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Trump Appears In New Batch Of Documents Released By DOJ; Justice Dept.: Epstein Letter To Larry Nassar Is Fake; Christmas Celebrations Are Back This Year In Bethlehem. Aired 3-3:30a ET
Aired December 24, 2025 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead, a return to Christmas in Bethlehem for the first time in years. We will take you there live this Christmas Eve. Thousands more documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The references to Donald Trump and what they reveal. Also, how this unique therapy dog is inspiring wounded Ukrainian soldiers to get back on their feet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.
CHURCH: The Justice Department's latest release of the Epstein files includes many more mentions of Donald Trump than the previous release. The U.S. President has not been accused of or charged with any wrongdoing related to Epstein, but his name appears in several files, including subpoenas from the Ghislaine Maxwell case seeking Mar-a-Lago employment records. There are also tips to the FBI about Trump and his relationship with Epstein, but there's no indication whether anyone followed up on those leads.
The Justice Department also claims that, quote, "Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against Trump." CNN's Marshall Cohen brings us all the details.
MARSHALL COHEN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: 30,000 pages of the Epstein files. That's what the U.S. Justice Department released very early on Tuesday. And there were a ton of intriguing and notable revelations in the documents and a lot of it implicated President Donald Trump. We learned that there was an email sent in 2020 by a Justice Department prosecutor as they were building the case against Epstein's conspirator and associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, that prosecutors and FBI investigators had uncovered that Donald Trump back in the 1990s had flown on Jeffrey Epstein's plane at least eight times. In the words of this one prosecutor, they said this was four, far more than they had been aware of before that time. Not only that, but some of the other passengers on that plane were
women who were potential witnesses in the Maxwell sex trafficking trial. Additionally, we learned that before that trial against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2021, that the Justice Department sent a subpoena to Mar-a-Lago, which of course is President Trump's golf club and resort down in South Florida. It is partially redacted the subpoena. We don't know how exactly Mar-a-Lago responded, but the request was for documents about the employment records of someone who had worked there.
And we have known for many years that there was some overlap between the staff at Epstein's mansion and Donald Trump's resort. There also was a lot of discussion about a handwritten letter that purported to be from Jeffrey Epstein sent to another notorious sex offender, Larry Nassar, who is currently serving life in prison for his crimes against hundreds of women in the United States. The letter caused a tremendous stir on social media because it claimed to lump together Larry Nassar, Jeffrey Epstein, and, quote, "Our president, possibly Trump, all sharing an affinity for young girls. The only problem there is that by the end of the day, the Justice Department came out and announced that it believed the letter was a fake and that it did not actually originate from the prison where Epstein was living at the time that it was sent."
But bottom line is that tens of thousands of additional files came out in the last day. More documents may be coming out in the future. Justice Department officials have said that they are still reviewing new material and will release it as required by the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was passed almost unanimously by Congress last month and reluctantly signed into law by President Trump, who had previously lobbied against it. Remember, he didn't want any of this stuff to come out. Marshall Cohen, CNN, Washington.
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CHURCH: Christians all around the world are getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Here is a live look at Bethlehem, where it is extra special. The small historic city in the west bank is marking festivities for the first time in three years. The official parade will kick off soon. Bethlehem did not publicly celebrate Christmas while the war in Gaza raged on. One of the city's iconic landmarks is the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square, Christians celebrated as the site where Jesus was born. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Matthew Chance joins me now live from Bethlehem.
Good to see you, Matthew. So what's the scene there at this special time of year?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, I mean it's a great sense of anticipation and excitement here in Bethlehem, which, you know, people around the world, Christians around the world celebrating Christmas Eve, the birth of Jesus. But it's here in Bethlehem where traditionally it's celebrated that he was born there, the Church of the Nativity dating back to the century A.D., which marks the spot where Jesus was believed to have been born in a manger, et cetera. It's for the people of the West Bank. It's heavily dependent in this city, in particular on tourism, on pilgrims coming here to spend their money, particularly at Christmas time.
I've got the mayor of Bethlehem standing by, but I'm sorry to interrupt. Thank you. Thank you very much.
MAHER CANAWATI, BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK MAYOR: Merry Christmas.
CHANCE: Merry Christmas to you as well.
CANAWATI: Welcome to Bethlehem.
CHANCE: Thank you. It's great to be here. Let me ask you because this is the first time in three years that you've celebrated Christmas here, had the tree for the people.
