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Iran Seizes Two Ships Escalating Tensions In Strait of Hormuz; U.K. And France Hosting Meeting On Strait of Hormuz; Pope Leo XIV To Wrap Up Visit In Equatorial Guinea; Evacuations Ordered as Fires Grow Amid Extreme Drought; Sea Ice Melting at a Dangerous Pace Near the Arctic Circle; Six Women Win 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize; British Woman Wins Goldman Prize for Fighting Oil Drilling; Congressman Blasts DOJ Over Possibility of Maxwell Pardon; Lufthansa Group Cutting 20 Percent of Daily Short-Haul Flights Through October; Airlines Announce Fare Hikes and Plans to Slash Flights; Smithsonian's National Zoo Debuts Youngest Asian Elephant; 17 Injured, Four Critical, in Denmark Train Collision. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired April 23, 2026 - 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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[02:00:39]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, Iran releases video purportedly showing soldiers seizing container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, this coming just one day after Donald Trump extends the truce indefinitely.

No time to lose. Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to CNN saying the fighting in Ukraine can't wait until the war in Iran is over.

And on the top of the world, we will take a first hand look at the vanishing sea ice in the Arctic.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Good to have you with us, and we begin in the Middle East where Iran is still under a U.S. naval blockade as the war's timeline remains uncertain. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps sees two ships escalating tensions amid a fragile cease fire. Iranian state media released this video showing soldiers boarding one of the vessels. The White House is calling it, "Piracy," but says President Donald Trump does not consider Tehran's capture of non U.S. ships a cease fire violation. Trump says there's no time frame for ending the conflict with Iran, and denies the coming midterm elections in the U.S. are driving his decisions.

But Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian says although Tehran still wants peace talks, it believes, "Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiations."

So, let's bring in CNN's Eleni Giokos. She joins us live from Dubai. Good morning to you, Eleni.

So, what is the latest on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and of course, diplomatic efforts to try to end this war?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, Rosemary and yes, as you say, so much happening, especially narratives coming through from President Trump saying that the seizure of these two vessels is not a cease fire violation. He says these are international vessels and not linked to the United States or Israel, so he's sort of putting that aside.

But Tehran has been very clear what they view, in terms of the U.S. naval blockade as being one of the biggest hindrances to any negotiations and getting back to the negotiating table.

But I just want to point our attention now to what's happening in the season. While we haven't seen a military escalation on land, it's a very different story around the Strait of Hormuz. You know, yesterday, the IRGC said that they struck and targeted three vessels, two of which they claim to have seized.

Now this is the MSC Francesca as well as the Epaminondas, which is Greek owned, but Liberian flagged. And then they post this video on state media showing the IRGC using speed boats to board these vessels and seize these vessels.

Now, what's interesting is that U.S. intelligence sources are telling us that around 50 percent of Iran's asymmetrical capabilities still exist, and some of these asymmetrical capabilities are these four speed boats that can clearly wreak havoc in the seas. They can have around half a dozen military personnel on them. They can -- you know, they can be armed, and importantly, they can even use missiles or shoulder armed missiles to deter any vessels, any shippers that would want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz if they don't receive Iranian authorization and they don't negotiate directly with Iran, and that's why they say they struck these vessels yesterday, because some of them did not adhere to the Iranian rules.

What's interesting is these two vessels are cargo vessels. Their Epaminondas was meant to go to India. The MSC Francesca was headed to Sri Lanka, and we've also seen images of where they stopped, very close to Iranian territorial waters yesterday, and news out this morning from Kepler, showing the family numbers now heading back to the Strait of Hormuz and basically stuck between Larak Island and Hormuz Island. And that's a really clear indication in terms of, you know, the Iranians having some kind of control over the movement of these vessels.

Now, whether this is going to create a further confrontation in the seas, remains to be seen. But the fact that President Trump says that he doesn't view the seizure as a violation of the cease fire means perhaps there's still some kind of window of opportunity to get both sides on the negotiating table.

