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Hala Gorani Tonight
Comey Urges Americans To Break Out Of Bubble & Seek Truth; Mueller Team Preparing For Papadopoulos Sentencing; Kilauea Gushing Lava And Toxic Gas Three Weeks On; Royal Wedding Photographer Talks To CNN; NFL Moves To Stop Kneeling Player Protests; Judge Orders 30-Year-Old To Leave Parents` Home. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired May 23, 2018 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:43]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Live from the CNN Center, I`m Lynda Kinkade sitting in for Hala Gorani.
Tonight, more questions about the U.S./North Korean summit. Donald Trump says we`ll know next week whether or not it`s happening.
Also, ahead, the daughter of a former Russian spy speaking out for the first time since she was poisoned. We`ll bring you the latest.
And capturing the moment. My interview with the man behind Harry and Meghan`s beautiful wedding photos.
We begin tonight with the much-feted summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, now hanging very much in the balance. Just 24 hours after the
U.S. president appeared to dampen down expectations over the summit, the will it/won`t it happen continued.
The U.S. president says he will know next week whether it will happen on June 12th.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We`re going to see what happens. Singapore, we`re going to see. It could happen, it
could very well happen, but whatever it is, we will know next week about Singapore. And if we go, I think it will be a great thing for North Korea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, the confusion is bringing on a new round of frantic diplomacy. We are seeing another big player turn up on Washington, U.S.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, these are live pictures coming in to us just now. He is, of course, meeting with his Chinese counterpart,
certainly a lot to discuss.
It comes just a day after Mr. Trump while sitting next to the South Korean president accused China of meddling in his diplomatic overtures with North
Korea. We`ll talk about that much more.
First, I want to go to Washington, CNN military and diplomatic analyst, John Kirby is there. John, of course, you worked for a few years in the
State Department. You have seen the U.S. deal with North Korea in the past. When it comes to this summit, we know it`s meant to be Singapore,
June 12th. But will it happen? What are your thoughts?
REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY (RETIRED), CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: reporter: I`ve been talking to North Korea experts now for a couple of weeks, Linda, and they all tell me that they still believe the chances
are strong, that this summit will go forward, that what we`re talking here logistics issues and some probably some negotiating at the end, you know,
as we get closer to it. But they feel that it will happen, and I share that optimism.
KINKADE: This, of course, comes Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting with his Chinese counterpart right now, and just a day after President
Trump seemed to blame China for this stall we are seeing with this summit, the changing attitude we are seeing coming from North Korea.
He described President Xi as having the world`s best poker face. Is the U.S. really putting all its card on the table? Has it done enough to
establish a framework leading up to this summit?
KIRBY: I think they have worked this very, very hard, Lynda, I mean, of all the national security issues that this administration has been
grappling with in the first year, I think this is the one they`ve done the best job at.
They have issued a big concession to Kim Jong-un in agreeing to have a sit down with the president of the United States. When they say there is no
concessions, that`s not really honest. They have put a lot of energy in to trying to get us to this point.
I think they were caught on their back foot at the Olympics. I don`t think President Trump and the administration will really prepared for how quickly
North Korean athletes would participate in the Olympics or how fast President Moon Jae-in of South Korea would move this process forward.
But now I think they`re catching their breath and I do think they are putting enough energy and planning into this. Obviously, there are some
hurdles here at the last minute that they`re trying to grapple with, but I like what I`m seeing so far.
KINKADE: We also heard from the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, talk about Donald Trump`s unpredictable behavior and how she thinks that`s
actually helping deal with North Korea. Listen to what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIKKI HALEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: The truth is, I would always use the unpredictability of President Trump to help me get the
sanctions -- so, I would say we have to cut off the laborers, we have to do this. They`d say, no, no, no we can`t do that. We`d say OK, but I can`t
promise you that President Trump won`t use the military.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The only concern with that is, many analysts say that Kim Jong-un is also very unpredictable. So, what happens when you`ve got two leaders
with that similar character trait trying to hammer out a deal that will last?
[15:05:05] KIRBY: I think that Kim Jong-un is actually less unpredictable than Trump is. Talking to Korea experts over the last couple of weeks,
they tell me you can expect Kim Jong-un to be going into this summit if it happens very well prepared, with a very clear sense of what he wants out of
it and what red lines he won`t cross as a result of this summit.
That he will go in this thing ready. So, there won`t be so much unpredictability on his part, and he`s a rational actor. This idea that
he`s sort of crazy and a lunatic, and just will spontaneously misbehave, I don`t see that`s not born out by the evidence.
Trump on the other hand can be unpredictable because that`s how he had success in real estate. What I find really strange about Haley`s comments,
A, if that`s your negotiating tactic to get people to do things you want, why would you say that publicly that that`s what you are saying?
Number two, there is a cavalier approach to the use of military force by this administration that has bothered me for quite some time. It comes
from her, Bolton. I`ve heard it from other too even the president. And the fire and fury stuff that`s not helpful.
