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Hearing is Over for Kavanaugh and Ford; Votes Are Next in Line for Lawmakers; Pompeo To Meet With North Korea's Kim Jong-un Next Month; SEC Sues Elon Musk For Misleading Tweet; Emotional Raw Testimony At Kavanaugh Hearing; Erdogan In Berlin; Typhoon Trami Projected To Hit Mainland Japan. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired September 28, 2018 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, BRETT KAVANAUGH'S ACCUSER: I convince myself that because Brett did not rape me, I should just move on and just pretend that it happened.
BRETT KAVANAUGH, SUPREME COURT NOMINEE: I have never done this to her or to anyone. That's not who I am. It is not who I was. I am innocent of this charge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN HOST: Setting a tone for a historic day on Capitol Hill. President Trump's Supreme Court nominee calls his Senate committee hearing a national disgrace while his views at the hearing and while the woman accusing him of sexual assault testifies.
That's our top story. Hello, and welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Natalie Allen. We appreciate you joining us. This is CNN Newsroom.
It was indeed a contentious and emotional day on Capitol Hill, but the end could be in sight for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Javanaugh. The judiciary committee will vote on his confirmation Friday with the full Senate vote as early as next week.
Several senators though are still undecided after this woman Christine Blasey Ford testified she is 100 percent certain Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her 36 years ago. She says he and a friend pushed her into a bedroom and locked the door at a party.
She says Kavanaugh held her down, groped her and tried to take off her clothes while covering her mouth. One senator ask about her most enduring memory from the attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORD: Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter. The uproarious laughter between the two and they're having fun at my expense.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: And you never forgotten that laughter. You never forget them laughing at you.
FORD: They were laughing with each other.
LEAHY: And you were the object of the laughter?
FORD: I was underneath one of them while the two laughs. Two friends having a really good time with one another.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: That he says with decades ago, and this was Thursday Kavanaugh came out swinging almost yelling at senators during parts of the hearing. He was forceful in declaring his innocence, and at times choked up during his opening statement.
Kavanaugh said the process had destroyed his family and pointed the finger right at Democrats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAVANAUGH: This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fuel to the parent pan-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons, and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups. This is a circus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Let's talk more about this with David Gergen. David is a CNN senior political, he's also the former advisor to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. David, thanks much for your time.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Thank you, Natalie.
ALLEN: First, you assessment at Professor Ford's testimony and Judge Kavanaugh's regarding the alleged sexual assault that was on the table to be discussed.
GERGEN: It has been one of the most dramatic days we've had in American public life in the last few years. I'm afraid it's also been one of the most divisive moments we've seen. What started out to be a hearing that was seeking truth to send and eventually into a partisan brawl revealing the deep poisonous differences in our politics right now.
How is it all going to come out, I must tell you, I think that hear in -- and the District of Columbia in D.C. the accuser, Mrs. Ford gave a very compelling testimony and that was and she seem to be winning the day and then Judge Kavanaugh came in for the second half of the day.
He was fierce, he was determined, defiant and he even score, one is a political draw here Washington. I think out on the countryside beyond Washington were likely to find is that many men will stick with Judge Kavanaugh with women who will overwhelmingly support Mrs. Ford and that's going to leave -- we're on the edge of the decision in the Senate, probably in the next three or four days.
[03:05:02] We'll have a vote in the committee are likely on Friday, but then it's likely be early next week when the vote in the full Senate occurs. It looks now as if Judge Kavanaugh is going to be confirmed. But it's going to be a great expense to public support of the court.
Even though they wind in a draw, there is -- there remains a cloud over Justice Kavanaugh's head.
ALLEN: Right.
GERGEN: This is not been dispelled and I that's going to be a real trouble down the road for the Supreme Court and for him.
ALLEN: Right. Let's talk about that. She said she was no one's pun. Kavanaugh, though, differently. He expressed heated anger. He was in sense really at the process that he was accused of this and he directly blamed Democrats even mentioning the Clintons. How did he come across to you during that time and does this claim have merit?
GERGEN: Well, I think that -- I think there were some of his claim that had merit and then that is his argument that he had been badly hurt and his family had been badly hurt by this accusation. It came from very late in the process. I think he has every reason to be angry about that.
