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Zelenskyy: Russia Seeks To Destroy All Of Donbas; Ukrainian Commander Appeals For Safe Passage From Mariupol; China Defends Zero COVID-19 Strategy; Boris Becker Sentenced To 2.5 Years In Jail; Russia Making Slow Advances In Eastern Ukraine; L.A. Cop Running For Reelection Amid Multiple Scandals; Kansas Hit By Massive Tornado. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired April 30, 2022 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hello, a very warm welcome to viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Isa Soares, live in Ukraine.
The atrocities in Bucha becoming more disturbing by the hour. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says there's evidence of yet another mass grave.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And I'm Michael Holmes in Atlanta. I'll have the day's other top stories, including life under lockdown. China defends what it calls a magic weapon against the spread of coronavirus.
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SOARES: Welcome to the show, everyone. It's 10:00 am here in Ukraine.
Ukraine says it's holding off Russian attacks on several fronts, even as fresh Russian units come across the border. Ukraine also says Russia is now targeting villages close to the border in the northeast.
Supply lines have also been key targets for Russian forces. And this, what you're looking at now, is the aftermath of the attack on an important railway hub in the Donetsk region. The bombardments come as Russian forces have been gradually coming closer.
A senior U.S. Defense official tells CNN the Russia advances in the east have been uneven and incremental. Meantime, another mass grave was discovered on Friday in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha; 900 civilians have already been found in the region in the wake of Russian forces pulling out.
Russia's focus is now on the eastern Donbas region. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Moscow's aim is to kill everyone living there. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Only if Ukraine would stand, will they live. If the Russian invaders succeed in realizing their plan, at least in part, they will still have enough artillery and aircraft to destroy the entire Donbas, just as they destroyed Mariupol.
The city, which is one of the most developed in the region, is simply a Russian concentration camp in the middle of ruins.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: The situation also growing ever more dire for Mariupol's last defenders holed up in this steel plant along with hundreds of civilians. A Ukrainian commander inside the plant tells us of relentless Russian attacks and scores of people injured. Jim Sciutto has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of civilians including children still trapped in a Mariupol steel plant today after Russia blocked Ukraine's latest attempt to rescue them. The plant is the last Ukrainian holdout in the embattled city and an official says that Russians have closed off an area near the complex for now.
DEPUTY MAYOR SERGEI ORLOV, MARIUPOL, UKRAINE: There is lack of everything, lack of water, food, lack of medicine, lack of any social help. So they need to be humanitarianly evacuated as soon as possible.
SCIUTTO: Mariupol's mayor claims more than 400 people were injured in a bombing Wednesday night, that hit a makeshift military hospital inside the complex. A military commander inside the plant spoke with CNN.
MAJ. SERHIY VOLYNA, COMMANDER, UKRAINE'S 36TH SEPARATE MARINE BRIGADE (through translator): The situation is critical. It is beyond a humanitarian catastrophe. We cannot tell you for sure how long we can hold on for. That all depends on the enemy movements and also on luck.
SCIUTTO: Humanitarian corridors from Mariupol were one of the items UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres lobbied for in his visits with Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy this week. But while he was meeting with Zelenskyy Thursday in Kyiv, several Russian missiles struck.
The attack shattered the relative calm in the capital. One blast killed a Ukrainian journalist in her apartment. Ukraine's foreign minister called it, quote, a heinous act of barbarism.
Russians are now making incremental progress in eastern Ukraine. This video shows extensive shelling of an important railway hub and supply line for Ukrainian troops, a key railroad bridge destroyed as well. U.S. intelligence sees Russia making improvements to fix some of the problems that plagued the military in the early weeks of the invasion. JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: They are trying very hard to overcome the challenges they had in the north by making sure logistics and sustainment can keep up with the movement of troops but the Ukrainians are fighting back hard and making it hard for them to make any progress.
SCIUTTO: A fuel depot was attacked overnight in the Donetsk region controlled by Russian backed forces. And the Ukrainian officials say a town in the northeast near Kharkiv has been recaptured -- Jim Sciutto, CNN, Lviv, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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SOARES: Let's get more on all this. Joining me now from Kyiv, Ukrainian member of parliament Kira Rudik.
