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Connect the World

Dozens Homeless as Anti-immigration Riots Rock Northern Ireland; U.S. Launches Strike on Iran for Second Straight Night; Ivanka Trump-linked Resort Project in Albania Facing Pushback; Bill Gates Says Epstein Used Infidelities to Pressure Him; Model Scouts Sent Girls to Jeffrey Epstein After His Conviction. Aired 9-9:45a ET

Aired June 11, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, another morning at the White House, another social media missive from Donald Trump. The president

warning the U.S. will hit Iran very hard tonight, all caps. It's 09:00 a.m. there. It is 05:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi.

I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East programming headquarters. This is "Connect the World", and we are looking at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico

City at 07:00 a.m. there. In a few hours from now, that is where the opening match of the World Cup 2026 is set to kick off.

The UK's Defense Secretary resigns, increasing the pressure on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The stock market in New York opens in about 30

minutes from now. Stock futures on the rise, indicating a higher open on Wall Street, driving the confidence a rebound in chip stocks ahead of the

huge SpaceX listing on Friday.

Investors will be keeping a keen eye on developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict. More at 09:30 a.m. New York time. Well, six hours and counting

until the biggest sports show on earth kicks off, with billions of fans turning their eyes to North America. I know that once the football starts,

it will be electric.

I'm certainly excited for it. But we shouldn't forget that this World Cup arrives against the backdrop of war with Iran, including the latest threats

from the U.S. President, visa disputes, and immigration crackdown, and questions about who gets to be part of the game. And at the center of all

of that is U.S. President Donald Trump, who has become a player in this global story, before a ball has even been kicked.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: -- We're working on it very closely to make sure the right people come into our --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Iran's participation has become one of the most politically sensitive story times of this entire competition, with the team setting up

base camp in Mexico, and only allowed on U.S. soil for their matches. There have also been controversies, of course, around visas for football fans and

squad staff, questions about access, about who belongs, and about the role of tournament organizer FIFA itself.

Yet, when FIFA President Gianni Infantino was asked about all of this. He said his organization is doing what it can.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIANNI INFANTINO, FIFA PRESIDENT: We don't control everything, we try, we'll discuss, we'll speak, we'll see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to

just, you know, chill, relax.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, maybe that's easier said than done. Want to get you the action, both on and off the pitch, as the tournament begins, because this

year the story just isn't about football, it's about the collision of sport power and politics on the biggest stage of all.

And to walk us through the very latest, we'll get to CNN's Valeria Leon in Mexico City, where things do finally get underway later today. First, I

want to get to Kevin Liptak, who is in Washington. And Kevin, I want to start with you, because Donald Trump, as I understand it, is speaking now.

What is the very latest from the White House?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right, he's been doing a phone interview on the Fox News Channel, that was after this really

remarkable social media post that the president put out, saying one that the U.S. would continue striking around this evening after two nights of

strikes the last two days, saying that he would go after them quote, very hard tonight.

But also saying that quote, at some point in the not-too-distant future we will be taking Kharg Island and other oil infrastructure points and assume

total control of Iran's oil and gas markets. Kharg Island, obviously that very critical export point for Iran, where 90 percent of their oil goes

through.

There had been options on the table for the president to take that location earlier in the war, before the ceasefire went into effect, and what experts

and White House officials have been saying throughout is that would require American troops.

[09:05:00]

It would require American boots on the ground to do that, something that the president has been unwilling to do up until this point, but now

signaling that he more may be more willing to go down that route as he tries to increase pressure on Iran to come to some sort of agreement.

Now, in this phone interview with Fox News, the president at one point said that his preference was not to put boots on the ground, that he didn't

think that Americans quote, had the stomach for it, but still signaling nonetheless that it's something he seems more willing to do as this

conflict seems to be escalating.

The ceasefire now I think hanging on by a thread as the president signals his frustration with Iran that it hasn't yet signed off on a memorandum of

understanding that would bring this conflict to an end. So, where does this all leave us? I think it's sort of in an unclear place.

We're clearly not at a ceasefire. The two sides have been trading fire for the last three days. We're also not at a full-blown war, the president

still seems eager to reach this deal, and is pressuring Iran to come back to the negotiating table. The Iranians have said that they will not

negotiate under pressure or under fire.

And it seems as if we are getting further and further away from some sort of agreement, and the president now very publicly signaling what he's

willing to do militarily. So clearly a very tense situation, even as I think in your lead-in, you point out the president would have liked all of

this to be over with by the time the World Cup began, by the time this UFC fight began on the South Lawn. Very evident that that's not going to

happen.

