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President Biden to Meet with Victim's Families on Sunday; Gun Control Legislation Remains Stalled in U.S. Congress; U.S.-Taiwan Economic Talks to Start in Weeks; Ukraine War Sparks Fears China May Follow Russia's Playbook; Kevin Spacey Faces Four Counts of Sexual Assault in U.K.; Uvalde Mourns 19 Students, 2 Teachers Killed in Attacks. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired May 27, 2022 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Is getting ready to return to his role as consoler and chief, he'll be meeting families who lost loved ones in the Texas school shooting. We'll have the details on his visit, just ahead.
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SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Now a lot of questions are emerging about the timeline of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and how police responded. A law enforcement official says the shooter was not confronted by police before entering the school, which contradicts earlier comments from authorities. And it took more than an hour for officers to take down the 18-year-old gunman. The lengthy response time and the lack of communication to the public caused chaos, as you can see, outside of the school.
Frantic parents started arriving, desperate to know if their kids were still alive and begging officers to get inside the school and stop the shooter. Or let the parents go in themselves. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, support from a community that knows that particular pain felt in Uvalde.
This candlelight service were held in Newtown, Connecticut, where a hauntingly similar massacre happened the Sandy Hook Elementary School almost a decade ago.
Well meanwhile, the U.S. president is getting ready to meet with victims' families, he's heading to Uvalde on Sunday. CNN's Phil Mattingly has the story for you.
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[04:35:00]
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As the country continues to try and grapple with the horrors that cost the lives of 21 people down in Uvalde, Texas, 19 children, President Biden will soon be down there himself with the first lady to meet with the families, to grieve with families, to let them know the entire country is thinking about them in this moment. This was how the White House Press Secretary framed that visit.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: While he's there, the president will meet with the community leaders, religious leaders and the families of the victims. The president and first lady believe it is important to show their support for the community during this devastating time and to be there for the families of the victims.
MATTINGLY: Now, the visit is set. The president will arrive there on Sunday. But what happens next from a policy perspective in a country where these shootings, these mass shootings, these shootings at schools or grocery stores, places of worship, that remains very much an open question. It's been an open question for years, decades, even, as efforts on Capitol Hill have started and failed, repeatedly.
Once again, an effort has started. Whether or not it's actually going to get anything across the finish line to the president's desk, also still a very open question.
There is a group of nine Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate that had their first meeting on Thursday, trying to figure out some type of bipartisan compromise.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a long-time gun rights advocate, has given the greenlight to his members in the Republican caucus to try and find some bipartisanship compromise. However, when you talk to White House officials here behind the scenes, they make clear they are very skeptical that this time will be different despite the fact President Biden has repeatedly said in the wake of this shooting that this time has to be different.
The White House itself not deeply engaged in this point in time in those negotiations, waiting to see what happens in these talks over the course of the next several days; making clear the president will continue to urge lawmakers to do something.
One official saying earlier today the president can't do this himself. Congress has to do its job. That process has started. Whether anything changes when it comes to legislation, whether anything actually get to the president's desk, that process failing so many times up to this point, certainly, has a long road ahead.
Phil Mattingly, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Now the Russia's invasion of Ukraine serving as a potential blueprint for Beijing. Next, why some experts think China is keeping a close eye on the war and learning lessons that it could apply in Taiwan.
Plus, actor Kevin Spacey is facing new sexual assault charges. This time, here in the U.K. That story and much more after a very short break.
[04:40:00]
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SOARES: Now Washington is set to be bolstering economic ties with Taiwan. Senior Taiwanese officials say a new round of economic talks is expected to get underway in a few weeks. This as some experts are concerned China is looking at Russia's invasion of Ukraine and learning lessons it could apply in Taiwan. Ivan Watson has the story for you.
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IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russia and China enjoy a friendship with no limits. This announcement made by the Russian and Chinese president when they met on February 4, on the eve of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Twenty days later, soon after the end of the Olympics, Moscow invaded Ukraine. Russia's unprovoked war sparking fears China could have similar plans for Taiwan.
Beijing claims the self-governing island belongs to China. Asked if he would get involved in militarily to fund Taiwan against China, the U.S. president had this explicit warning.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are?
BIDEN: That's the commitment we made.
WATSON (voice-over): Beijing has long called for peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but it has also never ruled out using force against Taiwan's democratically-elected government.
