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Former Top Pence Aides Speak with Grand Jury; Wildfire Near Yosemite Burns 17,000+ Acres; Scorching Heat Expected in Parts of U.S. Today; Hearing for U.S. Basketball Star Brittney Griner Underway; Russia's Gazprom to Slow Gas Delivers to Europe. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired July 26, 2022 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world. I'm Christina Macfarlane in for Max Foster here in London. Just ahead --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): We have much work yet to do. And we will see you all in September.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can confirm that I did receive a subpoena for the federal grand jury and I complied with that subpoena.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mean like besides that attack at the Capitol?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You really believe that happened?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's taken us a little longer to go in, get after it, put it out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Aerial bombers between the flames and myself and it saved the house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These strikes actually did hit the port of Odesa, we have indications that they certainly got close to some grain terminals.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): This is an over gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: It's Tuesday, July 26, 9:00 a.m. here in London, 4:00 a.m. in Washington where Congressional hearings on the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot are on hold until September. But the investigation is taking a new turn. CNN has learned two former Trump administration officials testified before a federal grand jury in Washington. Marc Short on the right served as chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, and Greg Jacob was another top aide. Evan Perez explains why their testimony is a big deal.

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EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR U.S. JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The Justice Department investigation into the efforts to overturn the 2020 election has taken a major step forward with the former Vice President's chief of staff appearing before a federal grand jury in Washington. Marc Short, a close aide to former Vice President Mike Pence, testified Friday for several hours before the federal grand jury that is examining efforts to block certification of Joe Biden's election and instead offer a set of fake electors that could keep former President Donald Trump in office.

Short and his attorney were seen on Friday leaving the federal courthouse. He is the highest profile witness known to have testify in the criminal investigation and this shows that prosecutors have now reached into the Trump White House as part of their investigation which has expanded beyond the rioters who breeched the Capitol.

Short was in a meeting on January 4, 2021 at the White House two days before the Capitol attack where Trump and his lawyer John Eastman tried to persuade Pence that he had the power to stop certification of the election results. Pence refused. We know that prosecutors have also been investigating fundraising and organizing for the political rally that served to instigate the riot as well as efforts to subvert the electoral college vote count.

Evan Perez, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: This is not the first time investigators have heard from Marc Short and Greg Jacob. They spoke previously with the House Select Committee about what they saw before and on January 6. CNN's Ryan Nobles has more from Capitol Hill.

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RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Both Jacobs and Marc Short were really kind of the first big witnesses that the January 6 Select Committee were able to cooperate that were inside that orbit of the White House, the Oval Office, the West Wing and the days leading up to January 6.

And what their testimony revealed to the committee at that time was the intense pressure campaign that was put on Vice President Mike Pence during that period of time and the steps that Pence stood to resist that. It also really shed a light on things like the fake elector plot that was going on around the country. These were all things that we didn't previously know until the committee was able to really crack the core of Mike Pence and his inner circle. And it shows that they are very much interested in the plot to subvert the will of the American people beyond just the violence that took place here on January 6.

(END VIDEOTAPE) MACFARLANE: Well, CNN's Ryan Nobles there on Capitol Hill. Now Marc Short spoke to CNN late Monday and shared his thoughts on the people who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC SHORT, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO U.S. VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: I think that on that day certainly there were probably some people who foolishly got caught up in the events that were happening on the 6th.

[04:05:02]

But I think it's unfair to describe the rioters as patriots or merely expressing their First Amendment rights. And I think, you know, as conservatives I think just a couple months before, we were very clearly calling for the prosecution of those in "Black Lives Matter" protests who had destroyed businesses and taken lives. And I think that if we're consistent, then I think it applies in both cases and I think that if you heard Vice President Pence's remarks when the Senate reconvened that night, he very clearly called that all involved should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, former President Donald Trump clearly had a different view of those who stormed the Capitol. New video release by a member of the January 6 committee shows the former president was reluctant to strongly condemn the violence. It shows the text of his speech with several lines crossed out including one that said, those who broke the law belong in jail. And another in which Trump was supposed to say the rioters who stormed the Capitol did not represent him.

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ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: He's very deliberate, he says what he means to. And taking that out was because he believes that they are very special people. He had said that the day prior. He believes they're his people and he wants them to stay with him. He knew what he was doing by eliminating it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Meanwhile the state of Georgia, a grand jury could hear soon from Republican Congressman Jody Hice. A federal judge has denied his request to avoid a subpoena. The grand jury is investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the state's 2020 election results. Their strategy included submitting a slate of fake electors who would back Trump in the electoral college rather than Joe Biden who won in Georgia.

