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Secret Service Issues Suspensions; Carlos "Gilley" Mendoza is Interviewed about Volunteering in Texas; Americans Afraid of Climate Change; Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) is Interviewed about Thom Tillis; Jury Selection in Colorado Murder Trial. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired July 10, 2025 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Disciplinary action on several of these members of the Secret Service say about the Secret Service and about how DHS viewed what happened that day.

JONATHAN WACKROW, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, Sara, good morning.

And, to me, these suspensions signal an effort by the Secret Service to balance three things, primarily accountability, due process and workforce stability. They represent a really -- a measured disciplinary response to the activities at Butler, and really the deficiencies that were found.

And the aim of the agency right now is holding individuals accountable under the current principles of their, you know, progressive disciplinary structure, while preserving their own legal protections that are afforded to any federal employee.

And at the end of the day this is about balance, right? What they are not doing is going out and terminating everybody, you know, at will. They're following a -- the rigor of process because they need to preserve the culture and rebuilding of the Secret Service at this time.

And final point, Sara, when we look at what disciplinary action is being taken place, it comes down to intent in my -- my view. Really what we're talking about are these individuals had performance deficiencies. And really specifically they were a lack of judgment or oversight calls that were made around Butler. What they were not are willful or malicious misconduct acts. And that's why you're not seeing termination, but rather you're seeing individuals held, you know, you know, to account for their actions on that day. And that's coupled with corrective action across the Secret Service as an agency as a whole.

SIDNER: I'm -- yes, I'm curious about a couple of things, how rare this is for Secret Service agents to be suspended over an operational failure like this, and what it's going to mean to those -- those agents going forward. WACKROW: Well, it's very rare, but also an assassination attempt is

rare, right? And this -- so this is an unprecedented situation that we're -- we're facing in the modern history of the Secret Service. But all of this is stemming from two really detailed investigations, you know, after the Butler attack that identified these deficiencies, not only at the site on that day, at the -- the rally site, but also the actions that preceded that.

And through those investigations, they really honed in on understanding who was responsible. And the responsibility for those deficiencies led to the rationale for this protective, you know, for this personnel action to be -- to be taken.

And really when you think about, like, this was -- you know, these investigations were done internally by the Secret Service, as well as by, you know, a Senate committee. And there was a third one by DHS, you know, a panel that was put together.

But these were all complementary perspectives of the actions on that day. And more importantly, the deficiencies at both a macro and micro level, looking at how to make this agency better and ensure that none of these actions or deficiencies that were identified happen again. And that comes down to accountability. And that's what we're seeing the Secret Service put into place now.

SIDNER: We're seeing reporting from ABC that the report found the Secret Service has become bureaucratic, complacent and static, even though risks have multiplied and technology has evolved.

You worked for this agency. What do you think of that assessment?

WACKROW: Well, I think that, you know, the Secret Service cannot change overnight. If you look at what has happened in the last year, you have seen a major structural change in the Secret Service, you know, from the top down. You had the director replaced, the deputy director replaced. You see a new leadership team being formulated right now.

And what happens is, these suspensions are sending a clear message, from the top, and, you know, there was interviews with the deputy director around sending a clear message that performance matters right now for the Secret Service. You know, even in the absence of intent to, you know, cause harm in this instance, everybody needs to be held accountable for how they perform day in and day out, both in their investigative and in their protective responsibilities.

So, again, this isn't about terminating people, this is about making the agency better. Making the agency better by holding every single agent, officer or, you know, technical professional accountable for their actions.

And again, at the end of the day, this is a shared fate by the Secret Service, and everyone has to be focused on one mission, which is ensuring the safety of our protectees.

SIDNER: All right, Jonathan Wackrow, thank you so much. Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, at least 160 people are still missing, nearly one week after the massive floods tore through the Texas hill country. And as the search efforts continue in harsh conditions, piles of debris, dangerous heat, volunteers continue working side by side with first responders searching for survivors and beginning to help these communities pick up the pieces.

Joining us right now is one of those volunteers, Carlos "Gilley" Menendez -- Mendoza, sorry, who's been in Kerr County since Sunday.

[08:35:05]

Gilley, it's good to meet you. Thank you for being here.

CARLOS "GILLEY" MENDOZA, TEXAS FLOOD VOLUNTEER: Hi, Kate.

BOLDUAN: You sent us some video that I want to show our viewers as we are talking of when you arrived there to help and some of what you all came across, came upon and were dealing with. Tell us a little bit about what you have seen.

