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Hutchinson: Trump and Aides Kew of Potential for Violence; Ex- Aide Portrays Trump as Unstable, Furious on January 6; Turkey Drops Objections to Finland and Sweden Joining NATO; Ukraine Tops Agenda as Leaders Arrive for NATO Summit; Biden Arrives at NATO Summit; Biden Announces U.S. Military Reinforcements in Europe. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired June 29, 2022 - 04:00   ET

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

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MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and around the world. I'm Max Foster this London. Just ahead --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CASSIDY HUTCHINSON, FORMER AIDE TO WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS: As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic, it was un-American. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is now in legal jeopardy I think of a different order than he was say 24 hours ago.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): History will be very kind to the Cassidy Hutchinsons, those that hide behind phony claims of privilege or hide because they feel that they can get away with it I think will be damned by history.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're ready to face threats of Russian aggression because quite frankly, there's no choice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In light of the progress, we have made together to achieve has agreed to support Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That is a huge blow for Putin and a pretty big win for President Biden who's been pushing for this and saying the enlargement of NATO is exactly the opposite of what President Putin wanted to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Live from London this is CNN NEWSROOM with Max Foster.

FOSTER: It's Wednesday, June 29 and we begin with a remarkable string of revelations in Washington. The U.S. House Committee investigating the January 6 riots has presented new damning testimony offering crucial details about former President Trump's actions in the lead up to and during the attack on the Capitol. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark

Meadows gave her account of the conversations inside the Trump White House that day. Describing just how much Trump and his aides knew about the riots and what Trump did or didn't do to stop the violence unfolding that day. CNN's Ryan Nobles has the key moments of her testimony from Capitol Hill.

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RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the moment she was sworn in, Cassidy Hutchison, former aide to Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, made it clear she had much to share.

CASSIDY HUTCHINSON, FORMER AIDE TO TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS: That evening was the first moment that I remember feeling scared and nervous for what could happen on January 6th.

NOBLES (voice-over): Providing unique insight into a chaotic White House in the days leading up to January 6th and a president who cheered on the rioters and she says she was told desperately wanted to be with them.

HUTCHINSON: The president said something to the effect of, I'm the f'ing president, take me up to the Capitol now. The president reached up towards the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm and said, sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel. We are going back to the West Wing. We are not going to the Capitol. Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engel.

NOBLES (voice-over): Hutchinson detailed Trump's insistence that he follow his supporters to the Capitol on January 6th despite being told repeatedly it was dangerous and potentially illegal.

HUTCHINSON: Mr. Cipollone said something to the effect of, please make sure we don't go up to the Capitol, Cassidy. Keep in touch with me. We are going to get charged of every crime imaginable if we make that movement happen. We had conversations about potentially obstructing justice or defrauding the electoral count.

NOBLES (voice-over): She outlined repeated examples of an unstable commander-in-chief who lashed out in anger often after losing the 2020 election. Like when he learned Attorney General William Barr told the "Associated Press" there was no widespread voter fraud.

HUTCHINSON: There was ketchup dripping down the wall and there was a shattered porcelain plate on the floor. The valet had articulated that the president was extremely angry at the attorney general's "AP" interview and had thrown his lunch against the wall.

NOBLES (voice-over): Sitting just doors away from the Oval Office, Hutchinson was central to key moments leading up to January 6th. Meadows himself warned her.

HUTCHINSON: Things might get real, real bad on January 6th. NOBLES (voice-over): She also made it clear White House officials knew about the vast array of weapons the crowd was carrying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): I got three men walking down the street in fatigues carrying AR-15's. Copy at 14th and independence.

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NOBLES (voice-over): Including Trump who said in a tent at a rally site --

HUTCHINSON: I overheard the president say something to the effect of, you know, I don't -- I think they have weapons. They're not here to hurt me. Take the f'ing mags away. Let my people in, they can march to the Capitol from here. Let the people in. Take the f'ing mags away.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are going to walk down and I'll be there with you. We're going to walk down to the Capitol.

NOBLES (voice-over): Hutchinson said she was also in contact with Republican leaders like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who warned her that Trump should not come to the Capitol.

HUTCHINSON: He said, well, he just set it on stage, Cassidy. Figure it out. Don't come up here.

NOBLES (voice-over): As the crowd was raging, Hutchinson testified that Trump was cheering them on, agreeing with the chants to, quote, "Hang Mike Pence."

HUTCHINSON: And Mark had responded something to the effect of, you heard it, Pat. He thinks Mike deserves it. He doesn't think they're doing anything wrong.

