Transcripts For KNTV NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt 20170513

Colors, an american citys incredible celebration of spring. Nightly news begins now. Announcer from nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. As we come on the air in the west, a massive cyber extortion attack is under way across at least 70 countries tonight holding Computer Data hostage for ransom. The department of Homeland Security is warning American Companies to be on guard as the attack sweeps across europe and beyond, including british hospitals where frozen computer screens forced staff to turn away some patients. We get late details from london and nbcs kelly kobia. Reporter Companies Held for ransom. A computer virus paralyzing Britains National health service. Emergency rooms closed. Ambulances were diverted. Routine surgeries cancelled. We turned up for our appointment to have his foot checked, and they said, im really sorry, but the Computer System is down. You have to go away. Reporter the virus locked computers. On screen a message demanding 300 in bitcoin to get access. This was not targeted at the nhs. Its an international attack. Reporter the attack reportedly affecting Computer Networks in at least 70 countries. Russia hit the worst. Even spreading through that countrys interior ministry. Security experts say the virus exploits holes in Software Security first identified by the National Security agency and leaked by hackers. Its called wanna decryptor or wanna cry. The goal, not patient files or data, just money. Last year, a hospital in l. A. Paid 17,000 to unlock their files. In january, a hotel in austria was hit. If you keep your security up to date, if you make regular backups of important data, then you can recover from an instance like this. The problem is Many Organizations dont defend themselves in advance. Reporter the message to britains hospitals, pay up by may 19th or their data will disappear. Its not yet clear who is behind the attack but tonight as dhs is putting out that alert to u. S. Companies, a microsoft spokesperson said to guard against the virus, simply make sure your computers are updated and running their latest software. Lester . Kelly cobielle, in london, thank you. There is new fallout tonight from our exclusive interview with President Trump who unleashed a morning tirade on twitter, to some looked more like a threat to the fbi director he just fired, telling james comey he better hope there are no tapes of the conversations and the white house is not confirming or denying that the president has a secret recording system. Our White House Correspondent Kristen Welker has details. Reporter President Trump all smiles at this mothers Day Celebration with the first lady but this morning lashing out in a tweet storm seeming to unleash a warning to his recently fired fbi director. James comey better hope there are no tapes of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press. Those striking comments come after mr. Trump described a january 27th dinner with comey during an interview with lester. We had a very nice dinner and at that time he told me youre not under investigation. Reporter that is in dispute and so is the president taping discussions . Today mr. Trump didnt deny it. I wont talk about that. All i want is for comey to be honest. Reporter a similar dodge from press secretary. Are there recording devices in the residence . As i said for the third time, there is nothing further to add on that. There is no example of any modern white house recording any conversations that take place inside it unless you go back to the dark sinister time of nixon. Reporter the white house is still also trying to explain what led to comeys firing after initially blaming the clinton investigation, the president now admitting i said, you know, this russia thing with trump and russia is a madeup story. Its an excuse for the democrats for having lost an election they should have won. Reporter a very different explanation than the ones given initially. No one from the white house. That was a d. O. J. Decision. Because of the actions the Department Attorney general outlined. Reporter increasingly on defense over the mixed messaging, mr. Trump tweeting today hes an active president. It is not possible for my surrogates to stand at podium with perfect accuracy. And today the president further pushed back againstal lagss of his business ties with russia making public a letter from his attorneys sent to congress that states a review of the last ten years of tax returns do not reflect any income from russian sources with some exceptions, including the 2013 Miss Universe pageant held in moscow. Still, frustrated members of congress urging comey to testify. I would like to know if the president ordered mr. Comey to end the investigation. Reporter comey was invited to testify before the Senate Intelligence committee on tuesday. Hes not available then but lawmakers are working with him to find another time. Also tonight, the president threatening to cancel the daily press briefings, but no