transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:00] Behind every health care statistic is a person's face, paying the price. Big Pharma just increased the prices of 350 drugs. Hospital monopolies are marking up procedures by 300%. The drug companies and hospitals set health care prices, and they're too high. America's health insurers are on the side of people, working hard to negotiate costs down and make health care work better for everyone. We see more than numbers. We see you.

Speaker 2:
[00:32] Good morning, everyone. I'm Emily Jashinski, host of After Party and The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show on SiriusXM Channel 111. It's Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026, and this is your AM Update. President Trump indefinitely extends America's ceasefire with Iran.

Speaker 3:
[00:48] This was a very deliberate process to gather information into allegations that were extremely serious and extremely complicated.

Speaker 2:
[00:59] Democrat Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigning from the House moments before facing punishment from the Ethics Committee. A California man pleads guilty in a deadly wrong-way car crash into a group of sheriff's recruits in a deal that keeps him out of prison.

Speaker 4:
[01:15] If there's any connection that leads to nefarious conduct or conspiracy, this FBI will make the appropriate arrest.

Speaker 2:
[01:22] And the feds now investigating the growing list of missing and dead scientists linked to some of America's most consequential national security secrets. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

Speaker 5:
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Speaker 2:
[02:29] President Trump extending the US ceasefire with Iran indefinitely yesterday afternoon, just hours before it was set to expire. The announcement, a reversal from an early morning CNBC interview in which the president said, he did not want to extend the deadline and expected to resume the bombing campaign. Mr. Trump instead writing the following on Truth Social, quote, We have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able and will therefore extend the ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded one way or the other. The US military blockade appearing to be a sticking point for the Iranians in returning to the table. Yesterday afternoon, Iranian ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeed Aravani, saying when the blockade ends, quote, I think the next round of the negotiations will take place in Islamabad. Saeed referred to the blockade as a violation of the ceasefire. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Arakchi in a social media post calling the blockade an act of war, adding, quote, Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying. The Treasury Department yesterday afternoon announcing a new set of economic sanctions against companies working with Iran on drone and missile development. Democrat Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida resigning from the House yesterday, just minutes before a high-stakes Ethics Committee hearing to determine potential punishment after the panel found she had committed a series of ethics violations. The findings stem from allegations that Cherfilus-McCormick improperly kept a $5 million overpayment in COVID relief funds sent to her family's health care company and funneled some of that money into her campaign. The Ethics Committee in March substantiating 25 of 27 charges, including campaign finance violations, false financial disclosures, and misuse of official funds. According to CNN, over the course of its investigation, the panel making 30 requests for information, using 59 subpoenas, conducting 28 interviews, and reviewing more than 33,000 pages of records. Cherfilus-McCormick releasing a statement online calling the Ethics Committee's process an unfair witch hunt. Quote, rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida's 20th district. The congresswoman was also facing a push from Republican Congressman Greg Stubbe of Florida to force a vote on her expulsion later this week. Expulsion votes are rare in Congress, requiring a two-thirds majority, but in recent weeks, support for her removal had been growing among Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told Fox News yesterday, quote, Let's just get this over with. Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, shortly after the announcement.

Speaker 3:
[05:33] There will not be a sanctions hearing. This was not a rush to judgment, as some would claim, that this was a very deliberate process to gather information into allegations that were extremely serious and extremely complicated. There were multiple witnesses that were spoken to over a two-year period. There were tens of thousands of documents that were subpoenaed, gathered, and reviewed. And throughout this process, Ms. McCormick, who has now resigned from Congress, had multiple ample opportunities to present exculpatory evidence to the committee and to address the committee both by way of a voluntary statement and then also to comply with the subpoena that was issued in this case.

Speaker 2:
[06:27] The Congresswoman has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Trouble not yet over for Cherfilus-McCormick. In a separate case, she was indicted in November on charges tied to that same $5 million overpayment. Federal prosecutors allege she and several associates stole COVID relief funds and laundered the money into her 2021 congressional campaign. She faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted on all counts with trials set for early 2027. Here, the congresswoman reacting to that indictment last November.

