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Tsunami Alerts Throughout Pacific After 8.8 Magnitude Quake; DOJ Files Memo for Unsealing Epstein, Maxwell Grand Jury Testimony; NYPD Sending Investigators to Las Vegas where Gunman Lived. Aired 8- 8:30a ET

Aired July 30, 2025 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

CLARE DUFFY, CNN BUSINESS WRITER: ... cyber security experts say these photos of people's faces can be used to train AI systems --

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right.

DUFFY: -- to impersonate them, could be used for fraud, for deepfakes, so really concerning for the affected users. Now, TEA does say that it will be contacting affected users and offering identity protection, but this is something that if you're a user of this app, you should be really aware of your bank accounts, other private sensitive information over the next few weeks.

BOLDUAN: Yes, over and over again, we hear such similar, similar, similar problems. It's good to see you. Thank you so much.

A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Not clear just yet. Tsunami alerts still in effect along the Western U.S. coast and across the Pacific after a huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake. Tourists and residents in Hawaii sleeping in cars after evacuating to higher ground and some 2 million people in Japan also told to evacuate.

Breaking over the night, the Justice Department filing a new memo explaining why the court should unseal grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein. This as the president reveals a new reason he says he cut ties with Epstein, saying Epstein poached young women, employees from Mar-a-Lago.

An investigator sent to Las Vegas to learn more about the gunman behind Manhattan's deadliest shooting in 25 years.

Sara is out this morning. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan and this is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

In the breaking news, tsunami alerts in effect up and down the West Coast of the U.S. after one of the most powerful earthquakes on record struck thousands of miles away off the coast of Russia. The first waves did hit U.S. shores in California, Oregon and Washington overnight after reaching Hawaii and Alaska. Flooding struck parts of Hawaii where waves higher than five feet were

reported. Authorities there have yet to give an all clear and a tsunami advisory remains in effect across the state. Many had evacuated after authorities warned people to get off the beaches and seek higher ground.

Now, this huge eight point eight magnitude quake that caused these waves is the strongest on earth since 2011 and tied for the six most powerful on record. The force left behind -- left a kindergarten in ruins in buildings underwater in Russia's far east.

And just some nerve rattling video from the moment the quake struck as a surgery was being performed at a cancer center in Russia. Officials there say doctors were able to complete the procedure and the patient is doing well, but that's terrifying to see there.

Let's get right to seeing as Veronica Miracle in Santa Monica, California, the water behind you. I know people have been edge on edge all night. Veronica, what are you seeing now?

VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, John. And the most pressing concern as people wake up this morning is actually going to be the current.

Now, it's incredible news that there was no significant waves here. There was no flooding. There was no damage. But that doesn't mean that the currents are not strong.

And actually, all of the L.A. County beaches up and down the coastline here in Southern California are going to be closed through at least noon today. So we're just about an hour away from when surfers and swimmers typically show up here, start to get into the water. And officials are saying, do not do that.

They don't want people anywhere near the beaches. They actually asked RVs to even move away from the coastline because the danger is still here. There are still major concerns.

Up in Northern California, there's also a major concern there where waves got up to about three feet. And that's really also going to be the main focal point for officials up and down the West Coast from Washington all the way down to California.

In Hawaii, it was very chaotic. The scenes as those waves were about to reach, there were a lot of people who got a several hours warning. But when those warnings went out, when people were being asked to go to higher ground, up into the mountainous areas, into hotels and buildings four stories or higher, there were long lines of cars that were trying to evacuate.

There were also people who got left stranded, including some cruise ship passengers who were on the big island of Hawaii. They were sightseeing and the cruise ship had to leave and get away from the dock and left them. There were also people who have been sleeping overnight. And we also

understand that at least at the Maui Airport, people were evacuated. They were taken to a certain area in the airport.

And so all of that fallout today, as people get back to their travel plans, as they get back to safety, that is going to be something that we're going to be looking at.

