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National Security Adviser Says Air Base Shooting Appears To Be Terrorist Attack; Interview With Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) On Air Base Shooting; DOJ Inspector General's Report To Be Released Tomorrow; American Held In Iran Since 2016 Released In Prisoner Swap; Sources: Judiciary Committee Could Vote To Impeach This Week; Nadler: A Jury Would Produce A Guilty Verdict in Three Minutes Flat; Dems Move Closer To Impeachment With No GOP Support; Shooting Victims Remembered At Pearl Harbor Ceremony. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired December 08, 2019 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:25]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: All right, hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this Sunday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We're following several breaking news developments today in the deadly shooting at the Naval Air Base in Pensacola, Florida. While FBI investigators have not gone so far as to call the incident terrorism, White House National Security adviser Robert O'Brien had this to say this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT O'BRIEN, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Look, to me, it appears to be b a terrorist attack. The FBI will have to get into the -- I don't want to prejudge the investigation, but it appears that this may be someone that was radicalized, while it was here or, you know, it's unclear if he's got any ties to any other organizations. The Saudis have promised full cooperation with the investigation. We're going to take them at their word.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Also today, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said one or two Saudi nationals who were friends of the gunman filmed the attack but it isn't clear if the actions had nefarious motives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS HOST: There are reports that several Saudis had been detained and that several of them had been filming the incident. First of all, is that true? And there are some top Florida officials willing to say this was a terrorist plot.

MARK ESPER, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Yes. So some were detained. Friends of his that were also on that base as I understand it, and I also was told that the some one or two were filming it. What's unclear is, were they filming it before it began or was it something where they picked up their phones and filmed it once they saw it unfolding. That may be a distinction with or without a difference but again that's why I think we need to let the investigation play out.

WALLACE: But, I mean, that would not be a normal response to film one of your colleagues who's shooting Americans.

ESPER: I don't know. I'm not trying to pass a judgment on this at this point in time. You know, today people pull out their phones and film everything and anything that happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And this just in, sources are telling CNN that the filming was not nefarious. So the FBI did confirm however that the weapon used, nine millimeter handgun, used in this attack by the gunman was legally purchased by the shooter.

Brynn Gingras is in Pensacola for us.

So, Brynn, what more are you learning about this investigation?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fred, well, the FBI spokesperson and from sources we are learning a little bit more clarification to the Defense secretary's comments that were made earlier, and as you kind of mentioned there, saying that a bystander who we've learned from a source was a Saudi national but seen as an innocent bystander filming after this attack took place as emergency responders came to the scene.

And again nothing nefarious seems to be with that intent of filming that video. We know from an FBI spokesperson that they did interview this person and that that is all part of this investigation. But again, it's important to make that distinction.

Again, we got an update today for the first time really since this all happened on Friday from the FBI here on the ground, and we asked a lot of questions not getting a ton of answers but we did learn their objective moving forward with this investigation. And one of those main goals right now is finding out if this gunman acted alone. Now we know that he was the only shooter, but was he a lone wolf so to speak, or was he part of a larger network?

Again, this is of course going to speak to the motivation and that's what investigators are trying to figure out a motive for this crime. Was there any ideology tied to his intent to carrying out this horrific attack on the naval base here behind me and part of that is today and moving forward interviewing people. We're told they're going to be interviewing classmates. They're going to be interviewing supervisors, other people that are located on the base but in addition to that, the Saudi nationals that we've been talking about.

We're told there are several Saudi nationals who were friends of his, classmates of him, and they didn't say that he was detained. They stopped short of that word, really saying that they're restricted only on the base and really emphasizing that they are cooperating with this investigation, but they're going to obviously provide a wealth of knowledge to investigators.

Kind of giving a sense of this gunman, his demeanor, what was he thinking, what was he doing, did his demeanor change at all over the last couple of months or so? So these are the kind of questions that they're trying to get answered at this point according to investigators.

Another thing I want to point out just being here in Pensacola for the last few days, Fred, it's an emotional time. This is what we're told a city that was built around the naval base.

Somehow, some way, everyone is some way connected to that naval base. And a short time ago, we have some video to show there was a very solemn procession as three hearses, the bodies of the three people who were killed in this attack were brought back to the naval base.

