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Mueller Indicts 12 Russian Intelligence Officer for DNC Hacking; Police Find Source of Novichok Nerve Agent That Killed British Woman; Trump Visits Queen amid Protests in London. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired July 13, 2018 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:01] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: She even met President Harry S. Truman when she was Princess in 1951. So, the arrival of the U.S. President to Windsor Castle, this will be a -- an appointment for tea for the President and first lady will join her majesty at the Castle.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN ANCHOR: I honestly would love to be on a fly on this particular wall. I mean, there are many occasions where I'd loved to be but this one particularly. Because this is a visit that's being loudly requested by the President of the United States obviously, we're not out of lines saying the he is very controversial figure.
And I would be so interested to know whether or what she made of the splash across the sun today in a very unprecedented, undiplomatic way to refer to your host, the Prime Minister as the way he did. He's obviously walked that all back in his press conference.
But it is a breach of protocol. The Queen has lived by the highest standards of protocol her whole reign.
ANDERSON: Let's just pause for moment in listen in to what we're seeing here.
Well a smile from Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President then Melania Trump now standing for what will be -- the National Anthem played by the Coldstream Guards.
Windsor Castle just after 5:00 in the afternoon, here, it's a beautiful afternoon in this part of the country in the United Kingdom. These are the Coldstream Guards. And this is the Guard of Honour formed for the arrival of the U.S. President.
We've just heard the U.S. National Anthem and the Queen and Mr. Trump will now inspect Guard of Honour before watching the military march pass. And we are aware, it is no secrets that this was to be one of the -- if not, the highlight of the U.S. President's trip here to the United Kingdom.
AMANPOUR: I wonder what she just said the Queen to Melania either you stay here and wait for us or see you on a second.
JOHN PRIDEAUX, THE ECONOMIST POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You think back about all the planning that took place. Remember, whether the trip was going to happen, right, what audience should we get with the Queen, and where we are today. It's been quiet a shift that something I'm sure he's very happy about at this very moment at 5:00 in the afternoon here in the U.K.
AMANPOUR: At the seen of real sort of whiplash kind of 24 hours because you've had not just the script which began so controversially this morning with this blaring headline, this incredible interview where he seemed to be and was in fact discing point of a better world. The Prime Minister of this country, a KTT Ally not quiet sure whether they've been, there we go. And John --
ANDERSON: He's done this before Christiane?
AMANPOUR: She has, yes.
ANDERSON: Because she's giving him a little bit of advice just --
[12:05:00] PRIDEAUX: I love how he look over his shoulder and looking for her there --
AMANPOUR: That argue.
ANDERSON: And there you're absolutely right. This is being quite the roller coaster haven't he?
AMANPOUR: He had because you've had all these set pieces, this beautiful gala dinner at Blenheim, all the business leaders, the prime minister. Again, you had a wonderful Honour Guard up there. Then you had Chequers and you had the formal meeting.
ANDERSON: I think interestingly, this has been a schedule that as you say the planning has been -- to ensure that Donald Trump is certainly is kept out of London for most of this whether this process have been.
But, if you think about it, the headlines have been made by his disruptive behavior or his disruptive talk. It wasn't anything to do with the schedule that has made this as sort of bloody odd trip. It's been what he said, which I guess, many people will say well, he's not his style.
PRIDEAUX: Right. If his unpredictability of course. See, when and many different directions only because of the interviews, everything around him, the apparatus, the schedule was very tight. I think it was the interviewed that kind of change the tone and his attitude and NATO as well Becky.
ANDERSON: I'm just keeping an eye on Twitter here because one and firstly, we know how much he enjoys Twitter. It will be interesting to see whether he breaks phrase going on. He tweets about this meeting afterwards because that would just be not done as it were. But, as I watch these images, I'm looking and coming up from here. So, just seem these all slightly so real.
I'm watching Trump says one, pass on Twitter, arrived for tea with the Queen with full British pump (ph) circumstance as the Deputy Attorney General in the U.S. gets ready to make an announcement. Now announcement could be about new indictments at home that will not be something that Donald Trump would want to hear as he enjoyed his last hour of his trips to the U.K.
AMANPOUR: And, of course, he's due to Mueller investigation and he is called that a witch-hunt, he has used that word to met terminology again today. And don't let us forget that he is on his way after this to Helsinki to meet with President Putin. So, if indeed that is what we expect, if that is what transpires in Washington, it will --
ANDERSON: And we get (INAUDIBLE) yet.
AMANPOUR: -- we don't know but, if it does, it will be a fairly significant power play before going into this meeting with Vladimir Putin. It'll be very interesting dynamic to go into a meeting, if indeed, there is another search.
ANDERSON: Christiane, I had conversation in a number of people say about that meeting with Vladimir Putin. As we look at this pics in the Windsor Castle. Will now expect to see the U.S. President his wife and Queen Elizabeth II after this Guard of Honour, they will lightly disappear into Windsor Castle where they will take tea. Well then see Marine One bringing the U.S. couple back to London.
How about number of conversations with people today about this next league, Helsinki and his one on one with President Putin and many people suggesting Christiane. John weigh in here as well that Putin has absolutely nothing to lose in this meeting. Trump, however, dove.
