Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Russian Ship Detained by Turkish Officials; Israelis and Palestinians Don't Agree with Joint Investigation; Torrential Rain Cause Huge Flood in Sydney, Australia; House Committee Points All Accusation to Donald Trump; President Biden Will Meet MBS; Two Governors Targets Each Other's Political Agenda; Land Finally Returned to Original Owners; Majority of Eastern Ukraine Now Under Russian Troops; Shooting in Denmark Killed Three; Black Man in Akron, Ohio Died from 60 Gunshots; COVID Protocol Breached During Xi Jinping's Visit; Monkeypox Cases Increasing in States. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired July 04, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead. A terrifying scene in Denmark after a gunman opens fire in a shopping mall, police provided an update in the past hour and we will have the details.

Police body cam footage shed new light on the death of an unarmed Black man in Ohio. You will hear from the community demanding justice.

And Ukrainian troops are forced to withdraw from a key city as we Europe post a conference on rebuilding the country. We are live in Kyiv with the latest.

UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.

Good to have you with us. And we begin in Ukraine where officials are already turning an eye towards rebuilding, even as their troops suffered a major setback on the battlefield. In the hours ahead, Ukrainian officials will arrive in Switzerland for talks about how to rebuild the country once the fighting ends.

But for now, the war rages on with the Russian forces claiming control of a critical city in the east. On Sunday, Ukraine's military said it was forced to withdraw from Lysychansk a key target in Russia's push to take control of the Donbas. The loss likely means Russian forces now effectively control the entire Luhansk region and can shift their focus to advancing in neighboring Donetsk.

And already cities there are coming under more fire in Sloviansk, Ukrainian officials shared this video showing the aftermath of an attack. They say at least six people were killed and 15 wounded amid some of the heaviest shelling in recent days. In his nightly address Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the onslaught that Ukrainian troops are facing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Russia has enough Smerch, Bragan (Ph) and guide systems to destroy city after city in Ukraine. They have now accumulated the largest firepower in Donbas. And they could use tens of thousands of artillery shells every day on one section of the front.

This is reality. This is why we destroy the potential of the occupiers. Day after day, calculated powerfully, we will rebuild the walls. We will regain the land but people must be safe above all else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And for more, we want to bring in CNN's Scott McLean, he joins us live from Kyiv. Good to see you, Scott.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Russia appears to control the entire Luhansk region in the east. But Ukraine, as we just heard, vowing to regroup and fight back while also calling for more heavy weapons from the west. So, what is the latest on all of this?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the Ukrainians, Rosemary, also saying, that look, the Russians took heavy losses. And from the outset of this war, they continue to make the point that the Russians have not been able to advance westward as quickly as they would've liked even in amid some of the heaviest fighting, which of course we've seen in that eastern Donbas region and especially in this battle for Severodonetsk and then now Lysychansk.

Now, the Ukrainians say that there still pockets of resistance inside the boundaries of Luhansk. But by and large, of course, the Russians are now in control, it seems. The president, as you mentioned, says that look, they are going to be back. They are going to be fighting for this region. But they're not going to go back until they have enough heavy weapons to actually fight it.

Of course, they've been appealing for more help from the western partners since the outset of this war or even before then, and they have gotten plenty of shipments of arms of ammunition already. But they say that they have been really slow to get to the frontlines. And so, they would like to see that accelerated so that you don't have, as you heard the president there saying that the enemy is firing tens of thousands of artillery shells every single day.

[03:04:59]

The good news for the people who stayed in that city of Lysychansk, there could be thousands of them by the way, is that of course they no longer have to hide in their basements because it is far too dangerous to even attempt to escape. But what I found very dangerous is that CNN spoke to one of the

original military chiefs in that area who said that they would go often door to door or at the request family members to find people and try to assist them in escaping and evacuating. And many of them simply did not want to go. And they suspect that a lot of those people were likely helping the Russians.

