Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

House Oversight Chair Says DOJ to Begin Providing Epstein Records Friday; California Dems Face Friday Deadline to Pass New Congressional Maps; Texas House Set to Reconvene and Quickly Approve New Congressional Map; Six GOP-led States Sending National Guard Troops to D.C.; Striking Air Canada Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Deal; Son of Norway's Crown Princess Indicted for Rape, Other Charges. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired August 19, 2025 - 13:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:31:42]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": We have new updates in the ongoing fight over the Jeffrey Epstein files. The House Oversight Committee now says that it intends to release some documents to the public after the names of victims are redacted. Its Republican Chairman, James Comer says the Justice Department will comply with a subpoena and begin turning over records this Friday. Democrats on that panel are demanding answers, saying in a statement today, "Releasing the Epstein files in batches just continues this White House cover-up. The American people deserve and expect the full unredacted Epstein files. We will get the truth."

With us now, an attorney who represents -- who has represented several Epstein accusers. Spencer Kuvin is the Chief Legal Officer of GOLDLAW. Sir, thanks so much for being with us. What are your clients looking for in these first documents that Oversight is set to get from DOJ?

SPENCER KUVIN, ATTORNEY WHO REPRESENTED EPSTEIN ACCUSERS: I mean, realistically, the hope is, is that they're turning over everything that they have in their files. We want a full disclosure of all information that the U.S. government has, all potential contributors to this sex conspiracy that was involved with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. And the only thing that should be redacted are the names of the victims. That's it.

SANCHEZ: I wonder if you think that's going to happen. Do you trust that DOJ is going to turn everything over?

KUVIN: No, unfortunately, I don't. I've represented victims back to the first victim that went forward to police here in Palm Beach County. And promises were made at a state level that were broken, promises were made at a federal level that were broken. We all know that Jeffrey Epstein got this sweetheart deal for some unknown reason. And then, once he's arrested again, promises were made that were then broken. These victims have been repeatedly lied to by both state and federal government officials, and they have absolutely no expectation that either their local representatives or federal representatives are going to do the right thing. And it's unfortunate, it's sad.

SANCHEZ: I want to ask you about testimony from Attorney General Bill Barr, who oversaw DOJ when Epstein died. He testified behind closed doors yesterday, and there's now some dispute over the context of his testimony. You have Committee Chairman Comer telling reporters that Barr said that Epstein took his own life in jail and that he never saw anything to implicate President Trump in any client list or in anything related to Epstein's crimes.

But, the Ranking Member, the Ranking Democrat on the Committee, Robert Garcia released a statement in which he says that during his deposition with the Committee, Barr did not clear President Trump of wrongdoing. He calls on Comer to release the full transcript. What do you make of this sort of discrepancy in their descriptions of Barr's testimony?

KUVIN: Well, I think we started the core concept that Bill Barr was not there at the beginning of this investigation. Right? At the beginning of this investigation, the only person working on behalf of the U.S. government that saw the evidence was Alex Acosta. Where is Alex Acosta? Why aren't they taking testimony from him about the evidence that was gathered at the beginning of this investigation that dates back to 2008?

[13:35:00]

That's what we need to see. In addition to that, we knew as attorneys for the victims back then that Donald Trump was very close with Jeffrey Epstein. In fact, in one of the cases that I brought on behalf of one of the victims, we issued a subpoena for Donald Trump's deposition. Now, that deposition never actually took place in the case because it was negotiated away and he contacted one of the victim's attorneys in that case. But his testimony, Donald Trump's testimony was paramount even back then.

So we knew there was a connection. Now, whether or not Donald Trump had done anything inappropriate or not, we didn't get into that in the case because we were prosecuting Epstein and Maxwell back then.

SANCHEZ: Wow. I also wonder what you make of the acknowledgement from Comer that there's a general consensus that Epstein died by suicide. Comer did note that there are some blind spots in the cameras at that Manhattan facility. Do you or your clients have doubts about Epstein's cause of death?

KUVIN: Extreme doubts, we always have. Listen, I went on record once Epstein was arrested, I think I was the first one to go on record and say he's never making out of that jail alive. And it unfortunately proved to be true. There are just so many open questions regarding his death and how it occurred. And right now, Bill Barr coming forward and saying he has seen the evidence and he believes that it wasn't anything other than suicide. Why doesn't he share that information with the general public, so that we can then look at it and to make our own determination?

It just smells of a cover-up since the beginning. And listen, I have and will continue to say to James Comer and Congress that they need to hear from one of the victim's attorneys. I am willing to go to D.C. and tell them what I saw from the inception of this case, starting back in 2007 and what occurred to these victims. That's who they need to hear from. They need to hear from not just these people that are trying to cover it up, but from someone like me who's a victim's advocate to tell them the failures that occurred during this entire process.

SANCHEZ: Just to be clear, and I mean this as respectfully as possible, given that there have been so many officials who have come out and said, we've looked at the evidence, there's nothing to indicate that there was some kind of foul play involved in Epstein's death, do you have anything beyond speculation or doubt to base your assumptions on?

KUVIN: There are two things. Number one, the video they released had missing footage. We know that. It's been analyzed. And we know that the footage, there was a block of time that was missing. Number two, there were blind spots clearly, even admitted by Bill Barr and others, in the camera footage. That raises a question. In addition to that, we know that and I've seen the autopsy photographs which show a ligature mark across Epstein's neck that goes straight across. That according to experts in the field of forensic pathology indicates a strangulation directly behind him and not at an angle if he is being hung from a second bunk level.

