NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 27

>>> TONIGHT, THE. INVESTIGATION UNDER. WAY AFTER THE TRAGIC. DEATH OF LEGENDARY. ACTOR GENE HACKMAN. AND HIS WIFE. THEIR SANTA FE HOME. NOW THE SITE OF AN. URGENT SEARCH. OFFICIALS DESCRIBING. WHERE THEY WERE FOUND. IN A MUDROOM AND. BATHROOM. AND WHY THE COUPLE. PROBABLY DIED WEEKS. AGO. >> THE 911 CALLS JUST. IN TONIGHT AND WHY SO. FAR, FOUL PLAY IS NOT. SUSPECTED BUT NOT OFF. THE TABLE. AND WE'LL REMEMBER. HACKMAN'S REMARKABLE.

BODY OF WORK, TWO. ACADEMY AWARDS AND. SOME OF THE MOST. ICONIC PERFORMANCES, FROM SUPERMAN TO THE. ROYAL TENNENBAUMS. >> THE BRITISH PRIME. MINISTER AT THE WHITE. HOUSE WITH THE. PRESIDENT AS EUROPE. WORRIES ABOUT U.S. COMMITMENT TO. UKRAINE. PRESIDENT TRUMP. SAYING HE BELIEVES. THE. TRANSPORTATION. SECRETARY. WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT.

PILOTS INVOLVED. >> IF YOU DON'T. LISTEN TO OR DON'T. ADHERE TO AIR TRAFFIC. CONTROL, YOUR PILOT'S. LICENSE SHOULD BE. YANKED? >> HELL YES. >> CONTROVERSIAL. SOCIAL MEDIA STAR. ANDREW TATE AND HIS. BROTHER FLY TO. FLORIDA. CHARGED WITH SEX. TRAFFICKING IN. EUROPE, BUT WHY ARE. THEY HERE NOW? >> AND WHEN THIS. SCHOOL BUS CAUGHT. FIRE, THE DRIVER. JUMPED INTO ACTION TO. GET A BUS LOAD OF. KIDS OUT ALIVE.

>> GOOD EVENING AND. WELCOME. TONIGHT'S SHOCK IN. SANTA FE WHERE SCREEN. ICON GENE HACKMAN AND. HIS WIFE WERE FOUND. DEAD IN THEIR HOME. THEIR DOG ALSO. DECEASED NEARBY. AUTHORITIES CALLING. THEIR DEATHS. SUSPICIOUS. INVESTIGATORS SPENT. THE DAY SEARCHING THE. NEW MEXICO COMPOUND. FOR CLUES, SAYING THE. COUPLE WAS LIKELY. DEAD FOR SOME TIME. BEFORE BEING. DISCOVERED BY A. GROUNDSKEEPER WITH. THE FRONT DOOR AJAR. TRIBUTES POURING IN. FOR THE BELOVED. TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNER. WHO STARRED IN.

EVERYTHING FROM THE. FRENCH CONNECTION TO. SUPERMAN. POLICE REVEALING. HACKMAN'S WIFE WAS. FOUND WITH. PRESCRIPTION PILLS. SCATTERED AROUND HER. AND 95-YEAR-OLD. HACKMAN WAS FOUND IN. A SEPARATE ROOM WITH. A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES. NEAR HIM, POSSIBLY. INDICATING A SUDDEN. FALL. INVESTIGATORS ADDING. THERE WAS NO. INDICATION OF A. STRUGGLE BUT THE. CAUSE OF DEATH IS. UNKNOWN. DANA GRIFFIN REPORTS. TONIGHT FROM JUST. OUTSIDE OF THEIR. FAMILY HOME. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, CHILLING NEW DETAILS. IN THE DEATH OF. LEGENDARY ACTOR GENE.

HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE. OF 34 YEARS, BETSY. >> YOU KNOW, ALL I. CAN SAY IS THEY HAVE. BEEN DECEASED FOR. QUITE A WHILE. >> Reporter: THEIR. BODIES FOUND. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. AFTER A GROUNDSKEEPER. CALLED 911 AFTER. ARRIVING AT THEIR. SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, HOME, AND SEEING THEM. THROUGH A WINDOW. >> ARE THEY MOVING AT. ALL? >> NO, THEY'RE NOT. MOVING. JUST BRING SOMEBODY. OUT HERE REALLY. QUICK. >> Reporter: AUTHORITIES ARE. INVESTIGATING THE. DEATHS AS SUSPICIOUS. BUT HAVE ALREADY. RULED OUT A CARBON. MONOXIDE LEAK AND SAY. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS. SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY.

>> THERE WAS NO. INDICATION OF A. STRUGGLE. THERE WAS NO. INDICATION OF. ANYTHING THAT WAS. MISSING FROM THE HOME. OR DISTURBED. >> Reporter: WHEN. DEPUTIES ARRIVED THEY. LOCATED THE BODY OF. HACKMAN'S 65-YEAR-OLD. WIFE IN A BATHROOM. LOCATED NEAR THE. FRONT DOOR, WHICH WAS. OPEN, ACCORDING TO. THE WARRANT. OFFICERS NOTED AN. ORANGE BOTTLE OF. PRESCRIPTION PILLS. SCATTERED ON THE. COUNTERTOP AND A. SPACE HEATING NEAR. HER HEAD WHICH. DETECTIVES SAY COULD. HAVE INDICATED SHE.

FELL TO THE GROUND. HACKMAN'S CANE WAS. NEXT TO HIM, INDICATING HE MAY. HAVE FALLEN AND WAS. UNABLE TO GET UP. DEPUTIES ALSO FOUND. THE COUPLE'S GERMAN. SHEPHERD DEAD IN HER. CRATE. THE WARRANT SAYS BOTH. GENE AND BETSY'S. BODIES SHOWED SIGNS. OF DECOMPOSITION. >> THIS IS AN. INVESTIGATION SO. WE'RE KEEPING. EVERYTHING ON THE. TABLE. I THINK THE AUTOPSY. IS GOING TO TELL US A. LOT. >> Reporter: GENE. HACKMAN HAD COME TO. DEFINE WHAT A TRUE. ACTOR IS. WITH THE UNCANNY.

ABILITY TO VANISH. INTO ANY ROLE. HACKMAN DREW FROM. WITHIN TO PUT NUANCE. INTO ALL THE TOUGH. GUY ROLES HE. PORTRAYED. >> IS THAT GUN JUST. FOR SHOW? >> Reporter: HACKMAN. WAS 36 IN BONNIE. CLYDE WHEN HOLLYWOOD. TOOK NOTICE. SOON AFTER, HIS TOUGH. AS NAILS GOOD COP. POPEYE DOYLE IN THE. FRENCH CONNECTION. EARNED HIM HIS FIRST. OSCAR. HACKMAN WON HIS. SECOND OSCAR FOR. PLAYING A BAD SHERIFF. IN 1992'S UNFORGIVEN.

BUT HE FELT THE TOUGH. GUY ROLES NEVER. REALLY PUSHED HIM. >> THEY WERE CAST SO. CLOSE TO TYPE IN. FILMS THAT YOU COULD. ONLY DO SO MUCH. WITHIN YOUR OWN. PERSONA. >> Reporter: TOWARDS. THE END OF HIS. CAREER, HACKMAN FOUND. HE PREFERRED COMEDY. FOR THE CHALLENGE. >> COMEDY IS HARDER. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT. ISN'T ARBITRARY. IF THEY DON'T LAUGH, IT DOESN'T WORK. >> Reporter: MOVING. TO SANTA FE AFTER. RETIRING, HACKMAN. CONTINUED TO WORK AS. A NOVELIST,

PUBLISHING HIS FIFTH. BOOK IN 2013. ALWAYS LETTING HIS. ACTIONS SPEAK FOR. HIM, ON THE WRITTEN. PAGE AND THE SILVER. SCREEN. TONIGHT, THE. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SAYS THEY ARE. AWAITING OFFICIAL. TOXICOLOGY AND. AUTOPSY RESULTS TO. HELP THEM DETERMINE. THE EXACT CAUSE OF. DEATH. THEY SAY THIS REMAINS. AN ONGOING. INVESTIGATION. MEANWHILE, THE. HACKMAN FAMILY. RELEASING A STATEMENT. SAYING THEY ARE. DEVASTATED BY THE. LOSS. LESTER. >> DANA GRIFFIN, THANKS. >> NOW TO THAT. HIGH-STAKES MEETING. BETWEEN PRESIDENT. TRUMP AND BRITISH. PRIME MINISTER KEIR.

