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Suspect Identified in Idaho Ambush; Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Heads to Jury; Could Iran Restart Uranium Enrichment in Just Months?; Doctors Sound Alarm Over New CDC Vaccine Panel. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired June 30, 2025 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:02]

DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, FORMER PRESIDENT, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS: And being at the meeting last week, the question that they asked showed a lack of knowledge of what FDA and vaccine work groups do and how this process worked.

And a last-minute addition to the agenda, which was a presentation by Lyn Redwood bogusly attacked the vaccine preservative thimerosal. And it was probably the most controversial in that meeting. Thimerosal is a preservative that's been extensively studied over decades. There's no evidence that causes autism or any other neurodevelopmental disorder.

It was taken out of childhood vaccines in 2001. And understand that 96 percent of flu vaccine does not contain thimerosal. It's only used in the multidose vials to prevent contamination from bacteria and fungus caused by multiple needle sticks into the vial.

Now, Redwood is not an M.D. She's not a Ph.D. She is a former president of the questionable vaccine organization Kennedy used to be involved with. And her presentation slides attacking thimerosal initially cited a study that didn't exist and also didn't accurately represent conclusions of other articles that do exist.

In fact, a CDC review of the evidence debunked her thimerosal myths. And that review was initially put on the ACIP Web site, but then was strangely and abruptly removed. It explained the evidence does not support an association between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism or any other neurodevelopmental disorder.

But based on the bogus Redwood presentation, Kennedy's new ACIP voted to remove thimerosal from flu vaccines for children, pregnant women and adults. This decision will cause mistrust in vaccines and will make flu vaccine less available.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Dr. Fryhofer, just -- given what you just laid out, I mean, are you concerned that Americans will no longer be able to trust the information coming out of the CDC following these changes?

FRYHOFER: I certainly am.

And it seems that there's a lot more mischief in the making. The new ACIP chair said that ACIP is going to be examining the child vaccination schedule. They're going to take a relook at the need for a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

Now, understand that pediatricians consider this a cornerstone to preventing hepatitis B for the entire population. The chair also explained ACIP will be taking a new look at use of MMR and varicella vaccine for young children. Really, in the midst of a measles outbreak?

We now have more than 1200 confirmed measles cases across 37 states and the death of two children from a disease that was eliminated in year 2000 by vaccination.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Very quickly, before I let you go, Dr. Fryhofer, I have heard that the most vulnerable, the most endangered people out there as a result of these so-called vaccine changes are young kids or the elderly. Is that right?

FRYHOFER: All Americans are at risk. And America's physicians must stand up for our patients, as should everyone who believes in public health. We have to push back on misinformation, medical foolishness and quackery.

And what we saw last week was just that. Misinformation leads to mistrust in vaccines. Mistrust reduces vaccine uptake, and reduced vaccine uptake kills and sickens our patients. And we wouldn't be in the midst of a measles outbreak now but for a vaccine hesitancy caused by misinformation.

All right, Dr. Sandy Fryhofer, thank you.

BLITZER: Important discussion indeed.

Right now, the U.S. Justice Department is holding a news conference on the -- quote -- "largest coordinated health care fraud takedown" in the Department of Justice's history, charging more than 320 people in schemes allegedly totaling more than $14 billion, billion dollars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW GALEOTTI, HEAD OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CRIMINAL DIVISION: This enforcement action involves the seizure of cash as well as luxury vehicles and properties, returning real money to American taxpayers and to our government health care programs.

As part of this takedown, we have identified and charged defendants operating from Russia, Eastern Europe, Pakistan and other foreign countries. These individuals have infiltrated our health care system to steal American taxpayer dollars.

As just one example, we dismantled a scheme involving a sophisticated operation run from Russia and Eastern Europe that strategically bought dozens of medical supply companies in the United States and submitted more than $10 billion in fraudulent health care claims to Medicare.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BROWN: Well, the DOJ says 96 of those people charged were licensed medical professionals.

BLITZER: Awful.

Coming up: New satellite images reveal ongoing work at the Fordow nuclear site in Iran, as the United Nations nuclear watchdog now says Iran could start enriching uranium once again -- quote -- "in a matter of months."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:39:45]

BROWN: Happening now: The fate of Sean "Diddy" Combs is now in the hands of a jury. The music mogul is facing life behind bars and millions of dollars in asset seizures if he's convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking.

CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister is right outside that courthouse in New York.

