>>> TONIGHT, PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN NOW A WANTED MAN FOR WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE. THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ISSUING AN ARREST WARRANT FOR PUTIN. WHAT HE'S BEING ACCUSED OF, AND WILL HE EVER BE TRIED IN COURT? THE KREMLIN TONIGHT CALLING THE CHARGES OUTRAGEOUS. THE REACTION ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, NBC NEWS, THE FIRST TO REPORT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS PREPARING FOR A POSSIBLE INDICTMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. INSIDE THE UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF PLANNING IF MR. TRUMP HAD TO SHOW UP IN COURT IN PERSON. >>> TIKTOK UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR SPYING. WHAT FORMER EMPLOYEES ARE ACCUSED OF DOING WITH SENSITIVE DATA. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TAKING ON BANK EXECUTIVES AND QUESTIONS ABOUT BONUSES PAID AT SILICON VALLEY BANK HOURS BEFORE THE COLLAPSE. >>> VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN PARIS. THE CHANGES TO FRANCE'S RETIREMENT AGE TRIGGERING OUTRAGE. >>> THE AMERICAN CITIZEN AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER KIDNAPPED IN M CITY, THE PLACE THAT LITERALLY RENAMED ITSELF AFTER TAYLOR SWIFT KICKS OFF HER FIRST TOUR IN FIVE YEARS. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. >>> THIS IS A MOSTLY SYMBOLIC ACT, AN ARREST WARRANT WAS ISSUED TODAY FOR RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN NOW FORMALLY CHARGED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT FOR WAR CRIMES. THE COURT SAYS PUTIN BEARS INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF CHILDREN FROM OCCUPIED AREAS OF UKRAINE TO RUSSIA. WHILE THERE IS LITTLE EXPECTATION OF PUTIN ENDING UP IN CUSTODY ANY TIME SOON, THE CHARGES WERE NONETHELESS WELCOME BY UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, WHO THANKED THE COURT FOR ITS WILLINGNESS TO REALLY BRING THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY TO JUSTICE. TONIGHT PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN DISMISSED THE WARRANT SAYING, WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS COURT. ERIN McLAUGHLIN REPORTS FROM KYIV. >> Reporter: TONIGHT RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN NOW WANTED FOR WAR CRIMES ISSUING AN ARREST WARRANT SAYING HE OVERSAW THE FORCED DEPORTATION OF CHILDREN FROM UKRAINE TO RUSSIA FORBIDDEN UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW ADDING, THERE ARE REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT PUTIN BEARS INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY. TONIGHT, UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAILING THE MOVE AGAINST WHAT HE CALLS STATE EVIL, WHICH HE SAYS STARTS WITH PUTIN. THE ICC ALSO ISSUING AN ARREST WARRANT FOR RUSSIA'S CHILDREN'S RIGHTS COMMISSIONER MARIA LVOVA-BELOVA SEEN HERE AS UNACCOMPANIED UKRAINIAN CHILDREN ARE LOADED ONTO A BUS FOR RUSSIA ACCORDING TO THE SOCIAL PRESS. UKRAINE'S PROSECUTOR GENERAL SAYS MORE THAN 16,000 UKRAINIAN CHILDREN WERE FORCIBLY DEPORTED FROM OCCUPIED AREAS NOTING THE REAL FIGURE COULD BE MUCH HIGHER. BUT THE KREMLIN IS REJECTING THE ALLEGATIONS TONIGHT AS OUTRAGEOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. A TOP OFFICIAL TWEETING ABOUT THE ARREST WARRANT, THIS IS WHERE