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DOJ Fires Prosecutors Involved In Trump Cases; Elon Musk Speaks At Germany's AFD Campaign Launch; Tomorrow: RFK Jr. Faces Confirmation Hearing For Health Secretary. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 28, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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


[05:00:36]

KAYLA TAUSCHE, CNN ANCHOR: It is Tuesday, January 28th.

Right now on CNN THIS MORNING:

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REP. DAN CRENSHAW (R-TX): Whether this is considered revenge or not, I think is open to interpretation.

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TAUSCHE: DOJ clean out. The Justice Department fires a dozen employees who worked on President Trump's criminal prosecution.

Plus, this:

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Transgender service members are capable, effective and lethal, like every qualified service member.

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TAUSCHE: Reinstating a ban. President Trump, taking a cue from his first term in office and once again banning transgender people from serving in the military.

And this:

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We need to be laser- focused on competing to win.

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TAUSCHE: A wake up call. Will emerging Chinese A.I. app DeepSeek be America's new Sputnik moment?

(MUSIC) TAUSCHE: It is 5:00 a.m. here on the East Coast. Here's a live look at Capitol Hill here in Washington, D.C., where it will be a very busy week for Trump's nominees.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Kayla Tausche, in for Kasie Hunt. It's wonderful to have you with us today.

We're just now a little over a week into the second Trump presidency. And shock waves continue to jolt the federal government. The latest move the president taking aim at career federal prosecutors involved in the now dismissed criminal cases against him. Acting Attorney General James McHenry, writing this letter to more than a dozen fired prosecutors, which reads in part, quote, the proper functioning of government critically depends on the trust. Superior officials place in their subordinates.

Given your significant role in prosecuting the president, I do not believe that the leadership of the department can trust you to assist in implementing the president's agenda faithfully, end quote.

The Trump administration is also going a step further, opening an investigation into the prosecutions of the now pardoned January 6th Capitol rioters. Sources tell CNN an internal memo from the interim U.S. attorney in D.C. is now probing all quote, files, documents, notes, emails and other information related to the dismissed or pardoned cases.

For President Trump, the actions against the DOJ were a constant topic of his rallies on the campaign trail.

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TRUMP: Witch hunt. Witch hunt. Scam. Hoax. It's called election interference, and they're doing the best they can with it.

The baseless indictment of me by the Biden administration's weaponized department of justice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country.

And in the end, they're not after me, they're after you. And I just happen to be standing in their way.

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TAUSCHE: And Donald Trump's nominee to become attorney general to oversee all of this will soon face a confirmation vote in the Senate.

Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on advancing Pam Bondi's nomination to the full Senate. Here's what she said about the investigations two years ago.

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PAM BONDI, ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE: The Department of Justice, the prosecutors will be prosecuted. The bad ones, the investigators will be investigated because the deep state last term for President Trump, they were hiding in the shadows, but now they have a spotlight on them and they can all be investigated. And the house needs to be cleaned out.

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TAUSCHE: Joining me now to talk about this is Julia Manchester, national political reporter for "The Hill".

Julia, it's good to see you.

JULIA MANCHESTER, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, THE HILL: Good morning.

TAUSCHE: So, as we just mentioned, Pam Bondi set to be have her nomination be voted on at the Senate Judiciary Committee in just a couple of days. We heard what she said back in August 2023. But I want to play some sound from her committee hearing just a few weeks ago.

Here's what she said then. Take a listen.

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BONDI: I believe that the Justice Department must be independent and must act independently. Politics will not play a part. I've demonstrated that my entire career as a prosecutor, as attorney general, and I will continue to do that if you confirm me as the 87th attorney general.

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TAUSCHE: So Republicans essentially arguing that this is depoliticizing the department. What's your take?

MANCHESTER: Well, look, I don't think this is any surprise necessarily. We've seen that this these actions sort of match up with what President Trump was saying on the campaign trail. What Pam Bondi was saying just a few years ago in the clip from before.

So it makes sense that Trump is moving in this direction.

[05:05:02]

Now, there's questions over the potential legality of it. You know, whether he is moving the Justice Department in a direction that is more political. But Pam Bondi, you know, it's interesting, her nomination wasn't as under scrutiny as maybe a Tulsi Gabbard or Kash Patel or an RFK, Jr.

I am curious, as this comes to a committee vote, if there are going to be more questions and we see the nomination come under a bit more scrutiny.