AMANPOUR: Yes. I mean, look, it's a very, very tricky time. He did say today and that's going to be important because everybody was worried about what would happen if there was a disrupted NATO Summit before he went in to this very important meeting with Putin because Putin rest on better (ph) and his strategy is to disunite the alliance and to drive wages between them.
And for the Russian perspective, Donald Trump is a gift because that's what he has been doing, shaking things up. But, he said very clearly with Prime Minister May today, that the day going unified and strong. Whether he believes it or not, he said it. And that we abide by NATO Allies of paying up and we're getting more money and I go to this meeting very strong, very unified. So, that's important.
PRIDEAUX: Couple of questions to bring on the Helsinki meeting though is that, on the energy front, once again, when he wrapped up the press conference with Theresa May, he said that, Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a tragedy. So, he's sitting down with the man who built that pipeline to bring gas into Europe. And he's saying, this is a raw deal because he wants to get the U.S. Shell and LNG producers into Europe right now, that's the strategy.
The bigger picture which we know it's setting in the Middle East normally is the role that Donald Trump has in discussions with Vladimir Putin on Syria, some think behind the scenes he's trying to work on the grand deal on Syria as well. AMANPOUR: Which is a deal that people think he doesn't have legs. It's what people have reported is that, he would agree to keep aside (ph) in power and return for Russia trying to get, well, agreeing to get Iran out of Syria but Russia does not have the power. So, there is very -- it's very confusing actually, the agenda that he maybe taking.
So now, they've move from the owner part of this from the pump. And they're going into Windsor Castle and let's not forget the Windsor Castle obviously historic. But, recently, in the news and splash all over the world as the site of the royal wedding, between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and it is a simply magnificent, magnificent place in Windsor itself as a beautiful little town.
[12:10:03] ANDERSON: Let's pause for a moving there and while we just watch this U.S. couple and Queen Elizabeth for disappearing to Windsor Castle is built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
Christiane you're right. Windsor (ph) is the largest occupied castle. It's being a home to 39 monarchs. And Queen Elizabeth, we are told; spend most weekends for Queen Victoria opening the state department's republic in 1848. And with King George IV who gave Windsor's famous skyline almost doubling the height of the castle of iconic round talent we saw early on today in the 1820s.
AMANPOUR: And several years ago, you remember, there was a devastating fire and it has threatened the whole castle.
ANDERSON: I think (inaudible) of 1992, years ago now actually.
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: Yes.
ANDERSON: With 25 years ago, it seems like yesterday, they are right to more than. I mean, and then the Queen describing it that year as honest (Inaudible).
AMANPOUR: And I would say that this whole visit comes at the time when the monarchy has really being reenergized. This is something special about the British monarchy right now. Her longevity on the throne, the popularity of the Queen, the whole popularity and renown of the series to crown on Netflix, the royal wedding.
ANDERSON: And the role that be that the youngster are now taking in what maybe -- will be post E.U. and we don't know about what that will look like but the role they will play in organizing -- or efforts would this commonwealth and --
PRIDEAUX: In transition that Queen Elizabeth and the modernization of the monarchy with the new generation and I think the wedding played well.
ANDERSON: She's on the throne.
AMANPOURT: And I do think it's important to know, she's over 90. She's not going to have many more of these royal visit, this -- she doesn't travel abroad anymore. She is now hosting people over here. It's important that the President of the United States is here right now.
ANDERSON: Right. Let me just stop you there. The Deputy Attorney General is speaking in Washington fascinating. Let's listen to him.
ROD ROSENSTEIN, U.S. DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: Eleven of the defendants are charged with conspiring to hack into computers, steal documents, and release those documents with the intent to interfere in the election.
One of those defendants and 12 Russian military officers are charged with conspiring to infiltrate computers of organizations involved in administering elections, including state boards of election, secretaries of state, and companies that supply software used to administer elections.
According to the allegations in the indictment, the defendants worked for two units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff, known as the GRU. The units engaged in active cyber operations to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. There was one unit that engaged in active cyber operations by stealing information and a different unit that was responsible for disseminating the stolen information.
The defendants used two techniques to steal information. First, they used a scam known as spear phishing, which involves sending misleading e-mail messages and tricking users into disclosing their passwords and security information. Second, the defendants hacked into computer networks and installed malicious software that allowed them to spy on users and capture keystrokes, take screenshots, and exfiltrate (ph) or remove, data from those computers.
The defendants accessed the e-mail accounts of volunteers and employees of a U.S. presidential campaign, including the campaign chairman, starting in March of 2016. They also hacked into the computer networks of a congressional campaign committee and a national political committee. The defendants covertly monitored the computers, implanted hundreds of files containing malicious computer code, and stole e-mails and other documents.
The conspirators created fictitious online personas, including "DCLeaks" and "Guccifer 2.0." And they used those personas to release information including thousands of stolen e-mails and other documents, beginning in June 2016. The defendants falsely claimed that DCLeaks was a group of American hackers and that Guccifer 2.0 was a lone Romanian hacker. In fact, both were created and controlled by the Russian GRU.
