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The Situation Room

Elizabeth Holmes: From Pioneer to Prisoner; Police Search for Motive in Deadly Oregon School Shooting; Scammers Targeting Voters. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired October 16, 2026 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:00]

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): -- dropped out of Stanford, had echoes of Steve Jobs.

DR. GUPTA: The portrayal is, look, he was an icon for you, even dressed like him. You behaved like him to some extent. The secretive nature of how he was, the reality distortion fields of Steve Jobs, that charisma that got things done, even if people didn't fully understand it. Are those fair comparisons?

ELIZABETH HOLMES, THERANOS FOUNDER: I mean, I've always said I don't think there is a comparison to Steve Jobs. He was an amazing entrepreneur and an amazing part of the legacy of Silicon Valley. And, you know, I hope to have the privilege of being Elizabeth Holmes and building something around a vision and in a dream. That's my dream. And --

DR. GUPTA: I noticed you're not wearing the black turtleneck today.

HOLMES: We have to talk about the black turtleneck.

DR. GUPTA: A previous chapter.

HOLMES: You know, I was 19 when I started Theranos. I was a young woman in a world in which there aren't a lot of young women. And I didn't want how I looked or what I wore to be what people are paying attention to. And so, I dressed in a very conservative way for a very long time until it became all that everybody was talking about. And then when that became what people was talking about, I changed it because it was never about that.

DR. GUPTA: That's it. Can I hold it? So, this is my nanotainer blood. You know, to get all that out of a single finger prick.

DR. GUPTA (voice-over): For what it's worth, that blood test put my cholesterol at 170. My own doctor found it to be 169 just the week before. But things began to collapse outside this lab at retail sites using the technology. Studies found those results to be inaccurate. Holmes said she never intentionally deceived anyone.

DR. GUPTA: It's probably the most important question I think anybody who's watching has about this. Does it work?

HOLMES: Yes.

DR. GUPTA: You're confident in that?

HOLMES: I am confident in that.

DR. GUPTA: But after this interview, an indictment was filed against Holmes and Theranos' president, alleging that they had schemed to defraud investors and that they knew the analyzer had accuracy and reliability problems and only performed a limited number of tests. In 2022, both were found guilty.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison.

DR. GUPTA (voice-over): Even during our interview, there were signs of the trouble to come.

DR. GUPTA: There's this man who goes by the initials RC right now in Arizona who is suggesting that the lab results that he got from Theranos were not accurate, and it led to him having a heart attack. Based on what you know, is it possible that what he's saying is true?

HOLMES: I'm not the lab director. And so --

DR. GUPTA: I know, but you know, this weighs on you. You're the CEO and founder of the company. I mean, this is as serious as it gets.

HOLMES: What I know is that I've put the best people in place to be able to investigate every aspect of this and ensure that we meet the quality standards that we hold ourselves to. And I know they're doing that.

DR. GUPTA (voice-over): By 2014, Holmes was a billionaire on paper named one of the richest women in America by Forbes magazine. Most fascinating to me, though, the $945 million she raised, even though the investors seem to have no idea whether or not the technology worked.

DR. GUPTA: Were they confident that it worked? Did they know? Did they understand?

HOLMES: That's why they invested.

DR. GUPTA: People don't always invest because they know everything, they invest because they've been convinced somehow, they -- the force of one's personality, their charisma, their appeasement, all those terms. And I'm not sure that I frankly still understand all of it. Did people who are putting in tens of millions, hundreds of millions of dollars fully understand Theranos?

HOLMES: I think the best way to answer that, the reason they invested in the first place, right, these are sophisticated investors who chose to come into a startup company based on our intellectual property, based on our patent portfolio, based on our mission, based on the people who are here. They chose to come into something that was long- term, very intentionally. And that was a very explicit discussion about the nature of this and the magnitude of this.

DR. GUPTA: They're sort of hanging out in the window over here. Someone can take a peek in from outside and see what's going on.

HOLMES: Something about this opening up and transparency thing.

DR. GUPTA: Is this a metaphor for that? Put them right there in the open?

HOLMES: I -- unintentional, but yes.

DR. GUPTA (voice-over): A decade after our interview --

HOLMES: I wish I knew.

DR. GUPTA (voice-over): -- Holmes is back in the spotlight. A new documentary follows her last days of freedom.

HOLMES: I think this is the moment in time to capture this story before I'm gone.

DR. GUPTA (voice-over): Early glimpses show what appeared to be a fragile Holmes days before reporting to prison. I thought back to our interview and this question.

DR. GUPTA: You feel beaten up?

HOLMES: We've been beaten up. I don't let myself feel that way.

DR. GUPTA: You don't have any bruises or anything, but inside, I mean, do you feel beaten up?

HOLMES: I mean, I've been beaten up, right? I mean, it's been horrible.

DR. GUPTA: Has anything prepared you to be able to handle this sort of scrutiny, this sort of adversity?

[11:35:00]

HOLMES: I don't know if there's a way to be prepared for something like this. I mean, it's really hard and it's really painful. Either you let it tear you down or you use it to become better. And I'm trying to use it to become better. We're trying to use it to become better and to realize even more than why we started this in the first place. And this is a dream. This is a mission that has to be realized.

