Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, January 29, 2024

Episode Date: January 30, 2024

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight, the crisis in the Middle East, widening after a deadly drone attack kills three U.S. troops and injures dozens more. We're now learning the identities of the fallen soldiers as questions mount over if the enemy drone was mistaken for a U.S. drone headed back to base. President Biden vowing to retaliate, but still no word on his exact plan. The brazen attack adding a new layer to the complexities in the Middle East. Could this be the flashpoint that triggers a wider regional war? Also, tonight tense talks, new details on a hostage deal that could temporarily pause the Israel-Hamas war again. The new framework calling for the release of all Israeli and U.S. hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Where the deal stands right now.

Plus, NBC's Andrea Mitchell sits down with the Prime Minister of Qatar. His response to allegations that U.N. agency staffers had a role in the October 7th Hamas terror attack. New trial denied a judge turning down any hope for convicted murderer Ellick Murdoch's defense after they called for a hearing over alleged jury tampering. All jurors taking to the stand to discuss whether or not the clerk in the case tried to sway their decision. The judge finding their words did not warrant a retrial. The startling testimony from one juror, plus the harsh words the judge had for the clerk. Rap murder trial, two decades after run DMC-star Jam Master Jay was killed in his own recording studio, two men charged in the killing face a federal jury.

The deal gone wrong that prosecutors say points to a motive. Plus, a dramatic dog-napping, a woman clinging onto the hood of a car after her French bulldog was snatched off the street. It's all part of a disturbing trend of French bulldogs being sold on the black market. Her decision to jump on that moving car and what she wants other dog owners to know. And Paris under siege. French farmers protesting in their own fashion, using tractors to block major highways surrounding Paris. It is all part of an effort to pressure the government to ease regulations and protect

farmers against rising outside cost? What will it take to ease the blockade? Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. Tonight, President Biden just meeting in the situation room to determine how to retaliate for the drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan. This, as we are learning the identities of the three U.S. soldiers killed. 46-year-old Sergeant William Rivers, 24-year-old specialist Kennedy Sanders, and 23-year-old specialist Brianna Moffitt. All three were assigned to a U.S. Army Reserve Unit based out of Georgia. Dozens of others were injured in Sunday's drone attack, which hit a military outpost in

Northeastern Jordan, known as Tower 22. It sits near a demilitarized zone on the border between Jordan and Syria. President Biden says Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Syria. and Iraq were responsible for the attack. Iran has denied any involvement. This as questions arise over how this could have happened. One theory, a possible mix-up between the enemy drone and a U.S. drone. NBC News, Pentagon correspondent Courtney Kuby starts us off tonight. Today, President Biden meeting with his national security team in the situation room. Under pressure to respond after an attack, the Pentagon says, was launched by Iranian-backed militias in which U.S.

were killed. We've now learned the names of the three fallen troops, 46-year-old Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, 23-year-old specialist Brianna Alexandra Moffat, whose family described her as a very loving person, a very giving person, she loved life, and 24-year-old specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, her mother talking to us tonight. She never expressed any fear, and Tower 22 is nothing that she ever mentioned to us. She was full of life. She enjoyed life to the fullest. You know, she was just a rate of sunshine for anyone that came in contact with her. The soldiers were killed Sunday night at a small outpost in northeastern Jordan, known as Tower 22, where about 350 U.S. soldiers and airmen are deployed. The Pentagon saying a drone

packed with explosives hit near a housing area while many troops were asleep. At least 40 troops were injured, including eight who had to be medevac for further treatment. Tonight, Pentagon officials saying the drone flew in at the same time that a U.S. drone was also landing, possibly confusing the air defense systems. They're also looking at whether it's low altitude was a factor. And now U.S. officials are considering whether this could be a new tactic by the militias. This weekend, President Biden vowing to respond. A major question tonight, will the U.S. strike inside Iran's borders? We will respond.

We'll do that on our schedule in our time. We are not looking for a war with Iran. Iran says it's not behind the deadly strike. The Pentagon says Iranian-backed militias have targeted bases with Americans more than 160 times in recent months. Previous U.S. responses have been limited and not deterred the attacks. Some Republicans calling for a tougher response from President Biden. I think it's important to go after Iran.

