The Megyn Kelly Show

Karmelo Anthony Convicted and Sentenced, Vance Refers Walz and Ellison to DOJ: AM Update 6/10

18 min
Jun 10, 2026about 1 month ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

This AM update covers Carmelo Anthony's conviction and 35-year sentence for murder, a DOJ referral of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison for alleged fraud oversight failures, escalating US-Iran military tensions following a downed Apache helicopter, and Nick Reiner's legal battle to access his parents' inheritance while facing murder charges.

Insights
  • Speed of jury verdicts in high-profile cases often signals strength of prosecution evidence and defendant credibility issues
  • Political polarization is affecting fraud investigation priorities, with whistleblower concerns being dismissed due to sensitivity around racial and religious demographics
  • Defendants accused of murdering benefactors face significant legal obstacles accessing inherited assets due to slayer statutes, even before conviction
  • Military escalation between US and Iran remains volatile despite diplomatic efforts, with each side framing actions as defensive responses
  • Trust document language and trustee discretion create legal gray areas when beneficiaries face serious criminal charges
Trends
Increased scrutiny of federal program fraud oversight and whistleblower protection in state administrationsPolitical weaponization of fraud investigations and DOJ referrals along partisan linesGrowing tension between diversity/inclusion concerns and fraud prevention in government agenciesEscalating US-Iran military posturing with drone and missile capabilities as primary conflict toolsHigh-profile criminal cases involving wealthy defendants and inheritance disputes gaining media attentionDefense strategy shifts toward jury sentencing over judicial sentencing in capital casesTrust and estate law intersecting with criminal defense funding challenges
Topics
Murder conviction and sentencing procedures in TexasFederal fraud in social services programsWhistleblower retaliation and protectionMinnesota state government oversight failuresDOJ criminal referrals and investigation processesUS-Iran military escalation and drone warfareSlayer statutes and inheritance lawCriminal defense funding and asset accessJury vs. judicial sentencing decisionsSelf-defense claims in murder trialsPolitical polarization in law enforcementApache helicopter incidents and military responseTrust administration and fiduciary duties
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The Wellness Company
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People
Carmelo Anthony
Convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf
Tim Walz
Referred to DOJ for potential criminal investigation regarding federal fraud oversight failures
Keith Ellison
Referred to DOJ alongside Governor Walz for alleged fraud oversight and whistleblower retaliation
J.D. Vance
Issued DOJ referral of Minnesota officials and commented on fraud investigation priorities
Dave Ehrenberg
Provided expert analysis on Carmelo Anthony verdict, sentencing strategy, and Nick Reiner inheritance case
Emily Jashensky
Hosted the AM update episode covering major news stories
Nick Reiner
Accused of murdering parents Rob and Michelle Reiner, seeking access to $1.5M inheritance for legal defense
Rob Reiner
Murdered in December; son Nick charged with his death and mother Michelle's death
Brandon Gill
Questioned Minnesota Governor Walz about whistleblower allegations during House Oversight hearing
Kristin Robbins
Presented whistleblower testimony regarding Minnesota fraud oversight failures at House hearing
Abbas Araki
Responded to US military strikes by warning of Iranian missile threats to Gulf energy infrastructure
Donald Trump
Ordered retaliatory strikes against Iran following Apache helicopter downing
Quotes
"I was not surprised. You can also tell by the quick verdict that this was going to be a guilty verdict on the most serious charge. The evidence was really strong and the fact that the defendant did not take the stand."
Dave EhrenbergCarmelo Anthony verdict discussion
"Minnesota state officials are not above the law, and if they facilitated fraud, lied under oath about what they knew or harassed and intimidated whistleblowers, they must face justice."
J.D. VanceMinnesota fraud referral
"Clearly people weren't taking fraud seriously. Whether it rises to the level of a criminal violation, we're going to investigate it."
J.D. VanceMinnesota fraud discussion
"There's something called the slayer rule. This is something that needs to be taken into account. California has this rule just like most other states that prevents someone from inheriting the state of someone they killed."
Dave EhrenbergNick Reiner inheritance discussion
"The pilots are fine, nobody injured."
