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Delay in Hearing for Utah Author Accused of Husband's Murder; DC Officer Accused of Misleading DOJ, Tipping Off Proud Boys Leader; "The 2010s" Airs Sunday at 9P ET/PT. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired May 19, 2023 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:30:00]
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: We have new detail in the case of the Utah woman accused of killing her husband via fentanyl overdose and then writing a children's book about dealing with the loss of a parent. One of the charges against Kouri Richins has actually been downgraded. Plus, we're getting new information about the couple's financial troubles. The new revelations have caused the delay in the upcoming detention hearing. CNN's Jean Casarez joins us now live. So, Jean, what did their finances reveal?
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is an amended information which is a complaint. And there is a lot here. And of course, prosecutors are alleging motive. Right? This is what they're going for with all the financials.
But first of all, 2015 to 2017 it's alleged she got four different life insurance policies out for her husband in the amount of $2 million. And then she started spending money. $30,000 on credit cards, $100,000 out of his bank account, $150,000 out of home equity funds. Let's look at some totals here. According to the complaint, they say that at the end she owed her husband $514,000 that she owed the lender $1.847 million. And she owed federal and state tax liability in the amount of $189,000.
Now here's one more thing. In January of 2022 -- so we're talking 2 months before he passed -- he had a life insurance policy -- another one -- for $2 million with his business partner. The business partner was the beneficiary. Prosecutors in this complaint say she changed it to her known name.
But of course, there are things here that I think the defense will work with. You know, the fentanyl, they said it was orally ingested fennel. And so, the question is -- you can see where the defense could have a defense here because, you know, anybody can take fentanyl, right?
And another thing, you talk about that downgraded charge. It's one of the drug charges that she possessed fentanyl but they took away with intent to distribute because it was after he died. She went and she got more. She bought more fentanyl from her supplier -- according to this complaint -- after he died.
[15:35:03] SANCHEZ: Four separate life insurance policies. The case gets weirder and weirder the deeper you look. Jean Casarez, thank you so much for breaking it down for us -- Brianna.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: An American photo agency is refusing to hand over photos of Harry and Meghan taken earlier this week during that paparazzi car chase. Hear why.
And a D.C. police officer was just arrested. He is accused of being an informant for the very group that attacked his fellow officers on January 6. What was revealed -- ahead.
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SANCHEZ: Now to some of the headlines we're following at this hour.
A new red alert has been issued for northern Italy as another round of severe weather is expected to hit the region this weekend. Cleanup efforts began this morning following days of extreme flooding and dangerous land slides. Officials say at least 14 people were killed.
Meantime auto makers Kia and Hyundai have agreed to pay a $200 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging the company's cars are easy to steal. These rapid thefts took over social media with thieves posting themselves stealing the cars when it was discovered one of their vehicles could simply be started by using a USB cable. The settlement covers about 9 million owners.
And a U.S. photo agency that took pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during an alleged car chase in New York is now refusing to hand over the photos to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claiming copyright law.
The agency saying quite smartly, quote, English rules of royal prerogative to demand that the citizenry hand over their property to the Crown were rejected by this country long ago. We stand by our founding fathers.
The photo agency has launched their own private investigation into the alleged car chase but says that they disagree with -- that the Duke and Duchess were in any danger. Another twist in this ongoing saga -- Brianna.
KEILAR: I mean, the photos would tell the story though, Boris.
Some new developments today in the Justice Department's investigation into the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Authorities have arrested a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police officer accusing him of tipping off the leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, about his impending arrest and also misleading investigators. We have CNN's Jake Tapper here to talk about this. And you're going to cover this as well on your show. Walk us through these the accusations against this officer.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR, THE LEAD: This is really shocking, OK. So, Lieutenant Shane Lamon is not just a metropolitan police officer, he was supervisor of the intelligence branch of the Metro Metropolitan Police Department's homeland security bureau. So, he had access to a lot of important information. And the indictment suggests that he had been sharing this information -- privileged information with the leader of the Proud Boys, this far right militia. And Enrique Tarrio has been indicted for seditious conspiracy -- I'm sorry, convicted of seditious conspiracy. And this guy was not literally, but he was in bed with him. He was giving him information.
Here is a Telegram exchange between the two men two days after the insurrection.
Lamond: Looks like the feds are locking people up for rioting at the Capitol. I hope none of your guys were among them.
Remember, he's talking about a far-right militia.
Tarrio: So far from what I'm seeing and hearing we're good.
Lamond: Great to hear. Of course, I can't say it officially, but personally I support you all and don't want to see your group's name or reputation dragged through the mud.
Again, this far right military group.
Tarrio: Thanks, but I think for past that -- he misspelled past -- the brunt will come down on us.
Lamond: It's not going to matter. Simply entering the building will be enough to get charged. Being up on the upper terrace past the police lines may even be enough.
Tarrio: Yeah, I know, will those be felonies?
Lamond: Yes, 100 percent.
So, I mean, it's very, very shocking and good for law enforcement for going after one of their own.
KEILAR: He's using his professional abilities for his sort of personal views.
TAPPER: Yes, look, you have every right to be a bigot in this country. You have every right to have far right extremist views. But he was using this position that the good citizens of Washington, D.C. had entrusted him with, supervisor of intelligence for Metropolitan Police Department's homeland security division, to give secrets privileged information to the leader of a far-right group. And we're going to be talking about this with former Metropolitan Police Department officer Michael Fanone, one of the heroes of January 6.