The Biden appeasement policy with regard to Iran has not worked Courtney QB joins us now from the Pentagon. Courtney, what more are we learning about the Situation Room meeting? So we know that President Biden has now on several different occasions been presented with options for retaliation here. And I think what we need to remember is the U.S. has retaliated against previous attacks, against bases with Americans in Iraq and Syria, but there's now been more than 160 of those attacks. But these have been more targeted in the past. So they'll go after a facility where they store drones, these militia groups, or something

that is specifically trying to degrade these militia group's capability to carry out future attacks. Officials are saying that this retaliation will look and feel different. They are looking at a much broader set of options here. And what we're waiting to hear is exactly what will President Biden approve to do, Ellison. Courtney QB at the Pentagon. Thank you. For more on this incident and what might come next. I'm joined by retired Lieutenant Colonel Danny Davis. He's a former United States Army officer with 21 years of active service and a senior fellow at defense priorities. Lieutenant Colonel Davis, thank you so much for being with us tonight. I want to start with what U.S. officials revealed today. They're saying that the enemy drone here approached

at about the same time that a U.S. drone was returning to base. How does this sort of confusion, happen. Break down for us the technology at play. When something is coming in, how do you know that's not our drone or that is? Yeah, with that, I think that probably what we're seeing here is a very, actually a brand new technique, something that hasn't been tried before. Most likely, what these militia members have been doing has been conducting reconnaissance on our sites. They've been watching. They've been seeing how we come in, how we go out, how we launch these intelligence drones that we have to do reconnaissance, and they probably have, especially if there was any kind of normal pattern and normal flight pattern for these things, they probably

timed it out to where they were ready to launch at the same time. And when you're sitting there watching these things on a radar, I mean, it's not like sometimes you see on TV where everything is a blip and it's easily identified. You could be seeing something you expect to be seeing coming in, and all of a sudden there's one, maybe two, and you're not sure at all it takes is a few seconds of uncertainty, and that thing can come through and that we see the deadly results. As Courtney was just explaining there, President Biden is working through options for retaliation right now. At least that's what she's being told by officials and other sources at the Pentagon. The United States, as she was explaining, they have retaliated before in an instance like this,

right? But it was more targeted attacks after there were moments, tensions, issues, missiles fired by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. But all of those were incredibly targeted. They were targeting where militia members supposedly kept weapons, things like that. Courtney is saying that she is being told this retaliation is going to look different. From your point of view, what is the most effective, plausible avenue of retaliation here? Well, you ask the right question. What's the most effective? And that means what is going to be the most beneficial for the United States? And I know that emotionally, everybody wants to have some big punishing strike and really hurt Iran, because I know you actually showed a couple of scenes.

There's been many more American figures have been saying we need to go and hit Iran, hit them hard like Lindsey Graham has been saying. But look, you have to answer before you launch one missile and then what? What comes next? We've lost three troops right now, and it was anguishing to me to sit here and watch the family members of that one specialist as you were talking as someone who's someone who's seen people die in combat. It's just heart-wrenching to me. But I don't want to see any more. And so we need to make sure we don't do something that's going to cause an automatic and expected

retaliation even larger coming back. And I can assure you, Iran does have an ability to escalate things if we strike inside of Iran proper. Now, Americans have been killed, so we do have to take a response. But I think it needs to be targeted against the people who did this. And that's probably Khatib Hezbollah and some of these other groups in Iraq and Syria, that's appropriate and reasonable. But if we go beyond that and go into Iran proper, then we could be unleashing holy hell that God only knows where it could end up. And we better be ready for that before one missile gets launched. You're touching there on the danger of going too far. Is there a danger here of not going far enough with some sort of retaliation? Well, look, for sure, all of these

so-called messages that we've been trying to send, and we've been talking about how, you know, But we've been very clear on this, look, it hadn't had any deterrent effect. None of the stuff in the Red Sea has had a deterrent effect. These things in Iraq and in Syria haven't had a deterrent effect because they're willing to pay the price on this. That's the bottom line. That's why the most effective strategy we can do, which I've been advocating for years, to prevent this very outcome, is to withdraw our troops from Iraq and Syria. This, frankly, nonsense that Kirby's been saying earlier today about how we have an important counter-IS mission still going on is simply not true. It's basically the same as saying we're trying to drain a swimming pool with an eyedropper in a rainstorm.

It doesn't make any difference. It doesn't keep us safe, but it does put our troops at risk. And then it puts us in a position like this where we, to try to respond, could actually escalate into a war that nobody in America needs or wants, and we need to avoid that at all costs. So there's not more American casualties. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Danny Davis, thank you so much for your time analysis and insights. We really appreciate it. Thanks for me.

Now to the war between Israel and Hamas, negotiators working on a possible deal to free all of the remaining hostages in Gaza. It comes as the Israeli government accuses a dozen U.N. aid workers of participating in the horrific October 7th, Hamas terror attacks. NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell today, pressing the Prime Minister of Qatar about possible consequences. Tonight, stunning allegations that at least 12 U.N. employees helped carry out the October. 7th Hamas terror attacks. Two Israeli intelligence dossiers reviewed by NBC News accusing some staff of the UN Relief and Works Agency, including an elementary school teacher and a social worker, of kidnapping hostages and procuring weapons for Hamas. One dossier alleging 10 percent of the agency staff belonged to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Shihad, and linking

half of its 12,000 employees to the terror groups. NBC News has not confirmed the allegations. The U.N. fired the accused employees, and the U.S. and others stopped sending money to the agency pending an investigation. Today, I ask Qatar's Prime Minister about Israel's allegations. It cannot be punished because of the act of some employees as long as they are complying with their... Including kidnapping a woman, according to the allegation? We don't know about the allegation yet until the investigation come out yet. Meanwhile, we've learned details about a proposed new hostage deal spy chiefs from the U.S. Egypt, Qatar, and Israel agreed to this weekend.