But what he displayed in the process was a belligerent that was so contradicted of what he had. The earlier appearance of Judge Kavanaugh is seem like a choir boy in his earlier public appearances. We kept hearing in these various investigations and with people weighing in that actually when he had something to drink he became aggressive and belligerent.
And today what we saw was, you know, someone who hadn't been drinking but he was very aggressive and very belligerent and its raised questions about two things, about his judicial temperament. This has arise partisan attack and response by nominee to the Supreme Court in anybody's memory.
And the second question that arises is, he was so angry at the Democrats at the left of this, they think he accuses them of basically sabotaging him and causing all this destruction of his family himself. The question becomes, if he is confirmed, because I think he is likely to be confirmed, he is going -- whether he will seek revenge when, you know, parties on the left--
(CROSSTALK)
ALLEN: Right.
GERGEN: -- and the spectrum come in, in front of the -- in front of the Supreme Court, is he going to look for ways to get even.
ALLEN: Right. Because he went out of his way to say he would be an impartial-- GERGEN: Yes.
ALLEN: -- justice on the Supreme Court and then we saw what happened on Thursday. So the question becomes, if he is confirmed, David, what then for the midterms, what then for the Trump administration?
GERGEN: Well, I must tell you, we'll have to wait and see, but even before Judge Kavanaugh came to these hearings today, women were sharply split. There was a huge gender. Asking whether people wanted Kavanaugh on the court or not, women by 58 to 33 said no. Twenty five percent gap this is even before these hearings.
And I think a lot of women who were there, kind of felt very sympathetic to Judge Kavanaugh, after all in this country one out of every three women apparently are sexually assaulted in some fashion along the way. That's an extraordinarily high number, and so many of those women either hiding, they suffered.
And this was, she gave them hope. She became a heroine in just a few hours today. She was very, very appealing, very human, very, you know, very authentic. You know, didn't have all the Washington airs. She just came in as a citizen to do it there. And she seems like a good neighbor.
And I think it was almost appealing to a lot of women. And there is going to be a real anger on the part women, I think in the midterms a lot of women are going to show up and vote their preference and it's not going to be for a continuation of the Judge Kavanaughs of the world (Ph).
ALLEN: David Gergen, we really appreciate your insights. It was an extraordinary day. And I just want to ask yuo one more thing.
GERGEN: Sure.
ALLEN: You know, we saw what happened in 1991 with Anita Hill also bringing sexual charges against Clarence Thomas. Do you think Professor Ford was treated anymore fair today in 2018 beside the fact that this descend into so much of a political show.
GERGEN: I must tell you that sadly I believe she was treated less fairly than Anita Hill and that cause a real storm as you well know. Anita Hill when she made her allegations the White House of George H.W. Bush ordered the FBI to conduct an investigation over what she was saying. It took three days, went quickly, but it help to clarify.
[03:09:55] That there is no FBI investigation. The White House has refuse to do that in the current situation. Anita Hill was able to have some witnesses, not enough but she had some witnesses to come and testify on her half -- on her behalf.
Mrs. Ford has not been accorded that favor. She has nobody, and she has witnesses, at one strong witness witness would like to call and the good committee has said no. So the bottom line is there are a lot of women who feel that unbelievably after 25 years we haven't made much in advance as we should have. We may seem to be behind. ALLEN: Thank you so much again--
(CROSSTALK)
GERGEN: Thank you.
ALLEN: -- for your insights, David Gergen. Thanks.
Well, this next story broke following the hearing, the highly respected American Bar Association is urging the Senate to delay its vote of Kavanaugh until there is an FBI investigation.
The group's president says this. "Each appointment our nation's highest court, as with all others, is simply too important to rush to a vote. Deciding to proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate's reputation but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court."
So let's take a look at the map. Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, assuming no Democrats vote for Kavanaugh two Republicans would have to vote against him to defeat his nomination.
Four senators are currently undecided. On the fence, Republican Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia also undecided.
Our Phil Mattingly has more of what may transpire on Capitol Hill in the coming hours.
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Republicans are moving forward. Obviously everyone of them was staring would rap (Ph) attention at the hearing just like pretty much everybody else in the country gripping testimony from both Christine Blasey Ford, and from the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
But after that testimony, it was over more than eight hours, committee members sitting there witnesses testifying of the members I'm told back in their offices watching, Republicans still plan to move forward. They had a private meeting in the capital after the hearing to weigh their options going forward for leaders to take temperature members and they decided the Judiciary Committee will continue its plan to vote on Friday on the nomination.
