Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Video Footage Shows Congressional Leaders Scrambling to Bring an End to the U.S. Capitol Insurrection; Parkland High School Mass Murder Spared the Death Penalty; Amnesty International: At Least 144 Deaths Since Protests Began in Iran; Rare Banners of Protest Appear and Disappear in Beijing; More than 133 Million Americans Living in Drought Conditions. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired October 14, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with top stories for this hour.

A major blow for former President Donald Trump in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation. The Supreme Court rejecting an emergency request from the former president to intervene and reverse a federal appeals court ruling which could have let the special master and the team Trump -- and team Trump review about 100 documents marked classified.

Plus, the January 6th committee has unanimously voted to subpoena Trump during yesterday's hearing on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The committee presented evidence Trump knew he had lost the 2020 election but still pursued efforts to overturn it. Now the January 6th Committee released chilling video of Congressional leaders scrambling to secure the Capitol as it was being ran sacked by Trump supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: We have got to get -- finish the proceedings or else they will have a complete victory.

CROWD: U.S.A.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): I'm going to call up the f'ing secretary of DOD. We have some Senators still in their hide aways. They need massive personnel now. Can you get the Maryland National Guard to come too?

PELOSI: But the fact is on any given day they're breaking the law in many different ways and quite frankly much of it at the instigation of the president of the United States and now if he could at least --

SCHUMER: Yes, why don't you get the president to tell them to leave the Capitol, Mr. Attorney General, in your law enforcement responsibility. PELOSI: But what we left the conversation with because he said he had

the impression from Mitch that Mitch wants to get everybody back to do it there.

SCHUMER: Yes.

PELOSI: I said that, well, we're getting a counterpoint that could take time to clean up the poo poo that they're making all over the, literally and figuratively in the Capitol, and that it may take days to get back.

MIKE PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm at the Capitol building. I'm literally standing with the chief of police of the U.S. Capitol police. He just informed me that what you all hear through official channels, Paul Irving, the Sergeant at Arms will inform you that their best information is that they believe that the House and the Senate will be able to reconvene in roughly an hour.

SCHUMER: Good news.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: The confessed gunman in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history will spend the rest of his life in prison. 14 students and three teachers were killed and 2018 at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Prosecutors had argued for the death penalty but in a decision many of the victim's families find hard to accept, the jury opted instead for a life sentence. CNN's Carlos Suarez has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JUDGE ELIZABETH SCHERER, BROWARD CIRCUIT COURT: Eligibility for the death penalty --

CARLOS SUAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Defeated and disappointed, family members who lost their loved ones in the deadliest high school shooting in the U.S. listened in agony as the judge read the jury's recommendation to spare the life of convicted killer Nikolas Cruz 17 times.

SCHERER: We the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no.

SUAREZ (voice-over): On all 17 counts of first degree murder, three jurors showed Cruz mercy. According to CNN affiliate WFOR. Something Cruz's own attorneys said he did not show his victims the day of the massacre.

DR. ILAN ALHADEFF, ALYSSA ALHADEFF'S FATHER: I'm disgusted with our legal system. I'm disgusted with those jurors.

SUAREZ (voice-over): His daughter, 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff was shot several times at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day in 2018. ALHADEFF: You set a precedent today. He set the precedent for the next mass killing and nothing happens to you, you'll get life in jail. I'm sorry, that is not OK. As a country we need to stand up and say that's not OK.

SUAREZ (voice-over): The jury returned a verdict of life without the possibility of parole after deliberating for one day, ending a lengthy penalty trial that began in April. To have recommended death, the jury would have had to unanimously agree that the aggravating factors, the reasons for a death sentence outweighed mitigating circumstances including doctor's testimony that Cruz was mentally ill was enough to spare his life.

[04:35:03]

They did not.

FRED GUTTENBERG, JAIME GUTTENBERG'S FATHER: This jury failed our families today. But I will tell you, the monster is going to go to prison and in prison, I hope and pray, he receives the kind of mercy from prisoners that he showed to my daughter and the 16 others. He is going to go to prison and he will die in prison. And I will be waiting to read that news on that. He should have received the death sentence today.

SUAREZ: Late Thursday one of the jurors that voted against the death penalty wrote a letter to the judge denying an allegation that she says she heard from another juror who said that she had made up her mind before the trial got started. Nikolas Cruz will be back in court to be sentenced on November 1st and the family members of the victims, they're going to be able to address the court that day.

Carlos Suarez, CNN, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: In the coming hours, authorities in Raleigh, North Carolina, will hold a news conference on the mass shooting that killed five people on Thursday including a police officer. So far, they're not releasing the victim's names. The suspected gunman was taken into custody but has also not been identified. Police say he's a white male juvenile, no word yet on a motive. Raleigh's mayor got emotional earlier and said that America's mindless gun violence has to stop.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARY-ANN BALDWIN, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA MAYOR: We have to wake up. I don't want other mayors standing here at the podium with their hearts breaking because people in their community died today, needlessly and tragically.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: The bloodshed in Raleigh marks the 531st mass shooting in the U.S. so far this year -- according to the Gun Violence Archive. It defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot, not counting the shooter.

Iran's brutal crackdown of anti-government protesters has led to dozens and dozens of deaths now and Amnesty International now says a shocking number of those victims are children. A live report from London just ahead.

Almost as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. A rare and brazen display of defiance in Beijing and it comes at a very sensitive time as well. Details on that next.

[04:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: There really is no way of knowing for certain how many people have died in weeks of violent anti-government protests in Iran. But Amnesty International says at least 23 of the victims are children aged 11 to 17. And those were just during the last ten days of September as well when the government unleashed a ruthless crackdown on demonstrators.

Since the protests first erupted Amnesty reports at least 144 men, women and children have been killed. CNN isn't able to verify that figure and many believe the actual death toll is actually much higher.

CNN's Nada Bashir is following all of these developments for us this morning. You wonder what the authorities think of the fact that these numbers are getting out there and that shocking details of actually who's being killed.

NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Yes, there has been a real effort by the Iranian regime to control the spread of information. We've seen internet restrictions across parts of the country in an attempt to stop those videos and those details that are really coming out.

But we've heard from numerous human rights organizations already detailing these violent acts by the Iranian security forces expressing concern in particular over the use of lethal and excessive force against protesters but also in particular against young people.

And as you heard in that really troubling report from Amnesty International, 23 children identified their names and photographs in their report killed at the hands of the Iranian security forces. According to Amnesty either by live fire ammunition, by lethal beatings or by other means. And this is really a huge concern.

We've heard from UNICEF as well expressing concern over how children are being treated by the security forces. And what really raised further concern earlier this week was remarks by Iran's education minister speaking to the reformer newspaper saying that some of the students being detained are being sent to so-called psychological institutions, for what he described as reform and reeducation. And that has really raised the concern of many across the globe.

We've seen that crackdown across parts of Iran over the last few days intensifying particularly in the northwestern Kurdish region. The use of tear gas and live fire weapons indiscriminately against protesters. These figures that we're seeing, the 23 children are just from the last 10 days of September. We already know from human rights groups that we've seen further fatalities in October including in that northwestern Kurdish city of Sanandaj, where over the weekend alone we saw at least five people being killed including a 7-year-old child according to Hengaw, which is a human rights organization focusing on the Kurdish region.

But despite the violent crackdown, despite efforts to stem the spread of information, we are still seeing these protests gaining momentum, popping up across the country, many of them still being led by students at universities. Acts of defiance in schools by even young school girls removing their mandatory hijabs -- their headscarves -- in a show of defiance against the regime's severe restrictions on women's rights.

And this is all despite the crackdown that we are seeing. The Iranian regime has blamed what it describes as riots on people they believe are working for foreign agents. They've laid the blamed previously on the U.S., on Israel.

But look, these are people who are demanding further rights in Iran. They're demanding the easing of restrictions on women's rights. They're demanding better policies on the economy. They're demanding better standards of living. And of course, they are against the perpetration of human rights abuses by the Iranian regime. And some now course, are also calling for a complete overhaul of the regime. They are calling for the end of the Islamic regime.

FOSTER: Nada, thank you.

A week's long strike is over at one of the French gasoline refineries. According to local CNN affiliate, BFM TV workers lifted their blockade on Thursday following discussions with energy giant Exxon Mobil. Four of the seven gas sites in mainland France are still affected by strike action. France's ministry of energy transition says close to 200 gas depots have also been impacted. All four of the refineries are run by Total Energies.

Chinese sensors have been busy trying to wipe away all evidence of an illicit antigovernment protest in Beijing. Horns were honked.

[04:45:00]

Messages were blared and something was set on fire. As banners came from an overpass that slammed the Chinese president -- slamming the Chinese president in the country's zero-COVID policies. Displays of dissent are exceedingly rare in China. And the timing of this one was no coincidence. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is live in Hong Kong with details. The protesters targeting this big conference effectively but also that's the most sensitive time to hit the leader, right.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Look, this was on Thursday a brazen political protest in the Chinese capital targeting not only Chinese zero-COVID policy but China's core leader himself -- the Chinese leader Xi Jinping. And this is happening at a very sensitive time because we're just 7days away from the start of the 20th Party Congress.

And this is when Xi Jinping, who is not only the president of China, the head of the military in China. He is also the general secretary of the Communist Party is expected to be anointed to secure that unprecedented third term as party leader and then secure his status of being the most powerful Chinese leader in decade.

You can see there the images on your screen. These are the images in the videos that started circulating on Thursday where you see a banner was unfurled from the overpass in Haidian District of Beijing. This is a district, it's a high tech district of Beijing, a number of prestigious universities are there as well.

And we have a translation of what one banner read. This is a banner that targeted Xi Jinping himself.

It said this, quote, go on strike. Remove dictator and national traitor Xi Jinping, unquote.

Also, at the scene a plume of smoke was also seen rising from the bridge. That cause was unclear. But appeared to at least direct some attention to the banners. And the message on the banners were also broadcasted on a loudspeaker. We also have a translation for you of the other banner.

The other banner read this, quote, say no to COVID tests, yes, to food. No to lockdown, yes to freedom. No to lies, yes to dignity. No to cultural revolution. Yes, to reform. No to great leader, yes to vote. Don't be a slave, be a citizen. Unquote.

These banners have been taken down. Images and videos of these banners have been scrubbed off the internet in China. There have been reports that the word Beijing is censored off of social media in China this day. And Beijing and its officials have yet to comment publicly about this incident. But ahead of the start of the 20th Party Congress -- which again kicks off on Sunday -- there has been rising discontent and anger in China expressed online and also in the real world.

Anger about frozen bank accounts, anger about the zero-COVID policy, which has been so disruptive to people's lives and livelihoods as well. Chinese authorities have responded through security clampdowns and widespread censorship. Back to you.

FOSTER: Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. Thank you very much indeed.

Now North Korea's flurry of missile tests shows no sign of letting up. The South Korean military says the North launched a short range ballistic missile from Pyongyang early on Friday local time. By CNN's count this would be North Korea's 27th missile test this year. After the first time in five years South Korea has imposed new sanctions. The South Korean foreign ministry says is targeting 15 individuals and 16 organizations involved in North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs and the dodging of sanctions.

Critical fire warnings issued across parts of the U.S. Great Plains with gusty winds and low humidity helping to fuel the burn -- Derek. DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, in fact, we have this elevated

fire risk, but it is also this rapidly expanding drought that is impacting places like Arkansas. After the break I'm going to show you some astounding video of a dust devil. You'll want to see this. Stick around.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: More than 133 million Americans are living in areas currently considered in drought. The highest number on record since 2016. That's according to new data released by Drought Monitor. The group found that worsening drought conditions now cover more than 55 percent of the continental U.S.

Areas across the Great Plains and Ohio Valley and southeast have been hardest hit. In speaking of the Great Plains, red flag warnings have been issued from North Dakota to Kentucky impacting nearly 24 million people. Gusty winds along with high humidity are expected in the coming days creating the perfect conditions for critical wildfires to spring up across that region.

Water levels in parts of the Mississippi River have now dropped so low that areas once only accessible by boat are now completely dry. More than 70 percent of the Missouri River Basin which helps fuel the river is facing drought conditions this week. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam joins us now. These fires are quite worrying.

VAN DAM: Yes, and it's incredible to see how rapidly expanding this drought is across portions that just a month ago were not in a drought condition and now are in severe drought. I want to show you this dust devil that formed in Jonesboro, Arkansas. This is northeastern Arkansas. Really incredible to see this. By the way, just devils usually harmless to people. They can range anywhere from a few feet tall to over 3,000 feet tall. They typically form in very hot, dry, arid areas. And you can just see some of the debris that's been lofted up by this. Just incredible though.

This is what I was talking about. We have our extreme critical to elevated fire danger that is spreading further and further east as the drought expands. So, places like Arkansas and Missouri are included in this. Just last month -- well, I should say a couple months ago in July, 22 percent of Oklahoma under severe drought. Only half a percent under the state of Arkansas under severe drought conditions. Now you fast forward to this week and look at how dramatically those numbers have changed.

So, the spreading of this drought continues. We have our high fire danger, our fire risk. This is a red fire warnings that Max mentioned a moment ago. And that includes places like Little Rock in just outside of Nashville as well.

[04:55:03]

As the winds continue to whip up across this region and create that very dry, relative humidity across the area. Now this is also an astounding picture and it really tells a thousand words. This is the Mississippi River. And what you're looking at here is a stranded barge. This is normally water, right, and now you can walk across parts of the Mississippi River. The water levels here are so low that it is actually halting some of the barge traffic in a really terrible time, Max, considering we have all kinds of supply chain issues. We're working into negative territory on some of the river gauges here. It's incredible to think that Memphis had 30 days without water. That ended just a few days ago -- Max.

FOSTER: Unbelievable, Derek, thank you.

The weather was not cooperative in New York forcing Major League Baseball to postpone game two of the Yankees playoff series against the Cleveland Guardians. It's been rescheduled for this afternoon with the Yankees leading the series 1-0.

In the other American League series, the Houston Astros are taking a commanding lead over the Seattle Mariners with a 4-2 victory on Thursday.

Another win on Saturday and the Astros advance to their lead championship series.

And finally, a piece of football history is going on the auction block here in London next month. It's a ball used by Argentinian Diego Maradona to score 2 goals against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals. They include a goal he controversially scored with his hand. Which he later famously said was done by the hand of God. The ball has been valued at up to $3.3 million. Earlier this year Maradona's shirt from that match fetched more than 9 million bucks.

Thanks for joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. "EARLY START" with Christine Romans is up next here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)