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Neymar Tells Barcelona Teammates He's Leaving; U.S. Weighs Options over North Korea Threat; White House: Trump Weighed in On Son's Statement; Trump: Maduro Responsible for Safety of Failed Critics; DNC Staffer Murder Mystery; Capturing Wildlife's Blooper Reel. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired August 02, 2017 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:00:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to NEWS STREAM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: A source tells CNN that that Brazilian football star Neymar had told his Barcelona teammates, he is leaving. The speculation is that he
set to join Paris Saint Germain in a world record deal.
Mixed messages from the U.S. on North Korea, the secretary of state raises the possibility of talks but one senator says military action is on the
table, and a chilling prediction from one of Venezuela's opposition leaders before he was taken from his and then put in prison.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now one of the world's best football players could be leaving one of the biggest teams in the world. A source tells CNN Brazilian star
Neymar has told his teammates at Barcelona that he wants to leave, weeks of speculation over his future of rumors swirled that Neymar are set to join
Paris Saint Germain in a record deal worth more than $250 million.
So that is more than double the previous record transfer fee. Neymar made his debut, he's just 17 for Brazilian club Santos, the same club apparently
began his career.
As early his success through comparisons to the Brazilian legend, especially after Neymar lead Santos to their First Continental titles since
1963, but apparently when the same tournament, Neymar has been the face of the Brazilian national team for years.
Leading the team during the World Cup there in 2014 until an injury knocked him out of that tournament. He moved to Barcelona in 2013 linking up with
Lionel Messi. And one of his finest moments, and the Barcelona shirt came just four months ago, when Neymar led one of the greatest comebacks in
football history against PSG, the same team he's rumored to be joining.
Our World Sports Amanda Davies has more from London. She joins us now live, and, Amanda, there has been so much speculation out there, but is it
true, just Neymar want to leave Barcelona?
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: It seems to be the case, Kristie. A lot of people might question that, given he only singed the deal all the
Barcelona just last year to see him through until 2021.
Of course he's been (Inaudible), that fantastic triumphant. The MSN and little Messi, and Luis Suarez but it seems that age 25, Neymar has decide,
he doesn't want to be one of three, or one of the group of superstars.
He now wants to be the superstar, and in Paris Saint Germain, is certainly a club where that would be able to happen. They haven't really filled the
void that was left by his last (Inaudible), and his his departure to Manchester United.
We strive that has been nothing official from Paris Saint Germain, the only official word that we have heard up to this point are from Buffalo, now
they have concerned, that they have given Neymar leave to remain absent from training while he discusses his future.
They have confirm that he did indeed see turn-up to the Cubs training ground. This morning, he didn't take part in training, but he arrived with
his father and with his agents. And he said his farewells to his Barcelona teammates that we have known. As you said, he's been playing with since
2013.
And that as things stand is that fact that we have. The only other quite - - interesting quite larger details, bit of information is that Barcelona have said that the only way Neymar is going to leave is that if any club he
is going to, agrees to pay the _222 million relief clause fee in full and out front.
That's about _260 million. That is no small change of it, but we understand from what we've been hearing from our sources in Spain,
Barcelona really are saying that to be seen, to be making an efforts to keep one of their star players to really plicate the fans.
And that they behind the scenes are pretty much resigned to losing one of the (Inaudible) figures of their side from recent times.
LU STOUT: And if they lose him -- if Neymar leaves, what impact will it have in Barcelona?
[08:05:00] DAVIES: Well, it's not ideal because as I've said, there's been this fantastic effulge relationship between those three key players in
recent times.
He has helped guide Barcelona to two La Liga titles, to a champion league success, committed not last season, there was disappointment to Barcelona
that they only made the round of 16 last year.
That was Real Madrid who took the La Liga title, they took the champions leagues, crown -- and yes, Barcelona are no -- they have no shortage of
superstars, do they?
There were talks that they are looking at the lives of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, of Dembele from Dortmund, possibly -- possibly the
opportunity of another player coming the other way from PSG, but of course, this a Barcelona.
Now, very much, you know, a rebuilt -- rebuilding stage as it. They've got a new coach Ernesto Valverde coming in only just within the first weeks of
his job.
