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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

President Trump Says U.S. Bombed Crown Jewel, Kharg Island; Trump: U.S. Would Escort Ships In Strait Of Hormuz If "Needed"; Hegseth Vows To Destroy Iran Military, Reopen Strait Of Hormuz; Trump Says U.S. Obliterated Military Targets On Iran's Kharg Island But Did Not Hit The Oil Infrastructure; Trump: U.S. Navy Escorts Will Happen In Strait Of Hormuz "Soon"; Suspect In MI Synagogue Attack Flagged In Federal Databases For Links To Suspected Hezbollah Members; Trump Replaces Ric Grenell As Head Of The Kennedy Center; Home Videos & Survivor Accounts Expose The Horror Of Epstein's Island; Remembering NY Times Chief Foreign Correspondent John F. Burns. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired March 13, 2026 - 20:00   ET

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

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: The judge's opinion, citing Trump's own social media posts as evidence including this one, which reads he is too late and too angry, too stupid and too political to have the job of Fed Chair.

Trump has, of course repeatedly bashed Powell and the fed for refusing to lower interest rates. The Federal Reserve so far is declining to comment on the judge's order.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight. I'm Erica Hill. AC360 starts right now.

[20:00:25]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER: 360": Good evening, thanks for joining us. Topping our CNN Global War coverage tonight is serious escalation of the fighting. The President announced that shortly before airtime on social media. And I'm quoting him now, he said, "Moments ago at my direction the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East and totally obliterated every military target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island."

He continues, "Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the world has ever known. But for reasons of decency, I've chosen not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island."

The President then adds. "However, should Iran or anyone else do anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision."

Now, Kharg Island is where most of Iran's oil exports flow. It has gone untouched until now, and when asked earlier today about taking it, the President took umbrage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I can't

answer a question like that and you shouldn't ask, and you shouldn't be even asking it.

It's one of so many different things. It's not high on the list, but it's one of so many different things and I can change my mind in seconds.

But you know, for you to ask a question. Who would answer a question like that? I mean, you're asking me a question, Kharg Island. Okay, I think, who would ask a question like that? And what fool would answer it? Okay.

Let's say I was going to do it, or let's say I wasn't going to do it what would I tell you? Oh, yes Brian, I'm thinking about doing it. Let me -- let me let you know what time and when it will take place. It's not, you know, it's sort of a foolish question, a little surprising for you because you're a smart man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Iran, you'll recall, has threatened to send oil tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz up in flames if the U.S. targets its energy facilities, such as the ones on Kharg Island. Now, the President was asked today whether those ships could expect U.S. protection.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Mr. President, when will the Navy start escorting tankers through the strait of Hormuz?

TRUMP: It will happen soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: The President did not give specifics on that, nor did he specifically cite what constitutes victory in the war when asked about it earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN KILMEADE, FOX NEWS CHANNEL HOST, "ONE NATION": When are you going to know when it's over?

TRUMP: When I feel it, when I feel it in my bones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Feels it in his bones. Tonight, a Kharg Island attack caps Day 14 in the war. And what was built by the Pentagon this morning as the heaviest day of strikes in the fighting so far. This is one of them in Tehran strikes in the background as crowds turned out there and across the country to mark a day of solidarity with Palestinians and show their resistance against the U.S. and Israel. Also, we should point out today, we learned that some 2,500 Marines

and sailors are headed into the region. And though we don't yet know what this Marine Expeditionary Unit's mission is, or may be, they are traditionally used for large scale evacuations as well as amphibious assaults.

The President, as you know, has neither ruled out a ground combat or hasn't ruled it in or out, I should say.

We've got Kristen Holmes in Washington, D.C. and Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv. I want to start with CNN senior White House Correspondent, Kristen Holmes. So, Kristen, at this point, what are the other details are there about this bombing on Kharg Island?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson. and look, they're still coming in right now. President Trump saying that he did not strike any of the oil facilities, which is notable. Kharg island is essentially one of the most sensitive economic targets in Iran. It has gone relatively untouched. And experts have said that part of the reason could be the fact that if President Trump was to bomb any of these oil facilities, about 90 percent of the crude oil exports go through Kharg Island that could actually surge the already surging oil prices make them even more expensive.

