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Lawmakers Recommend Meadows Be Held in Contempt; Panel Reveals Texts from Trump Jr., Fox Hosts Over Riot; At Lease 88 Killed After Storms Tore Through 8 States; U.K. Lawmakers to Vote on New Anti-Covid Measures. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired December 14, 2021 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:00]
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares in London. And just ahead right here on CNN NEWSROOM --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): These nonprivileged text are further evidence of President Trump's supreme dereliction of duty during those 187 minutes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And if you are listening at home, Mr. Meadows, history will record that in a critical moment in our democracy most people were on the side of finding the truth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Former Trump Chief of Staff one step closer to facing criminal contempt charges as investigators unveil text messages revealing just how much the Trump White House knew about the insurrection.
Communities push ahead and rebuild after deadly storms leave a trail of devastation.
And Boris Johnson could face a rebellion from within his own party as he tries to push through new COVID measures in Parliament.
ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Isa Soares.
SOARES: Welcome, everyone it is Tuesday December 14th. And we begin on Capitol Hill, where the House Select Committee investigating January 6 attack, voted Monday to recommend criminal contempt charges against Mark Meadows for failing to comply with his subpoena. Take a listen to the committee chairman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS): If you're listening at home, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Bannon, Mr. Clark, I want you to know this. History will be written about these times. About the work this committee has undertaken. And history will not look upon any of you as martyrs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Republican Liz Cheney made the motion for the contempt resolution is expected to expected come to the House floor for a vote later today. That will determine whether to refer the charges to the Justice Department which ultimately decides whether to prosecute Meadows. Here's more from Chairman Thompson and from Liz Cheney.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THOMPSON: Whatever legacy he thought he left in the House. This is his legacy now. His former colleagues singing him out for criminal prosecution because he wouldn't answer questions about what he knows about a brutal attack on our democracy.
Mr. Meadows put himself in this situation and he must now accept the consequences. So, I will support the select committee's adoption of this report recommending the House site Mark Randall Meadows for contempt of Congress and refer him to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
CHENEY: Our constitution, the structure of our institutions and the rule of law, which are at the heart of what makes America great are at stake. We cannot be satisfied with incomplete answers or half-truths and we cannot surrender to President Trump's efforts to hide what happened. We will be persistent, professional, and nonpartisan. And we will get to the objective truth to ensure that January 6th never happens again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: While the committee also revealed a series of explosive text messages on Monday that Meadows received as the riot unfolded. Paula Reid is following all the dramatic developments from Washington for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: The House Select Committee has voted to recommend former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for criminal contempt. And in this hearing, they laid out new evidence that they have obtained. Specifically messages that Meadows received on January 6th, among them messages from many Fox News personalities. Including Sean Hannity, Laura Ingram and Brian Kilmeade urging him to get the president to say something or do something to put a stop to what was occurring at the Capitol.
He also received a message from the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., urging him to get his father to go out and do something. Let's listen to the Vice Chairwoman, Liz Cheney lay out the evidence, stunning evidence that they collected.
CHENEY: According to the records, multiple FOX News hosts knew that the president needed to act immediately. They texted Mr. Meadows, and he has turned over those texts.
[04:05:00] Quote, Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home. This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy. Laura Ingraham wrote.
Please get him on TV. Destroying everything you have accomplished, Brian Kilmeade texted.
Quote, can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol. Sean Hannity urged.
As the violence continued, one of the president's sons texted Mr. Meadows quote, he's got to condemn this shit ASAP. The Capitol Police tweet is not enough. Donald Trump, Jr. texted.
REID: Liz Cheney argues that these text messages show the White House knew exactly what was happening on January 6th. The committee referencing another text message from a lawmaker to Meadows saying, quote, we are under siege.
Now these are all materials that Meadows has handed over voluntarily. Makes one wonder what he could potentially be withholding. Now at this point he is refusing to come in and answer questions from the committee. He and his attorney arguing that he has some executive privilege protections as chief of staff. They've also questioned the authority the committee has to conduct this investigation.
Now both of those issues have so far been dismissed by federal judges in separate litigation by former President Trump who's trying to block the committee from getting some of those White House records. Now the former president has a right to appeal that question to the Supreme Court. If he wins that could potentially help Meadows. But at this point it appears that this criminal contempt proceeding will continue and will be referred to the Justice Department.
