Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

WNBA Star Returns To Russian Courtroom With Fate In Balance; Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) Discusses Brittney Griner, Texas Gov. Abbott's Falling Poll Numbers, Trump Back In DC 1st Time Since Left White House; Biden Admin Working To Convince Pelosi Of Taiwan Travel Risks; GOP Congressman Attends Gay Son's Wedding After Opposing Protections For Same-Sex Marriage; Marc Short Hits Back At Matt Gaetz Over Remarks About Pence. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired July 26, 2022 - 14:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:34:13]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: WNBA Star Brittney Griner will take the stand tomorrow at her drug trial in Russia. The two-time Olympic gold medalist appeared at a brief court hearing today.

Griner's defense team brought in an expert who said the cannabis oil in Griner's luggage you with a likely for medicinal use. Griner said she never intended to break the law.

Joining us is Congressman Colin Allred, of Texas. He's led a bipartisan resolution in the House calling on Russia to free Griner.

Congressman, thank you for being here.

I know you've been working to get Brittney Griner home. What can she say on the stand tomorrow that would allow Russia to free her?

REP. COLIN ALLRED (D-TX): Well, really, once you reach this phase in Russia, about 99 percent of the time you're going to be convicted. So for Americans if you want to imagine this. This is like the sentencing phase in some ways.

[14:35:02]

But to go before that, let's understand that she's being wrongfully detained. She's being used as a political prop or pawn to get some concession from the United States.

This has nothing to do with any sense of guilt from her or any kind of international standard that would be acceptable to us around whether or not she did something wrong.

Whatever she says or does, I think it's trying to mitigate whatever sentence they're going to issue. But ultimately, it will be a negotiation to get her home and that's the way this is resolved.

CAMEROTA: I want to ask but that. Let's say that this is just a show trial. As you seem to be suggesting. That she is sentenced to 10 years, which I believe was the possible sentence.

Then what happens? What's the next step?

ALLRED: For us, nothing changes. On the U.S. government side, we'll still be negotiating with the Russian government to find out how we can get her home.

She was wrongfully detained in the first place. She's been held and charged and potentially, then sentenced. Basically, to build leverage on the United States to get some kind of concession. That's where the negotiations come in.

We've seen this play out before. We still have Paul Whelan in Russia, and other Americans detained in Russia.

We're actively involved in opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. So it's a time that's very difficult for negotiations like this to take place. But they are taking place.

CAMEROTA: What are those negotiations like? Are they active?

ALLRED: Well, they're sporadic, is the best word I can use. It is a very difficult negotiating partner here in terms of the Russians.

We know they won't negotiate with us until after sentence is issued. But to use the sentence itself as leverage on the United States.

So we're not dealing with a straight shooter here. The Russians have violated international norms with the invasion of Ukraine. And they're doing the same thing with Brittney Griner.

That's why we need a whole-of-government approach to try and bring her home.

CAMEROTA: While I have you, I want to talk about the political landscape of Texas, your home state.

As you well know, Texas has passed one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country and it was the scene of that horrible school shooting of Uvalde in May.

Interestingly, Governor Abbott's polling number have not really changed since April. If we look at where he was in terms of the gubernatorial race, in April, he was at 48 percent. And today, in July, he's at 49 percent. Now Beto O'Rourke, one of his rivals, has risen.

What do you think the chances are for unseating the governor?

ALLRED: I've seen different polls all saying the same thing. This is a close race. One that is winnable.

And the people recognize that whatever version of Greg Abbott you might have voted for previously, that's not the one on the ballot.

This version is an extremist, who has passed laws that have made us an embarrassment on the national stage. And that is not who you'll be considering this November.

It that will hurt him ultimately. And that's why it will be a close race. And why I hope O'Rourke will be successful.

CAMEROTA: I want to ask you about former President Trump, who is back in D.C. for the first time since losing the election.

It was very interesting to hear from his former Vice President Mike Pence's top adviser, Marc Short, who talked about what was going on during the capitol riot, what the Secret Service was thinking and what he was thinking.

Let me play a little portion of this from yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC SHORT, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO VP MIKE PENCE: I can believe that he said, you know, if the rioters had gotten any closer, likely there would have been a massacre in the capitol.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: That was so striking to hear him say that.

What are your thoughts, as President Trump returns to D.C. today?

ALLRED: Yes. It was really striking during the January 6th hearings. They're talking about the vice president's Secret Service detail sending basically goodbye messages to their families.

I was on the House floor. The doors were locked and barricaded. It appeared at that time there was no way out, and I sent a similar message to my wife saying, whatever happens, I love you.

The fact that we were having to send messages like that when we're trying to certify an American election is unacceptable in this country. We need to make sure it never, ever happens again.

Whatever the former president is up to, I hope that he will someday recognize the deep and severe damage that he did to our American democracy that day, that he's still doing with his lies about the last election.

CAMEROTA: Congressman Colin Allred, thank you for your time.

ALLRED: Thank you.

[14:40:00]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: New police body cam video shows a Texas State trooper was on the scene in Uvalde, Texas, five minutes earlier than previously known.

We've seen him in this body cam video at 11:37. The officer wearing this camera walks through the school hallways right after shots were fired. He leaves the school on the west side of the building. That's where you can see the trooper.

CAMEROTA: So here's a freeze frame from that body cam. The head of Texas's Department of Public Safety testified the first trooper arrived at 11:42 a.m., which is not true.

