Transcripts For KGO ABC 20240703

At michael cohen, the brutal Cross Examination. Donald trump in that courtroom watching it all very closely. Tonight, were tracking severe storms right now. The highest level of alert for lifethreatening flooding in several states. Ginger zee standing by with the forecast. Tonight, the controversial Graduation Speech. The super bowl champ under fire now for a speech about women and their roles, and the lgbtq community. What he suggested to Women Graduates. President Biden Exerting Executive Privilege to block the release of Audio Recordings of his interview with Special Counsel robert hur, concerning the president s handling of classified documents. Tonight, the white house saying the transcripts are already out. The recordings are not necessary. The abc news exclusive. Tonight, our James Longman with ukraines president zelenskyy, just as we learn ukraines secondlargest city is coming under attack tonight by the russians. What president zelenskyy told james about this moment in the war, and his message tonight for americans. In gaza, meanwhile, the u. S. Military building that floating pier. It is now ready to get in 500 tons of desperately needed food and humanitarian supplies. Matt gutman with late reporting from israel. Back in the u. S. , the breaking headline from texas at this hour. The governor there pardoning a former u. S. Army sergeant convicted of murdering a black lives matter protester. That deadly House Explosion in ohio. A father and daughter killed. Good samaritans pulling the mother and son out. We do have news on their conditions tonight. This evening, the team moving their games against Caitlin Clark to a new arena, a much bigger one, because of the Crowds Turning Out to see any game involving clark. And america strong tonight. A victory lap unlike anything weve seen before. The High School Coach and generations of students returning for one last run around that track. David good evening, and its great to have you with us here on a very busy thursday night. Well get to those severe storms, possible tornadoes, and the highest level of alert for Flash Flooding, lifethreatening flooding, several states in the path of these storms. Ginger is standing by. Well go to her in just a moment. We do begin tonight with the fireworks at Donald Trumps criminal trial today. The drama inside that courtroom. The Defense Taking Aim at trumps former lawyer and fixer, michael cohen. Cohen facing a brutal Cross Examination and watching it all very closely in that courtroom, the jurors and donald trump. Abcs Senior Investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky leading us off at the courthouse again tonight. Reporter donald trump has often seemed tuned out during his criminal trial, head back, eyes closed, but today the former president alert and riveted, watching his lawyer grill his longtime fixer michael cohen, Painting Cohen as a vengeful liar whose testimony is not to be believed. Cohen is the only witness to testify he spoke directly with trump about the Hush Money Payment to porn star stormy daniels, and today trumps lawyers trying to pick his story apart and create reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury. Back up, back up. Reporter defense attorney todd blanche zeroed in on a phone call in october 2016, days before the election. Cohen previously testified he called trumps bodyguard Keith Schiller to get trump on the line, and then he and trump finalized the plan for cohen to pay off daniels, but blanche said that wasnt the real reason for the call, producing Text Messages suggesting cohen was actually calling trumps bodyguard to complain he was getting prank calls from a 14yearold. Blanche insisted cohen misled the jury when he testified the call was about the hush money. That was a lie, the Defense Lawyer thundered. You were actually talking to mr. Schiller that you were getting harassing phone calls . Part of it was the 14yearold, cohen conceded. But i knew that keith was with trump at the time. That was a lie, blanche fired back. You did not talk to President Trump that night. You can admit it. Cohen kept his cool. No, sir, i cant, he responded, because im not sure thats accurate. Trumps defense pointed out the call in question was 96 seconds, but cohen stuck to his story, insisting it covered both the Prank Phone Calls he received and the hush money scheme. The defense did not get into the plan to pay off the porn star. That cohen took out a Home Equity Line of credit to pay off daniels, and trump paid him back. Instead, the defense tried to chip away at cohens credibility, painting him as a serial liar, angry, who turned on trump when he didnt get a white house job. Cohen acknowledged he was disappointed he was never even considered to be white house chief of staff, saying, i would have liked to be considered, for ego purposes. But he repeatedly claimed he never actually wanted the job, preferring what he called a hybrid role outside government, telling the jury, there was no shame