NOBLES (voice-over): And recounted White House counsel Pat Cipollone's reaction.

HUTCHINSON: People are going to die and the blood is going to be on your f'ing hands.

NOBLES (voice-over): The day after the violence, the White House counsel and advisors urged him to give a speech condemning the rioters.

HUTCHINSON: We need to get a stronger message out there and condemn this. Otherwise, this will be your legacy. There are already talks about invoking the 25th Amendment. You need this as cover.

NOBLES (voice-over): Trump wanted to float the idea of pardons for those who broke into the Capitol, something he ultimately did not do.

HUTCHINSON: Mr. Meadows did seek that pardon.

NOBLES (voice-over): And according to Hutchinson, many others, including Meadows and Giuliani, sought pardons from Trump. A once loyal Republican committed to Trump and his mission, Hutchison now says --

HUTCHINSON: I remember feeling frustrated, disappointed, and really -- it felt personal. I was really sad. As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic. It was un-American. We were watching the Capitol Building get defaced over a lie.

NOBLES: And the Secret Service is refuting aspects of Hutchinson's testimony. They say that incident that she talked about involving the former president inside the presidential limo on January 6 is not exactly how she portrays it. And say their agents are willing to testify under oath to the committee about their experienced. They say it didn't happen that way and they also say they never told Hutchinson that story.

Meanwhile, the committee is standing by their witness. A source close to the committee tells me on background, that she was willing to stand up and testify under oath but they're also willing to hear from anyone who has information that would help with their investigation.

Ryan Nobles, CNN, on Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Trump perhaps unsurprisingly claims he hardly knows Hutchinson. He has often attempted to distance himself with former aides and allies who once were close but later turned against him. Now his response came after the House Select Committee showed this rendering of the West Wing to demonstrate just how close Hutchinson was to the Oval Office as a top aide to Trump's Chief of Staff. Other aides and advisers to the former president tell CNN that they were stunned by Hutchinson's bombshell testimony.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GABBY ORR, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: A number of them said that they were taken aback by the description Hutchinson offered of the outbursts by the former president, specifically when he learned on January 6 that he could not go to the U.S. Capitol. And when he first heard about the interview that Attorney General Bill Barr gave confirming that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

Now, of course these are Trump aides and advisers who have been witness to his temper themselves at times, but one adviser told me that this could certainly cut against the image that lot of Trump supporters have of the former president and that is as somebody who was always this control.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: The Republican vice chair of the House Select Committee says that the investigation has uncovered evidence of potential witness tampering by people in Trump's orbit. Congresswoman Liz Cheney did not provide any names but said that witnesses have described being contacted by Trump allies attempting to influence their testimony. Meanwhile House Democrat Adam Schiff says he hopes Hutchinson's testimony on Tuesday will give others the courage to speak out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): It is amazing that here we are more than a year and a half since these events and things are coming to light for the first time. Some very serious and very damning evidence is coming to the forefront. It's because of courageous people like Cassidy Hutchinson. It does beg the question why other in the White House in more senior positions like Pat Cipollone are not willing to do the patriotic and courageous thing that some of those working in less senior positions have been willing to do. It's a pattern frankly we've seen repeated over time. John Bolton refusing to testify before the House, even though several of his subordinates were willing to testify.

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As to whether people have come forward since Cassidy's testimony a few hours ago. I don't know, but we certainly hope it will spur others to do the right thing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Meanwhile the House investigators are one step closer to obtaining call logs from this man, John Eastman. The right wing lawyer who led efforts to persuade states to overturn Trump's election loss has dropped his legal challenge to a House subpoena. Investigators are seeking three months of his call log data, but not the contents of those calls. Eastman is one of many with ties to the former president who has been tangled up with the House Committee over legal issues.

Now be sure to stick around later this hour, we'll have much more on the January 6 investigation including how former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded the fifth even perhaps to obvious questions.

Now NATO leaders have been arriving for a critical summit in Spain. Today's talks will kick off soon and the Russian war on Ukraine is expected to dominate the agenda. This is a live look as things get underway in Madrid. During the summit NATO allies are expected to agree on an aid package for Ukraine. They'll also agree on a new strategic concept outlining NATO's strategies for the decades ahead. Allies are expected to frame Russia as the most significant threats to their security. The bloc is also expected to bolster defenses in the east and put more than 300,000 troops on high alert.

