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House Panel to Release Gaetz Ethics Report; Mouaz Moustafa is Interviewed about Syria; Viewer Questions on Brain Rot. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired December 18, 2024 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:30:04]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we do have some breaking news. An interesting development from Capitol Hill. CNN has confirmed that a House panel took a secret vote to release the ethics report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz. You'll remember that investigation looked into allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use and possible bribes. It is now set to be made public, this investigation, soon.

CNN's Alayna Treene and Manu Raju are joining me.

As I said, this is a reversal of we - what we thought this was going towards.

Alayna, you broke it. What are your sources telling you?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: That's right. So, we have learned, John, that the House Ethics Committee secretly voted earlier this month to release the report into Matt Gaetz's conduct. And as you mentioned, this is a reversal from where they were. They voted last month not to release it. And the decision now to release it, this change, does suggest that some Republicans ultimately voted with the Democrats to make this report public. When they voted last month not to release it, I would note that it was a - the vote was along party lines. So, keep that in mind.

Now, we are told that this report is expected to be made public once this session of Congress ends and lawmakers leave Washington to return home for the holidays.

But I think the timing of this is very notable. We know that when the committee first voted last month not to release this report, Matt Gaetz was still Donald Trump's pick to be his attorney general. Since then, he has withdrawn his name from consideration. He has also made clear that he has no plans to return to Congress next year, and has also said that he is planning to join One America News Network to be an anchor for them in January.

Now, just to get a little bit into this report. The Ethics Committee has been working on this report and investigating Gaetz's alleged conduct for about a year now. Here is some of what they've been investigating, whether he engaged in sexual misconduct, whether he used illicit drugs, and also whether he shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, accepted a bribe, use - had improper gratuity or impermissible gifts. And that is according to an announcement from the panel while they were investigating this.

So again, this is a reversal for them. We had no idea, after they had initially voted, whether they were ultimately going to vote on whether to release this report. We now know that they voted secretly to do so.

BERMAN: So, Manu, it's rare, it's not unheard of, but it's rare for a report on a lawmaker by the Ethics Committee to come out after the lawmaker is no longer in the House. Even more rare to do it over the objections of the speaker of the House. Mike Johnson didn't want this. So, what happened here?

MANU RAJU, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. In fact, that's what Mike Johnson cited. He said that, yes, there is precedent for releasing this ethics report, but he said it was bad precedent. That was his argument, trying to shelve this report while Matt Gaetz was considered as the attorney general nominee.

There have been a couple of instances. There's one in the House back in 1987 where that occurred. Also one of the Senate Ethics Committee back in 2011, then Senator John Ensign had resigned. It was released after the fact.

But the argument was that a lot of members believed that Matt Gaetz ultimately decided to resign - really abruptly resign to try to bury this report altogether. And some Republicans believe that they sided with Mike Johnson's belief that they should not move ahead with this report because of that fact.

Now, it's also important to note that Gaetz is someone who has maintained frosty relations with Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill. We don't know if that's the precise reason for this reversal, but that's one of the things that can't be ignored here.

He, of course, led the charge to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House last year. That angered many Republicans. He is someone who has often attacked very directly, aggressively, Republicans and Democrats alike. His relationships are one reason why he didn't appear he had the votes to get confirmed as attorney general amid these - all these allegations that - questions about whether they would come out drip by drip, or the entire report.

But now we can potentially see this whole report as soon as this week. The House is voting this - today. We don't know the exact final day of the session. But the sources are telling us that they expect it to be released after the final votes of this year. That could be today. That could be tomorrow. That could also potentially be Friday or even afterwards. But no doubt about it, this is going to be an explosive report. And Gaetz is someone who's still active in Republican politics, has an eye on other offices as well, potentially down the line. So, we'll see how he reacts. But he has denied these allegations for months, called this a witch hunt of sorts of an investigation. But this will get a lot of reaction when it ultimately comes out, John.

BERMAN: Yes, as for the timing, look, it has the whiff - I don't want to make predictions - it has the whiff of a Christmas Eve release. I mean, we're backing up until the holidays here, so maybe that's part of it.

