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Novak Djokovic Detained ahead of Australian Visa Hearing; France Reports Record Number of Classes Canceled on Friday; Ukraine Hit by Cyber Attack after High-Stakes Talks End; U.S. Condemns North Korean Missile Launches; Investigation into Downing Street Events Is Underway; Oath Keepers Leader Charged with Seditious Conspiracy; Underwater Volcano Eruption Leads to Tsunami Warning; Heavy Snow and Ice Threaten Millions This Weekend. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired January 15, 2022 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

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PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): And a warm welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Paula Newton.

Ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, tennis number one Novak Djokovic is back in detention as he appeals a second visa cancellation. We will take you live to Melbourne and Belgrade.

Plus, Ukraine recovers from a cyberattack as the Pentagon accuses Russia of creating an excuse to invade its neighbor. We'll go to Kiev for those details.

And a winter storm sweeps across America, Derek Van Dam tells us how bad it will be. And here's the thing, how best you can prepare.

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NEWTON: So Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is fighting to stay in Australia at this hour to compete at the Australian Open, after his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 contributed to the second cancellation of his visa.

He's back in detention a day after being able to practice on the courts. And an appeal hearing tomorrow will be the player's last chance to avoid deportation. Paula Hancocks joins me live.

As you were saying, Djokovic will have to wait to Sunday morning Melbourne time to plead his case.

Why don't you bring up to date on what to expect and how this will unfold?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At this point, Novak Djokovic is back in detention, he's back in the Park Hotel, where he was a week ago, certainly not where he wants to be two days before a grand slam event. But his lawyers, the government, immigration minister lawyers, will be

extremely busy at the moment. They have two more hours to file submissions to the court. At 9:30 Sunday morning here in Melbourne, the full proceedings will begin.

It will be a full court, meaning three judges rather than one; that was decided in the preliminary hearing this Saturday, today. And they will be hearing arguments from both sides.

Now we did see more court filings today. There were a number that were made public, in the public interest. And it shows really what the argument the immigration minister is making.

His argument is that Djokovic staying in the country could incite anti vaccination sentiment or also possibly civil unrest. There's also another part of the submission, which said there is a concern he could influence others to emulate his prior conduct and fail to comply with health measures after a positive COVID-19 test result.

Now that refers back to Djokovic's admission, he went out a day after he was COVID-19 positive to a media interview, a photo shoot. And that has been used in the immigration minister's argument as well.

So, this will be heard from 9:30 tomorrow morning. And potentially, we will hear something by the end of the day. Of course, time is running out. The Australian Open starts on Monday. Djokovic is supposed to be on court on Monday.

NEWTON: And if he's not, even if he is there appealing, he would have to forfeit or presumably go home. I want to ask you about the other players in this tournament.

Remember them?

I think they're feeling this is a distraction, this is taking away from the competition.

How are they reacting?

NEWTON: There is a growing sense of frustration that this has dragged on so long and that it is effectively sucking all of the oxygen out of the room. There was a media day today, this Saturday, at the Australian Open.

And many of the players were available for media interviews. Every single one of them was asked, of course, about Novak Djokovic as well. There is a frustration they'll be asked less about their hopes, their chances, their form and more about this visa.

We heard from Andy Murray, the former number one British player, saying this is not good for the Australian Open, for tennis not good for not good for Novak, that we need a resolution.

But you also have players saying that Djokovic knew what the expectation was; 97 percent of the men's singles players are vaccinated. This was an expectation that they chose to be. Djokovic chose not to be.

So, there is frustration among some players that he brought this on himself in many ways himself. Paula.

[04:05:00]

NEWTON: For what we can expect going forward, you and I discussed this before, right, even if he doesn't win or lose this appeal, there is perhaps a bridging visa. You just outlined it there, the conditions under which the administrator cancelled this the second time, it's as if the slate has been wiped clean, right?

HANCOCKS: Well, the first hearing, which happened last Monday, was really a procedural issue, the judge finding that there was a procedural error in the way that the visa was cancelled, that the border officials did not give Djokovic a chance to confer with his lawyers or Tennis Australia officials. So that was really why that was overturned.

This time around it's the immigration minister deciding to make the argument that it is in the public interest that Novak Djokovic's visa be cancelled. It could make it more difficult for Djokovic's lawyers to fight against. The lawyers saying, they could try to find a legal error in order to have the visa reinstated.