Very good morning to you. Let me start with what we have been seeing as Jim Sciutto outlined on the front lines. Heavy shelling along the entire line of contact in the eastern part of Ukraine.
What you hearing from your sources as to what's happening, the movement in the front lines there?
KIRA RUDIK, UKRAINIAN MP: Good morning. Thank you for having me. So we know that Russians have this target, that May 9, when the victory parade needs to happen somewhere in Ukraine.
This was the plan. Right now they're increasing their attempts and attacks to be able to conquer more and more before this particular day, the victory day. This is why we see an extra shelling and active Russian marching forward in the eastern part and also on the southern part of Ukraine, the cities of Mykolaiv.
And there is attempt to attack Odessa. However we also see that Ukrainian army is getting more and more support from our alliance. Actually, the weapons that were promised to us, two to three weeks ago, finally start to arrive.
And this is where we're getting stronger. Every day we're winning for ourselves is the time for the logistics to work, is the time for their lives to make more and more of those important decisions and for us to get more weapons by the Russians.
SOARES: In the meantime, as well we have seen, of course, in the last 24 hours, an attack on Kyiv, where you are in the capital.
How is the capital holding up?
Has it shaken your sense of security?
RUDIK: You know, when I heard the attacks and explosions really nearby, the first thought I had was like, oh, no, not again. And it was at least three missile hits, we think it was three to five missiles attacking infrastructure objects and civilian buildings in Kyiv.
And, of course, right now, before we can't say that we protect our sky, right now it's nowhere in Ukraine where people can feel safe. We have seen the recently attacks on the western cities, where the refugees usually sleep, on Kyiv, on the eastern cities.
So while Russian missiles can hit any point of Ukraine, it's nowhere we can feel safe. This is why we do need all the supplies and all the weapons so badly. Once it is in and we can start protecting our skies, it will be much easier for all the Ukrainians.
SOARES: We have seen the Russian side attacking the supply lines, which is so important, as you point out.
How quickly is Ukraine rebuilding again to make sure that those supplies are going right to the front lines?
RUDIK: Well, you are absolutely right. So because Russians see there's more and more help and support getting in, they start attacking railroads and train stations. For us, it's the top priority to rebuild these infrastructure objects as soon as possible.
Railroad is the main way for us to get all the weapons and all the humanitarian support in. So at least 10 teams on the ground now who are concentrating on rebuilding the broken lines. And we are able to do it pretty quickly.
SOARES: And I'm not sure if you heard my colleague's piece there. He talked about the situation, the dire situation, of course, for civilians inside the steel plant in Mariupol. An operation to evacuate the civilians in that steel plant was expected, we were told, by President Zelenskyy's office Friday. That didn't happen.
Do you know why it didn't happen?
Do you know when it might happen, if it will happen at this stage?
RUDIK: So we have attempted to get people out of Mariupol, a besieged city, at least 20 times. And there were world leaders were trying to help to get an agreement with Russians, to confirm the humanitarian corridors.
However, zero times we were able to get people out because, zero times, Russians were able to get (ph) the cease-fire. And this is absolutely terrifying.
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RUDIK: Because when the whole world is watching people dying in the city and can do nothing, absolutely nothing, this is just heartbreaking. And it is so desperate for us. And secretary general was here in Kyiv concretely to confirm and to make sure that these humanitarian (INAUDIBLE) would start getting out.
Well, you see, as of now, we're not able to get them out again. This proves you yet again that there cannot be any agreement with Russia that they will honor. Even when it's a fairly minor point, to stop firing at this particular road, to get out our people, women, children and unarmed men, who are dying of hunger and thirst, to get them out of the city.
So this is heartbreaking that all the leaders of the world feel helpless right now and wish to help. But if we don't stop the attacks and we wouldn't stop until we will be able to get people out.
SOARES: Kira Rudik, I appreciate you taking time to speak to us. Thanks very much.
Of course, a thousand or so civilians inside that steel plant. We'll stay on top of that story to see if any evacuation goes ahead today.
As the war drags on, so does the exodus of Ukrainian refugees to other countries. The U.N. estimates that more than 5.4 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the fighting began. Even more people are internally displaced within the country.
The organization also says many civilians are stranded near war zones. And more than half of the refugees have fled into Poland, you can see there.