[16:05:11]

And we're told later today will be flown back to their loved ones and there were people here that were saluting this motorcade filled with sheriff deputies and motorcycles. There were young kids.

There were retired Navy members. There were people who were just holding American flags. It was a pretty emotional time I can tell you and I also want to mention, it's kind of noteworthy, it hasn't rained here I'm told in quite a while, and today, it's been pouring -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And those three killed, Joshua Watson, Cameron Walker and Mohammed Haitham.

All right, thank you so much, Brynn Gingras in Pensacola.

So with me now is California Democratic Congressman Ami Bera. I want to start with the latest on the shooting in Pensacola. You sit on the Foreign Affairs Committee. The National Security adviser said it appears to be a terrorist attack but then the FBI is not calling it terrorism. Will your committee be taking any actions in response to this shooting?

REP. AMI BERA (D-CA): Well, certainly let's let the FBI conduct their investigation before we jump to conclusions, but it does certainly seem like there's a terror action. We're supportive of what Secretary Esper said in terms of reviewing the whole vetting process as these foreign nationals come to train with our troops and use our equipment.

We may take a look at it. We've been looking at Saudi Arabi ever sentence the Jamal Khashoggi assassination and, you know, there are some concerns of, you know, whether the Saudis are truly our friends or not.

WHITFIELD: So the gunman, a Saudi national, you know, who's been in the U.S. now for two years as part of that Pentagon training program, what do you think is known about a trainee before their arrival or even during the program? BERA: Well, you would hope that foreign nationals who are using U.S.

made equipment, they do a lot of joint exercises with us. It's certainly a good procedure, it prepares our troop to work together, and interact with our allies around the world. That said again, again, this act that happened on Friday leads us to take another look at that vetting process but we do want to do joint training.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And it's not just Saudi Arabia. There are many countries that get to enjoy this opportunity of training with the U.S. military. Do you see while the investigation is ongoing in any way the program should be suspended or temporarily, you know, modified, changed?

BERA: You know, I'll leave that up to the military. You know, I trust them. I -- you know, again, Secretary Esper said he will conduct a full review of the vetting process and again I'll trust our commanders to make that decision.

WHITFIELD: And where's your level of confidence in Saudi Arabia being part of an investigation?

BERA: You know, it's -- I hope they cooperate with us. They've said they will fully cooperate with us. And that said, again, you know, on the heels of the Jamal Khashoggi assassination, you know, we've got some concerns.

WHITFIELD: OK. I want to pivot now to the impeachment inquiry. Democratic sources telling CNN that tomorrow's hearing will focus on Ukraine but will likely include some discussions of the details from the Mueller report to show a pattern of Trump's behavior that shows impeachable conduct. So what's your reaction to that potential plan or reported plan?

BERA: You know, I'd probably stick to the report and evidence that the Intelligence Committee gathered that you saw in these public hearings and --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: The Ukraine.

BERA: -- committee's report. The Ukraine. Certainly I read the redacted Mueller report and there's plenty of evidence of impeachable actions of obstruction of justice in there. That said, I probably -- my opinion is that we keep it focused on what came out around the Ukraine.

WHITFIELD: And why?

BERA: You know, I think there's plenty of evidence to draw the conclusion there was an obstruction of Congress and there's plenty of evidence that there was an abuse of power. And I think those charges have been made and, you know, again, I'll leave it to the Judiciary Committee to draw the Articles of Impeachment but my sense is you've got plenty to work with. WHITFIELD: So moderate Democrats have said, you know, they would

prefer the Mueller report not be included in that because they felt like they get some pushback in their, you know, districts. What do you think about those concerns?

BERA: You know, I think at the end of the impeachment, whether you include the Mueller report or not, again I just think the last few months, the hearings, the depositions, have gathered evidence of abuse of power and I think they made the case pretty strongly. I also think the obstruction of Congress case is pretty self-evident, the fact that he won't give us witnesses, they won't release the information that we're seeking. So I think those are two pretty solid charges and I suspect we'll see articles around there. I'll leave it to the Judiciary Committee to debate the Mueller charges.

WHITFIELD: And so with the information that you know of so far, would you vote to impeach this president?

BERA: You know, I think it will be hard not to take a vote to impeach. Again you heard the constitution experts and the scholars last week.

