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Bombshell Report In NYT Revealing Yet Another Piece Of Intelligence That F.B.I. Had When They Began To Investigate Possible Collusion Between The Trump Campaign And Russia; President Trump Warning Iran This Weekend In A Series Of Tweets That The World Is Watching; A Disturbing New Prank Trend Has Just Turned Deadly. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired December 30, 2017 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: We are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Anna Cabrera in New York. Thanks for starting your weekend off with us. Breaking news, a bombshell report in "The New York Times" revealing yet another piece of intelligence that the F.B.I. had when they began to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Now at the center of today's report, this man, George Papadopoulos. How do you know him? He is the Trump campaign aide, who has since pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. and is now cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Now, according to "The New York Times" Papadopoulos was apparently drinking with a top Australian diplomat back in May of 2016 and he told that diplomat that Russia had political dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Two months later, when the DNC e-mails were leaked, Australian officials told U.S. officials about that conversation with Papadopoulos. Now, this news indicates that additional intelligence separate from that dossier by a British spy on Trump Russian ties raised concerns among security officials.
This hour, the White House is responding. The President's lawyer Ty Cobb telling CNN quote, "Out of respect for the Special Counsel and his process, we are not commenting on matters such as this. We are continuing to fully cooperate with a Special Counsel in order to help complete their inquiry expeditiously."
Joining us now Washington investigations editor for "The New York Times" Mark Mazzetti. He is one of the journalists behind this breaking news today.
Mark, thank you for joining us. I know some Republicans you've been reporting as well as the President claim the Steele dossier is the basis for the F.B.I. probe into Russia's election meddling and the question of collusion with the Trump campaign.
But according to this explosive report from you and your colleagues today, that's not true. MARK MAZZETTI, WASHINGTON INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR, "THE NEW YORK TIMES":
Right. The dossier has been with us publicly for almost a year now, and it's been this sort of political dynamite, where Republicans have dismissed it and said it's been discredited and that this was the basis for the entire F.B.I. investigation.
What we report today is that, actually, it wasn't the basis for the F.B.I. investigation. There were several things that were involved. But primarily it was information from George Papadopoulos, as you said, he was drinking in a bar with the top Australian diplomat in London in May 2016.
And two months later, the Australian tells the FBI what Papadopoulos had told him that Russia has dirt on Hillary Clinton.
It's interesting, because this sort of helps fit a big piece into the puzzle of the narrative of 2016. Why did the F.B.I. get so concerned about Trump and potential Russian contacts that caused them to launch this investigation? This was a key piece.
CABRERA: So do we know why Australians waited two whole months to tell their American counterparts about this conversation?
MAZZETTI: We don't. And that's one question that we'll continue to report out. I mean, it is possible that they -- the Australian, whose name is Alexander Downer, who is the top diplomat in the U.K., heard the information, it was not considered urgent until two months later, when we saw e-mails spilling out publicly that were damaging to Hillary Clinton's campaign, specifically, the DNC e-mails.
And after that, it became clear that this was what Papadopoulos was talking about, and they put two and two together and urgently went to the United States. That's some speculation, but it is possible.
CABRERA: So what did the FBI do then after they got that information from Australia?
MAZZETTI: So what has been publicly reported and spoken of by senior officials is that in late July of 2016, the F.B.I. opened the counter intelligence investigation, which was basically looking at what are -- what is what is behind this intelligence about contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians? What are they to make of it?
They started the investigation, but it did not really go full tilt for some time. It wasn't really until the fall that they started really looking at these issues, particularly seriously.
Now, at the same time, this is a month before the election and there was concern in the F.B.I. about a full blown investigation, coloring the political sort of climate at the time a month before the election.
[15:05:33] MAZZETTI: Recall, it was a time when there was concern that Trump might, you know, lose and not accept the results of the election. So there was a real debate inside the F.B.I.
CABRERA: So did you get the sense then that they didn't really know how to best approach their investigation that they were sort of wondering how aggressive to go in following up on these tips?
MAZZETTI: Yes, I think there was such a debate. Now again, what has been reported before is that Christopher Steele, the former British spy who put the dossier together had gone to a contact of his who works at the F.B.I. in Rome. This was earlier in the summer.
But it does not appear that the FBI really took that information that Steele provided particularly seriously until later in the summer, early fall, because as reported in our story today, it wasn't until October when F.B.I. agents went over to Europe to interview Steele. So there was a real lag time. And there did seem to be some period when the F.B.I. was not, you know, was doing and it did open an investigation, but they were not, you know, doing everything they could do sort of chase every lead.