It's not ideal for a new manager but you have to say that traditional wisdom isn't it, is you'd rather be shocked of an unhappy player than have
him within the ranks making it known that he's unhappy, and that's something that Neymar has started to be doing.
He's been talking to the other players about leaving. There were pictures of the training ground bust ups just last week. So you he was ask to say
while the talk of this deal has certainly beyond the horizon for the last few weeks.
The talks of the personal terms have been done. Now, it really, really does seem that -- of the wheels are in motions, the Cubs are turning and
you wouldn't think it would be too long until we hear something a little bit more concrete.
LU STOUT: Got it. So the wheels are in motion, if it happens, it will be world record deal. Amanda Davies reporting for us live. Thank you Amanda,
take care. Turning now to the stand-off between the U.S. and North Korea.
We are hearing contrasting tones in Washington. The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the U.S. is willing to talk with the North Koreans if they
abandon their nuclear program.
And he stresses that U.S. is not pushing for regime change nor an armed conflict. But a top Republican senator says a military showdown is
possible and it won't be an American soil.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: There will be a war with North Korea over their missile program if they continue to try to hit America
with an ICBM.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every military expert says there is no good military option.
GRAHAM: They're wrong. There is a military option to destroy North Korea's program in North Korea itself. He is not been allow for us to
tromp the ability of this madman to have a missile that hit America if there is going to be a war to stop them.
It will be over there. If thousands die, they are gonna die over there. And they are not going to die here and he has told me that to my face.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: As amount we receive, the mix messages are leading to confusion over U.S. policy toward North Korea. Earlier, I spoke to John Park, an
expert from the Harvard Kennedy School. And he explained what the U.S. strategy entails.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN PARK, DIRECTOR, KOREA WORKING GROUP: So the administration does have a name for the North Korea policy, it's called maximum pressure and
engagement.
So now that having (Inaudible), continuity of excellent pressure, what we just heard from Senator Graham and in terms of the offer for negotiations
with conditions from secretary to listen, that could be a part of the engagement.
But I think the way that the messages coming out, it is a bit confusing on the surface it. But right now, there definitely is a priority focus on
using every tool possible under the maximum pressure heading.
LU STOUT: Is it a bit confusing -- is it confusing for U.S. allies in the region. What do South Korea and Japan think and do they believe Rex
Tillerson speaks for the Trump administration?
PARK: Sure. I think the allies have been following up on every single tweet as well as statement. I have heard on the South Korean government
side, there is as an officer whose dedicated job is to monitor the president's tweets.
So from that perspective, there is a lot of direct follow-up. But I think what we're seeing is a sense of panic and urgency in the United States,
were looking at North Korean capabilities with ICBM along (Inaudible), nuclear tip ICBM is some sort of threatened and target the concept of the
United States. So that part is different.
LU STOUT: North Korea and America first -- you know, because of the America first policy under Present Trump is their fear in Japan, fear in
South Korea that Donald Trump is more willing to pursue the military option because as Lindsey Graham put it, it would lead to mass casualties over
there not in U.S. soil.
PARK: Well, there is concern.
LU STOUT: Yes.
PARK: And I think with these types of statements, there is always careful follow-up by the U.S. side. But right now, were looking at a situation
where the North Korean program is so far advanced.
You know, farther than many people have estimated by this time, so with that I think is a sense of trying to make up for lost ground.
There is a lot of focus on both missile defenses along all those things but were continuing to see the testing of these capabilities sides. So that
gap and that perceived gap is growing.
[08:10:00] LU STOUT: U.S., China, international pressure on China, let's see if there are additional sanctions passed targeting Chinese financial
institutions that do business with North Korea would impact -- does that going to have on the North Korean crisis.
PARK: So for first of with this approach is called secondary sanctions.
LU STOUT: Yes.
PARK: The idea of as you mention, to target Chinese companies, banks and Chinese entities, but if you look at it, these things will take time.
And I think the sense of urgency with what's happening with the goring North Korean capabilities, even if there is a forward movement and the
Chinese do implement more sanctions along the lines with what the U.S. is looking for, that time like -- I think it's going to produce that immediate
result that many are expecting.
