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Hawaii Braces For Another Volcanic Eruption As New Fissures Open; Israel Boosts Gaza Border Force As U.S. Prepares To Open Jerusalem Embassy; Trump Thanks North Korea Over Nuclear Site; Disgraced Missouri Governor Goes On Trial; Brother Of Parkland School Shooter Speaks Out. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired May 13, 2018 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:00:01] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Eruptions could send projectiles the size of refrigerators shooting out of the crater with little too no warning. Ash could blow up to the 20,000 feet into the raining to buoy (ph) down as far as 12 miles away. And countless families have already evacuated the area and thousands more are anxiously waiting on stand-by preparing to evacuate at any moment. I spoke with one of those residents last hour.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

SCOTT WIGGENS, BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII RESIDENT: What was cool this morning is when I went to walk my dogs about 3:30 this morning, I saw the sky glowing red. And I thought, huh, that must be fissure 16 or 17. Then when I got home, I started hearing explosions, and apparently that was the newest number 18 that opened up.

So from my house, maybe three and a half, four miles from number 18, and it was the loudest-sounding fissure that I've heard in this whole event yet the farthest away from my house. It's important for everyone to understand that all of us residents that have not evacuated, we're ready to leave any time. We have bags packed just in case, so if something does change, we're out of here.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: We've got a team of correspondents, meteorologists and public officials standing by. But let's begin with latest development. CNN's Dianne Gallagher joining me now with more on these new fissures. Tell us what you've learned.

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and Fred, you're talking about the fact that it is several yards long, it's already spewing this lava out tens of feet similar to what we've saw in these fissures on Saturday as well. They're also not in the same location as the ones that we've been tracking earlier this week which leads authorities to ask people if you're not going to leave, at least please pay attention to our warnings.

(BEGIN VIDETOPAE)

GALLAGHER (voice-over): Exploding through the earth. This weekend, three new bends spewing lava up 100 feet into the air like a fountain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the first time in my life scare me to death.

GALLAGHER: The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says an explosive eruption at the Halema'uma'u Crater is possible, one that could shoot rocks and debris the size of refrigerators into the air in any direction, with ash plumes over a 12-mile area. New evacuations ordered as an 18, a fissure opened up Sunday morning with steam and lava spatter activity on the Halekamahina (ph) side of Highway 132.

JOHN DAVIDSION, RESIDENT: The first thing that I noticed was I heard what sounded like a jet turbine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fissure 16.

GALLAGHER: The 16th and 17th fissures erupting Saturday, about a mile from the Puna Geothermal Venture.

DAVIDSON: I didn't want to be here in case 60,000 gallons of some unknown fracking type material decided to ignite and go up.

GALLAGHER: John Davidson evacuated his home on Wednesday before plant employees have finished removing the flammable chemicals. But he returned to check on his property when the new fissures started sizzling and spewing lava Saturday. These fissures far from the series of eruptions, that as you can see through this helicopter footage, ripped through neighborhoods earlier this week, destroying nearly 30 homes, damaging almost 40 more, clouding the air with dangerous gases and fog.

DAVIDSON: It's not like a hurricane where you think, OK, in three days it will be here and go, or a forest fire. This is almost like a slow motion train wreck.

GALLAGHER: With more than 2,000 residents already under a mandatory evacuation order, authorities are warning others to prepare to get now because they can't predict when or where or how powerful Kilauea next eruption will be.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GALLAGHER: Now even those who don't leave immediately in those areas with those fishers are dealing with air quality right now. Fog and other ash that's in the air at this point they're trying to get mask and respirators. Fred, authority says that's not necessarily going to help them. They've been running out in certain neighborhood and communities they're on winward side of the island. But again, authorities say that it's much rather if you feel like your health is in danger, just leave. The respirator is not going to protect you from sulphur dioxide, and so if you have health problems, just leave.

