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CNN This Morning

Biden, Trump Campaigns Plagued By Legal Troubles; Hunter Biden Faces Nine Criminal Charges In Federal Tax Case; U.S. Facing Criticism For Veto Of U.N. Ceasefire Resolution; University Presidents Urged To Step Down After Antisemitism Testimony; 70+ Lawmakers Send Letter Demanding Harvard, MIT, UPenn Remove Presidents; Navy Coach Brian Newberry's Love Of Photography. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired December 09, 2023 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a special bond that we all share.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS REPORTER (on camera): America's game highlighting some of the best and brightest this country has to offer, committing to a life of service for all of us, a rivalry like no other game time, three Eastern today.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Coy Wire, the place to be this morning. Coy, thanks so much. Next hour of CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.

Good morning. Good morning. And welcome to CNN THIS MORNING. It is Saturday, December 9th. I'm Victor Blackwell.

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Amara Walker. Thank you so much for being with us. You know, Coy looks so good in a hat. Do you ever wear something like that?

BLACKWELL: I wear hats, yes.

WALKER: Yes? Only, like, to keep your head warm, or?

BLACKWELL: Oh, I have some fashionable hats.

WALKER: You do?

BLACKWELL: Yes, yes, but his was good.

WALKER: Oh, all right.

BLACKWELL: He needs it, though.

WALKER: Yes, it's too cold.

BLACKWELL: Mine sometimes are just, you know, be as suave as I can pull off. Yes. OK.

WALKER: Here's what we are watching this morning. A federal appeals court has upheld a gag order in former President Trump's election subversion case who Trump can and cannot talk about or post about and how the former president is responding to the ruling.

BLACKWELL: Hunter Biden is now facing new criminal charges in his federal tax case. The legal jeopardy he's now in and what the White House is saying.

WALKER: Dozens of lawmakers are calling for the presidents of three universities to step down after their testimony in an anti-Semitism hearing this week. The mounting pressure they are facing despite repeated attempts to walk back some of their comments.

BLACKWELL: Convicted murderer Ethan Crumbly will spend the rest of his life in prison. What he told the court as his sentence was handed down.

WALKER: Thirty million people across several states are facing the threat for severe storms today. The potential impact in major cities we're watching through the weekend.

We begin with both leading presidential campaigns being forced to deal with legal issues in the run-up to the first primaries of votes of the 2024 election cycle. Former President Trump is facing his own legal troubles.

On Friday, a federal appeals court ruled the gag order barring Trump from attacking certain witnesses and prosecutors will largely remain in place. Of course, Trump immediately responded, vowing to keep up the fight to get that gag order removed.

BLACKWELL: President Biden is in Los Angeles today campaigning for the first time since his son was charged with these new counts on federal tax evasion. Hunter Biden is accused of a four-year tax evasion scheme and spending millions of dollars on things like drugs and escorts and exotic cars. He could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

And this comes as House Republicans continue to pressure Hunter Biden to testify in a congressional hearing. House Oversight Chair James Comer told CNN that he believes the special counsel indicted the president's son to shield him from his deposition in front of the oversight committee next week. CNN Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent, Paula Reid has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Biden ignored questions Friday about the latest criminal charges filed against his son.

Any comment on the new charges against your son?

Those new charges laid out in a 56-page indictment unsealed Thursday. Prosecutors allege Hunter Biden engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in taxes.

They allege the younger Biden had money, but spent it on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing and other items of a personal nature.

In short, everything but his taxes. The case was supposed to be resolved with a plea deal that fell apart over the summer.

HUNTER BIDEN, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON: I'm cooperating completely. And I am absolutely certain, 100 percent certain, that at the end of the investigation, that I will be cleared.

REID: The case stems from Hunter Biden's lucrative overseas business dealings. He did eventually repay taxes he owed, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties and fees.

But prosecutors say that when he did finally file his returns, he included false business deductions in order to reduce his tax liability. His lawyers claim prosecutors have bowed to political pressure to bring charges against the president's son.

In a statement, his attorney, Abbe Lowell, said, if Hunter's last name was anything other than Biden, the charges in Delaware and now California, have been brought.