THE PAPER SHOULD BE USED ADDING A TOILET PAPER EMOJI. WHILE THE WHITE HOUSE CALLS IT ANOTHER STEP TO HOLD RUSSIA ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS INVASION. >> RUSSIA HAS BEEN COMMITTING MORE CRIMES AS WE'VE SEEN EVEN CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT WHATSOEVER. >> Reporter: THE GLOBAL CONDEMNATION COMING AFTER A SHOW OF SUPPORT FROM CHINA ANNOUNCING PRESIDENT XI WILL MEET WITH PUTIN IN MOSCOW ON MONDAY. CHINA HAS URGED PEACE TALKS ON UKRAINE AND PROVIDED RUSSIA WITH CRITICAL ECONOMIC AID, ALTHOUGH TONIGHT THE SENIOR NATO OFFICIAL SAYS THERE ARE CONCERNS CHINA COULD PROVIDE THE KREMLIN WITH WEAPONS TELLING NBC NEWS, WE DON'T SEE ANY SIGNS THEY'RE TAKING IT OFF THE TABLE. >> ERIN, THE TERM ARREST WARRANT SOUNDS AWFULLY IMMEDIATE, BUT WHAT'S THE PRACTICAL REALITY OF THESE CHARGES AS FAR AS PUTIN IS CONCERNED? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, IT'S LIMITED. THE ICC HAS NO POWER TO ARREST ANYONE. RUSSIA IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE ICC, SO PUTIN WON'T BE EXTRADITED, SO HE MAY NEVER FACE TRIAL, THOUGH HIS TRAVEL COULD BE RESTRICTED. LESTER. >> EASTERN McLAUGHLIN IN KYIV, THANK YOU. >>> WE HAVE EXCLUSIVE NEW REPORTING TONIGHT ON HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN NEW YORK ARE PREPARING FOR THE POTENTIAL THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP COULD BE INDICTED AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK. THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING A FORMER PRESIDENT BEFORE A JUDGE FOR AN ARRAIGNMENT ARE UNPRECEDENTED. SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARRETT HAS DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT GEARING UP. MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A MANHATTAN GRAND JURY INDICTING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. WNBC'S CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JONATHAN DIENST WAS FIRST TO REPORT IT DESCRIBED AS PRECAUTIONARY AND PRELIMINARY ACCORDING TO FIVE SENIOR OFFICIALS FAMILIAR WITH THE PREPARATIONS. NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES OFFICIALS ARE FOCUSED ON HOW TO SECURE THE AREA AROUND THE CRIMINAL COURT BUILDING IN LOWER MANHATTAN FOR WHAT COULD BE AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT, A FORMER PRESIDENT IN COURT ARRAIGNED BEFORE A JUDGE. NBC NEWS REACHED OUT TO ALL OF THE AGENCIES INVOLVED. ALL HAVE DECLINED TO COMMENT. ALL THIS AS TRUMP'S FORMER LAWYER AND FIXER, MICHAEL COHEN, MADE TWO APPEARANCES IN FRONT OF THE GRAND JURY THIS WEEK AND CURRENT TRUMP ATTORNEY JOE TACOPINA SAYS HIS CLIENT DID NOTHING WRONG. >> LEGAL SCHOLARS, FORMER MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMITTEE HAVE PUBLICLY STATED THERE WAS NO CRIME HERE. >> Reporter: THE CRUX OF THE GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION, A $130,000 PAYMENT THAT COHEN MADE TO STORMY DANIELS BEFORE THE 2016 CAMPAIGN. HE SAYS WAS DONE AT TRUMP'S DIRECTION TO KEEP HER QUIET ABOUT AN ALLEGED AFFAIR AND TRUMP LATER REIMBURSED HIM FOR IT. TRUMP HAS DENIED THE AFFAIR AND SAYS HE RELIED ON HIS LAWYER'S ADVICE. >> PAYMENTS WERE MADE. >> Reporter: THE LEGAL QUESTION IS WHETHER THE DOCUMENTATION OF THAT PAYMENT ON THE BOOKS OF THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION VIOLATED THE LAW. THE FORMER PRESIDENT TODAY PUSHING BACK