ANDERSON: Yeah, Kevin, thank you for the time being, and we'll let you go and continue to listen to what the U.S. President is saying. That is really

important. It is also, of course, the start the World Cup today, a massive global sporting event. The more than month long tournament opens at the

iconic Estadio Azteca, Mexico versus South Africa in the first 104 matches.

Let's bring in Valeria, who is there in Mexico City. I know that city very, very well. There's always a vibe. Just describe the feeling today.

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, excitement is already building up here in Mexico City as Mexico prepares to make history as the first country

to host the World Cup for a third time, and because of the many tickets are out of reach for many fans here, this fan fest, which is the largest of the

tournament with a capacity of 50,000 people, is expected to receive all these fans, so they can get like really excited and enjoy together this

turn tournament.

This is the 510 square meter screen where the 104 World Cup matches are going to be transmitted here, and thousands of people can watch it from

here. Also, the decoration is beautiful here, a lot of colorful, and also showcasing Mexican traditions to the visitors from around the world.

And actually, I'm joined with by one of these visitors, here's from the U.S. Alexander, how has been your experience so far here in Mexico City?

ALEXANDER DOMINGUEZ, WORLD CUP FAN: Hello, thanks for having me. So, I only been here for a couple days now, since the last three, four days, and when

I came here, it was unintentional to be here for FIFA. I actually came here to experience Mexico City, and I'm really astonished with not only the

culture, but the food and the people, and I think that's what brings this whole city together, and it's all here for football.

LEON: All here for football, that's correct. Thank you, Alexander. And also, as you can see here, they have set up this statue of the Mexican

traditional football game, that's called the ball game. The Aztecs used to play this decades ago, like 1000 years ago, and this is this beautiful

statue that will receive thousands of visitors stands for this opening match that will be played in Estadio Ciudad de Mexico, but of course here

is going to be the celebration.

But stand standing in sharp contrast to these celebrations, this excitement, Becky, there's the security surrounding this square, and that's

because on the other side of this. There are striking teachers that have been camping for more than a week now, and the authorities have installed

these metal barriers to prevent protesters from getting to this fan fest area and disrupting the celebrations.

But so far, we've seen some of the fans already here with just a few hours for the opening match, and they are already very excited and celebrating,

Becky.

ANDERSON: Of course, they are. Good.

[09:10:00]

And I'm sure you are too coincidentally, of course, South Africa played Mexico in the opening match when the tournament was held in South Africa

back in 2010. That was a one all draw. Let's see what happens in the opening match of the tournament 2026. Thank you.

Donald Trump as ever, is a focal point in all of the stories that we're telling this hour. He wanted calm ahead of the World Cup, and indeed the

UFC fight night this weekend for his birthday, but another Truth Social post has us focused instead back on the Iran war.

Joining me now to discuss this is regular on this show, my colleague CNN's Stephen Collinson. And it is good to have you. In your latest piece for CNN

Digital, you take a closer look at why President Trump is once again turning to military force as he tries to pressure Iran.

Can you just sort of -- just widen the lens for us, if you will, and just your assessment of where we are at this point?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah, I think one of the core assumptions of this war from the U.S. point of view is that superior

U.S. military force will cause Iran to capitulate. The problem is, and that is what Trump is trying again right now with his air strikes and his

threats of ever-increasing attacks.

The problem is, is that this theory has been repeatedly proven not to be true so far. American pressure has created a great deal of damage in Iran.

It killed the former supreme leader, but it hasn't changed materially the way that the Iranians are approaching this. So, this is why the U.S. may be

going down another dead end here.

I think there is an assumption in the United States that the U.S. has won this war, at least inside the administration. And therefore, Iran should

agree to this reality and capitulate, but it's clear that Iran doesn't think it's lost the war.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

COLLINSON: The survival of the regime in some ways is a victory, and there is no sign, I think, at least now, that Iran is going to change its

behavior.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Yeah, and it was quite the sort of bombastic sort of messaging this morning, in what was that social media missive for early

morning missive. Timing, of course, is always important to Donald Trump, and he was surely hoping, and you and I have discussed this at length over

the past week, surely hoping that the World Cup focus, sorry, that the world's focus on the World Cup.

And to a lesser extent, the UFC fight night at the White House, would you know, would be the focus of attention, would shine a light on what was

going on in the states, and frankly, he wanted shot of this war before that. How much of Trump's calculus do you think has revolved around trying

to tie up loose ends.