However, President Trump saying that he hit several military assets, but not the actual oil facilities, but then tying it directly to the Strait of Hormuz. The reason why this is so critical, I spoke with The White House official earlier today, who said that we were going to see some kind of military action linked to the strait of Hormuz.

They are trying to essentially strongarm Iran right now. They are showing them the military force they have and using this as a threat to lord over Iran because they don't want them going after those ships. They need the passageway of the Strait of Hormuz. And as you noted, they are talking about this idea of the Navy escorting those ships President Trump saying it could be soon, but at the same White House official I spoke to said that there was a lot of steps that they would have to go through to get this to happen.

They do want it to happen quickly, but they have to completely secure the area. They are clearly now holding this threat of potentially bombing these facilities and going beyond just leaving this area of Kharg Island untouched as a bit of leverage over Iran, as they to straighten out what is happening, to try and take control of the situation and the movement of the oil.

[20:05:25]

But this is a significant escalation and, Anderson, I can't help but note that answer that he gave to Brian Kilmeade. He answers questions like that all the time.

I mean, he answers questions about boots on the ground, about strikes. He got so clearly wrapped around that answer and it seems as though that's because this was the next target. I was told just a few hours after that and a few hours before it was actually announced there would be some military action.

But the idea that you know, that was a question he wouldn't answer. And the way he answered it just goes to show you he was trying to not answer it. A guy who has been answering almost everything people have put to him, even in phone interviews for three minutes.

COOPER: Yes, Kristen Holmes, thanks very much.

I want to go now to CNN's Jeremy Diamond, who is in in Tel Aviv tonight. Jeremy, what have you been seeing there? What more can you tell us about Kharg Island and also the significance it is to the U.S.?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is a hugely significant island, and there's a reason why we haven't seen the United States or Israel target this island until now and even now, with these initial U.S. military strikes, still avoiding hitting the oil infrastructure at this island.

I am learning a little bit more about what exactly the United States did strike on Kharg Island. This is from a U.S. military official I spoke with just a few minutes ago.

They said that this was a series of wide scale strikes on this island, but strikes that use precision munitions to avoid hitting the oil infrastructure there. Instead, I'm told that the targets included a naval mine, storage facilities, missile storage bunkers and other military infrastructure on the island.

But there's no question that President Trump's military action on Kharg Island tonight is intended to send a message to the Iranian regime, a very clear threat here that the United States is willing to strike, that oil infrastructure should Iran not change its posture as it relates to the Strait of Hormuz.

But I think we really need to consider what the impact of that actually would be, because should the United States strike the oil infrastructure on Kharg Island, you're going to see a series of short and long-term ramifications for that.

Experts have predicted that it could send oil prices, which are already at over $100.00 a barrel, up to $150.00 a barrel, because of the fact that not only does Kharg Island produce and process, 90 percent of Iran's oil exports but Iran's global oil supply amounts to about four percent of the global oil markets.

And in addition to that Iran could escalate even further by striking oil infrastructure targets on the other side of the Gulf, in countries that are allied with the United States. We've already seen them carry out a very limited series of strikes on oil infrastructure in some of those countries, like in Bahrain and Kuwait. And so obviously, they could escalate even further.

And then there's the long-term question here, as the United States and Israel are clearly still pursuing this ultimate goal of regime change, what happens to the Iranian economy, even if the regime does change, if you destroy and dismantle something that is really the lifeblood of the Iranian economy.

And so, all of that has to be considered as President Trump is threatening to go even beyond what he has done tonight, which is strike the military targets on Kharg Island and now threatening to go after the oil infrastructure as well.

COOPER: Jeremy Diamond, appreciate it, thank you. Joining us now is retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. Also, former deputy director of National Intelligence Beth Sanner. Both of you, I appreciate you talking to you.

General Kimmitt, I mean we mentioned that the President posted on social media that CENTCOM executed bombing raids on the Kharg Island. He said that he chose not to wipe out the oil infrastructure. To you, what does it signify that the U.S. is now hitting Kharg Island?

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT (RET), U.S. ARMY: We'll it means that we have raised the stakes in this war considerably. It's gone simply from take out the military, take out the regime, but now were trying to take out the economic lifeblood of this country, potentially.

I mean, it really is -- he is holding Kharg Island in my mind hostage to ensure that Iran allows the ships through the Strait of Hormuz. But as Jeremy properly said, this could blow out of proportion because of that oil infrastructure is attacked it is clear that Iran is going to attack the rest of the infrastructure in the Middle East. And at that point, the prices of oil will just go out of control.

