Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

First Hearing in Twitter Lawsuit; Juliette Scauso is Interviewed about 9/11; Ricky Martin Denies Allegations; Soto Wins Home Run Derby; Dillon and Riley Murphy are Interviewed about a Wave Crashing their Wedding. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired July 19, 2022 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": Next to the same image taken by the Hubble Telescope, OK. That's Hubble above, Webb below. OK, that's a glow up. It's an amazing - it's amazing what technology can do.

For comparison, here's a regular picture of me. Here's a picture of me taken by the Webb Telescope.

That's what I look like in real life. These cameras, they don't have the resolution to capture that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Ah, Stephen Colbert last night.

And developing overnight, we learned there will not be prosecutions against staffers of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after an incident in the Capitol last month. Nine members of a production team were arrested and charged with unlawful entry inside a House office building. Them were there taping a segment that featured Triumph the insult comic dog interviewing members of Congress. The team was still in the building after it had been closed to visitors and they were, at the time, detained by Capitol Police.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, interesting development there, especially the criticism they got from Republicans following that.

Also this morning, a judge is going to hear arguments in Twitter's request to fast track its trial against the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, who is trying to back out of buying the social media giant, but Twitter is suing to force him, or at least trying to, to complete the $44 billion deal.

CNN's Alexandra Field joins us now.

So, what is going on? I mean, this has just been chaos from the start, but what is happening right now and what do we expect to happen this week (INAUDIBLE)? ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. And this will be our first

look at Twitter versus Musk in court.

COLLINS: Yes.

FIELD: So people will be watching closely.

Of course, the larger issue here is whether or not the court will compel Musk to go through with his bid to buy the social media giant. But really the question today is how quickly this case will go to trial.

Now, Twitter filed its suit against Musk as he attempted to back out of the deal. They say that they need an expedited trial as early as September. They say they need a swift resolution in order to protect their shareholders from further uncertainty. Musk has claimed that he is trying to back out of the deal citing a lack of information coming from Twitter about the number of fake account and spam bots. His attorneys would really like to see the case thrown out altogether, but they will argue that they need more time to prepare for the trial, more time to investigate those accounts. They'd like to see this trial happening later in the winter.

The decision will ultimately rest with a judge in a small court in Delaware that is dedicated to these major business disputes. It won't likely come today, but it should be coming soon as Twitter, of course, is arguing that it's -- time is of the essence. Either way, the stakes here are very high. A win for Musk, of course, could look like a billion-dollar breakup fee, but that's small given the fact that a loss would mean that he could be forced to follow through with the deal, which was struck at $54.20 a share.

COLLINS: It will be interesting to see this play out in court rather than on Twitter, as we have been seeing. So, we'll see.

FIELD: I think it will play out in both places.

COLLINS: Yes, that's true.

BERMAN: I guarantee it. And Musk will be live tweeting wherever it is what's happening.

COLLINS: We'll wait to see those.

Alex, thank you so much.

There's also fierce backlash ahead of a conversational Saudi backed tournament that is supposed to happen at former President Trump's golf club.

BERMAN: And the MAGA movement is dying. What prompted those words from Pennsylvania Republican Senate Candidate Mehmet Oz.

And three weapons, 100 rounds of ammunition, a laptop found inside an oven. New details this morning on the investigation into the mall attack in Indiana. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:37:25]

COLLINS: Families of 9/11 victims are urging former President Trump to cancel a Saudi-backed golf tournament that is set to be held at his golf course, just outside New York City, in Bedminster, New Jersey. Members of the 9/11 Justice Group are requesting a meeting with Trump, writing to him in a letter, quote, we simply cannot understand how you could agree to accept money from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia's golf league to host their tournament at your golf course, and to do so in the shadows of Ground Zero in New Jersey, which lost over 700 residents during the attacks.

Joining us now is Juliette Scauso. Her father, Dennis Scauso, was one of the hundreds of firefighters killed in 9/11.

And, Juliette, thank you so much for being here with us this morning.

I know you were just four and a half years old when your dad was killed. And so tell us why it's important for you that Trump not hold - not only not hold this tournament, but not hold it so close to Ground Zero.

JULIETTE SCAUSO, FATHER DIED IN 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACK: I mean, myself, and I think I can speak for a lot of the families, are just absolutely astounded. When we first found out about the LIV tournament in general, and that it was going to be taking place on American soil at all, the first stop being in Oregon, it was just shock, disappointment. You know, it's really hurtful. But now for it to be taking place, you know, literally in the backyard of Ground Zero, in a state where there are a lot of 9/11 victims in New Jersey and New York, it's just absolutely -- it's shocking. And for that to be hosted by a former president is even more, you know, disgusting. It's just, you know, it's hard to find the words.

COLLINS: And not just a former president. This is a former president who also blamed Saudi Arabia for the attacks several years ago, before he took office, but he did blame them. Of course, we saw the relationship he had with them when he was in office.

You've written this letter. Have you gotten any kind of a response so far?

