This is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Pelley even by the horrors of the Syrian Civil War, what happened today will stand out as a crime against humanity. 58 civilians, including women and children, were killed and about 300 others wounded by what appears to be nerve gas, a weapon banned by the civilized world. The attack came five days after the Trump Administration signaled that the syrian dictator would not be held accountable for the legislature of his people. The Trump Administration said Bashar Alassad could remain in power, a reversal of obamaera policy that said assad had to go. Despite the appeasing change in his policy, mr. Trump blamed todays attack on president obama calling it a consequence of the past administrations weakness. What were about to show you is hard to watch, but it should be seen. Holly williams begins our coverage. Reporter the attack on the village bears the telltale signs of a chemical weapon. Inflicted on civilians, apparently, including these lifeless victims. We cant independently confirm this was a chemical attack but notice how many of the victims have no visible wounds as you would normally expect from an air attack or missile. Survivors pant and gasp for air, some of them foaming at the mouth. And this medic demonstrates how his patients pupils dont respond to light. Nonreactive to light. Nonreactive to light troarpt that all strongly suggests exposure to a toxic nerve agent. Were going to collect all the clothes as evidence. Were collecting them in sealed bags as evidence. Anyone that wants this evidence to investigate it, please contact me. Reporter the Syrian Regime denies any involvement, but Idlib Province is a syrian rebel stronghold, regularly pounded pd with air strikes by the regime and its ally, russia. Suspicion will also fall on the regime because of an earlier chemical attack in august 2013, thought to have killed hundreds. The u. N. s chemical weapons watchdog concluded it was sarin nerve agent. Russia also denied it was responsible today. Its direct intervention in the Syrian Civil War has propped you want regime and helped it win back territory. But it hasnt come close to ending this conflict, and nightmarish scene likes these. The u. N. Chemical weapons watchdog has already gun investigating todays attack. Though the security situation inside syria will make gathering evidence difficult. And, scott, the United NationsSecurity Council will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow. Pelley Holly Williams along the syrian border. Holly, thank you. After that nerve gas attack in 2013 that holly just mentioned, president obama threatened air strikes, but instead, he struck a deal to destroy syrias chemical weapons. In 2014, a u. N. Agency certified that all of the known weapons had been incinerated, but after today, it would appear that something was left over. Mr. Trumps reflex, blaming mr. Obama for todays attack, strikes some even in the Trump Administration as millis guided. Heres margaret brennan. Reporter the gravity of the images led President Trump to issue a statement condemg the chemical attack as reprehensible and heinous. He then shifted to politics blaming president obamas weakness and irresolution, for not following through on the air strikes he threatened in 2012. And a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. Reporter when a defiant assad carried out the largescale chemical attack in 2013, mr. Trump warned on twitter against any u. S. Action. Now that mr. Trump is president , he has reversed his position as Spokesman Sean Spicer indicated in an offcamera briefing today. Americas credibility was at stake, and i think the president wants to point out that there was a red line, and they did cross it. We did talk about we did have alternatives to regime change, and they werent taken. Reporter a number of u. S. National Security Officials told cbs news that they also fault mr. Obama for not stopping the syrian slaughter. But they were shocked today at the campaignlike language of the sitting commander in chief. The white house could have issued a sober, serious statement. Instead, they needlessly chose to play politics, one u. S. Official said. Its hard to imagine anyone could see images of victims foaming at the mouth and think that statement was appropriate. Weve seen this movie before. Reporter republican senator john mccain also urged action. It is another disgraceful chapter in american history, and it was predictable. Reporter secretary of state Rex Tillerson initially declined to comment on the attacks, but then, scott, late this afternoon, issued a statement that was devoid of domestic politics, which said that both russia and iran bear great moral responsibility for these deaths. Pelley meg at the white house. Well, it was one month ago today that President Trump claimed that his phones were tapped last year on orders of president obama. Osince then, white house officials have been searching for evidence to back him up, and theyve latched on to the fact that u. S. Intelligence routinely listens to the calls of foreign officials. It appears that after the election, some trump advisers were on the other end of those calls, as you would expect. The white house suggests there is something sinister in that surveillance, and today, a former top obama official said it is just standard procedure. Heres chip reid. I leaked nothing to nobody. And never have and never would. Reporter former National Security adviser susan rice denied that she publicly revealed the identities of Trump Associates picked up during surveillance of foreign targets. Theres no equivalence between socalled unmasking and leaking. The effort to ask for the identity of american citizen is necessary to understand the importance of an Intelligence Report in