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Ukrainians Give Up Fight At Mariupol Plant, The City's Last Stronghold; Amber Heard Defends Op-Ed Against Depp: "Every Word" Is True; U.S. Holds First Public Hearing On UFO's In Decades. Aired 7:30- 8a ET
Aired May 17, 2022 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[07:30:00]
JOSHUA GELTZER, DEPUTY HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: And it includes making this a priority for federal law enforcement across the country. We will continue doing that work.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Does the administration believe that domestic terrorism should be considered a federal crime?
GELTZER: So, we continue to work with our colleagues in federal law enforcement to explore whether it makes sense to pursue any legislative reforms. The third pillar of the national strategy called for a careful examination of exactly that, weighing what benefits any legislative proposal might provide against any risks it might pose, such as for civil liberties or civil rights. But there are a lot of tools in our toolbox already that the national strategy lays out for addressing this threat, including prevention work, including using existing legal authorities.
And we have felt, truly since the first days of this administration, that this issue was so urgent that it could not wait for legislative change. We have been using those tools better, more aggressively, in a more coordinated fashion with greater resourcing behind them to tackle this issue now, and we'll continue to do that.
COLLINS: Josh Geltzer, thanks so much for joining us this morning.
GELTZER: Thanks, Kaitlan.
COLLINS: Meanwhile in Ukraine, the city of Mariupol is on the brink. Why the Ukrainians are giving up the fight in this key port area that was once such a thriving spot for Ukrainians.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:35:46]
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A major development overnight in Ukraine. It does appear Ukraine has given up the fight for the steel plant in the port city of Mariupol, which has been a last line of defense for them in that city. They've announced an end to the combat operations in the city. Ukrainian troops have held out for weeks beneath the Azovstal steel plant under relentless Russian shelling. I want to bring in CNN's Melissa Bell. She is live just outside of Kyiv at the home of a family anxiously awaiting the return of a loved one from Mariupol -- Melissa.
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, John. In fact, we're in the kitchen now of Tetyana (ph) and Lira (ph), who are some of those who've had to flee the violence in Mariupol that you mentioned a moment ago.
This is a city, after all, that was under siege for so many weeks. That last bastion of resistance, as you say. The Azovstal steel plants where those hundreds of fighters were hold up, many of them young men and women who were wounded and in desperate need of medical supplies, with dwindling food supplies there.
We now know that 260 -- more than 260 have been evacuated. Several of those -- the most wounded have been taken to a hospital. The others have been taken to a border area where we expect that they -- negotiations are underway, rather. We expect that they will be handed to Ukrainian authorities.
I'd just like to introduce you now to Tetyana and her daughter Lira, who are, as you said a moment ago John, anxiously awaiting news. Now, they, as the families of so many other fighters hold up in Azovstal, have had very limited communication with Tetyana's husband and Lira's father. They have had daily messages.
Essentially, what's been happening is that the fighters have a single phone on which they all put their --text their loved ones when signal is had or found at one point, and all the messages go out to the families.
But imagine that Lira has not seen her father now since the 8th of March when he came to see both women to wish them a happy Women's Day.
They then, themselves, had to flee the violence of Mariupol on the 18th of March, Lira driving her mother and grandmother here with six months after passing her driver's license. Their home has been completely bombed and this is a rental that they have taken on the outskirts of Kyiv, and it is here that they are anxiously awaiting that news.
And I think I should explain also to our viewers John that we're being very careful about not identifying any of the men that are inside because this is such a moment of extraordinary delicacy, to use the words of the Ukrainian president last night. It is about delicacy. It is about time. And everyone needs to be very careful until this exchange, if it is an exchange -- and we don't even have confirmation of that -- has taken place.
BERMAN: Look, it has been a heroic stand for those troops who have been in Mariupol at that steel plant for more than 70 days. It does now appear to be over but it diverted thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Russian troops for a long, long time.
Melissas Bell, give our best to that family. Thank you so much for being with us.
In other news this morning, for the first time in decades, we're about to see the first public congressional hearing on UFOs. Yes, the truth is out there.
COLLINS: And Amber Heard has provided some vivid details about her tumultuous relationship with Johnny Depp. Hear how she answered this question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELAINE BREDEHOFT, AMBER HEARD'S LAWYER: What, if anything, did you notice about any bathroom issues in your bed before you left for Coachella?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:43:25]
COLLINS: This morning, actress Amber Heard will be back on the stand for cross-examination in her ex-husband Johnny Depp's $50 million defamation trial against her.
On Monday, she defended her op-ed at the center of this lawsuit that alleges Depp was abusive, saying that, quote, "Every word of it is true."
CNN's Chloe Melas joins us now. Chloe, a lot of standout moments from yesterday.
CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Good morning, Kaitlan.
Yesterday, when Amber Heard took the stand and she was cross-examined by Depp's attorneys, things got incredibly heated. She was questioned about not having taken photographs that showed the alleged violence that she endured over the relationship that she had with Depp.
Here's a little bit more of what she said when she took the stand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELAS (voice-over): Following a weeklong break in proceedings, actress Amber Heard was back on the stand --
BAILIFF: Judge Penny Azcarate presiding. Please be seated.
