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Leaked Draft From Supreme Court Rattles Women; All Eyes On Russia On May 9th; Trapped Civilians Arrived In Zaporizhzhia; More Changes Expected To Happen In The Supreme Court; COVID-19 Cases May Rise In Summer; Live Patient Sent To Morgue; More Changes Expected To Happen In The Supreme Court; Roe v. Wade A Weighing Factor In The Midterms; Manhunt Underway In Alabama; Not All Ohio Candidates Got Trump's Endorsement. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired May 03, 2022 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church in Atlanta, following our breaking news. A stunning breach of U.S. Supreme Court confidentiality, a draft opinion has been published that would strike down Roe versus Wade, shocking many across the country.
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Isa Soares live in Ukraine where the nonstop bombardment of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol has made evacuation efforts a nightmare.
CHURCH: And we begin with this bombshell report that indicates American women could soon lose their constitutional right to a safe, and legal abortion. The news web site Politico has published a draft of what it calls, a Supreme Court majority opinion that would strike down the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide back in 1973.
Angry and somber abortion rights supporters have already been gathering outside the Supreme Court. To be clear though, the final opinion has not been released. And until it is, abortion is still the law of the land. Although, it seems unlikely that votes will change given the conservative majority among the justices.
The publishing of this draft opinion is a stunning breach of supreme confidentiality, and secrecy. And CNN cannot confirm the documents authenticity.
CNN legal analyst Joan Biskupic reports from Washington.
JOAN BISKUPIC, CNN SUPREME COURT 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 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 wants this
ruling is officially handed down. A number of states already have laws ready to be enacted to limit or outright ban abortion. As the laws 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 the decision is complete from the Supreme Court, we hear from the 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 the Supreme Court.
According to Politico, and our own reporting confirms this, chief Justice John Roberts would be a dissent in an opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade. And he would be even more concerned about the outcome of this ruling now.
Joan Biskupic, CNN, Washington.
CHURCH: Well reaction to the Supreme Court's draft opinion has been swift with both Democrats and Republicans weighing in. Several Republicans praised the opinion, and Congresswoman Lisa McClain tweeted this. I pray the Supreme Court makes it officials and formally overturns this attack on the unborn, while New Mexico's governor, a Democrat wrote, the ramifications of this decision would be devastating for New Mexico women, access to abortion is access to health care, and that won't change here.
Well, another Democratic lawmaker told CNN's Don Lemon that underprivileged women will be impacted the most. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. GREGORY MEEKS (D-NY): It is not the decision yet, but should it be, it's a game-changer for America. It's a game-changer for women, and women's rights to control their own body. It is dangerous what is taking place right now. And, as some of your other guests have said, those that are affluent, they will be able to go from one place to another to do, to have an abortion if they have to. But those who are poor, they will be victimized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:04:58]
CHURCH: Meanwhile, some California lawmakers have announced a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would protect the right to abortion in response to the high court's draft opinion.
We will continue to follow the story of course, but now for the latest on the situation in Ukraine, let's bring in Isa Soares who joins us live from Lviv. Isa?
SOARES: Thanks very much. Good morning, Rosie. U.S. and western officials believe Vladimir Putin could formally
declare war on Ukraine as soon as May 9th. That is victory day in Russia, marking the defeat of the Nazis in World War II. Up to now, Russia has called its actions in Ukraine a special military operation, and there could be more. Have a listen to this.
(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, quote, so-called, "to Russia." The report state that Russia has plans to engineer a referendum on joint Russia, sometime in mid-May. And that Moscow is considering a similar plan for Kherson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Meanwhile, Russian forces appear to be pushing further to the west in Ukraine, local officials report a number of Russian missiles - missile strikes on the city of Odessa. Ukraine's president says a 14- year-old boy was killed in another teen wounded and attack on a dorm. There are also signs that Ukrainian forces are fighting back claiming to hold off 12 Russian attacks in Luhansk and Donetsk over the past day.
And video posted online shows the aftermath of a large explosion at an airfield in a Russian held area near Kherson. Neither side is commenting on the cause. And this morning, and yet again, all eyes on the besieged city of Mariupol and the bombed-out steel plant where many civilians are still trapped, the city council says more evacuation efforts are due to resume this morning, but it's not clear if those plans involve people inside the Azovstal plant. Around 100 were able to make it out of the plant on Thursday, but another round of evacuations planned for Monday never happened.
