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Panel: Rioters Were Just 40 Feet From Where Pence Hid; Deadly Riot Exposed Deep Rift Between Pence and Trump; Top ISIS Leader Captured in Syria; Israel Police Complete Misconduct Probe in Journalist Funeral; Golden State Warriors Trounce Boston Celtics to Win 4th Title; FIFA Selects 16 Host Cities in U.S., Canada and Mexico. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired June 17, 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]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Supporters ordered Pence to be hanged. Details coming up.

Plus, another deadly shooting in the United States. This time at a church in Alabama. Details on that another after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Thursday's hearing into the January 6 insurrection not only dealt with the political pressure being applied to former Vice President Mike Pence leading up to the Capitol attack. It also focused on the imminent threat of physical danger to Pence and his family during the hours of the riot. The committee showed new images of the vice president sheltering with Secret Service agents in a basement as the rioters breached the U.S. Capitol. It said the mob became perilously close to finding Pence and possibly killing him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vice president Pence and his team ultimately were led to a secure location where they stayed for the next 4 1/2 hours, barely missing rioters a few feet away.

REP. PETE AGUILAR (D-CA): Approximately 40 feet, that's all there was, 40 feet between the vice president and the mob.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Well, Mike Pence January 6 appeared to sever any remnants of a relationship he and Trump may once have had. But CNN's Brian Todd explains Pence apparently soured on Trump long before January 6.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A once strong partnership splintered. A video played today by the House Committee investigating January 6th showed rioters outside the Capitol calling for then Vice President Mike Pence's demise, which they would have been happy to bring about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hang Mike Pence!

CROWD: Hang Mike Pence!

[04:35:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm telling you, if Pence came, we're going to drag mother (BEEP) through the streets, you (BEEP) politicians are going to get (BEEP) dragged through the streets.

REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS): Donald Trump turned the mob on him, a mob that was chanting "hang Mike Pence".

TODD (voice-over): The House Committee revealed that Pence came a mere 40 feet from rioters, then ushered to safety from the Secret Service. A newly obtained photo from ABC News shows Pence and his family hiding in a Capitol office as the riot unfolded. Testimony was played from witnesses who recalled a heated a phone conversation that morning, then President Trump lobbing insults at Pence, as Pence resisted Trump's pressure to not certify the election results.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I remember hearing the word wimp.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The "P" word.

MICHAEL D'ANTONIO, AUTHOR OF BIOGRAPHIES OF DONALD TRUMP AND MIKE PENCE: There's no love lost between these two now, and we should forget about any kumbaya moment.

TODD (voice-over): A far cry from the first time Donald Trump and Mike Pence met. According to author Michael D'Antonio who's written biographies of both men, that was in the summer of 2016, when Trump was looking for a vice presidential running mate. A visit to Indianapolis by Trump, D'Antonio says, played to Trump's ego and Pence's ambition.

D'ANTONIO: I think Trump was convinced, and partly because Pence was so obsequious in that moment, he praised Trump, he acted like he had no trouble, despite his evangelical Christian morality, associating himself with Trump.

TODD (voice-over): Both men perfected the art of gushing over each other in public in those early days.

MIKE PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Donald Trump showed you can have broad shoulders and still stand with grace and poise on the international stage.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mike Pence did an incredible job.

TODD (voice-over): D'Antonio believes Pence was turned off by Trump's lying, his treatment of women and aides, but that Pence was determined to play the game better than anyone else, and became the ultimate loyalist, which was on display during sometimes cringe-worthy cabinet meetings.

PENCE: Thank you, Mr. President, and just greatest privilege of my life to serve as vice president to a president whose keeping his word to the American people.

TODD (voice-over): The turning point, D'Antonio believes, when Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden and the subsequent impeachment proceedings against Trump.

D'ANTONIO: We're at the point when Pence probably thought this presidency is an absolute mess.