And the White House continues to downplay fears of a recession in the U.S. as it braces for a highly anticipated report that could show the economy shrinking for a second straight quarter. Here was President Joe Biden on Monday. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're not going to be in a recession in my view. The employment rate is still one of the lowest we've had in history. It is in the 3.6 area. We still find ourselves with people investing. My hope is we go from this rapid growth to a steady growth and so we'll see some coming down. But I don't think we're going to -- god willing, I don't think we're going to see a recession.

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MACFARLANE: Well, we'll be waiting to see how the president reacts to a number of new reports coming this week giving a real glimpse into how well the U.S. is faring. On Wednesday the Federal Reserve will meet to discuss interest rates and on Thursday second quarter GDP numbers will be published. Giving the Biden administration lots of homework.

Meantime as a sign inflation may begin waning in the U.S., retailer Walmart is set to majorly slash prices in an effort to move large amounts of big ticket inventory. The company is acting to avoid a slump in customer spending expected in the second half of the year.

Well, inflation fears haven't slowed summer travel, but U.S. storms certainly have. They contributed to the cancellation of more than 3,000 flights on Monday according to the FlightAware website. And the chaos continues, more than 1,800 cancellations have been recorded already today. The airports most affected have been LaGuardia and Newark, in the New York area and Reagan international near Washington DC.

Well, another day of scorching temperatures is expected across parts of the U.S., including the southern plains and lower Mississippi Valley where it could feel as hot as 115 degrees Fahrenheit. And in the Pacific Northwest, cities are opening cooling centers to help residents stay safe as temperatures climb toward the double digits.

Extreme heat in Texas likely helped fuel this grass fire outside Dallas on Monday. Officials say at least 26 buildings were damaged and nine are a total loss. A local fire marshal says the fires have all been put out.

Meanwhile, in California, a wildfire raging near Yosemite National Park has now burned through more than 17,000 acres. Right now, the fast moving Oak Fire is only 16 percent contained. CNN's Adrienne Broaddus has more.

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ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And here in Mariposa County, firefighters are attacking the Oak Fire from above using aircrafts like helicopters to dump water. This is a rural area and it's also rugged. Leading to some of the challenges firefighters have experienced. But here's a little more about that challenge strictly dealing with topography. Listen in. KEITH WADE, SACRAMENTO CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT: I come from the flat

lands down in the city of Sacramento. And as you are coming up here, you start to see the change in the topography, the rolling hills and then to the mountains and the available fuel load out here, it's trees and light flashy fuels on the forest bed.

[04:10:02]

There's so much fuel out here to burn and everything is so dry. California is huge. The footprint out here, the acreage of available fuels to burn when a fire gets going, along with the topography, the canyons, the drainages, the wind that throws flows through these areas can make the fire behavior erratic and it can explode.

BROADDUS: He also added, they've been able to attack this fire with numerous resources because currently California in his words doesn't have that many big fires. Meanwhile, California is also dealing with a year's long drought on top of the heat which is impacting the current situation.

Adrienne Broaddus, Mariposa County, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Well, for more, let's bring in CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. And Pedram we're hearing just there, the acres of wildfires really, you know, no way of containing or controlling them except perhaps if there is some rain. Do we know if there's going to be any relief on the way for California?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not in the areas that need it most. You know, there is rain just to the east into Arizona where the monsoonal moisture is in place, Christina. But if you take a look at what's happening across the Western United States, unfortunately, this is the heart of the dry season, the excessive heat certainly not helping out. Temperatures across portions of Washington state into Oregon, Eastern Washington 108 degrees. Work your way toward portions of central and southern Oregon, as hot as 107 degrees.

And into areas of California, cramming up into the century mark. All of these tying or breaking records. And notice heat indices in spots getting up to 109 here over the next 24 hours. Seattle, Portland, all portions of western Oregon, into areas of northern California, underneath these heat alerts. And this is an impressive multi-day event here for Seattle where temps stay into the 90s, almost 20 degrees, 15 to almost 20 degrees above average for this time of year and finally cooling back down to the 70s where they belong this time next week.