It calls for a halt in fighting for 60 days, the release of all civilian hostages, women first, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. After a month, Hamas would release women IDF soldiers, then male IDF soldiers, as Israel releases the rest of the Palestinian prisoners, thousands of them. Yesterday was a good progress made to get things back in shape and at least to lay a foundation.

We don't know and we cannot predict what Hamas respond will be. Also, there are parents of American hostages, including 19-year-old E. Tei Khan. The hostages cannot be collateral damage. They need to come out. Then you could do whatever you want. And Andrea Mitchell joins us now from Washington, D.C. Andrea, this was such an interesting, compelling interview with the Prime Minister of Qatar. What are U.S. and Israeli officials saying publicly about this new deal?

Well, Secretary of State, Blinken said that it is strong and compelling. The Qaeda prime minister said that he's hoping Hamas accepts it, but now it's in the hands of Hamas. The bottom line is Hamas can veto anything because they want a ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire up front. And this is a phased deal, but it does get all the civilian and military hostages out. That's the first time they've agreed to that, all four of these other leaders. And it also gets all the Palestinian prisoners released. That's thousands of prisoners, Alison. So that's going to be controversial with Israel.

Andrea Mitchell in Washington. Thank you. We want to turn now to some other breaking news we've been following tonight. A South Carolina judge denying convicted murderer Ehrlich Murdoch a retrial in the killing of his wife and son. The decision coming after a juror on that case testified today that they were influenced by the clerk of court. Here's NBC News correspondent Sam Brock with the details. After Alec Murdoch's double murder conviction of his wife and younger son less than a year ago, a new ruling tonight, he will not face another trial, though the judge taking issue with the

clerk of court's behavior and comments. I find that the clerk of court is not completely credible as a witness. Ms. Hill was attracted by the siren call of celebrity. Did Clark of Court Hill's comments have any impact on the verdict of the jury? I find that the answer to this question is no. This was not going to be the final say-so on the law. That's going to be determined by the appellate courts. The decision coming amidst this split screen of clerk of court Becky Hill a year ago swearing in Murdo.

And now, defending whether she interfered with justice and this testimony from a juror known as juror Z. Was your verdict influenced in any way by the communications of the clerk of court in this case? Yes, ma'am. And how was it influenced? To me, it felt like she made it seem like he was already guilty. All right. And I understand that. That's the tenor of the remarks she made.

Did that affect your finding of guilty in this case? Yes, ma'am. Juror Z, previously writing in an affidavit that Hill told the jury not to be fooled by the defense's case, but that she felt pressure from others on the jury to vote guilty, never mentioning Hill. Of the 11 other jurors, a second recalled Hill saying something before Murdoch's testimony. She made a comment about watch his body language. But all 11 said their decision was not impacted by any communication from Hill, a point highlighted by the state in closing arguments. This here is overwhelming, I would say, from the people that matter, and that's those jurors.

Still, some seemingly damning evidence came up about Hill, whose fundamental role. is to handle backroom duties, jury logistics, and trial exhibits. Hill testified that she never spoke about Murdoch with any of the jurors and denied all claims made by the defense. At any time, did you tell the jury not to be fooled by evidence presented by Mr. Murdoch's attorneys? I did not. And a friend and fellow clerk of court who was asked about Hill's potential book in future sales and whether it was ever broached before trial. Well, first of all, she said we might want to write a book because she needed a lakehouse and I needed to retire. And then further conversations, a guilty verdict would sell more books.

In the end, the judge's decision came down to actual proven prejudice as this layered legal battle continues to take new turns. And Sam Brock joins us now from Columbia, South Carolina. So Sam, what have we heard from Murdoch's team about a possible appeal? to this decision. Yeah, they're appealing this, Ellison, no surprise to the state of South Carolina. They made the point, look, this would have been appealed either way. Should the judge have ruled in a retrial, the state would be appealing. So in many ways, this was expected.

But Murdoch's attorney said that they feel vindicated in the sense that Becky Hill, according to the facts, they say, was proven to have tried to influence the outcome of the trial. A really interesting nugget as well. The judge did say that she went through the entire transcript of the six-week-long trial. in her expertise, the jurors made the right decision. And that, in fact, right now, they will not influenced by their decision in that verdict. So it all worked out in that sense. But it might not, if you can believe it, be the end of the road. I guess we'll have to find out. Back to you. Sam Brock in South Carolina. Thank you. We appreciate it. For more on this shocking development,

I want to bring in NBC News legal analyst, Angela Sinadella. Angela, I mean, listening to Sam saying that, that the judge also went through six weeks of testimony to see whether or not she thought it they were influenced at all by this clerk of court before reaching her decision. Was all of this a surprise to you? I mean, were you surprised, one, that this could be brought up in this manner, two, that the clerk of court acted in the way that she allegedly did, and three, that in this instance, the judge was able to reach a decision so quickly? Alison, it has all been shocking because this is not standard.