WHITFIELD: And sometimes it's hard for people to understand the potential dangers because they do think traditionally molten lava might move slowly. But this is something that's spewing out of the ground. The velocity, you know, is something that nobody can really predict, and that heat is dangerous.

GALLAGHER: The heat is dangerous, and you know, Fred, I think that we should probably -- people, if you have friends who live on the islands, if they're on Oahu or Kawaihae, they're not in danger, right? We're talking about one portion of the big island, which is very, very big, but people who do live in that area have to be careful they don't get trapped by some of these fissures that are popping up here. It's a case of them being like, you know, overtaken by lava right now, it's a case of just making sure they can get out and it get someone to rescue them if they are trapped.

WHITFIELD: Right, all right. Dianne Gallagher, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

All right, now let's get more the local perspective. Joining me right now is Alan Richmond. He is the Hawaii Police Department spokesperson. Good to see you, Alan. So first off, tell me what it's like for you. What are you thinking about as it pertains to potential danger?

[15:05:14] ALAN RICHMOND, HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: Well, aloha, Fredricka. Nice to be back with you. It is a trying time, to say the least. As you mentioned earlier, 2,000 people have been evacuated in the Puna area, and the latest fissure that opened up this morning is down around that area, in the Kalapana region, so all attempts are being made to protect those people. So far no lives have been lost. Properties have, however, due to the lava eruption and the gases that are down in that area are very dangerous.

So, Hawaii Police Department as well as the National Guard around the scene to help people get in and out as their conditions allow. The biggest picture now, I think, too, is at the summit of Kilauea. I'm about a mile from that region now, and we continue to have earthquakes on the island primarily in that area of magnitude 3.0. So, aftershocks continue and it's unpredictable, but we're waiting to see what happens on the summit of Kilauea as well. So we have it from top to bottom.

WHITFIELD: It's also unpredictable but while there are certain areas that people have been encouraged to evacuate, how concerned are you that those who are choosing not to evacuate? They say they're ready, they got their bags packed, but what the problem be, once it's time to get them or if they need to be rescued, it's going to be difficult to get to them because of the unpredictability of these fissures and this molten lava that's shooting out of the air?

RICHMOND: You're absolutely right, and that's why we're urging residents in that area to listen to the authorities and cooperate and not to wait until it's too late. The same situation can be said for up at the summit, because as that lava lake continues to drop as volcanic activity continues at the bottom to come out in these fissures, the fear there is that it will get the water table and steam will happen and an explosion from the summit will come up and throw debris for who knows how far in miles around that vicinity.

The residents up in that area are also on high alert. Hawaii National Park has been closed since Friday to make sure there is no one in the park that can be in danger. So, everybody is on edge here on the Big Island. It's in a fairly secluded area around the volcano on the windward side. So, you know, we've got our fingers crossed, and we're hoping that it continues to be a situation where we got no casualties and it's anybody's guess what mother nature will do next.

WHITFIELD: And you the others live with a threat from Kilauea all of the time, but is there a way in which you described how this time it's different?

RICHMOND: I think that all of us who live in Hawaii are aware of potential danger that exists. You go for long periods of time when it happens, and you never take it for granted. It's always in the back of your mind. We have over 2 million people a year that come to the Big Island specifically to come up and see volcanoes national park and to visit, and a lot of hiking, a lot of family. But when things like this happen, it does give you pause and you realize, oh my gosh, living on a volcano is dangerous at times.

WHITFIELD: And I'm one of those millions that has visited and is fascinated by it, but this threat is really, you know, palpable. Alan Richmond, mahalo. Appreciate it.

RICHMOND: Mahalo.

WHITFIELD: All right, so could the new fissures indicate a major eruption is imminent. Meteorologist Tom Sater joining me now from the CNN weather center, so Tom, tell us more about really the science behind all of this. It's fascinating.

