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Audio of McCarthy on Trump Resignation; Barring Greene from Re- Election; Suspect Declared in McCann Case; Two Former Russian Gas Executives Found Dead; Florida Approves Controversial DeSantis Bills. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired April 22, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:32:40]

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, stunning new audio contradicting House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's claim that he had not considered asking then President Trump to resign after the attack on the U.S. Capitol. McCarthy called the reporting in "The New York Times" totally false and wrong. Well then "The Times" released the audio backing up the reporting from an upcoming book.

CNN Washington correspondent Sunlen Serfaty is on Capitol Hill this morning.

So, Sunlen, despite McCarthy's denial, we hear him say it loud and clear in this audio.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We hear him say it, Bianna, and that's why this makes clear, it's not only a complete contradiction but that he is caught in a lie here.

Now, this was an audio -- a leaked audio, a phone call between McCarthy and some of his Republican colleagues. It was obtained by "The New York Times." And in this clip that we're going to play for you, Liz Cheney is asking McCarthy whether he -- she thinks that -- or, excuse me, he thinks that there's any chance that former President Trump would resign. And here's how he responds.

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REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): I've had a few discussions. My gut tells me no. I'm seriously thinking of having that conversation with him tonight. I haven't talked to him in a couple days. From what I know of him, I mean, you guys all know him too, do you think he'd ever back away? But what I think I'm going to do is I'm going to call him, The only discussion I would have with him is that I think this will pass, and it would be my recommendation you should resign. I mean, that would be my take, but I don't think he would take it. But I don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And Congresswoman Cheney's office is out with a statement this morning in response to this leaked audio and they volunteer up for (ph) the part, notably that they say that she did not leak this tape. They say, quote, the select committee has asked Kevin McCarthy to speak with us about the events but has so far declined. Representative Cheney did not record or leak the tape and does not know how the reporters got it.

Now, notably, there is still no response from McCarthy or his staff, specifically since yesterday on this new leaked audio. But certainly, Bianna, there are new questions amid all this scrutiny about his own political future and his long planned quest for the speakership.

[09:35:06]

GOLODRYGA: Yes, and I know you'll let us know if and when we do hear from him or his office.

Sunlen Serfaty, thank you.

Well, a critical day in court for Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. There you see her moments ago arriving to court to a round of applause. A Georgia state judge is holding a hearing over a challenge to her candidacy. A coalition of liberal groups claims that Greene can't run for re-election because she aided in the January 6th insurrection.

CNN's Amara Walker is outside of the court in Atlanta this morning.

Amara, Congresswoman Greene is expected to be questioned today. What do we know about what she may say?

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first off, we know this is going to be an uphill battle to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from the ballot. But the fact that she's here today, as you mentioned, she arrived about five minutes ago, the fact that she is here to testify under oath about her alleged actions surrounding January 6th, that in itself is a major blow.

We are expecting this to be a marathon hearing, lasting pretty much all day. Any moment now the opening statements are going to get underway. We know that the petitioners who are challenging her candidacy will be presenting evidence, a long list of evidence, to argue that Marjorie Taylor Greene facilitated, incited the insurrection of January 6th.

Look, I do want to mention, the stakes in this case are quite high for a couple of reasons. This is the first time that we are going to be hearing from a U.S. House Republican testifying under oath regarding January 6th.

Also, this case could set a legal precedent on whether office holders could be disqualified from serving again if they engaged in an insurrection. This is based on a rarely cited provision of the 14th Amendment from the Civil War days.

That all means that the outcome could have implications beyond Marjorie Taylor Greene. As you might know, there are similar challenges filed against other U.S. House Republicans. And, look, Donald Trump probably watching this very closely as well because a similar challenge to his potential candidacy could be lodged as well.

So, what happens next? Well, look, this is going to last pretty much all day. It's unclear if the judge will issue a recommendation. That recommendation goes to the secretary of state, who will make a final determination.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, by the way, has denied any wrongdoing, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, and I believe that she can appeal whatever the judgment ultimately is.

Amara Walker, thank you.

Well, British toddler Madeleine McCann disappeared 15 years ago during a family vacation in Portugal. Now a suspect has been officially identified. We'll have a live report after a quick break.

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[09:42:39]

GOLODRYGA: Portuguese prosecutors have officially declared a suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann 15 years ago. The three-year-old girl vanished from her bedroom during a family vacation in Portugal in 2007. Prosecutors have not named the suspect publicly and he has not been formally charged yet. In 2020, German prosecutors said they had evidence that a man in jail for another crime had killed McCann.

CNN's Nina Dos Santos joins me now from London.

Nina, this was a case that had captivated the world for many, many years. What more are we learning now?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN EUROPE EDITOR: Yes, and it's also a case that appeared to be dormant for the past two years since that great revelation from German prosecutors saying that they believed a man already in custody in Germany for unrelated offenses could know or be the key to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Indeed, back in 2020, they believed that this individual who they had named as Christian B. at the time, later named Christian Brueckner, you can see a picture of him there, they believed that they assumed he had killed Madeleine McCann, but they couldn't prove it, they said, or have enough evidence to actually secure a conviction in court. Now, what we know today is that without explicitly naming an

individual, Portuguese authorities have said that they have now found an arguido, that means a suspect in the case, and that they've asked German prosecutors to relay that information to whoever the suspect is. And, as we know, since 2020, the case largely has been advancing in Germany, rather than Portugal.

Portugal, of course, is the place where Madeleine McCann disappeared from when she was just three years old, back in 2007, on May the 3rd. That means it's coming up to 15 years since her disappearance, which is a crucially important time.

Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, perhaps this can give more closure to her family.

Nina Dos Santos, thank you.

Well, a second former Russian gas executive has been found dead in just a matter of days. Sergei Protosenya was found dead in Spain, along with his wife and daughter. Now, the case is being investigated as a double murder/suicide in a domestic violence case. And it comes after another former Russian gas executive was found dead in Moscow, along with his wife and daughter.

CNN's Nic Robertson joins me now from Brussels.

Nic, many people, obviously, knowing Russia's past with these kind of random deaths are saying this can't be a coincidence.

[09:45:02]

What more are you learning?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, the Spanish investigators are continuing with their investigation. The Russian investigators into Vladislav Avayev's death, and his wife and daughter's death as well, are saying that this, to them, appears to be a murder/suicide case. This appears to be, if you will, certainly a rational from the Kremlin that there's nothing to see here, if you will. That there should be no nefarious -- suggestions of nefarious activity.

But the coincidence that both men, both former senior executives, both men who would likely be clear and plain about speaking their minds, now living in an environment where Russian authorities tell people to inform on friends and neighbors if they're not being patriotic. And given the background of the Kremlin, that it's quite willing to reach out at home and reach out overseas and silence through death critics of the Kremlin, and the deaths coming so close together, and both men being prepared to kill not only their wives, but their daughters as well, it just begs credulity that there could be coincidence in this case. And I think that's why it's attracting so much attention.

Of course, to get more details from the Spanish will require their investigation to continue before they make anything else more public. The investigation in Moscow, I -- that -- that investigation perhaps will be swifter, but perhaps will be less transparent than the one in Spain. Certainly that's previous experience.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, bizarre and tragic cases there.

Nic Robertson, thank you.

Well, Florida's legislature backing up Governor Ron DeSantis' feud with Disney by passing a pair of bills. We'll have details for you coming up after the break.

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[09:51:36]

GOLODRYGA: New this morning, two people were killed when their plane crashed near a General Mills facility in Georgia. The twin engine plane went down last night. Police say it was traveling from the Covington, Georgia, airport and crashed into three empty tractor trailers on the General Mills property. In a statement, General Mills said none of its employees were harmed. Both the FAA and NTSB are now investigating the crash.

Well, Florida's Republican controlled legislature has bowed to Governor Ron DeSantis' priorities and passed controversial bills redrawing the state's congressional boundaries and targeting Disney World. The governor now has until May 6th to sign all three bills into law. Yesterday, President Biden weighed in on DeSantis' feud with Disney, suggesting that the far-right has taken over the Republican Party.

CNN's Leyla Santiago is live in Miami this morning.

And, Leyla, this could really up end an economic model that has been in place between Disney and the state for over 50 years now.

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, 55 years to be exact. And so it's really no surprise that you're hearing from more people, including President Biden, who says things are getting ugly in Florida and said Republicans are, quote, going after Mickey Mouse. So, we're hearing a lot of people weighing in here.

Who we're not hearing from right now? Still haven't really heard from Disney, who we can assume is having a lot of conversations with attorneys right now because let's go over exactly what happened yesterday when the senate and the house completed the final passage of these two bills. These are two bills, one of which gives Disney World, or gives the special district of -- that includes Disney World some privileges here. Allows it to sort of operate as its own government.

And there was another bill that also subjects Disney to a new law in Florida, one that has been blocked by a federal judge, to be sued by people for any sort of censorship. And Florida is appealing the federal block -- the federal judge that blocked that.

But, you know, you mentioned it, there are some big tax implications here. Democrats worry that who will take on the burden if this special district goes away. Some saying that this could be passed on to families in Orange County and Osceola anywhere from $2,200 to $2,800 of a tax burden. And many Democrats saying this is a distraction.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. I heard one expert say that Florida needs Disney more than Disney needs Florida. A lot of people wondering whether this was thought through.

Tell us more now about the new congressional map that Florida's house also approved.

SANTIAGO: Well, when I say that Democrats are call this a distraction, they're saying that the governor and Republicans are trying to take attention away from this, what you just mentioned the redistricting maps. That also is something that was part of this special session.

And, essentially, as it passed, it would take away two seats that are now represented by two black members of the house. And, also, it would give Republicans an advantage in as many of 28 districts. There was actually an active protest on the floor about this. And I want you to hear from members of the black caucus after the final vote.

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KAMIA BROWN (D), FLORIDA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: These bills are just, again, for him to outtrump Trump. And that's basically what it is. And, again, it's just a culture war that he's trying to start that we're not here for and we won't stand for.

[09:55:01]

YVONNE HAYES HINSON (D), FLORIDA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: If we don't have a right to vote, we feel like we're back in slavery. They push this bill through, I said it in there, like thug life 101. I did not even get a chance to ask questions about my own congressional district.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANTIAGO: So, again, many Democrats saying that what is happening with Disney is not only retaliation but a distraction for what is happening with these congressional maps that lay out the boundaries, by the way, for a decade.

So, this really does have major long-term implications, impacts for the Republicans' perspective. They say that these protests that were done on the floor were a hijacking of the legislative process and also said that they violated some of the house rules.

Again, as you mentioned, May 6th is sort of the deadline for Governor DeSantis to sign these bills, which he's expected to do.

GOLODRYGA: Leyla Santiago, thank you.

And straight ahead, disturbing satellite images, you see here, revealing rows of massive graves in Ukraine. Russian soldiers accused of dumping the bodies of countless victims into ditches to cover up their crimes. This is all happening in 2022. Hard to imagine. We're live in the region, up next.

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