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Delta Pilots Picket At Airports During Negotiations With Airline; Pentagon On Abortion: "There Will Be No Interruption To This Care"; I-95 Reopened At Georgia-Florida Border After Major Wreck; Man Charged In Murder Of Woman Pushing Her Baby In Stroller. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired July 02, 2022 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
KRISTIN FISHER, CNN ANCHOR: You are live in the CNN Newsroom. It is Saturday, July 2. And I'm Kristin Fisher. Hey, Boris.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Kristin, good morning. I'm Boris Sanchez.
We're so grateful that you're spending part of your holiday weekend with us. If you're wondering where Michael Smerconish is, probably on a beach somewhere drinking a margarita, hopefully wearing sunscreen, where so many of us want to be.
FISHER: Yes, hopefully he's not stuck at one of these airports that we've been talking about all morning.
SANCHEZ: Yes, right now hundreds of flights have been canceled or delayed across the United States. And that's threatening to spoil the Fourth of July holiday for so many. Airlines are being put to the test as the number of people traveling by plane climbs to near pre-pandemic levels. But there are staffing issues and cancellations and even the weather is hurting the issue. Summer storms have caused headaches for travelers and airlines alike.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got to get home. We got a flight. If it is going to be, you know, cancel, then you let us know now so we can know what to do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's saying that my flight was last seen near New York, it's not really saying. It's not really telling me what's going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FISHER: All right. So here's the latest tally. More than 1,300 flights in the U.S. have been delayed so far today, and it's only 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and cancellations just over 400. AAA predicts three and a half million people will fly this weekend and an additional 42 million people are expected to drive somewhere this holiday weekend. Silver lining and as Boris said last hour, it's a very small silver lining for drivers is that gas prices have dropped about eight cents over the last week. But I mean, that's still $1.70 more than it was a year ago.
SANCHEZ: Let's take you live to the busiest airport in the country. CNN's Nadia Romero is live at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.
Nadia, we've been seeing enormous lines all morning behind you. Take us there. What are you seeing? What's the mood of these travelers?
NADIA ROMERO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so right behind me, this group of travelers has just been cleared to move forward to get through another part of the security checkpoint. So they're not quite making their way up to the gate, but they are at least moving from this section. There are about four sections where you are in line, then you wait, then you're in line, then you wait, and you get passed through until finally making your way through the standard boarding. So you still didn't take off your shoes, take out your laptop and make your way through.
We're already talking about 1000 flights canceled. If you add up today's cancellations and yesterday, 1000 flights just so far this Fourth of July weekend and we're already seeing delays as well. Hopefully you learn about that flight cancellation before you make your way and stand in this very long line.
And most people have been in pretty good spirits. We saw a lot of people using some pretty good excuses to try to cut the line, but most people are in good spirits because it's a holiday weekend. And we spoke with one woman who's on her way to Belize to be with her in laws. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JODI BURN, TRAVELING FOR THE 4TH HOLIDAY: The airport security and the airport personnel have been fabulous and fantastic, and everybody has a smile on their face. It's a holiday weekend. It's going to be great.
And we'd love some spare time and we parked nearby and took the Marta train. And so, yes, we just left enough time to get here and we're super excited.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMERO: And you got to keep that positive energy especially when you take a look at these numbers. Just about every part of traveling this holiday weekend is going to cost him more than it did last year, hotels up 23 percent, gas price is up 52 percent compared to last year. Now car rentals have decreased compared to last year, but if you haven't traveled in a while, let's say before the pandemic, you're going to notice a big increase there. And air travel is up 14 percent compared to last year.
Now, most people will be traveling by car. According to AAA, about 88 percent of travelers will be hitting the road. And that means more congestion on the highways and higher gas prices to get you where you're going. But Boris, Kristin, we're seeing people who just want to go somewhere this weekend despite all of the obstacles.
FISHER: Yes, you talked to some people there, Nadia, who have some -- a very optimistic outlook on all of these travel issues, thank you so much. And you know, they're also going to have to keep this optimistic outlook for us when you look at the weather coming up because it's not great either.
