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January 6 Committee Stands Down on Requests for Some Documents; Pro-Democracy Outlet in Hong Kong Announces Immediate Closure; Russian and U.S. Officials to Hold Security Talks on January 10; Abbas Meets with Israeli Defense Minister Gantz; Parents Speak Out After Daughter Fatally Shot by LAPD; Remembering the Late Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Taliban Ban Women from Solo, Long-Distance Road Trips. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired December 29, 2021 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. We're following new developments in the House committee's investigation into the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including a possible time frame for an interim report. CNN's Whitney Wild has the details from Washington.

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WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: The House Select Committee investigating January 6 has pared back its request for some documents from the Trump White House after the Biden administration pushed back. The Biden administration made a few arguments for holding back these documents, in some cases they're just not relevant to the investigation. But in other cases, the committee is deferring its request after the administration decided the documents are highly sensitive and originated outside of the White House within the executive branch.

These are the kinds of developments that show the committee is still working at warp speed to collect and analyze as much information as possible for what now seems to be a likely interim report issued over the summer with a possibility of a full report sometime in the fall.

The committee is entering a new more public phase with plans for public hearings sometime in 2022. Meanwhile, a conservative judge in D.C. appointed by former President Trump has said a conspiracy case against members of the Proud Boys can move forward. In a 43-page ruling, the judge said that the alleged crimes could not be considered protected First Amendment speech.

In Washington, I'm Whitney Wild.

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FOSTER: Hong Kong pro-democracy outlet Stand News has announced it'll shut down less than 12 hours after a police raid of its offices. Hundreds of police officers swarmed the company headquarters collecting boxes of evidence. At least seven staff and associates of the outlet were arrested earlier today suspected of conspiracy to publish seditious material. As a blanket charge being used to restrict media freedoms in that city.

One of Russia's most respected human rights organizations has been ordered to shut down. The Supreme Court ruled Memorial International has broken the country's foreign agent law. But the group says the real reason is the Kremlin doesn't approve of its work which includes documenting the abuses of the Stalin era. Supporters outside the court shouted shame, shame. Seven people were reportedly detained.

The U.S. and Russian officials are set to hold security talks on January the 10th. There had been tensions over thousands of Russian troops amassed at the Ukrainian border. But now Moscow wants guarantees that NATO will not expand eastwards or allow Ukraine to join the a alliance. For more on this, Nic Robertson joins us from Moscow. And pretty positive at least that they're talking and there's less focus on the military movements here.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Indeed. We've heard from Russian deputy foreign minister today saying they will have the Russian delegation going to the meeting with U.S. officials. We'll have an inter-departmental component to it. And he noted as well that that would have a significant representation from Russia's ministry of defense to negotiate those security guarantees about this eastward expansion of NATO that Russia perceives and sees as a threat to its national security.

[04:35:00]

So, the emphasis does shift to a diplomatic track, but even on that diplomatic track, Russia's position is it's going to have a strong military component. U.S. is saying, look, its way of dealing with Russia and also this is NATO's way of dealing with Russia is through deterrence and diplomacy. That's what U.S. officials are saying.

And both NATO and U.S. officials also saying that, you know, Russia is putting its concerns on the table. They'll put their concerns on the table, and there may not be a meeting of minds on all issues. There may be some agreement, but there also may be some differences of opinion.

And, you know, from Russia's perspective, it's really looking for clarity. It doesn't like, in the context of NATO and Ukraine, an ambiguity that both sides can agree to differ. It wants clarity. It wants NATO to say it's in a legally binding form and the U.S. to provide the impetus to NATO to do it in a legally binding way that NATO will not put troops or military equipment in Ukraine, and that it won't accept Ukraine as a member of NATO. So, there are ambiguities that could emerge in those talks, and it's hard to see how that's going to sit well with Russia. This is a diplomatic track, but it's still all about the military.

FOSTER: And in terms of those military movement, what are we looking at now? Because obviously there were some withdrawals, but there are some troops left there. What specifically are you looking at in terms of, you know, what the wider world should be alerted to?

ROBERTSON: Clarity, clarity that those troops Russia said have gone back to base have gone back. Clarity on whether or not they took the military hardware with them. When Russia went through a military buildup close to the border with Ukraine earlier in the year and then scaled back after the military exercises that it said were pre-planned and on its own territory, that it's perfectly at liberty to do, which is the same situation that exists now.

Again, training that was planned on Russian territory and from Russia's perspective, even if it's close to the border with Ukraine, this is a Russian issue, Russian sovereignty, and the West should not have a say and a view in this. But after that buildup earlier in the year, Russia left behind heavy equipment that was used in the training, military equipment that would be useful for military advance in Ukraine. And the concern will be having these 10,000 troops that have gone back to their bases, have they left that equipment there? And what are the other tens of thousands of troops still doing there? Are they still doing their military training? How much hardware do they have with them? What does this look like? Does it look like a force that's drawing down or one that's actually still prepared and capable of an incursion into Ukraine?