But again, you've got an immediate fire concern across the region, you've got temperatures as such here that are incredibly hot and in fact just a couple years ago maybe when you cite a four day forecast in Seattle with four consecutive days of 90 degrees, would almost raise an alarm. But it doesn't seem to be the case anymore because so routine here. And you'll notice across California, there is the Oak Fire, 17,000

acres consumed, 16 percent containment. Your question as far as rain across this region, notice portions of California nearly the entirety of the western half of California remains out of the threat here for any monsoonal moisture. Really the bulk of it falls across New Mexico and Arizona, everyone portions of southern Utah where flood alerts are in place here. Very beneficial rainfall has come down. And this has been the case a couple weeks now across this region.

But with all that said, both the states of New Mexico and Arizona nearly 100 percent in drought even with all the beneficial rainfall coming down and the next couple days additional rainfall forecasts to come down as well. Notice looking forward into the next week or so, still seeing rainfall potential increase there, across areas of the southwest. It does keep most of California especially the areas that need it most out of the zone here.

But the heat really stays in place over the next several days where we get multiple shots of cooler air for our friends around the northeast. This is an area that we saw plenty of records in recent days and finally seeing Boston cool down from what was 90 yesterday to expect around 82 by this afternoon, New York City also from the upper and mid-80s yesterday down to 81 degrees. So, there is some changes on the horizon that is for the better across a large area of the Northeastern United States.

But back around parts of the West, that's where the heat is on and again anytime you see a forecast in Portland 10 degrees warmer than Las Vegas and even warmer than Phoenix, you know the heat is very serious across the Northwest, Christina. And that's what we have here the next couple of days.

MACFARLANE: It's not a pretty picture, is it. Pedram Javaheri there, many thanks for that.

Well, it's not just the U.S. dealing with extreme weather. In Greece, scorching heat is fueling several wildfires raging across the country. Parts of Spain, Portugal and Italy are also under very extreme danger of fire warnings. A similar scene in the Czech Republic. Dozens of people had to be evacuated as a forest fire ripped through a park near the Czech/German border.

OK, just ahead, a new hearing in the trial of the American basketball star detained in Russia. We're expecting to hear from Brittney Griner's defense team.

And Russia slows down its gas deliveries to Europe. We'll have the Kremlin's explanation and reaction from Germany.

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MACFARLANE: Welcome back. The fifth hearing is now under way in the criminal trial of WNBA star Brittney Griner. The two time U.S. Olympic gold medalist has been held in Russia since February on allegations of attempted drug smuggling. The previous hearing ended without a verdict and we're not expecting one today. Let's cross live to our Fred Pleitgen who is tracking the case. And Fred, this is an important week for Griner as we understand she will attempt to plea for leniency. What are we expecting today, however?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, first of all, you're absolutely right, Christina, it is an extremely important week for Brittney Griner where she is going to plea for leniency. And I think that the defense right now, they really have a three pronged approach. First of all, we know that Brittney Griner is already inside the courtroom, the hearing is already under way. Now essentially what she's done, is she's pled guilty. Saying, yes, she made a mistake.

But what the defense is now doing, is first of all they're calling into question the original toxicology of those cartridges that contained THC oil saying that those measurements might not have been correct. And they also have an expert witness on saying that, look, in other countries of course medical marijuana is used for people who have extreme pain. Brittney Griner has already put forward a note from a doctor saying that this was prescribed for her for medical purposes. So that's the sort of second part of that approach that the defense has.

And then there's the character approach, what I think is really interesting as well, is that the defense has called witnesses who have simply said Brittney Griner is someone who is not only an important model athlete but also someone who did a lot for basketball in Russia.

[04:20:03]

And so therefore is someone who should be viewed favorably.

So, the trial right now is going on as sort of an expert phase, right now it's the defense that's calling on the witnesses. They asked for the delay in the last hearing and are calling experts again today.

Tomorrow is also going to be a really important day as well. Where we expect Brittney Griner herself to take the stand and be cross-examined as well. So really important. But you also have very correctly pointed out that no verdict is expected today, probably also no verdict expected tomorrow as the trial obviously is going on for a very long time. That is so important for Brittney Griner as of course she is seeking freedom to then return to the United States -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes, a big two days ahead. Fred, I know you'll be tracking it for us there. But for now, thanks very much.

Now to new Russian attacks on key parts of Ukraine. Local leaders say there's been another missile strike on the Odesa region. They say this one hit a civilian area in a coastal village and set off fires. And Ukrainian officials report a major rocket attack on the southern city of Mykolaiv today. They say infrastructure at the port was attacked and air launches, missiles targeted the outskirts of the city.