The Ukrainian commander inside the plant says they have been under constant bombardment since early Monday. And this video right here appears to confirm those reports. It shows a large plume of smoke rising over the city from an area near the plant.
Meanwhile, some evacuees did begin arriving in Zaporizhzhia on Monday. The city under Ukrainian control is often where people fleeing Mariupol go first. Well for those who made it to safety, the relief is palpable, but the future remains of course uncertain.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh has the story from Zaporizhzhia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: After two months when they finally emerged into the light, it was a ravaged world that awaited them. Pat out through this, Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant battered by Russian expulsions for weeks could easily be mistaken for the first steps of hell.
But rescue awaited at its end. These Ukrainians who had endured the savage rumbles of blast above, grateful to be whisked out. Even if it is through their home town now unrecognizable. Sviatoslav (Ph) turn six months the day before, they say. So, he spent a third of his life underground.
Children always wanting to eat, they said. Adults, you know, can wait. But this was the beginning of possibly thousands of similar journeys. Here, escorted by the United Stations and Red Cross during a brief pause in the violence after weeks of cajoling in Moscow and Kyiv at the highest level.
"Thank you, and stay healthy" she says walking out. These pictures filmed in Russian control territory appeared to show some of the first movement out of Mariupol guided by the U.N. They are still here under Russian armed guard and Russia's ministry of defense, Monday, claimed 11 evacuees have decided to stay in territory they controlled. And 69 to head to Zaporizhzhia held by Ukraine.
Still, Monday, before dusk, none of the convoy either from Azostal or the wider tens of thousands of civilians who might want to get out in the U.N. move had arrived here. A welcome center where slowly people have been arriving from wider Mariupol and the areas around it under their own steam over journeys spanning previous days.
Tatiana (Ph) said she got out of Mariupol three days ago. They bombed the building of flames, she says. The bodies have been buried.
[03:10:00]
Her unbroken spirit cleared when she tried to get up and walk before she's reminded her wheelchair is there for a purpose. In the days ahead, the numbers on the U.N. escort arriving here will be a powerful omen of whether any sort of talking in this war can save lives.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, joining me now is Lyuba Shipovich, who is the co-founder and vice president of Razom, that's a Ukrainian-American human rights organization based in New York. Lyuba, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to us. I understand that you were in contact with some of the people inside the Azovstal steel plant a few days ago. You contacted them. Give us a sense of what they told you.
LYUBA SHIPOVICH, CO-FOUNDER AND VICE PRESIDENT, RAZOM: Yes. I have a few friends in Azovstal at different brigades right now joined the plant. My last contact was more than a day ago. So I don't know what has happened right now in the last day. But I haven't spoken to them and almost today. I'm told they have almost no food and no water. And they have been telling that the evacuation has started but what's really bad is that Russians allow only to evacuate people who can walk by themselves. They don't allow to evacuate wounded people.
I guess, so, because they don't want to show what happens to people at Azovstal, so they don't want to show the world the real picture. Only the people who can walk themselves, they are not OK but they are pretty much good compared to the wounded people there.
SOARES: Yes. And we know from one of the Ukrainian commanders inside the Azovstal steel plant there, the last time I think they said between 500 to 600 wounded people, wounded soldiers at least inside that steel plant. Do you know -- I mean, I know they are running out of water, they are running out of food, we saw 100 or so civilians are able to evacuated Sunday, nothing on Monday because obviously they keep being bombarded and shelled from the Russian side.
Do you know whether through your contacts whether some of the soldiers are part of this evacuation plan with the U.N. and the Red Cross, have they told you that?
SHIPOVICH: No, they don't allow combatants to participate in the evacuation. So it's only for civilians.
SOARES: So, when you talk to your colleagues, or your friends inside that, when you hear that, what do you tell them? What's their mood like right now?
SHIPOVICH: Like they have connections to the internet, so they see the entire picture, they know what's happening. Like they are trying to keep positive and because --
SOARES: Yes. Do you worry, do you worry about them?
SHIPOVICH: Of course, I'm worried. But I cannot show them that -- almost have no plan how to save them.
SOARES: Yes.
SHIPOVICH: Because currently everything depends on one person, and this person Mr. Putin doesn't want to speak to anyone in the world.
SOARES: Yes.
SHIPOVICH: So, I don't know what we can do to help those people,
SOARES: Yes.
SHIPOVICH: But -- they have to keep trying and do, like whatever we can to speak to everyone and try to reach every politician in the western world to try and convince them to speak to Putin. I'm not sure he will listen to them, but we have to do.