SANCHEZ: Yes, it is not. And during this busy travel week, more than 1,000 Delta pilots at the picket line on Thursday. Pilots at seven major airports across the United States staged demonstrations as they call for better pay and other accommodations in their ongoing contract negotiations with the airline.
We want to bring in Captain Jason Ambrosi now to share his perspective. He is the chair of the Delta Air Line Pilots Association Master Executive Council.
Jason, that is a heck of a title. We appreciate you sharing part of your weekend with us. I understand you were part of some of these demonstrations, just right off the bat, what is it that you want from the airlines?
[09:05:09]
CAPT. JASON AMBROSI, CHAIR. DELTA AIR LINE PILOT ASSOCIAITION MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: Well, first, thank you for having me on this morning. You're absolutely right. In Atlanta alone, we had over 400 pilots, almost 1,500 nationwide standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity to send this message to Delta management. It's time for them to get serious and bargain with us for an industry leading contract.
Our pilots have flown record amounts of overtime to safely get our passengers to their destinations during the pandemic and in the recovery. And it's time for Delta management to get serious with us and bargained for a contract that we've earned.
SANCHEZ: The company says that these demonstrations are not going to impact operations for customers. But on a busy holiday weekend, as you just heard, more than 1,000 delays, 100 of cancellations, what's your message to those planning to take to the skies?
AMBROSI: Well, I will tell you that the demonstration on Thursday was every pilot was on their off time. So, there is no operational challenges as a result of our demonstration.
As far as this weekend, it's a broader issue, that's responsible airlines scheduling. We've urged Delta management not to over schedule airline counting on us flying records amount of overtime. And you know, this weekend, I can't predict how it's going to go. Obviously, there's challenges out there. But I will tell you that Delta pilots are there to get our passengers safely to their demonstration -- or destination as we can.
SANCHEZ: We understand your perspective that the pilots had been stretched thin. Obviously, there's weather and other contributing factors. But overall, what would you say is the biggest issue? What is creating all of the strain that we've been seeing in the airline industry?
AMBROSI: Quite frankly, it's irresponsible scheduling, over scheduling. When coming out of the pandemic, we're scheduling more flights than we have people to fly them. But quite honestly, the pilots are used to flying overtime in the summertime to help because there's always an increase in flying.
Well, it's been over a year now where we've been pressed to the limit of flying as much as they possibly can more time away from their family -- out there trying to get our passengers to their destinations and it's just can't be sustained at this at this level. The pilots are getting fatigued, quite honestly. They're making the tough safety call at times to say, hey, I'm putting my hand in the air, I'm tired. No pilot wants to do that, no pilot wants to strand their passengers or fellow crew members and when they're -- when they want to get where they're going, but it's a safety issue.
Delta pilots put safety, number one. And if they need to make that tough call and say I'm tired, I'm fatigued, I have to say I'm done, they're going to do that.
SANCHEZ: Why is it you think that, according to you, the airlines are overscheduling flights?
AMBROSI: Quite honestly, a lot of pilots left during the pandemic, no one foresaw a rapid recovery. So, the airlines have the airplanes, it's just the fact that they don't have the staff. It's not just pilots, it's everywhere. And they have the planes and not enough people, so they're trying to maximize revenue.
Obviously, it's -- the airlines want to get people out there flying, but we have to throw the flag out there and say, hey, hold on, you can only do what you can do with the amount of people that you have to do that.
SANCHEZ: I want to share a number with you and with our viewers, it's $54 billion, that's how much it costs American taxpayers to keep the airline industry afloat during the pandemic. I'm wondering what you would like to see the federal government do in this crisis.
AMBROSI: Well, you know, as a union, we advocated for that money because we'd be in a much different situation today than we are right now. But I will tell you that the government should urge these airlines to schedule responsibly and not over schedule in the recovery.