[20:10:10]

COOPER: Beth, it's interesting to hear the President's statement because he's essentially saying look, I could have done more. I could have destroyed more of Kharg Island, but I'm holding back, so that, you know, you don't do anything to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

The other threats he's made of, you know have to -- I have a hand in who's going to be the new leader none of those have really panned out. The Iranians don't seem to be listening too much to the to those threats. Do you think his words mean much to them at this point?

BETH SANNER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Yes, I don't in a lot of ways, I mean, because I think that what we're not understanding about the Iranian regime is that, they're not fighting this on the same level that we are, right?

We're fighting this like a war way, way far away. Our homeland is not at risk. Our leadership is not at risk. Our livelihoods are not at risk. This is an existential threat to a country that is very, very comparatively weak. And so, yes, we are killing them literally with our overwhelming force, but they are going to fight back like insurgents. And that's what they are.

I will also note that Kharg Island, the Iranians have continued to export oil from Kharg Island as of two days ago, the reports were that it was about the same level as it was pre-war. And so, you know, you take that off the market by bombing this, you're going to send the oil prices up and I agree with both, Jeremy and General Kimmitt. They are going to fight back like insurgents. And they have not taken out the kind of infrastructure refineries, you know, the Aramco sites, they have not taken those out the Iranians yet and I don't think that they've actually widely mined the strait because otherwise they couldn't get their oil out. There's a lot more that they can do.

COOPER: General Kimmitt, the U.S. as we mentioned, is deploying a rapid response force comprised of about 2,500 Marines and sailors. What does that signal to you, especially given the President just the other day at a rally, said that the war had already been won. It was essentially won on the first day. If that's the case, what is this unit for?

KIMMITT: Well, it could actually occupy Kharg Island. It'd be an ideal force to be there to make sure that Kharg Island stays in American hands.

Look, I think it's important to understand. Also, Secretary Bessent said that, we're prepared to send convoys with American warships through the Strait of Hormuz.

If you look at the numbers and you compare that to what happened in the tanker war between 1981 and 1989 and the number of ships we had to run mine countermeasure escorts, we're not there yet. We don't have the capability, candidly, to fight a war --

COOPER: Also, there weren't drones back in '81.

KIMMITT: Drones aren't going to be a lot of help against mines.

COOPER: Right, I was saying back in '81, there were I mean, there weren't drones. It was mines. Now there's potentially mines, but also drones that the U.S. would have to contend with on any kind of escort, no?

KIMMITT: Although I really do believe that the military is correct when they say they have taken out most of the drones and, candidly, the escort operations that the U.S. military would conduct would also have air defense capability to knock down a majority of those drones. We had good convoy operations during the tanker war but we were a neutral force at that time as we were escorting the ships.

This would just take that entire land at war and put it out into the Strait of Hormuz, which is why I think President Trump now has Iran in a chokehold to ensure that the strait remains open because he doesn't have the military capability on the water to keep it open.

COOPER: Beth, Secretary Hegseth seemed very worried about news coverage and what the news was saying about the war. And yet he said that, I mean, people shouldn't worry about the Strait of Hormuz. He said, you don't need to worry about it. Does that make sense to you?

SANNER: Yes, I guess, you know, I have so much respect for General Kimmitt. He has obviously so much more experience being at war. And me more observing it. But I have to say that I'm a little bit more skeptical in a way. And this is it: You can degrade them by 90 percent but it doesn't take a lot. It only takes one strike to send the insurance prices through the roof and make it really difficult. You know, there's just a lot of complexity here. So, I do think that people need to worry.

We don't have enough forces. Even combined with the French and the U.K. right now to do this kind of transit. Yes, we have air defenses, but you know, we did find that the Houthis sometimes could get through during that battle that we had with them in the Red Sea not too long ago and it created quite a bit of damage to us and this is at a probably a different scale.

So, I don't want to say it won't work, but I think we are still weeks from being able to do this.

[20:15:57]

COOPER: Beth Sanner, General Kimmitt, I appreciate you time -- go, quickly, go ahead.

KIMMITT: I don't agree with them, I don't disagree with Beth at all I think she's exactly right. The fundamental question, though is if they have taken, if the Americans have taken Kharg Island, they now have a chokehold on much of the Iranian economy. And that's really at this point; the only way we are going to keep the straits open.