But it is a broad concept of it's not in the public interest. We do have an idea of what the government is saying, the fact that they're worried about the anti-vaccine sentiment.

They're worried that Djokovic's presence here could excite that community and that sentiment. And then again, the fact that he has admitted to going outside and mingling with people, while COVID-19 positive, worries that could encourage people here to do the same, Paula.

NEWTON: Paula Hancocks after 8:00 pm there in Melbourne. Thank you for that update.

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NEWTON: Now we want to do a deeper dive into that legal analysis. Australian immigration lawyer John Findley joins me now.

Glad to have you on board. I wanted to ask you about the grounds on which the minister cancelled Djokovic's visa. We just heard Paula talk about it. They describe it as a danger to public health and good order, that as an anti-vaxxer, he could stir up others.

Now are they on firm ground legally, especially when it comes to the right to appeal such an order?

JOHN FINDLEY, IMMIGRATION LAWYER: Are they on the right grounds, legally?

Well, the minister has certain powers to make certain opinions. What has to happen is that the minister has to determine, has to show that his determination, let's say, is making sense.

Is it sensible to say that Mr. Djokovic could cause public disorder by being an anti-vaxxer?

Well, Mr. Djokovic has made no statements, has made no incitement, he's just said he doesn't want to take the vaccine. That sounds to me to be a fundamental right that the immigration department seeks to challenge.

Fundamental rights can't be easily extinguished. And without reading the submissions to be made by Mr. Djokovic's lawyers, that would be something that I would put forward to the court.

NEWTON: And putting forward that argument to the court, even if there was no quick resolution tomorrow, what do you think, is it possible that this so-called bridging visa is still, you know, really in play here, that he could actually be allowed to stay, be allowed to leave detention, still play the tournament and have this appeal ongoing?

FINDLEY: It's possible; though, he now has no visa. A bridging visa normally would be granted to permit a person to arrange to depart from Australia.

If a bridging visa was issued, it would be hard for Mr. Djokovic to argue that he needs two weeks; which is, say, the duration of the tennis championship; he needs two weeks to arrange to depart Australia. So I think the best chance for Mr. Djokovic is to have the minister's decision overturned.

NEWTON: Right. And for that to be done fairly quickly, obviously, because there's one day left, they're supposed to be on court.

I'm wondering, why do you think the government chose this route?

I mean, there are other questions about the initial visa.

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NEWTON: You know, questions about when he tested positive, his travel before he arrived to Australia, the document in which he basically said he hadn't traveled anywhere else before he went to Australia.

Now there is evidence -- he says it was a mistake.

But why go this route, in order to say he would be a danger?

FINDLEY: Yes, why go this route?

The minister would have asked Mr. Djokovic a series of questions. And Mr. Djokovic would have provided answers to those questions. And some of the answers about visiting places, while he knew he was COVID positive, may or may not form grounds for cancellation of a visa.

So, the minister's, I think, clutching at straws, is going into a section of the act, which is Section 1, Subsection, Subsection -- he's going right into the act and found that he can cancel the visa if the presence of the visa holder would jeopardize the health and good governance of Australia.

I would argue, were it me, that there are hundreds of thousands of people with the COVID infection in Australia. There must be tens of thousands of people who are asymptomatic, undiagnosed but with the virus.

And secondly, in the community, how could one person pose such a threat as to the good order of Australia?

Mr. Djokovic is doing nothing, nothing at all, toward promoting or inciting or becoming a poster boy for anti-vaxxers. And the other thing that I would -- I would argue is that a person's choice to take the vaccine or not take the vaccine is a personal choice.

NEWTON: Right. And we know --

(CROSSTALK)

FINDLEY: And it's --

NEWTON: And we do know in Australia there has been some sympathy for that argument. Of course, that would be, though, Mr. Djokovic being a noncitizen of Australia. We're going to have to leave it there. John Findley, thank you for weighing in.

FINDLEY: Oh, pleasure, pleasure.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now with any luck, we go back to the pandemic here, waiting in the long, tiresome COVID testing lines could soon be a past for the United States. Beginning Wednesday, Americans will be able to order home COVID tests from the federal government.

The program will allow up to four free tests per address available at covidtest.gov. Beginning on January 19th and will ship within 7-12 days of order. This comes as hospitalizations are reaching new highs. More states and health systems are calling in National Guard personnel to help fill gaps as workers call out sick.

According to the HHS data, nearly 156,000 people in the United States are hospitalized with COVID. And 19 states report their intensive care units are now more than 85 percent full.