And when it comes to military force, China dwarfs Taiwan, boasting the largest navy in the world and the largest air force in the region. But if Russia's deadly adventure in Ukraine taught strategists anything, it's that size doesn't always matter.
BONNIE GLASER, GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE U.S.: A country may clearly have a conventional military advantage over an adversary, but that doesn't mean that it would necessarily achieve easy military or political victory.
WATSON: The war in Ukraine highlights another potential challenge for China. To attack Ukraine, Russian troops simply drove across the border from Russia and from neighboring Belarus.
But to reach Taiwan, Chinese forces would have to cross the Taiwan Strait, more than 100 miles, 180 kilometers of open water.
PHILLIPS O'BRIEN, PROFESSOR OF STRATEGIC STUDIES, ST. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY: Amphibious assaults are the most difficult complex operations in warfare. If the Chinese tried to send an invasion force from the mainland to Taiwan, they would have to contend with salvos of anti-ship missiles. And what we would see is a massacre of shipping, probably, in the waters around Taiwan.
WATSON (voice-over): The Russian navy has suffered major losses from suspected Ukrainian anti-ship missiles, first losing this landing ship in the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk. And then losing the Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea fleet.
Analysts say Taiwan has a much larger arsenal of anti-ship missiles at its disposal. And its military has been training for 70 years against the threat of a Chinese invasion.
KEN JIMBO, PROFESSOR, KEIO UNIVERSITY: China is learning a lesson from Ukraine. Both in a positive and also in the negative manner.
WATSON (voice-over): Early in his Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin publicly put Russia's nuclear weapons on alert, a thinly-veiled threat to the West.
JIMBO: Probably that the China will bring in the kind of advantage of the nuclear threats in the early phase of the scenario. That will potentially, I think, change the calculation of Washington, D.C.
WATSON (voice-over): As a warning to the U.S., China's foreign ministry declared this week that no force in the world can stop China from achieving reunification with Taiwan.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Now British prosecutors have authorized criminal charges against actor Kevin Spacey, the double Oscar winner faces four counts of sexual assault that allegedly took place between 2005 and 2013. He also faces a possible fifth accusation. But the American performer cannot be formally charged until he enters England or Wales.
All Our Salma Abdelaziz joins us now from London's Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey was artistic director from 2003 to 2015. And Salma since Kevin Spacey no longer lives here in the U.K., so, what are we looking at? Could he be facing extradition from the U.S. at the stage?
[04:45:00]
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: That's a very good question, Isa, let's start with the allegations are. What these legit incidences are. Because they are quite serious. British prosecutors have authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey. They include four counts of sexual assault against three man, there is a fifth very serious count, very serious offense causing a person to engage and penetrate a sexual activity without consent.
Now these five counts are authorized as we said, from British prosecutors. But Kevin Spacey himself has yet to formally receive these charges. Because as you said, he's not here in London, he's not here in England. So, in general in these cases, what would happen is that the accused, Kevin Spacey, could choose to come back in England to faces these charges himself. If he does not do that British authorities could potentially pursue extradition proceedings with the United States.
Now when asked about, British authorities have so far refused to comment, refused to say if they would pursue these extradition proceedings with the United States. The crown prosecution service of course, reminding the public, that this is an ongoing criminal process, and that Kevin Spacey has a right to a fair trial.
Of course, London Metropolitan Police saying that they would provide an update, a fixed date of when Spacey would be formally charged. But again, this is part of a very lengthy process. The result of a years- long investigations by the London police.
Kevin Spacey was first accused of sexual misconduct in 2017 during the me-too movement in the United States. Subsequently, he was accused here in London, mainly at the Old Vic Theater where you said, of course he was the artistic theater between 2004 to 2015. These alleged instances we're talking about took place between 2005 to 2013. So, in that same window. The Old Vic carried out their own investigation and they say found 20 allegations of sexual misconduct.
So again, this is part of a very long process. The next step here is of course to formally charged Kevin Spacey. But that will be very complicated at the fact that he is not here, so we're going to wait to find out more. But this can take many more months if not years -- Isa.
SOARES: Salma Abdelaziz for us there. Thanks very much Salma.
Now Hollywood's consummate goodfella, the actor Ray Liotta has died.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: What do you do?
RAY LIOTTA, ACTOR: I'm in construction.