some instances. Reporter u. S. Citizens identities are hidden or masked in Intelligence Reports gathered on foreign targets. Several white house officials have the power to request the unmasking of those anonymous people if they feel it will help them understand the intercepted communications. White house Spokesman Sean Spicer today questioned whether rices motivation was political. It depends on the purpose of why they were asking and what they were trying to accomplish. Reporter rice said she requested the names only to understand why they appeared in Intelligence Reports. Allegation is that somehow Obama Administration officials utilized intelligence for political purposes. Thats absolutely faults. Reporter retired general Michael Hayden ran the c. I. A. And n. S. A. During the george w. Bush era. The process as scribe descrooibed is perfectly normal and on its face does not in any way constitute a smoking gun. I have no yet idea about her motivation. Reporter conclude man adam schiff is the top democrat on the house intelligence commit, which is investigate ties between russia and the Trump Administration. I think the suggestions that this is some kind of a partisan exercise that is was targeting donald trump are designed to distract us from the russia investigation and not much more than that. Reporter another democrat on the intelligence committee, Joaquin Castro of texas, said today that he thinks people will probably go to jail as a result of the russia investigation, but, scott, the white house continues to deny any improper connection to russia or its attempts to interfere in the u. S. Election. Pelley chip reid in our washington newsroom. Chip, thank you. Well, we have not been hearing much lately from one key member of mr. Trumps inner circle, his daughter and new president ial adviser, ivanka trump. Well, that changed today when she sat down with cbs this morning cohost gayle king. Reporter you know, you say that you are your fathers daughter, and we all get that. You also talk about the critics and you have a couple that say why isnt ivanka speak out . Where is is she on planned parenthood . Where is she on gay rights. Where is she on Climate Change you . Are being held personally accountable for not speak up. What do you say to your critics . I would say not to conflate lack of public denouncement with silence. I think there are multiple ways to have your voice heard. In some case, its through protest and its through going on the nightly news and talking about or denouncing every issue you disagree with. Other times it is quietly and directly and candidly. So where i disagree with my father, he knows it, and i express myself with total candor. Where i agree, i fully lean in and support the agenda and hope that i can be an asset to him and make a positive impact. But i respect the fact that he always listens. Its how he was in business. Its how he is as president. Pelley theres much more news in that interview, and gayle will have it. Be sure not to miss tomorrows cbs this morning. Law enforcement in the u. S. Is warning of a spread of a cruel scam fake kidnapping. And anna werner has more about that. She was screaming, dad, theyre taking me in a van. I dont know what theyre going to do. Hell me. Reporter larry lutes got the phone call when he was at work. The guy comes on the phone and said, qeef weave got your daughter. Reporter his daughters kidnappers demanding 10, 000. They said, dont talk to anybody. Get in your car and start driving right now or well kill your daughter. Reporter believing her life was on the line, lutes went to the bank too get cash and drove through the night, wiring the money to mexico as he was directed. Son his wife, daughter, wondered why her husband hadnt come home. And the next day discovered the money was missing. So at that point, all you knew was he had taken 10,000 out of the bank, and he was nowhere to be found. Thats right. Reporter but that was just the start. Now, her phone rang. This time, the callers told donna theyd kidnapped her husband. And if i didnt get them money, they were going to put a bull net his head. Reporter did you believe them . Oh, yeah. Reporter whats that like . Horrible. Horrible. Its horrible. Youre physically ill. Reporter like her husband, don afs also told to wire the cash from different locations. Finally, her children contacted the police who stopped her from wiring any more money with a startling revelation. Its a scam. Im like, no, its not. And theyre like, its a scam. Reporter the lutes habit victims of a fake kidnapping scheme, and they werent alone. But this is a nationwide problem. Reporter n. Y. P. D. Detective lieutenant john rogan told us organized crime rings call victims at random, convincing them theyve kidnapped their loved ones. Why would you say its so effective in many of these caizs . I believe its effective because theyre planning on everyones good nature in wanting to get their family members back gl. Reporter they dont have to actually kidnap anything exwb, do they . They do not have to kidnap anybody. They say the home and wait for the money to be require to the location they desire. Reporter the luteses were finally reunited 28 hours after larry received the first phone call. What was your reaction. Big hug. Oh, yeah. Big hug and cry. Reporter but theyd lost 17,000. What would you say to people who might say, i would never fall for that. Well, you would, because its like a gamble. Youre gambling with somebody reaslife. You wont jeopardize somebody you love over money. You just wouldnt do that. Who is going to take that chance . Reporter new York City Police told us hundreds of these calls are made, they believe arct random, and they say victims, scott, including people at the highest levels of fortune 500 companies. Pelley anna