CABRERA: So because the timing really is crucial, Mark, I just want to make sure we understand the order of all of this. Did the F.B.I. start their investigation before they knew about the Steele dossier or do you know?
MAZZETTI: We do not believe that -- as we reported, it was not at all the predicate for the investigation. We do think that at least one F.B.I. agent knew about information that Steele had provided. We believe he provided that in early July to the agents in Rome.
But we have multiple sources who have confirmed that it was the Papadopoulos information, together with the hacked e-mails together with possibly other sources that launched the F.B.I. investigation, it was not the Steele information.
CABRERA: Did they tell you that point blank that the dossier had nothing to do with them opening the investigation?
MAZZETTI: Yes, they did.
CABRERA: Okay, so I want you to listen to the former Trump campaign officials as they dismissed Papadopoulos back when he first struck that plea deal and his documents from that deal were disclosed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CAPUTO, FORMER TRUMP CAMPAIGN ADVISER: The guy was -- he was the coffee boy. I mean, you might call them a foreign policy analyst, but in fact, you know if he was going to wear a wire, all we know now is whether he prefers a caramel macchiato over a regular American coffee in conversations with his barista. He had nothing to do with the campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: An old coffee boy sound bite, but your reporting indicates he was not just a coffee boy. He was actually a very integral player. Tell us more about how involved he was.
MAZZETTI: So Papadopoulos was named as an adviser during a time when the Trump campaign was struggling to find anyone of import or substance who could serve on the foreign policy team.
He didn't have that much experience. However, during the summer and fall of 2016, as we report today, he did actually remain in contact with senior campaign officials. He even helped broker some significant meetings.
Most notably, Papadopoulos played a significant role in working with Steve Bannon, then the campaign chairman to set up a meeting between Donald Trump and President Sisi of Egypt. This was in September of 2016 right around the time of the UN General Assembly.
CABRERA: Does your reporting show there is any evidence Papadopoulos discussed what he knew about Russia's dirt on Clinton with senior Trump campaign officials?
MAZZETTI: That remains one of the most important questions that we still have not gotten the bottom of? We don't know, again, whether he told anyone inside the campaign which would be a very significant development.
The documents that Robert Mueller's team produced in October shed no light on that. All they say is that Papadopoulos was told about the dirt, but it says nothing about who he told inside the Trump orbit.
CABRERA: Which is obviously crucial in terms of the investigation into any collusion specifically. Mark Mazzetti, thank you again for joining us and we appreciate your reporting this afternoon.
Now for reaction to the developments, I want to bring in CNN political analyst and historian at Princeton University, Julian Zelizer and conservative opinion writer for "The Washington Post," Jennifer Rubin.
Jennifer, the President's personal legal team says they won't comment on the story out of respect for the Special Counsel, do you expect the president's personal allies to tow that line?
JENNIFER RUBIN, CONSERVATIVE OPINION WRITER, THE WASHINGTON POST": It's unclear, and actually this is a sort of a change of pace for them since they have been very loquacious up until now, and maybe someone has finally gotten the idea that it's not such a good idea for them to be commenting all the time. And in general, those comments probably have not helped the President at all.
[15:10:24] RUBIN: I suspect at this point that they really don't know what Papadopoulos has, and they don't know what the F.B.I. has. And frankly, the smartest thing that they can do at this point is shut up. Because whatever they have, whatever Robert Mueller has is going to come out and I think Mark's reporting is so significant, because it does underscore the fact that the dossier really has been a red herring all along.
The F.B.I. doesn't investigate or not investigate people based upon a dossier that they haven't confirmed. There may be information in that that they have then gone back to source themselves, but they're not going to launch an investigation, a counterintelligence investigation or a criminal investigation based on hearsay, which is what the dossier is.
So that's not really what we're talking about. What we're talking about is what other facts were out there that both Christopher Steele was able to find, and the F.B.I. was able to find independently. And this from Papadopoulos is one strain, another strain is going to be conversations that were apparently intercepted between the Russian Ambassador to the United States and the Trump officials, and another of course, was the reaction of the Trump team to the WikiLeaks. And then of course, we have the social media connection between a firm that was engaged by Jared Kushner.
So there's lots of strains here, and a compelling bit of information is not the dossier but it's what the F.B.I. has independently confirmed and have been able to obtain.
