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Politico: U.S. Supreme Court Draft Opinion Would Overturn Landmark 1973 Abortion Rights Ruling Roe. v. Wade; Ukraine Hopes To Resume Evacuations From Mariupol; Mayor: Russian Filtration Camps Set Up Around Mariupol. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired May 03, 2022 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:33]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary church. Just ahead this hour, supreme shock. A draft opinion from the highest court in the United States has surfaced suggesting it's prepared to overturn abortion rights by striking down Roe v. Wade.

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And I'm Isa Soares live in Ukraine where officials are hopeful evacuation efforts can soon resume in the besieged city of Mariupol. Though many civilians remain trapped inside the city's decimated steel plant.

For the first time in nearly half a century, American women appear to be on the cusp of losing their constitutional right to safe and legal abortions. The news Web site Politico has published a draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that appears poised to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling Roe vs. Wade, which protects abortion rights nationwide. Now CNN can't confirm the authenticity of the document.

The final ruling is not expected until June and abortion remains legal for now. But outrage and alarm are spreading very quickly. Protests have already begun while many Republicans are celebrating the news. Now this would mark a major victory decades in the making for American conservatives. And this is all possible because of the three conservative justices appointed by former U.S. President Donald Trump who dramatically shifted the ideological makeup of the top court.

Justice Samuel Alito who reportedly wrote the draft opinion has long objected to Roe vs. Wade. He writes "Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences and far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue. Roe and Casey have inflamed debate and deepen division." Now Casey was a case in 1992 that also upheld abortion rights.

CNN Legal Analyst Joan Biskupic puts all of this into perspective for us. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAN BISKUPIC, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: This is seismic news coming from the Supreme Court in a draft opinion obtained by Politico, the court appears poised to overturn the landmark decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in the United States. This means nearly 50 years of legal access to abortion in any state may soon change. States could have the option of banning abortion entirely once this ruling is officially handed down.

A number of states already have laws ready to be enacted to limit or outright ban abortions. As the law stands now in America, states cannot ban abortion before about 23 weeks of pregnancy. The case at hand brought on by the state of Mississippi will entirely change that precedent. What is also shocking is how we came to learn about this decision. Normally we hear at the very end once a decision is complete from the Supreme Court.

We hear from a majority and we hear from a dissent. But this first draft of the majority decision was made available in an entirely unprecedented way. And for some people might further bring into question the legitimacy of this Supreme Court. According to Politico and our own reporting confirms this. Chief Justice John Roberts would be dissent in an opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade and he will be even more concerned about the outcome of this ruling now.

Joan Biskupic, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And the draft opinion is causing a firestorm among abortion rights activists and legal analyst. Planned Parenthood. The organization that provides women's reproductive health care tweeted, let's be clear, this is a draft opinion. It's outrageous. It's unprecedented, but it is not final. Abortion is your right and it is still legal. And here's more from Planned Parenthood's president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXIS MCGILL JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA: What we have seen tonight is not just a draft, we believe this is a roadmap for how they will take road down and we have already seen it over these last nine months in Texas.

[02:05:02]

JOHNSON: The devastation of what we have seen patients traveling thousands of miles to get access to basic abortion care. But I will tell you abortion is still legal right now. We are letting our patients know, patients who are seeking access to abortion that they can still go and seek their provider right now. But what is happening right now in front of the court is unbelievable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN Legal Analyst Laura Coates says if Roe v. Wade is overturned, it would have far reaching consequences on women's rights. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA COATES, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: This opinion can be if true, narrowed down and defined quite simply, women are not viewed as equal to men. The right of privacy, a fancy way of talking about a fundamental right meaning in a country where we talk about how we do not want people's rights to infringe on another's and your rights and remind begin, and it's about the consent of the governed.

Well, in this instance, the court has already said that there are some areas. If you believe that fundamental rights include things like marriage include things like interstate travel. Include things like contraception and the like, well, then surely, you would believe that within that same umbrella of thought that things related to one's health and agency over one's body should also be in that privacy sphere.