And I guess that's what it feels like at the White House at this point, because this is just a framework that's being negotiated. This isn't a deal

at the end of the day. So, how much of this was all about getting something done before these big events on his calendar?

COLLINSON: Well, even before that, I think the White House thought it was going to be like Venezuela, a quick in and out, and Trump would have a new

victory. This was supposed to last, of course, between four and six weeks, according to the White House. No one thought that we would be still dealing

with this when the World Cup started, and before the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States, which center around July 4th, but that

is going to be the claim -- the case, you know.

Trump doesn't want this to drag on. He doesn't have a great deal of strategic patience at the best of times. And he's also wary of comparisons

to these long slogs that the U.S. endured in Iraq and Afghanistan. The problem is he's got himself in a position where he can't get out.

He's trying to create a reality that the United States has won and this will end. It reminds me somewhat of the pandemic when he seemed to think

that declaring that there were no new infections and not testing for them meant the pandemic was going away, and I think Iran and the COVID-19

situation are one of the few cases where President Trump's talent for creating a new version of reality, one of his main political methods, has

failed him.

ANDERSON: Yeah, well, it's certainly not theater or TV. I mean, these are important events, aren't they?

COLLINSON: Yeah.

ANDERSON: And I know he does call himself a war president, for what it's worth. If this latest round of military pressure fails to change Iran's

behavior, fails to get, you know, Iran's sort of, you know signature on whatever this document, this framework, this MOU is, so they can sort of

move this on.

[09:15:00]

What is the Trump Administration's next move? I mean, is there another lever to pull, or does this leave the president facing the prospect of a

deeper and longer conflict?

COLLINSON: Yeah, I mean, the deeper and longer conflict is one of the levers he could pull, a massive escalation, but the costs of doing that,

both in terms of American lives and the impact on the global economy, which is already having a huge political impact on the president, are so

prohibitive that he's been unwilling to do that.

There's a long tradition in American foreign policy, from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq, of doubling down, recommitting, and escalating a

conflict in order to find a way out. History shows that, that almost always doesn't work, and ends up with the United States pouring in more lives and

resources to an outcome which people in Washington believe is possible, but which isn't actually, you know, according to the reality of a situation on

the ground.

So that is the big risk for the present, but you know, one of the difficulties of this war is we don't have the visibility inside the Iranian

regime. We don't know for sure how painful the U.S. blockade is, for example, it's difficult to get a real fix on what targets the U.S. is going

after right now.

So I don't think we can equivocally say that, you know, what the U.S. is doing right now is not reshaping the politics of this in Iran, and the

geopolitics around it, but it does look like he's still in this box in which he's been for weeks, in which an escalation makes the consequences of

the war worse, but a fail to escalate means he's still stuck.

ANDERSON: Anything can happen, of course, in the next what, five and three quarter hours, I guess. We could still get the announcement of a deal

before the World Cup kicks off. Who knows? At this point, it's very difficult, isn't it, to sort of read what's going on, but it's always good

to have you on, sort of to pick through it and provide your insight, mate. Thank you very much indeed.

COLLINSON: Thank you.

ANDERSON: Well, a UK government minister says dozens of people have been made homeless in Northern Ireland as violent anti-immigration riots

continued Wednesday night. The unrest erupted after video of a knife attack went viral. Police fired water cannons demonstrated in a second night of

protests.

At least 16 people arrested and 12 officers injured in Belfast. The rioters torched houses and vehicles. Local politicians say the homes of people from

ethnic minorities were targeted. Comes after a Sudanese man was charged with attempted murder over the stabbing attack on Monday.

Well meanwhile, Britain's government is facing new political turbulence. Just hours ago, its defense secretary abruptly stepped down. John Healy

resigned following a very sharp dispute over military spending, warning proposed funding falls well short of what's needed to keep the country safe

at what he described as this dangerous time.

The move delivers another blow to the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Healy is the sixth minister to step down in a month. You're watching

"Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. Time is just after quarter past five here.

How a diplomatic effort to end the war with Iran just got more complicated. I'll be talking to a Middle East scholar about that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:20:00]

ANDERSON: Well, talks on an agreement, at least in principle, to end the war with Iran are still on track. That is what we're hearing from a

diplomatic source. But strikes overnight by the U.S. and Iran on assets, tip for tap, if you will, are sort of rendering a ceasefire, you know, in

nothing but on paper.

