News Wrap: House GOP put off gun control legislation indefinitely

In our news wrap Thursday, House Republicans put off any vote on their gun and anti-terrorism bill. Democrats spoke one-by-one on the floor and demanded a vote on tightening background checks. Also, the fourth trial of a police officer connected to the death of Freddie Gray began in Baltimore.

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  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    Good evening. I'm Judy Woodruff.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    And I'm Hari Sreenivasan.

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    On the "NewsHour" tonight: outrage and sorrow. Another video of a police officer shooting a black man surfaces, less than 48 hours after a Louisiana shooting.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    Then: FBI Director James Comey is grilled on the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation, defending his recommendation not to prosecute the presidential candidate.

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    And continuing our Fault Lines series, we go inside the Eastern European nation of Estonia, where heightened tensions with Russia are making citizens fear that aggression may turn military.

  • JAAK TARIEN, Estonian Air Force:

    When Crimea started, several friends of mine, family members asked, hey, is it time to pack up our families, put them on a ship somewhere, safe place, and get ready for war?

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    All that and more on tonight's "PBS NewsHour."

    (BREAK)

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    In the day's other news: The latest trial began in Baltimore for police officers charged in connection with the death of a young black man. Freddie Gray had his neck broken while riding in a police transport van last year.

    Lieutenant Brian Rice is the highest-ranking of six officers charged. He's accused of manslaughter and other crimes for not making sure Gray was using a seat belt. Two other officers have been acquitted, and another trial ended in a hung jury.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    House Republicans have indefinitely put off any vote on gun control legislation. A number of news outlets reported today it's unclear when party leaders can win over enough conservatives to pass their gun and anti-terrorism bill.

    Meanwhile, Democrats spoke one by one on the floor. They held photos of people killed by guns, and demanded a vote on tightening background checks for gun buyers.

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    The political drama over Hillary Clinton's e-mails played out on Capitol Hill today. At a congressional hearing, FBI Director James Comey defended the decision not to recommend that criminal charges be filed in the case. And House Speaker Paul Ryan confirmed that he's asked the director of national intelligence to bar classified briefings for Clinton once she becomes the Democrats' presidential nominee.

    REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI), Speaker of the House: The director of the FBI just said that Hillary Clinton recklessly mishandled sensitive classified information. And in three weeks, when she comes out of the convention, she is going to get unfettered access to the most sensitive classified information our government has? No way.

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    We will have a full report on today's House hearing with FBI Director Comey later in the program.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    There's word that Senator Bernie Sanders is finally ready to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. Democrats have been pressing Sanders, and the "NewsHour" has confirmed the announcement will come Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, Donald Trump spent today in Washington trying to reassure congressional Republicans. He met with members of the House and Senate, and some former critics said they were encouraged.

    REP. BILL FLORES, (R), Texas: I wanted to see him do two things, one cast a vision and then contrast himself with the Democrats' flawed candidate, and then, thirdly, have fewer unforced errors and, fourthly, raise some money.

  • QUESTION:

    And so you feel better after today?

  • REP. BILL FLORES:

    I do.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    But Trump's meeting with senators became heated when he attacked those who did not support him warned that they'd lose reelection. One of them, Jeff Flake of Arizona, is not actually up for reelection this year. He said the exchange did nothing to win him over.

    SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), Arizona: Yes, it was a bit tense.

  • QUESTION:

    Why?

  • SEN. JEFF FLAKE:

    I wanted to talk about a few of the concerns that we had, and did. I mentioned in there that I'm not in the never Trump movement. I want to support our nominee. I really do. But given some of the statements that have been made, I'm finding it difficult.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    Trump also reportedly called Illinois Senator Mark Kirk a loser. Later, Kirk branded the candidate a wealthy bully. And a spokesman for Nebraska's Ben Sasse said given the choice of Trump or Clinton, the senator believes — quote — "This election remains a dumpster fire."

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    In Iraq, the death toll from Sunday's bombing in Baghdad soared again today. Iraq's Health Ministry reported a total of 292 people have now died as a result of the Islamic State attack. The bombing devastated a busy market in a mostly Shiite neighborhood. In addition to the dead, more than 200 were wounded.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    Islamist militants also struck again in Bangladesh, attacking police at a festival marking the end of Ramadan. Four people were killed. Last week, an assault on a cafe the Dhaka, the capital, left 28 dead. The Islamic State group claimed that attack.

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    Britain may be on the verge of having its first female prime minister since Margaret Thatcher was ousted in 1990. Ruling Conservatives narrowed the field for the leadership of their party today to two, Interior Minister Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom, who helped head the campaign to leave the European Union. A final decision is due by early September.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    And Wall Street struggled, after crude oil inventories came in unexpectedly high, and oil prices sank. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 22 points to close below 17896. The Nasdaq rose 17 points, but the S&P 500 dropped about two.

  • JUDY WOODRUFF:

    Still to come on the "NewsHour": police shootings in the spotlight; the FBI director takes Republican heat over his handling of Hillary Clinton's e-mail server; Estonia/NATO exercises in a nation under Russian threat; and much more.