FOSTER: OK, Nic in Moscow, thank you. We'll be watching very close, of course.

We are watching another story. This one's in the Middle East. The Palestinian Authority president had a rare meeting with a senior Israeli official on Tuesday. Israel's Public Broadcaster says Mahmoud Abbas met defense minister Benny Gantz in Israeli territory. It was the first such trip for Abbas in more than a decade. And followed a visit to the region last week by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. For more, let's bring in journalist Elliot Gotkine live in Jerusalem for us. Often, you know, it's the optics here, the fact they're meeting, a lot of focus is on that. But what do you understand of the substance of that meeting?

ELLIOTT GOTKINE, JOURNALIST: Max, we've heard both from defense minister Benny Gantz, also the Palestinian minister as well, the head of civilian affairs Hussein al-Sheikh, talking about what was going on in that meeting. So, Benny Gantz, the defense minister, saying it was about continuing advancing confidence building measures in economic and civilian areas and talking about the shared interests in security cooperation, maintaining regional stability and the like for the well- being of both Israelis and Palestinians.

From the Palestinian perspective though, they were talking about the importance of creating a political horizon that leads to a political solution. And also de-escalating some of the tensions that we've seen rising in the West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli settlors.

I should, of course, emphasize that, of course, this isn't a resumption of peace talks. It's very, very unlikely that this is going to pave the way for any such resumption. The peace process is moribund and will continue to be that way especially as we got right-wing members of the governing coalition in Israel including Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's party who are dead set against peace talks and any territorial concessions. This meeting was significant for other reasons as well. It was also to

help bolster the position of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President and of course, to try to diminish the importance of Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip. And to show that Abbas is really still the only person, the only game in town, the only person the Israelis and the U.S. can do businesses with.

[04:40:03]

Although I should note that pretty much everyone in the Palestinian side of things outside of Abbas' Fatah party has come out against this meeting saying that it is effectively normalizing relations with Israel and undermining the Palestinian's position. And of course, also to show that the U.S. is re-engaged in what the situation here as well, Max, and ensuring there are further conversations going on to try to de-escalate tensions a little bit.

FOSTER: OK, Elliott in Jerusalem, thank you.

Still to come, an unimaginable loss. The parents of a teenage girl killed by a stray police bullet speaking out about the tragedy.

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FOSTER: The parents of a 14-year-old girl shot and killed by Los Angeles police are speaking out about their devastating loss. The girl was in the dressing room with her mother when a stray bullet hit her. On Tuesday, her mother broke down in tears describing the moment her daughter died in her arms. CNN's Josh Campbell has the story. But a warning, some of the footage we are about to show is disturbing.

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JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At an emotional press conference, Valentina Orellana-Peralta's mother spoke about holding her daughter during the shooting.

"We heard screaming. We sat down and we hugged each other. When something get my daughter and it threw us to the ground. She died in my arms."

Police say they believe Valentina was hit by a bullet that ricocheted off the tile floor and entered a dressing room wall as officers pursued a suspect who allegedly assaulted several women. Valentina's mother had one of the family's attorneys, Benjamin Crump, read a statement detailing what she remembered that day.

BEN CRUMP, ATTORNEY: All of a sudden, we felt an explosion that threw us both to the ground. That's when I saw white powder coming out of Valentina's body as she started having convulsions.

[04:45:00]

I had no idea she had been shot. Her body went limp.

CAMPBELL (voice-over): Valentina died from a gunshot wound to the chest. The LAPD released edited bodycam footage, 911 calls, radio transmissions, and store surveillance videos showing the assaults in progress and calls reporting a possible shooting.

DISPATCHER: ADW shooting, Victory and Lauren Canyon. Suspect is still inside the location. PR advised there are customers and employees hiding inside the location.

CAMPBELL (voice-over): The footage shows officers arriving at the scene, then moving up an escalator, guns drawn, and finding a woman on the ground after she was repeatedly hit with a metal bike lock.

POLICE OFFICER: She is bleeding. She's bleeding.

CAMPBELL (voice-over): One officer fires three shots, killing the suspect. No gun was found near the body as officers searched the scene. Police say after the shooting, they found Valentina in a dressing room.

CAPTAIN STACY SPELL, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: Unbeknownst to the officers, a 14-year-old girl was in a changing room behind the wall that was behind the suspect and out of the officers' view.

CAMPBELL: Valentina's father breaking down talking today about Valentina's life, saying she wanted to go to college to become an engineer.

CRUMP: She had dreams.

CAMPBELL (voice-over): Her father's attorney says Valentina's family wants justice.

CAMPBELL: What does justice mean to them?

CRUMP: Justice is trying to examine and investigate thoroughly. They want to see accountability.

CAMPBELL: Josh Campbell, CNN, Los Angeles.