Now that they're safe from the war, the question is what next?
Erica Hill reports refugees and hosts are preparing to be in it for the long haul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): From coffee to clothes, laundry to day care, two months into this crisis, refugee shelters like this one outside Warsaw have found their rhythm, offering a place to rest and regroup, while people try to determine what and where is next.
We will go back to our home of Melitopol, this dad tells me, if it is under the Ukrainian flag. They left two weeks ago, making their way to Warsaw, to Crimea and Russia.
You were able to leave with your family. Do you want to go fight for Ukraine?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I left with my family but to fight?
I don't know. It's a difficult question for me. I can't answer.
HILL: There is so much that can't be answered, including how long this will last. The need is massive. There are volunteers working in this space 24/7 to deal with all the donations but if needed, they could push all this back to accommodate more beds and as many as 6,000 refugees.
Currently, they're averaging 3,000 people a night but officials say there is no way to know what the numbers will be from one day to the next. Alla, fled with her mother and two young daughters at the start of the war. Now she is one of several psychologists volunteering to help those who just arrived. Increasingly, they are from the hardest-hit areas.
ALLA LYKOVA, PSYCHOLOGIST, UKRAINIAN REFUGEES: There are no easy stories here. Either, you spent a month in the basement or ran from shelling or don't know when you can go back. You don't have anything here.
HILL (voice-over): Making simple moments all the more important. The goal is to make this space as comfortable as possible. Yet the truth is no matter how warm or welcoming, no one wants to be here. They'd rather be back home.
HILL: The reality is that this refugee center will likely be needed for some time. And just to keep it running is truly an incredible undertaking. You saw the washing machines they brought in, portable showers as well. In one month that facility goes through six tons of toilet paper and half a million coffee cups -- in Warsaw, I'm Erica Hill, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: It's one of China most draconian lockdowns since the pandemic began. We'll look at what life is like in Shanghai by a CNN reporter still stuck at home.
Plus he was once the number one ranked tennis player in the world. Now he's on his way to jail. Details of the sentencing when we come back.
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HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone.
COVID cases in Shanghai appear to be on the way down. On Friday, the global financial hub reported just over 10,000 new infections, a fall of over 5,000 from the day before. Shanghai has been one of the country's hardest hit cities during the latest outbreak.
On Friday, China crediting its zero COVID policy with protecting lives as well as minimizing the economic impact. Now the Chinese government defends that harsh COVID policy as a, quote, "magic weapon" to control spread of the virus. Shanghai COVID numbers are gradually falling but daily case counts do remain fairly high.
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HOLMES: And millions are still under a strict lockdown, including CNN's David Culver, who has our report from Shanghai. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lockdown in China is like nowhere else on Earth. Here, you see a man getting swabbed for a COVID test through the fence.
Using a megaphone, healthcare workers call for others to get tested. The country's zero COVID strategy turning millions into virtual prisoners across the nation.
Outside of Beijing, these residents forced to hand over their apartment keys so community workers can lock them in from the outside. For those who refuse, crews drill holes to chain the doors shut.
In a northeastern province, no need for a lock. Workers installing steel bars to keep people from leaving the building. Right now across China, at least 27 cities are under full or partial lockdown. CNN's calculation estimating that directly impacts up to 180 million people -- more than half the U.S. population.
For over two years now, China's COVID containment has become more extreme, fracturing everyday life. In Shenzhen, a city not under lockdown, babies kept off the subway.
The reason?
They didn't have negative COVID test results. It is now mandatory to get access to most of public life in the city. To accommodate the new rule, they have opened 24/7 testing sites.
A delayed test result had this groom in Shenzhen watching his own wedding ceremony via livestream, not allowed to enter the venue, laughing off the insanity of it all.
China's zero tolerance for any new cases comes from the top. President Xi Jinping tasked the vice premier to oversee major outbreaks. In Shanghai, that means working with the city's most senior official, the Communist Party secretary.
Their orders are carried out by the municipal government, which runs the quarantine centers and coordinated at local levels with thousands of communities. Those local workers are our little gatekeepers, determining who goes in and out of each compound, facilitating food deliveries and managing our health information.