TOM SATER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It really is, and frightening, too. As he was mentioning our concerns about of a violent eruption are there. It doesn't mean it's going to take place, but the scientist, volcanologists that are monitoring this are telling us all of the elements needed for an eruption, massive eruption are there, it just how will they interact with each other to make it happens.

First and foremost, as mentioned, take a look at all the dots, these are all tremors that we've had. This is around the main crater, 20, 25 miles away on that east rift, we're still seeing a lot of activity, even in the last couple of hours. This is where that latest fissure in the last three, actually, two yesterday and one today, have been firing up and revealing themselves.

So you go the summit and then you got the rift -- the zone here where we're seeing the fissures release not only gas and carbon dioxide releasing pressure, but it's the lava. Where is the lava coming from? It's coming from the main chamber. That's a big deal, because as these fissures release that lava, the lava lake is dropping in that main chamber. There are all the fissures right now and there's no rhyme or reason with this, Fredricka.

[15:10:10] I mean last week we had a couple down in the southwest to the northeast on the same day, but again it tells us that it's trying to relieve pressure. This is looking down into the chamber. Caldera, we call it. That was on April 23rd. Watch out that lava lake drops to the bottom from May 5th. It goes down. If we can continue to see if this continues to go down, our graphics here seem to be kind of failing here, but what happens is the lava, as it's dropping, boulders are falling inside the chamber. It's like packing a cannon.

And when this lava lake drops to the level of the water table, that is the concern. Right now that water table, Fredricka, is at 460 meters and we have seen this drop over 350. So it could create a stream- driven explosion that will blow out all of that debris, which at 1928 -- I mean they were anywhere from eight tons to 14 tons, I mean that's like a semi-truck or trailer and they're blow a mile, mile and a half to two miles. So that is the concern.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Those are big concerns. All right, Tom Sater, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

All right. Still ahead, a U.S. delegation arrived in Jerusalem ahead of the opening of the U.S. embassy there tomorrow. That embassy moved spurring violent protest now across the region. Live in Jerusalem, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:36] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Israel now bracing for thousands more Palestinian at the Gaza border ahead of the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem tomorrow. Meantime this picture is showing Israeli military destroying a Gaza tunnel with an airstrike overnight.

Advisers Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump have arrived to signs up across Jerusalem praising President Trump for moving the embassy there and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It's a controversial move decried by Palestinians and American's key Arab allies.

Let's go straight to Elise Labott, CNN global affairs correspondent. So, Elise, what are you hearing about the security preparations ahead of tomorrow's opening?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, it's not just security here in Jerusalem, and for now the roads leading to that embassy in the Arnona district of Jerusalem have been blocked off. They've been planting American and Israeli flags, and some residents in the area told me the whole area has been closed off for some time today.

But in addition, as you mentioned at the Gaza border, a lot of concern about protesters breaking through the walls between Gaza and Israel, and so Israeli forces have doubled their amount of forces down there. Obviously tomorrow a very important day, not just for the U.S. and Israel, but in terms of the larger regional tensions, a lot of tension right now not just with the Palestinians but Iran. You have Nakba Day, the Palestinian "day of rage" in protest of this move on Tuesday, and then you also have the start of Ramadan, so very kind of combustible period that Israeli security forces are more than preparing for.

WHITFIELD: The U.S. policy is long been the Jerusalem status should be settle through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians with this embassy moved through Jerusalem does it save the world that the United States is taken size rather than, you know, trying to be a fair arbiter in peace talks?

LABOTT: Well to many it does. I mean, look, you know, the Palestinians have not talked to the Israelis or the United States, the Trump administration since this move, and they say that this kind of delegitimizes the U.S. as an honest broker. What both the Trump administration and the Israeli says this is kind of a recognition of what is, you know, long known to be fact, that while the whole idea of the boundaries of Jerusalem are up for negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, some part of Jerusalem will be Israel's capital. Will that be the whole city, will that be the whole municipality? That remains to be seen between the parties.

