Return to Transcripts main page

Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Satellite Images Show Iran May Be Rebuilding Nuclear and Missile Sites; NY Times: New Air Force One Lacks Defensive Countermeasures for Old One; Graham Platner Formally Withdraws from Maine Senate Race; Graham Platner Formally Withdraws From Maine Senate Race; Trump Says He Won't Sign Housing Bill Set To Become Law At Midnight; New Video & Witness: McConnell Loaded Into Ambulance On Stretcher; Attorney: Witnesses Contradict ICE Statement On Houston Shooting; Teen's Mysterious Death Fuels Speculation, Grief And Racial Tension; Prince Harry, Meghan & Their Children Meet With King Charles. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired July 10, 2026 - 20:00   ET

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

CHRISTO GROZEV, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST; ON RUSSIA'S "WANTED LIST": ...against whole cities of the enemy. But this is normal for the Russian assassination apparatus. I mean, they don't value human life, and this is a good thing from their perspective.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: Christo Grozev, thank you very much, I appreciate your time tonight.

And don't miss "The Salisbury Poisonings: A spy next door". It is Sunday night at 8:00. In the meantime, thanks so much for joining us tonight. AC360 begins now.

[20:00:29]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER: 360": Good evening, topping our CNN Global War coverage tonight, the President declares the ceasefire is very much over. And new exclusive CNN reporting tonight shows signs Iran may already have been busy rebuilding its nuclear program.

CNN analysis of satellite imagery taken over the past few weeks from over Iran may show signs that the country is attempting to rebuild its nuclear facilities, which would be a violation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran.

President Trump had this to say about Iran's nuclear program from the NATO Summit earlier this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I was there for one reason that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, I call it, we denuclearize Iran, and that's happened. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Well, we'll bring you the full CNN investigation in just a moment. This comes on a day that the President made that announcement saying the ceasefire is over, but it included mixed signals of global proportions. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue talks. We've agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them in no uncertain terms that the ceasefire is over."

Now, what exactly that means, military strikes from either the U.S. or Iran unclear as is the path forward for peace negotiations. So far, there's been a lull in fighting, no break in heated rhetoric. However, Iran's chief negotiator, the Speaker of the Parliament said today, "The moment the Americans betray the understanding, we will be ready for an all-out defense."

President Trump was asked by "The New York Post" today about reporting that Iran had recently devised a new plot to assassinate him, according to Israeli intelligence. He said, and I quote, "I've been on their list for a long time. That's what we're dealing with." He went on to say, "... the only thing is I've left instructions. If anything happens to just literally bomb them all at levels that they've never seen before."

Now, we are learning more about that alleged assassination plot. According to an Israeli source involved, this man, the new commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, who was part of a group advocating for such a plan. Israeli intelligence told the Trump administration it reflected a desire among elements of Tehran's hardline leadership to target President Trump rather than a specific, detailed plan to carry out such an operation. That's according to the Israeli source and a U.S. official.

Now, late tonight, a senior U.S. official said that any final peace agreement with Iran must include the U.S. obtaining Iran's enriched uranium. "If we don't get the dust, we do not have a deal with Iran," they said. Which brings us back to CNN's exclusive reporting about Iran's nuclear program. Here's CNN's Katie Polglase with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE POLGLASE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This image, one of several shared exclusively with CNN, may show signs of Iran attempting to rebuild its nuclear facilities. This is one of several locations across the country where we've identified recent activity, both in nuclear and missile sites. The activity at nuclear sites, in particular, raises questions as to whether Iran violated the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the U.S. in late June.

Even before President Trump seemed to signal it's end by launching fresh strikes. In it, Tehran had agreed not to procure or develop nuclear weapons. This site in Parchin is believed to be holding explosive material for nuclear weapons. Before the U.S. Israeli strikes, Iran built this concrete shield around it, a sign of its importance.

It was then struck multiple times during the U.S.-Israel bombing campaign. This year, the targeting was precise. You could see the holes left behind by bunker busting bombs. Now, a new imagery from June and July, analyzed by CNN in conjunction with the institute for science and international security. We can see Iran appeared to be taking steps to repair and reconstruct the site.

You can see temporary covers placed over the impact holes. Then weeks later, with the Memorandum still in effect, the covers are removed and replaced with a mesh. Concrete mixing trucks are visible nearby. Experts say these trucks are a sign the Iranians are intending to seal the holes.

POLGLASE (on camera): For weeks, we've only had glimpses of what's been happening on the ground inside Iran. Providers have been withholding satellite imagery across the region at the request of the U.S. government. Now, those restrictions are loosening, and we've been able to see new images across Iran of which sites they've started to clear and repair first. A sign, perhaps, of which they see as the most important.

