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Soon, Biden Set to Sign Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill; Manchin's Concerns Could Delay Build Back Better Bill; 9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Injured at Astroworld Festival; Closing Arguments Resume in Kyle Rittenhouse Trial. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired November 15, 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]
LAURA COATES, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Mark Meadows has a stronger, though not as successful claim.
But Steve Bannon, not having been part of the administration, having already waived whatever privilege he thinks he has by publicly announcing things through mediums like his own podcast, undermines legitimately any argument he could make.
So, too, being optimistic about trying to challenge under this judge, he should understand that what he's already claimed on based on something that does not protect him in any way.
ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: Laura Coates, thank you very much.
Just into CNN, a major legal victory for the Sandy Hook families who sued Info Wars founder and notable conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones.
For years, Jones spread the absurd conspiracy theory that the 2012 Connecticut elementary school shooting was staged.
Today, a judge ruled Jones is liable by default in the defamation case because he repeatedly failed to hand over records to the plaintiffs. So now a jury will determine how much Jones must pay in damages.
The attorney for the families released a statement saying they are grateful, adding, "While today's ruling is a legal victory, the battle to shed light on how deeply Mr. Jones has armed these families continues."
Up next, a big and rare day in Washington. The president about to sign a massive infrastructure bill into law. And the celebration is at least somewhat bipartisan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:36:14]
CABRERA: Welcome back. We're continuing to monitor the closing arguments under way in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, which is currently in a short lunch break. We'll return to court as soon as the closing arguments resume. Meanwhile, back in Washington, President Biden getting ready to
celebrate a hard-fought victory and a rare display of bipartisan cooperation. Just a short time from now, the president will sign the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill into law.
This legislation includes billions for roads, bridges, rail and broadband, as well as money to rebuild the electric grid and upgrade water systems. Money for public transit, airports and seaports is also part of this massive investment.
Let's bring in CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Manu Raju.
Kaitlan, what do we know who will be there at today's signing ceremony and who might not?
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it could be a rare moment for what we see here in Washington these days.
It's going to be Democrats and Republicans, both, expected at this ceremony because, of course, this was a bipartisan bill that was crafted with a group of bipartisan Senators initially.
And we do know, of course, that the 13 House Republicans helped get it over the finish line once it made its way through the House that late Friday night recently.
So this will be a ceremony that President Biden had said on the campaign trail he hoped to have at the White House, one where there's not just Democrats here helping to support his policies but Republicans as well.
Though this could be maybe one of the only times that we see that at this White House.
So both of them will be surrounding the president here at the signing ceremony this afternoon.
It won't be all of the Republicans who voted for this bill though. We know Senator Mitch McConnell is not expected to come.
You can see there those who have confirmed, Senator Murkowski, Senator Collins, Bill Cassidy, Rob Portman and Tom Young and Don Reed.
As well as other Republicans we do expect to see on the South Lawn this afternoon as the president is celebrating a key victory, getting the infrastructure bill passed.
Something, Ana, he promised time and time again on the campaign trail and that the White House says will fix a lot of issues you are seeing today with the supply chain issue, for this gridlock but also fixing the aging roads and bridges across the nation.
And the president is expected to visit some of those aging roads and bridges this week to sell this bill. Of course, that will be the next component of this for this White
House, not just implementing this massive trillion-dollar plan but also making sure voters know who got it passed and who signed it into law for them.
CABRERA: Manu, this is a much-needed for the president. His poll numbers are sinking. Prices are rising on everything from gas to groceries.
The administration says passing the broader Build Back Better plan will help in all of that, but now we have Senator Manchin threatening to delay that.
You just spoke to him. What did he say?
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He has for some time made clear that he believes this is moving too fast. He says we should hit the brakes on this.
He's called for a pause, a strategic call. He called for this in August. And he's raised even more concerns about the inflation numbers that are happening other in the United States.
Moments ago, I tried to ask him whether his concerns about inflation means that they should delay the larger bill until next year. He would not say that one way or the other.
He did not provide any sort of time frame that he believes it should be delayed until. He said, we'll be talking to everybody and we'll look at everything.