in being personal attorney to the president of the united states. Throughout his testimony, cohen has been calm and measured. Today, trumps lawyers wanted the jury to get a sense of the bombastic figure weve seen before, playing this excerpt of cohen on his Podcast Railing against trump. You Better Believe i want this man to go down and rot inside for what he did to me and my family. Reporter this trials almost over, david. Michael cohen should be off the witness stand by monday, and prosecutors have no additional witnesses. The defense is Still Deciding whether to call any witnesses, including trump himself, but the judge today told both sides, be ready for Closing Arguments on tuesday. David . David so, this could all be done in just days. Aaron katersky tonight. Aaron, thank you. Were also following severe storms at this hour. A Tornado Watch and the highest level of alert for lifethreatening flooding in several states. The Trinity River tonight near houston already swollen. Some areas getting 600 of their normal rainfall in just the last two weeks. Tonight, heavy rain from texas to mississippi, up to 12 inches of rain in some areas. These storms also bringing damaging winds and large hail. Baseballsized hail shattering windshields in parts of oklahoma. This threat well into tomorrow. Lets get right to ginger zee, chief meteorologist, timing it out for us tonight. Hi, ginger. Hi, david. It is quite rare to see a high risk, a level 4 out of 4 for this lifethreatening Flash Flooding, but when youre anticipating 6 to 12 inches of rain locally especially in the piney woods there in and western louisiana, thats why weve got that risk out, and it all happens tonight. These areas have had, you said it, 400 to 600 of normal. On top of the risk of Flash Flooding tonight, theyve got a Tornado Watch. Theres severe thunderstorms just marching toward houston at this hour. Theyll go towards lake charles and lafayette overnight, and there are more severe thunderstorms back in west texas. A flood watch that extends all the way through the florida panhandle, Including Destin and mobile. Lets talk about the timing, though, because from jackson, back to lake charles, thats 10 00 p. M. If youre traveling i10 tonight, please be aware, especially in the overnight hours south of new orleans. As that keeps tracking east, you have the Morning Thunderstorms for alabama and florida. We get a whole other line of those tomorrow night, david. David ginger zee with us again tonight. Ginger, thanks. Well see you first thing in the morning. We turn to the controversial Graduation Speech tonight. The super bowl champion chiefs kicker, Harrison Butker, under fire tonight, after what he said about women and their roles, and what he said about the lgbtq community, and what he suggested to Women Graduates about their roles moving forward. Heres Stephanie Ramos. Reporter tonight, the nfl responding to that Commencement Speech from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and his controversial comments about women, abortion, and the lgbtq community. I have gained quite the reputation for speaking my mind. Reporter the super bowl winner delivering the Commencement Address saturday at benedictine college, a Conservative Catholic Liberal Arts school in kansas. Butker addressing the female graduates, saying that while they may go on to have successful careers, he guesses the majority are most excited to be wives and mothers. I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career . Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but i would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. Reporter Conservative Sports Commentator clay travis coming to his defense. I saw people saying, you got to cut him, how dare he say i didnt even see him say anything remotely controversial. Reporter butker then referring to pride month as a deadly sin. Not the deadly sins sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it, but the true, godcentered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him. Reporter the Advocacy Group glaad outraged. I couldnt believe it was such an outdated, antiquated view on lgbtq people and women and using religion in a way. Reporter the nfl stating, Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the nfl as an organization. The nfl is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger. There is a change. Org petition demanding the chiefs release butker. So far, no comment from the team, and despite the headlines surrounding this speech, butker did receive a standing ovation, david. David Stephanie Ramos on this tonight. Stephanie, thank you. To the breaking news involving President Biden tonight exerting Executive Privilege to block the release of Audio Recordings of his interview with Special Counsel robert hur about the president s handling of classified documents. Tonight, the white house says, the transcripts are already out, the audio is not necessary, and tonight Attorney General Merrick Garland under fire from republicans on