CANAWATI: It was very important for the resilience of the people of Buffalo and because many people almost lost, and you know, when you lose hope, it's the end. And we thought it was really crucial to the locals to send the messages that needs to hear from the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people are people who love life, who love peace, and eagerly looking forward to have justice and long-lasting peace in our country.
CHANCE: And the reason you didn't celebrate or didn't have the festivities in the past two years out of solidarity with the plight of people in Gaza. Is that right?
CANAWATI: Definitely. You know, it was the call of the Church of Palestine. The Palestinian church have decided not to have celebration. And I think everybody in the world had a broken heart from what we've seen in Gaza for the past few years. So it was the call of the Palestinian church to not celebrate. But after this glimpse of hope --
CHANCE: The ceasefire.
CANAWATI: The ceasefire. And I think we are, you know, doing our best to make sure that this works and peace will be prevailed in Palestine. And that's why we have reignited the spirit of Christmas and hope.
CHANCE: But it's also, just briefly, it's also important economically, isn't it, to this, for this town?
CANAWATI: Definitely.
CHANCE: Without Christmas, people are struggling.
CANAWATI: Definitely. That's why we said hope, because people lost hope because all of the hotels were shut down. And we're depending on tourism in the city. Approximately 80 percent of the income to the city comes from the tourism industry. 78 hotels were shut down. Shops and workshops were all shut down. The unemployment rates have jumped from 14 to 65 percent, leaving people with no way of any income. Because also of all of the wall, the separation wall and all of the gates and the barriers, and also cancelled all of the work permits that the Palestinians had in Israel. And it was devastating and catastrophic. And that's why we wanted to
reignite that hope and to welcome people back to Bethlehem. And the message is also that Bethlehem is safe. Bethlehem is ready to receive people. And we're all here ready to have you walk the streets of Bethlehem and connect with the living.
CHANCE: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, sir. Thank you for your time.
CANAWATI: God bless you. Thank you so much.
CHANCE: Merry Christmas to you as well. Thank you. Thank you.
There you have it, Rosemary. Important economically for the people of Bethlehem, important as a symbol of hope for Christians around the west bank and around the Palestinian territories and around the world as well. We're expecting a number of events taking place here in Manger Square later today. There'll be parades of various Christian denominations culminating at the end of the day. That's a Christian denomination just passing us by right here now,
Which denomination are you from? Yes. Okay, so coming out, the Church of Nativity there, culminating in Mass this evening at midnight to mark the start of here in the Holy Land. Rosemary.
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CHURCH: Matthew Chance, thank you so much. And Merry Christmas to you. Appreciate your reporting all year long. Thank you.
And Australia's state of New South Wales is officially tightening its gun and anti-terrorism laws. This comes after a mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach, which killed 15 people and wounded dozens during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.
The state's parliament voted to further restrict the firearm cap on most individual gun licenses. Police will also be granted more power to curb public protests in the months following a declared terror attack. And public displays of prohibited terror organization symbols will now be banned in a bid to combat anti-Semitism.
Officials say the laws are meant to keep people safe.
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CHRIS MINSS, NEW SOUTH WAIVES, AUSTRALIA PREMIER: I want to make it clear that this isn't the end of change. Sydney and New South Wales has changed forever as a result of that terrorist activity last Sunday. And we know it's our responsibility to do everything we can to keep the people of New South Wales safe. And that means further change in the new year.
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CHURCH: Authorities believe the two gunmen responsible for the December 14th attack were inspired by the militant group Islamic State. The father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene. His son Naveed has been charged with murder and terrorism.
Russia and China are criticizing the U.S. Pressure campaign against Venezuela. During a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Moscow and Beijing accused Washington of violating international laws and trying to impose its will on the region.
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SUN LEI, CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. (voiceover): China opposes all acts of unilateralism and bullying and supports all countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity.
VASSILY NEBENZIA, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. (voiceover): In Washington, they are ready to respect your independence and take your interest into account only if you are willing to tailor them to the interests of the United States and to conduct a policy which is convenient and beneficial to them. As soon as you attempt to benefit your own people, then you will be treated the same way that Venezuela is being treated. So don't ask for whom the bell tolls. The bell tolls for you.
