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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Combs Acquitted of Most Serious Charges of Racketeering Conspiracy and Sex Trafficking; Combs Found Guilty of Two Counts of Transportation to Engage in Prostitution; Sean "Diddy" Combs Denied Bail; Sean "Diddy" Combs Denied Bail; House GOP Stalls for Time as White House Pushes to Flip Hardliner Holdouts; Explosion at California Fireworks Warehouse; Pardoned January 6 Rioter Joins Justice Department; Kohberger Pleads Guilty to Idaho Student Murders. Aired 8- 9p ET

Aired July 02, 2025 - 20:00   ET

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

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Do you think he'll suspend the tariffs again?

DAN IVES, GLOBAL HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY, WEDBUSH SECURITIES: Yes, I mean, I think some he could hardline on; others, he'll continue to push back on as we go into Labor Day. That continues to be our focus.

KEILAR: All right, Dan, great to get your perspective on all of this. We do appreciate it, thank you so much.

And thank you so much of joining us tonight. AC360 starts now.

[20:00:28]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER: 360": Tonight on 360, Sean Combs acquitted to the worst charges convicted of the rest and denied bail by a judge who cited the defense's own admissions of Combs' violence. The question now -- could that foreshadow the sentence he'll get.

Also tonight, the President's Big Bill stalls for hours as Republicans try to round up votes from within their own ranks.

And later, a fire in California in a warehouse full of fireworks. The explosion that followed leveled the site and left seven people unaccounted for.

Good evening, thanks for joining us. We begin with Sean Combs, who's no longer facing life in prison or anything close to it but is still behind bars tonight. That's because even though jurors in his federal trial today acquitted him of racketeering and sex trafficking. They did convict on two counts in transportation to engage in prostitution. One, involving his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura and the other in connection with an accuser not named in court, and others.

And though bail is not unheard of in such cases, ahead of sentencing this time, the judge said no. In explaining why he addressed defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, telling him you full-throatedly in your closing argument, told the jury that there was violence here and domestic violence is violence. And you said this is a case that did involve violence.

Now, you'll remember the defense made a point from the very start of the trial acknowledging their client's violent acts. Most infamously, this one against Cassie Ventura, caught on tape in 2016. And though it may not have factored in the verdict, it certainly did in today's bail denial and going by the judges words certainly could factor into sentencing.

None of that stopped a celebration by Combs' supporters outside the courthouse, some of whom, according to CNN's Laura Coates, doused one another with baby oil. A reference to Combs' so-called freak offs sex parties. And some fans had t-shirts referring to both that and his racketeering acquittal, which read a "Freako is not a RICO."

Inside court no shortage of drama, either. Afterwards, Combs' legal team sounded triumphant. It's a great victory for Sean Combs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC AGNIFILO, COMBS DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's a great victory for Sean Combs. It's a great victory for the jury system. You saw that the Southern District of New York prosecutors came at him with all that they had. They're not stopping but one thing stands between all of us and a prison, and that is a jury of 12 citizens. So, today is a great day. Today is a win, today is a victory of all victories for Sean Combs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Big night in any event, with much more in the story. Still to come, CNN's Kara Scannell was in court literally with a front row seat as it unfolded. She joins us from outside the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan. So what was it like when the verdict was read in court?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, when we learned that there was a verdict, Combs came out of the holding area where he is being detained and walked in, kind of gave his family a little prayer nod, which he's done repeatedly. But his lawyers had grave expressions on their faces. The jury had only deliberated for 13 hours in a trial where the testimony had spanned more than six weeks.

Now, the judge said that they had reached a verdict. He brought the jurors in, and then the foreperson from the jury stood up and was asked how they found Combs? Count one, the racketeering conspiracy. The foreperson said not guilty, at that point, Combs put his head in his hands. When the foreperson said, for count two, sex trafficking conspiracy involving Cassandra Ventura. He said, not guilty. Combs had a slight fist pump, and as he was sitting at the defense table. And then he was found guilty of this transportation for prostitution two of those charges, but acquitted on the most serious charges.

Now, in his friends and family, who were sitting in the rows directly in front of me at that first count of not guilty, they shouted out, yes. And then at the second, not guilty, they said, whew, and they made noises in the courtroom. Not enough to disturb it, but a complete release of the tension that they were clearly feeling. And after the judge had -- the jury foreman had said the verdict, he then pulled the jurors to ensure that each and every one of the 12 the eight men, the four women, this, that, this was their unanimous verdict. And at the time that they were doing that, Combs was nodding toward the jury. He had his hands in a prayer position, as though he was thanking each and every one of them.