this. So, lets get right to mary bruce. Mary, the white house insisting this is all politics, suggesting they know what republicans would do with these recordings. Reporter david, that is the crux of their argument here, as the president is now using his Executive Privilege to block House Republicans from getting access to the audio of his interviews with the Special Counsel related to his handling of classified documents. The white house is accusing republicans of seeking to manipulate the tapes for political gain after the Special Counsel described the president as a, quote, elderly man with a poor memory. David, as you know, the full Interview Transcripts are already out there, and the Special Counsel declined to bring charges against the president , but biden is now using this privilege, something donald trump did, as well, at the request of his Attorney General, Merrick Garland, who is also warning that politics is at play here and cautions that releasing the audio could have lasting impacts on future investigations, but david, republicans are not dropping this. They are now trying to hold the Attorney General in contempt for refusing to turn over these tapes. David . David mary bruce with late reporting from the white house tonight. Mary, thank you. Also, the developing headline from texas at this hour where Governor Greg Abbott has pardoned an exarmy sergeant convicted in the murder of a protester at a black lives matter protest. Daniel perry was was serving a 25year sentence. Perry claimed he was acting in selfdefense. The pardons board recommending his release. The d. A. Calling the pardon a, quote, mockery of justice. We turn tonight to the abc news exclusive. This evening, our James Longman with ukraines president zelenskyy just as we learn at this hour that ukraines secondlargest city is coming under attack by the russians. What president zelenskyy told james about this moment in the war, and his message for americans watching. Abcs James Longman reporting in from kharkiv. James . Reporter david, kharkiv has come under sustained aerial assault here. Tonight, weve witnessed drone and missile attacks. This is almost a nightly occurrence for this city, and that is why today in an exclusive interview for abc news, president zelenskyy told me, now is a critical moment. Tonight, the fight to secure kharkiv threatens ukraines entire war effort, and so, despite near daily missile attacks, president zelensky rushed here to boost morale and sound the alarm. Its an indication of just how serious the situation is that president zelensky has had to cancel his foreign trips to come here to kharkiv and meet the men who are fighting to defend this city. Zelenskyy handing out medals to some of the 500 soldiers injured in just the past week. A lot of guys gave their lives. Reporter in an exclusive interview with abc news, the Ukrainian Leader was clearly frustrated by weapon and ammunition delays and the u. S. Aid package that had been stalled in congress. How serious is the situation right now . Its difficult. Its serious, so brigades are not totally equipped, because of the package, which we waited through eight months. Reporter is whats happening now in kharkiv, is this americas fault . Its the fault of the world, but now the world can help. Reporter the president grateful for american support, but says a priority must be a pair of u. S. Patriot Missile Defense systems to keep the russians out of kharkiv. If we are speaking about this region, russia cant occupy this if, for example, two patriots will stay in this region, just two systems. Reporter americans are worried about how much money is being spent in ukraine. Whats your message to them . All this money, we dont get any money. All this money, it goes to the factories in the united states, and then these factories gives jobs to americans, and then weapon goes to us. Reporter but todays visit was for the wounded. Vasyl is honored by his medal. He was injured by Russian Artillery fire. We couldnt even see the enemy, he says. But he doesnt want the credit. Hes clearly proud that this war is a lot more than about any one man. Hes thinking about his comrades, many of whom have died. And zelenskyy told me he knows ukraine will be a salient issue in novembers election. He is grateful to the American People for the aid thats been received so far, but hes very specific about whats needed to keep kharkiv safe, and that is those two Patriot Missile systems. David . David James Longman with the exclusive tonight, the interview with president zelenskyy. James, thank you. Overseas tonight, theres also news on that attempted assassination in slovakia. Of course, the harrowing images we showed you last night here. Well, tonight, authorities now say the man accused of shooting Prime Minister robert fico was a lone wolf and recently radicalized. The Prime Minister greeting supporters, youll remember this, shot multiple times. The unnamed gunman now charged with attempted premeditated murder. The Prime Minister tonight in serious