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Maurene Comey, Epstein Prosecutor and James Comey's Daughter, Fired; CNN Poll Shows Democrats Far More Energized Than GOP About Midterms; Sources Say, State Department Cuts to Impact Trump Admin's Own Priorities. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired July 17, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, the Epstein case burst through popular culture on stage at the ESPYs. Also the president says he wants an FBI investigation into what he now calls the Epstein hoax, and a key prosecutor on the case is fired and she happens to have her famous name.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking just moments ago, brand new numbers from CNN Reveal that Democrats are much more energized through Republicans about next year's midterms, but there is also a big warning sign for Democrats. We'll break it all down for you.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And the disturbing discovery at a California home, 21 children removed from this couple's home. The couple now under arrest as authorities investigate whether they misled surrogate mothers across the country.

I'm Kate Bolduan with John Berman and Sara Sidner. This is CNN News Central.

BERMAN: And breaking overnight, how is this for a twist? In the midst of the furor from the president's own base over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and failure to disclose more information about the investigation, one of the main federal prosecutors who worked on the case was abruptly fired overnight with no explanation. And a twist on that twist, the prosecutor is Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, whom the president fired in his first term.

And if you want to twist on the twist on the twist, Comey actually argued in court against disclosure of investigatory information, which seems to align with the position of Attorney General Pam Bondi in that memo saying, no more information is coming that set off all the criticism from the right.

The firing comes as President Trump is somehow trying to blame Democrats for the Epstein problem, even though Epstein's arrest on federal charges and suicide happened in President Trump's first term.

The strategy's not quite sticking. One of his most loyal supporters, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, is now backing a move to force a floor vote, requiring the Justice Department to release all Epstein documents, and the president's former national security adviser from his first term, Michael Flynn, posted on Twitter, it is not about Epstein or the left, it is about committing crimes against children.

Let's get right to CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House where there's been an effort to move on, but are they moving on now from moving on?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: No. I think it's very clear that despite the President's best efforts to try and tell his supporters, let's move on from this, let's leave this in the past, Epstein is old news, we've heard him now argue that on several different occasions. it's not going away.

And I do want to go back to what you were talking about this firing of Maurene Comey. You mentioned it, that she was a Manhattan federal prosecutor, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, and someone who worked -- had a very high profile role on this Epstein case. She was abruptly fired last night by the Trump administration, according to several people familiar with the matter.

Now, the reason for her firing was not exactly clear, but, of course, her dismissal and particularly her role and connection to the Epstein case is raising a lot of questions. And our colleague, Kara Scannell, spoke with one person who said that essentially being a Comey is untenable in the Trump administration just given how much they want to go after James Comey, her father, and investigate him over, you know, some comments he had made, but still not exactly leaving a lot of people who are eager for more answers on this clear of whether or not this was, you know, because of her relation to this case.

And then to go back to just the big picture here. I mean, we are now more than a week and a half out from that Justice Department memo dropping and being leaked to the media and really the beginning of this MAGA firestorm. And the president continues to argue that this shouldn't be news, that there are more important topics to be talking about.

And then yesterday, he actually posted, and this caught a lot of people off guard, I have to say, John, posted that he called some of these people, his past supporters. He said, my past supporters have bought into what he argued was bullshit, his word, not mine, hook, line, and sinker. He went on to say, let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work. Don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success because I don't want their support anymore.

[07:05:05]

I mean, he is now trying to argue that anyone, any of his former supporters, his supporters who have been fixated on this, he doesn't even want their support anymore.

What is very clear, though, is that, you know, I've been talking to many, not just like my sources here at the White House in the Trump administration, but MAGA influencers as well, people on the outside who are saying this has been so mishandled. And they are perplexed that the president is not as in line and doesn't have his finger on the pulse of his, you know, MAGA movement and his base, as he almost always does on this case specifically.

And so what's unclear is where this goes in the future, John, but still something that, of course, is not going away despite the president's best efforts.

BERMAN: Yes. And, again, the way he keeps talking about it is one of the things that keeps it going forward. We'll have to see what he says about it today. Alayna Treene, thank you very much for that. Sara?

SIDNER: All right, thank you, John.

Breaking news this morning, a brand new CNN poll, giving a glimpse into the mindset of voters as we inch closer to the midterm elections next fall, after devastating losses across the board in November, Democrats now seem to be increasingly motivated to hit the polls despite the numbers showing a historically low approval rating for their party.

CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian here to break it all down for us. Give us some sense of how enthusiastic voters are here when they're looking towards those ever increasing time towards the midterm.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, I know we're still a little over a year away, but we are in this 2026 midterm cycle. And we ask folks -- we try to get a level of their motivation. So, among extremely motivated, that's what we're looking at here, people who say they are extremely motivated, 72 percent of Democratic or Democratic- leaning independents say they are extremely motivated to vote in the midterm election. That -- I just want to understand in prior to the presidential election in October '24, you see that was only 62 percent among Democratic leaning voters. So, higher motivation now than we saw right before the presidential.

And look at this, compared to the Republicans. It's a 22-point advantage. 50 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning independents now say they're extremely motivated to vote, far lower than they were before the presidential and far lower than Democrats are.

You made the point though, Sara, and I think this is important, that's the opportunity for Democrats. Can they capitalize on it, is the question. And they are suffering record low favorability numbers among the American people.

So, if you look at overall favorability of the parties, neither party is in good standing with the American people. 33 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Republican party. 28 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party. That 28 number, as you noted, historic low in our polling for Democrats.

SIDNER: Yes, a historic low. They've got sort of a mixed bag here, like people are enthusiastic, but they are not happy about those who are already in office. So, that begs the question whether incumbents should be worried here.

CHALIAN: Well, listen, our country has a history of a very high incumbent reelection rate. So, I would say for the most part, incumbents don't have to be too worried. However, I will say, clearly, voters are unhappy in our poll about unified Republican control, the House, the Senate, the presidency, and this is normal. Whichever party has unified control, the party out of power usually benefits from that in an upcoming midterm election.

But to your point about concerns here, what I think we see is that Democrats, their favorability number, Sara, is being driven down because of a negative view from their own partisans, from their own Democrats. So, we said, you know, view of your own party favorably. Among Republican and Republican leaners, 76 percent view their own party favorably. But among Democratic and Democratic leaners, only 58 percent view their own party favorably. So, that, Democrats have work to do within their own house if they're going to improve their standing here.

SIDNER: All right. David Chalian giving us all the new numbers this morning, there's a lot to parse when you're looking at all of these. I really appreciate it, David. Kate?

BOLDUAN: One source tells CNN it could make it harder for the United States to stop terrorists from attacking America. The new reporting about the impact of President Trump's mass firings at the State Department.

And overnight, a lightning strike killed one person and injured more than a dozen others, including several children at an archery range.

And President Trump's stories about his uncle and the Unabomber, a fact-check this morning.

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BOLDUAN: There is new CNN reporting today. Sources are telling CNN the mass layoffs at the State Department could actually significantly impact the Trump administration's ability to tackle some of its top priorities. Last week, the department began firing more than 1,300 people as part of the reduction in workforce, that drastic overhaul that had been underway.

And CNN's Kylie Atwood has much more on this now for us from the State Department. Kylie, what are you learning about this?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well listen, Kate, a lot of the State Department issue sets that were impacted are areas that this administration has said they really don't have a keen focus on, women's issues, refugees, educational issues.

However, in speaking with folks who were fired and folks who are still here, they say that these cuts are also set to have an impact on the priorities that the Trump administration has already laid out. Some of those include counterterrorism, stopping drug trafficking, energy diplomacy, mitigating passport and visa fraud. Those are some things that we know this administration wants to focus on, and those are areas that were impacted by these cuts.

[07:15:05]

I want to read to you a pretty powerful quote from one former Department officials saying, quote, the loss of so much experience will make it harder for the U.S. to stop terrorists from successfully launching a terrorist attack on American soil.

Now, there was a hearing yesterday on Congress with Michael Rigas, a top State Department official who is in charge effectively of this reorganization, of these cuts of about 1,300 State Department officials. I want you to listen to what he said in defending these cuts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL RIGAS, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES: our budget requests reflect Secretary Rubio's, department-wide reorganization and the important work we are doing to make the State Department a more efficient and effective organization, better able to advance the core interests of the American people and accountable to the American taxpayers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ATWOOD: Now, a State Department memo on these cuts said that the goal here is not to impact the core functions of the State Department. When you talk to employees here who have left employees who are still here, they say that is a really hard thing to actually do, particularly because this reduction in force was cutting out specific jobs, but not looking at the whole person and the experience that that person brought in terms of their entire career potentially at the State Department, what other jobs they have, what other expertise that they had.

I also think it's important to note that some of these offices were not entirely slashed but their responsibilities were shifted to the actual other offices that are still intact. But when you cut most of the people from those offices, folks say it's really hard for them to continue doing the jobs effectively.

