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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Trump Lashes out Over Epstein Case and Calls it a Hoax and Total BS; Vance Denies Strategy Meeting Tonight to Discuss Epstein Case; Army Sergeant in Custody After Allegedly Shooting Five Soldiers at Fort Stewart in Georgia; VP Vance to Visit Indiana, Expected to Talk Redistricting; President Trump Says Potential Summit Meeting Could Happen Soon With Russia's Putin to End War in Ukraine; Russian Forces Terrorizing and Destroying Ukrainian City of Kherson With Attack Drones. Aired 8-9p ET
Aired August 06, 2025 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROLE RADZIWILL, FRIEND OF JFK JR. AND CAROLYN BESSETTE-KENNEDY; WIFE OF JFK JR.'S COUSIN: ...that was taken four days before the plane that we were on the beach. That was an earlier one. I think they are --
ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: Right.
RADZIWILL: But that's what was really going on --
BURNETT: And everyone is still left wondering --
RADZIWILL: I know.
BURNETT: And they still inspire so much wonder and curiosity and thank you so much for talking about them. I know, you thought long and hard before you started to do all this project, so thanks so much Carole.
RADZIWILL: So much has been said about them so if I can insert a little humanity, I'm happy to do that.
BURNETT: Humanity and reality.
RADZIWILL: Yes.
BURNETT: Well, don't miss the CNN original series "American Prince: JFK Jr." it premieres Saturday night at nine. Thanks so much for joining us. AC360 starts now.
[20:00:42]
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Tonight on 360, the President calls the Epstein story a hoax and B.S. and the Vice-President says the damage control dinner on the subject is not happening.
Also tonight, all we're learning about the Army sergeant accused of opening fire and wounding fellow troops today.
And later, the President on a possible meeting with Vladimir Putin as early as next week. Good evening everyone. I'm John King in for Anderson tonight and we begin, keeping them honest with the dinner meeting that wasn't between members of the Trump administration, reportedly to tamp down squabbling about the mess that they themselves have created over the Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell sex abuse case.
Vice-President Vance was expected to be the host of that dinner. In attendance reportedly would have been the White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and the Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, the President's former criminal defense attorney, who, of course, recently met with Maxwell.
Four sources familiar with the matter said this was happening. Then we learned that dinner might be in flux. Finally, late today, the President was asked about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Is he hosting some kind of gathering of top advisers this evening to talk about how to respond to the situation?
DONALD TRUMP (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I don't know, I could ask you that question. I don't know of it, but I think -- here's the man right here.
J.D. VANCE (R) VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I saw it reported today, and it's completely fake news. We're not meeting to talk about the Epstein situation. And I think the reporter who reported it needs to get better sources.
TRUMP: Look, the whole thing is a hoax. It's put out by the Democrats because we've had the most successful six months in the history of our country and that's just a way of trying to divert attention to something that's total bullshit, okay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: That profanity in the White House is now the latest turn in the story that at its very dark heart, we should remind everyone every day is about the grooming, recruitment and sexual abuse of underage women at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. And now, nearly a month of fresh torment for those survivors. Not B.S., not as the President said, created by the Democrats and in fact, sustained by lawmakers from both sides who are now pushing for answers from this administration.
Yet facts like that and the ongoing trauma to the victims have sometimes gotten lost in all the noise surrounding the handling of the mess that, again, the Trump administration itself created, created when it slammed the door on further disclosures in the case almost a month ago. Since then, it's been revealed that the Presidents name does appear in the Epstein files and that he was briefed on that fact.
We should point out, though, that merely being named in an investigation, of course, does not mean any wrongdoing. We've also heard the President roll out a new explanation, though, for his breakup with Epstein, one which neither matches any prior account of the split nor seems to fit any known timeline for it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He did something that was inappropriate. He hired help, and I said, don't ever do that again. He stole people that work for me. I said, don't ever do that again. He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata. I threw him out and that was it. I'm glad I did, if you want to know the truth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: He said, Epstein and this is the President's word, stole female employees and that Virginia Giuffre, then 17 years old, was one of them. On top of that, over this past month, we've also seen trial balloons floated, including releasing grand jury testimony in the case and seeing that exposed for what it would be a mere sliver of a sliver of the full picture of Epstein and Maxwell's abuses.
We've learned that she's been moved to a club fed prison camp and spoken with the President's former criminal defense attorney, now the Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, a conversation we now are told was recorded. Last night, the big story was that the administration was weighing the release of a transcript of that conversation, which we should also remind you that in addition to being the possibly self- serving account of a clemency seeking convicted child sex abuser, twice accused of perjury, it is also an even narrower view into the case than the sliver of the grand jury testimony would be.