But what President Trump has said is that he's kind of taking off the table the inevitable, which is that Israel does call Jerusalem its capital. And in fact, today Prime Minister Netanyahu with a kind of celebration in anticipation of tomorrow called on other nations to move their capital to their embassies to Jerusalem.

WHITFIELD: All right, Elise Labott, thank you very much.

All right. The decision to have the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israeli's capital has been heralded by some and decried by others. But what are the actual implications. CNN's Oren Liebermann takes a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPNDENT (voice-over): Israel recently marked its 70th birthday with celebrations and speeches. Among the reasons for the Israeli leaders to celebrate was this.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: We are delighted with President Trump's decision to move the embassy here. It says a simple thing, peace must be based on truth.

LIEBERMANN: But why is this such a big deal? Israel has always seen Jerusalem as its capital city. Why not the rest of the world? A bit of history here. Israel was established in 1948. Jerusalem was a split city between Israel and Jordan for nearly two decades after that, until 1967 Israel occupied East Jerusalem in the West Bank.

When Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, countries pulled their embassies out of the city in protest. That's because East Jerusalem is supposed to be the capital of a future Palestinian state. The U.S., meanwhile, had its embassy in Tel Aviv.

[15:20:02] In 1995, the U.S. passed a law requiring the country to move its embassy Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But every president since then Republican and Democrat has waived the move, citing national security concerns. President Trump promised during his campaign to move the embassy a promise he kept in December.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today we finally acknowledge the obvious, that Jerusalem is Israel's capital. This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality.

LIEBERMANN: So where will the new embassy be located?

(on camera): Right here behind me in what's now the U.S. Office for Consular Services. This is where you come to renew a passport or apply for a visa.

(voice-over): The building itself sits right next to the green line which delineates East and West Jerusalem. It sits firmly in West Jerusalem but an expansion of the building to make it the embassy will require some building no man's land, which is sort of a buffer zone between East and West Jerusalem.

(on camera): It holds very little practical significance in terms of modern day Jerusalem, and yet that zone retains incredible political importance.

(voice-over): The mayor of Jerusalem celebrated the official opening by posting new road signs.

NIR BARKAT, JERUSALEM'S MAYOR: It sends a very, very clear message to Jerusalemites and others the intention and the back and the support Israel has in the sovereignty of the city of Jerusalem.

LIEBERMANN: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more countries were looking to move their embassies to Jerusalem as well. So far only Guatemala and Paraguay committed to taking that step.

Orin Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, still ahead, ahead of his historic sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the president is keeping his rhetoric tone down and actually thanking Kim twice this week. We'll talk about that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:26:20] WHITFIELD: All right, President Trump is entering his final four weeks of preparations for his historic sit-down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the president keeping his rhetoric tone down and actually thanking Kim twice this week, first for being "excellent" to the three U.S. prisoners released from North Korea four days ago, and second this weekend tweet saying "North Korea has announced they will dismantle a nuclear test site this month ahead of the big summit meeting on June 12. Thank you. A very smart and grace gesture."

Let's check in now with CNN White House correspondent Boris Sanchez. Smart and gracious, some pretty strong words coming from the president despite the opposite just a month ago. So, what can you tell us about the preparations?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Fred, yes, we've come a long way since a fire and fury unlike the world has ever seen. President Trump spent much of the day at his golf course, our cameras caught him swinging a way there. He is set to return to the White House any moment now.

We can tell you that his National Security Adviser John Bolton really zeroed in on the President's preparations. This morning on the State of the Union with Jake Tapper, he talked about the president speaking to his advisers and even to other foreign leaders on the subject of North Korea and how to approach North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un notably with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He was actually tweeting about trade with China just a few moments ago, so you can tell that conversation at least part of it still top of mind.