In Hawaii, the harbors are now open. People are being allowed back into their homes that are along the coastlines. But officials are asking people to remain vigilant as those secondary waves come. And especially here in Southern California, as these currents are incredibly strong, officials do not want people getting in the water.

That's the major concern as we wake up here this morning -- John.

[08:05:00]

BERMAN: Yes, so important that everyone took those precautions overnight and continue to be vigilant. Veronica Miracle in Santa Monica, thank you very much for that -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: And that tsunami threat is shifting this morning in Hawaii, as they were just talking about tsunami advisory remains in place, while that same alert has now been canceled in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. But in French Polynesia and the South Pacific, officials are warning they could still see waves of up to 13 feet high.

CNN meteorologist Chris Warren is tracking all of this for us. And Chris, what are you seeing?

CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Kate, as Veronica mentioned, this is still an ongoing event right now in California. There are still alerts up for the Aleutians in Alaska, all the way down parts of British Columbia and into the United States, Washington, Oregon, California. But it's in Northern California where the red is a warning right now.

So the waves and the surf action and the underwater movement still ongoing around 3.5 feet in Crescent City. And when you look at this, all we have to see, this is the point in Crescent City, this line here, the forecast for the water levels, the blue line. Now after the earthquake and the tsunami started, you're getting above.

And the main point here during the overnight hours, local time around midnight, this has been ongoing for hours, ups and downs with the water. It's not just one push of water. So it's ongoing, not over yet, but we're hoping that the end is in sight for the West Coast. Still watching.

Here's what happened in Florida, parts of Hawaii up to around six feet. That would be in Maui and Kahului.

And then the origin of this, this is when it initially happened, the earthquake just offshore of Russia, bumping up that water that propagated or moved away from the center point, Kate, there. And as it does, it evolves and moves. It's not just one push of water.

That's why it's going to be a while. We got to wait for that all clear before we can really kind of calm down and know that the worst is over.

BOLDUAN: And we did hear from -- I was speaking to a seismologist earlier, he was just talking about how big this -- how strong, how powerful this earthquake was.

WARREN: Oh, this is a top 10 recorded history type earthquake. So this is huge. And this happening, remember this happening essentially on the surface of the earth, but underwater.

So it is a shallow earthquake. Here's Russia. Here's the Aleutian Islands. That's Alaska right here. Just give you a little reference of where we are here in the Pacific. So this happens 13 miles deep, sounds deep, but it is relatively shallow when we talk about earthquakes.

So it's in here. So there's more energy closer to the surface. And again, this is happening underwater.

And what happens here with that magnitude 8.8, that's great. That's up to the great. So you're going to notice that it's kind of a big deal here in many areas, you get up into that even light and moderate.

You feel the shaking stuff can fall off shells, strong, major, but great. So we're high end earthquake. So underground, what happens?

You get that bump from underneath. Unlike wind, Kate, pushing the water, this is a bump up the earth, essentially pushing the water up. It propagates out close to shore first and then going out throughout the entire Pacific leading to what we saw.

And again, not over yet.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Chris, thank you so much for that. I really appreciate it -- John.

BERMAN: I think we need some new terminology that earthquake doesn't sound great at all to me.

All right. Overnight, the Justice Department made a new attempt to get grand jury testimony unsealed in the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Also happening now. Ghislaine Maxwell convicted of conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors. Her attorneys are putting the screws on the House Oversight Committee. All kinds of demands for her testimony, including immunity, which the committee seems to be turning down.

The president is offering a new explanation for why he broke off his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The president now leaning into the idea that Epstein, quote, stole employees from Mar-a-Lago. He said he stole her about one young woman who worked in the Mar-a-Lago spa and later went on to be sexually abused by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Let's get right to seeing as Kevin Liptak at the White House for some

of these new explanations -- Kevin.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and this is really kind of the most extensive comments that we've heard from the president about how exactly his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein fell apart so many decades ago.