But, Alayna, I know that Matt Gaetz is no longer up for any kind of job, at least right now, in the incoming Trump administration, but any sense how Trump world will react or is reacting to one of its true foot soldiers that's going to be in a bit of a situation in a few days?

[09:35:17]

TREENE: Well, I think we have to wait and see exactly what this report says. But I can tell you, I mean, look, part of the reason Matt Gaetz withdrew his name for consideration as Donald Trump's attorney general is because it was made very clear, and this is to Manu's point about the frosty relationship that Gaetz has with many of these members, it was made clear very early on when he was meeting behind closed doors with Republican senators that Matt Gaetz was not going to have the votes to be confirmed. Thats ultimately what led Donald Trump to calling Gaetz up the morning before he withdrew and telling him, look, the math isn't there. The writing is on the wall. It does not appear like you're going to be able to get through.

So, that's where things stand. Now, again, Matt Gaetz remains, though, even though he's no longer Donald Trump's pick to be his attorney general, he is still very close with Donald Trump and many in his orbit. And Donald Trump still believes that he is someone who will continue to be a strong ally for him. Unclear whether or not, you know, what that will look like moving forward. But they will definitely have a reaction to this. I just think we have to wait and see exactly what comes out in this report.

John.

BERMAN: Yes, a little something under the stocking that I'm not sure that they wanted.

Alayna Treene, Manu Raju, thank you both for being with us this. This, again, CNN exclusive reporting, the House Ethics Committee has voted to release the investigation, the report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Ahead, the desperate search for family members in Syria. Now Syrians are beginning the unthinkable task of digging up the dead in the regime's mass graves. What one advocacy group is saying about just how many people the former regime tortured and buried in those graves.

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[09:41:30] KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, Syrians are starting to uncover mass graves across the country. Now, this discovery is now beginning to confirm the long held fears that hundreds of thousands of bodies could be buried there. Also beginning to shed light on the sheer magnitude of the atrocities committed by the now former dictator, Bashar al Assad, and his brutal regime.

More than two weeks after Assad fled Syria. Syrian families are still searching for answers about so many of their loved ones taken by Assad's secret police over the years. Some perspective here, guys. Some 150,000 people in Syria are unaccounted for, most of whom were kidnaped or detained by the Assad regime. And this is according to the International Commission of Missing Persons. CNN cannot independently verify this number.

But let's get to it and what this means for this new day in Syria. Joining me right now is one of the top advocacy groups helping to find some of these answers, a group that has long supported the Syrian people in the face of Assad's brutality, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, Mouaz Moustafa.

Mouaz, thank you for coming in today.

You were just in Syria. You just returned to the states. And I heard you say that you're aware of at least eight mass grave sites in Syria. Talk to me about what is being uncovered and what you're hearing from Syrians now that they can start speaking freely.

MOUAZ MOUSTAFA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SYRIAN EMERGENCY TASK FORCE: Well, first of all, the amount of jubilation of Syrians, this terror that has been lifted off their chest is palatable. People are waving flags in the streets, dancing, singing decorating for Christmas. It's really amazing. And they're able to finally tell the world, because media is able to come in safely now, what Assad has been doing.

Now, back in 2021, we had uncovered -- we're talking to some of those mass grave diggers that escaped the Assad regime and one that we helped bring out that there were these mass graves. And then we used to only be able to see them on open source Google Earth, where you go back and you see these massive trenches being dug.

Today, we were able to go to these locations, you know, and what we're identifying is multiple mass graves, Qutayfah, Najha, south of Damascus, on the airport road, and all these places where hundreds of thousands of bodies, men, women, children, and elderly, had been not just shot in the head, but mostly tortured to death, really a sadistic regime. And now is the time to secure these places, and we need the world's help to help preserve the evidence, to help understand how, you know, to exhume bodies and to help identify for their loved ones, you know, who has passed. Families need closure.

BOLDUAN: And to that point, this is important right now, and it is immediate and immediate need. The State Department yesterday said this about the mass graves, Mouaz. They said that the U.S. is engaged with you in bodies so evidence can be gathered and collected and properly examined to ensure that the world and the Syrian people do get both answers and accountability.