MENDOZA: Sure. So, we -- we arrived on -- on Sunday -- Sunday morning and -- and to -- to the site that you're showing. Sunday morning there was probably, I would say, about seven -- seven cars there, volunteers. And it was just -- just eye-opening. Nothing like I don't think any of us had ever seen before. And we were just -- we were devastated. Like, it was -- it was -- it was very shocking to see what had happened. Didn't know where to start. There was piles of debris 20 feet high. You looked up at trees, and -- and there's things stuck in trees that are 20 feet plus high, which just gives you an idea of how high the -- the -- the water level got. There was cars washed up, RVs washed up, and -- and -- and just a whole bunch of trees.

And so we just got to work and -- and started helping where we can. These were -- these were private property owners that owned this property, hadn't had -- had help there just yet. There was one other group that was volunteer firefighters that were helping out of Odessa. And I would say about halfway through, as you kept looking around, there's more people coming in and more people coming in.

Next thing you know, we've got law enforcement, everything from military, DEA, you had troopers, you had the captain of Kerrville that was on site. And -- and the reason for that is that it was just a -- it was a hot spot. And so, there was -- by the -- by the end of the day, probably 200, 250 plus volunteers that were just helping, coming together. And it was beautiful.

And I want to give a shout out to two gentleman, a good friend of mine, Kevin Crawford (ph), here locally. He's who I called because I just knew he would -- he would be on site. He was going to be down there. He was going to be helping where he can. And so, he's the one who found this -- this local property owner that needed some help. And another gentleman named Cord Shifflett (ph). And over these last few days, they have brought, I mean, literally thousands of volunteers just within their network and -- and -- and being very vocal about the help that's needed down there.

BOLDUAN: I mean we've heard just from so many people, you know, first responders and volunteer alike of just how challenging the terrain is. I mean you -- you can see it in the video that you sent. I mean knots of trees piled 20 feet high. And also just how, quite frankly, emotionally mentally taxing it is to be searching for hopefully survivors, but no survivors have, you know, been found in -- in -- especially in Kerr County since Friday, just knowing what you were dealing with. It's been traumatic for everyone. Why did you want to jump in, Gilley?

MENDOZA: I think, you know, Texans specifically, right, like we -- we have a -- feel like a servant's heart. We feel lead to serve. We feel lead to help our community, help out fellow Texans, our neighbors, our country in general.

And I -- I just wanted to help. I mean, I think of when Harvey was here, right, and -- and Rockport got devastated, a local town. Just ran down there the next day. And just, where can we help? Where can we give a hand?

That was kind of the same thought process here. And sitting with a buddy, texting another buddy, and they're like, man, let's go do it. So, we called Kevin, right? I knew Kevin would be down there. And he was actually down there when I called him. And that's -- that's the big reason I feel like -- like, for myself, and I feel like for all of these other volunteers by the thousands, tens of thousands that are showing up, it's just -- it's just -- I feel like part of our culture here, specifically in Texas, south Texas, where people just want to give a hand, want to help, want to be involved. It doesn't matter, like, whether you're showing up to pass out waters. There was people on site that were parking cars because it was a -- like just a sea of vehicles by the time it was all over.

BOLDUAN: Wow.

MENDOZA: There was people passing out food. I mean, you had HEB (ph) coming in, Rudy's Barbecue. These are local companies that were bringing in food to just -- just help out. I mean, there's -- even if you physically cannot move things, there's a need. Salvation Army has a whole bunch of people volunteering.

So, I think that was -- that -- that was a big reason. It's just to -- just to help how I can. I mean, if you can't help financially, you can help with your time, you can help with your hands. There's just -- just so many ways to help down there.

BOLDUAN: And as we can see from the pictures and images, the magnitude of this disaster, there is so much need and such a need for help for a very long time to come.

Gilley, it's very nice to meet you. Thank you for what you're doing. Thanks so much for coming on.

John. JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, with these Texas floods, you know, the

California fires, the hurricanes last year, deadly natural disasters, how is all this affecting concern about climate related events?

[08:40:05]

CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten is here.

So, Harry, I mean, how afraid are Americans of climate change?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA ANALYST: Yes, are Americans afraid of climate change? And the answer is, Americans aren't afraid of climate change. Climate activists have not successfully made the case to the American people.

I want you to take a look here. Greatly worried about climate change. We have data going all the way back since 1989. Look at then, it was 35 percent, 2000, 40 percent, 2020, 46 percent, and 2025, 40 percent, which is the exact same percentage as back in 2000. Despite all of these horrible weather events, the percentage of Americans who are greatly worried about climate change has stayed pretty gosh darn consistent, which kind of boggles the mind a little bit. Granted, everything that we see on our television screens, our computer screens, the hurricanes, tornadoes, the flooding. But yet, greatly worried about climate change, 40 percent in 2025. The exact same percentage as back in 2000.

