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Search Continues For Texas Woman Wanted In Slaying Of Elite Cyclist; Amber Heard's Team Rests In Defamation Case; House Ethics Committee Opens Investigations Into 3 GOP Lawmakers; Interview With Tom Vilsack, Secretary Of Agriculture: Baby Formula Supplies Should Be Semi-Normal In A Month Or So; Two Dead, 14 Injured After Texas School Shooting. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired May 24, 2022 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: The father of a Texas woman wanted for the murder of an elite cyclist is speaking out. He claims his daughter did not do it.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: The federal authorities are calling Kaitlin Armstrong, a fugitive murder suspect. They believe she killed cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson out of jealousy. Now Wilson previously dated Armstrong's boyfriend, cyclist Colin Strickland. CNN senior national correspondent Ed Lavandera has the latest for us. So, when's the last time anyone has seen or heard from Armstrong.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, from what we can gather so far, Victor, is that it might have been about 24 hours after the murder on the day after the murder on May 12th. Kaitlin Armstrong was brought in and was interviewed by Austin police officers, and those investigators showed her the key pieces of evidence that they had uncovered at that point.

But it was almost about a week ago that we discovered that U.S. Marshals were involved in the search with her after she was now facing a murder charge for the death of Moriah Wilson. U.S. Marshal Service saying earlier today that they believe that Armstrong is still in the Austin area because of her close connections there. They're hoping that if they can find her car, that that would be one of the key pieces of evidence that would lead them to finding out where exactly she is at this point. But Armstrong's father went on television this morning to say that he doesn't believe his daughter is guilty of this murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL ARMSTRONG, FATHER OF MURDER SUSPECT KAITLIN ARMSTRONG: We love you, Katie, and we are going to figure this out. I know how she thinks, and I know what she believes, and I know that she just would not do something like this. There are a lot of unanswered questions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: But in a police affidavit -- long police affidavit, there were details in there suggesting that Armstrong's car was seen at the murder location around the same time. Also, police investigators believe that a handgun and a weapon that was discovered at her home is very likely the match for the murder weapon used in the murder of Moriah Wilson. All of those details laid out in a police affidavit. But right now, the key part here is that the search for Kaitlin Armstrong continues this afternoon.

CAMEROTA: OK, Ed Lavandera, thank you for that reporting. We should put up her picture again because authorities are asking for your help. If you have information on her whereabouts, you can contact the U.S. Marshal Service. We'll put the number of on the screen -- 1-800-336- 0102. 336-0102.

Let's discuss this case and more with Areva Martin. She's a CNN legal analyst, civil rights attorney and legal affairs commentator. Areva, is this just shoddy police work. They had her. They don't know where her car is. It's been days. I'm not seeing a robust manhunt like we've seen in certainly other recent cases. What are the police doing with this case?

AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, Alisyn, it's a little confusing. Because we know, as you've said, they had her in custody, and apparently, they thought they had some warrant unrelated to the murder, and then it turned out that that warrant was invalid. They were asking her questions about what happened to Moriah Wilson. Why her car was seen on surveillance video at Moriah Wilson's house, the house she was staying at. And then apparently, she got really upset or responded in a negative way to those questions and left the police station and no one has seen her since then.

And then you have her father going on national television to say I don't know think my daughter did it. But does he know where his daughter is? I'm curious as to, you know, how much pressure is being put on this family to disclose what they may know about the whereabouts of their daughter. So, I'm with you, Alisyn. Doesn't seem like there is a robust search going on for Armstrong or that, you know, the family perhaps is cooperating in a way that will lead the police to find her. We don't know. I don't know what the police may be doing with the family. But just seems a little curious to talk about she didn't do it but no information about her whereabouts.

BLACKWELL: Could there have been some surveillance, although, they found out that the warrant they had was unrelated and could not be enforced -- some erroneous warrant they had her in for the questioning. Could they have watched where she lived after that?

MARTIN: You would think, Victor, that there would have been more efforts to keep track of, to keep tabs on her since she was the key suspect. And they already knew at the time that she was brought into police custody that her vehicle had been seen on surveillance video shortly after Moriah was brought home by the boyfriend that's a part of this alleged triangle. So, it is curious that she was allowed to elude police and that she still hasn't been apprehended even though it's been over a week now.

[15:35:00] CAMEROTA: All right, let's move on to what's happening with Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, and I think that this is just such a sad and sorted story. I mean, this is a couple that could have had it all. They obviously have fame, they obviously have money, and yet, you know, the toxicity in relationships -- you're not immune just because you're obviously good looking and have money. I mean, is just so toxic, and there's so much abuse that's been testified to. And I just feel like is there some sort of -- I mean, I know this is allegedly about defamation, but what did you see when you watch this?