TODD: And a person familiar with the relationship tells CNN Donald Trump and Mike Pence have not spoken for more than a year. Both men reportedly now gearing up for possible presidential runs in 2024 where they would square off against each other in the GOP primaries and even more vitriol might emerge.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Meanwhile, U.S. Senators have wrapped up meetings on Capitol Hill this week without any kind of a deal on gun legislation. And negotiations have been stalled over two issues that have become crucial sticking points in the gun safety talks. Now there are serious questions about whether a deal will make it to the Senate floor anytime soon. The lead Democratic negotiator Chris Murphy says progress has been made over the past couple days and he thinks the vote could be held next week.

And while gun reform remains elusive on Capitol Hill, we have another deadly shooting to report in the United States. This one in Alabama. Two people were killed when a gunman attacked a gathering at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church near Birmingham on Thursday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPTAIN SHANE WARE, VESTAVIA HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT: From what we've gathered from the circumstances of this evening, a lone suspect entered a small group church meeting and began shooting. Three people were shot. Two people are deceased. One person is being treated for an unknown injury at a local hospital.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Police say the shooter is in custody but has not been identified. A local reverend said she hopes the community will come together in such a time of tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. KELLEY HUDLOW, EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF ALABAMA: A lot of people are going to be hurting, not just the people that have been physically injured but it's a scary thing when it happens. And so, what we need is for this community to do what it is good at which is coming together to take care of each other through prayers and thoughts and anything else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: And the motive behind the shooting is still unknown.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the ATF has not had a Senate confirmed director since 2015. But President Biden's nominee for the post may be in trouble. On Thursday the Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked in its vote to send Steve Dettelbach's nomination to the full Senate for a vote. That vote is scheduled for next week and Democrats will have to use an additional procedural maneuver to push it to the floor. Democrats blame partisan politics for Thursday's deadlocked vote.

[04:40:00]

Now still ahead, a top ISIS leader now detained. Details on the raid in Syria that led to the capture.

And findings of a police probe into the controversial actions of Israeli authorities during the funeral for a slain journalist. A live report from Jerusalem just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: A senior ISIS member has been captured in northern Syria. According to the U.S. led coalition fighting the militant group, according to a statement, the man was an experienced bombmaker and had become one of the group's top leaders. CNN's Barbara Starr has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: U.S. and coalition forces have identified what they say is the name of the senior ISIS leader they detained during a helicopter raid in northern Syria on Thursday in the Aleppo area. They identified the man as Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi. They say that al-Kurdi was a senior ISIS operative and facilitator. His expertise was in bomb making. He had taken part in planning operations against U.S. and coalition forces.

This is part of the effort to continue to go after ISIS operatives in Syria. The remnants of ISIS, the U.S. says, when and where they find them. But some of these operations have been very controversial because they have happened in areas where civilians are living. In this case, the U.S. and coalition says they planned the operation meticulously and they have no reports of any civilians killed or injured.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE) FOSTER: Authorities in Israel say that they have concluded that their investigation to police actions during the funeral procession for a slain Al Jazeera journalist.

[04:45:00]

Police had come under widespread criticism following the procession after television showed officers striking mourners with batons nearly causing pallbearer to drop the coffin carrying the body of journalists Shireen Abu Akleh. For more on this time joined by CNN's Hadas Gold in Jerusalem. Those pictures still so hard to watch. But what was the conclusion of this investigation -- Hadas?

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, those chaotic scenes, Max, were broadcast around the world drawing in so much of that criticism of the police conduct. Because it is just so hard to watch those images when thousands of people had flooded into the streets of Jerusalem to honor Shireen Abu Akleh, the Al Jazeera journalist who had been killed while covering an Israeli police raid in the West Bank.

And then in the tense days after her killing when so many people had turned out in Jerusalem for her funeral to see these image coming out. The White House at the time called the images disturbing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called them deeply troubling.

At the time, Israeli police said that they responded in that manner because they said objects, things like rocks, were being thrown at them during the procession. They also say that under a prior arrangement with Shireen Abu Akleh's family, the coffin was supposed to be transported by car to her grave. But thousands of mourners had wanted to take her coffin by foot through the streets as sort of a symbolic gesture to so many people who had come out to honor her.

Now Israeli Police did say that they launched a probe into Israeli conduct soon after this day took place. So far though -- although they've announced the conclusion of this probe, none of the findings have been released publicly. What we have so far is a statement -- I'll read to you -- from the Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai.

