Top Story with Tom Llamas - Thursday, July 4, 2024
Episode Date: July 5, 2024Tonight'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. ...
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Tonight, President Biden celebrating July 4th with a campaign on the brink.
The president addressing last week's debate performance on a radio station today saying,
quote, I screwed up, but adding that he's committed to staying in the race.
However, sources tell NBC News in private conversations, the president is torn on whether or not to step aside.
Concerns over his fitness to lead growing louder by the day as he prepares for his first TV interview since that debate,
Could he win back support?
Our team of reporters standing by to break it all down.
Also tonight, Beryl takes aim, the deadly storm slamming Jamaica with powerful rain and winds,
knocking trees into homes and littering the island with debris.
The nearby Cayman Islands also hit with heavy rainfall.
Beryl, now a Category 2 hurricane, gearing up to hit Mexico and possibly the U.S.
We're timing it out.
Wildfire emergency, multiple fires in northern California.
California charring at least 3,000 acres and still burning. Tens of thousands of people forced
out of their homes nearly all Fourth of July celebrations in the area canceled. The conditions
now fueling those flames. Diddy's criminal investigation sources telling NBC news a federal
grand jury has convened to investigate Sean Diddy Combs. The news coming just months after his
homes were raided by law enforcement officials, we will have the latest on the disgraced
music moguls legal battles, including a new sexual assault allegation.
Surrogacy scam, hopeful parents depositing thousands of dollars in an escrow company in Texas,
saying now saying that that money, it's nowhere to be found. The lawsuit alleging the company
has looted millions from clients around the globe. Those parents in limbo now demanding their
money and answers. And marching forward, the Highland Park Parade back now after it was derailed by
tragedy two years ago, how the community is reclaiming its right to celebrate freedom from
fear. Plus, the promising new treatment for children with cancer and the inspiring story of one
young boy now cancer-free. Top story starts right now.
Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. Tonight, the future of Biden's
presidency on shaky grounds, as sources say the president at
admits these next few days are critical for his candidacy to survive.
Those sources telling NBC News that in private conversations, the president has acknowledged
that the debate was a disaster and will be difficult to come back from.
But in public, Biden is doubling down, saying he will not drop out.
Last night, the president meeting with 20 Democratic governors in a closed-door meeting
in an effort to shore up support and reassure the party.
And Biden appearing at a 4th of July event today, but critics say he still has not made unscriptive
remarks or answered any questions since the debate. Tomorrow, he will face his first real test
in an interview with ABC News. As for his opponent, former President Trump, he released video
falsely claiming Biden is already out of the race while attacking Vice President Kamala Harris.
Our teams at the White House and Capitol Hill have been reporting on this fast-developing story
and have the latest details. Let's get right to NBC's White House correspondent Monica Alba,
who leads us off.
President Biden tonight celebrating our nation's history.
Happy Independence Day!
With his political future on the line.
As sources tell NBC News, the next few days of his campaign are critical after last week's disastrous debate performance,
which the president acknowledged in a radio interview that aired today.
I screwed up. I made a mistake.
That's 90 minutes on stage.
Look at what I've done in 3.5 years.
Mr. Biden, insisting he's committed to staying in the race.
We're going to win this election.
We're going to just beat Donald Trump like we did in 2020.
The public confidence comes as NBC News has learned the president is privately torn between defiance and acceptance amid calls to step aside, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Signaling in some conversations with allies, aides, and family members that the blowback may grow too large to overcome.
He just quit, you know, he's quitting the rest.
Former President Trump made those false claims in a video he shared on social media.
in which he also speculated over Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the Democratic nominee.
I think she's going to be better.
She's so bad.
She's so pathetic.
It's so amazing.
It's just so f***ing.
The Biden campaign slamming those comments, writing, no, Donald.
What is bad is running on a platform of your revenge and retribution.
The VP and President Biden met last night with more than 20 Democratic governors,
now rallying around his candidacy.
I believe in this man.
I believe in his character.
I believe that he has been one of the most transformative presidents in our collective
lifetimes.
California Governor Gavin Newsom campaigning in Michigan today confirmed details of that White
House meeting in which President Biden said he may limit events in the evening to get more
sleep.
When asked by one of the governors whether he had seen a doctor following the debate, the president
conceded he had a brief checkup a few days after and was fine, according to two sources
in the room.
contradicting his own press secretary who earlier in the day said no he was not checked by the doctor
and monica joins us now from the white house monica i want to start with the end of your report there
biden contradicting his own white house about whether he saw a doctor in the aftermath of the debate
i understand his press team has now started to walk that back exactly ellison this is a question
that we had for days after that disastrous debate performance wondering if indeed the president
saw a doctor. Initially, the White House said no, that his last major physical exam was in
February and that there hadn't really been any doctor check-in since then with the press
secretary saying yesterday in front of the entire briefing room that the president had not been
checked out by a doctor after the debate. Then just a few hours after that, the president went to
this meeting with Democratic governors where one of them asked him, hey, have you seen a doctor?