And then number three, the outcome here should be a framework for future talks, to get to eventually denuclearization, not essentially
denuclearization as a result. So, they have to go into this with the proper set of expectations.
KINKADE: They certainly do. John Kirby, always great to get your perspective. Thanks so much.
KIRBY: Thank you. My pleasure.
KINKADE: North Korea appears to be moving ahead with that promise to dismantle its nuclear test site. A CNN team will soon be there to show the
world what`s happening. Will Ripley is among the foreign journalists who traveled from Beijing to Wonsan, North Korea. He filed this report before
they left on their second leg of what is a very long journey to Punggyeri.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After more than 24 hours of waiting at this luxury resort for senior North Korean military officials
where our movements have essentially been restricted to these well- manicured gardens, we are now being told that our trip to the North Korean nuclear site at Punggyeri is likely a go.
A plane carrying South Korean journalists arrived here in Wonsan. They are the last-minute addition to this trip. They initially had been denied
visas. There`s also that rhetoric out of Washington, words from John Bolton comparing North Korea to Libya that really angered the North
Koreans, joint military drills in South Korea also escalating tensions here in the Peninsula.
And even President Trump saying there`s a chance the summit with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may not happen on June 12th. But the North
Koreans appear to be moving forward with this trip for a small group of foreign journalists to travel into the nuclear site at Punggyeri.
It`s a very long journey deep into the mountains of North Korea. We`re expecting an 11-hour train ride, at least four hours by bus and then
another hour-long hike to get to this site.
We might be out of communication for a while, but when we come back, we should have some extraordinary images to show you from a place that no
foreign journalist had ever been allowed to visit before. I`m Will Ripley, CNN, Wonsan, North Korea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: (Inaudible) former Russian spy is speaking out for the first time since she and her father were poisoned in a nerve agent attack in the U.K.
Yulia Skripal called her recovery slow and extremely painful. She`s still trying to come terms with what happened.
Our Phil Black has been following this story and joins us now from London. Phil, of course, she spent a couple of weeks in a coma. She seemed to be
looking much better today, although, still undergoing rehab.
PHIL BLACK, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that`s right. She did look well. We saw her walking almost smiling and she spoke
strongly clearly. There was no obvious sign that she`d recently experienced a life-threatening trauma except if you look very closely she
had what appears to be a tracheotomy scar on her throat.
It is likely that that incision is what allowed her to continue breathing during the 20 days that she says she was in a coma. She says she only
learned she`d been poisoned after she woke up. She was shocked to be told that it was because of a nerve agent.
That she believes both she and her father, Sergei, are lucky to have survived what she describes as an attempted assassination. She`s grateful
for the treatment, help, the medial assistance, but as you said, she found it to be invasive, depressing and painful. Take a listen to her now in her
own words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YULIA SKRIPAL, DAUGHTER OF FORMER RUSSIAN SPY (through translator): As I try to come to terms with the devastating changes thrust upon me both
physically and emotionally, I take one day at a time and want to help care for my father until his full recovery.
In the longer term, I hope to return home to my country. I wish to address a couple of issues directly and I`ve chosen to interrupt my rehabilitation
to make this short statement.
I asked that everyone respects the privacy of me and my father. We need time to recover and come to terms with everything that has happened. I`m
grateful for the offers of assistance from the Russian Embassy, but at the moment, I do not wish to avail myself of their services.
Also, I want to reiterate what I said in my earlier statement that no one speaks for me or for my father but ourselves. I would like to thank again
everyone involved in my continued care in this difficult period of my life.
[15:10:05] My priority remains on my recovery and my father`s health. Thank you for your attention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: So, Yulia Skripal was speaking from an undisclosed secret location somewhere in the U.K. She was released from hospital in early April. Her
father left the hospital only last week. There is no word on his location either.
She did not talk about why someone may have wanted them both dead. But we know the British government`s position that it`s highly likely this is a
Russian state operation using a weapons grade nerve agent.
The Russian position we`ve heard from President Putin down is that if this was a nerve agent, a weapons grade one, then there is simply no way they
would be alive today. Russia, of course, denies any involvement in this.
KINKADE: Russia, of course, denying involvement, but saying her appearance today should raise some concern. Why are we hearing from her now? Any
indication as to why she wants to return to her homeland?
BLACK: Well, she`s well enough to talk, that`s the first thing. She asked for privacy, so don`t expect any interviews soon. She did say she wants to
return to her homeland. She didn`t give any other indication other than the fact that it is her homeland, I guess, is where she`s grown up and
lived and where she must have further friends and family.
She said to the Russian Embassy thanks but no thanks to your many repeated offers of assistance. The Russian officials here in London have been
saying repeatedly that they need access to her.
But it`s OK if she doesn`t want their help, but they need to hear it from her and her father preferably directly. Having heard it from her, they`ve
essentially said that`s not good enough.
In a tweet a short time ago, the Russian Embassy said they`re glad to see her looking well, but the video itself, the statement, they say it only
increases their concerns that she could be being held against her will and is only being forced to speak in this way -- Linda.
