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Powerful Hurricane Takes Aim At Florida As Cat 3 Storm; Members Of Oath Keepers Stand Trial For Seditious Conspiracy; Roger Stone Before Election Day: "Let's Get Right To The Violence." Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired September 27, 2022 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour here, I'm Erica Hill in for Alisyn and Victor. Thanks for joining us on "CNN NEWSROOM."

We begin with Hurricane Ian, the dangerous powerful Category 3 storm that is barreling toward Florida. Ian's outer bands are already lashing the keys and other southern parts of the state putting millions under a tornado watch. It's Florida's West Coast though that could really feel the brunt of this, getting slammed directly with life-threatening storm surge and flooding in the next day or so. Millions of people right now in Ian's crosshairs and as you can see they are boarding up their homes. People have been waiting in line for hours in some cases for free sandbags. Mandatory evacuations were actually just expanded for Florida's Hillsborough County that includes Tampa, the nearly 400,000 residents. They're being told it is time to leave now. Just a short time ago, FEMA's chief urged people to get out of harm's way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEANNE CRISWELL, FEMA ADMINISTRATOR: Our biggest concern as we wait for the storm to make landfall is storm surge. And I will note that storm surge is a leading cause of hurricane-related fatalities. The decision you choose to make may mean the difference between life and death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Overnight, the storm made landfall in Cuba with heavy rain, 125- mile-an-hour winds. At this hour, it is churning in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray is in the CNN Weather Center. So, we know there's been a slight shift now in the forecast path shifting a little bit to the south. What is this change, Jennifer?

JENNIFER GRAY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It basically means that areas just to the south are going to get the bulk of the surge. We know that with this storm, it's the storm surge that is going to be the biggest impact, the most terrifying. So, we are going to see a section of the Florida coast get up to 10 feet of storm surge and it's not going to be in and out. This is going to last for hours and hours on end. And so, as the track continues to shift a little bit to the east or back to the west, we'll get a new track at five o'clock we'll know more. But anywhere along that section of the Florida coast that has been told to evacuate, get out. This is not a storm you want to mess with. Right now, 120-mile per hour winds, the winds have increased with this two o'clock advisory. The storm is undergoing another form of rapid intensification. We're seeing it right now, so we're going to see the storm strengthen to a Category 4. We're talking about the storm potentially making landfall by tomorrow night and zooming in on the coast.

Here are the cities that are within that cone. Anywhere from Fort Myers all the way to Tampa, you need to be on high alert. Your preparation should have already been made by this point. We could see eight to 12 feet of storm surge in this one particular area. Anywhere five to eight feet on either side of that. And as I mentioned with this storm moving at a walking pace, you are going to get that storm surge for hours, Erica.

This one's terrifying. This part of the coast is very vulnerable and we're going to see huge impacts. And not to mention, Erica, we could see up to 30 inches of rain for some locations.

HILL: That is not what folks want to hear.

GRAY: No.

HILL: That is for sure. Jennifer, appreciate the update. Thank you.

GRAY: Thanks.

HILL: Let's turn out of Cuba. Ian wreaked the western part of the island overnight, damaging buildings, downing trees, causing power outages, show you some more of the video from the ground there. You can look at the aftermath, considerable damage to buildings at the famous tobacco farm -- or tobacco farm in Cuba. CNN's Patrick Oppmann is in the capital of Havana. Looks like you still have a little bit -- a little bit left of the storm still lingering there, Patrick. What more are you seeing and what have you seen in terms of damage on the ground?

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hurricane Ian is not done with this just yet as much as we would like it to be and for all the damage, it's already done to Cuba. Bands of the storm continue to hit behind us. At certain points, we lose sight of the other side of the harbor of Havana. And you just -- you just see there, this rain coming in. And also more concerning, I'm seeing the tide going up right now. But it should be going out. And that is the storm surge. Of course, as the storm moves away from Cuba, all those water that is pushed out, it has to come back and come back rushing in.

And we're now starting to get reports in Havana, which was really the largest concern of flooding. And there are a lot of low-lying areas of the city. Thousands of people who live in low-lying areas, many of them were evacuated before the storm, but they're just simply too many people to evacuate. People, of course, sometimes don't want to evacuate. And so now the concern is that you could have flooding here that people -- their homes could go underwater, and that they could have to leave.