Speaker 6:
[06:58] Thoughts on the indictment, please.

Speaker 7:
[07:00] Well, it's an unjust indictment and it seems like these intimidation tactics have been pervasive. We spent all week seeing different members getting censured all in hopes of intimidating and kind of distracting from the Epstein files. And I look forward to my day in court so I can prove myself and actually state the truth. But if this is what Congress is becoming, we're always trying to intimidate you, if the air tactics especially attacking minorities, black and brown people, then we're going to have to keep fighting for the district.

Speaker 2:
[07:25] She becomes the third lawmaker to resign in the past week after Congressman Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, and Tony Gonzalez, a Republican, stepped down under the threat of expulsion over separate sexual misconduct allegations. Coming up, a California man pleading guilty in a deadly wrong way crash that plowed into a group of sheriff's recruits now set to avoid prison time, and federal agencies launching a coordinated review into a series of deaths and disappearances involving scientists tied to sensitive nuclear and space programs.

Speaker 5:
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Speaker 2:
[09:23] A California man pleading guilty Monday in connection with a deadly November 2022 wrong way crash that struck a group of LA County Sheriff's recruits and is expected to receive no jail time. Then 22-year-old Nicholas Gutierrez falling asleep at the wheel while driving to work early in the morning. Prosecutors say his car crossed into oncoming traffic, plowing head-on into a group of 76 recruits on a training run. 27-year-old Alejandro Martinez dying months later from his injuries, and more than two dozen recruits injured in the crash, 10 sustaining serious injuries. At the time, Gutierrez booked on suspicions of attempted murder of a police officer. During that process, he was brought to a hospital for medical examination. A toxicology screen coming back clean according to Gutierrez attorney. Later in the day, officers releasing Gutierrez without bail, citing interviews with coworkers and neighbors who said they did not believe the crash was intentional. Days later, he spoke to NBC4 about the accident.

Speaker 8:
[10:24] What would you want to say to the families or those recruits that you saw out there that day? I didn't intentionally do it.

Speaker 6:
[10:32] I wish it never happened.

Speaker 8:
[10:35] I feel bad it happened.

Speaker 2:
[10:37] Gutierrez's attorney saying her client has multiple family members in California law enforcement, including his father, a retired corrections officer, and quote, harbors absolutely no animosity toward law enforcement. Gutierrez agreeing to plead guilty on one count of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine felony counts of reckless driving in exchange for a suspended eight-year sentence and five years of probation. He is barred from driving for five years. LA. County District Attorney Nathan Hockman releasing a statement, quote, Today's plea and sentence cannot undo the devastation of that day, nor will it bring back the life that was lost. But it does mark a step toward justice and a measure of closure for the victims and their families whose lives have been forever changed. The sentencing is set for May 8th. Victims and families will be allowed to address the court. We spoke with the MK True Crime Show host Phil Holloway, who says this outcome is indefensible.

Speaker 9:
[11:32] This is completely unacceptable, in my view. It's unacceptable that Nicolas Gutierrez walks free completely after his criminal negligence killed LASD recruit Alejandro Martinez, and it devastated all the other lives, too, by the way, and the families of those others that were injured. An eight-year suspended sentence is not one that speaks to justice. And to be frank, our law enforcement officers throughout the nation, including the future law enforcement officers that might consider recruit training, deserve better than this type of sentencing.

Speaker 2:
[12:07] We asked Holloway whether prosecutors are putting too much weight on the lack of intent here.

Speaker 9:
[12:12] If the prosecutor is hanging his or her hat on the fact that this was not intentional, then that's absolutely ridiculous because if it were intentional, it would, of course, be a murder charge. But criminal negligence, by definition, is a case that does not involve criminal intent, but it is inappropriate to sentence someone to straight probation when their criminal negligence causes the death of another person.