But instead, you have this justice, if this draft opinion is to be believed, and to be actually followed to a conclusion of an official holding that you have the codification that says that when it comes to a woman's body, when it comes to agency over ourselves over our decisions over our bodies, we are simply not equal to men.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And CNN's Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin says the publishing of a Supreme Court draft is unprecedented by the High Court standards of secrecy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: I can't emphasize enough as someone who has covered this court for 30 years, who's written two books on the court, there has never been a leak anything like this. There's never been a leak of a vote much less than actual opinion, much less in a case of this significance. The idea that a decision of this magnitude could leak is really a shattering experience for the justices and the court and I really don't know -- institutions going to recover.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And we will continue to cover this breaking news story of course. Now though, we all want the latest on the situation in Ukraine. And for that, we bring in our Isa Soares who joins us live from Lviv. Isa.

SOARES: Good morning to you, Rosie. All eyes this hour on the besieged city of Mariupol and the bombed out steel plant where many civilians are of course still trapped inside. The city council says more evacuation efforts are due to resume in the coming hours. But it's not clear if those plans involve people inside the large complex that is the Azovstal steel plant. Now a run around 100 were able to make it out on -- the plant on Sunday. You can see that there. But another round of evacuations planned for Monday actually never happened. A Ukrainian commander inside the plant says they've been under constant bombardment since early Monday. And this video really appears to confirm those reports that shows a large plume of smoke rising of the city from an area near the plant. Meanwhile, some evacuees did begin arriving in Zaporozhye on Monday.

The city under Ukrainian control is often where people fleeing Mariupol go first. But the city's mayor says Russia is making that journey even more difficult by forcing everyone who wants to enter Ukrainian-controlled territory to pass through so called filtration camps. He says people are often held there without food or water and claims many are deported to Russia against their will.

Now, a U.S. official says they're aware of these claims. And the true will be of course, a violation of international law. While U.S. and Western officials believe Vladimir Putin could formally declare war in Ukraine as soon as May the 9th. And that's Victory Day in Russia marking the defeat of course of the Nazis in World War II. Up to now, worth remembering Russia has called its actions in Ukraine. Just a special military operation. Those were their words, and there could be more. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL CARPENTER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE OSCE: According to the most recent reports, we believe that Russia will try to annex the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in quotes so called to Russia. The reports state that Russia has plans to engineer referenda on joining Russia sometime in mid-May. And that Moscow is considering a similar plan for Kherson.

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[02:10:03]

SOARES: Well, meanwhile Russian forces appear to be pushing further to the west in Ukraine. Local officials report a number of Russian missile strikes on the city of Odessa. Ukraine's president says a 14- year-old boy was killed and another teen wounded (INAUDIBLE) attack on a doom -- one a dorm there. There are also signs that Ukrainian forces are fighting back. This video posted online shows the aftermath of a large explosion in the airfield in a Russian-held area near Kherson, neither side is commenting on the cause.

Let's get more on all of this. Joining me now from the Vinnytsia, Ukraine, Romeo Kokriatski. He's a journalist and host of Ukrainian Without Hype podcast. Romeo, thank you very much for joining. It's a very good morning to you. Let me start with what we're hearing from U.S. officials and Western officials I should add that President Putin could formally declare war on Ukraine as early as May the 9th. I mean, what would this signal to you you think?

ROMEO KOKRIATSKI, HOST, UKRAINIAN WITHOUT HYPE: Hi, Isa. Thanks for having me on. I guess this has been one of the theories for how Putin will escalate after midnight. I mean, he calls for a swift decisive victory in three days then the deadline got extended to Victory Day now. And it's clear that in six days, the situation on the Donbas front is unlikely to change. The situation in the Black Sea front is also unlikely to change.

And he's going to have basically nothing to show for his big grandiose parade. So, that may represent an escalation to war. What this means legally is that Russia will have the legal grounds to declare a general mobilization, that is, they can start drafting and conscripting anyone they want into the military. However, one of the consistent through lines we've seen, for the Russian forces in this entire war has been just how poor their logistics are.

They've had trouble supplying their normal army. I don't believe the addition of 100, 200 or 300,000 poorly trained guys with rifles is really going to help their logistics problems, especially now that we're seeing -- as I call them, mysterious accidents occur all across -- all across parts of the Russian-Ukrainian border on the Russian side.

SOARES: Hmm. I mean, I know you focus a lot on disinformation on the side of this war, and I'm keen to learn and get your views on the narrative that we've been hearing from Russia. How do you go about Romeo's sorting out facts from propaganda?

KOKRIATSKI: I'll say one thing this war has done is made my job in countering disinformation a lot easier, because Russia no longer has the time nor the plausible deniability to craft the sort of elaborate fictions that they previously would. Every faith that they've released has been more or less instantly disproven. When they say things, they say things that are directly opposed to facts that not only Ukrainians know, but also, international bodies know.

