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Colorado Republicans Reject Three Election Deniers for Statewide Office; Biden Attends Rare Joint Meeting with Japan and South Korea; U.S. to Offer Monkeypox Vaccines in States with High Rates. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired June 29, 2022 - 10:30   ET

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

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POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Voters in Colorado rejected three election deniers running for statewide office in the Republican primaries. Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who pleaded not guilty after being indicted on voting machine tampering allegations, lost the GOP nomination for secretary of state. State Representative Ron Hanks, who has spread debunked theories about voter fraud, lost the GOP Senate primary. And Greg Lopez, a former mayor of a Denver suburb, who has repeatedly spread false election claims, lost the state's GOP primary for governor.

Well, also new this morning, one senior House Republican who did not back impeaching President Trump for inciting an insurrection tells CNN they predict that Cassidy Hutchinson's bombshell testimony yesterday will lead to indictments, and this comes as several aides of former President Trump were left speechless after hearing these new revelations.

We're also learning that Hutchinson previously told the January 6th committee that the former president approved of rioters chanting violent threats against Vice President Mike Pence as they stormed the Capitol.

So, where does this take us as a country, where does this take the Republican Party? Let's ask a key voice in the party, Ohio Governor and CNN Senior Commentator John Kasich. Governor Kasich, it's great to have you, good morning.

JOHN KASICH, CNN SENIOR COMMENTATOR: Thanks, Poppy.

HARLOW: What do you think yesterday changed?

KASICH: Well, I mean, for some people, they should recognize the fact that Donald Trump is dangerous and desperate and so unhinged, it's really shocking. I think this is beginning to saturate. I think Republicans are beginning to say, enough of this.

But, you know, Poppy, what happened is in the party, there was a cult of personality based on some issues that were legitimate but he used those as a populist, a negative populist, to blame other people for people's problems, and he created this cult of personality and they followed him.

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And that cult of personality still exists for some people. But I think it's fair to say that he's losing lots of support and he's increasingly angry and I think people are beginning to say, enough of this guy.

That's what I hear from Trumpers myself. They kind of say, well, let's just focus on Biden and how bad he is, but there's not the defense of Donald Trump that I used to hear. And I think there's a recognition that the guy -- look, I never thought he was fit for office. Now, there are more people saying, yes, he wasn't fit for office.

HARLOW: I think it's notable that former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney came out on Twitter following the testimony yesterday saying he believed Hutchinson's account. He wrote, my guess is that before this is over, we'll be hearing testimony from Ornato, Engel and Meadows. This is explosive stuff. If Cassidy is making this up, they will need to say that. If she isn't, they will have to corroborate. I know her, speaking of Cassidy. I don't think she's lying. What does that signal to you?

KASICH: Well, the first question, Poppy, I would have is, why was he so involved in the Trump administration to begin with? I mean, one of the things that bugs me today is we sort of are saying, oh, look at these stand-up people and even almost getting close to saying they're heroes when they were enablers of this guy for four years.

And I'm glad to see they're finding religion now and I give them credit for that, and what is he saying? He's saying, well, he believes her? I think she is a very sincere, you know, very intelligent, also very composed woman who's done a great service here. What do I think about it? I think she's really described the guy.

Now, is every one of the things that she said or all of her details accurate? I don't know that. But the gist of it is this was a guy who was out of control, who was willing to use any flimsy excuse to hold on to power, and the amazing thing is they were trying to steal the election. And I talked to people who were Trumpers and say it to them and it just doesn't seem to get down as deep as it should but he is eroding. He is like the wicked witch of the west when they put the water on her. He's beginning to melt down.

HARLOW: We'll see. Voters will decide if he runs again.

Governor Kasich, if we could, before you go, I do want to change topics here to the topic of abortion following the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe versus Wade on Friday. Because when you were governor of Ohio, you signed some laws that did restrict abortion access but you also notably twice vetoed a bill that was a six-week ban on abortion after six weeks, calling it, quote, contrary to the Supreme Court of the United States' current ruling on abortion, you were talking about the Casey decision from '92.

Now, since the Supreme Court overruled Roe and Casey on Friday, the governor and attorney general had put that six-week ban into place. There are, I should note, no exceptions for rape or incest. What is your reaction to seeing that happen, something you vetoed twice?

KASICH: Yes. I really believe that the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother are critical, and I was sent some bills that didn't -- at least on one hand, as I recall, sent me a bill that didn't have that exception. I think that exception is absolutely vital in all of this.

And I think at the same time, Poppy, in light of this ruling, I would hope that we're going to see the states and perhaps with the federal government's help, devote a significant resources to counseling for women, for prenatal and for post-delivery for the children. That's what we got to hope we're going to see across this country. But I hope, at least in my state of Ohio, they will put those exceptions in there.

HARLOW: So, bottom line, you think this move, this bill, this way is a mistake for your state?

KASICH: Well, I think there needs to be exceptions, and we have to see what the legislature will do. I've heard different opinions about what they're going to do. We're just going to have to wait and see. But I think those exceptions are very important.

HARLOW: Governor Kasich, thank you for your time.

KASICH: Okay, Poppy, thank you.

HARLOW: Still ahead, any moment now, Singer R. Kelly will be sentenced on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. We're live outside the courthouse.

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HARLOW: Well, any moment, we will learn how much time R. Kelly will spend in prison. The disgraced R&B singer was convicted of nine accounts, including racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Witnesses testified they were sexually and physically abused by Kelly, some of them when they were minors.