In addition to releasing documents directly to the public, the defendants transferred stolen documents to another organization that is not identified by name in the indictment, and they used that organization as a pass through to release the documents.
[12:15:08] They discussed the timing of the release and an attempt to enhance the impact on the election. In an effort to conceal their connections to Russia, the defendants used a network of computers around the word and they paid for it using cryptocurrencies. The conspirators corresponded with several Americans during the course of the conspiracy through the internet.
With no allegation in this indictment that the Americans knew, they were corresponding with Russian intelligence officers. And the second related conspiracy, Russian GRU officers hacked the website of a state election board and stole information about 500,000 voters.
They also hacked in the computers of a company that supplies software used to verify voter registration information. They targeted state local officials responsible for administering elections. And they sent spear phising e-mails to people involved in administering elections including attaching malicious software.
The indictment includes 11 criminal allegations and forfeiture allegation. Count one, chargers 11 defendants for conspiring to access computers without authorization, and to damage to those computers in connection with efforts to interfere with the presidential election.
Counts Two through Nine, charges those 11 defendants with aggravated identify theft by employing the usernames and passwords of victims in order to commit computer fraud.
Count 10 charges those 11 defendants with money laundering for transferring cryptocurrencies to a web of transactions in order to purchase computer servers, register domains and make other payments in furtherance of their hacking activities while trying to conceal their connections to Russia.
Count 11 charges two defendants for separate conspiracy to access computer without authorization and the damage to those computers in connection with efforts to infiltrate computers used to administer elections.
And finally, the indictment six forfeiture of property involved in the criminal activity. There's no allegation in this indictment that any American citizen committed a crime. There's no allegation that the conspiracy changes the vote count or affected any election result.
Special Counsel's investigation is ongoing and there will be no comments on the Special Counsel at this time. The Assistant Attorney General John Demers is here with me today because we intend the transition responsibility for this indictment to the Justice Department National Security Division while we await the apprehension of the defendants.
Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Edward O'Callaghan is also with me and he's been assisting in managing this special counsel investigation. I want to caution you, the people speculate about federal Investigations usually do not know all of the relevant facts.
We do not try cases on television or in congressional hearings. Most anonymous leaks are not from the government officials who were actually conducting these investigations. We follow the rule of law, which means that we follow procedures and we reserve judgment.
We complete our investigations and we evaluate all of the relevant evidence before we reach any conclusion. That is how the American people expect your Department of Justice to operate and that is how our department is going to operate.
And our justice system, everyone who is charge with the crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If you go without saying, the people who are not charge with the crime also are presumed innocent.
The indictment was return today because persecutors determined that the evidence was sufficient to present these allegations to a federal grand jury. Our analysis is based solely on the facts, the law and Department of Justice policies. I briefed President Trump about these allegations earlier this week, the President is fully aware of the department's actions today.
On my remarks, I have not identified the victims. We confront foreign interference in American elections. It's important for us avoid thinking politically as Republicans or Democrats and instead to think patriotically as Americans.
[12:20:08] Our response must not depend on which side who was victimized. The internet allows foreign adversaries to attack American in new and unexpected ways. Free in fair elections are always hard-fought and contentious.
There will be always be advisories to seek to exacerbate our divisions and try to confuse, divide and conquer us. So long as we are united in our commitment to the values enshired in the constitution, they will not succeed.
A partisan war fair, fueled by modern technology does not fairly reflect the grace, dignity and unity of the American people. The blame for election interference belongs to the criminals who committed election interference. We need to work together to hold the perpetuators accountable and we need to keep moving forward to preserve our values, protect against future interference and defend America.
I have to time to take a few questions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: General we have few questions for you sir. Number one, the time today on the eve of the President meeting with Putin continue, can you talk about that. And also just today -- the Mueller investigation is a witch-hunt (INAUDIBLE).
ROSENSTEIN: As I mentioned, is a function of the collection of the facts, the evidence of the law and determination and was sufficient to present the indictment of this time. As I mentioned I did briefed the President. With regard to the nature of the investigation, I only comment on the evidence.
The evidence that reflects -- it reflected in our indictments and in our charges represents a determination by persecutors and agents. Without regard to politics that we believe the evidence is sufficient to justify to the charges.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Yes, Deputy Attorney General, I know you've talked about the fact that in your view, the evidence doesn't show any vote or change as result of attacking, but you did say that a company uses a pass through coordinator with these defendants to enhance the timing of the release and the impact on the election. Can tell us a little bit about what evidence you have shows in that respect?
ROSENSTEIN: So what I've talk about today is what is alleged in the indictment. We know that according to allegations in the indictment, the goal of the conspirators was to have an impact in the elections.
What impact they may have had or what there motivation may have been independently of what's required to prove this offense is matter of speculation. That's not our responsibility. What I said is there's no allegation in the indictment about it. And that's not our charge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But in terms of the state election information instead of 500,000 voters information is collected. Is there any evidence that what direction did with that information. And is there any evidence of other states being successfully penetrated by the Russian?
ROSENSTEIN: I think that -- it's important for you to understand what I've told you the allegations that are included in the indictment. The FBI and other intelligence community agencies are working constantly to defend against cyberattacks in the United States.
