Vance on Iran Talks, Colombia Elects Right-Wing Outsider, Etan Patz Ruling Reversed: AM Update 6/23

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0:43Vice President J.D. Vance touting progress in talks with Iran, from nuclear inspections and oil sanctions to a broader effort to prevent renewed war across the Middle East. The court concludes the Eighth Amendment concerns identified by a defendant are not implicated at this stage of the proceedings. A Utah judge handing prosecutors two victories in the case against accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson, while delaying a ruling that could take the death penalty off the table. A Trump-backed political outsider claiming victory in Colombia, promising a Bukele-style crackdown as Latin America continues its shift to the right.

1:20and the Supreme Court reinstating the murder conviction in one of New York's most infamous missing child cases nearly five decades after six-year-old Eitan Pates disappeared. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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2:49Go to supersure.com slash Megan, paid for by SuperSure Insurance Agency, LLC, which is a licensed insurance agency. Vice President J.D. Vance returning from Switzerland yesterday after high-level talks with Iran, launching the next phase of negotiations toward a permanent nuclear agreement and a broader end to the fighting across the Middle East. Prior to departure, the vice president updating reporters on what he called, quote, a lot of good progress. Mr. Vance announcing what he described as a major breakthrough. We, and this is probably what we're most excited about as Americans, the Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country.

3:28That is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran. And that's exactly what we wanted to do. That's exactly what we asked to happen. We made a lot of great progress on other nuclear talks. Iran, however, almost immediately pushing back on the administration's account. A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry insisting on state media that Tehran will continue cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency only under its existing procedures and has accepted no new obligations. Iran's parliament restricting cooperation with the agency last summer and suspending routine inspections, though state media claims inspectors have continued receiving case-by-case access to active facilities.

4:14Iranian officials also claiming the country's nuclear program was not negotiated during the Switzerland meetings at all. President Trump dismissing that denial, writing on Truth Social,

4:29Mr.

4:34Vance similarly warning reporters against taking Tehran's public statements at face value, pointing to Iranian claims that its delegation was preparing to abandon the negotiations, only for the talks to continue for another nine hours. Even as the two sides dispute progress on nuclear talks, the administration moving forward with immediate sanctions relief. The Treasury Department issuing a temporary 60-day license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil, part of the preliminary agreement signed last week, giving negotiators two months to reach a final deal. President Trump yesterday from the Oval touting the renewed flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

5:12We took in more oil yesterday than we've ever, than has ever gone through the Strait. You probably see that. We have an oil gusher. The Strait is totally open. You know that. And we're negotiating. We'll see how that all goes. But we have two things. We have an open Strait and we have a country that will never have a nuclear weapon. Will never, ever have a nuclear weapon. The New York Times acknowledging that while the strait is open, traffic still remains below pre-war levels. Separately, Mr. Vance outlining a proposed framework for any Iranian assets that may eventually be unfrozen. If there is any frozen Iranian assets that are unfrozen, then we have approval over that process.

5:56The Qataris have approval over that process, and then the money would actually go to buy American soy, American corn, and American wheat for the benefit of the Iranian people. But fundamentally, what Jared and the Qataris and the entire team here in Bergenstock accomplished is, to me, a classic Trump deal, where if Iranian assets are ever unfrozen, they're going to go to make American farmers richer and to feed the Iranian people. That's a very, very good and very classic Trump deal that's great for our people, great for the people of Iran, and fundamentally, again, will contribute to this regional security architecture that we've built and that we're going to work very hard to ensure that it endures.

6:41On the broader regional ceasefire, Vice President Vance acknowledging the situation between Israel and Hezbollah remains a work in progress. We also want to make sure that when things happen, they don't spiral into a broader escalation. And so we've been, I think, very good at setting up what we're calling a deconfliction mechanism, that you've got a junior guy who fires a drone that didn't have approval from the high command. Okay, of course, Israel has to respond to that. But then sometimes that response, we could actually have a better and more peaceful situation if Israel responds in the context of a conversation that's ongoing between Hezbollah, Lebanon, Israel, and other partners in the region.

7:22There really hasn't been a mechanism to have those discussions until basically around 4 p.m. yesterday, Bergenstock time, when we set that up. Now, I will say you already see the fruits of that. Over the past 24 hours, it's probably been the most peaceful that we've seen the situation in Lebanon. Israel and Lebanon now expected to hold another round of talks in Washington in the coming days, as technical negotiations between the United States and Iran continue under the 60-day framework. Utah Judge Tony Graff handing prosecutors two victories yesterday in the case against accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson, while putting off a decision that could affect whether prosecutors are allowed to pursue the death penalty.

