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Hala Gorani Tonight
Trump Reiterates Sanctions Against Iran; Other Nations Want to Make an Arrangement with Iran; Theresa May Makes A Speech at U.N. about Investment in Africa; Third Accuser Comes Forward and Claims Kavanaugh Was at a Party Where Gang Rapes Occurred; Third Accuser Surfaces Against Brett Kavanaugh; Trump Slams New Kavanaugh Accusations as "Ridiculous"; U.K. Labour: We'll Vote Down Chequers, All Options On Table; E-Scooter Danger. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired September 26, 2018 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00] HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Hala Gorani. Tonight, Donald Trump once again on the offensive at the
United Nations with strong words for Iran. He's also accusing China of interfering in the upcoming elections in America.
Also, tonight, an explosive new allegation against Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Just a day before critical Senate hearing,
a third woman comes forward.
We start with the American President's double dose of criticism at the United Nations aimed at China and Iran. And especially Iran. Donald Trump
zeroed in on both countries. He chaired today a Security Council meeting aimed at stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction. But he took
an early rhetorical detour. He accused China of trying to interfere in the American midterm elections, not Russia. That's an allegation China's
representative at the meeting denied. Here is a reminder of what Donald Trump said at the U.N.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election.
Coming up in November. Against my administration. They do not want me or us to win because I am the first President ever to challenge China on
trade.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And the President kept up the pressure on Iran vowing to impose new sanctions on top of the old ones set to go back into effect in
November. And calling, by the way, on other members of the U.N. Security Council to do the same. Here's what Trump said just a few hours ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All U.S. nuclear related sanctions will be in full force by early November. They will be in full
force. After that, the United States will pursue additional sanctions, tougher than ever before, to counter the entire range of Iran's maligned
conduct. Any individual or entity who fails to comply with these sanctions will face severe consequences.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And Donald Trump now Iran's President held a press conference really just a short time ago in New York last hour. He says his country
will remain in the nuclear deal for now even if America walks away. Rouhani called us policies toward his country a mistake and predicted the
U.S. will one day return to the nuclear deal.
Let's delve more into all of this and what's been a very busy day at the United Nations. Alex Marquardt was at Iranian President Rouhani's news
conference last hour. How does Iran intend to stay in the nuclear deal with the European partners? Is it viable without the United States?
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hala, certainly Rouhani thinks for the moment it is viable because the United States are the only
ones who have pulled out. Rouhani very clearly said that Iran can resort to other options if the deal is to fall apart but it's clear for the time
being Iran is hoping that the GCPOA or the Iran nuclear deal stays in place.
The main message Rouhani wanted to send here in the United States is that the United States, that the Trump administration, has made a mistake is
isolated. Rouhani said all the other members of the Security Council plus Germany and the other signatories of the deal are still very much in favor
of the deal. Rouhani says that he's been going from meeting to meeting with other the world leaders talking about the U.S. mistake and Iranian
nuclear deal is good for Iran and for the entire world. Rouhani was quite measured refraining from mentioning Trump and his aides by name.
But when asked about this war of words that the two sides have really gotten into with Iran calling the Trump or saying the Trump administration
has Nazi tendencies and Iran saying that Trump is a bully, President Rouhani chalked it up to --
GORANI: I have to jump in, Alex, because I understand the U.S. President is now talking about Michael Avenatti, the man representing the third
Kavanaugh accuser. Let's listen.
TRUMP: It's a disgrace what's going on. The good news is the public is very smart and they get it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are all three women lying?
TRUMP: What is your next question?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, do you -- election interference by China? Why --
TRUMP: Take a look at it. You have not only ads but statements made that they're going to hit our farmers who are my voters. I love the farmers.
I'm taking care of the farmers. I'm opening up markets like nobody ever opened markets. We have closed markets, whether it's the European Union or
China or Canada. By the way, who charges 300 percent tariffs to our farmers. I'm opening up markets. My farmers, our farmers, I love them.
Great people say let the President do what he has to do to do it. We're going to make the farmers wealthy. You look at what happened to farmers
over the last 15 years. You look at what's happened to soybean prices over the last five years before the election. They went down 50 percent. The
farmers were getting -- have been getting hurt in our country for many years because there's artificial barriers, artificial tariffs, all sorts of
things that made it impossible for them --
[14:05:00] GORANI: After having walked away several months ago a from the Iran nuclear deal and a new word from the President from Michael Avenatti
that is the lawyer who represents porn star Stormy Daniels. Who alleges she had an extramarital affair with Donald Trump, and who is now
representing a third woman who has some explosive allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, a Supreme Court Justice nominee. We're going to talk more
about, by the way with the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings later on in the program but I want to refocus our attention on what Donald Trump and
the U.S. administration now, the Trump administration, is doing with regards to Iran.