[11:40:00]

What's happening right now Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Pam, this is a huge moment.

After seven weeks of testimony and arguments, the jury is about to begin deliberating. They have just departed the courtroom moments ago, the judge instructing them for nearly two hours. That alone tells you just how complex this case is.

In fact, the first charge, that racketeering charge, took the judge roughly an hour-and-a-half to read those jury instructions to these 12 individuals. So, again, nothing is black and white here. There's a lot of gray area.

We do anticipate that we will get a note from the jury shortly to notify the judge that they have selected their foreperson. Now, Combs, as you said, Pam, is facing life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges. In fact, that racketeering charge alone, the maximum is life in prison. There is no minimum.

He is also facing two sex trafficking charges, one pertaining to Cassie Ventura, another pertaining to the woman who testified anonymously under the pseudonym Jane. Each of those charges each carries a minimum of 15 years.

And then the final two charges, transportation to engage in prostitution, those have the lesser penalties, but still each of those charges carries a maximum of 10 years, so very serious for Sean Combs, one of the biggest and most powerful names in music, in business. And final point, Combs is in the courtroom this morning. As the jury was listening to those instructions, he was supported by his entire family. His mother was there, his six adult children. I observed the kids passing notes to one another, Combs looking very stoic, his hands clasped and actually looking down at the table for most of the time. He knows just how serious this is, moments away. It could be today. It could be this week.

We don't know, of course, but, again, one of the most powerful names in music, his fate now lies in the hands of 12 strangers, Pam.

BROWN: All right, Elizabeth Wagmeister, this is a crucial part of the process. Thank you.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:46:32]

BLITZER: Brand-new images just into CNN show work taking place at Iran's Fordow nuclear site. That's one of the sites the U.S. struck with so-called bunker-buster bombs only nine days ago.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations saying in a new interview that his country rejects demands to abandon its uranium enrichment program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMIR SAEID IRAVANI, IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: The enrichment is our right, an inalienable right, and we want to implement this right. I think that enrichment will not -- never stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency is also saying he expects Iran could resume enriching uranium -- quote -- "within months."

Joining us now is Jamie Rubin. He served as an assistant secretary of state under President Clinton and now hosts a new podcast, "The Ex Files," his ex-wife CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour.

Jamie, thanks so much for joining us.

Based on everything we have seen, based on everything you're hearing and what you know, how long do you think it potentially could be before Iran begins enriching uranium again?

JAMIE RUBIN, FORMER U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, first of all, it's not knowable. That's the problem. It's only really with inspectors on the ground, with a diplomatic regime that employs inspectors that we can actually answer that question.

But I think we're talking about months, not years, for the potential for enrichment of uranium. Wolf, we have been talking about the Iranian nuclear program for more than 25 years, as you know, back when you were covering the Pentagon and the State Department and the White House in the Clinton administration.

What we have learned over these 25 plus years is, the most confidence we have that Iran will not go to a nuclear weapon comes when we have a diplomatic solution with inspectors on the ground. Military success is simply necessary maybe in certain cases, but it's not sufficient. We have to combine force with diplomacy.

And, unfortunately, the Israeli government and our government right now has not shown great skill in the diplomatic success department, although they have shown enormous skill, particularly the Israelis and the United States in this most recent raid, in the military sphere.

It's just not good enough if we want to be confident that Iran is not going to move to a nuclear weapon.

BLITZER: Jamie, as you know, the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says there needs to be clarification on how much enriched uranium is left after the U.S. strikes. What do you think it will take to convince the Iranians to let international inspectors back into those nuclear sites?

RUBIN: That's a very good question, and that's going to be the hardest thing, is to get these negotiations going again. There's two problems.

One is, Iran is claiming that the negotiations were used as a mask for military surprise, and there's some truth to that. Clearly, the Israelis and then the United States, less so, but the Israelis took advantage of the fact that there were going to be negotiations and the Iranians were perhaps letting their guard down, and then the military strikes began.

Then, President Trump said he was going to consider this over two weeks, and then within 24 hours the raids began. So, the Iranians will need to have confidence that a future discussion with either the IAEA or some intermediaries like the Europeans, who I expect to get involved, are not going to be again used as a mask for military operations.

[11:50:15]

That's why it doesn't make sense for Israel or, frankly, the United States to keep threatening to use force whenever they want to. If Iran feels like it's facing the use of military power on any given day or in any given week, it's going to be less likely to engage in the diplomacy that we need.