MELAS (voice-over): -- providing more testimony in the $50 million defamation case her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp, has filed against her.
At the center of the case, a 2018 op-ed Heard wrote for The Washington Post over two years after she filed for divorce.
Heard described herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse and justified the decision to have the article published in her name.
AMBER HEARD, ACTRESS: And I was happy to weigh in on what I saw as a -- the -- you know, unique phenomena that women -- typically, women experience in our culture when they come forward against somebody more powerful. When they speak up about gender-based violence.
[07:45:04]
MELAS (voice-over): And on Monday, she defended the op-ed. It didn't name Depp but his lawsuit alleges it cost him work.
BREDEHOFT: What, if anything, in this op-ed was incorrect?
HEARD: Nothing. Every word of it is true.
MELAS (voice-over): Depp denies any abuse and says Heard, who filed a $100 million countersuit, abused him. Heard pushed back against Depp's team's comments that her allegations were a hoax.
HEARD: To use what I went through and what I've survived -- calling it fake -- saying that I'm harming Johnny with this -- I'm harming the public with us -- this is what I've lived through. And to say that it's a hoax -- that these aren't even real things.
MELAS (voice-over): Heard told the jury the reasons for ending her marriage.
HEARD: Then I knew if I didn't I'd likely not literally survive. I wouldn't -- I was so scared that it was going to end really badly for me.
MELAS (voice-over): Despite those claims, Depp's attorneys have pointed out Heard once refused to cooperate with the police following an altercation. Her attorney provided an opportunity for her to clarify.
BREDEHOFT: So why didn't you want to cooperate with the police?
HEARD: Because I wanted to protect Johnny. I didn't want him to be arrested. I didn't want him to be in trouble.
MELAS (voice-over): During her testimony, Heard denied being involved in an incident involving feces in their bedroom.
HEARD: Well, Raquel and I were both in that bed with the dogs and I didn't notice anything. But we left them in the bed while we packed a bag to go to Coachella, you know.
BREDEHOFT: Did you commit any kind of prank?
HEARD: Absolutely not.
BREDEHOFT: OK.
HEARD: Absolutely not.
BREDEHOFT: And why would that not be something you would do?
HEARD: First of all, I don't think that's funny. I don't know what grown woman does. I was not also in a pranking mood. I had -- my life was falling apart.
MELAS (voice-over): Heard also testified about her counterclaim, which revolves around Depp's attorney calling her abuse allegations a hoax. Afterward, she said her role in the upcoming "Aquaman" sequel was reduced.
HEARD: They basically took a bunch out of my role. They didn't -- yes, they just removed a bunch out.
MELAS (voice-over): CNN has reached out to Warner Bros., the studio behind the "Aquaman" franchise, for comment. Warner Bros. shares the same parent company as CNN.
And during her cross-examination, Depp's attorneys pointed out that Heard has yet to make good on her pledge to donate the entire $7 million divorce settlement she received from Depp. Heard admitted falling short of completing the full donations, blaming Depp's countersuit against her.
Depp's attorney also questioned Heard's abuse allegations, at times zooming in on photos taken of the actress during public appearances and overseas trips, including one to Australia in March of 2015.
CAMILLE VASQUEZ, JOHNNY DEPP'S ATTORNEY: And you testified that you had cuts on the bottoms of your feet as well.
HEARD: Yes, that's true.
VASQUEZ: And you testified that you had a bruise across your jaw from when Mr. Depp, quote, "clocked you in the face" end quote.
HEARD: That's true.
VASQUEZ: You didn't take any pictures of these injuries while you were in Australia, did you?
HEARD: I don't think -- no, I don't think I took any pictures.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: On all of this, let's also bring in criminal defense attorney Sara Azari. Sara, this has just been remarkable to watch. And what they were saying there -- you know, she was talking about this op-ed that is at the center of this -- she says that every word that she wrote is true.
SARA AZARI, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes, and this came right before her cross-examination and this sort of pre-testimony alert is both odd and unnecessary. It calls her credibility into question more. It's almost like a red flag.
And frankly, the truth needs no defense. Let the jury decide who to believe. That's really, you know -- this is a he said-she said case and it's ultimately up to this jury.
BERMAN: So talk to me about that because what's interesting here is that what people hear being discussed here are charges of domestic abuse -- allegations of domestic abuse -- but it's not a domestic abuse case.
AZARI: Right.
BERMAN: It's a -- it's a defamation case that is a he said-she said issue.
So what is it that you think the jury is seeing in all of this?
AZARI: You know, I think up until now when her cross-examination started yesterday, the jury was seeing maybe some instances of abuse by both of these individuals against each other. Depp, although being probably the more credible witness in terms of his disposition and in terms of his story.
[07:50:00]
But this trial, John, is so bad for the credibility of domestic -- true domestic violence victims who are already struggling with being believed.
And ultimately, here we have the issue of defecation in the bed. You have -- which is the entertaining part of this whole case. And then you have the -- all these issues of abuse and no photographs to document. No medical records documenting it. These are not just slight marks.