U.S. President this morning threatening to bombard Iran again if it doesn't agree to a deal. Let's get to Middle East Scholar Mohammad Ali Shabani.

He's the Editor of Amwaj.media. And you and I speak quite regularly, and when we do, we are leaning into you for your sort of insight and analysis

through being so well sourced in Iran.

And you've been hearing from a political insider, as I understand it, with knowledge of these negotiations, I don't know whether you last spoke to

that asset before or that person before this latest missive from Donald Trump. But what are you hearing about a potential draft agreement at this

point?

MOHAMMAD ALI SHABANI, EDITOR OF AMWAJ.MEDIA: So, Becky, based on the reporting we did late last night and the update received this morning,

essentially the two sides appear to have finalized draft agreements, the negotiators. And what's happening now is that the respective leaderships

are taking a look at that document.

There is no clarity on whether there's been a response so far. Last I heard, about an hour ago, there is no response. This is a process that

sometimes takes time, I think, more problematically than just taking time. It's that Trump has this tendency to issue threats, quite public threats,

and this complicates the decision-making process.

I think Trump is very eager to make it seem like he managed to bully one, so to speak, into accepting terms it otherwise wouldn't, and Iran, on the

other hand, especially the military leadership, doesn't want to be perceived to be giving in, so the more time kind of goes by, the more Trump

gets impatient, the more impatient he gets, the more public threats he issues, and it's kind of a cycle that's been going on for months now.

I think that if we just manage to have some silence in the next six seven hours, we could get somewhere, but unfortunately, it seems like these

public threats are not helping.

ANDERSON: It's really interesting that you say, in the next sort of six or seven hours. I mean, it literally is just less than six hours to the start

of the World Cup, and we have been discussing for weeks that is one of those dates that Donald Trump, you know, is likely to have had in his

diary.

And you know, underscored as you know a point at which he would want to be out of this war and into the sort of sequencing of sort of U.S. domestic

events, including his birthday, including Independence Day celebrations at the beginning of July. And yet if we take him at his word, he is absolutely

determined, it seems, to renew strikes on Iran.

He has said that the U.S. will hit Iran hard overnight, all caps in this social media post this morning, just a couple of hours ago. So, the

indication is that you know he's absolutely prepared to use military force. I wonder how prepared or inclined you see Tehran being to renewing all-out

war at this point.

SHABANI: Becky, I think neither side is really seeking war as an outcome here. I think both sides are trying to find a face-saving way out, and I

think for Trump, going out in public, as you say, on the eve of the World Cup, on the just a couple of weeks before the 250th anniversary year of the

U.S. to come, Independence Day, to be able to go out there and say I defeated you, one.

[09:25:00]

And to be able to do that, I think it's very -- from his perception, very helpful to be able to go out, issue strong threats, and then have a deal.

The problem is that these threats are complicating you on decision making, it's making the possibility of a deal less rather than more.

So, it's a kind of two-way street here, and I think the Iranians are looking at the situation from a different angle. They see exactly what

you're saying, they see the World Cup, Trump having been awarded this peace prize by the Football Association. Independence Day coming up, all these

important political milestones.

And here Trump is stuck in, mired in a kind of Middle East war, which is exactly what he campaigned against. Now he started to refer to himself as a

wartime president, making this kind of -- it's a bigger mess here. And I think the only way to really resolve this is to allow the negotiators to

push through to their respective leaderships what they agreed upon to get a final decision, and in the meantime try to keep threats to a minimum, at

least in the public --

ANDERSON: And how important do you believe the increased involvement, and it does seem very clear there has been an increased involvement by Qatar in

these negotiations and mediation. How important do you think that has been in getting us to where we are.

SHABANI: Well, Becky, you know, there are a number of Gulf Arab states which are involved in the negotiation process. It's not just Qatar, which

has been involved for years in mediating between Iran and the U.S. Recently, in past couple of days, was Iranian delegation in the UAE as

well, and in fact, it was a plane from the UAE to Iran.

It was the only flight in Iranian airspace during the first day of U.S. attacks. And we also have the Saudis, among other regional states, trying

to mediate between Iran and the U.S. So, it is a broader kind of effort here within the region. And I believe the only state within the region that

is opposed to Iran-U.S. deal at this point appears to be Israel.

Everybody else in the region, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, et cetera. Nobody has any interest in a flaring up of Iran-U.S. tensions or

renewal of war. So, I think the Qataris have been closely involved in their most recent mediation efforts, as we reported last night.