They were collaborating with the Russians, helping them to adjust their fire based on where they knew that the Ukrainian positions were, which is obviously very difficult when you have an enemy fighting you from within, fighting on your sides of the battlelines with the other side.

He figures that the Russians are going to now move on to the Donetsk region, which of course, they've already made inroads in. And then take both regions to declare them to be part of Russia. And then when the Ukrainians do go back to take their own lands, the Russians will say, well, you're now attacking Russian territory.

CHURCH: All right, Scott Mclean, bringing us a live update there from Kyiv. Many thanks.

Well, as we mentioned earlier in the hours ahead, officials from around the world will gather in Switzerland to sketch out plans for rebuilding Ukraine after the war. They will also hear directly from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about what his country needs. And earlier, I spoke with Ukrainian M.P., Kira Rudik, about why these discussions need to be happening now and what Mr. Zelenskyy will be asking for.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIRA RUDIK, MEMBER, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT: Well, first of all, we need to ask for the infrastructure rebuild. It needs to happen not after the war ends, not after the victory, it needs to happen right now because in so many areas of Ukraine the infrastructure is destroyed and it affects lives of Ukrainian citizens.

And it's not that you can say, OK let's put it aside and go back to that after the war ends because we are facing very, very complicated autumn and winter. And we need people to have their homes heated. We need people to be able to be transported. We need them to have water supply, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

And that President Zelenskyy will be asking for. We need finances to be able to adjust our governmental work. And this is where I'm personally involved in terms of the digitalization. So, one of the things that we are facing as a country is many -- many different logistical issues, like we have many people who don't have documents. We have many children who lost their parents. We have many people who are applying for their humanitarian support without being registered anywhere because they don't have homes anymore.

For that, we are asking support to continue the process of digitalization to make sure that we are able to adjust our processes to the needs of Ukrainian people. Third thing that he will be asking for is, of course the support of Ukrainian agriculture sector.

You see right now that Ukraine used to be one of the third supplies of the world of grains, oil, tomatoes and corn. Right now, when our ports are blocked we need to figure out different logistical ways of delivering the result of our agriculture sector to people. And for that, we also need finances, and it needs to happen right now. Not after the war ends.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, we are getting new information on Sunday's deadly shooting in Denmark.

Police say at least three people are dead after a gunman opened fire in a busy shopping mall in Copenhagen. The victims include two Danish 17-year-olds and a Russian man living in Denmark. Authorities also say two Swedish and two Danish citizens were among those critically injured. And that there is no indication this was an act of terrorism. The suspected gunman is due to face a judge in the coming hours.

CNN's Nada Bashir is in London with more details.

NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Well, the investigation is still very much ongoing, and we are still learning more information about this incident hour by hour. At this stage, police have confirmed that one individual has been arrested. A 22-year-old Danish man was identified. And police have said that there was no indication that other shooters were involved, but they haven't been able to formally rule out the possibility of further suspects just yet.

[03:10:04]

But of course, they have confirmed that tragic news that there are several fatalities reported. The incident of course took place during a busy Sunday afternoon at Copenhagen Field's mall, a popular shopping center in the city and an area that's very close to one of the city's largest concert venues, where popstar Harry Styles had been due to perform.

For now, police say they are maintaining a heavy presence at the scene as their investigation continues. But the key question remains, what was the motive behind this incident? I have to stress that the motive is still very much unclear and the investigation remains ongoing.

Nada Bashir, CNN, London.

CHURCH: The city of Akron, Ohio is on edge after police release disturbing bodycam videos showing the fatal police shooting of a 25- year-old Black man. Akron's police chief says Jayland Walker suffered at least 60 gunshot wounds, citing a medical examiner's report.

The release of this information comes nearly a week after officers tried to stop Walker for an alleged traffic violation.