Joining us live is Vali Nasr, the dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and Senior International
Correspondent Nick Payton Walsh here in the studio. Nick, what is going to happen with this Iran deal? Because Iran is saying we're in it. The
Europeans are saying we can still make it work. But really, one of the most -- the most important part is the United States walking away.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Since Trump started to talk about this and came to power, the impact on the Iranian economy felt and supposed
to be a benefit of Iran not doing nuclear enrichment. And as the sanctions tightened, also the economy is suffering because in turn mismanagement,
corruption. What's going to happen moving forward is seems like Iran's just going to bide the time says the European Union.
[14:10:00] Look at what we have just seen. You know? It is hard to work out how many separate topics into one statement there. China, bogeyman for
election interference. Sitting in Teheran and you have a complicated deal, they don't want to get rid of the signatories and benefits you better than
debating with Republican hawks in D.C. and think he is distracted pretty soon by something else again. Wait it out.
GORANI: Vali Nasr. Is that what Rouhani is doing, buying time and trying to keep the deal alive with the Europeans?
VALI NASR, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: I mean, first of all, it is up to Iran to walk away
from the deal. The Europeans didn't follow the U.S. lead. They haven't left the deal based on the merits of the argument that the President put
forward. They're trying their best to keep some financial channels open to Iran so it's really up to Iran to decide whether this is good enough for it
wants to move out of the deal. I think Nick is correct that it doesn't benefit Iran right now to jump the gun. First of ail, they're not even
sure if they met with Trump he's able to deliver anything. His administration with hawks in it to undermine whatever the President
promises.
Secondly, as we have seen at the United Nations, the United States holds all the economic cards and it's pretty isolated diplomatically. You had a
scenario at which they laughed at the President today at the security council. The arguments no takers. May, Macron, they all said they want to
stick with the deal agreeing that Iran's other behaviors need addressing. They want to stick with the deal. So, I think Iranians play it out for as
long as they can and also want to see the returns of the midterm elections would be and then see what happens after November. The President found
himself in a very odd position of pressuring Saudi Arabia to do -- to produce more oil in order to avert increase in price of oil so a lot to
play out still.
GORANI: Theresa May, she is addressing the United Nations right now. This is the UNGA speech. We'll take a little bit of that and then come out on
the other side. Stay with us.
THERESA MAY, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: -- conflicts fallen by three quarters in just over three decades. And progress in which millions of our citizens
lead healthier and longer lives and where thanks to advances in human knowledge in medicine, in science and in technology we are presented with
huge opportunities in the years ahead. Yet, today, many are concerned about whether this progress will continue. And fearful about what the
future holds. For the end of the Cold War did not as many once believed lead to the supremacy of open economies and liberal democracies cooperating
on the global stage for the common good.
Today, instead, we face a loss of confidence in those very systems that have delivered so much. The belief in free markets has been challenged by
the financial crisis of 2008. By the concerns of those feeling left behind by globalization. By the anxieties about the pace and scale of
technological change and what that will mean for jobs. And by the unprecedented mass movements of people across borders with all the
pressures that can bring.
And after the military interventionism at the beginning of the century, people question the rational and indeed legitimacy of the use of force and
involving in crises and conflicts that are not ours while being repelled by the slaughter in Syria and the failure to end it. These doubts are
entirely understandable. So, too, is the demand for leadership.
So those of us who believe in inclusive societies and open economies have a duty to respond, to learn the lessons of the past, to meet people's
concerns with practical actions, not beguiling illusions and to renew our confidence in the ideas and values that have done so much to benefit so
many for so long. If we lack the confidence to step up others will. In the last century, whether in the rise of fascism or the spread of
communism, we have seen those on the extreme right and extreme left exploit people's fears, stoke intolerance and racism, close down economies and
societies and destroy the peace of nations.
And today, once more, we see worrying trends in the rise of these movements in Europe and beyond. We have seen what happens when countries slide into
authoritarianism, crushing the basic freedoms and rights of their citizens. We have seen what happens when corrupt oligarchs rob their nations of their
wealth, resources and human capital that are so vital to unlocking a brighter future for their citizens.