You know, after the verdict was read. Because Combs is still in detention, he was being escorted out of the courtroom. He stopped to pause to his family, and he said to them, thank you, I love you, love you, love you. And as he turned to walk out, they erupted into applause. So, he left the courtroom with the sounds of applause. Then his lawyer spoke to the family members. They were hugging each other. They were patting each other on the back. It was pure joy in there. One of the attorneys was crying; and the spectator section, the friends and family, they started chanting, dream team, dream team at the attorneys who had just helped Sean Combs evade potentially a life sentence.

[20:05:11]

COOPER: When the judge denied bail for him, what was his reaction?

SCANNELL: So, the judge came right on the bench after this long pause, and he, out of the gate, said that he was denying bail. Combs' eyes wide and his mouth opened. He looked like he was shocked because of the significant win he had earlier in the day.

Now, the judge was saying he was not going to be released before the sentencing. His lawyers still continue to try to make the argument, saying, you know, that his young children needed parents saying that this case was unlike other cases. But the judge denied it, saying that this was a case of violence, that there was violence, that his own legal team admitted to. And at one point, Combs had waved his arms in the air as though he wanted to address the judge and Agnifilo, his attorney said, let me talk to my client, walked over to him, and then came back. And Combs did not address the judge. So clearly, they did not want him to speak at that moment.

But then when Combs was about again to leave and head back into the court, into the detention, he turned again to his family. They allowed him a moment. He leaned into them and he said, we're going to make it through this. I'll see you when I get out. I love you all, be strong.

COOPER: All right, Kara, thanks very much.

Joining us now here is former federal judge Shira Scheindlin, criminal defense attorney Arthur Aidala, and CNN anchor and chief legal analyst Laura Coates, who's been at the courthouse throughout this trial. Laura, the split verdict, what do you make of it?

LAURA COATES, CNN HOST AND CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: You know what I have to tell you that not just hindsight, but the way the presentation of evidence came in, I am not stunned that they were unable to make a full case with respect to RICO, a notoriously complex case that's usually associated with the mob, and also made the jurors actually consider a series of mini trials for each of the predicate acts, whether its kidnapping or arson or bribery and the like. And that complexity, I think, played a role in having a hung jury yesterday and today, a resolution that I think shocked the fact you go from a hung jury to now an acquittal.

But the most serious charges are now off the table and what remains are including those prostitution related charges. It's surprising for many, given the testimony overwhelmingly emotional, at times extremely compelling from not only Cassie Ventura, who was the recipient of that savage assault in that intercontinental video, or Jane, a pseudonym person who described her own trauma that the jury was unconvinced even when the prosecution said, you only need to find one instance of sex trafficking for either of these two victims to have this person convicted and they were on the stand for days.

We heard about years long relationships. They weren't convinced for a single one.

COOPER: Arthur, what do you think was the crucial part of this case for the defense?

ARTHUR AIDALA, NEW YORK CRIMINAL DETENTION ATTORNEY: Well, the cross- examination of Cassie and of Jane as they went. I mean, obviously, those are pivotal parts, right? They have really all of the powerful evidence that Cassie in the video. I just spoke to her attorney, Doug Wigdor, you know, as upset as they are about the verdict, we shouldn't forget that her civil case is kind of what led to this criminal case.

So, Wigdor bringing the civil case is what got the U.S. attorney excited to bring the criminal case. She did walk home with $30 million, but overall, Anderson I think it was the technology. The e- mails and the text messaging where they're consenting about these freak offs they're consenting to do these things. That's evidence that you can't cross-examine and the government can't fix those texts and e-mails from the alleged victims saying that they want to be participants in these actions.

COOPER: Judge, do you agree with that, that those texts were important?

SHIRA SCHEINDLIN, FORMER U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: I do, absolutely. I think consent was the big issue here. I think the jury was obviously troubled by that. And remember, in criminal cases, it's proof beyond a reasonable doubt. And there certainly would have been a reasonable doubt on that consent issue.

COOPER: And, Laura, you talked about this before, but there were alleged coconspirators who were not called. Do you think that impacted things?

COATES: Absolutely, it was one of the big questions. And it even came up during the closing arguments and the rebuttal piece, because it was kind of the big giant elephant in the room. They had named alleged coconspirators, two people, one of whom is Kristina Khorram, who is the right hand woman of Sean Combs, who has denied any wrongdoing, has not been charged with the crime. Similarly, D-Roc as well the security guard and they were one of the witnesses that were never called.

In fact, the jury heard from those who had been called who were also receiving immunity. It must have been their minds been wondering, why am I not hearing from these people? Of course, you can charge someone with conspiracy, even if it's just one defendant. Need not actually charge everyone in that indictment. That's a huge one. And they tried to clean up in the prosecution by saying we didn't call them. But you know what? They were equally available to all of us, and they could have called them.