POLGLASE (voice over): This is Pickax Mountain, another site where Iran is believed to be advancing its nuclear capabilities deep underground. And in recent weeks, vehicles could clearly be seen going in and out of the tunnels. Experts told CNN this was likely a violation of the terms signed with the U.S., which required Iran to maintain the status quo regarding the nuclear program.

In contrast, other prominent nuclear sites did not seem to have been touched, like Isfahan here, Fordow here, and Natanz.

There has been activity at some missile sites. The U.S. and its allies have long been concerned about Tehran's missile capacity and the latest imagery suggests Iran has already started repairing some storage sites. This is new paving laid out at Tabriz missile base in recent days. And at another missile base in Kermanshah, we can see excavators and tunnel entrances being cleared.

Lastly, we've also spotted repairs at air bases in recent days. You can see a crater being filled in here at Tabriz Air Base, with the U.S. resuming its attacks on Iran. A peace agreement is seeming increasingly out of reach.

Katie Polglase, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[20:05:57]

COOPER: Well, shortly before we filed this report, the satellite companies restricted public access again to most images over Iran at the request of the U.S. Government. CNN reached out to the Iranian government for comment on the activity. We detected. We did not get a response on the U.S. side. When asked about CNN's findings, Pentagon officials said they would not discuss battlefield conditions or intelligence matters due to operational security.

Joining me now, Brett McGurk, who has held National Security positions under the last four Presidents, including during President Trump's first term. He is just back from the Middle East, and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Beth Sanner.

So, what are your thoughts? First of all, when you hear the reporting from Katie Polglase?

BRETT MCGURK, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, it's important reporting, Anderson, because Parchin, that one site and the one building Taleghan 2, which is where the imagery is showing. That is the site that is known, Iran has pursued its weaponization work. They don't have enrich uranium there, but they've done experiments over the years about how to actually turn fuel into a nuclear weapon when they had a weapons program up until about 2003, which the intelligence community, our intelligence community, believes.

It was inspected by the IAEA, the IAEA found that a lot had been done to conceal. So, it is a very sensitive site, and you can learn a lot from information like this, because where is Iran focused on rebuilding? And if it's that particular site, they're either trying to send a signal that, hey, we can start our weaponization work again, or they are trying to pursue to have a threshold, nuclear capacity using the fuel that is still underground, that nuclear dust. And then at Parchin, this particular site is where they do the experimentations for ultimate weaponization.

That's how I read that. I wouldn't be too alarmed by it, but it's interesting. And one key point in that MOU, Anderson, status quo on nuclear, you cannot do any more nuclear sites. And the Strait of Hormuz should be open. Both of those things, it seems now are not happening.

COOPER: And, Beth, two, Israeli sources tell CNN that the Trump administration doesn't want Israel involved with U.S. strikes against Iran. But if the nuclear issue is still so unsettled, do you think the White House would be able to keep Israel from launching new attacks on their own?

BETH SANNER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Probably, But I think that one of the things I would want to emphasize here, to pick up where Bret is and to answer your question, is that, you know, Pickax Mountain is a place that the IAEA has never inspected. It was not bombed, as far as I know, during the war. And it is too deep, by most accounts, to actually bomb it. And Israel doesn't have the capability to bomb even, you know, we had to be the ones to bomb the other nuclear sites.

So, we really don't know what the activity at Pickax is, but it's certainly always been a place of concern. And we don't know. Could they have squirreled away in, you know, centrifuges there? Do they have some highly enriched uranium there? We do not know. But that would be of concern and Israel can't do anything about that. All we can do is bomb the tunnel entrances and they can dig those out.

So, it emphasizes why, even though the weapons program or the nuclear program was set back by years, why do we need to have a negotiation? It's these things because we don't know and we need to get it under wraps.

COOPER: And Brett, you alluded to this. A senior U.S. officials spoke with reporters late today and said that the sides will never move on to negotiations on Iran's nuclear program while the regime is still firing its ships in the Strait. What do you think that means for the likelihood of future agreements?

MCGURK: Yes, Anderson, this is kind of somewhat predictable. We're two weeks into the 60-day ceasefire and the MOU. You know, on Tuesday, Iran hit two ships with drones. It was a Qatari ship carrying liquid natural gas and a Saudi ship carrying crude oil. They send messages to both those capitals, saying those Iran to Saudi Arabia and Qatar saying this was a mistake, this was a rogue group within the Revolutionary Guard, it's not going to happen again.

They also sent a message to the United States through mediators about that. Nobody believed them. The U.S. has responded, and now they're trying to get back to some semblance of a status quo.