Now, key individual to watch on that committee, Senator Jeff Flake. He still is undecided. He still has not made up his mind. He told my colleague Kristen Wilson after the meeting today that he had more doubts than certainty about what was going to happen next.
Even if they don't have the votes on the committee Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell telling members behind closed doors, I'm told, they're going to move forward to the floor. Right now a procedural vote is tentatively planned for Saturday at noon.
So what does this all mean? Well, at this point in time Republicans do not have the votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. Republicans could have the votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh.
There's a couple Democrats who may vote with them as well. But those votes haven't committed yet, so Republicans are basically taking a gamble. They're pushing forward with the President support, with the vice president support taking what Brett Kavanaugh's testimony meant to them at least as a sign that it's time to push forward.
Will it work out? Well, we'll have to wait and see. We're going to have first sign at 9.30 when judiciary committee meets.
ALLEN: The showdown between Ford and Kavanaugh is captivating this country and highlighting the deep divisions along party lines and you could see that clearly during Thursday's hearing on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: If you wanted the FBI investigation you could have come to us. What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold his seat open and hope you win in 2020. You said that, not me. You got nothing to apologize for it.
When you see Sotomayor and Kagan, tell them that Lindsey that all. Because I voted for them. I would never do them what you've done to this guy, this is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics.
And if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wanted done what you done to this guy.
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: Mr. Chairman, let me be clear, I did not hide Dr. Ford's allegations. I did not leak her story. She asked me to hold it confidential, and I kept it confidential as she asked.
She apparently was stalked by the press felt that what happened. She was forced to come forward and her greatest fear were realized -- was realized. She's been harassed. She's had death threats. And she's had to flee her home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Judge Kavanaugh, would you support an FBI investigation right now?
KAVANAUGH: I will do whatever the committee wants to pursue.
[03:15:01] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think that's the best thing for us to do? You want to answer?
KAVANAUGH: Look, senator, I said I wanted
Personal do you think that's the best thing for us to do answer looks I said I wanted hearing and I'd said I was welcome anything. I'm innocent. This thing was held -- held when it could've been presented in the ordinary way. It could've been held and handled confidentially at first which was what Dr. Ford's wishes were as I understand it, and wouldn't have calls this like destroyed my family like this ever has.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ALLEN: Mr. Kavanaugh didn't say anything more about an FBI investigation. President Trump was apparently a big fan of Kavanaugh's fiery approach.
Jeff Zeleny has reaction from the White House.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President from his urging the Senate to take a vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Now this comes on the heels of a day of riveting testimony here in Washington that captivated the president as well, yet virtually no events on his public schedules as he was in the residence of the White House all day long watching this unfold.
And this is what he saying in a tweet today. He says this. "Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats' search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham an effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote."
Now the president I'm told is going to be taking a hands on approach to some of those undecided Republican senators. Now there could be a vote becomes as early as today, of course there could not be, as well.
But I'm told about one key turning point. President Trump found the testimony Thursday morning from Christine Blasey Ford very credible, even compelling and was uncertain how the rest of the day would unfold.
But once he heard the anger in Judge Kavanaugh's voice, once he heard him pushed back so hard in that 45-minute statement he changed his tune and he calls some allies on Capitol Hill we saw Senator Lindsey Graham go after the Democrats and that changed everything.
So no question Judge Kavanaugh tweet as he wrote himself was designed for the audience of one, that was the president, keeping the president's support for him was key to potentially tuning this nomination around.
Still an open question of course if those undecided voter senators will stay on and will support him but that's what the White House is hoping for today.
ALLEN: And that was what was going on inside the Capitol Hill. Let's take you now outside at the capital. Protest across the United States took place. People rally for and against the Supreme Court justice nominee on Thursday.
Protesters marching through the streets of Washington they are demanding that Kavanaugh's accuser Christine glossy Ford be believed.
(CROWD SINGING)
ALLEN: At the same time counter protesters in California carried signs, reading "confirm Kavanaugh" and "I stand with Brett." Also in Washington police arrested protesters blocking the roadway that runs between the Supreme Court and Capitol Hill. We will have much more on a contentious hearing. Just ahead here, including reaction from a Yale classmate of Brett Kavanaugh.