It's a short-term problem. This is not a forever problem, because it's just like supply chain issues and other areas. But the airlines need to schedule responsibly in this recovery so that we don't have these disruptions.
At Delta, we've taken unprecedented steps recently as a elected union leadership to send the message to management that we're concerned at Delta about long term damage to the brand. You're aware that Delta is normally right at the top of the charts for reliability, we've gone down the road of writing an open letter to our customers, sending the message to the board of directors of Delta, as well as, you know, vote of no confidence to say, hey, look, we're worried about long term damage to the brand. We want Delta to be that premier airline that it was, so please use caution and get back to -- we are insisting on getting back to schedule reliability that our customers have come to expect from Delta Airlines.
[09:10:00]
SANCHEZ: Captain Jason Ambrosi, we have to leave the conversation there. Hope you're having a good Fourth of July weekend.
AMBROSI: Well, thank you. Have a have a good holiday.
FISHER: Turning now to the weather which could add to this weekend's travel trouble, let's bring in CNN Meteorologist Karen Maginnis.
And Karen, you know, we've been talking all morning about this rain and the thunderstorms and the forecast, really for much of the United States, right?
KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That is absolutely true. It is so widespread. It may not mean a day long washout, but a lot of areas cloud cover and some of those thunderstorms, they can last 45 minutes, maybe an hour. But with that comes the lightning and the potential to really wreak havoc as far as your travel is concerned.
If you were to -- just look at this, for the airport delays, it looks fairly calm. But this does not represent what the cancellations may be. And we know that that has been ongoing as you just heard, but it does reflect what happens as far as the weather and the impacts that it has on the major airports. That will get worse later on in the day.
One of the other impacts is this tropical storm. Our latest update from the National Hurricane Center with tropical storm Colin. still supporting winds of 40 miles per hour moving off towards the northeast. This formed on land essentially in the Charleston area. But that deep convection is still out over the open waters here.
As it moves towards the northeast, it'll start to make a more of an eastward turn. And then it'll get caught up, and so, it moves away from lands. So, the problems with this exist over the next 24 hours, mainly for these coastal areas around Charleston, up to Myrtle Beach and then towards Wilmington, then towards the Outer Banks. Heavy downpours and word of caution, the rip current here is going to be very dangerous for folks. So if you are not a strong swimmer or even if you are a strong swimmer, you can be swept up very easily.
Thunderstorms will rock the portions of that interstate 95 corridor, Boston, Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia, all these areas could be impacted. And we'll see some delays also across the central United States.
Back to you Boris, Kristin. FISHER: Karen, thank you so much. And if all of that weather that Karen was talking about keeps you inside, you can just tune into CNN on July 4 as we celebrate fourth in America with music from artists like Journey, Willie Nelson, Pitbull, and what's a Fourth of July celebration, of course, without fireworks. So you can catch it on Monday 7:00 p.m. Eastern only on CNN.
SANCHEZ: So we are learning new details in the January 6 investigation. The select committee believes in intermediary for former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tried to pressure Cassidy Hutchinson ahead of her explosive testimony. It comes as two Secret Service staffers now say that for more than a year stories have been circulating inside the Secret Service about how angry Donald Trump was as he demanded to go to the Capitol with his supporters. CNN's Ryan Nobles has the latest developments.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Witness intimidation has become a serious focus of the January 6 select committee. CNN has learned that both instances the committee presented as examples of possible witness intimidation during their hearing on Tuesday were directed at their witness Cassidy Hutchinson,
REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY), VICE CHAIR. JANUARY 6 SELECT COMMITTEE: He knows you're loyal, and you're going to do the right thing when you go in your deposition. I think most Americans know that attempting to influence witnesses to testify untruthfully presents very serious concerns.
NOBLES (voice-over): Sources say the committee believes that pressure was applied at the behest of former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, a claim Meadows' spokesperson Ben Williamson rejects. "No one from the Meadows' camp, himself or otherwise, ever sought to intimidate or shape her conversations with the committee," Williamson said in a statement to CNN.