This is not what usually happens in any courthouse across America. Now, I would say prior to today's hearing, I actually thought there was no change. a judge would offer a new trial, would grant a new trial. And that's because she limited the defense so severely. She said things like, you cannot bring up Becky Hill's plagiarism. You cannot attack her character. You cannot bring in the alternate juror as a witness. But then as we saw today, the judge really just tore into Becky Hill

and almost brought in evidence that she herself had previously said would be excluded. So she really attacked Becky's character. She also allowed for this alternate juror. So I was surprised that she changed her mind. I was also then surprised she went backwards. It was interesting because there was one juror in this testimony. Going back to what happened with the clerk of court, I covered this trial. It's a small community.

There is a lot of just interactions seeing each other in different spaces. There's one clerk of court, a very small courthouse. In some ways, it makes sense they would be talking, but the allegation always was, but not like that, and that she was writing this book, all those different layers. But there was one juror who told this judge, I do feel like I was influenced by what she had to say. Was one juror saying that never going to be enough, or is that still something that was a significant comment? I mean, that surprised me. So the judge has discretion to look at everything. And I think the judge could have looked at the number of jurors, but also could have looked at the impact upon that one juror.

So what I think is impactful is that she never said that Becky Hills talking to her, Becky Hill's very improper conduct, that now has been acknowledged by all parties as totally outside of the bounds, is what led her to the verdict. So ultimately what the judge was saying is that the verdict would not have been any different had it been Becky Hill or had it been someone else. Jurors also, I think it was that same juror, also said that she felt she was persuaded or they felt they were persuaded by some of the other members of the jury. Some of this I was watching and I had kind of two thoughts. And I am not a lawyer, but I do love to watch things and pretend that I am. I love law and order. But one, isn't that kind of the point of a jury that you all are sitting together and somebody's going to disagree, but you have to get to a decision?

So you're going to be trying to kind of negotiate or influence. And then also on the flip side, this idea of a juror saying, well, I was sort of influenced, but it didn't change my opinion. I mean, there are things all the time that happen in court that somebody objects to. And then the judge just looks at the jury and says, strike that. But it's like they still heard it. So when we're talking about this idea of things being influenced, not, I mean, I guess it's like how do, how is this kind of what happens? And it's just playing out in public in a weird way for us. Alison, first of all, I think you would make an amazing attorney.

And that's because you actually got on the exact point. And I think this was the point that judge was trying to make. So I believe that if that jersey had testified today that in that moment, it was not the other jurors who made her change her mind. But in fact, it was what Becky Hill had said that led her to her verdict, even though she believed Murdoch was not guilty. That would have changed the game. But the fact that she focused on the other jurors persuading her, you're right. That is the point of a jury system. That's why we are not allowed inside jury deluxe. liberation rooms. They're supposed to influence each other. We're not supposed to see what happens. Now, people like Becky Hill, though, are not on the outside, supposed to be changing the verdict. So that's exactly right. Jurors are supposed to influence other jurors. Now, outside

court people, anyone outside of that jury room is not supposed to. Angela Nadella, I could talk about this. Would be forever. Thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it, as always. Now to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, facing the possibility of impeachment, accused by Republicans of failing to enforce immigration. law. It comes as Senate negotiators are working on a new border deal, despite long odds it will pass the Republican-controlled House. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles is following it all for us tonight. Tonight, for the first time in 150 years, a cabinet official is staring down the possibility of impeachment. House Republicans accusing DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

of willful and systemic refusal to comply with immigration laws and a breach of public trust. Since President Biden took office, there's been a record 8.6 million migrants crossing the border. Joe Biden has turned every community into a border community with his failed policies. But Democrats blasting the move. The House Republicans have clearly turned their ever-shrinking majority over to the extremists. And this sham impeachment of Secretary Mayarchus is just another sad example. Majorcas, a key part of the negotiations around a border security package,

which Republicans demanded before they'll pass any new funding for Ukraine. Bipartisan senators are working on the border legislation, President Biden vowed, would help him deal with the crisis, including granting him new emergency authority. If that bill with the law today, I'd shut down the border

right now and fix it quickly. If Joe Biden truly wanted to secure the border, he doesn't really need a bill. I did it with the current laws. Republican Frontrunner Donald Trump urging Congress to torpedo the deal for not being tough enough. Please blame it on me. Please. Because they were getting ready to pass a very bad bill. Among the provisions, it could still allow up to 5,000 migrants per day to cross the border. But Democrats and some Republicans believe Trump wants to kill the bill to boost his presidential

prospects. Ryan Nobles joins us now from Capitol Hill. So Ryan, even if the Senate manages to finish and pass this new border bill. What does its future look like in the House? I shouldn't even ask, yeah, but do tell us. You're right to chuckle, Allison. It is very uncertain. And that, in part, is because the House Speaker, Mike Johnson, keeps giving us every reason to think it would never pass the House.