For example, one of the Russian bludgeoned attack on Kyiv while the U.N. Secretary General was visiting a few days ago. That was an obvious sign that, well, they are willing to go that far. And now even international bodies who do their hardest to stay neutral, can hardly say, well, the Russians may have a point where we should let the Russian stop. Because, well, it doesn't seem like they have any limits on their actions. So, when that -- in that --

(CROSSTALK)

SOARES: So when you hear --

KOKRIATSKI: -- quite but a bit easier.

SOARES: So when you hear Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, make this comment he made yesterday saying that Adolf Hitler was Jewish. How does that -- what the ripple effects of that? How does that resonate you think in Russia from what you have seen?

KOKRIATSKI: For me, that comments represented a rare moment of diplomatic misstep, I would say for Lavrov. What he said is a very commonly held belief in Russia. It is part of their whole mythology of the Second World War because again, the Second World War in Russia is not about the defeat of the Nazis as the group that committed the Holocaust. It's the defeat of the invading German army.

They -- during the Soviet Union, and now they work very hard to separate the Holocaust from the actual invasion, and they focus on the invasion part. So when Lavrov said the like, utterly a historical and conspiracy laden take that Adolf Hitler made have Jewish roots, this is a very common conspiracy theory in Russia. It's very widely held.

[02:15:05]

KOKRIATSKI: However Lavrov usually has the presence of mind not to air these kinds of typical Russian views in public. But I think that the desperation is getting to the upper echelons of Russian officialdom. And we can see that by Lavrov making these kinds of rhetorical missteps. I mean, he can't exactly done it because it's very widely held. But we can see the fallout now Israel has immediately denounced it. Ukraine, of course, has announced it and Lavrov's kind of reputation has taken a very serious hit.

SOARES: Yes. And what reminding our viewers that President Zelenskyy is Jewish. I think that's important too. Romeo Kokriatski, I appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thanks, Romeo. Stay with -- stay safe.

And still to come right here. We are following rise of new COVID infections across dozens of U.S. states is another search on the horizon. My colleague Rosemary Church will ask one health expert to weigh in. That is next. You are watching CNN.

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CHURCH: The United States is on the brink of reaching one million COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. That grim milestone is expected to happen within the next few weeks.

[02:20:07]

CHURCH: New infections are also rising again. John Hopkins University says cases climbed in 37 states in the past week and hospitalizations are up 10 percent. And in New York, the city's COVID risk alert level has been raised from low to medium, and uptick in cases triggered that move.

So, let's bring in Dr. Scott Miscovich, the President and CEO of premier medical group USA and a national consultant for COVID 19. Testing. Thank you, doctor for joining us.

DR. SCOTT MISCOVICH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, PREMIER MEDICAL GROUP USA: Sure, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So, as we just heard New York City is raising its COVID alert level to medium as a result of these increasing infections. And Dr. Deborah Birx says that the U.S. should be preparing for a potential summer surge in COVID cases across southern states. Where do you see all this going in the months ahead? And what's your best advice to everyone as infections and hospitalizations do start to rise? MISCOVICH: Well, the first thing I have to say that I so much agree with Dr. Deborah Birx, that was such a great appearance she had this weekend. And one of the things I would say to New York is when you wait to change that level to orange and CDC literally move the goalposts in the middle of our COVID pandemic, that's a little bit too late. When you use hospitalizations as an indicator, that means that the patients are already ill, they already can go on to die.

We're trying to prevent them from being there. So, you know, I totally agree with her when she said that we're going to expect a surge that will go into the southern states and anywhere where there are lower vaccination rates. And then very important point which you and I have talked about, Rosemary, is waning immunity. Just because you've had two shots don't feel like you're protected, especially with where we are now with the new BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5 coming on. So we have to watch out for this summer, we are facing a surge.

CHURCH: Yes. Such an important point. And let's talk about that because Dr. Anthony Fauci says that we should find out by this summer, what type of COVID booster shot will be required to deal with the next phase of this pandemic and when it needs to be administered? What are you learning about this? And of course, the possible options available for yearly COVID booster shots ahead of each full season every year?

MISCOVICH: Yes. Well, a few things. You know, Dr. Fauci needs to be a little more explanatory and a little more forthcoming. Right now they're already into the trials. And they're nearly done with the trials. One major one is done. Another one will be done next month to talk about the potential vaccination that will be available to us in September. Now more than likely, that is going to be a bivalent vaccine.