There's more fallout from the investigation into the Uvalde shooting. The principal of Robb Elementary School was placed on administrative leave without pay.

BLACKWELL: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is on a showdown with Beijing over her potential visit to Taiwan. The Biden administration is also growing increasingly worried about this trip. We have new reporting ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:31]

CAMEROTA: We have new CNN reporting that the White House is working behind the scenes to convince Nancy Pelosi of the potential risks of traveling to Taiwan. Sources say she is planning to visit in the coming weeks as part of a broader trip to Asia.

BLACKWELL: CNN's Barbara Starr joins us now.

Barbara, there are also new warnings from China today.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The tensions between the U.S. and the Chinese have been rising for months.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley, publicly talking about the rise in aggressive behavior in interactions with the Chinese, both in the air and at sea that had already been underway.

Now this complication. Speaker Pelosi, planning a trip to Taiwan. But President Biden warning publicly just a few days ago that the U.S. military thinks it is not a good idea.

Well, if Pelosi were to back down and not go, a lot of criticism from Republicans that's the Biden administration is too soft on China and is basically acceding to their wishes.

So part of the effort behind the scenes is what you say. Trying to tone down the rhetoric. The Chinese say they will respond if Pelosi goes.

The White House spokesman, John Kirby, trying to bring it all just to a bit more of a calm atmosphere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY, SPOKESMAN: There's no call for that kind of escalating rhetoric. Again, none of this has to devolve into conflict. Nothing has changed about policy with respect to One China or supporting Taiwan's ability to defend itself. There's no reason for this to be escalated, even in just rhetoric. (END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: So what else could it be besides rhetoric if Pelosi goes and the Chinese decide to respond in some fashion?

Defense officials believe a likely potential scenario, the Chinese could escalate interactions with the U.S. and his allies out in that region at sea and in the air.

One of China's main efforts with the build-up of their own military by all accounts is to try to restrict access to those waters and those skies out by the Taiwan Strait. We will have to see what happens in the coming days -- Victor, Alisyn?

BLACKWELL: All right. Barbara Starr, thank you.

CAMEROTA: So here's an interesting story. A Republican congressman celebrates his gay son's wedding days after voting against protections for same-sex marriages. Hear his explanation, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:52:06]

BLACKWELL: Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Glen Thompson voted against a bill solidifying the right to same-sex and interracial marriage, and a few days later, he celebrated as his son, who is gay, got married.

CAMEROTA: Let's bring in CNN Capitol Hill reporter, Melanie Zanona.

So let me get this straight, Congressman Thompson wants his son to have the right to marry whomever he chooses but doesn't want that right for other families.

MELANIE ZANONA, CNN CAPITOL HILL REPORTER: Thompson hasn't directly addressed that disconnect. But his office did put out a statement, celebrating his son's marriage and confirming the congressman did attend his son's wedding.

Let me read you the statement from the spokesperson:

"The congressman and Mrs. Thompson were thrilled to attend and celebrate their son's marriage on Friday night as he began this new chapter in his life. The Thompsons are very happy to welcome their new son-in-law into the family."

I also asked Thompson's office why he voted against this bill that would protect same-sex marriages, like his son. And his office pointed me to a statement they had last week, dismissing the bill as a messaging stunt, saying it was nothing but distracting Americans.

All eyes will turn to the Senates where other Republicans have to make up their mind on whether to vote on this bill.

Supporters of the legislation, including Republicans like Thom Tillis and Susan Collins, say they are hopeful they can get 10 Republicans on board to get it over the finish line and onto Biden's desk.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk about this back and forth between Matt Gaetz and Marc Short. Gaetz had been critical of Mike Pence, and now Short is firing back. Tell us what happened.

ZANONA: This all started over the weekend when Congressman Matt Gaetz spoke at a conference with students and young conservatives, saying Mike Pence will never be president.

Last night, Erin Burnett asked Marc Short, who's Mike Pence's former chief of staff, to respond, and he did not hold back. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHORT: I don't know if Mike Pence will run for president in 2024, but I don't think Matt Gaetz will have an impact on that.

I would be surprised if he'll be voting. It's likely he'll be in prison for child sex trafficking. And I'm surprised Florida law enforcement allows him to speak at teenage conferences.

I'm not too worried about Matt Gaetz. Thanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZANONA: This feud is the latest iteration of the Pence/Trump proxy war and that battle is playing out in D.C. as both men deliver dueling speeches in D.C. -- Victor, Alisyn?

CAMEROTA: We'll see.

Melanie Zanona, thank you.

[14:54:40]

BLACKWELL: We're learning just how far Chief Justice John Roberts went to try and save Roe. CNN's exclusive new reporting is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: Tonight, you could be $810 million richer. And by you, I mean me. Tonight's Mega Millions drawing is the fourth largest jackpot ever. The cash option is worth $470 million. That's after federal and state taxes, which sounds like a rip off, I think.

BLACKWELL: I mean, come on, half. Nearly.

CAMEROTA: Do they need that much?

Here are the odds of the Maga Millions jackpot, one in 302 million.

BLACKWELL: OK.

So what does that mean?

[14:59:59] CAMEROTA: That doesn't sound good.

BLACKWELL: So what does that mean? It means you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning this year, bowling a perfect game, casual players only.

CAMEROTA: OK.

BLACKWELL: Finding a pearl in an oyster, being born on February 29th, having twins naturally.