How is everything? What did they say? And the president,
told them, according to two sources who were in the room, that he had seen a doctor a couple of
days after the debate, who checked him out, and said he was fine. So that is something that
the White House did have to walk back this morning in a statement confirming that the president
was evaluated by his personal physician. And we should just note, Ellison, that that's not
uncommon for any president or any administration. It's one of the perks of the job. The fact that you
have your own personal private doctor essentially with you at all times of the day, should
any kind of medical need arise. And so that is clearly who was able to check on the president
and who the president could check in with regularly. But he hasn't had a more extensive
examination or battery of tests since February. Alison. Monica, there's been speculation about a
growing rift between the Biden family and some of the president's closest advisors, particularly
names like Anita Dunn, people who helped him prep for the debate. Where do things stand with those
groups right now. And do we know, based on what your sources are telling you, who has the
president's ear while he's weighing his path forward? Well, in really consequential moments and in
moments of crisis, like the one that we're in right now, it is the president's family that he often
turns to the most and who will be the most influential in any major decision making. We're talking
about First Lady Jill Biden, first and foremost, and then also their son, Hunter Biden,
who has been around and really been a part of some meetings and some events here at the White House this week, which raised some eyebrows.
So our reporting indicates that the First Lady and Hunter Biden have raised some concerns, have suggested that some of those senior staffers maybe need to have a change of job or shift in strategy or be removed altogether because of the president's poor debate performance.
But there may be more to it also at play here, Ellison, because these two groups of people, the immediate family and the advice,
who've been with him for some years, and then there are advisors who've literally been with him
for no exaggeration. The last 40 years, these are people who know him so deeply and who have
such specific opinions that, of course, those things aren't always aligned, and there does seem
to be a bit of a difference here, though they all maintain publicly. The president is staying in
the race. Ellison. Monica Alba at the White House, thank you. Support for the president among
congressional Democrats appearing more strained by the day. Two House Democrats calling
on Biden to step aside as fears grow at the White House that more defections could be on the
way. For more on this, let's turn now to NBC News congressional correspondent Julie Sirkin.
She has been covering Capitol Hill's reaction to the fallout from Biden's debate performance.
Julie, what more do we know about those two Democratic congressmen who have called on Biden to
step aside? Yeah, Ellison, that reaction has been swift, but only two Democratic lawmakers,
as you point out, have done so publicly, at least. Those are Raul Gurhalva of Arizona and
Lloyd Doggett of Texas. Now, these aren't just frontline vulnerable members who are worried
about running for re-election in November with President Biden at the top of the ticket. These are
two veterans of the House. And so it is notable that they are calling on President Biden to step
aside, saying it is time for a new candidate to take the helm of their party's nomination
for a chance to beat former President Trump at the poll box in November.
But there are still other concerns that we've heard, at least privately, from other Democratic lawmakers, Ellison.
And Julie, I also want to play for you some comments that Scott Peters made recently.
He's a Democratic congressman from California.
Let's listen to what he had to say about the Biden campaign's response to the debate.
And we'll talk right after.
We needed a boost from Thursday.
We didn't get it.
And the campaign has been very, I think, arrogant in their response.
We want to know what their plan is to win this election.
turn these numbers around. If they don't have a plan, then I think we have to move in a different
direction. So you're to be determined, but you're not saying you're absolutely supporting him.
I don't think we can at this point. The point is to win the election.
He thought the campaign has been very arrogant in their response. This is a congressman who says
he is a fan of the president, given these serious doubts that he's voicing about Biden and frustrations
with the way the Biden team handled things post-debate. Is it fair to say we're probably going to hear more
and more people coming out and making comments like this? Or is there a world where it's just
two people saying, for sure, you should go and just a few expressing concerns like this,
Congressman?
Alison, unfortunately, for President Biden and the White House, I think a lot of Democrats
that I spoke to are very concerned. You know, it's interesting. One Democratic
lawmaker I spoke to yesterday over the phone pretty much said word for word, what Scott Beater said
today. Of course, they didn't coordinate their comments, but this just shows you how much of
this is reverberating around the halls of Congress. And when they're back on Monday, remember,
they've been on the July 4th recess, certainly after they've had time to process this, especially
after they hear potentially from President Biden during that live interview or taped interview
tomorrow night, they will have more decisions to make. But look, one Democratic lawmaker told
me, listen, we love President Biden. He's been well respected. We're just concerned that if he
stays in the race, and if he loses to former President Trump, come November, that on his tombstone,
will not be his achievements over the last three and a half years and in his long career before that as vice president and Senate.
It will be the fact that he did not bow out when he was supposed to and instead stayed in this race despite those slip-ups that we saw in his debate performance last week.
Julie, with the Biden campaign doing this full court press on Capitol Hill, but then also taking days for the president to actually call directly top Democrats on the Hill.
And then the fact that he hasn't been on camera and in an unscripted scenario.
since that debate, when you're talking to your sources, whether it is the elected officials
or even their staffers on the Hill, are they frustrated with just the general strategy from
the Biden team here to deal with the fallout?
Absolutely.
In the words of one Democrat that I spoke to, it's Bill Wilderman.
It's bewilderment as to why the president's advisors are not pushing him in a better direction.