We've also reported the administration was considering having blanche sit down with Joe Rogan, who, contrary to what the President just said, does not consider any of this to be BS. he's been talking quite a bit about the missing jail video from the night Jeffrey Epstein apparently killed himself, and Rogan talks a lot about the case files themselves.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE ROGAN, "THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE", HOST: The guy is saying there's no tapes, there's no video. That doesn't make any sense. Everyone knows it doesn't make any sense. And then he's like, well, we have a film. We're going to release that film. And the film has a (bleep) minute missing from it. Like, do you think were babies? Like, what is this?
This one is a line in the sand because this is one where there's a lot of stuff about, you know, when we thought Trump was going to come in and there were a lot of things were going to be resolved, we're going to drain the swamp. We're going to figure everything out and when you have this one hardcore line in the sand that everybody had been talking about forever, and then they're trying to gaslight you on that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Instead, we've gone from the Justice Department releasing binders, marked phase one, containing very little new information in the case, followed by nothing. Then came the DOJ statement that there's nothing more to see, followed by nearly four weeks of everything we just laid out, none of which none of it does a single thing for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Nor does any of it come even close to providing the transparency that key administrations, including the President himself, have been insisting they would provide for months.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL CAMPOS-DUFFY, FOX NEWS CHANNEL HOST: Would you declassify the Epstein files?
TRUMP: Yes, yes, I would. I'd be inclined to do the Epstein, I'd have no problem with it.
VANCE: Seriously, we need to release the Epstein list. That that is an important thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why is the FBI protecting the greatest pederast -- the largest scale pederast in human history?
KASH PATEL, DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION: Simple because of who's on that list? Put on your big boy pants and let us know who the pedophiles are.
PAM BONDI, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: I think. Tomorrow, Jesse, breaking news right now, you're going to see some Epstein information being released by my office.
It's sitting on my desk right now to review.
A truckload of evidence arrived. It's now in the possession of the FBI. It's a new day, it's a new administration and everything's going to come out to the public.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Not yet, and not hardly. For more of all of this, to sort through the confusion, I'm joined by the anchor of "The Source" and CNN chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins. Kaitlan, last night you were talking about this expected dinner at the Vice President's residence with some very key players in all of this. What happened?
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, obviously, one thing that was still left up for discussion among all of them was what exactly they are going to do next here. Because what you heard from the President today in the Oval Office, John, you know, dismissing this as BS and saying it is concocted and pushed by the Democrats, I mean, that entire soundbite that you just played there of all of his own top officials, including the President himself, talking about this is why the administration is in the position it's in right now.
It is, yes, something that Democrats have certainly taken advantage of the rift inside the Republican Party and are trying to keep it at the forefront as much as possible. Some of them genuinely believe this stuff should be made public, but it is Republicans and the White House that are responsible for why the MAGA base is so angry and why the backlash has been so fierce over how they've handled this.
And so, what still remains to be seen tonight, you know, dinner or no dinner is how the administration plans to handle this going forward. And that outcome of that meeting that Todd Blanche, the Deputy Attorney General, who the President has praised twice in recent days, just as an individual, but has not said that he has personally been read in on what it was that Ghislaine Maxwell told his number two at the Justice Department, and also what their plans are for that information. Are they going to make it public? Are they going to release part of the transcript? That is really a key question here.
And obviously, one thing that we've seen is, is Republicans, people like Thomas Massie, who have been pushing for the release of the Epstein files today, saying, you know, Republicans are criticizing Democratic lawmakers in Texas for leaving the state. But Speaker Mike Johnson sent Republicans here in Washington and everybody home so they would not have to vote on that.
That could still be a looming issue when Congress returns here in just a few weeks from now. And so, I still think that's a big question for the White House. But one thing that they've made clear, the President made clear today is they would still like to stop talking about this. Yet, of course, these questions have continued to persist.
KING: The way to get people to stop talking about it is to either give more information or say flatly, you made a mistake. You don't have it to give or you won't give it for sensitivity reasons to say something other than the circle they're doing right now. Kaitlan Collins, thanks, appreciate the great reporting. We'll see you at the top of the hour, of course, for "The Source".
Joining me now to discuss further, Kara Swisher, the podcast host and the author of "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" and the investigative reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, who's been covering Epstein for "The Atlantic".