Speaker 2:
[12:42] Holloway says this result is not typical.

Speaker 9:
[12:45] In my professional career, both as a prosecutor and as defense counsel, I've been involved in many cases involving car crashes that are based on criminal negligence. And almost uniformly, there's some type of prison sentence involved if there's serious injury, and of course, absolutely, if there's a death involved.

Speaker 2:
[13:07] The FBI, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense now jointly investigating a troubling series of cases involving top scientists who have died or gone missing in recent years. At least 11 of these individuals have died or disappeared since 2022. Most of them connected to nuclear research, national laboratories, or advanced space and propulsion work. Some authorities cautioning the cases are not necessarily linked, pointing to a range of known circumstances, including suicide or violent crime. One former Energy Department official telling CBS, quote, People do just die. Strokes, herd disease, suicide, mugging, it happens. However, several cases have drawn closer scrutiny due to overlapping details involving individuals tied to nuclear or advanced weapons research, many of them based in New Mexico, and in multiple instances last seen leaving their homes on foot with little more than a handgun. 48-year-old Steven Garcia, a contractor working at a facility producing components for nuclear weapons, vanishing in August of last year after leaving his Albuquerque home on foot. Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casillas both connected to Los Alamos National Laboratory, a nuclear research facility, also disappearing last year under similar circumstances, each last seen walking away from their homes. And earlier this year, retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCaslin, a former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory, disappearing from his Albuquerque home, reportedly also leaving with only a handgun. These cases and more are drawing increasing public concern over the last several months, with President Trump weighing in last week.

Speaker 10:
[14:45] Well, I hope it's random, but we're going to know in the next week and a half. I just left the meeting on that subject. So pretty serious stuff, but we're going to be now. Hopefully, I don't know, coincidence, if you want it, whatever you want to call it. But some of them were very important people, and we're going to look at it over the next few days.

Speaker 2:
[15:04] The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration confirming to CBS News, it is aware of the reports and is reviewing cases involving personnel across its labs and facilities. FBI Director Cash Patel Sunday on Fox, detailing the investigation.

Speaker 4:
[15:19] The FBI is going to be spearheading the effort collectively with our partners at the Department of Energy and the Department of War. These missing and killed scientists and former professional members of the Department of Energy vary in wide range. And we're working most importantly with our state and local partners who have the jurisdiction on each of these cases, whether they be a homicide or a missing persons case, they have the evidence of what we're going to do is collectively pull it all into one place. And then we're going to look for connections, like you said, on whether there are connections to classified access, access to classified information and or foreign actors. And then we will produce that information to the White House and the world because it's of such great public importance. And if there's any connections that lead to nefarious conduct or conspiracy, this FBI will make the appropriate arrest.

Speaker 2:
[16:06] In a parallel effort, House Oversight Chairman James Comer launching his own inquiry. Here at the Chairman, Monday on Fox News, elaborating on his efforts.

Speaker 11:
[16:15] One dead or missing scientist, that's a mystery.

Speaker 8:
[16:19] Two might be a coincidence.

Speaker 9:
[16:21] But 11? How do you take that?

Speaker 11:
[16:24] Well, it does appear that there's a high possibility that something sinister is taking place here. This has been going on, obviously, for the last three years. So what I found in three and a half years as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee is sometimes government agencies don't do a good job of sharing information on situations like this. So we've asked all those agencies, the Department of Energy, NASA, the Department of War, to all share information with us so that we can see if we can put it together and find any missing links to try to solve what's going on here. Because it's very unlikely that this is a coincidence. So Congress is very concerned about this. Our committee is making this one of our priorities now because we view this as a national security threat.

Speaker 2:
[17:12] For now, the mystery continues. That'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Emily Dzioszynski, host of After Party. Catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon East on youtube.com/megynkelly and all podcast platforms.

Speaker 6:
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