Well, the government has the burden of proving Diddy's guilt. He is not have the burden of proving his own innocence at all.

COOPER: Judge, were you surprised that that bail was denied?

SCHEINDLIN: Sorry.

COOPER: --that bail was denied.

SCHEINDLIN: Oh, no, I'm not surprised that bail was denied because the judge heard all of this evidence in this case. And the evidence showed a lot of bad acts. Whether the jury bought it or not is a different issue but --

COOPER: And he -- and the judge is allowed to take that into--

[20:10:27]

SCHEINDLIN: Oh, sure, the judge heard about drugs. The judge heard about guns. The judge heard about a lot of -- arson, thank you. The judge heard a lot of bad things and the judge said, this is a violent person, and you're allowed to consider that because you talk you talk about the safety of witnesses and the safety of the community when you decide bail issues.

So there's two things you consider. Is this person going to return to court? Yes, I think he would have. But is he dangerous out there? Maybe, maybe he would have threatened these women.

AIDALA: And following up on that, Anderson, all of those same factors, the judge is allowed to consider in sentencing.

COOPER: Right.

AIDALA: So what I'm saying is, you know, no one's going to disagree with Marc Agnifilo. Today's a great day for Sean Combs. He avoids life in prison. He avoids a mandatory minimum of 15 years. However, the judge, everything he heard at that trial he's allowed to take --

COOPER: What's the maximum --

AIDALA: Twenty years -- he could get ten years --

COOPER: Ten years for each count. AIDALA: Ten on each one to run consecutively.

SCHEINDLIN: Yes, so that's the point. Yes, to run consecutively, which is very, very rare. Mostly sentences on different counts run concurrently. Which means if you give somebody ten years, its ten years.

COOPER: So ten years would be the probably the maximum.

SCHEINDLIN: Sure, probably.

AIDALA: Yes, I don't think --

COOPER: Do you have a sense of what -- what do you think is likely.

SCHEINDLIN: You know, that's the $64,000.00 question they say.

COOPER: Is it totally up to the judge?

SCHEINDLIN: Totally up to the judge. Absolutely, that judge will be thinking about this, I'm sure, right until this date of --

COATES: The guidelines come into play as well.

SCHEINDLIN: Yes, but he's not bound.

COATES: Right, he's a category -- right. That's an important point. He's a category one. They say in terms of no prior acts, but the judge has discretion entirely on this case.

SCHEINDLIN: Absolutely, there are something called federal sentencing guidelines. When I was there, they were mandatory then they became not mandatory. At that point, you can do whatever you want, you have full discretion.

AIDALA: And then what happens is the prosecution is going to put together like a, this is your life Sean Combs, all the positive things that the defense is going to do, that the prosecution is going to make him sound like the worst guy ever walked the planet earth. But then there's the Department of Probation, who's supposed to be objective, and they're going to give a recommendation to the judge based on other crimes, based on similar acts, even nationally. What people under those crimes would get sentenced to. But the judge is allowed to say the way he did today -- hey, Mr. Defense attorney, you owned his violence in your summation, and therefore I'm not letting him out and there's specific deterrents in the sentencing to make sure Combs doesn't do this again.

But this general deterrence where he's telling the judges, telling the world, if you commit these kinds of crimes, this is the punishment that you're going to get. And that's where I think Sean is going to get hurt.

SCHEINDLIN: So very interestingly, Agnifilo said, we'll waive the pre- sentence report from the Probation Department. We'll waive it and the judge not so fast. I'm sure he wants to hear their recommendation because that's the only neutral body.

COOPER: Laura, the defense wants to expedite the sentence.

COATES: The sentence, because they're hopeful that he'll be able to return home sooner to Star Island. I tell you, if I were the defense attorneys, I would be standing ten toes down to talk about the fact that, yes, the judge can consider all those different aspects of it, but the juries, the jury did not find compelling enough to actually convict on the elements of crime and violence. So, that's going to have to take into account here.

Also, remember, and I know I'm not projecting, I'm not speculating here. I'm just reminding people, President Trump in his first term, he had a posthumous pardon on these similar counts in a very different context, where and Mr. Johnson, very different world. But you're talking about somebody who has potentially the prerogative to act on something, and he has done so before.

And in this instance, you can believe that based on what the defense already believes is an overcharge of that RICO, that they're going to suggest somehow that this is, if they were to appeal that which they could, now. They're going to suggest, hold on a second, this was a pre-textual basis. You overcharged us strategically trying to make sure he was the worst person in the world before this judge and everyone else. And that's why there was a conviction, even on these charges as well.