Meaning it's going to be a little different than what we have is going to have two components in it. Something with Omicron and one of the prior versions trying to broaden out what the vaccine does to us. Now, that's important. But the real -- the real magic is what's already going on across the world. Most people don't realize that there are 50 -- 150 vaccines in trial that are already in clinical trials.

Another 190 that are in preclinical trials. Everybody's rushing to try to find one. But Rosemary, this is what we're looking for. Next year, 2023, we're hoping to have a polyvalent vaccine. That means one that has multiple different components that uses A.I. trying to guess where's it going to go? Where's the mutation going to go? Now, we know that's going to be a challenge. But there is way more on the horizon.

And Rosemary, we both talked about this, expect that there will be a tie in with a vaccine and your flu shot. And here it is. It's happening.

CHURCH: Yes. And I'm so glad that you're explaining this because there hasn't been a lot of discussion about this, as you say -- I mean, we need to know, everyone wants to understand what lies ahead what they need to do. And on that very point, as the U.S. nears that grim milestone of one million COVID-related deaths since the start of this pandemic. Sadly, the majority of those deaths have been unvaccinated individual.

So, that is starting to change now with the waning of these vaccinations. So, what happens though, going forward if everyone else is getting yearly COVID booster shots, and then some in the population have never even received one shot. What happens to them?

MISCOVICH: Well, there's two sides of that story. And we had a great study that came out of Quebec, which was very well done, it came out today. And it basically talked about we're getting more information on the strength of immunity you get from having prior infection.

[02:25:08]

MISCOVICH: Remember before we were like, it doesn't help that much. But it doesn't help that much, except it does potentially reduce death and severe hospitalization. So, when you balance in the number of people, hopefully that will continue to get the shots as well as those people who are unvaccinated that have already had. Remember, we've had 60 percent for the last release of CDC, of the American males have had or American adults have had COVID, 75 percent of children.

So, we are getting up there where there will be some underlying immunity. But I want to highlight the study also said very clearly, you could have COVID and if you're vaccinated with three shots, you are so much more protected. Having the disease does not give you as much immunity as it does by getting your shots.

CHURCH: Yes. Very important point. Dr. Scott Miscovich, always a pleasure to talk with you. Thank you so much.

MISCOVICH: Thank you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Well, Russia's top diplomat drags out a conspiracy theory about Adolf Hitler in an attempt to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it's not going over well, we'll explain.

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[02:30:00]

STEPHEN JAMIESON, GLOBAL HEAD OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS, SAP: I'm Stephen Jamieson, global head of circular economy solutions at SAP. The aim of the circular economy is to eliminate waste, circulate materials, keep products in use as long as possible, and regenerate natural systems.

We're talking about a fundamental reworking of how we deliver the economy. At the moment we're based upon an extractive system which depends upon nature but is ultimately extractive. That will only go one way in the long term. A regenerative economy ultimately creates abundance of opportunity, abundance of materials, abundance of resources that enable us to thrive as a species and thrive as a piece of nature and part of nature.

CHURCH: Breaking news this hour, the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn the landmark Roe versus Wade decision, guaranteeing a woman's right to an abortion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: We will not go back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Crowds of protesters gathered outside the court late Monday after Politico published what it calls a majority draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito. The decision itself would be stunning but the fact that it has gone public for any official ruling is also unprecedented. According to the draft, it would be according to each individual State to decide how it handles abortions. We will, of course, continue to follow this story. I want to go back now to my colleague, Isa Soares in Lviv. Isa.

SOARES: Thank you very much, Rosie. While outrage is erupting right around the world over comments the Russian Foreign Minister made about Adolf Hitler, Jews, and Ukraine. Sergei Lavrov told Italian TV that Hitler had Jewish blood and that the most ardent anti-Semite are usually Jews, those were his words. He was trying to support Kremlin rhetoric that claims the Russian invasion was needed to de-nazify Ukraine. And he shrugged off the fact that Ukraine has a Jewish president. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy loudly denounced his remarks. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): How could this be said on the eve of the anniversary of the victory over Nazism. These words mean that Russia's top diplomat is blaming the Jewish people for Nazi crimes. No words. Such an anti-Semitic thrust by their minister means Russia has forgotten all the lessons of World War II, or maybe they never studied those lessons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: While Israeli leaders have called Lavrov's remarks unforgivable lies. CNN's Matthew Chance has a further reaction. He's reporting from Moscow, where the Kremlin has imposed strict laws regarding how Russia's presence in Ukraine is described.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, was attempting to justify why his country has sent so many troops across the border into neighboring Ukraine. They say it's because the Ukrainians today is run by neo- Nazis and that it represents an existential threat to Russia, in the same way, that Nazi Germany did in the 1940s.