Plus, Mrs. Ford isn't the only person with accusation against Kavanaugh. What other women are saying about sexual conduct ahead here. You're watching CNN Newsroom.
[03:20:04] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dr. Ford, with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?
FORD: One hundred percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One hundred percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: None of these allegations are true?
KAVANAUGH: Correct.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No doubt in your mind?
KAVANAUGH: Zero. One hundred percent certain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: All right there. President Trump may have been happy with Kavanaugh's performance but not everyone was.
CNN's Chris Cuomo spoke with a former classmate of Kavanaugh from his days at Yale.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNNE BROOKES, BRETT KAVANAUGH'S CLASSMATE: A number of my Yale colleagues and I were extremely disappointed in Brett Kavanaugh's characterization of himself and the way that he evaded his excessive drinking question. There is no doubt in my mind that while at Yale he was a big partier often drank to excess and there be a number of night where he does not remember.
In fact, I would witness to the night that he got tap into that fraternity and he was stumbling drunk in a ridiculous costume saying, really dumb thing and I can almost guarantee that there is no way that he remembers that night.
And it's unfair that he kept flipping the question too but I studied real hard, but I played sport. All of us in that circle played sports.
In fact, both Liz Swisher and I played two sports. We were on varsity in both sports and were starters. And drinking to excess was the big thing on Saturday night. So it wasn't every night. It was one night.
And it's just really disappointing, there were a lot of e-mails and a lot of texts flying around about how he was lying to the Senate judiciary committee today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Well, allegations are coming out against Kavanaugh from two other women.
CNN's Brian Todd has this look at the accusers Julie Swetnick and Deborah Ramirez.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Their names came up during the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh. Two other Kavanaugh accusers. One is Julie Swetnick who's lawyer says he's heartened that Senator Dianne Feinstein read her allegations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEINSTEIN: She recounted seeing Kavanaugh engage and I quote, "in abusive and physically aggressive behavior toward girls."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: In a declaration released through her lawyer Swetnick claims Kavanaugh was present at a high school party around 1982 where she was the victim of a gang rape. She did not identify Kavanaugh as one of her attackers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIE SWETNICK, BRETT KAVANAUGH'S ACCUSER: From what I experience firsthand, I don't think he belongs on the Supreme Court. And I just want the facts to come out and I wanted to be just, and I want the American people to have those facts and judge for themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: Swetnick's lawyers tell CNN she watched Thursday's hearing from a private location. There's Deborah Ramirez in an interview with the New Yorker, Ramirez accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a party at Yale University in the 1980s.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEINSTEIN: She recalls pushing him away and then seeing him laughing and pulling his pants up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: Kavanaugh vehemently denies both women's allegations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAVANAUGH: I've never sexually assaulted anyone not in high school, not in college, not ever. The Swetnick thing is a joke, that is a farce.
(END VIDEO CLIP) [03:24:59] TODD: Lawyers for both Swetnick and Ramirez have been sparring with Republicans on the judiciary committee. The Republicans accusing the women's lawyers of stonewalling request for information.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they have made no attempt to substantiate their claims.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: The lawyers for the women denying that, saying they want to testify. Now, a key question will the judiciary vote still schedule for Friday and the full Senate vote slated for Tuesday, will these two accusers ever appear in the Senate?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
A.B. STODDARD, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, REAL CLEAR POLITICS: I don't think there's any chance that Republicans are going to give another forum like this to the other two accusers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: Analyst say Senate Republicans have viewed Ford as the most credible accuser. Swetnick was herself accused of domestic violence in Florida in the early 2000. An ex-boyfriend alleging she threatened to harm his family. The case was dismissed and Swetnick's lawyer claims the ex-boyfriend has no credibility.
Still, Republicans would likely to zero in on that episode if she justifies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STODDARD: Her entire past is on the table and Republicans will take every opportunity to go over every liability she has in her past, in her testimony, any holes, any character and credibility questions, and they use that to shoot her down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: There's another woman whose information could shed new light on these allegations. A lawyer for Elizabeth Razor, an ex-girlfriend of Mark Judge's, the man allegedly in the room when the incident with Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh allegedly took place says that she is willing to share her information with the FBI or the Senate judiciary committee.
Razor says that Judge told her of an incident where he and other young men took turns having sex with a drunk woman. Razor says that Judge regarded the incident as consensual and she says she has no information that Brett Kavanaugh took part in that incident.