SANNER: I just don't think the Iranians care.

COOPER: But you're talking boots on the ground, you're talking boots on the ground. You're talking about that reaction force physically being on the island, yes?

KIMMITT: No, that could help. But I'm talking about escort capabilities. The United States to maintain a picket line to the left and right of those ships to get those tankers through the Strait of Hormuz without having to worry about the Iranians attack them. I think we've got enough defensive capabilities to stop some, but certainly not all of the capabilities. I mean, even at the height of the tanker war, when we had 80 ships escorting those tankers, 300 and 450 were hit and quite a few went to the bottom of the Persian Gulf.

COOPER: Yes. Thank you.

Up next, more on the moment of, this moment in the war with Iran and the messaging from the President and the Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:21:30]

COOPER: A residential area on fire in Central Israel earlier tonight after an Iranian missile strike. Emergency responders say there were no initial reports of injuries in the attack, and others in the area. Also tonight, the President saying U.S. Central Command has carried

out one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East, claiming in a social media post that they, "totally obliterated every military target in Iran's Kharg Island".

Meanwhile, since the war started nearly two weeks ago, the President or his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, have deflected concerns over the war, including after sources told CNN that Russia is helping Iran with advanced drone tactics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJOR GARRETT, CBS NEWS: Does this put U.S. personnel in any more danger than they otherwise would be, the Russian involvement?

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, no one's putting us in danger. We're putting the other guys in danger that's our job. So, we're not concerned about that.

REPORTER: You just said it is a little excursion and you said it is a war. So, which one is it?

TRUMP: Well, it's both, it's both. It's an excursion that will keep us out of a war.

REPORTER: Mr. President, are you concerned sir about a domestic terrorist, especially with Iran?

TRUMP: No.

HEGSETH: As the world is seeing, they are exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz. Something we're dealing with, we have been dealing with it and don't need to worry about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Don't need to worry about it, Secretary Hegseth said today. Joining me now is CNN political commentator and Air Force veteran Adam Kinzinger, who served in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and CNN chief political analyst, David Axelrod, who is a senior advisor to President Obama.

Congressman, first of all, do you think we need to worry about it?

ADAM KINZINGER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I mean, at this point, Hegseth just seems like a guy playing the Secretary of Defense on a really bad movie like he's over the top, nothing worries him ever, he did the old, we don't have to worry about it, the other guy has to worry about it.

I mean, look, the American people are willing to accept a lot of pain. I think, Anderson if they know what it's for and what this administration has done is basically say, don't worry about anything. I'm sure they're scared to death because they have destroyed the counterterrorism capability of the FBI and put those agents on the street working with ICE. And so, I'm sure they're worried about it. But all of this. Everything's great, what me worry, stuff like that is part of the reason that the American people don't support this action. Besides, there's no end state goal.

But they spent no effort to prepare the American people. And so, yes, I think we should be worried, maybe not lose sleep over it but certainly be concerned.

COOPER: David, what do you make of the presentation by the Secretary of Defense and the comments by the President just in the last couple of days about how things are going?

DAVID AXELROD, CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, look, it's consistent with the President's modus operandi. I mean he keeps describing the economy as the golden age better than we've ever seen it. I mean it is his practice to try to be hyperbolic in praise of his own ventures and it extends to war here. But they also, I mean, one thing that has struck me Anderson, about their presentations is that they are now turning on the media, turning on "The New York Times," CNN, and others for covering the war.

And let me just say, there is no more important time to have really rigorous coverage than during a war, because in the fog of war so much happens that you can't easily verify. And so, the work that reporters are doing all over the world and in Washington is really important. But Hegseth, I mean, he complained a few days ago that the deaths service people were front page news.

Well, they should be front page news. And we've doubled the number of losses since then and hundreds have been injured. This is something the American people need to know.

[20:25:31]

So, in addition to what Adam said, which I totally agree with, they've been unclear from the beginning about what the goal was, what the end point would be, and how this is -- why this is so important that America should make the sacrifices it is making, but they're also trying to obscure the ability of journalists to cover the story. And there's no more important time for journalists to be covering the story.