This case is just about one particular effort that was made during 2016 elections. The efforts of our department to the Department of Homeland and Security and other federal agencies are involved of the state election board throughout the country are ongoing.
And those efforts preceded this indictment and they're going to post date this indictment. So we have continued to share in relevant intelligence with all of our partners. It would take a longer time to talk about this, but there is a concerted and organized effort by the federal government to make sure that we do deter and prevent any sort of cyberattacks on our elections and that we harden our election systems to prevent against any kind of intrusions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, last questions from him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Deputy attorney general, you mentioned that you briefed President Trump of this earlier this week. That he indicate any -- his support for this action, and what was his reaction?
ROSENSTEIN: I'll let the President to speak for himself. Obviously it was important for the President to know what information we've uncovered because he's got to make very important decisions for the country. So he needs to understand what evidence we have of foreign election interference.
Thank you very much. ANDERSON: Well, well, you've been listening to the Deputy Attorney General with a news conference time literally as the U.S. President and his wife we're walking into Windsor Castle Fort B (ph) with the Queen. And the Deputy Attorney General announcing that the U.S. President knew this was about to come.
[12:25:00] Christiana Amanpour is with me. John Prideaux, the U.S. Editor of the Economist is with me and Nick Robertson International Diplomatic Editor also outside the residence where the Trumps have been staying.
Christiane, what do you make of what we have just heard?
AMANPOUR: Well, its obviously very interesting timing. You wouldn't be drawn on to why but whatever the reasons, the legal reasons for doing it right now. It is still happening right before Trump goes to meet Putin.
And I think that's important because it'll arm President Trump with facts. To tell President Putin, this is what our attorney generals have discovered and this is the allegations, and these are the indictment.
Twelve members of your intelligence GRU have been indicted for hacking into the American electoral system into the DNC. And he was very specific about some of the charges, some of the actual terms of the indictment saying that some of the Americans, although none has been charged with a crime knew that they would interacting with Russian intelligence.
And he's talked about huge numbers of hacks and that kind of inflation coming up. And of course, President Trump today was asked in the press conference with Theresa May, will he tell Putin to stop interfering in America elections.
That was a question filed (ph) with him by Jimmy Acosta and he said yes, he will tell him.
ANDERSON: The DNC of course, the Presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton as was in 2016. John Prideaux, let me just remind our viewers what we have just hear. You're looking at images just moments ago of the Deputy Attorney General in the U.S. announcing that Mueller has indicted 12 Russian intelligence offices, intelligence offices working for the GRU for hacking the DNC.
The Justice Department announcing these indictments in the Special Council, Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as I said again, 12 Russian nationals and accuse them of engaging "A sustained efforts to hack into the computer networks.
The Presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and release that information on the internet under the names DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0 and through another entity.
PRIDEAUX: The first thing so these leaks were pretty damaging at the time. I don't think there's any question about that. They came at a very poor time for the Democratic Party just as it was going into its nominating convention in Philadelphia.
This is not the first times the Justice Department has indicted Russian nationals in relations in relations of the side of the crime but it's a bigger indictment than before. And Christiane, as you said these are the members of the GLU so Russian military intelligence. Russian government has cut out the cup of the line some there.
So we have nothing to rely (ph) at all. No, nothing do with the Russian state. This indictment hurts this conspiracy rise of the heart of the Russian State. Its very interesting indictment, the detail so two of those peoples -- being indicted for money laundering, that's something I want to know a lot more about, you know, why was that money launders, what was that laundered money used to pay for.
So, we have a few more questions not answer at the moment. But as Christiane says, the timing of this, just before the President goes to meet Vladimir Putin is pretty extraordinary.
AMANPOUR: And I do think, as you say that the indictment on against official Russian state apparatus is very, very important, precisely for the reason you said. Because one of the great skills of Putin is, since 2014 is this obfuscation right?
No, the Russian forces didn't debate Eastern Ukraine. It was the little green men. No, we didn't do this, it was maybe, who knows who it was but it certainly, wasn't direct about, but all along, all along, experts said, this level of interfering as sophistication and hacking and the whole fake news that came went around it as well could not have happened without the sophistication of the state and the resource of the state.
ANDERSON: Donald Trump has called this entire process a witch-hunt and a hoax. As you rightly point out this news emergence two days before Trump is due to meet the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has denied election meddling as we know announcing he -- for summit that include one-on-one meeting with only interpreters present.
We've been discussing this one-on-one meeting, a congressional delegation that has been in Russia has reported back to the White House that the U.S. President, he come very well prepared and probably shouldn't be on his own.
You points out Christiane that he has said today that he will ask again about meddling.
AMANPOUR: Well, not really will he ask, because he was been asked, would you tell him not do it and he said yes.