Right now there's no indication that Elizabeth Razor or Mark Judge is going to appear before the judiciary committee. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
ALLEN: Well, all of that said, we'll have the most dramatic moments from both the judge and Ms. Ford right after this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dr. Ford, with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?
FORD: One hundred percent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: We'll tell you how Kavanaugh responded to that same question and the moment that brought him to tears. That's next here from CNN Newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALLEN: Welcome back. You are watching CNN Newsroom, live from Atlanta. We appreciate you being with us. I'm Natalie Allen.
Here are top stories. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his trip to Pyongyang, North Korea to plan a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un will take place next month.
[03:30:03] Pompeo says negotiators from both sides are well into a diplomatic process and he hopes an agreement to denuclearize North Korea will be reached.
The British Prime Minister Theresa May is being slammed on Brexit by her former top diplomat. In the Daily Telegraph conservative M.P. Boris Johnson wrote an op-ed entitled, my plan for a better Brexit. He calls the Prime Minister strategy's immoral and intellectual humiliation for the country.
Innovator Elon Musk is being sued for fraud by the U.S. during an exchange commission. In August, the Tesla CEO, tweeted he has secured funding to take the company private, sending the stick up nearly 9 percent, but the FCC says, Musk had not even discuss funding with anyone.
Back to our top story. The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Friday. If Republicans get enough votes, he could be confirmed by the full Senate early next week. That confirmation anything, but certain. After an incredible hearing Thursday featuring Kavanaugh and the woman accusing him of sexual assault Christine Blasey Ford. Here is a look at some of the key moments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, KAVANAUGH'S ACCUSER: I am here today not because I want to be and terrified. I am here because I believe it's my civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school. I was pushed on to the bed and Brett got on top of me have any public cabinet and I were in high school I was assigned to the dead and Brett on top of me. He began running his hands over my body and grinding into me. I yelled hoping that someone downstairs might hear me.
And I tried to get away from him (inaudible). Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes and he had a hard time because he is very inebriated, and because I was wearing a one piece bathing suit underneath my clothing. I believe he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help when I did, Brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from yelling. This is what terrified me the most and it had the most lasting impact on my life. It is hard for me to breathe. I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is the strongest memory you have, the strongest memory of the incident. Something you cannot forget. Take whatever time you need.
BLASEY FORD: Indelible, in the hippocampus is the laughter, the apparatus laughter between the two and their having fun at my expense.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am asking you to address this new defense mistaken identity directly. Dr. Ford with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?
BLASEY FORD: 100 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 100 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My I ask Dr. Ford, how did you get to Washington?
BLASEY FORD: Airplane.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. I asked that because it has been reported by the press that you would not submit to an interview with the committee, because of your fear of flying. Is that true?
BLASEY FORD: I was willing and hoping that they would come to me, but then I realize is an unrealistic request.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It would have been a quicker trip for me.
(LAUGHTER)
BLASEY FORD: So, that was certainly what I was hoping. Was to avoid having to get on an airplane, but I eventually was able to get up the (inaudible) with the help of some friends and get on the plane.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you are here in the mid-Atlantic area back in August, end of July -- August. How did you get here?
BLASEY FORD: Also by airplane. I come here once a year during the summer, I did this with my family. I'm sorry not here, I go to Delaware.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. In fact you fly fairly frequently for your hobbies and your -- you had to fly for your work is that true?
BLASEY FORD: Correct. Unfortunately.
BRETT KAVANAUGH, NOMINATED AS UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT: I will not be intimidated in the withdrawing from this process, you tried hard, and you had given it your all. No one can question your effort. But your coordinated and well-funded effort to destroy my good name and destroy my family will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. You may defeat me in the final vote, but you'll never get me to quit, never.
[03:35:03] I'm here today to tell the truth, I have never sexually assaulted anyone, not in high school, not in college, not ever.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We hear from the witnesses for the FBI is not interviewing them at isn't giving us any facts. So all we have to say.
KAVANAUGH: You are interviewing me. You are interviewing me. You are doing it Senator. I am sorry to interrupt, but you are doing it. There is no conclusions reached.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what you're saying. If I understand it, is that the allegations by Dr. Ford, Ms. Ramirez and Ms. Swetnick are wrong?
