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U.S. to Boost Monkeypox Vaccine; Polio Cases Increasing in London; Child from Nebraska Died from Amoeba; Robocalls Victimized Millions of Americans; Kentucky State Still in Cleaning Phase; Deshaun Watson Suspended for 11 Games; Florida Judge Weighs to Unseal Affidavit Used by FBI; Trump Organization CFO Pleaded Guilty; Leaders Call on Russia to Spare Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant; Taiwanese People Focus on Training and Preparation. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired August 19, 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]
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber.
Ahead on CNN Newsroom, we are one step closer to knowing what the U.S. government's justification is for searching former President Donald Trump's home. New court filings have been released, and more
could be made public.
Fears of a nuclear disaster are intensifying as calls grow louder to stop the shelling at Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine or risk a new Chernobyl.
And as U.S. congressional delegation show their support for Taiwan, we'll hear from residents of the self-governing island.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: A U.S. federal judge is indicating he may unseal parts of the affidavit used to justify the FBI search of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. They vow to release the affidavit played out in a Florida court Thursday where the judge gave prosecutors a week to propose redaction and explain why each piece of information should be kept secret. But the Justice Department has vehemently argued for keeping the document under seal.
Meanwhile, Trump and his allies have tried to claim that he had a standing order to declassify the documents taken from the Oval Office. But exclusive reporting from CNN found no less than 18 former top officials from the Trump administration who have been mocking that claim.
Now these are some of the terms they've used to describe it. B.S., ludicrous, ridiculous, and complete fiction. So here is how Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BOLTON, FORMER U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: There was no standing order, I was not briefed on anything like that. When I started as national security adviser, I never heard of it, never sought an operation, never knew anything about it. The president never said anything to me during 17 months there. I just think it's a complete fiction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: A closer look now at the fight over the search warrant records, and whether portions of them should be released.
CNN's Sara Murray picks up the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: An extraordinary legal battle playing out in Florida.
UNKNOWN: I think the country depends on information we want to know what's in there.
MURRAY: Over what the public deserves to know about the search Mar-a- Lago. A judge setting in motion today the possible release of a heavily redacted version of the affidavit, where the FBI laid out why they believe there is probable cause a crime was committed.
"I'm not prepared to find that the affidavits should be fully sealed," U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said," giving the Justice Department a week to propose reductions and explain why each piece of information should be kept secret.
This comes after several news outlets, including CNN, asked the judge to unseal the affidavit that led to a search warrant resulting in FBI agents walking out of former President Donald Trump's home with boxes a classified material.
ERIC TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S SON: It's a fishing expedition.
MURRAY: The Justice Department opposing the release of details in the affidavit, echoing concerns from an earlier filing, where DOJ said if disclosed, the affidavit would serve as a roadmap to the government's ongoing investigation, providing specific details about its direction and likely course in a manner that is highly likely to compromise future investigative steps.
The head of the Justice Department counterintelligence section pointing out the court already found probable cause that evidence of obstruction could be found at Mar-a-Lago, and that releasing the affidavit could chill cooperation from future witnesses.
The government also raising concerns about the risk that the FBI has faced in the wake of the Mar-a-Lago search. Despite the Justice Department preference for secrecy --
MERRICK GARLAND, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Much of our work is by necessity conducted out of the public eye. Federal law, long-standing department rules and are ethical obligations prevent me from providing further details as to the basis of the search at this time.
MURRAY: The judge still appeared inclined to make at least portions of the document available to the public. Trump meantime has been eager to learn why the FBI targeted his Mar-a-Lago estate, posting in part this week, "I call for the immediate release of the completely unredacted affidavit pertaining to this horrible and shocking break- in.'
This as Trump's inner circle split on when and whether to release security camera footage of the search. Video recorded despite the FBI asking Trump's lawyers to turn the cameras off when they got there.
SEAN HANNITY, HOST, FOX NEWS: You still have the surveillance tape, is that correct? Well, you -- are you allowed to share that with the country?
E. TRUMP: Absolutely, Sean, at the right time.
[03:04:58]
MURRAY: Some close to Trump say the video could energize the GOP base and appear in a campaign style ad. But others worry raw footage showing agents removing than a dozen boxes could further damage the former president.
Now after Thursday's hearing a spokesperson for former President Trump said the Trump team believes the full unredacted version of this affidavit should be made public. Of course, that's not an argument that the Trump team has made in court, at least not yet.
