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Sen. Chris Van Hollen Meets with Wrongly Deported Man in El Salvador; Police: Suspect in FSU Shooting is Son of Sheriff's Deputy; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Claims Autism a 'Preventable Disease'. Aired 6- 6:30a ET

Aired April 18, 2025 - 06:00   ET

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

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Story as a stand-alone film.

[06:00:05]

All right. That's going to do it for us here. Thanks for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon, live in New York. Stay with us. CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: It is Friday, April 18. Here's what's happening right now on CNN THIS MORNING.

The man mistakenly deported, back behind bars in El Salvador's mega prison after meeting with his senator from Maryland. Can this visit help him get home?

Plus --

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was completely in shock. I didn't think this could happen at Florida State.

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CORNISH: Students and faculty in mourning at Florida State University after a mass shooting kills two and injured several others. We'll have new details about the suspect.

And time to move on? Secretary of State Rubio claims President Trump could be ready to give up on stopping the war he promised to end on day one.

Also --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got a tornado!

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CORNISH: We are seeing dangerous storms rip through the Plains, whipping up several twisters. The damage this morning as the threat continues.

It's 6 a.m. here on the East Coast. Here's a live look at Jerusalem as Christians around the world mark this Good Friday.

Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish. Thank you so much for waking up with me, for joining us here.

The story we're going to begin with is one we've been talking about the last couple of days. Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He's alive and well.

Maryland Senator Chris van Hollen getting a chance to meet with the mistaken -- mistakenly deported Maryland dad, who, of course, is being held at a notorious maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

So, the senator shared this photo on social media before heading back to the U.S.

El Salvador's president insists Abrego Garcia will remain in prison in that country. And he did a little trolling online, posting, "Kilmar Abrego Garcia miraculously risen from the" -- quote -- "'death camps' -- camps and" -- quote -- "'torture,' now sipping margaritas with Senator van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador."

So, the Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. The president's border czar making it clear there are no plans to do that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM HOMAN, TRUMP'S BORDER CZAR: I don't think anybody in the administration did anything wrong. I don't think we actually violated a court order.

I think he's a citizen of El Salvador. He's in El Salvador. He's home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Entering the group chat this morning to talk about it: Sara Fischer, media correspondent for Axios; along with Nayyera Haq, former Obama White House senior director; and Tiffany Smiley, former Republican Senate candidate from Washington state.

Good morning, everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning.

CORNISH: All right, so Nayyera, I want to talk with you, because Democratic voters have been going to their leaders and saying, we want you to do something. We want you to step in. They've been calling for actions of a kind.

Maryland Senator van Hollen did do that. Did it work, so to speak? Kind of what -- what do you see in that moment?

NAYYERA HAQ, FORMER OBAMA WHITE HOUSE SENIOR DIRECTOR: So he is my home state senator, and I can tell you, we're certainly feeling around the state this -- this enthusiasm that someone in power is actually trying to do something to check the imbalance in power we have right now.

The Senate is a powerful body. They can do things. Congress is -- this is the Article I of the Constitution that they have.

CORNISH: But is it a little like the Senator Booker sort of standing up and giving a speech? Is it about the image? Because it doesn't actually do something.

HAQ: Well, what it does is that it gets the attention of a group of people right now who feel like they are leaderless, right? So, there is a large swath of the country that is Democrat. There's a large swath that is uncommitted. Ninety million people did not vote.

They are all, at this moment, waiting for somebody to directly challenge individual actions of Trump. Doesn't mean you need to be the next president candidate of the United States. But this idea that, if you have power right now, this is an opportunity to step up and do something about it.

So, yes, going directly to El Salvador, making sure that he laid eyes on a resident, a -- someone who's a constituent, frankly, made me feel better, that if I get disappeared, somebody is going to try to find me and figure out if I'm OK.

CORNISH: OK, that is setting the bar, actually, in an appropriate place. I appreciate that.

I want to play a sound bite, however, from Patty Morin. She's the mother of Rachel Morin, who was -- who was raped and murdered by an undocumented immigrant back in 2023. And here's how she reacted to Hollen's trip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATTY MORIN, MOTHER OF RACHEL MORIN: And to have a senator from Maryland who didn't even acknowledge or barely acknowledged my daughter and the brutal death that she endured, to fly to El Salvador to bring back someone that's not even an American citizen.