[02:05:10] So, that's going to be really important. The U.S. CENTCOM naval blockade, they say have been able to stop around 31 vessels from breaching the blockade in the Gulf of Oman. Keeping in mind that enforcement of seizing and indicting Iranian linked vessels now applies to anywhere in the seas.

And we've also have news that we've been covering over the last few days, that around 27 vessels that have links to Iran have been able to pass through the blockade in the Gulf of Oman, keeping in mind that there was one vessel that was indicted and seized by the U.S. in the Indian Ocean, which is thousands of miles away.

Clear messaging here about who controls the Strait of Hormuz, this has become one of the biggest, most contentious issues as we lead up to what will hopefully be some kind of diplomatic off ramp. You know, who knows when that and if that will happen? But there's still a lot of hope out there, Rosemary, that they can see eye to eye at some point.

CHURCH: Yes, there certainly is. Eleni Giokos joining us live from Dubai. Many thanks for that report. Appreciate it.

Well, as the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports continues, the Pentagon made a surprise announcement on Wednesday. U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan is stepping down effective immediately. Sources tell CNN there was tension for months between Phelan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Phelan was told to resign or be fired.

His departure comes amid what one White House official described as President Trump's frustration with the slow progress of shipbuilding. Phelan was a businessman and major Trump fundraiser with no prime military service when he was tapped to be Navy Secretary.

Well, the war with Iran is driving up energy costs across Europe, forcing new emergency measures. The European Union says it has spent an additional $28 billion on energy imports since the war started. It's unveiling plans to address potential jet fuel shortages. Consumers are also seeing higher prices for gasoline and groceries. One industry group is recommending a suspension of aviation taxes, income support, energy vouchers and cuts to electricity taxes. The European Commission says even if the war ended this week, disruptions to energy supplies will persist for the foreseeable future.

And Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says if this trajectory is not addressed through a peace focused approach, the damage from the conflict process will be much greater.

Well, the U.K. and France are holding a second day of meetings with military planners to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN European Affairs Commentator Dominic Thomas joins me now. I appreciate you being with us.

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Thank you for having me on, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So, Dominic, the U.K. and France are leading a multinational military planning conference of over 30 nations to advance efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. How is this going to work exactly against the backdrop of the U.S. war with Iran?

THOMAS: Yes, it's really interesting how this sort of global political landscape keeps shifting here. What we're seeing here is a war that was started by President Trump and by the State of Israel, in which world allies, European allies, age old, historical allies, were not consulted.

And this came on the heels of weeks and months of attempting to work with this new administration, right, over tariffs, Ukraine, pressure for NATO and so on and so forth. And I think what we see here is ultimately some kind of threshold has been reached.

Now, these leaders are not eager to get involved militarily, but they are absolutely determined to be part of this process, in seeking peace and in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which is causing absolute economic chaos domestically for these individual leaders, and subjecting them and elected officials to enormous pressure.

So, they have decided, rather than be passive, to be active in trying to solve this particular issue.

CHURCH: And Dominic military planners from over 30 nations met on Wednesday, and they will meet in the coming hours, what all was achieved on the first day, what's likely to be achieved today, and what's their likely next move?

THOMAS: Well, I think that just the fact that they are having a conversation is absolutely important. I think there is real concern that the quote Iran question is shifting from being a focus on nuclear proliferation, development and so on and so forth, towards this country controlling one of the most important economic pathways in the world, and the problem has now developed into essentially a two headed one. President Trump has attacked and is eager to solve the nuclear issue, but this new emerging problem is something that has a genuine global impact, and I think that that has become a priority.

