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New Epstein Photos Show Trump, Clinton, Gates, Branson and Others; Days of Rain and Surging Rivers Leave Washington Communities Under Water; Kilmar Abrego Garcia Freed From Ice Custody After Ruling; Army-navy Football Collide in Iconic Rivalry Game. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired December 12, 2025 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:30:00]
SARAH FITZPATRICK, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER WHO EXTENSIVELY COVERED EPSTEIN, STAFF WRITER, THE ATLANTIC: -- But actually seeing the photos firsthand. And if you see these photos, it is very, very clear that the closeness between Epstein and these men is far beyond kind of what has been suggested. These men have often in the past tried to downplay, oh, I kind of knew him or he was an acquaintance, but I had no idea. We see a level of familiarity in these photos that I think is very significant and suggests perhaps what we have been told is not accurate.
The second thing is, the key question has always been, did those people around Epstein know about the criminality or have reason to have suspected that? And up until this point, it's been a little unclear, at least in part of some associates of him. But we see, for example, Steve Bannon sitting in this photograph, there is a picture on the desk of a woman who appears to be naked from the waist down. And so you just -- you have to understand that this was a kind of way out in the open around Epstein. And I think it makes those questions about what did those people know around him even more significant.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": That is a strong point. I wonder what you make of the accusation from Republicans that not only is this cherry picking, but it's shameful that Democrats continue to put politics above justice for the survivors. Do you think this really risks that?
FITZPATRICK: I think unfortunately, this case has been become a political issue and I think everyone around it who really is involved from law enforcement to victims wants it. And even members of Congress, I think on -- from both parties, want this to be an issue about transparency. But unfortunately, we've seen the White House and others push this narrative that it's a political operation. Of course, it is a select group of photos. There were about 20 -- thousands and thousands of the photos, not all of them have been reviewed yet. This is only 19.
But I think there's also a really important disconnect between what Republicans say publicly and what they say behind closed doors. And that's really of importance for the viewers. Republicans in Congress are incredibly frustrated by this continued drip, drip, drip of the release of these things. It cuts against what they have been told by the White House, by the president himself. And so, that is putting them in a really difficult position. And also, I think we're seeing an increasing level of Republican anger behind the scenes about, has this White House been honest with us?
We have been asked to put our reputations on the line, and yet we are seeing evidence that does not suggest or align with what the president has said. So, I think what I'm going to be watching for over the weekend and going into next week, is, is this putting more pressure on Republicans to defy the president, to ask for more things to be released? And is this going to result in a kind of a Congress strikes back in which they are having a spine to kind of go after things that are in the public interest beyond kind of their marching orders from the White House?
SANCHEZ: Sarah Fitzpatrick, thanks so much for walking us through that. Appreciate it.
Still to come, CNN's Veronica Miracle standing by in Mount Vernon, Washington where whole communities are underwater. Veronica?
VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Historic flooding is receding, but the threat remains. More after the break.
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[13:37:39]
SANCHEZ: Happening now, urgent rescues and evacuations in Washington State as historic rainfall pushes rivers to record levels and puts entire communities underwater. Crews are using boats and helicopters to get stranded people to safety. Even drones are being deployed. Look at this extraordinary footage of a drone dropping a life jacket to a man stuck on top of a car. You see the raging floodwaters all around him. State officials say this is the first time this has happened. Shortly after, that man was fortunate to be rescued by a helicopter. Let's get right to Veronica Miracle, who's in Mount Vernon, Washington. Veronica, take us there. What are you seeing?
MIRACLE: Well, Boris, now that the sun has come up and people here in the neighborhood can really see that there wasn't a significant amount of damage, which is truly incredible. I mean, you can see people are walking by and these businesses here are, so many sandbags lined up on every single one of these businesses in the downtown Mount Vernon area that we're so concerned that the Skagit River was going to flow over and into this area. Now you can see here, this is a structure that is built every year just in case of flooding, but it's never been built this high, I'm told.
And we're going to show you just over this, so you can see how incredibly high the river is still moving. I mean, that fence line that is closest to us, closest to their screen, that's where people typically walk, and the river has completely flooded over. But there were major concerns that this was going to go all the way over this structure and into businesses. And today, to see that that hasn't happened is truly incredible because this flooding is a record, record flooding here. 26 rivers across Western Washington had flood impacts. Many communities, about a hundred thousand people were impacted with evacuation orders or potential evacuations.
And in fact, this morning, we went to a community about 10 minutes from here and the National Guard was knocking door to door asking people to leave. And we saw people packing their cars, rushing out to safety, certainly heeding those warnings. But the water levels, as they come off the Cascade Mountains and flow out to the ocean, spill over the rivers, over the levees and into communities and that has been a major concern. The governor of Washington State has said that this 24 hours, this day here is going to be the most critical and potentially the most dangerous.
[13:40:00]
They're asking people to be safe, not to drive over roadways that are flooded. And we have seen a lot to videos of people having to be rescued. And so really, the ask from officials is to just heed warnings and all of the calls to stay safe. Back to you, Boris.
SANCHEZ: Yeah, that is certainly advice folks should follow. Veronica Miracle live for us in Washington State. Thank you so much. Coming up, the newly freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia has a message to other families facing separation amid the immigration crackdown. That story after a quick break.
