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The Situation Room

Former Virginia School Administrator on Trial; NTSB Investigates UPS Plane Crash; Trump Administration Targeting Cuba?. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired May 20, 2026 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN HOST: Happening now, breaking news: Ebola emergency, the global scramble to keep a rapidly growing outbreak in Central Africa from spreading further.

And a major disaster investigation. The NTSB is still trying to figure out how an engine separated from a UPS cargo plane, leading to this just awful fiery crash. The new details we're learning.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Jim Sciutto. Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown are on assignment. You are in THE SITUATION ROOM.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

SCIUTTO: We begin with what is expected to be a major new escalation in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Cuba.

Just hours from now, the Justice Department is set to unveil an indictment against the island's former authoritarian leader Raul Castro. Sources tell CNN that criminal charges against the 94-year- old, who wields immense power as the brother of the late Fidel Castro, stem from a deadly 1996 incident when the Cuban air force shot down two civilian planes that belonged to a Cuban American activist group.

Four people, including three Americans, were killed in that attack, marking one of the most politically charged events between the two nations.

Let's go live now to CNN's Patrick Oppmann in Havana.

Patrick, I -- Patrick, just how significant is this for Cuba here? Because I'm sure they are looking to Venezuela and wondering what might be next there.

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: And that's what officials tell you here, is that they feel they are following the same script with Venezuela, and that negotiations haven't advanced because there really isn't any good faith.

And so, when the U.S. has come, as they have over the recent weeks, whether it's been State Department officials or the director of the CIA, and they have said we can do this the easy way or the hard way, essentially, you can make significant concessions, open up your economy, your political system, kick out listening posts that we accuse you of having.

The Chinese and the Russians have set up. Cuba looks at it and says, we really think this is going to end the same way however we do this, which is with military action.

And, certainly, I have talked to Cuban officials over the last several weeks, and the possibility of Raul Castro being indicted is nothing new. It's been kicked around over the years by various administrations. But for the Trump administration to now do this, it's something that Cuban officials have responded to me by saying that they would lay down their lives for Raul Castro.

This is not an official that is going to be turned over. This is someone that is the living connection they have with Fidel Castro, with the revolution. He's really the last of that line that brought in the communist form of government here.

But he's also someone who remains incredibly powerful. He's still running the military, is what we understand. He is still very involved with decisions being made in respect to U.S.-Cuban negotiations. So, this may essentially end any talks that were taking place between Washington and Havana, because it's just a deal-breaker on the part of the Cubans that Raul Castro would ever have to face trial in a Miami courtroom, of all places.

And so, certainly, his security is likely going to become much more stringent. The Cuban government is preparing the population for the eventuality of some sort of military attack or invasion. They're every day taking more steps to get the population ready if -- you know, they call it a war of the entire people, that somehow they would hand out rifles and tell people to fight to the death if there is some sort of invasion taking place here, which Cuban officials have warned would be a bloodbath.

So that is certainly the way they see this developing that is not going to lead to some sort of pressure forcing concessions.

SCIUTTO: Right.

OPPMANN: They feel that this is going towards some sort of military action.

SCIUTTO: Well, it would be interesting to see if the people, the Cuban people, answer that call to fight to the death.

Patrick Oppmann in Havana.

Joining us now to discuss, CNN global affairs commentator, former deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, and CNN legal analyst, former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams.

[11:05:05] Elliot, first, I want to start on the legal issue, if I can here.

ELLIOT WILLIAMS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes.

SCIUTTO: Is this indictment, based on what you know...

WILLIAMS: Yes.

SCIUTTO: And, to Patrick's point, other administrations have thought about this.

WILLIAMS: Sure.

SCIUTTO: Is it legally sound?

WILLIAMS: Yes. Assuming it is for the homicide, just the plane bombing, then, yes, it is, for a couple of reasons.

Number one, there's no statute of limitations on homicide. So, even something that happened in 1996 could still be prosecuted today. Number two, it happens in international waters, which, again, because of the death of an American in international waters at the hands of someone else, that would give jurisdiction in the United States to prosecute it.