CABRERA: And we can't forget the Don, Jr. e-mail exchange with a person from Russia trying to set up the lawyer meeting there at Trump Tower last June.
I want to turn to you, Julian, because the President just this week, said 16 times in an interview with "The New York Times" there was no collusion over and over. He has called the Russia investigation a hoax. He said based on this bogus dossier, based on this new report, does it change the ballgame?
JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it won't change the ballgame for him. I think you see a battle between two truths. One has come from the President and his allies claiming the investigation now is partisan, claiming the earlier investigation was based on this dossier, which is questionable.
And then you have another truth, which is coming from the Mueller investigation, from other parts of the media saying that's actually not even the origins of the investigation. It was based on many threads that connected different people in the Trump orbit to Russian officials to the leaked e-mails.
And I do think this is a powerful account that comes at a critical moment when the intensity has been building to discredit the entire investigation. And to make that dossier the centerpiece. This article says that's actually not what happened. That's not why this all was launched.
CABRERA: So Jennifer, some Republicans have called for an end to the Special Counsel probe. Can they still do so credibly?
RUBIN: I don't think they were doing it credibly before. So the good news for the American people is Robert Mueller doesn't care what anybody is saying this one. They don't care what the President and what the President's lawyers, what Congress is saying. They are meticulously and really irreversibly marching through the evidence, and they're going to compile whatever they find and they're going to put that together.
And barring some really unforeseen calamity, like an attempt to fire the special prosecutor, which at this point, I don't think it's going to happen, he is going to go ahead and do his work. And we're going to find out at the end what he has found out.
So a lot of this noise is meant, I think, for the President's base to attempt to precondition the public for when this comes out. But in the end, it matters very little, because what matters is what Robert Mueller will find out.
CABRERA: Julian, Lindsey Graham told "The Washington Examiner" just today, in fact that he wants the Special Counsel to investigate this Trump dossier. Do you see that happening?
ZELIZER: Well, yes, it could still happen. I don't think this is necessarily going to push the Republican Congress in a different direction. I would just add, the Republican Congress right now is a focus of both of these different storylines, and the Republican Congress has been pretty loyal to the President.
In recent weeks, they have joined this campaign, some members have joined this campaign to discredit the investigation. I don't think this story means that Senator Graham will necessarily move away from trying to launch an investigation into the dossier.
CABRERA: I suppose that could be part of the investigation as part of the Congressional probes that are happening.
ZELIZER: Sure. And it might turn up something different than he anticipates or what Republicans anticipate. It might actually lend support to what we read in this article. It wasn't actually as central as the President has been claiming it is.
But the Republican Congress is as important as Robert Mueller and I think that's part of what the battle is right now for the heart and soul of the GOP that will ultimately control where this goes politically.
CABRERA: I also think it's important to note that, as Mark pointed out, also, that Robert Mueller's team has interviewed Christopher Steele about the dossier and his findings.
So actually, it is part of their investigation, and clearly they would be vetting that dossier as well as they're continuing to plow forward and their probe.
[15:15:24] CABRERA: Jennifer Rubin and Julian Zelizer, thank you both for the insight and your analysis. We will continue to follow this breaking news. Plus, a lot of other news happening. Voters in the heart of Trump country are going to reveal what they think of the Russia investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Doesn't it bother you that Russia interfered in our election?
LARRY PHILLIPS, KENTUCKY TRUMP VOTER: Well, I've got the one I wanted, so no it didn't bother me. HARLOW: Really?
PHILLIPS: Well, they didn't need to be doing that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: And the world is watching. The Trump administration sends a warning to Iran, as anti-government protests flare up in that country. Plus, a popular prank known as swatting leads to the death of an innocent man. How it all unfolded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is blood. They were given the story that there were hostages being held here and the people were in here dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:19:23] CABRERA: We are following a developing story overseas. President Trump warning Iran this weekend in a series of tweets that the world is watching how the Iranian government responds to anti- government protesters, as Iranians across the country take to the streets.
These demonstrations are the largest in Iran in nearly a decade. And they come as the country faces rising food and gas prices. In their wake, the Iranian Vice President is now promising to work harder to resolve economic hardships.
CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is joining us now. So Nic, is Iran acknowledging President Trump's warning?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Not at all, they are pushing back. And just to go back to what the first Vice President said as well. You know, he has said we need to -- the government does need to address the economic issues. You know, unemployment is running about 12 percent, inflation is up and it is running about eight percent. There are food shortages, food prices are going up.