Meanwhile the U.N. says the first shipment of the desperately needed Ukrainian grain is expected to set sail this week. The Turkish president who helped broker the Black Sea initiative is urging Russia and Ukraine to act responsibly and stick to the deal. But these Russian strikes on the key port of Odesa and wider region have cast doubts on whether this crucial grain agreement will hold. And the Ukrainian president says his country is ready to start exporting so it can prove to the world Ukraine is not the one blocking the exports. But he warns Turkey and the U.N. must guarantee the security of the shipments.

Well meanwhile, Russia is planning deeper cuts on a key pipeline to Germany. Nord stream 1 just reopened after being shut down for ten days for maintenance. Now however, Gazprom says its reducing gas flow by half to fix another turbine. The Kremlin insists the cuts has nothing to do with politics but says Europe is only making things worse on itself with sanctions on Moscow.

Germany is warning that it won't have been able to meet its needs for the winter if deliveries continue at these levels. Well, CNN's Clare Sebastian joins me here in London. And Clare, to gas first, these news of gas cuts from Gazprom, were exactly what the EU was fearing, that Russia is weaponizing gas.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly it. Shocking but not unexpected. Even President Putin warned about this in a speech in a press conference he gave on a visit to Iran. Last week he said that there's another turbine that might need maintenance, where are we going to get a replacement. Clearly this is coming to pass now.

So, the Nord Stream pipeline is down to 20 percent capacity at this level. Well, I spoke to energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie this morning. They say at this level that Europe should be able to refill is gas storage to about 75 percent to 80 percent going into the winter which should mean that they end of the winter with still some in storage, a small amount, except if it's a very cold winter. So, puts them at a bit of a critical position and this is what President Zelenskyy had to say about this last night. He's really sort of piling on the rhetoric about how Russia is weaponizing its energy supplies. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): All this is done by Russia deliberately to make it as difficult as possible for Europeans to prepare for winter. And this is an over gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe. This is exactly how it should be perceived and they don't care what will happen to the people, how they will suffer from hunger due to the blocking of ports or from winter, cold, and poverty. Or from occupation. These are just different forms of terror.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: You know, it does raise the odds of a potential recession in Europe if Germany has to move to the next stage of its gas emergency plan that could mean rationing and that does raise the odds in a recession. And the other thing this does, Christina, is it's another test of unity in Europe. The EU energy ministers are meeting today. There's already signs they're going to have to water down the plans to demand cuts that they're bringing in a little bit because some countries are claiming the blanket 15 percent is unfair.

MACFARLANE: Yes, a real test. Meanwhile we've been talking about grain. The U.N. claiming -- or saying that they still think that this grain will set sail in days regardless of what is occurring. You know, this morning we're seeing more attacks on the Odesa region, Mykolaiv. It doesn't bode well right now, does it?

SEBASTIAN: It does not. I mean, look, you have to have trust for this agreement to work. The way it works is that Ukraine is expected to de- mine this corridor so the ships can pass through. They have been very reluctant to de-mine any areas around the ports because they're worried that could give Russia sort of an opening to attack, which is of course is what we've seen that they're willing do. And then the ships have to be escorted by Russia and Turkey and another partner out to the Bosporus.

[04:25:00]

So, it relies heavily on trust.

And look, President Zelenskyy, Ukraine is saying that they want to push ahead. He wants to prove to the world that this isn't Ukraine's fault, that they are willing to export their grain. It's just that Russia is blockading it. So, it looks like they're still going to try to push ahead even despite these attacks, but, you know, it's going to be hard.

MACFARLANE: Yes, that's an understatement. Clare, thank you very much.

All right, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from London. Still ahead --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: The defeated former president of the United States watched it all happen as he sat in the comfort of his private dining room next to the Oval Office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Harsh criticism from U.S. President Joe Biden for Donald Trump's inaction during the January 6 riot.

Plus, on the eve of competing events from the former U.S. president and vice president, CNN speaks with Arizona voters still choosing to believe the most outlandish conspiracy theories.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have both sides, or are you getting one side of the story?

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You mean like the side that attacked the Capitol?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You really believe that happened?

O'SULLIVAN: I was there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. I have a lot of people that were there too.

O'SULLIVAN: And?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And saw things that it wasn't what they say it was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Christina Macfarlane If you are just joining us, let me bring you up-to-date with our top stories this hour. A hearing for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner is under way in Russia. Griner's defense team expected to present evidence today. U.S. officials say Griner will also have someone from the U.S. embassy staff in the courtroom with her.

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