To Europe now. France says a record number of classes were canceled on Friday due to soaring cases among students and teachers. The country has seen record high numbers of new cases this week.

Spain reporting nearly 1 million new cases in the past week and the second highest number of new daily cases since the pandemic began, more than 162,000 cases reported on Friday alone.

Joined now by CNN's Melissa Bell in Paris.

Between the protests and walk-outs and protests -- obviously, Melissa, you and I know COVID fatigue is peaking even with those cases? MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: COVID is peaking even with that spread of Omicron, so contagious that we're just seeing these records set and then beaten in country after country day after day, because it's spreading so quickly, because it's inevitable that such a large part of the European population will catch it, Paula.

And that was according to the World Health Organization, speaking earlier, saying that 50 percent of Europeans would have it within the next six to eight weeks. The issue now is for governments to try to figure out how they're going to manage to keep the economy's schools open longer term, even though the new variant is spreading.

So, in France, the relaxation of the rules angered teachers on Thursday, saying they're not being consulted. They say they're put in danger by more relaxed rules aimed at keeping children in school. And then just the next day, that record number of classes closed, either because teachers themselves were sick or too many children in one class were.

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BELL: As well, we expect more protests here in France this Saturday, Paula, because, overnight, early hours of the morning, the French parliament managed to get through a crucial stage in tightening legislation.

So, access to concerts and cinemas will only be possible from next week for those who've been vaccinated. So a hardening of the legislation and trying to encourage children to stay in school, despite the variant. And it has yet to peak.

We expect to see whether the figures in France taper off from next week. But authorities say they don't expect the pressure on hospitals to ease at least before the end of the month or the beginning of the next.

That's how long Europe's going to try to have to hold on, hold tight, even though you say, that COVID-19 fatigue truly setting in and protests continuing as governments try to keep as open as they possibly can, despite everything. Paula.

NEWTON: And sobering, indeed, Melissa, not just the cases but hospitalizations as you were talking about. Melissa Bell, appreciate it.

The U.S. says Russia is up to its old tricks. Fears of an attack on Ukraine, what we're learning about an alleged false flag operation coming up.

And North Korea has a near warning for the U.S. as it launches more test missiles. We'll have that story, next.

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NEWTON: The U.S. says it has information that Russia is preparing a so-called false attack to justify invading Ukraine. Now an American official tells CNN there is evidence Moscow will carry out so-called acts of sabotage against its own proxy forces as a pretext for invasion.

Ukraine's defense ministry made a similar allegation. Take a listen now to what the Pentagon said about this Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: We have information that they've preposition a group of operatives to conduct what we call a false flag operation, an operation designed to look like an attack on them or their people -- or Russian speaking people and Ukraine, again, as an excuse to go in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: And Ukraine says Russia is likely behind a cyberattack that hit scores of its government websites. For more on all of this, Sam Kiley joins us live from Kiev.

Sam, Ukraine has learned to expect such attacks.

But I'm wondering if they really believe that this is a prelude to a wider military conflict.

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I don't think there's any doubt at all in the minds of Ukrainian officials -- and, indeed, their own intelligence services have reinforced that, with that statement mentioned earlier on.

Almost simultaneous with the U.S., extraordinary statement coming from the Pentagon, giving a degree of detail that you would never normally see in terms of an exposure of covert operations in a rival territory or conducted by a rival.

But nonetheless, the Ukrainians saying they believe false flag operation could be conducted against Russian troops in Moldova. They have seen it before. It's been used by Russians elsewhere in Chechnya. There were attacks on Russians attributed to Chechens that became part of the energy behind Russia's war in Chechnya two decades ago.

So, we have seen this before, they've seen it before here in Ukraine. And the assumption, frankly, among Ukrainian officials is, if there is going to be an escalation, it would almost certainly follow that kind of pattern, a false flag attack, attributed to Ukraine, to provide the excuse to cover the energy for Vladimir Putin to order troops into Ukraine.

Of course, as you know, there are already also Russian troops on the ground in Donbas region, some of them covert but there's been a playground effectively of Russian special forces since they first invaded in 2014.

NEWTON: And, Sam, in terms of the reaction there on the ground, to what could unfold, are they looking at a timeline at this point?

And do they think there's any hope for talks whatsoever?

KILEY: I think that's a very interesting issue. There is a heightened state of alert. There were some units in Ukraine that have gone on to a higher state of alert than they were already on.