And I asked him again about delaying it to next year, do you think that makes sense? He shrugged his shoulders and got in the elevator heading to the signing ceremony.
But the timing is important because we're running into a number of deadlines, of course, the holidays as well.
This week in the House is when they want the democratic leaders to pass the bill. They can only afford to lose three votes among Democrats.
The moderate Democrats want an official scoring, at least some estimates from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office to show that this bill will be fully financed. At that point, they say they would vote yes.
It's uncertain exactly when those numbers will come. But as soon as they do come, as soon as it gets to the House, then it will rest on Joe Manchin's shoulders.
[13:40:06]
He's the one Senator viewed as the biggest wild card, far more than Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. He, Manchin, has called for a number of changes to the Democratic bill
that's moving through the House. He's also raised concerns not just about the time frame but also the price tag as well.
So it remains to be seen if he's willing to get behind something quickly. And can they get it done before Christmas?
Because, Ana, it's very clear it's doing going to get done and onto the president's desk by Thanksgiving. They'll be lucky to get it through by Christmas. But they need Joe Manchin's support first.
CABRERA: Manu Raju, Kaitlan Collins, thank you both so much.
Closing arguments in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial set to resume just minutes from now. We're going to squeeze in a quick break before they return to the courtroom.
Thanks for staying with us. You're watching CNN's special coverage.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:45:38]
CABRERA: Any moment now, closing arguments in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial are set to resume. We will take you into that courtroom and bring those to you live in just a moment.
In Houston, the 9-year-old boy trampled in the crowd surge at the Astroworld Music Festival has died.
Ezra Blount becomes the tenth and youngest victim of the concert tragedy. He had been in a medically induced coma since the night this happened.
Many more were injured as the crowd surged towards the stage as rapper, Travis Scott, performed.
Dozens of lawsuits have now been filed, and a criminal investigation continues.
CNN's Rosa Flores joins us from Houston.
Rosa, what are we hearing from the victim's family?
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are devastated, Ana.
Through an attorney they issued a statement saying, quote, "The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son. This should not have been the outcome of taking your son to a concert. That should have been a joyful celebration."
Look, the family has said that this concert was supposed to be a bonding moment between dad and son.
Ezra was on his dad's shoulders during the concert. But at some point, his dad couldn't breathe and his dad passed out and 9-year-old Ezra fell on to the crowd.
And since that -- since that concert, he had been fighting for his life for more than a week. And he died over the weekend, increasing the number of those dead from this deadly festival to nine.
Now, the ninth victim, 22-year-old Bharti Shahani, her family is still grieving.
Her sister and cousin were on CNN's "NEW DAY" this morning talking about how they themselves were at the concert, at moments not able to breathe, at moments, not realizing they were going to make it out alive.
They want justice and they want answers and they are still in disbelief that their loved one is not here anymore.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAMRALA SHAHANI, SISTER OF ASTROWORLD CONCERT VICTIM, BHARTI SHAHANI: It's pretty insane to me like how she was with me a few days ago and now she's just not thereto.
MOHIT BELLANI, COUSIN OF ASTROWORLD CONCERN VICTIM, BHARTI SHAHANI: I think both of us just feel very numb.
SHAHANI: Yes.
BELLANI: Like, it doesn't seem real.
SHAHANI: Yes, it doesn't like at all.
BELLANI: That she's gone from us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: The Houston Police Department is the lead investigating agency. The criminal investigation is ongoing.
I've checked with HPD. They say they don't have an update on that and don't have press conferences scheduled for today.
The Harris County judge, Lena Hidalgo, Ana, is still pushing for an inquest. There's an ongoing commissioner's court meeting right now. We'll see what comes out of that.
CABRERA: Just hits so hard, 9 years old.
Rosa Flores, thank you.
Closing arguments in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial set to resume just moments from now, and we'll take you there.
Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:52:03]
CABRERA: Welcome back. We are waiting for the Kyle Rittenhouse trial to resume at any moment. About an hour ago, the prosecution was delivering its closing arguments when the trial took a quick break for lunch.