final decision yet. Lester. All right. Kristen welker at the white house for us tonight. Meantime, friends of james comey are pushing back from the dinner the two had first described in our interview but still no comment from comey himself. Our justice correspondent Pete Williams has that end of the story. Reporter one week after his inauguration, President Trump had dinner at the white house with fbi director james comey. Lets talk about james comey. Reporter the president told lester holt the meeting was comeys idea. I had a dinner with him. He wanted to have dinner because he wanted to stay on. We had a very nice dinner at the white house. He asked for the dinner . The dinner was arranged. I think he asked for the dinner, and he wanted to stay on as the fbi head, and i said ill consider. Well see what happens. Reporter but today the former director of National Intelligence told nbcs Andrea Mitchell on the morning of the dinner, comey said it wasnt his idea. He mentioned that he had been invited to the white house to have dinner with the president and he was uneasy with that because of even compromising even the optics, the appearance of independence, not only of him but of the fbi. Reporter several people who knew comey say they heard from him shortly after the dinner and he told them back then during the dinner mr. Trump asked a couple times if he would be loyal to the president and that comey said he couldnt promise that but he could promise he would always be honest. Mr. Trump told fox news today he never asked about it. Did you ask that question . No, no, i didnt but i dont think it would be a bad question to ask. Reporter as for the president s tweet that comey better hope there are no tapes of the conversation, friends of comey say they are sure he would be delighted if it was recorded since the two accounts of what happened are so different. Friends of comey say the white house invitation came the day before or the day of the dinner. The same time as the Justice Department was warning that michael flynn, then the National Security advisor, lied to the Vice President about contact with the russian ambassador. Lester . Pete williams in washington, thank you. In firing comey, the president said he agreed with the Justice Department assessment that comeys public statements about the clinton email investigation violated Justice Department principles. As a candidate, donald trump supported comeys reopening of that case and in my interview with the president yesterday, he appeared to be more concerned that comey declined to charge mrs. Clinton then he was about any broken rules. Would your justification that he shouldnt be doing that or you didnt like the fact that the investigation didnt lead into an indictment . When i was a candidate, a lot different than being president but when i was a candidate, what he did, what comey did had good moments for me. As a candidate. Im only talking as a candidate where i want to do what is right for the country necessarily. Im talking purely as a candidate. When he came out with the scathing set of circumstances, the server, the illegal server, the emails, 33,000 emails you get subpoenaed and dont show you erase those, delete them, you rid of them, acid wash them, when he did all of that stuff, it was disgraceful when hes covering everything point after point. I was with lawyers watching that. They were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive highly classified information. I happen to have some lawyers in the room, unrelated lawyers and they were say, wow, shes guilty here, guilty, guilty. Then he gets to the end and he says shes free as a bird. Although the department of justice makes final decisions on matters like this, we are expressing to justice our view that no charges are appropriate in this case. So you didnt like the outcome . No, what happened, he had a lot of pressure put on and he exonerated her. He should have never exonerated her. The president called comeys recent explanation of the decisions in the clinton case horrible. Well turn now to ohio where a gunman today opened fire at a nursing home outside columbus killing a police chief and two employees. Chief Steven Eric Disario had a baby and only been at the job about three weeks. The suspected gunman was found dead at the scene. Police have not identified him or revealed the motive. Another story out of ohio, a heartbreaking one concerning an 8yearold boy who took his own life days after an alleged bullying incident at school. Today School Officials released the video of that incident after the boys mother claimed the school wasnt being straight with her about what happened. Nbcs blake mccoy has more. Reporter its been nearly four months since Cornelia Reynolds discovered the unthinkable, her 8yearold son dead in his bedroom. Gabriel had hanged himself from his bunk bed. He probably didnt want to say, mom, somebody bullying or picking on me, you know. He just didnt know how to tell me. Reporter reynolds spoke with our cincinnati affiliate wlwt days after gabriels death and says she was never