In a newly released podcast recorded before the indictment, Biden said, the pressure comes from Republicans' intent on undermining his father.

BIDEN: They are trying to, in their most illegitimate way, but rational way, they're trying to destroy a presidency. And so it is not about me, and their most base way, what they're trying to do is they're trying to kill me, knowing that it will be a pain greater than my father could be able to handle.

REID: The indictment does not include any evidence linking these alleged crimes to President Biden. But GOP lawmakers continue to push forward with their impeachment inquiry and pursuing an interview with the president's son.

[07:05:20]

REP. JAMES COMER (R-LA): My concern is that Weiss may have indicted Hunter Biden to protect him from having to be deposed in the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

REID (on camera): Well, that theory doesn't really pass muster because Hunter Biden was already facing an indictment in Delaware and he agreed to sit down with lawmakers. He just insisted that it be public and not something that was conducted behind closed doors.

Now, certain members of that committee are insisting that first he has to do a deposition in private before they would agree to a public hearing. So, they appear to be at a stalemate. It's unclear when, if ever, he'll appear on the Hill.

It's also unclear when he'll make his first appearance in court. That initial appearance and or an arraignment have not yet been scheduled out in California. Victor and Amara.

BLACKWELL: Paula, thank you. President Biden is trying to keep the focus on his campaign and economic record and not his son's legal troubles. Speaking in Las Vegas on Friday, Biden touted his progress in infrastructure reforms while tarnishing Trump's inability to accomplish what he promised when he was president.

WALKER: CNN White House Reporter, Camila DeChalus joining us now. Hi there, Camila. So, what has the White House's response been to Hunter Biden's latest charges?

CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, at this time, White House officials say they will not comment on the latest charges brought against his son, Hunter Biden. But yesterday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had this to say about Biden's continued support for his son. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARINE JEAN-PIERE, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The President said this before and he will continue to say, which is that he loves his son and supports him. As he continues to rebuild his life, I'm going to be really careful and not comment on this, and refer you to the Department of Justice or my colleagues at the White House Council. But that's what I'm going to -- I'm not go beyond telling you all what the President has said over and over again. He's proud of his son.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DECHALUS: Now, Biden is facing several political challenges as he runs for reelection. And now with the Justice Department filing additional charges against his son, that is going to be another political obstacle, Biden will have to navigate as he runs for re-election. Amara and Victor.

BLACKWELL: Camila DeChalus for us in Washington. Thank you so much.

Joining me now, former Manhattan Prosecutor, Jeremy Saland. Jeremy, good to see you. Nine charges here: three felonies, six misdemeanors, related to tax fraud, evasion, filing false returns. As Paula Reid reported, Hunter Biden has paid the back taxes, he has paid the penalties. Are these typical charges, all of them, any of them, considering that he's made the government whole, he's paid what he owes?

JEREMY SALAND, FORMER MANHATTAN PROSECUTOR: You know, I think a lot of people would be surprised that even when there's a tax fraud, even when it's clear that there's been a crime, people are often allowed to pay off those monies. And when they do, and the penalties as Biden has done, then they're often not prosecuted. That doesn't mean they can't be or they shouldn't be, but they're often not.

So, it is a little surprising, and I think there is some credibility when the statement is, if this wasn't Biden, and that wasn't his name, he wouldn't be prosecuted. But at the same time, he's been caught. The evidence seems strong. And if you look at the Central District of California, just happened to take a look, there are other crimes that are similar in dollar amount that haven't prosecuted for tax frauds.

BLACKWELL: OK, so some truth to what Abbe Lowell says, that his last name were anything other than Biden, these charges would not have been filed. So, I asked Errol Lewis last hour from a political context, I'll ask you from a legal context when the chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee says that he is concerned that maybe these charges were filed to protect Hunter Biden from testifying. Is there any validity you see in that?

SALAND: No, I don't think so. I think one could argue that, you know, Weiss, Special Counsel felt pressure that he had to come up with an indictment, he had to move forward on this case. Because remember, there was already a deal in place that fell through not necessarily the fault of Biden or Weiss, but it fell through. So, I don't think it's a fair statement politically, that may be, you know, some red meat, but from a legal perspective, I would say no.