KINKADE: Yes, they think she might be speaking under duress. All right. Phil Black, good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
Well, it is the last day of campaigning for Ireland`s historic referendum on abortion. Voters are being asked whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment
to the Constitution which says a fetus has an equal right to life as the mother.
A yes vote would open the doors to legislation allowing abortion up to 12 weeks and in later cases in which there is a risk to the mother`s life or
if the fetus is not expected to survive.
A no vote would keep Ireland`s abortions laws as they are, some of the strictest in the European Union. It is a complex issue and as our Atika
Shubert reports, it is one that is dividing the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Canvassing for votes to repeal Ireland`s ban on abortion, but on this
issue, voters in Ireland are deeply divided.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I find is you get people. They`ve had an abortion, the young women so they`re relieved that they can talk about it.
We were almost hit by this guy who said you should be ashamed. You shouldn`t be standing here.
SHUBERT: On May 25th, voters here will choose whether or not to repeal a controversial constitutional amendment that makes it illegal for women to
get an abortion in Ireland. In cities like Dublin, the yes vote to repeal the ban seems to resonate more especially with women hoping for change.
LUCY WALMOUGH, ABORTION RIGHT CAMPAIGNER: When I had my abortion, it wasn`t spoken about. I didn`t know anyone else that had one and now so
many people are speaking out. So many people are standing up for this. It`s such a sea change.
SHUBERT: Her experience as a teenager forced to leave the country to seek an abortion is why she wants to see change.
WALMOUGH: I felt like it was my fault. I felt like I must have done something wrong, I felt dirty because I had to leave, but there was a brief
moment leaving Ireland, looking out the window at Dublin and going, this is wrong.
SHUBERT: But the young female vote cannot be taken for granted. Some like Katie Ascough are determined to keep the abortion ban in place.
KATIE ASCOUGH, SPOKESWOMAN, LOVEBOTH CAMPAIGN: I completely agree that we need to support women better in this country, but I do not think end lives
in the process.
SHUBERT: In rural (inaudible), pro-life campaigners have balloons, pamphlets and a plastic model fetus on display to convince voters to keep
abortion illegal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the baby will survive outside the womb, then both mother and baby are saved. It`s not a wonderful piece of legislation? So,
you would ask yourself why would that have to be removed?
SHUBERT: Campaigners here are targeting more conservative voters but also men, who oppose abortion, and they think are being overlooked in the
national debate.
CARAN TRACEY, CAMPAIGNER: What is the impact of the repeal on the man`s rights? We talk about the woman`s rights and integrity and female
reproductive rights. There is no mention of the male reproductive rights.
SHUBERT: From city streets to country roads, it is a fierce fight to the ballot box. Polls have narrowed, and many voters remain undecided. The
one thing both sides agree on is that no vote can be taken for granted. Atika Shubert, CNN, Dublin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[15:15:13] KINKADE: Still to come tonight, another new prime minister for Italy and this time it is someone with no political experience. We`ll go
live to Rome for more on that.
Plus, this may be part of Hawaii`s landscape for a while to come. We`ll have the latest on the Kilauea Volcano when we come back. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Italy has a new prime minister. He is Giuseppe Conte, a political novice, a law professor, was nominated by two populist
parties. The Five Star Movement and The League. They agreed to a coalition after voters did not return a majority to any single party
following those elections on March 4th.
Let`s go to Rome now for more on this. Barbie Nadeau is joining us live. Barbie, he is the political novice who has been accused of embellishing his
resume. What more can you tell us?
BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, not much actually. Nobody really knows anything about him. His resume was all that spoke for him and then
there were reports that that resume had been inflated and embellished in various ways.
But that seems not to have mattered to the president of Italy, whose job it was to confirm this nomination. Reactions so far have been mixed and it
depends entirely who you ask.
There`s concerns about euro skepticism, anti-immigration, and the Italy first mantra that was heard so often by both of these political parties
during the campaign. We`ll have to wait and see what Mr. Conte or the professor as people are calling him now has in store and what kind of a
leader he`s going to be. He`s untested. He`s a novice and this slate is blank for him -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, he certainly is untested. There is hope from those who support him that he will cut red tape. What else does he stand for?
What`s his platform?
NADEAU: Well, we don`t know what his platform is because he`s not an elected official and therefore he did not actually run for office. But he
did affiliate himself with the Five Star Movement, so we can expect that he does support populist measures.
We`ll know more by who he approves or puts up as his various ministers. There are a lot of names being tossed around. Some of them extremely euro
skeptic especially the head of the Economic Ministry.
And again, the president has to sign off on these and then parliament has to approve all of this. So, there is a little bit -- yet to go in this
path towards actually putting him in office and having him sworn in.
But I think the overall Sense is finally 11 weeks after this election, it was very divisive in this country at least there`s a prime minister, at
least he has a name now.