It is the expectation in the Gulf, and it's the expectation of the United States that all those shipping lanes will be open. Iran, clearly, at least elements of the Iranian system, those that have the power, which is the Revolutionary Guard, they read the MOU to say, well, the Strait of Hormuz will be open in the lane that we identify.

So that is really the key issue here and it is a main issue because it's kind of the crux of what the MOU was all about. And until you get past that, you're not going to have any chance of having a negotiation on these much more serious and complex issues.

[20:10:38]

COOPER: Beth, I mean, does the Iranian regime act as one that argument that, you know, this was some rogue group or rogue faction within the IRGC or whomever launching these strikes? Is that a possibility? Because, I mean, they used that sort of argument before.

SANNER: Yes, I mean, I think Brett and I are on the same page here. You know, I don't buy it. I don't think Brett buys it. I don't think the Gulfies buy it.

You know, look, it's a very attractive line to give this administration. And this administration seems to buy into it. They probably know more or different things than we do sitting on the outside. But I just think that you listen to Ghalibaf, who is the key negotiator. It doesn't sound like he's on a different page, you know, so I just, I think that they have core interests.

They need to create a deterrent. They need to prevent the United States and Israel from attacking them again. And they don't trust, as Ghalibaf said, they don't trust that we are going to get that just through negotiations. They think that we will go back at it again, or Israel will. And so, they're actually doing the thing that is, of course, causing us to attack them again. But from their perspective, they're going to keep pushing that reconstitution in order to create deterrence over the long run and the Strait is a core part of that. COOPER: Go ahead.

SANNER: Sorry.

COOPER: Yes. And Brett, the man, she's talking about, the top negotiator, speaker of the parliament, made a statement that his country remains distrustful of the U.S., saying, "in my view, only those who are prepared for war can negotiate with the United States."

You just returned from the Middle East. What are you hearing about the signals that Iranian negotiators are sending? Do you think those negotiators speak for Iran's revolutionary guard?

MCGURK: Anderson, there's no trust here between anybody. There is a sense that there might be some sort of a power struggle in Tehran. I hear this, we've heard this for years, but this is between Ahmad Vahidi, who's a new head of the Revolutionary Guard, kind of the last guy we would want.

He was Qasem Soleimani's predecessor. Soleimani was kind of, he was a mentor to Soleimani. He's now in charge of Revolutionary Guard, an old-school Iraq war veteran hardliner. The Guard has the power, I think Ghalibaf, Pezeshkian, the president, they might want to try to get more sanctions relief, get on a better page, given they have serious economic distress.

So, this is what you hear, there's some sort of a power struggle. But, Anderson, I think you're right. And I think Beth and I would agree. We've heard this for years, even before this conflict. But the Revolutionary Guard are the guys with the guns. They're the ones in charge. They're the ones that fire the drones in the Strait of Hormuz. And until they're on the page, you want to be on, you're not going to be on the same page with Iran.

COOPER: Beth, the U.S. officials also told reporters today that the U.S. expects Iran to issue a public statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz open, and that commercial vessels attempting to transit the waterway won't be attacked. Do you think that's likely to happen?

SANNER: I think that they could declare that it's open and I think that they will demand in order to do that, that the U.S. doesn't reestablish the blockade, which is what we kind of look like were doing by moving the carriers into position to do so.

So, I think that from their perspective, they will declare it open, but by their rules. So, you know, it's this misinterpretation or multiple interpretations of language allows you to do certain things. And they are masters at this. So maybe they'll be able to thread the needle here because no one wants to go back to war. Not, not they, not us, but they also want to drag this out.

You know, the U.S. doesn't think we're, we say we don't want to do nuclear negotiations until the Strait is open. Well, neither does Iran. So, we agree on that.

COOPER: Brett, I mean, as you're just back from the region, there is a belief by some, I think, in this administration that there are elements within Iran in the regime that want to change the nature of Iran's relations with the world. They want, you know, that they see better opportunities for Iran to not have a death to America stance at its core. Does anyone buy that in the region?

[20:15:02]

MCGURK: There is some hope, but no, I mean, and Anderson, I go back to every administration. George H.W. Bush said goodwill will beget goodwill. Every administration has statements like this because there's always a hope that the Iranian people, and we cannot forget the Iranian people in this equation, they could really run their own country, you'd have a completely new transformed region, yet, if this regime that holds power so ruthlessly and if that could change, that would be great. And yet, they hold power so ruthlessly and they are still in power.