Their officials, their delegation in Tehran, we're up with -- until the late hours to finalize this thing. The draft agreement, based on what we're

hearing, is finalized, it's awaiting a political decision, and that political decision may not come, or may be delayed, possibly as a direct

result of public threats issued by Trump.

ANDERSON: Well, we're going to leave it there. I mean, it's going to be interesting to see just what these Gulf states are prepared to accept

longer term. I think at this point it is all about this document, you know, this memorandum of understanding, call it what you will, which is a sort of

agreement to agree on a wider, more comprehensive deal that certainly these Gulf states want down the road.

It's a bit of a kick the can at this point, isn't it? But nevertheless, let's wait and see what happens in these next hours. There is always the

possibility that we might actually get some sort of announcement on this framework deal. Thank you. Always good to have you, your insight and well-

sourced material is important to us.

Thank you. Well, there's more pushback in Albania against a luxury resort backed by President Trump's daughter and his son-in-law. Protesters back on

the streets of the capital again on Wednesday, some with signs that said Albania is not for sale. There were also clashes with police near the prime

minister's office.

The resort that Ivanka and Jared Kushner want to build would be near a protected area that is home to endangered species, including monk seals and

flamingos, opponents say some irreversible damage has already been done. Albania's Prime Minister, who supports the project, says the environmental

impact is yet to be assessed.

Well European Central Bank has raised interest rates for the first time in nearly three years. ECB hiking rates by a quarter point to 2.25 percent. It

also cut its full year growth forecast and raised its inflation forecasts for both this year and next. Now this is the first major central bank to

raise rates since the Iran war began on February 28th.

And this is how European markets, at least, are reacting. It's a pretty positive story out there, but do remember we had some tech stock fallout in

the past sessions.

[09:30:00]

So, these may just be also just reacting to some of the buyback there. Inflation, though, really is heating up on both sides of the Atlantic.

President Trump says he loves it, but whether Americans do is another question. We're watching the opening bell ringing as trading begins on Wall

Street.

We will be back to see how the DOW, the NASDAQ, and S&P are trading this Thursday, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Right, I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You are watching "Connect the World". News just coming in. U.S. wholesale inflation hits a four year

high of some 6.5 percent. I want to see how these markets are responding. They've been open just for a few minutes.

It's an interesting story out there. We have just seen an ECB rate rise for the first time in three since the war began. And I'm sure investors will be

keeping one eye on what that central bank has done. And these markets coming off a little bit. It has to be said they were expected to be higher,

driving the confidence a rebound in chip stocks ahead of that huge SpaceX listing tomorrow.

But it has to be said there is news out there, which is clearly keeping investors out of these markets. So, for example, the NASDAQ, which was as

much as 1 percent higher at one point off, now just a little bit. So, do keep an eye on those. I think these markets may just come off just a little

bit today.

Well, billionaire Bill Gates has told us lawmakers he never witnessed any wrongdoing by Jeffrey Epstein, and that the late convicted sex offender

attempted to use information about Gates' infidelities to get close to him. Testify in a closed-door congressional hearing, Gates said he hadn't fully

understood the extent of Epstein's crimes when they met in 2011 and that he regretted their introduction.

Well, as questions about Jeffrey Epstein's network continue, a CNN investigation reveals model scouts were sending young women to him,

Epstein, even after his conviction. CNN Investigative Reporter Katie Polglase now spoke to one of those model scouts, who said he believed

Epstein had paid for his crimes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE POLGLASE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER (voice-over): Paris, for years, young models were recruited here for Jeffrey Epstein. Digging through the

Epstein files, CNN found Epstein received dozens of photos of young models sent by model scouts and agents.

[09:35:00]

We identified at least six individuals, not just sending him images of models, but discussing arrangements for him to meet them, even after his

2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution, including with a minor. Now one of these model scouts has agreed to meet with us here in Paris.

POLGLASE: OK, we're here.

POLGLASE (voice-over): Daniel Siad dealt with Epstein for more than a decade, arranging dissent in models.

POLGLASE: You didn't think in that time that sending young women, young models to the U.S. to meet Epstein after he had a conviction for child sex

offenses that there may be any risk in that at all.

DANIEL SIAD, MODEL SCOUT: My work with him has been strictly professional. I never doubt that, because I never heard anything from anyone introduced

him who came back to me that they had a bad situation with him.