And so when the prosecution wraps, it will be the defense's attorney then to make their final argument to the jury. Each side has two and a half hours total for their closing arguments.
Rittenhouse is facing five felony charges stemming from three separate shootings that killed two men and left another one injured during protests last summer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
And Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense. The prosecution soon will try to poke more holes in that argument.
We see the judge has returned to the bench now. These are live images.
Let's listen in.
BRUCE SCHROEDER, KENOSHA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE: Would you come down, please.
CABRERA: OK, again, these are live images.
It is quiet because they're awaiting the jury to come back into the courtroom ahead of the prosecution continuing with its closing arguments in this trial.
They went for about 45 minutes before the lunch break. The prosecutor had said he anticipated his initial closing argument to last about two hours or expecting them to continue for a little more than another hour before the defense takes over.
And there you see everybody in the courtroom, including the defendant there, Kyle Rittenhouse, standing as the jury coming in.
Right now, we know this is a jury of 18. And following closing arguments, this jury will be narrowed to just 12. And they'll do that by a random drawing.
They have a raffle machine in which they will draw the 12 people who have been sitting on this jury the entire time and have been listening to all of the trial testimony over the course of eight days. That lasted. And it will be just 12 that goes into deliberations.
Let's listen.
THOMAS BINGER, KENOSHA COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
I'm going to continue on. I hope your full stomachs won't distract you too much from the presentation here. So, I had been talking about the murder of Joseph Rosenbaum. And as
you could tell, I'm trying to go in chronological order. I'm trying to go through these events in a way that makes the most sense.
So count one of the information is with regard to Joseph Rosenbaum. The second count of the information pertains to Richie McGinnes, who you heard testify.
[13:55:02]
He testified that he was in the line of fire behind Joseph Rosenbaum as the defendant fires four rounds with his A.R.-15, which is loaded with full metal jacket ammunition.
And I'll talk more about that type of ammunition in a little bit.
But you've heard testimony that it is the type of ammunition that is capable of going through body armor. It is capable of going through a squad car. It is designed to go through the target and continue flying on for up to 550 yards.
Richard McGinnes testified when the shots went off, he thought he had been hit. He thought his life was in danger.
One of the rules that I think most people who are familiar with firearms know is it is always check your background. Meaning, know what is around your target and know what is behind your target.
This is true when hunting. It's true when your target shooting. And obviously it is true when you've got an A.R.-15 in downtown Kenosha in the middle of protests with houses and people nearby.
But there's no indication that the defendant cared one bit about his background, cared one bit about where the bullets would go. And as I said, he put Richie McGinnes in danger.
Richie McGinnes, after the incident you've seen on the videos, goes to try and help Joseph Rosenbaum. And as his own video shows, when he first getting there, he finds Mr. Rosenbaum's body face down on the ground.
And I'm going to play exhibit 15 for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHIE MCGINNIS, PROSECUTION WITNESS: Are you OK? Don't move, man. Don't move. I'm going to flip you over real quick. (INAUDIBLE).
(SHOUTING)
MCGINNIS: Give me a rope. Give me a rope.
(SHOUTING)
MCGINNIS: Where, where is the hole?
(SHOUTING)
MCGINNIS: Put pressure. Put pressure.
(SHOUTING)
MCGINNIS: You shot him.
KYLE RITTENHOUSE, DEFENDANT: I didn't.
MCGINNIS: Who did?
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BINGER: You want to talk about medics, you want to talk about people who care, you want to talk about people who were there trying to help.
You just heard them and you just saw them. People who didn't know Joseph Rosenbaum. They just knew somebody needed help.
And while that is going on, the defendant flees. Callously disregarding the body of the man that he just shot and killed.
And as he's running off, he's lying to the crowd about what just happened.
This is exhibit number 12.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So there six shots --
(SHOUTING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing? Stop. Why are you doing this?
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[13:59:52]
BINGER: The defendant says he pulled a gun.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SHOUTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BINGER: That statement, "he pulled a gun," was a lie. It's not true.