It all comes as the alliance appears poised for a significant expansion on Tuesday. Turkey agreed to support both Finland and Sweden's NATO bids clearing the way for them to join the alliance. NATO's Secretary General saying the decision shows that the alliance's open door policy has been an historic success.

Now CNN is covering the story from every angle. Atika Shubert is in Turkey for us. Clare Sebastian is here in London tracking Russian reaction. And CNN's Kevin Liptak and Natasha Bertrand are live in Madrid. Kevin let's start with you. Obviously, Biden the big name at these events. Because America provides so much of the support to NATO. What does he want to get out of the next day or two?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, President Biden is really trying to shore up support among NATO allies at this summit and the summit that he's just come from in Germany, the G7. Of course, the West has sent billions of dollars in aid and security assistance to Ukraine. They've dumped tons of sanctions on Russia, but the momentum in that war still appears to be in Russia's favor. So as Western leaders worry about fatigue, as they worry that this alliance could be fracturing, President Biden really wants to show resolve in strengthening NATO's force posture along the eastern flank.

Yesterday he announced that the U.S. would send two new destroyers to the Rota Naval Station in Spain, that brings the total number to six. He's expected to announce a number of additional force posture adjustments in Europe today. He says it will be by land, sea and air. His National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said yesterday that the new forces would be more robust, more effective, more combat credible, more capable and more determined.

Now the leaders are coming into the summit with the wind at their back after that agreement by Turkey to drop its objections to Finland and Sweden joining the defense bloc. That all came after months of sort of back and forth between the sides. President Biden did speak with the Turkish President Erdogan yesterday morning to talk about these negotiations. And what he told him was that if this deal could be struck before the summit began, it was possible for the two men to hold a formal bilateral meeting on the margins of the summit and they will do that today later this afternoon. So certainly, a lot to talk about for the men there.

One other interesting item on the president's agenda today, he will be meeting with two leaders that you wouldn't necessarily expect to see at a NATO summit, the Prime Minister of Japan and President of South Korea, that's an important discussion set to center on the issues surrounding North Korea. So, the president really trying to show up to the summit today, reinforce America's presence in Europe, talk about readjusting the force posture, and really showing these allies that he remains committed to keeping this alliance together as the war in Ukraine grinds on, as gas prices rise, as costs of the work continue. President Biden really wants to show resolve in the coming months as the war continues -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, Kevin in Madrid, thank you. Atika, so president Erdogan gets his face time with President Biden. That's a big thing, isn't it, at a big event like this. Is that what he was looking for, to get through this impasse within NATO? He's Looking for that status on the NATO stage?

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ATIKA SHUBERT, JOURNALIST: Well, I think he's looking for more than just face time. In particular he's to looking to upgrade and purchase a number of F-16 jets from the U.S. And certainly, his one-on-one bilateral meeting today will be an opportunity for him to press his case with President Biden. But so far it really has been a diplomatic win for President Erdogan.

You know, going in, Turkey said it wasn't in any rush to approve Finland and Sweden joining NATO. But in the end yesterday you saw this memorandum being signed with both Sweden and Finland saying that -- promising to address Turkey's security concerns. And this is really the big sticking point for President Erdogan.

Sweden and Finland in this memorandum promised that they would not support the Kurdish People's Protection Unit, the YPG, and that it would view the PKK, the Kurdish Workers Party, as a prescribed terrorist organization. That brings them in line not only with Turkey's thinking but also the U.S. and EU.

So diplomatically speaking, that is a big win for Erdogan. In addition, he also got them to agree that there would be no arms embargoes between the countries and there would be a mechanism set up for intelligence sharing particularly on issues of Kurdish resistance. And, you know, there was quite a lot of diplomacy that went into this. I think what is very interesting about this memorandum, is that it clears the way for Sweden and Finland to join NATO.

Turkey gets a lot out of this by addressing its concerns on Kurdish resistance groups. But the diplomatic language in this memorandum is vague enough that it can be interpreted differently by different countries. But the biggest win of course is for NATO. Because it shows that even though there are differences between members, particularly Turkey and other members, there are still ways that NATO remains united Max.

Atika, thank you. And Natasha, for Europe, this means that NATO gets two smaller but sophisticated militaries on its side, but also effectively double the length of the land border between Europe and Russia.

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right, Max. And effectively what NATO has decided here according to Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, is that not only are they expanding the size of NATO's borders but they are also dramatically expanding the number of forces that are going to be on high alert in case anything were to happen. In case Russia were to accidentally enter NATO air space for example. In case an attack were to occur on NATO territory.