[02:10:26]

Now, there are two prongs to this now as well. We have, on the one hand, a U.S. blockade, and on the other hand, Iran now firing at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

So, this has created incredible instability in the area. There are repeated violations of maritime law, and there is deep concern about where this is going, how this is unfolding, and how the situation that President Trump has got everybody into is ultimately going to be resolved, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Right. And this two day conference comes after U.S. President Donald Trump extended that cease fire until negotiations with Iran end in a peace deal, but Iran wants the U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to be lifted first, could and should that happen in an effort to get Iran to the negotiating table so that ultimately an end to this war can be achieved?

THOMAS: Yes, well, it's a great question. And I think just prior to getting to answering that question, I think the bigger context is the uncertainty around the war being on, off, negotiations, etcetera, etcetera, has at least gone away with a kind of indefinite suspension of activity here, and a kind of waiting for them to come to the negotiating table.

Of course, this opens up discussion over the negotiating power at this particular moment, and who is in control of this. And it seems that as we have gone further down the road here, President Trump's position has been weakened. He has the military might, but he seemingly does not have the diplomatic aptitude to be able to resolve this particular issue. And this is therefore feeding into the hands not only of Iran, but also of detractors of NATO, of the European Union and so on.

And I think that balancing those two and watching the European response here, and also the global leaders that they are bringing around the table to work in a concerted fashion to solve this interest and solve this issue, is an important one as well, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Right and of course, in the middle of all of this, I do want to ask what your reaction is to John Phelan, who officials said repeatedly clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth being ousted as Navy Secretary.

THOMAS: Well, it's quite remarkable, because, of course, this is coming on the heels yet again, of multiple major Cabinet members being dismissed, fired or asked to leave. It creates greater uncertainty, and this is a particularly strategic position here, because the naval question is, of course, front and center in the whole issue over the Strait of Hormuz. So, it creates more instability, more uncertainty, and at a time when European allies, or global allies are trying to solve this maritime problem, you have one of the key stakeholders here being ousted and once again, around President Trump, people occupying important positions in his cabinet that do not have the expertise on the ground, either diplomatically, militarily or a real understanding of the problem.

So, you have a problem created by him, and then individuals trying to solve these particular issues do not have the training and the background that they need. And I think that's why the global multilateral order is so crucial in this conversation.

CHURCH: Dominic Thomas, appreciate you joining us. Thank you.

THOMAS: Thank you.

CHURCH: A second round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon is expected to get underway in Washington in the coming hours in hopes of extending the fragile cease fire.

Now, this comes a day after Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon killed at least four people. Lebanon's Prime Minister is accusing Israel of war crimes after an air strike killed one journalist on Wednesday and seriously wounded another, and he says Israeli forces prevented rescue teams from reaching the victims.

Lebanese state media says newspaper reporter Amal Khalil died while at work. She is the fourth media professional killed in Lebanon by Israel since March.

Israel says its forces attacked vehicles coming from a military structure used by Hezbollah, CNN cannot independently verify either side's account.

Almost two months into the war with Iran, the president of Ukraine has a message for the U.S. Don't forget about us.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy told our Christian Amanpour that Iran is taking focus away from Ukraine, and he warned there's a big risk in putting off efforts to end the Russian aggression. He says he's hoping for more trilateral talks with both the U.S. and Russia, but he doesn't see any high-level meetings happening until the Iran conflict ends.

[02:15:14]

In that interview, President Zelenskyy also says some U.S. weapons deliveries to Ukraine could be at risk because of the war with Iran. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: We had the packages according to our negotiations with the European, France and with American partners. We had our program pull through this program. We can and could buy anti- ballistic missiles for systems Patriots and -- Patriot systems and also some other weapon, which is very important for us, which is which -- which we don't have in our European neighbors.

So, this is very important. And, of course, according to the big challenge in the Middle East, war in Iran and all these packages are in risk.

So, we had some, God bless that United States didn't close intelligence for us and didn't stop anti-ballistic missiles.

But be honest, small number. We had not too much, really not too much. We understand why because the production in the United States is not so big, as all, not only Ukraine, other partners, really wait and count on.