COOPER: Congressman, it's so interesting and maybe it's just because I'm reading a lot about the Vietnam War, like "Dispatches" and a number of other books the last couple of weeks just to refresh my knowledge about other wars that the U.S. and how it's been presented to the public. I mean, the echoes of this are really interesting. I'm not comparing, you know, the actual combat, but, you know, the Pentagon back then used to attack reporters for their coverage that it was unpatriotic and focused on the body count of alleged body count of enemy dead, and then suddenly, you know, a whole division that nobody knew existed before would pop up and the war dragged on and on and on despite all the optimism of various administrations.

Do you feel like this -- every time Hegseth delegates and asks a General, an actual military officer, to speak, that officer usually is much more thoughtful in their presentation than the Secretary Of Defense is?

KINZINGER: Yes, a hundred percent. Let's just look at the bombing of the girls' school, a very tragic accident. Accidents happen in war. I don't think we've ever had a conflict where something bad hasn't happened, but it certainly is not our intent and every administration, well, in recent memory, at least every administration will admit it. They'll say, we're investigating how it happened. We're truly sorry, and we move on.

Donald Trump has been like Vladimir Putin in this. You know, Vladimir Putin bombs something in Ukraine, which, by the way, he does every day. I just want to be clear about and then he'll blame the Ukrainians for doing it. That's exactly what Donald Trump did. He said the Iranians had a Tomahawk cruise missile, which, by the way, only the United States has. And then they wonder why people are turning against them or why they don't trust him.

I mean look, I understand the Pentagon and Hegseth and Trump have to try to put a positive spin on this. I don't begrudge them that, that's part of the work of trying to sell a war, but straight up lying and then going after the news for doing their job.

CNN hasn't been like leading about how awful everything is. CNN's been reporting the news as the news comes out and what they want is a bunch of North Korea style, shaking your head, yes, the great leader says it's okay. And the American people who have sent their young daughters and sons to war have every right to know what's going on and make a decision.

COOPER: Adam Kinzinger, David Axelrod, thank you.

Coming up next, more on our breaking news tonight with Democratic Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. She's a former intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:32:51]

COOPER: With airstrikes by the U.S. on Iran's Kharg Island, the war now takes a new and uncharted direction. More on that and where this conflict could land, joining us is New Hampshire Democratic Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. She is joining us. She's a Naval Reserve veteran.

Congresswoman, I appreciate you being with us. I'm wondering what your reaction is to the President's post about bombing Kharg Island and what we heard from Secretary of Defense Hegseth today.

REP. MAGGIE GOODLANDER (D-NH): Well, thanks so much for having me, Anderson. Look, to set back here for a second, I'm here in New Hampshire and it is crystal clear to me what the number one concern my constituents and people across this country is it's the affordability crisis. It's the sky high cost of living. Two weeks ago, the President launched unilaterally this war that has been unchartered and unclear in its most basic objectives from day 1. What has been clear and continues to be clear are the extraordinary costs and the costs that are being borne by the American people. We've seen already 13 service members given their lives in this war.

The President still can't give a clear explanation of our objectives. We're seeing gas prices surging, food prices on the cusp of surging. We're hearing from farmers who are feeling the pain of the real costs of war. And, Anderson, the President seems hell-bent on escalating. And I think this is what we're seeing once again tonight without any clear objectives.

COOPER: The administration is pushing back on CNN reporting that they underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz. I know you said you essentially don't see a plan here from the Pentagon or the White House. I mean, do you support the objective of essentially trying to neutralize Iran if that is, I mean, several objectives have been stated, but that's one.

GOODLANDER: You're right. I mean, it's been a constant shifting set of objectives. The President seems to change his mind about what this war is about every day, multiple times a day.

[20:35:07]

Two weeks ago, he said this was about regime change. Well, what we've seen is one old supreme leader, radical, replaced with a much younger supreme leader. He's also said this is about Iran's nuclear program. And, Anderson, you know, we've had longstanding bipartisan support for the basic objective of preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

But so far, the President has nothing to show for advancing that basic objective. He's talked about degrading Iran's military capabilities, Iran's navy. It's -- this is -- if that's what this is about, Anderson, it's really hard to follow the plot. And this is a huge problem, because we -- this is -- we've seen this movie before.

We know from history what it looks like when you've got a president at the helm who's hellbent on escalating without any clear objectives or endgame, a president who can't answer the most basic question of how this ends and how this is going to be good for the American people. We've seen this movie before. And the way it ends is in -- thousands of American lives lost and trillions of American taxpayer spent -- dollars spent.