Kara, I want to start with you. You heard the President's language today. The profanity in the White House, again, I wasn't raised to love that, but there it is. The whole thing is a hoax, he says. He says its BS. from Democrats. They clearly don't have a plan to end this. And so there's the Epstein saga and the things they promised that they apparently can't deliver or won't deliver on now and then. I would also posit this is a bigger question. The President and the Vice President of the United States are responsible for handling the most sensitive things this country has to deal with.
The Attorney General, the FBI director have their own lane, but also incredibly sensitive information. If they can't manage this, what else should we be worried about?
[20:10:12]
KARA SWISHER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, they can't manage it because its enormous. As I said weeks and weeks ago, this Epstein stuff has been living online and festering forever, and especially within the MAGA base whether its QAnon or QAnon adjacent. And so, and Trump himself has taken advantage of it.
And so, of all those people you mentioned, especially Kash Patel, especially Dan Bongino. And so you, can't just will it away because you say it is after you've grown this sort of toxic weed for so long. And so, you're either going to have to put up or shut up, you can't go around and say it's a hoax when someone's in jail for this, when there's clear victims here. And so, it just doesn't match and just because you say it's not important doesn't mean it is.
And I would agree it's getting in the way of him announcing other things he's doing. And it just, you know, remember Linus with the cloud that used to follow or no pigpen with the cloud, it will follow him around until they give substantive information.
KING: Great historical context with pigpen. Pigpen is always welcome here to help. You're absolutely right. That's what it is. They can't make it go away.
Sarah, you have some brand new reporting about the Justice Department reaching out to some of Epstein's victims regarding the grand jury transcripts. Obviously, an incredibly sensitive issue. What can you tell us?
SARAH FITZPATRICK, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Yes, absolutely. So, I learned today from multiple sources that the Justice Department has started sending out notifications to Epstein victims through their victim notification service, which is something that they are required to do by law, informing them that that the Justice Department has put forward a motion to release grand jury testimony that involves the victim's names.
This is a really important escalation because up until now, we've just heard, oh, we might release this material, this might happen, but there was no indication that it was actually happening in any substantive or material way. And these notifications are a sign that the mechanisms are in place. Resources, DOJ resources, of which there are not very many right now, are being used for this purpose. And it's really alarming because for so many of these victims who want nothing to do with their identities possibly becoming public, who do not trust the Justice Department to protect them, they are just seeing this as an escalation, and they are so fearful right now.
KING: Fearful and seemingly pawns, caught up in what is largely a political debate. So, Kara, as we mentioned, CNN is reporting, there have been internal discussions in the administration about the Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche holding a press conference or doing some high profile interview, maybe with Joe Rogan. Maybe we should get him on with Kara Swisher.
SWISHER: I doubt.
KING: If he did -- but if he did or Joe Rogan got that opportunity or if he wanted to come in here tonight, right now, we'll change the program. What big questions do you think he needs to answer?
SWISHER: All of them, all the questions. Why the shifting stories? The disorganization. This is a problem and they're acting like it's not. And that's not a PR strategy. Right, and it does get in the way because it's so massive. I mean, I think that you don't -- if you go online, this is still massive. And so, you can't just sort of say it away. Like I said, going on Joe Rogan, that could be a problem. He's been questioning their veracity a lot. That said, he sometimes tends to roll over. So, them just being there, he might like to be in that position.
I think one of the things they have to do is at least come up with a plan to deal with this, rather than just have Trump get up every couple of minutes and call it BS or a hoax or whatever his explanation is of the day because it keeps it in the news and he really can't talk about everything else because it sucks up the news cycle and sucking up the news cycle is something he does well. In this case, he doesn't have control of it because online is much more powerful at this point.
KING: That is true and Sarah, in terms of this Vance dinner that was scheduled and apparently isn't going to happen or maybe whatever, they've decided to talk at the White House instead of the V.P.'s residence, whatever
Early this morning, the family of one of the victims, Virginia Giuffre, you've been in contact with, issued a statement asking why no survivors had been invited to the dinner. Now, obviously, if they're having a big political meeting about what to do, they're not going to invite a survivor. But this does get at the at the humanity, the human piece of this, that, that people who have suffered, been tormented, been abused and worse feel completely left out as their lives are being kind of used as chess pieces in what is a political case to some, not to them, but to some.
FITZPATRICK: Absolutely, and I think you, you know, the fact that they even have to ask for that is really telling. They feel that they're just desperate to try and remind the government about what this case is really about. The family also joined other survivors today in asking for the House Oversight Committee to involve victims in their investigation, involve them in potential hearings.
