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Interview with Vadym Prystaiko, Ukrainian Ambassador to U.K.: We Believe Invasion is Imminent; Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Meets with January 6 Committee; Witnesses Give Emotional Testimony in Trial of Ex-Officers; China Scrambling to Contain Outbreaks Ahead of Olympics. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired January 26, 2022 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: 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.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is awaiting the results of an investigation into his attendance at multiple parties during lockdown. Meanwhile, the London Met Police say they're also looking into claims of COVID rule breaking at Downing Street. Both investigations have put Johnson under significant pressure to resign.
And the Biden administration is warning an invasion from Russia against Ukraine remains imminent. Russian, Ukrainian and European officials are set to meet today in Paris for more talks. Of course, we'll have much more on those stories on "EARLY START" in about 30 minutes -- less than 30 minutes.
Meantime, I sat down with the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.K. to discuss the standoff with Russia. I asked him, given some countries are withdrawing embassy staff, troops on stand by and more military equipment is arriving by the day, whether he believes a Russian invasion is imminent. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VADYM PRYSTAIKO, UKRAINE'S AMBASSADOR TO U.K.: We believe it is. And it's not just this particular incursion, invasion but they shouldn't have been in our land for more than 7 and a half years already. So, you know, sometimes Ukraine look to be -- seems to be very strained. That's because they already been in this for quite a while. They've stop panicking. They stopped preparing. But you rightly pointing, this message is going to -- where the people did point out, like the diplomats. This is something Ukrainians are very sensitive to. SOARES: Do you think that decision was wise? Do you think that sends
the wrong message to Russia?
PRYSTAIKO: It sends a wrong message to Ukrainians, that's for sure. It is sending the wrong message to Russians, probably not. They believe that they're actually achieving something. That the world is starting to notice, to see them, to consider them seriously. But what they actually in the first place, to meet with President Biden, on-to-one. To be, again, whatever they do, the second pillar of the global world to be reckoned with.
SOARES: Do you think that Russia has the upper hand here as it tries to maneuver its own map or plan -- grand plan here.
PRYSTAIKO: I'm not saying that they already have a high hand, they believe they have. And they believe in this time when everybody's weak, leadership is weak. That's how I would describe. Europe is weak, Ukraine is weak, the relationship with the United States is weak. They believe they now can, you know, can actually take the opportunity of this particular moment. And they are then behaving the way as the Putin even the president, there they're just crushing there. There striking everybody left and right.
SOARES: Do you think the West has been weak? Do you think that more should could have been done, or should be done now or could have been done a while back?
PRYSTAIKO: I believe that this is strategic mistake. Putin has been pushing the West and it took too far. He miscalculated the readiness at some particular point there sooner or later this point will be reached.
SOARES: How would you rate President Biden's action, response to what has been happening? Do you think it should have happened sooner?
[04:35:00]
PRYSTAIKO: If only my diplomatic held back I will tell you, we need more.
SOARES: Need more. What do you need more of?
PRYSTAIKO: Starting with all of this military assistance. Sometimes it is important because it's a very strong political statement. How can you be more serious than promising to send your own sons or daughters somewhere close to the conflict. You understand eventually you be swept into a military campaign and it's so unpopular back home. But when this government is coming to the position that these people have to be ready to defend. This is the highest recognition of the danger and the highest readiness of your own government to act upon it.
SOARES: So, not just shipments. Do you think the U.S. should promise to have boots on the ground?
PRYSTAIKO: We are not asking them yet.
SOARES: Yet?
PRYSTAIKO: Yet. Because of the sensitivity of it. We don't want to be seen as a panic trying to move -- moves that are not -- they are there, but they are military. They are not coming yet. We can take care of those who are already fighting with us every day. But if anything happens, we want them to be ready.
SOARES: Do you think that request will come?
PRYSTAIKO: If anything happens very serious, we will ask them. I understand that it's not very popular and sorry for raising it here with you, but we will ask if anything tragic happens.
SOARES: We have talked so much about the politics. But I really want to get a sense of what you're hearing from the people of Ukraine. What are you telling your family? What are you telling your loved ones? How fearful are people?
PRYSTAIKO: I had the conversation with my mom yesterday. She is alone. She is in Kyiv. But she is quite OK. She believes that it's taken care of. I'm telling her, you know, I'm trying to do here in London everything I can. I believe that many of our colleagues are doing the same. And you know, where is the best place to find anything like keep calm and carry on. The famous second world war slogan, to live here so, what we're trying to do, and were not just all playing for Ukrainian use only. We believe that we understand the assessed situation correctly. And whatever priority of Putin is just to push us so our system will collapse by itself. We can't allow it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES (on camera): And our thanks to Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K. for joining me earlier.
