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Trial Begins For U.S. Basketball Star Brittney Griner; Emotional Family Members Of Uvalde Victims Demand Answers; Russian Strikes On Residential Building, Rec Center Kill 20. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired July 01, 2022 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: The trial of U.S. basketball star, Brittney Griner, has begun in Russia. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was led into court in handcuffs today. Prosecutors argued she tried to smuggle less than a gram of hash oil into the country. And in Russia, that could bring up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. officials say Griner is being wrongfully detained. She's been held in Russia since February.
Her wife just sat down with CNN's Abby Phillip and described just some of what Griner experiences on a day like today.
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CHERELLE GRINER, WIFE OF BRITTNEY GRINER: B.G. is having to travel over five hours round trip when she goes to court in a very, very, very tiny cage with her knees bent, feet up to the ground because it's not big enough for her to fit in. So she is experiencing a lot the days before she walks into court.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: CNN's Fred Pleitgen joins us live from Moscow.
Fred, you are following today's events and this hearing. Was Griner able to speak at all at today's hearing?
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, she was. Actually, when she came into the courtroom, and this is from sources inside the court. We were not led inside the courtroom ourselves.
She was read the charges. She was asked whether or not she understood the charges. She apparently said she did understand the charges but did not want to comment on the charges at this point in time.
She will apparently get the chance to do so later. And one of the other trial dates that are set to happen later on. Now, the things that happened today is that two witnesses were
questioned. One of them, apparently, one of the workers from the airport where she was detained.
The other witness, we don't know who that was, because the representatives of the U.S. embassy were inside the courtroom and were asked to leave the courtroom when the second witness was questioned.
And you were saying, Ana, this is about less than a gram of cannabis that was apparently in the vape cartridges she had with her. It was actually about 0.7 grams in two vape cartridges.
The prosecution said all this is about nevertheless the possible prison sentence of up to 10 years if Brittney Griner is convicted.
The representative was inside the courtroom and said she had the chance to speak to Brittney Griner on the sidelines of the trial.
Here's what she had to say.
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ELIZABETH ROOD, CHARE D'AFFAIRES, U.S. EMBASSY, MOSCOW: The U.S. embassy, the American government, cares very deeply about this case and about Miss Griner's welfare as do millions of Americans, as well as we care about the welfare of all U.S. citizens in prison overseas.
I did have the opportunity to speak with Brittney Griner in the courtroom. She is doing as well can be expected in these difficult circumstances. And she asked me to convey that she is in good spirits and is keeping up the faith. .
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: Keeping up the faith, they're saying.
I was able to also to speak to Brittney Griner's lawyer. He said she is concerned but also keeping fit and keeping up the faith.
He said, as well, the next trial date is set for July 7th.
CABRERA: Well, our thoughts are certainly with Brittney Griner, her family, her loved ones and others who are also detained in Russia, like Paul Whelan and his family, and those in other places around the world.
Fred Pleitgen, thank you for your reporting.
Demanding answers but getting none. Uvalde families plead for any information about the investigation into the mass school shooting.
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VELMA LISA DURAN, SISTER OF TEACHER KILLED IN SCHOOL SHOOTING: It was obliterated. In a closed casket. I couldn't hug her. I couldn't touch her. I couldn't say my last good-bye. (END VIDEO CLIP)
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CABRERA: I'm not sure the word "intense" sums this up. Yesterday's Uvalde city council meeting was filled with anger, frustration and sadness.
Because more than a month after the horrific mass shooting that changed their lives forever, family members of the victims killed at the Uvalde Elementary School still aren't getting the answers they demand.
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DURAN: Nobody is giving us any answers. It's been over a month. You have no idea how frustrating this is. No idea. And we're sitting here just listening to empty words. That's all it is. Empty words.
My sister died protecting her children, her students. These kids were obliterated. My sister was obliterated. It was a closed casket. I couldn't hug her. I couldn't touch her. I couldn't say my last good- byes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: CNN's Rosa Flores joins us in San Antonio.
Rosa, how are the local officials responding to this?
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, let me start with the families here, because you really have to put yourself in their shoes to understand the dynamic here.
What these family members are saying is that they are seeing the individuals, the officers who didn't go in and save their children or their family members, the school administrators that could hold some of the officers accountable, they're seeing them in the community, at the gas station, at the grocery store.
And so these individuals, these family members, are going to their elected officials in city council and demanding that information, video and documents, be released so that these individuals can be held accountable. So that somebody can be held accountable.
Now the answer they're getting from their elected officials is they can't release information because they've been told by the district attorney that they can't.
And the mayor quoted a letter sent by the D.A. that says the following. "Any release of records to that incident at this time would interfere with said ongoing investigation and would impede a thorough and complete investigation."