AHEAD OF ANY POSSIBLE INDICTMENT. >> WE HAVE TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK. THE DOJ, THE FBI, THE LOCAL PROSECUTORS SHOULD ALL STOP. >> AND, LAURA, IF THE GRAND JURY RETURNS AN INDICTMENT, TELL US WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT. >> SO, LESTER, IN THE TYPICAL CASE, AN INDICTMENT WOULD BE FILED UNDER SEAL WITH THE COURT. THE DEFENSE TEAM WOULD BE ADVISED THAT THEIR CLIENT, THE DEFENDANT, SHOULD SURRENDER, COME IN FOR FINGERPRINTING, PROCESSING. THAT ALL HAPPENS AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IN THIS CASE WE'RE TOLD BY TRUMP'S ATTORNEY IF THE GRAND JURY INDICTS, HE WOULD TURN HIMSELF IN, LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, LAURA JARRETT, THANK YOU. >>> THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FBI ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT TIKTOK OVER ALLEGATIONS THE CHINESE-OWNED COMPANY WAS SPYING ON AMERICANS. HALLIE JACKSON NOW WITH THE LATEST. >> Reporter: A NEW INVESTIGATION TONIGHT INTO WHETHER TIKTOK'S PARENT COMPANY IS SPYING ON AMERICANS. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND FBI NOW LOOKING INTO WHETHER THE CHINESE COMPANY BYTEDANCE ILLEGALLY SURVEILLED JOURNALISTS ACCORDING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATTER. SOME OF THOSE JOURNALISTS INCLUDE REPORTERS FOR "FORBES" WHO SAY THEY FOUND THEY WERE TRACKED THROUGH USER DATA AND IP ADDRESSES. >> THE COMPANIES ACKNOWLEDGED THEY WERE TRACKING MY LOCATION IN ORDER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO WAS TALKING TO ME. >> Reporter: THE DOJ DECLINING TO COMMENT AND SO IS TIKTOK, BUT BYTEDANCE TELLS NBC IT'S INVESTIGATING THE SPYING INTERNALLY AND WILL COOPERATE WITH ANY OFFICIAL INQUIRIES SAYING, WE HAVE STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE ACTIONS OF THE INDIVIDUALS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, AND THEY ARE NO LONGER EMPLOYED AT BYTEDANCE AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS GETTING MORE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT TIKTOK. ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA APPS, JUST THIS WEEK ISSUING A KIND OF ULTIMATUM TELLING BYTEDANCE TO SELL OFF THE APP OR ELSE FACE A TIKTOK BAN HERE IN AMERICA. CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY TODAY RESPONDING SAYING, THE U.S. HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE THE APP THREATENS NATIONAL SECURITY. TIKTOK NOW GOING ON OFFENSE SET TO SEND SOME CREATORS TO WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK ACCORDING TO A SPOKESPERSON. LAWMAKERS AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS CONCERNED ABOUT PRIVACY. >> DO YOU THINK IT IS A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK? >> YES. >> Reporter: AND THE CHINESE PROPAGANDA COULD SPREAD THROUGH THE APP. THE HEAD OF TIKTOK TESTIFIES IN FRONT OF CONGRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT. HALLIE JACKSON, THANK YOU. >>> FINANCIAL MARKETS WERE DOWN AGAIN TODAY AS CONCERNS PERSIST ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF BANKS, AND TONIGHT PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS BANK EXECUTIVES HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE. HERE'S KRISTEN WELKER WITH THAT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT PRESIDENT BIDEN INTENSIFYING PRESSURE ON BANK EXECUTIVES