And right now, the people I represent can't afford this. We're in the middle of an affordability crisis that the President calls a hoax and a con job, Anderson. But --

COOPER: Yes.

GOODLANDER: -- the fact is, we've -- I came to Congress to lower costs. And in every relevant sense, from home heating prices to the gas pump to the grocery store, the American people are paying the price of this war. COOPER: Congresswoman, I appreciate your time. Maggie Goodlander, thank you.

Coming up next, what the DOJ files reveal about Jeffrey Epstein's Caribbean island, a paradise to his powerful guests, and nightmare for victims. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:41:14]

COOPER: We are learning new details about yesterday's attack on a Michigan synagogue. Sources tell CNN that the assailant had previously been flagged in U.S. government databases for connections with the terror group Hezbollah. We're joined now by CNN's Chief Law Enforcement Intelligence Analyst John Miller.

So, John, what was the extent of the suspect's ties to Hezbollah?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, the federal government said they had nothing to tie him to Hezbollah, but he was tied through communications, telephone records and other things to members of Hezbollah. And this came up when he came back from a trip to Lebanon in 2019. He was flagged by the because of that note.

And Customs and Border Protection people, we are told by law enforcement sources, went through his phone and found those Hezbollah members' names in his contact list. We also now know that his brothers and nephews were killed in an Israeli strike against Hezbollah targets just days ago in Lebanon. So that really kind of points us to a probable motive for this attack.

COOPER: And do we know much now about his activities in the days leading up to the attack?

MILLER: We know a little bit more. On March 10th, he went to Phantom Fireworks in Livonia, Michigan, and we were able to obtain some of the footage from that where he went in. And I spoke to William Weimer, who is the vice president general counsel. This is the biggest fireworks distributor in the country. They have stores all over the country.

They said he was friendly. He was jovial. He showed up and he said, I want to buy fireworks for my family's celebration. We're going to have a party celebrating the end of Ramadan. We're celebrating Eid. He purchased fireworks, went out to the truck, came back and said, my family says we need more. He ended up buying about $2,200 worth of fireworks and then loading those into the truck.

For that particular store, they get $5,000 sales, $10,000 sales. His demeanor was normal. There was no reason not to sell it to him. He presented I.D. and a credit card. Now we know what his intent was.

COOPER: John Mueller, appreciate it. Thanks very much.

Back in Washington, the President has announced that Ric Grenell was out as head of the Kennedy Center. Grenell, a longtime Trump loyalist, oversaw a tumultuous period for the arts and culture institution marked by cancellations of high-profile performances and plunging ticket sales. The President has sought to put his stamp on the Kennedy Center, quite literally adding his name to the building.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty joins us now with more. So what more do we know about the firing of -- or the timing of Grenell's departure?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, President Trump has, according to sources, really grown. He had soured over the coming -- last coming weeks over Grenell. There was a feeling, frankly, according to multiple sources, both inside and outside the White House, that Grenell was not doing enough, frankly, to manage the publicity around the President and the Kennedy Center and all the changes that it has gone through.

And you noted there, tumultuous is the perfect word to describe the last year at the Kennedy Center, a string of high-profile artists pulling out from their performances, many in protest of the administration, lagging fundraising numbers, dwindling ticket sales. There was negative headline after negative headline.

And my sources tell me that Trump, frankly, just grew frustrated that he had had enough at seeing that and didn't feel like Grenell in the top spot at the Kennedy Center was doing enough. So now it is time to part ways with him.

And frankly, one source familiar with the White House said that the President, he did like Grenell, and they have been longtime friends, but felt that Grenell had fumbled when it came to the leadership of the Kennedy Center.

[20:45:05]

And my sources tell me that while he was there over the past year, he was someone who didn't operate with the rest of the staff there very well. He was contentious. He was aggressive with staff. He didn't want to learn while he was there.

And this is someone that came to this job, Anderson, with not an extensive arts background, if any at all. It's mostly in foreign policy. He had served as ambassador to Germany and held many other jobs in foreign policy and public affairs.

So this is someone who came into the arts institution with not much background and he certainly didn't have any friends on the ground in the Kennedy Center. One source telling me Ric worked really hard to keep in Trump's good graces, but Trump got tired of watching the news every day, hearing how bad the Kennedy Center was and specifically how Trump is killing it.