[12:30:00] But here's the thing, look, will said this until the cows come home. Everybody is trying to figure out why it is the President Trump has not found it in himself to say serious things about President Putin and criticize Putin but he's very legitimate and serious actions on the international stage not to mention basically violating American sovereignty by hacking into their election system. He's perfectly willing to attack allies but he hasn't really build up ahead of esteem over Vladimir Putin where the problem lies and he did again today talk about the witch hunt but obviously you heard the Deputy Attorney General addressed that point as well. Because we don not act as partisan or political, we must act as patriotic American. This is according to law enforcement, law and order. We will not try this case in television. We will not try it anywhere but in the court of law.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Nic Robertson is our International Diplomatic Editor, and your perspective Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, I think from an investigative point of view this establishes some very important things I mean we've heard Mueller hand down indictments before for people and conversations that appear to have involved the Russians offering dirt, dirt on the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Now, what we're hearing here is that they found the people who got the dirt so now you have essentially perpetrators. You have the original custody of the dirt and if you're involved in an investigation and you think you got one under the trailer of this dirt and you've now got the beginning of the trailer of the dirt then you can begin to you can begin to peace together better that whole sequencing of it went from who, this GRU operatives to whom, to whom, to whom.
So the essence of the very fundamental question of what potential malicious political involvement may have happened in bringing this material out from the computers that these GRU agents, who we now know these 12 unnamed GRU agents, who stole these material. Got it from their computers onto who knows what recording devices and passed it and passed it and passed it until it ended up in the public domain. And the investigators know it ended up in the public domain. That begins to strengthen the prosecutor's hands as well to establish that chain of custody and therefore who was responsible? Who was involved along that whole chain? And in fact chain on who's involved particularly at the sharpen of dissemination that's been critically on all of this.
So we can see there's investigation beginning to come together that forensic investigation of data which is so hard to forensically investigate. It's not like picking up the piece of paper or a dropped coin or something like that, Becky.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson standby.
And we've got another breaking news this hour from England now police say that they have found the source of the Russian nerve agents that kill the woman and poisons her partner.
Nima Elbagir, joining me from the London Bureau. What can you tell us Nima, at this point?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the police have now announced that they found the source of the agent. It is a small bottle, a small container found in Dawn Sturgess' partner's house, Charlie Rowley, who is still in hospital. And police say has now regained consciousness.
This is crucial because the inquiries can now take real -- pick up real esteem into how this object was found. Where it was found? How it came into finding itself into the hands of Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley and ultimately where this bottle originated from. Does it lead back to the killing of -- sorry, does it lead back to the contamination of the scruples (ph) and ultimately does it lead back to Moscow?
These are the key questions and this -- the finding of this container is a really, really big key to open that door, Becky, and the police say that they will continue to look into this and at Coroner's investigation will start on Thursday next week now that they have this very crucial bit of evidence in their hands.
ANDERSON: So the breaking news this hour -- let me just repeat for those who may have just have joined us. The metropolitan police in the U.K. announcing they believe a small bottle found on Wednesday, where the source of the Novichok that kills a British citizen and the second as we have been explaining critically ill in a hospital in Salisbury.
And Christiane.
AMANPOUR: Well, look-- I mean, you know, this is a one, two punch. I'm sorry no matter how you paint it, it's going to be look at and perceived as the U.S. law enforcement, as the British law enforcement piling this on just ahead of this, you know, just ahead of his visit to President Putin.
[12:35:07] President Putin needs to understand according to the United States and British authorities clearly that's the message we're getting that they have the goods, that they know that there's something really bad going on.
And the death of Charlie -- of Dawn, the woman there, is being treated as a murder and the Prime Minister May brought it up over and over again in the press conference today when the people said, "What do you hope to President Trump takes as a message to President Putin? First thing she said was about the Novichok. And then the other was about, you know, Crimea and hacking into the west and Democratic process and the strength and you know, those who've messed around with us and NATO. They are really looking to present a solid crack free rule and they're trying to bolster President Trump before he goes into that meeting so that he has stop.
ANDERSON: And you know-- we heard from Rod Rosenstein and when the announcement of these 12 indictments against Russian Intelligence Officials just moments ago in this Mueller investigation. He said he had spoken to Donald Trump but he say earlier in the week or earlier Wednesday, earlier on in the week say. So the U.S. President is well aware that news would be delivered. He would have known exactly when that news was being delivered. He walked into Windsor Castle, piece of paper, you know, the last 36 minutes, he's having tea with the Queen.
John, I mean, Christiane making a very good point that is -- that one who stuck a punch at this point. Isn't it? I mean it's --
JOHN PRIDEAUX, U.S. EDITOR, THE ECONOMIST: It looks a lot like -- to me like the British and American government kind of steps in the President before he goes and meet with Vladimir Putin.
ANDERSON: Can I see that?
PRIDEAUX: Well --
ANDERSON: Can we be successful in doing that?
PRIDEAUX: Well, we will never know because nobody is going to be in that meeting apart from the, you know, apart from the interpreters. But I mean it's fascinating, both these stories are fascinating.
Just on the GRU indictment, I mean on the 2016 is ancient history, right now but there's a famous speech that Donald Trump gave at the campaign event where he said, whoever has the rest of the e-mails, whether it's Russia or whoever, you know, give them to us, you know, that would be great. And now it turns out that he was inviting Russian military intelligence to do that.
I don't really have adjectives to describe that, I'm afraid.
ANDERSON: You were OK about the charges against these Russians, I want to know a little bit more about this. 11 of the Russians are charged with identity theft, conspiracy to launder money, and conspiracy to commit computer crimes to defendants that charged with the conspiracy to commit computer crimes.