[14:15:10] We have seen what happens when the natural patriotism that's a cornerstone of a healthy society is warped into aggressive nationalism,
exploiting fear and uncertainty to promote identity politics at home and confrontation abroad while breaking rules and undermining institutions.
And we see this when states like Russia flagrantly breach international norms. From the seizing of sovereign territory to the reckless use of
chemical weapons on the streets of Britain by agents of the Russian GRU.
We have to show there is a better way to meet the concerns of our people. That way lies in global cooperation between strong and accountable states,
based on open economies and inclusive societies. That ensures strong nation states provide the bonds that bring citizens together and ensures
power remains accountable to those there to serve. That celebrates free markets and has the confidence to reform them when they need to work
better.
And that demonstrates that delivering for your citizens at home does not have to be at the expense of global cooperation and the values, rules and
ideals that underpin this. Indeed, cooperation and competition are not mutually exclusive. Only global cooperation based on a set of agreed rules
can ensure competition is fair and does not succumb to protectionism with its certain path to lost jobs and international confrontation. And it is
only global cooperation which can harness legitimate self interest towards common goals producing agreements on global challenges such as climate
change, proliferation and inclusive economic growth.
We see this cooperation here today at this U.N. as we also saw it at the commonwealth heads of government meeting earlier this year. And here
today, as chair in office of the commonwealth, I deliver a clear statement on behalf of the heads of government of its 193 equal and independent
member states. We reaffirm our shared commitment to work together within a rules-based international system to address shared global challenges and
foster a fairer more secure more sustainable and prosperous future. This commitment takes account of the special requirements of small and otherwise
vulnerable economies.
And it benefits all our citizens and the wider world. But it is not enough for us merely to make the case for cooperation. We need action at home and
in the community of nations. To show how our ideas and values can deliver practical benefits for all our people in all parts of the world. We must
recognize legitimacy of people's concerns and act to build a global economy that works for everyone. We must invest in the patient work of building
open societies in which everyone has a stake in the future.
And we must act to uphold the international rules-based system and stand up for our values by protecting those who may suffer when it is violated. Let
me take each in turn. First, we must respond to those who feel that the global economy is not working for them. The pace of globalization that's
left too many people behind. The fear that our children and grandchildren may lack the education and skills to secure the jobs of tomorrow. And the
risk that technological change could be a source of inequality and division rather than the greatest opportunity in history. In the UK we are driving
investment of the technologies of the future from low carbon technologies to artificial intelligence. We are investing in education and skills so
that workers are ready to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.
And we are making sure people play by the rules. So that business and innovation is celebrated for creating jobs not demonized because of
grievances over tax not paid or rights not respected. And while we strive to make our own economies work for all our people we should do the same at
a global level. In an increasingly global economy it is not enough to ensure people play by the rules at home. We need global cooperation to set
and enforce fair rules on trade, tax and the sharing of data.
[00:20:00] And these rules need to keep pace with the changing nature of trade and technology. So, we need to give the World Trade Organization a
broad, ambitious and urgent mandate to reform. This must address the areas where it is not functioning effectively, deal with issues that are not
currently covered, and maintain trust in a system which is critical to preventing a return to the failed protectionism of the past. Fair and
respected rules are essential for business to flourish and drive growth.
But recent history shows it cannot be sustained without deeper partnerships of governments, business, international financial institutions and civil
society. To ensure that growth delivers for everyone. That is why I recently visited Africa with British businesses to promote trade and
investment and encourage a new partnership based on shared prosperity and shared security.
It is why at this General Assembly I co-hosted an event with Prime Minister Trudeau, Prime Minister Kagame and President Akufo-Addo calling for more
support for investment in job creation for young people in the continent.
GORANI: Theresa May, the prime minister, the British prime minister there delivering her speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Talking
about the rules-based system and also the inequality in some cases created by globalization that some people feel left behind and certainly
reaffirming her support for international rules-based organizations. So certainly, a different message there than the one delivered by the U.S.
President who said in pretty stark terms that we are against globalization and in favor of patriotism. I want to get back to what the U.S. President
said today chairing a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York about Iran. We were discussing this with Nick Payton Walsh, senior international
correspondent and not sure if Vali Nasr is still with us.
NASR: Yes.
GORANI: He is, indeed. I want to -- to you, Nick, so we were discussing with you it's possible to preserve this deal as imperfect and incomplete it
would be. How would it work, though? I mean, you need money transfers. You need dollars. You need a lot of things to make this economy function.