He said earlier this week that if the rumors were true about the proposed package, which none of us have actually seen yet, that it would end up being dead on arrival in the House. And then he indicated today that if the provision, that would allow the president to take executive action to prevent people from crossing the border, weren't down to zero crossings a day, which they haven't been zero crossings a day for a generation, then he wouldn't support the legislation. So there's going to be a very high bar in order for this to pass the House right now, and it's not clear of this legislation, which I will point out one more time. We have yet to see yet. It's not clear whether or not it's going to be able to pass that bar and get through the House.

Ryan Nobles. Thank you. For more on the situation at the southern border, let's get right to Guad vanegas, who joins us now from Eagle Pass, Texas. So, Guad, last month, we saw record border crossings, more than 300,000 in December alone. Now it seems those numbers have come down a bit. What is driving the decrease so far? Ellison, well, when this search was taking place, DHS Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary of State Blinken went to Mexico and they met with Mexican authorities to discuss how to slow the flow of migrants arriving here at the U.S. Mexico border. They agreed with the Mexican president that more enforcement needed to be done in Mexico, which has been done on the Mexican side. So now we have more checkpoints and more enforcement by Mexican immigration that has been slowing the flow of those migrants. We also have to keep in mind that that large number we saw that search was part of a caravan that took off from southern Mexico at some point in late October and made its way through the country eventually arriving here in December. So it was a very large group of migrants that arrived.

And now, of course, we've seen that number decrease to very small groups. We were here in December. We were seeing groups of hundreds arrive daily, thousands in the entire area here. Whereas today, we spent the day here in Eagle Pass, and we saw less than 10 migrants across the river. here today, Alison. We know the state of Texas has been fighting with the federal government over use of razor wire along the border in the Rio Grande River. What is the latest on that? Right. So it's been such a changing situation. So state authorities began installing the razor wire. There's two types of wire, by the way. There's concertina wire, which is the wire that we've

seen installed along the riverbank to try to deter migrants from coming across the water. At one point, Border Patrol had to cut that Constantino wire to get to some of the migrants that were trapped on the bank of the river. Essentially, they were rescuing them. So that's where they cut that wire. But now, after the Supreme Court ruled that Border Patrol can't cut that wire or move it if they choose to do so, after that now, Texas National Guard is installing razor wire, which they're now putting on top of some of the containers behind me. That razor wire is meant to deter migrants from climbing over those containers. So two different types of wire. First, the concertina wire, and that razor wire that's even sharper, still being installed after the Supreme Court said Border Patrol can't cut that.

Now, this is inside of Shelby Park, an area that has been shut down by state authorities, as they are not permitting Border Patrol to enter here. They are allowing Border Patrol to come in and use the boat ramp, but we have not seen Border Patrol agents inside the park. We have National Guard and State Troopers inside of this area detaining any Mike. that does cross the river to come to the United States. And also I should add that the migrants that are being detained by state authorities are being turned over to the state troopers who are then charging them with criminal

trespassing, Nelson. Guadvanegas, thank you. Back overseas now in the angry French farmers blockading Paris. Some farmers setting fire to foreign goods and dumping trash outside of government offices, as low prices and high taxes and EU regulations threaten their way of life. The French government deploying thousands of police officers in response. NBC News foreign correspondent Josh Letterman has been following the protest and has this report. An extraordinary site on the Paris highways, tractors, hundreds of them, as far as the eye can see.

Signs in French reading, angry farmer. Angry over what French farmers say is an existential threat to their way of life. Red tape, low prices, and high taxes they say may put them out of business. We've had enough, this organic farmer says, enough with demands disconnected from reality, enough with the markets spiraling downwards. These protests have been rocking France for days. But now, farming unions say they're kicking into higher gear, vowing a siege on the French capital, attempting to block all major roads into Paris, threatening to drive their tractors all the way to Ellicay, the presidential palace. In southern France, farmers setting a tree. truck of red peppers on fire, then flipping it, tires set aflame, trash dumped outside government

offices. Tonight, France is deploying some 15,000 police officers to keep farmers from literally shutting down Paris. The interior minister threatening arrests, putting farmers on notice, saying authorities won't tolerate a blockade on Paris airports, or the rungest fresh food market, one of the world's largest, which feeds millions of people. The unrest is fueled by frustration over impacts from the war in Ukraine, which led the EU to suspend import limits for Ukrainian food. Now farmers say cheap Ukrainian goods are flooding France and driving down prices. Arnold Pouche runs a poultry and corn farm near Normandy, where two of his kids work with him on the family farm. For example, wine producer don't sell wine in Russia since two years. And Russia