Now, there's a whole other issue of, do you have good evidence here to move forward with? And you're talking about the kinds of things that Patrick talked about, witnesses that are three decades' old...

SCIUTTO: Yes.

WILLIAMS: ... from the time it happened who would -- quote, unquote -- "lay down their lives" for this person.

(CROSSTALK)

SCIUTTO: Or aren't around anymore.

WILLIAMS: Aren't around -- right, aren't around anymore.

(CROSSTALK)

WILLIAMS: And also, number two, the big piece of evidence is a recording that is three decades' old ostensibly of his voice. That's for prosecutors to deal with. But, on its face, you can indict here.

SCIUTTO: Sabrina...

SABRINA SINGH, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Yes.

SCIUTTO: ... given what Patrick said here, that this would be a deal- breaker for the regime -- so, if it was intended as a pressure tactic to say, hey, give us some ground in negotiations, he's saying they're not going to talk if Raul Castro is indicted.

So, do you see this as step one -- or the next step, rather, in a Venezuela model for Cuba?

SINGH: I think this administration is edging closer towards that Venezuela model.

I think they are laying the groundwork and making the legal case this time to the American public on why they might need to take military action in Cuba if -- when and if this indictment is released later today.

I think what this administration wants to do is see what the president would say is like an easy win in Cuba. I don't think it's going to be exactly what he thinks it is. It's not necessarily every operation is going to follow the Venezuela model. But if they can do a targeted strike or an extraction, that could be perceived as a win for this administration, who's sort of trying to change the narrative around Iran right now.

SCIUTTO: Right.

SINGH: And I think that looms over any action in Cuba.

SCIUTTO: But this phrase targeted attack, you know, by whose definition?

SINGH: Yes.

SCIUTTO: Because the president, I -- it seems, imagined something like the 12-day war in this current war.

SINGH: Right.

SCIUTTO: And it's dragging on.

I mean, should we believe when Patrick Oppmann says -- you know, the Cuban leaders can say all they want about the people rising up, but would we expect reasonably them to shoot at American forces if they were to come in, that this would be an insurgency?

SINGH: I mean, I think you should expect that there would be some type of response from Cuban forces. I mean, it remains to be seen what -- how people would be mobilized on the ground.

I mean, people are starving there right now. They don't have access to fuel. So I think it's hard to kind of assess the dynamics. But I think what this administration wants to see is maybe some type of regime change. And even though they saw that in Venezuela, it's not regime change. It's just an extension.

And, as we know, with Delcy, the same people are still in power.

SCIUTTO: Right, and with no announcement at all or plan for elections there, which have been discussed.

SINGH: Right.

SCIUTTO: I want to ask you just, Elliot, in terms of the precedent here, I mean, the U.S. is essentially positing the idea, right...

WILLIAMS: Yes.

SCIUTTO: ... that it can conceivably indict any foreign leader it doesn't like...

WILLIAMS: Yes.

SCIUTTO: ... and kind of file -- either use that as a legal path to extract them via military operation like Maduro or as a pressure tactic or maybe do the same in Cuba.

I mean, what does that...

WILLIAMS: Right. And...

SCIUTTO: What precedent is that?

WILLIAMS: Well, I think the precedent is that they have gotten themselves a little bit ahead of their skis here.

Because of how much the president and Marco Rubio have talked about the need for regime change in Cuba, they have, in effect, said that -- or suggested that any indictment is going to be based on pretext, right?

So, once this defendant goes into court, he will say they are not prosecuting me for a crime I committed. They're using my prosecution for a military -- to provide a basis for military action. That could be a ground for getting the indictment tossed out. Now, a judge may not buy that argument.

But I think it's a fair thing to say, if you have got the president of the United States out there repeatedly saying that this is about regime change, oh, and, by the way, we're arresting somebody on account of it and charging about them with a crime...

SCIUTTO: Yes.