8:03The ruling is following a hearing last month where both sides argued over the defense's request for sanctions against prosecutors and whether hearsay evidence should be allowed at Robinson's preliminary hearing set for next month. Judge Graff ruling prosecutors will be allowed to use certain hearsay evidence during the preliminary hearing. The defense arguing prosecutors should be required to present witnesses directly rather than rely on statements repeated by investigators. The judge rejecting that argument, explaining that a preliminary hearing is governed by a lower evidentiary standard than a trial.

8:36Because a preliminary hearing is limited to determining probable cause rather than guilt or innocence. Due process does not necessarily require all the evidentiary safeguards applicable at trial. It serves only to determine whether probable cause exists to believe the charges charged offenses were committed because defendant's guilt, innocence, and punishment are not at issue during the preliminary hearing. The court concludes the Eighth Amendment concerns identified by defendant are not implicated at this stage of the proceedings. Former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Josh Ritter explaining yesterday on Fox News that the ruling keeps Robinson's hearing in line with the normal preliminary hearing process.

9:20When it comes to a preliminary hearing, usually you don't bring in all of the witnesses. It's a much lower standard. You're not talking about beyond a reasonable doubt. You're just talking about probable cause. and to just kind of expedite things. Many times they allow for hearsay evidence because the judge doesn't need to arrive at that serious decision of beyond a reasonable doubt. So the rules of evidence are a little different. The defense was essentially trying to recreate the wheel and ask for the same standards of proof to be used or the same standards of evidence to be used at the prelim level that would be used at the trial level.

9:57and it's good that the judge finally arrived at this decision. Judge Graff stopping short, however, of ruling on the defense's request to sanction prosecutors for allegedly violating the judge's gag order on the case. Robinson's attorney is accusing Utah County Attorney Chris Ballard of violating the court's gag order by publicly discussing an ATF report tied to the evidence in the case. The defense asking Judge Graff to sanction prosecutors by removing the death penalty as a possible punishment. Prosecutors calling that proposed penalty grossly disproportionate to the alleged violation. Graff explaining that additional filings submitted shortly before yesterday's hearing required more time to review, pushing his decision to another hearing set for Friday morning.

10:40Additionally, Judge Graff rejecting the defense's attempt to require Lance Twiggs, Robinson's former roommate and romantic partner, to testify in person at Robinson's preliminary hearing. Defense attorneys seeking the opportunity to question Twiggs about his agreement to cooperate with prosecutors, hoping to cast doubt on the account he gave investigators, Graff ruling that those broader questions about Twiggs' credibility can be fought over later at trial and that the defense has not shown his live testimony was likely to stop the case from moving forward. Prosecutors will instead be allowed to present Twiggs' recorded statements to investigators.

11:17Robinson's preliminary hearing remains scheduled for July 6th through the 10th. The proceedings will be open to the public and streamed online, though spectators entering the courtroom will be prohibited from bringing phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, electronic glasses, and other electronic devices. Robinson remains held without bond on seven charges, including aggravated murder, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. He has not yet entered a plea. coming up a trump-endorsed political newcomer winning columbia's presidency with promises to crush the cartels and follow naib bukele's tough-on-crime model and the supreme court restoring the conviction of the man found guilty of killing six-year-old etan pates in 1979 what does it feel like when your clothes actually feel good this summer cozy Earth makes a strong case that what you wear at home matters just as much as what you wear out, maybe more.

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13:33The lawyer and businessman declaring victory Sunday night in a voiceover translated by Reuters. I appear before you tonight to announce the most important news of my life.

13:47The Colombian people have entrusted me with the supreme honor of serving them as their next president of the Republic of Colombia. The results still undergoing Colombia's full legal review process, which requires judges and notaries to verify the count before the winner is formally certified. Cepeda refusing to concede, telling supporters on Sunday he intends to challenge the results. No presidential election in Colombian history has been overturned through that process. Barring a historic reversal, 47-year-old De la Espriera will take office August 7th after winning the presidency in his first ever campaign for public office.