The accusations of intimidation come at the same time "The New York Times" reports that organizations close to Donald Trump had been helping to pay for the legal fees of witnesses before the committee. It's a practice that is not uncommon or illegal. But according to the committee's former senior investigator, it does raise potential problems.
JOHN WOOD, FORMER JANUARY 6 SELECT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATOR: It does run the risk that they will be less cooperative than they would be if they had attorneys who are advising them who are being paid by the client. In other words, the witness themselves.
NOBLES (voice-over): The committee is also still working with Secret Service to schedule another round of depositions for two agents at the center of a dispute over the former president's conduct inside the Presidential SUV on January 6.
CASSIDY HUTCHINSON, FORMER AIDE TO W.H. CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS: Tony described him as being irate. The president said something to the effect of, I'm the effing 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, said, sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel. We're going back to the West Wing. We're not going to the Capitol.
Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engle. And when Mr. Ornato had recounted the story to me he had motion towards his clavicles.
[09:15:07]
NOBLES (voice-over): CNN learning that accounts of an angry Trump demanding to go to the Capitol over Secret Service objections and lunging forward in the SUV started circulating among agents in the months after January 6. CNN has learned that agent Tony Ornato, who was also Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff, has met with the committee on two previous occasions. Some committee members say his version of events on that day were murky.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Ornato did not have as clear of memories from this period of time as I would say Ms. Hutchinson did.
NOBLES (voice-over): Meanwhile, the work of the committee was front and center last night in Wyoming.
HARRIET HAGEMAN, (R) PRIMARY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE, WYOMING: The only time that the J six situation ever comes up is when people talk about how unfair this entire committee is.
NOBLES (voice-over): Vice Chair Liz Cheney's opponent, Harriet Hageman, promoting conspiracy theories about the election results, while Cheney accused Hageman of doing Trump's bidding.
CHENEY: She knows it wasn't stolen. I think that she can't say that it wasn't stolen because she's completely beholden to Donald Trump. And if she says it wasn't stolen, he will not support her.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
NOBLES: Meanwhile, the committee is still working on scheduling depositions of those two Secret Service agents at the center of the controversy over what happened in the presidential SUV on January 6, while Tony Ornato and Bobby Engle have said that they would be willing to come back in and testify about their recollection of the events on January 6.
And there's also another key figure the committee is trying to come to some sort of an agreement on as it relates to testimony, and that's Pat Cipollone, the former White House counsel. Cipollone has signaled that he'd be willing to sit for a transcribed deposition, the committee may be looking for much more.
Ryan Nobles, CNN on Capitol Hill.
SANCHEZ: Ryan Nobles, thank you. Fallout from the decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade is having a ripple effect across the country. Now, some are raising a red flag about the impact it could have on service members and their families.
Plus, it became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. And now just one day after leaving Snake Island, Russia has launched a new assault on it. Ahead, we're going to have a live update from Kyiv. We'll take you to Eastern Europe.
Plus, after nearly 100 years, a black family will finally get back beachfront property that was once theirs and seized by the government. And we're going to tell you about the fight to get it back and how many millions and millions of dollars the land is worth.
Newsroom is back in moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:21:56]
SANCHEZ: Right now, abortion rights advocates are pushing the block bans triggered by the Supreme Court following their major decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion across the nation. The decision has sparked legal challenges in about a dozen states as abortion rights advocates work to block state level abortion bans and other limits in court.
President Biden met virtually with nine Democratic governors who've moved to protect abortion rights in their respective states. That meeting happened on Friday. And he called on voters to elect lawmakers who will support his effort to protect the right to choose on a national level.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ultimately, Congress is going to have to act to codify the Roe into federal law. And as I said yesterday, the filibuster should not stand in the way of us being able to do that. But right now, we don't have the votes in the Senate to change the filibuster on -- at the moment. That means we need two more votes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FISHER: So millions across the country are figuring out how to move forward now that Roe v Wade has been overturned, and that includes military leaders. And some experts are saying that they don't appear to understand the possible impact on service members.