I did want to point out something that CIA director Mike -- or rather new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this morning, on one of the Sunday morning talk shows that was echoed Bolton. This idea that the United States was not going to walk into these negotiations with a rosy picture of the possible outcome of discussions with the North Koreans about denuclearization. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: We've seen this happen before. We have our eyes wide open with the respect to the fact that the North Koreans have not proved a wordy in their promises. But were hopeful that this will be different, that we won't do the traditional model where they do something and we give them a bunch of money, and then both sides walk away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: So Bolton and Pompeo both being very clear that the United States is optimistic, but realistic these denuclearization deals that North Korea has essentially violated before. One quick note, Fred, you mentioned those American prisoners that were released from North Korea on Thursday, they returned to the United States. Today, they were actually able to leave Walter Reed Medical Center so they've been reunited with their families, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, that's very hopeful. All right, Boris Sanchez, thank you so much.

All right, let's get some perspective on these developments in Iran and North Korea, joining me right now, CNN political commentator Tara Setmayer and Andre Bauer. Good to see you both. I want to start with the White House National Security Adviser John Bolton's comments that that I'm quoting now, it's possible there will be secondary sanctions imposed on European companies working with Iran. So, Andre, what's this administration -- what's the signal its trying to send here?

ANDRE BAUER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's trying to be very firm in the fact that, look, we are going to come to some solution here. If you're not going to be part of the solution, there will be repercussions. We need every friend, every person we can to join us in this crusade to try to correct a long-term problem and a safety for the world. And so I think this is a monumental thing for the president, but it's

also monumental for the safety of the world and people are concerned about. This has unbelievable implications we've hoped and prayed before and giving great gestures. Taxpayers' money and heard all the rhetoric, but we haven't got the results that we're finally starting to see a different type of action, and hopefully they'll continue in this matter.

WHITFIELD: And Tara the president, the administration touting that its foreign policy really shaping up here. The president even preparing for this historic summit with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Is there a real shift here in the way in which this administration is operating on the world stage?

TARA SETMAYER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, this is going to be one of those rare times where I actually agree with what the Trump administration is doing foreign policy wise. And obviously, these were part of the president's campaign promises and he's fulfilling them, so his supporters will be happy about that.

But as Republicans, we were very critical of the Iranian deal, because we felt it was a terrible deal for the United States. Even Democrats were not in full agreement of that. Chuck Schumer and others did not support the Iranian deal which is why President Obama went around the Congress and did not get an actual treaty, they just had a deal that could have been dismantled at any point because there wasn't enough support for in Congress.

So, people recognized that there were a lot of problems with the Iran deal. And Europe, they were keen to make this deal because of the financial incentives and investments between European countries and Iran. That was something that was incentivizing for them to do. They're used to the umbrella that the United States provides, the safety and security umbrella the United States provide.

So they were willing to enter into a deal with Iran with all of its flaws, which included nothing able to inspect the military sites, not allowing their ballistic missile programs and move forward untethered. And there was a sunset provision in seven to 10 years where Iran could eventually get a weapon.

So this deal in its current form did nothing to stop Iran from getting a deal. It was a stopgap measure that was not a good one and it released a lot of money for Iran to continue to engage in its terrorist activities across the world and prop up terrorists operations in Iraq, in Syria, and Yemen. So, I agree with the Trump administration's decision to pull out of the Iran deal.

WHITFIELD: And that was actually one of the points the Secretary of State Pompeo actually made today --

SETMAYER: He's right.

WHITFIELD: -- talking about the existing plan, or the Iran deal, you know, provided really made money to help fuel the, you know, the wealth of, you know, of Iran and he claims or at least promises that there's going to be some other kind of plan or alliance that's going to be built to also impart help punish Iran's participation with Hezbollah. We'll see how that comes about.

Meantime, the president did just tweet this about China, saying, "China and the United States are working well together on trade. But past negotiations have been so one sided in favor of China for so many years that it is hard for them to make a deal that benefit both countries. But be cool. It will all work out."

So, Andre, help read between the T-leaves on that one for us.

