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State Department Briefing Amid Iran-Israel Conflict; Prosecution Nears End Of Case In Sean Diddy Combs Trial; House Democrats Get Security Briefing In Wake Of Minnesota Shootings. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired June 17, 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]

TAMMY BRUCE, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: But, it is a separate unit that is established to take the calls to assist American citizens who call to the embassies, particularly you're going to be referred to embassies who can help you get what it is you need. So good, good question. Thank you, sir.

All right. Yes, Andrea.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's some specific consular needs. One in particular that I'm aware of, and there may be more than one, is an American citizen in Iraq, which where there is no embassy, no consulate.

Would that be the Swiss protectorate? Would there be other options? Is consular affairs give any advice as to what to do about Americans right now stuck in Iraq?

BRUCE: I can't speak to any advice or information regarding individuals in and around at this point.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what about American Israelis or Israeli Americans either wanting to come out or wanting to get back home? LL, I believe, has resumed flights in some small measure for people who, you know, some people have kids in Israel and they were visiting the States and they were American citizens. Is there anything that they can do?

Where should they -- should they call this number?

BRUCE: Well, obviously, if you know -- and we encourage every American when you travel, is to contact your local embassy or consulate, let them know you're there, make sure you know where they are, have those numbers. And that's what I would recommend no matter where you're traveling, but certainly in the Middle East, is know where those entities are, know where the embassy is. So if you're in Israel, obviously it's Tel Aviv or it's Jerusalem.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

BRUCE: Well, they will answer their phone. So there's contacts that can happen in the midst of all of this. And of course, I think that that's the advice for wherever you are.

But clearly, if you're in a certain area, it's obvious in this case that there are certain limitations in that region and that -- contact the embassy, the one that is nearest to you, and you will, at the very least, make sure they know where you are, but also they will give you some options for the plans that you would like to make.

Yes, Humayra.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tammy, I understand your limitations, but I have to ask this.

BRUCE: I know you do. It's your job, and I appreciate that. I'm here to take questions, not necessarily always answer them. Yes, ma'am

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, last night President Trump said he wants a real end, not a ceasefire. So does the United States support or pursue regime change in Iran, or are we just talking about dismantling Iran's nuclear enrichment, and would that include United States helping Israel strike forward?

BRUCE: Well, I'm certainly not going to characterize what President Trump says or tweets, for that matter. He doesn't need characterizing. He's one of the most transparent, one of the most clear individuals that we've known.

I think that we can take his word for his word, but I'm not going to speculate on, in a larger sense, what that would mean. That is up to the President. He is the singular guiding hand about what will be occurring from this point forward, as he has been, and I think that that dynamic is pretty clear.

He says he wants an end. As he has said about every conflict that he has, as a peacemaker, worked to stop peacefully through diplomacy, that has been his commitment. And he wants these things, as he said, about a number of situations, not for a month or six months, but durable ends to this nature of forever wars.

And that has been his posture, and that's his posture now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. I have an easy follow-up.

BRUCE: Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many people --

BRUCE: I'll take a hard one, too. I'd say so.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many people so far have contacted U.S. missions in Israel or elsewhere, American citizens seeking help to depart the country that they're in, in the Middle East?

BRUCE: Yes, I won't discuss those details or the numbers involved with the embassies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you guys planning to discuss a charter plane to get people out or military evacuation?

BRUCE: I will not discuss what our plans are in that regard. Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just to follow up on that really quickly.

BRUCE: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you guys considering at all operations that would help Americans who want to leave the region from evacuating?

BRUCE: I know that our commitment is to the safety and security of Americans around the world.

All right, yes, sir. Yes, sir, go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tammy, would the U.S. government like to see regime change in Iraq?

BRUCE: First of all, I'm certainly not going to remotely address that. It would require me to speculate or speak on behalf of the president, which I will not do. What we've seen, though, is clear, is months and repeated statements that all he wants is a peaceful world.

[14:35:00]

His activity and the activity and the nature of the actions that the United States has taken and his special envoys have been rooted in one thing, which is negotiations, looking for diplomatic solutions to generational problems that he wants solved diplomatically.

That has been his constant posture. And there has been nothing that has changed in his -- what he wishes for, what he would hope to accomplish. And so, of course, that's not something I'm going to address.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the U.S. government and the Israeli government on the same page when it comes to the intelligence about Iran's nuclear weapons?

