Plot Synopsis

BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS explores true-crime stories that dominated national headlines, presenting the exclusive interviews that defined these crimes. In each 60-minute episode, Walters recounts some of her most famous one-on-one interviews, offering unprecedented access as she reveals new information from the original interviews, including her own personal thoughts for the first time. From the tragic murder of musical legend John Lennon, to Jim Bakker's sexual affair and imprisonment for fraud, to the most notorious teacher-student sex scandal in history, Walters reveals true, never-before-seen scoop and conducts new interviews with key players involved in the original case, putting these crimes in context years later. Each episode features a different case, including those of: six-year old JonBenet Ramsey, who was murdered in her upscale Boulder Colorado home in December 1996, and now her father, John, attempts to put to rest the rumors that his son, Burke, was somehow tied to the crime scene; Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, who were stabbed to death in front of Nicole's Brentwood, California condo, and now Kato Kaelin discusses what he recalls the night of the murder; celebrity diet doctor Herman Tarnower, who was discovered shot dead within hours of a visit by Jean Harris, whose son, Jim, sits down with Barbara to share what life was like with mother; the Menendez Brothers, Erik and Lyle, who brutally shot their mother and father to death in their Beverly Hills mansion one evening -- and now Erik Menendez's wife, Tammi, shares never-before-seen letters from Erik, describing his life in prison, his hopes, and regrets; and many more true crimes.
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The three-episode second season of BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS premiered on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT on Investigation Discovery, as Walters leads viewers through three explosive stories: Michael Jackson, Leona Helmsley and Gary Hart. Just as fascinating as the stories themselves, are those that tell them. In all-new interviews, Walters speaks with Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson's older brother and Jackson 5 bandmate, as well as TJ Jackson, Michael's nephew and guardian of his children; Rudy Giuliani, the prosecutor for Leona Helmsley's "tax cheating;" and Donna Rice, the woman who's alleged relationship with Gary Hart sparked his political downfall.

In the season opener, it's 1987 and handsome Senator Gary Hart seemed on the road to be President. With personal charisma, political savvy, good looks and the intelligence to match, it seemed like nothing could stop him. That is until the Miami Herald received an 'all too good to be true' tip: Hart, a married man, had been seen with a mysterious younger blonde woman. Intense media frenzy followed. The blonde, revealed as Donna Rice, was promptly dragged into the limelight of constant gossip tabloids. Within six days of the story breaking, Hart left the race -- forever changing U.S. political coverage. In interviews with Donna Rice and other key figures, Barbara Walters discusses the historical repercussions of one single scandal.