This week, the Pentagon released a memo saying in part and I quote, "The Supreme Court's decision does not prohibit the department from continuing to perform covered abortions, consistent with federal law. There will be no interruption to this care."
Well, my next guest says the department's message is not strong enough. Rachel VanLandingham is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who served as a judge advocate. And now she's a professor of Criminal and National Security Law at Southwestern Law School.
So Rachel, thank you so much for joining us. I like to start by asking you what you think that the Pentagon should be saying. What did you not like about that statement that I just read?
RACHEL VANLANDINGHAM, PROFESSOR, CRIMINAL & NATL. SEC. LAW, SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL: I wish there would be a stronger statement of support for military service women who comprise almost 20 percent of our active duty force, as well as a strong signal of support for the military spouses, family members who will also be impacted by the demise of Roe. Military members have to ask for leave in order to be able to travel to obtain an abortion and pay for it on their own. That memo that you just mentioned, discusses covered abortions.
Abortions cannot be provided by military providers or military medical insurance, except in very narrow situations when the woman's life is in danger or if the woman proves that she -- the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. So, in actuality, federal law does not allow the vast majority of women in the military to obtain an abortion on base where they get the vast majority of their medical care.
FISHER: So can you just walk us through how difficult you think it is going to be for service members, specifically those service members living in states where abortions are banned to access care given that latest guidance.
[09:25:01]
VANLANDINGHAM: Yes. So, military women have to and military members have to ask for leave typically when they're going to leave the area, the immediate area of their base for any extended period of time. And if a female service member is now stationed, and women and service members don't get to pick where they're going to be stationed and they move frequently throughout their military careers, most of the major military bases that are in the United States are in what will be abortion deserts such as Texas, such as Georgia, such as Alabama and Mississippi, these active duty female service members who are the vast majority are quite young, they're up reproductive age, and there's a greater rate of unintended pregnancies within the military, they are going to have to ask their commanders for leave. We're not required to give it to them, because there is no standardized Pentagon policy, then they're going to have to pay out of pocket and travel for possibly very long distances to obtain a safe and lawful abortion. They might as well be stationed in Djibouti Africa, if they're stationed in Texas, because they're going to be greatly impacted.
FISHER: Yes, that's a great -- very obvious point, but a good point. I mean, it's easy to forget that when you're in the military you don't get to choose where you get to live a lot of times.
So some Democratic --
VANLANDINGHAM: Yes, you never get to choose.
FISHER: Right. So, you know, some Democratic senators sent a letter to the Defense Secretary asking him to implement new policy, including rules that would allow people stationed in states that deny abortion services to travel whatever distance necessary to receive care, grant members permissive temporary additional duty rather than charge them leave when they need care and established independent advocates or liaisons who can confidentially assist members to access services. Do you think that that could be enough to lessen the impact of the end of Roe v Wade on the military community?
VANLANDINGHAM: Well, if Congress gets its act together and actually passes it, yes, that will help mitigate the impact, but it will not totally alleviate it because women will have to travel. What would alleviated is if the Congress would remove its federal ban on providing abortions on base and through its military medical insurance. But that's been in place since the '70s. And military service women have been penalized.
I felt that personally. I was stationed in South Korea during the early '90s and South Korea abortion was illegal, that was a remote assignment and I was ordered by my commander to accompany a female service member to obtain an off base abortion at her own expense and an apparent violation of the law. Our service women should not have to go through anything close to that and Congress can help fix that if they would allow military medical providers to provide abortion.
FISHER: OK. Well, Rachel VanLandingham, you have some very unique perspectives on this topic. Thank you so much for sharing them. And I hope you have a nice holiday weekend.
VANLANDINGHAM: You too, happy Fourth of July.
FISHER: You too.