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CHURCH: Venezuela's ambassador described the U.S. Pressure as the greatest extortion in his country's history. The U.S. for its part, insists that it's enforcing sanctions meant to deprive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of resources. The Trump administration claims those resources are used to fund cartel activity. The U.S. Military has seized two oil tankers in the region over the past two weeks and has been pursuing a third since Sunday.
Well, it's not just ships the US Is worried about the Coast Guard. And international authorities are reporting an increase in so-called "Narco-subs". These are homemade submarines used by traffickers to smuggle cocaine across the ocean. CNN's Patrick Oppmann has our report.
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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): U.S. Coast Guardsmen raced to board a so called narco-sub in eastern Pacific north with 17,000 pounds of cocaine aboard. They don't have a moment to lose. Drug traffickers will often flood and sink the vessels before law enforcement can seize the illicit cargo they transport. Since this 2019 incident, officials say the phenomenon of DIY subs built to traffic narcotics and the distances they travel have increased dramatically.
JOSE FERREIRA, MARITIME ANALYSIS AND OPERATIONS CENTRE: This is a modus operandi that the criminal groups are now using a lot of more and more. It's clearly a growing threat towards Europe, and it's very hard for us not just to detect but also to interdict.
OPPMANN (voiceover): Experts say narcosubs travel just under the surface of the water and are painted to match the color of the ocean. They're often built in mangroves near the ocean in South America, where thick tree cover hides them from law enforcement and satellite surveillance. Increasingly, the narco-subs are traveling to new markets thousands of miles from where they are assembled.
Last month, this narco-sub believed to have crossed the Atlantic from South America was seized off the coast of Portugal with nearly two tons of cocaine aboard. Portuguese police arrested the four-man crew aboard. Even though narco-subs can cost up to $1 million to build, Maritime authorities say they are often discarded after only one successful drug run.
In January, police discovered this sunken sub mysteriously abandoned near the coast of Spain. Police divers managed to raise the damaged sub and tow it into port as potential evidence. Increasingly, alleged smugglers transporting drugs by sea face a new threat.
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In October, the US Military destroyed the suspected narco-sub in the Caribbean.
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: That was a drug carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs. Just so you understand, this was not an innocent group of people. I don't know too many people that have submarines.
OPPMANN (voiceover): Two alleged crew members of the sub were killed in the strike. Two survivors were transported to their home countries where they were released for lack of evidence. The threat of U.S. Strikes is an added danger to an already risky profession.
HENRY SHULDINER, INSIGHT CRIME: There's many risks that are, that can happen, whether it's a mechanical failure, whether it's rough seas, you know, bad weather that they encounter, law enforcement, you know, if something goes wrong, there's almost no margin for survival.
OPPMANN (voiceover): But once again, the smuggler's knack for adaptation may be one step ahead. In July, the Colombian navy seized what they say was an unmanned narco-sub equipped with a Starlink dish. Soon, counternarcotics officials say drug cartels may deliver their dangerous contraband across oceans by remote control. Patrick Oppmann, CNN.
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CHURCH: Libya's prime minister says the country's army chief and four other military officials have been killed in a plane crash. They were flying home from an official visit to Turkey on Tuesday. Turkish authorities say they lost contact with the jet shortly after it departed Ankara. CNN Turk reports that the jet had declared an electrical emergency and requested to return to the airport before communication was lost.
The aircraft's wreckage was located near the Turkish capital. Turkish officials say an investigation has been launched into the crash.
Ahead of Christmas Eve, Russia launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky says at least three people were killed, including a four-year-old child. Officials say the attack hit about half the country and left some areas completely without power.
This latest bombardment comes after a fresh round of peace talks wrapped up over the weekend in Miami. Zelensky has signaled some progress, but Moscow says there was no major breakthrough.
Wounded Ukrainian veterans are finding comfort from an unlikely source, one with a wagging tail and a familiar story of courage. CNN's Ryan Young has more.
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RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Meet Laver, a Ukrainian therapy dog tasked with helping war veterans recover. Laver is not like most therapy dogs. He's fitted with two prosthetic front paw.
WILD, UKRAINIAN WAR VETERAN (voiceover): You feel a sense of emotional relief, especially with a dog here on prosthetics just like us. It's truly wonderful.
YOUNG (voiceover): Laver's Artificial limbs have not slowed him down. His owner runs a rehabilitation center in Kyiv where Laver plays and visits with patients almost every day. A lot of the patients also have prosthetics and say it's nice seeing a canine friend like them.