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FOSTER: We have new details on the funeral of the late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. According to his foundation the anti- apartheid activists wanted only the cheapest available coffin and a bouquet of carnations from his family. He' now will lie in state for two days instead of one to accommodate more mourners. Let's bring in CNN's Larry Madowo. Very much speaking to the life he lived.

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Max. He said -- these foundations are saying that Archbishop Desmond Tutu left very clear instructions about his funeral. He didn't want any ostentatious or a lavish standing at his funeral. That's why he asked for the cheapest available coffin and only this bouquet of carnations from his family be the flowers at St. George's Cathedral, and he's asking people who wanted to donate, to donate to the Legacy Foundation and not buy more flowers. The funeral itself will only have 100 people because of current COVID

restrictions in South Africa. But one moment from 1985 is getting new attention. Because it speaks to the man that he was where he saved a police informer from almost suddenly being lynched by an angry mob. He and another cleric walk into this crowd and managed to save this man. And then "The Arch," as he was called, went back to talk to this young men and tell them that this is not the right thing to do. And his daughter, Nontombi Tutu has been talking about why this was such a powerful moment for her.

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NONTOMBI NAOMI TUTU, DESMOND TUTU'S DAUGHTER: There were so many things striking about it. One was that he had the courage to go into the crowd and say, no, this is not how we do it. But the other is that those young people listened, right? That there was a dignity in our struggle, that these young people, they could have said, who are you to tell us about these people who are selling us out? But there was still that respect for Ute and the other clergy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: As South Africans truly respected him. He will be -- his ashes will be interred at St. George's Cathedral. This used to be called the people's cathedral during the a apartheid years when he preached there. And that big -- it's not a big ceremony. Because it's only hundred people. But it will take place New Year's Day. And that will be his final journey -- Max.

FOSTER: Larry, in Nairobi, thank you.

This just in to CNN. Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Cup in Sydney, Australia. ATP officials didn't provide a reason why the world number one dropped out. But the tennis star has been cagey about his COVID vaccination status in the past. The ATP Cup is scheduled to begin this Saturday. We'll continue to follow this and bring you more details as we get them.

Now, the Taliban are now imposing a new restriction, which further curbs women's rights in Afghanistan. The details and a live report next.

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FOSTER: The Taliban are further restricting Afghan women as they impose a new rule. This time targeting travel. A telephone official says women are banned from taking long distance road trips on their own and will now have to be accompanied by a male relative if they travel further than 45 miles. CNN's Arwa Damon is following developments. Joins us now from Istanbul. I mean, this on its own is pretty shocking, but it comes after a long line of other restrictions.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And sadly, Max, really no great big surprise, especially when it comes to a number of issues that Afghanistan was progressing along, not to mention it being a nascent democracy, the fight for women's rights within Afghanistan. With a number of very brave and prominent voices joining those ranks.

Right now, we're seeing all of that being significantly rolled back with a number of different decisions that the Taliban has been putting into place. This just really being the last of them. You know, previous to all of this, we have the issue of, you know, women -- girls being allowed to go to school to continue on to higher education, and that's not possible for the vast majority of young women within the country.

You also have women who have been told that they can't yet go back to work. The Taliban continuously saying all of these rules and regulations are really meant to be protecting Afghanistan's women and girls. But this is very reminiscent of the Taliban of 20 years ago.

Add on to all of this, of course, you have the Ministry of Women's Affairs that was effectively shut down, transformed into what is known as the Ministry of Virtue and Vice. This is a ministry that the Taliban had 20 years ago, and it was greatly feared. Its operatives were tasked with basically roaming the streets and punishing anyone who did not adhere to their rules.

[04:55:00]

And also in the last few days, the Taliban went on to further, you know, erode these gains that the country had been making by dismissing the electoral commission, the ministry of peace, the ministry of parliament, saying that these institutions were no longer needed now that the Taliban was in power. So, you can imagine if you are an Afghan stuck in Afghanistan right now, you're just watching everything being taken away from you, especially if you're a woman -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, Arwa, thank you.

The New Year is around the corner and the future is in sight. But in Richmond, Virginia the past is being dug up literally. State officials are now delicately cataloging and preserving the contents of a time capsule. The second one to be opened from the year soon after the American Civil War. Some of the artifacts include a masonic symbol, coins, a magazine clipping about Abraham Lincoln's funeral, a Richmond directory and a bible. Now, the time capsule was found buried at the former site of city's Robert E. Lee statue, a confederate monument removed in September following racial protests.

Egyptian scientists are peeling back another layer of history with new information on the Pharaoh Amenhotep, the first now using noninvasive digital scanning, they've been able to get a glimpse behind, beneath the face mask and bandages of the 3,500-year-old mummy, which is so fragile. Experts have been too nervous to expose its remains. There were no suggestions of injuries or the cause of death, but hieroglyphics suggest the mummy may have been repaired by priests and embalmers after it was lightly damaged by tomb raiders.

Thanks for joining us on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. "EARLY START" with Laura Jarrett and Paula Reid up next. You're watching CNN.

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