WILLIAMS: ... you can really have -- have a basis for saying the crime is not -- that the prosecution is not valid.

SCIUTTO: Sabrina, is there a putative agreement that could be reached between the U.S. and Cuba that would satisfy both sides? I mean, it sounds like there are a lot of red lines here, right?

SINGH: Yes, and, I mean, the U.S. has basically installed a blockade of fuel going into the island. I mean, they did allow that one Russian cargo vessel to go in with some fuel.

But, for the most part, I mean, I think what the U.S. is doing, this administration, is trying to bring Cuba further to its knees when it comes to economic pressure. Now, this indictment today is just another lever with that. We also saw the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, go just a few weeks ago.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

SINGH: So, they are applying all the pressure.

I think, because they're applying all the pressure, they are laying the groundwork for some type of military action. And I think this president has shown that he's willing to take that action and take the risk...

SCIUTTO: Yes.

SINGH: ... because it yields results like Maduro in Venezuela.

SCIUTTO: We might want to watch the movement of U.S. aircraft carriers again. Where they go, military action tends to follow.

SINGH: Well, they're close enough from Florida that they don't necessarily need a large carrier there.

SCIUTTO: That's true.

SINGH: But, yes, good point.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

[11:10:00]

Elliot, Sabrina, thanks so much.

Coming up: It has been six months now since a UPS plane lost an engine during takeoff in Kentucky -- this is the video there -- causing just a fiery crash that killed or injured dozens. Officials, federal officials, are now bringing together experts and witnesses to figure out exactly how this happened.

And later: an American surgeon now among the hundreds of people infected with Ebola, as an outbreak in Central Africa grows. What we know about mounting international efforts to contain the deadly virus.

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[11:15:15]

SCIUTTO: Breaking news.

This is just moments ago, President Trump arriving in New London, Connecticut. He is now on his way to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, will -- where he will deliver the commencement address. We will be monitoring.

Happening now, day two of a National Transportation Safety Board meeting to investigate what led to a deadly UPS plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, last fall. On Tuesday. Officials released this just incredible and sad, frankly, new video showing the moment one of the plane's engines separated from its wing during takeoff. And then, of course, later, the fire followed.

CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean joins us now in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Have they zeroed in on the cause of this?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: They have really pinpointed the cause here.

But now this is all about bringing to light facts under oath. An investigative hearing like this is reserved only for major air disasters. And the biggest question from investigators, could structural problems with the Boeing MD-11 have been caught earlier?

For the first time, the NTSB showed the sobering surveillance video of the key moment that led to the crash. It shows the left engine separating from the airplane, then flipping up and over the wing. The NTSB says that was caused by the failure of one of the engine mounts.

We're talking about a spherical bearing, a piece of hardware back here on the engine pylon just above the left engine. It's what adheres the engine to the left wing here. The NTSB released new images of that hardware split in two. The ring-shaped part in question is known as a bearing race.

And in a new timeline, the NTSB now says there were nine reports of bearing race problems before this crash. Boeing analyzed some of the cases. But, in 2011, they issued a safety letter. And Boeing said the problems did not pose a safety issue. Investigators also now say there's no record that the FAA disagreed with that assessment.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy addressed the family members in the audience today and says that they will propose major safety recommendations. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER HOMENDY, CHAIR, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD: Those recommendations are aimed -- they're comprehensive, they're extensive, and they're aimed at preventing another tragedy.

And if they're not implemented -- and this is what I want to highlight -- if they are not taken seriously, if they are not implemented, we will be here again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: After the crash, MD-11s were grounded in the United States.

The NTSB says inspections during that grounding revealed bearing race problems on three more UPS MD-11s. UPS has since retired its MD-11s, though FedEx is flying them again. UPS insists, though, it was kept in the dark about problems on other MD-11s. One company official said on Tuesday, had we known more, we could have done more.

This two-day hearing is focused on bringing facts to light for a final report not due out for another six months or so, Jim.