We've seen that rhetoric from the beginning of this -- of this -- what Russians call, their special military operation. And we are seeing that rhetoric being stepped up in the last few weeks, last few days in particular because for -- in the lead up to the May the 9th victory day celebrations or commemorations, where Russia commemorates the end of the second world war, Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. And so, we're seeing more and more of this. The problem, of course, with the -- with that -- with that narrative is that Ukraine isn't run by neo-Nazis. It's run by a Jewish president. And when confronted with that fact, Sergei Lavrov reached for the anti-Semitic trope that its Jews are the worst anti-Semites. And to reach as well for that conspiracy that theory (INAUDIBLE) currency on the internet in some quarters that Hitler himself may have been partly Jewish, which is, you know, something that has been discredited by historians. And the condemnation has been, you know, there's been no mention of Russia have to say but the condemnation from elsewhere has been pretty sharp, particularly from Israel.

The Israeli prime minister calling it lies. Israeli foreign minister saying that the comments by his Russian counterpart were unforgivable, which is interesting in itself because Israel has been one of the countries that's been, you know, sitting on the fence when it comes to its condemnation of Russia. It hasn't fully signed up to the international rafts of sanctions against the country over its action inside Ukraine.

[02:35:00]

And so, you know, there's a possibility that that could change. We'll see. But certainly, you know, a very sharp diplomatic reaction to Sergei Lavrov's words.

SOARES: Our Matthew Chance reporting from Moscow there. And still to come on CNN, we are tracking severe weather in the U.S., including this reported tornado in Oklahoma. We'll bring you all the latest after a very short break. You are watching CNN.

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CHURCH: In Central Oklahoma on Monday, during yet another round of severe weather, let's turn to our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri who's tracking it for us. So, Pedram, what are you seeing?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: All right. Rosemary, it was one of four tornadoes in a spectacular footage certainly there across portions of central U.S. And you'll notice, upwards of 70 severe weather -- 70 plus severe weather reports of vast majority were related to winds. At times gust up to 70 miles per hour, about 120 kilometers per hour.

[02:40:00]

And we got some large hailstones, some of which measured four inches in diameter which happens to be about softball size in diameter. So, it really speaks to how intense these storms were. And the height of the storms in fact produced some 90 plus thousand lightning strikes in a 12-hour span across this region of the United States. So, pretty incredible to think that only four tornadoes were spawned from this widespread severe weather event.

Good news, across the central U.S. quiet in conditions. We do expect another round of severe weather, though a lesser risk there, generally, for wind and hail across the Ohio Valley. Now, quickly here I want to show you what's happening in the Western U.S. where 17 large active fires still taking shape. Of course, we know across portions of Arizona and New Mexico, some of the larger fires. The Tunnel Fire near containment -- full containment there in the last 24 or so hours. While the Hermits Peak and also the calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico, Rosemary, are very concerning, gusty winds there and containment only a 20 percent in this region.

CHURCH: All right. Pedram, appreciate you keeping us on top of all of this.

JAVAHERI: Thank you.

CHURCH: And thank you for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church for our international viewers. World sport is up next. And for everyone here in the United States and Canada, I will be back with more news after a short break. You are watching CNN.

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[02:45:05]

CHURCH: The U.S. Supreme Court may be on the verge of outlawing a women's constitutional right to an abortion which, for decades, has remained one of the most contentious issues in the U.S. Much to the shock of other Western countries where abortion is not a major issue. The news website Politico says it's obtained a dropped opinion that would strike down Roe versus Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion at the national level.

The release of this document is a shocking breach of Supreme Court confidentiality. CNN though cannot confirm its authenticity. The Court's final opinion is not expected until late June. Votes and language can change before then but that seems unlikely given the court's conservative majority.

And CNN conducted polling on abortion and overturning Roe versus Wade, the findings show that just 30 percent of Americans wanted the Supreme Court to overturn the landmark ruling. The vast majority, a whopping 69 percent of Americans said no. They do not want to see the Court take such actions. Overall, more than half the country, 52 percent said that shan't the ruling be overturned, they would want this State to become a safe haven for women who want abortions but can't get them where they live.