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[13:45:00]
SANCHEZ: So, a federal judge is temporarily blocking the Trump administration from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia again. You'll recall the Maryland father was wrongly deported to El Salvador earlier this year, then brought back to the U.S. to face criminal charges. He's since pleaded not guilty and was again detained until a judge ordered his release from an immigration facility yesterday and then issued a temporary restraining order this morning. Earlier today, Abrego Garcia spoke alongside a translator at a news conference sharing this message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA, RELEASED FROM ICE CUSTODY (through translator): I stand here today with my head held up high and I will continue to fight and stand firm against all of the injustices this government has done upon me.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Joining us now with the latest, CNN Correspondent Julia Benbrook. Julia, there's been a lot of legal back and forth on this case. What can you tell us about the restraining order?
JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of legal back and forth here, and I just got back from Baltimore where we heard Kilmar Abrego Garcia speak and he was just released after this judge had an order for his immediate release from immigration custody. It was a 31-page order and it found that he had been detained illegally for months, that they had done this without legal authority. Then he was required to have this appearance in Baltimore. This was at an ICE field facility there.
He spoke with reporters before going in and he said, I'm going to walk in there with my head held high. He said that he was very grateful for the relief that this was providing. But then you also get to hear from his lawyer, who is also grateful. He says this is relief. He also says this is not over. So that restraining order gave them confidence that as he walked into this facility today, that he would be able to walk out. But there's a continued fight here. Take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON SANDOVAL-MOSHENBERG, KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA'S ATTORNEY: The government has a lot of tools in their toolbox, but he also has a number of options available to him. And now that he's got at least a brief reprieve and some assurances from the court that he can't be arrested today, he'll have time to consider those options in terms of his immigration status, whether he chooses to apply for asylum or not, that'll be one of the many choices that he has.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BENBROOK: And so, he's back with his family now in Maryland. This is the first time he's been with them. The second -- only the second time, I should say, he's been with them in this year as all of this has played out. And his story has really been a flashpoint in the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts. As you mentioned, he was wrongfully deported to El Salvador. There were questions on if he would ever return. Then when he got back to the United States, they have been looking for countries, specifically countries in Africa that they could potentially deport him to. Those have fallen through up until now.
I do want to say though, that the Trump administration has already said that there they're likely going to appeal. In fact, in a statement, a representative said this is naked judicial activism by an Obama appointed judge. This order lacks any valid legal basis and we will continue to fight this tooth and nail in the courts. So the one thing that we know for sure is that this likely is not over.
SANCHEZ: And we'll see what happens next. Julie Benbrook, thank you so much. When we come back, the rivalry returns. The Army-Navy football game this weekend, we'll take you live outside the stadium, next.
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[13:53:06]
SANCHEZ: Rivalry renewed. Tomorrow, the teams from West Point and the Naval Academy go head-to-head on the football field for the Army-Navy game. It's about tradition; it's about bragging rights. And it's also of course about the coveted Commander-in-Chief Trophy. CNN's Coy Wire is live in Baltimore at the side of the game. Coy, what are you hearing from the players and coaches?
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT: All kinds of things. They're locked in. They're serious, but they're ready to have some fun too. This is incredible stuff, Boris. Happy Friday to you. It is said that this is the only game where everyone playing is willing to sacrifice their life for everyone watching. Dating back to 1890, this is America's game. And unlike most rivalries built from hate, this one is rooted in respect. We caught up with the players and coaches and asked what they respect about the team they'll be lining up against, listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I respect Navy because they play very hard. They're very physical and they've got a really good program.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're well coached; they play hard. And they're military academy as well. So they're answering the call to service.
LANDON ROBINSON, NAVY CO-CAPTAIN, DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: I respect Army because they do hard things, like we do.
BRIAN NEWBERRY, NAVY FOOTBALL HEAD COACH: I have a ton of respect for the toughness, the effort, the grit and resilience that they play with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Now, respect, Boris, yes, but let's keep it very real. Army/Navy want nothing more than to prove they are the superior service academy. One of the many iconic traditions of this rivalry are the Patriot Games, Boris. Cadets and midshipmen going toe to toe in a tug of war in five different events in all over the course of a couple days here. Winners get a trophy on the field on game day. Brigadier General R.J. Garcia joined us to talk about what these games and this rivalry represent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. R.J. GARCIA, U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT: They lock in here. I mean, they want to win. It's not just a roll out of bed and go, hey, friendly competition. It's Navy. That amps it up a little bit. And then it's we want to win. Winning matters to our army. It matters to our cadets.
[13:55:00]
These guys and gals are going to go out and be future leaders of our soldiers. America wants them to win at everything they do, and it starts here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Even though Navy is nine and two this season, Boris, won their conference, their favorite tomorrow's game by 6.5 points. Let's just say Brid. Gen. R.J. Garcia is very confident, even gave a pep talk, had me ready to run through a walk, kickoff. It is tomorrow at 3:00 Eastern. Actually, I'm going to leave it to those guys. I want nothing to do with them. (LAUGH)
SANCHEZ: Yeah. Probably a good idea for your shoulders and head. Coy Wire, thanks so much.
(LAUGH)
SANCHEZ: The House Oversight Committee releasing photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate. We have details on that in the next few minutes.
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