So, there's some hope, Anderson, that if you buy, you know, actually, someone told me, you know, we used to say that we have the watches. Iran has the time. He said, just nobody wear watches because this is going to go on for some time. Keep some pressure on Iran, keep the diplomatic channels open. There will be some tit for tat deterrence, but try not to go up the escalatory ladder. That's what everybody's trying to do. Buy time as things settle out in Iran.

Big question in the region, Anderson, also with these big shows for Khamenei's funeral proceedings that happened over the last week, the new Supreme Leader still has not been seen by anybody. And that is also just raising questions about, who is really in charge in Tehran and is he even around? Nobody seems to really know for sure.

COOPER: Brett McGurk, Beth Sanner, appreciate it. Thank you.

Up next, the new Air Force One does not have the same defensive countermeasures as the old Air Force One, including its advanced anti- missile capabilities. That's according to new reporting by "The New York Times," Details on that ahead, and insight from a former defense department official.

Also later tonight, after ICE agents shot killed a Mexican man in Houston, the federal officers account of events reportedly does not line up with what the three witnesses are claiming they saw, all of whom are now in federal custody. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:20:49]

COOPER: We're learning new details tonight about the security concerns that led the President switching from the new Air Force One back to the old Air Force One earlier this week for part of his return flight from Turkey.

Now, according to "The New York Times," the newly upgraded Qatari jet still lacks defensive countermeasures of the previous model, specifically a system designed to defeat heat seeking missiles. You'll recall the plane change came as the United States launched strikes on Iran, which shares a border with Turkey, and after months of lawmakers and national security experts expressing concern over the compressed timeline to try to upgrade the Qatari jet with advanced communication, security and defensive systems necessary to serve as the flying White House.

Want to get some perspective now from former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. He's the author of the new Book, "Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare, Whether We Like It or Not."

Secretary Kendall, you're quoted in that "Time" story saying you were surprised to see the plane used outside the U.S. Is that specifically because of the lack of defensive countermeasures, or do you have additional concerns?

FRANK KENDALL, FORMER SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE: No, there are other concerns. The time that was provided to modify the airplane wasn't adequate to do all the things that make an Air Force One and Air Force One. It's a combination of support for the President. Things like medical support, the amount of provisions that are carried to support him and the staff, et cetera, but also all the things that allow him to be the commander-in-chief and execute those duties from the airplane, the battle management and command and control systems that go on board.

And then there are the security measures, the protective measures that, we can't really say very much about because they're classified. So, given the amount of time that there was allowed to modify this airplane, I would expect their shortfalls in all three of those categories.

COOPER: Is that, does that also include, mid-air refueling? Because, I mean, as you said, this is supposed to be a flying White House. And in the event that the plane needed to just stay in the air for a long period of time, you know, I think as, uh, you know, we saw happening on, on 9/11 when the President was aboard air force one at that time.

KENDALL: One of the major modifications, if they decided to put it in would have been mid-air refueling. That's not a requirement, according to some earlier testimony by some senior defense people, that is included in the two airplanes that are being built now.

So, of the many requirements for an Air Force One, that's not one of the higher priorities actually. It's very rarely been used historically.

COOPER: It's remarkable the President would take the plane lacking these defense systems to a country neighboring Iran, and then publicly talk about how the U.S. may be striking Iran that very night. Does it, I mean, I think it may surprise a lot of people that given the reporting, that there have been hundreds of millions of dollars put into this plane to try to upgrade it, that it's still not good for overseas use. Do you see, I mean, are these things that could be added in in the next, you know, several months so that this plane is able to go overseas in the future? KENDALL: You'd have to take it out of service and do extensive mods to make a 747 into an Air Force One. It is a matter of three or four years, and about $2 billion. You start with roughly a $200-million airplane, and you very significantly modify it to give it all the capabilities to support the President. The airplane is just a container for all those capabilities that make it an Air Force One.

The President wanted this airplane while it was his term, and he wanted this airplane so that he could use, I think, as he flew around for the upcoming midterms. And then and then later on in his tenure. That's what drove this. it was a schedule dictated by the President. He's the commander-in-chief and he determines what requirements go on the airplane and what aren't.

The Air Force will ensure it's safe. It is airworthy. They're not going to put anybody in an airplane, particularly if the President isn't safe to fly. But all the other requirements are discretionary to some degree. No other chief executive in the world has the kind of airplane that the United States President has, and that's for very good reason. Those systems are there to mitigate risk, to provide a lot of capability, and to fully support the President.

So, we have an adequate aircraft, I think, in this aircraft, it's been modified, but it's not fully up to the standards that are normal for a President, and it isn't going to get there during this Presidents term.

[20:25:18]

COOPER: Secretary Kendall, I really appreciate your expertise. Thank you so much.

