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Tornado Outbreak Batters South and Midwest U.S.; Trump Expected to Surrender Tuesday and Face Arraignment; Trump Loyalists, GOP Lawmakers Attack Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg for Trump Indictment; Pope Francis to Participate in Palm Sunday Mass; Arrest of American Journalist in Russia Has White House "Deeply Concerned"; Bucha Marks Solemn Anniversary of Russian Terror; Hindu Temple Collapses in India. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired April 01, 2023 - 02:00   ET

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

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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes. Appreciate your company.

Coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM, scenes of devastation across parts of the U.S. after a series of powerful tornadoes ripped through multiple states.

Security preparations underway in New York as the city braces for potential protests ahead of Donald Trump's arraignment.

Plus U.S. President Joe Biden calling on Russia to release Evan Gershkovich, the American journalists who the Kremlin has accused of espionage.

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

HOLMES: A large swath of the United States, from Ohio to Louisiana, is under tornado watches and warnings right now, as a string of deadly storms makes its way across the country.

There have been dozens of tornado reports in a number of states from Arkansas to Wisconsin. And forecasters predict the severe weather will continue throughout the day on Saturday.

At least three deaths and dozens of injuries are being blamed on the tornadoes that hit Arkansas on Friday. Two of those deaths came in the city of Wynne, where the mayor says the storm damage has cut the town in half.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES (voice-over): And have a look at this. This is a massive tornado bearing down on Little Rock. A third death reported there. One man talked about what he experienced.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): If they happened, like five seconds, it's like it came home. It was a lot of -- you hear a lot of commotion and stuff, then it was just over. I go outside and it's crazy. People got blood all over their face.

I'm just thankful that I'm alive and for the most part I'm not -- I don't feel nothing, just I'm thankful. It's a humbling experience. It's awful.

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HOLMES: In Illinois, one person was killed, dozens of others injured when the roof of a theater collapsed Friday night in the storms. More than 200 people were inside the Apollo Theater for a heavy metal concert at the time.

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HOLMES: Joining me now, Brian Carcione is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Southern Region headquarters. He joins me now.

Brian, thanks for doing so. Just give us a sense of how widespread this extreme weather has been.

BRIAN CARCIONE, METEOROLOGIST, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: So across the South, we have sort of four main areas of damage. So far, the one that most of us know about is in the Little Rock, Arkansas area.

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CARCIONE: But since then there have been three main areas of damage west north and south of Memphis. Memphis itself has been spared so far. But we also have tornadoes as far north as Iowa and severe weather into Illinois.

So this covers a pretty wide swath of the central United States.

HOLMES: It has been an extremely active year in terms of severe weather for this time of year, well above normal numbers in terms of tornadoes. And as you say, the peak of the severe weather season doesn't begin until this week.

What -- does that make you expect anything going forward?

Is that an indicator or not necessarily? CARCIONE: Not necessarily an indicator. There have been years when

we've had a very active winter or spring and then the tap has shut off. And it's been much more difficult to get all of these ingredients to come together for the remainder of the season.

So certainly we're concerned about how active it's been so far. But that's not necessarily an indicator of what we'll see over the coming weeks and months.

HOLMES: It was interesting because of people like you doing your job. The chance or even likelihood of severe weather was forecast pretty well in advance.

You know, realistically, there is a limit to what people can do, isn't there, if it's some massive tornado barreling in?

CARCIONE: Well, the -- we certainly encourage people in the days leading up to a tornado to think about what they might do if a tornado were to approach their location. For someone who's in a poorly built home or a manufactured home or something like that, that may mean moving away from their home when a tornado is approaching their location.

HOLMES: Yes.

CARCIONE: Then we get to the watch phase; when a tornado watch is issued, that's when it's time to start thinking about putting plans in place or checking on what you might do, you know.

Is your shelter available, is your friend home?

Something like that. And then the warning is when we encourage people to take action right away. So it's certainly hard when it's when it's a big, violent or strong tornado. But there are steps that can be taken to help mitigate the worst of it.

Where are the threats going to be in the day ahead?

CARCIONE: So the system that is affecting the Mississippi Valley today is moving east and will affect parts of Georgia and South Carolina as well as parts of the Northeast tomorrow. And while it's spreading eastward, the ingredients won't come together quite as effectively as they have today.

That's not to say we won't have tornadoes. That's not say something might not be problematic for the -- for these folks and in Georgia or South Carolina but it doesn't look like it will come together quite the same way.

HOLMES: That's where you're showing.

And just real quick, too, because it's fascinating in the days ahead, what's actually done to go out and measure how strong these storms were and to learn from them?

CARCIONE: So the meteorologists from the local National Weather Service offices and in Little Rock and Memphis will be on the ground. They'll be working with local officials, emergency responders and they will be examining the damage in great detail.

So they will be examining what was damaged, what's the kind of wind that would need that would need to occur to cause that kind of damage. They will be measuring the path width.

How long was it on the ground?

Where is the damage stop and start?

And that helps the insurance industry. That helps the victims. That helps future researchers so that they can connect what the atmosphere did with what the -- what the impacts were.

So unfortunately, it's a long process. It will take days ahead, so it's not going to happen quickly. But it's very important.

HOLMES: Yes, very important work. I really appreciate you taking the time. I know it's been a heck of a day for all of you guys. Brian Carcione, thank you so much.

CARCIONE: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Donald Trump is expected to travel to New York on Monday and then voluntarily surrender the next day to the Manhattan district attorney. It will be a first in U.S. history for a former president.

Security already tight in around the courthouse ahead of Tuesday's arraignment. That's when we expect the lengthy indictment against Trump will be unsealed.

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HOLMES: Stormy Daniels, the adult film star at the center of the saga, says she feels vindicated by Trump's indictment but now fears for her safety more than ever. Here's what she told the British newspaper "The Times."

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STORMY DANIELS, ADULT FILM STAR: The first time it was like gold digger, slut, whore, you know, liar, whatever. And this time it's like, I'm going to murder you. Especially scary because Trump himself is inciting violence and encouraging it.

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HOLMES: Now this will not be like a routine court appearance as you might imagine. CNN's Paula Reid explains what will happen when Trump arrives at the courthouse.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Former president Trump is expected to make his initial appearance at this courthouse right behind me on Tuesday. And over the course of the day, he will go through a variation of the standard procedure for any defendant in New York.

That includes having your fingerprints taken, a mug shot and an appearance before a judge. Tuesday is also the day we expect to learn the charges that have been filed against him in New York. Those remain under seal until your arraignment.

Now this is a really busy courthouse and there's an expectation that they will likely pause all the other hearings just to accommodate the former president's appearance. And if you're wondering how much of this you may be able to see, we've learned the cameras will be able to capture him entering the courtroom.

But there is an open question about whether there will be cameras inside the courtroom. That is up to the judge and this is a judge who historically has denied requests for cameras, even in high profile cases.

Now we have learned that, after this arraignment, the former president's attorneys intend to fight this indictment. They're going to file a motion to dismiss. They say they want to try to end this case before it ever gets to trial -- Paula Reid, CNN, New York.

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HOLMES: Trump and his legal team are expected to spend the weekend hunkered down at his Mar-a-Lago estate, mapping out a game plan for Tuesday, CNN's Randi Kaye with more from West Palm Beach.

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RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And for now, Donald Trump remains at Mar-a-Lago. And it is pretty much business as usual. Even in the hours following the indictment, he dined with guests here at the Mar-a-Lago Club, along with his wife, Melania Trump.

He was mingling with those guests even following that indictment. And then, of course, he went on his social media and started lashing out at the district attorney.

But in terms of the next few days for him, he will head to New York City on Monday. And Mar-a-Lago Club is about 15 minutes from the Palm Beach International Airport and he will likely take the Southern Boulevard, which is the main thoroughfare from Mar-a-Lago to that airport.

And that will likely be lined with his supporters. For a big event like this, they tend to come out and bring their flags and wave at the former president and honk their horns in support of him.

In terms of what he will do over the weekend, he certainly played a lot of golf leading up to this indictment coming down, so we'll see if perhaps he does go to one of his golf clubs here in Florida and play some golf and maybe be clear his head.

And then, of course, he will be here at Mar-a-Lago, where there's always weddings and parties and all kinds of events. He does tend to mingle with the crowds there and surprise people. Even a couple that was getting married shows up unannounced.

So we'll see if the former president is in the mood to do anything like that or he -- if he decides to just lay low -- Randi Kaye, CNN, West Palm Beach, Florida.

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HOLMES: Joining me now, David Sanger is a CNN political and national security analyst. He's also the White House and national security correspondent at "The New York Times."

Always good to see you, sir.

I think -- I think we've become perhaps used to drama and controversy when it comes to Donald Trump. But here we are with the former president and current candidate criminally charged -- or about to be.

If we step back, just give us a sense of how extraordinary this moment is, not just in American politics but American history.

DAVID SANGER, CNN POLITICAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, we're in a place we've never been in before. There has never been a president indicted during or after their presidency. As my colleague, Nick Kristof (ph), wrote, the closest we came when Ulysses S. Grant was riding too fast in a horse and buggy in Washington, D.C., and was pulled over by a policeman and taken down to the station.

But we're in a completely different spot here.

I think the question is, are we in the spot over the right issue?

You know, Republicans have spent the day castigating the indictment as political and all that, which you would expect. But there are a lot of Democrats who are concerned about it as well.

[02:15:00]

SANGER: Because this indictment is not over the core question of whether or not the -- somebody attempted -- or the president, president Trump attempted to undermine the core of American democracy.

HOLMES: Yes, exactly. There -- that -- those cases are yet to come. But a lot of people thinking this wasn't the one to begin with, if you like. I'm just -- I'm thinking the optics. The thing about Donald Trump is he's always been in control, running things; many would say getting away with things for literally decades.

He's not in control of this situation. He's going to be fingerprinted. A mug shot is going to be taken. How do you think that might impact him, as an observer of his ego and

personality?

SANGER: You know he's been -- according to the reporting -- many of my colleagues -- more concerned about what the arrest looks like than what the content of the indictment is. And of course, we don't know the content of the indictment.

This will all play out on Tuesday, probably Tuesday afternoon. But the early indications are that the court system and New York City do not want to play into the political theater of all of this.

He may not get a mug shot. If he gets fingerprinted, it maybe electronic, you know, one of those things where you put your fingers down the way you do it an airport now and you're going through the -- to reach a country.

So there may be very few of the trappings (ph). I doubt -- I very much doubt that they would put him in handcuffs.

HOLMES: Yes.

SANGER: Particularly for charge like this. So it may, on the one hand, ease that issue but it may also deprive him of some of the imagery that I think he is -- he may be thinking will rouse his base.

HOLMES: Yes, I guess you wonder whether it's going to be humbling or something that energizes him. He is, of course, a candidate in the next presidential election.

What do you think this does to the Republican presidential race in the short to medium term?

I mean, this might rally his core base but you know, charges related to a porn star payoff aren't likely to appeal to moderate Republicans or independents.

SANGER: That's right. But remember the race for the nomination is a very different thing than the race for actually getting elected president. For the nomination, you're trying to rally the biggest part of the base of the Republican Party that you can.

And that is clearly his but it may also serve to hurt him, as you point out, in a general election. It also is flushing out the other members of the Republican Party, most of whom have come out to declare that this is an outrage.

You heard Ron DeSantis say it, although he never mentioned Mr. Trump's name. You heard Mike Pence, the former vice president, say this is outrageous.

Why you have seen many Republicans come to the president's defense here, one of the reasons that others would have preferred that the first indictment be over a core issue to the election, whether or not there was an effort to try to manipulate votes after the election was held, it lies in the Georgia case that were where the president was caught on tape, saying, you know, find me several thousand votes. More than 10,000 votes.

The thinking is that it would be harder for many of the non-Trump Republicans to come to his defense on an issue relating to the manipulation of the election.

HOLMES: David Sanger, really appreciate it. Thanks for making the time.

SANGER: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: A judge in the state of Delaware has ruled that Dominion Voting Systems' historic defamation case against FOX News will go to trial after all. The high stakes legal battle is moving forward after the judge dismantled several of the right wing network's key arguments.

Now FOX's top executives and most prominent hosts could be called to the stand to testify about the 2020 election lies that were promoted on the channel. Dominion is suing for $1.6 billion in damages.

It says it is, quote, "gratified by the court's thorough ruling, soundly rejecting all of FOX's arguments and defenses and finding is a matter of law that their statements about Dominion are false."

Jury selection is set to begin in two weeks on April 13th.

Well, the pope may be in the hospital but he's still able to carry out some holy duties. We will have details ahead on when he is expected to be released.

[02:20:00]

HOLMES: And Russia ignores calls to release a jailed American journalist.

So what exactly does the Kremlin hope to gain from the arrest?

An expert weighs in. That's when we come back.

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HOLMES: U.S. Senator John Fetterman has been discharged from Walter Reed Medical Center after being treated for depression.

The freshman Democrat from Pennsylvania tweeted a thumb's up, writing he is, quote, "excited to be the father and husband I want to be and the senator Pennsylvania deserves. Pennsylvanians," he went on, "have always had my back and I will always have theirs."

Fetterman's office says he has experienced depression off and on over his lifetime. But he checked himself in last month after experiencing symptoms, including loss of appetite and loss of weight. He said on Friday he wants everyone to know depression is treatable and the treatment works.

Pope Francis is expected to return to the Vatican in the hours ahead after being hospitalized for several days. CNN's Delia Gallagher reports from Rome on his treatment, his plans for Palm Sunday and how he's been spending his time in the hospital.

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DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Good news for Pope Francis. The Vatican says that he had another restful night on Thursday evening, even managed to have pizza dinner with some of the medical staff here at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

[02:25:00]

GALLAGHER: On Friday afternoon, the Vatican says the pope visited the pediatric oncology unit here, where he brought chocolate Easter eggs and rosaries to some of the children, even baptizing a tiny baby boy.

The pope is expected to be discharged on Saturday, the Vatican says, and, importantly, will participate in Sunday's Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter's Square.

He's been here at the hospital for bronchitis. He received antibiotics intravenously, so it will be important to see him on Sunday. We will hear from him and be able to see how his health is progressing.

The pope is 86 years old. He has a history of respiratory problems, given that, when he was 21, part of his lung was removed for a respiratory issue. So this coming week leading up to Easter is a very busy one for Pope Francis at the Vatican.

There are a number of public events and yet this is a delicate time for the pope, having just been in the hospital. We will have a chance to monitor and see how his health is doing in the coming days -- Delia Gallagher, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Republicans are rushing to Donald Trump's defense after his indictment in the hush money probe and they're taking aim at the Manhattan district attorney. We will have a report when we come back.

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HOLMES: Donald Trump is expected to voluntarily surrender to the Manhattan district attorney on Tuesday for arraignment on multiple criminal charges related to his business operations.

Security is tight in and around the courthouse. Media cameras inside the building expected to show the former president when he is escorted to the courtroom on Tuesday afternoon.

Sources say Trump is facing more than 30 counts related to false business records at the Trump Organization. Prosecutors allege it was a scheme to cover up hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels or knowing about the $130,000 that was paid to her.

His lawyers are vowing a vigorous defense on Tuesday, when they will try to convince the judge to dismiss the case.

Meanwhile many Republicans are closing ranks and standing by the former president. Senator Lindsey Graham tweeting that Trump could avoid prosecution in New York by smashing windows, robbing some stores and punching a cop, suggesting that the district attorney ignore his violent offenses.

He then followed that up with a tweet, claiming he was being ironic, saying only liberals wouldn't understand his tweet. CNN's Manu Raju picks up the story.

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MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It didn't take long for House GOP leaders to rush to Donald Trump's defense.

REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY): I've said from day one, this is a political stunt.

RAJU: Attacking Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over the unprecedented indictment of a former president and criminal charges.

REP. BRIAN MAST (R-FL): I have zero trust that this will play out fairly.

RAJU: Today, Bragg's office pushing back. In a scathing letter to three House GOP chairmen who have sought his testimony in internal records, accusing them of doing Trump's bidding and writing: As committee chairmen, you could use the stature of your office to denounce his attacks and urge respect for the fairness of our justice system and for the work of the impartial grand jury.

But House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says that Bragg will be held to account. Sources say. Trump is expected to be accused of falsifying business records to cover up 2016 payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet allegations of an extramarital affair. But no one has seen the evidence prosecutors have uncovered.

REPORTER: Mr. President --

RAJU: Though that didn't stop one congressman to claim the prosecutor could have indicted the hand sandwiches he was handing out on Capitol Hill. REP. BARRY MOORE (R-AL): So I know how to spot a pile of garbage. And this thing looks like a pile of garbage.

RAJU: Even without seeing the evidence, you're certain he's innocent.

MOORE: I'm not certain of anything, except this. This is the first time in the history of the country we've indicted president and the fact that, you know, he's just now announced and they rolled this thing out, it smells pretty fishy.

RAJU: House Republicans agree despite not seeing the charges.

Aren't you jumping to conclusions?

I mean, he might have broken the law.

Does that concern you?

REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): We don't think -- we don't think President Trump broke the law at all.

RAJU: But there has been silenced from Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and his number two John Thune, who told CNN earlier there were legitimate questions about Bragg, though he would not align himself with House GOP efforts.

Do you support House Republican efforts to call Alvin Bragg up here and get him to testify?

SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): I'm not going to get into what the House is doing there.

RAJU: Now some members of Senator McConnell's leadership team did come out and criticize the prosecutor. Those two senators, senator John Cornyn of Texas as well as senator John Barrasso of Wyoming.

Cornyn, Barrasso, as well as senator John Thune, all seen as potential successors to Mitch McConnell down the line. Now there were other Republicans who sang a different tune, that one coming from senator Lisa Murkowski, one of the senators who actually voted to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.

She put out a statement saying that, even though everyone deserves a fair legal process, she warned against a rush to judgment and urged everybody look at all the facts and the evidence before forming an opinion -- Manu Raju, CNN, Capitol Hill.

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HOLMES: Russia is warning the U.S. that it would, quote, "reap a storm" if it threatens Moscow over the jailing of an American journalist. The Russian foreign ministry says the U.S. is exposing itself as a dictatorship with the way it has reacted to Evan Gershkovich's arrest.

"The Wall Street Journal" reporter is being held in Russia on suspicion of espionage, a claim the White House and his employer strongly reject.

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ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: The claims -- this espionage claims against Mr. Gershkovich are absolutely ludicrous.

[02:35:00]

KIRBY: He was a working journalist for "The Wall Street Journal," and we want to see him released.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: More than 30 news organizations around the world have signed a letter to Russia's ambassador to the U.S., demanding the release of Gershkovich.

President Biden also urging Russia to, quote, "let him go."

But the Kremlin refusing to budge on the arrest.

Its spokesperson says, quote, "In this case, we're talking about espionage activities under the guise of journalistic activities. Since this journalist was caught red-handed, the situation is obvious."

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HOLMES: CNN contributor Jill Dougherty is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is also a CNN former Moscow bureau chief. She joins me now from Washington.

Always good to see you, my friend. It's interesting; so the Russian was arrested and held in Brazil after U.S. claims of spying.

Do you feel like Evan Gershkovich being taken could be a trade situation or could have been multiple things?

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I think it really is multiple. I've talked with a number of U.S. former diplomats. And they're giving the idea that, yes, it could be a potential for a trade.

There actually are two other Russians who are being held in Slovenia. That's another possibility. But I think also there's probably an attempt to, let's say, intimidate the foreign press; make sure that they do not go running around, doing things that they shouldn't be doing in the eyes of the Russian government.

And then also, you know, it's this really bad relationship between the United States and Russia. And Russia essentially saying, we can do whatever we want at this point.

HOLMES: How easy is it in Russia to be falsely accused of espionage?

How much of a weapon is it for authorities there when it comes to foreigners? DOUGHERTY: But precisely because it's very, very unclear and very top

secret, it can be definitely abused. It has been many times in the past.

And one of the problems is, Michael, in this case and others, it immediately is classified top secret. So all the details -- even, let's say, what Evan is being charged with could be something that's completely secret. He may not know precisely what is being -- he's being charged with.

And all of the proceedings -- the court hearings, the judges, et cetera -- it's very, very locked down and it's very difficult.

HOLMES: How risky would you say it is for Americans, journalists or otherwise, to even be working in Russia right now?

I mean, if you were a Western media boss, what would you do about or tell your staff trying to report in Russia right now?

DOUGHERTY: I think they'd have to be extraordinarily careful because one of the problems is that not only -- let's say with the espionage side, that can happen at any time. People could be set up. Things can be put in your luggage, et cetera.

But even right now in the circumstances of the war in Ukraine, there are new laws. And they're being changed constantly, that make it -- as we remember back in March of last year -- they had the "don't use the word war" law.

And there are others that make it almost impossible to, let's say, report on the war the way a normal Western reporter would do it. And if you do that, you can end up in prison, sometimes for 15 years.

So it's very difficult. I tell them, probably for the Americans, I might advise them to leave.

HOLMES: Yes, yes, it's interesting. "The Wall Street Journal" has called for Russian journalists to be expelled from the USA.

Do you think they would ever be considered?

Or would that just make things worse?

DOUGHERTY: You know, I don't think that that is a good idea. That's my personal opinion, because it would -- we would end up doing what the Russians essentially do. And I just think it's much better to keep the journalists working, even if some of them, you know, can, let's say, violate certain norms.

I'm not talking about laws that norms because, here in the United States, you do have the First Amendment. And it is protection for journalists and that, I think, is a way to say.

HOLMES: OK, and I want to ask you, too, the White House is still, of course, unsuccessfully trying to get the American Paul Whelan out of a Russian prison. Given his situation, how precarious is Gershkovich's situation right

now?

How perilous for him right now?

DOUGHERTY: You know, again, I've talked with several former diplomats, very senior people. And they're all using the word -- literally using the word "bad." "This is a bad situation." It bodes very poorly for what is going to happen.

[02:40:00]

DOUGHERTY: Unfortunately they are predicting that this will be dragged out for a very long time. The implication is, these are serious charges. And the Russians wouldn't, they say -- these U.S. diplomat say they wouldn't raise charges like this unless they were intent on moving forward and prosecuting. So I think it's a very dire situation unfortunately.

HOLMES: Yes, very worrying, Jill Dougherty, always great to get your thoughts. Thanks so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: On Friday, Ukraine marked a somber anniversary in a town that became synonymous with suspected Russian atrocities in the country. It has been one year now since Ukraine liberated the town of Bucha, which was held by Russia for about a month.

During that time, Ukraine says hundreds of civilians were killed. There were videos, showing bodies littering the street after the town's liberation. And international investigators found evidence of torture chambers and of sexual violence against women and girls. David McKenzie with more now from Kyiv.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was a very solemn day on Friday in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy went to Bucha, a region of Kyiv in the northwest of where I'm standing, that has become synonymous with the alleged war crimes of Russian forces in the early stages of the war.

President Zelenskyy read out some names of the victims in a very solemn moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Machinski (ph, Vitaly (ph); (INAUDIBLE); Yuri Alexandrovich Robiyala (ph), (INAUDIBLE) Ivanovic (ph); Zamoiski Vadislav (ph) (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: Zelenskyy also gave medals to those who defended the city and survivors of those who were killed. This has been a stain on this conflict, a conflict of many alleged

atrocities. Bucha was held by Russian forces for around a month. There are many allegations and investigations by the prosecutor of alleged murder, sexual violence, torture, all of which have been extensively reported on by myself and by my colleagues here at CNN.

But very few people have, in fact, been found in a court for these alleged crimes. The prosecutor says there are many cases they are looking into. Of the several 100 that allegedly were killed in Bucha, more than 1,000 in the greater Bucha region.

Now there are two tracks on this. One is the local attempt at justice, where they are investigating crimes and have to find the chain of evidence. Would need to get those allegedly responsible inside a court in Ukraine, which might be very challenging.

Then there's also the international track. The International Criminal Court has already indicted Vladimir Putin and one of his associates for allegedly taking children out of the country and into Russian territory.

They are certainly likely also looking into these targeting of civilians, as are others, investigators from here in Ukraine, from Europe and across the world -- David McKenzie, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Tragedy in a temple. We will tell you what happened when the floor collapsed during a Hindu festival in India. We will be right back.

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HOLMES: The death toll now stands at 36 after the floor of a Hindu temple collapsed in India. Beneath the floor was a traditional Indian stepwell. It's a very deep structure that allowed people to walk down to the water table for bathing or drinking water.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES (voice-over): Rescuers scour through the rubble, looking for survivors after a stepwell collapsed at a Hindu temple in central India on Thursday. The incident happened at a temple complex in the city of Indore. Local officials say a concrete slab covering the stepwell gave way, crushing worshippers who had gathered to celebrate the Hindu festival of Ram Navalny (ph).

Stepwells are large wells or reservoirs with steps that go down to the water level. They're a common feature across India, many built hundreds of years ago and ornately decorated. The country's army as well as federal and state disaster response

teams are involved in the rescue efforts. Cranes, ropes and ladders are being used to help remove debris out of the large, gaping hole, water being pumped out of the stepwell to help locate any people trapped below.

The well was about 18 meters deep. Officials believe many of the deceased could have drowned. Candles, offerings and sweets are left scattered about in what's left of the temple. One man says he was lucky to make it out alive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have not seen such a sight in my entire life. People were shouting and asking for help. Many people died. And I saw two women dying. I escaped death. I couldn't understand what happened as it suddenly got dark. I also don't know how I survived.

HOLMES (voice-over): Outside, survivors comfort other as bodies are taken away from the scene on stretchers and the injured are rushed to the hospital. Authorities say there were about 80 people in the complex at the time of the collapse. They've ordered an investigation into what caused it.

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HOLMES: And we will be right back. Stay with us.

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HOLMES: Social media influencer and former kickboxer Andrew Tate has been moved from jail to house arrest in Romania. On Friday, Andrew and his brother, Tristan, left the jailhouse where they're being held on suspicion of human trafficking, organized crime and rape.

Brothers -- police say the two brothers formed a trafficking ring that stretched from Romania to the U.S. Andrew Tate is known for his online rants about male dominance, which led to a ban of most of his social media accounts. No charges have been filed so far, Tate maintaining his innocence.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to give respect, firstly to the judges who heard us today, because they were very attentive and they listened to us and they let us free. So I have to give absolute respect to them.

I have no resentment in my heart for the country of Romania or for anybody else. There is 0 percent chance of me being found guilty for something I have not done. I maintain my absolute innocence and I think most people understand this and I look forward to being helped. (END VIDEO CLIP)

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HOLMES: The former Olympian Oscar Pistorius has been denied parole. The sprinter, known as the Blade Runner because of his prosthetic legs, rose to fame in the early 2000s.

Pistorius was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013 by firing four shots through a bathroom door. Pistorius claimed he thought he was shooting at an intruder. He was eventually sentenced to more than 13 years behind bars. Pistorius was denied parole on Friday because he has yet to serve a minimum sentence.

That will do it for this hour of CNN NEWSROOM I'm Michael Holmes do stick around. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.