BLACKWELL: When these go to if they go to trial as one imagined they would, does the, at one-point existence of a plea deal play into a potential defense?

SALAND: Well, you know, I think that is part of the defense now, you know whether that's an evidentiary or factual defense, it's a legal defense. And I think that's something that, that Biden's team is going to confront the prosecution with special counsel with and say this should never be at this stage.

We had a deal in place, I moved forward on that and I accepted that. So, I think that's a more of an issue now, not necessarily a testimony at trial. I think that'll be a little bit different.

[07:10:20]

BLACKWELL: OK, let's move on to Trump, and this is specifically the federal election subversion case and the upholding, largely, of the gag order. The Trump is now barred from attacking court staff, the prosecutors staff, special prosecutor staff, but he can still target Jack Smith. Explain why.

SALAND: Well, first of all, it was kind of like a battle between the first amendment and Trump's right to free speech, as well as making sure the judicial process is maintained and fair. So, what can happen, what can't happen? a card out for Jack Smith.

So, that allows Donald Trump to get on his pulpit after a report appearance, wherever he may be, or just in general, to say this is a political witch hunt. He has wide latitudes, very broad as to Jack Smith. But that's limited. So, whereas before, witnesses were not fair game.

Witnesses now are fair game, but, but, there's an asterisk here, they cannot or Trump cannot attack them in their role as witnesses in his cases. So, there's the difference. It's, it's a win for Donald Trump, but it's also a win for, for the judicial process.

You know, it's not a home run by any stretch, but it does get Trump some attitude. And I would say this though, even though he has a leash there, we know that Donald Trump sometimes pushes it and pushes it. I would not be shocked if he runs afoul of this as well.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and that's an interesting distinction because the appeals court said that Trump cannot attack the court staff, cannot attack Jack Smith's staff because of the concern that it could spur violence against these people. But he can still attack the witnesses, just not for their role in the case. Wouldn't the concern of violence be valid as it relates to those witnesses, even if has nothing to do with the election subversion case?

SALAND: That's a fair conclusion, Victor, but at the same time there's a First Amendment right and as the appellate court said, you know, there is an interest by the public to hear Donald Trump speak and share his thoughts as a presidential candidate and for example before it was Pence, we'll that as an example, that was someone who he was running against.

How could you preclude Donald Trump from saying something about an opponent in an election? It just can't impact that case, so it does not cause a problem in the fair administration of justice. So, it's a tight line, a tight rope. Again, I would not be shocked if he runs a ballot at some point.

BLACKWELL: Kenneth Chesbrough, CNN exclusive reporting here, is that he of course pleaded guilty in the Georgia, the state election subversion case there. He's cooperating in Georgia and with prosecutors in Nevada and Michigan and Wisconsin. Arizona has reached out as well. How crucial is he to these state cases?

SALAND: Well, you know, we have to learn a lot more about these fake elector cases in the other states and some, as we understand, have been presented to the grand jury at Lewis, Nevada. Obviously, he's crucial. Obviously, he's an element. Is he the biggest fish, for example, a Giuliani?

Maybe not, but they would not be using him and he would not be offering himself, his services if he was not a very important element because he has exposure in those cases. And why would you say I'm going to plead and work with the prosecution in one case only to allow myself to be vulnerable in a second, third, or fourth case? So, he no doubt has information.

Whether he's that fly on the wall and knows everything or he has his hands in everything, we'll find out. But he absolutely has value and he knows something. Otherwise, he wouldn't be cooperating or being contacted by these officers.

BLACKWELL: Yes, has information, will travel. Jeremy Saland, thanks so much.

WALKER: All right. Still to come, the U.S. just vetoed a resolution demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Coming up, reaction from world leaders condemning the decision and the growing concerns over more civilian debt. Also, angry students are demanding action after congressional

testimony about anti-Semitism by elite university presidents, and now jobs and a multi-million-dollar donation are on the line.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:18:42]

WALKER: This morning the United States finds itself in the hot seat as it single-handedly vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution for an immediate ceasefire for peace in Gaza. The U.S. defends its stance, however, arguing the resolution was disconnected from ground realities, and that it could empower Hamas to repeat their October 7th attacks on Israel.