STARMER. MR. TRUMP SAYING HIS. APPROACH TO RUSSIA. AND UKRAINE TALKS. WILL BE TO TRUST BUT. VERIFY. STARMER NOT MINCING. WORDS ABOUT PUTIN IN. OUR INTERVIEW A SHORT. TIME AGO. >> TONIGHT, PRESIDENT. TRUMP AND BRITISH. PRIME MINISTER KEIR. STARMER REAFFIRMING. THE COUNTRY'S. ENDURING SPECIAL. RELATIONSHIP. >> A MOMENT OF REAL. DANGER AROUND THE. WORLD, THE. RELATIONSHIP, THIS. RELATIONSHIP MATTERS. MORE THAN EVER. >> Reporter: A. HIGH-STAKES MEETING. AS TALKS START TO END. THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP. SAYING HE'S CONFIDENT. ANY DEAL WITH. RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT. PUTIN WILL LAST. >> I DON'T BELIEVE. HE'S GOING TO VIOLATE. HIS WORD. YOU KNOW, IT'S TRUST. AND VERIFY. LET'S CALL IT THAT. >> AND HE WAS ASKED, CAN HE GET BACK. UKRAINIAN TERRITORY. THAT RUSSIA SEIZED? >> A LOT OF THE SEA. LINE HAS BEEN TAKEN. WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF. WE CAN GET IT BACK OR. A LOT OF IT BACK FOR. UKRAINE IF THAT'S. POSSIBLE. >> PRESIDENT TRUMP. SAYING UKRAINE'S. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY. WILL COME TO THE. WHITE HOUSE TOMORROW.

TO SIGN A DEAL GIVING. THE U.S. ACCESS TO. UKRAINE'S RARE EARTH. MINERALS TO PAY BACK. THE U.S. FOR BILLIONS. OF DOLLARS IN AID TO. UKRAINE. AND THE PRESIDENT WAS. PRESSED ABOUT HIS. PREVIOUS COMMENTS, CALLING ZELENSKYY A. DICTATOR. >> DO YOU STILL THINK. MR. ZELENSKYY IS A. DICTATOR? >> DID I SAY THAT? I CAN'T BELIEVE I. SAID THAT. NEXT QUESTION. >> WE SPOKE WITH THE. PRIME MINISTER. MOMENTS AFTER THAT. WHITE HOUSE MEETING.

IF I UNDERSTAND. PRESIDENT TRUMP. CORRECTLY, HE SAYS. LET'S DO A PEACE DEAL. REGARDING UKRAINE. FIRST, AND THEN COME. BACK AND VISIT THE. AREA OF SECURITY. GUARANTEES. THAT DOESN'T SOUND. LIKE WHAT YOU CAME. HERE TO TELL HIM. >> WELL, LET ME FIRST. START BY SAYING THAT. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS. CHANGED THE. CONVERSATION ON. UKRAINE. SO IT'S CREATED THIS. OPPORTUNITY AND WE. ALL HOPE THAT DEAL IS. FORTHCOMING. WHAT'S MOST. IMPORTANT, I THINK, IS THAT IT'S A. LASTING DEAL.

THAT IT'S NOT JUST A. TEMPORARY PAUSE, AND. TO BE LASTING, IT'S. IMPORTANT THAT THE. DEAL IS DEFENDED, THAT PUTIN KNOWS HE. CAN'T GO AGAIN. AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE. BEEN CONCERNED TO. INSURE THAT THE. EUROPEAN SIDE ALL. COUNTRIES INCLUDING. THE UNITED KINGDOM. STEP UP, AND I SAID. WE ARE WILLING TO. PLAY OUR FULL PART IN. ANY SECURITY. GUARANTEES AND. OBVIOUSLY TALKING TO. THE PRESIDENT ABOUT. WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK. LIKE. >> YOU SAID IN A NEWS. CONFERENCE TODAY THAT.