Increasing that force posture by sevenfold to 300,000 troops, up from about 40,000. Which in itself was pretty historic a couple of months ago. So, just underscoring the extent to which NATO and European allies feel extremely vulnerable in the face of this Russian aggression and the possibility that really anything could happen here.

But you know, I got to tell you, just from speaking to sources around the summit earlier today, there is a lot of optimism here about how historic this meeting will actually be. Not only because of the ascension Sweden and Finland into NATO, but also just because of the level of cohesion and unity that they feel exists right now among the allies. And they feel --

(CROSSTALK)

FOSTER: Natasha, I'm going to let you carry on. I just need to point out that President Biden has arrived there in Madrid. And is there with Stoltenberg of NATO. And we might listen in to see if we can hear from him.

BIDEN: Every inch of NATO territory.

And Article Five is sacrosanct. We mean it when we say, an attack against one is an attack against all, every inch. And so, at this Summit, the full Alliance is going to welcome Finland and Sweden. An historic application for membership and their decision to move away from neutrality, and the tradition of neutrality, to join the NATO Alliance. This is going to make us stronger and more secure, and NATO stronger.

We're sending an unmistakable message, in my view, and I think yours as well, that NATO is strong, united and the steps we're taking during this Summit are going to further augment our collective strength.

To that end, today, I'm announcing the United States will enhance our force posture in Europe and respond to the changed security environment, as well as strengthening our collective security.

Earlier this year, we surged 20,000 additional U.S. forces to Europe to bolster our Alliance in response to Russia's aggressive move, bringing our force total in Europe to 100,000. We're going to continue to adjust our posture based on the threat, in close consultation with our allies.

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Here in Spain, we're going to work with our allies to increase U.S. Navy destroyers stationed in Spain's Rota naval base, from three -- from four to six destroyers.

In Poland, we're going to establish a permanent headquarters the U.S. Fifth Army Corps and strengthening U.S./NATO interoperability across the entire eastern flank.

We're going to maintain additional rotational brigade, which is 3,000 fighters and another 2,000 in personnel, combat team here in Europe, headquartered in Romania.

And we're going to enhance our rotational deployments in the Baltic states.

And we're going to send two additional F-35 squadrons to the U.K., and station additional air defense and other capabilities in Germany and in Italy.

And together our allies, we're going to make sure that NATO is ready to meet threats from all directions, across every domain -- land, air and the sea.

And the moment when Putin has shattered peace in Europe, and attacked the very, very tenants of the rules-based order, the United States and our Allies, we're going to step up.

We're stepping up, proving that NATO is more needed now than it ever has been. And it's as important as ever has been.

So, I want to thank you, Jens, for leading the Alliance through this crisis and for your work to strengthen NATO for all the challenges that lie ahead. And I genuinely look forward to our discussions here.

And again, thank you for your leadership. It's important.

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Thank you so much, President Biden. It's really good to see you here in Madrid, so soon after we met in the White House in Washington. And thank you for your personal leadership and the U.S. commitment to NATO, to European security, demonstrated by the announcements you've just made to further increase U.S. presence in Europe. And this really demonstrates your decisive leadership in strengthening the transatlantic bond.

And we also see that in the unwavering support from you and from the United States to Ukraine. That will be a main issue at the Summit today. We'll meet with President Zelenskyy, he will address the Summit.

And as you said, this will be an historic Summit. It will be a transformative Summit, where we'll make decisions that will actually change this Alliance for many years to come.

We will agree a new Strategic Concept, the blueprint for NATO into the future, more dangerous world, a more competitive world.

We will agree the biggest overhaul of our collective defense and deterrence since the end of the Cold War. And US is of course very much part of that.

And then, we will invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO. And that demonstrates that NATO's door is open. It demonstrates that President Putin has not succeeded in closing NATO's door. He's getting the opposite of what he wants. He wants less NATO. President Putin is getting more NATO while Finland and Sweden are joining our Alliance.

We will agree a Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine.

And then I also welcome the fact that we are able now to state that actually European Allies and Canada are stepping up with more troops, higher readiness, and also increase defense spending. Figures show that they have added 350 billion extra U.S. dollars for defense since we made the pledge back in 2014.

So, all in all, this demonstrates unity and the strength of our Alliance.

Thank you.

BIDEN: You know, I was asked about this, about Finland and Sweden when each of their leaders came to the White House. And I said Putin was looking for the Finlandization of Europe and you're going to get the NATO-ization of Europe.