Your point being -- we need to know more about this crimes than simply that.
PRIDEAUX: Particularly the money laundering--
ANDERSON: Yes.
PRIDEAUX: -- I mean for investigative journalist only the money is so, you know --
ANDERSON: Yes.
PRIDEAUX: -- the first word of advice, I want to know who laundered that money? Why they needed it? Who's paid of?
ANDERSON: Because if someday --
AMANPOUR: I must say --
ANDERSON: Well sorry, go ahead.
AMANPOUR: -- let me just brings Nima back because I know that Nima's working on this Novichok lines.
Nima, I know you just heard this news that the police in the U.K. have found the source of this Novichok because they believe killed Dawn Sturgess. Any further details at this point?
ELBAGIR: Well, interestingly to further both to Christiane's point they found this container on Wednesday. They chose to release this information today.
So going into that summit with President Putin, it's interesting that there is at least a sense of this unified front, this cracked-free wall with regards to reinforcing to President Trump that there is massive, massive outrage as far, as the NATO allies are concerned, this outrage as over extension of Russian influence and Russian interference has been going on since 2014.
And when President Trump talks about pushing up NATO allies and their contribution into NATO, he slightly shoot himself in the foot because of course the reason that they start to pushing up that contribution was because of Russia's expansionism into Crimea but the fact that they chose to release this today and the fact that they chose to make clear that Charlie Rowley is now conscious and is now aiding police with their inquiries. That sends a very specific message to the Russians that sends very specific message to President Trump.
We do know more and we may know even more so we need to go in there and we need to present a unified front to President Putin that clearly Europe at least has decided that there is a line in the sun, Becky.
ANDERSON: Even in news conference early Wednesday, President Trump was saying that he has been hotter on the Russian President. I think he's line was, that anybody and he said something like the last hundred years -- I can't quite remember but any sort of way back --
AMANPOUR: The thing is, Becky, the U.S. has been -- they got very stiff sanctions on President Putin and Russia under the Trump administration. And -- but he hasn't been the Congress is, you know, the law enforcement are, but he hasn't been and people can't (inaudible) that why?
I'm fascinated though I picked up on what you said because we're all outraged or rather surprised when President Trump looked down the barrel of that camera and said, "Russia if you know where those e- mails are? Come and find them." Well something to that effect.
[12:40:06] And people did interpret that back then as inviting Russia to hack into the American system. So the fact that you brought that up, do you think this indictment somehow at least Trump asking them to do -- I mean, what do you say about that?
PRIDEAUX: It's just, I just calls this as a moment in history. It's just so extraordinary. You know, the conspiracy theories around the President that have -- you know, some people who've seen, you know, in the Mueller investigation the ideas of either his campaign collaborated with Russian government or, you know, there's something very fishy going on.
President Trump's working with Russian government may not have been intentional, I'm sure it wasn't or at least I'm fairly sure, it wasn't, but you have him as a Presidential candidate saying, go ahead hacked these e-mails. And it was Russian military intelligence who were acting them, and it's absolutely extraordinary.
ANDERSON: We will take a very short break at this point. Don't go away viewers. You two stay where you are.
Let's take a look as we go to break of some of the picture from -- literary just behind where we are now. These are the protest in London. These are demonstration again where this visit to the U.K. of the U.S. President. Stay with us.
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ANDERSON: All right, it is a very, very busy hour here. I'm Becky Anderson in London. The U.S. President is at Windsor Castle as we speak, we will return to our coverage of President's Trumps visit here to the U.K. Right now, he is having tea with the Queen at her home in Windsor, that is Windsor Castle, the Presidents and the First Lady met the Queen a little early this hour, Guard of Honor forming the -- Coldstream Guards gave a royal solute in the U.S. National Anthem was played in an interview though with this some newspaper.
[12:45:02] The President had praised her majesty describing her as a tremendous woman who had avoided controversy during her 66-year reign, that wasn't stopped contrast the way that he described the Prime Minister's Theresa May. We'll talk about that a little later.
The Queen, of course has met every U.S. President since her reign begun in 1952 with the sole exception of Lyndon B. Johnson who didn't visit Britain during his time in office.
Let me get these pictures up, this was a little earlier on Richard Fitzwilliams as the Royal Commentator and John Prideaux is the U.S. Editor at The Economist. And -- well I'm going to get you comment on that on what we've seen earlier.
Let's start of with our expert. (Inaudible) expert here, Richard and the Queen hanging on in the eve since -- for the arrival of the U.S. President and the First Lady, lot of pageantry and the U.S. President was like that. The Queen has done this some numerous times, some numerous times, doesn't it? Some few times before this. Many, many times before.
RICHARD FITZWILLIAMS, ROYAL COMMENTATOR PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT: Many, many times --
ANDERSON: This is the first for U.S. President Donald Trump.