As you point out, it took days for President Biden to call top Democrats on Capitol Hill,
including Leader Schumer, Leader Jeffries, even some of his closest allies that have had his back for years that are helping his reelection effort.
And I think it's very hard to silence some of the defectors that you're seeing, those two Democrats that came out publicly and called on Biden to step aside when that is the case.
You even had Nancy Pelosi, who is really a fixture of the Democratic Party on Capitol Hill, say this week to our colleague Andrea Mitchell that, look, it's a legitimate question when voters look at Biden's performance during that debate and wonder,
Is this a one-off or is this more of a legitimate medical concern, a medical issue?
And so in talking to these sources, Ellison, they tell me they want to see the president out there.
They want to see him unscrimpeded, not using prompter.
That interview that I mentioned would be an opportunity for him to do just that.
But they want to see more.
They want to see the president really prove to the American people that he can beat former
President Trump at the ballot box this November.
And if he can't, then he should step aside.
Julie Sirkin and our DC Bureau.
Thank you.
For more on Biden's post-debate damage control and the state of his re-election campaign,
let's bring in Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins.
Michael, Biden has his first major interview tomorrow.
That's what Julie was referring to there when she was talking about people within his circle,
wanting the president out there more unscripted like he will be in this TV interview.
But my question for you, when you look at the TV interview,
and if they think that is going to make up for what happened at the debate,
they're really different, right? We're talking about a taped interview that is one-on-one
versus a live debate. The audience is different. The pressure is different. All of it, very, very
different. Is this interview going to actually help him in the way that his allies are wanting it to?
No, I mean, at the end of the day, this interview is the minimum that he has to do.
Over the last week, we've expected that he would ease the fears of voters and do more events,
come out and have more public comments. But,
Instead, we've seen as the campaign in the administration, really take, as Congressman Peters
talked about, an arrogant approach.
I talked to some campaign officials earlier in the week, and the message that they had was there's
real frustration at the senior level.
The fact that they're telling people that they're bedwetters and using the kind of rhetoric
that's just dividing the party, we all saw what we saw earlier in that debate.
And to try to deny that what we saw was a president who didn't seem to take.
have it all there has been really frustrating.
You know, we do have multiple sources telling NBC News, our colleagues in D.C. that Biden has
told people he is contemplating getting out of the race, even as we're hearing this kind
of opposite public narrative. How do you, if you are with the president or with his team,
how do you try and stop the momentum these reports are gaining with the public?
Honestly, there's no way to do it at this point. The dam's broken and you're seeing more and
people come out. It's not just anonymous quotes anymore. That was death by a thousand cuts,
but now you're seeing members of Congress put their names to this former members of Congress.
You recently saw the Disney Air come out and say that she's no longer going to donate. That's
really where you're going to see the problem for the president. It's the donations. When donor money
starts drying up, that's when you're going to start to see candidates down tickets separate
themselves. And you're already starting to see that. One of the things that NBC has been
reporting on another outlets as well, is this idea of a divide between Biden's family
and Biden's staff. What does that, if true, tell you about the state of this campaign
and the White House? I mean, is it bad strategy? Is it arrogance, as you said earlier? I mean,
is this something that could work to have all of this play out in the public eye? And in this
moment, who really has the president's ear? Is it his staff or is it his family?
It's his family.
It's got to be hard to walk away from being president of the United States.
I mean, this is a man whose entire career has been building to this moment.
He defeated Donald Trump and said he was going to be a one-term president, that he was going
to be a bridge to the next generation.
But walking away from the presidency is a lot more difficult.
And so I think right now you're seeing that balance of him trying to get to a place where he
He can admit that he may not be the best person positioned to beat Donald Trump and
that it may be time for Democrats to bring somebody else in.
Look, I voted for Joe Biden.
I support Joe Biden.
But at the end of the day, Democrats have to win.
That's the message I hear on the Hill.
That's where I hear from campaign members, we've got to win.
And so if Joe Biden doesn't give us the best chance to win, then it's time to bring in
the vice president.
So bottom line, and I think I might know the answer to this, based on what you were just saying
there.
Bottom line, do you think Biden can survive this moment?
I don't. I think now we're at a legacy game. Is he going to be remembered as the president
who defeated Donald Trump or a president who allowed the return of Donald Trump and allowed
a national ban or abortion, Project 2025 to be implemented, things that would really
destroy the fabric of our country? All right. Michael Starr Hopkins. Thank you so much.
We appreciate your time and insights as always.
turning now to the Caribbean, where Hurricane Barrel remains a powerful Category 2 storm after
smashing its way across Jamaica. The death toll, now at least nine. This is the satellite image
now as it heads towards the Gulf and takes aim at Mexico and possibly South Texas.
NBC News correspondent Sam Brock is in Jamaica with the latest.
Hurricane Barrel tonight, continuing its tear through the Caribbean. Now, just past Grand Cayman,
storm shaking trees and churning waves. This video taken by Noah inside the hurricane this week,
revealing the storm's power. Last night, Hurricane Beryl battering Jamaica, where officials
already confirmed two deaths in the country, both victims in their 20s, leaving the nation reeling.