You know, the White House has been saying for the last week or so that the president cut off this relationship because Epstein was, quote, a creep.

And now President Trump himself is lending a few more details about what exactly that means while at the same time raising some new questions about the timeline here. And certainly his language, as I think you've noted, is quite striking in all of this.

Now, the president last night on Air Force One describing how he says Jeffrey Epstein stole women from the spa at Mar-a-Lago.

Listen to more of how the president described it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, you said yesterday your falling out with Jeffrey Epstein was over him taking some of the workers from you business, but your administration in the past said that you threw him out because he was a creep. So can you explain that discrepancy?

[08:10:00]

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, maybe they're the same thing. You know, sort of a little bit of the same thing. But no, he took people that work for me, and I told him, don't do it anymore. And he did it. And I said, stay the hell out of here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, did, did one of those stolen, you know, person -- did that include Virginia Giuffre?

TRUMP: I don't know. I think she worked at the spa. I think so.

I think that was one of the people, yeah, he, he stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know. None whatsoever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIPTAK: So you hear the reference there to Virginia Giuffre. She is probably the most well-known of Epstein's victims. She died by suicide earlier this year.

And she said previously in a deposition that she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell, the Epstein associate from Mar-a-Lago to work for Jeffrey Epstein to work as his masseuse. She says that that started this life where she was, quote, passed around like a platter of fruit to rich and powerful predators, including, in her view, Prince Andrew of Britain. He has denied that accusation. Now, the president's comments here do raise some questions about the timeline. Virginia Giuffre says that she was recruited from Mar-a-Lago in 2000. But two years after that, President Trump still had quite warm words for Jeffrey Epstein.

He said in a magazine interview that he was a terrific guy. And he offered this now infamous quote, it is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do. And many of them are on the younger side.

So it doesn't seem as if that case alone is what caused him to break his ties with Epstein. Although he did say on Air Force One that this happened multiple times, that women were, quote, stolen from Mar-a- Lago to work for Epstein.

We also know that the two men had a dispute over a piece of property in Palm Beach that also led to a falling out. That happened several years after all of this.

And so the president clearly here, I think, trying to provide more details about his relationship with Epstein, which has, of course, become a liability for him in all of this as he tries to tamp down on some of the furor. But certainly his answers there and some of the language that he used, I don't think necessarily going to cause all of this to die away very quickly -- John.

BERMAN: No, raises even new questions. Kevin Liptak at the White House this morning. Thank you very much -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Sure does.

Joining us right now. Joining us right now is former Manhattan prosecutor Jeremy Saland for more on all of this.

Let's just start with what we were hearing from Donald Trump on this latest evolution of his explanation for why that friendship went sour years, years ago. This -- what does this add to? I keep calling it in my head like this political and legal just like churn and swirl here.

JEREMY SALAND, FORMER MANHATTAN PROSECUTOR: I think you have to start from the top and say, Donald Trump, women are not chattel. People are not yours to be stolen. It is as disgusting as it defies, as disgusting as defies credibility. That is arguments that he's making.

This is coming from a man who first says Jeffrey Epstein relationship depleted in one way because he was a creep. Yet this is the same person who says it's OK to grab women by their privates and laughs about it.

The same person was found liable for sexual abuse related offense to a woman, E. Jean Carroll. So it's really just muddies the water or maybe you could say clarifies and clears the water to say the president seems like he is trying to avoid and is coming up with one pathetic excuse and reasoning after the next.

BOLDUAN: Because you're -- because the reason being is -- and we'll talk about the request for the grand jury in just one second. But it's his Justice Department who he has talked about how and made very clear how much control he has and influence over the attorney general for being quite frank. And there is information they could release if they wanted to, to clarify a lot of this.

SALAND: Like that. (SNAPS HIS FINGERS)

SALAND: Absolutely. This charade of going now to New York, going to Florida and seeking from the federal judges to release his grand jury records and minutes. What you're looking for is not there.