Everybody wants to stop Iran's nuclear program. The United States -- President Biden did, President Clinton did back then, and President Trump wants to. The American people want it. But in order to really have confidence, you have to get a diplomatic arrangement and you have to get the IAEA inspectors to begin returning to these sites.

I suspect what's going to happen is, there are going to be a number of weeks and months in which there's uncertainty, when a lot of these sites are going to be unblocked and equipment's going to be removed. And there are going to be months before we actually have a good accounting of where everything that we knew where it was before the military strikes. That's the hard part.

Inspections need to have a baseline, and then you need to monitor to make sure that baseline isn't expanded. And those things require careful inspection and the hard work of the IAEA inspectors. Until they get back in there, we're really not going to know the reality.

BLITZER: Right now, as you know, the U.S. doesn't have direct, direct diplomatic relations with Iran. What are the chances of any kind of diplomatic breakthrough following these attacks by both the U.S. and Israel?

RUBIN: I do think we're going to return to diplomacy. The Iranians have seemed, to me, gone out of their way to avoid escalatory responses to the military attacks. Their response to the United States' attack was rather minimal. They clearly want to get back to diplomacy, but they need to do it on their own time frame and their own time scale and with their own dignity.

I mean, look, Iran is our adversary. It's the adversary of Israel, but it's also the adversary of the United States. They chant "Death to America." But even with an adversary, you have to have a diplomatic engagement. We did it with the Soviet Union. We had arms control agreements when they were our adversary.

And to do that, you need to have a dignified diplomatic approach. I suspect that we're going to get -- take advantage of European diplomats, like the British foreign minister, who had a good discussion with President Trump, before returning to Europe and talking to the Iranians.

We're going to need somebody like that, maybe the French government, to play a role in convincing the Iranians to come back to the table and convincing the United States and Israel to not threaten every day the use of military power, because, when we do that, we make the chance of diplomacy beginning far less likely.

BLITZER: And very quickly, what are the chances of the U.S. potentially resuming diplomatic relations with Iran?

RUBIN: Well, this is a very important question. President Trump has this unusual policy where he sort of enjoys engaging with our adversaries. He did it with the North Korean leader. He's clearly enjoying his back-and-forth with the supreme leader, the so-called supreme leader, Khamenei, in Iran.

Whether that turns into what we would normally call diplomatic relations, I think not, because this country is still our adversary. They still fund groups that are terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas. And I don't think we should mix arms control negotiations and confuse people by thinking that that's going to lead to peace and harmony between us. Iran and the United States are not going to have a good relationship

until that regime really changes. But that doesn't mean we can't have diplomatic discussions that lead to a proper arms control agreement. That should be our goal, not Nixon goes to China or some grand opening to Iran.

That was the mistake the Obama administration made...

BLITZER: Right.

RUBIN: ... by presenting its agreement as part of a grand opening of relations, which is not something that is justified by Iran's current behavior in the region.

BLITZER: Jamie Rubin, thanks very much for your expertise -- Pamela.

RUBIN: Thank you, Wolf.

BROWN: And, Wolf, we are following breaking news about the two firefighters who were shot and killed Sunday while responding to a fire in Idaho.

CNN's Veronica Miracle joins us.

You have some new information about the shooter, right?

VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Pam.

We now know that the shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley. That's according to a law enforcement source who spoke to our CNN's Mark Morales. Now, beyond that information, beyond his age and his name, we don't know exactly what his motivations were. That is still under investigation, but investigators say that he started a fire intentionally and lured firefighters in and began shooting at them.

[11:55:00]

He was blended into the mountains, so they didn't know if there were multiple shooters or if there was a single shooter. They were taking bullets from multiple angles. It was very chaotic. And for about 90 minutes, they engaged in a shoot-out with Roley, according to investigators.

Eventually, a cell phone signal pinged to his body next to a weapon. They don't know at this point if it was self-inflicted or how he died. That is still under investigation -- Pam.

BROWN: Yes, 20 years old, gosh, horrible.

Veronica Miracle, thank you so much.

BLITZER: And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning. You can always keep up with us on social media @WolfBlitzer and @PamelaBrownCNN.

We will be back here tomorrow, tomorrow morning, every weekday morning, 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

BROWN: "INSIDE POLITICS" with Kasie Hunt is next right after a short break.