Waking up this morning to all of this is like, it's overwhelming. On Treasure Beach, a popular seaside
oasis, Jamaican officials tell us the devastation is widespread. Homes damage.
Health centers, churches, lost their roofs completely.
Just the ride to get out here features trees carving up roadways,
power lines in every direction, and obliterated homes.
Homes blown, you're saying the roofs blown everywhere.
The rules are, yeah.
All of it leading to this.
It's hard to describe the magnitude of the loss here, but here's an example.
This is a hotel with 100-plus staff members that is one business
on one stretch of street on Treasure Beach.
And it's not just big business.
the pain.
What do you feel emotionally when you look at your business?
I feel so devastated.
Herman Maxim runs P&H fruit stand right in front of the home that he shares with
Padrona Morris, which is practically uninhabitable now.
Were you scared at some point that you might not survive?
Yes, yes.
I was praying out loud.
I was calling to Jesus, ask him to calm the storm.
Jamaicans feeling the pain of a hurricane that didn't even make landfall, but is likely
to disrupt their lives for months.
for months. How long do you think it will take to get back to where you were?
To where we were. That's a hard one.
And Sam Brock joins us now from Manderville, Jamaica. Sam, what are the biggest priorities
for officials there right now?
Certainly part of it is damage assessment right now, Alison. If you go back to where we were
at Treasure Beach earlier today, and folks were saying they were going and seeing about every
other business damaged or destroyed, and that's one little portion of one parish.
If you widen the scope to southern Jamaica, they're saying between 500 and 1,000 homes in businesses.
Easily, there were damage.
They're trying to get a feel for that.
But also, as we look at this man's home here, this is pretty typical all throughout the island.
Trees into homes, portions of roofs that have been ripped off.
And obviously, this tree, huge, uprooted by the strength of the winds and some of that rainfall last night.
Many people having to take matters into their own hands, quite literally.
This is his power line setup right here, a constellation of lines tied up by knot and attached to a tree.
tree. As we were driving around today, Allison, you would see power lines everywhere. Trees in the
roads, of course, there are just so many hazards. Public officials really saying that one of their
key priorities right now is clearing the roadways in the event that someone has a medical
emergency and actually has to get to the hospital. They can do so. Last point for you, Allison,
we did talk to the police force for the state, and they say that they are still two confirmed
deaths at this point. That number at least has not gone up throughout the course of the day.
Alison. Sam Brock in Jamaica, thank you. For more on Hurricane Barrel's past.
as it continues its march towards Mexico.
NBC news meteorologist Michelle Grossman is with us.
Michelle, what is the latest on the track here?
Hi there, Ellison.
Well, we're looking at a track towards Mexico, as you mentioned, maybe even southern Texas.
So here is the latest on barrel.
Still a really powerful Category 2 storm at 110 miles per hour.
Keep in mind in Category 3 storm is a 111 miles per hour.
So right on the cusp there of a major hurricane, it's still moving very quickly.
Northwest at 20 miles per hour.
It's going to keep that fast track.
we go over the next several days. We have tropical alerts all along the Yucatan Peninsula
because we're going to start to feel the impacts tonight into tomorrow. That's going to be a
big story as we go throughout Friday. Now we're going to see Barrow across Yucatan Peninsula
with the terrain with some wind shear. We're going to see it weakened into a tropical
storm. So notice the timestamp Friday at 12 o'clock, 70 mile per hour winds. A tropical
storm. It's going to enter the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm. But notice what happens.
It's in some really warm waters. It's all it needs is that oom to give that storm a little more power.
near Sunday at 12 p.m. We're looking at a category one storm. It will make impact or landfall
somewhere between northeastern Mexico and the southern parts of Texas. Regardless of where it does
end up, notice where this cone is. You still see that rain. We're going to see the rain,
heavy, heavy rain. We can see three to six inches in some spots, up to 10 in other spots,
some really rough seas, rip currents, damaging winds, no matter where this sort of makes that landfall.
And as we go throughout time here, we'll see it kind of maintain its strength. But the big
story will be the rainfall that will be dropped for the.
the storm. Allison? All right. Michelle Grossman, thank you. Sure.
Out of that massive wildfire forcing tens of thousands to evacuate in Northern California.
The flames stretching more than 3,500 acres, devouring homes in over 100-degree heat.
NBC's Steve Patterson is in the fire zone.
Tonight, stifling heat, supercharging a field of fire in Northern California as crews raced
to contain the flames. State of emergency at the Thompson Fire.
now more than 3,500 acres, crews finally able to get a foothold after a day of favorable winds,
only to face more extreme heat.
So those winds have stopped, which is huge, but those temperatures are actually increasing.
We're in the 110, even higher, so that takes a huge toll on firefighters working when it's this hot.
The flames tearing through several structures in 100-plus-degree temperatures.
Lynette Bailey threw everything in her car, getting her 90-year-old dad to safety.
at a nearby shelter.
It was panic because my dad didn't want to leave, and I told him you got to get in the car right now.
But because there's no room left for her dog, she spent the last two days outside in the heat.
It's really sad.
You don't want to be living out here in the 108 degrees.