Sara Murray, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: And here's what CNN legal analyst and former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara says we could learn if the affidavit is released.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PREET BHARARA, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: The affidavit is the thing that went before a federal judge to provide the basis for probable cause to believe a crime was committed, and there is evidence of the crime at the location. So, you'd learn, probably, the origin of the investigation, why they were concerned about it in the first place.
We'd learn how much probable cause they have and given the nature of the premises being searched, and the owner of those premises, what some people have called probable cause plus was probably the case. So, you'll learn how many witnesses came before the government and provided evidence that they thought that these documents and classified materials were still being held at Mar-a-Lago against the law, and against policy and against norms.
You'll find out how many there were, probably, depending on the level of redaction. And you'll find out who else is possibly under investigation. Search warrant affidavits sometimes are very, very lengthy and can provide very significant narratives of all the things that the government is doing, because the government tends to rely on the idea that these things will not become public, that's what's the argument the government is making to the court right now.
Given how sensational the issue is, given the substantial public interest I think the judge is taking a very, very careful look and would do something that's extraordinary in releasing part or all of the affidavit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Meanwhile, the former chief financial officer of the Trump organization has pleaded guilty to a tax fraud scheme. And as part of the deal, he's agreed to testify against Trump's real estate company at trial.
CNN's Kara Scannell has the details.
KARA SCANNELL, CNN REPORTER: The longtime CFO of the Trump Organization, Allen Weisselberg, pleaded guilty to 15 felonies on Thursday, admitting to his role in a decades' long tax fraud scheme. As part of his deal Weisselberg has agreed to testify against the Trump Organization, a company he has worked out for more than 40 years.
Trump Organization goes to trial in October. And the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had said that Weisselberg's testimony will be invaluable. Also, part of this deal, Weisselberg has agreed to pay nearly $2 million in back taxes, interest in penalties, and in exchange he will receive a five-month sentence in jail.
Now Weisselberg will not implicate the former president at the trial, he also is not cooperating with the Manhattan district attorney's long running investigation into the Trump Organization's finances. The Trump Organization put out a statement today calling Weisselberg a fine and honorable man, and said they look forward to going to trial in October. Back to you.
BRUNHUBER: Journalist David Kay Johnston has covered Donald Trump for more than three decades. Earlier he spoke with CNN about what's at stake for the former president when Allen Weisselberg takes the stand in October. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CAY JOHNSTON, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Well, Donald Trump and Allen Weisselberg are stuck together like two pieces of fused glass, shatter one and you shatter the other. Ans since he knows about all the deceptive practices of the Trump Organization, when the Trump Organization goes on trial now scheduled for just a few days before the fall elections, he can give a roadmap under examination. Now, I don't expect him to go out of his way to cooperate. He may even
end up being treated as a hostile witness by the prosecution when they call him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Now neither former President Trump nor any member of his family is accused of wrongdoing in Weisselberg's case. If the Trump Organization is convicted it could be required to pay back taxes and fines, but no one else will go to prison.
All right, turning now to the war in Ukraine where Europe's largest nuclear power plant is caught in the middle of the front lines, and there are deepening fears it's at grave risk for catastrophic accident or worse. This sprawling facility hasn't been inspected since Russia seized it in March. And recent shelling in the area has only heightened fears over the plant's safety. Ukraine accuses Russia of using the site to shield its military equipment.
CNN has verified video showing Russian military trucks inside near a reactor. Now it's not known when the video was taken. On Thursday, the leaders of Ukraine, Turkey, and the U.N. agreed on a basic framework for international inspectors to visit the site, but Russia would have to approve both the Ukrainian president and U.N. chief, again called to the plant to be demilitarized immediately.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Russia is to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces from the territory of the Zaporizhzhia power station and stop all provocations and all shelling. It is unacceptable that Russia puts all of us at the brink of nuclear catastrophe.
ANTONIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Military equipment and personnel should be withdrawn from the plant, further deployment of forces or equipment to the site must be avoided. The area needs to be demilitarized. And we must tell it as it is, every potential damage to Zaporizhzhia is suicide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: And there are now fears of a so-called false flag operation with potentially global consequences.
We get the latest from CNN's Sam Kiley.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Russian propaganda has been fiercely trying to suggest that on Friday at the end of this week there could be some kind of incident in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which could be blamed on them in some kind of false flag operation.