KINKADE: At least there`s a prime minister, not much experience, don`t know much about him, but I`m sure we will very soon. Barbie Nadeau, good
to have you with us. Thank you.
[15:20:09] The U.S. State Department is now looking into what could be a new sonic attack that word from a U.S. diplomatic official who says this
time it happened in China, but it is similar to what took place in Cuba last year.
While this latest incident involves a U.S. government employee is being investigated, the U.S. Embassy in China has issued a health warning to
citizens currently in China. The Chinese government also says it is investigating the incident.
I want to go now to Beijing. Our Matt Rivers is there standing by. Certainly, very concerning, very mysterious episode. I understand the
American diplomat has suffered some brain damage. What can you tell us?
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This was a very odd afternoon here in China. Most American citizens subscribed to an e-mail
service by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Embassy sent out this health alert talking about one of its government employees, who is based in Southern
China in a massive city called Gwanjo (ph), where the U.S. has a consulate there.
And apparently this employee reported abnormal sensations of sound and pressure from a period starting in late 2017 going all the way to April
2018. That employee went back to the United States and was clinically diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury.
And given all of those symptoms, given the diagnosis, it piqued our interest because of what happened in Cuba last year. There was about two
dozen diplomats and their family members who were affected by similar symptoms and had similar diagnoses in some cases.
The U.S. Department of State has said that there could be some sort of sonic attack involved in that. They also have said that they haven`t
conclusively determined what happened in Cuba. This latest case in China has brought up more questions at this point, Lynda.
So, really just a very kind of confusing situation. The Department of States says that there are similarities between both cases. They`re not
accusing anyone of conducting an attack, but they are certainly concerned and trying it to the bottom of not only what happened in Cuba but now
what`s happened in China.
KINKADE: Yes, major concerns certainly for those officials working where this American diplomat was based. What is China doing about it? They
obviously said they`re launching an investigation.
RIVERS: Yes, actually, just in the last couple of minutes, Foreign Minister Wang Hi of China actually on his way back from a trip from
Argentina stopped in Washington, D.C. speaking alongside Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, in the U.S, right now.
And China actually has said that they have found no evidence of any attack, but they are helping in this investigation. They are going to help the
United States try and figure out what`s going on here.
The United States has said that they alerted their Chinese counterparts and they are receiving assistance. So far, this is one case. It`s one
diplomat. There hasn`t been symptom shown by others, but that`s part of the reason that the U.S. Department of State here sent out that
notification.
They want anyone who had been experiencing symptoms like this to come forward and let them know. So far all we know about is the one case that
has been reported publicly by the embassy here.
KINKADE: All right. Stay across that story for us. Matt Rivers for us in Beijing. Good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
Mark Zuckerberg met the French president, Emmanuel Macron today in Paris. The French president welcomed tech executives to a summit at the Elysee
Palace. Macron and Zuckerberg later held one-on-one talks. Data privacy, fake news and taxes were the main points of discussion. It comes a day
after the Facebook CEO apologized to E.U. lawmakers for the social media`s data leaks.
Progressive women scored big win in a number of U.S. Democratic primaries on Tuesday, including key races in Texas, Kentucky and Georgia. It`s a
sign that in the current political climate, the Democratic base isn`t looking to centrists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUPE VALDEZ, DEMOCRATIC TEXAS GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: Texas is changing. Look around you. This is what Texas looks like. I am constantly hearing this
is going to be such an uphill battle. Please tell me when I didn`t have an uphill battle.
LT. COL. AMY MCGRATH, DEMOCRATIC U.S. CONGRESS CANDIDATE: What happened tonight is amazing. I couldn`t be more honored and more humbled to be
standing here tonight as your nominee.
STACEY ABRAMS, DEMOCRATIC GEORGIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: This is our moment, our chance to lift up Georgia. If we fight, if we push, if we work, we
will win!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: That woman you just heard is Stacey Abrams, who could become the fir black woman to be a governor of Georgia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABRAMS: I think that it`s an important statement that I stand African- American, the first woman.
[11:25:04] but more importantly, I`m a Georgian who understands that I want Latino and the Asia-Pacific islander community, that I want every community
in Georgia to feel that they have a voice in our government. That they have a voice in the future of our state. Our campaign was grounded in the
idea that if we invest in those voices, people will lift them up and they will vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: She is far from shoo-in. Republicans have dominated statewide races in Georgia for more than a decade.
Still to come, a conspiracy theory escalates. It now even has a name. We`ll see what Donald Trump is now saying about spy gate, his unproven
claim that the FBI planted an informant inside his campaign.
And these stunning photos captured the joy at last Saturday`s royal wedding. Coming up, I speak to the man behind the lens.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Donald Trump is escalating his conspiracy theory about an FBI spy being planted in his campaign, effectively changing
headlines from the Russia investigation to the investigators themselves.
Now, he began the day by firing off tweets slamming the FBI``s use of a confidential informant as it looked into his associates` ties with Russia.