In Washington meanwhile bipartisan talks are underway in Congress for the possible sanctions on Russia. Sources tell CNN there's some disagreement in the Senate about whether to impose them preemptively or wait to see if Russia invades Ukraine. Meanwhile, a companion bill has already been introduced in the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she'll put it up for vote in the coming weeks.
The House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol has questioned a conspiracy theorist and ally of the former president, who called the siege so stupid and so dumb. CNN's Paula Reid has the details for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The House select committee investigating January 6 continues its quest to get more witnesses to talk, meeting virtually on Monday with right- wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. He spoke about the experience on his podcast Monday.
ALEX JONES, CONSPIRACY THEORIST: I just had a very intense experience, being interrogated by the January 6 committee lawyers. They were polite but they were dogged.
REID (voice-over): Jones revealed that he invoked the Fifth Amendment nearly 100 times.
JONES: But I said this, my lawyer told me almost 100 times today during the interrogation on advice of counsel, I am asserting my Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
REID (voice-over): And said he did not want to answer all the questions for fear of perjuring himself.
JONES: I'm the type that tries to answer things correctly, even if I don't know all the answers, and they can then try to claim that that's perjury. Because about half the questions I didn't know the answer to. And a bunch of them were emails I'd never seen and planning things I'd never seen, at least from memory.
REID (voice-over): The January 6 committee may soon get more information from another key Trump ally, conservative attorney John Eastman, who worked for Trump leading up to the insurrection. Eastman tried to convince then-Vice President Mike Pence that he could overturn the election results on January 6th.
A federal judge ordered Eastman to respond to the committee's subpoena seeking his emails from the university where he previously worked. Eastman's lawyer also acknowledged his client had been working for Trump during key moments leading up to January 6, including on January 2nd. When he told state legislators that they needed to fix this egregious conduct that would put Joe Biden in the White House. When he was in the Willard Hotel's so-called war room with other Trump contacts, and on January 3rd when he met Trump and Vice President Mike Pence about blocking the congressional certification of the 2020 vote.
[04:40:00]
But the committee is still working to get cooperation from other key witnesses, including former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Who said Monday he will continue to fight his subpoena from the committee, even after the Supreme Court rejected Trump's bid to keep secret hundreds of his White House records claiming executive privilege.
MARK MEADOWS, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF: It's not something that I can waive. And it's really not something the January 6 committee can waive. And so, hopefully, it will still be heard by the district court.
REID: In addition to the House committee's efforts, the Justice Department is, of course, conducting its own investigation. And you may remember, earlier this month it charged 11 members of the Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy related to January 6th. Now on Tuesday, 10 of those defendants pleaded not guilty including the group's leader, Stewart Rhodes. The other defendant was not present for the hearing and has not yet entered a formal plea.
Paula Reid, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Coming up right here on CNN NEWSROOM, emotional testimony. Witnesses recount the moment of the police murder of George Floyd. That story just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: San Jose, California, has passed a ground breaking new ordinance to tackle gun violence. The law, the first of its kind in the United States would require all gun owners to pay an annual $25 fee and carry liability insurance. The money collected would go to a nonprofit supporting victims of gun violence. Law enforcement and those with conceal carry permits would be exempt. Gun rights groups say the law is unconstitutional and plans to fight it in court.
A second New York police officer has died after responding to a domestic incident in Harlem last week.
[04:45:00]
The NYPD commissioner says 27-year-old Wilbert Mora was shot on Friday by a gunman inside an apartment. Mora's partner, 22-year-old Jason Rivera was also killed. Police say the suspect tried to run but was shot and killed by another officer on the scene.
The federal civil rights trial of three former Minnesota police officers is set to resume in the coming hours. The case centers on the police murder of George Floyd in 2020. On Tuesday the court heard emotional from witnesses. CNN's Omar Jimenez has the latest from St. Paul, Minnesota.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Day two of testimony saw a lot of repeat witnesses from the state trial against Derek Chauvin in the spring of 2021 and a lot of relive pain.
Charles McMillan and body bag. He was a bystander to what happened in May of 2020 George Floyd under the knee of Derek Chauvin. And testified in the Chauvin trial through tears that he felt helpless to what was happening in front of him. In this trial he also broke down in tears as he described what he saw and that while he was watching things unfold, he felt that Floyd was going to die.
When the prosecution pushed him on whether he saw any form of medical assistance being provided to Floyd prior to the ambulance arriving, he responded emphatically, no.