What is needed? How could the United States government, for example, help to ensure that happens?

MOUSTAFA: Well, first of all, the United States must send a high level, you know, government delegation to Damascus, as other countries have been doing. And I'm -- you know, whether it's the United Kingdom, France, other countries.

We need -- you know, there was an earthquake somewhere. It is rescue teams that go out and help pull people from under the rubble, et cetera. Well, we need the United States government and international organizations, like those that worked on Srebrenica, those that worked on other never again moments, horrible mass graves, to come in in coordination with a government that is safe, that is opening their doors to them, and help us secure these mass graves and begin that process. Because SETF, our org, that's not our work. All our work is to raise awareness and to work with the government to secure these things until help comes.

[09:45:01]

The Syrian people went through the worst crimes of the 21st century, and frankly, the world did nothing about it. At least out of shame, there should be delegations of governments and the international organizations to at least help us achieve justice and closure for families.

BOLDUAN: All of this has me, and we were talking about the break, has me thinking of Caesar, the code name for the man you helped bring to the United States years ago, the man I had the pleasure of an honor really of sitting with for an exclusive interview. I think it was five years ago now.

For everyone, to remind you, he smuggled almost 55,000 images out of Syria while Assad was still ruling, and in doing so brought to light documented torture by the Assad regime, images that showed scenes compared to the depravity of the Nazis. And Caesar has lived in hiding ever since, understandably so, given what Assad is known to do. How is he reacting to all of this, the fall of Assad and what you've seen since?

MOUSTAFA: You know, I called him on the day that Damascus was liberated and Assad had, you know, ran away from the country, and Iran and Russia got out. And I think the first 20 minutes was just both of us crying. I couldn't make out any words. I don't think he could understand me. But he has been jubilant, so excited and he has committed to the new government and to help the international experts to bring these criminals to justice.

As a matter of fact, you know, those mass graves were the answer to the Caesar photos. We never knew these thousands of people where they ended up. And I went to the exact place where Caesar took the photos. And it was just surreal to be there as he guided me to that exact location. These places need to be preserved, memorialized, and the world needs to now help us build our democracy since they didn't help us rid ourselves of our tyrant.

BOLDUAN: Yes. His courage, his work, his bravery is the reason -- was the source of legislation, passed legislation by Congress to slap more sanctions on Assad. What Caesar has done is truly amazing. So, hope finally has --

MOUSTAFA: And he has now asked -- he has now asked, I'm sorry to interrupt, for his sanctions and other sanctions to be lifted. He said these were against the war criminals keep, you know, those named by war criminals, but all sanctions on Syria should be lifted so our economy can now grow.

BOLDUAN: Let's talk about the future for Syria. So much hope exists. Also concern about what could fill the vacuum and the void. Just this morning, the president's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was on MSNBC. I want to play what he said. Listen to this, Mouaz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE SULLIVAN, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: There is an enormous opportunity, now that the butcher, Assad, is gone, for Syria to build a better future. But as you said, there are huge risks. And the single biggest risk I see is that ISIS comes back, because ISIS wants to take advantage of any vacuum or instability in Syria following the civil war. So, the U.S. has to be laser focused on suppressing the threat of ISIS.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: If Syrians, with the help of the United States and the region, are successful in pushing back against that threat that Jake's talking about there, what could Syria mean for U.S. foreign policy, for the United States in the future?

MOUSTAFA: Well, first of all, what's amazing is now is an opportunity to go after ISIS in the Russian de-confliction areas and the Assad regime areas. The United States with its partner forces cleared ISIS of Northwest Syria. And the rebels who liberated the country cleared ISIS from the northwest. And now, there is no de-confliction where our planes can't go hit ISIS targets in the middle of the desert, and that's what we've seen. So, that's a positive thing.

But in terms of what Syria could be, if we help, you know, clean up the last bits of ISIS and give it its democracy, and allow them to build their democracy, is a valuable and important ally to the United States. And now it's a whole new Middle East.