So, that's why this is a big challenge. And if the war will continue or ceasefire will be delayed or -- I mean, this something will be not good. And I think that we will not have maybe, maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistic.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: You've said for Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus. President Trump has essentially. I don't think he's called it a ceasefire. I mean, they've extended it until they can get proper negotiations with Iran. Is this -- do you think this is hopeful? The fact that the hot war is on, maybe being shelved for the moment.

ZELENSKYY: In any way, I don't know if it's ceasefire or not, but in any way, any pauses in any war. I think this is good because during any kind of pauses, you don't lose people. The biggest challenge for any country, for any nation, any religion and et cetera., is to lose people. That's why any pauses -- and between us, there is no, there is no price for such pauses.

If you can save people, great. So we support ceasefire. We support any pauses between us. Sometimes during Easter, during Christmas, during New Year, during any kind of even days when people can have, I don't know, just meetings with their children when soldiers can write a letter, speak and have some rest. And I think it's great. So any pauses.

Of course, peace is the best way for ending war, long lasting peace. But if it's not -- I mean, this possible, for today, but any pauses are great.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Pope Leo is preparing to head home after his 11 day trip in Africa, but not before holding one final event in the coming hours. That story just ahead.

Plus, a part of the world normally covered in ice is melting at a record pace. We will show you the scary reality taking place at the top of the world due to climate change. Back in just a moment.

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[02:23:27]

CHURCH: Pope Leo XIV is wrapping up his 11-day tour of Africa, where crowds turned out in droves to see him. His final stop is in Equatorial Guinea where in about three hours, he will celebrate mass at a stadium before flying home.

Earlier, he visited what's considered one of the world's worst prisons. The Pope criticized the treatment of the inmates and also called out the country's income inequality.

Africa is home to about 20 percent of the world's Catholics, and some of the Pope's events drew crowds of more than 100,000 people. CNN's Christopher Lamb saw that excitement firsthand.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's an electric atmosphere in this stadium for Pope Leo as he arrives for this meeting with young people and families. The rain has been pouring down, but people have turned out in their thousands and they're showing incredible excitement to see Pope Leo that's been circulating in the Popemobile. This is Leo's last full day of his Africa tour.

He's been to four countries, and the last day in Equatorial Guinea has seen him travel across three cities, and he's been taking part in an extraordinary number of events. The Pope, who is at 70, a relatively young Pope, someone who has had to show incredible stamina to be part to take part in all the events that Leo here with a strong message of hope for people in Equatorial Guinea, which is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, but one that has to battle with a very repressive regime.

[02:25:03]

Leo visiting a prison one of the worst in the world, in batter trying to encourage those prisoners and talk about some of the very difficult conditions they face.

Leo during this time in Africa underlying his desire to be a missionary Pope who goes out to parts of the world that you wouldn't necessarily expect a pope to go to.

But Pope Leo, of course, is a former missionary himself, and during his time in Africa, he's seen in his element.

Now, Leo will depart on Thursday from Equatorial Guinea on a flight back to Rome at the end of what is the longest visit, foreign visit of his pontificate.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: A landmark mass trial is under way in El Salvador, with nearly 500 alleged leaders of the MS-13 gang facing justice. Prosecutors say the defendants ordered more than 47,000 crimes over a decade, including murders, extortion, arms trafficking and forced disappearances. Some face potential sentences of more than 200 years in prison. The case includes killings tied to the country's deadliest weekend in modern history in 2022 where authorities say orders were given to kill 86 people.

It's a prestigious award honoring ordinary people who take extraordinary steps to protect the environment. We talked to the European winner about her fight to stop oil drilling in her backyard, and how it's changing what businesses are allowed to do, we'll have that after a short break. Stay with us.

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[02:31:11]

CHURCH: Wildfires in southeast Georgia are growing amid extreme drought conditions. The Clinch County -- in Clinch County, firefighters are working to clear trees and brush to contain the so- called Pineland Road fire. That blaze has burned more than 29,000 acres so far.