FITZWILLIAMS: Literary, something he is always wanted that his mother being (inaudible) because I think there's no question that this is something again that's hopefully will somebody say improve his current feeling towards Britain as expressed shall we say, in a press conference because certainly not short and in which involved a certain back tracking even interview which he gave to The Sun of which -- I think something one would say that the Queen very, very safety. One would say that you would personally, strongly disprove but he actually he wouldn't have an inkling habit. Very, very clearly the Queen would see her purpose now as to smooth things over. I mean it's been said that the best way of persuading someone is when they don't know it's being done and the idea now would be to make Donald and Melania Trump feel those at home at Windsor.
ANDERSON: That's why I call her a subtle genius and that is certainly me how Donald Trump refers to himself -- he sits shoulder to shoulder --
FITZWILLIAMS: Very spontaneous.
ANDERSON: Yes, very stable and subtle genius. He is shoulder to shoulder early Wednesday with the U.K. Prime Minister, Richard pointed that of.
Well, I can only be described as a humiliating (inaudible) on the way that the Prime Minister has dealt with the exit form the E.U. effectively he said, he's wrecked Brexit. There will be no U.S. deal, no deal which she loves to say.
Of course this is the back end of his visit now. How would you rate his performance while he's being in the U.K.?
PRIDEAUX: Like he did a very champion -- characteristically champion thing, which was to say one thing when he arrives, you know, Brexit -- the Prime Minister for handling of Brexit say there's no possibility that U.S.-U.K. trade deal at the moment and praised Boris Johnson arrival and the Conservative Party. Those few things that I though is very helpful as you could possibly of being to his host.
And then in the press conference where he say, completely the opposite when I say, oh I work with you. You know, whatever the outcome praise Prime Minister May. He talked about the special relationship, his lovely praise, he said, it's the highest level of special, which I enjoyed it very much.
As kind of Trump commentator or analyst you'll have to know which of this completely contradictory statement you take seriously and it's not clear to me. I mean I think when he took the first step of the visit he would have been seen as a disaster for the British government. Off to tea with queen, off that press conference, I think they'll be able say hey, you know -- we go to that live.
ANDERSON: Which I want to know, he maybe very relieved by the fact that he even -- perhaps have gone away with this trip because the next one now is building up to be quite something, Richard, give as well we just go and talk to Russia from the time being -- we'll get back to the Royal family because literally in that last hour we have heard that the Mueller investigation is now indicting 12 Russian intelligence officials for interfering in -- well effectively conspiring to meddle in the 2016 campaign.
The Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein, who announced this news specifically said there is no allegation in this indictment that any American citizen committed a crime I think we should probably clearly assumed was a suggestion that nobody neither Trump nor anybody in Trump's military (ph) he was an American citizen was involved, correct?
PRIDEAUX: That's feels right to me, Becky. We also don't know this GRU intelligence agent base. I suspect they're probably based in Russia that's what this indictment. But it's really theoretical. I mean they want people to come to America anytime soon. That the idea that the Russian State will suddenly have the moment to the DOJ's prosecution if it's clearly fancy.
[12:50:07] ANDERSON: But this news coming literally just hours before President leaves here from a couple of days, golfing in Scotland but after that he's been on one-one, the first official one-one with the Russian president. He will always deny any interference in the 2016 campaign. Trump himself has called it a "witch hunt" and "hoax promise."
Reports went out today at the press conference, he promised that he would ask again, but he only said it with the -- sort of roll of his eyes and sort of paraphrasing his eyes with certain extend -- I'll ask again, but I don't expect to get a kind of, you know, a great sort of -- I think called a permissive moment out of Vladimir Putin.
And then not moments after we find out about these indictments we find out that the source of the Novichok poisoning of the latest death in U.K. has been found. U.K., U.S., lots of pressure on the Russian victims.
PRIDEAUX: Yes, a lot of pressure on the Russians. And we see much news really to process. It feels like an overdose of news. I mean, going forward to this Helsinki meeting on Monday normally an anticipation of something like that, both sides, the Russian side and the American side will be working for weeks on the kind of deliverables. You know trying to be carefully manage the message from the American side. How are we going to work on nuclear proliferation, how are we going to work on Russian election interference. What about the, you know, murder on British soils of, you know, a British citizen by Russia.
All the breathing has been -- so far, from the American side at least that preparation hasn't taken place. So we don't really know what's going to happen going into that. The President just says -- was asked about this during the press conference, he said Ukrain nuclear weapons, you know, hacking a few other things, but we -- you know, we really don't know whether if he will. I think it's not too conspiracy might it seem, the news that's been released.
But now from the DOJ and from the British police, it says, you know, trying to really remind the President before Monday that Vladimir Putin is an adversary.
ANDERSON: And should Rosenstein suggesting that President Trump was informed about these allegations, he said earlier this week.
PRIDEAUX: Right. I mean, so if that's the case, why release it now? And there is a venerable tradition in America as releasing this on a Friday. You know, people are thinking about what are they going to be doing in the weekend. You're kind of bury the news somewhat. But the timing does in deeply with just before the President due to fly at Helsinki.
ANDERSON: Well, President is present as we speak at Windsor Castle, Richard, and this the Queen's residence off time at the weekend resident that she likes outside of London, of course, say the pick up to her weekend has been entertaining this president and his wife for tea.
FITZWILLIAMS: And there is a time that he talked a lot of controversy. Well, this is one occasion.
