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Sean Combs Ex Pushes for his Release; Victor Owen Schwartz and Jeffrey Schwab are Interviewed about Lawsuit over Tariffs; Fires in Canada Trigger Low Air Quality in U.S. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired August 04, 2025 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

SEN. JEFF MERKLEY (D-OR): Brainstorm with them, we'll -- we'll be there because this -- this is really an -- an assault on the fundamental integrity of our government to gerrymander in the middle of a ten year period in order to try to keep control of the government.

If you look at the process in which republics become authoritarian governments, and I really recommend to folks the "How Democracies Die" book if you want to really get into this, you will see that a lot of the things that happened around the country -- the world are happening here. And one of those is an authoritarian president trying to rig the system for the future, to keep that power going forward. And it's why this is -- way -- we one case in Texas involving a handful of seats in the U.S. Congress, but it's part of a bigger challenge of an authoritarian president seeking to destroy government by and for the people.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon, nice to see you this morning. Thank you very much.

An ex-girlfriend of Sean Combs now pushing for his release after she dropped out of testifying against him.

A wildfire explodes in size in southern California. New evacuations happening now.

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[09:35:34]

BERMAN: This morning, a twist in the Sean Combs case. An ex- girlfriend, who was supposed to testify as victim three against Combs, mysteriously disappeared before his trial. But she has now reemerged and is asking a judge to release Combs on bail.

Let's get right to CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister for the latest on this.

Good morning.

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. As you said, never not a twist and turn in this saga, even though the

trial is, of course, over. Now, Sean Combs' sentencing is set for October 3rd. And as he awaits sentencing, his defense team has been trying to get him released on bail. They have even asked the judge to fully acquit him or give him a new trial. And now the latest is really a shocker. As you said, this ex-girlfriend of Sean Combs was supposed to testify in the trial as one of the governments three main witnesses. Alleged victims that is.

Then, just a week before the trial, prosecutors had said that even though they had issued a subpoena on her, that they had lost touch with her and her attorney. And then she was not called to testify.

Well, now, in, again, a real bombshell, the defense has submitted a letter from her to the judge asking for Combs to be released on bail. I want to read you part of her letter. And there she is. We see her right there. Her name is Gina. She says, quote, "our relationship, like many, was not always perfect. We experienced ups and downs and mistakes were made. But he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future."

She goes on to say, quote, "to my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years and he has been committed to being a father first. I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community."

Now, this is the first time, John, that she has actually identified herself as victim three. And, look, during the trial, even though she didn't testify, her name, Gina, came up numerous times throughout the prosecution's witnesses. In fact, a former assistant of Sean Combs testified that he had seen himself, Sean Combs, physically assault her on one occasion. And, get this, back in 2019, Gina appeared on a YouTube show with the YouTuber Tasha K. And she herself said that Sean Combs had physically assaulted her.

Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GINA HUYNH, Sean COMBS' EX-GIRLFRIEND: He started punching me like this, like, he avoided my face but he, like, started punching me like on the side of my head. And I was just, like, covering my face. And he did that -- he did that and then -- and then after he got done doing that, he like -- because he was standing -- his legs were like standing in between me. So he, like, he like stomped on my stomach like really hard. And I like took the wind out of my breath. I couldn't even -- I couldn't breathe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER: Now, Sean Combs has not commented on that specific allegation from Gina, but he has admitted to physically assaulting former romantic partners.

Now, I have reached out to Combs' team for comment on that specific clip that we just saw there. I am waiting to hear back.

But, of course, this is quite a change of heart from her just a few years ago. The main question is why and why now? But, of course, that will be for the judge to decide.

BERMAN: Elizabeth Wagmeister, thank you so much for sharing your reporting on all of this.

We should say, if you or someone you know needs help, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

All right, we're just days away from a slate of sweeping new tariffs to take effect. Where a federal lawsuit looking to stop them stands this morning.

And then days after an earthquake shook eastern Russia, a volcano that was dormant for more than 600 years has erupted.

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[09:44:01]

JIMENEZ: This morning, we are just days away from a slate of sweeping new tariffs set to take effect targeting imports from dozens of U.S. trading partners. Now, after months of dealmaking and delays, the president enacted these new rates through a series of executive orders. The question of whether or not these orders are legal is one that is actively being debated in the courts.

Earlier this year, a group of U.S. businesses sued the Trump administration arguing the tariffs are illegal and have, quote, "severely harmed" their businesses. The lawsuit is now at the Court of Appeals, which has allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the case is being challenged.

With me now is one of those business owners suing the administration, Victor Owen Schwartz, and senior counsel and director of litigation for Liberty Justice Center, Jeff Schwab as well.

Good to see you both.

Victor, can I just start with you? Can you just lay out how exactly you've been affected by the tariffs we've seen to this point? And what do you worry about moving forward?

VICTOR OWN SCHWARTZ, BUSINESS OWNER SUING TRUMP OVER TARIFFS: Well, it -- they're very impactful, obviously, when you're having -- whether a 10 percent tariff, or a 50 percent tariff, the numbers are big for us.

[09:45:08]

Of course, the uncertainty is a -- is a major issue. And now we're moving from a uncertain and chaotic policy, to an onerous policy. And the onerous quality is going to be on our cash flow. Very simply, we have to come up with all of this additional capital to pay for these tariffs, which we have to pay upfront at the port. JIMENEZ: And your business is wine.

SCHWARTZ: Wine, spirits, sakes and alcohol free.

JIMENEZ: So, things that -- that all will be affected, including some wines that --

SCHWARTZ: Well, everything from any country in the world.

JIMENEZ: Yes.

SCHWARTZ: There's -- there's no avoiding it this time. Very different from the first time.