WALSH: I mean, just remind everybody. The EU said they think they can put together a special purpose vehicle which isn't -- not quite sure how they
would work and somehow protect companies to do business inside of Iran. But it isn't really clear how they would function because then publicly
known and risk the retaliation of the United States.
GORANI: Sure. That was one of the issues. European companies concerned about retaliation. Who is at the origin of this? John Bolton, famously,
of course, ex-U.N. ambassador under George Bush. Bolton and Steven Miller, another adviser, as well. Bolton pushing for preemptive strikes against
North Korea. Supported bombing Iran. Big supporter of the Iraq invasion even after it was established there was no WMDs there. John Bolton is
driving a lot of this, isn't he?
NASR: Well, he is driving a lot of it but I would say, also, Nikki Haley and Secretary Pompeo are also driving a lot of this. And the President is
in line with them because the President ultimately wants to bring Iran to the table and he sees pressure as the way to bring them to the table. So,
I think, you know, ultimately, it's really up to Iran to kill the deal even if zero amount of money from Europeans to Iran, it is Iran --
GORANI: Why would they? Why would Iran kill it?
NASR: Well, right now it doesn't. It reaches a point --
GORANI: Why would it want to?
NASR: To kill the deal.
GORANI: Yes.
NASR: Ultimately might decide that it wants to follow a different track. Namely, restart the nuclear program or wants to talk to United States. The
minute it decides to talk to the United States it probably will have to come out of the deal. In effect, what the Iranian President said at the
U.N. is let's talk through the nuclear deal. You know, you come back in and then we can talk. Trump says, no. I don't want to join this Obama
deal. I want to have my own deal. So, one option for Iran at some point is to say, well, this deal is dead. Declare it dead. Move out and start
talking to the United States. I think that's not where they are. They are the s who is are holding the key to whether the deal is dead or not. And I
think for now they -- as Nick said, they want to wait and see approach.
GORANI: Thank you both. Thanks for staying with us. Coming up, U.S. Senate Democrats are now calling for Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee
to withdraw after absolutely stunning new allegations against him. We'll tell you about a third accuser who just surfaced. Straight ahead. Stay
with us.
[14:25:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. Well, Brett Kavanaugh's nomination highly controversial but now on the eve of a critical hearing for Donald Trump's
Supreme Court nominee, a third accuser has surfaced and her allegations against Brett Kavanaugh are nothing short of shocking. Her name is Julie
Swetnick. She said in a sworn affidavit that she saw Kavanaugh at multiple house parties in the 1980s engaged in highly inappropriate, abusive and
physically aggressive conduct with girls. Her attorney Michael Avenatti detailed some of the claims in a phone interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL AVENATTI, LAWYER FOR JULIE SWETNICK: Brett Kavanaugh, she's describing, as someone that drank excessively, was verbally and physically
abusive toward woman and engaged in conduct relating to attempting to get women drunk, take advantage of women, ultimately put women in positions to
be gang raped by multiple men or boys I should say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, Kavanaugh's denying the allegations in a statement by the White House he said, quote, this is ridiculous. And from the "Twilight
Zone." I don't know who this is and this never happened.
Let's bring in Sara Sidner. She's been following the story and Julie Swetnick's signed affidavit that was in fact tweeted by Michael Avenatti.
And Sunlen Surfaty, can join me as well. Sarah, I want to start with you. Let's talk about what more she says in the sworn affidavit. What can you
tell us?
SARA SIDNER CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Stunning details coming out. Obviously, as you mentioned, sent and signed as a sworn statement under the
potential of penalty of perjury. Sent it to the Judiciary Committee and they did receive it. Here are some of the things that she said. She
talked about being introduced at several parties. Ten in fact. She said house parties in the D.C. area where she resides. It happened in the
years of 1981 to '83. The years when she and Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh were in high school. She says they were present at these
parties, that they were very common, happened generally every weekend. They did not, by did way, go to the same high school. Two different high
schools merging some way at this party.
[14:30:00] She said on numerous occasions at the party she witnessed Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh drinking excessively and engaged in highly
inappropriate conduct with women. She said she observed Brett Kavanaugh himself drinking excessively. And engaging in physically aggressive
behavior towards girls including pressing up against them without their consent and also grinding against girls attempting to remove or shift their
clothing to expose private body parts. She goes further to say she also witnessed efforts by Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh and others to cause the
girls to become disoriented so that they could be -- these are her words, very strong words, to be gang raped. She said she became aware of efforts
by Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh and others to spike some of the drinks.