I reached out to the Oversight Committee and an aide told me that as of right now, there are no plans to invite victims. They are working on those depositions that were sent out to some high profile individuals this week. But they did emphasize to me that there is a mechanism if victims want to reach out to Congress, they can reach out to the House Oversight Committee staff or through the House Oversight Committee's website.
Now, what I think is interesting is as of right now and granted, there are over a thousand victims. So, we have a huge universe of people here, but, I'm very well sourced on this. And as of right now, I'm not aware of any outreach by the White House or by members of Congress to really bring those victims into the fold here.
And I think that's very telling, you know, that this is an obvious thing that you could do if you wanted to, "contain" this story. And as of right now, we haven't seen that yet.
[20:15:32]
KING: If you wanted to show sensitivity to it and back to that point, Kara, you need to find an exit ramp here for the story for the White House. Republican members -- there's not enough town halls out there, but Republican members who are having town halls are hearing about this. They say they want the files released, and they're going to keep at it when they come back, whether they have a dinner or not, we're a month into this now. I guess it's back, it's a little bit redundant. But, you know, these are the people running the country. Why can't they figure this out?
SWISHER: Well, you know, the problem is -- they created the problem. You live by the conspiracy theory, you die by it. That's really how it is and this is a massive pillar conspiracy theory.
Now, regarding with victims, obviously they're not going to talk. They don't trust this group of people because they've been they were abused in the first place and traumatized and the same thing is happening and nobody really cares about them. What they care about is getting either the story off the front pages after they put it there, or why would you cooperate if you were part of part of this group of people and you and these are the only people we should be focused on, and it doesn't seem like the White House really cares about these victims. They care about the problem of Epstein, which hangs over this administration, whether they like it or not.
KING: Whether they like it or not. I think it's the not. Kara Swisher, Sarah Fitzpatrick, grateful for your time tonight. Thanks so much.
Up next, a closer look at a former Florida U.S. attorney, Alex Acosta. He has faced criticism for his handling of the Epstein case and subsequent non-prosecution agreement with Epstein.
And later, all were learning tonight about that mass shooting today at Fort Stewart, Georgia, that sent five wounded soldiers to the hospital.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:21:25]
KING: We're talking tonight about all that has transpired since the Trump administration tried to put a lid on the Jeffrey Epstein story nearly a month ago, and everything that's not being done to get more of the truth out there.
For instance, the House subpoenas issued yesterday to former President Clinton, Hillary Clinton, former attorneys general, and both Democratic and Republican administrations dating back to the George W. Bush presidency but one name conspicuously not on that list. The man who years before he served in the Trump administration was a prosecutor and reached a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein, which was controversial back then and even more so now. Details from CNN's Randi Kaye. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In 2006, the FBI began investigating Jeffrey Epstein's alleged activities with underage girls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've seen hundreds and hundreds of girls go through Jeffrey's swinging door.
KAYE (voice over): Yet as the Feds got closer, Epstein cut a sweetheart deal.
KAYE (on camera): Here at Epstein's Palm Beach home is where much of the alleged abuse took place, according to court documents as far back as 2001, it's believed Epstein began luring underage girls here with the help of those who worked for him. Most of the girls ranged in age from 13 to 16 and came from disadvantaged homes. They'd never before seen the exclusive Palm Beach island.
KAYE (voice over): Federal investigators had identified at least 36 girls and were still building their case when suddenly in 2007 came this non-prosecution agreement. It allowed Epstein to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Just two prostitution charges in state court, and register as a sex offender. He would serve just 13 months in county jail. The deal also granted immunity to any potential co-conspirators. None of those people were identified. The deal shut down the FBI's investigation into additional victims and accomplices, and any chance of Epstein going to prison for life.
MIKE FISTEN, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: I read the indictment. There was multiple allegations of sex trafficking, and then all of a sudden, it disappeared.
KAYE (voice over): The deal was signed off on by then U.S. Attorney in Miami, Alexander Acosta, who in 2017 became Labor Secretary under the Trump administration.
FISTEN: He's supposed to be protecting these victims, and he was protecting Jeffrey Epstein, a pedophile.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Scary because this is our government that's supposed to protect us, but has done everything to protect, you know, a pedophile.
KAYE (voice over): At his confirmation hearing for labor secretary, Alexander Acosta tried to explain his decision not to prosecute Epstein federally.
ALEXANDER ACOSTA, NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF LABOR: A plea that guarantees that someone goes to jail. That guarantees that someone register generally and that guarantees other outcomes is a good thing.