Meantime, conservatives who have long sort undertime or overturn Roe V. Wade, a slamming the release of the Supreme Court's draft opinion, Republican Alabama Governor Kay Ivey tweeted, this unprecedented leak is concerning, outrageous, and a blatant attempt to manipulate the sacred procedures of the U.S. Supreme Court. Those responsible should be held accountable. My prayer is that Roe V. Wade is overturned and that life prevails.

Well, CNN's Senior Legal Analyst Preet Bharara says the Supreme Court's decision could impact the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PREET BHARARA, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: What's this going to mean for politics? What's this going to mean for the midterm elections? What's this going to mean for the other side of the aisle who, for a long time, you know, state in loud terms that they cared a lot about the court. But because some of these things have been on the side and the presidents have been on their side, particularly Roe and KC and some other things, you know, I don't want people to send mail to me, but there has been a little bit of complacency about this. The conservatives have cared more about the court and have cared more about changing what they haven't been able to do legislatively, like this issue through the court than the liberals have been.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And Democrats are promising to turn abortion rights into a major campaign issue. The Democratic National Committee released a short statement saying, "Make no mistake, reproductive rights will be on the ballot. And this midterm election is more important now than ever before."

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar had this to say to our Don Lemon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): If this opinion is issued, it will be against the wishes of 80 percent of Americans who believe that women should have the right to make their health -- their own health care system. It would trigger the laws in over 20 States that have already said that they will outlaw abortion in the States. It will create a patchwork of laws across the county. And my prediction, Don, is that it will drive women to the polls and men, anyone, that 80 percent of the public who believes that health care decisions should be made by a woman and her doctor and not by Ted Cruz.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The midterm elections are six months away. But first, candidates have to secure their respective party's nomination in the primary. One of the most contested primary elections right now is the Republican Nomination for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat where every candidate except one, sought Donald Trump's endorsement. That election is scheduled for Tuesday. CNN's Jeff Zeleny followed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I want to pick somebody that's going to win. And this man is going to win. Come on up, J.D.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Donald Trump is testing his role as a kingmaker.

J.D. VANCE, U.S. REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE, OHIO: Ohio, do we love the sky?

ZELENY (voiceover): Many Republicans do still love him. The question is whether they will follow his lead and support J.D. Vance in Ohio's crowded Senate primary Tuesday. On the campaign trail today, Vance made famous by his best-selling book "Hillbilly Elegy" was still explaining his evolution from Trump critic to eco-lite.

VANCE: I can't turn on the TV without seeing my fat head saying something I wish I hadn't said six years ago.

I didn't vote for Trump.

[02:50:00]

ZELENY (voiceover): What he said about Trump --

VANCE: I never liked him.

ZELENY (voiceover): had been played again and again.

VANCE: I can't stomach Trump.

ZELENY (voiceover): On TV ads from rivals and critics.

VANCE: I'm a Never-Trump guy. I never liked him. As somebody who doesn't like Trump, I might have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton.

ZELENY (voiceover): We asked Vance about those words today? Do you regret them?

VANCE: Do I regret them? I certainly wished that I hadn't said them. It was a mistake because I was wrong. But I think it's much more important it is than, sort of, worry about whether you regret something is to actually admit when you make a mistake.

ZELENY (voiceover): Bonnie Boyd, a loyal Trump fan was offended by Vance's old comments. But changed her tune after Trump offered his blessings.

BONNIE BOYD, OHIO VOTER: I can't, in good faith, vote for him because of things he said against Trump. But then when Trump endorsed him, I thought, OK. I can vote for him now.

ZELENY (voiceover): Lora Yank, who also admires Trump sees it differently.

LORA YANK, OHIO VOTER: Do I like President Trump? Yes. Do I follow everything that Trump says or do I think that he's, you know, the ultimate source? No. God is the ultimate source and I rely on my own sense of judgment. Research.

ZELENY (voiceover): With early voting underway, the former president upended the race to replace retiring Senator Rob Portman. He endorsed Jane Timken, a former chair of Ohio's GOP, who also fought hard for the Trump endorsement.

JANE TIMKEN, U.S. REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE, OHIO: I think it created a lot of confusion as many voters know that J.D. Vance was a Never-Trumper. If he had his way, Hillary Clinton would have been president in 20 --

ZELENY (on camera): But he's apologized for that.