COOPER: I mean, censoring that he's blamed -- the President is blaming Ric Grenell for bad publicity, I mean, I'm not sure Ric Grenell is responsible for the things the President did of renaming it or trying to put his name on it. Who is going to run the Kennedy Center now? Who wants that job? SERFATY: Yes, someone that's already there. His name is Matt Flores -- Floca, excuse me, and he's the current vice president of Facility Operations. I found this was interesting. He is someone who has an extensive background in construction management. That certainly appeals to President Trump, him being a developer himself. And certainly the Kennedy Center, when it closes in July for two years, will need someone at the helm to oversee that massive construction that's taking place.

COOPER: All right. Sunlen Serfaty, I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Tonight, we have new reporting on Jeffrey Epstein and his Caribbean island. The details were uncovered in a CNN review of home videos and survivor accounts in the Department of Justice's files on him.

Here's CNN's Senior Investigative Correspondent Kyung Lah.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epstein used the secluded island to both wine and dine the rich, and build a trap, where women and children as young as 12 describe rape, sexual abuse and trafficking.

ROBERT COUTURIER, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER: The girls and young women who went on the island were basic prisoners. You couldn't leave.

LAH (voice-over): A CNN review of thousands of videos, photos and emails in the DOJ files, written testimony from victims and satellite imagery paint the clearest picture yet of how Epstein transformed this island into an elaborate crime scene. The files show the signs of abuse captured on camera.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is for Jeffrey's amusement.

LAH (voice-over): Powerful guests publicly and repeatedly say they didn't see this abuse, but it was so obvious and bold, according to one victim, that anyone spending significant time at any of Epstein's residences would have clearly been aware of what was going on. To do what he planned, Epstein used the island's seclusion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my swimming pool.

LAH (voice-over): Helicopter or boat were the only way visitors could get to the island he purchased for about $8 million in 1998. In 2002, satellite images show the island. Little Saint James was barely developed. Just one main house here and a few small buildings on the northern tip of the roughly 70 acre island.

Over the next two decades, you can see Epstein's building spree as he transformed it into a luxurious vacation escape, expanding the main home to the north. He built a larger pool, new cabanas, upgraded rooms, a dental office for some unknown reason, and this unusual looking building referred to in the files as a temple.

He also bought a $300,000 antique desk and statues worth about 100,000 grand. As Epstein developed his getaway, he wrote repeatedly in emails to business and government leaders, come visit me on my island.

Even after Epstein was convicted in 2008 for sex crimes, including one involving a minor, the visitors kept coming. Like LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who explained on a podcast late last year that he briefly went to the island while fundraising for MIT.

REID HOFFMAN, LINKEDIN CO-FOUNDER: He was a masterful networker.

LAH (voice-over): But beneath Epstein's business dealings, Virgin Islands prosecutors say Epstein coerced girls as young as 12 into sexual activity. One victim said she was trapped on the island. "I tried to escape Epstein and the others by trying to swim off after spending the day being raped."

Epstein's home decor even showed signs of his crimes.

COUTURIER: There were bunk beds. And I said to him, I said, oh my God, are you expecting grandchildren? And he said, no, these are for my -- these are for the girls.

LAH (voice-over): We spoke with architect and interior designer, Robert Couturier. He was hired by Epstein to work on the island. He backed out of the project after a few months and then told the FBI, this is what Epstein instructed.

[20:50:03]

COUTURIER: Especially for the bunk rooms, they had to be for girls. They had to be for girls. Just pink and this sorts of things.

LAH: So there's no mistaking this wasn't for women? These --

COUTURIER: There's no mistaking. You don't put women on bunk beds, I'm sorry. Everybody knew what was happening on that island. Even his staff, people worked for him.

LAH (voice-over): A former staffer said the main home had many pictures of young girls, some topless looking about 15 to 16 years old. In room after room of the island home, the files show visible signs of something off. Like Epstein in his kitchen chasing girls or young women. And his staff noticed.

A former chef said every hour Epstein would take a girl down to his master bedroom, then order his maid to clean up. Another staffer worried about Epstein's guests. He described seeing an unnamed man with girls who did not look 18 and they were all naked. He also told the FBI he saw then Prince Andrew grinding against some young girl in the pool.