LU STOUT: What do you believe is most constructed passport?
PARK: I think right now, we're seeing a North Korean nuclear weapons program both on the ballistic missile side, the ICBM development and the
nuclear weapons development side of things.
LU STOUT: Yes.
PARK: But is so far advanced that the room for dialogue and negotiation, the concern is that there really isn't room, that North Korea's going to
move towards full nuclear weapons capability. There's a nuclear ICBM.
Now at that point, perhaps initiate discussions that would be nuclear arms control. That is something that the other parties are not interested.
LU STOUT: To pass the point of talks?
PARK: That's a concern among my community. The group of North Korea watchers is that the North Korean development is so far pays, why stop now
for...
LU STOUT: So the -- the options that are left are regime change, military option, international pressure...
PARK: And sanctions, there's a tremendous amount of focus on sanctions. But I think given that state and given how there is a timeline usually with
implementation of sanctions, producing the results of many are expecting.
We're in a situation where if we continue on the current pattern and the current trend lines, then it does increase the likelihood of some kind of
military action and were very concerned about that.
LU STOUT: In the mean time, you're basically saying, North Korea will be a nuclear power. It's just a matter of when.
PARK: This is a consensus in the North Korea watcher community and how the United States, and other countries address that is also concerned.
The Chinese have been very concerned as well but I think their approach is to remain calm, to try to initiate negotiations once possible and we just
heard the Chinese ambassador, to the U.N., basically saying this is up to the United States and North Korea to solve it.
This isn't China's problem trying to causes problem but certainly supportive diplomatic breakthroughs. I think you still see the Chinese
trying to work that angle in that channel as much as they can.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: And that was John Park, Director of the Korea Working Group at the Harvard Kennedy School. Now, missile tests by North Korea may pose a
risk to passenger planes.
On Friday, Pyongyang test fired that long-range missile is splash down east of the Korean Peninsula. And according to on online flight data, in Air
France flight flew just over 100 kilometers from that site.
Air France told CNN, North Korea's missile test zones do not interfere with the company's flight paths and that particular flight operated without
incidents. Of the list of challenges, President Trump is facing appears to be growing.
Each and every day, there is new fallout over his son's meeting with a Russian attorney. The White House now acknowledges Mister Trump quote,
weighed in on his son's initial statement about that meeting. And then there is the battle over healthcare. Some Republicans are now pushing back
against President Trump's call to let Obamacare quote, implode.
For more Joe Johns joins us live from the White House. And Joe, the White House says that President Trump weighed in on that statement released by
Trump Jr. What does that mean exactly and what does that mean for the investigation?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Not a lot of detail on that, Kristie, quite frankly. The White House has weighed in, does not
mean the president dictated the statement but he weighed in and a way that any father would.
So you have to sort of take that, and to me, it may also suggest that the initial statement that came out was accurate. And we know it certainly was
not complete because there was other information that came along later.
Meanwhile, here Capitol -- here in Washington D.C., especially on Capitol Hill is also important to say that the president is facing a number of
Republican senators, members of his own party for speaking out against him and questioning his priorities, just one more sign that the president's
credibility appears to be eroding because of the ever-changing stories over the Russia investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS: President Trump's response to the collapse of the healthcare bill, exacerbating growing tensions between Senate Republicans and the
White House.
SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), ARIZONA: We've got to get away from this attitude. But you have to agree with the president and that a senator should be a
rubberstamp for everything the president wants at all times.
JOE JOHNS: Majority Leader Mitch McConnell bypassing request to hold another repeal vote and rejecting the president's demand that the Senate
change their rules to pass bills by a simple majority.
MITCH MCCONNELL, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: They are not to vote in the Senate as I've said repeatedly to the president and to all of you, to
change the rules of the Senate.
[08:15:00] JOE JOHNS: And comes as the Senate health committee's influential Republican chairman also pushes back against the presidents
threat to let Obamacare implode my stopping payments to insurance companies, Senator Lamar Alexander proposing bipartisan legislation that
would do exactly the opposite.
SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER (R), TENNESSEE: Our proposal is that by mid- September, we will see if we can agree on ways to stabilize the individual insurance market.
