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Congress Faces Critical Deadlines on Government Funding, Debt Limit; Arrest Warrant Issued for Brian Laundrie for Actions After Petito's Death; Florida Woman Helps Young Black Men Get Suited for Success; "Toxic, Britney Spears' Battle for Freedom," Airs Sunday Night at 8:00 Eastern. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired September 24, 2021 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00]

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Now there's feverish negotiations going on behind the scenes. There's a very real compressed timetable here.

House Democrats are scheduled to vote on one part of President Biden's agenda, the $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, on Monday.

That vote will not succeed unless the second part of the agenda is also moving forward. And that's where the major hang ups are and where all the work is going on behind the scenes.

I thought what was also interesting from the president is the window into his frustration. The frustration about how his entire policy agenda has been put forward.

There's been so much focused on the size and scope, the $3.5 trillion top scale, and less on what's actually inside the measure.

And this, that it's actually paid for based on what the president has proposed, something Democrats on Capitol Hill have also acknowledged, agreeing to a framework, basically a menu of revenue raisers, tax increases that would pay for whatever the final package looks like.

Here's the biggest problem I think heading out there right now, Ana. There's no final package. There's no top-line number. There's no agreement. And they need to come to an agreement fast.

That means there will be a major, major work period over the course of the next 72 hours, recognition that something needs to get done and fast.

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: I am sending you a Starbucks gift card, Phil Mattingly, because you have your work cut out, is what that means.

(LAUGHTER)

CABRERA: Thank you.

Straight ahead, an arrest warrant now issued for Brian Laundrie, the man who may know a lot about why his fiance wound up dead in a Wyoming park. The only problem? Nobody can find him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:36:21]

CABRERA: We have a tragic update to a heartbreaking story out of Illinois where the body of 25-year-old grad student, Jelani Day, has been identified after he was found floating in the Illinois River earlier this month.

According to police, the last time Day spoke to his family was on August 23rd, two days before he was report missing.

His family has been desperately trying to get answers about what happened. His mother telling CNN this morning there wasn't enough being done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARMEN BOLDEN DAY, MOTHER OF JELANI DAY: To them, Jelani didn't mean anything. There's no effort, no push, no nothing that was being done about my son.

I did all that legwork, me and my kids. Me and everybody that never knew Jelani, my family, friends, strangers did all the legwork. My son didn't get any type of help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Jelani Day's body was found on September 4th. Again, the identification was just made. The cause of death, though, remains unknown.

The manhunt for Brian Laundrie is intensifying today. He is now the subject of a federal arrest warrant for events following the events following the death of his girlfriend, Gabby Petito.

According to a grand jury indictment, Laundrie used a debit card that did not belong to him between August 30th and September 1st, charging more than $1,000.

This, as sources tell CNN Laundrie left his parent's house last Tuesday, the last time he was reportedly seen, without his cell phone and without his wallet.

CNN legal analyst, Joey Jackson, with us now.

Joey, they have an arrest warrant but it's not for Petito's death. What does that tell us?

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: It tells us quite a lot, Ana.

Good to be with you.

The first thing it tells us is there's a grand jury investigating the case. That's something we did not know.

I would believe that if authorities, prosecutors are presenting a case to the grand jury, they are presenting the case to build up to the ultimate charges that they want.

So understand, when you go to a grand jury -- just to be clear, grand juries usually consist of 23 people, a majority need to know there's enough evidence for an indictment.

That means two things, reason to believe that a crime was committed and that this particular suspect committed it.

So I suspect that they put evidence and information before that grand jury, just enough to get this arrest warrant.

I do believe that, as they continue, they will continue to feed that grand jury information. And I suspect, Ana, the charges will be upgraded moving forward.

CABRERA: Again, just to clarify here for our audience, Laundrie has not been charged or named a suspect in Petito's death. So what needs to happen in a case like this before someone is named a suspect?

JACKSON: So what happens is that, look, they have a grand jury indictment, which relates to the whole issue of the debit card fraud.

Again, I would hasten to add that they didn't go into the grand jury seeking that. They went into the grand jury seeking information and giving the grand jury information, Ana, sufficient to elevate the charges to murder in the event that that's what they conclude.

Understand that what they are also doing is they are also doing a full vetting of everything. Like what? Like they have an autopsy. Of course, that's pending. They will be giving the grand jury that information.

They will be giving the grand jury information with respect to the digital print with regard to this whole trip. There came a point in time where the digital print, meaning, documenting, Instagram, this is where we are, this is what we're doing, this is what's going on. That stopped.

They will be giving the grand jury information with respect to him fleeing. That is, Mr. Laundrie. Why? Because it shows consciousness of guilt. If you didn't do anything wrong, you don't flee.