[16:10:02]

And, you know, they were pretty solid that, you know, our founders put the impeachment clause in there for this type of incident.

WHITFIELD: Congressman Ami Bera, thank you so much.

BERA: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Straight ahead, President Trump is teasing tomorrow's release of a highly anticipated report from the Department of Justice's inspector general, but it may not turn out in his favor. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Tomorrow is set to be an extraordinarily busy day in Washington. Not only will there be another impeachment hearing on Capitol Hill, we're also expecting the release of a highly anticipated report from the Department of Justice Inspector General's Office on the origins of the Russia investigation.

President Trump seems to be pretty excited about the report, tweeting, "IG report out tomorrow. That will be the big story." But CNN is learning the report from DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz is expected to find no evidence of Trump's conspiracy theory that U.S. intel agency spied on his 2016 campaign.

CNN's Marshall Cohen joins me now to break all this down, all that you know.

So, Marshall, what more do we know about this report?

MARSHALL COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, one thing we know it's going to be huge. OK. There's going to be hundreds of pages to go through tomorrow while this impeachment hearing is unfolding.

[16:15:06]

So it's definitely going to be split screen day. But on the conclusions of what's inside that report, sources have told CNN that one of the big things that will be there is a determination that the Russia investigation was properly launched in 2016. Now you'll remember the president has been saying over and over and over that this should have never happened. So that's going to be one big split.

And as you mentioned, another conclusion that the government did not try to implant spies in the Trump campaign or to infiltrate the Trump campaign for political purposes. That's another big claim from the president and we're expecting that that will be refuted in this report tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: And that is fascinating because the Attorney General William Barr had kind of intimated that something, you know, had gone wrong, something, you know, untoward. Meantime, he did assign, you know, another player in this investigation. Didn't he?

COHEN: Right. He -- it's pretty complicated. He tapped the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, John Durham, to also look into the origins of the Russia investigation. And, you know, this is a huge undertaking. There were all those conclusions that I mentioned. That's just the tip of the iceberg. There was also surveillance of a Trump campaign adviser Carter Page who was surveilled and wiretapped in 2016.

Now the report is going to say we're expecting that that surveillance was appropriate, but there were some improprieties and some sloppiness and some problems with the way that they prepared those applications and some of those problems which were referred out to that other investigator, John Durham, potentially criminal. We've learned that that part of the investigation has become a criminal investigation for some potential doctoring or altering of e-mails.

But just to zoom out, you know, whether or not one or two e-mails may have been doctored, Durham will deal with that, but the big picture conclusion, Fred, that this guy, Carter Page, was targeted for the right reasons, in good faith, that should be a big conclusion tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: Fascinating. OK. We're all in the edge of our seats. Tomorrow is promising a whole lot of activity.

All right, Marshall Cohen. Thank you so much.

COHEN: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, next, to Capitol Hill, where Democrats are planning their next move in the impeachment inquiry. What we can expect from tomorrow's House Judiciary hearing on Capitol Hill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:21:42] WHITFIELD: All right, well, welcome back. The FBI is now analyzing surveillance footage and bystander videos of the Pensacola shooting carried out by a Saudi national on Friday. Meanwhile, the Saudi king has ordered his security services to cooperate with the U.S. in its investigation but with recent controversies and atrocities of its own, there is skepticism that offer can be trusted.

With me now is "Washington Post" Opinion Writer and CNN Global Affairs Analyst Jason Rezaian.

Jason, good to see you.

JASON REZAIAN, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Always good to see you, Fred. How are you?

WHITFIELD: I'm good. So in your view, should the U.S. officials be taking that promise from the Saudi king seriously? That they will cooperate and be helpful in this investigation?

REZAIAN: Well, it should go -- I think we should be able to take for granted that a key ally like Saudi Arabia would cooperate with an investigation like this, but I think the bigger issue is the bad deeds of people related to the Saudi government that had been going on inside this country and against American assets and people around the world for decades. So, you know, I think it's far too little too late. And what happened yesterday should have been prevented, could have been prevented, and we need to look at these sorts of relationships moving forward.

WHITFIELD: And when you talk about should have, could have been prevented, meaning the Saudi government should have scrutinized more the gunman.

REZAIAN: Certainly.