MARTIN: Oh, I've been horrified, Alisyn, by this entire trial, as you said. Not just domestic violence, physical violence, emotional, psychological violence, obviously, all the drug use that we have witnessed. We've seen photographs of drugs and the alcohol use has been so prominent as a part of this case. But I have also been disturbed by this huge outpouring of support for Johnny Depp on social media. The fans that line the streets every day as he, you know, drives into court.

All of the attacks against Amber Heard, you know, people playing into these tropes about women, younger women, calling her a gold digger, suggesting that she was only in the relationship for money. People not believing -- even though there's been overwhelmingly convincing testimony that she was actually the victim of domestic violence.

And that's really been disturbing to me, Alisyn, particularly how far we've come with respect to the me too movement to now have this public trial, these very high profile people and have a woman testify about the kind of physical and emotional abuse that she suffered. And for people basically, to say they don't believe her and to dismiss her claims. Now it's not to suggest she was an angel. Now clearly there's been evidence to suggest that she also, you know, engaged in conduct that you would hope not to have happen in a relationship, but many experts will tell you she was responding to the physical violence and the abuse that she suffered and that her conduct was quite typical of victims. But just the way the country is responding to this is very troubling.

BLACKWELL: Areva martin, thank you so much.

And listen, if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The number is 1- 800-799-7233. Again, 1-800-799-7233.

All right, this just in, the suspect in that fatal weekend subway shooting in New York City has turned himself in to police. We have video here of Andrew Abdullah in police custody. You see him being taken in there. He's accused of shooting Daniel Enriquez as he sat on the Q train on Sunday. Enriquez was 48 years old.

CAMEROTA: That is a relief that the suspect is now in custody.

All right, three separate Republican lawmakers are currently being investigated by the House Ethics Committee. We'll tell you who and why, next.

[15:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: The House Ethics Committee has opened separate investigations into three Republican lawmakers. Reports reveal that Congressman Madison Cawthorn, Ronny Jackson, and Alex Mooney may have each been involved in separate instances of financial misconduct.

CAMEROTA: CNN's Lauren Fox is on Capitol Hill. So, Lauren, what have you learned?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT Well, it was a busy day yesterday for the House Ethics Committee as they announced these separate investigations.

The first into Representative Madison Cawthorn, a Republican from the state of North Carolina who you may remember, just lost his primary last week. The House Ethics Committee announcing that they are going to be probing whether or not Cawthorn had an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, as well as whether or not he engaged in insider trading. Now Cawthon's chief of staff reached out to CNN telling us that they looked forward to clearing his name through this probe.

There's also a separate investigation into Representative Ronny Jackson. He's a Republican from Texas. The Ethics Committee looking into whether or not he may have misused campaign funds at a dinner club in Amarillo, Texas. His lawyer has denied any wrong doing, and that comes after the Office of Congressional Ethics had done a separate investigation into this matter, which they said Jackson did not participate in. However, his lawyer did respond to that investigation.

There's also an investigation into Representative Alex Mooney, a Republican from the state of West Virginia who is going to be looked at by the Ethics Committee about whether or not he may have misused staff time for personal errands or campaign activity as well as whether or not he may have accepted gifts that were inappropriate for a Congressman to receive.

So those are some of the items that the committee is going to be investigating. But we should note that Mooney has denied these allegations. He also was referred from the office of the Congressional Ethics for Wrong Doing, but there is going to be this investigation by the Ethics Committee. And we should note that just because ethics opens these investigations does not mean that they find wrong doing. It also does not mean that they are going to go after these Congressmen for anything that they are alleged to have done -- Alisyn and Victor.

BLACKWELL: Lauren Fox on Capitol Hill. Thank you, Lauren.

CAMEROTA: So, a Congressional commission has proposed new names for nine military bases originally named after confederate leaders. The proposed names would honor women, African-American, and Latino service members. [15:45:00]

For instance, Fort Bragg could become Fort Liberty. Now, that would be the only base not named after an individual. The vice chair of the naming commission said they received 34,000 submissions for the nine bases.

OK, meanwhile, more than 100,000 pounds of baby formula will leave Europe for the U.S. soon, but when will parents get it? I'll ask the Secretary of Agriculture next.

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CAMEROTA: The second shipment of "Operation Fly Formula" will leave Germany tomorrow. A commander at Ramstein Air Base says a FedEx plane will carry 108,000 pounds of infant formula to a Nestle facility in Pennsylvania for distribution. With us now to tell us how this will work is Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Secretary Vilsack, Thanks so much for being here. How many of these bottles will actually end up on store shelves?

TOM VILSACK, SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: Well, hopefully, about a million, the equivalent of a million eight-ounce containers will end up on store shelves two weeks sooner than they otherwise would have done so because of the Federal Express assisting us in getting product into the U.S. quickly.

[15:50:00]

From that location in Pennsylvania, it will then be distributed to a variety of distribution places throughout the country. This is one of several steps that are being taken to try to increase supply.

CAMEROTA: How do you decide which stores will get it? I mean, there seems to be a need across the country.