I'm more worried about my dad.
Across the country this 4th of July, more than 148 million Americans under heat alert.
It has been sweltering.
From the northwest to the southeast, Raleigh to Houston, Phoenix to Portland, several cities poised to set new daytime highs.
In Nevada, Las Vegas is edging closer to shattering its all-time record, 118 degrees.
I'm not going to sit out here in the heat.
It's not my deal.
Back in Northern California, many Fourth of July celebrations canceled, facing fire danger so high any spark could spell disaster.
In the burn zone, thousands of brave men and women baking in the world.
weight of their own gear. It just makes things tougher. Surrounded by fields of dry tinder,
rushing to knock one fire down before the next one sparks. And Ellison, a little bit of good news.
The winds here have finally died down, allowing firefighters to get somewhat of a foothold. Now
7% containment on this fire, but it's been another day of 110 plus degree weather, just fueling
the flames. Ellison. Steve Patterson, thank you. Moving overseas into the UK elections,
The polls have now closed and preliminary results are coming in in what looks like a seismic shift for the conservative party as the Labor Party seeks to oust them from office after 14 years.
For the latest on these results, we want to get right over to NBC News International correspondent Ralph Sanchez, who joins us now from 10 Downing Street in London.
Raf, you were on the show last night reporting and telling us that it looked like it would be a bad night for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his party.
we seeing in the exit polls?
Allison, these exit polls are projecting a crushing defeat for Prime Minister
Sunak and his Conservative Party, potentially one of the worst performances in that party's
history and an absolute landslide for the Progressive Opposition Party known as Labor.
There is very little doubt at this point that it will be the Labor leader, Keir Starmer,
who tomorrow morning will walk through that famous black door of 10 Downing Street as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Just to give you some sense of the numbers here, we don't have final results,
but we are expecting the Labor Party to win potentially three times as many seats as the Conservatives.
They will come into power with just a sweeping majority in Parliament.
We are also potentially seeing Ellison the new...
populist right-wing party known as reform, which is staunchly anti-immigration, winning maybe 13
seats, which would be a first in British history.
Elson.
Raf, we have heard analysts say that a lot of voters in the UK were looking to punish the
conservatives for mismanaging the country in the wake of Brexit and their departure from
the EU.
When you've been speaking to voters, is that what they're telling you?
It is.
And some of their complaints will be very familiar to Americans.
Inflation has hit this country.
Prices are high.
Economic growth has been slow.
It's known here as the cost of living crisis.
But some of these conservative woes are very specific to their own government.
And I will give you just the example of the rolling series of scandals that we have seen over the last couple of years.
None of them, Ellison, more prominent than those which happened under Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
who during the COVID lockdown broke his own rules and attended illegal parties here at Downing Street.
So when you speak to voters on the streets of Britain, you don't hear so much overwhelming enthusiasm for Kier Starrmer and the Labor Party,
as much as deep, deep frustration with the conservatives and a real desire to punish them after 14 years in power.
Elson.
Ralph Sanchez, in London. Thank you.
Still ahead, a deadly shooting in Yellowstone National Park.
Authorities say a man armed with a gun was making threats in the middle of the iconic park.
How Rangers were able to take the suspect down.
And surrogacy scam, couples investing thousands in an escrow company only for the money to disappear.
The FBI now getting involved as those hopeful parents seek justice.
And how much are you spending on fireworks and food this 4th of July?
We'll have the numbers on what Americans are.
are splurging on this holiday. Stay with us. Top Story is just getting started.
Back now with the latest on disgraced rapper and mogul Sean Diddy Combs. Two sources familiar
with his ongoing legal troubles telling NBC News a federal grand jury has been convened as part
of an investigation into potential criminal wrongdoing. NBC News correspondent Rahima Ellis,
joins us now on set with more.
Rahima, what else do we know about this investigation?
Alison, actually, there are very few details about all of this.
But as you mentioned, sources say Sean Diddy Combs' legal team was notified last week
that he's the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by federal authorities in the
Southern District of New York.
We know from those sources that a federal grand jury is hearing evidence, but right now there's
no indication that charges are imminent.
And we should point out that a subject of an investigation is someone within the scope of a criminal investigation.
A person is designated a target, and prosecutors likely intend to seek an indictment from the grand jury against that person.
Our sources say that Combs has not received a target letter, but authorities are not required to send one.
And we reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
They declined to comment.
Diddy Combs' lawyers didn't respond to our request for a comment.
And there is also another lawsuit, right, that has now been filed against Sean Denny Combs.
Yeah, the problems for him just keep on coming.
Combs faces new allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed just yesterday here in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.
This is the ninth sexual assault filed against Combs.
Adria English, an adult film actress, says she worked for Combs for five years starting in 2004.
And a 114-page complaint, she alleges he demanded her to have sex with guests at his parties in his homes in New York and Florida.
The suit also lists a woman, Tamiko Thomas, as another defendant, likening her to Ghislane Maxwell in that she was facilitating these trafficking operations.
According to the lawsuit, she alleges Combs threatened to blackball her from the entertainment industry if she didn't perform these sexual acts.