Then he said, those economic concerns do need to be addressed. But he had a second part which is quite chilling, which was anyone who used these protests that undermine the government, whoever is behind that, they need to be named immediately. That needs to be made very clear.
There's a hint here in the way that the Iranian leadership speaks, that there's an outside hand, a foreign hand perhaps with the implication involved here. We've had a pushback directly against President Trump's tweets coming from the Foreign Ministry and they said President Trump in the White House lacked the credibility to make statements of this kind that essentially that the Iranian people can see through these. They are valueless. That's the point coming from the Iranian government. So there is strong push back on President Trump, but they have a right
to be worried. Unlike those big protests in 2009, these protesters, they are not only calling for a change in the economy, but they're calling for a change in the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran. This is something that didn't happen in 2009.
This is a huge thing to happen in Iran. People don't say that publicly on the streets. So this is a change in tone compared to previous protests. And I think we're going to hear very strong lines coming from the government on this.
CABRERA: Meantime, Nic, I'm wondering what the rest of the world is thinking, how they're reacting given this is somewhat a historic protest, we're seeing. Is there concern about what is to come?
ROBERTSON: A hundred percent. I mean, when you look at what happened in 2009, months of protests, and then you had social media videos emerging, which gave you the real insight into what was actually happening in the protest because of course, media in Iran is controlled by the government.
Access is very hard to get. Independent verification of facts are hard to come by. And back then, the piece of video that really showed the world what was really happening, a sniper shot and killed a young protester, a young female protester on the streets. That had a chilling impact on the protests in Iran, and it had a chilling impact around the world and people are watching now.
And you know what? The social media videos that are emerging today are showing injured people being carried away from protests. And I've seen a video as well as one young man on a hospital gurney with what appears to be a bullet wound clean through his abdomen.
Now these are not verified videos yet. We can't say that these events actually took place, but this was the same process with which information came out in 2009. So the world, yes, is going to be looking very closely at what happens.
CABRERA: Nic Robertson in London. Thank you. Coming up. Our own Poppy Harlow goes to the heart of Trump country to get their take on the Russia probe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAL MOCERI, MICHIGAN TRUMP VOTER: I just don't give a rat's ass [bleep] about this. Okay, it's done. You understand. There's nothing we can do to change it. You can investigate all you want. It's done, okay, let's just move on with the real problems in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:27:18] CABRERA: Apparently the way to really underscore a point is to repeat it 16 times in 30 minutes. During an interview with "The New York Times" the President insisted over and over again that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russians who meddled in the 2016 election, and that he hoped the Special Counsel investigation ends soon.
He said quote, "I think it's bad for the country. The only thing that bothers me about timing, I think it's a very bad thing for the country because it makes the country look bad. It makes the country look very bad. And it puts the country in a very bad position. So the sooner it's worked out, the better it is for the country."
So how do Trump voters feel about the Russia investigation? CNN's Poppy Harlow traveled to Michigan and Kentucky, two states that Trump carried in the last election to find out and we should note she conducted these interviews before today's "New York Times" report that traces the origins of the Russian investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: Do you have any concerns about alleged ties between the Russian government and the Trump campaign?
SAL MOCERI, MICHIGAN TRUMP VOTER: I just don't give a rat's ass [bleep] about this. Okay, it's done. You understand. There's nothing we can do to change it. You can investigate all you want. It's done, okay, let's just move on with the real problems in the world.
HARLOW: There have been some indictments, the President calls it fake news. What do you say?
PHILLIPS: Well, there's been stuff like that went on since the beginning of time. You know that and I do, too.
HARLOW: But does it bother you? Do you want answers?
PHILLIPS: The only thing about it, we've got more people who are digging. We've got more people who are digging just trying to find anything. It's happened in the past. And --
HARLOW: But doesn't it bother you that Russia interfered in our election?
PHILLIPS Well, I've got to the one I wanted, so no, it didn't bother me.
HARLOW: Really?
PHILLIPS: Well, they didn't need to be doing that. But anyway, I got what I wanted, so I am still --
HARLOW: Do you --
PHILLIPS: What harm did they do?
HARLOW: Do you think --
PHILLIPS: What harm did they do? Hey, I can tell you a bunch of lies.
HARLOW: Disinformation.
PHILLIPS: But when it comes down, you make your own mind up on what you want.
HARLOW: So do you think the investigation should even be going on?