U.K. authorities arrested Andrew last month, saying they're reviewing claims he shared sensitive government information with Epstein. Andrew was released and denies he did anything wrong. Victims say visitors could have seen all this as early as the mid-2000s.

One victim described a 2007 visit by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and then fiance and 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki. "They observed that we did not speak and that we remained mute. Sergey and Anne witnessed our souls and bodies riddled with fear. They said nothing. They did nothing."

A man who looks like Brin about the same age as he was in 2007 is seen in this picture in the DOJ files, though it is undated. Former head of Victoria's Secret Les Wexner described his visit in a video deposition.

LES WEXNER, FORMER OWNER OF VICTORIA'S SECRET: Walked around for a while and left. Probably an hour visit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On that trip, do you recall seeing any prominent figures on the island?

WEXNER: No, it was a pretty crummy island.

LAH (voice-over): After Epstein's 2008 sex crimes conviction, an email shows a sultan from the United Arab Emirates, Ahmed bin Sulayem, paid a visit. The sultan separately traded lewd emails with Epstein, telling him he was going to "sample a 100 percent female Russian at my yacht."

Howard Lutnick, now Trump's commerce secretary, dropped by in 2012. He's seen here in this undated photo. Lutnick said last month he saw nothing concerning.

HOWARD LUTNICK, COMMERCE SECRETARY: We had lunch on the island. That is true for an hour. And we left with all of my children, with my nannies and my wife all together. We were on family vacation.

LAH: What do you think about the people who did go to the island and say they never saw anything?

COUTURIER: Listen, I think you could -- you can decide that you're blind. But the idea that a person would go to that island and not see something weird is impossible to me. For me to have seen it, everybody else had to see it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: And Kyung Lah joins us now. So Kyung, so far the DOJ has declined to file any further charges. What can you tell us about the House Oversight Committee's probe into Epstein's crimes and what they've had planned?

LAH (on-camera): Well, they certainly are interested in talking to Housing Secretary Howard Lutnick. He has recently agreed to voluntarily appear for a transcribed interview before the House Oversight Committee about Epstein. That time, though, has yet to be scheduled.

We did reach out to Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, but they didn't respond to our request for a comment. And Reid Hoffman, Anderson, has publicly said, quote, "I regret ever interacting with Epstein. We should focus on protecting those who committed crimes and finally getting justice to the victims." Anderson?

COOPER: Kyung Lah, I appreciate it. Thank you.

Up next, we remember the consummate and brilliant foreign correspondent John Burns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:58:14]

COOPER: We got the sad news today that a familiar face on this broadcast as well as a legendary byline at the New York Times has died. By the time we first met New York Times Chief Foreign Correspondent John Burns, he had already won Pulitzer Prizes for his reporting from war zones in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Also two George Polk awards.

And though as you can see, he always had a distinctive head of hair and a matchless feel for the places and people he wrote about, it was not as yet as distinguished a head of hair as the one we so gratefully turned to when big moments needed explaining.

Here we are talking about the execution of Saddam Hussein and questions about how that rough justice was done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN F. BURNS, CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, NEW YORK TIMES: -- into the shadows here of the Iraqi mind. So, you know, one of the victims here in the last 30 years has been a grasp of reality. That's what I would guess. Of course they had their own expedient reasons in those first hours to present this thing as having been done in a dignified fashion. And now they're trying to reconstruct it in the face of that video which, you know, is -- it seems to me is whistling against thunder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Whistling against thunder, that was pure John Burns. He was, in the words of his time's obituary, a complicated and discursive figure whose anecdotes were relayed with a raconteur's panache. Here he is on 360 with the situation in Iraq coming unglued.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BURNS: So you have an Iraqi government on the one hand that can't sustain itself that needs additional American troops to begin to impose any kind of stability on the capital city. And on the other hand that really doesn't want them here anyway because it's preparing I think for a civil war. And it wants America -- the American generals in a way to step away from their shoulder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: In his four decade career, John Burns reported from the Middle East and middle Europe from South Africa and South Asia. The old Soviet Union as well and the new Russia. The Times called him the consummate foreign desk fireman.

A former colleague described him as the creator of peerless works of artistry, eloquence, and guile. We remember him as a brilliant and treasured colleague. John Burns was 81 years old.

That's it for us. The news continues. The Source with Kaitlan Collins starts now.