The Ukrainians are making similar allegations against the Russians. And this is because the international community now is deeply afraid of some kind of nuclear catastrophe unfolding in what is Europe's biggest nuclear power plant. And on the ground, the tensions are no less.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KILEY: It's an all too routine scene, a Ukrainian home destroyed by a missile. But here, the luckiest escape of a young couple is overshadowed by a potential catastrophe. The first Russian rocket hit the local soccer pitch and sent them scrambling into their basement, safe from the second.
"After what happened, we jump at every sound," Andriy (Ph) says. The Ukrainian authorities say that both rockets were fired by Russian troops from the grounds of a nuclear power station captured in March.
The international consternation over the future of the Enerhodar nuclear power station is very obvious when you stand here, and you can see the six reactors of the biggest nuclear power station in the whole of Europe. The United Nations, the international community are all reacting in horror at the mere thought that this could be at the center of fighting.
Ukraine blames Russia for using the nuclear plant as a fire base, and insists that it's not able to shoot back for risk of blowing up the nuclear facility.
"The Russian occupiers shoot all the time to provoke the armed forces of Ukraine and to spread panic among the people. We understand that the power plant may explode because of their actions, I just don't understand. Maybe date this don't get it," he told us.
The United States, the United Nations and Ukraine have all called for Russia to leave the nuclear plant and for it to be demilitarized. These demands are growing in volume, as the bombardment of Ukrainian towns allegedly from around the six nuclear reactors has intensified.
Andriy (Ph) worked at the plant until he escaped the Russians, but then he was recaptured, he says and tortured before being released. Now, he is in hiding in western Europe. And he says the possibility of a disaster is very high.
"I would say, 70 to 90 percent of what we are talking about the most optimistic scenario. I'm very worried about it."
And civilians in the Russian occupied down next to the plant have been stuck in traffic jams, trying to flee a potential nuclear escalation. Ukraine's claims that it hasn't shelled the nuclear site cannot be verified, but there is no doubt that Russia has used it as a safe location to attack Ukraine from.
Ukrainians have been conducting nuclear disaster drills in cities nearby. And both sides have said that some kind of incident is imminent and could cause massive radioactive contamination or a meltdown. A cataclysm that could be felt far beyond Ukraine, even in nearby Russia. (END VIDEOTAPE)
KILEY: Now, clearly, that is the military picture, but there is also a very serious technical issues, not least because Russia has announced plans that it wants to try to redirect the electrical energy being produced in that plant towards illegally occupied Crimea, that is Russian territory, Russian held territory.
Now, a number of international technicians are saying if they try that, they are risk to the cooling system of the reactors. And that in and of itself could also be extremely dangerous.
Sam Kiley, CNN, Zaporizhzhia.
BRUNHUBER: And for more Nina dos Santos joins us from London. So, Nina, let's start there with the latest diplomatic efforts on Zaporizhzhia. So even if they do agree on an inspection mission, I mean, that's a long way from establishing a demilitarized zone.
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely especially considering the run up to these negotiations that had happened, and talks between Erdogan, Guterres, and also Zelenskyy yesterday, we saw Russia repeatedly saying that they would reject any attempt to create a demilitarized zone around this area.
[03:15:02]
Obviously, the news that happened yesterday was this first meeting with President Erdogan of Turkey, who you remember he, at one point, offered, and has continued to offer as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. Important that considering as Turkey is a large member of NATO as well.
It's the first time that he was in Ukraine to meet with President Zelenskyy, and also you had Antonio Guterres from the United Nations there as well. This after Turkey and the U.N. helped to broker that deal to try and get grain out of the U.N. to stave off an emergency catastrophe in other parts of the world with those grain shipments having been blocked.
Now they're trying to broaden the scale to talk about how to sort of, not just reduce the tensions around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, but also float the idea on how to create a negotiated solution to end the war in Ukraine. Now that's something that President Zelenskyy said was a surprise to him. He said, first of all, let's sit down with the Russians only when they have vacated territory of ours that they're occupying, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
But for the moment, yes, huge consternation and concerns surrounding the fate of this big power plant and the potential fallout. Both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of potentially mounting a false flag operation during these tense times.