condition. The Shooting Sending Shockwaves across europe and nato where divisions are growing, fueled in part by the war in ukraine. The Prime Minister had recently run on a platform of no longer providing military aid to ukraine. Meantime, the Major Development tonight from gaza. The u. S. Military building that floating pier. It is now ready to get in 500 tons of desperately needed food and humanitarian supplies to the people of gaza. Abcs matt gutman with late reporting from israel now. Reporter new images tonight of that u. S. Built floating pier, now anchored to the beach in gaza just south of some of the heaviest fighting. About twice as long as an aircraft carrier, the pier will allow desperately needed aid to be brought by ship directly into gaza. About 1,000 u. S. Military personnel involved, but it will be up to the u. N. To coordinate distribution, and u. S. Officials stress there will be no boots on the ground. The first delivery of 500 tons of aid expected within days. You should really think of this as a crawl, walk, run. Its going to start off small and scale up. Reporter it comes at a critical moment with fighting in rafah choking off aid by land and daily blockades from small groups of israelis. Today, we witnessed these men stopping trucks. Whoa reporter so, what theyre trying to do is block trucks like this. You can see this kid running. And demand the i. D. Of the drivers. Thats how they know whether theyre delivering aid or not. Easy, easy. Is soldier offering the agitators information about the aid convoys, then coming out and threatening us not to film him. It comes as israel increasingly seems bogged down in gaza. Five were killed in a Friendly Fire Incident in northern gaza, where the idf says hamas has regrouped. David, back to that pier. Israel has guaranteed security onshore, but u. S. Officials tell us there will be american troops at the far end of the pier in order to receive that aid, but thats the closest theyll get to land, and those Officials Say theyre not aware of any direct threat to those troops, but they do acknowledge, david, that this is not without risk. David matt gutman in tel aviv for us again tonight. Matt, thank you. Meantime, back here in the u. S. , and to the Supreme Court tonight, the justices rejecting a challenge to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a win for the biden administration. Bankers had argued the agencys funding is unconstitutional, coming directly from the federal reserve, rather than through congress. The court rejected that claim in a 72 decision. The consumer Protection Bureau was set up after the 2008 financial crisis. It protects consumers finances, including credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages, as well. When we come back on a thursday night, the deadly home explosion. A father and daughter both killed. Good samaritans pulling the mother and her son from the debris. The images here in just a moment. And later tonight, the wnba, the team now moving their games against Caitlin Clark to a much bigger arena, because of the crowds showing up for any game with caitlin. If you have wet amd, you never want to lose sight of the things you love. Some things should stand the test of time. Long lasting eylea hd could significantly improve your vision and can help you go up to 4 months between treatments. If you have an eye infection, eye pain or redness, or allergies to eylea hd, dont use. Eye injections like eyla hd may cause eye infection, separation of the retina, or rare but severe swelling of Blood Vessels in the eye. An increase in eye pressure has been seen. Theres an uncommon risk of heart attack or stroke associated with blood clots. The most common side effects were blurred vision, cataract, corneal injury, and eye floaters. And theres still so much to see. 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A rare, lifethreatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur. Stop taking farxiga and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this infection, an allergic reaction, or ketoacidosis. Farxiga tonight, authorities are tonight, authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly House Explosion in fulton county, ohio, outside toledo. A father and daughter were killed in the blast. A mother and son injured. Good samaritans, people driving by, helping to pull the mother and son from the debris. They do remain in the hospital tonight. Authorities have not yet said what caused the blast. When we come back here tonight, the big change for some key games coming up involving Caitlin Clark. Well tell you whats happened. And then, the remarkable surprise for one beloved coach. Id made some progress on my antidepressant. Had some daily wins in reducing my symptoms. But i was still masking my depression. So i talked to my doctor. 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A risk thats increased if you develop a serious infection or Irregular Heartbeat or when taking certain other medicines. So do not stop, start or change medicines or the dose without telling your healthcare provider. You must have echocardiograms before and during treatment. Seek help if you experience new or worsening symptoms of Heart Failure. Because of this risk, camzyos is only available through a restricted program. Before taking camzyos, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including current or planned pregnancy. Today with camzyos, i dont lose my breath as often. My symptoms have improved, helping me go from expecting less to experiencing more. My name is mike. And this is my camzyos moment. Call your cardiologist today and see if a camzyos moment may be in your future too. To the index. So many fans wan david to the index. So many fans want to see Caitlin Clark play, Even Opposing teams are now moving games to larger arenas. The atlanta dream relocating two games against clark and the Indiana Fever from their 3,500seat arena to the 17,000seat arena at the State Farm Arena in atlanta. The Caitlin Clark effect. When we come back here tonight, the beloved coach, and the final lap. He had no idea this was coming. Inez, let me ask you, youre using head and shoulders, right . Only when i see flakes. Then i switch back to my regular shampoo. You should use it every wash, otherwise the flakes will come back. Tiny troy hes right, you know. Is that tiny troy . The ingredients in head and shoulders keep the microbes that cause flakes at bay. Microbes, really . Theyre always on your scalp. Little rascals. But good news, theres no itchiness, dryness or flakes down here i love tiny troy. And his tiny gorgeous hair. Hes the best. Make every wash count little help please. If you have Heart Disease and struggle with ldlc. Even with statins and a healthy diet. T. Listen to your heart. Talk to your doctor about repatha. 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Serious allergic reactions can occur. Tell your doctor if you are or may become pregnant. Done settling . Ask your rheumatologist for rinvoq. And take back whats yours. Abbvie could help you save. Finally tonight here, the last lap for a beloved coach. David finally tonight here, the last lap for a beloved coach. Tonight, in poth, texas, outside san antonio, the entire community celebrating coach joe mckinney. The track coach for 34 years for the poth school district. Doing so well, taking his teams to states. Impacting so many young lives. And tonight here, before he officially retires, watch what happened. Right after coach joes very last home track meet, the surprise. 75 students, past and present, taking to the track. One final victory lap with their coach. Their shirts with the message, well miss you rounding the bend. Joined by his wife, becky, and after they crossed the finish line, coach joe must have known the Gatorade Cooler was coming. Right here tonight hi, david. Welcome to poth, texas. David after drying off, coach joe. To see people come back that i havent seen in years and say that i have a little bit of impact on their lives has been very touching. David his daughter, kira. I love how he treats everyone, and i love how close he is to the community. David senior caden luma. Coach is always there for me. He supports me in everything i do. David junior aiden reed. With his great coaching and teaching, im now the state runnerup in shot put. I want to show coach the support he showed me. David tonight, the students past and present showing up for their coach to thank him for changing their lives. We salute you, coach joe. And we love that everyone showed up. Ill see you tomorrow night. Good section of highway one. Berkeley could make a new State Law Reality before any other california city, and it could help you buy a home. Im cornell bernard at sonoma state, where the University President has been placed on leave just days before graduation. Well talk about the controversy. Always live. Abc seven news starts right now. We want to build a better bay area because this is where we and millions of you call home. But this wonderful place comes at a cost, and its one of the most expensive communities in the country. Even the world. Good evening. Im ama daetz and im dan ashley. Thanks for joining us in san mateo county, for example, you need to make at least a half Million Dollars just to afford to buy a home. Yeah, the rest of the bay area isnt far behind. Yeah. Tonight were going to take a closer look at the challenges that were facing. And because we always want to focus on building a better bay area, well focus on solutions as well. For example, berkeley could become the first city in the state to put a new law into action, allowing people to buy, not just rent and Accessory Dwelling Unit or an adu. And well begin our coverage with that story in abc seven News Reporter lena howland. Buying a home may soon be in closer reach for folks in berkeley. As long as youre okay with living in someone elses backyard, i think that people just need a place where they can start right . Thats the whole point of a starter home, and this is