[06:05:17]

Why does that person have more right than I do? Or my daughter?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: So, just to be clear, she was not raped or murdered by Kilmar Abrego Garcia. So, two completely different crimes, different times. And Garcia does not actually have a criminal record.

But, Sara, I want to talk to you about messaging. And also, Tiffany, I want to hear from you about the use of the victims' families in this way, at the forefront. What do you make of having her out there in the response?

TIFFANY SMILEY (R), FORMER WASHINGTON SENATE CANDIDATE: Well, I think it's important to hear Patty and Rachel's story. I mean, let's not --

CORNISH: But in this story?

SMILEY: I mean, so -- so, I think this all goes back to the majority of Americans voted for President Trump, because there was an open Southern border where illegals were coming in and making our communities unsafe, killing American citizens with no plan in sight. And no -- no -- you know, people were feeling less and less safe with every waking day.

And President Trump came in on a commitment -- promises made and promises kept -- that he was going to secure the border, deport illegals, deport criminals who do not belong in this country.

So, I think it's just making this stark contrast that, you know, this Maryland man, he is a part of MS-13. There is [SIC] intelligence reports that show that he was involved in human trafficking. He is a wife beater. There are records that his wife --

HAQ: None of that has actually been proven or shown in court. And that's part of the problem, is there's no due process.

CORNISH: I know. I do want -- I'm glad you're introducing this. I also don't want to get sued, so I'll say the government has not released any documented information around intelligence reports specifically. And right now, the documents they did release this week did not show he had a criminal record.

SMILEY: I think it is an interesting -- from a messaging --

CORNISH: Yes, I just want to say, "Fact."

SMILEY: From a messaging standpoint, it's fascinating that Democrats are really going to bat for this illegal immigrant, which we do know he is. And that he --

HAQ: Head legal status here in the United States.

SMILEY: This senator is --

HAQ: If we're going to have the messaging conversation, let's at least make sure its grounded in the facts of individuals, because this is about people and human lives.

CORNISH: All right. Hold on, you guys. Let me bring in Sara for a minute.

SMILEY: Can I just say something real quick?

CORNISH: Hold on one second. This will be very fast. This is the conversation that I hear all the time, right? You're either for criminals, against victims; or you are for this bullying government that is just completely pillaging due process and the right -- like, can you talk about seeing this -- this conflicting conversation play out in real time? SARA FISCHER, MEDIA CORRESPONDENT, AXIOS: Well, I think the Trump

administration conceded that it was a mistake that he was sent there. So, now you're seeing a little bit of cleanup.

Like, I was hearing from the sort of Trump echo chamber. And some of the folks on the right online like, hey, what the heck happened here?

Even Joe Rogan came out --

CORNISH: Famously, yes.

FISCHER: And Joe Rogan's not really a conservative. You know, he's sort of just like populist. But even Joe Rogan came out and was like, hey, this was a mistake, that this shouldn't be happening.

So, when I see a press conference like that, to me it looks like the White House is trying to double down on its defense of the mistake. And that's the messaging point here. Regardless of what the actual policy controversy is.

CORNISH: Right. Which courts are looking at right now.

FISCHER: I think what you're seeing here is they're trying to double down on why they did this after calling it a mistake.

CORNISH: One more thing, a shift in President Trump's approach as he talked about this story through the week. So, here's what he told reporters in the Oval Office yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If a court holds you in contempt, will you take steps to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States and put him in front of a judge?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not involved in it. I'm going to respond by saying, you'll have to speak to the lawyers. The DOJ. I've heard many things about him, and we'll have to find out what the truth is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: OK. Tiffany, I want to let you finish your point. When you hear the president talking there, he even says, let's find out what the truth is.

SMILEY: Yes. Yes, well, let's let the court decide. I mean, whether he's in El Salvador or he's here in the United States. I mean, clearly, he should be, you know, held here, not -- not out in the public.

CORNISH: Do you believe it's out of the president's hands?

SMILEY: Clearly, he said it's out of -- it's out of his hands at this point. It's in the courts. But I want to make a point that a sitting senator never met with

Patty, who has no justice. She lost her daughter, who was brutally raped and killed by an illegal immigrant.

But yet, gives deference and will fly to El Salvador to meet with an illegal immigrant. The optics of that are not great. I mean, you look at this from a whole messaging standpoint, and it makes sense why President Trump was elected.

CORNISH: Yes. We should be clear that man was convicted of that attack on Monday. Again, not Abrego Garcia.