[13:40:01]

So what they'll do, to your question, is they will continue to put before for that grand jury evidence and information, not that proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but establishes a reason to believe that the person is guilty. And then, of course, pursuant to our process, you have your day in

court. And at that time, all of that evidence is put that before you. You're allowed to challenge it.

Of course, attorneys will challenge it. Of course, if we get that far. And then a jury, ultimately, again, if we get that far, will decide.

CABRERA: Yes.

JACKSON: But a very smart move on the arrest warrant.

CABRERA: We don't know where Laundrie is though. And if it's true that he left without a cell phone, without his wallet, what could that indicate?

JACKSON: Yes, it could indicate that perhaps he was going to do something, you know, nefarious or whatever else to himself.

But the arrest warrant does a lot of good things. It allows authorities throughout the country to spot him and to otherwise arrest him. If you go to travel, the arrest warrant is important for that.

And more importantly, Ana, you're now harboring -- you would be harboring a fugitive if you're giving them aid to assistance to evade authorities.

So I think a good move for the indictment, a good move for the arrest warrant, even if it's for only charges of the $1,000 credit card fraud. I would suspect that they would be upgraded moving forward.

And, of course, a critical point, as you point out, he hasn't been found. But if he does, those won't be the only charges that he'll be facing. That I can tell you.

CABRERA: Joey Jackson, glad you're here. Thank you.

JACKSON: Thanks, Ana.

CABRERA: Up next, new revelations in the Free Britney case. We're learning more about what life was like for her under her strict conservatorship.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:46:28]

CABRERA: Two co-hosts of "The View" test positive for breakthrough cases of COVID on the set of the talk show. They were set to interview the vice president when Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro were taken off the set.

Host, Joy Behar, revealed the COVID-positive test. And the vice president ended up participating from a remote studio just to be safe.

The White House said Harris did not interact with Hostin and Navarro before the show. And her schedule today will continue as planned. It is our feel-good segment. All week long, we've been doing this

special series called "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE" where we're spotlighting bold thinkers and doers who are challenging the norms and making lasting impacts.

And CNN's Victor Blackwell introduces us to our champion today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHARA MONDY, CEO & FOUNDER, SUITED FOR SUCCESS: I have actually been called, you're that suit lady, right? It just makes me smile.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST (voice over): Shara Mondy is my champion. She founded Suited for Success in north Florida.

MONDY: I founded Suited for Success in 2004. We provide professional business attire, suits, shirts, accessories for men in transition, seeking employment. Nobody else was meeting the career needs of men.

BLACKWELL (on camera): I'm passionate about anti-recidivism efforts because the system obviously is broken. There needs to be a bridge to support the men who are being released. And this charity is that bridge.

MONDY: I started with some of my friends. I asked them if they had any extra suits because I wanted to suit a couple of guys in jail. They were going to their court appearances and they would wear the jail scrubs.

So we got a couple of the guys dressed to go to their court appearance, and we found out later it made a huge impact on the judge.

BLACKWELL (voice over): Not all of the men Shara suits up are ex- offenders. Some are homeless or veterans or young men who just need their first suit.

MONDY: We work with pretty much any male that's in transition, seeking employment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to take simple, basic steps.

MONDY: We don't just provide a suit. We provide job readiness, coaching, mentoring, resumes, making sure that they're fully ready for employment.

If you're telling a man to get out of jail, get a job, take care of your family, you have to give them career employment.

If I can get one man to get in the role of the father, take care of his children, and do what he really wants to do, then that's the success part for me.

Today, Suited for Success is hosting our first suit drive of 2021.

One of our slogans is "Each One, Reach One" because the guys that we suit and help them, they get a job, they come back and reach back for a young man who's just coming out of what they went through.

EUGENE DARIUS, CLIENT, SUITED FOR SUCCESS: She's putting us around men that can lead us in that right direction and pull us up, which is exactly what we need in today's world.

BLACKWELL (on camera): I met you 15 years ago. I lost a lot of weight, and my whole television wardrobe was too big. So, I started looking for places to donate, and I found Suited for Success. And I thought, oh, this is perfect.

But once I met you and realized how personal this was for you, and still is for you, and that's why I've supported you for all of these years.

MONDY: I know for a fact that we've given out over a million items of clothing.

BLACKWELL: A million items.

MONDY: Million items.

BLACKWELL: Are those mine? This one?

MONDY: That was your fav.

BLACKWELL: This is my fav. This was hard to let go of.

[13:50:03]

MONDY: I know, right. Well, you know it was in good hands.

BLACKWELL: I know this is personal for you. I didn't always know why.

MONDY: Right.

BLACKWELL: Now I know why.