KAVANAUGH: That is emphatically what I'm saying, emphatically. The Swetnick thing is a joke. That is a farce.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you like to say more about it?
KAVANAUGH: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just say this, if you, Judge Kavanaugh, turns Don McGahn and to this committee and say for the sake of my reputation, my family name and to get to the bottom of the truth of this, I'm not going to stay and be an obstacle to an FBI investigation. I would hope that all members of the committee would join me in saying were going to abide by your wishes and we will have an investigation.
KAVANAUGH: I welcome whatever the committee wants to do, because I am telling the truth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to know what you want to do.
KAVANAUGH: I am telling the truth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to know what you want to do.
KAVANAUGH: I am innocent. I am innocent of this charge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then you are prepared for an FBI investigation?
KAVANAUGH: They don't reach conclusion. You reach the conclusion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, they do investigate the questions. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you want the FBI investigation, you could have
come to us. What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold his seat open and hope you win it 2020, you said that, not me. This is the most unethical sham since I had been in politics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Joining us to talk more about it. CNN legal analyst Areva Martin. Areva, thanks so much for coming in, we appreciate it. First I want to get your assessment on both testimonies. She was soft- spoken and appeared earnest, a bit fragile even, shaken perhaps by what she was wanting to do before a country, he on the other hand, angry, livid being accused that he was having his family name tarnished forever, was either more believable?
AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well, no doubt Dr. Ford was very credible. She was even told she was appropriately emotional. She didn't try to embellish on the facts. Her body language and you know the way she presented her testimony all spoke to someone who is incredibly credible. And I think Brett Kavanaugh, when he was talking about the impact that you know, the allegations have had on him and his family. He was so was speaking from a place of pain.
Now, I think his testimony went off the rails when he got political. He brought in the Clintons when he talked about, you know the star investigation. When he attacked the Democratic Senators. That is when -- really was sitting here thinking as a judge is already an appellate court and who is looking to become a judge on the highest court in the land and you have a question where is this judicial temperament. This composure that you would expect to see from someone seeking to be, you know, up on a high score.
So I don't he did himself any service by being so combative by being you know that at times very angry. A very hostile and sometimes even belligerent with the Democratic Senators.
ALLEN: Right, the way he was even turning his pages. Each time this getting angry and angry with the comments and blaming out a left-wing conspiracy for all of it. He said he had endured, but will that be, Areva, a factor in with this committee as they vote on whether he should be confirmed?
MARTIN: You know, unfortunately Natalie, I think both sides vote Democratics -- Senators as well as Republican Senators went to these hearings with their minds already made up. There was already so much testimony and information, you know, public made publicly available in the media. I'm not certain that there was anything either of those witnesses could have said that would change their minds of anyone.
However I don't think -- I would like to think that the two critical women GOP Senators Susan Murkowski, Lisa Collins that you know, Susan Collins, I am sorry. Susa Collins and Lisa Murkowski, they would have to have been moved by Dr. Ford's testimony. I don't think any woman could have sat there, listen to that testimony and not felt like they -- they themselves can imagine that being them, their daughters, their sisters, your coworker, some woman all I think all women knows someone who's been in that position or something very similar to that and you do remember it.
[03:40:11] So I'd like to think that this was a teachable moment for the entire country. Told us so much about rape culture about how women are treated that maybe those two GOP Senators. Maybe they softened. Maybe they now prepared to say look at conservative judge should be on the Supreme Court but not this judge.
ALLEN: Well, other than basically Areva, he said she said what he think that testimony Thursday accomplished toward getting to the truth. A lot of voters might have said OK. She was believable that he was Adamant, it did not happen.
MARTIN: Natalie that is why we needed that FBI investigations. That is why we need a subpoena issued for individuals like Mark Judge. Look at what happened today. We heard Dr. Ford say that Mark Judge was in the room. This is an eyewitness that she put in the room at the time the she says Brett Kavanaugh tried to rape her. Who better to have been sitting there today than Mark Judge.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has the ability to issue a subpoena and supports them to come in and to give testimony under oath. They didn't do that. So, it really begs the question as to whether this entire process was designed to get the truth or was it just designed, you know as a sham hearing and you saw as the day wore on, the Republicans stop using Rachel Mitchell. They said they are going to give her all their time and she was going to ask all the questions and I think what happened as they saw the testimony wasn't going very well for them. So rather than focus on getting at the truth. They just started getting very partisan political speeches.