SMILEY: Yes, yes, yes.

CORNISH: I want to make sure, just because when you say it in a way that's really quick, it makes it sound like he committed this crime, which he didn't. And I just don't want to make that --

SMILEY: No, but I think it's giving Patty a voice.

CORNISH: Yes.

SMILEY: She has no justice.

HAQ: And she should have a voice. But it is a horrible case. But it's also with her senator and her constituents. Like, we're blurring the lines of how power and authority works.

[06:10:06]

Like, when you are the Maryland senator, you are going to be concerned about what happens to residents and legal people living in Maryland. That's the job.

CORNISH: OK, let's leave it there, because we're actually going to talk more about this case and a lot of other legal things today.

Still coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, a deadly shooting on Florida State's campus. What we know so far about the alleged shooter.

Plus, a new federal indictment against Luigi Mangione. Of course, the man accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO.

And reports of at least 11 tornadoes in one day. And the threat of severe weather is not over yet.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a twisting around right there, full of dirt, just like -- just like you see in the movies.

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[06:15:09] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CELESTE HALAVIN, FSU STUDENT: We saw cops running, students running. It was just like complete chaos. Everyone was, like, running all over the place. And then we saw, like, a gurney. And then like, the gurney came back, and the guy had his arm cut off. And I think, like, he was bleeding, and like he had, like, bandages and stuff. And so, like, that was really hard to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Classes are canceled today at Florida State University after yesterday's deadly mass shooting. Video shows students running, trying to get away.

Authorities say a 20-year-old student killed two people and injured five others. Police then shot him. He actually did survive.

Joining me now to discuss is CNN senior law enforcement analyst and former Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey. Good morning, Commissioner.

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Good morning.

CORNISH: First, I want to talk about the -- the shooter, because Leon County Police Chief Walter McNeil had this to say about Ikner and, actually, his relationship to the police department.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALTER MCNEIL, LEON COUNTY POLICE CHIEF: The alleged shooter was also a long-standing member of the Leon County Sheriff's Office citizen advisory or youth advisory council.

So, he has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have. So, it's not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: This was a remarkable moment. Can you talk about kind of your reaction to hearing this?

RAMSEY: Well, first of all, I was surprised to learn that this was the son of a deputy sheriff. But it just goes to point out that this affects us all, whether it's having a family member be an offender in a case or the victim in a particular case.

I think it really points to the storage of weapons off-duty for law enforcement officers as much as anything else.

Now, I don't know what the policy is in Tallahassee or with the sheriff's department, but it's certainly going to be something under review. And agencies around the country ought to pay attention to this and make sure that weapons are properly secured if they are not in use by them. CORNISH: Florida is, of course, no stranger to mass shootings.

Parkland, in particular, kind of spawned a generation of activists.

I want you to hear from this student. And what we're trying to figure out is sort of how schools and students have adapted to the different kinds of threats that they're encountering.

I know that we had students kind of shoring up doors. We heard -- we saw them running in the video. How do you think this generation now responds in these moments?

RAMSEY: Well, you know, it's very unfortunate. Whether it's elementary school, middle school, high school, or college, young people are having drills now in active shooters, should an active shooter show up on campus or in their school.

I mean, it's -- it's traumatic. I'm old enough to remember the days when we thought there was going to be a nuclear war with Russia. And they had us all, you know, going under our desks to protect ourselves, which obviously wouldn't have worked. But that's what we were asked to do.

And I remember, to this day, it was very traumatic. And this is probably even worse than that, now that I look at it.

So, you know, it's just a reality of the -- of the environment that we're in today that our young people have to experience this.

It's my understanding that some of the kids that were at Florida State yesterday actually went to Parkland and were there when that shooting took place.

I mean, imagine the damage that that sort of thing causes psychologically to these young people, not just those that were there, but when we watch it on television and we see it, it creates a fear.

CORNISH: Before I let you go, what should we be looking for or listening for in terms of the investigation? You mentioned the storage weapon, the policies for that department. You do have an accused shooter. What are the kinds of things they're going to be doing in this investigation?

RAMSEY: Well, I mean, more information will come out today. Names of victims, for example. Certainly, any progress that they've made in terms of trying to uncover a motive.

And by the way, don't be surprised if they don't really find a motive. He's not cooperating with police, is my understanding.

But there may be something on social media, or some writings, or something from family or friends that might kind of direct them toward a motive in this shooting.