BAUER: Oh well, you know, if you look at the -- we have had a staggering trade deficit for decades. And those presidents haven't wanted to address it or haven't wanted to do anything that really had any change, and you got a president that finally says, we got a problem and he's going to do something about it.

If you look, Chinese companies are buying up America. And it is because of the trade deficit of over $2 trillions in -- we haven't done anything about. We haven't done anything about the fact of currency manipulation or theft of international property. Something is going to be done to make it more fair.

Look, if you're an American company producing a good or service, you're not looking to get special treatment, but you sure don't want a company in China to have un-level playing field and that's what happened for far too long. And so we've got a president who is willing to take the bull by the horns and take his project head on most frankly, most presidents haven't done in the past.

WHITFIELD: All right, Tara?

SETMAYER: Well, there is some very mixed messages going on here with the Trump administration and China. Donald Trump was very bellicose in his language when it came to this Chinese trade deficit and how there are currency manipulators and all this during the election. But now all of a sudden he's got some kind of bromance going on with Xi Jinping over there in China, which is confusing.

His tweet today talking about supporting -- releasing the penalty against ZTE which is a telecom company that was -- that our intelligence agencies warned about being potentially a national security risk. They could be surveilling Americans through their technology and not to do business with them. And they were also helping in technology with North Korea and Iran. And now, the president of the United States sent this bizarre tweet this morning claiming to -- we're concerned about Chinese jobs and that we should -- the U.S. Commerce Department shouldn't be so harsh in enforcing the penalty on this country.

That does not square whatsoever with his rhetoric in the past about being tough on China. Since when is an America first policy worrying about jobs in China with a company that's been sanctioned by our U.S. Commerce Department. So, I'm not understanding that.

And China is a -- just really quickly, China is a major player in North -- in the North Korea talks.

[15:35:04] What happens with China, they have propped up the North Korean regime for years. They have violated the sanctions that we put on that that's been pressuring North Korea not to do what they supposed to do. So there seems to be some mischief going on here with China's involvement and what the president -- China's involvement with North Korea and this upcoming talks, and the president's relationship here, I don't know if he's trying to butter them up to get what he thinks is leverage.

WHITFIELD: Andre?

SETMAYER: I don't know about that.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And Andre, it sends a very confusing, maybe even hypocritical message when you talk about European countries, you are now asking and looking for some kind of guidance from the U.S. on potential sanctions because of the Iran deal. If they're going to continue with their commitment to the Iran deal, and now the president is saying this asking the Commerce Department to get involved as it pertains to sanction China, North Korea, Iran. So, how do you see it?

BAUER: Well, first and foremost, he needs China to help him with North Korea. And so I think in a short-term game, he says he's headed over there, he's trying to make headway, he's trying to get some real help. China actually has now helped us in this endeavor, and so I think in a short game, he's got to at least show that he's trying to work with them and not be so hard towards them that we aren't trying to have some give and take. And that's part of a marriage.

SETMAYER: Yes. But you have to be careful with that, because the Chinese, they want us to pull out of our military presence in the region. That's what they're going for here, so we need to be careful with that.

WHITFIELD: OK.

SETMAYER: They have violated sanctions to prop up North Korea for a reason. And so, the president in his tweets today, I think we need to make sure that he's not being taken for a ride by the Chinese. They know what they're doing.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. We'll leave it there. Andre Bauer, Tara Setmayer, always good to hear from you. Thanks so much.

BAUER: Happy Mother's Day.

WHITFIELD: And thank you so much. Happy Mom's Day to all the women who are moms in your life, too.

The disgraced governor of Missouri is facing two felony charges, one stemming from an alleged affair. How he is trying to salvage what left of his political career next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [15:41:40] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. He was considered a rising star in the Republican Party, now Missouri Governor Eric Greitens is due in court tomorrow. He's accused of taking a photo of a partially nude female without her consent, among other charges.