The nearby Highway 82 fire has scorched about 5,000 acres and burned more than 50 structures. No injuries have been reported, but the blaze has prompted mandatory evacuations.

Smoke from both fires is creating poor air quality in the area and hundreds of miles away here in Atlanta.

Well, Earth Day is a good reminder of the dangerous impacts we're seeing from climate change. Some of the world's coldest areas are melting before our very eyes. CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir went to the Arctic Circle where the sea ice is disappearing.

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Greetings from the top of the world. We're rocking and rolling a little bit. Probably the highest live shot anyone has ever done in terms of degrees latitude north. We're around 79 degrees north in this beautiful chain of islands called Svalbard.

The cold edge, as it were, and it's one of the most unique places in the world, one, because it's heating up much faster than the rest of the world and is giving us a glimpse of what climate change looks like in the near future for the rest of the Arctic as well.

And it's also a really interesting place based on a treaty that goes back to World War I that pretty much lets any citizen of any country move to Svalbard, although geopolitical tensions these days have changed that. We can talk about that in a second.

But I've been meeting with these scientists who spend their lives up here, trying to understand the changes of these glaciers that are going away. The sea ice is melting. The North Pole could be ice-free within 25 years or so. And one in particular, Hedda Andersen, a Norwegian glaciologist, was really frustrated by what's going on and really hoping people this Earth Day look at the signs and take notice.

Here's a little sample with her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEDDA ANDERSEN, GLACIOLOGIST & RESEARCH ADVISER, NY-ALESUND RESEARCH STATION: This is all connected, right? The California is connected to the Arctic, and it's connected by the oceans. And what happens in the oceans is what drives climate change up here. And what happens up here impacts the rest of the world.

It's like we need to wake up globally and understand that this is not something that just impacts the Arctic. It impacts everybody. If you think oil and gas is expensive now, wait until the Arctic melts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: The Arctic Council comprised of the countries that touch the Arctic, but Russia was kicked out after the invasion of Crimea. Donald Trump in the United States has pulled so much funding for climate science that there's this real sense of frustration and desperation that 50 percent of the Arctic is not at the table right now, trying to figure out how to mitigate, how to adapt to these changes up here as well. I mean, the politics in the States changes that. And some of that science comes flushing, rushing back north. But right now, it's really tense. And Norway, which has generally been wide open to their neighbors, starting to tighten up. You see their military ships around more. They're trying to exert their sovereignty, taking the boats away from other foreign residents right now.

So the Arctic, a hotspot in more ways than one.

CHURCH: Well, for the first time in its 37-year history, the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded to a group made up entirely of women. Sometimes called the Green Nobel, the Goldman honors ordinary people from around the world who take extraordinary steps to protect the planet.

This year's award for Europe went to Sarah Finch, a grassroots campaigner who spent years fighting against oil drilling in southeastern England.

[02:35:00]

Her legal battle helped bring about an unprecedented High Court ruling that now requires authorities to consider the downstream impacts before granting fossil fuel extraction projects.

Sarah Finch is the 2026 Goldman Prize winner for Europe. She joins us now. Congratulations!

SARAH FINCH, 2026 GOLDMAN PRIZE WINNER FOR EUROPE: Thank you.

CHURCH: Wonderful, good to talk with you. So, you successfully campaigned against oil drilling in Surrey, England for more than a decade, fighting multiple court battles that ended in a ruling named after you, which eventually shut down that oil development. How tough was that fight?

FINCH: It was long, that was the worst thing. We rose up through the courts, we had several hearings, we lost in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and then eventually won in the Supreme Court. So in all, the legal part of the fight took almost five years.

CHURCH: Wow, that is quite a battle. And what exactly is what they call 'the Finch ruling' that was handed down by the Supreme Court in 2024? And what's its significance beyond the United Kingdom? Could it perhaps inform E.U. policy going forward?