CULVER: In addition to very regular PCR tests, each day we are also required to do rapid antigen tests. We then upload the results to this government app. And then we take a screenshot of that and a picture of the test. And we share it publicly with our community group chat, so that all our neighbors can see we are negative.
CULVER (voice-over): The community group chats can serve as a helpful way to source food but also as a space to call out neighbors, sometimes becoming a witch hunt to kick out positive cases and have them sent to quarantine centers. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has become quite common for local authorities
basically to say we have a wartime situation and, therefore, we have to apply emergency measures and, therefore, you have to simply follow orders.
CULVER (voice-over): It reminds some residents of the Cultural Revolution from the '60s and '70s, a painful era of political and social chaos, sparked by extreme policies. Criticism of Beijing's zero COVID strategy is not tolerated from anyone, including the son of a Chinese billionaire who was also sent to a crowded quarantine facility in Shanghai.
He was banned from Chinese social media after criticizing the policy. His profile, with 40 million followers, erased. But not everyone is silenced. Back in Shanghai, many residents confined to their homes adding to the growing chorus of dissent. As COVID cases surge across China, millions now sentenced to lockdown.
Their release date?
Unknown -- David Culver, CNN, Shanghai.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Some stunning video coming in following a building collapse in southern China. State media reporting five people rescued. And it's not known how many more might be trapped in the rubble.
The structure is described as a self-built house. It reportedly had six stories, including a restaurant, a cinema and a hotel in addition to private living quarters. No word on the cause.
A Taliban spokesman says at least 10 people are dead and 30 wounded after an explosion at a mosque in Kabul after Friday prayers. Witnesses say the death toll is probably much higher.
This is the latest in the series of deadly blasts that rocked several Afghan cities over the past two weeks. Most of the recent attacks were claimed by an ISIS affiliate. So far, nobody claiming responsibility for the explosion on Friday.
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HOLMES: German tennis phenomenon Boris Becker has been sentenced by a British court to 2.5 years in jail. The former world number one was convicted on four charges under Britain's Insolvency Act. He hid hundreds of thousands of dollars of assets after he was declared bankrupt.
He was found guilty of transferring money to two former partners after his 2017 bankruptcy. The six time grand slam champ lives in Britain, scene of his first major Wimbledon at age 17.
I'm Michael Holmes. International viewers have "AFRICAN VOICES: CHANGEMAKERS" coming up. Our coverage continues for those in North America. (MUSIC PLAYING)
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SOARES: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and all around the world, I'm Isa Soares, coming to you live from Lviv in Ukraine.
As Russia presses on with its offensive in the east, Ukraine says it's holding off attacks on several fronts. It's repelled 14 enemy attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the past 24 hours. And it brought down a Russian aircraft as well.
For Russia's part, there has been extensive shelling of railway and supply line infrastructure, like these rail cars in flames. Nearby, a rail bridge was destroyed. It's not clear who is responsible for that.
The head of Ukraine's Donetsk regional military administration said Russians were trying to, quote, "advance from the north," and that Russian troops are using artillery and airstrikes to wipe out settlements.
This comes as another mass grave is found in Ukraine, again in Bucha, the site of so many horrendous atrocities already. Details on the latest discovery are scarce. Since Russian troops withdrew from the area, just a few weeks ago, more than 900 bodies have been discovered there.
Now there are questions about the timing of a Russian attack on Kyiv as the U.N. secretary general was meeting with the Ukrainian president. Whether it was intentional or not, it's yet another example of civilians becoming casualties of war. Matt Rivers reports from the capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It had been weeks of relative quiet in Kyiv but a couple of bangs and a plume of black smoke quickly changed that.
Ukraine and Russia both confirming cruise missiles were fired into a central district of Kyiv on Thursday evening, mere miles away from where the U.N. secretary-general had just wrapped up a meeting with President Zelenskyy.
Rescuers worked through the night and in the morning, a clearer picture emerged about what happened with this apartment complex shredded by shrapnel, leaving those in the neighborhood shaken.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
RIVERS (voice-over): "This wall saved my life," She says, "Otherwise, it would have been the end. There was a lot of fire. I could see everything was burning. I was so scared. It was horror."
She says she only survived because she wasn't sitting next to the window.
Her son, Alexiy's (ph) hands, bloodied.