Successful? Likely not, but they're going to have to do the advocacy continuously up and through sentencing. They're going to have remote hearing in the next week where the judge will hear them on having an earlier sentencing date. But you best believe any time he serves right now, right Your Honor -- can be credited to what he might ultimately get.

SCHEINDLIN: Sure, he's already served ten months, so to speak, on his sentence

COOPER: And so, that would be included?

SCHEINDLIN: Oh, absolutely, it counts, yes.

COOPER: How long do you think it would be before -- what's an expedited sentencing?

SCHEINDLIN: Well, right now its October 3rd, but it would only be expedited if they waive that pre-sentence report. I don't think the judge is going to go along with that. He wants to hear from them.

AIDALA: It's typically four months from the date of conviction or a plea.

COOPER: Why so long?

AIDALA: Because the Department of Probation, I think judge statutorily the Department of Probation gets like 90 days --

SCHEINDLIN: Ninety days.

AIDALA: Right, 90 days. So they get three months to put their report together because it's pretty thorough. I mean, it's like 70 pages, 80 pages. It's not a lighthearted thing in a case like today, they could go really deep on a case like this.

SCHEINDLIN: They will, they will.

COATES: I mean, because one of the factors is recidivism, this fancy way of saying they might commit a crime again, and also remorse. Would you consider either of those things if Sean "Diddy" Combs did not demonstrate remorse for these particular charges, as opposed to overall?

SCHEINDLIN: Not me. I would not, because there are a lot of reasons that the defendant isn't going to stand up and say, I'm sorry I did all this. There are a lot of reasons not to say that.

Now, in his case, he has admitted through the lawyer to certain things, and he certainly can say he's sorry for that. But he has to be careful because the case will be appealed, no question. He will seek bail again pending appeal.

AIDALA: And there's civil cases out there. To the judges point, the civil cases and this will hurt him to some degree. But anything he says will be used against him in the civil cases to get more money.

[20:15:54]

COOPER: Judge Scheindlin, thank you very much. Arthur Aidala as well.

AIDALA: Always a pleasure.

COOPER: Lara Coates, thanks very much. Don't miss the special edition of "Laura Coates Live" later at 11 P.M. Eastern focused on the Combs' verdict. On Saturday, new episode of "The Whole Story," the case against Diddy airs 8 P.M. Eastern time here on CNN.

Next for us tonight, Sean Combs' rise from rapper to music and fashion mogul and all the other stops on the tumultuous, sometimes violence plagued road to this moment.

And later, what it was like in court, as the man charged with slaughtering four university of Idaho students pleaded guilty, and how the victim's families are dealing with what he did and did not say in court today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:20:52]

COOPER: We're talking tonight about Sean Combs, now convicted felon awaiting sentencing. It is far for the first from the first time, though, that the man who helped define hip-hop in a generation has either been talked about or has otherwise made his mark on the world, for better or for worse. CNN's Randi Kaye has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS, AMERICAN FORMER RAPPER, RECORD PRODUCER, RECORD EXECUTIVE, AND CONVICTED FELON. And when I was growing up, I really felt that I would be somebody. I felt like I wanted to come and shake up the world.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Sean "Diddy" Combs did shake things up. After a brief stint at Howard university, he launched his music career that would earn him three Grammy wins for gold and platinum solo albums. In 1993, Combs founded his own record label, Bad Boy Records, after being fired from Uptown Records.

COMBS: So that adversity kind of pushed me in my bad boy purpose.

KAYE (voice over): Among others. Combs signed Christopher Wallace, better known as Notorious B.I.G., Combs produced hit records for him until Biggie was murdered in march 1997. That same year, at age 27, Combs released his debut album, "No Way Out," which won the Grammy for Best Rap Album.

Trouble found Combs in 1999 when he was arrested in the beating of a music executive. Combs pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of harassment. He was ordered to attend an anger management course. Later that same year, more trouble after a shooting at a Manhattan nightclub injured three club goers.

Combs stood trial, accused of firing the gun inside the club. He also allegedly tried to bribe his chauffeur into taking the blame for another gun found inside a car Combs shared with his then girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez. She was never charged, and Combs was acquitted by a jury.

COMBS: I just want to say I give all glory to God. I give all glory to God.

KAYE (voice over): The ups and downs continued, 2004 was a good year for combs. He took home another Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Combs also made his Broadway debut in 2004, in "A Raisin In The Sun," alongside Phylicia Rashad.

COMBS: I started out as an entrepreneur, and so music was one of the things that I've had success in, and then I went to apparel with Sean John and, you know, have a Revolt T.V., my own television network.

KAYE (voice over): He even invested in vodka.

COMBS: We just put out the number one vodka this year, Ciroc Apple.