BRUCE: That is a question for the White House and perhaps the NSC. That's not something I can answer here. Nadia.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Tammy. The president said he wants to see Iran offer unconditional surrender. I'm not going to ask you to comment on the president's statement, but I'm going to ask you if the Secretary is involved in any kind of diplomatic emissions with his allies, with the Germans, with the French, trying to offer something to the Iranians as a way out.

BRUCE: Well, I, again, would not speak on the details of any diplomatic conversations, if they occurred, between whom, what those details would be. We know, of course, the Secretary and the President were at the G7. Their constant work from the moment they came to office has been to -- and certainly Secretary Rubio -- was to open up conversations and to lead the world through diplomacy to make a difference.

But that's the only thing that would guide me when it comes to the nature of the decisions they're making at this point. Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Without getting into the details of the conversations, is the door to diplomacy with Iran on its nuclear program still open in the U.S. perspective?

BRUCE: That would be a decision made by President Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you heard from the Iranians signaling interest in continuing discussions?

BRUCE: That is not something that I can speak to. Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Going back to the conflict piece of this in Israel, the latest security alert from the embassy there still says that the embassy is not in a place to evacuate or directly assist Americans. Do you have any timeline on when that might change for the Americans who are stranded in that country?

And just looking at how quickly the security situation has changed there, the travel alert was raised to a level four from a level three for the entirety of the country. Is that a sign that the State Department was caught on its back foot a little bit by this change because Americans still can't get help?

BRUCE: I can say the answer to that last question is no. We are working 24-7 to ensure the safety and the security of Americans around the world. I can say that the Department of State is always planning for contingencies to assist private U.S. citizens' departure from crisis areas, and we will alert the U.S. citizenry community if there is and when there is additional information to share regarding their options during any crisis, but certainly this one as well.

When it comes to how quickly people can expect a dynamic, the American government, the State Department, our militaries, you've seen all of these assets, all of these departments involved in this dynamic in one fashion or another, are working exclusively for the safety of this nation and the safety of the American people wherever they may be. Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Tammy. At the top you said that you're advising U.S. citizens not to travel to Israel or Iraq or Iran under any circumstances. Do you have any more general guidance for Americans in the Middle East, more broadly as a region?

Are there other countries that you're advocating people depart from?

BRUCE: Well, at our website we have our travel alerts. We also have moved them on our State Department Twitter, our social media accounts. Those are for the public to see.

What is the specific one for people to look to if they want to look for specific country travel alerts? Is it travel.state.gov? So travel.state.gov, and you will see every travel alert there for you depending on if you're going to be traveling, not just for the Middle East or if you're in a country right now. You can get your information there.

Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two questions. At your top, you also recognize American diplomats serving in Ukraine and Israel who spent another night in a bunker.

BRUCE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A bomb of American citizens happened to be killed by the Russians last night in Ukraine.

Do you have any comment on whether the U.S. government acts to protect American citizens in Ukraine?

BRUCE: Yes, we are aware of last night's attack on Kyiv, which resulted in numerous casualties, including the tragic death of a U.S. citizen. We condemn those strikes and extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected. The President, in the recent past, has made his thoughts clear about striking the civilian areas in that regard.

And just to reiterate again, which is at the thread throughout all of the work that we do, is the Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad, and we can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine, and we stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance.

[14:40:03]

And out of respect to the family, during this obviously horrible time, we have no further details to offer in that regard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. A second topic. In light of Israel and Iran's tension, some of our colleagues from DOA, Persians, have called back reportedly.

How much do the events of the past few days signify the role of DOA and other outlets to counter these narratives from U.S. enemies?

BRUCE: Yes, I'm not going to go into the details of what we're doing when it comes to communications into that region or into specific countries. Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Tammy. Two Iran-related topics. Number one, the administration kind of kept this conflict between Israel and Iran at length over the first few days. And now, since last night, and especially today, we're hearing the President say, we, we, we more. We have control over the skies. We know where the Supreme Leader is.

He's kind of taking more ownership of the situation directly. Is that feeling trickling down to this building as well? Is there more of an ownership of the situation in the State Department as well? BRUCE: Well, I, again, can't characterize the feelings of the President of the United States. We know that he is our lead. We know that he is the guiding hand.