Now, we don't know what became aware of was that the words were not I witnessed that. So, some of the language here leaves some room for
interpretation. We are trying to get to the bottom of what that means exactly but lastly, you know, we should mention this. These are the very
strongest allegations beyond those in the first and second paragraph you saw there.
She said, "I also witnessed efforts by Mark Judge and others, not only to get girls inebriated, but she says that she saw them standing outside of a
room where boys were lined up to take part in which she called a train, just having sex with a woman, multiple men having sex with women. She says
that Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh were standing in that line.
Now, she does not say that she witnessed them actually taking part in it, she also says that she herself was a victim of one of these gang rapes and
that Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh were present. She does not say they were present in the room where they were, if they were just at the party,
but she says in 1982, she became a victim of one of those gang rapes and this is her quote, where Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh were present.
She did tell people she said. There are two people who she said can corroborate her story. We have not heard from them. But that is what has
just come out. She is now the third woman to come forward to talk about allegations against the Supreme Court nominee and these are very disturbing
allegations. Hala.
GORANI: Very disturbing, very serious. Sunlen Serfaty, what will the judiciary committee do with all this?
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well as of now, Hala, the committee hearing that is scheduled for tomorrow up here on Capitol Hill
with Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh, that is indeed still on as of this moment. I spoke with the chairman of that committee, Chuck
Grassley a short time ago and he said it would essentially be a disservice to Dr. Ford if he were to delay that hearing.
He says tomorrow is a very important day and his definite responsibility of his to go ahead and hold that hearing. But of course, these new
allegations from Julie Swetnick have certainly sent shockwaves up here on Capitol Hill. And I asked Grassley about the new accusations and he said
his committee, Senate judiciary is looking into it. Here's what he said.
GORANI: OK. Apologies, we don't have that --
SERFATY: I don't think we don't have that sound. But he essentially confirms that the judiciary hearing is looking into it. And I want to note
something that Republicans up here are continuing to say. And then a large part echoing what we've seen in the reaction from president, from really
focusing that reaction to Julie Swetnick, not on the accuser but on her lawyer, Michael Avenatti.
I want to read to a short portion of what Senator Graham said in a statement. He says, "From my view, just when you thought it couldn't get
any worse, it just did. The lawyer of the porn star has just taken the debacles to an even lower level. I hope people will be highly sufficient
of this allegations presented by Michael Avenatti. I have a difficult time believing any person would have continued to go, according to the
affidavit. The 10 parties over a two-year period where women were routinely gang raped and not report it. I also find at curious these
charges were not brought forward until 2018, two days before confirmation vote."
Now, Hala, I just also want to underscore that Democrats here are pretty united in their response saying that the committee tomorrow potentially
should be delayed and we heard from the Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. He believes that this nomination should be withdrawn and a strong
statement from all 10 Democrats in the judiciary committee a short time ago saying they believe that his nomination should be withdrawn as well.
GORANI: Sunlen Serfaty on Capitol Hill and Sara Sidner, thanks very much covering the sworn affidavit signed by Julie Swetnick is her name. She is
the third woman to come forward, accusing Judge Kavanaugh of inappropriate behavior. Probably some of the most disturbing allegations there of the
three women who have come forward. The big question, what will the Senate Judiciary Committee do? Will the hearings be delayed or suspended?
According to Sunlen Serfaty's sources that is not on the cards right now and what are the implications, of course, for the nomination of Brett
Kavanaugh.
A lot to go through. We are going to be speaking to Joey Jackson a little bit later in the program for the legal implications of all of this and what
this means for the nomination. We'll be right back. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:39] GORANI: Let's get back to our breaking news on a third accuser coming forward alleging that Brett Kavanaugh, while in high school in the
80s acted inappropriately. A short time ago, we heard from Donald Trump. He was speaking in a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.
He spoke about those new accusations against the Supreme Court pick by a third woman.
He called the allegations ridiculous. He also attacked the lawyer who represents Julie Swetnick, that third woman, Michael Avenatti. Here is
more of what the president have to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it's ridiculous. It's a con game that they're playing. The Democrats are playing this game.
It's disgraceful. It's a disgrace to the country. And I think you're going to see it in the midterms. I think people are wise to it. It's just
a con game. He's a high-quality person. They're bringing people out of the woods. They can do that to anybody. They can do it to anybody, other
than perhaps Prime Minister Abe, because he's so pure.
But they can do it anybody, what they are doing. And it's really, really sad. If you look at those lawyer that just came out, he's a lowlife. He
represent the Democrats. Nobody ever talks about that. He's a Democrat lawyer. Not a very good one, but he's a Democrat lawyer.