SANCHEZ: At least four people have been charged in what officials consider the worst human smuggling incident in American history. What they're saying now about what led to the death of 53 migrants and why one of the suspects was already under investigation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:32:27]
FISHER: Thirty minutes past the hour. Here are some stories that we're following. I-95 has reopened all lanes on the Georgia-Florida border after closing the northbound lanes for seven hours. A multi-vehicle crash on Friday stopped nearly all traffic on the interstate and it caused a massive buildup just as Fourth of July travelers were hitting the road.
SANCHEZ: In New York, a man suspected of shooting a mom, pushing her 3-year-old in a stroller this week, has formally been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Twenty-two year old Isaac Agro allegedly came up behind Azsia Johnson while she was walking on the Upper East Side and shot her at point blank range. The incident is believed to have been a targeted attack.
We're also learning one of the men charged in that horrifying human smuggling incident in Texas where 53 migrants died was actually already under investigation by DHS. That's according to a criminal complaint filed on Wednesday. Officials say he was communicating with this man, who is driving the truck, and now says he was unaware that the air-conditioning had stopped working with people still inside.
FISHER: Officials are calling this the deadliest human smuggling incident in U.S. history. If charged, both men could face the death penalty.
For many of those bold enough or desperate enough to make this dangerous trip across the border, it's a chance at a better life.
SANCHEZ: CNN's Rafael Romo has the story of two brothers who died in this tragedy that shared the same dream of reaching the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice-over): The two brothers shared a dream. They would travel together by land through Central America and Mexico, hoping to reach the United States in less than two months.
We planned it all as a family so that they could have a better life, their mother says.
KAREN CABALLERO, MOTHER OF MIGRANTS KILLED IN TRUCK (through translator): We wanted them to make their dreams come true.
ROMO: Twenty-three-year-old Alejandro Miguel Andino Caballero and his 18-year-old brother Fernando Jose Redondo Caballero were among the 53 migrants found dead in sweltering conditions inside a tractor trailer this week in San Antonio, Texas. A Homeland Security investigation's agent says this is the deadliest human smuggling incident in U.S. history.
REP. SYLVIA GARCIA (D-TX): It's just horrific that any human being would treat another human being like this. It's just horrific. And the sooner that we can get the investigation top to bottom to give us more details, the better off we are.
[09:35:00]
ROMO: The brothers were not traveling alone. Twenty-four-year-old Margie Tamara Paz, wife of the older brother, was also found dead in the tractor trailer. Twenty-eight-year-old Adela Ramirez was also among the four Honduran nationals who died there. A friend of hers in her native Cuyamel, Honduras, says she wanted to travel to the United States to be reunited with her family.
CLAUDIA VALLECILLO, RAMIREZ'S FRIEND (through translator): I'm going to leave, she told me, because the whole family wants to be together. My mother and my two sisters.
ROMO: Most of the migrants found trapped in the tractor trailer came from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.
(on camera): The Bexar County medical examiner's office which is processing the bodies of the deceased has asked for patience. In a statement it said that a large number of victims and the expectation that most or possibly all are citizens of foreign countries will likely lead to a prolonged process.
(voice-over): Among the 16 survivors is the grandson of Bonifacia Sanchez who lives in a rural area in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Asked why her grandson risked his life to get to the United States -- because we're poor, she said.
BONIFACIA SANCHEZ, SURVIVOR'S GRANDMOTHER (through translator): There are no jobs here to make a living. The need is great.
ROMO: An answer that explains why so many continued to seek a dream that this week ended in tragedy for dozens of migrants. Rafael Romo, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Thanks to Rafael for that report.
Just one day after withdrawing from Ukraine's Snake Island, Russia has unleashed a new attack on the same island. We'll take you live to Ukraine after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:40:46]
SANCHEZ: Russian forces have launched new attacks on a small, but strategic, Ukrainian island. Russian warplanes targeted Snake Island last night, you see video of it here, just one day after withdrawing. Ukraine is accusing Russia of dropping phosphorus bombs on the island, something that CNN has not yet been able to independently verify.