On his orders, tomorrow the Justice Department will share classified information on the informant with Republican lawmakers. Mr. Trump said it
could be one of the biggest political scandals ever.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: All you he to do is look at the basics and you`ll see. It looks like a very serious event.
But we`ll find out. When they look at the documents, I think people are going to see a lot of bad thing happened. I hope it`s not so. Because if
it is, there`s never been anything like it in the history of our country. If you look at Clapper, he sort of admitted that they had spies in the
campaign yesterday inadvertently. I hope it`s not true, but it looks like it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Let`s go live to Washington now. We are joined by White House reporter, Stephen Collinson. Stephen, good to have you with us. He
continues to push this narrative of spygate, saying that it could be one of the biggest scandals in political history.
And he`s organized this meeting tomorrow with the Justice Department, but he is excluding the Democrats. They`re essentially being left in the dark
despite the fact that he`s calling for transparency.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That`s right. There won`t be any Democrats in that meeting. Democratic leaders are basically demanding
a meeting with the president and the Justice Department and the top two leaders of each side in Congress to try and sort this out.
But Democrats will tell you that this is a pattern. They believe there has been collusion between Republicans on Capitol Hill whose job as lawmakers
nominally is to hold the presidency, another branch of U.S. government to account, and the White House all through this investigation into whether
there was cooperation between people and Donald Trump`s campaign and Russia that is designed to completely fog and discredit the special counsel
investigation of Robert Mueller. So they say this is not anything new. I think what it does is show us just how partisan and how poisonous this
whole issue has become. And it makes it less likely that people who support the president are going to be convinced by whatever Mueller comes
out with at the end of his investigation.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Stephen, the FBI`s use of informants is, of course, not unusual. And the fired FBI director, James
Comey has underscored that point today on Twitter, saying that the practice is tightly regulated and quote, "essential to protecting the country." And
he went on to deliver a powerful warning to Americans, calling this a dangerous time when our country is led by those who will lie about anything
and backed by those who will believe anything based on information from media sources that will say anything. Americans must break out of that
bubble truth. He went on, of course, to say, what are Republicans going to say to their grandchildren? Of course, Donald Trump very quick to try to
discredit James Comey.
COLLINSON: Right. And this is what`s so interesting about this. What we`re seeing is the president picking up a conspiracy theory from
conservative media and using it to attack his own justice department. He`s saying that there is a criminal deep state that is operating essentially to
oust him from power and this is a holdover from the Obama administration and certain people of what he calls this deep state, still see a position
intelligence agencies and the justice department. You know, the barrier for outrage and surprise in the Trump administration has become pretty low.
But this is a president of the United States that is doing this that`s undermining the judicial and political institutions of his own country on
something that we know is not the case. And that`s why people like Comey, other former senior intelligence officials, Michael Hayden, for example,
James Clapper are also sort of standing up and warning about what is taking place. But I guess back to that point I was making about polarization, the
president has spent over a year since he fired James Comey trying to discredit him and the evidence that he`s already given to special counsel
Robert Mueller. So it seems unlikely that anything that Comey said in this sort of torrent of bitter partisanship is really going to convince anybody
that believes Donald Trump, you know, that he has a good point to make.
KINKADE: And, of course, meanwhile, this Russian probe continues. And we`ve heard that the special counsel, Robert Mueller and his team have now
approached the courts and so can move forward with sentencing former White House aide George Papadopoulos. How serious is that? And how much jail
time could he potentially face?
COLLINSON: Well, Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign right at the beginning in 2015 and 2016. And he was drawn
into the whole Russia investigation after he was talking about this on Australian -- about Russian attempts to influence the investigation, the
campaign with an Australian diplomat in London. So what he did is he reached the plea deal to cooperate with the special counsel. The fact that
now the special counsel is ready for him to be sentenced suggests that his cooperation, what he`s told the investigation is at an end. That might
suggest that Mueller is getting towards closer to the end of his investigation than the beginning. It`s difficult to really read too much
into that.
And the fact that he did cooperate probably means that he wouldn`t be getting the maximum sentence that he could expect for lying to the FBI.
But it`s still possible that he could get some jail time.
KINKADE: All right. Stephen Collinson for us in Washington. Good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
Well, Hawaii officials say they`re taking it day by day as they don`t really know how long the Kilauea volcano could erupt. But they say it
could continue for the long haul. A main priority is protecting a geothermal plant from encroaching lava. If the lava gets in the well
there, it could cause explosions or release toxic fumes. Now, the wells are being filled with cold water to try and prevent that. And then so far
operators say the facility is safe.
Well, let`s go to our Stephanie Elam in Hawaii for the latest. And Stephanie, I understand you`ve just returned from Leilani Estates, one of
the most affected areas. What`s it like there?