BERMAN: So why?

ENTEN: Why? It's because people are not worried that it's necessarily going to affect them. That's what's going on here.

You'll be a natural disaster -- disaster victim? Often or sometimes worried. Look at this. In 2006 it was 38 percent. Look at where we are now in 2025, it's 32 percent. Thirty-eight percent to 32 percent. The number has actually gone down. The number has gone down in terms of the percentage of Americans who are worried they'll be a natural disaster victim, such as a hurricane or a tornado.

BERMAN: What about people's thoughts or concerns about the future?

ENTEN: OK. So, right now we're looking at the present, right? What about going into the future? That's all this talk, you know, maybe Miami might be underwater at some point, right? But yet, when it comes to climate change effect on my home area, will be harder to stay? Look at this. All adults, it's just 17 percent. It's just 17 percent. The GOP is 6 percent. Independents is 6 percent. Even Democrats here, it's just 27 percent of Democrats who say that climate change will make it harder to stay in our area.

And I think this is what's so important. This is across the aisle in terms of the percentage who say it will be harder to stay in their area. And that is the exact same thing that we see here when you'll be a natural disaster victim. Under 50 percent of Democrats, Republicans and independents believe that, in fact, they could be, or at least worry about the chance that they'd be a natural disaster victim. BERMAN: Interesting. People might think it's an issue, but clearly not

a driving issue when people go to the polls it seems.

ENTEN: That -- that's exactly right. They may worry about it in the abstract, but when it comes to their own lives, they don't worry.

BERMAN: Harry Enten, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you, my friend.

SIDNER: All right.

BERMAN: Sara.

SIDNER: Up ahead, former Vice President Mike Pence joins us here in the studio as Senator Thom Tillis warns the president's big, beautiful bill could be devastating for Republicans. Our Kate Bolduan sits down with the former vice president.

And an Amazon order for arsenic, a poisoned protein shake and a tumultuous marriage police say ended in murder. This morning, the Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife is heading to court.

Those stories and more, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:47:03]

BERMAN: All right, new this morning, would he do it again? Outgoing Republican Senator Thom Tillis was really the deciding vote in the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But listen to what he says now that he is leaving the Senate in this revealing new interview with our Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): I think it's clear he's out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization. And so --

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, what was your reaction to the Signal- gate situation?

TILLIS: Well, that's just one. I mean, this whole idea of having a pause in Ukraine defensive arms.

TAPPER: Right.

TILLIS: That's just amateurish. I mean that -- that's from somebody who doesn't understand large organization dynamics. So, you know, I don't regret the decision I made back then based on the facts as I knew them then. But today, I am beginning to wonder if maybe Armed Services was a little bit generous with respect to their assessment of his capabilities as a manager of the world's largest, most complex and arguably consequential organization.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: All right, with us now is Congressman Gregory Meeks, Democrat from New York. He's the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Out of his depth, Senator Thom Tillis says now. First, what do you think of that assessment?

REP. GREGORY MEEKS (D-NY): I think it's absolutely correct. I think that was said prior to his appointment, what experiences he had that before, other than being a Fox newscaster, who, you know, had various other personal problems. So, he clearly is out of his depth.

But I will also say that, you know, when I look at what has taken place, a lot of my Republican colleagues, I wish they would say what the senator said, you know, beforehand, or before you're leaving, have the confidence to do that. You know, when you look at what has taken place, you can go back to Republicans starting to pause the weapons and the money that we were given to Ukraine under the Biden administration. When the Biden administration was stepping up, they said, stop. And that's when the war started shifting.

The Ukrainians have been heroic in how they've been defending their democracy and their country. But it was that initial pause during the Biden administration, caused by the speaker and Republicans, that then caused Russia to then begin to take advantage of a situation. We need to do more. And it would be -- the war right now would be in a different state had we not had that pause then and then the abrupt cut off by -- by what's taking place with Donald Trump today.

BERMAN: Let me ask you a question, a different question about foreign policy and economic policy. President Trump, overnight, issued a new threat to Brazil to issue 50 percent tariffs. And in the letter, one of the reasons he cited, one of the things he cited was legal investigations, were legal investigations inside Brazil about former President Bolsonaro. "The way Brazil has treated the former president is an international disgrace. This trial should not be taking place. It's a witch hunt that should end immediately."

Bolsonaro is being investigated for his role in basically trying to overthrow the results of the 2022 election in that country.

[08:50:01]

President Trump, of course, has his own history with something like that in 2020.

So, what do you think of this threat and the reason?