was a big market for us. Some people think these protests are going too far. How do you? response. You must know that we are on the highway, but we don't destroy the highway. And until now, we have the support of the consumers and the citizen. They are aware that we feed them all the year. Over the weekend, France's new Prime Minister, Gabriel Atal, offered farmers a deal. Steps like simplifying environmental rules and freezing taxes on tractor diesel. But farming unions dismissed it as small potatoes and vowed to keep fighting. The longer these protests go on, the more there are growing concerns about food shortages in France. And with Paris set to host the Olympic Games in just five months,

French authorities say this crisis cannot last much longer. Ellison? Josh Letterman, thank you. Still ahead tonight, the man who leaked former President Trump's tax documents is heading to prison. A former IRS contractor pleading guilty to stealing those documents and leaking them to the press, how much time he'll spin behind bars. Plus, dramatic video shows a woman clinging. to the hood of a speeding car, her stolen dog inside, the hunt for that dog mapper now underway

and why one particular breed may be at risk. And have you tried to search Taylor Swift's name on the social platform X today? If so, you may have seen this error message. Why Elon Musk has temporarily banned users from searching for the pop star. Stay with us. Back now to a trial for a murder that shocked the music world more than 20 years ago. New York prosecutors say they have identified the men who killed Run DMC's trailblazing DJ Jam Master Jay at his Queen's recording studio back in 2002. The two suspects maintaining their innocence. NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett has more. This is my recital. I think it's very vital.

For nearly two decades, the killing of. Run DMC's Jam Master Jay has stood as one of the hip-hop world's most infamous unsolved crimes. But in a courtroom in Brooklyn today, federal prosecutors delivered their opening statements in the trial of the two men charged with his murder. And they walked in and they murdered him in cold blood. Carl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington are accused of gunning down the hip-hop star at his Queen's recording studio in October of 2002. Both men were later arrested in 2020 and have pleaded not guilty. All their raps was nothing about violence. They was party rappers, you know, not to make people dance and this and this.

So for something like this to happen, I mean, it's just a shock. The motive? Vengeance for a drug deal gone wrong, according to prosecutors who say Jam Master Jay, whose real name is Jason Mizelle, was ambushed. Jordan accused of shooting Mizeel in the head while Washington stood at the door with a gun. Run DMC, you know, they're legends in rap, so, you know, it's definitely a tragic moment. Prosecutors telling jurors they will hear from eyewitnesses who were in the studio that night. Washington's lawyer arguing the case was held together with, quote, tape and glue, and said prosecutors have no clue who really killed Mizelle.

Run DMC widely regarded as one of the most influential music groups in hip-hop history. The group founded in Queens, New York dominating the charts during the rise of rap in the 1980s. They were the first hip-hop group to go gold and platinum and the first to appear on a Rolling Stone cover. But that fame opened the door for greed, prosecutors told the jury today. In Queens tonight, Candles lit outside a mural of Myzel in his home neighborhood of Hollis, the community hopeful for justice, 20 years later. Finally got justice for him. That's good for his family and friends. Everybody that knows.

NBC News, New York. Now to the desperate search for a dog napper in Los Angeles. Shocking new video shows the moment a woman clings to the car driving away with her beloved French bulldog who was picked up and stolen outside of a whole foods. It's part of a concerning new trend of dog kidnappings in this country. NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz has this story. It's a shocking video, a woman clinging to the hood of a car as thieves speed off with her one-year-old. year old French bulldog. I said, this is it. This is how I'm going to die. Allie Zacharias miraculously survived, saying she fell off two blocks later as she watched the dog nappers drive away with

Little Onyx. We're eating right here. Outside the Whole Foods in downtown Los Angeles with a terrifying incident unfolded, Zacharias described to us the moments a woman stole him and ran to a getaway car. My only request was to stop the car. So I stood in front of the car and I put my hands out and I said, stop. I said, do not go. And I didn't think that they'd drive into a human. The next thing I know, they, like, drove into me and, like, bang me until I fell on the hood. This all happened right here at this intersection, and it's part of a disturbing trend. These prized French bulldogs snatched from their owners, often then sold on the black market. In 2021, Lady Gaga's two Frenchies were taken after shooting her dog walker.

