confirms Crooks was killed by a gunshot to the head. Lester. Julia, thank you. When we come back, the killing

of Sonia Massey, what it reveals about departments across the country and how they vet the officers who serve. Back now with the outrage over the police shooting death of Sonia Massey, the deputy involved fired and charged with murder. And as Maggie Vespa reports, the tragedy is putting police hiring practices under new scrutiny. How did a man with two DUI convictions and a history of personnel problems get hired by an Illinois sheriff's office where he'd end up shooting Sonia Massey? The Sangamon County Sheriff calls the vetting of new hires an informal process. We call and check references on the phone and we don't demand that they give us everything

because it's a professional courtesy. He says that courtesy failed to unearth two citizen complaints from Grayson's past and allegations he lied about a high-speed chase. Knowing what you know now, was it a mistake to hire Sean Grayson? We were satisfied that he could work as a police officer in Illinois. I know you say based on what you knew at the time, it seemed like a good hire. I'm asking based on what you know now, was it a good hire? That's speculation. I'm not going to speculate as to what we should have done with hindsight.

Multiple experts tell NBC News there is no national standard in hiring and vetting law enforcement officers. Police psychologist Dr. Matt Goeller screens applicants for more than 600 agencies. Some have an application that's three pages long. Some have an extensive background investigation. One study found 13 states, including Illinois, don't require psychological evaluations. Grayson sat for one, scoring low on a cognitive assessment. The psychologist wrote he knows he can move too fast at times. He needs to slow down to make good decisions. Grayson's pleaded not guilty to murder charges, his attorney declining to comment.

This case is a clear example of someone who should not have been hired. I've never seen someone pass with two DUIs. The sheriff who hired Grayson says he'd support stronger standards nationwide. Maggie Vespa, NBC News. We'll take a break and up next, track and field takes over the Paris Olympics. Meet the Americans in the running coming up. Team USA off to a fast start here in Paris with more than 100 elite athletes on the track and field roster. Earlier, I spoke with NBC Sports' Lewis Johnson about some of the big names to watch here. Can you talk about the overall level of enthusiasm over the USA track and field team? The level of enthusiasm is unbelievable. And the evidence of that is what we saw at the track and field Olympic trials in Oregon, Eugene,

which is really the most difficult track and field meet for these American athletes on the planet. It's harder to make the team than it will be to compete here at the Games, if you can imagine that. A lot of excitement about Sha'Carri Richardson. She's never technically ever been in the Olympics. It has been really special, I think, to watch Sha'Carri Richardson. She's never technically ever been in the Olympics. It has been really special, I think, to watch Sha'Carri Richardson grow up in front of us, from the difficulties from the Tokyo trials and not being able to go to the games,

to then becoming world champion in Budapest last year. I think that was the moment where she crossed the line, where she realized that she belonged. And now she comes here as one of the favorites. 400-meter hurdles, what do you expect? Sydney McLaughlin-Leroney is just unreal. She closed out our Olympic trials with a world record in the 400 hurdles. And it was an incredible race, as we expected. But here on this track, she'll be facing her typical nemesis, Femke Bol from the Netherlands. And I believe it'll take a world record to win the gold medal in that final,

should they both line up there. Sydney McLaughlin-Leroney has come to Paris to make history again. How competitive are we looking in the men's hurdles? The men's hurdles are just, again, another incredible race. Just imagine that you wait four years to have three perfect rounds that are 13 seconds or less. Grant Holloway is leading the way for the United States in that area. His focus in this short race, this short burst of energy and speed to try and grab the gold hand Paris. And if he can get that done, he will solidify himself as one of the best ever. You and I were talking earlier about a young face we're going to see here on the American team who could do some big things in the future.

Quincy Wilson, 16 years of age, the youngest male ever to make the U.S. track and field Olympic team is here. He had a shocking performance at the trials. And so he comes here and he'll be an alternate on one of the relays. But if he gets on the track, I believe he's going to light it up. And I believe that Quincy Wilson will be in four years, probably the face of USA track and field and one of the major faces of the Olympic Games going to the L.A. 28 games. It's going to be unbelievable. And coming up is sprinter Noah Lyles on track to match his own golden expectations. Our conversation is next.

Finally, sprinter Noah Lyles has no intention of leaving Paris without gold around his neck, four of them to be precise. For Lyles, a repeat of bronze in Tokyo just won't do. Here's the superstar, Noah Lyles. Noah Lyles is back. Brash as he is fast. 1953, trials record. Noah Lyles just ran the fastest time in the world. And motivated by redemption.

The Tokyo Summer Games feel like a lifetime ago. Feel that way to you? I know. Unfortunately, I remember that like it was last year. That's because for Lyles, there is gold, and then there's everything else. Gold is the baseline. I'm expecting to win each time. But I'm going to go in expecting to win because I did all the hard work to do it. Lyles approached the Tokyo Olympics with that signature swagger. Here's the man with all the pressure. So when he entered the track for the 200-meter race, expectations couldn't have been higher. Set.

He came out fast. But then... He used so much energy in the beginning, I didn't have anything for the end. It was when we got to about 50 meters left where I realized I'm not going to win this race. Lyles won bronze. Even with his shoulders wrapped in red, white, and blue, the look on his face was pure disappointment. Three years later, it's fuel. I suspect it's motivating you now. Oh, it's very motivating. It's kind of all that I can think of. From tough losses to his mental health, Lyles has never shied away from talking about difficult things.

I had depression for a long time. Man, I'm just glad to be happy. I'm glad to be out here. I'm glad to be out here. I'm glad to be racing and feeling like myself. He's long been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression, taking medication, and working regularly with sports therapist Diana McNabb. We need to put high octane gas in your tank. She's helped him sharpen his mental game on the track. Emotionally, you're going to just open the flight gates and let feelings start coming to you.

Because when your race lasts less than 20 seconds, every thought, every tiny movement matters. You feel every hundredth of a second? Oh, yeah. I feel it all. Whether you're behind or you're in front. Whether I'm behind, I can hear every breath of every other athlete. I can hear the crowd sometimes, but I know where my foot needs to be. And if it's not there, I know how to get it back to where it needs to be.

The culmination of all that physical and mental work? Last year's World Championship, where Lyles became the first spritter since Usain Bolt to win gold in not just the 200, He gets another World Championship! but the 102. It's Noah Lyles! World Champion! Not just the 200, but the 102. That incredible feat, combined with his big personality and bold fashion choices, earning Lyle's attention way beyond the world of track and field. Ever since I've started the sport, I've known that I wanted to transcend it. Safe to say that signature swagger

is back. Do you want to be a brand? I kind of already see myself as a brand. After leaving Tokyo without a gold medal, Lyles has said he wants to leave Paris with four. What are you chasing now? I feel that I'm not chasing. I'm more kind of defining. I'm defining that I'm the greatest. I'm going to be the greatest. So the title fastest man on the planet. Exactly. That is nightly news for this Friday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.