IVAN ZHADANI, UKRAINIAN WAR VETERAN: The dog wants to live just like we do. And I'll walk too, not on four legs, but on two.
DMYTO ZUBARIEV, UKRAINIAN WAR VETERAN: The dog can walk now, and I want to as well. Soon I'll be able to walk, too.
YOUNG (voiceover): Laver's owner and the center's founder says he was rescued near the Odessa railway station, where he lost two front paws in an accident. After he recovered, bioengineers in Dnipro gave Laver prosthetic front paws using the same technology being used for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, bone integrated titanium implants.
VIACHESLAV ZAPOROZHETS, FOUNDER, TYTANOVI REHABILIATION CENTER (voiceover): It's remarkable that our work inspired the veterinarian to perform osseointegration on this dog, and it succeeded.
YOUNG (voiceover): He says that when he saw Laver's photos online and read about him, he knew he wanted to adopt him. Now Laver has accepted his new paws and new home as his own.
ZAPOROZHETS (voiceover): The most important thing is that the dog has accepted the prosthetics. He doesn't chew them, he licks them, treating them as his own paws. If they felt artificial to him, he would have chewed them off. He's a dog, after all.
YOUNG (voiceover): Laver's playful energy brings joy to the patients. He says his attitude inspires him to work harder to recover, just like Laver did. Ryan Young, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: Amazing. Well, still to come here on CNN Newsroom how Santa
Claus is bringing more than just joy to communities around the world. We'll explain on the other side of the break. Stay with us.
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CHURCH: Santa has been spotted without his sleigh recently across the globe. But as CNN's Polo Sandoval explains, his new rides are usually for a good cause.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Santa's got a new ride. We don't know if the sleigh is busy with the big night, but in Venice, many of Santa's helpers were spotted rowing gondolas through the canals, and in Rome, riding bicycles past the Coliseum. It's all part of the Christmas fund, says the bike event's organizer, and the proceeds go to a charity that supports families of children fighting cancer.
RICCARDO LOCHE, ORGANIZER, BIKE RIDE (voiceover): We always raise significant funds, which undoubtedly provides considerable help to the facility that welcomes these families who may come from anywhere in the world and have to leave their homes, jobs and loved ones behind. So we support them in this way.
SANDOVAL (voiceover): In Bulgaria, Santa opted for transport with a little more kick. The festive crew there pack the streets of Sofia with motorbikes, also for a good cause.
GEORGI YANCHEV, ORGANIZER (voiceover): After touring the capital's boulevards, we stop at the final point and distribute treats to the children who can take photos with the motorcycles.
SANDOVAL (voiceover): In Rio, Santa took a dive in the aquarium. The reindeer set this one out, but Santa was accompanied by a variety of sharks and fish, which delighted some onlookers.
CAMILA FIGUEIREDO DE ASUNCAO, STUDENT (voiceover): It's surprising, he only gives gifts to us, to humans, but apparently he gives gifts to fish, too. How incredible. Inclusion always. That's a good thing.
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SANDOVAL (voiceover): And on the banks of the Brazilian Amazon, a barge decorated with a huge Santa display brought presents and holiday cheer to some of the most remote stops on Santa's list.
FABIANA BRAGA, RESIDENT (voiceover): There are many families who can't afford to take their children to the city to enjoy these experiences, to go to the mall and see Santa Claus. And here we have all of that right at the port of our community on the banks of the river. It's one wonderful. SANDOVAL (voiceover): And for those not quite in the holiday spirit
yet, there's always the Grinch Mototaxi in Lima, which seems to have a very un-Grinchy effect of making customers feel happy and safe for the short trips around town.
JEFERSON CASTRO, MOTOTAXI DRIVER (voiceover): To not see my Moto Taxi empty, a simple driver like me, I decided to use the Grinch theme to fit the occasion and for people's enjoyment. They really like it.
SANDOVAL (voiceover): Something surely Santa and the Grinch can both agree on. Polo Sandoval, CNN.
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CHURCH: Busy time for Santa. Well, now to a special holiday message from space.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Greetings to planet Earth. All of our friends and family from Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Flying high above thinking of you during this holiday season.
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CHURCH: Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are wishing everyone on Earth a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday. Holiday season. They're in the middle of a long-duration stay to test new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions in space.
I want to thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church, and I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy holidays. Enjoy this special time with family and friends. Marketplace Europe is next.
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