We also heard from Chris Martin, the cashier at Cup Foods whose manager initially called police that day because Martin reported that Floyd had used a counterfeit bill. He testified that he saw then officer Tou Thao push one of his co-workers when his coworker tried to get a closer look at what was happening. He also testified that he did not think that anybody was going to help Floyd and that made him emotional as he felt Floyd looked dead. Now keep in mind, throughout all of this very traumatic body camera
video is being shown in court. Multiple jurors were wiping away tears at points. And Courtney Ross, George Floyd's then girlfriend, was seen sobbing at points during trial. And she even told one core reporter, she feels she's lost Floyd five times in the last few days.
We also heard from the 911 dispatcher in May of 2020 that day, Jenna Scurry, but that's where things ended, with her testimony. So, when court returns on Wednesday morning, we are expecting to hear from the prosecution's next set of witnesses which could include Genevieve Hanson, an off-duty firefighter, also a bystander that day -- an eye witness I should say, to what happened and what is now known as George Floyd Square.
Omar Jimenez, CNN, St. Paul, Minnesota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Needless stay. We'll stay on top of that story for you.
Still to come, as the winter games draw near, China is facing the ultimate test of its zero COVID policy. What the country is doing to contain the outbreak. That is next.
[04:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back. China is counting down to the Winter Olympics next week amid a rise in new COVID cases. The Beijing Olympics committee confirmed 13 new infections on Wednesday tied to the games despite strict COVID counter measures. Meanwhile, sources tell CNN U.S. diplomats are concerned about the tightening COVID restrictions in China and they want permission to leave the country at least temporarily. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is live for us from Hong Kong. Kristie, the idea of zero COVID was always going to be a challenge, if not in impossibility given their hosting the Olympics.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and it's all underscored by these latest numbers that are coming out of inside the closed loop system. Earlier today we heard from the Beijing Olympic Committee, they reported 13 new cases of COVID-19, detected inside the closed loop system or the bubble. Nine were detected at the border, four managed to creep their way inside. A total of 42 cases so far have been detected inside the closed loop system despite all of the precautions that are in place.
Including those dedicated lanes for cars for Olympic personnel and other participants which has been up and running Friday. Despite the existence of the closed loop system which covers all stadiums, arenas, accommodations and venues in order to enter the system. You have to test negative twice for COVID-19 before even flying into Beijing and yet COVID-19 has found a way to breach the Beijing Olympic bubble. And experts I've been talking to say this only underscores the impossibility of eradicating the virus even in zero COVID China -- Isa. SOARES: And Kristie, explain to us what is happening with U.S.
diplomats who seem to be concerned about restrictive China's zero COVID policy there.
STOUT: Very concerned. This is according to two diplomatic sources to CNN. They say that a number of U.S. diplomatic staff and their family are concerned about China's zero COVID policy. They're concerned about the quarantines, the travel restrictions, the snap lockdowns. Not concerned about the virus but on the potential of family separations in China because of these zero COVID rules. As such, they have requested something called authorized departure, would allow them to leave China and come back when deemed safe.
These sources also added that the U.S. State Department has yet to approve this authorized departure. But we have in the last hour received a response from China. They know of this report that's been out there online and on air at CNN. And China has expressed, quote, serious concerns and dissatisfaction to the news -- back to you, Isa.
SOARES: I know you'll stay on top of this. Kristie Lu Stout for us. Thanks very much, Kristie.
STOUT: You bet.
SOARES: One of the most successful coaches in the history of the National Football League is stepping down. Sean Payton has been with the New Orleans Saints since 2006. Leading the team to the playoffs nine times. The Saints won the Super Bowl for the first and only time under Payton in 2010. He says he doesn't want to call this retirement and he might coach again someday. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN PAYTON, RESIGNING AS NEW ORLEANS SAINTS HEAD COACH: I don't know what's next and it kind of feels good.
[04:55:00]
The last thing I did before I went to bed, I Google searched how not to cry during the speech and one of the items was drink water and yawn. Well, I didn't want to yawn but it worked a little bit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Drinking water is a good idea. Payton says he may want to try his hand at the media and he thinks he'd be pretty good at it.
Preparations for the LVI Super Bowl halftime are back underway after a misunderstanding involving pay for professional dancers. This year's headliners include Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige. Some dancers claim they were asked to rehearse up to three days as a volunteer, something that frustrated many in the entertainment community. The Screen Actors Guild has reached an agreement with producers, which will make sure all professionals are paid for their time. Although volunteers who agree to appear on the field aren't covered under the deal. The SAT exam is going entirely digital. The test taken by prospective college students set to change in 2024. The goal, well, to make it less stressful. The college board, says it will be an hour shorter, making it easier, of course, to take and much more relevant.
And that does it here for us on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Isa Soares in London. Thank you for staying with us. Our coverage of the Ukraine crisis continues on "EARLY START" with Christine Romans and Laura Jarrett. I shall see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful day. Bye-bye.
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