FISHER: CNN's correspondent Scott McLean joins us live from Kyiv. So, Scott, what more can you tell us about what's happening on Snake Island?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kristin, remember that the Russians said that they vacated that island as a goodwill gesture to the Ukrainians because whoever controls that island essentially controls the shipping lanes in that part and along that stretch of the southern Ukrainian coastline, but that goodwill has lasted only about 24 hours or so.
The Ukrainians, as Boris mentioned, have claimed that the Russians have dropped a phosphorus bomb. This is significant because phosphorus burns brightly, usually used for tracer rounds, for instance. It also burns extremely hot and can do a lot of damage to human flesh. And so perhaps this is meant to send a message to the Ukrainians, who say that they are in the process of demining and clearing Snake Island so that they can reestablish a permanent post there, perhaps this is a message from the Russians that they ought to think twice before going back to try to setup a military outpost on that island.
Meanwhile, I want to mention as well the situation in Odessa. The missile strikes there, three of them in the last day or two, officials on the ground say that they are still going and combing through the wreckage looking for survivors, though frankly they don't expect to find any. This is another wakeup call for the Ukrainians and really a reminder that these Russian missiles can strike almost anywhere inside of the country.
And so the Ukrainians have long called for help beefing up their missile defense system and yesterday they got some help from the United States in the form of two surface-to-air missile systems, radar and also ammunition for artillery. This is especially important.
My colleague was out on the front lines in the eastern part of the country and he was there with volunteers, Ukrainian volunteers, as the Russians were pressing in. And they said that for every one heavy shot the Ukrainians fire, the Russians are firing 10 or 20. They just cannot compete when it comes to artillery. And so this perhaps will at least go some way towards evening the playing field. Kristin, Boris.
FISHER: Yes, absolute. Scott McLean, live in Kyiv for us. Scott, thank you.
SANCHEZ: Thanks, Scott.
Next, an Oklahoma state representative crosses party lines to save the life of a death row inmate. And a quick programming note to share with you. Join Fareed Zakaria as he investigates the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The CNN Special Report comes at a critical point between the Biden administration and the leaders of the Kingdom of Secrets. This report tomorrow night or rather tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.
Stay with CNN. We're back in minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:48:16]
SANCHEZ: An inmate in Oklahoma has eaten his final meal three times before the state's governor stayed his execution. Now he's facing yet another execution date despite an investigation that found damning evidence against the prosecutors.
FISHER: But a Republican state representative and a capital punishment supporter is crossing party lines trying to save him. CNN's Brynn Gingras has more from Oklahoma City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip has eaten his last meal three times and each time --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The governor issued a stay.
GINGRAS: He's been spared execution other various legal challenges. But a fourth execution date is now set for September 22nd. KEVIN MCDUGLE (R), OKLAHOMA STATE HOUSE: Somebody needs to fight for Richard.
GINGRAS: Kevin McDugle, a Republican state representative and capital punishment supporter is going against party lines, trying to save Glossip's life.
MCDUGLE: I will fight to end the death penalty in Oklahoma if they put Richard to death.
GINGRAS: Glossip, a former hotel manager, now 59 years old, has spent 25 years in prison twice convicted of concocting a murder for hire plan in the killing of his boss Barry Van Treese in 1997. Prosecutors say it was another hotel employee who physically killed Van Treese. That man received a life sentence in exchange for his testimony pointing the finger at Glossip.
RICHARD GLOSSIP, OKLAHOMA DEATH ROW INMATE: I want people to know that I didn't kill this man. I didn't participate. I didn't plan.
GINGRAS: Don Knight, his attorney, took on the case in 2015, after Glossip had exhausted all chances for an appeal, including one that made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
[09:50:00]
DON KNIGHT, ATTORNEY FOR RICHARD GLOSSIP: I recognize pretty quickly that there were real problems with this case and it appeared to me quite possibly that Oklahoma was about to execute an innocent man.
GINGRAS: The state of Oklahoma continues to stand by the conviction. Friday, Knight will file a petition with the state Court of Appeals, asking for a hearing based on new findings. It's a Hail Mary, one that comes after the release of an independent investigation, bringing to light evidence favoring Glossip's innocents.