Now, Israel's U.N. ambassador firmly believes that peace can only be achieved by eliminating Hamas. I want to go now to CNN Military Analyst, Retired Air Force Colonel, Cedric Leighton. Colonel, thank you for your time. Let me read you those comments from the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan.

Obviously, he had some pointy remarks aimed at the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres for invoking that rarely used Article 99 of the U.N. Charter to convene this vote and he said this: "Israel's defensive war against Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, was a catalyst for activating Article 99.

The irony is that regional stability and the security of both Israelis and Gazans can only be achieved once Hamas is eliminated, not one minute before. So, the true path to ensure peace is only through supporting Israel's mission, absolutely not to call for a ceasefire." Do you agree the only option for peace is to eliminate Hamas?

CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, I don't think, Amara, it's a realistic way forward, unfortunately, for the Israelis, because when you look at the way in which Hamas is set up and you look at all the different things that Hamas has done within Gaza and how they permeate the Gazan society, it becomes really impossible to eliminate this organization.

Unfortunately, it's radicalized, and of course, what they did on October the 7th was completely out of bounds in terms of the laws of war and the laws of conduct, frankly, when it comes to any kind of military or other operation. So, Hamas says, you know, Israel is certainly in its rights to defend itself and to, in essence, counterattack Hamas's efforts.

On the other hand, Israel's efforts to destroy Hamas aren't going to meet, I think, with their expectations. It's going to take a long time to root out the political and military leadership of Hamas, which is a single goal of the Netanyahu government. But it is also almost impossible to eradicate the idea. That's really what this is all about the idea that is behind Hamas.

WALKER: Right, you have to beat them militarily but also how do you beat them ideologically or destroy them? You know regarding this U.N. Security Council vote, Colonel, out of the 15 members on the Security Council, 13 voted for this immediate ceasefire in Gaza. U.S. vetoed it. The U.K. abstained.

I think the count right now is 17,500 or so civilians who have been killed in Gaza. This is according to the Hamas Ministry of Health. Are you concerned or what are your thoughts on at least the optics of the U.S. seeming to grow more and more isolated on the international stage in its support for Israel?

LEIGHTON: That's always been a difficult path for the United States and in many cases did over the last decades. We have supported Israel and we were the only ones to support Israel or one of the few nations to support Israel at the U.N. So, I think, you know, this is not uncharted territory for the United States.

But in this particular case, the resolution would have been better if it had also condemned Hamas's attacks on October the 7th, and that's, of course, the reason that the United States has given for vetoing this resolution. As far as our isolation is concerned in this particular situation, it's going to be a bit of a problem.

There's no question about it, but it's also important for the United States to stand in a position where it can, in essence, be a bridge between Israel and the other countries, and that's really what's needed. We kind of saw that in action that we during the hostage negotiations which were partially successful in releasing the hostages.

That's the kind of thing that the United States has to be able to do in this case and has to be very careful when it comes to its diplomatic efforts in the U.N.

WALKER: I want to get --

LEIGHTON: Because that of course is going to be --

WALKER: Right, right. And before we go, I do want to get your assessment and reaction to these images that's really been all over social media of these mass detentions by the IDF of men in Gaza.

You can see them stripped down to their underwear, they're wearing blindfolds, they're kneeling. Depending on who you talk to, they're either suspected Hamas terrorists or they're civilians. Listen to what we're hearing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EYLON LEVY, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON: Suspected terrorists, let's remember, these are military-age men who were found in areas that civilians were supposed to have evacuated over a month ago, and where we've seen close-quarter dense urban fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters.

HANI ALMADHOUN, BROTHER AND NEPHEW DETAINED AND RELEASED ISRAELI SOLDIERS: They're neither fighters. They're not surrendering. They're just civilians who were there with their families trying to survive this.