So it's a -- it's a horrible con game. I think the people are finding it out and hopefully over the next couple of days, it will be settled up and
solved. And we will have a Supreme Court Justice who will go down as one of our greatest ever. Hopefully he's going to be there for a long time.
He's a young man. And he'll be there for a long time. And I'll be very proud of him, just as I'm very proud of Justice Gorsuch.
So, we -- I think it's really working out very well. I really do. I think it's doing well. I think people are seeing what a disgrace these Democrat
senators are when they come out with statements like that, when they don't even talk about it. And then after the hearings are completely over, they
come out with what they come out with. It's a disgrace what's going on. The good news is the public is very smart, and they get it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: That was the U.S. president just minutes ago. Let's bring in Joey Jackson to talk more about this. And the president tweeted, "Avenatti is a
third-rate lawyer." I'm looking at Avenatti's Twitter account now. Calling him a con. Trump knows nothing about my background. He pretends
he's a tough guy. This is the level of discourse now in the United States.
This third accuser -- this is a sworn affidavit, right? Tell us what that is and why it's important that she signed a sworn affidavit.
JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hala, good to see you. Well, a sworn affidavit, obviously, is a document that a witness produces where they put
specific facts about what they're alleging occurred and they're swearing to those facts under oath. I would hasten to add though, although that's a
sworn affidavit, it still need to be subjected to what we call cross- examination.
And my business in the business of law, we see sworn affidavits every day and twice on Sunday. And so what happens is when an attorney gets their
hands on it, obviously you review the specific facts and you had occasion earlier to speak about what those facts were and they're horrific in terms
of the judge's conduct.
But when you go into court, right? This is not a real life court proceeding. It's a hearing, I get it, but in the event you were permitted
to testify and the attorney would have the ability to ask a specific questions about those allegations and to vet the allegations and to
challenge the allegations.
[14:40:13] So I just want to alert the veering public that simply because their sworn allegations doesn't make them true. They have to be subjective
at the higher level of scrutiny. And so that -- but the fact that they are sworn, certainly lends a level of credence and credibility to them because
she's putting her reputation on the line and saying, Hala, this is true.
GORANI: And she works for the government -- she works for the government, so obviously there are some professional implications there, if it is found
that she's in any way committed perjury, they're asking the team, Avenatti and his client Julie Swetnick for an FBI investigation.
Would they get an FBI investigation? Because it's a sworn affidavit or does that have no impact whatsoever?
JACKSON: It has no impact at all. So what everyone has to understand, Hala, is that there are legal implication and there are political
implications. And here's the bottom-line. You have a judiciary committee. That committee is responsible for sending nominees before the full Senate.
The judiciary committee has 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats, that means whatever the 11 Republicans want, they get because they have the votes.
And so now withstanding this specific third -- this third person's allegation or the other two, if as the president, we saw his very
inflammatory piece, everyone's a low-life, everyone's Democrat, and this is all a conspiracy.
But the reality is that they want the nomination through, even if everything is factual concerning all of the things that are said about the
judge and his misconduct, they're going to get it, because what the 11 Republicans do, Hala, is they push it before the full set which has 50
people in it, right? Excuse me, 100 senators in it and all you need are the 51 votes really for confirmation, which they have.
And so we have to understand and talking about this, no matter what the allegations are, because of the toxicity of the environment in Washington,
if the majority party wants something, they're going to get it. We'll see if they do in this instance.
GORANI: But then obviously, as you mentioned, it's not legal, it's political, it' whether or not it's politically tenable to vote in favor of
confirming Brett Kavanaugh when now there are three women coming out with allegations against him.
Let's talk a little bit about Christine Blasey Ford because she's testifying tomorrow. She's going to be questioned, not by any of the male
members of the judiciary committee, but a woman.
We have several things that have come out, so both camps are releasing documents. Brett Kavanaugh releasing his high school calendar from 1982, a
remarkable document, unusual for any teenager, I think, to so precisely report what they did on each day. And then four people on the side of
Christine Blasey Ford, signing declaration stating that Ford told them of the alleged assault before it became public.
What legal weight does that have? Or what weight does that have in the proceedings?
JACKSON: It's so interesting, because let's talk about this briefly, Hala. Again, going back to politics, we can talk law all day and twice on Sunday.
But if the Republicans want it, they're going to get it. And so what I think you're going to hear tomorrow is a narrative of Kavanaugh saying, I
did not do it. It's outrageous. We're in the twilight zone. And then you'll hear the doctor say that this is what occurred on standing by it and
you'll have her support saying she's right.
