NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, August 15, 2024

Episode Date: August 16, 2024

Matthew Perry’s assistant and doctors arrested for role in the death of "Friends" star; Biden, Harris hold first event together since ticket shake-up; Medicare negotiates historic drug price cuts; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the criminal charges in connection with the accidental drug overdose death of actor Matthew Perry. More than nine months after the Friends star was found unresponsive in his pool, five people now charged, including Perry's assistant, two doctors, and a woman authorities call the Ketamine Queen. The alleged conspiracy to distribute the drugs that led to his death. Inside, the sprawling investigation. Also tonight, Hurricane Ernesto, gaining strength and taking aim at Bermuda. In Puerto Rico, hundreds of thousands

still without power from the storm. The race for the White House, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris making their first appearance together since he dropped out of the race. Their major announcement on slashing prescription drug prices. Donald Trump taking questions from reporters.

And after the attempt on his life, the new security measures the Secret Service will add to his outdoor rallies. The grim milestone, the death toll in Gaza surpassing 40,000 as ceasefire talks resume without Hamas at the table. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. We knew the death of actor Matthew Perry was tragic, his struggles with addiction, anxiety, and ultimately a fatal overdose last fall. But tonight we're learning the shocking depths of that tragedy and about those who law enforcement officials say took advantage of Perry, seizing on his vulnerabilities and supplying him with drugs, in this case ketamine, that took his life last October. Tonight in California,

five individuals now charged in connection with the death of the Friends actor. Two of them doctors, an alleged drug dealer known in some circles as the Ketamine Queen of North Hollywood, and his former personal assistant. Together, federal agents say they are part of a ring that Perry turned to as his addiction and depression grew worse. Chloe Malas joins us now from outside court with late developments. Lester, two of those arrested today, a doctor and the so-called ketamine queen, have made their first appearances here in downtown Los Angeles at the federal courthouse behind me, making it one step closer for Matthew Perry's loved ones for closure.

Tonight, federal investigators revealing a web of people motivated by greed, including two doctors who they say took advantage of a vulnerable Matthew Perry, supplying him with lethal amounts of ketamine, a well-known party drug, but primarily a medication used for anesthesia, and in recent years prescribed as an alternate treatment for depression. Matthew Perry sought treatment for depression and anxiety and went to a local clinic where he became addicted to intravenous ketamine. When clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage, he turned to unscrupulous doctors who saw Perry as a way to make quick money.

Among those charged, Perry's live-in personal assistant, who investigators say administered that final lethal dose that resulted in his death last October. Officials say the lead defendants are Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as Dr. P, and alleged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, known as the ketamine queen of North Hollywood, according to the Department of Justice. Attorneys for both did not immediately respond for comment. In the fall of 2023, Mr. Perry fell back into addiction and these defendants took advantage to profit. The 18 count indictment lays out how over the course of just one month in the fall of 2023, prosecutors say the ring of individuals supplied Perry with dozens of vials of liquid ketamine, charging the star upwards of $60,000. He wrote in a text message, quote, I wonder how much this moron will pay. Investigators say that these individuals knew Perry had struggled for years with addiction.

They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyways. After Perry's death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office revealed the level of ketamine in Perry's body were so high that they were equivalent to the amount used during general anesthesia during surgery. The arrest after Perry's death comes after high-profile celebrities like Michael Jackson and Prince overdosed and died after also being supplied drugs by medical doctors. Jackson's Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 for improperly administering propofol to the singer. If you are in the business of selling dangerous drugs, we will hold you accountable for the deaths that you cause.

Chloe Malas, NBC News, Los Angeles. And we're joined by our senior legal correspondent, Laura Jarrett. I know the point here is for law enforcement to send a message, but is an investigation of this side going after suppliers typical? Absolutely. And so prosecutors are going to want to show a pattern, want to show that this doctor should have been on notice at how dangerous the drug was. And even if the defendants try to point the finger at each other, they're going to point to their text messages, which show how they tried to coordinate and get their story straight. All right, Laura, thanks very much.

And just in tonight, a major break in the investigation into the death of a general hospital actor. Los Angeles police saying four suspects have been arrested in the May 25th shooting that left actor Johnny Wachter dead. Three are charged with murder. We'll turn now to Hurricane Ernesto gaining strength in the Atlantic as it marches toward Bermuda. The storm expected to grow even more powerful by the time it passes over or near the island Saturday. While in Puerto Rico, hundreds of thousands still without power

after Ernesto's blast. We turn now to the race for the White House. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appearing together today for the first time since he exited the race. And former President Trump at a news conference saying he won't follow the advice of allies who want him to dial back his attacks. Here's Garrett Haik. Tonight, Vice President Harris holding her first joint event with President Biden since he dropped out of the race and endorsed her. She's going to make one hell of a president. Appearing in front of a raucous crowd to tout a White House-led effort to lower drug prices. And today we take the next step, thank you Joe, forward in our fight.