CNN's Polo Sandoval is following this case and the investigation into the officer's actions. POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Authorities here in Akron, Ohio

vowing to proceed with this investigation with transparency and with scrutiny as well as they continue to look into the police shooting of Jayland Walker. Over the weekend authorities in the city of Akron release about 18 minutes' worth of video, each minute basically offering a different perspective, showing those responding officers about eight total before they opened fire shooting and killing Walker.

Investigators also over the weekend saying or at least sharing more about the possible perceived threat that provoked the lethal response from officers, including a single gunshot that came from inside of the car while police were chasing the vehicle that was being driven by Walker.

And it was shortly after that pursuit turned from a vehicle chase to a foot chase that you can see in the video clearly, those eight officers opened fire, the barrage of bullets, the police chief saying on Sunday that those officers will have to account for each one of the shots that they fired.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN MYLETT, POLICE CHIEF, AKRON POLICE DEPARTMENT, OHIO: They need to be able to articulate what specific threats they were facing. And that goes for every round that goes down the barrel of their gun. And they need to be held to account.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: The investigation is now in the hands of state authorities here, both the Walker family and a P.D. maintain that Walker himself was unarmed during at the time of the actual police shooting. So, in the meantime, investigators continue to press on with the case as the people here in Akron continue to call for accountability and for justice.

As for the eight officers involved, they continue on paid administrative leave pending the Akron investigation.

Polo Sandoval, CNN, Akron, Ohio.

CHURCH: Attorneys for Jayland Walker's family held a news conference after the footage was released, saying he had never broken the law during his live no crimes of any kind. The family also wants the public to give peace, give dignity and give justice a chance for Jayland while the police investigation is underway.

And there's been reaction from NBA star and Akron native, Lebron James, who said that he is praying for his city. His foundation also released a statement on Twitter saying in part, the case called for justice and accountability, and are coming together to create change.

Well, still to come, parts of China tightened COVID restrictions as new clusters begin to form. This, as a positive case breaks through President Xi Jinping strict protocol during his visit to Hong Kong. Plus, what can battling the coronavirus teach us about responding to

outbreaks of monkeypox? I'll speak with an expert after the short break. Stay with us.

[03:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Well, a Hong Kong lawmaker photographed near Chinese President Xi Jinping has tested positive for COVID-19. President Xi visited the city last week during the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China. It was his first trip outside the mainland since the start of the pandemic. He joined lawmakers for photos commemorating the event.

The person who tested positive says his test was negative on Thursday when the photos were taken.

CNN's senior international correspondent Will Ripley joins me now live from Taipei. Good to see you again, Will. So, what more are you learning about this COVID scare for Chinese President Xi?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, look, if President Xi's closed loop does not keep COVID one row away from the president and the leader of China who is so paranoid about COVID that people who want to be in his presence have to, for several weeks before meeting him, have a private car take them from their home to their office back to their home, no public transportation, no unnecessary outings, daily COVID testing, a night in a quarantine hotel before meeting President Xi.

If all of those precautions did not keep this Hong Kong lawmaker, Steve Ho Chun-Yin, from being COVID positive and one row away from President Xi, and we have the photos from a photo session to prove that this was the case, then what's going to work? How is China's zero COVID policy going to work?

I mean, they certainly have case numbers down to an extraordinary low level considering their country of one and a half billion people, less than 500 cases reported yesterday. I mean, the chances of getting struck by lightning are probably greater than getting infected with COVID when you have 500 cases and one and a half billion people.

And yet, whenever just a handful of cases pop up in a city, like for example, an entire county is in lockdown for fewer than 300 cases, and most of them don't even have symptoms.

[03:20:01]

You have a city that shutting down restaurants and shops and they are limiting hours, you know, for public transportation, they're encouraging people to work from home over a few dozen cases and you're talking about a city of millions of people, people that have to go and get stand in long lines and get tested for COVID every few days. They have to show a green QR code that proves that they're negative just to do things like go to the hospital to get medicine for their relatives or to go shopping.