KAYE (voice over): Two years later, in July 2019, Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges after federal prosecutors in New York concluded that they weren't bound by the terms of the earlier non-prosecution deal. Days later, Acosta resigned as Labor Secretary amid public outrage over his role in Epstein's controversial plea deal.
ACOSTA: I do not think it's right and fair for this administration's Labor Department to have Epstein as the focus, rather than the incredible economy that we have today.
KAYE (voice over): Top Democrats in Congress had called for his removal following the new federal charges against Epstein for allegedly sex trafficking young girls. Two days before he resigned, Acosta said he was pleased about the new federal charges against Epstein.
ACOSTA: Epstein's actions, absolutely deserve a stiffer sentence.
KAYE (voice over): About a month later, in August 2019, Epstein was found dead in his federal jail cell while awaiting trial.
Randi Kaye, CNN, Palm Beach County, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[20:25:11]
KING: More now on all of this. I'm joined by Eric Lerner. He's an attorney representing Epstein accuser, Jennifer Araoz. Mr. Lerner, grateful for your time tonight. Just a general more now on all of this on your client and others like her. Just to see it in the news every day, to see it discussed every day, and to have the President of the United States standing in the Oval Office a short time ago, referring to the focus on Epstein, the whole thing is a hoax, and its B.S. how does that hit home with your client?
ERIC LERNER, ATTORNEY FOR EPSTEIN ACCUSER JENNIFER ARAOZ: I mean, this is my first time hearing of that. First of all, it's great to be here with you, John. But obviously, hearing that this whole thing is a hoax and it's very troubling and my client would be very upset. You know, obviously, to hear language like that about this.
KING: Sarah Fitzpatrick was here from "The Atlantic" and she mentioned, and I understand that your client, Jennifer Araoz, only yesterday received a notice required by the justice department of its motion to unseal, unseal grand jury testimony. And despite the fact that this has been out there for a couple of weeks, the justice department was preparing to do that. What do you make of the timing there? Or is she being treated properly and with respect?
LERNER: Yes, you're correct. I was actually with Sarah in D.C. last night discussing this, this motion to unseal the grand jury transcripts was filed back on July 18th. But they didn't notify us in other victims until yesterday at 3:30 P.M. the same day the victims responses were due.
Judge Berman had ordered the DOJ on July 22nd to give notice to victims. Yet the DOJ waited until last minute. You know, John, under the Crime Victims Act, the DOJ is required to provide victims with timely notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard and not just check a box last minute. So this is another example we feel of the DOJ not prioritizing the victims. Despite this last minute notice, though, several victims, including Annie Farmer, managed to submit letters to the judge yesterday and two victims submitted letters on Monday.
KING: Your client alleges she was assaulted by Epstein at his New York townhouse. This is way back in 2001, when she was a freshman in high school. As you know, the New York prosecution obviously was not part of that sweetheart plea deal down in Florida. Have you had a conversation with her? Does she want more information from that case beyond grand jury testimony made public?
LERNER: You mean from Florida?
KING: Yes.
LERNER: From the Florida case?
KING: Does she want to know more about what many people say was just a cover-up down there, or at least a sweetheart deal that kept it all from the public eye?
LERNER: Absolutely, she wants to know more. She wants everything from the Florida case unsealed. She wants to see everything from the New York case unsealed and there's a lot of information, especially Jeffrey Epstein's e-mails that would reveal a lot of information that that we don't have, including the identity of coconspirators.
KING: Eric Lerner, I appreciate your time tonight, and well obviously keep in touch as this plays out in the days ahead as we see whether that material is indeed released or not. Eric, thank you for your time and again.
Next for us, some more breaking news. What we now know about the shooting earlier today at Fort Stewart in Georgia that left five soldiers wounded.
And later, a new installment of my All Over The Map Series. What Arizona voters in a very competitive congressional district have to say about President Trumps so-called Big Beautiful Bill.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:30:00]
JOHN KING, CNN CO-HOST OF "ANDERSON COOPER 360": Breaking news tonight in Georgia where five soldiers stationed at Fort Stewart just south of Savannah, are hospitalized, recovering from gunshot wounds allegedly at the hands of one of their own. The suspected shooter, 28- year-old active duty Sergeant Quornelius Radford. He's now in custody, allegedly opened fire with a personal handgun. Officials say the suspect had a disagreement yesterday with one of the victims. Tonight, President Trump had this to say about the shooting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You know, five people were seriously wounded and two very, very seriously hurt around 11 o'clock this morning. The shooter is now in custody and the Army Criminal Investigation Division is on site to ensure that the perpetrator of this atrocity, which is exactly what it is, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: CNN's Ryan Young joins us from Hinesville, Georgia. Ryan, what's the latest on the suspect, his weapon and possible motive?
RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, look, we've been thinking about this all day, John. In fact, we got some news from our Mark Morales, who works at CNN, about the motive involved in this case. They believe it was a dispute at work. The suspect apparently went and got his handgun, brought it to work today. The gun was purchased back in May in Florida, brought that gun in, opened fire on the person he was having a disagreement with, then shot for others. Then other soldiers jumped in and were able to subdue him. Of course, this leaves so many questions about exactly how he got the gun on base, was he in that area? What was the beef?
[20:35:00]
But this is what we've been able to learn through our reporting. It's still something that's baffling so many people, especially throughout this community.
KING: And what do we know tonight, Ryan, about the condition of those five soldiers who were shot?
YOUNG: John, as you can imagine, this has sent a ripple throughout this community. You've been here several times before. We were talking about that before we did this live shot. This is a massive facility and when these folks were shot, this really sent a ripple effect. So what we know is all five of them plan to be able to pull through, but three of them needed surgery. Two had to be taken to Savannah, which is about 40 miles away from here. But talking to soldiers who have been lived around this area for years, they were impacted by this greatly.
There was a shutdown put in this area, and this is a massive base. Of course, you've been here before, so you understand how large it is. But for the community overall, they weren't sure exactly what was going on. And then, when they learned it was a fellow soldier who was involved, they want to know the same questions we do. Was there some sort of clues that happened beforehand that would've given army officials some idea that this could happen? That's what they're concerned about tonight. But once again, our hearts and prayers go to those officers and those soldiers who were shot here today, five of them. But we believe all of them will survive. John?
KING: Ryan Young, appreciate the on-the-scene reporting there for us. Joining me now to sort more through this, our CNN Chief Law Enforcement Analyst, John Miller. John, you heard the reporting there. You have a lot of your own. What are the biggest questions you think right now, the victims -- that the investigators are going to have for the victims and the shooter?
JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: It's going to go right to motive, John. As Mark Morales reports, if this involved an issue, a dispute, something that developed between the shooter and another soldier on base, and that it developed as late as yesterday, the motive is going to become pretty clear pretty quickly. When this occurred on base from another soldier, five soldiers injured, a lot of wheels start turning.
You will remember vividly the attack in Fort Hood by an army psychiatrist who had been basically recruited by Al-Qaeda, who became an active shooter on base. A major case where they had to go backwards saying, what did we miss, and found out they missed quite a few things. Or remember the attack in Pensacola, Florida in 2019. A Saudi pilot who was training there, who had also been recruited secretly by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and opened fire in a busy cafeteria, wounding a number of people.
These are the thoughts that start rippling through when something like this happens. I think we're going to have very little mystery here, in terms of what the motive is once they're in -- once they're finished interviewing the victims, particularly the one who might have had a disagreement. We know the soldier had an arrest back in May for a DUI off-base. We were told by the general, it was something that the army wasn't aware of. But it may have been a sign that he was becoming unglued around different issues going on in his life.
KING: Right. Very detailed protocols on a military base about military weapons and when you can have live ammunition, and where you can have your weapons and your ammunition and all that. Is it surprising to you the gunman, apparently, able to go retrieve his personal weapon, bring that to work?
MILLER: Not really. I mean, that's a rule and it's a strictly enforced rule, but the rules there are if you live on base and you have a personal weapon, something you use for hunting or sports, that you can receive permission, get permission, literally register it with the commanding officer of the base, so that they know you have it, where it is, what it is. And there are conditions about it being kept under lock and key. But that's a rule.
Once a soldier who has trusted access to the base, who's assigned there, who's a supervisor, a sergeant, decides to conceal a weapon, a handgun and bring it on the base, unless they have information about that, that is the kind of thing that would've gotten by. Obviously, it's a violation of the rules and the law, but there are very clear signs posted at every base that there are no weapons allowed on base other than those that are on base as part of military weapons.
KING: Help me through how the chain of command works. When you have a giant military base like this, it's a community. Fort Stewart is a base and a community around it because it is so large with the housing and the support structure and all that. So, there's an on-base security obviously, and then other federal law enforcement agencies are providing support here. What's the chain of command when you go through a shooting on a military base?