Our Jean Casarez joins me live outside the federal courthouse here in New York. Jean, prosecutors have called for more than 25 years. What are we expecting?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is interesting because it can go up to life in prison. And as you just said, these are very, very serious convictions here. And the U.S. Attorney's Office is saying, because of the seriousness of these convictions, because of the deterrence aspect, which is so important, and, additionally, to protect the public, because R. Kelly, they allege, is still a risk with the community. And so he needs to be sentenced to 25 years or more.

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Now, when we look at what he was convicted of, this was a long trial with over 50 witnesses and he was convicted on all nine counts. And he was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, sexual abuse of a child, kidnapping, bribery. There was also a conviction of the Mann Act, which is sex trafficking over state lines. So, you can see the aspects of these.

Now, the defense has come in today saying, wait a minute, there are mitigating factors here that need to be considered. Documents were just unsealed and they have put that as part of their sentencing memorandum saying that R. Kelly was continually abused as a child between seven and eight years old over and over and over again and that shaped his mind. And because of that, a psychologist said he was not a pedophile, just impacted him in that realm and he should be sentenced to ten years or less, the defense says.

HARLOW: We'll see what impact, if any, that argument about mitigation results in. But, Jean Casarez, such an important day for all those victims today, thank you very, very much. Jim?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Still ahead, a rare meeting of neighbors here at the NATO summit, the leaders of Japan and South Korea sitting down with President Biden as they work to confront threats from North Korea and China. We'll have more coming up.

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SCIUTTO: This morning, President Biden had a rare sit-down with both South Korea and Japan here at the NATO summit. Those two countries have not met since 2019. They are working to confront challenges from North Korea and China.

Ahead of the meeting, North Korea accused the U.S. of building an Asian NATO.

CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us now live from Seoul for more on this. Paula, it's unusual to be here in Madrid. NATO, of course, a European transatlantic alliance focused now on Ukraine, the war in Russia, but you have Japan and South Korea here and you also have the NATO mission statement, in effect, it's going to mention China for the first time. Why is this happening?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, it's a very good question. The fact is they want a larger coalition. They want to bring in the Indo-Pacific region. And, certainly, when it comes to why this particular sit-down between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, the main topic that was talked about, yes, China was touched upon, presumably, Ukraine as well, but it is about North Korea. It is about how important it is for these three countries to cooperate closely in order to try and deal with the increasing nuclear and missile threat from North Korea.

We heard from the U.S. president, Joe Biden, saying that he's deeply concerned about the increase in these tests and, of course, the potential for that seventh underground nuclear test as well. And from the U.S. point of view, it's crucial that two of the most important allies in Northeast Asia, Japan and South Korea, get along and cooperate, bearing in mind the two countries are home to more than 80,000 U.S. troops. And in order to try to have some kind of concerted and consistent response to what North Korea is doing at the moment, they need to be getting along.

Now, we have heard from North Korea as well this Wednesday morning, through state-run media saying, pointing out that the Pacific Dragon, this joint drill between the three of them that's coming up in August, is supposed to be detecting and tracking ballistic missiles, very important considering North Korea has launched a record number of missiles so far this year, but not something Pyongyang wants to see.

They said that this military alliance is dangerous and the prelude to the creation of an Asian version of NATO. So, clearly, Pyongyang is not happy with what they are seeing as this closening relationship between the three countries. Jim?

SCIUTTO: And those countries watching China closely as well. Paula Hancocks in Seoul, thanks so much for joining us. Poppy, back to you in New York.

HARLOW: Jim, thank you so much, and we'll see you back with the NATO with full coverage tomorrow.

Also still ahead, the Biden administration rolls out its plan for monkeypox vaccines. We're going to hear what states are getting priority and why, next.

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HARLOW: Right now, the White House is ramping up its response to the monkeypox outbreak. The Biden administration is moving to target vaccination and testing efforts to the most vulnerable populations in states that have the highest case rates.

Our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is with me. Who falls into that group? And I think everyone watching, myself included, are wondering does this mean we're all going to need monkeypox vaccines?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: No, I don't think that's going to happen. You're not going to see a monkey -- it's a good question but you're not going to see a monkeypox vaccine rollout the same way that we did for COVID. Because there are specific groups that are at risk for monkeypox and, really, what it boils down to is gay men, especially very sexually active gay men.

So, let's take a look at these cases and where they are. So, in the United States, there have been 306 cases in 27 states and Washington, D.C., and almost 5,000 cases in almost 50 countries. Now, there have been more cases in certain states. So, the states that have the highest case counts, those are California, New York, Illinois, Florida and D.C. So, those will be among the states that will really be targeted for this offer of monkeypox vaccine.

And let's take a look at who is at highest risk and who is being recommended to get a monkeypox vaccine. If your sexual partner has been diagnosed with monkeypox, the CDC says, we recommend that you get the vaccine if you've had close physical contact with someone who had monkeypox, if you're or a gay man with recent multiple sex partners.

So, Poppy, what's going on here is that the CDC is saying, look, if you have a contracted monkeypox, we want you to be vaccinated as soon as possible, so this is after being exposed. This is the kind of vaccine that's given after. We want you to get vaccinated within two weeks or as soon as possible.

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And you don't have to say, oh, I know for sure I had sex with this person and they have monkeypox, even if you were just at a party and rubbed up against a lot of people with monkeypox.