MONDY: This is my son, Jamez.

BLACKWELL (voice over): When Jamez got in trouble for unpaid speeding tickets, Shara saw how easily one mistake could derail a young man's life.

JAMEZ DELONG, SON OF SHARA MONDY: I commend this lady because she's never ever, ever, ever gave up on me and that's why I'm here.

BLACKWELL (on camera): Shara, when you're helping a man in their late 20s, early 30s, how often are you thinking about Jamez?

MONDY: Always. Especially going into the juvenile jail. I saw so many Jamezes there.

BLACKWELL: The norm is to dismiss these men, to expect that they will reoffend.

(voice-over): Shara not only challenges that. She rejects it. She knows that these men, if given the support, if given the resources, can build lives to rebuild their family.

The status quo is not acceptable. And she knows that that has to be challenged.

MONDY: I'm not only giving them a suit. I'm giving them their dignity. I'm giving them that spark that they thought they didn't have because they felt they were less than someone else.

It's amazing what just feeling the part in a new suit can do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: I can see why she's your champion for change, Victor.

How cool is it that you are able to also pay it forward, giving back to an organization that's clearly making such a difference?

BLACKWELL: Such a major difference, Ana.

And thank you for having me on.

Listen, Shara Mondy, I'm so glad she's getting acknowledgment for the work she's doing.

I have known her for 15 years. She has suited men, meeting them at the parking lot of a grocery store, out of her trunk.

It really is the literal and figurative meet people where they are, right, if she has to physically go to them. But also, where they are emotionally, financially, the skills that they have at that moment.

She's really dedicated her life to lifting these men up.

CABRERA: You could see in their smiles, the way they carry themselves, getting suited, that it really has been something that's empowered them.

It is great to see you, my friend. I will be joining you in the 3:00 hour with my story.

BLACKWELL: Looking forward to it. Thank you.

CABRERA: Talk to you soon, Victor. Thanks.

BLACKWELL: Thanks, Ana.

CABRERA: Be sure to tune in tomorrow at 8:00 Eastern for the "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE" one hour special on CNN.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:57:09]

CABRERA: The fight for freedom playing out on the world stage. CNN special report, "TOXIC, BRITNEY SPEARS' BATTLE FOR FREEDOM," dives into the pop star's tireless fight to end her 13-year conservatorship.

CNN's Chloe Melas joins us now.

Chloe, you've been hard at work. Give us a preview.

CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes, so this special will air Sunday night. And one of the people that we spoke to was Ronan Farrow, who takes us into the 911 call that Britney made right before her hearing in June.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROSSTALK)

RONAN FARROW, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: There were frantic texts exchanged by prominent people within her management and her team debating what was going to happen and what to do about it.

MELAS (voice-over): Britney actually went to the police station near her house hours before the hearing and spoke to 911 dispatchers from a lobby phone, reporting herself a victim of conservatorship abuse.

Shortly after, officers met with Britney at her home.

FARROW: There was a concerted effort to create a record of her complaints. And she wanted to begin to establish she believed that something illegal was happening here.

And indeed, that is what she said the next day, that she felt people involved in maintaining the conservatorship should go to jail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Chloe, this is a case that has really, really captured the attention of not just the international community, not just the national community, but global attention.

What else might we learn this weekend?

MELAS: Listen, we're going to have voices. You're going to hear from people that have never spoken out before, people from Britney's tour, the circus tour that she went on right after her conservatorship was put into place.

And you're also going to hear from friends of hers, people that tried to reach her over the years, the great lengths they have gone to. Did they reach her? You'll find out Sunday.

CABRERA: Can you remind us exactly where her case stands now?

MELAS: We are just a few days away from finding out whether or not the judge will deem whether this can be terminated. This is going to happen Wednesday at the Los Angeles County superior courthouse. I will be there. But her father wrote this petition with his lawyers saying that my daughter's conservatorship should be terminated. Shocking coming from her father who has been running her life and finances for 13 years, Ana.

But we're waiting to see if Judge Penny is going to make a ruling on this on Wednesday.

So you're going to see the Free Britney movement in full effect. Myself, standing outside the courthouse, in the courtroom. I will be coming out and telling you guys what happened.

Does Britney actually show up in person? We'll keep you posted.

CABRERA: We know you will.

Chloe Melas, thank you.

Be sure to watch the new CNN special report, "TOXIC, BRITNEY SPEARS' BATTLE FOR FREEDOM." It airs Sunday night at 8:00 right here on CNN.

[13:59:58]

That does it for me. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York. You can find me over the weekend on Twitter, @AnaCabrera.

Victor Blackwell and Alisyn Camerota take over from here.

Have a great weekend.