KENDALL: Thank you.

COOPER: Up next, the President deals a blow to his own party, refusing to sign a bipartisan housing bill that many vulnerable republicans had hoped to campaign on. We'll talk that over with John King.

And later, CNN obtains exclusive new video showing the moment that Senator Mitch McConnell was loaded onto an ambulance and rushed to the hospital. And the questions this raises now about his mysterious hospitalization.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Graham Platner, officially filed paperwork today to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Maine. He suspended his campaign Wednesday after CNN interview with a woman who said that he had raped her in 2021 while he was heavily intoxicated, an allegation he denies.

CNN also spoke with a woman who accused him of physical violence, which he also denies. Already, several people have said they will try to replace Platner on the ballot and take on Republican Susan Collins in this key race that could decide which party has control of the U.S. Senate. The state's Democratic Party says candidates have under until Wednesday to formally declare for the race that they now have ten days from now to submit at least 500 signatures, including at least 50 from eight counties. Then a convention will be held by July 27th. But it's unclear yet how the roughly 600 delegates will be chosen, or how they'll select the new nominee.

[20:30:44]

At the White House tonight, President Trump said he would not sign a bipartisan housing bill that's set to become law at midnight even without his signature. The legislation is intended to make home buying more affordable. It received near unanimous support on Capitol Hill last month.

It's obviously not something we've seen often these days. But at the time, the President said it was unimportant and he called it a yawn compared to his controversial voter I.D. legislation. Then this morning, he wrote on social media his decision to not sign it is in protest over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing the SAVE America Act, his words.

He went on to call for Senate Republicans to end the filibuster and advance the election's legislation, which could call for strict new I.D. and proof of citizenship to vote.

Joining me now is CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. So is there a sensible strategy to this or is it an unforced error on the President's part to refuse to sign a bill that could give a win to vulnerable lawmakers in his own party and in theory help tackle the housing affordability crisis?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In theory, something the American people want and something that would help the President's party in a very difficult political climate. So you think it is an unforced error. It would be an unforced error if the President cared to help his party. Even members of his own party's leadership will tell you privately that they think he's giving them the shaft because they did something they needed, not what he wanted them to do.

And so instead, they're just leaving them out there. Anderson, this is politics 101. This has been a strategy since way before I started doing this and I've been doing this for 40 years. It's the Rose Garden strategy. It's the bully pulpit. The President has the most powerful platform on earth to drive the news cycle.

So just imagine the Resolute Desk or something outside the Rose Garden. You put the eight or the 10 most vulnerable Republicans behind you. You sign the bill. You give them an attaboy. You give them an attagirl. And then you hand them a pen.

And they put that in a campaign brochure. They put that in a campaign ad. And they say, hey, look, the Congress is actually working for you on an issue you care about. But the President wouldn't do that. And a lot of people in his party are miffed about it. Let me give you just one example. You mentioned bipartisan. That's important. I'm standing right now in Michigan's 7th congressional district. Tom Barrett is the incumbent. And you can see two years ago, that was a very close race. He got 50 percent of the vote to win this race.

That's a presidential year. Trump won Michigan. Congressman Barrett is in a toss-up race this year. He could use all the help he can get. Why does the bipartisan matter? Let me just go around and trace the district here and then switch the map for you. This is Michigan in the presidential race by county.

So there's the district in white around it. We're here, right? We're here in South Lyon, right, Oakland County. This is Ingham County, where Lansing is. A lot of Democrats. See the blue? So, if you're Congressman Barrett, wouldn't you like to be able to have some extra television coverage, a pen from the President, video of the President in the White House saying, hey, you did a great job.

To go to Democratic voters and say, I'm actually working to help you too. I'm not just in there voting for Republicans. That didn't happen. Now, Congressman Barrett is still campaigning on this, and he's actually somebody who from the beginning of his term was urging Congress to do this. There's housing affordability issues.

He's pushed this. A lot of his ideas are included in the bill. So he'll still run on it, Anderson, but he doesn't have that pen and he doesn't have that attaboy.

COOPER: This is obviously not the first time the President has seemingly dismissed concerns around cost of living and affordability heading into the midterm. Do you think there's a calculus here by him?

KING: Republicans are incredibly frustrated that he seems to do what he wants and talk about what he wants and to make it about Trump and not be a leader of the Republican Party. Now, look, in this district, would you want the President here? It's a 50-50 district. That would be a tough call for the incumbent congressman.

But there are ways a President can help. But what's happening right now? His approval rating is below 40. The ceasefires you're just talking about has collapsed. Gas prices are on the way back up.