Donald TrumpApache helicopter incident
Full Transcript
Hi, it's Clive here, just confirming today's meeting at 2 with Graham. Sorry, the police are here. Meeting's now at 5. Right, well Graham's helping the police all day. Meeting's now tomorrow. Meeting's cancelled. Turns out Graham is in fact El Padrino, a notorious crime boss. Anyway, he's been arrested. All a big mix up. He's actually Graham after all. Let's do Friday. Right, well Graham's gone on the run, but Jane's free all next week, though. Plan's always changing. With our flexi season ticket, get up to 8 journeys in 28 days for flexible commuting. Great to Anglia. It's great out there. Good morning everyone. I'm Emily Jashensky, host of After Party and the Megyn Kelly wrap up show on Series 6M Channel 111. It's Wednesday, June 10th, 2026. This is your AM update. I was not surprised. You can also tell by the quick verdict that this was going to be a guilty verdict on the most serious charge. Carmelo Anthony learns his fate after being convicted of murder, then sentenced by the jury just hours later. Clearly people weren't taking fraud seriously. Whether it rises to the level of a criminal violation, we're going to investigate it. A new House Oversight report accusing Minnesota Governor Tim Walls and Attorney General Keith Ellison of ignoring years of fraud warnings, now becoming the basis for a DOJ referral from Vice President J.D. Vance. The U.S. and Iran reportedly trading fire after President Trump ordered strikes against Iran in responses to the downing of an American attack helicopter. And Nick Reiner accused of murdering his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner, now fighting to use the inheritance they left him to help fund his defense. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. If you are heading into summer without a medical emergency kit, you are taking a risk most people don't even think about until it's too late. 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Carmelo Anthony sentenced to 35 years in prison last night by a Collin County, Texas jury for the murder of 17 year old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet last year. He will be eligible for parole after serving half of that sentence. The sentence coming after jurors first convicted Anthony of murder, rejecting his claim that he stabbed Metcalf in self-defense. The verdict coming after less than three hours of deliberation. Anthony facing a range of 5 to 99 years behind bars. We spoke to the MK True Crime show host Dave Ehrenberg who says the speed of the verdict told him a lot. I was not surprised. You can also tell by the quick verdict that this was going to be a guilty verdict on the most serious charge. The evidence was really strong and the fact that the defendant did not take the stand. I think that was the end for him because I have never seen a self-defense claim in a murder case where the defendant did not take the stand. After the verdict, an unusual turn. In Texas, a defendant has the option of letting the judge decide his sentence. We're putting that decision into the hands of the jury that just convicted him. Anthony's defense choosing the jury. Ehrenberg understands why the defense may have wanted to avoid leaving his fate to the judge. The judge was a very no-nonsense, law and order judge who asked questions that were pushing the boundaries, like trying to ask people if they believed in American exceptionalism. And that's the kind of judge I can understand a defense for, may not want to be the one to choose the sentence. During the sentencing phase yesterday, the defense calling Anthony's mother to the stand, where she tearfully pled for mercy, telling jurors her son has shown remorse. Ehrenberg believes that kind of testimony can matter to a jury. I think it's powerful for a mother to plead for mercy from a jury and to say that her son is remorseful even though her son did not testify. I think it's powerful, but it's also powerful that the jury heard the evidence of the senseless, brutal killing. So it's hard to know which way the jury is going to go, but I think on the whole, because he didn't have a lot of witnesses at this sentencing, it was a very cursory sentencing phase that the defense mother, I think will have an impact. And I think that's why this jury, I believe as opposed to the judge, is going to give him decades in prison, but I do think he'll get a chance to get out before he's elderly. We will have more on this later today on the MK Show. Vice President JD Vance escalating the Trump administration's fraud fight in Minnesota, referring Governor Tim Walz and State Attorney General Keith Ellison, both Democrats, to the DOJ for possible criminal investigation. The vice president saying the referral is based on a new report from the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, accusing senior Minnesota officials of knowing about widespread fraud in federally funded social programs for years, while failing to stop payments to suspect providers and allegedly retaliating against whistleblowers. The report released earlier this week, now the latest development in a scandal consuming Minnesota politics for months, after viral reporting helped bring national attention to fraud allegations across the state's social services system. The fed so far prosecuting and convicting dozens, mostly members of Minnesota's Somali community, relating to three major schemes. A meals program for needy children called Feeding Our Future, a program for individuals at risk of homelessness, and an autism therapy program. The scale of the alleged fraud believed to be at least $9 billion in plundered taxpayer dollars, drugged such immense backlash, Governor Walz in January suspending his reelection campaign. In March, Governor Walz