My brother has seizures and they had him naked in the street and they put him on the beach in the winter, naked, taking pictures of him, verifying who he is, and then they released him after they've, you know, roughed him up a little bit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:24:22]

WALKER: What do you make of these competing claims? By the way, I do want to mention the gentleman you just heard from there. He is one of the directors for UNRWA here in the U.S. and he said he recognized many of those people in these images including his own brother and his 13-year-old nephew who he says are simply civilians and have nothing to do with Hamas. How do you reconcile these competing claims?

LEIGHTON: Yes, it might be difficult to reconcile them, Amara. I think one of the problems that we have is that when the Israelis move into areas like this, into Gaza and in these differently packed, dense neighborhoods, they have a dragnet out and they capture everybody who is a military-age male.

Unfortunately, that is going to end up capturing those folks who are absolutely, you know, innocent to have absolutely nothing to do with Hamas. As with the efforts by the Israelis are certainly heavy-handed. They are definitely, you know, not in concert with some of the rules that one would normally follow in a case like this.

However, dragnets like this are not uncommon. The U.S. has done some of the things in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and it's not surprising but it is very unfortunate for not only the Israelis but certainly the people who are innocent that they've captured in this manner.

But there also are people who are military age who very much should be the support Hamas tacitly or are actively engaged in fighting the Israelis. So, it's a very difficult choice that the Israelis have right now.

WALKER: Colonel Cedric Leighton, thank you for your time.

BLACKWELL: After contentious testimony on anti-Semitism on campus, three college presidents are being asked to quit. How members of Congress just turned up the pressure for them to resign. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:01]

WALKER: More than 70 U.S. lawmakers are now calling for the presidents of MIT, Harvard, and UPenn to step down after their testimony about anti-Semitism on their campuses. They're accused of not doing enough to protect Jewish students.

BLACKWELL: In fact, two students on the UPenn campus filed a lawsuit against the Ivy League, saying it's violated the Civil Rights Act, and that anti-Semitism began before the war broke up.

Here is CNN's Athena Jones.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That question had no ambiguity.

JONES (voice over): Under increasing pressure to resign, after what her critics called a disastrous testimony on Capitol Hill this week, featuring this tense exchange.

REP. ELISE STEFANIK (R-NY): I am asking, specifically, calling for the genocide of Jews, does that constitute bullying or harassment?

ELIZABETH MAGILL, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: If it is directed and severe or pervasive, it is harassment.

STEFANIK: So, the answer is yes.

MAGILL: It is a context-dependent decision.

JAMES KENKELEN, UPENN ALUM: The fellow is in an alternative universe that you can have to have these conversations and to hear those weak answers --

JONES (voice over): And seemingly not changing minds despite efforts to clean up the matter through a taped statement.

MAGILL: I want to be clear, a call for genocide of Jewish people is threatening.

ABRAHAM FRANCHETTI, UPENN STUDENT: I think that Liz Magill obviously needs to step down. Whether she meant what she said from an anti- Semitic perspective or not, she has failed the Jewish students of Penn.

JONES (voice over): The presidents of Harvard and MIT also facing calls to step down after similar remarks during their testimonies. Now, the Board of Advisers of the University's Business School, Wharton, is calling for a change in Penn's leadership. And Ross Stevens, a Penn alum and CEO of Stone Ridge Holdings, has threatened to rescind $100 million worth of his company's shares, now held by the university, if Magill doesn't resign.

This, as GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced a House committee will investigate Penn, Harvard, and MIT, for what she called the president's pathetic and morally bankrupt testimony.

Some students want Magill to stay put, like Hilah Kohen, who says her great grandparents were murdered in Auschwitz. She wants a ceasefire in Gaza now.

HILAH KOHEN, GRADUATE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: Liz Magill shouldn't resign, she should talk with us. An Israeli-American Jewish scholar of Jewish studies, why hasn't that conversation happened? That is the next step.

LILY BRENNER, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: We represent a coalition of Jewish students, of Palestinian students, of allies, of a lot of diverse backgrounds. And it's important to note that this is an issue of lives lost. And that is the position that we are taking right now.

JONES (voice over): Kohen has this message for fellow Jewish students who feel threatened by pro-Palestinian groups.