KNIGHT: They can say ignore this thing and let's set an execution date for this man. Or they can say, you know, boy, there's something here.
GINGRAS: The more than 300-page report done by international law firm Reed Smith points to an inadequate police investigation and states -- quote -- "Our conclusion is that no reasonable juror hearing the complete record would have convicted Richard Glossip of first degree murder." The report found prosecutors intentionally destroyed evidence and uncovered evidence that never went before a jury calling it -- quote --"A complete breakdown in our criminal justice system."
The original lead prosecutor did not respond to CNN's request for comment. Investigators say the Attorney General's Office did not respond to requests for access to records and evidence.
MCDUGLE: They talked to people who have never been talked to before. They found paperwork that had never been found before.
GINGRAS: The report was commissioned by a bipartisan group of 34 state lawmakers, including 28 Republicans, led by McDugle. MCDUGLE: If we put an innocent man to death that means we can do it again in the future. And so why have the death penalty.
GINGRAS: Oklahoma is second in the country behind Texas for carrying out the most executions. Since his involvement with the Glossip case, McDugle has filed three bills in the state House to reform capital punishment. None have moved forward. But there's hope Glossip's case and the report will create change.
MCDUGLE: When you're a Republican standing up for somebody that needs to be exonerated, it's difficult because some may call you soft on crime. You may lose your next election based off of it. But to me I always go back to this, this is a man's life.
GINGRAS (on camera): The attorney general didn't comment on the report to us and the current district attorney didn't return our calls for comment. But the fact that this execution date has been set is really a bit of a gut punch for Glossip and his team including Representative McDugle because they all say now the clock is ticking. So that report, the new evidence along with a request to stay the execution is now in the hands of the Court of Appeals and it will be up to that court to decide if it will listen. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Brynn Gingras, thank you so much.
After nearly a century, a prime beach front property in southern California is returned to its rightful owner, the descendants of a Black family that once owned it. How much this property is worth and what they might plan to do with it next.
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FISHER: A wrong finally being made right in southern California after nearly 100 years.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Los Angeles County returning a piece of beach front property to its rightful owners, the descendants of a Black couple whose land was taken from them in 1924 by the city of Manhattan Beach. This was smack in the middle of Jim Crow era. CNN's Stephanie Elam has the story of Bruce's Beach.
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STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For decades, this beautiful California beach held shameful secrets of racism and wrong doing stretched out as a physical reminder of how Charles and Willa Bruce were harassed and robbed of their property nearly 100 years ago when the city of Manhattan Beach seized Bruce's Beach.
CHIEF DUANE "YELLOW FEATHER" SHEPARD, HISTORIAN AND SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CHARLES AND WILLA BRUCE FAMILY: All we knew was that we were going to step up and speak out and make sure that people never forgot this wrong.
ELAM: A wrong the county of Los Angeles began working to fix last year culminating with the board of supervisors unanimously voting this week --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The motion carries 5-0.
ELAM: -- to return the land to the Bruce's great, great grand children marking the first time in the county's history Black descendants have had their family's land returned.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We aren't giving property to anyone today. We are returning property.
ELAM: In 1912, the Bruces bought the land for more than $1,200. Eventually they owned two parcels and started a business offering a place for Black people in southern California to enjoy the scenic vistas with friends and family.
ALISON ROSE JEFFERSON, HISTORIAN: The Bruce's establishment from day one was very successful. They started with just a pop up tent where people could change their clothes and they were selling refreshments. Then they later built a two story building that included a cafe, area to dance. By 1922 some White folks were up in arms that the Black folks had become -- had such a successful operation here.
ELAM: Then in 1924, the city of Manhattan Beach snatched the property under eminent domain to create a park. Eventually the county took control of the estimated 7,000 square feet of land which is currently home to a park and lifeguard training facility. The county says it has a two-year agreement to lease the land from the Bruce family for $413,000 a year.
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