FINCH: Yeah, well, it's a very simple point. The case we were arguing was that that particular oil field was approved unlawfully, because when making the decision, the Council hadn't looked into the emissions from burning the fuel. The environmental impact assessment regulations in U.K. law, which are derived from European law, say that they have to look at all likely significant direct and indirect effects of the project on the environment.

But they completely neglected to look at the impact of burning the fuel that was going to be produced, which was much the biggest part of the climate impact. So we said as that hadn't been carried out, the project couldn't be lawful. And it seemed a very simple point to us. But in all, 11 judges considered this point and came to different conclusions until we finally won in the Supreme Court.

And it has set a precedent that has had big impacts already in the U.K., with a number of other fossil fuel developments being found unlawful or refused based on that point. And also, it's having an effect in other sectors, such as intensive animal agriculture and aviation. And similar judgments have been made in other jurisdictions.

So in Australia, Norway and Guyana, all making the same point about the fact that you have to count the indirect emissions and not just the very direct ones. And so yeah, it has potentially got big international implications.

CHURCH: Wow, that must feel amazing that your relentlessness, your tenacity, basically will possibly impact the world. So, why is it so important to you to dedicate your life to environmental activism like this?

FINCH: Well, I've always been interested in the environment since I was a young child. I was very concerned about that, in the '70s, about acid rain and tropical deforestation. And that's not changed, I always have been.

But then it became kind of more personal when this oil field was proposed just close to where I lived. And I realized that not only was it a kind of national policy issue, it was a very local issue so that I felt, you know, I couldn't ignore it. I had to take action.

CHURCH: So, Sarah, what is your next environmental fight and what's your message to others who may feel powerless in the face of various environmental challenges confronting the world right now?

FINCH: OK, well, so the next fight for the Weald Action Group, which is the group that I'm part of, is looking at the methane emissions from existing oil and gas sites. So with the court ruling, we have made it much more difficult for any new sites to get approved. But there are hundreds of either operating or abandoned sites littering the U.K. which are leaking methane into the atmosphere, a very powerful greenhouse gas.

So that's the next thing we in the Weald Action Group are turning our attention to. And to anyone who feels powerless, I just think take action where you are. In my case, there was an oil site proposed on my doorstep.

But there are many, many things that affect the climate and everybody probably hasn't got a climate polluter near to them. So my real advice would be to just get together with other people who feel the same way as you. Don't imagine you're the only person who's concerned because that's never going to be the case.

Far more people are worried about the climate than we realize. So find your companions and take action together.

CHURCH: Great message. And how are you feeling about your win?

FINCH: Really overwhelmed. It just feels so unlikely that I should have won an international award for a little fight in one corner of Surrey in South East England. I'm really proud.

[02:40:00]

And it's been amazing to meet and get to know the other five winners who are all, you know, incredible women who have won big campaigns and in many cases, are getting much tougher odds than I did. So, yes, it's been a fantastic experience and I really want to live up to it.

CHURCH: And I'm sure you will and I mean it's an inspiration to all of us. Sarah Finch, thank you so much for joining us and congratulations again for your win.

FINCH: Thank you.

CHURCH: Still to come, CNN investigates the continued fallout from the Epstein files. Victims named other men as abusers in documents released by the Justice Department. But how thoroughly were those claims investigated? We'll take a look.

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[02:45:23]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. A Democratic lawmaker is demanding answers about the possibility of a pardon for convicted sex trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. House Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a scathing letter to the Department of Justice over the matter, specifically its reported willingness to pardon Maxwell.

He wrote, quote, "Even with access to testimony and documentation detailing the abuse of more than 1,000 women and children, the department has brought no charges beyond those against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell."

CNN's Kyung Lah takes a closer look at the allegations against other men connected to Epstein.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're the faceless figures in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring, women and girls whose stories fill the Department of Justice files. Some explaining they were raped, others lent out to Epstein's friends, and another given sexual instructions for other men and trafficked.