MILLER: So first, there is the military police and we saw pictures of them today responding to this incident with their long guns out, covering the location during the search for the shooter. And they're the first responders there. They're just like the police, but they are in the military. Second is Army CID, that's the Criminal Investigations Division.
[20:40:00]
It is the detectives, if you will, of the army that investigate crimes against or by soldiers on military property. But in this case, you also have the FBI. They responded from about 38 miles away, from the Savannah field office. They were there within an hour, the Savannah Resident Agency rather. And this is a shooting of U.S. government personnel on a base by U.S. government personnel. That's going to be an FBI investigation with Army CID that may go through the military justice system as opposed to the civilian.
KING: John Miller, thank you very much. Keep in touch, obviously, as they try to connect all the dots here. Up next, my new "All Over the Map" report, what Arizona voters in an ultra competitive congressional district told me about the president's mega tax and spending bill that he signed into law last month. And later, more breaking news, what President Trump is saying about a possible summit with Vladimir Putin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:45:30]
KING: Vice President Vance heads to Indiana tomorrow. And one agenda item is asking the state's Republican governor if it's possible to redraw the congressional map for next year's midterms. It's an add-on to the Texas story we've been discussing all week. President Trump wants Texas to redraw its map to make as many as five more seats favorable to Republicans. As we watch this raw politics play out, an example now of why the president is in such an urgent rush to get red states to draw better midterm maps. The Republican House majority, as you know, is tiny and the president's party almost always loses seats in the midterms.
Remember, Republicans lost 40 seats back in Trump's first midterm, 2018. Democrats are hoping to seize control of the House again, like they did back then, and high on their target list is Arizona's sixth congressional district. This district is as competitive as they come. And because of that, it is a place we visit often in our "All Over the Map" travels.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING (voice-over): A scorching summer in the Arizona desert, a risky time to open a new restaurant. Add in higher beef prices and an unpredictable economy.
(LAUGH)
Confident, hopeful, I believe a lot in this brand. I believe a lot that what we do is different.
KING (voice-over): Charro Steak North is just about ready. The bar is stocked, supplies delivered, the team is hired. And for that, Ray Flores gives President Trump some credit, specifically the new law lowering taxes on tips and overtime.
RAY FLORES, ARIZONA VOTER: We had a really robust hiring fair, lots of applicants, way more than we've had in previous hiring fairs. A lot of quality applicants, a little higher quality. I do believe that those messages of some kind of tax relief created some of this.
KING: This is Arizona's sixth congressional district, one of the battlegrounds that will determine whether Republicans keep their House majority after next year's midterm elections. It is a district that covers a ton of ground. This is the edge of Tucson, but the district stretches 110 miles that way. That's east to the New Mexico state line. And 60 miles, my right is south, that's the U.S.-Mexico border, 60 miles that way. The district is a battleground because it is evenly divided politically. And because of that, it offers a great test of the big midterm questions.
KING (voice-over): Republican Juan Ciscomani is the incumbent. Charro Steak North is in his district. And Flores, an independent, has supported Ciscomani in the past.
KING: How they sell that bill, whether that bill actually improves the economy because of the tax cuts or the no taxes on tips or overtime, that's a big deal for his political fate.
FLORES: Yeah.
KING: What do you think at this moment? Got a ways to go, but what do you think now?
FLORES: I mean, I think unfortunately for them or for us, to give a good answer right now, we're in the middle of the off season.
KING: Right.
FLORES: I think it's probably a question that needs to be asked a year from today.
KING: Here's another big test. 25 percent of the residents here in Arizona Six are Hispanic and Republicans are hoping in next year's midterms to continue their recent important gains among Latino voters. It makes a big difference. Take a look.
KING (voice-over): Here in Arizona, for example, Donald Trump won 37 percent of the Latino vote in 2020. He lost here and statewide.
KING: But in 2024, Trump's share jumped to 44 percent. He not only carried this district, he won statewide in Arizona on his way back to the White House.
KING (voice-over): 15 months, still to the midterms. But we will get a clue about Latino sentiment next month. There's a special election in the neighboring seventh congressional district. It is overwhelmingly Democratic, but also 60 percent Hispanic.
CLAUDIO RODRIGUEZ, ARIZONA VOTER: So welcome back to Sun Arizona.
KING (voice-over): This food bank serves both the sixth and seventh congressional districts, and is already dealing with some Trump changes.
RODRIGUEZ: I believe, these are from Mexico right now.
KING: Right. You are correct.
RODRIGUEZ: That's going to change pretty soon with the tariffs and all that. So we are -- we're going to be definitely seeing less produce come in.