Biden taking aim at Republicans. But they're trying to turn this into a race war. They're trying to turn this into a war about Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Joe! Biden taking aim at Republicans. But they're trying to turn this into a race war. They're trying to turn this into a war about who you are, what your ethnicity is, what your background is. Beforehand, President Biden was asked if Harris might try to distance herself from him on the economy. She's not going to. Later in a press conference, former President Trump tying them together, hammering both Harris and Biden for inflation. You don't have to imagine what a Kamala Harris presidency would be because you're living through that nightmare right now. And it is a nightmare.

And he was pressed about fellow Republicans calling for him to focus on Harris's record instead of unleashing personal attacks. I think I'm entitled to personal attacks. I don't have a lot of respect for her. I don't have a lot of respect for her intelligence. And I think she'll be a terrible president. I mean, she certainly attacks me personally. She actually called me weird. He's weird. And she's weird in her policy. Who wouldn't want to have strong borders? Who doesn't want to have lower taxes? Meanwhile, tonight, NBC News learning from two sources familiar with the planning that the Secret Service will start using bullet resistant glass to protect former President Trump so he can resume

outdoor rallies after he survived an assassination attempt last month in Pennsylvania. Ballistic glass is already available to President Biden and Vice President Harris. All right, Gary, there's been a lot of speculation about debates tonight. We've learned there will be a VP debate. What else do we know? That's right, Lester. That debate between Tim Walz and J.D. Vance now set for October 1st. That's on top of a debate between Harris and Trump next month. And tonight, the Trump campaign still continuing to go after Harris for not holding a press conference or sitting down for an interview since becoming the de facto nominee. She says she intends to do an interview before the end of this month. Lester. All right, Garrett Haig, thank you. More now on that announcement

from the Biden administration, those deep price cuts on prescription drugs under Medicare. As Tom Costello reports, it could potentially save people who need critical medicines thousands of dollars and taxpayers stand to save billions. For eight years, Jackie Trapp has taken two daily medications for incurable blood cancer. Her out-of-pocket costs, she says, as high as $22,000 in a single year. We've had to make sacrifices, big ones and small ones. We've refinanced our house. We have sold two vehicles. You know, we've sold our furnishings. But under the Inflation

Reduction Act, now in effect, her medications will get a lot cheaper in 2026. A 30-day supply of Xarelto to prevent blood clots cut from the list price of $5.17 to $1.97. This year, out-of-pocket drug co-pays capped at roughly $3,300. Next year, a $2,000 cap. Much-needed relief for Americans like Jackie Trapp. After doing this for eight and a half years, I'm running out of things to sell. President Biden and Vice President Harris today called it a big win. This time, we finally beat big pharma. Earlier this year, insulin was capped at $35 a month for Medicare. Now for the first time, Medicare is authorized to negotiate 40 to 80 percent price cuts with pharma on 10 key drugs. Genuvia, Jardiance, Eloquus, and Xarelto. Farzika,

Entresto, Embrel, Stellara, Theospinovalog, and Ambruvica. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure runs Medicare. A lot of Americans have been choosing between putting food on the table or taking their meds. This is not right. It affects all of us when our nation's seniors can't retire, when our nation's seniors are going into diabetic comas because they can't afford their insulin. The pharmaceutical industry has sued but failed to block the law today, saying it will mean higher costs, more frustrating insurance denials, and fewer treatments.