WHITFIELD: Know more about his intentions or influences or what may have provoked this?

REZAIAN: If a foreign national was going to be based on a U.S. military installation, military base in this country, we should know a lot more about them and we shouldn't have to run the risk of such an incident happening on our soil. I think that that goes without saying.

WHITFIELD: I want to also ask you now about this recent prisoner swap with Iran. You yourself, you know, spent 544 days unjustly held in Iran in the same prison as the American graduate student who was just released. Can you tell us about what you believe he may have experienced? What kind of parallels to your experience might he have had?

REZAIAN: Well, you have to remember that he was held for over three years. I was in there for a year and a half. Both of us were held for long periods of time in solitary confinement. I don't know exactly how long he spent in solitary, but I spent the first seven weeks that I was in prison in a cell that was about four and a half by eight and a half feet wide, 23 hours a day except for interrogations.

I assume and believe that he was subjected to similar situations. And, you know, the interrogations and the lack of due process are really the key hallmarks of any foreign national that's being held in Iran or have been over the years.

WHITFIELD: And thankfully, he was released. Thankfully you, released, but what can you share with us about that transition, what he might be experiencing now? He's been receiving some medical treatment in Germany, a U.S. installation there. You may have experienced the same thing in your transition back to the states, but, you know, what did you experience? What might he be experiencing being held and then suddenly released under these kinds of circumstances?

REZAIAN: Fred, as you can imagine, there's a full range of emotions.

[16:25:01]

There is relief, elation, a feeling of freedom but along with that, there's also complicated factors. You're allowed to have choice and agency again in your life that had been taken from you from such a long period of time. And then also the return to a social life that includes your loved ones and coworkers. It's a long unfolding process. I was cared for in the same hospital that Mr. Wong is in right now.

I hope that he takes advantage of the opportunity to get medical and psychological care as I did because I think it was a huge benefit for me to have that time between being released and really starting to understand the full scope of, A, what happened to me, and B, what I had to look forward to and the challenges that were still to come.

Suffice it to say, you know, the situation that he's in today compared to 48 hours ago is night and day. His long nightmare is over, but a new set of challenges is beginning.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And Xi Wong's release came with the U.S. releasing an Iranian scientist. I mean, that's the prisoner swap. What are your thoughts about the circumstances in which his release, you know, would happen? Does it worry you about, you know, whether Iran feels some legitimacy with this or should we just be thinking thankfully Wong is released?

REZAIAN: I spent a lot of time thinking about and writing about these issues. And first and foremost, as an American, as an American who's been the hostage of another government, I think our first priority has to always be how do we bring that person home alive and healthy?

Secondarily, we can look at what was given in exchange for that and does it embolden the other side to do this again, and then third and I think very importantly, we have to start to look at the problem of state sponsored hostage-taking, something that the Iranian regime has been doing since its inception 40 years ago, and come up with ways to make it more expensive and painful for them to do this in the future, to deter this kind of behavior. But in the meantime, there are several Americans and nationals of

other county who are still being held in the same situation that Wong was in, that I was in, that others have been in in the past. And the first priority should be bringing them home.

WHITFIELD: Jason Rezaian, thank you so much. Always good to see you. Appreciate it.

REZAIAN: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:31:41]

WHITFIELD: On the eve of another critical impeachment hearing, democrats are back on Capitol Hill and sources tell CNN the Judiciary Committee could vote to impeach President Trump as soon as this week.

Today, committee members are holding a mock hearing behind closed doors in the same room where tomorrow's session will take place. And we've learned that the hearing will operate like a trial. House investigators will give opening statements, lay out their theory of the case, and present evidence against President Donald J. Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JERRY NADLER, (D) CHAIRMAN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: We have a very lock-solid case. I think the case we have if presented to a jury would be a guilty verdict in about three minutes flat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN Congressional reporter, Lauren Fox, is on Capitol Hill. So Lauren, what more are you learning about tomorrow's hearing?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Well, I think you're getting a sense of just how extensive the preparations here have been, Fredricka. Lawmakers have been on Capitol Hill both yesterday and today having these mock hearings basically in real time practicing what kinds of questions they want to ask tomorrow. And of course, it's a big week because we could see articles of impeachment revealed this week and there could be a vote on them by the end of the week in the House Judiciary Committee.