SOARES: Let's talk about your organization. You work with various Ukrainian activists throughout the U.S. You are now here are, and you are telling me just before we came on air that perhaps you wouldn't go back to the U.S. for the time being. Tell us why, you know, why your work is so important here right now.
SHIPOVICH: Yes, at Razom we have a presence at different countries, the biggest presence in the U.S., particularly on the east coast we have about 300 volunteers currently. We also have people in Great Britain, and Poland, and of course in Ukraine. So, in the United States like I pretty much set up everything. Car, we have a warehouse, we have volunteers still working on procurement processes to technical medicine, communication devices by Ukrainian people, I like, our logistics set up.
[03:14:56]
So currently I feel like I'm more needed in Ukraine to see processes of distribution and delivery to the (Inaudible), to civilians and to paramedics and military units, and I'm just feeling here like home.
SOARES: Yes. You are home. Right? You grew up and spent time just outside Lviv?
SHIPOVICH: Yes. And, just, something like in Ukraine right now people are more alive than ever (Inaudible) in the world because here you can feel very alive even in Lviv like it looks pretty much safe, but it's not safe right now.
SOARES: Yes.
SHIPOVICH: We know that rockets they could hit Lviv anytime. There is no safe place in Ukraine. And, when you live in those circumstances, like you can feel the real life and you know, what's good and bad.
SOARES: Yes. Lyuba, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to us. I really appreciate it. Inflammatory remarks by Russia's top diplomat about Adolf Hitler triggered international outrage and sparked a diplomatic row. We'll have the very details, all the details with you with Clare Sebastian after very short break. Thanks very much.
[03:20:00]
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SOARES: Now, condemnation is growing over recent remarks from top Russian diplomat who suggested Adolf Hitler had Jewish blood. Sergey Lavrov was actually trying to argue on Italian TV that some of the worst anti-Semites are Jews. And the fact that Ukraine's president is Jewish means nothing.
He insisted that Russia still needed to, quote, the nazify the country. The Ukrainian president, well, he had this response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (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 study those lessons.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SOARES: Let's get more on this, CNN's Clare Sebastian is following this live from London for us. And Clare, it's clear from what I've seen that the global backlash to Lavrov's comments this morning has been swift.
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Isa, first of all, a diplomatic row over this in Israel, the Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett said that the goal of such lies is to accuse the Jews themselves of the most awful crimes in history, and thereby absolve Israel's enemy of the responsibility. The Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid said this was unforgivable, and outrageous, and a terrible historical era.
Israel the foreign ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to Israel for an explanation here. Meanwhile in the, U.S. the State Department's spokesman called Lavrov's comments despicable. So, definitely outrageous growing beyond Israel but this puts Israel in a difficult position.
Because throughout the conflict in Ukraine, they have sought to maintain a delicate balancing act. Yes, they have condemned the invasion, condemned Russia's actions, particularly the foreign minister, Yair Lapid has done that, they have provided aid to Ukraine but they have stopped short of joining, fully joining western sanctions against Russia.
And that is because they have regional security concerns which involve Russia, which still has a military presence, for example, in Syria. So, they have sort of interest in maintaining some kind of relationship with Russia whether or not this sort of puts paid to that is a big question going forward, and certainly, something that neither would have wanted as an outcome here.
SOARES: Clare Sebastian for us in London there. Thank you very much. Clare, we'll talk to you in about an hour or so. I appreciate it.
And still to come right here on the, show we are tracking the reaction to breaking news as Politico publishes what it says is a Supreme Court draft opinions that would overturn Roe versus Wade. That is next.
[03:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
And we are following major breaking news this hour, the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn the landmark, Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a woman's right to an abortion. Politico has published what it calls a majority draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito. The justice itself would be stunning but the fact that it has gone public before any official ruling is also unprecedented.
According to the draft, each individual state should decide how it handles abortions. The official opinion is expected to be published in late June. Well, there's already been strong and swift reaction to this breaking news, including from the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood. She spoke earlier with CNN's Anderson Cooper and called the draft opinion unconscionable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXIS MCGILL JOHNSON, PRESIDENT & CEO, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: What we have seen tonight is not just a draft. We believe this is a roadmap for healthy will take Roe down. And we have already seen it over these last nine months in Texas. The devastation of what we have seen patients traveling, thousands of miles to get access to basic abortion care.
But I will tell you, abortionist illegal 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: How -- how many states do you think would still continue to, if it goes to state legislatures, how many states do you think would actually still continue to allow abortions to take place?