ANDERSON: The new image, by the way, this has just come up, Richard. This is an image inside Windsor Castle and, well certainly the U.S. President has a big smile on his face.
FITZWILLIAMS: Yes. And we're also seeing them behave because there's a certain protocol with greeting of the Queen. The way, for example, you bow, the way that she extends her hands, the way that she begins the conversation and so forth. And there's no question that -- I think it's a probably a big moment to him. And I think also, hopefully, she will be able to convey very thoughtfully, very quietly some ideas on folks that even in the mad whirlpool which consist of the Trumpean world he might wish to consider perhaps (Inaudible).
ANDERSON: This isn't a state visit, this has been Flag Day working visit. Did Queen Elizabeth II have to offer this invitation to take?
FITZWILLIAM: Absolutely no doubt. But first, originally as you know, Theresa May very, very rationally just after the inauguration of the Britain. She said a state visit -- other sovereignty been served ever because they've been large of American presence, of course the sanction 20 with President Woodrow Wilson.
But only George W. Bush and Barack Obama had a state visit, this was offered. He believed that he did in fact stay at Buckingham Palace where the pageantry independently point of fact, would have been absolutely importantly and practical given the feeling against them. And given also the policies and the reprehensible aspect of some them that this at least was something that have to happen because you couldn't have the President of the United States Britain from the ally visit and not be received by the Queen.
ANDERSON: The quick battle (inaudible) again, the sound of choppers in the air, I mean, there are -- of course, there's lot going on over London today. There's a lot going on, on the streets of London. These are live pictures coming to you not from Windsor. Let's get a picture out of London for our viewers now.
[12:55:11] This is -- well, if you look at juxtaposition here, thousands of anti-Trump protesters in London. These seven stations wants to send a clear message that President Trump and his policies are not welcome.
CNN Atika Shubert joins me now from park to Trafalgar Square in the middle, Atika, of those protest. Can you hear me?
I feared that Atika would struggle to hear me. And the police -- OK, Atika, can you hear me?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I do hear you Becky. And I'm actually near down in street because where we are right now is that a very small group of pro-Trump supporters and they have been surround by a couple of this anti-Trump supporters, which police standing in the middle. And it's pretty tense here.
But, you know, just down the road from where tens of thousands have gathered at Trafalgar Square to stop Trump campaign there.
So what we have here is basically what I'm seeing now, you might see some of this on our videos here, is the clash -- it's basically a war of word right now between those who are pro-Trump, raised an Israel flag and England flag. And those who are against Trump here saying that he is not welcome in London.
And I think it just goes to show that there are divisions here, even though this is the much smaller group of pro-Trump supporters and there's a much larger group of anti-Trump supporters here. It shows us how divided it can become here. That's how divisive this visit has been.
ANDERSON: How would you describe the atmosphere? From much of the afternoon, I know that it's been describe as kind of an atmosphere. And ultimately, does that fill feel even though we're looking at, you know, sort of relatively sort of discussion altercation going on here? Has it largely been a good natures for this protest?
SHUBERT: Absolutely. I mean, I was in Trafalgar Square earlier where we were hoping to go live with you, but frankly, there were so many people, what they call the "carnival of resistance," tens of thousands filling Trafalgar Square, filling region street, but we couldn't go live because there were just so many people there taking up the phone signal. But it was largely the carnival atmosphere with kids holding up placards, families out there and it was very much a good nature, exactly as it was described as carnival as resistance against Trump.
What we're seeing now here is what is a very small pocket of pro-Trump supporters that felt that they had to come out and speak for him against what seem to be this very large protest that does not wants to welcome President Trump.
So, I think it still remain a carnival-like atmosphere for most of the protest.
ANDERSON: Yes.
SHUBERT: In this very small pocket that we are at Downing Street, it has involved into something of a shouting match between pro and anti- Trump supporters.
ANDERSON: Well, that is London. This is Windsor. President Trump and his wife, Melania, living Windsor Castle. They have a tea with the Queen, they post for a photograph in the grand corridor inside Windsor Castle during what was his visit to the U.K. just on Thursday. We'll get that photo for you as we see. But what is this deligation now heading out and this is going to be back and forth from London to Chester, back to London, back to Windsor Castle. But Trump's now on their way, well, shortly on their way back in Marine One. And that's pretty much wraps up this U.K. live Europe NATO summit controversial.
Get to see a controversial interview with "The Sun Newspaper" in which the U.S. President and above the U.K. Prime Minister only to apologize to her later on today during a press conference. They stood shoulder to shoulder. These images of that, it's been a busy day. And then the invitation by the Queen, the Guard of Honor, coaching Guards, Windsor Castle tea, back and out of here to Scotland where Donald Trump will be playing golf for the next couple of days.
We won't see him over the next couple of days. We will, though, see him when he arrives in Helsinki for what is called to be really quite the moment in time. His one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin. An awful lots going, but Donald Trump will have enjoyed this last hour or so.
And these images we'll leave you with earlier today, Windsor in England.
I'm Becky Anderson. Thank you for watching live from London. This was our coverage of President Trump's visit. We continue now with Wold Blitzer after this very short break.