I mean, why would he do that, knowing his mother was a school resource officer, and then used one of her weapons in order to carry this sort of thing out? So, this is something, a puzzle that needs to be unraveled. And I

think that they will be making a lot of progress today and in the coming days.

CORNISH: Former Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey, thank you for your time.

[06:20:00]

RAMSEY: Thank you.

CORNISH: All right. It's 20 minutes past the hour. Want to give you another morning roundup. Some of the stories you need to know to get your day going.

Luigi Mangione, who is accused of fatally shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO, has been indicted on federal charges. Those include murder and stalking.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the Justice Department will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

Mangione already pleaded not guilty to state charges.

And then there's this.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is big, and it's coming straight for us. You better get ready to take cover.

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CORNISH: Reports of at least 11 tornadoes in one day. This is video showing one of the twisters kind of churning through a field in Nebraska.

Of course, homes have been damaged. Power lines are down, and some people have lost their businesses.

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KATHY PETERSON, BUSINESS OWNER: This is what I did for the last ten years is build it all the way up to -- and I don't think much of it is salvageable.

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CORNISH: Unfortunately, the threat is not over. This weekend, people from Dallas to Detroit could see large hail, strong winds, and possibly, more tornadoes.

And Ukraine is one step closer to a minerals deal with the U.S. The Ukrainian minister says they signed an agreement that would pave the way for that deal and set up an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Still ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raising

eyebrows. We're going to take a closer look into some of his claims about the rise in autism cases.

Plus, the pope makes a surprise appearance as the Vatican marks the beginning of Easter weekend.

And good morning, Chicago, one of those cities that could see severe weather today. Please stay safe.

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[06:26:04]

CORNISH: So, Health And Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is now vowing to figure out the cause of what he is calling the autism epidemic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: This is a preventable disease. We know it's an environmental exposure.

Genes do not cause epidemics. They can provide a vulnerability. You need an environmental toxin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: The CDC report out this week comes to a slightly different conclusion. It finds about 1 in 31 children was diagnosed with autism by age eight. That was back in 2022. That's up from two years before.

So, what does explain that rise? Researchers pointed to increased awareness, better screening. But Secretary Kennedy rejected that explanation. He also talked about children diagnosed with autism -- with autism this way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNEDY: Autism destroys families and, more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children.

These are kids who will never pay taxes. They'll never hold a job. They'll never play baseball. They'll never write a poem. They'll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Joining me now to discuss, Eric Garcia. He's Washington bureau chief at "The Independent." He's also the author of a book called "We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation."

Eric, thanks for being here with us.

You're also here, because you were at that press conference. You actually got to talk to the secretary and asked him a question specifically about the increase in diagnoses.

He said he thought that that increase in diagnosis rates was just a sliver of -- of the numbers that we're seeing. What's your response to that?

ERIC GARCIA, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, "THE INDEPENDENT": Well, it's clear that Secretary Kennedy didn't even read the study that he is citing, because the study says specifically -- and I have it up in front of me -- that the increase in diagnosis among black, Asian and Latino households is quote -- quote, "is consistent with increased access and provision of identification services among previously underserved groups."

The same study said that "Differences in prevalence over time and across sites can reflect differing practices in ASD evaluation and identification, and availability and requirements that affect accessibility of services."

So, clearly, he didn't even read the study. I did. I made it a point to read the study.

And what we've seen is that this is actually a reason to celebrate. The fact that now we are seeing black, Latino, Asian American children. We are seeing children from lower socioeconomic status get diagnosed. This is a reason to celebrate, because previously, autism was seen as a white person's condition. This was seen as something that only affected upper-income people.

CORNISH: I want to talk to you, because obviously, through your book, "We're Not Broken," we know you're on the autism spectrum.

I also heard this interesting quote from Jennifer Cook. People might recognize her from the Netflix show "Love on the Spectrum."

And on her Instagram page she said, quote, "My friends, we are not abnormal. We do not need to be cured or prevented. We're not ill or broken or other or less than. We're simply different."

RFK Jr. has described autism as a preventable disease. Like, how do you hear that? How do people in the autism community hear that?

GARCIA: They hear it as corrosive. They hear it as destructive.

The amount of grief and debilitating sadness that so many of the autistic people that I know, that I've interviewed for my book, that I'm interviewing for my second book, just are devastated.

The -- this does not diminish the fact that many autistic people do have high support needs, that they do have significant requirements for accommodations.