We know that he is one of a few who know all the details, and he is clearly, has a mission and an agenda that has involved diplomacy and changing the world for the better for people.

In the meantime, of course, things change. Our experiences change. He's making comments that are a reflection of what he -- what matters to him. And of course, what matters to the President matters to the State Department and every other department. I think that it is fair to say that his leadership and his reelection to the second term was because people here in the United States were tired of the status quo and what the world has seen is a peacemaker and someone who can make a difference.

And that's what they're looking forward to.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One question. Can I get in one more?

BRUCE: One more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no special envoy for Iran. Several key locations in the Middle East don't have a confirmed ambassador. We speak often about the day after situation in Gaza.

What about the day after situation in Iran? Is the State Department ready for it?

BRUCE: Well, the State Department and the Trump administration, while you may not see things immediately, just because it's not maybe in the news or you're not present for things that occur, doesn't mean they're not occurring. I would remind everyone that the State Department, as I've found out, is sort of like the military. It's 24-7.

It is not something that is a basic eight to five dynamic. And it's because people are working around the world constantly. It is literally their mission. Personally, their work is what they do and are committed to.

So while you may see a certain thing in a static framework, it doesn't mean that we have not worked on that or are not working on that or that things will begin to happen. So it's just a reminder that there's -- it's not about the day after.

We are working before, during, and after. It is the anticipation of people with history and an experience when it comes to the history not just of a building and of a Department of the United States, but the history of people working on diplomatic issues throughout the world.

And they work for this Department. They are committed to those issues. And that is what makes the State Department so effective, in addition to the leadership that is afforded by Marco Rubio, as guided by Donald Trump. Yes, sir, you've been waiting. BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: We've been listening to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce talking about the current conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran and increasingly the potential for some kind of U.S. intervention or deeper involvement in the conflict. There, Bruce deciding not to characterize anything that President Trump had been posting on social media, specifically talking about we, the U.S. and Israel, having dominance in the skies over Iran and also saying that we know where the supreme leader is currently, a veiled threat against the Iranian leader.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yes, she was also asked about helping Americans in Iran. She just said there's a commitment to safety and securing Americans around the world. She was asked about regime change.

She was punting on a lot of questions there. But this is a pivotal time in this story. So we're going to continue to follow it.

We'll be back after a quick break.

[14:45:00]

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SANCHEZ: The prosecution in the Sean Diddy Combs federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial says it could rest its case against the music mogul as early as tomorrow as it winds down testimony from its final witnesses. Combs attorneys say that they expect to spend up to five days presenting theirs, which could mean that this case might wind up in the jury's hands sometime next week.

There was some drama before court even began this morning, though. The judge reprimanding attorneys on both sides, threatening them with possible sanctions and even criminal contempt over an alleged leak.

Let's get the latest from CNN anchor and chief legal analyst Laura Coates, who's outside the federal courthouse with more. Laura, give us the backstory here.

[14:50:00]

LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: Well, remember, yesterday, the judge officially dismissed a juror, juror number six, who was a black man who'd been living in the Bronx, who the judge says had been less than honest about his current living situations, now residing in a different place, namely New Jersey. And there was an allegation by the defense that by doing so, the prosecution was using a thinly veiled attempt to make this make this jury less diverse by replacing that person now with an alternate who is a white man in his 50s living in the area of Westchester.

The defense believed that that particular juror, excuse me, number six was somebody who had a similar background and might have been advantageous to the defense as Sean Diddy Combs.

Now you have a new drama where there was some sort of a text message that another juror received and it suggests that are asked a question about whether that person was the just spoken about juror. It gave the judge pause to figure out if that person had been talking to other people outside of the courtroom and of course in violation of the judge's order.

Now that was supposed to be a private conversation. It appears between counsel and the court, which are often the case you're talking about jurors because of sensitivity issues. They want anonymity in this instance.

And so the judge is furious that they had that information out for an article of some kind and he is trying to figure out and ascertain where that leak came from and what might be done about it. In other words, Boria, he was starting to heat up. The stakes are very high in a case like this.

These jurors are here for over a month. They've already heard testimony and both the defense and the prosecution want the jurors who have heard the actual case to remain. And now that might be tested.