KING (voice-over): But the biggest test is down the road. The Trump agenda bill makes big changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs critical to the working families who come here for help. Claudio Rodriguez wrote Congressman Ciscomani on behalf of the food bank, urged him to vote no, but he voted yes.
KING: So when you say, "Sir, with all due respect, we think that's going to hurt people." What does he say?
RODRIGUEZ: He believes that it won't, that he's attacking the fraud, the abuse, the scam. But I don't know. When we come here every day on the line, we don't really see any of that. And if it is, if it is one or two people that do do that, why punish the rest? Why punish the seniors? Why punish the kids? The veterans? We have a lot of veterans that come through here.
[20:50:00]
KING (voice-over): The food bank served 171,000 people last year and projects that number will jump significantly as the Trump changes kick in. But the timing there is noteworthy. The politically popular tax break on tips and overtime takes effect immediately. But the biggest and politically risky changes to Medicaid and food assistance don't take effect until 2027, after the next election.
RODRIGUEZ: I know some things are going to roll out after the midterms, which is a -- it's a very nice play, for some folks to wait until after that.
KING (voice-over): That timeline just one of the Trump agenda flashpoints in a place far away from Washington, yet critical to the Republican grip on power there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Up next for us, the president on the possibility of a meeting soon with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:55:00] KING: Tonight, President Trump says there's a very good chance he could hold a summit meeting real soon with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, that could lead the president says to the end of the war in Ukraine. And Mr. Trump says it could potentially happen as early as next week. And he wants to follow up that possible Putin meeting with trilateral talks between Putin Trump and the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. This comes just after the U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff met with Putin today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We had some very good talks with President Putin today. And there's a very good chance that we could be ending the round, ending the end of that road. That road was long and continues to be long, but there's a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: The president, as he has in the past, sounding hopeful there he could bring the war to an end. But as he says that, Russian forces pounding away inside Ukraine using attack drones to terrorize the population. Here's Nick Paton Walsh on the ground in Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russia is moving to cut off and cut up the city of Kherson, claiming its drones would hit all cars on this road into a city occupied from above where Russian attack drones hunt your every move.
PATON WALSH: Incredible damage being done to the city. Clearly, Russia trying to force normal life out of here. And even as last-ditch peace talks are happening in Moscow, drones circulating around ordinary people trying to live here.
PATON WALSH (voice-over): But this weekend, the occupier went further still, moving to split the city in two, trying to cut off its southern island, still home to about 2,000 people, by blowing the bridge. Drone footage caught the moment, but it was only partially successful, shredding nerves as much as concrete and sparking a southern evacuation effort during which, oddly, the Russians seem to be letting hundreds of civilians out.
PATON WALSH: And there seems to be some kind of pause in drone activity from what we can make out, enabling some of these evacuations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Are you happy you left?
NADIYA, KHERSON EVACUEE (through translator): Of course. They are shelling so hard since morning. When is all of this going to end? We've already been driven crazy by all this. When will they ever come to their senses? Causing such horror, killing everyone for "peace." When is Trump going to come? Or anyone. At our age, we don't deserve this. PATON WALSH (voice-over): They left alone with almost nothing, so have even less to go to.
NINA, KHERSON EVACUEE (through translator): I'm so tired of the shelling. My nerves can't take it anymore. There is no plan; I will live where they put me. I am on one leg, on a crutch.
PATON WALSH (voice-over): 925 evacuated end (ph) Wednesday, but don't try suggesting here this is Russian mercy.
YAROSLAV SHANKO, HEAD, KHERSON MILITARY ADMINISTRATION (through translator): They absolutely do not care what the targets are. Talking about any humanity from the Russians is absolutely pointless.
PATON WALSH (voice-over): Russian drone operators post images of their hunting people in the city.
The gaudy music as if it is sport. Wherever we go, anxiety our cameras might reveal locations to the Russians, especially at this hospital. Three injured from drones and shelling already, and two more once we leave.
Oleh, 62, ran outside to help after one drone blast that was hit by a second.
OLEH, KHERSON RESIDENT (through translator): I couldn't even notice where it came from. I fell behind the fence. But I didn't swing my legs over. They stayed outside. My torso was hidden and that's when it hit my legs.
PATON WALSH (voice-over): Many are stuck here, unable to fend for themselves on release home.
PATON WALSH: So, there are -- there are three drones over the hospital?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes, right now.
PATON WALSH (voice-over): The buzz and gunfire we heard outside moments earlier, just how life is here. The all clear has been given after the three drones overhead and now, we have to go quickly.