These are things that are non-elective in terms of having to go to the doctor. You're bleeding, you're broken, you're -- you know, your ribs are broken and you can't breathe. You've got to have medical records.
So I am not at all imposing criteria on victims of domestic violence to document or we don't believe them. But she is a photographer. She has photographed a lot of chaos, a lot of broken objects, but not these horrific injuries.
COLLINS: And --
AZARI: And that's why she's not credible.
COLLINS: How is she pushing back on that during this cross- examination, which I know is still continuing? You know, what's she saying to --
MELAS: Well, so --
COLLINS: -- his attorney's arguments?
MELAS: -- to your point, she's up there and she says well, you know, I don't know. I have certain photos and I used ice. We have makeup. And, you know, I was injured. But there was one instance that fans of Johnny Depp immediately latched onto where she says that she had broken her nose by Depp during an altercation. And then she went on a late-night television show appearance and she was making -- they were zooming in on her facial gestures and saying this doesn't appear to look like somebody who had broken their nose. Now, I have never broken my nose so I wouldn't know what that feels like or what that necessarily looks like. It may be a small fracture.
But she says everything that she has claimed is true. She has photographs that show maybe redness and some marks.
But to your point and to the point of the court of public opinion, which is heavily on Depp's side, they're saying where are the receipts? Where is the evidence that really backs this up?
They also talked to her about the broken bottle that he allegedly put inside of her.
AZARI: Right.
MELAS: And they said why did you not seek medical attention if you were bleeding? You obviously had to have been incredibly injured. And she said that she was embarrassed and she didn't want that to get out there for Depp's sake.
COLLINS: I mean, it's just such a fascinating trial. I think people are watching this so closely to see what happens and what the jury ultimately decides.
Thank you both for joining us this morning to break it all down.
AZARI: Thank you.
MELAS: Thank you.
COLLINS: We also have new details this morning in the investigation of the racist attack in Buffalo, including what the grocery store manager says she did when she saw the suspect outside the store the day before.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that thing, dude.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's not an LNS (ph), though, is it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is an LNS, dude.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, there's a --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's rotating. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa! Got it!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The first open congressional hearing on UFOs in more than 50 years about to be underway. Wouldn't you like to see the witness list for this, Kaitlan?
COLLINS: Number one, alien.
BERMAN: Number one -- yes. Number two, ET.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:56:57]
BERMAN: This morning, for the first time in more than half a century, a House panel is holding a public hearing on mysterious flying objects, popularly known as UFOs.
CNN's Kristin Fisher with the details.
KRISTIN FISHER, CNN SPACE AND DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, this is a very big day. I mean, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee describes this as one of the great mysteries of our time. And it's a big day for all of these people who have spent so many years pushing for more transparency into this topic, but especially for those Navy pilots who actually saw these things with their own eyes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that thing, dude.
FISHER (voice-over): Seven years after a Navy pilot spotted this unexplained object off the Atlantic coast --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's rotating.
FISHER (voice-over): -- top Pentagon officials will be grilled by members of a House intelligence subcommittee -- the first public hearing on UFOs or UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) in more than half a century.
REP. ANDRE CARSON (D-IN): For far too long, this issue wasn't even taken very seriously. It was essentially, relegated to science fiction. But in a very real sense, UAPs present a very real national security risk and the Intelligence Committee has a responsibility to investigate.
FISHER (voice-over): The hearing comes almost a year after the director of national intelligence released a highly-anticipated report which examined 144 reports of UAPs but identified only a single one, which turned out to be a deflated balloon. Quote, "The others remain unexplained."
The report also documents 11 instances in which pilots reported near- misses with a UAP.
LUIS ELIZONDO, FORMER U.S. ARMY COUNTERINTELLIGENCE SPECIAL AGENT, FORMER EMPLOYEE, OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR INTELLIGENCE: This is not tinfoil hats and conversations of Elvis being on the Mothership.
FISHER (voice-over): Luis Elizondo is the former director of a Pentagon program that investigated UAPs and he's been pushing for more transparency ever since he left in 2017.
ELIZONDO: This is a very serious national security issue. Something is in our skies and it has been there for quite some time, and we're just now having the conversation publicly about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My gosh!
FISHER (voice-over): UFOs first hit the American public's radar about 70 years ago, pushing Pentagon officials to try to explain the unexplainable.
LT. GEN. JOHN SAMFORD, USAF, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY: I am here to discuss the so-called flying saucers.
FISHER (voice-over): In the 1960s, then-Congressman Gerald Ford asked Congress to investigate, leading to the last public hearings on UFOs. Quote, "I believe the American people are entitled to a more thorough explanation than has been given to them by the Air Force."
But the Air Force investigation, known as Project BLUE BOOK, concluded that UFOs were not extraterrestrial nor did they pose a threat to our national security.
Now, another congressman, Andre Carson, is pushing for similar answers.
CARSON: I believe it's important that they work to declassify some of this knowledge so the American people can effectively understand what's happening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa! Got it! Whoo-hoo!
FISHER (voice-over): Could these objects that caught the attention of trained Navy pilots be part of a to-secret U.S. program? Could they be coming from a foreign adversary, or somewhere else?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What the (bleep) is that thing?
[08:00:00]
