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Journalist Grant Wahl Dies While Covering World Cup; Americans Celebrate Brittney Griner's Return To The U.S.; Ukraine Says Unprecedented Push On Bakhmut By Russians; Kyrsten Sinema Leaves Democratic Party; Suspected German Far-Right Plot Draws Comparisons With U.S.; Fedex Driver Accused Of Strangling Girl. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired December 10, 2022 - 04:00   ET

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

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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and all around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber.

The sporting community is mourning a huge loss. American journalist Grant Wahl has died while covering the World Cup in Doha. We are live with a look at his legacy.

Brittany Griner spending her first day on American soil in nearly 300 days. Details ahead.

And Russia may abandon the doctrine of no first use of nuclear weapons.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: There's grief and disbelief at the World Cup in Qatar after prominent American sports writer Grant Wahl died while covering the tournament.

A witness tells CNN he collapsed during Friday's match between Argentina and the Netherlands. Qatar's Supreme Court Committee for Delivery and Legacy says he fell ill in the press area and received immediate medical treatment, which continued as he was taken to the hospital. Soccer's governing body in the United States said it was heartbroken

to learn about the tragedy. It's remembering Wahl for his insightful and entertaining coverage of the game. Late last month, his knowledge and passion were on full display during this interview about the U.S.- Iran match.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRANT WAHL, SPORTS JOURNALIST: Absolutely crazy atmosphere inside the stadium. Crazy in a good way. You know, the U.S. sends a lot of fans to the World Cup now. And so the U.S. fans were extremely loud.

We're in a part of the world where we're near Iran. So there were lots of Iran fans in the stands. They were very loud. And you felt like this was really a classic World Cup atmosphere, which is why I always tell everybody, at some point in your life, go to a World Cup, even if you're not a soccer fan.

It's an amazing feelings. It feels like you're at the center of the universe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: FIFA's president is recognizing Wahl's work. Gianni Infantino said, "His love for football was immense and his reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game."

All right. More from Darren Lewis in Doha.

Darren, it's hard to overstate how important Wahl was in the world of U.S. soccer and as a respected sports journalist across the world. Before we talk about his career, let's talk about the man. He was known as kind and generous. You knew him.

What was he like?

DARREN LEWIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: First of all, my thoughts are with the family, his wife and his loved ones. There is a real sense of disbelief here in Doha, Kim. Football very much irrelevant to the death of somebody who I see and I think many people see as an icon in the sport of football and the world of journalism.

He was a great man. He was somebody who was kind, compassionate. He had a word for everybody, whether you were a young journalist coming through, whether you were somebody who had his level of experience.

He helped to bring many people into the world of journalism. He was a passionate advocate for the sport of U.S. football. And for many people on both sides the Atlantic, he was the premier journalist to supporting the cause of football, also various human rights causes.

I can't believe I'm talking about the legendary Grant Wahl, Kim, in the past tense.

BRUNHUBER: You put your thumb right on it, the sense of disbelief that so many people are feeling right now. And you touched on the two dual aspects of his life. He was as much an activist as a journalist, not just for sport but for social issues as well.

LEWIS: Yes, he was. He was a fearless journalist. He wore that T- shirt. He was in here, talking about it with Don Riddell on "WORLD SPORT" and explaining what had happened when he wore that rainbow T- shirt. He was accosted by guards when he tried to get in a game.

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LEWIS: He's been very vocal on the issue of human rights, the treatment of migrant workers. This is a man who fought for the people who didn't have a voice. He did it all his career.

He is somebody who, when people talk about leaders and people who stand up to be counted, they talk about Grant Wahl. And that's a big reason why he has had so many tributes paid to him.

I know you made reference to Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president. That gives you the sense of the esteem in which he was held. He said his love of football was immense. His reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game. He's a legend, Kim.

BRUNHUBER: A legend and a leader, as you said, and for U.S. soccer specifically it's such a huge blow. The very young U.S. men's team, it was poised maybe to do something special in the next World Cup to be played here in North America.

It's just heartbreaking to think that Grant won't be there to see it. But he helped build the support here, where soccer wasn't traditionally seen as on par with the other major sports.

LEWIS: Yes. It's particularly poignant but an important point to make. When other countries would look down their noses at U.S. soccer in particular, he would fight for it. You only have to look at social media and some of the tributes being made to understand the esteem in which he is held by athletes past and present.