Now, tomorrow's hearing will look like a trial. It's basically an opportunity for the House Judiciary to layout the case. And then the House Intelligence Committee's lawyers will go over that more than 300-page report that they issued last week basically talking about the evidence that there is for the president to impeach him, so a very important hearing tomorrow on Capitol Hill.

But of course, Republicans and Democrats very dug in. Here is what Republicans and Democrats are saying about the hearing.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NADLER: If we're going to impeach the president, we will impeach him on adequate and urgent grounds to defend our Democratic, Republic.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: And if there's no Republican votes, so be it?

REP. NADER: It's up -- it's up to them to decide whether they want to be patriots or partisans.

BASH: Any Republican -- will any Republican vote yes?

REP. MARK MEADOWS, (R) NORTH CAROLINA: Not based on the facts that we've seen so far. In fact, I think if anything, there's more pressure on the Democrats to come along and vote to exonerate the president in the House.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOX: And of course, Mark Meadows is a key ally of President Donald Trump. And he has a point there. There are a lot of moderate Democrats who are very anxious about what will actually be in these articles of impeachment.

A key point of debate has been whether or not to include any evidence from the Mueller report in those articles in part, Fredricka, because there's a sense among moderates that that could be just too broad of an articles of impeachment set against the president. What they want to see is of course these articles being pertained just to the issue of Ukraine. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lauren Fox, thank you very much. All right, still ahead, a tense week for Joe Biden.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're selling access to the president just like he was. So, you got --

JOE BIDEN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You're a damn lair, man. That's not true and no one has ever said --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. We'll talk about what Biden is saying about those comments now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:38:39]

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. House Democrats are gearing for the next step toward drafting articles of impeachment. Law makers are holding mock hearings on Capitol Hill right now but the party's divided on whether or not to include evidence from the Russia probe. House Intel Committee Chairman, Adam Schiff, seeming to be against that idea this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF, (D) CHAIRMAN, INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: I think we should focus on those issues that provide the greatest threat to the country. And the president is engaged in a course of conduct that threatens the integrity of the next election, threatens our national security by withholding military assistance to an ally at war to our detriment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Joining me now, Elliot Williams, a former federal prosecutor and CNN legal analyst. Good to see you, Elliot.

ELLIOT WILLIAMS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good to see you, Fredricka, hey.

WHITFIELD: All right. So, how do you see it as instrumental potentially that the Russia probe would be folded into the case of impeachment here?

WILLIAMS: Sure. Now, what this -- what's - think of it in two senses. Number one, the Russia probe is the clearest evidence that we have of misconduct by the president. If we recall, there were four instances out of the ten that are laid out in the second part of the Russia probe where they found that the president actually committed a crime. So, it's on its face legally, it's very sound.

The problem, Fredricka, is that it's politically fraught for Democrats. And the -- they don't want to be seen as sort of opening an endless investigations or we're seeing that public has some Mueller fatigue. So, to some extent, that's what's stopping them from going full speed ahead.

But on the facts and the law, it's -- frankly, I'd even say that some of the allegations in Mueller are even stronger cases than the impeachment case that we're seeing right now.

[16:40:22]

WHITFIELD: Wow. So now, on the heels of the Ukraine investigation, you actually call the Democratic strategy -- the Democrat's strategy, rather, during the first week of the impeachment inquiry as quote, nothing short of genius. Why?

WILLIAMS: Right. The -- so that's from an opinion piece I wrote saying what they did was they structured the case very narrowly, laying out -- making it clear that it was just a national security matter and nothing else. This is kind of the point that I was -- that we're getting at a little bit earlier in the interview.

And so, it was very narrow, very tailored. And what they did was they brought these career diplomats, women, to testify almost baiting the president into fighting with them.

So, it was, you know, having worked for Congress for quite some time, something I know is that there's no accidents there and how they call witnesses and what they call them to talk about is very, very deliberate. And so, they were very sharp in how they did that there and again with the goal of keeping everything limited to national security and intrusion into American elections and setting aside these questions of misconduct by the president through the Mueller report.

WHITFIELD: And so now, sources are telling us that, you know, part of the strategy for Monday will be like you'll have opening statements by, you know, counsel for the committees. And then, they'll lay out the evidence, much of which was gleaned from the 17 witnesses and their testimonies behind closed doors and public, right?