He called this bill a yawn. He says, I love the inflation. The President keeps saying and doing things that are hurting his party at a time when his party already is in a very, very difficult climate. And so, Republicans, they won't say this publicly because they don't want to draw his ire.

They don't want him attacking them on social media. But they understand it. Unless they do what he wants, he's not going to help them. So they're on their own. And that's their choice. Four months to go.

And they understand it. They don't like it in many places, but they know that's the reality. He cares about him, not about them. [20:35:03]

COOPER: John King, thanks very much. Appreciate it, John.

Meanwhile, new video exclusively obtained by CNN shows emergency responders loading Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell into an ambulance on the stretcher after responding to a call about an unconscious person last month. The video was taken right outside of his Washington, D.C. home.

The 84-year-old senator has now been hospitalized for nearly a month. No update from his office on his condition. A spokesperson said weeks ago, he's quote, "continuing to recover at the hospital."

Joining me now, CNN Senior Reporter Annie Grayer. What have you learned from McConnell's neighbors who witnessed him being put on the ambulance?

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: So, Anderson, I spoke with one of Senator McConnell's neighbors who watched this entire situation unfold. And this person told me that at 8:30 in the morning on June 14th, they opened their door to a street of commotion. There were two ambulances, a fire truck, and the entire street was blocked off by Capitol Police.

So this individual asked a police officer what was going on. And they were told there was a medical emergency, but the officer didn't specify as for who. So, this neighbor, along with others, gathered on the street to see what would happen. And about 30 minutes later, around 9:00 a.m. on June 14th is when this individual saw first responders carry somebody out of Mitch McConnell's home in a stretcher into the ambulance.

This person was wrapped in a blanket and their feet were exposed. And the person I spoke to did not see the individual's face, but other neighbors remarked that it was Senator McConnell getting -- on that stretcher, getting into the ambulance. And these details are important, Anderson, because as you mentioned, we just know so little about the senator's condition.

COOPER: And obviously, a handful of prominent Republicans have said they spoke to the senator in recent days. Has that done anything to quell the curiosity?

GRAYER: I don't think so. I think until we hear from the senator himself or get a more fulsome answer from his team about why he was rushed to the hospital on June 14th or why he still remains there, these questions swirling around the situation will continue to unfold.

COOPER: And I assume the Democratic governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, has not heard anything. He -- because he is, you know, he sent a letter to McConnell's office this week asking for an update on his condition. Did -- has he heard anything?

GRAYER: His office has not heard anything, we're told from a spokesperson. And this really just puts to light, Anderson, the larger issue of what level of transparency do lawmakers have to share about very private and sensitive issues like their medical conditions. But what we are seeing play out right now, as Senator McConnell remains in the hospital, is that people have real questions and concerns about his condition.

And the statements that his office are putting out, simply that he is recovering in the hospital, or the statements from Senate Majority Leader John Thune or other colleagues in the Senate, isn't meeting the threshold of what people are looking for and what kind of level of transparency they're expecting from their elected leaders.

COOPER: Annie Grayer, appreciate it. Thank you.

Up next, after ICE agents shot and killed a Mexican man in Houston, three witnesses detained afterwards are reportedly disputing key elements of what federal officials say happened. We'll give you an update on that.

Plus, a black teen in Mississippi is found dead after a boat trip with a group of white friends, and now his family is calling for their own autopsy and investigation into how he died.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE WONSLEY, NOLAN WELLS' MOTHER: We just want to know, we just want to know what happened and why our baby didn't come home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:42:44]

COOPER: There's growing outrage in Houston after ICE agents shot and killed a 52-year-old man named Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during an enforcement operation on Tuesday. Today, CNN has learned that federal officials' version of events doesn't match that of three witnesses, all men who were detained after the stop. ICE officials have said an agent opened fire after the man rammed a law enforcement vehicle and refused to follow commands.

Now an attorney for the witnesses told the media today that claim is false. The man is a Mexican national, and his family says he was close to obtaining his legal status. A source tells CNN he was not the target of the operation. There's new video tonight showing the moment that Salgado Araujo's white van slowly came to a halt after ICE officers fatally shot him.

Priscilla Alvarez is following this tonight, joins us now with more. So how does ICE's version of events contrast with what the attorney for these witnesses is saying?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are a few parts of that that are conflicting accounts, Anderson. But before I get to that, I do want to tell you that I just got off the phone with the attorney that is representing the brother of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. And this attorney tells me that she visited the brother in detention today, and he wants justice for his brother. He wants to remain in the United States to seek justice for his brother.

And so that is something that the attorney shared with me only moments ago, as again, we are collecting more information about what unfolded on Tuesday. Now, I want to share with you what my sources have told me about how we got to the shooting incident. And that was that, as you mentioned there, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not the target.