MEEKS: Well, look, number one, this president always seems to be treating our allies as if they're our adversaries, and our adversaries as if they're our allies. And for him to make that statement, to getting involved in Brazil and then threatening them with tariffs, just is absolutely crazy. It is not the way that you would govern. It's not the way that you should be president, to be the example set forth. But it is clear, not unusual for him because Donald Trump seems to like those who want to be dictators, those who are authoritarians. Look it all over. That's why he's gotten along with Putin and you deal with other dictators. He wanted to get along with the -- the -- the head of the -- of North Korea. He talks good things about these authoritarian individuals. And that's who he is. And that's why we've got to make sure that we put a check on Donald Trump by making sure that we elect the Democratic House of Representatives in 2026.

BERMAN: I want to ask you about local politics, which actually is maybe somewhat connected to your desire to elect a Democratic House here. But in New York City there is a race for mayor here. You endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. He lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo may still run for mayor in November, may get a different ballot ticket here. Where will your endorsement go in the general election?

MEEKS: I'm not sure yet. I'm going to be talking to all of the individuals that are running. I have not had that conversation. But I am setting up opportunities to have a dialog and then have a conversation with them because my number one focus is winning the House of Representatives back. That is -- Donald Trump is the existential threat to the city of New York, but to this nation with how he is running this country. And so, I want to make sure that we are working collectively together so that we can work to make sure that Donald Trump has a check and doesn't go unchecked for all four years that he has as president of the United States.

BERMAN: All right, interesting, so no endorsement from you yet in the mayor's race here in New York City.

Congressman Gregory Meeks, thank you for being with us this morning.

Vice President Pence going to be here very shortly on CNN NEWS CENTRAL. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:56:19]

SIDNER: All right, on our radar for you this morning, in Minnesota, the Saint Paul Fire Department says they rescued a man who was stuck in a sewer for about four days. Someone apparently heard his cries for help and called 911. The man was 10 to 12 feet down in that sewer. A rescue team used a rope to lower one of their members down to try and pull him out, and they succeeded. The man was taken to a hospital and is said to be doing OK this morning. It is not clear how he ended up in that sewer for all that time.

All right, President Trump's tariffs could impact America's toy prices, just in time for the holidays. Hasbro's CEO telling CNN, toys and games like Candyland, Play-Doh and Dungeons and Dragons typically take anywhere from three to five months to hit shelves after a retailer places an order. For consumers that means a doll sold for $10 now could end up costing $18 when the tariffs take effect to maintain profit margins. China and Vietnam are Hasbro's main international suppliers.

John.

BERMAN: All right, happening today, jury selection set to begin in the trial for the Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by poisoning her protein shake. James Craig is charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife, Angela Craig.

CNN's Jean Casarez, who's been covering this story, is here with us now.

What are we expecting?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, jury selection starts today, but this is the case of James Craig. He was a dentist in the Denver area. A very successful practice from the outside. A loving family, Angela Craig, they were raising their six children. And as a wonderful husband, he would make his -- her -- his wife her protein shake every morning.

Well, on March 5th of 2023, he made her her protein shake and she suddenly didn't feel good. And she said, you know, I don't feel right. I feel dizzy. I feel terrible.

Now, here's an exchange that they had on that day. He says, "have you eaten anything?" And she said, "I had my protein shake and magnesium makes me weird. This is not hungry."" Are you nauseous?" She said, "no, I feel drugged." And he says, "given our history, I know that must be triggering." But "for the record, I didn't drug you. I am super worried though. You really looked pale before I left. Like in your lips even."

Well, back on February 27th, at the dental office, he stayed late. Actually used a computer in another room that wasn't his computer. He started researching undetectable poisons. Here is what he looked up. "How many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human?" "Is arsenic detectable in autopsy?" "Top five undetectable poisons that show no signs of foul play." "How to make poison."

And on that February 27th, he actually ordered arsenic medal. Several days later, he ordered potassium cyanide. Now, Angela was going in and out of the hospital, so she was going home and having some protein shakes to try to feel better. And on the 15th of March, she went to the hospital and became comatose on life support and she died.

But the investigation began very swiftly because they were very suspect that he bought potassium cyanide, delivering it to a dental office.

Now, you think this case, well, that -- this is pretty simple, right? No, not necessarily because he told law enforcement she was depressed, that she wanted to commit suicide. She'd even possibly tried a couple times. So, if that is the defense, she's not here to say what the truth is.

BERMAN: And even after he was put in jail after the arrest, there were some new charges filed?

CASAREZ: There were new charges because he was asking inmates that were getting out to plant some notes around his house, around his car, alluding that the wife did commit suicide.

[09:00:06]

BERMAN: Oh, wow.

All right, Jean Casarez, a lot going on here. We know you'll be watching this