WILLIAMS: Right. What so -- what they need to do right now, their charge is a constitutional one. So, there are two buckets of hearings. First, there was the House Intelligence Committee. They were laying out the facts. And now, the House Judiciary Committee is in fact laying out the law under the constitution. And they put out a report, I believe it was just yesterday, in about 55 pages walking through the history of impeachment and saying this is really not about Donald Trump or Nancy Pelosi.

This is a constitutional question striking at the core sort of questions of integrity of how our elections are run and how -- when we will allow the powers of the president to be expanded. So, they want to keep -- it's dry, it's boring to some extent, but these legal questions - these constitutional questions sometimes are very dry and boring.

WHITFIELD: An important framework.

WILLIAMS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Right. All right. Elliot William, thank you so much. Good to see you.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. For many, this time of year, it's all about giving back. But the 13th Annual CNN Heroes All-star Tribute salutes ten people who put others first all year long. The star-studded gala airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a saying in Ethiopia, people are medicine for people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What we do here is to provide food, clothing, and shelter and a whole lot of love.

MARY ROBINSON, CNN HERO: To give children a place to mourn in their loss and tell their story.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Through the best the world has the offer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to start a program and we're going to help people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm feeling the love.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're heroes today and every day.

AFROZ SHAH, CNN HERO: I think we must talk less and do action more.

ZACH WIGAL, CNN HERO: Video games are incredible source of relief during difficult times.

WOODY FAIRCLOTH, CNN HERO: We purchase RVs and give it to a family who lost their home in a fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Many of our kids come to us traumatized. I just want to see them happy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It impacts lives that don't feel they have a voice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Join Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa live as they name the 2019 CNN Hero of the Year.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Our heroes are incredible people.

KELLY RIPA: Their work and their stories will inspire you tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" tonight at 8 on CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:43:00]

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. John Kerry is back on the campaign trial this football Sunday, not for himself, but for his buddy, the former VP. Kerry comparing the former Vice President Joe Biden to the New England Patriots in New Hampshire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, 2004 Democratic Presidential Nominee: Experience, wisdom, muscle memory, Joe Biden's a little bit like the New England Patriots, I think, fun to watch -- fun to watch the promise and potential of young quarterbacks. But come February, I like having an experienced quarterback like Tom Brady calling those plays.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Kerry urging voters to support Biden in the all-important New Hampshire primary this February. CNN's Arlette Saenz joining us live now from the granite state. So, Arlette, how are voters responding to the duo?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, Fred, I think people here in New Hampshire certainly liked that New England Patriots analogy when it came to Joe Biden. But John Kerry endorsing Joe Biden was obviously a very big get for the former vice president.

As you can see behind me, an event just got started out here in Hampton, New Hampshire. But earlier in the day, John Kerry talked about Joe Biden's experience, touting him as the best person to take on foreign policy, middle class issues, and the climate. And most importantly, he believes to beat President Trump. Take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: This is a man who comes from the middle class, who will fight the middle class, not a phony who comes down a golden-plated escalator and promises to get rid of a swamp which he feeds with more alligators than we've seen before. Are you kidding me?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, Biden and Kerry are here in New Hampshire after Biden just completed an eight-day bus tour through Iowa. Biden is now bringing his pitch here to New Hampshire, the second nominating state. And though Biden's team in the past has said that Iowa and New Hampshire are not necessarily most twins, the former vice president does know how important this state is in the primary process. He said that New Hampshire sets the tone for a few people who elect as president. Fred.

[16:50:03]

WHITFIELD: All right. Arlette Saenz, thank you so much, on the trail with Joe Biden. All right, up next, bravery in the face of danger. Twin sisters survive a deadly car crash by taking matters into their own hands.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The Pensacola shooting is one of two that happened at military installations this past week. Attendees at the 78th Annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day yesterday took a moment to remember the victims of the Pensacola shooting and also the two victims of Wednesday's shooting at the Pearl Harbor naval shipyard.

One of the survivors of the Hawaii shooting released statement from his hospital bed thanking first responders, medical staff, and all offering support. Roger Nakamine also sent his condolences to the families of the two who were killed.