PHILLIPS: Well, I think we're wasting a lot of time that can be spent on something more worthwhile.
HARLOW: Would you have a different opinion if Hillary Clinton won? And you didn't get the outcome you wanted?
PHILLIPS: Well, no if Hillary got it, I don't think they should have been on her back either.
HARLOW: Do you wish the President will call Russia out more?
BRYAN DEHENAU, MICHIGAN TRUMP VOTER: No.
HARLOW: So you have no concerns about the investigation to potential Russia ties?
DEHENAU: No. And I'm going to I'm going to tell you why. Because after almost a year of investigation, after you know, millions and millions, millions upon millions of dollars of taxpayer money spent, the only evidence that has even come up is really against the Democratic candidate.
HARLOW: No, Manafort just got indicted. Rick Gates got indicted, two people very close to the President.
[15:30:11] DEHENAU: Well, things happen. You know, if you start turning over stones, yes, you're going to find something.
HARLOW: No, but you're wrong. I mean, they just got indicted.
DEHENAU: Politics is a dirty business. I'm saying that if you start turning over rocks, you're going to find things.
HARLOW: Do you concerns about that? The contacts between people on the campaign and Russian officials, does it bother you?
LEIGHANDRA SHOUSE, KENTUCKY TRUMP VOTER: It bothers me to the extent that I want them to get it done. I want -- and I don't care if it's Republicans, I don't care if it's Hillary Clinton, I don't care if it's Donald Trump. You know, whoever is behind all this stuff, we need to get them -- get it found out and move on. We need to go forward.
HARLOW: But are you glad they're investigating?
SHOUSE: Absolutely. And whoever is guilty, take them out, get them to go, you know, let's just move on.
HARLOW: Regardless of party.
SHOUSE: I don't care who it is, you know --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have to get who are guilty and go on.
HARLOW: Would you like to see the President call out Russia more? Call out Vladimir Putin? Condemn the election meddling?
PEGGY STEWART, MICHIGAN TRUMP VOTER: Yes. But there is an investigation going on, so you might not be able to talk about it too much right now.
HARLOW: He talks about it. He talks about the investigation.
STEWART: Then again, he sees it as allegations like it is.
HARLOW: Is there anything the President could do to lose your vote?
STEWART: If he had had bona fide proof that he has allowed Russia to come in and interfere with the election so that he would win against Hillary that would very well upset me because I am a staunch believer of what he is doing. And that would really hurt my feelings. I'd feel really stupid after that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: So joining us to discuss, CNN contributor and "Washington Examiner" reporter, the Salena Zito, she often reports from the heart of Trump country. So Salena, you talk a lot with Trump voters? Are you hearing similar themes from the voters you talk to, this idea that the President won, and that's all that really matters?
SALENA ZITO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (via Skype_: Well, it's really interesting to me. So you know, for my upcoming book, "The Great Revolt," I went to all the counties in the country that voted for Obama twice and then for Trump. A lot of these voters still like Obama personally, but they voted for Trump because they voted for change, so sort of some of the same sentiments.
And so when it comes to Russia, there's a couple of conflicting things that I hear from these voters. First of all, on Russia in their interference. It's very difficult for them to separate the thought that Russia attempted to interfere. And hearing people talk about it in a way that says that it meddled and/or influenced the election.
From their point of view, they look at it as though, "Hey, I voted for him of my own free will. I made my decision long before any thoughts of Russia or Comey or e-mails or WikiLeaks, my decision was already set."
And so they feel that, they fight back on that, because they think, you know, "I wasn't influenced, I voted on my own," and so there wasn't an influence there. That's the distinction that's difficult for them to separate.
CABRERA: And that's interesting that they feel that way. And it makes perfect sense as you describe it, and yet we know a lot of them say people do use social media, and now we've learned so much about Russian trolls and their infiltration of social media and putting out all this propaganda and fake news stories.
But beyond that, we know some of these voters like we heard in Poppy's piece, they want proof. They are asking for proof about the Russia influence. And I just wonder, are they even going to believe that if they got it because we have Fox News and Republicans that are in Congress who have repeatedly question the credibility of the Russia probe, and I just want to play one example.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: Robert Mueller's partisan, extremely biased, hyper partisan attack team.
GREGG JARRETT, FOX NEWS LEGAL ANALYST: And Mueller has been using the F.B.I. as a political weapon.
HANNITY: This entire witch hunt need to be shut down and shut down immediately.