I mean, if people are going to have to live like that, with such a small number of cases, given how contagious the Omicron variant, it really does China light on how much power Xi Jinping. Because this is all political ideologically driven critics say, it doesn't really have a whole lot to do with science, Rosemary.

Because science is saying, if you have high vaccination rates, especially among high-risk groups which China does not among its low- risk elderly population, then you can live with COVID because most cases are going to be asymptomatic or mild. People will get it and will get the antibodies they move on.

But that's not what's happening in China. And in fact, one Beijing lawmaker, Rosemary, has said a couple of weeks ago that it might be five years of this. Five years of this. For yesterday, less than 500 cases in a country of one a half billion.

CHURCH: Just extraordinary and so draconian. Will Ripley, joining us live from Taipei. Many thanks.

Well, U.S. health officials are growing more concerned with the ever- increasing number of monkeypox cases. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 460 probable or confirmed cases have been reported across 32 states.

The Biden administration also announced the delivery of more vaccines as part of the nationwide strategy for preventing the disease. The CDC reports they have been more than 5,700 cases of monkeypox worldwide.

I want to turn now on to Dr. Dr. Amesh Adalja, he is a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. His focus is on emerging infectious disease, pandemic preparedness and bio security.

Thank you, doctor, for being with us and for all that you do.

AMESH ADALJA, SENIOR SCHOLAR, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR HEALTH SECURITY: Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: So, I just want to start with what lessons we have for, perhaps, learn from the COVID pandemic that might prove useful when it comes to monkeypox.

ADALJA: The best lesson to take from COVID-19 is that you need to be proactive with an infectious disease emergency to start to anticipate what's going to be the need for public health agencies. And I fear that that lesson hasn't quite been learned because we are behind the eight ball when it comes to monkeypox that we are not as productive as we need to be to contain this as quickly as possible.

CHURCH: So, what more needs to be done at this juncture? And where do things stand right now in terms of monkeypox, vaccine production and distribution?

ADALJA: Well, you have to remember that when the monkeypox vaccine is not something that was designed for monkeypox. It was designed for smallpox, which means it was something that was to be used during a biological weapons attack for smallpox. So, the vaccine that we're currently using is one of the second generation of vaccines. And there's not much of it around because it was a secondary vaccine designed for smallpox.

So, what we have is maybe about a million, or two million doses on hand for the world and they are largely concentrated towards the United States. And I think what we have to figure out is what the optimal policy would be. Is this the vaccinated high-risk people and exposures? Or, do we have to take care of the problematic source and start vaccinating in the endemic countries in Africa so that we don't have monkeypox exportation incurring and we control the problem at its root.

And I think that's something many of us have argued for sometime. That if you're going to deal with monkeypox it needs to be dealt with in Africa first.

CHURCH: Right. I mean, it is a little daunting when you think only a million vaccines available at this juncture, presumably they will start to increase their production and distribution. So, people of course are very weary of responding to COVID, dropping the wearing of mask even in the midst of high contagion.

So, are they going to be open to any advice about avoiding infection of monkeypox particularly when most people don't see it as a threat to them?

ADALJA: Thankfully, monkeypox is not a very contagious disease. It has a tendency to see everything through the lens of COVID-19, but you can't really do that when you're dealing with very different infectious disease problems. And though this monkeypox outbreak needs to be controlled, it's not something that poses the same threat that COVID-19 did. And it's not going to be specific recommendations for the general public other than people who are in very close contact with individuals with monkeypox.

[03:24:56]

The thing is monkeypox is something that we know how to contain. We have a safe and effective vaccine that works. It's just getting that vaccine into the hands of public health professionals that can actually implement a vaccination program to stop this from spreading.

It's not something that has pandemic potential but it is something that has potential to become out of control and possibly continue to transmit much longer than it needs to. So, we really need to empower our public health agencies by giving them the vaccine, by getting more vaccines into people's arms.