told her third grader was being bullied but tonight this video has been released showing an alleged assault in a School Bathroom where gabriel is knocked unconscious two days before he ended his life. The School District never told mom that there was a video. They never told mom he had been assaulted. Reporter family attorneys were given the video after they began asking questions. The School District denies any wrongdoing saying, in part, throw the connection between this incident at school and gabriels suicide are not clear, the district shared this video with Police Investigators at the time of the incident. Their investigation has concluded and no charges were filed. They say a school nurse checked gabriels vitals at the time, which were normal and called his mom. She says she was only told her son had fainted. They busted my babys lip. They busted his nose, and im sorry. Reporter this new video is prompting the coroner to reopen the Death Investigation as gabriels mother wonders what could have been done if she had only known. Blake mccoy, nbc news. Sweeping changes are coming to the drug policy in this country after the attorney general announced a tough crackdown. Jeff sessions ordering federal prosecutors to charge drug offenders with the most serious crimes they can carrying the maximum punishments, reversing an obama era push for more leniency for nonviolent offenders. Nbcs Hallie Jackson has details for us. Reporter when norman brown was 22 he received a mandatory life sentence for distributing crack cocaine. I do deserve to have served some time. But that much . I think that was overkill. Reporter after 24 years, his sentence was commuted by then president obama in 2015 as part of his push to rollback what he described as excessive penalties for nonviolent, lower level offenders. Their punishments didnt fit the crime. Reporter today, a significant shift back to stricter guidelines. This is a key part of President Trumps promise to keep america safe. If you are a drug trafficker, we will not look the other way. Reporter attorney general Jeff Sessions is ordering prosecutors to go after the toughest possible sentences, including those with mandatory minimums allowing for certain exceptions if approved by a u. S. Attorney or assistant attorney general. It reverses obama era policies that gave more leeway to prosecutors. What well probably be seeing is increasing prison populations in a federal system. Reporter Civil Liberties advocates argue the decision will repeat a failed experiment with former a. G. Eric holder who implemented the policy calling the new one not tough on crime but dumb on crime, quote an ideologically motivated cookie cutter approach. As for norman brown, he hopes the new attorney general will change his mind. There are more people like me dying in prison that need to get out and give back. Reporter Hallie Jackson, nbc news, the white house. Still ahead here tonight, no laptops allowed. Homeland security considering a massive expansion of its ban on Electronic Devices larger than a cell phone to hundreds more flights. Well tell you when it could go into effect. Also, a major scandal for one of the nations largest banks, maybe bigger than previously thought. Well be right back. Were back now with potentially big news in the air. U. S. Homeland security is considering a new ban on electronics on passenger aircraft traveling transatlantic entering the u. S. From europe. Nothing bigger than a cellphone would be allowed on board. It would be a expansion involving flights from the middle east amid fears of concealed explosives. Nbcs tom costello has details. Reporter the order would prohibit passengers from bringing any Electronic Device larger than a cellphone leaving europe to the u. S. Laptops, gaming devices, dvd players. As intelligence reports suggest, terrorists have found a way to conceal explosives in personal electronics. What we might see is this ban go for quite a while until either the threat goes away, which i dont see that happening any time soon, or all these countries start upgrading the screening technology. Reporter and checked luggage goes through more thorough explosive screening than carryon bags. Already u. S. Airlines have been told to prepare. Today delta prematurely posted a notice in cincinnati. A Similar Electronics ban has been in place since late march affecting flights from ten airports in the middle east and north africa. Roughly 50 flights a day but expanding the ban to flights from europe would affect many more flights. 142,000 passengers each day arrive from the eight busiest european countries. A major disruption for business travelers. Nothing, i would say my laptop would affect me because i like to do my work on longhaul flights. You need entertainment, you need something to keep you busy. Reporter another serious concern, the fire risk from loading so many Electronic Devices with lithium ion batteries into the bottom. Planes luggage holds. Tonight, Homeland Security says the new Electronics Ban could be announced in two weeks. While some travelers may be upset, security sources say the prime objective is the safety of the aircraft. Tom costello, nbc news, washington. Were back in a moment with former First Lady Michelle Obama fighting back after the Trump Administration targeted a piece of her legacy. A scandal of the nations Second Largest Bank may be far larger than first thought. Attorneys in the classaction lawsuit against wells fargo now estimate 3. 