JARRETT: It's like the old KGB that comes for you in the dark of the night.
REP. TREY GOWDY (R-SC): I think there will be other revelations of bias and prejudice and improper conduct on behalf of the Department of Justice.
LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS HOST: What Mueller did, he hired a pedigreed team of obvious partisans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: So these are messages a lot of those voters are hearing, Salena, will his most loyal supporters, President Trump's most loyal supporters, accept whatever conclusion there is in Mueller's probe -- good, bad or ugly?
ZITO: Well, here's what I have heard and listened to in the thousands of interviews that I've done out in Michigan and Wisconsin, and in now heart -- the rust belt -- where it where he got a lot of -- switched a lot of voters.
A lot of them have a lot of respect for Mueller, and a lot of them believe that he will end up doing the right thing. And, you know, I do believe that they will accept his findings. But the problem we have, and I really think we -- as an industry need to really dive into this is that there is a massive distrust with institutions and expertise in this country.
It didn't happen overnight. It didn't happen in the past 10 years. It is something that has been building since the 70s and just sort of has escalated to the point, especially within the last 10 years with all these wave election cycles, right? That led us to this populist election. [15:35:33] ZITO: And I think that that's something that we really
need to address immediately, and I don't know how you do it. But I think that's part of our problem that massive distrust with institutions, the political class and with expertise. People just feel as though they've been let down so many times and that's what I think you see and hear from some of these interviews when people say I don't trust what happens.
There's a portion of that in the country that won't just believe Mueller period. But you know, I think we need to get to the root of that problem outside of whatever happens with this investigation.
CABRERA: Salena Zito, thank you and Happy New Year. We appreciate you joining us.
ZITO: Happy New Year.
CABRERA: Coming up, an online gaming prank goes horribly wrong. It ends with an innocent man shot dead by police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They did not warn him. They did not say anything to him. He opened the door and they shot him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:40:07] CABRERA: A disturbing new prank trend has just turned deadly. A 28-year-old man was shot and killed by police at his home in Wichita, Kansas after police responded to a call about a shooting involving hostages but that call, it was a total hoax. This is known as swatting. It was a hoax of a person in another state by the way.
I want to bring in Polo Sandoval, CNN national correspondent. So Polo explain what swatting is and how it led to this innocent man's death.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the explanation is quite simple, but disturbing here, Ana. That's basically when somebody calls in information, false information to police in order to lead investigators or in this case, a SWAT team to somebody else's home.
Now, in this case it was a man allegedly in California, part of a game -- online gaming dispute -- that called police in Wichita, Kansas claiming that he had shot his father and also was potentially turning the gun on his mother and also on his sister. Well, investigators responded.
Before we go with the rest of the story here, I want you to hear directly what that call sounded like to dispatchers in Wichita.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I'm just pointing the gun at them making sure they stay in the closet. My mom and my little brother.
DISPATCHER: Okay, is there any way you can put the gun up?
CALLER: No. Are you just sending someone over here? Because I'm definitely not going to put it away.
DISPATCHER: Okay, I'm just going to go ahead and stay on the phone with you, okay.
CALLER: That's fine. Until they get here or --
DISPATCHER: As long as you need me to, okay?
CALLER: Yes, I'm thinking about -- because I already poured gasoline all over the house. I might just set it on fire.
DISPATCHER: Okay, well, we don't need to do that, okay?
CALLER: In a little bit, I might.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: So here's what happened next. Working with this information, police investigators and the SWAT team arrived at the home of 28-year-old Andrew Finch. He answered the door. There was an exchange there and according to investigators, Mr. Finch moved his hands towards his waistband, at which time police opened fire shooting and killing this 28-year-old father of two.
Important to point out here, Ana, from the looks of things here, according to what the investigators have released, Mr. Finch had nothing to do with this. He wasn't even the intended target of this prank.
CABRERA: So how did they end up at his house?
SANDOVAL: And that's a question right now that investigators want to pose to a 25-year-old man that's currently in custody in California. He has not faced charges quite yet. But we're told that he was arrested. He recently and is expected to be in court come Tuesday.
Of course, the main question here is how did they end up at this home? We are told by police that this prankster had allegedly given out the wrong address. That's how they arrived at Mr. Finch's home.
CABRERA: What a tragedy. Polo Sandoval, thank you. I want to bring in our legal expert to discuss what this all means in terms of the big picture. Paul Callen joining us now. So Paul, you used to be a homicide detective, I guess, a detective in charge of the homicide unit in the prosecutor's office here in New York.