JOE JOHNS: Senate Republicans also criticizing the administration shifting story about the president's role in crafting in his son's misleading
initial statement about the reason for the June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer.
GRAHAM: when you put out a misleading statement, it's gonna be hard to convince people to stop looking at other things.
JOE JOHNS: The White House admitting Tuesday that the president was involved.
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, PRESS SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE: The president weight in as any other father would based on the limited information that he had
JOE JOHNS: Contradicting repeated denials from the president legal team.
JAY SEKULOW, ATTORNEY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP: The president was not involved in the drafting of the statement. I wasn't involved in the statement
traffic at all nor was the president. The president didn't sign off on -- on anything.
JOE JOHNS: Sarah Sanders denying reports that the President Trump personally dictated the deceptive statement and attempting to shift the
narrative.
SANDERS: Everybody wants to try to make this some story about misleading. The only thing I've seen misleading is a years worth of stories that have
been fueling a false narrative about this Russia collusion.
JOE JOHNS: The ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating possible collusion, disagreeing.
SEN. MARK WARNER (D), VIRGINIA: This administration continues to say virtually vis-a-vis Russia. There is nothing there, yet they don't that
way at all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS: Facing continued difficulties in the Senate, the administration is apparently trying to shore up the president's base.
We are hearing that the Department of Justice is being asked to start suing colleges and universities that have affirmative action policies that they
believed discriminate against white students.
We're also expecting the administration to announce by the end of the week, a trade case against China focusing on intellectual property. So a whole
list of things there, Kristie, that the administration hopes will shore up the base on the right.
LU STOUT: Got it. So as -- so Donald Trump's impart efficient back, he's focusing on shoring up the base. Joe Johns reporting live from the White
House. Thank you, Joe.
Now on the foreign policy front, the Kremlin says there are conflicting statements coming out of White House about new U.S. sanctions on Russia.
Vice President Mike Pence said during his trip Eastern Europe, that President Trump would sign off on the sanctions soon. But the White House
says this, the bill Congress passed last week is still being reviewed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already retaliated, telling the U.S. to cut hundreds of diplomatic staff. The U.S. secretary of state says he
would like a constructive relationship with Russia, but many are asking what the new sanctions will actually allow that.
All this take to Moscow, CNN's Clare Sebastian is standing by. And Clare, while he was in Tbilisi, Georgia, the U.S. Vice President Pence said that
President Trump will sign the sanctions bill quote, very soon. How's Moscow reacting to that?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kristie, they really view this bill here in Moscow as good sign and that's essentially why they
went ahead and retaliate it -- on Friday are announce that -- retaliated measures.
On Friday even just as the -- we look at the final tally of the votes from the Senate, they didn't even wait to hear whether the president intended to
sign in the bill.
And you know, this is happening, one of the two retaliatory measure, the seizure of two diplomatic compounds belong to the U.S.
Here on Russia has already happened as of Tuesday and now, the U.S. has until September 1st to cut more than 755 people -- 775 people from its
diplomatic mission here in Moscow and three other continent around the country.
So this is definitely happening but I will that one area that Moscow is concerned about is the message that Vice President Pence's trip is sending
about NATO expansion. The itinerary speaks volumes.
He's already been to Estonia, which is NATO country on Russia's western border. He was in Georgia and he said on Tuesday, which is firing NATO
country.
Moscow strongly opposes its exertion, Vice President in actions and in words, strongly supporting that. He was visiting troops -- U.S. and
Georgian Troops conduct and joint military exercises there.
And just today in Montenegro, he was congratulating that nation on becoming the newest member of NATO, another move that Moscow strongly oppose. So
you know, at this time of new -- new dispute, some new diplomatic dispute between the two countries, this is a reminder that military tensions also
is the latest, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes. So what's going to happen at this big meeting happening this weekend? The U.S. secretary of state, Mr. Tillerson set to met with
his Russian counterparts, Sergey Lavrov in a meeting Manila. What should we expect from that?
[08:20:00] SEBASTIAN: Well, apparently to talk about that, I think we can expect them to address these retaliated measures that Moscow has taken
against the U.S. and particularly the cut on staff that the diplomatic mission here in Russia will face.