ALLEN: Right to add it was definitely hard to follow the way that was set up. She even indicated that, didn't she? During the hearings so it will be interesting to see what happens next and how history will rise on what we witnessed with so many people were riveted to on Thursday. We thank you for your insight Areva Martin.
MARTIN: Thanks Natalie.
ALLEN: We will of course be covering it. At the very start this Friday morning as we push on here.
Turkey's President arrived in Berlin to a potentially icy reception. We will have a live report on what is behind that, coming up.
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ALLEN: Airline passengers in the tiny Pacific ocean nation of Micronesia or (inaudible) at the potential tragedy was aborted Friday all 47 people on board that air New Guinea flight there in the waters survive after the Boeing 737 landed short of the runway at the airport and shook (inaudible) and crashed into the sea. Passenger Bill James described it.
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BILL JAMES, PASSENGER: I thought we landed on until I looked there is a hole on the plane, the water is coming in and I thought -- this is not the way it is supposed to happen. We came in low, we came in very low and unfortunately the flight attendants panic. They are yelling and I was trying to call for help, the best I could. But, you know, I called my wife and she drive and (inaudible).
Unfortunately my injuries is like, the head injury, but there are some pretty sever ones.
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ALLEN: The boats on that plane had small fishing boats to thank dale came around to rescue people. They were all checked out hospital. No one, you can believe this was seriously hurt. How about that one.
Well, the U.N.'s human rights council voted Thursday to prepare evidence of human rights abuses and possible genocide targeting Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims. 700,000 were forced to leave due to violence involving the military at the United Nations called ethnic cleansing. Evidence gathered could lead to criminal charges. Pakistan's ambassador to the U.N. says, it is unfortunate Myanmar's de facto head of government, (inaudible) he has to be pressured to do the right thing.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) knew about this -- all of this atrocities that were describe as a genocide back in the 1990's also teaching you the visa processing is the world's religions in the 1990s. And it is our hope that she would finally accept the reality of what is happening there. It is very unfortunate you have to look at denial for so many years and it takes the (inaudible) and the OIC to come together and a hundred plus countries.
You were once the champion of human rights and freedom. Where are you now? Are you ready to speak up?
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ALLEN: Meantime, Canada's House of Commons voting unanimously Thursday to strip (inaudible) and noble peace prize Lauriat of her honorary Canadian citizenship. The motion now goes to the Canadian senate.
Palestinian authority president, Mahmoud Abbas demanding the U.S. drop its decision to recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. And he want America to reconsider cutting aid to Palestinian refugees.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (TRANSLATOR): With all these decisions. This demonstration has (inaudible) all previous U.S. commitment. And even undermine the two state solution and reveal its whole claims and concern about the military condition of the Palestinian people. It's really ironic that the American administration still chose about what they call the deal of the century.
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ALLEN: Comments thee at the U.N. Meantime the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on Iran at the U.N. using pictures and a map he said Tehran has a secret nuclear weapons facility.
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BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: What I'm about to say is not being shared publicly before. Today and this is closing for the first time, that Iran has another secret facility in Tehran, a secret atomic warehouse for storing massive amounts of equipment and material from Iran's secret nuclear weapons program.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Iran's foreign minister fire back saying no arts and craft show will ever escape that Israel is the only regime in our region with the secret and undeclared nuclear weapons program, including an actual atomic arsenal. It's time for Israel to (inaudible) up. And open its illegal nuclear weapons program to international inspectors.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Berlin, Germany this hour on a state visit there. Germany's President attended the welcoming ceremony for him, just moments ago, Mr. Erdogan will hold a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel later Friday. She is not expected to be at the table for his official state dinner. Relations between the two countries have been strained and thousands of people are set to protest the Turkish leaders visit.
[03:50:05] Atika Shubert joins us from Berlin. She will be covering it for us. Atika what is behind this strain between these two countries?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is a complicated relationship between Germany and Turkey. The two countries are closely tied. 3 million Turks actually live in Germany and it is a relationship that goes back for a very long time. The problem is that the German government has been very critical of the creeping authoritarianism of the Erdogan government and particularly in particular's been very upset at a number of German citizens that had been jailed in Turkey. What Turkey declares as members of the opposition against the government?