WHO ENGAGE IN MISMANAGEMENT AND EXCESSIVE RISK, CALLING ON CONGRESS TO GIVE REGULATORS MORE POWER TO RECLAIM BONUSES AND STOCK SALE GAINS, MAKE IT TOUGHER FOR DANGERING EXECUTIVES TO LAND OTHER JOBS IN THE INDUSTRY AND EXPAND REGULATORS' ABILITY TO FINE EXECUTIVES WRITING, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. IT COMES AFTER THE PRESIDENT ON MONDAY ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE WHOLE THOSE WHO DEPOSITED MONEY AT THE SILICON VALLEY BANK AND SIGNATURE BANKS, WHICH COLLAPSED. >> LET ME ALSO ASSURE YOU, WE WILL NOT STOP AT THIS. WE'LL DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED. >> Reporter: BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE A DIVIDED CONGRESS WILL PASS THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSALS. TODAY ON CAPITOL HILL, REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY SAYING HE DOES NOT SEE A NEED FOR NEW REGULATIONS. >> I THINK THE REGULATORS DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED NEW LEGISLATION. >> Reporter: THERE IS NEW SCRUTINY OVER THE ACTIONS OF FORMER TOP EXECUTIVES AT SILICON VALLEY BANK. SOME QUESTIONING THE COMPANY BONUSES THAT WERE PAID OUT HOURS BEFORE THE BANK WAS SEIZED BY FEDERAL REGULATORS, AND THERE IS SHARP FOCUS ON FORMER CEO GREGORY BECKER'S ROLE WITH GROUPS THAT ACTIVELY LOBBIED TO LIFT REGULATIONS PUT IN PLACE AFTER THE 2008 BANKING CRISIS. >> AT LEAST ENOUGH VITRIOL COMING FROM MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES AFTER THIS COLLAPSE OF SILICON VALLEY BANK TO AT LEAST MOVE FORWARD WITH SCRUTINY ON THE BANKING SECTOR ITSELF FROM WASHINGTON. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL HOLD ITS FIRST HEARING INTO THE FAILURES OF BOTH SILICON VALLEY AND SIGNATURE BANK LATER THIS MONTH, LESTER. >> KRISTEN, THANK YOU. >>> IN FRANCE TONIGHT MORE VIOLENT PROTESTS ERUPTING AFTER FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON PUSHED THROUGH A HIGHLY UNPOPULAR CHANGE TO THE NATION'S RETIREMENT AGE. MOLLY HUNTER IS THERE. >> Reporter: ACROSS PARIS TONIGHT, PROTESTS AGAINST FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, HOURS AFTER TWO NO CONFIDENCE MOTIONS WERE FILED AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT. PROTESTERS GATHERED AT THE PLACE de la CONCORDE STARTING A MASSIVE BONFIRE, CLASHING WITH POLICE IN THE SQUARE. ON THURSDAY, THE REACTION WAS SWIFT AFTER PRESIDENT MACRON AND HIS PRIME MINISTER FORCED THE UNPOPULAR PENSION REFORM BILL THROUGH PARLIAMENT WITHOUT A VOTE. THE BILL RAISES THE RETIREMENT AGE FROM 62 TO 64 YEARS OLD, AND MACRON ARGUES IT'S ESSENTIAL TO PREVENT THE PENSION SYSTEM FROM RUNNING OUT OF MONEY. >> WE SHOWED THAT. IT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION WE HAVE. >> Reporter: IN RECENT WEEKS EIGHT NATIONAL STRIKES INTERRUPTING EVERYTHING FROM GASOLINE TO TRANSPORTATION TO GARBAGE COLLECTION. ALL ACROSS THE CITY, EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE STRIKES ARE OBVIOUS. PROTESTERS SAY EVERY SINGLE NIGHT THIS IS THEIR FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY. AND TONIGHT, PRESIDENT MACRON FACING A BACKLASH THAT COULD BRING DOWN HIS GOVERNMENT. LESTER, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE PLACE de la CONCORDE. POLICE ARE TRYING TO CLEAR THE PROTESTERS, AND PROTESTERS SAY THEY WILL STAY OUT ON THE STREETS UNTIL THE NO CONFIDENCE VOTE