And so you have a battle of narrative. But my issue with this whole proceeding is that it's a sham. If you want to get to the truth, you call
on to people and you have them testify who have information. You just don't have the person who's accused in his piece and the person who's
accusing him stating her piece and say, OK. Let's go back and deliberate.
You have real evidence. You have others who she may have told. You have documents. You have a therapist. You have the therapist's notes. You
have other people who, you know, may have been at that proceeding, none of it, Hala. None.
GORANI: We're getting one day of testimony. So we'll see how the judiciary committee reacts. We'll also see politically whether anything
shifts, especially now with this third accuser.
Joey Jackson, thanks so much. Always great having you on the program.
JACKSON: Pleasure is mine.
GORANI: We'll speak soon. We'll be right back after a quick break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:18] GORANI: A word on Brexit. A national disaster is what Jeremy Corbyn who was the leader of the opposition party in this country, is
calling the prospect of the U.K. crashing out of the E.U. without a deal. And in a blow for Theresa May, he also said that his party will reject the
prime minister's blueprint for Brexit. The so-called "Chequers plan."
He did offer her a deal on his term though. Come back from Brussels with an agreement that includes a customs union and no hard border with Northern
Ireland and we will support it.
This is what Jeremy Corbyn said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY: Brexit is about the future of our country and our voice of interest. It's not about leadership squabbles
or parliamentary posturing.
I say this story in all sincerity and helpfulness. If you deliver a deal that includes the customs union and no hard bordering islands, if you
protect jobs, people's rights and work and environment and consumer standards, then we will support that sensible deal. A deal that would be
backed by most of businesses in the world and trade unions.
But if you can't negotiate that deal, then you need to make way for a party that can and will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And Bianca Nobilo is here. He wants a general election, doesn't he?
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, truly, the Labour Party tying the question of Brexit to try and to force a general election. But
it's not that easy because we now have the Fixed-Term Parliament Act in the U.K. so that would mean that it need to be a two-thirds majority in the
House of Parliament to call a general election, very unlikely.
Or potentially if the prime minister doesn't get a deal with the E.U. or she does and parliament votes it down, then we both know it's completely
uncharted territory, then there could be a confidence vote. If she loses that, which would require some of her own MPs voting with Jeremy Corbyn,
then that would precipitate a general election.
GORANI: Everything is possible though at this stage because it's chaos. There's so many different visions for where the country should go, even
within Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May's own parties.
NOBILO: Yeah. It's like mine is split among split, among split. It's closest you look, you can see another fracture almost within these
political parties. And today, we had outlined in such a strong way the difference of trajectories that Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May envisioned
for this country. You have the prime minister saying that she wants Brexit version to be pro-business, unequivocally slashing corporation tax down to
17 percent and you have the labor party wanting to renationalize public services, some major industries like water and hike corporation tax, labor
indicating that there could be a second referendum with perhaps a remain option, Theresa May saying what is the idea of Brexit, we'd have to walk
away without a deal because such --
GORANI: One wonder is, can't help but wonder, if there was a centrist party somewhere in the middle, a politician, man, woman, whatever who can
get people excited about something in the middle. It seems like an opportunity for that.
NOBILO: There has been plenty of talk about it that looked that have to be very involved in these discussions as they are a centrist party as well.
But there's been talk of moderate politicians from both the labor side and the conservative side perhaps joining something like that. It doesn't seem
like it's happening right now, because there's plenty of sort of backroom conversations about it going --
GORANI: It's not like in France where you can just create a party overnight. This is a completely different system here. Ala Macron kind
of.
All right. Bianca Nobilo, thank you very much, as always.
Coming up, the motorized something completely different, something light. The motorized scooter craze is getting hotter across America. However,
despite the levity, there have been some issues with safety. We'll explore that with Samuel Burke, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:44] GORANI: We're all aware of the risks of global warming, but one Dutch designer is getting really creative to raise awareness. Take a look
at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAAN ROOSEGAARDE, DUTCH ARTIST: I was trained as a traditional artist, but I was raised by a scientist. I've always been surrounded by science and
that way and technology. When I was painting or sculpturing, it always felt very static. So then the notion of technology came in, software,
microchips, LEDs. And for me it was a way to make my own world less brutal, less harsh and more open and more interactive. That's the beauty
of technology. It became way more immersed and it's more like a second layer.