KAYE (voice over): By 2017, it was clear Combs had achieved his dream of wanting to be somebody. He topped Forbes list of richest rappers with an estimated $820 million. Still years later, in 2023, another dizzying slide. That's when Combs was hit with a lawsuit by his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. She alleged shed been raped and repeatedly abused by Combs for over a decade. Combs denied the allegations, and the two settled the lawsuit. Four other civil lawsuits followed, then came the federal investigation. Authorities swarmed the star's homes in both Los Angeles and Miami, as the Department of Homeland Security began investigating claims of human trafficking involving Combs.

Combs lawyer at the time told CNN there was a gross overuse of military level force. A tumultuous life for Combs, the man formerly known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy and Love.

COMBS: I have different personalities, you know what I'm saying? Nobody knows who's coming downstairs in the morning.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Randi, there was a chance that Combs might have actually been headed to Florida tonight had he got bail.

KAYE: Absolutely, Anderson. We thought he might be on a plane by now heading here, given the verdict earlier. But then the judge denied him bail. But he does have a residence here. It's in an area called Star Island. That is an exclusive community about 80 or 90 miles south of where I am in West Palm Beach. It's a gated community. It's a man-made island in Biscayne Bay in the southern part of Miami Beach.

And, Anderson, that is the home that federal authorities had searched when the allegations started stacking up against Combs. So, we thought maybe if the judge let him out on bail, that he might want to get away from New York. It's a quick flight to Florida, get away from some of the chaos surrounding his trial. It would make sense that he would go to his house there, but right now, Anderson, we don't know when he'll be able to return to that home

COOPER: All right, Randi Kaye, thanks very much.

My next guest profiled Combs for "Vanity Fair" back in 2021, spent time with him at his home and about -- which was about three years before Combs was indicted, a little more than two years before Cassie Ventura filed her civil suit. The headline of the article, "I Got A Second Chance From Puff Daddy to Diddy to Love.

UNC at Chapel and professor and "New York Times" columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom joins us now. Also, our Kara Scannell is back as well.

So, Tressie, there are a lot of reports from inside the courtroom about Combs' demeanor during the trial. You profiled a back in 2021 that seemed really very much a part of a P.R. campaign on his part at that point.

[20:25:41]

TRESSIE MCMILLAN COTTOM, PROFESSOR, UNC-CHAPEL HILL: Yes, his behavior and his demeanor in court is pretty consistent with what I saw during the hours we spent together for that profile. You know, I went into doing that interview with a couple of questions. I am one of those people that grew up with Bad Boy. I am part of that generation. So I understood him as a cultural figure. I also understood Diddy Combs as a sort of transformational capitalist figure. But I was interested in why this rebrand, why now? And I repeatedly asked him that question when we spent time together, and it became kind of clear to me that this was sort of a tail wagging the dog situation.

The rebrand needed to happen, and he was sort of backfilling the narrative as to why, as we were kind of going along. That was certainly that was my takeaway at the time, didn't have any indication of what was to come. I will say that when the eventual bombshell allegations started to drop, it didn't feel inconsistent with the person that I had met.

COOPER: This was a rebranding where he was calling himself love, and I think showed a driver's license at one point that had that as his middle name. This was -- I mean, now we realize that, that video of him assaulting Cassie Ventura in the hotel that was in 2016. So, that was actually four years now before you interviewed. Obviously, nobody knew about or nobody publicly knew about this video that we're watching right now.

I'm wondering what you thought when you once you saw this video, realizing, I mean, he was talking to you about the #MeToo Movement back in 2021.

COTTOM: Yes, that one really stunned me. I got to say, I actually went back to make sure that I remembered this correctly. He is the one who brought up #MeToo.

So I will, you know, kind of remind everybody at this moment, we were at this intersection between #MeToo and Black Lives Matter when I met with Diddy at his home in Los Angeles, and I fully expected him to speak about Black Lives Matter, particularly his role or non-role at the time. In talking about police brutality, et cetera.

He was the one, however, who brought up #MeToo and kind of kept circling the drain.

And I remember asking him, I remember telling him that I was surprised that he was clued in to #MeToo and that he thought that it was the sort of signature, you know, social movement of the time.

I was never really satisfied with his answer as to why he thought it was important, but he really wanted to get out ahead of the questions about where he saw himself in the culture and where he thought the culture was at the time was in this was a response to #MeToo. He wanted to make the point that he thought #MeToo was important, and that that kind of behavior wouldn't continue. We spoke about it very in a very general terms, and I pressed him repeatedly on what behavior and why it affected him so much. But yes, I was very surprised by his insistence on bringing up #MeToo.

COOPER: Kara, I mean, you had an up close view of Combs for weeks over the course of the trial. What was he like in court? Because obviously, even just visually his -- I guess his hair is now is it all gray?