The dogs found after she offered a $500,000 reward for their safe return. And just last November, thieves stole a dozen puppies worth $100,000 from an L.A. pet store. French Bulldogs, the number one dog breed in America, cost between $3,000 to $9,000, some even more. Were you aware that people often target these dogs when you got? Yes, but I never thought it was me. I never thought that was in my situation. Onyx, now a statistic with Zacharias still praying he'll be returned. Liz Kreutz, NBC News, Los Angeles. up a woman caught on camera attacking a store clerk with pepper spray, the reason she went back

to the store just an hour after stealing a bottle of tequila. Back now with Top Stories News Feed, and we began with the sentencing of the ex-I-R-S contractor who leaked former President Donald Trump's tax records. Charles Little John sentenced to serve five years in a federal prison and pay a $5,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to stealing Trump's tax records and then leaking them to two media outlets. Little John also leaked the records of thousands of other wealthy people, including billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. A Florida woman is in custody after she was caught on camera, stealing liquor and assaulting a cashier.

Surveillance video shows that 27-year-old Pepper, spraying a cashier at a North Miami Walgreens just one hour after allegedly stealing a bottle of Don Julio tequila. The suspect had returned to the store after dropping her phone as she ran out the first time. Two other victims were reportedly caught up in this attack, including a five-year-old. No word yet on their condition and no word yet on charges for that suspect. The social platform X blocking some searches for Taylor Swift after explicit AI deepfakes the singer went viral. Users on the site are now shown an error message if they try to search the singer's name individually without quotation marks. The blockade is a safety measure as

the site works to remove all images of non-consensual nudity. The account that originally posted the image has been suspended swift as yet to comment. Now to power and politics and the race for the White House this weekend, Nikki Haley, saying she does not necessarily have to win the next primary in South Carolina against former President Trump, despite the fact that it is her home state. Our Kristen Welker pressed Haley on that position yesterday during an exclusive interview on Meet the Press. I think I need to do better than I did in New Hampshire. So this is a building situation. It's not about which state you get in which state. Do you need to actually, and I hear you say you need to do better, but don't you need to win your

home state to show that you can win a state, win your home state, and really put some delegates on the map for yourself? Well, we've got 17 delegates. He's got 32. I'd say that's pretty good to start. What I do think I need to do is I need to show that I'm building momentum. I need to show that I'm stronger in South Carolina than New Hampshire. Does that have to be a win? I don't think that necessarily has to be a win, but it certainly has to be better than what I did in New Hampshire, and it certainly has to be close. For more on the Haley campaign's strategy. We're joined now by Matt Gorman, former senior advisor to the Tim Scott campaign. Matt, thank you so much for being here. Let's start with that video we just played.

What is your reaction to Haley's strategy here? You know, she's wanted the one-on-one race against Trump for a while. She finally got it in New Hampshire. In theory, set up well for open primary small state governor who was popular and wanted to be everywhere as a surrogate, and Trump won comfortably. So, look, at the end of the day, you've got to start winning somewhere. You know, Rick Flair, the 80s wrestler, said, you want to be the man? You've got to beat the man. So my question is this, you know, we have about four weeks of South Carolina.

She's currently losing by about 20 points. If it's 20 points, say, two weeks from now, that gap, that's a very different conversation than it is right now. So what is sort of the number since you mentioned 20 points here, specifically, let's get into hypotheticals? I mean, your former boss, Tim Scott, obviously from South Carolina, has endorsed former President Donald Trump, ahead of the primary in South Carolina. But when we're talking numbers, the spread, the up or down, what would be a realistic gap, if

you will, if Haley does, in fact, lose South Carolina, where it's like, okay, her argument works, that she has enough delegates for it to be worth staying in it moving forward, and what sort of is the number that's like there's no way you come back from that, just walk away now? I mean, look, you know, a lot of the Super Tuesday states, by half of them, are open primary, semi-open, if you will. But to get to that point, you've got to get really close in South Carolina, and that might even be pushing it. She really needs to show that she can win somewhere, win outright,

not just come in second, not just have a moral victory. You know, South Carolina is her home state. Since she left the governor's mansion, about 600,000 new voters have come to the state. A lot of them, transplants from the north, you know, college grad and above higher incomes. So that could be fertile ground for her. But again, you've got to start winning somewhere.

That's the key here. Is there any state right now when you're looking at the numbers and polling that you think she might be able to win that state outright? I've heard, you know, possibly Vermont, possibly D.C., but again, neither of those are a home state. South Carolina is a home state, and it just happens to be third. So right now, to even get to that point where we're having that conversation, she has to close the gap in South Carolina. It cannot be 20 points in her home state. So that's kind of mission number one. All right.

Matt Gorman, thank you so much for your insight on this. This was an interesting, long-ranging interview. I wish we could talk to you all night. Thank you so much for being here. Matt Gorman, we really appreciate it. Just ahead, animal rights activist in Mexico march in protest of the return of bullfighting. The massive pushback from hundreds after the Supreme Court lifted a ban in Mexico City. And a Russian Olympic figure skater at the center of a doping scandal learns her fate.

the decision to disqualify her and what that means for her gold medal. Back now with the Americas, and our focus tonight is a debate raging in Mexico City. Hundreds of protesters turning up at the world's largest bullfighting arena after the country's Supreme Court lifted a two-year ban on the sport. Opponents arguing bullfighting is animal cruelty, but others say it is essential to Mexican culture. NBC news correspondent, Stephen Romo, has more. After nearly two years, bullfighting is back in Mexico City.