[03:30:09]
JOHNSON: Here's what we know, that there are 26 states that are poised and ready and embolden, quite frankly, because of this court to overturn Roe in their own states. Right? Once the federal protection is gone, it means that the states will now be making these decisions. And we've already seen it.
As I said, in Texas, we've seen Florida move to 15-week bans. Arizona moved to 15-week bans. We've seen Oklahoma, Idaho moved to 16-week bans. We will see 26 states move to ensure that we no longer have control over our own bodies to make these decisions about ourselves about our families. And that is actually what is truly devastating right now.
So, they forecast this in the draft opinion however it was leaked which is unprecedented in and of itself. But what's also unprecedented is the fact that we have had this right for 49 years. For 49 years. We have fought to make sure that we are able to make these decisions. Not some lawmakers down street. Not somebody who, honestly, doesn't even know how our bodies work. And now they are determined to take this right away from us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And that was, Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood speaking with CNN's Anderson Cooper.
And still to come, we are following a rise of new COVID infections across dozens of U.S. states in the past week. We'll take a very close look at that. Stay with us.
[03:35:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: The U.S. 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.
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 has been raised from low to medium. An uptick in cases triggered that move.
And last hour, I asked Dr. Scott Miscovich, a national consultant for COVID-19 testing in the U.S. to weigh in on the situation in New York. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCOTT MISCOVICH, NATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR COVID-19 TESTING: One of the things I would say to New York is, when you wait to change that level to orange in CDC move the goalposts in the middle of our COVID pandemic, that's a little bit too late. When you use hospitalization as an indicator that means that the patients are already ill. They already can't go on to dive. 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 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's type of COVID booster shot would be required to deal with the next phase of this pandemic and when it needs to be administered. What more are you learning about this? And of course, the possible options available for yearly COVID booster shots ahead of each fall season every year.
MISCOVICH: Yes. Well, a few things, you know, Dr. Fauci needs to be a little bit more explanatory and a little forthcoming. Right now, they are 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, it's going to have two components. Something with Omicron and one of the prior versions trying to broaden out what's 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 already in clinical trials. Another 190 that are in preclinical trials. Everybody is rushing to try to find one.
But, Rosemary, this is what we're looking for. Next year, 2023, we are hoping a path to have a poly valent vaccine. That means one that has multiple different components uses A.I. trying to guess where it's going to go, where is the mutation going to go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Our thanks to Dr. Scott Miscovich for his insights talking to me last hour. Well, it sounds like something out of the horror movie. But it actually happened to Shanghai care home residents was mistakenly sent to the morgue on Sunday but was still alive.
[03:40:00]
The person is now in stable condition but a video of the incident was posted on Chinese social media triggering a wave of criticism. And you hear a person in the video saying in Chinese, and I'm quoting here, "the nursing home is such a mess. They sent a living person on hearses and said they were dead. The undertaker staff said they were still moving. I can't believe such a thing happened."
Well, in response to the backlash, the Shanghai government says four people were dismissed over the incident.
And thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. For our international viewers African Voices Changemakers is next, and for our viewers here in the United States and Canada, I'll be right back with more news after the break.
[03:45:00]
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CHURCH: The U.S. Supreme Court maybe on the verge of out lawing a woman'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 the other western countries where abortion is not a major issue.
The news web site Politico says it's obtained a draft opinion that would strike down Roe versus Wade. The landmark ruling that legalized abortion at the national level.
The release of the document is a shocking breech of Supreme Court confidentiality. CNN cannot confirm its authenticity. But the court's final opinion is not expected until late June. Votes and language can change before then. But that seems unlikely given the courts conservative majority.
Well, CNN conducted polling on abortion and overturning Roe versus Wade earlier this year, the findings show that just 30 percent of Americans wanted the Supreme Court to overturn the landmark ruling. Vast majority a whopping 69 percent of Americans said no. They do not want to see the court take such action. Over all, more than half the country 52 percent said the ruling should 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.
Well, meantime, conservatives who have long sought to undermine or overturn Roe versus Wade, are 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 versus Wade is overturned and that life prevails.
Well, CNN senior legal analyst Preet Bharara says the Supreme Court's decision could impact the upcoming U.S. midterm election. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PREET BHARARA, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: What's this going to mean for politics, what is this going for the midterm elections? What is this going to mean for the other side of the aisle who, for a
long-time, you know, state in loud terms that they care a lot about the court, but because some of these things have been on their side and the precedence have been on their side, particularly Roe, and Casey and some other things, you know, I don't want people to send mail to me, but there's been a little bit of complacency about this.
The conservatives have cared more about the court and have cared more about changing what they have 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, quote, "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 the 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 their states. It will create a patch work of laws across the country.
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: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf tweeted, abortion is and will remain legal in that state. And he vowed to veto what he called any antichoice legislation that lands on his desk.
Well, a warrant has 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 is charged with capital murder.
CNN's Ryan Young has details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SINGLETON, SHERIFF, LAUDERDALE COUNTY, ALABAMA: I would be surprised if they are still in Alabama.
RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, a manhunt is underway for a dangerous murder suspect and correction officer Vicki 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 that last straw of hope that maybe for some reason she was threatened and did this under coercion. But I believe we feel betrayed.
YOUNG: Friday morning the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office says assistant director Vicki White told her co-workers that she was taking inmate Casey White to the county courthouse for a mental health evaluation. Casey White is awaiting trial on murder charges.
[03:49:59]
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 mile away from the detention facility.
SINGLETON: We've gotten some couple of tips on the possible vehicle. We're still pursuing that.
YOUNG: Investigators say they still have no evidence of relationship between them.
SINGLETON: We're still looking into that, reviewing phone calls, reviewing video from the jail.
YOUNG: CNN got a firsthand look at security procedures inside the detention center.
You can see how this all works for the security (Inaudible) in this level, they have to radio in. The sheriff says Vicki White actually violated protocol when she
removed Casey White from the detention facility.
So this is the hallway where the inmate walks down. So, those (Inaudible) are 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.
The sheriff says since Vicki White is in charge of the detention center, no one questioned her. The sheriff office says last week after about two decades with the department, Vicki 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 is 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 6 feet, 9 inches. He will stand out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: Right now, there's a lot of questions about how this played out. Of course, Vicki 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 are 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 County, Alabama, Ryan Young, CNN.
CHURCH: U.S. midterm elections are six months away. But first candidates have to secure their party's nomination. One of the most contested primaries right now is the Republican nomination for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat. Voting in that primary is set for today.
CNN's Jeff Zeleny reports on what's become a race for Donald Trump's endorsement.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I want to pick somebody that is going to win. And this man is going to win. Come on up, J.D.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump is testing his role as a kingmaker.
J.D. VANCE (R-OH), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Ohio. Do we love this guy?
ZELENY: 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 campaign trail today Vance made famous by his bestselling book "Hillbilly Elegy," was still explaining his evolution from Trump critic to accolade.
VANCE: I came around the TV that's in my fat head say something I wish I hadn't said six years ago.
I didn't vote for Trump.
ZELENY: What he said about Trump.
VANCE: I never liked him.
ZELENY: Has been played again and again --
VANCE: I can't stomach Trump.
ZELENY: -- 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: We asked Vance about those words today.
Do you regret them?
VANCE: Do I regret them? I certainly wish that I hadn't said them. It was a mistake because I was wrong. But I think it's much more important to worry about whether you regret something is to actually admit when you make a mistake.
ZELENY: Bonnie Boyd, a loyal Trump fan was offended by Vance's old comments but changed her tune after Trump offered his blessing.
BONNIE BOYD, OHIO VOTER: I couldn't in good faith vote for him because of the things he said against Trump. But Trump endorsed him I thought OK, I can vote for him now.
ZELENY: 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 and research.
ZELENY: With early voting underway the former president up ended 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 (R-OH), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I think it created a lot of confusion and 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 --
(CROSSTALK)
ZELENY: But he's apologized for that.
TIMKEN: Well, he's apologized but the question is, who is the real J.D. Vance?
ZELENY: Josh Mandel and Mike Gibbons also have aligned themselves with Trump. But didn't gain his support.
JOSH MANDELL (R-OH), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Well obviously I would have love to earn it but it doesn't change the fact that I believe strongly in the Trump America first agenda.
ZELENY: Texas Senator 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, no, I love Donald Trump more. No, no, no, I have Donald Trump tattooed on my rear end. That's OK, we get it. What's your record?
[03:55:06]
ZELENY: Matt Dolan the only GOP rival who did not seek the endorsement said it's time for Republicans to move on.
MATT DOLAN (R-OH), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I hope this election when I win is about is that people begin to understand that you can run on ideas.
ZELENY: 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 a new with his endorsement 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.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Rosemary Church. Our breaking news coverage continues live from Ukraine after the break.
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