The secretary of state address that for the first time Tuesday, (Inaudible) the ambassador here, a very tough position that it will certainly make that
a live partner.
And of course, these leave a open question, where this relationship stands now, he address that as well, Kristie. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REX TILLERSON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The relationship as you know in Russia continues to be on considerable stress. As I indicated in my first
trip to Moscow and meeting at the Kremlin as President Putin following those meetings, the relationship was at historic flow since the end of the
Cold War and it could get worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEBASTIAN: He is the one to say that it has already got worse and certainly, that would be a topic on the agenda of that meeting.
But aside, Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov have said that they do still want to (Inaudible), they can work together
particularly the fight against terrorism.
So we do expect them to discuss that as well. They are keeping the channels of communication open. We asked the Kremlin today if the two
presidents Trump and Putin, also plan confrontations between the two plan at this relationship. And to the new difficult face, the answer was the
resounding, no.
LU STOUT: All right, Clare Sebastian reporting live from Moscow. Thank you. the U.S. has a new FBI director.
Christopher Wray has been confirmed by the Senate but the numbers show lawmakers and their constituents are more divided than they've been in
decades.
Five Democratic senators voted against raised confirmation on Tuesday, historically lawmakers leaving for broad support across political aisle for
such important nonpartisan nominees.
Only one other U.S. senator has ever voted against the nominee for FBI director in the past was Senator Rand Paul voted against James Comey.
You're watching NEWS STREAM.
Still ahead, right here on the program, condemnation in the midst of a crisis. Venezuela's president faces a backlash after two opposition
leaders were taken to jail. Stay with us for the latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong. Welcome back to watching NEWS STREAM. To Venezuela now, where the government faces
international condemnation over its treatment of two opposition leaders.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro is personally responsible for the safety of Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio
Ledezma, who were taken from house arrest and then thrown into jail.
Venezuela Supreme Court says, intelligence officials claimed the two had been planning to flee but it seems Lopez had suspected that something might
happen. Just take a look at this video film just a few weeks ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[08:25:00] LEOPOLDO LOPEZ, VENEZUELAN POLITICIAN (through a translator): If you are watching this video right now that is precisely what happened
because they came and I got arrested again illegally and unjustly, a prisoner of conscience, a prisoner due to my ideas, a prisoner for wanting
a better Venezuela.
But that's what Venezuela is like. That is the situation of our country. Millions of Venezuelans have been imprisoned.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now let's go straight to Caracas. Leyla Santiago is standing by. Leyla, what have you been able to find out about the condition and the
faith of these two opposition leaders who taken and detained.
LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know they remained detained this morning but government really hadn't said much about them, other than
they -- that they believe they were planning to escape and that they violated the terms of the conditions of their house arrest.
So the family is the one that really is putting out the information that they know and they haven't said much over night.
So still a lot of unanswered questions as far as the condition, as far if they've been able to speak to attorneys if they've been able to see family
but we did here from the family yesterday calling this a dictatorship and echoing, the very words that you heard from President Trump.
Saying if anything happens to them, it will be the responsibility of President Maduro because remember, they were detained over night in the
middle of the night.
You saw Ledezma -- Antonio Ledezma, the former mayor of Caracas in his pajamas when he was taken away. So still a lot of unanswered questions
about their conditions this morning.
LU STOUT: Leyle, the opposition must be so concerned about their condition of these two leaders who are seized, but also, the condition of the
opposition itself because after months and months of nonstop street protest against Nicolas Maduro, he is still in office.
The opposition is under threat, under pressure, what can Venezuela's opposition do now?
SANTIAGO: Well, Kristie, tomorrow the opposition leaders have said that they will take to streets because remember, tomorrow that new assembly will
be (Inaudible) Venezuela's government and so, leaders have already been saying this morning that they plan to take to street.
And they are also really depending on the international community, hoping that by having several government that have spoken out against -- several
government have said we do not recognize this assembly as being legitimate and possible sanctions on top of those that are already in place to come.