Epstein went to jail for sex trafficking. So did accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. But the Trump administration says evidence doesn't show other men participated in the abuse. From the FBI.

KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: There is no credible information, none. If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked two other individuals.

LAH (voice-over): To the DOJ.

TODD BLANCHE, ACTING UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: Anybody with evidence, come to the FBI and tell us.

LAH (voice-over): Victims did tell the FBI, but the files show little sign of any follow-up by investigators. A CNN Review of the DOJ's own publicly released Epstein files finds more than a dozen times where victims told the FBI that Epstein facilitated sexual encounters with his rich and powerful network.

But here's what we can't find in the public files, much evidence of further Investigation after those women spoke to the FBI.

LAH: What does justice at the end of the day look like for you?

ANNIE FARMER, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Before we can even get to, you know, to prosecution, we need investigation, right? And so, unfortunately, what we're seeing right now is that there's been so little investigation.

LAH (voice-over): Annie Farmer is an Epstein survivor. She says she was sexually abused by Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell when she was just 16. She has Joined House Oversight Committee Ranking Member, Robert Garcia, in a public push for more accountability.

REP. ROBERT GARCIA, (D-CA) RANKING MEMBER, HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: This is about some of the most powerful wealthiest people believing that they can just get away with anything and they empowered Jeffrey Epstein to be that person.

LAH (voice-over): The files reveal how Epstein built a trafficking ring. The victims were teenagers or young women who needed money and influence to start their lives. Epstein paid for gifts and exotic trips to his Caribbean island for parties. Victims told the FBI, at first, he seemed harmless. One victim told the Palm Beach Police Department two decades ago how Epstein would groom his victims.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every girl that meets Jeffrey starts off with giving him a massage. The more you do with him, the more you make.

LAH (voice-over): In this 2021 report, a victim told the FBI she believed they trafficked me. She says Epstein sent her to Dr. Henry Jarecki, a renowned psychiatrist, who could help her with college. This is Jarecki pictured here with Epstein in the files. Because she really wanted to attend college, she says she gave Jarecki oral sex. There's no sign of an FBI investigation with Jarecki. He says he's never abused anyone.

A wealthy banker named in an FBI report is Jes Staley.

JES STALEY, FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BARCLAYS: I have had a long-standing professional or had a long-standing professional relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. LAH (voice-over): A woman told the FBI that she met Staley at Epstein's New York mansion. The woman says Epstein was paying for her to attend massage school and told her to give Staley a massage. Photos show Epstein owned an elaborate massage room.

The massage ended in rough sex. She told Staley she did not want this. Federal investigators spoke to local cops about accusations against Staley, but the files don't show much follow-up. Staley said in court, he did have sex with one of Epstein's assistants, but it was consensual.

LEON BLACK, FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT: I love doing business. My whole life I've enjoyed doing business.

LAH (voice-over): Leon black is a Wall Street titan. A woman said Epstein told her to massage Black who started becoming sexual. She then ran out of the room. Another woman said Black raped her. Files show the DOJ spoke about Black with the Manhattan D.A.'s office which began looking into him. But he has not been charged for anything.

An Attorney for Black said he has never abused, assaulted or raped any girl or woman, and the idea of doing so is repulsive and reprehensible to him.

[02:50:00]

SPENCER KUVIN, ATTORNEY FOR MULTIPLE EPSTEIN VICTIMS: It's just an absolute travesty the way that the entire thing is played out.

LAH (voice-over): Attorney Spencer Kuvin has represented multiple Epstein victims. One of his clients says Epstein and Maxwell loaned her to a corporate executive in Palm Beach, Florida.

KUVIN: Girls were not people to him. They were objects to be traded. He would utilize both underage victims, but he would also utilize other women who were over the age of 18 to satisfy men that he wanted to curry favor with.