SCANNELL: Yes, I mean he visually looks so different than the Sean Combs that we all knew before he was arrested. And even at his first appearance in court in his arraignment, he had dark hair. He was wearing a t-shirt and athletic pants, kind of the rapper and the music mogul that you know. But then over the weeks and months leading up to this trial, his hair had turned gray.

His appearance in court was one where he was wearing khaki pants. He wore a white button down shirt with a rotating number of sweaters, crew neck sweaters over it in a couple of different colors, shades of blue and cream, and like a mustard color. So, he definitely exuded a much different image than what we know him to be, and what the jury even saw of him in some of these sexually explicit videos that the public did not see but combs was depicted in some of them.

They also, you know, heard voice memos from him that bore a contrast to the man who is sitting there quietly because he can't speak and he chose not to testify. But what we also saw, we heard a lot of testimony about how he was so in control of every detail and that as a businessman, as a performer, he was very focused on the smallest thing.

And what we saw throughout the trial was how closely he was involved with his legal team's decisions, his lawyers, before ending cross- examination of a witness, would walk over and confer with him. Some of that might have been for show for the jury, but it also he was sending notes to them repeatedly throughout the trial during cross- examinations, while the judge was speaking.

Even today, as his lawyer was making these arguments of why he should be released on bail, I saw him pass at least three Post-It notes over to his lawyer, who was addressing the judge. So, there's definitely an element here that he is someone who is in the details --

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST OF "ANDERSON COOPER 360": Yeah.

SCANNELL: -- who is involved in that, and that did also portray itself throughout this trial.

COOPER: Kara Scannell, thanks very much. Tressie McMillan Cotton, thank you as well. Appreciate it.

Coming up, we have breaking news in President Trump's signature legislation. House Republicans right now, still working to bring it to the floor. I'll speak to Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer about the bill's path to the president's desk and how Democrats plan to respond. Plus, the first time the public heard from Bryan Kohberger in his murder case, he admitted to killing four Idaho college students. We'll have more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:35:56]

COOPER: For hours now, House Republicans have stalled for time as a group of GOP hardliners have threatened to block President Trump's big spending and tax cut bill from coming to the floor. Speaker Johnson has expressed optimism that the Reconciliation Bill will pass, saying that he's telling his members, "Most of our agendas wrapped up into this legislation, so it must pass."

Joining us now is Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. Congressman, as someone who already voted against the original House version, do you believe it could actually fail this time?

REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER, (D-NJ): I don't know. They always at the end bow to Trump and I bet in the end that's exactly what they'll do right now. But for these Republicans, this is a debacle, this bill, given what it does, Anderson, right? I mean, it throws seniors and kids off assistance, right, for their healthcare. Tosses them right off. They lose their healthcare. Two-thirds of seniors rely on Medicaid for their nursing homes. We're talking to VA nursing homes. They're going to be thrown out on the street.

You're going to take food away from kids who are hungry. You're going after women's healthcare. Issue after issue, this bill is a disaster for them. It's why it's so unpopular. Even Fox News, nearly 60 percent of people say they're against this bill. So, this is just a big debacle for the Republicans.

COOPER: The Congressional Budget Office has estimated nearly 12 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 if the Senate version of this bill becomes law. I mean, what options will constituents have? I mean, will that -- obviously, that would be something I guess Democrats would expect to win on in 2024. They're doubting -- I've heard a lot of Republicans doubting the CBO numbers.

GOTTHEIMER: I mean, they can try to -- sometimes they like them, sometimes they don't like them. But the bottom line is, you're right, Anderson, you're talking about 12 million people are going to lose their healthcare, right? That's in a huge number, especially when you're talking about a lot of them are kids and seniors. You're taking food away from kids. You're taking healthcare away from women. The energy bills are going to go up about $110 a year because of what they're doing to energy.

So you add this all up, in Jersey alone, this would be equal to a $3,300 tax increase. That's what we've calculated, the impact it's going to be on every family in the state of New Jersey. That's why they want to call this thing a Big Beautiful Bill; in Jersey, we call this the big F-ed up bill because it's such a disaster for the state.

COOPER: It is remarkable. I mean, I'm old enough to remember when a lot of Republicans seem to care about deficits. It was particularly when there was a Democrat in the office. But I mean, this obviously adds a lot to the debt for future generations.

GOTTHEIMER: $3.3 trillion, right? It's right. They, as you're exactly right, Anderson, right, there's always this claim that we care about fiscal responsibility over there. And then they introduce a bill that's going to add $3.3 trillion to the debt. That's just an -- it's an astronomical number for people who claim to be fiscally responsible. And in the meantime, they're giving tax breaks to the oil and gas industry, to the coal industry. They even are giving a tax write-off if you buy a silencer for your gun, like that's what we're talking about here.