5 million fake accounts were opened in customers names in order to meet sales goals. Previously, regulators only disclosed about 2 million. Wells fargo disputes the new numbers saying it has not been verified. As we head into the weekend, extreme weather is in the forecast. A noreaster will affect over 50 Million People in the northeast with heavy rain and high winds. The system will impact d. C. And new york city on saturday. Then boston on sunday. There is the potential for flooding, wind gusts up to 40 miles an hour along the coast that could delay travel in the air and on the road for mothers day. Back in the spotlight today, former First Lady Michelle Obama speaking out against the Trump Administrations decision to rollback healthier School Lunch Standards that she championed. Mrs. Obama says its more about more than her legacy. Why dont you want our kids to have good food at school . What is wrong with you . And why is that a partisan issue . Why would that be political . What is going on . The rules mrs. Obama promoted required more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but the Trump Administration sited claims students throw away many of those healthier options. When we come back, now that spring is in full bloom, well stop and smell the flowers at one of americas most breathtaking celebrations of the season. Take vo how lawyers for sierra lamar s convicted killer hope to sway the jury. Jess take vo plus this viral photo is putting a local Sheriff S Office on the defense. Next close the news is next. Finally tonight, an amazing springtime site. A small town with a big celebration inviting visitors to tiptoe through the tulips, nearly 5 million of them in all the colors of the rainbow. Kevin tibbles take us to holland, holland, michigan, that is, for the story. Reporter like a breath of fresh air for the senses, the colors have returned to holland, michigan. Spring has sprung reporter and just like every year for the last 37, jan karstin wants everyone to know. What attributes do you need to be the town crier . The first one, obviously, you got to have a big mouth. Reporter for 88 years they have planted the bulbs and waited patiently to celebrate their Dutch Heritage during tulip time. More than 4. 5 million tulips and 100 different varieties offered up to those who migrate here every may. City itself has a population of 33,000. So adding 500,000 of your closest friends and family to the community makes it a little busy. Reporter and hollanders like festival director gwen spend months preparing their awe they wantic ko costumes. My feet are killing me. Because you dont have eight pairs of socks on like i did. Reporter you would never guess were here smack dab in the middle of michigan but this is the only working dutch wind mill in the United States of america. And in this nation of ours with us rich assortment of cultures, passing the tradition to the next generation is key. Kids from the local high school demonstrate the aptly named cloping dance celebrating the roots that grew america by celebrating the arrival of spring. Kevin tibbles, nbc news, holland, michigan. Thats going to do it for us on a friday night. Im lester holt. For all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. Raj take vo right now at 6 will he be forced out . The situation is not acceptable. Right now at 6 00. Will he be forced out in new calls for a bay area droesht to step down after misusing Campaign Funds. The news at 6 00 starts right now good evening thanks for being with us. The top cop in Contra Costa County face ago firestorm tonight. Those calls for him to go come after he admitted to petition spending thousands of dollars in Campaign Funds on himself. Today fellow prosecutors authorized a any confidence vote. Nbc bay area joins us from martinez and there is a joining chore us of voices calling for him to walk away. Reporter he is jessica this appears to be snowballing. The d. A. s critics are lining up. Ill tell you they are not holding back. Meanwhile, the District Attorney here is keeping quiet. Reporter mr. Peterson. Contra costa District Attorney Mark Peterson avoided our cameras today. And amid calls for the top cops firing. The grand jury investigated certain actions of mr. Peterson and concluded that there is enough evidence that it should be brought to trial. The foreman of the civil grand jury says a lot of work went in the accusation filed with the court this week calling for petersons removal from office. Peterson admitted to the Fair Political Practice Commission last year he used more than 66,000 in Campaign Funds from 2011 through 2015 for personal items such as meals, clothing and movie