This is a country that is at war. People forget that. The Donbas has been occupied by Russia; Crimea, occupied and annexed by Russia. So Ukrainian troops, almost on a weekly basis, are being killed, despite the fact there was supposed to be a cease-fire.

So, they're already at a heightened state of alert. There is a great deal of activity going into training of reserves, planning for stay- behind units to operate behind Russian lines, to make an insurgency against Russian invasion, and the expectation it could happen at any moment.

NEWTON: We shall watch events from there. It's good to have you on the ground in Ukraine, Sam. Appreciate it.

Sam Kiley, for us live from Kiev.

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NEWTON: Professor Robert English is the director of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California and he joins me now from Genoa, Italy.

With this staged pretext, Russia would be justified in invading Ukraine.

I mean, what do you make of it, especially given whether or not this intelligence is actually credible?

ROBERT ENGLISH, DIRECTOR, CENTRAL EUROPEAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Yes, I think there's a bit of a propaganda game going on both sides.

[04:25:00]

ENGLISH: I have no doubt that Russia has operatives in Ukraine, that they've had for some time. But it seems amateurish. Imagine, at the same time they're preparing a pretext for invasion, they're also hacking Ukrainian government websites and announcing they're coming.

That's not quite consistent. And for the Russian part, they're accusing us of placing chemical weapons and helping prepare a genocide. So, I'm a little more skeptical of these claims for both. It's part of the propaganda war that's ratcheting up at this moment.

NEWTON: Unfortunately, it's 2022 and I'm old enough to resonate with the 1980s. So, there you go. I want to talk about the wider problem here. You do not think that

Putin will invade Ukraine.

Why not?

ENGLISH: I think Putin wins by fanning differences between the alliance, between the United States and its main European allies -- Britain, France, Italy. And he gains by waiting, not by launching an invasion, which would be the one thing to absolutely unite all the NATO allies in a really strong response.

That would cripple Russia economically. So, Putin wouldn't do that. He's not foolish and it would also be wildly unpopular in Russia.

But by threatening invasion, by raising the stakes, by repeating Russia's security concerns, and that Ukraine must never join NATO, some European leaders already think that.

Back in 2008, in the George W. Bush administration, it was the Germans and Chancellor Merkel and the French under President Sarkozy who blocked the Bush initiative to admit Ukraine and European opinions haven't changed on this.

So, I think by the Russians raising it to such a fever pitch, they're only helping to encourage the Europeans to say to the Americans, hey, slow down here. The German chancellor Olaf Scholz has even spoken of a new detente, the Russia outreach policies of the 1980s and before.

So that's a significant difference. And over time, I think Russia will be talking separately with the French; separately with the Germans, and probably find, you know, openness to some of their security concerns, even if they don't get that ironclad promise that Ukraine will never join NATO. That would be difficult.

NEWTON: Yes. And we know that, that that's been the red line. You have quite a nuanced argument there. I'm glad you bring up the fact this is not going to be easy for Russia to say we're going to expand the war with Ukraine. That would not be popular with many Russians.

Having said that, what is Ukraine's role in all of this?

There had been speculation that perhaps Russia was trying to come to an accommodation with Ukraine in terms of what was happening in the eastern half of the country there.

I mean, what do you think will happen in terms of Ukraine stepping up?

I mean this is a country on the brink.

ENGLISH: Yes, Paula, that's an insightful observation. I'm glad you pointed to that direction because what is this all about, the core issue, is Eastern Ukraine, is the separatist region in Donetsk.

And there was a Minsk accord signed back in 2014 and 2015, outlining a compromise solution that would require Russia to get out and its military support. It would also require Ukraine, the government in Kiev, to grant some

regional autonomy and some degree of self-government, including language rights and cultural rights for those eastern regions.

Now Kiev, that is Ukraine, signed those accords as a broad outline for a solution and has not fulfilled them. Russia has not fulfilled its part. But the Ukrainians have backtracked on giving autonomy to those regions.

And that's one of Russia's central demands, to revive that and solve the core problem here. And I've got to say both sides are guilty, not just the Russians but the Ukrainians are not cooperating, either. And Ukraine, for its part, has deep economic problems, right, it's actually slid backwards in recent years. And it's not a stable, prosperous country.

NEWTON: No, and the problems there are profound and getting worse. We're going to have to leave it there. Professor Robert English, appreciate it.

ENGLISH: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: North Korea says it test-fired two ballistic missiles on Friday. According to state media, they were launched from a rail car and hit their intended target in the water off the Korean Peninsula.