I will refer you to a tweet by Don Garber, who said, "We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken over the tragic passing of Grant Wahl. He was a kind and caring person whose passion for soccer and dedication to journalism were immeasurable."

That's just one of a number of tweets that have been sent out this morning. He was somebody that, as you rightly say, should be at the vanguard of 2026, having fought for so long for U.S. football, U.S. soccer to be taken seriously. And now heartbreakingly he won't be there. But all of our thoughts will be with his family.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, well said. Really appreciate all of your thoughts as well, Darren Lewis in Doha.

Much more on this developing story later in the show.

WNBA star Brittany Griner's release from a Russian prison is raising hopes that Paul Whelan and other Americans may be released. She was taken to an Army medical center to get checked out.

She had been imprisoned for the past 10 months on a drug charge but was said to be in good spirits. Her attorneys said Griner cut off her dreadlocks about two weeks ago so she could better handle the extreme cold. We get the latest from Rosa Flores.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NED PRICE, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: We are absolutely gratified that Brittney Griner is back on American soil.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome news today on Griner's return.

We can confirm Brittney Griner arrived at Joint Base San Antonio. Brittney Griner now in her home state after nearly 10 months in a Russian prison, most recently serving her nine-year sentence in a Russian penal colony.

And there is new information about her life there. Griner says she cut her long hair nearly two weeks ago and trimmed it to make her life easier during the Russian winter.

And her attorney there says she was unable to do the sewing work she was assigned at the penal colony due to her large hands and because the tables were too small to accommodate her.

President Joe Biden's National Security Council spokesperson saying she appears to be in good health.

ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: She was very incredibly gracious and kind and humble on the flight. Very, very appreciative of the effort to get her home.

FLORES (voice-over): Griner is now undergoing a medical evaluation before being reunited with her wife, Cherelle and the rest of her family.

A senior Biden administration official saying that negotiations to bring Griner home were separate from any talks about Ukraine.

The deal came together about one week ago, after the U.S. offered to swap convicted Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout for both Griner and Paul Whelan.

Whelan was detained in Russia in 2018, convicted on espionage charges and sentenced to 16 years in prison, a charge he denies. The Russians rejected that proposal.

KIRBY: It was either make this exchange --

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KIRBY: -- get one back and the only one that they were willing to trade was Brittney.

FLORES (voice-over): President Biden didn't sign the commutation papers for Bout until Griner was on the ground in Abu Dhabi, in sight of a U.S. delegation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin saying the Russian Federal Security Service took charge of the swap, adding there is a possibility for further negotiations, raising hopes that Paul Whelan could be the next American freed.

For now, Griner's family, friends and teammates say they are just happy to have her home.

VINCE KOZAR, PRESIDENT, PHOENIX MERCURY: We're incredibly gratified and thankful she's back.

FLORES (voice-over): Rosa Flores, CNN, San Antonio, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: The Biden administration concedes it paid a high price for her freedom, trading one of the world's most notorious arms trackers. Viktor Bout was serving a 25-year prison sentence. Many in the U.S. government were opposed to the lopsided exchange.

Some Pentagon officials fear Bout may resume his nefarious activities. But John Kirby defended Biden's actions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: It just became readily apparent to the president and the entire team that it was either make this exchange, get one back.

And the only one they were willing to trade was Brittney, for Mr. Bout, or get none and leave her there. And I can think we would all agree that not even one more day in a penal colony for Brittney was a good outcome.

We're going to be vigilant, we're going to watch. He's on the street now. He would have been free in six years. It's not like he was serving a life sentence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: For more on this trade and how the U.S. plans to keep tabs on Bout, here's CNN's Oren Liebermann.

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OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: There is some level of concern within the Pentagon that Viktor Bout might return to the work that made him infamous now that he was released for U.S. basketball star Brittany Griner.

He was nicknamed "the Merchant of Death." The Defense Department is watching now that Bout is out there again. If he does go back to sale, the proliferation of arms. It was never an easy decision for the Biden administration to make, according to CNN's reporting.

Ultimately, there was a chance to make this trade. It was one for one or one or none. And the administration ultimately decided to move forward with this, knowing the risks it entails.

First, the Defense Department will monitor this very closely. Africa being one of the key areas that DOD is watching to go see if he does go back to work there, where he had spread arms before. That's one of the key areas.