And then in 2009, when she says she escaped from L.A., she alleges that she was blackballed.
As a result, she says she's suffering from emotional trauma and intimacy issues from the experience.
Have we heard anything from Diddy or his legal team about this lawsuit?
So far, nothing from them.
But Diddy's law school, legal team, I should say, is maintaining his innocence, as they always have with these lawsuits.
His attorney, Jonathan Davis, dismissed the latest lawsuit, saying Diddy has never said.
sexually assaulted or trafficked it against anyone, and adding, quote, we live in a world where
anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial
judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident. He will prevail against
these and other baseless claims in court. We'll have to see where this goes, Ellison.
Rahima Ellis, thank you. Now, to the surrogacy scam turning dreams of becoming a parent into a nightmare,
Hundreds of people caught up in a surrogacy money scandal, depositing tens of thousands of dollars with an escrow company only for that money to disappear.
The FBI now investigating.
NBC, New York reporter Gilma Alvalos has this story.
In their apartment on Roosevelt Island, Laura Daniels and Christopher Chang are overjoyed to be new parents.
We're such a good boy.
For medical reasons, they relied on a surrogate to carry their son Koda.
It's a journey that cost a fortune.
We're talking about their compensation plus 50% plus 100% depending on the agreement.
So we're talking $100,000 sitting in this account.
The couple trusted their money was safe until a few weeks ago when their surrogate called.
Let us know that she hadn't received her first two payments.
They now fear more than $10,000 in their account is gone.
On Long Island, Jennifer can't get answers about $28,000 intended for her surrogate.
Out of the blue, everyone from agencies to lawyers to intended parents to...
Justational carriers were blindsided and did not see this coming.
Both families say they deposited their money with a company called surrogacy escrow account
management LLC. Seam for short. Based in Houston, Texas, it's been in business for 10 years,
providing a service experts say is standard in surrogacy.
And best practice.
Jared Zafrin runs a surrogacy agency in New York.
So it's a protection for both sides, transparency for the intended parents,
and to make sure that the money really is there to cover.
obligations to the surrogate. A number of intended parents tell News 4 seen came highly recommended
by their agencies and attorneys. On Seam's website, owner Dominique Side talked to being a former
surrogate and wanting to help people through the process. One of the main concerns of most people
looking for services like this are, are my funds secure? Yes, absolutely. But a lawsuit filed in
Texas alleges something's gone criminally wrong at sea with as much as $10 million looted from
600 escrow accounts from clients around the globe. Attorney Lori Hood filed the suit on behalf of
a mom to be who says she lost more than $60,000. You have parents that are obligated under the
contract to pay for the expenses for the surrogates. And so these parents are having to come up
with alternate means to pay for this contract and these funds. And a lot of them just don't have it.
The suit claims seem, quote, may have been misappropriating the escrow funds for years
in order to bankroll Dominique's other business ventures and lavish lifestyle
and pledged escrow funds for six-figure cash loans.
She wasn't shy about hiding her lifestyles of the rich and famous.
Many of Dominique's side social media accounts and websites for other businesses connected to her
have vanished and now she's under even more scrutiny.
In an email to News 4, side declined to comment, citing a quote,
active investigation by federal authorities. The Houston FBI told us it's seeking potential victims
with this online form for people across the country, people like Jennifer. I obviously want
all of us to get our money back. I also really want to answer some sort of justice through the
criminal system. Back on Roosevelt Island, Laura and Christopher want answers from Dominique's side
for themselves and for intended parents who are now in limbo. We're fortunate that we have our
baby in hand. But it's, I think that's the most disturbing thing is knowing that she's affecting
families and impacting generations of people.
Gailma Avalos, thank you. And we do want to mention a judge in Texas has frozen the bank
accounts of scene, Dominique's side, and her business partner. In addition to the FBI inquiry,
complaints have been filed with the Texas and New York attorneys general. When we come back,
the scary scene at a Texas beach, multiple people attacked by a
shark on South Padre Island. At least one person hospitalized with serious injuries. The late
details just coming in.
We're back with Top Story's news feed, starting with the deadly shooting inside Yellowstone National
Park. Authorities say a person armed with a gun was making threats at Canyon Lodge in the
central part of the park. The suspect killed after a shootout with
park rangers. A ranger was also hurt, but is expected to be okay. Multiple shark attacks reported
at a packed Texas beach this 4th of July. New video just in shows a shark right at the shoreline
on South Padre Island. Authorities say multiple people were attacked, including one person who
suffered a severe bite for the leg and had to be hospitalized. The Coast Guard advising beachgoers
there to stay out of the water. And this 4th of July, Americans expected to spend a little less
on food and fireworks. According to the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend about
$90.42 on food this year. That's down from $93 last year, but significantly higher than pre-pandemic
levels. Meanwhile, the American Pyrotechnics Association says the cost of fireworks are down
5 to 10 percent since a decrease in ocean shipping rates. But despite the lower prices, the group
expects this holiday's revenue to exceed $2.4 billion.