SANCHEZ: And Laura, there's another juror that's under scrutiny, juror number seven. Could the judge ultimately sequester the jury as a result of all of this?

COATES: Well, that's the instance I was describing in terms of somebody else maybe receiving a text message or otherwise. And it's a little bit of a controversy whether you can actually sequester a jury at this very late venture. Normally that's done at the inception of the trial because you want to make sure that the jurors are not hearing from outside influences, the press, social media, friends and family who are wondering where is it you go every day from about, I don't know, 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m. every day. Are you downtown Manhattan? Are you hearing a case like this? There are questions that are raised and they're trying to limit the amount of exposure that person would have and limit the amount of influence.

So to do it this very late hour now that the deliberations are maybe within arm's length reach might be a little odd. But if the judge believes there are some serious reasons to indicate that the jurors are being notified, identified or in some way influenced, he could very well initiate that.

SANCHEZ: Laura Coates live outside the federal courthouse. Thank you so much -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Happening now. House Democrats are receiving a security briefing in the wake of the deadly attacks on two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. Senators got their briefing earlier today and afterwards, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the number of threats against elected officials has increased dramatically.

He said, quote, we need more protection, we need more money.

With us now to talk more about this is retired Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo. He's also the author of the book "Chief Rondo, Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floyd." Chief, just from details in the alleged -- that are alleged in the criminal complaints yesterday and then when you also have concerns, of course, about copycats, which is a very real concern. And you're looking at all of these lawmakers, whether they are state or federal in all of these different places. Does law enforcement have the resources that they need to respond to a heightened threat?

MEDARIA ARRADONDO, RETIRED MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF: Thank you, Brianna and Boris, for having me again with you. So as you mentioned in your reporting, U.S. Capitol Police are certainly going through enhancements, security enhancements to help with our elected officials across the country. I will tell you, Brianna, in talking with public officials, law enforcement officials here in the state of Minnesota, they are working diligently to make sure they're also enhancing their security in their local communities for elected officials.

As we saw play out, Brianna, Saturday night, into the early morning hours, it's going to be more times than not, Brianna, local law enforcement that's going to come to those locations, those residents of those elected officials. So it's -- you're going to see those Capitol Police, Capitol Security and local law enforcement continuing to work together to make sure that our elected officials are secure and protected as best as they -- as best as they possibly can.

KEILAR: How do they work together? How do they coordinate state and federal?

ARRADONDO: Well, I can tell you that my experience, certainly in Minnesota, U.S. Capitol Police and certainly our state Capitol Police here in the city of St. Paul, they're working with our local officials. They're making sure that they're both sharing information.

[14:55:00]

If elected officials are receiving individuals that are showing up at town halls that are making threats, if they're coming into their offices, if they're getting e-mails, any sorts of those types of things that they're noticing right away, they're taking town halls that are making threats.

If they're coming into their offices, if they're getting e-mails, any sorts of those types of things that they're noticing right away, they're taking immediate preventive measures that they can. And it also requires, obviously, the elected officials to continue to work and their staff to work with their local police departments and the U.S. Capitol Police to make sure that they're sharing that information. This was a very unique situation here that occurred with the suspect, Vance Boelter.

But they're going to learn from that. And I can tell you that local officials around the country are making sure they're doing all they can to keep our elected officials safe and protected.

KEILAR: Chief, what questions do you still have after hearing the details in the criminal complaints? ARRADONDO: Brianna, I think one of the certainly going to be interesting to get a sort of an analysis on the subject -- or the suspect, Vance Boelter, is, you know, he did not have a known criminal history, certainly to Minnesota officials. So he was someone that operated pretty much, he would not have came up on your radar. Also, in terms of his acquaintances, you know, he was pretty much, in terms of at least the initial analysis we have, living a pretty normal Midwestern life.

So there was no real trigger warnings that typically you would get. There's no indication that he was an individual that showed up at town halls making threats or sending mails or correspondence to certain elected officials. So I think how he got to this point, there's some indication that he had some financial troubles and what have you, but how he got to this point is going to be very interesting for us to learn from.

KEILAR: Yes, no, it's a great point. Medaria Arradondo, thanks so much for being with us Chief, we appreciate it.

ARRADONDO: Thank you so much, Brianna.

KEILAR: Happening now, President Trump is meeting with his national security team in the Situation Room as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates. Stay with CNN for more.

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