HAPPENS LIKELY ON MONDAY. >> MOLLY HUNTER IN PARIS, THANK YOU. >>> TONIGHT THE FBI IS ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP IN FINDING ANOTHER U.S. CITIZEN KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO. THIS TIME A GREAT GRANDMOTHER TAKEN FROM A RETIREMENT HOME. GABE GUTIERREZ WITH THAT STORY. >> Reporter: KIDNAPPED AND HELD FOR RANSOM, TONIGHT THIS GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S FAMILY IS PLEADING FOR HELP. >> WE MISS YOU, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOU HOME SAFE. >> Reporter: 63-YEAR-OLD MARIA DEL CARMEN LOPEZ, AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, SPLIT HER TIME BETWEEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND A RETIREMENT HOME IN THE SMALL TOWN OF PUEBLO NUEVO, MEXICO, THAT'S ONE OF SIX MEXICAN STATES WHERE THE STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUED A DO NOT TRAVEL WARNING. LOPEZ'S FAMILY SAYS ARMED MASKED MEN WHISKED HER FROM HER HOME LAST MONTH AND DEMANDED A LARGE RANSOM. >> WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT SOUNDS TO US LIKE A RECORDING OF HER PLEADING FOR US TO PLEASE HELP HER. >> WE DON'T BELIEVE IT'S DRUG RELATED. WE BELIEVE SHE WAS AGAIN TARGETED FOR KIDNAPPING. >> Reporter: HER DISAPPEARANCE COMES AMID A STRING OF KIDNAPPINGS IN MEXICO. THREE THREE STILL MISSING AFTER CROSSING THE BORDER TO SELL CLOTHES AT A FLEA MARKET. JUST LAST WEEK A CARTEL APOLOGIZED LAST WEEK FOR KILLING TWO AMERICANS. 112,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN MEXICO INCLUDING MORE THAN 500 AMERICANS. >> THE BIGGEST SMILE WITH PERFECT TEETH. >> Reporter: AMONG THEM ROBERT FR FRANCO JR. WHO WAS 21 WHEN HIS MOTHER LOST CONTACT WITH HIM DURING A TRIP TO MEXICO IN 2017. >> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. I MEAN, I KNOW THE FAMILIES FEEL HELPLESS. >> Reporter: AS FOR THE GREAT GRANDMOTHER JUST KIDNAPPED THEY'RE OFFERING A $20,000 REWARD FOR ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO HER LOCATION. LESTER. >> GABE GUTIERREZ, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE CONTROVERSIAL NEW >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH NEW RESEARCH THAT APPEARS TO SUPPORT THE THEORY THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN WHEN THE VIRUS WAS PASSED FROM ANIMALS TO HUMANS. IT COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER AGENCIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SAID IT MIGHT HAVE COME FROM A CHINESE LAB LEAK. STEPHANIE GOSK REPORTS ON THE NEW RESEARCH. >> Reporter: THE EAST ASIAN RACCOON DOG, A RELATIVE OF T FOX MAY HOLD THE KEY TO THE ORIGINS OF COVID-19 ACCORDING TO A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS QUOTED IN "THE ATLANTIC" MAGAZINE. THEY SAY THEIR NEW ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES TAKEN AT A WUHAN MARKET IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC IS A STRONG INDICATION THAT INFECTED ANIMALS WERE THERE INCLUDING RACCOON DOGS AND THE FINDINGS SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT IT JUMPED FROM ANIMALS TO HUMANS. RESEARCHERS SAY IT IS NOT A SMOKING GUN. >> IT IS NOT CONCLUSIVE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PROVE THE CHAIN OF EVENTS FOR HOW AN ANIMAL GOT INFECTED. YOU CAN'T EVEN TECHNICALLY PROVE THE RACCOON DOG WAS INFECTED. >> THE RACCOON DOGS THEMSELVES WEREN'T ACTUALLY