Sticking with consumer news and top stories money talks, in addition to the usual 4th of July
activities, the holiday weekend is also known for big sales. NBC News Business and Data
Correspondent Brian Chung is here with the deals you should shop for before midnight and what
major deals are coming in the upcoming days, right, Brian? Okay, so let's start with what sort of
products should people be shopping for right now before that deadline runs out tonight.
Yeah, Alison, with these major holidays, right, there are
some summer savings to be had. Now, Memorial Day is usually associated with mattresses for some
reason. I don't really know the explanation. But when it comes to July 4th, it's basically just
anything that you can use for outdoor activities to enjoy the summer. So we're seeing some pretty
sharp discounting. And experts have told me that if you want to get a swimsuit, if you want to get
tents, right, outdoor gear, but also furniture and grills. And then even appliances, big ticket,
large expensive items. It could be a good time to dip into those things. We're seeing 20, 30,
40, 60 percent off in some cases, especially with like some outdoor patio sets. So it could be a good time
to dip in. Yeah, what are some of the biggest deals or savings you've seen so far for normally
higher priced items? Yeah, well, for appliances, for example, we're seeing some washers and
dryers about $800 off. And, you know, this is an inflationary environment where people don't want
to replace their big ticket items unless they absolutely have this. So retailers are cutting the
prices on those, but also for grills, right? If you're trying to do a late cookout and maybe
you don't have anything for the weekend, it might not be the worst thing to pick something up
tomorrow and have it ready for the weekend. Grills, 30 to 25 to 30 percent off.
in some cases, and at Lowe's in Home Depot, grills or other types of appliances, they're offering
40 to 50% off in addition to on top of that, in some cases, even e-gift cards. So, again, could be a
good time for some of those big tickets. These are really big sales. There are, I also understand,
some big sales on Monday as well. What are those? And why? Is it Fourth of July continuing here?
Well, yeah, so the Fourth of July sales will offer good discounts on the categories that I talked
about. But for some things like tech and also for back to school, you'll actually probably have
better opportunities for some of these other late July opportunities like Amazon Prime Day,
which is happening in the middle of July. That's going to be taking place July 16th and 17th.
But Target and Walmart, who are trying to compete with them, they have their own deal specials
as well happening the beginning of next week, July 7 through 13th for Target, July 8th through
11th for Walmart. But keep in mind, some of these are going to be limited to subscribers.
You have to be a Prime member to access Prime Day. For Target, you have to register with Target to
access those deals for Walmart. Everyone can access them. But again, back to school and tech
would probably be better for those deals.
Okay, that's really good to know.
This last one is an important last mention,
and honestly, it's one I threw out there
because I'm a huge donut fan.
And I did see that Krispy Cream has really big deals today,
and people can still have a little bit of,
they have a little bit of time to get a free donut
if you're wearing red, white, or blue.
Right? And for the rest of the month,
you can actually get a free donut on Tuesdays
and a free iced coffee on Fridays with any purchase.
And, you know, again, it's July 4th,
and I'm okay with the late-day donut still.
So, again, if you want to squeeze that deal, you can do it.
But, again, even if you miss out on that, still be able to get that free donut and free coffee opportunity throughout the rest of the week.
An important caveat I have been told by the birdies in my ear.
It's not where red, white, or blue, it's and.
So you might need all three.
You have all three of them, yeah.
Well, my shoes have all three of them right now, so I'm going to go get a donut.
Brian Chung, thank you.
We appreciate it.
Coming up, a potential cancer breakthrough.
Researchers in the UK using cutting-edge technology to treat cancer.
in children, the family who says their son is living proof that it works.
We're back now with a potential breakthrough for children with cancer.
Doctors in England using what's called whole genome sequencing
to give quicker and more specialized results than standard testing.
Sky News, as Tom Clark spent time with one young patient
who had treatment using this testing, and today he is cancer-free.
Three and a half years ago when he was six, Eddie was diagnosed with an uncommon, aggressive
form of leukemia.
Linesided by the diagnosis, his mom, like any parent, wanted to know anything that might
improve his treatment.
You're sort of grasping at anything that will give you either reassurance or a better
prognosis.
And in Eddie's case, there was something, the opportunity to have the entire genetic sequence
of his cancer decoded.
When you see your child go through something like this.
It's heartbreaking and you just want anything to make it better.
And tests like this, where it just gives them extra information, it's so important.
And it's not a little bit of information.
It's a lot.
human genome contains 3 billion letters of DNA code. Having access to each of those genetic
building blocks, including all those with mutations linked to cancer, can help improve
treatment decisions, according to this new study, which included Eddie and 280 other children
with cancer. NHS England already makes this whole genome sequencing available to any child
with cancer or suspected cancer. But new and complex, its uptake hasn't been widespread. The
Researchers hope their findings change that.
Instead of doing a best guess for those patients, which is still really comprehensive treatment,
it allowed us to really target the treatment so the patient got the right amount of treatment.
So you're not over treating them and all the toxicity that brings, but equally not under treating patients and risk in a relapse.
So for us, this was really revolutionary.
In Eddie's case, the test revealed his brother Leo had no increased risk of leukemia himself
and allowed his doctors to be confident that he'd respond well.
he'd respond well to standard treatment, and he did.