This will be a difficult case. The Justice Department is prosecuting Steve Bannon -- another Trump allies -- for criminal contempt. But unlike Bannon, Meadows was a top White House official on January 6th, he could potentially have privilege protections, depending on how the executive privilege litigation pans out.
He also -- unlike Bannon -- he has not completely stonewalled the committee. He has engaged. Thinking about or saying that he would be willing potentially to do an interview, turning over thousands of pages of documents. It could be a difficult decision for the Attorney General about whether he wants to criminally prosecute them, whether there is a sufficient case to argue that Meadows is not cooperating at all or should be held in contempt. We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Paula Reid, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Thank you Paula.
Well, Mark Meadows responded to the House Select Committee's vote during an appearance on Fox News. He dismissed the move and claims the vote is simply another way to attack Donald Trump. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK MEADOWS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Obviously, it's disappointing but not surprising. And let's be clear about this, Sean. This is not about me holding me in contempt. It's not even about making the Capitol safer. We see that by some of the selective leaks that are going on right now. This is about Donald Trump and about actually going after him once again, continuing to go after Donald Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And while Mark Meadows dismissed the House Select Committee's vote members of the committee says he has violated the law and they want to see him prosecuted.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): We will use the tools that we have, and I expect the Justice Department to move as swiftly in dealing with Mr. Meadows as it did with Mr. Bannon and prosecute him for violating the law and his duty as a citizen.
ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): Mark Meadows his committed a crime, in this case a premeditated one. He thought carefully about his actions and actively chose to stone wall, which you can clearly see in his back and forth with the Select Committee. First, he produced over 9,000 pages of documents from his time in the White House. Then after his former boss made it clear his disappointment and displeasure, he did a 180 and he refused to answer even a single question from his former colleagues or even to show up at all.
REP. ZOE LOFGREN (D-CA): You can't retroactively claim privilege. And in some of these really extraordinary pieces of evidence require additional explanation. He owes us an explanation and we need to get it in his unlawful refusal to answer the questions about the material that he has acknowledged is not subject to executive privilege. It's just simply unacceptable and illegal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And it doesn't end there. In the coming hours, lawmakers could get access to even more details. A key organizer of the January 6 rally set to testify before the committee investigating the attack. Dustin Stockton is expected to turn over documents and texts that suggest members of Congress and the Trump White House were involved in plans to decertify Biden's electoral when. Stockton told the "Rolling Stone" publication, he's turning his evidence over or, quote, let the cards fall where they may.
[04:10:00]
We'll stay on top of course of that story for you.
Now it's been three days since a string of deadly tornados ripped across several U.S. states and the magnitude of the devastation still just really coming into focus. Many residents are starting to rebuild but hundreds simply have no home to return to. According to the latest figures at least 88 people have been confirmed dead right across five states. Kentucky was the hardest hit with at least 74 dead and more than 100 people still missing.
There has been one sign of hope. Signs now say they're confident no one remains in the rubble of this destroyed candle factory -- as you can see there. Initially dozens feared -- officials feared dozens probably may have died inside. We've learned that while eight were killed most were able to escape. Thankfully.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Biden plans to visit the hardest hit areas on Wednesday. And federal agencies are already on the ground helping with the most urgent needs.
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ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: We are working very closely with state and local officials, emergency responders from across the state, across the country, to deliver on those needs. We're also providing food, clothing, blankets. It's Remember as you well know, having been there in the wee hours that it's cold in December in western Kentucky and that's something we're very mindful of. It's not just providing the medium and long term but delivering for the people what they need right now.
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SOARES: We're also learning about just how record breaking this storm may have been. Experts believe a single tornado may have touched down in four states lasting for more than 250 miles or 400 kilometers, which could make it the longest, continuous tornado in history. But for residents the reality of this historic devastation is just starting to set in. CNN's Brynn Gingras report now from Mayfield, Kentucky.
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BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was her house.
GINGRAS (voice-over): It's taken three days for Carilla Smith to return to this home. The emotion of what happened here Friday still too raw. This pile of rubble and debris is where a family with young children once lived.
GINGRAS: What did you see that night?
CARILLA SMITH, MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY RESIDENT: I mean, it was so black you couldn't really -- it was just so dark you really couldn't see anything.