CHURCH: So, what would be your advice to viewers now who fear that they may be in a group that would be more likely to be exposed to monkeypox? ADALJA: This current monkeypox outbreak is really exploiting social

and sexual networks particularly amongst men who have sex with men. So, if you're somebody that falls into that group, that has these high-risk activities, that put you into contact with monkeypox, this is a group that we want to get vaccinated. So, I would encourage you to talk to your public health agency to see when vaccine becomes available.

And I would also caution you to be very careful when you're interacting with people who may or may not have monkeypox because we know that this is transmitting atypically. It's transmitting in sexual networks. So we need people that are in those sexual networks to be aware of the fact that monkeypox is spreading amongst them.

CHURCH: Dr. Amesh Adalja, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.

ADALJA: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: Well, Israel and the Palestinian Authority don't trust each other to be impartial as they investigate the death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, now the U.S. government is getting involved.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:01]

CHURCH: Well, Russia has claimed control of a critical city in eastern Ukraine. On Sunday, Ukraine confirmed its troops have withdrawn from Lysychansk, the country's last major stronghold in the Luhansk region. The loss likely means that Russian troops now control the entire region which will allow them to shift their focus to efforts to seize control of the wider Donbas.

Now, this all comes as officials from around the world are gathering in Switzerland to hash up plans to rebuild Ukraine once the fighting stops. But the task before them is of course daunting, reconstruction is expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting that Turkish authorities have detained a Russian cargo ship carrying what Ukraine says is stolen grain. Ukraine has previously accused Russia of stealing grain in the

territories it forces -- its forces have seized.

And for more, we want to bring in CNN's Clare Sebastian. She joins us live from London. Good morning to you, Clare. So, what more are you learning about this Russian cargo ship allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain that was detained by Turkey and what happens next?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary. This would appear to be, if confirmed, part of a pattern that were seeing from Russia that, while the Black Sea remains blockaded in Ukraine is unable to export its grain by sea. There have been incidents that CNN has indeed tracked in the past the ship essentially allegedly smuggling Ukrainian grain for Russia to try to export for its own grain. So, what we know here is Reuters reporting citing the Ukrainian

ambassador to Turkey saying that the Turkish authorities have detained the ship. The name of the ship is Zhibek Zholy, it's a Russian-flagged ship. It's been seen by Reuters reporters about a kilometer from the coast of the port of Karasu, the Turkish port on the Black Sea.

And according to Ukraine, it contains stolen grain. A foreign ministry official told Reuters that the first cargo of grain was picked up in the Ukrainian, but now Russian-controlled port of Berdyansk which is on the Sea of Azov just west of Mariupol, and apparently traveled from there to the Turkish coast.

Now what Ukraine wants is for the grain to be confiscated. According to the ambassador to Ukraine -- to Turkey, rather, Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey, there will be a meeting on Monday of investigators. They are pushing for it to be confiscated.

But of course, this also steps up the urgency, Rosemary, for the international community's efforts to try to unblockage the Black Sea, get Ukraine's grain out to where it needs to be exported to because meanwhile this is causing food insecurity in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world.

CHURCH: Yes. We will continue to watch this story. Clare Sebastian joining us live from London. Many thanks.

Well, the U.S. is directly involved with the investigation into the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The Al Jazeera reporter was covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank in May when she was killed by gunfire. The U.S. government had been urging the Palestinians for weeks to turn over the bullet that killed her.

CNN's Hadas Gold has the latest now from Jerusalem.

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Nearly two months after Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was killed, we may be getting closer to an answer as to who fired the fatal shot. Over the weekend the Palestinian Authority handed the bullet that killed Abu Akleh over to the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

Although the Palestinian Authority attorney general said they had been given many guarantees by the Americans that the bullet would not be given to the Israelis, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said they were going to work with the Americans to conduct a forensic investigation.

