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Basketball Legend Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash; Trump Impeachment Trial; China: Virus Can Spread Before Symptoms Appear; South Korea Confirms at Least Four Cases of Virus; Last Interview with Kobe Bryant. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired January 27, 2020 - 01:00   ET

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

[01:00:00]

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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world, I'm Michael Holmes.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I'm Natalie Allen. We continue to follow the heartbreaking news, the sudden death of Kobe Bryant.

HOLMES: Right now, officials are investigating the helicopter crash that killed the former Lakers star, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven others. They crashed on Sunday into a hillside in Calabasas, that's in California just outside of Los Angeles.

ALLEN: Federal and local authorities continue to be at the scene. Of course, they're going to try to determine what happened. They say though there was low Disability at the time, but it is still unclear if that played a factor. The recovery is now underway and authority says, could take a couple of days to complete. CNN's Nick Watt is near the crash site with the very latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK WATT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the first priority is the recovery of the bodies, and then the identification, and then the investigation will really kick into top gear. Now, the NTSB is sending 18 people from the East Coast. The FAA has been on the scene through Sunday being helped by local law enforcement.

They will be looking at, of course, the safety record of the helicopter itself, the record of the pilot, the route, and the radio communications, and also the weather. Now we have been told by the L.A. Police Department that Sunday morning, around the time of this crash, the LAPD grounded their helicopter fleet because the weather was not good enough for them to fly. The visibility was low.

Everybody around here has told us that it was fogged in this morning. So That is one area that they will definitely be looking at now. Nine people lost their lives onboard that helicopter, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, we have spoken to parents who were waiting at the Mumbai Academy where Gigi was supposed to be playing in a game at noon with Kobe looking on and coaching. They of course never made it. But seven other people also lost their lives.

The pilot is yet unnamed one other man John Altobelli, who was a baseball coach from Orange County. He perished along with his wife and daughter, and three other people who are yet to be named. But as one radio sportscaster put it here in Los Angeles, this is like JFK for L.A. people will remember where they were the day that the Laker great, the great figure who -- let's put it this way, he transcended this sport, he meant a great deal to this city beyond even what he achieved with the Lakers. People will remember where they were when they heard that Kobe Bryant had died. Nick Ward, CNN, Calabasas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Nick with that report. We're watching Kobe with his daughter Gianna. She loved basketball. And as we -- we've been talking about the fact that she kind of brought him back to the game because she wanted to go to games after he retired. Well, let's take you now to Los Angeles because crowds are still gathering to pay their respects at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where the Grammys were being held. So it's been quite a scene there. Paul Vercammen is with us now. Paul, hello.

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Natalie and Michael. You can hear behind me, they're chanting, let's go, Kobe. They've been erupting in chants all day long. I'd say thousands have come through this plaza to pay their respects for Kobe Bryant. And it seems like you see so many fans wearing their purple and gold, they've put in simple black and white in loving memory of Kobe Bryant.

All of these signboards in and around this plaza, of course, he played right across the street, and this is where he cemented his reputation as a basketball player. But it was much more than that to a lot of people. And I want to bring in Richard and Jeremiah. They're dressed in all black because they brought their church choir down here to honor Kobe Bryant. Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we knew this would be a time when everybody would be grieving. And of course, Kobe Bryant is like a fixture here in Southern California, and we felt would be the best thing to bring the love of God and sing some songs.

VERCAMMEN: So you're from the Church of God in Ontario, about 45 minutes away. Tell us if you could, Richard. Why did Coby seem to transcend basketball?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think -- I remember growing up, I remember him winning the slam dunk competition, his rookie year. And there was something about him that as it went on, I got to know other people that had nothing to do at basketball but they admired his work ethic, his determination, his will to win. And there was something that transcended basketball and that made him someone that people could aspire to learn from in his determination, his will to win. And I think that's what's captivated a lot of people.