You are somewhat familiar with the swatting issue and these types of cases. Given that this was somebody calling from another state and the actual incident happened in Kansas, who would be involved in this kind of investigation? PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, this is a disturbing
development, this new kind of prank, which really has only arisen in recent years out of social media and gaming culture. Because the prankster allegedly was in another state, he made a telephone call across state lines that triggers Federal jurisdiction. And there are a variety of Federal charges that could be invoked here -- wire fraud, for one, obstruction of justice, attempted obstruction of justice. There are a number of ways that this could be approached.
On the local level, it might be a type of homicide, it might be a reckless homicide, because when you do something like this to set up a raid by a SWAT team on an innocent family, you're putting people's lives in danger.
I see no difference between doing that and dropping a brick off of the top of a building and into a crowded street. That's conduct that is so reckless that I think it's a reckless homicide. So you'll see a very serious charge lodged ultimately in this case.
CABRERA: The other question is, is there any kind of accountability as far as the police opening fire because as we've learned in this investigation, police and officials telling us that the person who was shot by police didn't have a gun. He was not armed when they opened fire, he died.
CALLAN: Well, you know, the police's job is hard enough dealing with real criminals. But now they've got to factor in, is this a prank? And when the person comes out on the porch, who they think may be holding a hostage inside the house with gasoline, remember, the prankster said he was going to set the whole house on fire. So that's what's in the police's mind. And yet, this is a totally innocent person.
[15:45:00] CALLAN: So it really sets up a new thing for the cops. They have to be super careful that this is not a prank when they do a raid on a home and they've never really had to consider that in the past. So it's a new level of training, I think that will be required for the police.
In this case, if the evidence is clear that the poor victim went for his waistband in a way that looked like he was going for a gun, I think the police officer will not be charged and I don't think he should be charged. But in the future, I think we'll expect police to be better trained to handle situations like this.
CABRERA: You know, let's to what police have said about their investigation on what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TROY LIVINGSTON, DEPUTY CHIEF, WICHITA POLICE DEPARTMENT: Last evening's officer-involved shooting is a tragic and senseless act. The irresponsible actions of a prankster put people and lives at risk.
The incident is a nightmare for everyone involved, including the family and our police department. Due to the actions of a prankster, we have an innocent victim. Had
the false police call had not been made, we would not have been there.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as well as with the officer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: How common is this sort of thing?
CALLAN: Well, the F.B.I. reported approximately 400 incidents last year. Now, I was shocked to hear that statistic. It's a very, very high statistic. But of course, you include a lot of things in there. You're talking about fake calls to 911 that caused the police to respond to a scene really that doesn't exist. Any of those could be a potential situation like this, but it's a growing and disturbing problem.
One of the ways by the way people get away with this is that there are apps that you can get for your iPhone or your Android phone that will disguise your phone number.
CABRERA: That is such an important point because I did wonder.
CALLAN: Otherwise the police -- sure, the police would know that this is a different number.
CABRERA: Right, he is in LA. He is not even in the state.
CALLAN: No, but these apps will allow you to disguise your true number and to substitute a phony number. That's why they are a little difficult to detect in terms of the police.
CABRERA: All right. Paul Callan, grateful to have your expertise.
CALLAN: Always nice to be here.
CABRERA: Good to see you, Paul. Happy New Year, by the way.
CALLAN: Happy New Year.
CABRERA: Coming up. Iconic SNL performances, a female superhero film and the most viewed video in the history of YouTube. So many headlines dominated the entertainment industry in 2017. But which story topped the list? Stay with us, you'll find out after break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:51:40] CABRERA: From a Royal engagement to political parodies and a major mix up at the Oscars, it has been a memorable year in entertainment. CNN's Nischelle Turner takes a look back at the top seven entertainment stories of 2017.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: From political spoofs to musical tragedies to social media movements, entertainment and news intersected like never before in 2017.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA MCCARTHY, ACTRESS: First of all, I just like to announce that I am I'm calm now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: "Saturday Night Live" hit record ratings after the latest presidential election and kept the momentum going by spoofing Trump's presidency throughout 2017.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lock him up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Alec Baldwin's portrayal as the President, Kate McKinnon's double take is Hillary Clinton and Kellyanne Conway and Melissa McCarthy scene's stealing take on Sean Spicer made the sketch series required weekend viewing and earn all three actors Emmy Awards.