KOHEN: There is an emotional structure that serves the genocide of Palestinians, wherein Jewish students see a Palestinian flag and feel afraid for their own safety, wherein Jewish students may hear a call for freedom. And people have told us to feel afraid.

It is our job to say we stand for safety and liberation of all people. Jewish safety and Palestinian's safety are intertwined.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JONES (on camera): Meanwhile, Harvard President Claudine Gay apologized for her comments on Capitol Hill, telling the Harvard Crimson student newspaper, "Words matter". And saying, she should have had the presence of mind to convey what she called her guiding truth, that threats to our Jewish students have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged. Victor, Amara?

WALKER: Athena, thank you.

Joining us now for analysis is Alex Morey, of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Alex, thank you for your time.

I want to take a step back and start with Tuesday, during this hearing, and what we heard from the presidents of these elite universities, specifically, Liz Magill, the president of UPenn. Obviously, she is under more pressure than her counterparts for various reasons.

She was asked -- they were asked if calling for the genocide of Jews would violate University code or conduct or rules on bullying and harassment? And she gave a very specific answer. She basically said it's depends on the context. And if speech turns into conduct, it can be harassment, yes.

What did you make of her testimony? And why people are calling it disastrous?

ALEX MOREY, DIRECTOR, FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION: Well, you know, I thought it was absolutely correct and absolutely disastrous at the same time. You know, it was correct, because she is reiterating the law. She is reiterating Penn policy, which reflects First Amendment law, but she's doing it in this like really loyally way in a kind of glib way. You know, of course, we're not seeing the context of the whole hearing. But it's a way that didn't resonate with people who are on these campuses and saying we feel unsafe. This seems like a simple question. If you're telling us, it's not a simple question, tell us why?

WALKER: So, the -- let's play a part of her walk back video that she released. Liz Magill on Wednesday. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[07:34:59]

MAGILL: I was not focused on, but I should have been. The irrefutable fact that a call for genocide of Jewish people is a call for some of the most terrible violence human beings can perpetrate. It's evil, plain and simple.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: So, your thoughts. Too little too late? Should these presidents, especially Liz Magill resigned?

MOREY: Well, look, what was really on display on Tuesday was the blatant hypocrisy, the blatant double standards that these college presidents are engaging right now. Now, cloaking themselves in the First Amendment, saying, gosh, it depends on the context, when 364 days a year, they're censoring people on their campuses for all kinds of things, you know, microaggressions, faculty not using trigger warnings, you know, professors expressing conservative views, for example.

On those things, they have been unequivocal. And then now, all the sudden, people see them answering a question that most people think should be simple. And now, they are looking at their free speech policies.

Now, to be clear, the free speech policies are good calls general sort of abstract calls for violence or genocide or talking about war. Those are protected by the First Amendment and by Penn's policies. Penn and MIT and Harvard and lots of other schools also have policies that protect students from things like discriminatory harassment, true threats, incitement, those are on the books, but this is one of those situations where nuanced context, it really does matter. That's what the law tells us.

The Supreme Court decades of First Amendment jurisprudence say when you're looking at incitement through threats, when people are worried about discriminatory harassment, you have to look at the facts, you have to look at the context, because as a -- you know, a free society, as a democracy, we want debate about these incredibly important issues to be as robust as possible.

WALKER: Yes, context always matters, of course. I do want to read the U.N. Penn -- excuse me, the UPenn Code of Conduct, and it reads in part, "The University condemns hate speech, epithets, and racial, ethnic, sexual, and religious slurs. However, the content of student speech or expression is not by itself a basis for disciplinary action.

Student speech may be subject to discipline when it violates applicable laws or university regulations, or policies."

So, in her walk back, Liz Magill was saying, look, we're going to reevaluate our policy. Do you think, at least this kind of hate speech should be banned on college campuses?

MOREY: Elite schools, like the Penns, and the Harvards, the MITs, the ones that are, you know, private, they're not public bound by the First Amendment, but they make First Amendment like promises. This is the nightmare scenario where they are saying, you know what, this free speech thing has become too politically inconvenient, we're just going to torpedo it all.