What you're looking for was not secured via a grand jury subpoena. What you're looking for, which they know is there, whatever it means, we don't know. But whatever's there, they know.

And that was likely secured by, for example, a search warrant or a witness coming in, not necessarily through the grand jury and telling them a story. There are victims, real live people who have gone through this trauma who can share that story. If Donald Trump really wants the truth, that's what he does.

BOLDUAN: On the grand jury, I mean, it appears that there is a late night filing overnight with the district court in the Southern District of New York trying to make the case for why they think the judge should unseal the grand jury transcripts. It seems the same reasoning that was -- that was given in Florida as well, intense public interest.

They also saying that the fact that Jeffrey Epstein is dead, he no longer has a personal interest in the case. Is it likely to land any differently with a judge in New York than in Florida?

[08:15:00]

SALAND: No, no, no, no. So rule six sets forth the reasons why you can sort of unclear -- pardon me, unseal those grand jury minutes.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

SALAND: And in terms of what this would mean in terms of public policy and the public interest, it doesn't exist.

I was saying to John last week --

BOLDUAN: Yes.

SALAND: -- you know, this isn't Watergate, but let's be clear. This is a Congress that's trying to protect itself. This is a MAGA base that's angry and wants answers because it was promised to them by the president.

This is political. This is not -- this is something of such public import that it needs to be shared and it's not historical.

And lastly, to be very clear, whether or not Epstein is dead, there are people who can still suffer and be exposed because of releasing grand jury testimony.

BOLDUAN: And to the credit of some, some members of Congress, that is actually one concern they have of what is released, that there are people who are alive today that should be protected.

SALAND: Sure, sure.

BOLDUAN: On the response from the House Oversight Committee now say that to the list of demands coming from Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney on what they would want, need demand for her congressional testimony. The Oversight Committee is saying that they're going to respond soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity for her testimony.

I mean, is this -- do you see this as a negotiation?

SALAND: No. I mean, listen, who does Maxwell and her attorney think they are? I mean, if Congress has any credibility, meaning the Oversight Committee, they ain't going to grant her immunity.

They ain't going to say, we're going to give you the answers in advance. You -- pardon me, the questions in advance. You can craft your answers. You know, we want the truth. We want it accurate.

And at the end of the day, you know, it's not just the question answers, but what is being asked. When her attorney says she testified truth or she spoke truthfully, you know, to Blanche and she was upfront and credible.

Well, what was asked? With a question if we say to you, if we say to you, listen, don't say Donald Trump was in these, these documents. Will you tell us that? She could have answered truthfully and say, yes, he may have been there. And I won't tell you that.

BOLDUAN: I mean, the point is, we definitely don't know.

SALAND: You don't know what's going on.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Also just as a, you know, a quick historical reminder that this is the same, this is a justice department that accused her of lying under oath previously. So like this is not --

SALAND: The papers to oppose her, her cert request to the Supreme court basically tears her down as some, some horrific co-conspirator pedophile type of a person. So, you know, don't use those exact words, but they allude to it. And now they want her to testify because she's credible.

BOLDUAN: Let's see. Let's see the evolution of where this heads in just the next couple hours. It's really good to see you, Jeremy.

SALAND: You as well.

BOLDUAN: Thank you so much.

So we have this coming up, new details this morning and the mass shooting investigation.

What we're learning about the shooter who attacked a Manhattan office building as New York officials head now to Las Vegas.

And international pressure is growing on Israel this morning with the British prime minister is threatening and promising unless Israel changes course and alleviates the famine in Gaza immediately.

And this morning, three people are still missing after a major explosion at a Nebraska manufacturing plant. What we know about what could have sparked that explosion.