So when you actually look at what they're doing with the hard -- with hardworking Americans, their taxpayer dollars, it's outrageous. At the same time, they're doing this. They're throwing people off their healthcare. They're taking food away from hungry kids. They're making your energy bills go up because of what they're doing, it's alternative energy actually reducing the energy supply in our country. It's a disaster.

And the reason they're having such a hard time getting the votes together tonight is because they realize what a big political disaster this will be for them in November. And what's going to happen when they go home and have to face their constituents who realize they were just thrown off their healthcare.

COOPER: Yeah. Congressman, I appreciate your time tonight. Thank you.

GOTTHEIMER: Thanks so much.

COOPER: Coming up next, the man authorities say encouraged January 6th rioters to attack police gets a high-profile job with the Trump Justice Department. I'll tell you who he is and what he did on January 6th, which was caught on video. And an explosion at a fireworks warehouse causes a massive fire, forced evacuation, seven people missing. More details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:44:45]

COOPER: Seven people are still unaccounted for after massive explosion in California. This is a fireworks warehouse in Yolo County outside Sacramento, went out last night in a huge fireball, triggering evacuations for a mile around. The explosion collapsed the building, sparked other fires surrounding the factory with a combined burn area of about 80 acres.

[20:45:00]

Now, the cause is under investigation and search for missing continues. Meantime, a pardoned January 6th rioter who was charged with encouraging the mob that stormed the Capitol is now an Advisor working for the Justice Department according to The New York Times and ABC News. He's a former FBI agent named Jared Wise. That's him during the Capitol attack. He's now serving as a Counselor to Ed Martin, the Director of the so-called Weaponization Working Group, which focuses on investigating officials who prosecuted President Trump.

Now, you'll remember in May, Trump tapped Mr. Martin to head these investigations after Martin failed to secure confirmation as the top U.S. Attorney in Washington. The reason Martin's nomination derailed were concerns related to his views on the January 6th attack. In written responses to Senators under oath, Martin refused to say unequivocally whether there was -- or to say that there was violence on January 6th and would not directly answer if he believed the 2020 election was stolen.

According to a Justice Department filing, Mr. Wise, the pardon January 6th rioter turned Department of Justice Advisor, told D.C. metropolitan police officers during the attack, "You guys are disgusting. I'm former law enforcement. You're disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo. You can't see it. Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!" The filing goes on to say that when assaults against law enforcement were happening in front of Wise, he shouted in the direction of the rioters attacking the police line, "Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!"

The Times reports that it remains unclear exactly what role Mr. Wise will play as Mr. Martin's Advisor. CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment. Former Federal Prosecutor Jeff Toobin joins us now. Did you ever think you'd see a pardoned January 6th rioter, of all people, this guy working for the Justice Department?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, it's of a piece (ph) with something the president has been doing throughout his second term, which is normalizing two big lies about January 6th. The first is that Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election, which he continues to post about on social media. We don't talk about it. But to this day, and as recently as last week or this month, he has been claiming that he won the 2020 election. And the second lie is that the January 6th defendants were the good guys, that they did nothing wrong. That's why he pardoned 1,500 of them.

But so -- so this appointment is consistent with how President Trump has been conducting himself throughout this -- throughout his presidency second term. And so, it's not really a big surprise.

COOPER: I mean, if you were part of the previous administration's Department of Justice or previous administration's Department of Justice, you been there through multiple different administrations. I mean, what message does it send to rank and file members of the Justice Department, particularly those who worked on January 6th cases that this guy has now been hired by Martin?

TOOBIN: Well, remember that about two dozen of the prosecutors who brought those January 6 cases in Washington have since been fired. So, it doesn't take -- you don't have to be a psychic to figure out what the message is there. Remember also that when Attorney General Bondi, it was in her confirmation hearings and just the other day when Emil Bove, the Trump's former lawyer who's been nominated for a judgeship, both of them were asked who won the 2020 election, neither would say that Biden won. They both said that Biden was certified as the winner.

So, all of this is a continuing effort to cast doubt on the fact that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and the fact that violent crimes were committed on January 6th. All of this, like this appointment of Mr. Wise relate to those two fundamental lies that continue to be put out by this administration.

COOPER: Do you think this works? I mean, do you think history will, I mean, if you repeat this enough and you're just relentless enough to continue to push these lies that it actually works? That a generation grows up thinking this?

TOOBIN: Well, I think, it certainly works with the 30 percent or so of Americans who are sort of true -- who are true believers. And I think, at a minimum, it expresses the idea that, well, all of this was just like a big controversy and who knows who's right. And the 2020 election is just a big mystery and there were people in good faith protesting about the outcome.

