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WNBA Star Brittney Griner Detained in Russia On Drug Charges; Supreme Court Declines to Revive Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Prosecution; Civilian Living With No Power, Water In Mariupol. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired March 07, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

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ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: WNBA star Brittney Griner is being detained in Moscow as tensions ratchet up between Russia and the U.S. over the invasion of Ukraine. Griner was arrested on drug charges a month ago, but the news only made public over the weekend. Russian customs officials claim they detected cannabis oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. CNN's Rosa Flores has more now as U.S. officials are working to bring her home.

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ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As the diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Russia crumble, a WNBA star is caught in the middle. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was arrested on drug charges after Russian customs officials said they found vape cartridges that contained cannabis oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow in February. Griner remains in custody.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYSTS: I've talked to a couple of sources and they said it's been a couple of weeks that this has been going on. One source said since the NBA All Star Game.

FLORES (voice over): Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave few specifics on Griner's case.

ANTONY BLINKEN, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE: Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we of course stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia.

FLORES (voice over): The episode comes as the United States has implemented economic sanctions on Russia as its assault on Ukraine intensifies. FLORES (on camera): What does the timing of the detention tell you?

NIKOLAY MARINOV, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON: I think it tells everything. The trajectory of the case now will probably be different. And so they will definitely look for sort of a certain bargaining chip effect, propaganda effect.

FLORES (on camera): Given the timing of this, does the U.S. have limited leverage given what's going on in Ukraine?

MARINOV: Oh, for sure. So President Putin has declared that the West is at war with him by levying these economic sanctions. He has likened them to war. And so just being an American citizen who can potentially be accused of carrying a substance she's not supposed to be carrying, of course, whether that actually corresponds to the facts, we don't even know. And I wouldn't put anything beyond the authorities there. But so - yes, this is probably a propaganda trick.

FLORES (voice over): Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents grinders home City of Houston, calling for her release.

REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX): I don't want to disregard a sovereign nation, but Putin has disregarded sovereign nations his entire service in this world. And anyone that is killing and attacking and destroying Ukraine, that neighboring country that is not bothered and has no right to hold Ms. Griner, period.

FLORES (voice over): And Griner's wife breaking her silence in an Instagram post, thanking everyone for their support and writing, "Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely."

Back home in Houston, Griner's high school coach grew emotional, worried Griner could face severe consequences.

FLORES (on camera): What's your biggest fear?

DEBBIE JACKSON, BRITTNEY GRINER'S HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH: My biggest fear is that this will become a - that she'll be a political pawn.

FLORES (on camera): If she, by any chance watches this story, what would you tell her?

JACKSON: I would tell her please know that you're loved by so many people. You've always had a true resolve and grit to get to the finish line, and now that it's got - you will get to the finish line this trial you're going through - this ordeal.

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FLORES: The WNBA telling CNN that all of the athletes that were competing in Russia and Ukraine have exited those countries except for Griner. The U.S. Department of State issuing a do not travel advisory for Russia, and the reasons listed are very telling. It, of course, includes Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but it also says that officials there, government officials, could harass asked us citizens. That the U.S. government right now has limited ability to help us citizens in Russia and also that Russians - that U.S. citizens who are in Russia could see the arbitrary enforcement of the law there, Erica. And, of course, right now the focus for the friends and family of Brittney Griner is to return her to the United States. Erica?

[09:35:00]

HILL: Absolutely. And to get some answers. Rosa Flores, appreciate it. Thank you. Joining us now, Kimberly St. Julian Vernon. She's a doctoral student in history at the University of Pennsylvania who analyzes race, foreign policy and culture in Russia and Ukraine.

It's great to have you with us this morning, because I think your expertise can really help us understand where we may be at and we're Brittney Griner may be out this morning. Congressman John Garamendi was on earlier here today on CNN and said it's going to be "very difficult to get her released." And he also brought up Russia's anti- LGBTQ laws, and he says these could also come into play. I see you nodding your head. It looks like you agree.

KIMBERLY ST. JULIAN-VARNON, DOCTORAL STUDENT IN HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: Yes, absolutely. Just beyond the fact that she is a very high profile American athlete, the fact that she is a visible minority, a black woman, but also she is openly gay and a member of the LGBTQ community, none of these bode well for her in Russian custody. But also we have to be worried that any of the list of anti- LGBTQ laws that are on the books in Russia can also be levied against her.