GINGRAS (voice-over): She said after the storms she and her son raced towards the cries of the family trapped inside.
SMITH: And that's when they brought the little 3-year-old out and we passed him along and then another lady and I were doing CPR on him and trying to save him. As a mom, to know that my son is safe and I couldn't help save the life of that baby, I just kept on trying to breathe life into him, but.
GINGRAS: The heartbreaking stories of loss and devastation are sadly plenty in the streets of Mayfield, Kentucky, a landscape no longer recognizable to the people who live here.
SAMANTHA BURNS, MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY RESIDENT: I feel glad to be alive. I hurt for this, but I hurt more for the others that are -- the houses around that are nothing.
GINGRAS (voice-over): Rescue and recovery efforts are underway across eight states and FEMA is helping open shelters providing food and water to those in need. More than 100 people are feared dead in Kentucky alone. Governor Andy Beshear struggling to keep his composure Monday.
ANDY BESHEAR, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR: Just a few more facts about those we've lost. 18 are still unidentified. Of the ones that we know, the age -- the age range is 5 months to 86 years. And six are younger than 18.
GINGRAS (voice-over): So much loss, yet there are harrowing stories of survival.
DE'AMONTE WILLIAMS, RECUED AUNT TRAPPED IN TORNADO RUBBLE: I've seen that this building was gone and all this stuff was in the street. I was running full sprint.
GINGRAS (voice-over): De'Amonte Williams was racing toward his aunt's house, it was crumbled on the ground, she was pinned inside.
GINGRAS: And you said there was actually a chimney on top of her?
WILLIAMS: Yes, her chimney collapsed on her and her couch got thrown on top of her while she was in her closet. I started yelling her name and once I ran up on her steps, I could see her head poking out just a tiny little bit and as soon as we looked at each other, she started crying.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: If you would like to help those impacted by these deadly storms -- as you just heard there -- the CNN Impact World site has verified ways that you can assist. Visit CNN.com/impact for more information. Our teams, of course, will update with the latest details as soon as they come available.
In some of the areas hit hardest by those storms could be in for a round of wet weather later this week. Just to top it all off really. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the forecast. Good morning, Pedram.
[04:15:02]
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, good morning, Isa. All eyes across portions of the central United States as, of course, a lot of tornado damage still in place here in recovery efforts underway. And I want to show you what's happening here, because a few scattered showers possible over the next 24 to say 48 hours. In by the end of the week, it could be a very wet set up across this region. Some of these areas could see as much as 2 to 3 inches of rainfall. That's toward the latter portion of the week, potentially to even early next week as we transition out of a dry trend.
But right now, an impressive run of warmth across the Eastern United States beginning to develop, and we're talking about temperatures running 20 to as much as 40 degrees above average for this time of year. With, get this, upwards of 160 record highs and even record low, warm temperatures that are in store over the next several days. This is as remarkable as it gets. You put this into the summer season, you're going to have a lot of fatalities associated with heat in place. But of course, you're in the cold season it leads to mild temperatures. It is precisely what we have.
In St. Louis 63 degrees. Memphis almost spring like in nature at 68. As Chicago into the middle 50s, where the temps should be around 37 for this time of year. So certainly, a big story there when it comes to the warmth in place.
And another big story is what's happening around the Western United States. Storm system in place. Potent energy here pushing in. How about these wind gusts? Parts of Oregon in Washington state, Montana, Wyoming, we're talking category 1 equivalent hurricane force wind gusts that have been observed across this region. And an incredible coverage of high wind alerts around the Western United States where these winds could easily exceed tropical storm force, even get into hurricane force. That includes portions of Southern California.
So, you bet the areas that are in higher elevation -- that's not an error there -- 5 to 8 feet of snow are possible. Some of these areas will see blizzard-like conditions in place. So, really a dangerous go for high elevation travel into the Sierra. And yes, even some beneficial rainfall into Southern California across this region the next several days. As far south as San Diego could see some rainfall as well. So, a story worth following here with widespread coverage of wintry weather and wet weather around the Western U.S. -- isa.
SOARES: Thank you very much, Pedram.
You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. Just ahead, the Omicron variant is spreading quickly across the U.K. More details on the Prime Minister's plan to fight the surge.
