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U.S. Couple Being Held In Mexican Prison Over Timeshare Dispute; Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egyptian Coast, Killing Six; Four U.S. Soldiers Missing In Lithuania After Training Mission; Texas Medal Of Honor Museum Now Open In Arlington; "United States Of Scandal" New Episode, Sunday Night at 9PM ET/PT. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired March 27, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

JOHN DEAN, FORMER NIXON WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: He is the chief judge of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. So he's a very senior judge and he very -- he well versed in intelligence matters. He's well versed in operations of government.

So he's a good judge on this question. And he will play it right down the middle. Notwithstanding Trump's constant beating of the drum to attack the federal judiciary, which is sad.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN HOST: John Dean, really appreciate you being here. Thanks for the time and perspective.

DEAN: Thank you.

JIMENEZ: Still ahead, vacation nightmare. Really. How an American couple ends up in a Mexican prison. We're going to have that next on CNN NEWS CENTRAL. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:19]

JIMENEZ: All right, welcome back, everyone. It was supposed to be a vacation, but now a Michigan couple is in a Mexican prison. Paul and Christy Akeo were stopped by authorities shortly after landing in Cancun this month, accused of fraud over disputed timeshare payments.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: The family tells CNN the allegations are false and they're calling on the U.S. government to intervene here.

CNN's Polo Sandoval is following this story.

Polo, where is the couple now? And tell us what both sides are saying about this.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. For the last three weeks, guys, they have been in a Mexican prison in Cancun. And they also find themselves, as you point out, in the middle of a timeshare payment dispute.

I will bring you up to speed on what the company involved here has to say in just a moment.

But first, let me set the stage here. According to what we've heard from attorneys for the family, some of their family members as well, and also from Mexican authorities who told me that this all goes back to 2021, when this couple, Paul and Christy Akeo, engaged in a contract with a company by the name of the Palace Company.

They had agreed to a timeshare, and it was months into this that they felt that they were not getting what they paid for, that they said that they were unable to use their time as promised.

So they turned to American Express, which is the card they use to pay for the deposit, asking for a refund. I'm told that AmEx launched an investigation, and they concluded that the couple was not liable for the nearly $117,000 in some payments.

So the family thought that it was over. They even made trips to Mexico a handful of times without an issue since that payment was returned. However, the company, they filed a criminal complaint in a Mexican court accusing the family of fraud.

I want to get more to in terms of what that company has told us in the statement. The Palace Company telling us that they filed that criminal complaint with Mexican authorities after Paul and Christy Akeo fraudulently disputed legitimate credit card charges and publicly encouraged others to do the same.

They say that Mexican prosecutors reviewed the evidence and found that they -- following failed attempts to serve notice, that they obtained a court approved arrest warrant.

Now, I did have a chance to speak to Lindsay Hall, who's the daughter of this couple. She told me that her knowledge there was never any attempt to inform her parents that there we're criminal charges in Mexico waiting for them when they jumped on that plane.

And now Lindsay telling me that she's extremely concerned because they have no idea when the parents may be released, not even on bond.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDSAY HALL, DAUGHTER OF PAUL & CHRISTY AKEO: Our government is going to have to step in and do something here. The -- what we're allowing right now is essentially for two innocent Americans to be sitting in a maximum security prison in a foreign country in Mexico.

And we're allowing that. Our government is just allowing that. We have all the proof to show that that this is -- these are false allegations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: The State Department says they are aware of this case. They are monitoring that situation.

As for their representative, they said that they have also already spoken to the family. They're doing everything possible to try to find a resolution.

In the meantime, Christyne, Paul, these are the mug shots that were released by the Mexican government. They continue behind bars in Mexico.

KEILAR: Polo, thank you for bringing us that story. Polo Sandoval.

We do turn to Egypt now where at least six people died after a submarine reportedly crashed with dozens of tourists on board.

JIMENEZ: Now, the incident in the Red Sea igniting really a frantic search and rescue.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Several people have been killed or injured after a tourist submarine crashed off the coast of the city of Hurghada on the Red Sea in Egypt.

The crash occurring at about 10:00 a.m. local time, about one kilometer from the shore, according to officials who say that security forces and rescue teams we're quick to respond to the crash and head to the scene to provide support to survivors, sending them to hospitals in the area and also, of course, to collect the bodies of the dead.

Now, we don't yet know who are the victims. We understand they may all be foreign nationals. But the Russian embassy did issue a statement saying at least 45 of those on board this submarine we're Russian nationals.

Now, the submarine, called the "Sindbad," is owned and operated by a hotel with the same namesake.

On their Web site, they advertise these excursions on this submarine, which is described as a luxury experience with TV monitors and great views, of course, of this beautiful Red Sea coast and the Marine life and the coral reef that is so famous for that region.

We also know that there were minors aboard the submarine. We are not aware if those minors are among the victims. Authorities, now, of course, rushing, scrambling to provide support to families.

[14:40:06]

This is going to be a huge blow to Egypt's tourism industry, which has already been hit by one accident after another. It was only a few months ago that a yacht crashed off the Red Sea coast, killing 16 people.

So the Egyptian government will be doing everything it can, saying it's launching an investigation now to provide that support for the families, find out what went wrong and to reassure people that tourism is still safe in Egypt. Salma Abdelaziz CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ: Our thanks to Salma for that report.

Still ahead, four U.S. soldiers missing in eastern Europe after a training mission. We're going to tell you what we're learning about the intensifying search. Stay with us.