The Palestinian Authority has denied request to hold a joint investigation with the Israelis, saying they can't trust the Israelis. The IDF said the bullet is in the hands of a senior American general who will be present throughout the entire duration of the investigation. The IDF spokesperson said that the results should be released soon, and that if the investigation showed that an Israeli soldier killed Abu Akleh, they will, quote, "take responsibility and will be apologetic." Spokespeople for the Palestinian Authority did not request respond to

request for comments about the IDF involvement in the bullet's investigation. Several investigations by news organizations including CNN, as well as by the United Nations Human Rights office have found it is most likely that Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli fire and not by gunfire from Palestinian militants as then Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett initially suggested. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem has thus far declined to comment.

Hadas Gold, CNN, Jerusalem.

CHURCH: In Pakistan, at least 19 people are dead after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine. The bus slid off the side of a mountain and fell into a ditch. Officials say at least a dozen other people were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital. It is still unclear what caused the crash.

[03:35:02]

And still to come, dangerous flooding in parts of New South Wales, Australia, thousands of people around Sydney are being urged to evacuate. And forecasters say the threat is far from over.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Australian authorities are working on a rescue plan for a stranded cargo ship off of Australia's eastern coast. The 21-person crew lost power amid torrential rains around New South Wales. Officials say they are looking to evacuate them by helicopter. Meanwhile, at least one person has died and thousands are being urged to evacuate in Sydney from those heavy rains.

CNN's Michael Holmes has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A life-threatening emergency. That's how one official in New South Wales describes the rising flood waters in parts of Australia's biggest city.

STEPH COOKE, NEW SOUTH WALES EMERGENCY SERVICES MINISTER: We are now facing dangers on multiple fronts. Flash flooding, river rain flooding, and coastal erosion.

HOLMES: Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate parts of Sydney where heavy rain is already hitting with more expected to come in the next few days. Authorities say the situation is rapidly evolving and urged people to stay off the roads. The state emergency service says it has responded to more than 3,000 emergency requests already and dozens of rescue squads have been dispatched.

CARLENE YORK, NEW SOUTH WALES EMERGENCY SERVICE COMMISSIONER: The level of the dams, there's no room for the water to remain in the dams. They are starting to spill. The rivers are flowing very fast and very dangerous. HOLMES: New South Wales gearing up for the deteriorating conditions.

The state asking the federal government to send helicopters and troops to help with rescue efforts and sandbagging. Weather experts warn landslides could happen. The landscape already vulnerable because of previous floods in the region. In some areas emergency crews are even ferrying livestock to dryer grounds. The bigger animals like these ponies are an additional challenge for rescue workers.

[03:40:05]

CHRIS NELSON, DEPUTY UNIT COMMANDER, CANTERBURY SEES: It feels really good to be able to achieve rescue and bring everyone back to land safely.

HOLMES: With some parts of Sydney experiencing downpours of more than 200 millimeters, with some places up to 350 millimeters, missions like this for animals and humans alike could become more critical in the hours ahead.

Michael Holmes, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: At least six people are dead following an avalanche of ice in northeastern Italy according to CNN affiliate Sky TG 24. The avalanche occurred on the Marmolada Glacier, the highest mountain in the Italian dolomites. Alpine rescue services say a large section of the glacier broke away and came crashing down on a path to the summit. The area is experiencing record heat for this time of year. At least eight other hikers have been injured and a dozen more have been reported missing. Rescue efforts are continuing.

Time for a short break. If you were joining us from the United States or Canada, I will be back with more news in just a moment. For everyone else, African Voices Changemakers is up next.

[03:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. The U.S. House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the capitol is forging ahead making its case that responsibility for what happened that day goes straight to the top.

Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson delivered blockbuster testimony last week. Remarkable moments include her accounts of a furious Donald Trump demanding to be taken to the capitol. And his clear understanding that some in the crowd were armed.

CNN's Zachary Cohen looks at what other bombshells could lie ahead.

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: The House select committee investigating the January 6th insurrection could make multiple criminal referrals, including one of former President Donald Trump. Now, that's what the panel's vice chair Congresswoman Liz Cheney said in the interview on Sunday where she made it clear that the committee may recommend that the Justice Department bring criminal charges against Trump himself. Take a listen to what she said on ABC on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN KARL, CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, ABC NEWS: So, did the committee will or will not make a criminal referral?

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): We'll make a decision as a committee about it.

KARL: So, it's possible there will be a referral.

CHENEY: Yes.

KARL: Which would be effectively the committee saying that he should be prosecuted and this is the evidence that we've --

(CROSSTALK)

CHENEY: I mean, the Justice Department doesn't have to wait for the committee to make a criminal referral. There could be more than one criminal referral.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Now Cheney's remarks come days after explosive testimony from former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson who recalled being told that Trump grew angry when he was told by a Secret Service detail that he could not accompany protesters to the capitol on January 6. They also come as the committee is preparing for additional hearings and is promise to reveal even more evidence connecting Trump to the violent attack that day.

The committee's investigation also continues. Congressman Adam Kinzinger, the other Republican serving on the January 6 committee, said on Sunday that witnesses have come forward since Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony last week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): Every day we get new people that come forward and say, hey, I didn't think maybe this piece of a story that I knew was important, but now that you guys -- like, I do see these plays in here. But, yes, I mean, look, she is going to go down in history as -- I mean, people can forget the names of every one of us on the committee. They will not forget her name. And by the way, she doesn't want that. She doesn't want to be out in the public spotlight. But she has a commitment to truth.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Will we hear from witnesses that you did not know about, or stories you did not hear because of the hearing so far?

KINZINGER: Yes, yes, there will be -- there is -- there will be way more information and stay tuned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Now, Kinzinger and other members of the committee have been reluctant to offer any details about those additional witnesses and new revelation that could come out in future hearings. But it's clear the panel is continuing to make the case that there is one man who bears overwhelming responsibility for the January 6 attack, and that man is Donald Trump.

Zachary Cohen, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: The White House is downplaying President Joe Biden's upcoming meetings with the Saudi Crown prince during his trip to the Middle East later this month.

CNN's Arlette Saenz has more now from Washington.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: With President Biden set to travel to Saudi Arabia later this month, the White House continues to try to downplay the significance of the meeting between President Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

This comes as the U.S. seek to engage with Saudi Arabia and the crown prince after President Biden as a candidate promised to make the country a pariah state for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which the U.S. intelligence community determined the crown prince directly ordered to occur.

But, as the president is preparing to travel there, the Saudis have said that the president will be sitting for official talks with the crown prince while the White House insists that this is simply going to be part of a larger bilateral discussion that the president is having with the country's king.

Take a listen to what national security council spokesperson John Kirby had to say on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, SPOKESMAN, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: The president will have a bilateral discussion with King Salman and his leadership team and, of course, the crown prince is on that leadership team. So, as you heard the president say, he certainly expects that he'll be seeing the crown prince in the context of that bilateral discussion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: The president's trip does mark a major reversal after he as a candidate had promised to make the Saudi Arabia a pariah state. But there have been other interests that have come into play, including Russia's war against Ukraine and the need to produce more oil, as energy and gas prices continue to spike worldwide.

[03:50:04] Now, the president has said that he is not going to directly ask Gulf leaders to produce more oil, but that is an issue that will be discussed during these meetings. The president has outlined that his trip will be a broader of focus, including security issues in the region, but much of the attention that will be paid will be to whatever conversations the president has with the crown prince who he had once vowed to isolate over that brutal murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.