TIMKEN: Well, he's apologized but the question is, who is the real J.D. Vance?

ZELENY (voiceover): Josh Mandel and Mike Gibbons also have aligned themselves with Trump but didn't gain his support.

JOSH MANDEL, U.S REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE, OHIO: Well, obviously I would have loved to earn it. But it doesn't change the fact that I believe very strongly in the Trump America First agenda.

ZELENY (voiceover): Texas Senator Ted Cruz backs Mandel and had this to say about Trump's seal of approval.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): Every candidate says I love Donald Trump. No, no, I love Donald Trump more. No, no, no, I have Donald Trump tattooed on my rear end. Like, OK. We get it. What do you reckon?

ZELENY (voiceover): Matt Dolan, the only GOP rival who did not seek the endorsement said it's time for Republicans to move on.

MATT DOLAN, U.S. REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE, OHIO: I hope this election, when I win, is about -- is that people begin to understand that you can run on ideas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY (on camera): Many Republicans are keeping a close eye on Matt Dolan, the establishment candidate who did not seek the former president's endorsement. Of course, every other candidate did and they are dividing some of his support amongst themselves. For Trump, it's the biggest bet he's made in the 2022 midterm elections. But every Tuesday in the month of May, he'll be tested anew with his endorsements facing primary challenges here in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and beyond. The former president weighing in deeply, we will see if the Republican base responds. Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Columbus, Ohio.

CHURCH: A warrant has now been issued for an Alabama corrections officer after she and an inmate went missing from a detention center Friday. A manhunt is underway for both. And the Lauderdale County sheriff says it appears the officer is willfully assisting the inmate who's charged with capital murder. CNN's Ryan Young has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHERIFF RICK SINGLETON, LAUDERDALE COUNTRY SHERIFF: I'd be surprised if they're still in Alabama.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Tonight, a manhunt is underway for a dangerous murder suspect and correction officer Vicky White, who may have helped the inmate escape.

SINGLETON: If she did this willingly, all indications are that she did, I guess we're trying to hold onto the last straw of hope that maybe some -- for some reason she was threatened and did this under coercion. But I really feel betrayed.

YOUNG (voiceover): Friday morning, the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office says assistant director Vicky White told her co-workers she was taking inmate Casey White to the county courthouse for a mental health evaluation. Casey White is awaiting trial on murder charges. Investigators say security video shows the pair never arrived at the courthouse and no evaluation or court appearance was even scheduled. Several hours later, White's patrol car was found abandoned in a shopping center parking lot less than a mile away from the detention facility.

SINGLETON: We've gotten some -- a couple of tips on the possible vehicle. We're still pursuing that.

YOUNG (voiceover): Investigators say they still have no evidence of a relationship between them.

SINGLETON: We're still looking into that. Reviewing phone calls, reviewing video from the jail.

YOUNG (voiceover): CNN got a firsthand look at security procedures inside the detention center.

YOUNG (on camera): So, you see how all this works, there's security in every single level and you'll have to radio in.

YOUNG (voiceover): The sheriff says, Vicky White actually violated protocol when she removed Casey White from the detention facility.

YOUNG (on camera): So, this is the hallway where the inmate would be walking out. He'd go through this door to Sally Port where they'll be loaded into a car. Normally it's two deputies per van. But this time, it was just the deputy and the inmate.

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YOUNG (voiceover): The sheriff says since Vicky White is in charge of the detention center, no one questioned her. And the sheriff's office says last week after about two decades with the department, Vicky White put in her retirement papers. Friday was supposed to be her last day. Casey White was already serving 75 years for a rash of crimes. Next month, he's scheduled to go on trial on two counts of capital murder for the stabbing death of Connie Ridgeway in 2015. Tonight, investigators are hopeful he'll soon be back behind bars.

MARTY KEELY, U.S. MARSHAL, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA: Keep in mind that Casey White is a large individual. He is six feet, nine inches tall. He will stand out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YOUNG (on camera): Right now, there's a lot of questions about how this played out. Of course, Vicky White worked here for more than 15 years. So, there's a lot of shock in terms of the deputies who work here about exactly what happened. They're hoping to get some sort of tip that leads them to a break in this investigation. But right now, just a lot of questions. Reporting in Lauderdale Country, Alabama, Ryan Young, CNN.

CHURCH: And thanks for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Our breaking news coverage continues after this quick break.

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