He wrote in a statement: It is impossible to remain indifferent to the harsh images -- but then he seems to sort of still direct the blame towards the mourners saying -- we must thoroughly learn the incidents so that in the future sensitive events such as these will not be disturbed by violence rioters and will be respected.

Now Israeli media is widely reporting that no police officers or their commanders will be penalized or will face any sort of consequences for their actions. We have asked police when they will release the full findings of their investigation. But so far, they have not responded to our request -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, Hadas, thank you.

Now human remains believed to be of a British journalist and a Brazilian indigenous expert will undergo DNA testing in the coming days to identify them. Brazilian authorities say the remains arrived in Brasilia on Thursday is thought they are from Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira. They disappeared whilst researching a book on conservation efforts in the region. They'd reportedly received death threats just days earlier. Brazil's president initially called the men reckless but has now sent their families condolences. Brazilian authorities say a suspect in custody admitted to killing the pair and indicated where their bodies were buried. Authorities also arrested a second suspect.

Coming up, the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics battle it out in the NBA finals. But only one team can walk away with a title. We'll find out who is hoisting the trophy just ahead.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: It is another championship ring for Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors celebrating their victory in the NBA finals on Thursday night. This is the Warriors fourth championship in the last eight years. Their seventh in franchise history. It was a hard-fought series but the Warriors trounced the Celtics in game six of the finals. The Celtics started the game with a big lead but the Warriors came roaring back with a 21-0 run, the highest scoring run in an NBA finals game in the last 50 years.

The second round of golf's third major of the year tees off within hours with Canada's Adam Hedwin holding the early lead. The tournament in Brookline, Massachusetts includes stars such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson who recently quit the PGA tour to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. The PGA Tour suspended 17 players who defected but the action does not apply to the U.S. Open. As Spain's Jon Rahm is the Open's defending champion.

FIFA has announced the host cities for the 2026 World Cup. The tournament will be cohosted by three countries for the first time. Including 11 cities in the U.S., three in Mexico and two in Canada. FIFA has yet to decide which ones will host group play and which ones will see elimination rounds. This was the reaction in Miami which is one of the 16 host cities. The tournament will feature 48 national teaming for the first time and according to FIFA's president, it will add up to a spectacular show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIANNI INFANTINO, FIFA PRESIDENT: It was the most competitive process every for the FIFA World Cup and of course, congratulate the 16 cities. I mean, we'll have the world coming here. We'll have an exciting tournament. As I said, greatest honors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Disappointment at this year's Royal Ascot. Britain's Queen Elizabeth missed Thursday's "Lady's Day" where extravagant hats and outfits often make center stage. Instead, Princess Ann led the royal procession of horse-drawn carriages of head of the days races. This is not the first appearance the Queen has canceled recently. She missed out on parts of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration earlier this month due to what the palace calls episodic mobility problems.

And get ready, Beyonce fans, new music from the queen of pop is coming soon. She is releasing her first full album since Lemonade 2016. But in typical Beyonce fashion, this new project is shrouded in secrecy. We know that it will be called Renaissance. It'll include 16 songs and it will be released July 29.

[04:55:00]

The secondary title, Act One, suggests it may be part of a bigger project there.

We are finally seeing a trailer for the controversial Netflix film "Blond" starring actress Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe. The Cuban born de Armas, adopts Monroe's trademark hair and outfits as she tries to embody the sex symbol who often defies easy understanding. The film based on the best-selling novel by Joyce Carol Oates takes viewers back to Monroe's childhood. It is a rare Netflix film with an NC-17 rating generally meaning no one under 17 admitted due to some sexual contact. It hits screens in late September.

De Armas is not the only person dressing up as Marilyn Monroe. Just a few weeks ago Kim Kardashian, you may remember, who wore Monroe's iconic flesh toned dress to the Met Gala. The one that Monroe war in 1962 when she sang happy birthday to President John F. Kennedy. There were reports that Kardashian damaged the dress but Ripley's Believe It or Not, which owns it, says she did not damage the dress. Ripley says the gown was slightly damaged when they bought it in 2016. And it's worth nearly $5 million.

Thanks for watching me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. And our coverage continues on "EARLY START" with Christine Romans. You're watching CNN.

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