But for the meantime, Zelenskyy has agreed to, at least on his part, see some kind of solution to allow international inspectors into that part if indeed Russia were to allow them to get access, Kim? BRUNHUBER: All right, so Nina, as the diplomacy is ongoing, so
obviously is a war itself. So, let's pivot to the larger state of the battle across the country. What's the latest?
DOS SANTOS: Well, obviously, there's still the fallout surrounding the civilian areas that were hit over the last couple of days significantly by Russian missiles, particularly in the northeast. The Kharkiv region, and also Kharkiv itself. It's a city where three people perished, and 17 others were left injured after there was a Russian missile strike on a civilian apartment complex in a residential part of the city.
Yet again, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine taking to his nightly address to the airwaves, saying that this just go to show that yet again civilians are getting targeted and losing their lives in the horrors of this war.
And of course, those seeming sabotage missions further into Russian held territory, particularly in Ukraine -- in Crimea suspected by Ukrainian forces, they've admitted to some of them are continuing to happen, particularly targeting Russian air force bases, ammunitions depots deep inside territory that's been held by Russian not just since the start of this war but back since 2014 in Crimea. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right. Thanks so much, Nina dos Santos in London. I appreciate it.
Coming up here on CNN Newsroom, despite being at the center of wargames and some serious military flexing by China, for many in Taiwan it's a case of keep calm and carry on. We'll have a live report from Taipei coming up. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Taiwan and China both showcasing their military capability this week as cross strait tensions continue to rise in the wake of several U.S. lawmakers visiting the self-governing island.
Blake Essig joins me now live from Taipei. So, Blake, I imagine whether all of this U.S. attention on Taiwan is viewed as welcome or unwanted, it depends on who you ask. What's the mood there?
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kim. Look, people here in Taiwan have been living under a constant threat from China for roughly the past seven decades. But as of late, tensions between China and Taiwan have seemingly gotten worse following some high-level visits earlier this month.
And while the international community has viewed Beijing's recent fiery rhetoric and live fire military exercises as address rehearsal for war, I went out on the streets in Taipei to find out how the people here really feel about all that's going on.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ESSIG: Twice this month, U.S. congressional delegation one of them
led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei. Their goal to reaffirm U.S. support for Taiwan, and help ease cross strait tensions. Although the U.S. delegations came and went, Beijing responded by condemning the visits and flexing its military muscle.
While the people of Taiwan were left to deal with the consequences.
UNKNOWN (through translator): We kind of expected the cross-strait tensions to be escalated because of their visit, I don't think the visits are helping Taiwan.
UNKNOWN (through translator): I think it was selfish of Pelosi to visit Taiwan.
UNKNOWN (through translator): Since there is a Taiwan Relations Act, maybe they are visiting to reassure us that they stand with us. I don't think they provoked China, after all, threats from China never stop.
ESSIG: Despite the constant threat of a forceful reunification from China, take a look around, life here continues. The shopping district is packed. Restaurants are full, and while some people are concerned, the mood here is surprisingly calm.
UNKNOWN (through translator): We can't rule out the possibility of them to attack Taiwan.
UNKNOWN (through translator): Being worried isn't helpful.
UNKNOWN (through translator): I don't think China dares to really attack Taiwan. They are just posturing to enhance cohesion domestically.
ESSIG: Although there's a quiet confidence that Taiwan's military would be able to hold off a Chinese invasion --
UNKNOWN (through translator): Taiwan's military has regular exercises, and I have faith in them.
ESSIG: If war does break out there are many people here who say that they'll do whatever they can to help fight for their island, whether that's by taking up arms, or learning to provide first aid. Which is why civil defense courses like this are being held, and why this class is full.
[03:25:03]
ENOCH WU, FOUNDER, FORWARD ALLIANCE: There is no dilution about the fact that we face, however we remain calm because this is reality that we've lived in for so many years. But through its -- when I see folks turning out for events like this one, I know that while we're not running around panicked that PLA might attack tomorrow, we all know that we can do more, and we must do more to help preserve the peace.
BRUCE CHEN, TAIWANESE CITIZEN (through translator): I believe the better our preparation is, the less chance the war will be, because our rival will not win easily. And it is important to show them that we are prepared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ESSIG: Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait it's a concept that people here tell me seems more unlikely with each passing day. It's a sentiment seemingly echoed in Beijing by officials there during their six days of live fire drills, following Speaker Pelosi's visit. The underlining message there is that time is on China's side with the fast-modernizing military, and that reunification with Taiwan is not a matter of if, but when, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: Interesting. All right, thanks so much, Blake Essig. I appreciate it.
August has been a deadly month in Afghanistan with the highest number of civilian casualties so far this year. The U.N. assistance mission says 250 people have been killed or injured in the past few weeks, including 21 dead, 33 wounded in explosion in a mosque in Kabul on Wednesday. The U.N. mission is calling on Taliban authorities to quote, "take concrete steps to prevent all forms of terrorism in Afghanistan."
Just ahead, monkeypox cases are spreading around the world. We'll tell you how U.S. officials are increasing the availability of vaccinations for those at risk.
Plus, a viral enemy long thought eradicated is turning up in London wastewater. How health officials there are struggling to vaccinate the youngest in society after the break. Stay with us.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber.
The U.S. is stepping up its efforts to combat the monkeypox virus. It's boosting vaccine supplies by nearly two million doses which will accelerate health officials' vaccine distribution timeline.
Now this comes as the Danish manufacturer of the vaccine signs a deal with the U.S. company to expand capacity. This should help speed more doses of the scarce (Ph) vaccine to the U.S. and other countries.
The U.S. is also prepositioning vaccine doses and treatment and watching an awareness program for those at increased risk of catching the virus. Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci explains to CNN how the recent changes would not only extend supplies but help officials target asterisk -- at risk populations. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We have now five times as many doses because one fifth of a dose in the intradermal into skin is the equivalent to get an immune response quite comparable to a full dose subcutaneously. So, the situation is rapidly changing now and we anticipate that with the gay pride events, southern decade and some gay pride, and some of the southern states, and in other states that we will now by pre- positioning a considerable number of doses of vaccine will be able to handle it and get our arms around it so that we don't see further spread.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: But monkeypox virus case numbers are rising around the world, according to the U.S. CDC, there are more than 40,000 infections globally. Monkeypox can be transmitted by any close contact, but it's spreading disproportionately among men who have sex with men.
Officials say a so-called brain eating amoeba is the likely culprit behind the death of a child in Nebraska. The child died this week just days after swimming in this river in Douglas County. And if confirmed it will be the first such death in the state's history.
The CDC says the amoeba usually lives in soil and freshwater but it can infect a human brain if contaminated water goes to someone's nose. Health officials say those infections are extremely rare, but when they do happen, they are usually fatal.
And London is among a growing list of cities where the polio virus is being detected in wastewater. Now health officials are scrambling to get the most vulnerable vaccinated.
CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has more on the vaccine push in the British capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: It is a disease once eradicated from the U.K., but after decades of zero cases, polio appears to be spreading again. A total of 116 instances of the virus were identified in 19 sewage samples collected in London between February and July of this year officials say. No cases of the virus have been reported in the U.K. so far. And the risk to the public is considered low. But Dr. Natalie Rout says that officials have good reasons for concern.
NATALIE ROUT, BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE: This comes as quite a surprise that we've seen so many cases identified in sewage, which suggests that there may be some transmission between people.
ABDELAZIZ: In response, the U.K. announced a vaccination drive for children aged one to nine in London.
ROUT: There are many children who haven't had their usual course of immunizations, which is why there is a real concern that that opens up people to potentially contracting polio.
ABDELAZIZ: Polio was once one of the world's most feared diseases. Striking children younger than five the hardest. The worst form of the virus can lead to permanent paralysis.
UNKNOWN: How long have you've been here?
UNKNOWN: Three years.
ABDELAZIZ: There is no cure for polio. Vaccination is the only prevention. Polio was first detected in sewage samples from this facility. Afterwards, more samples were taken from other sewage facilities across London and more polio was found. What's concerning for officials, these neighborhoods, these neighborhoods have lower vaccination rates.
In London, nearly 14 of infants under 12 months have not received a primary course of polio immunization. The shortfall is significant says professor David Heymann.
Is this an overreaction in any way by public health officials?
DAVID HEYMANN, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT: Absolutely not. This is what needs to be done in all countries, because we live in a world where people travel very much and can carry infections with them.
ABDELAZIZ: But with vaccine hesitancy and fatigue soaring, doctors will face a challenge.
ROUT: There is a real drive for us to reach the communities where vaccination isn't really done, isn't really encouraged. And just try and myth bust a little bit about why vaccination is important.
ABDELAZIZ: The government aims to complete the polio vaccine drive by September 26th. A major feat for an overstretched health service, but it says a necessary response to protect the city's youngest.
Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Well, if you have a phone, you've obviously gotten a scam phone call or two. So up next, how prosecutors are working to trace robocalls back to scammers. We are getting reached off deception. That's coming up. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Well, the phone calls have become so common they've turned into sort of a running joke in the United States. But they are no laughing matter to many people who have lost money to the millions of scam robocalls made last year in the U.S.
And as our Gabe Cohen reports, it's an uphill battle to shut them down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNKNOWN: Hi there. This is Jessica calling in regards to your Volkswagen warranty.
GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Odds are you received a bogus auto warranty call similar to this.
UNKNOWN: The warranty is up for renewal.
COHEN: Now authorities are cracking down on a scheme an FCC official calls the most sophisticated illegal robocall operation they've ever seen. More than eight billion spam calls to Americans. And a new lawsuit claims two California man are behind nearly all of it.
Aaron Michael Jones and Roy Cox Jr. are accused of violating telemarketing laws by tricking Americans into buying vehicle service contracts, and making millions of dollars off the scam. CNN tried to track them down. Dozens of calls, texts, and e-mails, but no response.
Both Cox and Jones have been sued by the Federal Trade Commission in the past, and ordered never to tele market again. And yet, like many robocall scammers, they are accused of just retooling their operation.
DAVE YOST, OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL: We are coming in to try to take them down.
COHEN: So now, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is suing Cox, Jones, and their associates, potentially for millions of dollars.
YOST: It's enough to take back everything they've made. If a slap on the wrist doesn't work, punch them in the face and knock them down.
COHEN: Did you consider criminal charges here?
YOST: Criminal charges are not off the table.
COHEN: Yost is part of a new anti-robocall task force, attorney's general for nearly every state working with federal officials to ramp up illegal robocalls enforcement in 2021. Americans received an estimated 21 billion scam robocalls costing them nearly $40 billion dollars in a 12-month period.
MARGOT SAUNDERS, SR. COUNSEL, U.S. CONSUMER LAW CENTER: It's usually very hard to find the callers. All of these unwanted robocalls are undermining the value of our telephone systems.
COHEN: Most of the calls come from overseas, and tracing them is a fairly new technology, so up to now authorities have struggled to stop them, and the callers that do get caught often go right back to scamming, according to an FCC official. So, authorities are turning attention to the gateway providers. The telecom companies that let those robocalls on to the U.S. phone network.
JESSICA ROSENWORCEL, CHAIRWOMAN, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION: Specifically, those that we believe maybe turning a blind eye to this kind of calling scams.
COHEN: When a call comes from overseas, typically several small carriers get paid to pass it along before it reaches your cell. Investigators are using a technique called trace backs to identify the original source of these illegal calls. Then the agencies like the FCC can then order the rest of the industry to stop doing business with those carriers.
JAMES EVANS, ATTORNEY, FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: If there are not this tier of providers or willing to take those bad traffic, then the robocalls will find themselves with nowhere to place their calls.
COHEN: That's the case with the auto warranty scam. In July, the FCC ordered all telecom companies to block all robocalls from Cox, Jones, and eight voice service providers they say are linked to the scheme. Since then, those calls have nearly vanished according to a robocall analysis company.
Do you think you can really stop these scammers?
YOST: I think we can significantly discreet them.
COHEN: How long will that take?
[03:45:03]
YOST: Years, not months. It's an arms race between the enforcers and the criminals. But we're getting smarter, and we are on to their ways.
COHEN: Gabe Cohen, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: If you've got an iPhone, an iPad or Mac, well, you want to hear this. Apple is calling for most of its users to update their software after the company says it discovered a potential weak spot in its operating system. Apple says the security risk affects iPhones going as far back as the 6S model. Now without the latest update, hackers may be able to take control of the devices operating system, leaving user's sensitive information at risk.
The man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie pleaded not guilty Thursday to second-degree attempted murder and assault charges. The judge order 24-year-old Hadi Matar held without bail. He faces up to 32 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
The local district attorney said that Rushdie's condition is improving during the stabbing last week. Rushdie suffered multiple puncture wounds in his chest and neck, and he may lose an eye. Rushdie has lived under threat for decades. A religious decree called for his assassination over his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses."
Well, from heavy rainfall to extreme heat, the U.S. will see it all this weekend. We'll get details from the CNN weather center after the break. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: The governor of Kentucky says the eastern part of the state is still recovering from deadly flooding in late July. Andy Beshear says they're almost through the emergency phase and into the stabilization phase. Well, this means power has almost been fully restored, and debris and clean-up of streams and waterways will begin this weekend.
The devastating flood killed 39 people. Two women remain missing, and almost 500 people are still displaced. The government approved a $42 million grant for housing and medical assistance. And now, parts of the southwest U.S. are in danger of more flash flooding.
So, let's talk more about this with CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam. Derek, so, from all that water in Kentucky to heavy rain in Arizona. I mean, the big story across the country is that risk of flooding.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. And what makes this area so vulnerable to flash flooding is that it has been plagued by drought lately. We know that for several years the ground extremely hard, very arid, and then you get this monsoonal surge of moisture on top of it, and it doesn't have the ability to soak into the ground.
So, it just runs off and literally causes what is known as flash flooding. The weather prediction center has a level three of four for their scale, that's a level three out of four that is a moderate risk of flash flooding today across southern Arizona into portions of New Mexico.
Notice how that advances a little further eastward into the day on Saturday, and the slight risk starts to encompass parts of Texas as well. We're going to see that moisture move eastward with the course of the weekend, and bring the flood threat along with that as well.
You can see the forecast radar showing that copious amounts of rainfall in and around Phoenix. And then heading eastward towards more of the Albuquerque and El Paso region. The National Weather Service recognizing that as well that's why they have a flood watch in place.
Look at this drought statistics. Eight-five percent of the state of Arizona under drought conditions, 92 percent of New Mexico, but I do believe that we're going to start to chip away those numbers going forward, just with our latest drought assessment that came in yesterday from NOAA. We saw those numbers come down somewhat. And I believe that we'll see those numbers starting to improve as well as the days and weeks continue.
Now you have seen the improvement across the four corners region, but unfortunately, on the other side of the country across New England, this is an area that is going under what is called a flash drought, it's more of a quick setting drought condition, as more of a summertime drought across New England compared to the long-standing drought that's ongoing across the four corners in southwestern U.S. So that is what we're monitoring all of the state of Massachusetts currently under drought conditions right now. So, from one extreme to the other across the country. Heads up, too, by the way, Kim, chances of severe weather today across the state of Iowa.
BRUNHUBER: All right, thanks so much, Derek Van Dam. I appreciate it.
Well, at least a dozen people are dead from those violent thunderstorms that swept through parts of western Europe. Have a look at this. Five people were killed in storms around the French island of Corsica, while authorities received nearly 125 calls for help at sea. At least five people were killed in Austria, and two more in Italy. About 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes in Italy's Tuscany region.
And in northwest China, sudden and heavy rainfall led to flash flooding and mudslides. Chinese state media says at least 16 people are dead and dozens are missing. Rescue efforts are ongoing.
The National Football League and the NFL Players Association have agreed to suspend to Cleveland Brown's quarterback Deshaun Watson for 11 games without pay. The embattled Q.B. is also facing a $5 million fine after being accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. According to the agreement, Watson will also undergo professional evaluation by behavioral experts. Here's Watson shortly after the agreement was announced.
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DESHAUN WATSON, BROWNS QUARTERBACK: I'm moving on with my career in my life and I continue to stand on my innocence. Just because, you know, settlements and things like that happen, doesn't mean that a person is guilty for anything. I feel like the person has the opportunity to stand on his innocence and improve that. And we improve that on the legal side, and we have to continue to push for it as an individual and as a person.
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BRUNHUBER: Now under the agreement, Watson will be eligible to play in week 13 against his former team, the Texans.
And finally, some very welcome news coming out of Pennsylvania. Doctors say Easton Oliverson, the Little League Baseball player who fell off of bunk bed and suffered a fractured skull is now expected to make a full recovery. A social media post Thursday shows the 12-year- old eating and drinking all on his own.
Oliverson's family says that everyone is amazed by his improvement, doctors included. And that by all accounts, given his injuries, he should've died. The league gave the OK for Easton's little brother to take his place in the field Friday when his team plays its first game of the Little League World series. Absolutely great to see. That wraps this hour CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim
Brunhuber. The news continues with Christina Macfarlane next. Please do stay with us.
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