[20:50:00]

That I think is very successful in the short term and all we can do as journalists and future historians is point out that some things are facts. And the fact is Joe Biden won the 2020 election. The fact is there were violent crimes committed by people like Jared Wise in -- on January 6th. We can't force people to believe us, but we can tell the truth even if the president is not doing that.

COOPER: Yeah. As you point out, he was charged. He was pardoned. So, never --

TOOBIN: Yeah, he was pardoned before his case went to trial.

COOPER: Right. So he was charged. He was never actually convicted. Jeff Toobin, thanks so much. Up next, Bryan Kohberger in his own words, admitting in court to premeditated murder. Detail coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE STEVEN HIPPLER, ADA COUNTY, IDAHO JUDICIAL COURT: Did you on November 13, 2022, enter the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho with the intent to commit the felony crime of murder?

BRYAN KOHBERGER, ACCUSED OF KILLING FOUR UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENTS: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[20:55:52]

COOPER: In the two-and-a-half years since Bryan Kohberger's arrest in the killing of four University of Idaho students, he and his legal team have maintained his innocence until today. In court, he admitted to premeditated murder. It was the first time the public heard directly from the now admitted killer. Family of his victims attending the proceedings in a packed courtroom and CNN's Jean Casarez was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bryan Kohberger, now an admitted murderer. HIPPLER: Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?

KOHBERGER: Yes.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Pleading guilty to all counts of the 2022 murders of four Idaho college students, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

HIPPLER: Did you on November 13, 2022, enter the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho with the intent to commit the felony crime of murder?

KOHBERGER: Yes.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Kohberger agreed to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of appeal.

HIPPLER: Do you understand that by entering the guilty plea in this case, you would be giving up your right to appeal?

KOHBERGER: Yes.

CASAREZ (voice-over): But he will not face the death penalty, part of the agreement made in a packed courtroom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't think four life sentences is justice?

STEVE GONCALVES, FATHER OF KAYLEE GONCALVES: No, of course not. It's daycare. Prison is daycare

CASAREZ (voice-over): Families of the young victims were in court for the hearing.

GONCALVES: We're all destroyed. We're all let down.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Earlier, Goncalves' father expressed his outrage to the deal with CNN.

GONCALVES: You don't deal with terrorists and you don't deal with people who kill your kids in their sleep. So, well, we'll never see this as justice.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Not all the victim's families are in agreement.

LEANDER JAMES, REPRESENTS MOTHER AND STEPFATHER OF MADDIE MOGEN: We support the plea agreement 100 percent. While we know there are some who do not support it, we ask that they respect our belief that this is the best outcome possible for the victims.

CASAREZ (voice-over): The prosecution outlined detailed evidence it was planning to present at trial.

BILL THOMPSON, LATAH COUNTY, IDAHO PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: Each victim suffered multiple wounds.

CASAREZ (voice-over): The four college students returned home around 02:00 a.m. on November 13, 2022 after enjoying a night out. Between 04:00 and 04:25 a.m., a man all in black entered the apartment and stabbed the young students while they slept.

THOMPSON: As the defendant was either coming down the stairs or leaving, he encountered Xana and he ended up killing her, also with a large knife.

CASAREZ (voice-over): During the investigation of the gruesome scene, a leather knife sheath was found next to Mogen's body.

THOMPSON: A DNA sample was taken from him and it matched the DNA found on the knife sheath next to Maddie's body.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Without a trial ahead, some families of the victims are unsure they will ever learn Kohberger's motive. The father of Xana Kernodle writing in a statement, I had hoped the agreement would include conditions that required the defendant to explain his actions and provide answers to the many questions that still remain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Jean, do we know why he wasn't required to give families whatever information they wanted?

CASAREZ (on camera): No, there was no explanation whatsoever. It was so simple. All he had to do was plead guilty. And Anderson, in so many sentencings that I have covered, where there is a plea deal, they have to apologize to the families. They have to detail why they did this. And that's a big question here. Why did he murder them? Nobody knows. And the families want to know why did you -- why did he pick that house? Where's the murder weapon? Prosecutor said today, the knife, can't find the knife, never found the knife. What did he do with it?

And these are questions, Anderson, that may never, ever be answered. And this family, although they're moving on, they want those answers. And what was read in court today by the prosecutor, very good. But it was basically the probable cause affidavit. We really knew everything. But, the difference was Bryan Kohberger had to stare and listen to what --

COOPER: Yeah.

CASAREZ (on camera): -- he had done. No emotion whatsoever.

COOPER: Yeah. Jean Casarez, thanks very much. On one note, the --