[08:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This morning, the New York police department sending a team to Las Vegas, looking for more details about the man who killed four people in a Manhattan high-rise. We're now getting a closer look at some of the evidence uncovered by investigators, including a bloody rifle -- you can see it right there -- using a part that was purchased by someone else. Also getting a look inside the car driven by the killer.

With us now, former NYPD Lieutenant and criminal justice expert, Darrin Porcher is here now. Thanks so much for being with us.

Actually, I want to talk about some of the evidence uncovered in the car, because it is interesting. There was a handgun and also a lot of ammunition inside there. What does that indicate to you?

What questions does this picture right here raise?

DARRIN PORCHER, FORMER NYPD LIEUTENANT: Well, the first thing I think of when I see a whole lot of ammunition in there, I believe that he was looking to possibly come back to the car, reload, and continue to embark upon the assault that he started in that building. In addition to that, there was some prescription medication. So this supports the conclusion that he was an individual that was suffering from mental health.

So thankfully, this ended with him taking his life on the 33rd floor, because if it didn't, and we didn't have that police officer there that tragically lost his life, this could have continued and we would have had far greater carnage.

BERMAN: Sometimes there can be contradictions sort of in some of the assumptions and questions that are asked here, because on the one hand, when you double park on Park Avenue, you leave your car there and you walk in with an assault rifle to a Manhattan high-rise, one might think you don't think you're ever coming out.

On the other hand, when you see that ammunition, you're right. It does raise questions about what he had planned for something, maybe a secondary action there. It gets to the idea that maybe his intentions were muddled. What do you think about that? PORCHER: Well, you have to understand that this is a person that came from Las Vegas, so he may not understand the dynamic of New York City as it relates to double parking. We as common citizens here in New York, we know if you double park, the propensity for your car to be towed is great. But he felt that it would have been in close proximity to allow him the quickness to get to the car, get additional ammunition and come back in and continue to embark upon the carnage.

BERMAN: Investigators in Las Vegas right now, what would you be asking if you were on the ground there now?

PORCHER: Well, one of the things we have to take in consideration is the lower receiver of that firearm was sold to him by another individual.

[08:25:00]

So in a state of Nevada, then you must have a background check. So the investigators are going to look to see if that background check was conducted. Although the suspect in this particular case had a security license, it expired in December, coupled with he was on a mental health hold back in 2022 and 2024. So it begs the question as to why these firearms were not removed.

In 2020, the state of Nevada adopted the red flag laws. With the red flag laws, either the police or family member can petition the court to have firearms removed.

So these are things that the investigators are going to look to in determining why he did what he did and how he did it.

BERMAN: This other individual, there was another individual, I believe the name was Rick, cited inside some of the writings of this killer who could be the one who purchased the part of that weapon that is restricted or harder to get. What questions would you be asking to him right now?

PORCHER: Was he familiar with the mental health holds back in 2022 and 2024 in connection with the suspect in this case? Was there a background check conducted because you're required in the state of Nevada to have that background check done, even if it's a person-to- person sale. You have to use that third component.

And lastly, there was a manifesto that was drafted where the suspect specifically targeted the NFL. Did this individual that sold him this weapon have any information to lead him to believe that the suspect was going to embark upon this carnage?

Also, we also -- we want to speak to his family members. We want to speak to people within the social contract to find out if they had information that led them to believe that he was going to embark upon the campaign that resulted in these people dying here in New York City.

BERMAN: Darrin Porcher, nice to see you. Of course, the goal here is to make sure something like this doesn't happen again. Thank you. PORCHER: Thanks.

BERMAN: All right, the breaking news, a huge earthquake triggered a tsunami alert across the globe.

Millions in Japan under evacuation orders right now as waves are beginning to reach the West Coast of the U.S. Actually, they've already reached some parts of the West Coast of the U.S. There are concerns in other areas as well.

And happening now, the funeral procession for Ozzy Osbourne in England. We're seeing the beginnings of live pictures from there. Quite an event in his hometown of Birmingham. We will bring you the latest.

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