SCAUSO: Not that I'm aware of. But, yes, Trump himself said in 2016 that the Saudis were responsible. And, you know, as per the executive order from President Biden than we now have these documents, we have these FBI documents that show the -- you know, the -- it shows the accountability that the Saudis had, their role in it. So, we now have the proof that, you know, Trump was right.

[06:40:02]

But now he's taking money from them and profiting from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the kingdom is currently in -- awaiting trial in federal

court against the 9/11 families over these attacks. And, you know, of course we are awaiting that justice. But, yes, it's hard to find the words.

COLLINS: And I know you've written this letter, your group has written this letter to him voicing this. But if you could speak to him directly, what would you say about why this is so important. That it's not a political issue, that it's personal for you.

SCAUSO: It is personal. And I think for people that don't have personal loss to 9/11 or are not close to it or have a story or, you know, a specific connection to that day, you know, it's really easy, every year around the anniversary, you know, everyone hears the names being read and they hear about 9/11 and, you know, they all post "never forget." And it's really easy if you don't have a personal connection to just hear names.

And behind every single one of those names is a person who had a life, who had a family, who preferred their coffee a certain way in the morning, you know? And I think it's really to disassociate from that and you just hear all of these names, but there is a family still living with a massive hole in their lives. You know, it doesn't get any easier. If anything, it gets harder. I'm adult now. I can process, you know, what all of that meant. And now I'm very much involved in fighting for the justice for my father that he so rightly deserved.

I mean, he was a fireman. And he sacrificed his life. And, you know, my mother was a widow at 39. And she had to raise four children by herself. And we were robbed of, you know, a normal childhood and of the lives that we should have had with my father. And it's been over 20 years. It's really time for justice.

COLLINS: Yes. And that doesn't go away. And you're right, that's a -- something that happened that shapes your life forever. And I think it's really important that you're - you are being so vocal about this and talking about it and making your feelings known on it.

What kind of message does it send if he - if Trump doesn't cancel this? Because he - it's not just this one. He's also supposed to have another one at his golf course in Miami towards the end of the season. So, it's not just one. I understand this one's more personal because it's so much closer. But what kind of message does it send to the global - to the community if he doesn't cancel it?

SCAUSO: I mean, I think, you know, the 9/11 community, we've been pretty outspoken about our issue here. And I'm very proud to say that I think we've gotten our message out quite far. And, you know, our message is on the radar, you know. I'm - he -- I'm sure Mr. Trump knows about us. He knows, you know, the letter. He knows how we stand. Now whether it's cancelled or not, I personally don't think it will be. But just the fact that you're -- you are -- and even the players, that this is blood money that you're taking. Same with him hosting these events.

The fact that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, when we have declassified documents that prove their involvement in this and they are just being allowed to operate on American soil with complete impunity is just absolutely shocking. And, you know, they're trying to sports wash their way through this. They have a very long history of human rights violations, not just 9/11. And if their way of trying to erase that is through sports, I mean, I -- we're going to try to fight that as much as we possibly can because it's just absolutely not right.

COLLINS: It's an honorable effort. And I know this isn't easy to come on. So, thank you for coming on and talking to us about this.

SCAUSO: Thank you for having me.

COLLINS: And it's an important message. So, thank you for coming on.

SCAUSO: Thank you.

COLLINS: Up next, we're going to talk about singer Ricky Martin, who has been confronted with a restraining order as he is denying allegations of domestic abuse involving his 21-year-old nephew.

BERMAN: It is being described as the climate emergency in real time. Extreme heat. Europe not prepared to deal with it. We'll take you there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:48:30]

BERMAN: Pop star Ricky Martin denying allegations that he engaged in an incestuous relationship with his nephew. This comes after reports the singer was served a restraining order this month over alleged harassment. Martin's attorney shot back calling the claims untrue and disgusting.

Let's bring in CNN's Jean Casarez for the latest on this.

What's going on here?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As we know, this is in the courts now. Two sides to every story.

According to Puerto Rican police, their officials served Ricky Martin, through his attorney, with a protection order earlier this month. The allegation, we are told, deals with harassment.

Puerto Rican Police Spokesman Valencia (ph) told me last night, because I did speak with him, that he and his nephew ended a relationship two months before the order of protection was requested because, according to the relative, Martin did not accept that it was over. Martin's attorney, Marty Singer, strong denies these allegations. In a statement to CNN on Monday he says, quote, Ricky Martin has, of course, never been and would never be involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew. The idea is not only untrue, it is disgusting. We all hope that this man gets the help that he so urgently needs. But, most of all, we look forward to this awful case being dismissed as soon as a judge gets to look at the facts. The allegations against Ricky Martin leading to a protection order are completely false. We are confident that when the true facts come to light in this matter, our client, Ricky Martin, will be fully vindicated.

[06:50:06]

The singer took to Twitter earlier this month to dispute the allegations as completely false. I appreciate the innumerable gestures of solidarity and I receive them with all my heart.

(Speaking in Foreign Language), a reputable newspaper in Puerto Rico, said that the order quotes the petitioner as saying that Martin has been seen loitering near the petitioner's house at least three times. The petitioner fears for his safety. The order was issued by a judge of the court of first instance of San Juan after an ex parte request. Ex parte request, it's just like in the United States. It can be granted without waiting for a response from the other side. So, the court hasn't even heard the other side.