You know, they have the right as a private university to do that. But as Liz Magill herself said, Penn has followed the constitution for decades and decades, and arguably, that's what makes it the elite institution. We don't want to see our elite institutions saying that now we're going to give over the power to folks like Liz Magill and Claudine Gay, the president of MIT to make the decisions about what can be sent on campus.

WALKER: Is the bigger problem that these elite institutions have become more and more politicized over the years?

Our Fareed Zakaria wrote an opinion piece about that, saying that, you know, basically "America's top colleges are no longer seen as bastions of excellence, but as partisan outfits." Do you agree that they're pushing political agendas? 4 MOREY: I mean, Fareed is right on. This is a situation where our college and university leaders have lost sight of what it is their role is, as leaders of these institutions that are supposed to be utterly apolitical, dedicated to knowledge building and truth seeking. That requires not eliminating disfavored views from the campus, but bringing in people with a wide variety of authentically held views and supporting them and expressing those views.

I mean, that's some of what we're seeing in terms of students say, I don't feel safe on campus. I can't talk to people on campus. Universities have modeled that we shouldn't be talking to each other that we should be trying to censor each other. That it's dangerous to hear thoughts you disagree with.

No. Their goal as university leaders should be to empower students to use their birthright. Their First Amendment right to express themselves to tackle the world's most difficult problems. We desperately need that right now. And university presidents, leaders, they need to step up.

WALKER: Alex Morey, thank you.

BLACKWELL: Still ahead, a possible threat to your weekend plans -- a mix of thunderstorms, and hail, and snow, expected today across parts of the country.

[07:39:44]

We'll show you which areas are good at the worst.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: A Texas woman has been dealt another blow in her legal battle to abort a high-risk pregnancy. The state Supreme Court is now blocking an emergency abortion for Kate Cox, in a decision handed down late Friday.

That Cox who is 20 weeks pregnant is carrying a fetus that is not expected to live more than a few days after birth and could threaten her future fertility.

WALKER: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the Court to intervene after a state judge rule to allow it earlier in the week. Paxton said the mother did not qualify for medical exemption status.

In Michigan, Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley addressed the court before being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Friday. He told the judge, he is the only person responsible for his actions, asking for whatever sentence the victim's families wanted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[07:45:08]

ETHAN CRUMBLEY, MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTER: I am a really bad person. I have done terrible things that no one should ever do. I have lying, did not trustworthy, I've hurt many people, and that's what I've done, and I'm not denying it. But that's not who I plan on to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Crumbley sentence came after a full day of emotional victim impact statements. He was 15 years old when he fatally shot four of his classmates. In 2021.

BLACKWELL: President Biden is calling on the country to get smart on gun regulation after the recent shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The president met with UNLV students and leaders during a stop in Las Vegas Friday. Biden says shotgun practice is one thing, but sensible gun laws are needed now.

Biden's comments come, of course, after those three people were killed and another was wounded on the campus this week.

WALKER: There is more CNN THIS MORNING ahead. But we're also looking forward to, "FIRST OF ALL", at the top of the hour with Victor Blackwell, of course, what do you have coming up?

BLACKWELL: We have a lot of good stories coming up. But this was the race in Louisiana. Maybe you saw it on social media that proves that every vote counts. A sheriff candidate won by a single vote. And then, in a recount, he's still held by a single vote. The vote was certified. This is Caddo County -- Caddo Parish, I should say, to become the first black sheriff there. However, his opponent, now sued says that some of those votes were illegal. A judge agreed and throughout the election win, and now they have to run again.

So, that candidate who was the sheriff-elect is joining us. So, he'll be with us.

WALKER: Wow.

BLACKWELL: We're also digging in on the ban on menthol cigarettes. There are people across the country, mayors who are saying the Biden administration must pass this because of the black smokers in this country, 83 percent of them prefer menthol. We have a leader -- a civil rights leader who says do not do that, hold off for years, we need to study this more. He'll explain why. Much more coming up.

WALKER: Fascinating.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

WALKER: All right. Just ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, a historic rivalry is set to kick off later today. The annual Army-Navy Game. And CNN's Coy Wire with that hat is there. We'll go to him next.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: What's up, Amara and Victor? Since we're talking fashion, we're going to show you the sweet new uniforms Army and Navy are breaking out for this game, and we'll tell you why Navy's coach might have the best Instagram count of anyone in the country.