14:28Supporters pouring into the streets as the results came in, celebrating with cheers, car horns, and vuvuzelas. De la Espriera, known to supporters as the Tiger, building his campaign around nationalism, economic reform, and an aggressive crackdown on the drug cartels and armed groups that have expanded during current President Gustavo Petro's tenure. A political newcomer with a highly polished social media operation, De la Espriera presenting himself as an anti-establishment figure capable of restoring order and reviving Colombia's struggling economy. His security proposals drawing frequent comparisons to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, including plans to abandon Petro's peace talks with armed groups and construct 10 new mega prisons.

15:12Bukele's crackdown transforming El Salvador from one of the world's most violent countries into one of the safest in the region, earning him enormous public support despite criticism from human rights groups over mass detentions. President Trump giving De La Espriella his, quote, complete and total endorsement earlier this month, calling him an intelligent, strong, and tough leader who would stand up to the radical left. The president also warning the election would have major consequences for Colombia's relationship with the United States. De La Espriella, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lived and worked in Florida for more than a decade, promising closer cooperation with the Trump administration against the drug trade, including the eradication of cocoa crops, a crackdown on cocaine shipments headed north, and possible Colombian participation in a new U.S.-led military coalition targeting cartels.

16:01On the economy, de las Priega borrowing from Argentine President Javier Millet's free market playbook with promises to slash the sides of the state and broaden the tax base while also restarting oil exploration and allowing fracking. De las Priegas' victory, marking the latest in a series of elections moving Latin America to the right, following conservative wins in Argentina, Peru, El Salvador, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama in recent years. The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday reinstating the murder conviction of Pedro Hernandez in the disappearance of six-year-old Eitan Pates, restoring the verdict in one of New York City's most notorious missing child cases.

16:42Eitan vanishing on May 25, 1979. after leaving his family's Soho apartment to walk two blocks to his school bus stop by himself for the first time. The six-year-old carrying a dollar to buy a soda along the way, but never reaching the bus or arriving at school. His mother calling police when he failed to come home that afternoon, launching an enormous search involving nearly 100 officers, bloodhounds, and missing child posters bearing Eitan's face plastered across the city. His remains have never been found. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office formally reopening the investigation in 2010.

17:16Two years later, federal agents and New York police excavating the basement of a building near the Pates family's former home, generating renewed attention around the decades-old disappearance. That renewed investigation prompting Pedro Hernandez's brother-in-law to contact authorities. Hernandez had told relatives and others years earlier that he had killed a child in New York, admissions his brother-in-law believed could be connected to Eitan. At the time of the disappearance, Hernandez was an 18-year-old employee at a neighborhood bodega near Eitan's bus stop. Detectives questioning Hernandez in May of 2012, with Hernandez confessing after several hours that he offered Eitan a drink, lured him into the bodega's basement, strangled him, then dumped his body in an alley where trash was collected.

18:01Police then reading Hernandez's Miranda rights, with Hernandez waiving those rights and confessing multiple times afterward. Investigators then driving him to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, where he received another Miranda warning and delivered another videotaped confession to a prosecutor. The defense maintaining that those admissions were false, describing Hernandez as intellectually limited and mentally ill with a history of hallucinations. Hernandez going on trial for the first time in 2015, that case ending in a hung jury after one juror refused to join the other 11 in voting to convict.

18:36Prosecutors trying Hernandez again beginning in 2016. At a second trial, jurors asking whether they should disregard Hernandez's later confessions if they believed his first confession was involuntary. The judge answering simply, quote, no. The jury then convicting Hernandez in 2017 of kidnapping and felony murder. The court sentencing him to 25 years to life in prison. After exhausting his appeals through New York state courts, Hernandez then turning to the federal courts to challenge his conviction. arguing that the trial judge should have given jurors a more complete explanation of whether the initial confession could have tainted those that followed.

19:13Hernandez's case eventually working its way up to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which last summer overturned his conviction and found that jurors should have received a fuller explanation about how to consider his confessions, the ruling requiring prosecutors either to try Hernandez for a third time or release him. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office preparing for another trial while simultaneously asking the Supreme Court to restore the original conviction. The High Court siding with prosecutors in a 6-3 decision. Liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Katanji Brown-Jackson dissenting.

19:47The unsigned majority opinion concluding that the Second Circuit exceeded the limited authority federal courts have to overturn convictions reached in state court. The Supreme Court therefore reinstating Hernandez's 2017 conviction. ending preparations for a third trial and leaving his original sentence in place. Hernan is remaining at the Elmira Correctional Facility in upstate New York, where he is serving 25 years to life and becomes eligible for parole in 2037. That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Emily Jashinsky, host of After Party. Catch the Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on youtube.com slash megynkelly and all podcast platforms.

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