This course is run.
Last week, his treatment ended and his cancer is in remission.
It feels great to be normal again, like see my friends and like you ring the bell.
Yeah, great.
What are you looking forward to doing?
See my friends.
Going on holiday.
His doctors hope testing like Eddie received won't just help others,
but provide new insights into how errors in children's DNA
causes cancer and perhaps point to new ways to stop it. Tom Clark's Sky News.
For a closer look at this topic, I'm joined now by Dr. Carl Koshman. He's a pediatric neuro-oncologist
with the CSMott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. Dr. Koshman, thanks for
joining us tonight. Could you start by just explaining to us what exactly a whole genome sequencing
means or is? And how widespread is this sort of testing?
Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having me. So, you know, I think to be able to explain whole genome
sequencing, and I have to just first explain that when we look at cancer, whether that's pediatric
cancer or adult cancer, we're looking at cells that have a different set of DNA, a different
genome from the rest of the healthy cells in your body. And if we think about DNA, it's really
the book that the cells, you know, look for guidance on how to behave. And so,
So really, up until now, the tests that we've run to be able to diagnose a cancer have been
just piecemeal, you know, looking at various parts of a book.
But the whole genome is really looking at every letter within that book.
So whole genome sequencing is to look at all of the various nucleotides within each cancer
cells book, if that makes sense.
This study out of England, it found that the whole genome sequencing provided
doctors with better information about the needed care for more than a third of patients.
When you look at those numbers, a third of patients, and we're talking about children here,
how significant is that? And is this something that we could see being used in the United States
sometime soon, if it's not already?
Yeah, absolutely. I think one of the things that made this study important was just how many
patients were impacted in a positive way by using whole genome sequencing. I think we've been,
we've had access to whole genome sequencing now for probably over a decade. What has changed is that
it's becoming a little bit more available. So this was an entire health system employing this.
And right now it's very piecemeal. And even in the United States, different centers may be offering
this. Many may not be offering it. This was a large health system in the United Kingdom that
implemented it. And one of the things that's changed is that if we look at whole genome sequencing
10, 15 years ago, it was about the cost of a house to run it, and it took four to six months.
And what we're now seeing is that you can do a whole genome for maybe the price of a frifty bike,
and you can get the results back in two to four weeks, is what the team showed. And then I think
the icing on the cake here was that it really did benefit the patients. You know, a lot was
learned that was able to affect their care in real time.
Really appreciate you being with us and explaining it.
And thank you, Dr. Carl Koshman, for all that you and your team does to help people.
And we really appreciate you being here with us tonight.
Thank you.
Absolutely. Thanks for having me.
When we come back, freedom from fear.
Highland Park, Illinois, holding its first July 4th parade since a mass shooting unfolded
during the event two years ago.
Tonight we talked to survivors who were back out along the parade route.
They'll tell us why they say it was so important.
important to be there today.
And finally, tonight, on this July 4th, many Americans celebrated with barbecue, fireworks,
and of course, parades. But for the community of Highland Park, Illinois, today was a step
towards healing. The town holding its first July 4th parade since tragedy struck the event
two years ago after a memorial ceremony for the victims. NBC's Maggie Vespa was there.
As America celebrates its independence. Highland Park tonight reclaiming the right to celebrate the fourth without fear.
I don't want the events of two years ago to have had an effect on the spirit of the community.
We're still standing. We still love this town. Hundreds today lining the streets of this quiet Chicago suburb for the first Independence Day parade in two years.
This after in 2022, investigators said a lone gunman perched on a rooftop above the route and opened fire on parade goers, killing seven and wounding nearly 50.
Our teams on the ground for days as people tried to process the pain.
How are your firefighters and how are your officers doing?
They're devastated. This is our community.
This morning, a remembrance ceremony.
I think July 4th is always going to be a day of mixed emotion.
City officials working with federal authorities and the Department of Justice implementing full security led by Highland Park Police, calling today trauma informed and clarifying why they felt the need to bring this parade back.
I also feel like we have an obligation to this community's children in particular.
In the aftermath of July 4th, 2022, one of the third graders who came through City Hall asked me, do we ever get to celebrate the 4th of July again?
And I said, absolutely.
So today is that first step.
Many along the parade route this year, survivors.
We were sitting across the street from the shooter.
If he had gone straight across instead of at an angle, we wouldn't be here.
Hazel and Bud Herzog had been coming to the parade for years.
They were here as the horror unfolded two years ago, escaping through a coffee shop.
But despite what they witnessed, they were back out here today.
Was there any even just like a momentary hesitation?
or nerves or maybe this isn't a good idea yeah no I'm a little apprehensive I
mean I'm looking up at this building behind you and and it's a little bit
apprehensive but I think they've it'll be fine and it's a different route it's a
different situation a lot of security and so I think it'll be fine it's a parade
it's July 4th so we're here it's a very
strong community and a very supportive community, they would not let someone force them not
to have a prey. A community now marching forward together. In Highland Park, Maggie Vespa, NBC News.
Thanks so much for watching Top Story. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. Happy 4th of July.
Stay right there. More news is on the way.
Thank you.