TAUSCHE: It was expected to be a party line vote on her nomination anyway. Do you have any reporting that suggests that perhaps there could be Republicans who defect because of this? Because the reaction by Republicans has not been universally supportive of this. MANCHESTER: It hasn't. No, but I think we'll find out probably more

later today. I think there's been more questions about the Tulsi Gabbards, for example, or the Kash Patels, RFK, Jr. Those are the more controversial nominees.

But I think this new development certainly plays a role in sort of shaking things up ahead of the vote.

TAUSCHE: And interesting that it comes before Bondi would be installed at the department, essentially preceding her.

Meanwhile, the president, for his part, has said that success will be his best revenge, not vengeance for vengeance sake.

And then there's other close allies of his, like former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who suggested that maybe this is where it ends for Trump.

Here's what he said that would be.

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NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: Kind of like maybe there will be a little payback. That's -- that's just human. Now, I think, however, that on reflection, he will conclude that his destiny, the reason God saved him was not to go after Joe Biden in his old age. God saved him in Pennsylvania by turning his head at the right moment so he could focus on America, not focus on revenge. And I think -- I think deep down he knows that.

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TAUSCHE: So Gingrich seeming to suggest there that this will be the end of these types of presidential actions now that he's gotten it out of the way. Do you agree with that?

MANCHESTER: Well, I don't know necessarily. I mean, we've seen Trump just within the past few days, Kayla, takes so many, you know, many moves to essentially clean house, whether it's getting rid of those inspector generals at a number of agencies without giving Congress -- Congress notice, for example, you know, freezing U.S. aid. I mean, you know, there are different actions, but what we're seeing is Trump essentially flooding the zone. I mean, it's hard for us in the media, really, to even keep up with it. I mean, he's very much, you know, throwing everything in the kitchen sink at the wall.

And I think part of that and he's able to do it so quickly is because he knows how Washington works. He knows how the bureaucracies work, and he's using it to his advantage right now. So, you know, I don't necessarily know if it ends here. I think he'll likely continue to be taking these major actions to sort of craft an administration craft, an executive branch that fits him.

TAUSCHE: And then there's the broader message that it sends to his new administration and alums of his prior administration. Stephen Collinson is a columnist here at CNN. He writes big picture

pieces about, you know, about the 30,000 foot view of what's going on. And he writes this of Trump's actions in a piece Trump sets about his retribution agenda with relish.

He writes: The history of Trump's first term when he, for instance, fired FBI chief James Comey over the Russia investigation and turned on Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself, hints at motives for his recent actions. It seems clear, Collinson writes, he's trying to intimidate career officials who might investigate him or block his expansive use of executive power.

He's also sending a signal to aides in his new administration. They could end up like Pompeo or Bolton if they turn on him.

MACHESTER: Yeah, I mean, it's interesting you have these career officials who really understand how these departments work. They're not there for political reasons. They understand the ins and outs of how the State Department works or the Justice Department, et cetera. They're there for a reason.

But Trump, like I said, very much trying to craft this administration to fit towards him, absolutely, sending a signal towards any other potential aides that may, you know, consider crossing him if they disagree with him on a line.

We've seen Donald Trump do it before with people like Pompeo, like John Bolton, the list goes on very much sending a signal to them, though.

TAUSCHE: Julia, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank you for being here.

MANCHESTER: Thanks a lot.

TAUSCHE: Julia Manchester from "The Hill".

Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, Elon Musk dipping his toe into European politics, this time promoting a far right German politician and encouraging Germans to move beyond, quote, past guilt.

Plus, new polling shows just how much Americans trust President Trump and his pick for HHS secretary to make the right recommendations on health.

And China entering the A.I. arms race, sending shockwaves across the tech industry.

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JON STEWART, HOST, THE DAILY SHOW: I do know this is bad news financially, but is anyone else somewhat excited that A.I. had its job replaced by A.I.?

(LAUGHTER)

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[05:14:20]

TAUSCHE: Elon Musk bringing his influence to Germany's far-right party. With less than a month before snap elections in that country, the tech mogul making a surprise appearance at a campaign launch for the alternative for Germany party.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen has Musk's message and the growing opposition.

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ELON MUSK, TECH MOGUL: Can you hear me?

ALICE WEIDEL, AFD CANDIDATE FOR CHANCELLLOR: Yes, we can hear you! Yes!

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Elon Musk, larger than life. The virtual guest of honor at the far right Alternative for Germany's election campaign kickoff event. Some AFD members have been accused of using Nazi rhetoric.

Musk calling for more German nationalism.

MUSK: I think there's like, frankly, too much of a -- of a focus on past guilt.