BOLDUAN: All right. Kylie, great reporting, thank you so much for bringing it to us this morning. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Just ahead, disturbing new details in the trial of that Colorado dentist accused of fatally poisoning his wife, a witness testifying the dentist told her that cyanide he allegedly bought was part of a game of chicken with his wife. This unfolding as we expect to hear from the lead detective, the one police say the dentist was plotting to kill while in jail. Plus, sugar rush, President Trump touting Coca-Cola will bring back cane sugar in its sodas. It's already doing that in Mexico, but Coca- Cola hasn't come out with that just yet. We'll explain, coming up.

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[07:20:00]

SIDNER: President Donald Trump touting a deal with Coca-Cola, saying the company will start making coke with real cane sugar in the U.S. That is what Coke already sells in Mexico. But in the U.S., it's currently made with high fructose corn syrup, which has been in the crosshairs of Robert F. Kennedy's Health and Human Services Department. Coca-Cola did not confirm the change, but they did say they're going to share some details soon.

The president famously has a Diet Coke button on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, which summons a presidential valet to deliver the beverage. John?

BERMAN: Right. The final men's golf major of the year has teed off in Northern Ireland. We used to call it the British Open. Now, we're supposed to call it the Open Championship. I can't say that I know why.

But let's get right to CNN's Patrick Snell for all the action. Good morning, sir.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS: Good morning, John. Oh, just the Open, whatever you like more.

Rory attracting huge attention, Rory McIlroy, as he always does, especially so whenever he is playing in Northern Ireland. Royal Portrush, you know, was about 60 miles from where he grew up.

Now, he didn't make the cut, I will say, the last time the open was played at this venue and after sealing the career Grand Slam early this year, boy would he love to go on an ad, another famed Claret Jug to his decorated trophy cabinet. He also won it back in 2014, Rory teeing off just a few hours from now.

The defending champion, Xander Schauffele, earlier in the week, he had to return the Claret Jug. Schauffele saying he doesn't keep his trophies. His parents do, and they most likely in a bank vault. And what about that Olympic gold medal one at the Japan summer games?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

XANDER SCHAUFFELE, DEFENDING OPEN CHAMPION: I actually have no idea where that is, to be completely honest.

REPORTER: It's great to know.

SCHAUFFELE: Yes.

REPORTER: Why don't you. SCHAUFFELE: What am I going to do with it? I don't really invite people over to my house. So, what? Am I just like go look at it myself, like, oh yes?

REPORTER: Who would you rather be up on the wall?

SCHAUFFELE: Photo of my dogs or nothing, a clock maybe. I'm always late, so maybe a clock would be good for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Speaking of trophies, Olympic legend Simone Biles collecting two more on Wednesday, winning the best female athletes and best championship performance award at the ESPYs, the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, winning best male athlete.

And an emotional moment as well when Penn State Women's volleyball coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley accepted the Jimmy V. Award for perseverance with her family right there as well. Look at that on stage with her. She was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in September, but continued coaching without missing a practice and made history by becoming the first female coach to win the women's volleyball championship.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY, FIRST FEMALE COACH TO WIN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TITLE: This past year has been one I could have never imagined. It's been filled with challenges, with grit, with tears, but also with perspective, purpose, and unbelievable love.

Cancer changed my life, but it didn't take it, it didn't take my belief, it didn't take my spirit, and it didn't take my team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Very powerful words indeed. Wishing Katie all the very best as I send it right back to you.

BERMAN: Yes, very moving last night. Thanks so much, Patrick.

I have to say, Xander Schauffele doesn't really invite people over to his house seems very lonely.

BOLDUAN: Maybe he is just happily alone.

BERMAN: Very lonely. I hope he wins. I hope it brings him some joy.

[07:25:00]

BOLDUAN: Well, and then you can buy him a clock.

BERMAN: Exactly.

BOLDUAN: That was funny coming up for us, breaking overnight, a federal prosecutor in the Epstein case was fired. She also happens to be the former FBI director James Comey's daughter.

And more than 20 children removed from one couple's custody after surrogate mothers across the country claimed that they were misled into having babies for this couple.

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BOLDUAN: Breaking overnight, Maurene Comey, the lead prosecutor who handled the Jeffrey Epstein case back in 2019, and the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, fired from her job. Her firing comes as the Jeffrey Epstein, whatever you want to call it now, saga continues to unravel. And also with President Trump offering his newest approach to try to make it go away, which is blame the Democrats, the president now saying that the outrage around it all is a hoax and not on him.

[07:30:04]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: It is all been a big hoax. It's perpetrated by the Democrats.