KEILAR: All right, we'll be looking for that. Jake Tapper, thank you so much. And the sure to catch "THE LEAD" starting at the top of the hour with Jake -- Jim.
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN HOST: All right, how far would you go to make par? One pro golfer at the PGA championship was so determined he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty or shoes or his pants. You'll want to see this.
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SCIUTTO: The 2010s was a consequential decade with political, social and technological upheaval that in many ways redefined American culture. This week the original series "THE 2010S" is back with an all-new episode examining the Obama presidency and the seismic political shifts that put his legacy on the line. Here's a preview.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had an interview with him and we were talking about race. And it was very clear to me that he was being delicate in the extreme. The interview ended. He walks out of the Oval Office. He goes downs hall and then he turns all the way back and comes back and says look, you have to understand when I talk about race, it just changes everything. And it can be explosive if I'm not incredibly precise.
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Trayvon Martin would have been me 35 years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama is a case of navigating the third rail in American politics -- race.
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Over time what you see is Obama finding his voice in that space to be able to say the things that were necessary to prick the consciousness of Americans. While at the same time maintaining the dignity and respectfulness that people would have expected from the president of the United States.
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SCIUTTO: Joining us now CNN political commentator Van Jones, who is also an official in the Obama administration. Van, listen, I remember the moment when Obama won. I remember seeing Jesse Jackson crying, right, at the event there. In fact, my wife and I made our son who was just born watch that -- even though he's like a couple of months old. How will his legacy be remembered? Because of course, since then you have some -- they look at the history being made. And then they look at the divisions that worsened in the country in reaction to that. Where do you come down?
VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think that there are very few people alive whose names will be household names 100 years from now. Barack Obama is one of those people. It is impossible to overstate what it meant for a country with the 400-year legacy of racial oppression to elect a Black president. There were Republicans who were crying who voted against him. It was that significant.
SCIUTTO: When you look back -- I mean, you served in the administration. You've described this. I've read you described this and I've seen you talk about this, how this moment what it meant to you before. Tell me what it means too you.
JONES: Well, you know, you were talking about your kid and you're showing a newborn baby the screen just in case it just imprinted on this. You know, my son is now in college and was sitting on my lap. And he finally -- he groped a little bit. He got it when he was in kindergarten. Yet he got off my lap and went and sat on his mom's lap and he said to my then wife, what is history and why does it make daddy cry. And I kept saying this is history. This is history.
And so, look, it was a huge moment. It was a huge moment. And then I think what happened was he got caught in the crossfire of a country trying to adapt. Trying to come to terms with its past and now its present and its future. And he was a symbol of so much to so many people. So literally, you're correct, every word, every syllable he said, if it bumped against the issue of race, it was going to get the attention of every human being on earth.
He said something very gentle about our African American professor Skip Gates being unjustly arrested in his home. And it was a two-week news story. So, but happened in that time though was a new generation, a younger generation of African Americans come on the scene. And they are as delicate. They didn't have to navigate the mine fields. That he had to navigate at Harvard and other places. And they are "Black Lives Matter." And they are saying, hey, we see bad stuff happening and we want something done. You're our president too. We don't care if you're Black, white or brown, we want something done. And suddenly there is a cry coming up about from young people just like him and he has to respond to that as well. The Tea Party and "Black Lives Matter" at the same time.
SCIUTTO: Yes, I remember that he was on the "New York Magazine" cover that said something that like after his election the end of race. And boy was that a false prediction. Van jones, always good to have you on. Thanks so much. And all new episode of the CNN original series "THE 2010S" air Sunday 9:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific only on CNN -- Brianna.
KEILAR: And just into CNN, the judge in the Pentagon leaker case granting the government's motion for detention. Which means jack Teixeria, the Air National Guardsmen, who is accused of posting a trove of classified documents to social media will be detained while he awaits trial -- Boris.
SANCHEZ: So, when this week's CNN hero learned about the thousands of children in juvenile detention and residential treatment facilities across the country, he decided to shine a light on their lost voices. Mike Ball started a songwriting program to help kids who've experienced trauma begin to heal.
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MIKE BALL, FOUNDER OF THE NONPROFIT LOST VOICES: They all had different stories. And the point of what we do is let them tell that story.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The day will come when we can't do that. BALL (voice-over): Sometimes they are silly, but beneath the silliness, they are really revealing. Sometimes they're really heartbreakingly real.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, there's time for me to understand --
BALL: You think about it, being in a position where nobody has ever really cared what you feel. And instead, now you talk about what you feel and a whole bunch of people go, yeah. It's life changing.
BALL: We can plant a seed in that child with self-confidence, self- worth, is just so powerful.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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SANCHEZ: We have breaking news into CNN. Jim Brown the pro football hall of famer, activists and actor has passed away. He played his entire career, nine seasons, with the Cleveland Browns.
The team writing, quote, Jim brown forever. Legend, leader, activist, visionary. It's impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim's incredible life and legacy. We mourn his passing.
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But celebrate the indelible life he brought to the world. Our hearts are with Jim's family, loved ones and all those he impacted along the way. Jim Brown was 87 years old. Arguably the greatest football player of all time. Each of his nine seasons in the NFL was a pro ball season and perhaps he left his biggest mark off the field in his efforts in the arena of civil rights.
Stay with CNN, Jake Tapper picks it up with "THE LEAD" right now.