In fact, what occurred here was that Texas authorities had tipped off ICE to two men who were believed to not be in the U.S. legally, who were traveling in a white van. And that is a white van that ICE began to surveil at a property. Now, they were going to that address, what they consider the target of this immigration enforcement operation, when they came upon another white van.

And that white van, they looked up and found to be registered to Salgado and pursued the white van, though it was not their initial target. And then, as you see their video, those black SUV vehicles following that white van up until the shooting.

[20:45:10]

Now, the Department of Homeland Security says that Salgado had rammed his vehicle into the -- into one of the ICE vehicles and that the ICE agent fired in self-defense. What we know is that the ICE vehicles had boxed him in. But whatever happened in those final moments is still very unclear because the ICE officers did not have body cam and, generally, ICE vehicles, which are unmarked, as you can see in the surveillance footage, do not have dash cam.

So it is still unclear. We just don't have the video evidence yet of what happened in the moment of the shooting. And that is where the attorney for the other two passengers in the vehicle says that the car had stopped, that there was no ramming that occurred, and nothing that would indicate that the ICE agents were at risk.

And we've heard from the family of Salgado as well that says, had he known that these were ICE vehicles, that he would have complied. But again, these are vehicles that are unmarked, which is generally how ICE carries out its immigration enforcement operation. Take a listen to what the attorney also had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUGO BALDERAS-IBARRA, ATTORNEY FOR WITNESSES: My client's versions of the events are extremely different from what ICE agents are saying, or what the agency is saying. All three of my clients reiterated that at no point was there ever an agent standing in front of the vehicle, nor was an agent ever placed in the line of danger. That is simply false. And I believe my clients are telling the truth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALVAREZ: So, Anderson, there again, a situation where attorneys are saying that what ICE is putting out is not correct. COOPER: And are federal investigators cooperating with local authorities?

ALVAREZ: Well, what we heard from the Harris County District Attorney is that they are conducting their independent investigation, and that key evidence still remains under federal control. So there doesn't appear to be cooperation there. FBI, however, is investigating, so is the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General. Multiple entities involved here to try to seek answers as to what happened in those final moments on Tuesday.

COOPER: All right, Priscilla Alvarez, thanks very much.

Joining me now is CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. So, Andrew, I want to play the new surveillance video again. And obviously, the angle is not ideal in terms of seeing what happened.

It shows two black SUVs pursuing the white van. A bit later, you see the van coming slowly, coming back in the opposite direction, apparently, with some ICE officers chasing it on foot. What do you make of what you have seen so far?

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Yes, Anderson, the whole thing doesn't look very much like what we refer to in law enforcement as a car stop, like an intentional pullover of a vehicle to arrest those people inside. And I say that because the video is not perfect. As you mentioned, we don't see the entire interaction.

But there are no scenes in which the law enforcement vehicles are occupying kind of a traditional position around the vehicle. They seem to be -- there is one that follows it on the side, almost kind of hiding in the blind spot of the white van. And then you have the second vehicle that joins after crossing the parking lot.

But we know that Mr. Salgado executed a U-turn with the white van and then came back down the same street and ultimately came to a stop in front of that barbershop. He seems to have done that voluntarily. There's not a car near him. He slows to a very slow rate of speed.

He pulls over. And we know from the after effect of still photographs that the vehicle is off the street. It's actually like on the sidewalk. So that's not indicative from just these limited photographs of someone who is attacking agents or even fleeing a scene.

Then we know that from the video you're showing now, there's no vehicle in front of him. There are just vehicles on the sides. There's also no evidence of gunshots into the windshield, which would indicate that no one shot from the front of the vehicle. So with no obstruction there, no agents there, if he was really trying to get away, he could have just left. He could have kept driving.

But we know from witness testimony that witnesses said that he was shot actually from the side of the vehicle. So if the law enforcement vehicles were behind him and the law enforcement agents were to the sides of the car, it is really hard to understand how DHS is going to articulate that this car was being used to attack the agents or those vehicles.

COOPER: Given the conflicting version of events and the apparent lack of body cameras or car camera, how do investigators determine what exactly happened, particularly if they don't have direct, I mean, if local investigators don't have direct access?

[20:50:04]

MCCABE: Yes, they're in a really tough spot right now. Typically what would happen in a situation where law enforcement action results in killing of a resident or a citizen, the FBI would come in, possibly state police, and the local authorities, the investigators with the D.A.'s office who also have the legal authority to investigate what happened here, would all kind of be present at the scene.