Now, do I know for certain? No, I have no evidence to say with any certainty that he was murdered. But at the end of the day, there is enough evidence there that additional questions should be asked and the general public should see that information.

SANCHEZ: Spencer Kuvin, thank you so much for joining us.

KUVIN: Thanks for having me.

SANCHEZ: Up next, the redistricting fight started by Texas Republicans now spilling over to California. Democrats there have just returned to office, but some face big obstacles in their quest to make a new map favoring their party. The latest right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:43:36]

SANCHEZ: Happening now, Democrats in California are racing against the clock in their push to level the playing field with Republicans in Texas. They face a Friday deadline to pass a new congressional map as they try to get it on the ballot for a November special election. The new map effectively counters what Republicans are doing in Texas, potentially flipping up to five house seats blue. CNN's Steve Contorno is at the state capitol in Sacramento for us. So Steve, what are we expecting is going to happen today?

STEVE CONTORNO, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Boris, in both chambers of the legislature, they're meeting behind me to discuss this redistricting proposal and they are debating it in committee hearings right now. And you're right, there is a tight turnaround for them to act. The Secretary of State in California has given them a Friday deadline in order to get this on the November ballot. They also faced a 72-hour waiting period before they can vote on anything. So that means we are expecting this to pass out of the House and Senate in -- on Thursday. It does need two-thirds of each chamber in order for it to pass. However, they have a three-fourths majority, the Democratic Party does in both the assembly and the Senate.

And then of course, like you said, it will go to voters to decide. Unlike in Texas, California has an Independently Redistricting Commission that's mandated by the State Constitution. And they will be asking voters to essentially override that until the end of the decade.

[13:45:00]

Now, Democrats yesterday in a meeting, outlining exactly what their pitch to voters will be. Take a listen to what Assembly Speaker Robert Revas said yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ROBERT REVAS, (D-CA) CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER: These redrawn districts that we're putting before our voters are a temporary response, a temporary response to Trump's power grab. They're designed to even the playing field until this threat to our democracy ends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: The opponents to this attempt by Democrats to match what Texas is doing have been saying, look, two wrongs do not make a right. This will be incredibly costly to the taxpayers of California. It could cost tens of millions of dollars to have an off-year election and you might not even get the result that you're trying to get, and therefore you're just ripping up the Constitution for nothing. So, those are the arguments that we're hearing from a lot of Republicans and the opposition. I will also note the Republicans have asked the state Supreme Courts to intervene and stop this process, but it's already sort of moving very quickly. And like I said, they're hoping to have this to the governor by the end of the week.

SANCHEZ: In Sacramento for us, Steve Contorno, thank you. And Texas Republican State lawmakers are expected to reconvene tomorrow and move quickly to approve their new congressional map, which could give their party up to five more U.S. House seats. Dozens of Democrats returned yesterday to Austin after fleeing the state trying to prevent Republicans from having a quorum. And now, Republicans are insisting that until the House reconvenes, those same Democrats have a law enforcement escort if they leave the capitol grounds.

Most Democrats complied signing what they've called permission slips. But one state Representative, Nicole Collier refused, spending the night on the House floor. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. NICOLE COLLIER, (D) TEXAS STATE HOUSE: We've had enough. We've had enough of them taking all of our rights away. And so, I've taken a stand.

REP. GENE WU, (D) TEXAS STATE HOUSE: Hell, yes.

COLLIER: I'm pushing back.

WU: Yeah.

COLLIER: And that's what we got to do. When I heard the order, I was like, hell no. Why should we bow down to what they want? I'm taking a stand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: We're obviously going to continue tracking that story. Up next, former classmates describe alarming interactions with Brian Kohberger in the months before he murdered four University of Idaho students. One woman said her interactions were so distressing, she began keeping a tally of her encounters with the future convicted killer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:52:25]

SANCHEZ: Now to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour, President Trump getting additional help for his federal police takeover of the nation's capitol. Six Republican-led states say they plan to send hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. The Republican governors of West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, and Louisiana announced they would deploy units to assist with patrols. D.C.'s mayor has called the federal policing un- American. Overall, crime numbers in D.C. are actually lower this year than in 2024.

The union representing thousands of striking Air Canada flight attendants has reached a tentative deal with the airline. Union reps say the agreement addresses wage increases and paid compensation, and will be voted on by members in the coming days. The four-day strike has forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers. Air Canada says it could take up to 10 days to fully resume its flight schedule.

And the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess has been indicted on 32 criminal counts, including charges of rape, making death threats, and acts of violence. The 28-year-old has been under investigation following repeated arrests last year on various allegations of wrongdoing. His attorney says his client denies all sex abuse charges as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The trial is set for mid-January.

In the next hour, a major development in Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Moments ago, the White House press secretary telling reporters that Vladimir Putin has promised to meet with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We have the latest right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:59:13]

SANCHEZ: The path for peace remains unclear. President Trump pushing for a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia, while also outlining what the U.S. is willing and not willing to do to establish and keep the peace. Plus, be careful what you wish for. Texas Republicans moving forward with their controversial plan to redraw the state's congressional districts, but that plan may have a fatal flaw, one that could help Democrats in the midterms. And a bigger ballot battle, the president setting his sights on ending mail- in voting, though experts warn this might be a losing battle for the White House. We're following these major developing stories and many more, all coming in right here to "CNN News Central."

We begin this hour following breaking new developments from the White House this hour on peace --