[15:35:12] STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It`s somewhat surreal, Lynda, when you take look at it. We were in there maybe about a week ago
and then just that time, there`s cracks all throughout many of the roads inside the Leilani Estates. And what`s interesting is that all the roads
are evenly paved, really smooth roads in there. So it`s very jarring to see when the road goes along and then all of a sudden there`s a series of
cracks. And then in some places, it opens up into these massive crevices that are there. And we`re talking to one resident and she keeps watching
them because they`re creeping closer and closer to her property. A lot of residents have told us that first thing they saw before this eruption begun
were those cracks in the road and then it became steam, and then after the steam which became thicker and more opaque and more white then they started
to see the lave.
This one resident has this massive crevice that has opened up on her street just past her house. And then behind her one acre lot lava started
percolating up over the last couple of days and oozing onto the street behind her. She could see the glow from her home. She`s watching all of
this that`s happening. She`s out there at might. She goes in several times a day to watch this. But she says every time she goes in, there`s
something new, there`s a new development, including around those fissures where the gases are coming up. All the trees there, all the plants there
now that less green that you think of and you associate with Hawaii, all of that has now turned to a sickly yellow brown, Lynda.
KINKADE: Wow. And, Stephanie, it seems most people have been pretty good about evacuating. But I know one man decided to stay and protect his home
with a garden hose and a fire extinguisher and it didn`t end so well for him.
ELAM: Yes. And there is where this man`s house is in particular, there`s a cone there that is very active and it is very thunderous. I`ve watched
it for several days now, the way it shoots rocks and lava out and it`s built up a mound around it. Well, he was there watching his house. He`s
seen house some of it, it was damaging his house, coming in his house. But one of those lava bombs actually did hit him in the leg. Take a listen to
him talking about what has happened to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DARRYL CLINTON, INJURED BY LAVA BOMB: It was the most forceful impact I`ve ever had in my body in my life. And I`ve been hit by big waves and various
things. That was just incredibly powerful and hot. It burnt. The doctors did an amazing job. I can`t believe they could put it back together. I
thought I was -- I just wanted to live. I didn`t care if they cut my leg off down there or not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: Amazingly, he is expected to be able to walk again. But those homes that are on that side of this area, a lot of them because that cone is so
loud and it produces such loud booms and sometimes it sounds like a jet taking off, sometimes it sounds like a cannon. Because of that, it
actually has shattered some of the windows in the houses over there. That`s how strong it is. So think about that force and being able to throw
a rock up into the air that weighs a lot and then fiery and then landing on you. It`s just -- it`s miraculous that he`s not more hurt and it`s
miraculous that more people haven`t been hurt, honestly, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes. It really is quite extraordinary. Stephanie Elam, good to have you on the story. Thanks so much.
Well, you can keep tabs on Hawaii`s Kilauea volcano in real time 24/7 via cnn.com`s live cam and blog. As you`ve seen, the pictures are really
incredible.
Well, still to come tonight, capturing the moment. My interview with the man behind Harry and Meghan`s exquisite wedding photos.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:40:04] KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, it was the wedding of the year and a polish prince captured it on camera. Earlier, I spoke to the
official royal wedding photographer, Alexi Lubomirski, about the ceremony and spending time with the royal couple. I started by asking him what it
was like to be asked to photograph such an enormous event.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI, ROYAL WEDDING OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: It was daunting and amazing and wonderful. It all came about really -- I took the engagement
pictures of the couple. And that all came about very bizarrely. I was actually in England pacing around a hospital while my mother was undergoing
a 10-hour operation to remove a brain tumor. After 10 hours, we were waiting for the phone call from the doctor to see whether my mother had
made it because he was saying it`s 50-50. And the phone rang and we all pounced on it. And this voice said hello, there Alexi. This is Kensington
Palace calling. I thought it was my friend pranking me at first. So I was about to use some rather blue language on him. And it turned out it was
the palace. And they asked if I would be interested in doing a project with the couple. So obviously when my mother woke up to an hour later,
this was very good tonic for her to get better. And in two days` time, I went to see the couple and we talked about how I would approach the shoot
if I was to get the job. And as we were talking, I was, you know, explaining some ideas and saying I want it to be natural and organic. And
as I was talking, they were just the cutest couple sitting next to each other on the sofa. They were constantly sort of just knocking each other
and holding each other`s hands.
And so I said, listen, this is exactly what I want. You guys are adorable right now. You`re so cute. If you just let me take my camera and follow
you around the gardens and you just be you, I`ll just be that weird person following you with the camera.
KINKADE: You managed to really capture some very intimate moment what seemed to be very intimate moments, both in the engagement photos, but the
wedding photos and the one that really caught my eye was the two of them on the steps wrapped in each other`s arms laughing. Do you remember what they
were laughing about?
LUBOMIRSKI: I think it was just a mixture of relief and happiness and elation. We had already done the large setup pictures like of the whole
family and the bridesmaids pictures and a few other setups. And we had gone then to the reception after the wedding. And then the promise was if
they had energy and time, we would be able to go out to into the rose garden and take some intimate pictures. I think we had maybe three and a
half minutes to do something.
KINKADE: Wow. That`s a sign of a good photographer to capture that in such a short amount of time.