RIVERS (voice-over): He says, "A clap and a blast, then panic. That's it. I didn't see it until later, I saw my hand was covered in blood."
Mother and son survived while others affected by the strike did not, 54-year-old Vira Hyrych, a Ukrainian journalist lived here, having just returned to her home about a week ago.
No one had heard from her all night, so friends kept trying to call her. Her ringing cell phone led rescuers to her body this morning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
RIVERS (voice-over): "I have no words," says this friend. "No tears left. I have no energy to cry. Only a few days ago she was asking how she could help me because my house burned down and now no one can help her."
RIVERS: Russia's ministry of defense says they were aiming for a factory right nearby here that is one of Ukraine's top producers of air-to-air guided missiles, as well as aircraft parts. We can't show you that factory due to Ukrainian law.
The factory was damaged in the strike but so was that apartment complex just behind me.
RIVERS (voice-over): Yet another example of Russia targeting places with supposed military relevance but killing ordinary civilians in the process.
Vira's body was taken out of the building midday on Friday, the victim of an attack President Zelenskyy said proves, quote, "That one cannot relax yet, one cannot think that the war is over. We still need to fight" -- Matt Rivers, CNN, Kyiv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: As the battle lines move to the east and Russia focuses its offensive on the Donbas region, I asked defense analyst Stuart Crawford for his assessment of Russian progress thus far. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STUART CRAWFORD, DEFENSE ANALYST: A general assessment would be that Russia isn't winning and Ukraine isn't losing. I think it's clear that the Russians have some of the problems they had in their drive to Kyiv and are making slow but steady progress.
However, it's not easy. We're coming into some artillery war, a battle of attrition, where whoever can last longest will prevail. (END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:35:00]
SOARES: Stuart Crawford speaking to me earlier.
The G20 summit won't take police until November, half a year from now. But a potential diplomatic showdown is already brewing over attendance after Russia said it accepted Indonesia's invitation to participate. CNN White House correspondent MJ Lee has that for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MJ LEE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Vladimir Putin confirming that he intends to attend the G20 summit coming up in November, creating a diplomatic headache for this White House.
But President Biden has, previously, said that he believes Russia should be kicked out of the G20 because of its invasion into Ukraine.
He made these comments back in March, when he was in Belgium attending a series of emergency summits to discuss this war.
Now White House press secretary Jen Psaki reacted to this news and CNN asked her if anything could change between now and six months from now, when that summit is supposed to take place to make the U.S. believe that it would be productive for Russia to attend that summit.
And this is what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have conveyed our view that we don't think they should be a part of it publicly and privately as well. There's a lot that could happen between now and then but we certainly haven't seen an indication to date of Russia's plan to participate in diplomatic talks constructively.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: It is unlikely at this moment in time that Russia would be kicked out of the G20 because not every member country agrees that this should happen, including China. And then, there is also the question of the host country, Indonesia.
Jen Psaki said her understanding is Indonesia invited Russia to the summit before the invasion began. But Indonesian president said that Indonesia wants to unite the G20, that he doesn't want there to be a split.
So this certainly doesn't sound like a host country that is eager to see Russia kicked out of the summit -- MJ Lee, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: That does if for me for now. From Lviv. Back at the top of the hour with more of our breaking news coverage. I'll send it back to Michael Holmes in Atlanta after this short break.
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HOLMES: A U.S. judge has sentenced a member of the ISIS terror cell known as the Beatles to life in prison. Alexanda Kotey pleaded guilty in September to involvement in the hostage-taking that led to the deaths of American, Japanese and British citizens in Syria.
He will serve the first 15 years in the U.S., then will be transferred to the U.K. for the rest of his life term.
Press freedom advocates were alarmed this week after L.A. County's powerful sheriff suggested a reporter was under criminal investigation for doing her job.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva attacked "L.A. Times" reporter Alene Tchekmedyian on Tuesday after she published a series of stories, including one about a possible coverup within his department.
Her newspaper accused him of abusing his position in an attempt to intimidate their reporter. This latest controversy hinges on one piece of video, as CNN Nick Watt reports.
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NICK WATT, CNN ANCHOR AND NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An inmate gets punchy at a sheriff's department lockup. In this footage recently obtained by the "Los Angeles Times," you see a deputy's knee on the now handcuffed inmate's neck or head. This week, L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced another investigation.