[01:05:15]

VERCAMMEN: A lot of people grieving, a lot of people torn apart, what would you say to them? You're part of this church singing group and it's your mission quite often, frankly, to uplift people. And what would you tell them at these troubled times?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I know people like Kobe Bryant, they can almost appear to be immortal in the spectacular things they do. And when someone like that passes on, it kind of rocks your foundation and you feel like there's nothing stable. And I would tell them that there still is a stable rock and that's Jesus Christ. There was a moment like this that actually caused me as a teenager to turn to God when I realized that this life is fleeting.

VERCAMMEN: So I thank you so much, Richard, Jeremiah, for taking time out. Many Different ways people are remembering Kobe Bryant here at Staples Center in Los Angeles. And once again, on cue, the chance of Kobe go up for these people. He was arguably the best ever. Michael, Natalie?

ALLEN: Yes, Paul, and I want to ask you about the size of the crowds. They've been gathering there all day. Is there any sign that they're letting up are more people continuing to arrive?

VERCAMMEN: Well, I'll try to show you. They are lighting up because you used to not be able to see any open pavement anywhere. And there's makeshift shrines that pop up all over here. It got very hectic for a while. You can imagine, here is the dress to the nines Grammy crowd headed over there, and then all the Lakers, but is now you know, getting a lot later, even on the West Coast.

You know, we're past 10:00 so a lot of people obviously getting out of here and preparing to go to work but at a fever pitch, I mean, it was shoulder to shoulder and here with grieving fans of Kobe Bryant, as I said, set times. You feel like you're at a basketball game when they just erupt in the chance of Kobe and MVP, and also just heartbreaking. A couple of times they said, Gigi for his daughter. Michael, Natalie?

ALLEN: Absolutely. And you know, I think this is the one time where a basketball jersey drops the fancy gowns we see on the red carpet.

HOLMES: Yes, I think you're right. Paul Vercammen there at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, I appreciate it. Thanks for being with us now. World leaders past and present also sharing their thoughts on the death of Kobe Bryant.

ALLEN: President Trump tweeted, "Kobe Bryant, despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, was just getting started in life. He loved his family so much and had such strong passion for the future. The loss of this beautiful daughter Gianna makes this moment even more devastating."

HOLMES: Former U.S. President Barack Obama tweeting, "Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents."

ALLEN: And this from former U.S. President Bill Clinton. He said, "I'm deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and all who died in today's accident. Kobe lived a very large life in a very short time." On Twitter Sunday, Shaquille O'Neal shared his pain after losing his longtime friend and teammate.

HOLMES: Yes, he wrote, "There are no words to express the pain I'm going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother, Kobe Bryant. I love you and you will be missed. My condolences go out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. I am sick right now."

ALLEN: So many people sharing that thought. For more now, we're joined by CNN World Sports Patrick Snell. Patrick, the tributes are coming from all around the world and from various sports around the world.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR: Natalie, Michael, they really are. It's just a shock, isn't it? It's an outpouring of global grief we're seeing. I think we're all struggling to come to terms with Sunday's news, just devastating to hear about and then to report on as well.

And you know, it was with a collectively heavy heart that NBA games did actually go ahead as scheduled on Sunday here in the United States though the occasion, reportedly, too much for the Australian born Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who showed up to play against the Knicks but then left Madison Square Garden on learning of Kobe's death.

Well, before most of the games, a 24 second moment of silence, this in honor of Kobe, who was you mentioned wore the iconic number 24 jersey. And then a further tribute, teams also arranging for a choreographed 24-second violation of each of their first possessions there. Both teams coming together to pay their own respects in memory of Kobe.

Now the L.A. Lakers next game is actually on Tuesday against that local rivals the Clippers with emotions, I'm quite sure, set to run very high indeed on that day in the City of Angels. The Lakers played in Philadelphia on Saturday night. Returning to California on Sunday, you can just see the emotion all too apparent there. Look at that. Amongst the Lakers players including their current superstar LeBron James.

Now until Saturday night, the 41-year-old Bryant was third on the All- Time list of NBA point scores before being surpassed by LeBron who spoke emotionally after that game in Philadelphia about Kobe's inspiring impact on not just him, but the sport as a whole and beyond.

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LEBRON JAMES, ATHLETE: I'm here in the Lakers uniform in Philadelphia where he's from where one of the first time I ever met him, game issues, he won All-Star week. It's just -- it's surreal. It doesn't make no sense. I'm happy to just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bryant; one of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play, one all-time greatest Lakers. The man got two jerseys hanging up in Staple Center. It's just -- it's just crazy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Yes. And Kobe impacting many, many lives both during his playing career and indeed be beyond that as well. And don't forget this was a career that actually spanned two decades all with the Lakers as well. Take a listen now to this really poignant message recorded by former NBA star Dwyane Wade.

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DWYANE WADE, ATHLETE: We will forever, forever miss you, man. You are a legend. You're an icon. You're a father, you're a husband, you're a son, you're a brother, you're a friend. Thank you for being my friend. I love you, brother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Dwyane Wade there. Kobe transcends, Michael, naturally the world of sports. And again, it's just no surprise here to see his fellow athletes as well wanting to pay their own tribute, as well as you've just mentioned the fact U.S. presidents both past and present as well.

And on Sunday, expanding this out onto the football pitches of Europe. PSG superstar Neymar with his own tribute as the Brazilian helped his team to the win over Leo. Look how he celebrates his penalty there, gesticulating with his fingers the digits two and four. 24, of course, the jersey or one of the jerseys that Kobe wore during his storied NBA career.

And the global impact as well, a Bryant fully evident. This Monday, down under the Australian Open in Melbourne, both is playing jersey number eight and 24. We can see the video there of that tournament in the Melbourne area.

Meantime, this reaction from defending men's champion Novak Djokovic, "My heart truly mourns over the news. Kobe was a great mentor and a friend to me. You and your daughter will live forever in our hearts. There are not enough words to express my deepest sympathies to the Bryant's and every family suffering from this tragedy. RIP, my friend." A really, really sad news indeed. As I said at the top, we are all still trying to come to terms with this.

HOLMES: Novak makes a point there that we should continue to make -- there are eight other people other than Kobe on that flight. A lot of other families are suffering as well. But, you know, I was reminded by my son today who's a basketball nut as you know.

SNELL: Mac.

HOLMES: Mac, yes. And in 2016, I took him to L.A. just to see Kobe play against Steph Curry at the Staples Center. And he has never forgotten that day. And that was the month before Kobe's last game.

ALLEN: How about that?

HOLMES: That's just a major memory. He was a messaging me about today.

SNELL: Yes. And I had the pleasure of meeting Kobe just once. It was here in late 2014. We got into the locker room. They're playing the Atlanta Hawks with the Lakers. And he was -- you know, there was a media scrums there, but he still made time to talk to myself and producer Sam Cramer. We wanted a particular angle on European football because he grew up in Italy.

HOLMES: Yes, in Italy.

SNELL: And he was so knowledgeable about the European game. His passion for the Italian --

HOLMES: Also, a fan, is he?

SNELL: He Bobby likes Barcelona, appreciates them, but an A.C. Milan fan. And he was so insightful on his knowledge of the beautiful game, gracious with this time, polite just a class act all around.

HOLMES: You don't -- you don't always see that.

ALLEN: No, no. And all these athletes from around the world and all different sports keep talking about what a great player he was and a friend. He was friends with so many other athletes.

HOLMES: Well, there were very few -- very few sports where you have player who's known universally by one name.

SNELL: Right.

HOLMES: Kobe.

SNELL: Yes.

HOLMES: And you can -- that just shows the level --

SNELL: I mean, what others? Tiger, LeBron maybe --

HOLMES: Yes.

SNELL: Kobe, absolutely.

HOLMES: Yes.

ALLEN: Well, here's one. Thank you, Patrick.

HOLMES: Thanks, Patrick.

ALLEN: That would be Kareem, I guess, an NBA legend.

HOLMES: It's not many, though. ALLEN: Well, NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is reacting to the news as

well. Here's his tweet. "Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players, but I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete." He also posted this video. Here it is.

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KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, NBA LEGEND: It's very difficult for me to put in words how I feel about the loss of Kobe Bryant. As a young boy, I met him when he was 11 or 12 years old. I was friends with his dad, Joe. We were former adversaries to play for the 76ers, but he was a good friend and someone that I shared a friendship. And it's hard for me to understand how this is affecting Joe and his wife. So to Kobe's family, I want to send my most sincere and heartfelt regrets and prayers. My thoughts are with you guys.

Kobe was an incredible family man. He loved his wife and daughters. He was an incredible athlete, and a leader in a lot of ways. He inspired all the generation of young athletes. He was one of the first ones to leave high school and come into the NBA and do so well dominating the game, and becoming one of the best scorers that the Los Angeles Lakers has ever seen.

I had the privilege of being there when he scored his 81-point game. And it was something that I will always remember as one of the highlights of the things that I have learned and observed in sports. Kobe, my thoughts are with you absolutely. Rest in peace, young man. This loss is just hard to comprehend. Go with God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Beautiful.

HOLMES: It is. And still a young man and just beginning that next chapter in his life. And the news of his death especially felt also at the Grammy Awards Sunday night which were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

ALLEN: It was quite a scene, wasn't it? Host Alicia Keys and Boys II Men pay tribute to Bryant early in the ceremony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALICIA KEYS, SINGER: We love you, Kobe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. The world mourning the loss of former NBA star Kobe Bryant. He and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash on Sunday just outside of Los Angeles. Bryant was headed to a place called Thousand Oaks in California to coach Gianna's basketball game when this happened.

ALLEN: It's just heart wrenching to see those two there sitting, and talking, and having so much fun, father and daughter. He often spoke with the closest he had with Gianna who wanted to play in the WNBA. He said he saw her as the heir to his legacy. This is how he described her confidence to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOBE BRYANT, ATHLETE: The best thing that happens is when we go out and fans have come up to me and she'll be standing next to me and I'd be like, hey, you got to have a boy. You and V got to have a boy, man. Have somebody to carry on the tradition, the legacy. She's like, oh, I got this. They're like, that's right. Yes, you do. You got this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And for more, we are joined by BleacherReport Senior Writer Ric Bucher. And thanks so much, Ric. I mean, he just sort of listed off 18-time All-Star, 12-time member of the all-defensive team, five- time NBA champion. I mean, his record is just unbelievable. One of the top 20 players ever. How missed is he going to be to the community of basketball?

RIC BUCHER, SENIOR WRITER, BLEACHERREPORT: It's so difficult to imagine a basketball world without Kobe Bryant. I expected him to be like the NFL's Jim Brown, one of those icons that would be around for decades, that would show up and would remind us all of the era that he played in. He did it for 20 years, and he did it as well as anybody has done it.

And he really bridged the gap for the NBA when it came to succeeding Michael Jordan, and then LeBron James taking over for Kobe Bryant. But for the longest time the NBA was begging, who's going to be that guy? Who's going to be the next Michael Jordan, and more than one after the other, guys stood up and said, I'll be that or they were anointed that and they fell short.

Kobe Bryant was the one guy who took that on, took it on unflinchingly, and successfully -- maybe wasn't Jordan, but he's the closest thing that we've seen since.

HOLMES: And when we -- when we talk about the man, I mean, he did have some missteps and -- but generally, I mean he has really worked hard at being a good person. It was interesting because he spent those pivotal childhood years in Italy when his father was playing. They spoke Italian. I think he spoke some Spanish as well, developed a love of football or soccer for our American audience. That gave him such a broad grounding and exposure that a lot of kids don't get. How did that shape the man in your view?

BUCHER: We saw him grow up. I mean, came in out of high school and he went through, as you noted, his trials and tribulations on and off the court and grew up in an -- in an unusual way in Philadelphia, black but a fluent in the rough and tumble of basketball universe in Philadelphia. But at the same time, there was this whole other cultured aspect to Kobe. It's very rare that you get a basketball player who's born and raised in the U.S., who has been exposed to other cultures, who speaks other languages.

The fact that Kobe had all of that coming in, I think it just changed his entire perspective. And at times, it did make him a fish out of water in the NBA. But as we saw him grow up and evolve, it ended up benefiting him in a big way, especially with the NBA becoming the global game that it has become.

[01:25:31]

HOLMES: Everyone talks about his work ethic, but you know, what was it that made his work ethic stand out? What made him different in that regard?

BUCHER: It was a combination. I mean, one, his work was relentless. He also expected that out of everybody around him. But I think what makes this whole incident, this tragedy feels so unreal, is that this was a guy who when he tore his Achilles, he's still walked to the free-throw line and made the free throws. He led the Lakers to the NBA Finals despite having a torn ligament in one of his fingers.

No matter what it was, I mean, there's video out there of him jumping over Aston Martin's. It just seemed that Kobe Bryant didn't suffer the same frailties that the rest of us do as human beings or if he did, that he would somehow overcome them. So from a physical standpoint, the idea that anything could stop Kobe Bryant is just as for the longest time been on an unimaginable, and why the idea that Kobe Bryant is no longer with us at age 41 is unimaginable.

HOLMES: You touched on this and it's important. We've only got a minute, but I mean, they've been so few players ever become a yardstick. And you mentioned, you know, who's going to be the next Michael Jordan. Well, it became like who's going to be the next Kobe Bryant. I mean, that speaks volumes to his talent level. People don't become yardsticks very often for other up and coming talent.

BUCHER: No, that's exactly right. There's so many guys that were inspired to play the game and to play the game a certain way because of Kobe. But then he went at one better which even Michael can't say he did. I don't know if LeBron will do. But Kobe then was mentoring the next group of superstars coming up. He had private workouts or private invitation to the very best in the league and said, come see how I work, come see how I did it, handing that on to the next generation, and that's going to be big for him.

HOLMES: All right, Ric Bucher there in California with the BleacherReport. I appreciate it. Thanks so much. Good to see you.

ALLEN: His talent was obvious at an early age. Ahead, here we look at Kobe's stellar basketball career.

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[01:31:19]

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you again for staying with us. Recapping our breaking news this hour: sports fans around the world shocked and saddened over the sudden death of Kobe Bryant.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, the 41-year-old former Lakers star killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash just outside of Los Angeles crashing into a hillside Sunday morning in foggy conditions. But it is still unclear if weather played a factor.

ALLEN: Right now U.S. aviation officials and local authorities are on the scene, continuing to investigate what might have happened and they say recovery efforts are underway but that process could take several days to complete.

HOLMES: Kobe Bryant's professional basketball career began early in his teenage years.

ALLEN: And in 20 seasons he won five NBA championship rings and set a long list of records.

Polo Sandoval has more on his extraordinary life and career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was born Kobe Bean Bryant. But to the world, the 41-year-old was a global basketball phenomenon.

The son of a pro basketball player, the Philly native finished high school and was quickly drafted by the NBA.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Greatness lies ahead for this young man.

SANDOVAL: At the time, Bryant was the youngest player in the league's history at just over 17 years old.

KOBE BRYANT, NBA LEGEND: I think a lot of people, even when I came out of high school, I think people were kind of -- kind of giving me the cold shoulder to begin with because I think I'm (INAUDIBLE). Some people wanted me to fail because I defied the odds.

SANDOLVAL: The MVP spent his entire pro career with the L.A. Lakers winning five NBA championships with the team. During his 20 seasons, Bryant became one of the league's top scoring players even surpassed Michael Jordan becoming fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list. On two occasions he helped secure Team U.S.A. Olympic gold on the world stage.

Bryant dealt with controversy too. In 2003, he was charged with sexual assault, accused of raping a 19-year-old hotel employee. The charge was later dropped so the case was settled in civil court.

Bryant also overcame various sports-related injuries, always determined to heal and return to the court. Then in the fall of 2015, he announced his plan to retire from the NBA and played his final game in 2016. The following year, his jersey numbers 8 and 24 were retired.

Since then, he has made his mark on Hollywood winning an academy award for his animated film, "Dear Basketball". But his greatest accomplishment may have been off the hardwood. He was a husband and proud father of four children.

BRYANT: We all have moments like this in life where it just seems like the days are never going to end. You know, it seems like the moment that you are in just feels like the darkest moment to you.

You know, and at that point you really kind of have to step outside of yourself and put it in perspective and understand that you have many, many blessings, a lot of things to be thankful for.

SANDOVAL: At six foot-six, Bryant was more than just a little giant. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti wrote, "Bryant inspired, amazed and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved.

Polo Sandoval, CNN -- New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And in just under 12 hours from now U.S. President Donald Trump's impeachment trial will continue with his legal team resuming their defense on the Senate floor.

[01:34:58]

ALLEN: But their strategy may need adjusting after a stunning revelation from the "New York Times" involving former national security adviser John Bolton.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond has that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well as President Trump's impeachment trial continues in the senate, a bombshell new report in the "New York Times". And this one is about Ambassador John Bolton, the former national security adviser's forthcoming book.

According to a draft manuscript reported by "The Times", President Trump told national security adviser John Bolton in August that he wanted to continue freezing that nearly $400 million of security aid to Ukraine, until Ukrainian officials agreed to move forward with investigations into Democrats, including into the former national security adviser John Bolton.

Now all of this, of course, is at the center of the impeachment case against President Trump. And if true this would undermine a key argument that President Trump's defense team has been making so far which is to say that the freeze on that nearly $400 million dollars in security aid and the push for investigations into Joe Biden were two separate matters. Now in this draft manuscript, according to "The Times", Ambassador Bolton firmly links both of those questions. Now Ambassador Bolton's team is declining to comment so far on the contents of the story.

But his spokesperson Sarah Tinsley, she writes the following. "The draft of the Ambassador's book was transmitted to the White House for pre-publication review by the National Security Council. And he's also deflecting the notion that Bolton or his team had anything to do with this leak to the "New York Times" saying the Ambassador has not passed the draft manuscript to anyone -- period.

Now Bolton's attorney Charles Cooper has also released a statement confirming that Ambassador Bolton and Cooper submitted a draft manuscript to the White House's National Security Council back in December of 2019 -- December 30, 2019, to be specific.

And Cooper is also pointing the finger at the White House here for this leak, writing, "It is clear regrettably from the 'New York Times' article published today that the pre-publication review process has been corrupted, and that information has been disclosed by persons other than those properly involved in reviewing the manuscript."

So now Cooper there appears to be coming very, very close to actually confirming the authenticity and the veracity of this "New York Times" report.

Now, why is this so significant? Beyond the fact that it could undermine the core defense argument that President Trump's attorneys are making, this is going to put that question of witnesses right back into the spotlight.

Ambassador Bolton has been one of those four witnesses that Democrats in the Senate have been pushing for. They are hoping to get four Republicans to join them to call and to subpoena those witnesses.

We are already seeing Democrats jumping on this news. The Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted it's up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, and others with direct knowledge of President Trump's actions testify in the Senate trial.

And in a statement the House Democratic impeachment managers, they are also pointing to this new revelation about Ambassador Bolton saying, "There can be no doubt now that Mr. Bolton directly contradicts the heart of the President's defense and therefore must be called as a witness at the impeachment trial of President Trump."

But of course, the President and his lawyers have been adamant that they want a swift acquittal in the Senate. And this report could, of course, undermine all of that.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN -- the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Yes. This is certainly a story we'll be watching in the next several hours.

And just a short time ago we heard from President Trump tweeting this response. "I never told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied into investigations of the Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book."

HOLMES: We will take a short break. When we come back, as the Wuhan coronavirus spreads, medical workers in China risking infection as they try to save lives.

We'll have a live report from Beijing.

[01:39:22]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: Welcome back.

As China fights to contain the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, it is issuing a dire new warning. People could spread it before any symptoms appear. Tens of millions are now under virtual lockdown in China.

HOLMES: That is a very worrying development too, in terms of containment.

Here are some of the latest developments. The head of the World Health Organization is headed to Beijing to help with the response. China confirming more than 2,700 cases, at least 80 deaths now. Several other countries have also confirmed cases of the virus.

ALLEN: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here in Atlanta says it is preparing as if this is a pandemic, but of course, hopes it is not.

HOLMES: At least five cases been confirmed in the U.S. and also five cases in Australia -- we just heard a few minutes ago. We are also learning about a nurse from Wuhan who says she contracted the virus along with at least a dozen other medical workers at their hospital.

For more now, CNN's David Culver joins us now from Beijing.

I mean this whole -- you'll tell us about this case, but this whole issue of the incubation period, that people who have it might not know for days but are infectious, it is hard to get your head around how many people who might have spread this without knowing.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think that is the most disturbing thing to come out within the past 24 hours -- Michael, because this is coming from Chinese health officials, the National Health Commission saying that the incubation period is between one and 14 days. And they say within that period of time it is possible that this virus can be transmitted from person to person.

It also brings into question some of the screening that we have seen, not only at airports but also at hotels where they are simply just checking on temperature in that one instance and then allowing people to continue on. How effective is that really going to be going forward?

Now, you mentioned that nurse. My colleague, CNN's photojournalist Natalie Thomas spoke with that nurse in Wuhan and she describes what is a very dire situation for health care workers.

Now, she balances it a little bit because while she says some are in intensive care, including doctors and nurses, at least a dozen in her hospital alone, she says others are being able to be treated at home, with much milder symptoms, herself included. She's able to be home with medication and stay away from it. But she also speaks to how highly contagious she believes it is.

[01:44:53]

CULVER: Now, the National Health Commission has been holding daily briefings now and they're expected to continue that. And one of the things they brought out just a short time ago was concern for migrant and rural workers.

Particularly given this is the spring festival, right, so you get a lot of folks who left the major cities, went home to their home provinces and are expected to come back into those major cities. So hundreds of millions potentially back on the roads, back on the rails, back in the skies, traveling together in close quarters.

That is a concern and so that is why there is this education campaign now underway, the central government spearheading that, in which they hope to educate those who are less experienced about these outbreaks, how to prevent the spread, basic hygiene protection as well.

Now, it seems neighboring countries and territories including Hong Kong are taking precautions from here, and stricter ones at that. We have just learned that Hong Kong is going to ban anyone who is from who Hubei Province, the epicenter of this, and anyone who has traveled there, from coming through Hong Kong within the next 14 days.

So essentially, if you have been there you have to wait two weeks before you can come into the territory. Singapore is doing something similar with their schools telling -- Michael, that staff and student should stay home for two weeks if they've been traveling from Mainland China.

HOLMES: Yes, it's that traveling I think that's the issue and you have countries talking about bringing their people out. I mean if you've got it and you've been on a plane and you didn't know you had it, the whole plane is at risk, and that sort of speaks to the problem there.

David Culver in Beijing -- we will check in with you next hour. Thanks so much.

ALLEN: Yes, Michael -- that is a concern in South Korea, we have learned, which now has confirmed four cases of the virus.

For the latest, CNN's Paula Hancocks is outside of a hospital in Seoul for us. Paula -- hello.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Natalie.

Well, just in the last few minutes we have heard that South Korea has raised its alert level to the second highest level that it could be. This effectively in practical terms, what it means is that the CDC is no longer running the show.

Now the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be the leader. Presumably, this means that more assets will be available to those who need it.

Now, this is the National Medical Center, this is the main area and main hospital in South Korea, in Seoul that officials want some of these patients to come to. We know there is one patient that has been confirmed to have coronavirus on the seventh floor behind me.

And there are many people within that building that are wearing hazmat suits. They're making sure they are taking no risks. This tent here is where they want patients who believe they may have been exposed to the virus or believe they have the symptoms of the virus to come first, to make sure that they have some separation between those who are under supervision and need to be tested and the general population of this hospital.

This is also where one of the portable CT scanners, the only one apparently, they have in Korea which is on this premises as well to make sure that some of the equipment that is being used to test potential patients is not going to be the same that is used for the general population of this hospital.

Now, we do know that it is spreading regionally and globally. We have 50 confirmed cases at this point in 13 different places. Here in South Korea which you say, just today, the fourth case has been confirmed.

And we also know that South Korea, among many other countries, is figuring out how to try and evacuate its citizens from Wuhan, from the ground zero of this virus. We know that the United States, from the State Department in a statement has said that on Tuesday they will be trying to evacuate some of their citizens.