They're really hoping that those two things combined might actually make a difference for what they are hoping to accomplish, which is -- have they
said multiple times. They want President Maduro to step down. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Leyla Santiago reporting live from Caracas. Thank you so much and take care. You're watching NEWS STREAM.
And still ahead, explosive claims and a new lawsuit, why an investigator is suing Fox News over its story about the murder of a Democratic National
Committee staffer.
[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM and these are world headlines. Our source tells CNN that Barcelona's star
striker Neymar has told the teammates he is leaving the club. It is fueling speculation that he could be on his way to Paris Saint-Germain in a deal
worth of $256 million.
The U.S. secretary of state says Washington is willing to talk to North Korea if Pyongyang stops its nuclear program. Rex Tillerson insists he was
not pushing for regime change, but U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham says military options are inevitable if North Korea continues its current
weapons development.
The Kremlin says mixed statements are coming from the White House on new sanctions against Russia. The White House says President Trump intends to
sign the bill that congress passed last week, but it is still under review.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Venezuela's president is personally responsible for the safety of two opposition leaders. Leopoldo Lopez and
Antonio Ledezma were taken from house arrest. The men have publicly opposed Sunday's election of a new pro-Maduro assembly.
The White House is denying it had any involvement in a Fox News story that is now at the center of a lawsuit. The suit was filed by an investigator
who is also a Fox News contributor. It alleges the network worked with the White House to push a false story about the murder of the Democratic
National Committee staffer. Brian Stelter has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a possibility this is a guy who provided to WikiLeaks all those DNC e-mails.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A false story peddled by Fox News could have fingerprints that reached all the way to the
White House. A new lawsuit filed in federal court claims Fox concocted a story about the murder of 27-year-old DNC staffer Seth Rich and claims the
White House had oversight.
SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: If it was true that Seth Rich gave WikiLeaks the DNC e-mails, wouldn't that blow the whole Russia collusion narrative
that the media has been pushing out of the water?
STELTER (voice-over): That is part of this pro-Trump conspiracy theory. Rich's family says his death has been exploited by right wing media. At the
center of the story is Ed Butowsky, a wealthy Republican donor. Tuesday's suit filed by Rod Wheeler, a Fox News contributor, claims Butowsky and Fox
were in cahoots, contriving a link between Rich and WikiLeaks. Wheeler worked with Butowsky investigating Rich's death.
ROD WHEELER, LAWSUIT PLAINTIFF: It's very consistent for a person with my experience to begin to think, well, perhaps there were some e-mail
communications between Seth and WikiLeaks.
STELTER (voice-over): Rich's family says that's not true and D.C. police believe his killing was a botched robbery, nothing politically motivated.
But that didn't stop Fox.
JAY SEKULOW, TRUMP'S PERSONAL LAWYER: It sure doesn't look like a robbery. It looks like a murder.
STELTER (voice-over): After days of coverage back in May, the network retracted the story. Now, months later, Wheeler's explosive lawsuit says he
was misquoted, defamed by Fox.
WHEELER: I do believe I was used as a pawn in this entire thing.
STELTER (voice-over): And his suit goes much further, claiming Butowsky coordinated the phony story with the White House.
WHEELER: I think their goal based on the e-mails and the voice mail messages that I got from Ed Butowsky was to debunk this Russian hacking
narrative.
ED BUTOWSKY, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER AND DONOR: This whole idea that something was coordinated with Rod Wheeler, that's absolute nonsense.
STELTER (voice-over): This test message from Butowsky to Wheeler is one of the suit's most eye popping claims. Not to add any more pressure, but the
president just read the article. He wants the article out immediately. It's now all up to you, but don't feel the pressure. Butowsky now says he was
just kidding around.
BUTOWSKY: This was tongue and cheek, talking, just texting, wasn't serious.
STELTER (voice-over): The White House pushing back as well.
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president didn't have knowledge of the story. The White House didn't have any involvement in
the story.
STELTER (voice-over): But there is a link to the White House. Butowsky and Wheeler met with then Press Secretary Sean Spicer a month before the phony
Fox story came out. Butowsky telling CNN that he wanted to present audio to Spicer allegedly linkng Rich to WikiLeaks.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Did he know why you wanted to meet with him?