CNN's Ryan Young reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After spending months refusing demands from state Democrats and Republicans to resign, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens will start the week in a criminal courtroom hoping to salvage what's left of a political career once considered destined for the national stage.

In January, just one year after becoming governor, Greitens disclosed he had an affair with his hairdresser in 2015. The admission came hours before St. Louis television station released audio of the woman telling her then-husband she had slept with Greitens, a conversation that her husband secretly recorded.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said, I'll make you feel better. I'll make you feel good. Come downstairs. I want to show you how to do a proper pullup. And I knew that he was being sexual and I still let him.

And he used some sort of tape, I don't know what it was, and taped my hands to these rings and then put a blindfold on me. And he stepped back, I saw a flash through the blindfold and he said, you're never going to mention my name, otherwise there will be pictures of me everywhere.

YOUNG: It's that revelation that caused this St. Louis Circuit attorney to charge Greitens with felony invasion of privacy. Greitens admits to the affair but has vehemently denied the charge calling the case a political witch hunt.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Greitens study ethics and public policy at Duke University where he was selected as a Rhode scholar. He became a Navy SEAL in 2002, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. He served four tours, including Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a bronze star and a Purple Heart.

After leaving the Navy, he started a charity for returning service members, telling CNN in 2012 --

GOV. ERIC GREITENS (R), MISSOURI: They put in the money from their disability checks, I contributed my combat pay from Iraq, and we use that to set up the Mission Continues.

YOUNG: In 2014, Fortune magazine called Greitens one of the world's greatest leaders. The following year, he left the Democratic Party to run for governor as a Republican touting his family values during the campaign.

GREITENS: I'm Erin Greitens, I'm a Navy SEAL, I'm a businessman, I am native Missourian. But most importantly, I am a very proud husband and father.

YOUNG: In April, Missouri attorney general, also Republican, presented evidence to the St. Louis Circuit attorney that Greitens may have illegally used his charity's donor list to raise money for his campaign. The prosecutor has since also charged Greitens with felony computer tampering. The governor had denied any wrongdoing.

After Missouri lawmakers recently released a 24-page report on Greitens' alleged misused of a donor list, and new details from the unnamed woman alleging Greitens, violently slapped and spanked her. Missouri lawmakers authorized a special session to consider impeachment.

That schedule start May 18th, around the same time the jury in St. Louis is expected to announce its verdict in the criminal case. But as the trial gets under way, the prosecution has still not said whether it had even found any of the salacious photos Greitens is accused of taking, evidence that will undoubtedly play a huge role in whether or not the Missouri governor is convicted.

Ryan Young, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[15:45:06] WHITFIELD: Next, the brother of the Parkland shooter -- Parkland school rather, shooter, speaking out as he prepares to move out of the state of Florida.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The brother of the Florida school shooting suspect is expressing regret over not being able to prevent the tragedy, and says he's hoping to start a campaign to end bullying and help kids who don't fit in. Eighteen-year-old Zachary Cruz is the younger brother of the teen charged in the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.

[15:50:06] He had no rule in the massacre but has had a few minor run- ins with the law since the shooting. He made those comments as he prepare to move out of the state and get a fresh start.

CNN's Polo Sandoval joins us now with more on this story. Polo?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, Zachary Cruz speaking to reporters today before he left Florida, headed up north to Virginia here. A judge will allow him to essentially wrap up his probation in Virginia so he can start a new life and leave behind the shadow that it was caused by his brother's hideous acts. I saw him today as he was picking up his dog and then heading up to Virginia here.

Again, as you mentioned, Zachary Cruz having no role in the Douglas High School shooting in February. His legal troubles actually have to do with trespassing onto that same campus following the path of the massacre.