LUBOMIRSKI: Look at the ingredients and you realize that it was -- it was such a blessing of a job, because as you walk into the rose garden, the sun
is setting over the back of Windsor castle which is my background. You have this incredible light, you have this couple who are in love in their
wedding attire. And it`s just that all the ingredients to that and all you have to do is press the button.
KINKADE: A lot of pressure on them throughout the day. A lot of attention on them. Did you see any nerves? What sort of insight can you give us?
LUBOMIRSKI: My wife and I noticed when we were sitting in the chapel that in the chapel, you felt like it was a very intimate English wedding. I say
English because of all the hats. But it was -- you just felt like it was a very intimate setting and it was only when you sort of raise your eyes
above all these hats that you suddenly saw the cameras that sort of surveying everybody. And then you realized that it wasn`t just you, few
hundred people. It was billions of people watching. So in tune with each other and I think they`re going to -- they always spoke about their
interest, how they -- their commons goals about sort of doing good and using their platforms for good. And I think that they have such a sort of
drive and a direction together.
KINKADE: They certainly seem to share the same interest you do in terms of your charity work and the platform you have. And you speak a lot about
wanting diversity in your work and diversity on the front covers of magazines and you`ve shot for all the biggest magazines in the world. How
do you think Meghan might change that going forward?
[15:45:15] LUBOMIRSKI: I think it`s going to be huge. It`s just another wonderful factor in this movement towards a better world, I think
(INAUDIBLE) called diverse beauty, because I was frustrated about how every magazine would not let me shoot dark skinned models for the majority of the
stories. And so I did this book as a way to show people that you could have different ethnicities, different skin colors, different religions and
you could still do incredibly inspirational aspirational images and fashion images. And I think with Meghan and the position that she`s in, it`s just
another fantastic reminder and a wakeup to everybody that, you know, we are all one people and that it`s a fantastic breath of fresh air to the English
royal family. I think it`s just evolves them one step further. They`re moving with the time which is great. And, yes, it`s wonderful.
KINKADE: You, of course, have shot both with animals and, of course, children. A lot photographers told don`t shoot with either. It`s hard
work. But also the royal children, 10 kids under the age of eight for that beautiful bridal shot. How did you bribe them to all look at the camera
and smile at the same time?
LUBOMIRSKI: When I was setting up the shot, I moved the queen and Prince Philip into their chairs. And as I was doing that, I could hear the hustle
bustle behind me of all the kids coming in. And I overheard one of the -- maybe it was the nanny or it could be anybody and I overheard the word
Smartie (ph) and Smartie is an English candy which is very much like an M&Ms, tiny chocolate things.
KINKADE: I like smarties.
LUBOMIRSKI: And I overheard the word Smartie and all of a sudden the kid were quiet. And then I heard this lady said who is going to have one
Smartie? And we heard, me, me, me, me. You can have two Smarties. So as soon as all the kids came on, I`m actually got a few shots of them first
because they were sort of amused by what`s going on and they were just till. But as soon as attention spans started to wane, I used the smarties
trick. And I said -- I heard, who likes Smarties? And everybody raised their hands and also there were big smiles. So that was the shot.
KINKADE: That was the trick. The Smarties. Candy works every time, right?
LUBOMIRSKI: Apparently so. At least for me it does.
KINKADE: Will there be an ongoing relationship then? Will we see you photograph their child perhaps, their first child?
LUBOMIRSKI: No idea. I mean, to be honest, I was more than happy with just having shot to royal engagement pictures. So I was never expecting
the call. That was already the highlights of my career. So, now I`ve just had two highlights in six months. So I`m just a happy chap right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: An absolute pleasure interviewing the royal wedding photographer. And you can see more of that interview online.
Still to come, the NFL rules will be no more in terms of kneeling protests during the U.S. national anthem. A decision likely to go down well with
President Trump. We`re going to take a closer look at that rule change, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. NFL players who kneel for the national anthem look set to be a thing of the past. At the annual owners` meeting in Atlanta on
Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, announced that all players on the field will be required to stand for the anthem. Since 2016, a number
of players have taken a knee to protest racial injustice in the United States.
[15:50:12] Well, retired NFL player, Ephraim Salaam has been following it all from Los Angeles and joins us now live. Good to have you with us.
EPHRAIM SALAAM, RETIRED NFL PLAYER: Good to be with you.
KINKADE: We covered this story a lot last year when we saw players take a knee during the national anthem to protest racial inequality in the U.S.
The NFL wanted to crack down on it. Just explain what they decided today.
SALAAM: Well, they decided to side on the side of intolerance and ignorance in terms of levying fines to players who want to voice their
concern about what`s going on in their community. Along the way, when Colin Kaepernick started this protest in 2016, the narrative has shifted.
And Donald Trump shifted the narrative last year when he called them SOBs and fire them, get them off the field if they disrespect the flag. It`s
never been about disrespecting the flag. As a matter of fact, Colin Kaepernick, who originally was sitting down during the national anthem
sought the counsel of other veterans and some of the players who were also military veterans. And they told him, hey, sitting down is a form of
disrespect, but if you take a knee, that is not a form of disrespect to the country or the flag.