POLGLASE (voice-over): The files show Epstein paid tens of thousands of dollars to Siad. In reviewing their correspondence, we found messages like

cute French girl in Marrakech, Siad wrote. She said that she will be happy to meet you. In another, he says, a woman is very polite and has potential

as a model or assistant.

Siad then sends a photo. Too old, Epstein replied.

POLGLASE: So, Epstein wasn't a model agent. Why was he paying you?

SIAD: No, he was, because they opened an agency, MC Square.

POLGLASE: He was not the model agent leading that model agent.

SIAD: He was a financier for, but was acting as a casting director for Victoria Secret.

POLGLASE: You believe Epstein was a casting director?

SIAD: Absolutely, that's how he had been introduced, and how he introduced myself also.

POLGLASE (voice-over): In fact, we found no evidence Epstein had an official recruiting role at either company, MC Squared or Victoria Secret.

POLGLASE: You sent an email in 2018 that said you were looking for a good- looking young assistant. If you're looking for models.

SIAD: Yes.

POLGLASE: Why are you then looking for an assistant for Jeffrey?

SIAD: He asked me for assistant, maybe it was not on the phone, but when I met him --

POLGLASE: Was that your job?

SIAD: Sorry, no, but because I trust in him, I believe this guy is a professional person.

POLGLASE (voice-over): Siad himself is also facing accusations of abuse. Ebba Karlsson has accused him of rape when she was a model in France in

1990. Siad denies her allegation.

SIAD: To be honest with you, I don't remember at all this person, and plus I have never abused any mother in my life.

POLGLASE: She remembers you.

SIAD: Listen, I'll be very happy to confront her in the court. I don't remember.

POLGLASE: Do you have any regret about meeting Jeffrey Epstein?

SIAD: Yes, yes, it's like a nightmare. I can't believe that this person had another -- I'm.

POLGLASE: But you were aware.

SIAD: Sorry.

POLGLASE: You were aware.

SIAD: Of what.

POLGLASE: His conviction for child sex --

SIAD: You're repeating the same question --

POLGLASE: You're telling me that you don't read the press --

SIAD: Listen, I didn't know a lot about him until when he comes to Paris, and I told you again, he said he passed his, he does to the government. So,

for me, he's free, man. He's clean. He was such a powerful person, and how can I -- not trust him?

POLGLASE (voice-over): After Epstein's 2008 conviction, Siad wasn't the only one who continued giving Epstein access to the modeling industry.

Faith Kates, the co-Founder of Model Agency Next Management, is another. In 2010, two years after his conviction, Epstein asked Kates for a great girl

to take to an event.

Kates replied, let me think who was around Xoxo. Kates reportedly left Next Management last year, and her spokesperson told CNN she was grossly misled

by Epstein. Then there is modeling scout Ramsey Elkholy. In 2009, he describes to Epstein a model as a gift that I had been planning on giving

you.

And then there is Jean-Luc Brunel, who ran multiple model agencies and was accused in civil court in 2014 of bringing girls to the U.S. to farm them

out to his friends, especially Epstein. Brunel was himself charged in France with underage sex crimes, but died in prison in 2022 while awaiting

trial.

He denied all charges. There is now an ongoing investigation in France into Epstein and his connections there. Siad is under investigation, according

to the Paris prosecutor's office, but he says police have not spoken to him. For victims of Epstein around the world, they await justice from the

courts. Katie Polglase, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: MC Two and Ramsey Elkholy did not respond to CNN's request for comment. Elkholy told "The Washington Post", quote, of the models that I've

introduced to him, they've never come back to me and said they had any problems. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:00]

ANDERSON: Well, football fans around the world gearing up for a fiesta of football. Most of the games in this part of the world are in the wee hours

of the morning, or certainly late at night. It's going to be a tough one, but we will get through the next month or so.

The World Cup, of course, officially gets underway today, with Mexico hosting South Africa, and Amanda Davies is with us. It's been four long

years. It's back.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: I think we're going to do more than just get through it, Becky. It is going to be a feast of football that we have

never experienced before. We've got more teams. We've got more games. I mean, in these opening stages, four matches a day.

I think, whatever time you wake up, whatever time you go to bed, whatever is in your schedule, there will still be time to have that football fix.

It's so exciting. We're at that point where all of us have the same hopes, beliefs, dreams that just maybe, maybe this is going to be our year.

But of course, we've got to wait till those whistles go and the kickoffs get underway, and we've got all the buildup and more coming up in just a

couple of minutes.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Good, all that in the NBA Finals too, of course. "World Sports" up after this.

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