[14:05:05]

So, there's still cars on the road. This is nothing compared to what Western Cuba was hit with here the -- you know, houses -- had the roof taken away, trees knocked down, crops lost but you know, really terrible damage to the west. Help is now heading that way. We are told to begin the process of restoring electricity there because all the electricity in the province of Pinar, Del Rio for about 500,000 people was knocked out. Electricity was taken out down for Havana much of Havana too. Because of course, if power lines fall down and people can be electrocuted so the government typically takes down -- takes out the power before a storm hits.

And so even though hurricane Ian has already moved in the Gulf of Mexico and is apparently heading towards Florida now, continues to lash Cuba and that just goes to show how long this will go on for people wherever the storm goes to next. It is not a quick event. It will last a better part of a day as it has here in Cuba. We are still feeling the impacts of this very powerful storm.

HILL: Yes, and it's such an important point. Patrick, appreciate it. Stay safe, my friend. We also have some new video coming into our newsroom here for hurricane hunter with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration flying into Ian's eyewall. This afternoon, more than 2 million Floridians are under some kind of evacuation order. Governor Ron DeSantis is encouraging everyone to take this seriously.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RON DESANTIS, (R-FL): In some areas, there will be catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surge. And our recommendation is to heed those evacuation orders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: CNN's Carlos Suarez is watching the preps and evacuations underway in the city of Gulfport, Florida. What are you seeing there? Are people listening specifically, Carlos, to these orders to evacuate in certain areas?

CARLOS SUAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, some folks here in Pinellas County are -- have made the decision to go ahead and pack up their things and go. Now if you're a business owner that has decided to stay put and maybe just go ahead and finish boarding up your business, you may have run out of time. One business owner out here told us that they went to go pick up plywood and they were told they're out. They want to go pick up additional sandbags for their store and they were told they were out.

That being said, a majority of the stores out here they are boarded up -- they've been boarded up for the better part of a day now. They've got their sandbags out. They've got their plywood up. They've decided to move some of their belongings, some of their items to higher ground. All of this anticipation of whatever might come our way when it comes to Hurricane Ian.

There are two mandatory evacuations for Pinellas County. And the last one went into effect early this morning. Officials have told folks if you live in this part of the Tampa Bay area, you have until tonight to get out. That being said, a few folks that we talked to said they are taking the -- they're taking some precautions. They've got their hurricane supplies in order however they're going to stay put because they feel they live in a high enough area that they think they can make this through.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL GRACE, GULFPORT, FLORIDA RESIDENT: The biggest worry may be the flooding maybe. I hope it doesn't come further up than it normally does. So that's the biggest worry, flooding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SUAREZ: And over in Hillsborough County, that's about a half hour from where we are in Tampa, their officials ordered another 90,000 residents to go ahead and pack up their things. They need to get out of town because they live along the coasts. When you take into account, those two mandatory evacuation orders in Tampa, we're looking at well over 370,000 people in Hillsborough County, Erica.

HILL: That is a lot and so important to that they heed those warnings as we've heard. Carlos, appreciate the reporting. Thank you.

Joining us, now Tampa's mayor who says her city is preparing for a devastating amount of water. Parts of that city are already saturated from a thunderstorm last night. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is with us now. Madam Mayor, thanks for taking the time to be with us. I know you're busy. In a briefing this morning, you said this could be a worst-case scenario, at one point, saying it would be devastating. You're sure there could be a forecast worse as it's worse, but you're not really sure what that would be. With the change in this track just a little bit, has that changed your preparations at all?

JANE CASTOR, MAYOR OF TAMPA, FLORIDA: No, no, not at all. You know, we've done all the preparation that we can. We've talked for evacuations. I was just out on the Interstate. One of our main arteries out I-275, Northbound traffic is very, very heavy, Eastbound along some of our expressways are very heavy as well so individuals heeding that warning to get out, clearly not wishing anything negative on our neighbors. But the worst-case scenario would be for the hurricane Ian to stall right off of Tampa Bay, right in the mouth of our shallow bay. So for it to go a little south would certainly alleviate a great deal of the damage to the Tampa Bay area.

[14:10:05]

HILL: Understandably, still though as you know if we're looking at what we just heard from our meteorologist Jennifer Gray, with the map that we saw possibly five to eight feet of storm surge in the Tampa Bay area that could sit there for hours. Do you get to a point where you're worried you're not going to be able to sustain this in certain areas because we know the ground is already saturated, there aren't a lot of places for this water to go?

CASTOR: Oh, we already know that. I mean, we understand that and we've -- you know, we have in preparation, emptied out our storm ponds, taking care of the ditches, put as much water over the dam in the Hillsborough River out to the bay as we can. But we fully understand that if that surge is that high, 8, 10, 12 feet, that there's no place for that water to go. And as you've already recognized, the Tampa Bay area is saturated from our normal summer storms. And so that it -- again is a worst-case scenario to have a storm surge that comes in for hours upon hours with no place to go.

HILL: I know you spoke with the president this morning at this hour. What is your biggest concern?

CASTOR: Biggest concern is the water, making sure that our residents understand the severity of this. No matter where it lands if it does come in a little south of us, we are not getting out of this unscathed. And there is going to be flooding throughout the Tampa Bay area. We have over 120 miles of land that touches the water, basically of coastline so we're talking not just the bay, but our rivers, our canals. I mean, every source of water is going to be flooded in the next 24 or 48 hours.

HILL: I know you talked about just being out there on the roads, sort of getting a sense of how these evacuations were going, as my colleague, Carlos Suarez just pointed out some 370,000 people now under these evacuation orders, is it your sense that the majority of folks are taking this seriously and are getting out of town?

CASTOR: Yes, without a doubt. You know you hear those stories about the hurricane watches and those kinds of things. That's just not the case anymore. I think that everyone understands with this past couple of years of these significant storms that when you're talking 10 to 12-foot surge, that it's time to run from that water.

HILL: And real quickly before I let you go, as I mentioned, you did talk to the president this morning. Anything you can share with us about that conversation?

CASTOR: Yes. The president -- he actually called yesterday and left a voicemail and in his office said he would call sometime between 11:00 and one o'clock today. And he happened to call around 11:30 just to check in, see how things were going, and if there was anything at all that we needed. The head of FEMA was actually sitting in his office at the time. So, I can say that on the federal, the state, and the local level, everyone's working collaboratively to do all we can to mitigate the effects of Hurricane Ian, but it's just not going to be pretty.

HILL: Yes. Mayor Jane Castor, appreciate you taking the time for us. We'll continue to check in with you as well. Thank you.

CASTOR: Thank you, Erica. HILL: A footage exclusively obtained by CNN shows longtime Trump ally Roger Stone calling for violence the day before the 2020 presidential election. We're going to show that video to you next. Plus, the trial against the leader of the Oath Keepers and some of his top deputies begins. We're live outside the courthouse with the charges they face for their role on January 6.

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[14:18:05]

HILL: Right now, jury selection is underway in the biggest trial so far for Capitol rioters. Five members of the far-right Oath Keepers including their leader, Stewart Rhodes, are being tried for seditious conspiracy. Those charges of course stem from the January 6 insurrection. CNN law enforcement correspondent Whitney Wild joining us now live from outside that DC courthouse. So, Whitney, tell us a little bit more, just to remind folks at home what these people are accused of.

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, again, they're accused of seditious conspiracy. That is a charge that carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. What they're prosecutors are going to try to prove here is that, as you mentioned, Stewart Rhodes was the leader of this organization called the Oath Keepers, and he had these top lieutenants. And it was beginning shortly after the election in November 2020 that this group of people began this very lengthy, very detailed plot that culminated in January 6.

Prosecutors are going to try to argue that the ways in which they tried to carry out this seditious conspiracy plot included trying to recruit others holding what were basically paramilitary trainings, amassing weapons, amassing tactical gear, and again culminating on January 6, when this group that's on trial beginning today really split off. So, one of the members -- one of the defendants today is accused of having a quick reaction force outside Washington in a town called Arlington, and additionally accused of amassing weapons in that location at a hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

Some of these other Oath Keepers are accused of -- you've seen this pretty iconic video now of a group of people in a stack formation and paramilitary gear sneaking through the crowd up through -- up into the Capitol building, some of those defendants again on trial beginning today. And again, what prosecutors are going to try to prove was that this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing that this was well planned and it was specifically intended to stop President Joe Biden from assuming the presidency.

[14:20:02]

The defense will argue, however, Erica, that they were there to be peacemakers. They were there to help police inside the Capitol. And that they were there to keep the peace should clashes between the pro- Trump protesters and Antifa erupt. Back to you.

HILL: And in that same courthouse, Whitney, there's a rioter who pleaded guilty to assaulting a DC police officer who's being sentenced. What more do we know about that?

WILD: Well, that sentencing hearing is underway right now. We have not yet seen a sentence for this man. His name is Kyle Young. We know prosecutors are asking for more than five years in prison. Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone who was also a contributor for CNN says that he wants to see at least 10 years for this person. Again, his name is Kyle Young. So, we are still waiting as that sentencing hearing is ongoing right this moment, Erica.

HILL: Whitney Wild, appreciate the reporting. As always, thank you.

Turning now to some really remarkable documentary footage obtained by CNN, which shows Trump ally Roger Stone calling for violence just days before the 2020 presidential election. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER STONE, ADVISER TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP: Excellent. (INAUDIBLE) the violence -- (INAUDIBLE) the violence or (INAUDIBLE) the voting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get it right.

STONE: Let's get to the violence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get right to it.

STONE: Shoot to kill. See an Antifa, shoot to kill. (INAUDIBLE) them. Done with this bullshit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: That clip is one of several that Danish filmmakers shared with the January 6 committee. CNN justice correspondent Jessica Schneider is live now. So, walk us through. These new clips that we now have, can you put them in the greater context here and how are they fitting in for the committee if we know?

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Erica, the Committee actually subpoenaed these Danish filmmakers who had been spending these three years following Roger Stone. After the subpoena, ultimately, these filmmakers agreed to share eight minutes of their film with the committee. That included details from the film itself also certain unedited portions. And the filmmakers actually told Don Lemon last night that the committee was trying here to maybe piece together any three0way link between the White House, Roger Stone, and extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who of course, were front and center at the Capitol attack.

The filmmakers warned that they were not in fact able to establish that three-way link. But interestingly, since this footage does date back to July 2020, 4 months before the election, it does show just how set Roger Stone at least was about wreaking havoc on the election outcome. So here he is just two days before the election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STONE: Let's just hope we're celebrating.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, I know.

STONE: I suspect it'll be -- I really do suspect it will still be up in the air. When that happens, the key thing to do is to claim victory. Possession is nine-tenths of law. No, we won, (INAUDIBLE) you. Sorry, over, we won.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

STONE: You're wrong, (INAUDIBLE) you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe you see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: So, we're now seeing all these clips, but Roger Stone has issued a lengthy statement disputing the authenticity of all of them, saying this. I challenge the accuracy and the authenticity of these videos and believe they have been manipulated and selectively edited. I also point out that, the filmmakers do not have the legal right to use them. How ironic that Kim Kardashian and I are both subjected to computer-manipulated videos on the same day. The excerpts you provided below prove nothing. Certainly, they do not prove I had anything to do with the events of January 6. That being said, it clearly shows I advocated for lawful congressional and judicial options.

Now, Roger Stone has in fact repeatedly denied any involvement with the Capitol attack. However, he was at a rally the day before were members of the Oath Keepers provided him security. And, Erica, he's also had contacts with the Proud Boys. But importantly, he has not been charged in connection with January 6. So we'll see if the committee in fact during the hearing tomorrow, maybe show some of these clips and further explores if there was some more of a connection between Roger Stone and these extremist groups, Erica.

HILL: Yes, well, it will be interesting to see. Jessica Schneider, appreciate it. Thank you.

And just a reminder, you can join CNN for special live coverage tomorrow as the January 6 hearings will resume with new witnesses and evidence. Tune in for "ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY: THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS," that starts at 12:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

Hurricane Ian barreling toward Florida's West Coast, one of the areas facing a direct hit from the storm based on the current path, Sarasota. We're going to speak with the mayor of the city next.

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[14:29:15]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Citizens in the potential impact area should obey the instructions of local officials. Evacuate when ordered and be prepared for the winds -- for the storm when it comes. Your safety is more important than anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: President Biden there with a very clear message to Floridians to heed those storm evacuation orders. He issued a federal emergency declaration and directed support for areas in Hurricane Ian's path. Right now, multiple evacuation alerts are in effect across Sarasota County, and bridges to Barrier islands are set to shut down in the next 30 minutes which means anybody who fails to leave well, you could be stuck there facing a life-threatening storm surge. County officials are sandbagging as much as they can ahead of Ian's arrival.

Joining me now, Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo. Good to have you with us. As I understand it, the governor was at the Sarasota County Emergency offices a short time ago for a press conference.