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[07:51:44]

WALKER: This morning, 30 million people are under threat of severe weather across the country. CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar is tracking all the latest. Hi there, Allison.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And good morning.

Yes, it's a rather large storm system. You've got rain from Michigan all the way down to the Gulf Coast. And we've got some stronger storms really starting to develop across the southeast now. Now, those are really going to ramp up this afternoon and especially into the evening hours, where we have the potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms as that line continues to make its way off to the east.

So, Nashville, Jackson, eventually in towards Atlanta. And Charlotte, once we get to the evening and overnight hours tonight, as that system continues to progress eastward.

Now, the main threats we're dealing with today does include damaging winds the potential for hail and even some isolated tornadoes.

For Little Rock, Jackson down through New Orleans and stretching over into Knoxville and Atlanta for the remainder of the day, and now, that does include the overnight hours tonight. Tomorrow, that cold front continues to slide off to the east. So, now you're looking at Sunday pretty much up and down the eastern seaboard looking at rain, and some of it is expected to be quite heavy. On the backside where you get those cooler temperatures. Now, you're also talking the addition of that mixed precipitation with some snow.

And it's going to be quite heavy, especially as you start to go farther north and also up in elevation. So, the Poconos, the green and white mountains. Now, you're talking about significant amounts of snow.

By Monday morning a lot of that heavy rain settling in across the big east cities like Boston and New York. So, any morning commutes that you may have Monday morning are likely going to be quite soggy ones.

WALKER: Oh, boy. All right, Alison Chinchar, thank you very much.

Pageantry and patriotism will be on full display this afternoon as the 124th edition of the Army-Navy Game kicks off. And this year, one of college football's oldest rivalries is being played in a new location.

CNN's Sports Anchor coy wire Joining us now from Foxborough, Massachusetts, where the Black Knights and Midshipmen will square off at Gillette Stadium, Coy.

WIRE: Yes. Hi, Amara. The future defenders of our nation. It said that this is the only game where the players plan would be willing to sacrifice their life for everyone watching. This is America's game.

Now, Navy has a new head coach this year, and he has new perspective. Brian Newberry is a former park ranger who developed an affinity for photography. And his photos are phenomenal. He says that this craft of his has influenced his leadership style. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN NEWBERRY, NEW HEAD COACH, MIDSHIPMEN: And I've always pride myself on being somewhat creative. You know, I think you have to be in photography a little bit, where you see things and maybe a little differently than everybody else sees them. I think maybe it's helped me in regards to football a little bit.

I love football. But it's not -- it's not the only thing I am. Right? So, that's a meditation for me, something I enjoy doing. And that's something I'll do when I'm done coaching.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Army-Navy Game is loaded with traditions. One of the coolest is the new special uniforms only worn and made for this game.

Navies will honor the Silent Service the U.S. submarine force with a special nod to the USS Massachusetts. Army's going to honor the 3rd Infantry Division, who was during the opening phase of Iraqi Freedom 20 years ago, both the players and coaches love what they're all about. Listen. [07:55:04]

JEFF MONKEN, HEAD COACH OF ARMY: It gives me great pride to win this game in a uniform of a unit, because I think it gives that unit, those men and women that serving that unit a great sense of pride.

And, and so, you know, we're certainly honored to represent 3rd Infantry Division.

WILL HARBOUR, NAVY LINEBACKER: I love that we're getting to represent, you know, the sub submarine workforce. And all that those guys do, you know, sacrificing their lives underwater to protect, you know, the nation.

WIRE: Dating back to 1890, this Army-Navy Game represents true sportsmanship, intense rivalry where anything can happen. Amara, I'm a little torn. Mom was born at West Point, grandfather served at Navy. So, really, I can't lose today. Games at three easter.

WALKER: You're in a good position. Just don't know who to root for. Right? Coy, thank you so much.

WIRE: Thanks right.

WALKER: And thanks for joining me today. I'll see you back here tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. Eastern. "FIRST OF ALL," is up next with Victor.

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