By the way, millions of refugees I saw when I'm going to Damascus, not millions, but I saw, you know, tens, hundreds are coming back, and I know millions now are planning to go back. So, Syria could be an important ally for the United States.

BOLDUAN: An important ally, such an amazing moment for everyone, for you especially, and all of your work. Mouaz, thank you so much.

MOUSTAFA: Thank you, Kate. Thanks for having me. BOLDUAN: Of course.

We'll be right back.

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[09:53:31]

SIDNER: This morning we're breaking down the science on what excessive phone use can do to your brain. It's been dubbed brain rot. Earlier this week we asked you to submit some questions about what consumption of online content can do to our bodies. And now CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is on call and back to answer your questions.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

SIDNER: Good morning.

All right, let's start with a question from Ann. She is asking what to do if you think that you or your child is addicted to, you know, scrolling.

GUPTA: Yes, we got a lot of questions like this. One of the most common questions. And I'll tell you that I answer this in part as a journalist and part as a doctor who's very interested in the brain, but mostly as a father of three teenage girls. So, we're all in this together, is my point.

Just the term addiction, I think we have to be a little bit careful here, in part because when you think about addiction, you think abstinence would be a strategy to try and combat that addiction. You can't do that with these devices. I mean they're ubiquitous. Everybody has these devices and kids, adults, everyone is dependent on these devices as well. So, just keep that in mind.

But when does it become problematic? Is it interfering with your activities of daily life? Is it interfering with your sleep? Is it interfering with grades? Those are sort of the things. And then to sort of figure out, like why - why is your child using it so much? For a lot of kids, according to Mike Rich, who is this media-trician (ph), has written a lot about this, a lot of - a lot of kids, teenagers, are using this to self-soothe, to self-care, and to try and find social connections at a time when they're not interacting as much with real life people.

[09:55:13]

So, just sort of keep that in the back of the mind as well.

I'll just tell you two - two things that really struck me from a practical sense. We did a whole season of the podcast on this. Catherine Price (ph) wrote a book about this, but basically she says, every time you're about to pick up your phone, ask yourself three questions. And by the way, this goes for adults and kids alike. And those three questions are, what for, why did I just pick this up, why now and what else? What else could I be doing instead?

SIDNER: All right.

GUPTA: It kind of just stops your brain from maybe proceeding down the rabbit hole of scrolling. And you can also set time limits on your - on your kids devices as well. That, again, they can get around the time limits. But again, it throws up another barrier towards them using it too much.

SIDNER: At least it makes you stop and think.

OK, I want to get to this question because I think it's an interesting one.

GUPTA: Yes.

SIDNER: Stan from Korea says, he's 63 years old and has heard that playing games like sudoku or scrabble and solitaire are good for keeping the brain sharp. He asks whether playing these games online is - can attribute to this brain rot that that you're addressing.

GUPTA: Yes. Yes, first of all, can I just say, we get questions from all over the world. And I - and I just - I just love that.

SIDNER: I love it.

GUPTA: I love that about this.

So, excessive amounts of low-quality content, that's how they defined it. Excessive amounts, low quality content. So, some of the content is not bad. Some of the content is pretty good. So, I think to Stan's point, you could be doing things that could actually be helpful to your brain in some way.

Having said that, I will say that most of those brain training games may not be accomplishing, Stan, what you hope they would be doing for your brain. Doing lots of crossword puzzles, for example, can make you really good at doing crossword puzzles. But if you're really trying to improve your brain overall, there's a lot of other things that you should be doing. Movement probably has the most evidence behind it in terms of actually improving brain function overall. But look at the list of things there. Focus on those things instead of being in the digital world, probably going to get a lot more benefit.

SIDNER: I guess no more cat videos.

All right, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you so much. Appreciate you.

GUPTA: You got it.

BERMAN: And thank you all for being here for only the highest quality content.

BOLDUAN: Yes, exactly. I was like, which category are we going to fit in, guys?

SIDNER: No brain rot.

BERMAN: This has been CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "NEWSROOM" up next.

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