and AG Ellison called to testify before the House Oversight Committee at a hearing titled, Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota, Part 2. At that hearing, Republican Congressman Brandon Gill of Texas, pressing the governor on allegations that whistleblowers were discouraged from raising concerns about fraud because officials feared accusations of racism or Islamophobia. Is it racist for a government official to identify fraud? No. No, is it Islamophobic? To identify fraud. To identify fraud? No, I don't believe it would be. How come multiple whistleblowers have said that your administration told them not to say anything about widespread fraud across multiple agencies because doing so would be considered racist or Islamophobic? I can't speak to it because it's not anything I would say. Then we heard from Representative Kristin Robbins, quote, we have dozens of credible whistleblower reports saying the exact same thing that people were told not to say anything because they'd be called racist or Islamophobic, or it would hurt the state. Do you think it's racist or Islamophobic to highlight and try to stop fraud? It is not, and I certainly wouldn't know. It's not, but that was the message your administration was sending to multiple whistleblowers. Mr. Vance, writing on X, quote, Minnesota state officials are not above the law, and if they facilitated fraud, lied under oath about what they knew or harassed and intimidated whistleblowers, they must face justice. Mr. Vance, Monday on Fox, addressing the referral. We are not going to do what the Biden administration did and make judgments of the law before all the facts are in, but here's what's particularly troubling about this to me is, is, Jesse, you had people within Governor Walts' office who were saying, you know what, this looks like fraud. It looks like these Somalian illegal immigrants are doing something that's very shady, and then you had people who shut them down, who shut these whistleblowers down and said, you know, you're a racist or you're a xenophobe for asking questions about where taxpayer money is going. What that means to me, Jesse, is that clearly people weren't taking fraud seriously. Whether it rises to the level of a criminal violation, we're going to investigate it, and of course, if it does rise to that level, we're going to prosecute it. Governor Walts and A.G. Ellison pushing back hard, a wall spokesperson referring to an earlier statement from the governor, quote, this committee has proven time and time again to be nothing more than a joke. A.G. Ellison releasing a statement to CNN, quote, it is deeply troubling to see official powers and public resources diverted away from serving the people and instead aimed at pursuing political adversaries. That is not what government is for, and it diminishes public trust in our institutions. For now, the referral does not mean charges are coming. Rather, the Justice Department has been asked to review the allegations and will decide whether there is enough evidence to open a criminal investigation, pursue charges, or decline to move forward. Coming up, Iran launching missiles and drones at U.S. targets in the region after President Trump ordered retaliatory strikes against the regime over the downing of an American attack helicopter. And Nick Reiner, accused of murdering his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner, now asking the court to let him use the money they left behind to help pay for his defense. And so do the gaps and the risk. And this is why I want to tell you about SuperShure. This is a great idea for a company. If your company has more than 25 employees, whether you're the owner, the CFO, or HR manager, it can be too complex to just buy a policy online. SuperShure is the super agency built for you, licensed in every state for your business insurance and employee benefits. With year-round support for you and your team. At SuperShure.com, you can access tools like fine print fax, which translates your current policy into plain English. So you can see what's covered and what's not. Plus a business value calculator so you can estimate what your business is worth and know what actually needs protecting. Go to SuperShure.com slash Megan. One super agency, one powerful platform, all of your policies in one place with a super helpful person who wants to make your life easier. Go to SuperShure.com slash Megan. Paid for by SuperShure Insurance Agency LLC, a licensed insurance company. The US announcing new attacks on Iran yesterday in response to the downing of an American Apache attack helicopter. Iran then launching missiles and drones toward US targets in the region last night, according to CNN. CENTCOM in a statement referring to the latest round of US strikes as quote self-defense strikes, noting they began at 5 p.m. Washington time at Mr. Trump's direction, calling them quote, a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression. The AH-64 Apache downed late Monday by an Iranian drone while on patrol near the Kosovo Mon. Two soldiers were aboard the craft, which does not have ejection seats at the time. CENTCOM saying both crew members were rescued within about two hours and are now in stable condition. President Trump first confirming the crew survived as he returned to Washington overnight, telling reporters quote, the pilots are fine, nobody injured. Then Tuesday morning, the president escalating his language on true social writing quote, I have just been informed by our great military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. The United States must of necessity respond to this attack. Iran meanwhile, not directly taking responsibility. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araki, posting to X quote, Foreign forces and proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plane accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire. To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave. Prior to the US strikes, Iran's parliamentary vice speaker threatening an even broader escalation, warning that any American military response to the Apache incident would put Gulf energy infrastructure under continuous Iranian missile fire and could cost US oil, gas and regional interests quote, for years. The fragile pause in fighting now facing its most serious test yet as President Trump attempts to keep alive the possibility of a broader peace deal. Nick Reiner, son of famed Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner, is now fighting for access to the inheritance they left behind as he stands accused of killing them. Nick charged with stabbing both of his parents to death inside their Brentwood mansion in December, after what witnesses described as a disturbing night out with the family. That night, Nick had reportedly gone with his parents to a holiday party hosted by Conan O'Brien, where the New York Times reports, witnesses say Rob and Nick got into a loud argument. The following day, Rob Reiner's daughter, Romy, reportedly finding her father's body after a massage therapist said no one was answering the gate for a scheduled appointment. Paramedics arriving to find Michelle dead as well. Police arresting Nick later that same evening, prosecutors charging Nick with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders and enhancement allowing prosecutors to seek life without parole or the death penalty. Nick also charged with a special allegation of using a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being the knife he allegedly used to stab his parents to death. According to documents viewed by the Daily Mail, Nick now filing a court petition demanding access to a trust set up by his parents prior to their grisly murders. The full trust is worth more than one and a half million dollars according to the petition, with the terms calling for Nick to receive half when he turned 30 and the rest when he turns 35. Nick, now 32, arguing that he has yet to receive any of the money from the trust, according to People Magazine. The petition reportedly claiming that, quote, months of repeated injuries to the trustee, reported by the Daily Mail to be lawyer Paul Canan, have produced a, quote, shifting series of excuses, including what Nick's lawyers call unsubstantiated concerns about his ability to manage the money. According to people, Nick's lawyers argue the trust does not allow the trustee to withhold the payment based on his own assessment of how Nick might use the funds. The petition also asserting, quote, there is no judicial declaration that Nick is incompetent, nor has he been determined to lack capacity by the written statement of two licensed physicians. The Daily Mail reporting Nick also claims Canan indicated he would not be able to access the trust money until after the murder case is resolved. According to the petition, Nick telling Canan that, quote, time is of the essence, arguing the money is needed to keep Alan Jackson on his defense team and avoid further damaging his criminal case. The high-profile lawyer exiting the case in January. The Page Six reporting court documents show he is willing to return to the case if Reiner Kent again pay his fees. Nick facing a maximum of life in prison without parole as prosecutors weigh whether to seek the death penalty. The MK True crime show host Dave Ehrenberg says there's one major legal issue working against Nick, California's slayer rule. There's something called the slayer rule. This is something that needs to be taken into account. California has this rule just like most other states that prevents someone from inheriting the state of someone they killed. And so the trustee is an understandably exercising real caution here because if Reiner was convicted, the trust could be in violation of these laws. And you got to be careful about this. So there are some legitimate questions and there's just some basic questions of morality. Should we allow someone to use the victim's money to buy the best lawyer that money can buy so that they could turn around and point the finger at the victims as a way to get away with murder? But here's the hard reality. Nick has not been convicted. We asked whether Ehrenberg thinks he will be successful in getting access to the inheritance. That's a tough one. I think he probably gets access to the money. I think it's not good public policy. And I think the trustee is right to express reservations, but I think he probably gets access to it because the trustee, the trust says what it says and it doesn't have an exception for what happens to be killer parents. And I think then he probably gets access to it, but I wouldn't be that surprised if the family members went out and they're able to prevent him because it's like the old adage of the young man who kills both his parents and throws himself onto the mercy of the court because he's an orphan. Yeah, you made your bed. Now you got to lie in it. That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Emily Dyshynski, host of After Party, Catch the Megyn Kelly Show, live on Series XM's The Megyn Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east on YouTube.com, slash Megyn Kelly, and all podcast platforms. Hello? Fire Brigade here. Let's stick with four. You won't believe this. The Fire Brigade locked out of their truck. Well, I locked this here, but now he's stuck in the other lift. New doing next week. I'll be charging extra for this. Plan's always changing. With our flexi season ticket, get up to eight journeys in 28 days for flexible commuting. Greater Anglia. It's great out there.