In terms of how DOD would handle that, a senior Defense officials said we will continue to work with African partners so they understand the risks and the threats of the people they're working with and the organizations they're working with -- Oren Liebermann, CNN, at the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Ukraine will get a boost for its defenses against Iranian drones, wreaking havoc on its energy system. A new batch of U.S. military aid worth $275 million will include technologies to fight drones like these, which Russia has been using to pummel Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Ukraine says Russia has fired more than a thousand drones and missiles on its energy facilities over the past two months. After the announcement, President Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. for what he called its unwavering support.

Ukraine says Russia is turning up the pressure along the eastern front lines. On Friday, Ukrainian officials said Russian troops made an unprecedented push on the city of Bakhmut.

President Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian defenses are holding. Meanwhile, Russia's president is taking nuclear saber rattling to a new level. Vladimir Putin said Russia might abandon its military doctrine not to use nuclear weapons in a first strike.

He also told reporters in Russia is done with military mobilizations for now. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): There are no such factors today. They are not visible. As I told you, 300,000 were called up as part of the mobilization. Let me repeat once again, 150,000 are in the grouping. Of those, a little more than half are in combat units.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Clare Sebastian is keeping an eye on all developments involving Ukraine.

Clare, take us through the reality on the ground behind Zelenskyy's comments.

Why is the situation in the east so difficult, as he put it?

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CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That area, of course, the concentration of the finding around the town of Bakhmut, a lot of Russian fire power in that area. Ukraine having to defend it. President Zelenskyy actually visited the Donbas region earlier this week.

He wanted to be seen there, to show that Ukraine still has its goal of liberating not only the newly taken territories by Russia but those under control of Russian-backed separatists in 2014.

We know how important the Donbas is to President Putin. He uses the word Donbas more than he does Ukraine. The reality on the ground is brutal. I want you to listen to a clip from Sam Kiley, who visited a hospital and asked a soldier who had been injured about his impression of the fighting there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: How would you describe the battle for Bakhmut?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language). So one world.

KILEY (voice-over): He says World War I. Trenches, mud, blood, trenches, mud again, artillery, trench warfare. That's it. World War I and World War II, something like that. Verdun, the Somme, something like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: So I think you get a strong impression of what things are like on the ground, World War I or II but with sophisticated, modern weaponry alongside NATO weaponry provided to Ukraine.

And, of course, Ukraine got another boost this week, a 27th drawdown by the U.S. since 2021. You can see Ukraine's allies continue to support it to defend that city.

BRUNHUBER: All right. That's the Ukrainian perspective. Now to Russia's president, making provocative comments about the use of nuclear weapons.

SEBASTIAN: It's interesting, Kim; it's been the hallmark of this conflict so far, the nuclear rhetoric. It seemed to escalate in the autumn, when Ukraine's counter offensive started to bear fruit.

It has receded a little bit in recent weeks. But this past week we saw those drone attacks on several Russian air bases a long way from the Ukrainian border. The German chancellor came out and said the threat of nuclear war and escalation had receded.

President Putin, twice in fact, in several days, putting pay to that notion. He's a little cagey in how he frames this. He says, we are thinking about it. He wasn't definitive that they are going to introduce that into their nuclear doctrine. But he wants to leverage the rhetorical power of his nuclear arsenal.

At the end of the year, he has nothing much to celebrate from his efforts in Ukraine.

BRUNHUBER: All right. Thanks so much, Clare Sebastian in London.

A judge declines to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court. But the classified documents case is far from settled. We'll have details ahead. Plus, Kyrsten Sinema leaves the Democratic Party. Stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: A U.S. federal judge has declined to hold former president Donald Trump in contempt of court for failing to turn over classified records. The decision comes despite concerns from the Justice Department that Trump might still have classified material in his possession. Katelyn Polantz has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: There was a long hearing on Friday, under seal, over Donald Trump and a subpoena that he and his team have been sitting with for months now.

Two years after he left the presidency, this hearing on the table today was whether or not Donald Trump would be held in contempt for not fulfilling that subpoena from back in May.

And our reporting from Kristen Holmes and Sara Murray, federal judge Beryl Howell (ph) didn't hold Donald Trump in contempt today. We also understand Trump's side and the Justice Department were urged to try and find a resolution.

This does not mean the end of the investigation, led by Jack Smith. It's not clear if this is the end of the dispute in court. We don't know much else because more than 12 members of the media and news organizations, national press, and a lawyer we were using to represent all of us, we tried to get into this hearing.

We were asking the court for transparency, to be heard, to potentially open it up to the public. We know about the existence of the subpoena and the Justice Department's many months of being dissatisfied with it.

But that was not going to be the case today. The media did not get to witness this hearing. And the attorneys left through some back hallways after about 90 minutes -- CNN, Kaitlan Polantz, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: A shakeup in the U.S. Senate for Democrats. Kyrsten Sinema left the Democrats to become an independent. But the balance of power will remain the same. She told our Jake Tapper why she made the change. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KYRSTEN SINEMA (I-AZ): I know some people might be a little bit surprised by this. But actually, I think it makes a lot of sense, you know, a growing number of Arizonans and people like me, just don't feel like we fit neatly into one party's box or the other.

[04:25:00]

SINEMA: And so like many across the state in the nation, I've decided to leave that partisan process.

I intend to maintain my position on my committees and keep doing the work that I have been doing for Arizona. I don't think things will change in terms of how I parade or the work that I do in the United States Senate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: She declined to answer questions about whether she will run for re-election in 2024. She will join Angus King and Bernie Sanders, independents, who also caucus with the Democrats.

Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, and the White House, downplaying the news. Amy Klobuchar said she doesn't expect the move to make much difference. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): I don't think it's going to greatly change the way the Senate is working right now and in any way take away the victory the Democrats have.

If she were to say no, I'm going over Republican, I am not voting with them anymore, that's a whole different thing. That is nowhere near what she said and she has tended not to go to the caucus meeting, something she said.

So I'm not, like, telling something out of school, except for rare moments where she's advocating for something she cares about. And that's not going to change either. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Germany says it foiled a far-right plot to stage a coup against its government. But the inspiration is drawing comparisons with extremist groups here in the U.S. We'll explain.

Plus much more on the tragic death of a World Cup journalist.

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BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us herein the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN NEWSROOM. The World Cup community is in shock after prominent American

journalist Grant Wahl died covering the event in Qatar.

Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy says he fell ill in the press area and received immediate medical treatment, which continued as he was taken to the hospital. Soccer's governing body in the United States said it was heartbroken over the tragedy.

Earlier the co-host of Wahl's football podcast offered similar praise in an interview with CNN.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

CHRIS WITTYNGHAM, CO-HOST, "FUTBOL WITH GRANT WAHL": I actually spent a year in Argentina in the '90s around the Copa America. He told me a story about how he wore American colors in Buenos Aires that evening and was nearly, you know, beaten up by some locals because he dared to celebrate an American victory in Argentina.

But he loved that country and would have loved seeing them get through the World Cup semifinal today.

The last text I sent to him was an unanswered one, "When are we going to talk about this?"

Yes. It's impossible to fathom a man so young, who offered, as your previous guests mentioned, so much to the footballing world, to the advancement of human rights, to noble, genuinely noble causes, to have heard of his passing.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: And FIFA's president is sending his thoughts to Wahl's loved ones. In a statement, he said, "On behalf of FIFA and the football community, we express our sincerest condolences to his wife, Celine, his family and his friends at this most difficult time."

German authorities have arrested 23 people, detained over a suspected far-right plot to overflow the government. More arrests are expected. German officials say they follow a number of conspiracy theories, including QAnon. As Brian Todd reports, that's only one of the similarities between that group and extremists in the U.S.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Armed German police make sweeping arrests across the country.

A dragnet resulting in the apprehensions of 25 people, members or supporters of what German officials say is a far-right terrorist organization that was allegedly plotting to overthrow the government in Berlin. German prosecutors say there could be twice that many people in the group overall.

A group that follows the Reichsburger or Reich Citizens movement, a movement described as radical and violent, followers of the conspiracy theories like the QAnon ideology.

NANCY FAESER, GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): The suspected terrorists group uncovered today was founded based on coup d'etat fantasies and conspiracy ideologies.

TODD: Just how closely aligned are those German right-wing militants to the QAnon movements in the U.S.?

JON LEWIS, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Both of the movements gained steam in 2020 around those societal conditions around anti-vax, anti- mask mandates and around the functioning acts of the U.S. and German governments.

JOHN MILLER, FORMER NYPD DEPUTY COMMISSSIONER ON INTELLIGENCE & COUNTERTERRORISM: The ties to QAnon in the U.S. are really the crossover of the conspiracy theories, which is that there is a global deep state, not just one in the United States and one in the Federal Republic of Germany, and that these groups collude and that they are not legitimate governments, that they are not legitimate leaders.

TODD: Connected to the plot in Germany, according to a top German news outlet, a former far-right member of Germany's lower house of parliament, a woman who now serves as a judge in Berlin's district court. CNN was not able to get comment from her and German prosecutors did not confirm her involvement.

There are also indications tonight that the right-wing German plotters may have been channeling the January 6th insurrectionist at the U.S. Capitol. German officials saying members of the group considered entering the German parliament by force.

ALEXANDER HAUSLER, DUSSELDORF UNIVERSITY (through translator): The storming of the U.S. Capitol after the last presidential election showed these people that there are options to destroy the state order.

TODD: But why should Americans care about a right-wing conspiracy in Germany?

MILLER: Their crossover or international communications can make it a global movement.

And there's the factor of come together to do what?

We got a taste of that on January 6th.

TODD: And the former and possibly future American president has embraced these fringe groups. Donald Trump, a hero of the QAnon movement in the U.S., has recently reposted various memes and videos with references to QAnon conspiracy theories.

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TODD (voice-over): And took a picture Tuesday night at a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser with a promoter of QAnon.

TODD: While agencies like the German security services and the FBI remain proactive in trying to take down these far-right extremist groups, analyst Jon Lewis says one challenge they have is that many of these groups do not have a visible or central leader.

The splintered nature of the groups makes them tougher to penetrate and the plots harder to stop -- Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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BRUNHUBER: Peter Neumann is a security studies professor at King's College London and the former director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation.

Thanks very much for being here with us. As we saw there, this group wants to overthrow the government and install their own leader. Now it's a deep rabbit hole.

For our American viewers who have heard of the so-called sovereign citizens movement, it's all very familiar ideology.

How does it relates to the movement here in the U.S., similar to the Freemen in Canada?

PETER NEUMANN, INTL. CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF RADICALISATION AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE: It is almost exactly the same. They don't believe in the legitimacy of the U.S. Constitution. They have their own passports. They refuse to pay taxes.

That's exactly what the people are doing in Germany. They are not recognizing the legitimacy of the German state. The last legitimate German state according to them was German monarchy that ended in 1918.

Their supposed leader is an aristocrat. That's what they wanted to go back to.

BRUNHUBER: That's where it diverges from here in the U.S. But we saw they have been heavily influenced by QAnon.

How is that?

NEUMANN: Yes. That surprised me, too. Whenever I heard about QAnon, I thought this is so American, it's so about Donald Trump, the Second Amendment. This will never translate into any other national context.

But it did. In fact, the second most translated into language of QAnon is German. Telegram channels spread their propaganda and supporters of that are trying to translate it into a German context.

So for example, in the summer of 2020, supporters of the (INAUDIBLE) movement were actually trying to storm the German parliament. And the rumor was that Donald Trump was in town, that he had flown in to liberate the country. So there is definitely a crossover.

BRUNHUBER: I mean, it all sounds so absurd. But it is a real threat. And it goes much wider and deeper than the 2 dozen or so they've arrested.

Is that right?

NEUMANN: Yes. It is absolutely laughable if you don't believe in it. But these people do. According to the German domestic intelligence agency, there are 20,000 supporters across the country, of which an estimated 2,000 are potentially violent.

This is very important. In Germany, we don't have many guns. But supporters of the Reichsburger movement are heavily armed. They get gun licenses because of all sorts of excuses, of being hunters, sports shooters, et cetera. They are heavily armed and they are a threat.

BRUNHUBER: So I'll ask you the same question we heard in the piece that preceded this, which is beyond shaking our heads at the absurdity of it all.

Why should Americans care about this weird cultural appropriation going on in Germany?

NEUMANN: Well, they should care about it. It's a sign of this ideology spreading. We're seeing that these guys are copying each other.

So one of the actions that they planned to implement in Germany was the storming of the German parliament. It was modeled on the storming of the Capitol at the beginning of last year in the United States.

These groups watch each other, learn from each other. You shouldn't be surprised if any of the tactics are suddenly turning up in the United States.

BRUNHUBER: It's really disturbing. We'll definitely have to keep an eye on that here. Really appreciate you explaining it all to us, Peter Neumann, thanks so much.

NEUMANN: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: The brutal death of a little girl in Texas, why a delivery driver allegedly killed her after dropping off a Christmas present at her home.

Plus, the latest on the investigation into the deaths of four university students in Idaho. Stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: Police in North Carolina say they've received hundreds of tips about a deliberate attack on the local power grid that knocked out power to thousands of customers.

Authorities say whoever shot out two utility substations with a high- powered rifle, quote, "knew exactly what they were doing." A $75,000 reward has been offered for information on the person or persons responsible.

Crews have now restored power to some 45,000 homes and businesses that were in the dark for days. That follows similar attacks against power grids in other parts of the country. Law enforcement sources say domestic extremist groups have been promoting the attacks in online forums, with details on the systems' weaknesses.

A community near Ft. Worth, Texas, is in shock and disbelief. The girl's mother is calling for FedEx to impose stricter screenings of its drivers. CNN's Josh Campbell has the chilling details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: We're learning new information about the death of a 7-year-old girl near Ft. Worth, Texas, on November 30th.

Police say Athena Strand went missing from her driveway. Her family called police. There was an extensive search of the area. As part of that investigation, police determined there was a FedEx package delivery around the time of her disappearance.

They contacted the company and were able to identify the specific truck. There was surveillance footage that showed this young girl inside the vehicle with the driver.

That driver, 31-year-old Tanner Horner was arrested. He has now been charged with capital murder, as well as aggravated kidnapping. Police say he confessed. The defendant stated, when he was backing up his FedEx truck, he accidentally hit Athena with the truck.

[04:45:00]

CAMPBELL: But she was not seriously injured. He panicked and put her in the van. He strangled her with his bare hands in the back of the FedEx truck.

We've made multiple attempts to get in contact with his attorney. He is now being held on a bond of $1.5 million. This family and community obviously devastated by the alleged murder of the 7-year-old girl.

I will read a post from her mother on Facebook. She writes, "She was born to change my world and she has. Let her unexpected and inexcusable death be the reason we see change. Let her pure beauty be the reason we make this world more beautiful. Let the light she brought into this world continue to grow brighter in her name."

A truly, truly tragic situation there in Ft. Worth, Texas -- Josh Campbell, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BRUNHUBER: Authorities investigating the deaths of four Idaho college students say they are making progress but they still haven't made details available to the public. They don't want to compromise the investigation.

Officials say they are sorting through a huge number of tips, including many about a white Hyundai Elantra sedan. They have not identified a suspect or found the murder weapon used in last month's attack.

As condemnation rolls in from around the world for the execution of an Iranian protester, unbowed demonstrators refuse to stay quiet.

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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): In Tehran, the streets rang out with a familiar chant of, "death to the dictator." Protesters in the Western city damaged a statue dedicated to the passage of the paramilitary force.

Meanwhile, mourners gathered at the grave of Mohsen Shekari. He was hung on Thursday after being sentenced to death in late October, the first known public execution since protests began.

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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): In Peru, hundreds of people continue to protest the ouster of president Pedro Castillo. They demand new elections and creation of a constitutional assembly. The new president says she would be willing to discuss early elections but is ruling out constitutional changes.

This all comes as her predecessor is seeking asylum in Mexico. He is facing charges of rebellion. He was ousted by lawmakers on Wednesday after he tried to dissolve congress to avoid an impeachment vote.

More legal trouble for Jimmy Lai, who is already in jail. He has been sentenced to six years more prison time and a quarter million dollar fine for fraud. He founded the pro-democracy "Apple News Daily," shut down last after a police raid.

In his latest case, he was found to have concealed using the newspaper's headquarters to support private firms, violating its lease. Lai is a high profile critic of Beijing under Hong Kong's sweeping national security law. He was sentenced to almost 13 months in prison last year for an unauthorized protest.

All right, still ahead this hour, the stunning upsets, the comebacks and all the nail-biting highlights. The first semifinal matchup is now set in Qatar. Stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: That wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber. You can follow me on Twitter. I'll be back in a moment with more news. Please do stay with us.