LIOTTA: If we wanted something, we just took it, and you don't even think about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Of course, he played tough guy Henry Hill in the film "Goodfellas" so well it became his trademark role. But he denied he was a fighter. His costar called him mushy, on the inside. His publicist says Ray Liotta died in his sleep, he was at the hotel in the Dominican Republic where he was filming a movie. Costar say that they are shattered at his death, an actor so versatile he also played a sensitive shoeless Joe Jackson and one of my favorites, "Field of Dreams." He did commercials as well as soap operas and was working steadily. Liotta leaves his fiancee and his daughter, he was 67. We'll will be right back.
[04:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SOARES: Now the sports world is sending out calls to action after the terrible tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. The Lakers putting out a statement saying quote, this is not a political issue, it's a moral imperative.
On Tuesday, if you remember, Steve Kerr delivered this message before his team took to the court in the NBA western conference finals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE KERR, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS HEAD COACH: When are we going to do something!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: That of course this has gone viral, where he expanded on that on Thursday challenging people to urge their lawmakers to tackle gun violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERR: For whatever reason, it's a political issue. But it's really a public health issue. So as soon as we can just shift the dynamic to this being a public health issue, then you get momentum. There are lots of amazing gun safety, gun prevention groups out there. Call your Senators, call your representatives. It's all very helpful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And Steve makes so much sense. While meanwhile the New York Yankees at the Tampa Bay Rays used their Twitter feeds not to cover the game, but to highlight the dangers of gun violence. Tweeting out stats like, every day, more than 110 Americans are killed with guns, and more than 200 are shot and injured.
Meanwhile ask anybody in Uvalde Texas, and they'll say that this more small town is one extended family. Everybody know someone who's been affected by this senseless violence. So many lives in this community forever changed. Our Rosa Flores has more.
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ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this small town of Uvalde Texas, hearts are heavy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I lost family and friends to this, and I can't bear it.
FLORES (voice-over): And the pain is palpable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My heart aches, I couldn't imagine my life without my daughter.
FLORES (voice-over): As the committee grapples with the unthinkable, 19 elementary school children and two teachers, murdered in the classroom. The quaint town square, turned into a memorial.
DENISE LONG, UVALDE RESIDENT: I just can't. I have no more tears after crying all day yesterday, I can't.
FLORES (voice-over): With crosses bearing the names of every victim.
FLORES: How are you doing?
DELI MARTINEZ, UVALDE RESIDENT: Heartbroken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Especially the parents.
MARTINEZ: Yes, the parents, it's like oh my gosh.
FLORES (voice-over): Emotions are high at the nearby Mexican restaurant. A local staple for a town that is overwhelmingly Hispanic. Deli Martinez was born and raised here, she attended a Robb Elementary.
MARTINEZ: We are like a big family here. We really are. And it's unfortunate what happened here. It really is.
FLORES (voice-over): In Uvalde, it seems like everyone knows someone who was impacted by this tragedy.
[04:55:00]
Victor Rivera moved here recently and said even he knows multiple people who lost children.
VICTOR RIVERA, UVALDE RESIDENT: I pray that the families are OK. And pray that the kids rest in peace.
FLORES (voice-over): The pain spurring the gun debate, with some residents pushing for upping the minimum age to purchase guns.
MARTINEZ: Let anybody use a gun that is 21 years and older. We need guns, we need to protect ourselves.
FLORES (voice-over): And for the arming of teachers.
LIZA CAZARES, UVALDE RESIDENT: Teacher should be able to carry, definitely, that's one of them. Like how are you supposed to protect the kids behind a closed door when a gun can definitely go through it.
FLORES (voice-over): One by one, members of the community have been delivering flowers to another growing memorial. This one is also a crime scene.
LONG: I went to school here and my niece lives down the street. My family lives not even -- just right behind the school. This is my home.
FLORES (voice-over): For many members of this community, the pain is overwhelming. Like for this grandmother who was overcome with emotion. Her words are etched on the cross of one of the victims. She wrote, I will always love you, my beautiful granddaughter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Only god could bring healing definitely. God will heal Uvalde.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And if you would like to provide financial support or blood donations to the victims and communities of mass shootings, including the Texas school shooting, please go to CNN.com/impact. There you will find several ways that you can help.
And that does it for me CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Isa Soares in London. Thank you very much for your company. Our coverage continues on the EARLY START with Laura Jarrett. You're talking watching CNN.
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