VILSACK: Well, the FDA, Nestle, Mead Johnson and Abbott all understand and appreciate where the significant shortages are. And obviously, that's where product will be directed. This is in addition to product coming in from other plants, Mead Johnson, Gerber, Nestle, Abbott, outside the country. This is also as we see the Sturgis plant for Abbott get online. We'll begin to see hopefully more supply in the next couple weeks and over the course of several weeks we should see a lessening of the tremendous stress people have been feeling over the last couple of months.

CAMEROTA: That was what I was going to ask you. Because all the parents who are watching want a date certain. And I know you're all trying really hard and I think they understand that as well. Can you tell them that they will be able to exhale in two weeks, in three weeks? I mean, what's your estimate?

VILSACK: Well, I think they'll be able to breathe a little easier in several weeks. But I think we'll see a return to sort of semi-normal within a matter of a month or so as the Sturgis plant gets up and going. I mean, that's basically the cause of all of this is when that plant shut down. Basically, it disrupted the flow that's going to come back online and in large part because of the Defense Production Act which the president triggers is going to allow the plant to get the ingredients more quickly so they can begin to generate the formula.

But we're not going to stop there. We're going to take a look at ways in which we could provide additional flexibility, particularly in the WIC program, which basically distributed somewhere between 50 percent and 60 percent of all the formula goes to WIC moms and dads and children in that program. So, we're going to try to create flexibility in that system to enable all the companies to be able to do whatever they can to get product on the shelf as quickly as they can.

CAMEROTA: One of the things that you're doing with these flights from Germany is relying on international, you know, foreign manufacturers to come in here, and this is the second flight this week. I mean, there was one on Sunday and there will be one tomorrow. Is there any way to get more than two flights a week?

VILSACK: Well, the reality is that this is a situation where plants outside of the U.S. are producing 24/7. And as they produce more product, and it's an opportunity for us not only to use this particular method but also the more commercial size transportation systems to get product into the country.

We're also taking a look frankly at other countries and other companies to be able to supplement the supply that the three main companies in the U.S. are able to provide. So, we're looking at a variety of different steps in an effort to try to increase supply in the short term so that we get ultimately back to a point where we are back to normal, if you will, before the Sturgis plant shut down.

CAMEROTA: We talked to a mom, a desperate mom yesterday, from Iowa who said she had at night driven around to four different states on different nights trying to find this specialized formula for her child. So, what do you want to say to parents right now who are in the thick of this, who are still working the phones every day, trying to find the right formula?

VILSACK: Well, I want them to know that the president and everyone in his administration understands and appreciates the stress they're under. And we're doing everything we possibly can to increase supply of specialized formulas as well as regular formula. And we appreciate the fact moms and dads are banding together, using social media, being very creative in terms of how to find supply that is scarce. We believe that over the course of the next several weeks we're going to begin to see progress on this and over the course of several weeks we're going to see significant progress as we bring more product into this country. Hopefully the stress will relieve and certainly the goal here is obviously to get that done as soon as possible.

CAMEROTA: Secretary Tom Vilsack, thank you very much for the information.

VILSACK: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right, breaking news now. There's a suspect in custody in south Texas after reports of an active shooter at an elementary school. Live pictures here at the school there, hospital officials reporting multiple deaths, multiple injuries. CNN's Ed Lavandera is following details. Ed, what do you know?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Horrific situation, Victor. This is the city of Uvalde, Texas, which is a couple hours west of San Antonio, Texas. And we're told that the incident is taking place at Robb Elementary School. The sad news we have to report right now, is that there are two dead, 14 injured. A local hospital there in Uvalde has taken in 13 children into that hospital. Other patients are being taken to a hospital in San Antonio.

[15:55:02]

The ages of the two victims that have died so far, we do not know yet. That there also is a man, a gentleman in his 40s that is also being treated there at the hospital. This all starting to unfold about noon central time there at Robb Elementary High School, the exact details of who the gunman is, what brought them to that school, we do not know at this point.

But we are told by authorities there in Uvalde, Texas, that the gunman is now in custody, and the video you're watching there is from a resident who lives near the school and captured those images of the scene unfolding there as there was a string of police cars, border patrol cars, state troopers that were showing up at the scene to assist in the immediate aftermath of all of that. But right now, we are trying to process all of the horrifying details of who has been killed and what kind of injuries they are sustaining. We are still trying to figure out many of the details out right now -- Victor and Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Ed Lavandera, thank you very much.

Victor, it was just a few days ago, obviously, that you were in Buffalo wondering when we would cover the next mass shooting and there, we see the video of desperate parents running to their classroom to see if their kids are OK.

BLACKWELL: It's been just a few days. Listen, as Ed said, we don't know the ages of those who have perished, but 13 children transported to hospitals. Let's pray for those families and for that community of Uvalde, Texas.

"THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER" starts after a short break.

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