HILL: When we look at what we know, and it's not a lot, quite frankly, at this moment. The fact that this arrest actually happened last month, we are seeing these statements - you know, Rosa just highlighted the statement from Brittney Griner's wife, appreciating everyone support, really asking that their privacy be respected at this time. What is and isn't said publicly is incredibly important. How do you think that has also shifted since Russia invaded Ukraine?

JULIAN-VARNON: I think her family's response is incredibly important, and also the best way to handle this, because we don't know what specific day in February, Griner was arrested. We just know it happened in February. So I think the fact that we've seen this escalation, the declaration of war in Ukraine and the American response to that, all of these could exacerbate her case.

But as Secretary Blinken said, I mean, we already have - the United States has limited ambassadorial, and also consulate abilities in Russia right now. So I think the things that aren't being said are important, because we don't know how long she's been kept. We don't know where she is. We just know that she's in Russian custody. And so I think being careful with how we speculate about this is very important, because all of this could influence her case. HILL: Secretary Blinken also said the U.S. is always working to get Americans out of Russian prisons. She's not alone. Her high school coach just said - just told our Rosa Flores, she's worried that Britain Griner could become a political pawn. But she's not the only American. How does all of that weigh in these negotiations?

JULIAN-VARNON: I think this is important. She is not the only American who's been in Russian custody. Two high profile cases of Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed, both of these are American. They're both former Marines, and they are currently serving long prison sentences in Russia due to these trumped up charges.

So the threat is very real, that Brittany could be facing a long time in prison in Russia, but also the fact that no matter what the United States can do, this is still up to Russian courts and Russian juries to decide what will happen to her. So this is a very delicate situation. And we have been working on the Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan case for years now, but these two gentlemen are still locked up in Russian prison.

HILL: Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon, great to have you with us this morning. Really appreciate your expertise and your insight here. Thank you.

JULIAN-VARNON: Thank you.

HILL: Well, when Russian bombs started to fall in your Odessa, a rabbi who runs an orphanage there decided it was time to evacuate. After the break he'll join us to share the story of their incredible trip to safety, how those kids are doing now and what their plans are moving forward.

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[09:40:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: As war rages here in Ukraine, the European Union is told it should prepare for 5 million refugees from Ukraine - 5 million. That the word from a top EU diplomat.

HILL: Now already more than 1.7 million people have left Ukraine in a desperate effort to escape rushes onslaught. Among those refugees, 100s of children who were evacuated from a Jewish orphanage and Ukrainian City of Odessa. Rabbi Raphael Kruskal helped lead that daring escape. And the rabbi joins us now.

Rabbi, good to have you with us this morning. This is a difficult decision at any moment. But you had actually begun preparing perhaps a little earlier than some folks might have expected. What was the moment when you knew that it was time to get these children out to safety?

RABBI RAPHAEL KRUSKAL, CEO TIKVA ODESSA: Good morning, there Erica. Yes, I prepared a month in advance. I didn't believe I would ever have to actually leave. But as soon as bomb landed and missed the airport about half a mile away from our girls' orphanage, I realized that was the time we had to leave.

HILL: Rabbi Kruskal your family - you're the son of a Holocaust survivor. Your family knows its history. I feel - I've felt many times since coming to Ukraine like I'm caught in a 1940s newsreel, as I watched some of these events unfold. And I wonder how do you feel to be in the year 2022 rescuing Jewish children from an invading army? Does it bring back those memories? Are you amazed to see that kind of history repeated again here?

[09:45:00]

KRUSKAL: You know, you hear the story. My father was in Bergen-Belsen. My father-in-law, his parents were killed in Auschwitz and you hear the stories. I mean, you know, you hear him you don't believe. And suddenly you go to the borders and you see the tragedy, you see the desperation, you see the tears, you see the refugees running away. And you see the pain, and you see the despair. And you go back 70 years, it's no question about it, I mean, it's heartbreaking 2022 that we have to see this again.

HILL: Do you think there will be a different response this time? We're seeing a different response in this moment. But as we continue along this road, as Russia continues with its attacks and its invasion in Ukraine, how are you feeling about what comes next?

KRUSKAL: I think - I don't know what comes next for us and for our kids. About the response, it took too long in 1940s to respond to it. I think it's - I think Ukraine is alone. It's very alone now. And I would wish that somebody will be able to make peace between both sides and get both sides understand the importance and the danger that they've created to world and the pain they're causing to children, to women, to refugees, to families. It's so, so, so, so bad. It's just it's terrible.