Tom, as you pointed out, these cuts will only affect those on Medicare. What about those under private insurance plans? Will they be able to feel these cuts at some point? Well, you know, we've seen in the past insurance companies often pressure drug companies to meet cheaper Medicare pricing. So it's possible these new drug prices do take effect in 26 and then possibly 15 more drugs in 2027. All right, Tom Costello in our Washington newsroom. Thank you. In Russia, a ballerina with dual Russian-American citizenship was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony after donating to a charity supporting Ukraine, all as Ukraine's military makes big gains inside Russian territory. Erin McLaughlin has more. Tonight, Russian-American dual national Ksenia Karolina,

sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison for high treason, found guilty of donating what her boyfriend says was $51.80 from her U.S. bank account to a charity supporting Ukraine. To call that treason is just absolutely ludicrous. The ballerina appearing today inside the glass box of a Russian courtroom, reminiscent of Evan Gershkovich, who was sent home just days earlier with Paul Whelan and others in a massive international prisoner swamp. Meantime, with reports of Russian gains in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainians announcing today they've gained ground in Russia's Kursk region. President Zelensky claiming his military is now in complete control of the Russian town of Sudza, setting up a military command post. Ukrainian media broadcasting pictures of aid being distributed to occupied Russian civilians. We spoke with one of President Zelenskyy's top advisers, who insists the goal is to defend Ukraine.

Is this an occupation? No, this is definitely not an occupation, he says. This is a destruction of the military objects of the Russian Federation in the Russian rear. On Wednesday, Ukrainian special agents captured more than 100 Russian soldiers, according to its security source, replenishing what they're calling a POW exchange fund, while the Russian Ministry of Defense put out its own video of captured Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian officials say prisoner swap talks are already underway. Historically, U.S. officials have been very careful with what they say so as not to provoke the Russians. Today, we did hear from the NSC's John Kirby say that so far he has not heard any escalatory rhetoric from the Russians,

particularly on the question of the use of nuclear weapons, which is noteworthy. Lester. OK, Erin McLaughlin, thank you. Now to that grim milestone in the war in Gaza, the Hamas run health ministry there saying the death toll has now surpassed 40,000. While in Qatar, negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire resuming, but without Hamas taking part. Richard Engel, who has covered the Middle East for decades, reports tonight from Jerusalem. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry announced today that more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war to destroy Hamas after the group massacred 1,200 people last October.

The figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel says it has killed 17,000 Hamas terrorists and warned civilians to evacuate dangerous areas. But the Gaza Strip is closed off. Most people can't leave. Three analysts tonight tell NBC News 40,000 is likely an undercount. Reem is five months old and cries constantly. Her grandmother thinks it's because she was breastfeeding when her mother was killed and now won't take formula. She will live as an orphan, Anant says. The Israeli military responded to our request for information, saying in part, in stark contrast to Hamas's intentional attacks

on Israeli men, women and children, the IDF follows international law and takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm. Negotiations to stop the fighting and free the hostages still held by Hamas resumed today. So far, no sign of a breakthrough. Lester. All right, Richard Engel, thank you. We're back in a moment with a big change about to happen for anyone looking to buy or sell a home. Brian Chung is here with what you should know and how you can save thousands of dollars. We're back now with the major shakeup in the world of real estate. New rules are about to kick in for realtors. And if you're selling your home, it could save you thousands of dollars. Brian Chung explains. Jan Jager recently sold her

Philadelphia home. Now she's in the market to buy. Is this where you're looking to potentially buy your next house? I would like to, yes. Are you optimistic you'll be able to stay in budget? I'm working on it. But she worries that new rules about realtor commissions going into effect this weekend could cost her. It's just another step in already a very difficult process. And I only say that because I have bought and sold many homes in the past. And this, what's happening today is very different. It used to be fairly simple.

Realtors typically charge between 5% to 6% for a home sale and split the commission with the buyer's agent. That fee is usually paid by the home seller, but new changes could put buyers like Jan on the hook. Experts say new rules from a legal settlement by the National Association of Realtors earlier this year gives home sellers more negotiating power over the commission paid and who pays it, potentially making buyers cover part or even all of the fee. Agents will now ask buyers to sign agreements just to see homes, but CNBC's senior real estate correspondent, Diana Olick, says the new rules could come with savings. It could lower the cost of commissions,

but really what it's doing is making those commissions much more negotiable for the buyer and for the seller because you don't have it really baked in. At risk, the 6% commission so common for realtors, potentially upending the business for brokers like Mike McCann. So it's the biggest change probably in the history of real estate. It has created a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety. Big changes for those looking to make a big move. And Brian, these commissions can add up to a lot of money. We were talking earlier that this can affect people. These new rules affect people differently.

Yeah, certainly the range of outcomes is pretty wide here. But really, at the end of the day, what we're hearing from some brokers is that they might be more inclined to take a less commission on a more expensive home compared to a cheaper home, meaning that in some cases, if you're a starter home, trying to sell a starter home and upgrade, well, that might be a little harder to find a discount in that case. OK, Brian, thank you. That is nightly news for this Thursday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Hull. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.