So Germany has been very critical of that. President Erdogan has push back very vociferously, but at the same time Germany really needs Turkey and that is because Germany made a deal with Turkey to sort of hold back a number of refugees. There is, of course, that agreement that any refugees or migrants that cross from Turkey to Greece now will be returned to Turkey and this is why it is such an important political partner, but that working relationship is tricky to try and so the fact the President Erdogan is getting a full state visit with full military honors that he got this morning is really very controversial here.
We are going to see thousands of people on the street both for and against Erdogan, not only the streets of Berlin, but also in Cologne where we expect at least tens of thousands to come out and you will be visiting there in opening a mosque, a number of members of parliament have protested saying that they will not be attending the state dinner, that they don't approve of all the pomp and circumstance around him, but nonetheless he is meeting with the President Frank- Walter Steinmeier today and he will have a working meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel later after that he will hold a press conference, Natalie.
ALLEN: All right. We will see what he get out his meetings there in Germany. Thank you Atika Shubert for us in Berlin.
We are keeping a close eye on a dangerous and powerful typhoon, yet another one. And it is expected to make landfall in Japan which is had its share of typhoons of late. Derek will be back with us, for the latest in a moment.
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ALLEN: A typhoon is projected to slam into mainland Japan this weekend and if the current forecast hold, it will hit the island south of Japan with winds of 185 kilometers an hour, beginning Friday night. Derek Van Dam joins us now with more about typhoon Trami and Derek, my goodness, Japan's probably like, enough already.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Enough already, because this has the potential to be the fifth landfall in typhoon since June, they had nearly a dozen close calls on it. I mean this has been an extremely active pacific hurricane, well typhoon season I should say for this part of the world. Let us get to the nuts and bolts of typhoon Trami.
According to typhoon warning center, 165 kilometer per hour, sustain winds, higher gust in the center circulation. The bad news about all this is that it's expected to strengthen once again over the next 24 to 48 hours. (Inaudible) island, 185 kilometer per hour winds. That is going into Saturday local time, (Inaudible) this is the area where we are concerned about wind gust and excess of 200 kilometers per hour at times and on top of this, we have potential for extremely heavy rain.
[03:55:09] Now, if you recall, in between all the typhoons that we had over the past several months, there has been heat wave after heat wave that unfortunately had been deadly as well. So, it has been an extremely difficult stretch of weather and natural catastrophes across Japan. This will be no different, unfortunately we are letting ourselves up for another major typhoon.
In fact the region Hiroshima, (inaudible), the Osaka region. Goss weather conditions really starting to deteriorate into Sunday morning and in Tokyo, you also feel the outer rain bands and other wind bands I should say, from this particular system as well by Monday morning.
A lot of tropical moisture interacting with this and that is going to send wave after wave of energy and precipitation across these region. That means the potential for over 250 to 300 millimeters in locally higher amounts, remember this is a mountainous part of the world. So the potential for landslide and mudslide exist. And would you believe me if I said there was yet another typhoon
waiting in its wings, something were monitoring several days away, but that is just a heads up to say that there is the potential for other typhoon over the western pacific. Hopefully it does not head towards Japan.
Taking you on the other side of the world right now this is the Mediterranean and they have what is called a Medicain that is forming, this is a term used loosely to meteorological world, it is a hurricane or at least a cyclone type feature that forms in the Mediterranean, produce a strong and extremely heavy rain. That is coming at you if you are at Southern Greece.
Look at this wind forecast map, anywhere south of Athens all the way to Istanbul, we have the potential for wind gust over a 100 kilometers per hour. This weekend as it finally moves on shore, this will also be a heavy rainmaker as well for that part of the world so really a one, two punch. We got Japan on our radar and we also got Greece.
ALLEN: You mentioned, (inaudible) Island that is also what Japan named that asteroid where it landed, we are going to talk about that now. Derek, thanks for that.
Two robot rovers has send back images now from a moving asteroid, 280 million km from earth. Still pictures released by Japan aerospace exploration agency reveal the surface of the Ryugu asteroid. There could have been boulders and flat areas on it. Moving images all 15 frames of them which we have loop right here are taken from a rover standing on the asteroid. It is so credible, emissions go -- it is kind of big, to learn more about the origin of the solar system. Yes, all right, thank you for watching CNN Newsroom. Thank you Melina for these shot right here and max Foster is up next in in London. See you.
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