A hearing in this case is set for July 21st. Martin is expected to attend with his attorney, although a virtual appearance, the police tell me, would be allowed.

At the conclusion of that hearing, the judge can either extend the order or dismiss it.

And there is a big issue out there right now about who this is because we do not cite the names at all of any type of an alleged victim. But there is a question whether there -- it is blood or it is not blood. And that's a question for the courts to look at. It may come out in this hearing.

BERMAN: Open questions, Jean, you're so right to point that out. Thank you so much.

CASAREZ: Yes.

BERMAN: So, how is this for a wedding crasher?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED). This is coming over. We're (INAUDIBLE). Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The bride and groom nearly had their dream Hawaiian wedding washed away. They will join us ahead on NEW DAY. I can't get over that.

COLLINS: I'm just thinking of my outfit at a wedding and how devastated I would be.

BERMAN: You would be wet.

COLLINS: My shoes. BERMAN: Which is why you wear a wetsuit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:56:05]

BERMAN: A pair of young sluggers bashing at last night's home run derby. Carolyn Manno has this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Good morning, Carolyn.

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, John.

You know, it's been a very eventful all-star break for Juan Soto. On Saturday, the Nationals star reportedly rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension with the team. And that price just went up a little bit. It was one of many story lines from last night's home run derby. Albert Pujols proved he's still got it. Mariner's rookie Julio Rodriguez impress. But in the final round it was Soto earning the crown and the $1 million grand prize at Dodgers Stadium. He hit ten homers in the span of 12 swings, winning 19-18. And afterwards the 23-year-old was asked, what's next?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone in baseball is talking about your future, the next few weeks. What do you want to have happen?

JUAN SOTO, WASHINGTON NATIONS OUTFIELDER: Right now I don't even think about it. I think I'm - I'm a champion and I will be champion for the Nationals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANNO: So, not divulging any detailing. And here's a new twist, starting tonight, if the all-star game is tied after nine innings, the game will be settled by a mini home run derby. So each manager is going to select three batters, John. They will get three swings each. Winner take all. It should be a lot of fun.

BERMAN: It should be awesome. Everyone's rooting for a tie in the ninth so we can see that.

All right, Carolyn, thanks so much.

MANNO: Sure.

COLLINS: All right, it was not Owen Wilson or Vince Vaughn, but there was a wedding crasher at one couple's nuptials in Hawaii.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED). This is coming over. We're (INAUDIBLE). Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Whoa.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COLLINS: The waves so strong that they wiped through the wedding party. Tables, decorations, flower arrangements, all of it washed up and just making my inner planner cringe. But one important thing was saved, that is the wedding cake.

Let's bring in those newlyweds, Dillon and Riley Murphy, whose wedding, as you can just see, had this unexpected crash.

Dillon and Riley, thank you so much.

A, congrats. But, b, you have to tell me what was going through your mind as you saw this wave come crashing over all of your careful planning?

RILEY MURPHY, GIANT WAVE CRASHED HER HAWAIIAN WEDDING: Yes.

DILLON MURPHY, GIANT WAVE CRASHED HIS HAWAIIAN WEDDING: Well - yes. So, we knew that the weather was going to be a little crazy, but we were mainly worried about Hurricane Darby which was supposed to come and bring some rain. So, that was our main concern. We knew the waves were up. We live about 3,000 feet of elevation. So, we could see that the whole coastline was covered in whitewash. And, yes, we - they -- all day long they weren't really breaching over the wall. But in the video that you can see, it's basically just the catering area that that big wave got to. So, we were pretty fortunate.

But, yes, it definitely, definitely took out some of the empty catering tables and then, you know, that backup bar that -- unfortunately, what you can't see is on the other side of the venue, there was about 200 people getting ready for the ceremony. So, that was right before the ceremony.

BERMAN: It only took out the backup bar, right?

COLLINS: Thank God.

BERMAN: So the main bar -

D. MURPHY: Yes.

R. MURPHY: That was it.

BERMAN: Main bar was fine.

R. MURPHY: (INAUDIBLE) looks like it - looks like it was the entire beach (ph), but it was only our backout bar. And then our catering tables that luckily didn't have any food on them yet. So we were very fortunate for that. And then, of course, the cake. That was amazing that the cake wasn't spared.

D. MURPHY: Yes, it got (INAUDIBLE) --

BERMAN: And you were spared. I mean the important thing is you guys were fine, right?

D. MURPHY: Yes. R. MURPHY: Yes.

BERMAN: I mean how many people told you it's good luck to have your wedding washed away by a giant wave?

D. MURPHY: Yes, so our (INAUDIBLE), our officiant, he did an amazing job messaging it to us. And, honestly, it brought everybody together so fast because our families and friends sprung in right away and started picking up all the tables.

The only thing that kind of went under water was our dance floor and some of our reception tables and all that. So, they took all that to the other side. And, fortunately, we were able to have a party and still be able to dance.

[07:00:00]