But outside the arena, an equally intense battle. This protester is saying bullfighting normalizes violence, adding that it's slaughter for recreation. Despite the masses gathered in opposition, Plaza Mexico, the largest bullfighting arena in the world, with 41,000 seats. opening its doors once more on Sunday after the Mexican Supreme Court temporarily lifted a 22 bullfighting ban in Mexico City. The arena's director hopeful they'll be able to celebrate bullfights for many years to come. While the Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning for lifting the ban, it originally cited that the fights violated the right to an environment free from violence.

This Mexico City congressman surprised at the outset. but committed to making bullfights illegal in the capital city again. But not all Mexicans feel this way. One spectator saying her father raised bulls and gave them an excellent life. In fact, bullfights are still federally legal in the country and many groups like this one, hosting events and training sessions meant to inspire the next generation of bullfighting officinados. This aspiring bullfighter says he dreams of hearing the meaningful ole that's offered in Mexico. But tensions over this century's old tradition not just happening in Mexico.

Stop less bullfighting. In Rome, protesters with the organization Pita interrupting a prayer service led by Pope Francis. While months earlier, animal activists at the Vatican holding a silent protest accusing the Catholic Church of condoning the practice. Across the globe, around 250,000 bulls die each year during bullfights, according to the Humane Society International. A tradition originating in Spain, it's still practiced in eight countries. A push to outlaw the practice in Colombia last year, not making it out of Congress. The Mexican president saying he'd explore the possibility of a referendum on the capital city's

bullfighting ban, but hasn't made solid. plans. Until then, Mexico City grappling with changing times and honoring its heritage. Stephen Romo joins us now in studio. So, Stephen, do we know if the decision here from the Mexican point of view is at all motivated by the fact that they generate a lot of revenue from these bullfighting events? We certainly cannot ignore that. We've got to follow the money, right? Most things that are cited right here have to do with the cultural history of it. But a national Association for Bullfighting. They admit $400 million is brought in each and every year from those numbers dating back to 2018 due to this ban. They also say the industry employed about

80,000 people. So there is this rich cultural history, but we can't ignore the economics that could be driving this decision. Alison. Stephen Romo, thank you. Now to top stories, Global Watch, and we begin with a shark attack at a popular harbor in Australia. Authorities say a woman is in critical condition tonight after she was bitten in the leg while swimming alone in Sydney Harbor. Even though a nearby veterinarian applied a tourniquet, the woman suffered immense blood loss and muscle damage on her right leg before being rushed to the hospital. The home of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's son was raided today in connection to a spying investigation. Federal police serving search and seizure warrants against Carlos

Bolsonaro. He is accused of using Brazilian intelligence to illegally monitor citizens during his father's administration. The former president's lawyer telling local medial Bolsonaro was at the property earlier in the day, but left before authorities arrived. Seven other properties were also rated. And Russian figure skater Camilla Valewa will be stripped of her 2022 Olympic gold medal for doping. The punishment announced by the court of arbitration for sport two years after she tested positive for a banned substance while competing at the Beijing Olympics. Valleva's lawyers had tried to argue she had taken her grandfather's heart medication by mistake and should not be disciplined. The U.S., which finished second in the team event, will now be awarded the gold

medal. When we come back marking an important milestone, a California veteran who survived the Pearl Harbor attack celebrating his 100th birthday, the family and friends who showed up to make his day extra special. And finally tonight, we take you to California, where a Pearl Harbor survivor celebrated his 100th birthday. The U.S. Navy veterans surrounded by three generations of his family on his special day. The bombs blasts, the cannons roar, the sights and sounds of battle. For Chuck Kohler, turning 100 was a birthday for the history books. This is wonderful. Oh, my goodness gracious. I don't think many people get to experience something like this.

Kohler, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, celebrating his special day with over 100 friends and relatives who gathered to mark the milestone. I've had a lot of, I've been involved in a lot of things during my life, and, you know, but this, this is maybe the most exciting and pleasing that I've had. We all gave some, and some gave off. Kohler remembering the day when over 2,400 of his fellow shipmates, comrades, lost their lives at war. At the time, he was just 17 years old. He says he feels lucky to be celebrating a century, and he feels touched by the recognition. All of these people, who knows where all they've came from, because of me, who wish me a happy birthday, I'll never, ever forget it.

Now a great-grandfather, Kohler sharing some words of advice for those hoping to see their own 100th birthday. Don't worry about taking. Always be trying to give. Works real good. It has for me anyway. It's been a great rewarding life, you know. But the more you put into it, the more you can expect to get back.

Thank you so much for watching Top Story. For Tom Yamis, I'm Ellison, in New York. Stay right there. More news now is on the way.