As we spoke today in Florida, he did speak about his relationship with his older brother, even described him as a fragile person who was the victim of bullying, often even from his own brother. So what he hopes to accomplish now is to head north and try to focus some of that energy on trying to prevent something like this from happening again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZACHARY CRUZ, BROTHER OF PARKLAND SHOOTING SUSPECT: Because my brother didn't really fit in with a lot of people, and I saw the effects of that, like, firsthand, so, you know, it's a real issue. So I just want to try to change that, and I just want to end bullying because it's so dumb.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Zachary Cruz will be living with a mentor in Virginia. He will have to adhere to weekly counseling, also check-ins with his probation officer. Attorneys for the younger Cruz insist that their client has been treated more harshly because of his brother's crime. So what's happening right now, is this non-profit civil rights advocacy group, Fred, they're the ones who are footing the bill for this relocation. Also, for more of his life because what he hopes to do is essentially leave behind the cloud left by his older brother.

WHITFIELD: All right, Polo Sandoval, thank you so much.

Still, so much more straight ahead in the NEWSROOM. But first, here's a look at tonight's all new episodes of "United Shades of America."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Gullah are fighting to preserve that culture. And like all marginalized groups in America, it is always a fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, people would say to me, boy, you're too Geechee. And the reason why they said that because you need to change -- you know, you came from the plantation, you can't get ahead but we were losing our own culture. To learn about these people that talks funny (INAUDIBLE). So we still carry on those traditions. And if we don't carry it on, it's going to die out.

W. KAMAU BELL, HOST OF "UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA": Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I talk -- we used to talk a long time ago from the plantation. And you know what, I remember it like it was yesterday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I remember like it was yesterday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My joints hurt now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My joints hurt. We wanted to go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are you going?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to the schoolhouse. Walk in the yard. I say, I'm OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No car.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I'm seeing this kid crawling across the yard. A turtle crawling across the yard going down to school, I have seen two of them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Uh-huh.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One was fat like me and one was skinny. That's the language we teach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's what we do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Catch the "United Shades of America" tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:58:00] WHITFIELD: Happy Mother's Day everyone out there, and all of us mothers know that raising children is not an easy job. Perhaps it's the hardest one. But what is it like to raise a child in the White House?

Here's CNN'S Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In addition to all her other challenges, First Lady Melania Trump also has to raise a son at the White House.

MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY: As a mother myself, I know what goes into raising a child.

TAPPER: She's always said she tries to provide as much normalcy as possible, reportedly checking her son's home work and preparing him for school.

M. TRUMP: I like to keep life as normal as possible for my son, Barron.

TAPPER: But as Melania's predecessors learned, it's tough being first mom.

MICHELLE OBAMA, FORMER FIRST LADY: You know, they've got to be able to function as normal people.

TAPPER: Before Melania, the last first lady to raise a boy in the White House was Jackie Kennedy.

JACKIE KENNEDY, FORMER FIRST LADY: It is rather hard with children, there's so little privacy. I don't mind for myself, but I think it's very hard with them.

TAPPER: On the plus side, there's a lot of space for entertaining.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER FIRST LADY: Lots of slumber parties, lots of, you know, special occasion parties here and just all of the time we could, we spent with her friends, up in the second and third floor, which are the personal, private family parts of the house.

TAPPER: And although this first family is used to a lavish lifestyle, growing up amidst 18 acres of history is special.

M. TRUMP: We love to live in Washington.

TAPPER: Former First Lady Laura Bush spoke about the example she tried to provide for her daughters.

LAURA BUSH, FORMER FIRST LADY: I think if we want our children to have healthy lifestyles, we need to show them how to do it so they can really imitate our lives.

TAPPER: And Melania has recently introduced a platform which includes teaching children kindness.

M. TRUMP: And it is our responsibility as adults to educate and remind them, that when they're using their voices, they must choose their words wisely and speak with respect and compassion.

TAPPER: A task no doubt complicated by certain others who don't necessarily help sets standards. In that regard, Happy Mother's Day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Thank you, Jake.

All right, we've got so much ahead of the NEWSROOM. It all starts right now.