SHERIFF ALEX VILLANUEVA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY: Here are the three individuals that we want to know a lot about.
WATT (voice-over): An investigation into who leaked that video. He pointed at a picture of the "L.A. Times" reporter who broke the story.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this "Los Angeles Times" reporter under investigation by the department?
VILLANUEVA: Well, the act is under investigation. And all parties to the act are subjects of the investigation.
ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES" REPORTER: It was, you know, uncomfortable and bizarre and a little bit surreal to see my photo up there. It's obviously alarming, of course, when a powerful government official would do something like that.
WATT (voice-over): Raises the question, why? Well, this potentially excessive use of force by one of his deputies was kept from the public. The video only surfaced last month but it happened more than a year ago, just as jury selection began in Minneapolis for the trial of Derek Chauvin, who murdered George Floyd with a knee on the neck.
Sheriff Villanueva blocked and stalled an investigation, states one of the sheriff's underlings in a freshly filed claim to obstruct justice and avoid bad publicity for his re-election campaign.
VILLANUEVA: Well the foundation this entire lawsuit is false. Everything in this lawsuit is false.
WATT (voice-over): The scandal prone Villanueva faces voters in June. Right now, questions over a helipad built by his home apparently without permission, reports the "L.A. Times" based on a department audit. Also, an investigation into alleged gang activity among his deputies.
VILLANUEVA: There was absolutely no actionable information on here for anybody but it made for a good clickbait for the "L.A. Times."
WATT (voice-over): On this incident, Villanueva claims he wasn't shown the video until eight months after it happened, acted swiftly, launched an investigation.
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WATT (voice-over): He blamed subordinates for any earlier lack of action.
TCHEKMEDYIAN: Yesterday, we heard for the first time an eyewitness who says that they were personally in the room and saw him watch the video five days after the incident happened.
WATT (voice-over): A high ranking official, she says she didn't cover it up, Villanueva did and later tried to demote her. Villanueva is the most powerful sheriff in the land claims, this is all a deep conspiracies against him.
VILLANUEVA: There's a lot of people working in concert in coordination that includes the "L.A. Times," that includes people that, obviously, want to defeat me electorally, that includes the board appointed inspector general and the civilian oversight commission. A lot of people work in overtime.
WATT: Now back in 2018, Villanueva called himself a Democrat and won. His move to the Right since: then he refused to enforce a vaccine mandate within his department. He publicly blames Democrats for the homelessness crisis.
Here the question is going to be, can he win reelection appealing to a pretty different constituency by talking about things like conspiracies involving the press?
He declined our request for an interview but he has clarified on Twitter that that "L.A. Times" reporter is not a suspect and he will not be pursuing criminal charges against her in his investigation into who leaked that video -- Nick Watt, CNN. Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Hope Solo is asking for a postponement to her induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame so she can seek treatment for alcohol. The former United States women's national goalkeeper says she's voluntarily entering an inpatient alcohol treatment program to address her challenges with alcohol.
In 2014, she was arrested on domestic assault charges after she assaulted two relatives at a home. And earlier this month, she was arrested on charges of misdemeanor child abuse, resisting arrest and impaired driving.
Another day of wild weather across the U.S. Parts of the country bracing for tornadoes while other regions are dealing with wildfires. We'll have the details when we come back.
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HOLMES (voice-over): Have a look at that, a massive tornado passing over Andover, Kansas, late on Friday. Police say the fallout from the storm considered an emergency situation. A Wichita fire chief says at least 12 people have suffered minor injuries.
City official says 52 to 100 structures have been damaged. They are adding up the damage there.
The National Weather Service says there were more than a dozen tornadoes reported, most in Kansas and also Nebraska. Kansas also reporting severe hail, all part of the severe storm system passing through the region this weekend.
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HOLMES: Now in the Western U.S. meanwhile, wildfires prompting air quality alerts in parts of New Mexico. Officials say there are at least five active large fires burning across the state, scorching more than 157,000 acres. Several counties are now under mandatory evacuation orders. And some parts have had power shut off.
I'm Michael Holmes. Thanks for spending part of your day with me. We'll go back to Ukraine in just a moment. The CNN breaking news coverage continues. I'll see you after the break.