BUTOWSKY: No.
CUOMO: So, he just took a meeting.
BUTOWKSY: As a matter of fact -- yes, because I said to Sean, I was going to be in town. I had something I want to talk to you about. My conversation
with Sean about this recording lasted about one minute. He said, Ed, I don't know anything about it.
[08:35:00] I don't want to know anything about it. I can't do anything.
STELTER (voice-over): Spicer says it was just a 10-minute courtesy meeting and the White House had nothing to do with his story. But the suit claimed
that Spicer asked to be kept abreast of developments.
As for Fox, it calls the accusation that it published the Seth Rich story to detract from the Russia collusion issue, quote, completely erroneous.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: That was CNN's Brian Stelter, reporting. It seems that a large number of people in the U.K. are willing to pay a steep price for Brexit. A
new YouGov survey shows three out of five Brexit supporters feel about economy is, quote, a price worth paying.
Nearly 40 percent of the "leave" voters are willing to take it personal hit saying, even if they lost their jobs, it's so worth it to leave the E.U.
Meanwhile, 19 percent of "remain" voters are OK with Brexit damaging the economy. They say it will teach the "leave" camp a lesson.
You're watching NEWS STREAM. Still to come, (INAUDIBLE) on camera. Why a wildlife photography competition is fun for photos of the other side of
wild animals. That's story is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back. When you mention wildlife photography, many of us are used to seeing dramatic scenes like this one. A photographer just spent
many days getting that perfect shot.
But the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is calling for the most imperfect side of nature, all to raise awareness for conservation. The
contest is in its third year and I asked founder, Paul Joynson-Hicks, about last year's winner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL JOYNSON-HICKS, FOUNDER, THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS: So, Angela, she is from Oregon, I believe. And she caught this amazing picture,
a series of them, of a fox hunting (INAUDIBLE) to hunt the hamster (INAUDIBLE) whatever it is underneath. Amazing timing and hilarious.
LU STOUT: I know. It's such an amazing absurdist photo. There are these other photos that seem to capture other decisive moments. You know, the
photographer manages to capture two rhinoceroses that seem to share one body. But they are Photoshop at all, right? I mean, that's a strict rule in
this competition.
JOYNSON-HICKS: That's a very strict rule. We have very high-tech digital (INAUDIBLE) to make there is no cheating.
LU STOUT: Are there certain animals that are inherently funnier than others that are just naturally, you know, comically gifted?
JOYNSON-HICKS: You know, we (INAUDIBLE) that when we started the competition. It is found to be primates, you know, because it's sort of
obvious. The action they do is so easy to answer (INAUDIBLE). But as it turns out, our first year's winner was this wild hamster. Our second year's
winner was the fox. So, not really, to be honest. Not really.
LU STOUT: Among the finalists, not the winners, but the finalists, do you have a favorite?
JOYNSON-HICKS: One of the things I love is -- as a wildlife photographer myself, I spent a lot of time in the wild. I love seeing wildlife
(INAUDIBLE) because that is most of the time they are brilliant and they are perfect. So, one of my favorites is Rob's (ph) amazing picture of a
bear
[08:40:00] (INAUDIBLE) hunting a salmon and it smacks in the side of the face. I mean, this is it. Magic moments and a beautiful photograph.
LU STOUT: The photos are beautiful. They are heartwarming. They are hilarious. But at the end of the day, this competition is all about raising
awareness. It is about wildlife conservation, isn't it?
JOYNSON-HICKS: In the media, all our images (INAUDIBLE) are pictures of slaughtered rhinos, slaughtered elephants. You know, a lone polar bear on a
melting icecap. It's very sad.
So, because maybe I'm a positively nice person, I want to try to engage people with this conservation message and say, look, these animals are
funny. They are doing funny things. But let's remember that we need to protect the environment (INAUDIBLE) funny way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Great message from founder and director of the Wildlife Comedy Photography Awards, Paul Joynson-Hicks. Now, the awards is closing in in on
this year's deadline. It is happening at the end of September, so go get ready for another round of nature's blooper reel soon.
That is NEWS STREAM. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. Amanda Davies will have much more on Neymar next on "WORLD SPORT."
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