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The mayor is interpreting here is he would be obstructing justice.
Take a listen.
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MAYOR DON MCLAUGHLIN (R-UVALDE, TEXAS): It means, if we release it, and she can take each and every one of us to the grand jury and indict each and every one of us for it.
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FLORES: Now, we've reached out to the district attorney, Ana, and we have not heard back.
CABRERA: School district police chief, Pete Arredondo, is a city council member, but he wasn't at the meeting?
FLORES: You know, he wasn't.
And here's the important thing about this. According to the city charter, if he misses three meetings, then the city council and the mayor can vote unanimously to replace him.
And that's exactly what the residents of the city have been asking for.
Here's what the mayor said when he was pressed by some of the individuals at the meeting.
Take a listen.
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MCLAUGHLIN: We can't stop him from taking the oath of office. This is the second meeting in. If he misses the third, I don't think anybody up here will tell you that we won't take the action that we need to take.
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FLORES: The next meeting is scheduled for July 12th. And, Ana, I've reached out for comment and have not heard back.
CABRERA: Rosa, thank you for your reporting.
Russia says it isn't targeting civilian areas in Ukraine, but the images tell a different story. This is a decimated housing block. At least 20 people, including a child, were killed there overnight.
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CABRERA: Ukraine says at least 20 people are dead and more than three dozen injured after Russian missiles pounded civilian targets near Odessa.
A recreation center was hit. And a medical facility for children was also struck. At least one person there was killed.
Joining us now, former NATO supreme allied commander of Europe, retired General Philip Breedlove.
General, thank you for spending part of your Friday here.
It was the same type of ammunition Russian forces used to strike a shopping mall on Monday, killing 18 people at least in that situation.
How credible do you find the Kremlin's repeated claims that Russia is not targeting civilians?
PHILIP BREEDLOVE, FORMER NTO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER OF EUROPE: I find it not credible. There's just too much of it that has happened.
What we've seen is a Russian military that really has not been able to wage what we call a combined armed conflict, and so they have resorted to rather indiscriminate shelling and bombing and taking the fight really to the civilians and the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine.
CABRERA: Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has called Russia a terrorist state. Republican Adam Kinzinger echoed that sentiment, especially after the attack on the shopping mall, which our reporter said is about a five-hour drive from the front lines. It's nowhere close to any fighting.
So what do you think? Should the Biden administration label Russia a terrorist state?
BREEDLOVE: Well, I wouldn't dabble in what probably ought to be left to lawyers and the U.N. and the World Council and courts, et cetera.
But what we can say is this is an illegal, immoral and inhumane campaign that Russia is carrying on. You can take from that how you want to.
CABRERA: If you were to go there, would there be risks of isolating Russia further? After all, they are a nuclear power, right?
BREEDLOVE: I think the world should isolate Russia. We should cut them off from every connection they have to the humane world because of their inhumane actions.
I have called for us trying to remove them from the Security Council. Russia does not belong on any responsible organization or council in our world as I see it.
CABRERA: As far as the battle taking place right now, earlier today former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said that Russia is withering as it becomes increasingly isolated. Do you agree with that assessment?
BREEDLOVE: I think Jim Mattis is an incredibly brilliant man. I've served with him and he's been a mentor of mine when I was an officer.
When he says something, I listen closely because he's a well-studied, well-read individual, and I believe he's got it about right.
CABRERA: Our reporting is that Ukrainians are now targeting pro- Russian officials, including three assassination attempts in the past few weeks in parts of southern Ukraine.
These are areas that may not be in complete Russian control but they have somebody who is pro-Russian sort of running the operations in those towns.
So you have these individual attacks on people at those levels in places like Kherson. But I wonder, is that going to be enough to repel Russia and their forces from those regions?
BREEDLOVE: No, it's not. But it is an encouraging sign that the resistance is on. Because sadly right now, Russia holds about 20 percent of Ukraine.
[13:55:00]
And if we allow that to stand, then it's only the resistance that will be taking the fight to Russia at that point.
And I just must say, we need to be careful how we allow this fight to end. Our response to 2008 was inadequate. Our response in '14 was inadequate.
And now we're going to be judged by the world and by history on how we respond to this. If we leave 20 percent of Ukraine in Russia's hands, I think we'll be judged inadequate yet again.
CABRERA: General Philip Breedlove, thank you very much. Appreciate your insights and expertise. Happy Friday.
That does it for me. I hope you have a very fun, safe holiday weekend.
And don't forget to join me on the 4th right here on CNN. My colleagues and I will be bringing you coast-to-coast fireworks, incredible music from some of the biggest stars to celebrate "THE FOURTH IN AMERICA." Live, July 4th, starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern only on CNN.
The news continues right after this.