werner, thanks. Next on the cbs evening news. Advertisers leave bill oreilly. Advertisers leave bill oreilly. Sexual harassment is a factor. Pelley today, several sponsors pulled out of the number one program on the fox news channel. Political talk show Host Bill Oreilly is the target of numerous claims of Sexual Harassment. Heres dean reynolds. Just listen to the rhetoric on the left. Reporter the advertising exodus from the Oreilly Factor resulted from this front page New York Times investigation. It found that five women who had accused bill oreilly of Sexual Harassment or inappropriate behavior in recent years had received cash settlements totaling about 13 million, the money coming from oreilly and fox. By late this afternoon, more than a dozen brands had pulled their commercials from the show, which generated more than 400 million in revenue in the last three years alone. Mercedes benz said it withdrew its ads because oflet importance of women in every aspect of our business. Hyundai called the report, disturbing while allstate said, we are concerned about the issues surrounding the program. If they called you and asked you what they should do, what would you tell them . Id tell them to bite the bullet and fire the guy because hes a reputational harm and a big risk going forward. Reporter ron iori is a Crisis Communications consultant. It seems to me that theyre going to have to do something and make some kind of a move but theyre torn because its a lot of revenue they could lose if they move him out of his position. Reporter in a statement, oreilly said he said no one had ever complained about him to foxs Human Resources department and that he, put to rest any controversies to spare my children. Hi, im bill oreilly. Reporter orile denot mention the issue during his program last night. The accusations of boorish behavior are similar to those lodged against former fox news chairman roger ailes, who left the company last summer with a multimilliondollar severance while denying any wrongdoing. Fox news Advertising Sales executive referred to those rebellious sponsors tonight scott, saying in a statement, we value our partners and are working with them to address their current concerns about the Oreilly Factor. Pelley up ntony romo signs with a new team. The most shocking result was that im 26 native american. I had no idea. Just to know this is what im made of, this is where my ancestors came from. And i absolutely want to know more about my native american heritage. Its opened up a whole new world for me. Discover the story only your dna can tell. Order your kit now at ancestrydna. Com. Ykeep you sidelined. Ng thats why you drink ensure. With 9 grams of protein and 26 vitamins and minerals. For the strength and energy to get back to doing. What you love. Ensure. Always be you. For my constipation, i switch laxatives. Ed stimulant laxatives make your body go by forcefully stimulating the nerves in your colon. Miralax is different. It works with the water in your body to hydrate and soften. Unblocking your system naturally. Miralax. The slopes like i used to. I even accept i have a higher risk of stroke due to afib, a type of irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve problem. But whatever trail i take, i go for my best. So if theres Something Better than warfarin, ill go for that too. Eliquis. Eliquis reduced the risk of stroke better than warfarin, plus had less major bleeding than warfarin. Eliquis had both. Dont stop taking eliquis unless your doctor tells you to, as stopping increases your risk of having a stroke. Eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. Dont take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. While taking eliquis, you may bruise more easily. And it may take longer than usual for any bleeding to stop. Seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. Eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. Tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. Im still going for my best. And for eliquis. Ask your doctor about eliquis. New pantene doesnt just wash i wiyour hair, it fuels it. Gain. Making every strand stronger. So tangles dont stand a chance. Because strong is beautiful. Pelley the partys still going strong at the university of north carolina, where the tarheels return as College Basketballs champions. They won their sixth title last night, beating gonzaga 7165, and within minutes, 55,000 people jammed the streets of chapel hill. Tony romos joined a new team cbs sports. The quarterback said today hes retiring after 14 years with the dallas cowboys. Romo joins jim nantz an jim nans booth as lead analyst for n. F. L. Games, replacing phil simms. Tonys already dressing the part. The Company Behind the vegomatic, pocket ficker man, and sprayon hair is going public. Ronco wants to sell five million shares, not for 100 or 75, not for 50 or even 10, but 6 a share. And wait, theres more. Buy 5,000 worth, and ronco will throw in a rotisserie. But wait, theres more news after this. Theres only one egg that just tastes better. With 10 times more vitamin e. And twice the omega 3s. Because why have ordinary when you can have the best. Only egglands best. Better taste. Better nutrition. Better eggs. This clean was like pow everything well . My teeth are glowing. They are so white. Step 1 cleans. Step 2 whitens. Crest [hd]. 6x cleaning , 6x whitening a i would switch to crest [hd] over what i was using before. But when we brought our daughter home, that was it. Now i have nicoderm cq. The nicoderm cq patch with unique extended release Technology Helps prevent your urge to smoke all day. Its the best thing that ever happened to me. Every great why needs a great how. What bad back . Gels work so fast youll ask what pulled hammy . Advil liqui gels make pain a distant memo