YOU'RE ALL IN, READY. TO GO TO PUT BOOTS ON. THE GROUND. WHAT'S. YOUR LARGER MESSAGE. ABOUT WHAT UK IS. WILLING TO DO AND. ADVANCE FORWARD IN. THE NAME OF PEACE? >> THE FIRST ELEMENT. IS A WIDER ARGUMENT. WHICH IS THAT EUROPE. AND THE UNITED. KINGDOM NEED TO DO. MORE IN OUR OWN. DEFENSE. THAT'S WHY THIS WEEK. I ANNOUNCED THE. BIGGEST SUSTAINED. INCREASE IN DEFENSE. SPENDING SINCE THE. COLD WAR. THAT'S THE NATURAL. ARGUMENT ABOUT THE. DEFENSE OF THE. CONTINENT.

IN RELATION TO. UKRAINE, I DO THINK. THAT IT'S IMPORTANT. THAT EUROPEAN. COUNTRIES PLAY A. LEADING PART IN ANY. SECURITY GUARANTEES. THAT'S WHY I HAVE. SAID THAT THE UK. WOULD PUT BOOTS ON. THE GROUND IF. NECESSARY. >> THE PRESIDENT. SPEAKS POSITIVELY OF. RUSSIA, OF VLADIMIR. PUTIN. HE'S THE ONE THAT. ULTIMATELY YOU'LL. HAVE TO NEGOTIATE. WITH. DO YOU TRUST VLADIMIR. PUTIN AS A GOOD FAITH. PARTNER? >> I THINK PRESIDENT. TRUMP IS QUITE RIGHT. TO HAVE BROUGHT THESE.

PROCEEDINGS TO TALKS, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD. THREE LONG YEARS NOW, MANY, MANY, MANY. PEOPLE KILLED AND. INJURED IN THIS. I WAS IN KYIV JUST A. FEW WEEKS AGO, AND I. WAS IN THE BURNED. UNIT OF THE HOSPITAL. I SAW FIRST-HAND THE. HUMAN SCARS THAT. THOSE ON THE FRONT. LINE AND ACTUALLY. CIVILIANS ARE. BEARING. SO WE NEED THIS. PEACE. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE. KNOW HISTORICALLY. THAT PUTIN MIGHT GO. AGAIN.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU. DON'T TRUST HIM. >> LOOK, I THINK THAT. HE HAS AMBITIONS. I THINK HE WILL GO. AGAIN, AND I HAVE. MADE MY VIEWS ON. PRESIDENT PUTIN. PRETTY CLEAR ON A. NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. >> PART OF MY. INTERVIEW WITH PRIME. MINISTER STARMER. TODAY. >> JUST BREAKING, WE. HAVE LEARNED THE. GOVERNMENT'S CLIMATE. AND WEATHER AGENCY. NOAA IS LAYING OFF 5%. OF ITS STAFF WHILE. EARLIER FOREIGN AID. WORKERS AT USAID. CLEANED OUT THEIR. DESKS. HERE'S GARRETT HAAKE. >> Reporter: AN. EMOTIONAL EXODUS AT. THE FORMER.

HEADQUARTERS OF. USAID. >> I DEDICATED 13. YEARS OF MY LIFE TO. THIS. >> Reporter: WHERE. FIRED WORKERS WERE. GIVEN JUST 15 MINUTES. TO CLEAR OUT THEIR. DESKS. THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION. RECENTLY FIRED 1600. STAFF AND PLACED. THOUSANDS MORE ON. LEAVE AT THE AGENCY. THAT DOLES OUT. FOREIGN AID. BEN THOMPSON, A. EUROPE FOCUSED. COMMUNICATIONS. SPECIALIST. CRITICIZING ELON MUSK. WHOSE DEPARTMENT OF. GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. QUARTERBACKED THE. CUTS. >> HE'S NOT GOING. THROUGH WITH A FINE. TOOTH COMB.

HE'S TEARING DOWN OUR. INSTITUTIONS FOR FUN. IT'S A GAME. >> Reporter: MUSK ON. WEDNESDAY DEFENDING. FEDERAL WORKING. LAYOFFS SAYING IT'S. CRITICAL. >> IF WE DON'T DO. THIS, AMERICA WILL GO. BANKRUPT. >> PRESIDENT TRUMP. TODAY PRAISING THE. COST CUTTING. >> WE'RE HAVING GREAT. SUCCESS IN SLIMMING. DOWN OUR GOVERNMENT. IT'S BEEN REALLY VERY. SUCCESSFUL. >> Reporter: USAID. SUPPORTERS NOTE THE. AGENCY PROVIDES FOOD. AID TO 28 MILLION. CHILDREN WORLDWIDE.

AND TREATS MORE THAN. 5.5 MILLION CHILDREN. AROUND THE GLOBE. EVERY YEAR WITH. PNEUMONIA. >> THESE ARE REAL. PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING. TO SUFFER. >> Reporter: REPUBLICANS CALL MOST. OF THE SPENDING. WASTEFUL, POINTING TO. ITEMS LIKE $2 MILLION. GIVEN TO AN. ORGANIZATION FOR. GENDER AFFIRMING. HEALTH CARE IN. GUATEMALA AND $13. MILLION TO PUT ON A. SESAME STREET. PRODUCTION IN IRAQ. >> WE OWE THE. AMERICAN PEOPLE THE. ASSURANCES THAT EVERY. DOLLAR WE ARE. SPENDING ABROAD IS. BEING SPENT ON. SOMETHING THAT. FURTHERS OUR NATIONAL.

INTERESTS. >> AND GARRETT, MEANTIME, PRESIDENT. TRUMP MADE HEADLINES. TODAY REGARDING PLANS. FOR NEW TARIFFS. >> Reporter: THE. PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED. HE'S PLANNING ANOTHER. 10% INCREASE ON. TARIFFS ON IMPORTS. FROM CHINA AND MOVING. FORWARD WITH 25%. TARIFFS ON GOODS FROM. CANADA AND MEXICO. ILLEGAL BORDER. CROSSINGS HAVE. PLUMMETED BUT HE. BLAMES ALL THREE FOR. THE FLOW OF FENTANYL. INTO THE U.S. >> GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO OUR. NIGHTLY EXCLUSIVE. AFTER THE RECENT. STRING OF AVIATION. CRASHES AND CLOSE. CALLS, THE TRUMP.

ADMINISTRATION'S NEW. TRANSPORTATION. SECRETARY TOLD OUR. TOM COSTELLO THE. COMMON THREAD APPEARS. TO BE HUMAN ERROR. >> Reporter: ON HIS. FIRST VISIT TO THE. FAA'S AIR TRAFFIC. CONTROL ACADEMY IN. OKLAHOMA CITY. TRANSPORTATION. SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY. GOT A HANDS-ON LOOK. AT THE HIGH-STAKES. TRAINING TO BECOME A. CONTROLLER. >> RUNWAY 28 LEFT. CLEAR TO LAND. >> Reporter: HIS. VISIT COMES AS THE. NTSB AND FAA ARE. INVESTIGATING A. STRING OF AVIATION. CRASHES AND CLOSE.

CALLS. IN WASHINGTON, D.C., NO, ALASKA, TORONTO, AND THIS WEEK'S CLOSE. CALL ON THE RUNWAY AT. CHICAGO MIDWAY. AIRPORT. IS THERE ANYTHING. THAT CONNECTS THEM OR. IS IT THE POSSIBILITY. OF HUMAN ERROR? >> THEY'RE ALL VERY. UNIQUE. BUT I DO THINK IN ALL. OF THEM, AND AGAIN, NOT EXCLUSIVELY, NOT. 100%, BUT A MAJORITY. PROBABLY OF THE. ERRORS GO TO THE. PILOTS. THERE IS SOME PILOT.

ERROR AT PLAY. >> Reporter: THE NTSB. CHAIR SAYS IT APPEARS. A PRIVATE JET PILOT. WHO TAXIED IN FRONT. OF A SOUTHWEST PLANE. HAD FAILED TO FOLLOW. CONTROLLER. INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD. AND WAIT. FLEX JET, THE OWNER. OF THE COMPANY, SAYS. IT'S CONDUCTING ITS. OWN INVESTIGATION. ANY ACTION TO RECTIFY. AND INSURE THE. HIGHEST SAFETY. STANDARDS WILL BE. TAKEN. YOUR MESSAGE AFTER. THE MIDWAY INCIDENT. WAS, IF YOU DON'T. LISTEN TO OR DON'T. ADHERE TO AIR TRAFFIC. CONTROL, YOUR PILOT'S. LICENSE SHOULD BE. YANKED? >> HELL YES. >> Reporter: AND SAYS.

DUFFY, CONGRESS WILL. NEED TO SPEND. BILLIONS VERY SOON TO. UPGRADE AMERICA'S. ANTIQUATED ATC. TECHNOLOGY. >> IF THIS TAKES FOUR. YEARS OR FIVE YEARS. IT WON'T HAPPEN. AND THEN IF IT FAILS, AND PEOPLE GET HURT. OR PEOPLE DIE, EVERYONE IS GOING TO. BE DISAPPOINTED. >> Reporter: MEERM, THE FAA IS SHORT SOME. 3,000 TO 4,000. CONTROLLERS AND. STRUGGLING TO HIRE. AND TRAIN ENOUGH TO. REPLACE THOSE WHO. LEAVE. THE ACADEMY IS NOT. EASY. 35% OF THE STUDENTS.

HERE QUIT, FAIL, OR. WASH OUT. ANOTHER 20% WASH OUT. ONCE THEY'RE ON THE. JOB. >> IT'S A STRESSFUL. JOB BUT YOU NEED TO. CONTROL YOUR NERVES. >> Reporter: AFTER. HEARING FROM. STUDENTS, DUFFY. ANNOUNCED STEPS TO. ATTRACT WHAT HE CALLS. THE BEST AND. BRIGHTEST. FAST TRACKING. STUDENTS WITH THE. HIGHEST APPLICATION. TEST SCORES. ACCELERATING THE. HIRING PROCESS, AND A. 30% PAY HIKE FOR. ACADEMY STUDENTS. >> 160 GRAND A YEAR, THREE YEARS AFTER YOU.

GRADUATE. COME ON, SO YOUNG. PEOPLE, CHECK IT OUT. >> Reporter: 1800. STUDENTS CAME THROUGH. HERE AT THE ACADEMY. LAST YEAR. 2,000 ARE EXPECTED. THIS YEAR. THEY WOULD LIKE TO. ADD MORE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM. IS A SHORTAGE OF. CONTROLLER. INSTRUCTORS, ALL OF. WHOM ARE RETIRED. CONTROLLERS. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, TOM. COSTELL OH, THANKS. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, INTRIGUE OVER. INFLUENCER ANDREW. TATE, BACK IN THE. U.S. AFTER CHARGING. OF.

>>> ANDREW TATE, A. CONTROVERSIAL. INFLUENCER, IS BACK. ON U.S. SOIL. TATE IS FACING SEX. TRAFFICKING CHARGES. IN ROMANIA AND HAD. BEEN BANNED FROM. LEAVING. IT'S RAISING. QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY. HE WAS ALLOWED TO. LEAVE. HERE'S LAURA JARRETT. >> Reporter: RIGHT-WING INFLUENCER. ANDREW TATE LANDING. IN FLORIDA TODAY BY. PRIVATE JET. SETTING OFF A SWIRL. OF QUESTIONS ABOUT. WHY ROMANIAN. OFFICIALS PERMITTED. HE AND HIS BROTHER TO. LEAVE THE COUNTRY. WHERE THEY'RE FACING. SEX TRAFFICKING.

CHARGES. >> I THINK MY BROTHER. AND I ARE LARGELY. MISUNDERSTOOD. WE HAVE YET TO BE. CONVICTED OF ANY. CRIME. >> Reporter: ROMANIAN. OFFICIALS CONFIRMING. TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS. WERE LIFTED BUT THE. CASE AGAINST THEM. REMAINS ONGOING. THEY DENY ANY. WRONGDOING. ANDREW TATE, A. SELF-PROCLAIMED. MISOGYNIST WITH. MILLIONS OF ONLINE. FOLLOWERS ALSO. CHARGED WITH RAPE BY. ROMANIAN PROSECUTORS. AND FACING CIVIL. SUITS FOR SEX ABUSE. IN THE UK. TATE, A VOCAL TRUMP. SUPPORTER, FORECAST.

HIS RELEASE TWO WEEKS. AGO. POSTING, THE TATES. WILL BE FREE. TRUMP IS THE. PRESIDENT. THE GOOD OLD DAYS ARE. BACK. WHEN ASKED BY. REPORTERS TODAY, THE. PRESIDENT DENIED ANY. ROLE IN THEIR. RELEASE. >> I JUST DON'T KNOW. NOTHING ABOUT IT. >> Reporter: THE. STATE DEPARTMENT. DECLINED TO COMMENT. A LAWYER FOR THE. TATES WOULDN'T. CONFIRM WHETHER THE. WHITE HOUSE WAS. INVOLVED BUT SEVERAL. REPUBLICANS INCLUDING. FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON. DeSANTIS VOICED. CONCERN. >> FLORIDA IS NOT A. PLACE WHERE YOU'RE.

WELCOME WITH THAT. TYPE OF CONDUCT. WE WERE NOT INVOLVED. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, AN. ATTORNEY FOR AN. AMERICAN WOMAN WHO. SAYS SHE WAS LURED. FROM FLORIDA TO. ROMANIA FOR SEX. TRAFFICKING AND NOW. FACES A DEFAMATION. LAWSUIT BY THE TATES. FOR HER ALLEGATIONS. BLASTED THE. RE-EMERGENCE BACK IN. THE U.S. >> THE MESSAGE IS. CLEAR. IF YOU'RE FAMOUS, IF. YOU CAN GO VIRAL, THEN IT DOESN'T. MATTER IF YOU. SEXUALLY ABUSE WOMEN. >> Reporter: LAURA. JARRETT, NBC NEWS. >> UP NEXT FOR US.

TONIGHT, THE BACKLASH. TO A NEW PR. >>> WE ARE BACK WITH. THE STATES NOW. CONSIDERING PROPOSALS. TO ASK ABOUT. IMMIGRATION STATUS. WHEN ENROLLING. STUDENTS IN SCHOOL. GABE GUTIERREZ IS IN. OKLAHOMA CITY. >> Reporter: AFTER. WEEKS OF PROTESTS, TODAY --. >> SUSPEND ALL. ACTIVITY RELATED TO. IMMIGRATION. >> Reporter: A.

CONTENTIOUS SCHOOL. BOARD MEETING. >> WHY IS THIS BOARD. SAYING THAT PEOPLE OR. CHILDREN ARE TRASH. >> WE'RE STANDING UP. WITH YOU AND SO GLAD. YOU'RE STANDING WITH. PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> Reporter: LAST. MONTH, STATE BOARD. MEMBERS APPROVED A. PROPOSAL THAT WOULD. CHOIR SCHOOL. DISTRICTS TO ASK. PARENTS FOR PROOF OF. CITIZENSHIP BEFORE. ENROLLING THEIR KIDS. RYAN WALTERS IS THE. STATE SUPERINTENDENT. AND A STAUNCH. SUPPORTER OF. PRESIDENT TRUMP. DO YOU BELIEVE LOCAL. AND STATE OFFICIALS.

SHOULD HELP ENFORCE. IMMIGRATION LAW? >> ABSOLUTELY. THEY SHOULD BE. FOLLOWING EVERY ORDER. FROM THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION. ALL RIGHT A LANDMARK. 1982 SUPREME COURT. DECISION HELD THAT. CHILDREN ARE ENTITLED. TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. REGARDLESS OF THEIR. IMMIGRATION STATUS. IN ADDITION TO. OKLAHOMA, AT LEAST. FOUR OTHER STATES. HAVE SEEN MEASURED. INTRODUCED IN THEIR. LEGISLATURES TRYING. TO RESTRICT. UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN. FROM ATTENDING THEIR. SCHOOL. >> ARE YOU SCARED? THIS WOMAN IN. OKLAHOMA CITY IS. UNDOCUMENTED AND.

ASKED US TO CONCEAL. HER FACE. SHE SAYS EVERY CHILD. SHOULD HAVE THE. OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO. CLASS, BUT SHE'S NOW. TERRIFIED OF HER SON. BEING ROUNDED UP. WALTERS, THE. SUPERINTENDENT, IS. NOW FACING BACKLASH. FROM WITHIN HIS OWN. PARTY. DO YOU SUPPORT IT? >> NO, I DON'T. >> Reporter: GOVERNOR. KEVIN STITT, A. REPUBLICAN WHO. SUPPORTS TRUMP'S. IMMIGRATION POLICIES, ARGUES WALTERS IS. GOING TOO FAR. >> I NEVER HEARD. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY. I'M GOING TO GO PICK. ON KIDS. I HEARD HIM TALK. ABOUT CRIMINAL.

ELEMENTS AND GET THEM. OUT OF OUR COUNTRY. >> Reporter: THE. PROPOSAL NOW HEADS TO. THE. REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED. LEGISLATURE HERE, BUT. EVEN IF LAWMAKERS. WERE TO SIGN OFF, THE. GOVERNOR SAYS HE'LL. VETO IT. >> THANKS. >> WHEN WE COME BACK, >>> IN. >>> IN OHIO, A HEROIC. BUS DRIVER'S SWIFT. ACTIONS SAVED HIS. STUDENTS AFTER A FIRE. BROKE OUT ON BOARD. HERE'S MAGGIE VESPA. >> Reporter:

HEART-STOPPING VIDEO. OF A NEAR TRAGEDY IN. OHIO. >> THIS IS GOING TO. BE A BUS VEHICLE ON. FIRE, UNSURE IF IT IS. OCCUPIED. >> Reporter: SHOWING. MASSIVE FLAMES AND. BLACK SMOKE ENGULFING. A CLEVELAND SCHOOL. BUS DURING ITS. MORNING RUN TO A. LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE DISTRICT. CONFIRMING THERE WERE. 15 STUDENTS ON BOARD. >> EVERY CHILD IS. ACCOUNTED FOR. EVERY CHILD IS OFF. THE BUS. >> Reporter: FIREFIGHTERS HAILING. THE BUS'S DRIVER FOR. ACTING QUICKLY AND. GETTING EVERYONE OUT.

SAFELY. WITNESSES SAYING THEY. HEARD A LOUD. EXPLOSION. >> I SAW THE GIRL. WAITING FOR THE BUS, TWO TO THREE MINUTES. LATER I HEARD A BIG. BOOM. >> Reporter: CITY. OFFICIALS TELLING NBC. NEWS THE FIRE APPEARS. TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED. BY A MECHANICAL ISSUE. WITH THE. SUPERINTENDENT SAYING. FLAMES BROKE OUT. BEHIND ONE OF THE. REAR WHEELS. THE EXACT CAUSE UNDER. INVESTIGATION. >> AFTER ABOUT FIVE. MINUTES IT WAS ALL. ENGULFED IN FLAME AND. JUST UNBELIEVABLE. >> Reporter: THIS. REPORT FROM OHIO. STATE HIGHWAY PATROL.

CONFIRMED THE BUS. JUST PASSED ITS. ANNUAL MANDATORY. INSPECTION ON. FEBRUARY 14th. THE SUPERINTENDENT. NOTING THE ENTIRE. FLEET IS NOW BEING. REINSPECTED. SHE WRITES THE DRIVER. WHO IS ASKING NOT TO. BE IDENTIFIED, CREDITED ANNUAL. EVACUATION DRILLS FOR. GETTING STUDENTS OUT. SAFELY. ADDING, I CAN'T. EXPRESS HOW RELIEVED. I AM THAT NO ONE WAS. HURT. MAGGIE VESPA, NBC. NEWS. >> AND THAT IS. NIGHTLY NEWS FOR THIS. THURSDAY. THANK YOU FOR. WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT.