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Democratic Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris Set To Interview Potential Vice Presidential Running Mates; Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Doesn't Yet Agree To Debate Kamala Harris; Donald Trump Draws Controversy For Comments About Kamala Harris's Racial Identity; Autopsy For 43-Year-Old Black Man Pinned To Ground By Security Officers Outside Hotel In Milwaukee Rules His Death A Homicide; U.S. Sends Carrier Strike Group To Middle East In Anticipation Of Possible Retaliation Against Israel For Assassination Of Hamas Leader In Tehran; Venezuela Seeing Further Protests Over Contested Presidential Election; Michigan Hometown Of Paul Whelan Prepares Welcome For Him After His Release From Russian Prison; USA Women's Foil Fencing Team Wins First Gold Medal Ever In Paris Olympic Games. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired August 03, 2024 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: That is that Vice President Kamala Harris meet him face-to-face next month on FOX News in front of an audience. Right now, Harris's campaign, they're not committing to that event. They say they will show up as agreed at the ABC event regardless of whether Trump shows up or not.

All of this is happening at a pivotal moment for both campaigns. In just a few hours, Trump and his vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance will hold rally in Atlanta, Georgia. Of course, Georgia is a critical battleground state. Harris is hunkering down for the weekend for what could be a very important decision for her campaign, who will serve as her running mate. She's meeting this weekend with her V.P. vetting team here in Washington with the expectation she makes a final decision by this Tuesday.

CNN's Alayna Treene and Priscilla Alvarez joining us now. I'm going to begin with Priscilla. So Priscilla, as we look at this decision here, she's meeting with her team, any sense of whether the focus is on a battleground state in this decision or just more a broader who's a better campaigner with me?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN REPORTER: So according to a source, her top consideration is electability. So who is going to strengthen her chances on the electoral map, and especially on this condensed timeline. The Democratic Party abruptly shifted candidates. So that is something that they have to consider as they look toward November.

But she doesn't have a close and personal relationship with any of these candidates either. So it's over the last several days, there has been polling, there has been focus groups, there have been conversations that she has had with President Biden and with advisers to also consider who would be the best governing partner if she were to win.

Now on that list, you see them there, you have Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. So those are just some of the names of the people who right now the vice president is getting presentations on each of them, 60 to 90 minutes, maybe shorter, maybe longer, from former attorney general Eric Holder and his team who were seen going into the naval observatory, her residence, this morning. And in those presentations, she is expected to ask a lot of questions. This has been true for her over the course of her political career and especially now. What they don't want, Jim, is any surprises after they make their choice.

SCIUTTO: Well, that's what's key about the vetting process, right, and the whole decision-making process is that, I imagine, in these presentations, they're going list positives, but they're also going to list the potential risks.

ALVAREZ: Inevitably. There's pros and cons. Where have they stood on policies before? What have their statements been? All of that has been poured through and sifted through over the last several days. And that is what's going to be presented to her. And this is where they're going to have to make a decision, because her running mate will also be viewed as an early window as to what she thinks, where she stands, and what her policies may be. So it's going to be quite telling, and she knows those the role because she is the vice president.

SCIUTTO: Right.

ALVAREZ: And so all of that is coming together, and she is expected to make this announcement by Tuesday when she's going to do that rally with her running mate and then blitz across the battleground states. So this is a very important decision and one that she is making on a very quick timeline.

SCIUTTO: It is a very tight timeline, compressed. Priscilla Alvarez, thanks so much.

We are going to bring Alayna Treene with the Trump campaign when we have her momentarily. But first, we're going to speak more broadly. Joined now by Democratic strategist Maria Cardona and Republican strategist Alex Vogel. All right, first to both of you on this debate back-and-forth. Alex, Trump is changing the rule. I mean, Trump says the Democrats changed the conditions because, of course, they brought a new candidate. He did agree to ABC. Now he's saying totally different race. I want FOX and I want an audience here. Is he going to win that argument?

ALEX VOGEL, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think he is. I mean, look, to be fair, it was a completely different candidate, 17 million in people voted in primaries for Joe Biden and selected him. And then 2,500 people went online a couple of days ago and said, no, we have a new candidate. That agreement --

SCIUTTO: She is the vice president, though.

VOGEL: Understood. If President Biden wants to keep that first debate, I think that's fine. I think it's completely acceptable and, frankly, deserved for that to be a new conversation.

SCIUTTO: OK. Your response, Maria?

MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think it shows that he's terrified of debating somebody as good as Kamala Harris. I think it shows that he wants to do it on FOX. He wants to do it with an audience because those two things are like security blankets for him, and that's what he needs right now. This race has completely discombobulated him and the people around him. They have no idea how to approach running against somebody who is so accomplished, who is whip smart, who has a background as a prosecutor, and Donald Trump is a 34-times convicted felon.

SCIUTTO: So fair, those are different venues, FOX a very different network from ABC. The audience is something that he thrives on or believes he could thrive on. So what's your response to that?

VOGEL: A couple of things. Number one, it's important to remember, we had a Biden campaign and a Trump campaign.

[14:05:00]

And for the first time in American history, we had a presidential campaign go blue screen of death, literally completely brick and meltdown. And the party on a dime has said we're going to anoint somebody new. It is absolutely critical --

SCIUTTO: I'm asking specifically --

VOGEL: No, no, I understand.

SCIUTTO: It's a different network.

VOGEL: It's a different --

SCIUTTO: It's very much more Trump-friendly, right.

VOGEL: It's a different campaign. It's a completely different dynamic that, therefore, let's have a conversation about how to debate. The American people deserve, frankly, to be introduced to her. I know how those previous debates have been. I remember watching Tulsi Gabbard do her magic and the debate the last time I'm that Vice President Harris ran. And I also know how the last debate went for President Trump and Joe Biden. I do not believe in any way this is a lack of interest in being on a debate stage with her. But why should that not be --

CARDONA: Why not just keep it? That's what they agreed to.

VOGEL: That's what who agreed to?

CARDONA: Is he afraid of doing it --

VOGEL: No, that's what that's what Joe Biden agreed to.

CARDONA: It Trump afraid of doing it on ABC?

VOGEL: No, of course not.

CARDONA: Then why not do it?

VOGEL: Just like the first debate was on CNN.

CARDONA: Why not do it?

VOGEL: Great, let's do both.

CARDONA: Both what?

VOGEL: Let's do as September 4th on FOX.

CARDONA: That wasn't what was agreed to originally.

VOGEL: That wasn't the candidate.

VOGEL: And let me --

SCIUTTO: Here's a question. Do you believe this is actually a conversation now, negotiation between the two campaigns? Or is it possible that they just go their separate ways?

CARDONA: It could be very possible that they go their separate ways. And I actually think it would be a really dumb decision for Donald Trump to not show up at the ABC debate. As I understand it, ABC has already agreed to do the air airtime. So Vice President Kamala Harris will be there as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. She could very well have these two hours to herself, which would be fantastic. There could be an empty chair there that she puts there to demonstrate the Donald Trump did not have the pants to show up, that he is concerned and about debating somebody as qualified as she is. And she's have all the airtime to herself.

SCIUTTO: I want to talk about something more important, because it is more important about who debates who, when, and what network. And it is the current presidential candidate for the Republican Party saying that the Democratic candidate turned black, a woman whose father was Jamaican, immigrant mother Indian. Now, there was a lot of criticism even from Republicans following that statement. And instead of walking it back, Trump and Vance have doubled down on that. I don't want to ask whether that's smart politically. I just wanted to you directly, is that acceptable?

VOGEL: No, I don't think it was a productive thing to do. What I do believe, and I think you're going to hear probably today in the rally the president and Senator Vance are holding is this argument that she is not genuine. And what I'm talking about by that is for months, Republicans, President Trump argued vociferously that Joe Biden wasn't competent to be president. He wasn't capable. And the response was you're lying. It's not true. Everything is perfect. And until it wasn't --

SCIUTTO: That gets to the issue of competence. I'm talking about the race question. VOGEL: No, no, I understand. I'm talking about the broader narrative

of phony versus real. And just like that, President Trump has been arguing, and 75 percent of Americans agree the economy is not great, and Vice President Harris, Joe Biden, is saying everything's great.

SCIUTTO: That doesn't get to the race question.

VOGEL: Look, I'm not going to get to that because --

SCIUTTO: You don't think it's an acceptable path?

VOGEL: It's not a question of whether it's an acceptable path. I think the president is going to focus that phony narrative not so much on that, but on the economic policies. And the reality is --

SCIUTTO: I mean, I know that's his advisers, but it's just not what he's been tweeting about.

CARDONA: It actually --

SCIUTTO: Does Kamala Harris respond? I mean, she's already responded to it to some degree, but does she focus on it, or just say, look at me and let's move on?

CARDONA: Yes. I don't think she needs to focus on it, because everybody else knows exactly what's going on. And it absolutely is not an acceptable path. And I commend you, Alex, for having to spin something that is just completely un-spinnable.

And to me, he is going to continue to do that. The Republican talking point now in this spin is that, oh, what he meant was that she's phony. No. What he meant is what he meant, because he's a sexist, he's a misogynist, and he's a racist. And so he's going to continue to do that. As a Democrat, I say bring it on. This is not going to do anything to add voters that he needs to win. It's going to do everything to alienate blocs of voters. And so she, Kamala Harris, is going to focus on what she wants to do for the country for the next four years.

SCIUTTO: Let me ask you a question to a point that Alex raised. Does the vice president have to answer directly whether she was honest and open about a decline of the president's abilities?

[14:10:08]

CARDONA: I am sure she will get asked that when she gets in front of the media, and I'm sure she will answer it. I think that is a phony theme that Republicans are trying to use because, again, I think they are so concerned about running against somebody that they have no idea how to run. And to me that somebody that brings us a constellation of qualities that make up what the political kryptonite that represents, she represents for somebody like Donald Trump.

SCIUTTO: Well, we've got 94 days -- is it 94 days -- to see how it plays out. Alex, Maria, thanks so much for taking the hard questions. I appreciate it from both of you. We do have new details coming in to CNN in the death of a black man

who was pinned to the ground by security officers outside of a Milwaukee hotel. What the autopsy is now revealing about the cause of D'Vontaye Mitchell's death.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:15:38]

SCIUTTO: The autopsy report is now in for D'Vontaye Mitchell, the 43- year-old man who was pinned to the ground in June by security officers outside a hotel in Milwaukee. The report says he died from asphyxiation and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. It does rule his death a homicide.

CNN's Camila Bernal joins me now. Camila, the family's attorney, Ben Crump, says the guards involved should face charges. The autopsy report says homicide. I wonder what happens now.

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's a wait and see game, really, for the district attorney Jim. And it's the family and the attorneys, they were waiting for this autopsy report that now shows the manner of death as homicide. They are hoping for, and they are demanding criminal charges in this case. But the district attorney's office telling CNN that they have no comment right now.

So all of this happened on June 30th. That was after he was pinned to the ground by security officers outside of a Hyatt Regency hotel in Milwaukee. And the incident was partially caught on video. Initially, the investigation report from the medical examiner's office said that Mitchell was restrained by four people after being combative and went unresponsive as this hotel staff waited for police officers to arrive. And it also said they found drug paraphernalia.

And yesterday, one of the family attorneys also released several more videos. And I do want to warn you that they may be graphic for some people. But according to the M.E. report, he entered that hotel and appeared to be frantic and was panting. And the reports said that at some point he went into the women's restroom and attempted to lock himself inside with other people who were using the restroom. And of course, these people started screaming. Then two hotel security guards went into that bathroom and physically dragged him out of the hotel. And when he was outside, it was for people that held Mitchell face down on the concrete.

Now, the attorney yesterday pointed out that at no time in any of those videos do you see Mitchell punching anyone or kicking anyone. And so the attorney is saying that he was just trying to get up. The video also shows Mitchell's pants falling down at some point as a man was punching him in the face multiple times. This is while he's being dragged out on the floor and then outside by the sidewalk by a Hyatt guest and three other employees. And there's another video that shows an employee kicking him in the face while Mitchell was on the ground. So that attorney really describing it as a beat down.

The company said that several of the employees were fired after this incident. But again, the family really just wants criminal charges. And this of course, for a lot of people brings back memories of George Floyd. And there are questions about the use of force, particularly against people of color. And so at the end of the day, this family is just asking for explanations. They're asking for accountability in the form of charges, and this all as we continue to wait to hear from the district attorney, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Yes, the repeated blows to the face there in that video, just shocking to see. Camila Bernal, thanks so much.

Well, the United States is further bolstering military defenses in the Middle East amid yet more growing concerns of an escalation and hostilities there. We're going to have new details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:23:13]

SCIUTTO: The U.S. is preparing to send fresh military assets to the Middle East, including a carrier strike group and a fighter squadron. It is bracing for a further escalation of hostilities as Iran vows retaliation for the killing have a senior Hamas leader in Tehran earlier this week. It blames Israel for the attack. Israel has not commented publicly either way.

New today, the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, is telling Americans who want to get out of the country to book any ticket available. It's also warning those who do not leave that they, quote, should not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation in a crisis.

I want to bring in now retired U.S. Army Major General Dana Pittard to talk more about this. General, I want to ask you to have a listen here to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby as he explains why exactly the U.S. is moving more resources into the region.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: We've heard the supreme leader loud and clear that he intends to avenge this killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran, and that they want to conduct another attack on Israel. We can't just assume that we aren't also potentially going to be victims of that kind of an attack. So we've got to make sure we've got the right resources and capabilities in the region.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: So are these capabilities, should we presume the focus here is additional missile and drone defense, not just for Israeli targets, but also U.S. forces deployed in the region?

MAJOR GENERAL DANA PITTARD (RET), AUTHOR, "HUNTING THE CALIPHATE": Well, good afternoon, Jim. I think what John Kirby said, and I know John Kirby, is that the U.S. military and America is just being prudent by sending a strike carrier force, a strike carrier group there.

[14:25:00]

But it's to protect American assets as well as to help defend Israel in case Iran decides to attack. And it does look like Iran is going to do something, just not sure what it is at this point.

SCIUTTO: So Iran a number of weeks ago launched dozens of missiles and drones at Israel, what was then and unprecedented attack. The missile defenses, which by the way, weren't just the U.S. and Israeli. There were other partners, including Arab partners in the region, the missile defenses worked then. I imagine Iran will want to prove it could do better this time. So what might that kind of attack look like?

PITTARD: Well, as you mentioned, in April nearly 300 drones, missiles, and other assets were fired at Israel, and utterly failed. So this time, Israel should anticipate really a multi-directional attack, which includes from Iran itself as well as Hezbollah to the north, Houthis to the south, and even Gaza to an extent, which would try to overwhelm the air defenses of Israel and Israel's regional allies.

SCIUTTO: So let me ask you this, because in the cycle of violence in the Middle East, and by the way, this has been going on for decades, if and when Iran carries out such an attack, Israel will then say it needs to respond to retain deterrence or reestablish deterrence and retaliate in some way. I just -- I'm trying to figure out how we get out of this cycle.

PITTARD: Well, I think it depends on how much damage is done by Iran against Israel. If it isn't a whole lot of damage, and that's where the U.S. diplomatic actions can talk to Israel and say, let's call it a day so we can move on with the ceasefire in Gaza. So I think it depends. It depends on the level of attack from Iran.

SCIUTTO: What is the danger that the U.S. gets drawn in to this attack? It's going to participate likely in some way, largely, if they can, right, in a defensive role, providing additional missile defense against, and drone defense against any attack that would come from Iran and it's proxies. But there's a chance that U.S. forces are also hit there, as John Kirby was referring to, which might then generate a U.S. response of its own. So the risk for U.S. involvement, direct involvement is quite high here, isn't it?

PITTARD: There is risk of Iran attacking U.S. forces, but that will be on Iran. Iran does not want to have a fight with both the United States and Israel. Iran wants to certainly save face because of the assassination this Ismail Haniyeh on its soil. But what Iran does not want is a full-blown war. In a full-blown war, Iran loses.

SCIUTTO: And perhaps loses its nuclear facilities, which it's highly invested in.

Before we go, as we look at the situation, which is, again, so familiar in the region, where is U.S. power at this point? Because there's been a lot of reporting, including by CNN, that the Biden administration has been constantly pushing, pressuring Israel to rein in some of its attacks. And yet these attacks continue and arguably get more aggressive. Is U.S. influence, not just in the region, but with Israel, is it declining?

PITTARD: I wouldn't say the U.S. Influence is declining. U.S. forces and U.S. influence in the Middle East is greater than any other power in the world there in the Middle East.

But it is interesting that Israel has done really three major assassinations, and that may be more on Prime Minister Netanyahu and his situation as far as politically in Israel and how he remains in power himself, as opposed to a waning of U.S. influence.

SCIUTTO: Yes, his own partner, or former partner in the war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has said quite similar. Major General Dana Pittard, thanks so much.

PITTARD: Thank you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Well, Paul Whelan is one of the three Americans back on U.S. soil after he was freed from Russian captivity, in his case, five years of it. How his Michigan hometown is now preparing to welcome him home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:34:24]

SCIUTTO: Venezuela is seeing more protests today as the nation grapples with a disputed presidential election. The authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro declared himself winner last week, but the opposition says the vote tally shows, in fact, he lost. The U.S. is encouraging a recount as are other countries. Officials say at least 11 people died in nationwide protests, more than 1,000 were detained. U.S. officials say it's clear that Maduro lost. Other leaders in the region refused to recognize his victory.

Journalist Stefano Pozzebon joins me now live from Venezuela's capital.

[14:35:01]

Stefano, I wonder where this goes from here, because Maduro's response has been to crack down on any opposition, threatening jail for anyone who even challenges the results. Is there any path to a reconsideration of these results?

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN JOURNALIST: Well, Jim, I think we're coming to you actually from a moment of a limbo, because right like you said, today Caracas is seeing two competing rallies. The opposition has called for a rally in the morning, and the government has called for a rally in support of Maduro in the afternoon. We're coming here from the location of the opposition rally, which is wrapped up about half- an-hour ago.

But I think that that word, "limbo", is what the entire nation is living through at this moment. The opposition feels confident that they have already secured a popular mandate. They have published, crucially, they have published, Jim, about 22,000 ballot tallies that they say give them a victory of 67 percent for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, while the government, which controls the electoral authorities, are yet to release any data, any full transparent tally, ballot numbers. The website of the electoral authorities has been shut down since early on Monday. And even yesterday, the electoral authorities presented a statement that confirmed the victory that they say Maduro won, but without actually providing any proof behind it. And so the nation is kind of in a standstill.

Meanwhile, we know that diplomats are working hard around the phone and are trying to find a solution to this mess before the situation escalates again. Today, for example, was quite surreal, I have to be honest with you, Jim, because both sides tried to avoid confrontation. Here was the opposition rally in the morning, and then the government rally is in another part of town in the afternoon, trying to avoid any clashes because fear is palpable in Caracas. Take a listen to what we heard today about a couple of hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POZZEBON: So there is fear, but there is also a lot of hope. You still hope, you still have all your hope?

LISSETH LOZANO, VOTER: Yes, a lot. A lot of faith, a lot of hope. Everyone is praying for Venezuela at the moment. We are in every single eye around the world, for sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POZZEBON: That voter, for example, was very grateful that she could stay, she could come out and say, it's great to have you guys are here from international media. They were giving us a voice. But she also told me that she was very afraid. Just before telling me that she said that her daughter didn't want to come to protest today. A lot of people have been arrested. Several have been killed. There is fear in Caracas as well, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Understandable fear. Stefano Pozzebon, thanks for staying on top of it.

Well, people back home here in the small Michigan town where Marine veteran Paul Whelan's parents live are happy, so happy he's back on American soil. The Americans who were released with Whelan will soon be able to go home after their checked out at a military hospital in Texas. CNN's Jason Carroll visited the closeknit community that is now ready to embrace Whelan with open arms.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PAUL WHELAN, FREED IN PRISONER SWAP: I just say thank you to everybody. Thank you for all your prayers, your good wishes. Thanks for doing everything you did. It all helped.

(APPLAUSE) JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Once he was finally able to set foot back on U.S. soil, Paul Whelan thanked all those who worked so tirelessly to bring him home and reflected on what's next now that he's a free man again.

WHELAN: Looking forward to seeing my family down here and just recuperating from five years, seven months, and five days of just absolute nonsense by the Russian government.

CARROLL: This is where he will be greeted with open arms. It's Manchester, Michigan, population about 2,000 were like many small towns in America, everyone seems to know everyone. It's where Whelan's parents live, so when word got out he was free, many here felt like one of their own was coming home.

LESLIE KIRKLAND, OWNER, MANCHESTER DINER: Once you really saw it in writing, I shed a tear, like I cried for them. Like, you know, like what a relief, what a relief.

CARROLL: Leslie Kirkland owns a Manchester diner. She says Whelan's parents are regulars, his picture posted outside. Yellow ribbons on trees in front and throughout town have been a symbol of his return.

KIRKLAND: Anybody that wants to politicize it is -- it doesn't matter. His home. Who did we trade for? I don't care.

CARROLL: Some were able to share their joy with Whelan's parents, Ed and Rosemary. They showed up at a church ice cream social Thursday night, making it all that more special for people like Brenda Maisano and Janice Little.

JANICE LITTLE, SAW WHELAN'S PARENTS: There were so many people talking to her. And the look of relief on both of their faces was a sight to behold. And I'm so happy for them.

[14:40:03]

BRENDA MAISANO, SPOKE WITH WHELAN'S PARENTS: I congratulated them and told them how joyful the community was that their son was coming home.

CARROLL: Dawna Stockwell organized the social at Emanuel Church and got word that Whelans might stop by.

DAWNA STOCKWELL, EMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST/SPOKE WITH WHELAN'S PARENTS: I was walking down the sidewalk in front of the church to plug-in a bouncy house. And there they were walking towards me. And I just went -- and they went. Chills down my body. And we hugged. And I told them, you know --

CARROLL: What, a moment that must have been.

Many in Manchester hoping Whelan will make an appearance with his parents when he's ready.

MICHAEL SESSIONS, MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER: This community really wanted Paul back, really wanted him back for both the -- both the sake that Paul could be back here in the United States, but for the family as well.

CARROLL: If he happens to pay Manchester diner visit, Leslie Kirkland will have a dish waiting.

KIRKLAND: Maybe our country fried steak and maybe some biscuits and gravy, and I will be -- I'll hug him, too.

(LAUGHTER)

CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, Manchester, Michigan.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

SCIUTTO: The family of American teacher Marc Fogel was outraged that he was not included in Thursday's prisoner swap. Fogel was charged with smuggling drugs after a small amount of medical marijuana was found in his luggage. He is currently sentenced to 14 years of hard labor in Russia. His family says the drugs were recommended by a doctor to treat severe spinal pain. While President Biden says the administration is not giving up on Fogel's release, he has not been deemed yet as wrongfully detained as several of the other detainees held in Russia are.

I spoke to Marc's sister Anne Fogel who has been pushing for his release for months.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SCIUTTO: Has the State Department explained to you why he has not been designated as such yet?

ANNE FOGEL, SISTER OF MARC FOGEL: No, we've never received an explanation. They issued a report to Congress in June, and, frankly, they had a lot of the facts wrong about Marc's case. So it was, it was, it's been hard to be trusting. We met with Jake Sullivan -- of 2022 in the White House, and he told us you told my sister-in-law and I that he was working to get Marc home. And I want that, and I want to be respectful, and I -- but it's hard not to be angry. If Jake Sullivan's brother had been left behind in this situation, he would also be angry. This is -- I have my right to this anger. I -- we need, I need to have my --

SCIUTTO: Yes.

FOGEL: -- with his wife and see my mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: You can certainly understand that emotion. Marc Fogel worked for nearly a decade as a history teacher at the Anglo American School in Moscow.

Four American women getting a hero's welcome after winning the gold medal in team fencing. Our Coy Wire speaks with them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [14:48:04]

SCIUTTO: Finally, some closure today for residents of fire devastated Maui. Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced Friday a $4 billion settlement to resolve lawsuits stemming from the windstorms and wildfires that destroyed parts of Lahaina last August. About 2,200 people had filed lawsuits against Hawaiian Electric and six other defendants. Just look at those pictures. Hawaiian Electric said the settlement came after four months of mediation, and said in a statement, "The objective is to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again."

The fires burned more than 2,000 acres in Lahaina, hundreds of acres in other parts of Maui, leaving apocalyptic scenes across much of the tropical landscape. More than 100 people died in the fires.

To some good news now. We have seen a lot of excitement around the summer Olympics today, myself included. Gymnast Simone Biles and Jade Carey both medaled in women's vault, making Team USA the first secure 50 medals at the Paris games. And there may be more to come. In fact, likely more to come. The U.S. women's soccer team is advancing to the semifinals after winning against Japan in extra time earlier today. CNN sports anchor Coy Wire joins us now from Paris. Coy, it's a big day. I'm getting ready for the 100 meters women's final in a little bit. What are you watching for?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yes, let's get revved up, Jim. We are going to talk about this 100 meter final coming up soon in a minute. But first we've got to talk about Simone Biles. I mean, she lit this place on fire. Her first vault she did a Yurchenko double pike, and that's a vault that includes a full extra flip than any other gymnast there.

She said she gets terrified every time she does it. After landing it, she let out a big, woo, sighing, because of the danger it possesses. Her mom was jumping for joy. There were celebrities there from Ferrell to John Travolta, Allyson Felix, all witnessing greatness. Simone became just the second ever to win two Olympic vaults.

[14:50:02]

And as you mentioned, Jade Carey taking that Bronze. They were hugging and celebrating together afterwards. Simone now has three Golds here in Paris with a chance, Jim, at two more.

Now, Team USA's Clark Kent of gymnastics must be feeling like Superman. Steve Nedoroscik just won Bronze in pommel horse. He has gone viral for his big personality, his elite Rubik's Cube skills, and his glasses. And now he's just one second medal of these games.

You mentioned the U.S. women's soccer team, Jim. They're moving on. It was a packed Park de France, the home of Paris Saint-Germain. And I was there to see the U.S. and Japan go to extra time in the quarter finals. There was a strong us crowd. They were chanting, doing the wave, and then erupting when Trinity Rodman scored that phenomenal strike, earning Team USA a trip to the Olympic semifinals. They will face the winner of Germany and defending champion Canada next.

Now, just a bit ago, behind me, I was in there see America's Sha'Carri Richardson, here at the Stade de France. She had the place rocking, but then it got a bit quiet from the American fans as the defending world champ finished second in her semifinal heat of the 100 meters. Jim, it's still locks her spot in the final tonight. Teammate Melissa Jefferson finished first in her heat. Tee Tee Terry advanced, too, so there's going to be a lot of red, white, and blue in this 100 meter final tonight.

SCIUTTO: I cannot wait to watch the final. That Gold, Trinity Rodman goal in the top left-hand corner, that was cool to see. I know you got to sit down with the women's foil fencing team who won their first gold medal ever. Tell us what it was like.

WIRE: We're talking history makers. I mean, these girls have such a vibe, Jim. USA Fencing, they stopped by our WBD house rooftop studios in Paris. Three-time gold medalist Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Jackie Dubrovich, and Maia Weintraub, they told us about the moment they want America's first-ever for team gold in fencing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Here we are with the stars of Team USA who just won the first ever gold in fencing for their nation. Congratulations. I mean, is this incredible or what? Beautiful day, beautiful metals hanging around your neck.

LEE KIEFER, FIRST AMERICAN TO EARN THREE GOLD MEDALS IN FOIL FENCING: It doesn't get better than this really.

WIRE: I want to start with you, the queen of Bourbon country, from Lexington, Kentucky. Three Olympic gold medals. No American woman has ever done it. We've spoken before. You said I never thought this would be possible to even do what you had already done. What do you think is the biggest reason for your success?

KIEFER: Oh, man. Last night's medal definitely became possible as a result of us just working towards it for the past three years as a team. We've been doing a lot of video, a lot of camps, just building each other up at world cups as practice for the moment.

WIRE: Now, Lauren Scruggs, Queens, New York, you're walking away from your first ever games with two medals. Talk about a mic drop moment.

LAUREN SCRUBBS: Yes, I mean, it's just surreal. You know, I went into the individual competition not really expecting much. I think the odds were definitely against me, and just battled through every bout, and had that second place. And then the team event, obviously, you know, fought really hard. I really wanted to leave my heart out on the strip. And thankfully, with the help of my teammates, we got it done.

WIRE: What's the most fulfilling part of this journey?

SCRUGGS: I would say just seeing all the hard work pay off. This year's pretty tough trying to qualify for the Olympics and do school, and try to do internships and whatnot. So it was just nice to see all the hard work pay off and have a good time with my friends.

WIRE: Jackie Dubrovich, Maplewood, New Jersey. You said that this will be your last Olympics. How does it feel to go out on top? And what are you going to remember most?

JACKIE DUBROVICH, TEAM USA FENCING GOLD MEDALIST: Yes, it feels amazing. I knew that we were capable of doing this as a team. As Lee mentioned, we've put so much hard work into this. We've been really professional about our approach for Paris. And I don't remember much from yesterday, to be honest. It's kind of a whirlwind. There's a lot of tears and a lot of crying from me. But it's just so amazing to be able to share the podium with these women and to get the historic Gold medal for Team USA.

WIRE: Incredible stuff. All right, Maia Weintraub, good to see you again. I have a message from your high school in Philly, PA, at friends select. Tell her we're all super proud of her and go Falcons. You were subbed in. What type of pressure were you feeling, and how did you overcome it?

MAIA WEINTRAUB, TEAM USA FENCING GOLD MEDALIST: I was feeling immense pressure. It wasn't -- it was the Gold Medal bout, and also, I was going in cold, haven't fenced yet on the Olympic stage. So I was just feeling a lot of emotions. But knowing that I had this amazing team behind me made it so much easier. And I was able to just have fun out there.

[14:55:04]

WIRE: I have an idea. Here, Warner Brothers discovery, "Game of Thrones, House of Dragon," there's a lot of sort fighting in those movies. Might we be able to get you to do some cameos, or maybe even a lead role?

KIEFER: We are so in.

WIRE: Yes. What would be your character? Would you be a villain, or would you be the good girl?

KIEFER: I don't care, but I want to be on top of a dragon.

WIRE: There we go. We can make that happen. I think we can talk to Bugs Bunny over here, too. That's maybe not just as good. But congratulations to you all. Thank you so much for coming on top of our WBD house here. And it's just been a pleasure to chat with you and share your story.

KIEFER: Thanks for having us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: I'm calling for I'm calling for the fencers and Jim to be on a dragon, by the way. But Jim, I am going to run, because about 30 minutes from now, three Americans in the field tonight for the 100 meter women's final, fastest woman in the world on the line. I'm going to run because I've got to catch the race, but also, I'm undercover now, but it's raining out there. Love you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: You're going to set record.

(LAUGHTER)

SCIUTTO: He's warming up for the race. I think that was -- I think he might have done 100 meters in ten seconds there. Not bad. Coy Wire, thanks so much. Turn on your TVs in a little less than a half-hour to watch that race.

Thanks so much for joining me today. I'm Jim Sciutto. Fredricka Whitfield is back tomorrow at 2:00. "SMERCONISH" starts right after a quick break.

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