[05:15:03]

And we need to move beyond that.

It's okay to be proud to be German and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that that dilutes everything.

PLEITGEN: Music to the ears of AFD supporters.

MUSK: You know, go, go, go! Fight, fight, fight!

PLEITGEN: Musk speaking even before the party's main candidate, Alice Weidel, who makes no secret on immigration the AFD sees eye to eye with the Trump administration.

Weidel telling me just how important Musk's support is.

WEIDEL: I'm incredibly happy that he made it. And, I wish him and Donald Trump, J.D. Vance all the best and God blessings.

PLEITGEN: What would you do if you became the chancellor immediately?

WEIDEL: Well, closing our borders, controlling them, and then sending out all the illegals and also these people who do crimes. They have to leave our country.

PLEITGEN: Germany has taken in millions of refugees in recent years, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

But after a string of high profile crimes like a recent stabbing by an Afghan asylum seeker, killing a two-year-old boy and a man trying to stop the rampage, many Germans have soured to the migrant influx. Musk inserting himself into German politics, calling German Chancellor

Olaf Scholz an incompetent fool and saying only the AFD can save Germany.

Well, Germanys established parties have said they will not cooperate with the AFD. The party is currently riding a high in the polls and could soon be one of the strongest political forces in Germany.

CROWD: Elon Musk, what the? No one wants your Cybertruck.

PLEITGEN: Outside the venue, Musk also a lightning rod for those protesting against the AFD.

I understand what happened in 1933, this man says, where many people didn't want to see it. And I don't want my children to ask me, dad, where were you when the Nazis started again?

The AFD rejects accusations of being right wing extremists. And the party leaders say, like it or not, the AFD is on the rise, with Elon Musk fueling their ascent.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Halle an der Saale, Germany.

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TAUSCHE: Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, President Trump is looking to take control of Greenland, and now, Denmark is beefing up its defense capabilities in response.

Plus, how President Trump is reshaping the military, in his view.

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[05:22:14]

TAUSCHE: Twenty-two minutes past the hour.

Here's your "Morning Roundup".

Tomorrow, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will face a Senate confirmation hearing for nomination as health and human services secretary. He's facing bipartisan concerns over his stances on abortion access and on vaccinations. This hearing comes as a new poll shows Americans remain largely split along partisan lines on vaccines and public health.

That poll right there showing that U.S. adults trust in key health agencies, say that about 32 percent, or say that they don't really have much trust in those agencies. Denmark is boosting its defense capabilities in the Arctic in the face of repeated remarks by President Trump about taking control of Greenland.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP) TRUMP: I do believe Greenland we'll get, because it really has to do with freedom of the world, not just freedom of it has nothing to do with the United States other than were the one that can provide the freedom. They can't.

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TAUSCHE: Denmark, meanwhile, says it is spending more than $2 billion on three new arctic naval vessels and two long range drones.

And Google says it will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Google Maps, following President Trump's executive order to change the name.

The company says it will make the switch when the name has been updated in official government sources. This morning, on that map, as you see right there, you will still see it called the Gulf of Mexico.

Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, from the delivery room to the basketball court, a college coach returns to the court just one week after giving birth.

Plus, the president's new orders on immigration, sending a chill through immigrant communities.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are not going to work. The children are not going to school, and people are reluctant to go and even visit their doctor.

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[05:28:51]

TAUSCHE: It's 5:28 a.m. here on the East Coast. You're looking at Indianapolis early morning, downtown skyline there. Good morning, everybody. I'm Kayla Tausche, in for Kasie Hunt today. It's wonderful to have you with us.

President Donald Trump signing nearly a dozen executive orders on immigration in less than a week, following through on the mass deportations and tighter border security he promised during the campaign.

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TRUMP: America is respected again. We've made it clear to every country that they will be taking back our people, that were sending out the criminals, that the illegal aliens coming from their countries were taking them back, and they're going to take them back fast.

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TAUSCHE: That was Trump speaking to congressional Republicans at his golf resort, Doral, on Monday.

Meanwhile, ICE has arrested 1,100 people just on Monday, and since the inauguration, there have been over 3,500 arrests, generating fear in migrant communities. One woman in Illinois says there was a knock on her door early Sunday morning, and within minutes, her father was arrested.

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YELITZA MARQUINA, FATHER ARRESTED BY ICE: They will open the door because they thought maybe one of us were in trouble or something, or something happened to us, he never did anything that would have been nice. I'm already heartbroken myself, and I can't really imagine little kids whose families are breaking apart because of this.