And whoever was kind of in the lead for collecting the evidence, let's say it was the FBI, they would be able to collect a lot of evidence from that scene that would shed light on the positions of different people, the trajectory of the bullets that were fired, the caliber, identifying the weapons that were used.

None of that information here is going to be available to the local jurisdiction and that is a total departure from the way these investigations are done. To have the federal government literally obstructing the investigation of the death of a person in a particular city is really -- it's a stunning departure from the way things were normally done.

COOPER: Yes. Andrew McCabe, thanks so much.

Another investigation underway, 18-year-old Nolan Wells left with a group of friends on July 4th to celebrate Independence Day in a popular barrier island off the coast of Mississippi. He never returned. His body was recovered days later in the water near where he had last been seen alive. Now his mysterious death is fueling speculation, certainly grief and racial tension.

CNN's Randi Kaye has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WONSLEY: We just want to know, we just want to know what happened and why our baby didn't come home.

RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one of the last pictures Christine Wonsley has of her 18-year-old son. Nolan Wells went boating with high school friends on July 4th at Horn Island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast and never returned home.

WONSLEY: We're going to miss him dearly.

KAYE (voice-over): Wells' friends returned from the island that same day without him. His family reported him missing that night and confirms that at some point a friend of his called the Coast Guard for help. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department launched a search. On July 5th his mother posted this desperate plea on Facebook. The next morning around 8:40 a.m., Wells' body was recovered by a National Park Services agent, according to the Jackson County coroner. The coroner also told CNN his body was face down at the shoreline and the swimsuit matched what he was wearing in the photograph.

BEN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR NOLAN WELLS' FAMILY: When you start talking about drowning, I mean, this is a kid who knew how to swim. This is a kid who was in tip-top shape.

KAYE (voice-over): State autopsy results are pending. His parents have flown his body to Washington, D.C. for an independent autopsy. Their son's disappearance and death now the subject of speculation and racial tension.

CRUMP: The family has distrust of the Mississippi law enforcement officials giving them a fair investigation where their black son ended up dead after going out on a boat with three young white men.

KAYE (voice-over): There also seems to be conflicting stories about why Wells separated from his friends.

ELMORE WONSLEY, NOLAN WELLS' FATHER: We always taught him to if you go with a group, you stay with a group and do not separate from the group because I would say safety is in numbers.

CRUMP: A young woman he was talking to says that, well, Nolan said he was going back to get on the boat with the boys. The boys say Nolan told them he was going to stay and talk to the young woman.

KAYE (voice-over): There were no immediate signs of foul play or trauma on the body, the coroner told CNN. For the family, things just don't add up like what they saw or didn't see on their son's phone.

WONSLEY: There were no saved pictures. There were no snaps from that day. That's why we feel that things may have been deleted, was because the fact that there was nothing in either one of his accounts.

KAYE (voice-over): The phone itself was retrieved from his friends raising more questions.

CRUMP: We're talking about an 18 year old kid. What teenager would leave their phone behind if they're going to stay on this island?

KAYE (voice-over): Authorities are investigating a video of an alleged altercation involving Wells on which attorney Ben Crump says you can hear him arguing about his phone.

CRUMP: You hear on the video Nolan said give me my freaking phone.

SHERIFF JOHN LEDBETTER, JACKSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI: I don't know the origins of that video at this point but yes we are looking into it that's been brought to our attention.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE (on-camera): And Anderson, the coroner told CNN that the autopsy has been completed but they are still trying to determine the cause of death because they're waiting for that toxicology report. Now we understand, Anderson, that that could take weeks.

[20:55:04]

But in the meantime, Anderson, the investigation continues. Both the family and the investigators are asking anyone who was at Horn Island that day who might have witnessed an altercation involving Wells or maybe saw him struggling in the water to share what they know. The Jackson County Sheriff said today investigators are working to establish the facts through eyewitness accounts, physical evidence and other reliable information. Anderson?

COOPER:

COOPER: Randi Kaye, thanks so much.

Coming up next in England, a reunion more than four years in the making for Prince Harry, his wife and children but not everyone from the British royal family was there. All the details on that ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Long awaited family reunion today in England with Prince Harry, his wife Meghan, and their two young children meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla. Buckingham Palace is calling the gathering at Highgrove House a, quote, "private family occasion. Do not release any photos." Also noteworthy, Prince William and Princess Kate were not there.

This marks the first in-person meeting between Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet ages seven and five and their grandfather in four years. It comes as Harry and Meghan reportedly working to repair a rift that began six years ago when they quit their royal duties.

That is it for us. Thanks so much for watching. Have a great weekend.

The news continues. The Source with Kaitlan Collins starts now.