SAMPLED. >> EXACTLY. >> Reporter: CHINA HAS BEEN WIDELY CRITICIZED FOR NOT ALLOWING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE ORIGINS OF THE VIRUS. THIS NEW ANALYSIS SURE TO FUEL THE HEATED AND OFTEN POLITICAL DEBATE. IN A CLASSIFIED REPORT TO CONGRESS, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CONCLUDED WITH LOW CONFIDENCE THAT COVID-19 LEAKED FROM A WUHAN LAB. ACCORDING TO TWO SOURCES WITH DIRECT KNOWLEDGE, THAT IS. WHILE THERE IS DISAGREEMENT AMONG FEDERAL AGENCIES, THE FBI ALSO BELIEVES THE LAB MAY BE THE SOURCE. >> THE FBI HAS LONG SAID GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SUMMER OF 2021 THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE PANDEMIC WAS LIKELY A LAB INCIDENT IN WUHAN. >> Reporter: PAST REPUBLICANS ACCUSE TWO OF THE SCIENTISTS INVOLVED IN THIS LATEST ANALYSIS OF STEERING CLEAR OF THE LAB LEAK THEORY AFTER BEING INSTRUCTED BY ANTHONY FAUCI TO DISMISS IT. BOTH THE SCIENTISTS AND FAUCI DENY THE ALLEGATION. CONGRESS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A BILL CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DECLASSIFY INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ORIGINS OF COVID. SO FAR THE PRESIDENT HIS PUBLICIST SAID HE DIED TODAY AT HIS HOME IN LOS ANGELES FROM NATURAL CAUSES. HE WAS 60 YEARS OLD. >>> CALIFORNIA STILL DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THOSE DEVASTATING STORMS, BUT NOW NEW SIGNS ALL THAT RAIN WENT A LONG WAY TO ENDING THE STATE'S DROUGHT CRISIS, AND THE IMPACT MAY BE FELT NATIONWIDE. HERE'S MIGUEL ALMAGUER. >> Reporter: CALIFORNIA'S PARADE OF ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS HAS LEFT THE REGION IN A STATE OF MAYHEM AND MISERY, BUT TONIGHT THE DELUGE ALSO BRINGING A BRIGHTER SIDE TO THE DARKER DAYS. >> THESE STORMS ARE REALLY HELPING WITH OUR DEFICIT, BUT WE HAD SO MANY SEVERE DROUGHT YEARS, THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO PULL OUT OF THEM. >> Reporter: IN A STUNNING REVERSAL FROM SEPTEMBER WHEN 94% OF CALIFORNIA WAS IN SEVERE DROUGHT, TODAY JUST 8% OF THE STATE IS. THE STORMS ENDING MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS FOR MILLIONS. >> IT MEANS THAT WE'RE NO LONGER WORRIED ABOUT ENTIRE TOWNS GOING DRY. >> Reporter: AS FERTILE FARMLAND GETS THE WATER IT DESPERATELY NEEDS, THE EASING OF CALIFORNIA'S DROUGHT WILL BE SEEN IN GROCERY STORES AND FELT IN POCKETBOOKS NATIONWIDE, AND WHILE THERE'S BEEN MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE COLORADO RIVER, WHICH QUENCHES MUCH OF THE WEST, THIS IS THE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN CALIFORNIA'S RESERVOIR SYSTEM NOW FILLED TO 70% OF CAPACITY. THE SNOWPACK IS AT 223% OF AVERAGE. >> IT'S KIND OF THE MOTHER NATURE'S RESERVOIR, 200% TO 300% OF AVERAGE SNOWPACK IS NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR. >> Reporter: BECAUSE OF ALL THE WINTER MOISTURE, THE STORMS WILL LIKELY MEAN A LATER START TO THE TYPICALLY DEVASTATING FIRE SEASON IN THE WEST. IN THE WAKE OF CATASTROPHE, A SILVER LINING TO THE RELENTLESS NUMBER GO OUT OF STYLE ♪ >> All: HI, TAYLOR. >> Reporter: EMILIE IKEDA, SWIFT CITY, ARIZONA. >>> THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR A FRIDAY. TOOK IN TO THIS SATURDAY'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" KIDS EDITION ON NBC. THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF