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DHS Condemns Border Video; CIA Staffer Reported Havana Syndrome on India Trip. Prince Andrew Served with Papers. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired September 21, 2021 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:32:54]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Any minute now President Biden will take the stage here at the United Nations. We're watching for the arrival of his motorcade.

This is an important speech for President Biden. His first to the U.N. as president. And his message will be one of reaffirming alliances, perhaps to a skeptical audience. Many of America's closest allies upset by the country's summary withdraw from Afghanistan. You have a growing dispute now with France over the U.S. nuclear deal with Australia, replacing France's submarine deal with Australia. I am told, however, by a European diplomat a short time ago, that it is an exaggeration, in this diplomat's words, to say that the U.S. is not consulting with its allies. A British diplomat tells me as well that nobody is getting too excited, in the words of this diplomat, about the French rhetoric at this point of a division between the U.S. and Europe.

Again, we are live at the United Nations, awaiting any moment now for President Biden's arrival as we look for the arrival of his motorcade here.

One of the major crises in foreign policy facing the president as he addresses world leaders is the ongoing crisis at the southern border. And it is turning into a difficult PR situation for this administration as images, such as this one, photos circulating of U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback appearing to use really aggressive tactics, including swinging long reins to corral immigrants. It's causing a national outcry from Democrats among them.

CNN security correspondent Josh Campbell is live near the border in Del Rio, Texas, where we have seen many thousands of Haitian immigrants there, migrants, rather, waiting, attempting to come into the U.S.

Josh, what is the situation today and what is the administration saying about these tactics that we saw unfold yesterday?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim, we heard from the DHS secretary this morning, who described these images as horrific. He said he was horrified by them. And just to explain for our viewers here on this new video, you see horse mounted officers here, federal officers, in the water, trying to corral these migrants, using very aggressive tactics.

[09:35:06]

At one point it appears as though one of the horses lunges at one of the migrants who then falls back into the water. As you mentioned, one of the agents there also using the split rein used to control a horse, swinging it in close proximity to some of the migrants.

But I want to show you one other video, which is very problematic. It's showing -- I'll throw here to this video, but you see a federal agent actually berating one of the migrants.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, you use your women. This is why your country (EXPLETIVE DELETED) because you use your women for this.

You, go, go, that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, I talked to a federal officer last night about this video to get their reflections, and they said, this is a classic case that appears to show an officer losing his temper, losing control. Which raises the question, what good does it accomplish berating a migrant?

Now, the secretary of Homeland Security spoke with our colleague, Brianna Keilar, this morning on "NEW DAY," providing his reflections about what he saw in that video.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Any mistreatment or abuse of a migrant is unacceptable, is against Border Patrol policy, training and our department's values.

We are very troubled by what we have seen. We are going to let the investigation unfold very, very quickly, determine the facts, and then we will take the action that is appropriate based on those facts. The facts will drive the conduct that we employ to hold anyone accountable for a violation of our policies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, the secretary of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, says that this incident is under investigation by internal affairs at Customs and Border Protection. It's also been referred to the DHS inspector general for review as well. But this is all coming as these officers continue to try to clear out

this migrant camp by repatriating these thousands of migrants. I'll show you some of the drone video we captured yesterday, which continues to show them living under this international bridge, in these very squalid conditions. This is a situation that authorities say they're trying to mitigate rapidly. Their goal is to move 3,000 migrants out per day, but we're still days away from seeing any type of noticeable difference here. Obviously, a crisis here. Both a humanitarian crisis and also a situation providing a black eye for officers here with some of that video we've seen of officers on horseback, Jim.

SCIUTTO: All right, Josh Campbell, at the border, thanks very much.

As we speak now, we're seeing the arrival of President Biden's motorcade here at the U.N. General Assembly. More than two dozen vehicles these days, these motorcades have. The president is the second on the schedule to address world leaders today. He will follow the Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro.

And there he, with the flags there, the Beast, as it's known, the presidents -- of course there are two for security reasons -- but the president's limousine.

It's a big speech for the president. His first at the U.N. General Assembly as president. He speaks to an audience, including allies, that might be skeptical of his message of restoring alliances, given -- given the difficulties we've seen, the upset following America's swift withdrawal from Afghanistan, surprising it seems some of its allies with how swift that withdraw was, and also an ongoing dispute with France over a nuclear deal with Australia. That's the audience President Biden will be facing today.

Erica, we'll bring you those comments live once they begin momentarily.

Back to you, Erica.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, we look forward to that and, of course, a lot on the president's plate on the domestic front. Even COVID, which appeared to be going so well at the very beginning. Now, a lot of questions as to where the country is headed with this pandemic. Hospitalizations across the country surging with new infections. Up next, we're going to take you to the state that now has the highest COVID death toll in the U.S.

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[09:43:31]

HILL: The Biden administration is dealing with another incident of the mysterious illness known as Havana syndrome. Sources telling CNN, a member of CIA Director Bill Burns' team reported symptoms while on a trip to India.

CNN national security correspondent Kylie Atwood has been following this for us.

So, Kylie, what more do we know about this latest incident?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, when Bill Burns visited India earlier this month, this is when this happened. A member of his team reported that they were experiencing symptoms similar to Havana syndrome, consistent with Havana syndrome.

And we should remind folks that Havana syndrome is this mysterious illness that has been impacting U.S. diplomats and U.S. intelligence officials around the world for the greater part of the last few years. It started in Havana, Cuba. That's why we call it Havana syndrome.

But this specific incident set off alarm bells within the U.S. government. And I am told that the director himself was fuming with anger according to a source familiar. And this case could have some dramatic implications. And that's because I'm told U.S. government officials are concerned about the fact that the perpetrator could have even known that Burns was visiting India. The CIA director's schedule is traditionally something that is very tightly held, only shared with a small group of people. So the fact that they could have known he was visiting and then potentially tried to plan to carry out this aggression, knowing that he and his team were going to be there, could have some significant repercussions, some indications here that there is actual targeting happening.

[09:45:02]

We don't know that that's the case, but it sure looks like that is possible.

The other thing that we should note, Erica, is that this is the second time in less than a month that a senior Biden administration official's international travel has been impacted by a reported incident of Havana syndrome. It happened earlier -- actually, I should say late last month in August. Vice President Harris was traveling to Vietnam and there were some reported incidents of Havana syndrome surrounding her visit there.

Now, a CIA spokesperson said that they don't comment on specific incidents. They also don't comment on specific officers. But they did say there's protocols in place and medical attention is provided to those who say that they have had these symptoms.

And I see President Biden arriving there.

HILL: There we do -- yes, so we do see President Biden arriving there at the United Nations, of course, set to speak this morning. You know, we've been talking a lot this -- in some ways a very skeptical audience as they wait to hear from the U.S. president, Kylie.

And a lot is being made of this speech, not only what he'll say, but how it will be received, Kylie.

ATWOOD: Yes, that's right. I mean I think you have a president who is set to talk about the themes that he has touched on repeatedly throughout his presidency, fortifying relationships with allies, talking about America being back on the world stage.

But, of course, the environment in which he is operating isn't exactly all together friendly towards the Biden administration right now. There is frustration from allies who saw the chaotic withdraw from Afghanistan as something that the Biden administration sort of did on their own. We expect President Biden to address that decision, to withdraw from Afghanistan, and double down on that decision, talking about the need to focus on forward looking threats to the United States and to the world.

But we also have another situation. There is some tremendous tension between the U.S. and France right now. That is not normal, right, because France is one of America's oldest allies. It's over this new U.S./U.K./Australia security agreement that left France out of it. And because of it, the United States is going to help Australia develop some nuclear-powered submarines. But France had a deal with Australia to develop conventional submarines, and that deal has now been canceled.

So we have seen a tremendous amount of anger from the French here. That is the backdrop that the president is walking into right now. And he's going to have to make his case for why America is actually back and how they will fortify those alliances.

HILL: Kylie, thank you.

And, of course, we'll be bringing you that speech.

Again, just moments from now, President Biden set to speak. The stakes, as Kylie just laid out, are high. We are live at the United Nations.

Stay with us.

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[09:52:21]

HILL: This morning, Prince Andrew served with legal papers, informing him of a civil sexual assault case against him. CNN has seen U.S. court documents showing papers were delivered to Andrew's lawyer in Los Angeles and to the Royal Courts of Justice in London yesterday. Prince Andrew has denied the charges, denied knowing the woman who accused him of assaulting her starting when she was just 17 years old, in London, in New York, and in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Joining me now from London with details, CNN's Anna Stewart.

So, as we look at this, what more do we know about the papers? And also, as I understand it, it took several attempts for them to actually be served.

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Quite, Erica. The papers have been served. That is what we know. And it has taken some time to get here. There's been a lot of procedural back and forth, a lot of attempts have been made. At one stage, papers from Giuffre's legal team were actually left at the gates to Prince Andrew's house in Windsor with a security detail. They have now been served. We have no comment yet from Prince Andrew's legal team but he has 21 days essentially to respond to these papers being served.

Now, normally, when you hear that in a movie, the papers have been served, it's followed by a line saying, and we'll see you in court. Well, it's really unclear whether we're ever going to get to that stage.

Firstly, Prince Andrew and his legal team have consistently denied all of the sexual assault claims. They say the case is, and I'll quote, baseless, non-viable, and potentially unlawful. They've also said that Andrew is actually released from, and I'll quote again, any and all liability due to a sealed settlement between Virginia Giuffre and the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

So the next steps in this for the court, is there enough here for the case to continue? Will the court agree to unseal that settlement? Will Prince Andrew submit to the jurisdiction of a U.S. court? It seems unlikely at this stage. Will a U.K. court force him to participate?

The case can continue even without his participation. But, really, when you're looking at it, even if it were to do so, even if Virginia Giuffre was to win judgment here, enforcing any order on Prince Andrew could also be problematic. So we are quite far away from ever seeing Prince Andrew in court. No comment yet from his legal team.

Erica.

HILL: And, still, what a development.

All right, thank you for the very latest there.

Meantime, just minutes from now, President Biden set to address world leaders at the U.N. This, of course, as the White House is battling a plethora of domestic and international issues. We will bring you there live to listen in as soon as that speech begins. Going to work in a quick break as we wait.

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[09:59:20]

HILL: Good Tuesday morning. I'm Erica Hill.

SCIUTTO: And I'm Jim Sciutto, live at the United Nations in New York. That is a live picture inside the General Assembly.

Any moment now, President Biden will make his United Nations debut, delivering his first message to the General Assembly since taking office as president. He is next in line. His comments will begin momentarily. We'll, of course, bring those to you live.

The president's main goal, the White House says, is to reaffirm America's commitment to its allies, that this administration is different than the last one, but those allies still looking for validation that the times have, indeed, changed.

Front and center, as challenges to the U.S. and the world, climate change, human rights, and, of course, globally, the pandemic.

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