LAH: You're almost talking about an economic ecosystem based on the abuse of women.

KUVIN: It was.

LAH (voice-over): Moses Castillo is a former LAPD sex crimes detective. He says he'd expect to see more basic investigation and follow-up in the files.

MOSES CASTILLO, FORMER LAPD DETECTIVE: It's actually policing 101. Police investigations 101, you check the flight. You check all the hotels. You check this victim said this and that. Can you go out there and corroborate that? So it's time consuming, but it's not impossible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAH (on camera): We asked the Department of Justice about the documents in the files that stated allegations against other men. A spokesperson for the DOJ said, quote, "The allegations contained in them were thoroughly investigated. Prosecutors at the time did not feel that the evidence was sufficient to prosecute."

We also reached out to a spokesperson for Jarecki, who said that he has advanced dementia, is non-communicative, and that silence should not be construed as tacit approval.

We did not hear back from representatives for Maxwell or Jes Staley.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Los Angeles.

CHURCH: Higher fares and fewer flights, how skyrocketing fuel costs are affecting major airlines and their passengers. We'll have that after a short break. Stay with us.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Germany's Lufthansa Group says it is slashing 20,000 short-haul flights through October. The first 120 daily flights were axed on Monday and will remain cancelled through May. The Lufthansa Group, which includes SWISS and Austrian Airlines, says the flight cuts should save about 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel.

Spirit Airlines is close to getting a $500 million bailout from the Trump administration. A source says a deal could be announced in the hours ahead. It's expected to include the federal government taking a stake in the beleaguered budget airline. Any deal would likely cause backlash across the industry.

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Past bailouts have been done on an industry-wide, not individual basis. But soaring jet fuel costs have derailed Spirit's efforts to emerge from bankruptcy. It's struggled to turn a profit ever since the COVID pandemic.

And the pain from rising energy prices is being passed on to passengers. United has announced plans to raise fares and has signaled they may not come back down even if fuel costs fall. And Lufthansa is cutting thousands of daily flights.

CNN's Pete Muntean has the details.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Not a huge surprise here. Airlines run on thin margins. And historically, fares don't really come back down once they go up. Here is the new warning from United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby from Wednesday's earnings call.

Passengers are paying about 20 percent more per mile than they were a year ago. And Kirby says even if fuel prices fall, those higher fares are likely to stick around. The data from travel site 'Going' shows just how much prices have jumped.

Domestic airfare up 18 percent for the summer. International fares up eight percent. That's about 13 percent overall. Labor is still the single biggest cost for airlines. But remember, jet fuel is number two. And the price of jet fuel has roughly doubled since the start of the war with Iran, meaning airlines have no choice but to adjust.

German carrier Lufthansa is cutting 20,000 flights through October. That includes about 120 flights a day through May. The goal is to save money as fuel costs surge. This is classic airline playbook. When costs go up, airlines start slashing capacity. Fewer flights means fewer choices.

And the routes most likely to disappear first are the ones that weren't really all that profitable to begin with. But here's the kicker, demand for air travel is still very strong. And airlines admit that they think travelers will keep paying these prices. And so far, they're right.

Pete Muntean, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: In celebration of Earth Day Wednesday, the Smithsonian's National Zoo debuted their newest Asian elephant to the public for the first time. Linh Mai is the first Asian elephant to be born at the zoo in nearly 25 years. She is less than three-months-old and still a little wobbly there. Smithsonian's National Zoo is home to seven Asian elephants, including Linh Mai. They are listed as an endangered species, according to the zoo.

Some Breaking News coming in to us now. Four people are said to be in critical condition after a train collision in Denmark. A local news agency says 17 people in all have been injured, citing health officials. According to Reuters, two trains collided head on in the crash north of Copenhagen. And we will have more details as they become available.

I want to thank you so much for joining us this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. I will be back with more "CNN Newsroom" after a short break. Stay with us.

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