ALLEN: All right. Paula Hancocks for us there in Seoul, yet another country on edge. Thank you.

HOLMES: Well, a U.S. official says three rockets struck the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Sunday. At least one person was hurt. But reportedly the injury was minor.

ALLEN: The United States isn't directly blaming Iranian-backed militia groups but the State Department noted there have been more than 14 attacks on U.S. personnel, either by the Iranian government or militias since September.

Well days before Kobe Bryant suddenly died in a helicopter crash, CNN sat down with the star for one of his final interviews. We will play it for you next.

[01:49:19]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone.

Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in California.

ALLEN: CNN's Andy Scholes conducted one of Bryant's final interviews just days before his death. Here it is.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Well anytime you get to sit down with Kobe Bryant, it is special. he is one of the greatest athletes of all-time -- a five-time NBA champion. But he was also excelling in his post NBA career, in the business world.

Kobe was one of the early investors into the sports drink the Body Armor. They have just signed an exclusive deal with Major League Soccer.

And it was at that big announcement where I got to sit down with Kobe. We talked about his love for soccer. We talked about the NBA. We talked about his daughter Gigi and the game of women's basketball.

And here's a portion of that interview from just over a week ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHOLES: The NBA fans love to debate, which, which team from which era was better. Shaq recently weighed in saying that he absolutely thinks you and him would've beaten this current Lakers team with LeBron and Anthony Davis. What is your take on that hypothetical match up?

BRYANT: I don't weigh in on hypotheticals. I never have. Those things drive me crazy.

As a competitor, you can't, there's nothing you can do about them. You had your chance, you could beat yourself through winning something, right. That was the beauty about sports is you compete and you either win or you lose.

In the debate culture, there is never a clear winner so it's kind of pointless for me. I don't engage in those things. But it's fun to hear.

SCHOLES: All right. You recently said that you're daughter Gigi got you back into watching a lot of NBA, a (INAUDIBLE) game, just sitting courtside with her. And you watch teams with here and coached her through her basketball journey. I wanted to get your take on if you think a woman could ever play in the NBA one day?

[01:55:00]

BRYANT: Playing NBA -- I think there are a couple of players that could play in the NBA right now, honestly. I mean there's a lot of players that have a lot of skill that can do it. Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore -- I mean there's a lot of great players out there, Elena Delle Donne -- so, they can most certainly keep up with them.

SCHOLES: I know you're a big soccer fan, growing up in Italy when you were (INAUDIBLE). I wanted to get your thoughts on what seems to be an increasing racism in European football. And if there's anything that can be done to combat it.

BRYANT: It's always education. You understand that racism is a thing that has been a part of our culture for awhile. Even though now, you know, we have come such a long way, but there is still so much to be done.

And I think education is always the most important thing. I think speaking up and taking a stand, a significant stand.

I mean when I was growing up in Italy I have always obviously witnessed it firsthand going to certain soccer matches and things of that nature and things that my parents have taught me and educated me on, how to deal with those sorts of things.

And looking at various muses but I have handled things extremely well. From Jackie Robinson on to Bill Russell and so forth and so on. So I think education is very important.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHOLES: Now, I was lucky enough to interact with Kobe during two sectors of my life. Back in college, I was a ball boy for the Houston Rockets and during my interview with Kobe, I actually showed him a picture from back in 2003 of the two of us and Kobe laughed saying we were both youngsters back.

And I also took that opportunity to thank Kobe for just being such a nice person. You know, back then he was the best player in the NBA. But he still took the time to take pictures with all of us, to sign autographs for all of us. Something that a lot of superstar players just don't do.

And when I thanked him for doing all of that for us back in the day and for being such a nice person, he just smiled back at me and nodded.

And that is who Kobe was. Just a genuine, nice person. And he will be sorely missed.

HOLMES: And he shall be. And what a great tribute too. Nothing better you can say. What a nice man he was.

(CROSSTALKING)

ALLEN: Absolutely.

HOLMES: Thanks for watching CNN NEWSROOM, everyone.

I'm Michael Holmes.

ALLEN: I'm Natalie Allen. Another hour of CNN NEWSROOM is next. [01:57:06]

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END