Superhero Movies aren't just a boys club anymore. From Batman to the Avengers superhero films have dominated the box office for the last decade. But in 2017, Wonder Woman proved females have just as much power on the big screen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WONDER WOMAN, FICTIONAL CHARACTER: In the name of all that is good, the wrath upon this world is over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: The first female-led superhero film of the 21st Century received critical raves upon its release, and ruled the summer box office becoming one of the year's highest grossing films. "Wonder Woman" also became the biggest live action film ever by a female director, turning star Gal Godot and director Patty Jenkins into household names.
Despite new releases from music, big wigs like Taylor Swift and Jay-Z, it was a Spanish language ditty that took over American airwaves in 2017. Despacito by a Puerto Rican sensation Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee became the first Spanish track to hit number one in the U.S. since the Macarena 20 years ago.
The song's music video went on to become the most viewed YouTube clip of all time, with over four and a half billion views.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking Royal news. Prince Harry officially engaged to American actress, Meghan Markle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: It's time for yet another Royal Wedding as Prince Harry and American actress, Meghan Markle announced their engagement in November. The pair met on a blind date and Harry told reporters he knew the "Suit" star was the one from the start.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEGHAN MARKLE, ACTRESS: I could barely let you finish proposing. I said, "Can I say yes now?"
PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: She didn't let me finish. She said, "Can I say yes? Can I say yes now?" And then there was hugs and I had the ring in my finger and I was like, "Can I give you the ring?" And she was like, "Oh, yes, the ring."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: All eyes will be on what Markle wears down the aisle when the couple marries, May 19.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAYE DUNAWAY, ACTRESS: "La La Land."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: A mix up leads to the most awkward finale in Oscars' history. Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty presented "La La Land" with the Best Picture trophy at February's 89th Academy Awards. But the celebration hit a pause when one of the "La La Land" winners pointed out that "Moonlight" had in fact won the award.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a mistake. "Moonlight," you guys won Best Picture.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: The uncomfortable moment continued as Beatty explained he had been given the wrong envelope. That mix up prove that when it comes to live TV, well, anything goes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[15:55:12] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Details are just coming in. This is very much breaking right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: A terror attack outside and Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in May killed 22 people. The tragedy was carried out by a lone suicide bomber and injured nearly 60 people. Grande returned to the city in early June to perform in the One Love Manchester benefit concert and visited fans injured in the attack at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
Just a few months later, a gunman opened fire at a Las Vegas Country Music Festival killing 58 and injuring hundreds more. The awful events took place during singer Jason Aldean's set at the popular Route 91 Harvest Festival. The Las Vegas attack is the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Aldean paid tribute to the victims with an emotional performance on "SNL" in October.
#MeToo shakes up Hollywood. A series of sexual harassment allegations against numerous Hollywood heavyweights sparked an outcry sure to change the entertainment industry forever.
Studio executive Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Louis C.K. were just a few of the men called to task for their alleged indiscretions. The allegations inspire the social media #MeToo to denounce sexual assault and harassment.
The founder of the #MeToo Movement was even included in "Time" magazine Silence Breakers Person of the Year.
The power of social media continue to keep the entertainment in the news and inspiring both change and conversations that are sure to continue in 2018. Nischelle Turner, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CABRERA: Our thanks to Nischelle Turner and a reminder, you can ring in the New Year with CNN. Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen host the live event beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. That's tomorrow night. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:00:45] CABRERA: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York. Thanks for being with us. Our breaking news today, the revelation in "The New York Times" naming the person who allegedly caught the F.B.I.'s I prompting Special Counsel investigation which began as an F.B.I. investigation.
Now, George Papadopoulos, "The New York Times" reports is the man. He was in a London bar drinking with an Australian diplomat back in May of 2016 when he suddenly revealed that Russia had political dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Now according to "The New York Times" this all came just after weeks before that bar conversation in London. Papadopoulos had been told that Russia had embarrassing e-mails on Clinton. Papadopoulos wound up pleading guilty on charges he lied to the F.B.I. and he is now cooperating with the Special Counsel's investigation.
Two months after that bar conversation when the DNC e-mails were leaked, Australian officials then told U.S. officials about that conversation with Papadopoulos, so this news indicates that additional intelligence separate from that dossier that was compiled by a British spy on the Trump-Russia ties that this new information may have previously raised concerns at the F.B.I. I want to bring White House --
[16:02:00]