I really take global challenges like pollution or rising sea level or Co2 and try to transform it into something more hopeful and more beautiful and
also more driven.
My bicycle path which charge a daytime by the sun and glow at night. Or the smog free tower would suck a polluted air and create a clean air parks.
Large part of the Netherlands is below sea level, so without the system of dikes, of the palms, of the windmills, of the wardrobe management, we would
actually hear, we would -- we will drop.
Technology create a thinking is already in the DNA of the landscape I grew up in. That says a lot about our identity as a country but it also says a
lot about my identity as a maker.
Border lights is actually sort of layer of light and humidity which shows how high the water level would be if we stop, if we stop investing a new
idea or if we stop thinking about the future.
Basically you have high density LEDs and you have a lens use at the right angle and sort of the flat surface and you have a computer, like a PC with
code which creates the sign moreover, so that generates the movement of the light. And the idea is that you make sure that the frequencies sort of
fall into each other so you get like one big wave.
And then you have the humidity here to make sure that when the lights hits the humidity, it becomes visible, because lightning, if it hit something it
becomes visible.
And we launched it in Amsterdam, in Paris, London, United Nations and New York, 60,000 people showed up in Amsterdam. And they were actually talking
about water. So some were a bit scared because they experienced floods in their previous years. But others were more mesmerized of virtual reality
and augmented reality.
But I think that it's real, you touch it, you can feel it, you can experience it together. Technology jumping out of the computer screen and
creating these collective experience. That's, I think, the true power of effect.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right. There you have it. Now, we were talking about e- scooters, Samuel. We've been covering this a lot. And it's great that they exist, but they can also be quite dangerous. You've been looking into
that.
SAMUEL BURKE, CNN BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: Hala, they are possibly great for the environment, incredibly fun to ride, until you
crash.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[14:55:06] BURKE: The alarm is starting to sound on the e-scooter invasion, a two-wheel collision at tops speed.
Another scene, paramedics tending to the injured downed by an e-scooter. Victor San Andres was riding last June in New York when he says his e-
scooter brakes locked up.
VICTOR SAN ANDRES, E-SCOOTER CRASH VICTIM: So basically I went face first.
BURKE: And where did you land?
SAN ANDRES: On the ground with my face on the ground. It was terrible. I had like really bad lacerations on my face.
BURKE: He says a bystander found him unconscious and helped him the few blocks to his house. Were you wearing a helmet?
SAN ANDRES: I was not wearing a helmet.
BURKE: Why not?
SAN ANDRES: Because I didn't think I was -- I was never going too fast.
BURKE: Doctors and lawyers are seeing crashes like his every day. Some are pushing back accusing these scooter startups of putting profits over
rider safety.
DR. FORD VOX, PHYSICIAN, SHEPHERD CENTER: We're seeing all sorts of particularly egregious accidents occurring due to these devices themselves
simply not holding up, brakes not working, wheels falling off, just very basic stuff.
BURKE: And e-scooter riders can be hard to spot on the road. Last month in Cleveland, a driver struck and killed a 21-year-old woman. The driver
was under the influence and charged with homicide.
VOX: I've already had one patient who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.
BURKE: While no official stats exist, some E.R. say they're seeing an influx of e-scooter related injuries. Cedar-Sinai Hospital in California
told us, patients are regularly coming in now requiring urgent surgery and because the devices are so new, insurance policies may not cover any
resulting medical bills.
In the past year, California based Bird, has launched sharable e-scooters rented via smartphone apps in more than 40 cities worldwide and is now
valued at an eye popping $2 billion.
TRAVIS VANDERZANDEN, CEO, BIRD: The goal of Bird is to reduce car traffic and trips. People have been trying to find ways to get American's out of
cars for a long time and we think Bird can have a big impact.
BURKE: Bird says users should be 18 or older, follow local traffic laws and should wear a helmet. Critics say, riders routinely break those rules.
In a statement, Bird told CNN, safety is our top priority. For those involved in any incidents with Bird scooters, we strongly recommend
reporting these to Bird so we can take necessary action on our platform.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURKE: Hala, so much of this comes down to the fact that cities just aren't prepared for these scooters. People have found a new method of
transportation, but there just aren't the lanes there to give them that space.
GORANI: I was in Germany and there are lanes for bicycles. They're used to that. London is different, so -- and I know they'll be introducing this
on London soon.
Thanks very much, Samuel Burke, for that.
That's going to do it for us here. Thanks for watching HALA GORANI TONIGHT. Do stay with CNN, a lot more in our top news stories after the
break with "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