Other stories we're following today, out of Alaska, an incredible story of survival. In Venetie, Alaska, a 5-year-old and an 18-month- old were left home alone. After the power went out, the 5-year-old became scared and carried the toddler about a half a mile to their neighbor's home in negative 31-degree weather wearing only socks and light clothing.

And when they arrived, both the children had cold injuries according to Alaska state troopers. A 37-year-old woman was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree in relation to that incident.

[16:55:07]

And then, another remarkable story of survival involving little people, as I call my children, when two 4-year-old twin sisters are able to climb to safety after a terrible car crash. It happened on Whidbey Island which is near Seattle in the Puget Sound.

Tragically, their father, who was driving the car, was killed. And what happened next is a remarkable tale. Let me bring in Trooper Heather Axtman. She is a Public Information Officer with the Washington State Patrol. Trooper Axtman, good to see you.

So, walk us through what happened. This accident occurs and somehow these little twin 4-year-olds are in their car seats, right? How did they get themselves out?

TROOPER HEATHER AXTMAN, WASHINGTON STATE PATROL: So, it happened about 6:00 on Friday night. So that's well past an hour after sunset. It's extremely dark out. And this part of our state is pretty rural. Two- lane roads, not well lit or anything like that.

For some reason, the dad left the road way, struck several trees, coming to rest, from what I'm understanding, at least 100 feet off the road. However, part of it is a 20-foot, very steep, wooded embankment, a lot of underbrush.

These twin girls heroically got themselves out of the car realizing that dad needed help. They were in booster seats. They checked on dad. Realizing when dad needed help, they crawled out of the back broken window up to the roadway.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness. And then, they get to the roadway and then what? I mean you just said that they're setting are very rural, not heavily traveled roads. This was one of those roads? Then what?

TROOPER AXTMAN: Yes. So, I spoke to the good Samaritan who helped these two twin sisters.

WHITFIELD: So, someone came by and saw them.

TROOPER AXTMAN: Yes. And just truly the right place at the right time. This good Samaritan said that when she was driving and her headlights illuminated the area, she didn't see the girls. However, right when she passed the area that she found them, it's as if the twin girls had made it to the road at that exact time.

This good Samaritan pulled over, got the girls inside of her car to keep them warm. It's 40 some degrees. It's real chilly night. And the girls kept saying my daddy, my daddy. Realizing something tragic had happened, this good Samaritan called 911.

Island County sheriff's department arrived on scene called for the help of also the state patrol to help them with a collision investigation. They had found the car. And sadly, the father of the two twin girls had died in the car crash. So, the girls -- one of the girls suffered a bump on her head, the other girl a scratch on her arm. They were still taken to the hospital for their minor injuries, but also to be reunited with their family.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness. So, these little girls had gone through this traumatic experience and miraculously, I mean, they didn't have severe physical injuries that you just described. Now, have you, you know, checked with their family? How are they doing today? And how about that good Samaritan?

TROOPER AXTMAN: I haven't had the -- I haven't had the opportunity to check in with the family. Horrible incident. And I mean the bravery that these two young girls showed, 4-year-old girls, 4-year-old kids, I have kids of my own, they're generally scared of the dark.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

TROOPER AXTMAN: They're scared of woods. And they overcame every typical little fear or typical fear that any little kid has and overcame that fear to commandeer help because they needed -- they knew their dad needed that.

The bravery that those two girls showed was unlike anything I have seen in quite some time. I have spoke to the good Samaritan. You know, she was -- she didn't want any notoriety. She definitely didn't do it for any attention of her own. She just wanted to do it --

WHITFIELD: Yes.

TROOPER AXTMAN: -- just to make sure that those little girls were safe and were able to reunite with their family.

WHITFIELD: Or instincts were - yes, her instincts were amazing. And we're so glad that those --

TROOPER AXTMAN: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: -- two little girls have been reunited with family, tragically, so sad about her father's passing. Look, my three kids now 14 and 7, I can't imagine any of them at the age of 4 having the wherewithal to do what those little girls did. So that's truly an amazing story.

Trooper Heather Axtman, thank you so much for bringing it to us. Appreciate it. And we're wishing the best to everyone involved.

TROOPER AXTMAN: You're very welcome.

WHITFIELD: All right. And in case, you want to get involved and help this family, there's a GoFundMe site.