PROTECT YOURSELF. >>> MANY COMMENTS, WE WILL ADDRESS IN THE MEDICAL CHECKUP. GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. I AM JOE FRYER. >> I AM SAVANNAH SELLERS. >>> WE BEGIN WITH THE CONVICTION OF HUNTER BIDEN. >> HE WAS FOUND GUILTY YESTERDAY OF THREE FEDERAL CHARGES OF USING DRUGS WHILE BUYING A GUN. THE CASE WAS FULL OF DIFFICULT -- IT ONLY TOOK THE JURY ABOUT THREE HOURS TO COME TO A VERDICT. HE FACES THE POTENTIAL OF YEARS BEHIND BARS. NO SENTENCING DATE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, JUST YET. >> NO ONE IN THIS COUNTRY IS ABOVE THE LAW. EVERYONE MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, EVEN THIS DEFENDANT. HOWEVER, HUNTER BIDEN SHOULD BE NO MORE ACCOUNTABLE THAN ANY OTHER CITIZEN CONVICTED OF THIS SAME CONDUCT. >> LATER IN THE DAY, HUNTER BIDEN GREETED THE PRESIDENT AFTER HE ARRIVED IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. THE PRESIDENT SAYING HE ACCEPTS THE OUTCOME AND WILL RESPECT THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. HE HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID HE WOULD NOT PARDON HIS SON. >> JOINING US, KENDAL AND DANNY CELLAVOS. THE FIRST LADY WAS NOT ABLE TO GET PAST SECURITY BEFORE THE VERDICT WAS READ. WALK US THROUGH. >> THE RAPIDITY OF THE VERDICT TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE AND FOR THAT REASON, JILL BIDEN DID NOT GET INSIDE BUT HUNTER BIDEN REACTED IMPASSIVELY. HE STAYED AND STARED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND LOOKED AT THE JURORS A FEW TIMES. HE ENDED UP EMERGING WITH HIS MOTHER AND WIFE AND WE HEARD FROM HIM LATER WHERE HE EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE HE GOT -- SUGGESTING THAT THEY MIGHT APPEAL THIS CONVICTION AND WE HEARD FROM DAVID WEISS, THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THIS CASE, A FORMER TRUMP-APPOINTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEY. HERE IS MORE FROM DAVID WEISS. >> THIS CASE WAS ABOUT THE ILLEGAL CHOICES THE DEFENDANT MADE WHILE IN THE THROES OF ADDICTION. HIS CHOICE TO LIE ON A GOVERNMENT FORM WHEN HE BOUGHT A GUN AND THE CHOICE TO THEN POSSESS THAT GUN. IT WAS THESE CHOICES AND THE COMBINATION OF GUNS AND DRUGS THAT MADE HIS CONDUCT DANGEROUS. >> THESE ARE THREE FELONY CONVICTIONS MR. BIDEN DOES PHASE PRISON TIME ALTHOUGH THE SENTENCE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT. THAT WILL HAPPEN A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW AND HE FACES ANOTHER TRIAL ON FELONY TAX CHARGES IN NOVEMBER, GUYS. >> WHAT ABOUT THE TIME THE JURY NEEDED TO COME TO THIS DECISION? >> IT APPARENTLY WASN'T A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION. IT WAS EARLY ON, SIX-SIX. THAT SURPRISES ME. I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE OF HOLDOUTS FOR AN ACQUITTAL, MAYBE PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION OR WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD BEEN ON THE PARTICULAR DAY. BUT HE WAS PROVEN TO BE AN ADDICT AT A PRECISE TIME. I AM NOT SURPRISED AT THE SHORT DELIBERATIONS PERIOD. THIS IS NOT A COMPLEX WHITE- COLLAR HEAVY CASE. IT IS GUNS, DRUGS. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT. >> THE JURORS ARE NOW FREE TO TALK. WHAT IS THE REACTION TO THE VERDICT? >> SOME OF THEM DID NOT THINK MUCH OF THE CASE. THEY HAD A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR HUNTER BIDEN. ONE OF THEM EVEN CALLED IT A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY. WITH AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS THEY WENT THROUGH THE EVIDENCE, ALL OF THE JURORS DECIDED THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CONVICT. MANY OF THEM DON'T THINK HUNTER BIDEN DESERVES JAIL TIME. TAKE A LISTEN. >> FOR US, IT IS NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. POLITICS NEVER PLAYED INTO ANYTHING WE SAID IN THE JURY ROOM. WE JUST HAD TO FIND OUT WHETHER HE PURCHASED A GUN ILLEGALLY OR NOT. THAT WAS THE WHOLE CASE. >> IN AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE LEGAL SYSTEM HAS BECOME SO POLITICIZED AND ATTACKED BY BOTH SIDES, THE AMERICAN JURY SYSTEM, 12 MEMBERS GOT TOGETHER OF ALL POLITICAL PERSUASIONS AND DEMOGRAPHIC PERSUASIONS AND WENT TO THE EVIDENCE AND DECIDED THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CONVICT EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THEM DID NOT THINK MUCH OF THE CASE. >> THIS IS NOT THE END OF HIS LEGAL CHALLENGES AND HE IS EXPECTED TO GO TO COURT IN NOVEMBER ON TAX CHARGES. COULD THIS CASE HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THAT ONE? >> IT WILL AND THE SENSE OF HUNTER BIDEN IS SENTENCED THE SECOND CASE STARTS, THE REALITY IS THAT HE WILL HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY BY THE TIME HE ROLLS INTO THE SECOND CASE AND IF HE IS CONVICTED, THAT PUTS HIM IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT CATEGORY FOR SENTENCING. AND IN THIS CASE, YOU MAY HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS GUN CASE SAY THAT HUNTER BIDEN IS A CANDIDATE FOR A STRAIGHT PROBATION SENTENCE. FOR THE LAST 18 HOURS OR SO, I HAVE BEEN REALLY THINKING ABOUT IT AND I THINK HE IS LIKELY TO GET SOME TIME, MAYBE A SPLIT SENTENCE BUT HE IS LIKELY TO GET A SENTENCE OF INCARCERATION, 15 TO 21 MONTHS. AND DON'T FORGET, HE IS GOING TO BE BEFORE A JUDGE AND A PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE A LOT OF DRUG CASES ARE CONVICTED. >> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. >>> THIS MORNING IS THE 250th DAY OF THE CONFLICT IN GAZA AND THERE IS A NEW PUSH FOR A CEASE- FIRE IS ANTONY BLINKEN HEADS TO QATAR . >> THE SECRETARY ALSO SET TO MEET WITH AMERICAN FAMILIES WITH HOSTAGES BEING HELD BY HAMAS. >> Reporter: IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 2 WEEKS SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN LAID OUT THAT CEASE-FIRE PLAN TO END THE WAR IN GAZA AND BRING ALL OF THE HOSTAGES HOME. FINALLY, THERE IS A RESPONSE FROM HAMAS BUT THAT IS NOT CLEAR AND IT IS NOT A CLEAR NO. THE POLITICAL LEADER ALONG WITH ISLAMIC JIHAD SAYS THEY ARE READY TO MAKE A DEAL TO AND MESS THIS WAR ND THAT THEY ARE SEEKING AMENDMENTS TO THE CEASE- FIRE PROPOSAL THAT IS ON THE TABLE ACCORDING TO A SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION WHO TELLS US HAMAS WANTS A TIMELINE FOR WHEN ISRAELI FORCES WILL FULLY WITHDRAW FROM GAZA. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT ISRAEL IS PREPARED TO MAKE. AT THIS STAGE, A DEAL IS STILL POSSIBLE BUT IT MAY ALSO BE THAT THE TWO SIDES REMAIN QUITE SOME DISTANCE APART. ANTONY BLINKEN WHO HAS BEEN TRAVELING THE MIDDLE EAST IS HEADING TO QATAR TODAY TO TRY TO CLOSE THE GAPS BETWEEN THOSE TWO SIDES TO MEET WITH MEDIATORS AND HERE IN ISRAEL, THE MILITARY IS SAYING THAT IRANIAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON HAVE FIRED 160 ROCKETS OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL AND THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOMBARDMENTS OF THE ENTIRE WAR. HEZBOLLAH RESPONDING TO AN ISRAELI STRIKE THAT KILLED ONE OF ITS SENIOR COMMANDERS. RIGHT NOW, THE RACE IS ON TO TRY TO END ONE MORE AND STOP ANOTHER ONE FROM FLARING UP. BACK TO YOU. >>> BACK IN THE UNITED STATES, AT LEAST ONE PERSON IS DEAD AFTER A GUNMAN HIJACKED A CITY BUS FULL OF PASSENGERS. SINCE IT WAS A HOSTAGE SITUATION, MORE THAN TWO DOZEN POLICE CARS CHASED THE BUS AND THE WHOLE THING WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. HE HELD A GUN TO THE BUS DRIVERS HEAD WHILE FORCING HIM TO DRIVE NEARLY 20 MILES BEFORE DISABLING THE VEHICLE. A 49-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHY HE HIJACKED THE BUS. >>> A HIGH-PROFILE STING OPERATION THAT LED TO THE ARREST OF EIGHT MEN SUSPECTED LEE TIED TO ICES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. >> THE MEN WERE DETAINED OVER THE WEEKEND IN NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA AND LOS ANGELES. WE SHOULD KNOW HAT WHILE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH A TERRORIST CONNECTION OR PLOT, THEY ARE RACING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE. >> JULIA AINSLIE, GOOD MORNING. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE THREE MEN AND HOW THEY GOT HERE? >> ACTUALLY, THERE WERE EIGHT ARRESTS AND ALL OF THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE THE NICEST HIGH. THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN CHARGED. THEY SIMPLY PICKED UP ON IMMIGRATION AND THEY CROSSED OVER THE BORDER. TWO OF THE EIGHT DID COME THROUGH IN MARCH OF 2023 AND AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE CAME THROUGH ON THE ACT WHICH MEANS THEY DID NOT COME ILLEGALLY. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STARTED IT TO HELP ASYLUM IMMIGRANTS. THIS YEAR, IT HAS REALLY BEEN MARKED BY A CHANGE OF MIGRANTS COMING FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND NOW WE ARE SEEING MORE , RUSSIAN NATIONALS, SOME OF THESE PLACES TO HAVE TIES TO ICES WHICH IS STARTING TO POSE MORE OF A THREAT, GLOBALLY. >> HOW ARE INVESTIGATORS ABLE TO TRACK THEM DOWN AND DO WE KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT? >> WE KNOW THAT WHEN THEY CROSS THE BORDER, THEY HAD NO DEROGATORY INFORMATION, THEY WERE NOT ON A TERRORIST WATCH LIST AND THERE WAS NO CRIMINAL HISTORY. BORDER AGENTS CHECKED THEIR BACKGROUND BUT LATER BECAUSE OF THE FBI AND POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A TIP, THEY WERE ABLE TO START MONITORING AND KEEPING TABS ON THESE MEN AND THERE WAS ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT THEY THOUGHT ICES SHOULD KNOW. THIS IS SORT OF THE WAY TO GO FOR THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT. THEY KNEW THEY HAD SOME IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS AND THEY WERE WAITING TO GO BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE SO THEY COULD ARREST THEM AND DETAIN THEM WHILE WAITING FOR THAT HEARING. THAT IS WHY I >> MOVED IN AND PROBABLY WHILE THE FBI WILL CONTINUE THEIR INVESTIGATION, I WOULD GUESS THAT THE FBI WOULD WANT TO TALK TO THESE MEN. >> WE KNOW BORDER SECURITY IS A TOP ISSUE IN THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THAT ACTION TIGHTENING BORDER SECURITY. DO OFFICIALS THINK THAT WILL BE ENOUGH TO CLAMPDOWN ON POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS LIKE THIS? >> Reporter: THE ONE THING THE EXECUTIVE ACTION IS SUPPOSED TO DO IS BRING DOWN THE NUMBERS AT THE BORDER. THAT WAY, YES, IT IS EASIER TO STRETCH THIN SO THEY CAN DO MORE CHECKS BUT I THINK WITH THIS CASE SHOWS AND THE CASE OF THE VENEZUELAN GANG THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER THIS WEEK, VENEZUELA IS ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T SHARE A LOT OF INFORMATION WITH THE UNITED STATES BUT ALL OF THAT SHOWS THERE ARE PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER THAT THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE TO COLLECT INFORMATION, IT IS COMING FROM COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT SHARE INFORMATION AND IT IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO A BORDER AGENT WITHIN THE FIRST 72 HOURS OF THEIR CROSSING AND IT IS LIKELY THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE RELEASED BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE DEEMED A THREAT. SO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THIS AND ANOTHER EXECUTIVE ACTION THE PRESIDENT TOOK LAST MONTH IS TO GET MORE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION TO IMMIGRATION JUDGES WHERE THEY ARE DECIDING WHO CAN BE RELEASED BUT IN SHORT, THIS IS A TOP CONCERN AND IT IS NOT CLEAR IF EXECUTIVE ACTION WILL COMPLETELY TAKE AWAY THOSE FEARS. >>> TURNING TO SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT VIOLENT CRIMES IN THE UNITED STATES. NEWLY RELEASED STATISTICS SHOW THAT HISTORIC DROP IN CRIME BUT THAT NEWS COMES AS MULTIPLE PEOPLE WERE SHOT AT A POPULAR SHOPPING AREA. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, TOM CASTILLO, HAS THE DETAILS. >> Reporter: PEOPLE SHOT AT A DOWNTOWN FOOD COURT. >> PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING, THERE IS A SHOOTER, RUN! >> Reporter: VIOLENT CRIME ACTUALLY DROPPED DRAMATICALLY DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR AFTER SURGING DURING THE PANDEMIC. AMONG THE 72% OF POLICE AGENCIES REPORTING TO THE FBI, MURDER IS DOWN 26% COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO AND WRITE DOWN 25%, ROBBERY DOWN 17%. MURDER IS DOWN 16% IN CHICAGO. DC, DOWN 40%. PHILADELPHIA DOWN 41%. PHILADELPHIA'S COMMITTEES DOSE POLICE COMMISSIONER. >> WE ARE REALLY BEING VERY STRATEGIC. >> Reporter: MURDERS ARE UP DOUBLE DIGITS IN L.A.. IN POMPANO BEACH, POLICE AND FEDERAL AGENTS JUST WRAPPED UP A SIX-WEEK SWEEP TARGETING GUNS AND DRUGS ARRESTING 132 SUSPECTS AND CONFISCATING DOZENS OF WEAPONS. >> WE COME OUT AND WE RISK OUR LIVES AND WE CHASED DOWN THE BAD PEOPLE. >> Reporter: EVEN AS HIS OWN SON WAS CONVICTED OF ILLEGALLY BUYING A FIREARM. POLICE SAY REDUCING VIOLENCE OFTEN COMES DOWN TO MORE COPS ON THE STREET, ADDICTION HELP AND JOBS. >>> NOW, IT IS TIME FOR YOUR MORNING NEWS. IN SOUTH FLORIDA, MILLIONS ARE BRACING FOR A SOGGY DAY AHEAD. >>> NO CHANGE IN THIS FORECAST FOR THE SUNSHINE STATE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE UNSETTLED WEATHER AND FLOOD MARCHES -- WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT INCLUDING SOME OF THOSE HARD-HIT AREAS, YESTERDAY. THE KEYS ARE STILL INCLUDED. HERE IS WHAT PLAYS OUT. MORE HEAVY DOWNPOURS, THE TORRENTIAL RAIN THAT WE SAW MUCH OF YESTERDAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS STATIONARY FRONT HANGING OUT ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA LEAVING US WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE. THIS IS THE SAME KIND OF SCENARIO WE SEE NOT JUST TODAY BUT TOMORROW. MORE HEAVY RAIN ON TAP AND WE WILL LIKELY SEE SATURATED WATERWAYS, GROUNDS CAUSING MORE FLASH FLOODING MUCH LIKE WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY. HERE IS A LOOK AT YOUR FRIDAY AND THIS FRONT WILL STILL BE STICKING AROUND. HERE IS THE RAINFALL FORECAST AS WE GET THROUGH SATURDAY. YESTERDAY, WE SAW IMPRESSIVE RAINFALL RATES IN PLACES LIKE SARASOTA. THEY PICKED UP EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN SETTING RECORDS. TODAY, ANOTHER ROUND SPECIFICALLY ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WHERE WE COULD SEE OVER A FOOT OF RAIN BY THE TIME WE GET INTO THE WEEKEND BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK FURTHER TO THE EAST ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE EAST COAST, THEY REALLY ONLY NEED TO PICK UP AN INCH TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN TO SEE THAT FLASH FLOODING. AND WE ARE NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS INTO HURRICANE SEASON BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN AREA OF POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING MUCH OF INTEREST BUT OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT. IT WILL GET OUT OVER THE ATLANTIC OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND CROSSED THE STATE OF FLORIDA LATER, TODAY. THE BIG PICTURE, LOOK FOR YOUR WEEKEND. WE HAVE RECORD HIGHS ON TAP ACROSS NOT JUST THE SOUTHWEST, THEY WILL KEEP THAT GOING ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST INTO TOMORROW AND FRIDAY BUT ALSO THE MIDWEST AND PARTS OF THE EAST WILL GET IN N THE RECORD HIGH POTENTIAL WITH 90s ON TAP FOR A LOT OF FOLKS. WE HAVE:FLOOD THREAT FOR FRIDAY ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA BUT YOUR SATURDAY LOOKS A LOT BETTER. MORE SUNSHINE ON TAP FOR THE NORTHEAST. WE HAVE LOTS OF SUNSHINE ON TAP FOR FOLKS ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST. IT WILL STAY HOT AND DRY AND FATHER'S DAY IS COMING UP. THAT ONE IS FOR YOU AND ALSO, SUPER SOGGY. TRIPLE DIGITS FOR A LOT OF FOLKS FOR SUNDAY.