It's the latest of a series of missile tests in recent days. Secretary of state Antony Blinken condemned the launch, saying it violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

[04:30:00]

NEWTON: North Korea says it will be forced to take a, quote, "stronger reaction" if the U.S. chooses to take a confrontational stance.

Novak Djokovic's homeland weighs in on the controversy surrounding his Australian visa status. What the Serbian president is saying.

Plus, a growing scandal for prime minister Boris Johnson after parties held at Downing Street. Yes, parties, during COVID lockdowns. Why he's apologizing to the queen herself. That's ahead in a live report from London.

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NEWTON: And welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world, I'm Paula Newton. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

Returning to our top story now, Novak Djokovic's legal fight to avoid deportation from Australia after the second cancellation of his visa. Right now, the Serbian tennis star is at an immigration detention facility once again.

His appeal will be heard tomorrow, ahead of the start of the Australian Open on Monday. Now the Australian immigration minister said allowing Djokovic to remain in the country could increase anti- vaccine sentiment. Meanwhile, there is no escaping the issue for the other players preparing to play. Rafael Nadal spoke with our Phil Black.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAFAEL NADAL, TENNIS PRO: I'm just a player. I'm seeing it from outside. As I said, I am a little bit tired of this matter. No. To think it went too far, I wish Novak all the very best. And that's it. I want to play tennis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: God, you got to feel for him.

[04:35:00]

NEWTON: In his homeland, Djokovic is revered as a national hero. He even has the backing of Serbia's president, who is lashing out at Australia over their treatment of Djokovic. And some of his fans say they're also behind him, no matter what. Scott McLean is covering this in Serbia. He has the reaction now.

It's significant now, right, that the president of the country is actually making a statement.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you're absolutely right, Paula. We were told that the president is not going to comment on this. But yesterday afternoon he released a statement, saying, because of the attacks and pressures on Djokovic he had to say something.

What he did say is not certainly going to help Australian-Serbian diplomatic relations.

If they didn't want Djokovic in the country, why did they issue him a visa in the first place?

The president didn't take issue with the Australian immigration decisions; what he takes issue is the political intervention, listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, SERBIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I am amazed at the fact that such decisions can be made by the executive and after the valid decisions of the judiciary.

They often preach to us about what the rule of law is.

Why do you mistreat him and make fun of him?

Not only him but also with his family and an entire nation that is free and proud. Do you need it to win some elections?

Do you need it to please your public?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLEAN: Now most Serbs will tell you, Paula, that, the vaccination issue, that's a personal choice. And the president didn't mention it. But the prime minister's spokesperson told us yesterday that, if Djokovic did take the vaccine, it would go a long way toward boosting numbers in this country, which are amongst the lowest in Europe.

NEWTON: Which is something to follow up on at the end of this, seemingly whenever it does end.

I want you to also give us an update on something I know you've been following very closely. The Australian border force was possibly debating his PCR results.

Did they reach out to the Serbian government at this point?

MCLEAN: So, the prime minister's office said they believe they did reach out to the Serbian public health institute to try to get some clarity. The government is also trying to clear up questions about that PCR test to us as well.

Remember, there were questions about the ID number on that December 16th positive PCR test. It seemed to correlate better with tests taken 10 days later on December 26th. They say that could be explained by the fact it was done at a different lab.

Remember, also, the QR code on those tests showed both positive and negative results for a brief time this past week. They say that was due to an overwhelmed server. There are also questions here for Djokovic himself, because he tested positive on December 16th.

The result was generated around 8:21 that day. He says, though, he didn't get the results until the next day, until after he had that maskless event with children. The government says there's simply no way he didn't get both a text message and an email the day before that event with kids.

Whether he checked it, though, that is something that only Novak Djokovic can answer.

NEWTON: There's certainly no crime in not checking your text or email. Scott McLean in Belgrade, thank you so much.

Now British prime minister Boris Johnson is apologizing again for gatherings held at 10 Downing Street with COVID restrictions in place. This time, he's apologizing to Queen Elizabeth herself after a new report describes a boozy party the night before Prince Philip's funeral.

You see there, the queen solitary in her grief. Salma Abdelaziz joins us from London. The apology was likely the least he could do but obviously, Britons

must be doubting the sincerity of any contrition, especially when I ready, by the hour, the scope of the partying and the boozing that was going on.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, it's hard to capture the mood of this nation right now, from outrage to dark comedy.