And so the fact that we`ve shifted the narrative to the players taking a knee, in protest of what`s happened in their communities, I mean, the
president`s agenda, he won. Because it`s not about being disrespectful. Nowhere in the guidelines of the flag -- the flag code is what it`s called
-- does it say taking a knee is being disrespectful to the flag or to the country. So the fact that we`re being inundated with that narrative and
not really paying attention to what the actual protest was about, I think it`s a shame. And I think the NFL caved when you talk about a bunch of
billionaires coming up with rules to benefit them and further called division with their players.
KINKADE: So you think it misses the point of this protest. In terms of the penalties that will be applied, basically they`re saying today, anyone
that wants to protest during the national anthem has to stay in the locker room. What happens if they do it on the field? What happens if they take
a knee?
SALAAM: It`ll be a fine. They`ll have to pay a fine, whatever monetary fine that they deemed worthy of this. So basically either do what we say
or we`re going to take your money. now, if they would say something like, we`ll fine you but that money is going to go whatever organization you feel
worthy to help complete the narrative of what you guys are trying to get across, then that still wouldn`t be right, but that would at least make a
little more sense than the fact that we`re going to take your money. If you stand or kneel and have a voice against what you deem is worthy and
what`s happening in the society.
KINKADE: What sort of backlash do you think we will see from those players like Colin Kaepernick who have taken in the protest during the last 12
months?
SALAAM: Well, he can`t find a job in the NFL. Other players who are good, young, talented players who deserve a shot at playing this game and they`ve
been -- we don`t want to call it blackballed. They`ve been white balled out of the league. And I think that`s a message that players are getting
loud and clear. You`ve got to remember. This is a lifelong dream for these players. It was for me. I played 13 years in the NFL, had a
wonderful time. But the fact to the matter is, if you snatch someone`s dream away from them because you don`t agree with what they`re doing or
their statement politically, nothing violent or anything like that, this is a peaceful protest, it`s a statement of your personal expression, then
that`s collusion on the part of the owners and the part of the teams and that`s not legal. It`s not legal. And I think these players are being
railroaded into doing what these owners want when it doesn`t even have to be like this. How can you implement rule or come up with rules and you
don`t even talk to the people that the rules are going to affect? Players weren`t involved in that meeting. The NFL PA wasn`t involved in that
meeting. It`s just a group of guys in a room. They come up with a plan to help their bottom line and then they implement it on the players. And I
don`t think that`s right. I think it`s divisive.
KINKADE: It sounds that way. Well this is certainly is a case, an issue that will not go away and we will stay on this story. Ephraim Salaam, good
to have you with us tonight. Thank you so much.
SALAAM: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, 30 years, five notices and a court case is what it took for one New York man to move out of his parent`s home. Finally, 30-year-old,
Michael Rotondo has been ordered to leave a home by a judge. His parents turned to the courts after he refused to move out despite a series of
notices and even offers of cash from his parents. He had been living there rent free for eight years. Only Rotondo told CNN he needed more time to
move on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[15:55:12] MICHAEL ROTONDO, EVICTED FROM PARENTS` HOUSE: I would consider much of what they were doing to try to get me out as attacks. And what I
was trying to preserve -- well, trying to do what`s best for me, which is just, you know, let`s try to be a little more reasonable and I`ll leave. I
don`t like living here, but I need reasonable time. As an example of this, the first notice that I received February 2nd notice was basically you have
14 days before you`re outside in the winter weather. So the first thing I did when I got that was I tried -- I made sure that that wasn`t going to
happen. I contacted the police department. I said, is this something that this could happen? And they`re like, no. You just call us. They can`t do
that. I said -- I was like all right.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: I`m listening to you, I really am. But let me just understand, because I hear you on your parents giving you notices.
The fact that you were on national television talking about moving out of your parents` house, you tell me you want to move out of your parents`
house. Why don`t you just move out of your parents` house like tomorrow?
ROTONDO: I don`t have the means to do that tomorrow.
BALDWIN: OK.
BALDWIN: Do you have a job?
ROTONDO: No.
BALDWIN: Are you trying to get a job? Because I read that one of the things your parents asked of you -- there were jobs available, even for
those with a poor work history like you. Get one. You have to work. Are you working on that?
ROTONDO: I have -- I have plans to be able to provide myself with the income I need to support myself. But it`s not something that`s going to
come together tomorrow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, we are going to leave it there for tonight. Thanks so much for joining us. I`m Lynda Kinkade. Stay with CNN. We have "QUEST MEANS
BUSINESS" coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:00:57] RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Closing bell ringing on Wall Street. T. Boone Pickens, who of course is retiring, ringing the
closing. What a very popular way to end the market. It`s just down a tag or two. That`s closing the bell. One, two, three, yes.
END
END