CHURCH: The polls are opposite when it comes to their politics, they even live on totally opposite sides of the United States. Yet, a rivalry has grown between two big-name governors. Democrat Gavin Newsom of California and Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Newsom is running for reelection this November, and his campaign produced an ad that's airing in Florida targeted squarely at DeSantis. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GAVIN Newsom (D-CA): Freedom, it's under attack in your state. Your Republican leaders, they're banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors. I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight or join us in California.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: So, how does picking a fight with DeSantis benefit Newsom in California? CNN's senior reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere told our congressional correspondent Ryan Nobles that the thinking -- the thinking behind this move.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: He says, Ron DeSantis is the target here because Ron DeSantis is the poster child for what Republicans are becoming and what it is in a post-Trump politics. He said, we're as different as daylight and darkness to me, and he really wants to draw that contrast out and do it as aggressively as possible.

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I mean, it's pretty fascinating that Newsom, you know, not too long ago was facing a recall challenge. He's obviously come out of this more politically emboldened that he can feel confident enough to run ads in Florida during his reelection bid. So, how's DeSantis response and told?

DOVERE: Well, DeSantis's response is well, he can light money on fire if that's what he wants to do. But Newsom is doing this very -- in a very deliberate way. The ad is airing on Fox, it's airing on July 4th. It is very focused on the idea of freedom, of redefining the term into something that Democrats should be talking about again.

There is a lot of interest in both of these players as potential leaders of party. I think it's because it's not just who they are, who they are Democratically, but what they are leading, what they're representing in the country.

Ron DeSantis has a very clear governing agenda, and Gavin Newsom has a very clear governing agenda. They do not match up at all. And in a country that is divided and trying to figure out which one we are going for, you see in a lot of ways we're deciding between a Newsome- style, California-style approach or what is the DeSantis-Florida style approach.

NOBLES: Wow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And that was Ryan Nobles speaking with Edward-Isaac Dovere.

And in California, a racial injustice from decades ago has finally been corrected. A piece of prime beachfront land has been returned to the descendants of the original Black owners of the property.

CNN's Stephanie Elam has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For decades this beautiful California beach held shameful secrets of racism and wrongdoing. 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.

DUANE "YELLOW FATHER" SHEPARD, HISTORIAN & SPOKESMAN FOR THE CHARLES AND WILLA BRUCE FAMILY: All we knew is that we're 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.

UNKNOWN: The motion carries five to zero.

ELAM: To return the land to the Bruce's great, great, grandchildren. Marking the first time in the county's history Black descendants have had their families land returned.

UNKNOWN: We aren't giving property to anyone today. We are returning properly.

ELAM: In 1912, the Bruce's 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. [03:54:58]

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.

Now, surrounded by million-dollar homes, this is the property that is getting returned to the Bruce family. Now estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars, as it truly is oceanfront property.

SHEPARD: Well, initially it cost the Bruce family their entire fortune. They originally asked for $125,000 for the two pieces of property, and they didn't get that. The only got $14,250. The loss of the generational wealth that would've been accumulated over the course of 98 years now.

KAVON WARD, FOUNDER, JUSTICE FOR BRUCE'S BEACH: I feel some sense of peace. I feel joy.

ELAM: Kavon Ward stated the push to return Bruce's Beach to its rightful owners in 2020.

WARD: No justice, no peace.

ELAM: After the murder of George Floyd.

WARD: I know that was the catalyst for me. For me to illuminate what had happened to the Bruce's, and for me to move forward and take action to see how I can legally and legislatively get the land back for them.

ELAM: It's a template Ward and the family hope that others will use to also get their land back.

Stephanie Elam, Manhattan Beach, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Officials in Egypt are investigating the deaths of two women following shark attacks, both were said to be swimming in the Red Sea when the attacks took place in separate incidents. The second woman is reported to be a Romanian tourist. Onlookers watched in horror as an Austrian woman was attacked Friday. She died after losing an arm and a leg. Shark attacks have been rare in Egypt's Red Sea region in recent years.

I'm Rosemary Church. Thanks for spending your part of the day with me. CNN Newsroom continues next with Max Foster.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)