SCIUTTO: That point you make there rabbi, I'm just curious what you think then. If Ukraine is alone, and Russia is advancing further, and we're seeing them increase not decrease their deliberate attacks on civilians? Do you believe the world is letting them down? Is this a 1939 moment for Europe?

RUSKAL: In 1939, they never realized it was 1939. In 1946, they realized the 1939 was as bad as 1939 was. We just got to make sure we don't miss the moment when we - when the world steps and decides we have to do something and stop the senseless killing of civilians.

SCIUTTO: Yes, we do.

HILL: Rabbi, how are the children doing right now? What are they asking you? How are you answering those questions?

KRUSKAL: So the children - the children, which we take in from families, from - a lot of them are orphans, a lot of them are from families of abuse and drug abuse and alcohol abuse. And they've been through so much abandonment, they've been through so much pain, and trauma and they're so resilient. I mean, the more resilient the me. I saw the way they traveled twice, for 30 hours as they all the way through Ukraine, to the Carpathian Mountains. And then as we took them to - and then as we took them to Ukraine to Romania, I saw how strong they are, I saw how powerful they are. I saw how really special these kids are. And I don't know where they get the strength?

But when they came over to me - the first weekend after, when we arrived on Shabbat by buses, which is very unusual for Orthodox Jews, we were traveling, because to save our lives. And they said to me - they came over to me and I was worried what are the kids going to say to me. And say, will you open the football pitch for us? And said, oh, at least they're feeling back to normal.

HILL: Yes, so important there. And it is remarkable when faced with so much trauma, their resilience. Lessons, I guess, we can all learn from them. That it would be nice if people didn't have to. Rabbi Raphael Kruskal, appreciate you joining us today. Thank you for all of the work that you were doing.

KRUSKAL: Thank you. And say a prayer that there should be peace for all of us and for all the citizens and refugees, that they should be well and healthy, both mentally and physically.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

HILL: Certainly.

SCIUTTO: We share that thought. Thanks very much, Rabbi.

We did also want to bring you an update on someone we spoke to last week, a law student who was living in Kharkiv, one of the hardest hit cities in this war so far. I spoke to Justin Esiobu just a few days ago, when the shelling had just begun. He's also a correspondent for Jurist News.

He was still hoping to stay in the city. But over the weekend, we learned the shelling got so bad, he did decide to leave. He took shelter underground in a subway station.

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JUSTIN ESIOBU, LAW STUDENT AND JURIST NEWS CORRESPONDENT: As far as I know, there is no damage inside the station. There is no light going nor electricity outside the station. Some people are crying, some people just shocked.

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[09:50:00]

SCIUTTO: We are relieved to report on Saturday he was able to evacuate his family. He told us he was worried about them. He recorded this video of the packed train that they took to where we are in Western Ukraine. He says he may try to get them to the Polish border. He himself will stay behind. We will continue to follow his story and so many others here, and we'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Breaking news. The Supreme Court has rejected a bid to reopen Bill Cosby sexual assault prosecution. CNN Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider joins me now from Washington. Jessica, what more do we know about this decision?

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Erica, the Supreme Court here refusing to step in despite the pleas from the District Attorney in Pennsylvania. So the court here will not rehear this case against Bill Cosby. Remember his conviction was overturned last year. He was released from prison in late June.

[09:55:00]

But now the District Attorney in Pennsylvania, he wanted the nine justices to hear this case and reconsider the decision from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that overturned the comedian sexual assault conviction. The Montgomery County DA, in this case, calling that decision to overturn the conviction a dangerous precedent.

Now, specifically, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last year, they ruled that because a former prosecutor decided not to charge Cosby in 2005 that should have prevented Cosby from being charged by a successor DA in 2015, so that's why they overturn the conviction. Bill Cosby was released from prison. And now the Supreme Court will not hear this case. So the overturning of that conviction, Erica will stand here. Cosby will continue to be released from prison here. Erica?

HILL: That's a significant development. Jessica Schneider with the latest force. Jessica, thank you.

And we continue to following our breaking news out of Ukraine. No power, no water and still the city of Mariupol is being bombarded by Russian forces. How are people they're surviving? How can they get out? We're going to speak with the deputy mayor. Just ahead stay with us.

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