And that's exactly what he didn't want, but it's exactly what needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe, and I think it's necessary and I'm looking forward to it happening in some way.

STOLTENBERG: Thank you.

BIDEN: Thank you.

FOSTER: So, this will be an historic and transformative Summit according to the head of NATO there, Jens Stoltenberg, receiving the American president there at Madrid. This key Summit of heads of state for NATO members.

You heard there President Biden describing how NATO is needed now more than ever because of the threat as they say from Russia and therefore the U.S. and its allies are stepping up. So, America putting more personnel, more equipment in Europe including some additional air squadrons here in the U.K.

[04:25:00]

And he said that it is all about getting ready to meet the threats across land, sea and air. And the underlying announcement there is from Russia.

Also speaking there, Natasha, which is interesting to note, of the neutrality that Finland and Sweden have effectively given up because they are concerned about the threat from Russia, therefore they are taking NATO's side by joining NATO as opposed to just being a partner to various different organizations around the world.

BERTRAND: Exactly right, Max. And this is something that U.S. and Western officials have sought to emphasize over the last several months. The idea that Russia's invasion in that sense really backfired here. It only expanded NATO's borders even further.

Before the war broke out, Finland and Sweden were not even considering really joining the Alliance, it was just not something that had popular support in each country and Sweden even remained a bit skeptical up until the very end there. But the war really kind of changed everything.

And on February 24th, that is the date according to Finnish officials that they in Finland really understood that there is no other choice here but to join this defensive Alliance. So, in that sense what U.S. officials have sought to drive home here is that this Russian invasion has only created more cohesion and unity among the Allies and more desire by other countries to join the Alliance than ever before. They have said repeatedly that the open door policy that NATO has is more important than ever.

Now course, Ukraine has some qualms with that. They say that they, of course, want to join and they have been kind of strung along by NATO for several years now and they see no hope really that they will ever join the Alliance. But for NATO, they see this as a, you know, big win and they are considering of course -- as Jens Stoltenberg just said there -- a comprehensive security package to provide to Ukraine. That is not something that we've heard before. Of course, the bilateral arrangements between certain NATO member states and Ukraine have continued in terms of shipments of weapons.

But in terms of a NATO-wide kind of strategic security package, that is something that they hope to agree on at this Summit. But ultimately this is a big victory for the U.S. especially given that Biden played such a strong role in getting Sweden and Finland to agree to join NATO. He was personally making phone calls months ago to try to lobby them to change their minds here.

So ultimately, they are very optimistic about this and they hope that the world and particularly Russia will see that they see Russia now as one of their main threats and that the NATO alliance is not going to back down either from defending Ukraine or importantly defending their own territory -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, let's bring in Clare Sebastian and her Russian expertise. Because, you know, you look at this from a Western point of view, perhaps it looks like a massive defensive operation bringing in all this military support and the sort of the language we're hearing there from President Biden. But from Moscow, frankly, it's going to be seen as a threat. Isn't it?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. Max, in fact, the words that President Putin used in his February 24th speech sort of announcing that what he calls a special military operation in Ukraine, was that NATO expansion is a fundamental threat to Russia. So, these words will definitely not be looked on kindly in Moscow. And they are not leaving them unanswered.

The Kremlin saying on Tuesday that the Ministry of Defense is working out plans to strengthen Russia's Western borders in view of NATO's expansion. It should be noted though what President Putin is actually doing at the moment as leaders are meeting in Madrid and President Biden is trying to shore up that Transatlantic Alliance, President Putin is trying to shore up his own regional alliance. Tuesday he was in Tajikistan meeting with the leader there talking about the importance of the Collective Security Treaty Organization which is a collection of about six post-soviet states. He is now meeting in Tajikistan today with members of the Caspian Summit, the five countries that border the Caspian Sea. Trying to make a point that Russia still has a key role in that region and that it has allies even when it comes to security.

But this NATO expansion will be very keenly felt. The former President Dmitry Medvedev saying in a newspaper interview this week, that while he played down the idea of Finland and Sweden joining NATO for Russia, he said that if Ukraine joined, that would be an order of magnitude more dangerous and if NATO members, any of them, tried to encroach on Crimea, that could constitute World War 3. So, they are looking very closely at this -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, Clare, thank you. We'll be looking for reaction from Moscow. Also thank you to Natasha and Kevin in Madrid and Atika in Turkey.

We are expecting the family photo where all the leaders get together coming up. Always a good one for the body language experts. We'll bring you it as it unfolds in the next few minutes.

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