JIMENEZ: Well, and there are a lot of business owners like you who might be frustrated with the tariffs. Some do support them, but bottom line, everyone is having to figure out how to deal with them.

SCHWARTZ: That's correct.

JIMENEZ: What made you take your disagreement with these tariffs from just personal grievances to a legal level?

SCHWARTZ: Well, it was kind of a meeting of minds. I was introduced to the Liberty Justice Center through Ilya Somin (ph). And I got in touch with him really just to tell about what was going on in our particular industry, in the wine and spirits industry, because we have been talking about it since last summer.

Ilya suggested that I get in touch with Jeff Schwab, who's with us today. And Jeff said, why don't you join our case? And then he asked me to be lead plaintiff, which was, like, OK.

JIMENEZ: A lot of pressure. A lot of pressure.

SCHWARTZ: That was a little -- yes, that was a little different story, because I got to show up here with -- talk to you.

JIMENEZ: Jeff, I want to bring you in here because, look, if you are successful in this lawsuit, there are still mechanisms for the Trump administration to impose tariffs overall and under different sections of various trade acts. But what is the legal theory in this case that you're hoping wins out? And what are you hoping to get from this?

JEFFREY SCHWAB, LAW FIRM REPRESENTS BUSINESSES SUING TRUMP OVER TARIFFS: Well, we have many theories, actually. The first of which is that the statute that the president uses, which is referred to as IEEPA, doesn't actually allow tariffs. And no president has ever used it for -- for tariffs. It is an emergency action measure that allows the president to take other actions, but it doesn't say anything about tariffs. So, that's our -- our first argument. But even if it does, there are other mechanisms. There has to be an emergency. It has to be unusual and extraordinary. And then even under what the president is saying, even if -- if you accept all that as true, that power with the -- that the president is claiming would create a constitutional problem because Congress, not the president, has the ultimate authority to impose tariffs.

JIMENEZ: And, Victor, for you, obviously, look, there's a legal process playing out.

SCHWARTZ: Sure.

JIMENEZ: But I don't think the Trump administration is going to let go of tariffs just because of a result in court, even along these lines. They made it a pretty big focal point of their economic policy to this point.

SCHWARTZ: Yes.

JIMENEZ: Have you considered the policy of what life -- have you considered the possibility of what life would look like if these tariffs are here to stay?

SCHWARTZ: Sure. Sure. First of all, I'd want to say, after seeing what happened after our victory in the court of international trade, the outpouring that's come to me from across the political spectrum has been amazing. And what is apparent to me is that this is firstly a bipartisan effort. It has nothing to do with politics and has to do with business owners. So, if the administration needs to go through Congress as they're supposed to do, as our Constitution says they should do and must do, then the Congress is going to have to answer to their constituents across the country. And that's going to be a problem for them.

JIMENEZ: We will see what happens both in court and out in the country.

Victor Owen Schwartz, appreciate you taking the time. Jeff Schwab, as well, thank you for being on the line as well. Appreciate you both. We'll see how this goes.

SCHWARTZ: Thank you so much. We really appreciate being here.

JIMENEZ: Of course. Of course.

More news we're following, including a new wildfire in southern California, less than 3 percent contained this morning, with new evacuations underway. We're going to have a live update, next.

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[09:53:35]

BERMAN: Happening now, smoke from wildfires in Canada drifting across the northern U.S. and Great Lakes region, lowering air quality in several cities to unhealthy levels.

Let's get right to CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam for the latest on this.

What are we seeing, Derek? DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, John, it's one of those days, if you're across the Northeast or the Great Lakes, you'll want to turn that recirculate button on with the air conditioning if you're driving around or perhaps stay indoors if you can because the quality of the air is just downright terrible.

Here's a live look at Cleveland, Ohio. Yes, that air looks suffocating. And trust me, I've got family members in the Great Lakes. They have been sending me pictures all weekend long showing the thick haze across the horizon.

In fact, all of these red dots you see here across Ontario, the Great Lakes, including Detroit, that's very unhealthy air that millions of people are breathing. Right now, Detroit has the top three worst air quality of any major city across the entire planet. You can see Toronto, Canada, up at number four as well. We have air quality alerts across the region, even throughout the front range of Colorado.

Much of this wildfire smoke is because of what's happening across Manitoba, into Alberta, Canada. Lots of out of control wildfires. And that cool, pleasant air that we felt over the eastern seaboard this past weekend, and currently right now, it's actually trapping in the wildfire smoke across the Great Lakes and the northeast. So, kind of a give and take there. Two sides of the coin. Cooler weather, but bad quality of air, right?

[09:55:04]

Across the southeast, a different weather pattern unfolding. This is a flood threat across the state of Georgia and eastern sections of Alabama. Look at the flash flood -- or flood watches.

And then I want to highlight this to you too, because the tropics are starting to awaken from their slumber. And because of the recent rain across the southeast, I'm concerned about this potential tropical development we have later this week. It is expected to move in a westerly direction. So, it could bring rain to this already saturated part of the country.

So, John, lots to -- to really follow across the country right now.

BERMAN: Just a quick point of parochial interest. The smoke and the haze over New York. Should we be staying inside here too?

VAN DAM: I think it's -- it's the -- if you can. But, I mean, is that really an option in New York City? Honestly, I would -- I would say that your quality of air is not as bad as what's being experienced across northern New England and into the Great Lakes, because it's just downright suffocating there.

BERMAN: All right, Derek Van Dam, thank you very much.

Omar Jmenez, thank you.

JIMENEZ: Thank you. Always good to be here.

BERMAN: I would say something, but like Kate and Sara would punch me. Any observation I would make this morning.

JIMENEZ: Yes, it's all good. There we go.

BERMAN: Only get me in trouble.

All right, this has been CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "SITUATION ROOM," up next.

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