"Are you sure you're at work or at a party?"

"Is that a coffee or an espresso martini?"

The jokes go on and on because prime minister Boris Johnson has become a laughingstock. There's an overwhelming sense that he has lied through his teeth.

I want to bring up that picture again you that mentioned that iconic image of the queen, sitting in the chapel by herself, mask on, no one near her, saying goodbye to her husband of more than seven decades while still following the rules, while respecting the restrictions.

[04:40:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Something that the people who put those rules in place apparently were not doing just the night before.

This latest allegation coming from "The Telegraph" newspaper in Britain, it said two parties were held at Downing Street the night before Prince Philip's funeral at the time when the country was in national mourning at a time when you could only have 30 people at your funeral, at a time when any indoor mixing was absolutely limited, absolutely restricted.

And it's important for people to remember that, in this country, rules were enforced. At times, police would literally knock down doors of people holding illegal parties. So, there's the sense that the rules don't apply for those who are actually making the rules, Paula.

And for prime minister Boris Johnson, this is simply not going away anytime soon. There's an investigation looking at multiple parties that span from summer of 2020 to Christmas of 2020, to now spring of 2021, when Prince Philip's funeral was being held.

The question is, is prime minister Boris Johnson fit for office?

Does he have the moral authority to lead?

Paula.

NEWTON: Salma, you did a really good job there, really picking up on the absurdity everything going on. We continue to follow the news in the coming weeks. Appreciate it.

Now U.S. officials bring the most serious charges yet connected with the January 6th attack; 11 individuals are facing accusations of seditious conspiracy. That story after the break. Plus, millions in the United States are under winter weather alerts,

from snow to ice to rain. What to expect this weekend. It's going to be messy.

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NEWTON: The leader of the anti-government group Oath Keepers appeared in court Friday.

[04:45:00]

NEWTON: He was accused of seditious conspiracy and other charges in connection with the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Stewart Rhodes pleaded not guilty. He's one of 11 defendants facing the rarely used seditious conspiracy charge. CNN's Ed Lavandera has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Stewart Rhodes appeared calm and unfazed during his initial appearance in federal court Friday here in Plano, Texas. Rhodes and 10 other members of the right wing group, the Oath Keepers, face criminal charges for actions during the January 6th insurrection.

Rhodes and others face seditious conspiracy criminal charges. Federal prosecutors say Rhodes and other members of the Oath Keepers were plotting to oppose forcefully the peaceful transition of presidential power.

In court documents, prosecutors lay out extraordinary detail that we really haven't heard about the January 6th insurrection, including details that Rhodes and others got a cachet (sic) of weaponry to the Washington, D.C. area.

According to the court documents, prosecutors say that Rhodes and others stated quick reaction force teams that were stationed in a hotel room across the Potomac River in northern Virginia with that weaponry.

Rhodes himself was inside the Capitol. And prosecutors also say that they have communications, that Rhodes had with other Oath Keeper members, where he said, "We will have to do a bloody -- massively bloody revolution against them. That's what's going to happen, going to have to happen.

"We aren't going through this without a civil war."

In court today, Rhodes pleaded not guilty. His attorneys say they are now focused on trying to get him out of jail, where he will remain at least until next week. The judge here in this case has scheduled a detention hearing. Attorneys for Rhodes says he is not a flight risk, does not have a

passport. And because of that, he should be allowed to wait outside of jail for his trial to come up. If Stewart Rhodes is convicted of these criminal charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison -- Ed Lavandera, CNN, Plano, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: So a potentially dangerous winter storm is threatening parts of the United States. Details from the CNN Weather Center, right after a break.

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[04:50:00]

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NEWTON: Tonga is under a tsunami warning after an underwater volcano erupted. A warning for American Samoa has now been canceled. Radio New Zealand reports the first volcano first erupted on Friday, sending a plume of ash more than 20 -- 12 miles or 20 kilometers into the air. You can see the video there. Wow.

Officials warn of heavy rain, strong winds and flash flooding. The volcano has been active since late December but was recently declared dormant.

Meantime, right here, more than 65 million people are under winter weather alerts in the United States. Right now, a major storm is threatening the Southeast and East Coast. It's set to plow through the region with heavy snow and a crippling ice storm.

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[04:55:00]

NEWTON: I am Paula Newton. I want to thank you for your company. I'll be right back in a moment with more CNN NEWSROOM.