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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We can see Omicron spiking now in London and some other parts of the country.
[04:20:00]
(END VIDEO CLIP) SOARES: Now, Boris Johnson could be facing the biggest revolt of his premiership today as British lawmakers consider new measures to fight COVID-19. And his own Conservative Party that's lining up against him. The new rules include a work from home order, tougher mask mandates and stricter rules to get a health pass. The Prime Minister also wants all eligible adults to get their vaccine boosters by the end of this month. We heard him say that yesterday. The U.K. has confirmed its first death of a patient with the Omicron variant, and the Health Secretary says the number of infections is doubling every two to three days. Have a listen.
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SAJID JAVID, BRITISH HEALTH SECRETARY: While Omicron represents over 20 percent of cases in England, we've already seen it rise to over 44 percent in London. And we expect to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the capital in the next 48 hours.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this story. Joining me now in London is CNN's Salma Abdelaziz. Salma, we talked about the science and what Sajid Javid said yesterday. But first let's focus on the politics and what's happening today. This is really the Prime Minister's full test of his authority since all these crises that we've seen unfold. Will he get the votes needed within his own party, first of all?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: That's the question, Isa. You have dozens of Conservative MPs, dozens of backbenchers who say they're going to vote against the Prime Minister, against their own party. That's because they are upset that some of these COVID measures, particularly that health pass, that NHS pass. They feel that's curbing civil liberties, these MPs. They say it's not something they want to see in this country. That it's un-British essentially.
But it also means that Prime Minister Boris Johnson doesn't have a grip on his party as much as he would like. Particularly during a time when he's fighting yet another variant of COVID-19. So, this is expected to pass, but because of the Labour Party, because of the opposition party, not because of his own party.
SOARES: That's so ironic.
ABDELAZIZ: Absolutely ironic, and it begins to show you some cracks in the system. Because if Omicron gets worse -- remember, this is a variant that is more transmissible than other variants, there is high concern from health officials. They are trying to speed up these booster shots as fast as they can, but there is high concern that we won't get everyone boosted in time. What I'm trying to make the point of here is that if Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs more restrictions, more measures, he might not be able to count on his own party for that.
SOARES: Have we heard from Boris -- whether Boris Johnson -- whether he thinks he will get the support needed from within his own party within those backbenchers? ABDELAZIZ: Well, he hasn't wanted to get ahead of it. But we've seen
his own staff, his team this morning on a lot of the networks, alongside some of those MPs, those backbenchers, who are making their opposition to these measures known. Again, the Prime Minister does expect this to pass because of the Labour Party.
He has not, however, ruled out any other restrictions in the future. So, there's still that concern that you have a Prime Minister right now with little political standing, who his ethical authority, his moral authority is being questioned, at the same time he needs to fight this variant. This is important. It puts pressure on the health system.
SOARES: I know you'll stay on top of it for us. Salma, thank you very much indeed.
Now, still to come right here on the show, the House Select Committee investigating January 6 Capitol riot, takes action after Donald Trump's former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows fails to appear for a deposition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: January 6th was without precedent. There has been no stronger case in our nation's history for a Congressional investigation into the actions of a former president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Isa Soares. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with our top stories this hour.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a revolt from lawmakers in Parliament. A vote on expanded measures to fight the spread of coronavirus is expected later today. The results could be a rebuke to Johnson's decisions on how he's handled the pandemic.
And the January 6 committee lawmakers on Capitol Hill will have voted -- have voted, in fact, to recommend contempt charges for former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. When the committee met for that vote, they unveiled startling text messages from the day of the Capitol riot. Those messages show how lawmakers, Fox News personalities and even the former president's own son tried to press Mark Meadows to get Donald Trump to stop the violence. The committee's Vice Chairwoman Republican Liz Cheney read the text out loud. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: The White House knew exactly what was happening here at the Capitol. Members of Congress, the press, and others wrote to Mark Meadows as the attack was underway. One text Mr. Meadows received said, quote, we are under siege here at the Capitol. Another, quote, they have breached the Capitol. In a third, Mark, protesters are literally storming the Capitol, breaking windows on doors, rushing in. Is Trump going to say something? A fourth, there is an armed standoff at the House Chamber door. And another from someone inside the Capitol, we are all helpless.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