SCIUTTO: And just disturbing results. Pete Muntean, thanks so much.

Coming up: a former Virginia school administrator now standing trial after one of her students shot a teacher. Prosecutors say she ignored warnings about the 6-year-old boy. How her defense is now trying to flip that argument and blame someone else.

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[11:23:16]

SCIUTTO: Happening now: more emotional testimony expected in the trial of Ebony Parker, the former Virginia school official charged with ignoring warning signs before one of her students brought a gun to school and shot his teacher.

A teacher survived the shooting that took place three years ago now and was one of the first witnesses to take the stand on Tuesday. Parker, who was assistant principal at the time, is charged with eight counts of felony child abuse and disregard for life, one count for each bullet loaded in the gun that the 6-year-old brought to school.

During opening statements, prosecutors argued that Parker took no action, despite getting multiple warnings from teachers about the child. Her defense is trying to turn the blame onto the students' teachers.

CNN's Brian Todd is following the case closely for us.

Brian, in the pantheon of cases of gun violence, this is one of the most shocking...

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, yes.

SCIUTTO: ... a 6-year-old bringing a gun to school and shooting his teacher, a 6-year-old.

So, tell me how the defense is trying to turn the blame here.

TODD: It's an extraordinary turn of events, Jim.

In the first day in earnest of this case yesterday, the defense did try to flip this case on its ear and may have done so, actually. The defense attorney, Curtis Rogers, has basically turned the tide by blaming the teacher who was shot, Abigail Zwerner, and another teacher, reading specialist, Amy Kovac, basically saying they were the ones who failed to take proper action and could have done things to mitigate the situation before the shooting occurred.

Rogers saying that both Abigail Zwerner and the reading specialist, Amy Kovac, had their suspicions that the boy had a gun that day in school, but they did not separate the boy, who they are calling J.T. in this case, from the other students.

Here is an exchange from yesterday between defense attorney Curtis Rogers and Abby Zwerner on the stand. [11:25:08]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CURTIS ROGERS, ATTORNEY FOR EBONY PARKER: OK.

OK, so, if he was armed, that presented a danger to your students. Is that correct?

ABIGAIL ZWERNER, VICTIM: Yes.

ROGERS: OK.

So you took no action to separate J.T. from his other classmates. Is that correct?

ZWERNER: Yes.

ROGERS: All right. All right.

And so you allowed him to go out to recess with the understanding that he may have had a gun. Is that correct?

ZWERNER: Yes.

ROGERS: You could have refused to let him go to recess. You could have removed him from the presence of his other classmates. Is that correct?

ZWERNER: In hindsight, yes, I could have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: But Abigail Zwerner and Amy Kovac did argue in court that only the administrator, Ebony Parker, had the stronger authority to take stronger measures, like physically searching the boy that day, and that she did not do that.

Ebony Parker has pleaded not guilty to the charges that Jim mentioned, eight counts of felony child abuse and disregard for life, one count for each bullet that was in the child's gun, basically, Parker accused of ignoring multiple warnings from teachers that the child may have had a gun in school that day.

One key witness who could be coming up as early as today, Susan White, a former teacher at Richneck Elementary School. The previous school year, a year before the shooting took place, that same boy attempted to strangle Susan White in her class as a 5-year-old kindergartner.

She was -- she -- her testimony -- the defense tried to keep her testimony out of this case. The judge overruled them. She could be testifying today, possibly tomorrow, Jim. That will be very dramatic. Prosecutors say that Ebony Parker, the administrator, was aware of that incident as well when he allegedly at least attempted to strangle his kindergarten teacher.

SCIUTTO: Good lord, I mean, it just looks like a multisystem failure.

(CROSSTALK)

SCIUTTO: Brian Todd, thanks so much.

TODD: Yes.

SCIUTTO: Coming up: An Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is now spreading. It's killed more than 130 people, infected hundreds of others. Now the U.S. is sending a shipment of an experimental treatment overseas for Americans who may have been exposed.

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