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[14:45:05]

JIMENEZ: A search is intensifying for four U.S. soldiers missing since Tuesday in Lithuania. Authorities say their armored vehicle was discovered yesterday fully submerged under more than 16 feet of water near the border with Belarus.

KEILAR: The Army, the U.S. Army says hundreds of troops and emergency workers are racing to find these four soldiers.

CNN's Jennifer Hansler is at the State Department.

Jennifer, what are you learning?

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Well, Omar and Brianna, these search-and-recovery efforts have continued, quote, "without pause," according to the U.S. Army, as they try to find these four missing soldiers.

Now, they initially went missing early on Tuesday near that town in eastern Lithuania, on what was described as a maintenance mission to find another U.S. Army vehicle.

Now, there were urgent efforts underway yesterday to find their location, and they were able to find that vehicle after searching, involved in the air, on the ground and in the water.

However, because of the terrain on the ground, it has been a challenge to actually be able to access that submerged vehicle. They describe mud and water and soft terrain that has required specialized equipment to try to actually get to the submerged vehicle.

They say they're trying to create these barriers made out of mud, so that they can get the equipment in there to actually extract that vehicle that was submerged in all of that water.

Now, the U.S. Army said they have been keeping the families of these four missing soldiers informed of all of these efforts to try to get them. And they said that their thoughts and their prayers are with their families during this time, as they are trying to get to these four service members -- Omar, Brianna?

KEILAR: All right. Jennifer, thank you for the latest there. Today on the "HOME FRONT," we're celebrating the bravery, courage and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients. A museum dedicated to the nation's highest honor for valor in combat just opened in Arlington, Texas.

About 200 people lined up outside the museum for opening day, and among them, veterans who came from all over the country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS CASSIDY, PRESIDENT & CEO, MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM: Some of the pictures that you see predominantly around in large spaces may not have been publicly accessible pictures. You know, they came from a footlocker in the attic of -- of Uncle Joe.

Each person is going to have something that triggers you to be drawn to one story or another. That's just human nature, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Since the Civil War, more than 40 million Americans have served in the U.S. armed forces, but fewer than 4,000 of them have received the Medal of Honor.

Some of those recipients traveled to Arlington for this week's grand opening.

The 100,000-square-foot museum includes an interactive exhibit, features interviews with all 61 Medal of Honor recipients who are still alive today.

We'll be right back.

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[14:52:27]

KEILAR: A new episode of "UNITED STATES OF SCANDAL" with Jake Tapper focuses on a story that just rocked the sports world.

And that is cyclist, Lance Armstrong, who was seen as a hero and a symbol of resilience after he beat cancer and then went on to keep winning cycling competitions in dramatic fashion, until doping allegations and more came to light.

JIMENEZ: Yes, this episode explores the rise to fame and eventual fall of Armstrong's public image.

I want to bring in CNN sports anchor and correspondent, Coy Wire.

So, Coy, before the doping scandal, Armstrong, obviously considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. Record seven Tour de France wins and Olympic medalist.

How did the -- the golden boy to the public, I mean, how did he get that status? COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Omar. Hi, Omar and

Brianna. This - this -- Lance Armstrong became larger than life, maybe even superhuman, right, beating stage-four cancer, only then to become one of the most dominant athletes the world had ever seen.

You mentioned those record seven Tour de France wins. We're talking rock-star status fans around the world. He's rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers, dating the multiple Grammy-winning songwriter and singer, Sheryl Crow.

The endorsement deals piled up. His net worth was booming. Take a look at this Forbes list from 2004 alone. As a cyclist, he's right there with NBA, NFL, and NASCAR Hall of Famers, Allen Iverson, Champ Bailey, Jeff Gordon ahead of a young soccer megastar, Ronaldo. He took the sports world by storm.

Here's a sneak peek at his incredible story as told by our Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: In a nation divided, it's often hard to find areas where we agree. But one common ground is our appreciation of athletic champions. Our culture deifies the GOATs, the greatest of all time.

Jordan, Tiger, Serena, names connoting supremacy and also a stratospheric earning potential.

In the late 1990s, a new name emerged, Lance. And his story had an added dimension, a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage-four cancer, which he miraculously beats and goes on to win the Tour de France a record seven times.

The golden boy in the yellow jersey earned himself the sport, and his sponsors untold millions.

But after whispers became accusations of doping, Lance found a new way to distinguish himself as the greatest of all time, at lying and bullying and destroying the careers of his detractors, leading to tough questions as to why the myth of Lance Armstrong endured for so long.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[14:55:06]

WIRE: Lance Armstrongs persona, his story became like a runaway freight train on downhill tracks. How did nobody expose this doping, his use of banned substances?

It became very clear that there were people around him turning a blind eye, keeping quiet. We've seen this in all walks of life, right, Omar and Brianna, sports, politics, people covering up for someone who is in a position to help them along on their own paths.

He was what every cyclist wanted to be. And if he was doping, then maybe they should be, too.

It's a fascinating journey and story, and we'll have the whole thing right here on CNN this weekend.

JIMENEZ: Coy Wire, good to see you. Can't wait to watch. Thanks for being here.

And for you all, be sure to tune in. A new episode of "UNITED STATES OF SCANDAL" with Jake Tapper airs Sunday night at 9:00 Eastern and Pacific on CNN.

Still ahead on the next hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL, Senators question why Army helicopters still turn surveillance technology off on missions around Reagan Airport. It's after the fatal January mid-air collision.

We're going to be joined by a brother of one of the victims, and about what's being done to prevent another catastrophe.

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