DR. GUPTA (voice-over): Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And our special thanks to Dr. Gupta for that report. And we'll be right back.

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[11:40:00]

BLITZER: Happening now, police are still trying to determine a motive in the deadly elementary school shooting in Bend, Oregon. Investigators say a 16-year-old shooter used a long gun to blast his way inside the Silver Rail Elementary School, killing three children, just five, eight and 11 years old. A teacher was also killed. Two more victims right now are still fighting to survive. Police were on the scene within minutes, but say a community member followed the gunman inside the school, shot and killed him before officers even arrived.

Joining us now is the former FBI Special Agent Ken Gray. Ken, thanks very much for joining us. The FBI director said the Bureau is assisting in the investigation, saying, and I'm quoting him now, "We will make every resource they need available," end quote. What does that coordination you think look like right now on the ground?

KEN GRAY, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Hi, Wolf. This is a new policy by the FBI, a relatively new policy by the FBI that whenever there is any type of event like this anywhere in the country, the FBI is going to provide manpower to assist in investigations and provide resources like the use of the lab or any type of other resources that the Bureau could facilitate.

So, if they have those resources available, they are partners with the local and state. And they will provide those resources.

BLITZER: When you look at the raw facts of this case in these very early hours, what are your biggest questions?

GRAY: So, interestingly enough, this shows how quick law enforcement can be on the scene, and yet that the event has already transpired. They get a call at 12:59 that there is a shooting at the school. A person in a car outside the school is the one that made that call as he was being shot at. And then he got out of the car and followed the shooter up to the school. And the shooter shot through the lock on the door and gained entrance to the school that way.

And so, the person, the father, I believe it was, followed the shooter into the school and stopped them from getting any further access into the school. Had this not happened, had the bystander not neutralized the shooter, this could have been a much more tragic event than it was. As bad as it is now, it could have been worse.

BLITZER: Because he had ammunition, he had bullets available. A 16- year-old cannot legally buy what's called a long gun in Oregon. Walk us through how investigators will find out where this gun came from and who, including the parents, potentially could be held responsible for letting it fall into a teenager's hands.

GRAY: So, like the FBI is providing assistance anytime there is a violent act that involves firearms, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will also be assisting. They can trace the weapon by the serial number on the weapon to see where it was first sold. Now, that does not necessarily show who currently possesses the weapon, because weapons get stolen, they get traded. And so, the serial number will take you to the first purchaser of that weapon. But ATF will be the one providing that investigative assistance.

BLITZER: I suspect we're going to be learning a lot more about this horrible situation in the coming days. Ken Gray, thank you very much for joining us.

GRAY: Thank you.

BLITZER: And coming up, voters, beware. This is important. Scammers right now are using phishing emails and phony campaign websites to get your financial information, sensitive information. What you should look out for. We have details when we come back.

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[11:45:00]

BLITZER: Happening now, a new cybersecurity threat just ahead of the midterm elections. A new report reveals a new phishing scam targeting voters' private data through fake campaign messages and merchandise sites.

CNN Senior Reporter Marshall Cohen is here with me in the Situation Room. He's got details. Marshall, how widespread are these scams and what should we all be looking out for?

MARSHALL COHEN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: You know, these are not necessarily the most high-tech scams, but they can still get you. Be on the lookout. This is a new report that came out yesterday from a group called Checkpoint. They are a security firm that keeps an eye on this stuff and is raising concerns just two weeks before the midterms about two big things going on.

First would be the spear phishing attempts, emails and text messages going out to voters, impersonating election offices claiming, hey, you got to check to see if you're registered. You got to sign up for your ballot. And when you click the link, it takes you to a page that is definitely not official. You may hand over your login credentials and other things. That is something to be on the lookout for. So, far, it's happened in at least three states, Washington State, Rhode Island and Connecticut, according to Checkpoint.

But this group also flagged an issue with fake websites selling merch for campaigns that have no affiliation with the campaigns. Look at these screenshots here. One of them is from what looks like the Talarico campaign. And this one is the Ken Paxton campaign. It says Team Paxton official shop. But, Wolf, it's not official. And neither is this one from James Talarico. That's his real logo on the top left corner.

[11:50:00]

But according to the analysis from Checkpoint, these websites have no affiliation with the campaigns. They are, in fact, affiliated with each other, which means there are groups out there making money cashing in on both sides of these campaigns. But if you think you might be donating to your preferred candidate, you're not.

By the way, of course, you can always reach out to your election officials. For the folks out there at home, if you have concerns about a text message or an email that you receive, it seems fishy or strange, reach out to your election office. You can Google your county or your city plus election office. Call them up. They are here to help. They are eager to help. All the election officials I talk to say they want to make sure everybody's vote gets counted correctly.

BLITZER: And if it sounds fishy, don't submit your sensitive information, social security number, date of birth, stuff like that, which could be used potentially to steal money and stuff like that.

COHEN: Absolutely.

BLITZER: All right. Thanks very much, Marshall Cohen. Appreciate it. Tomorrow, by the way, on the whole story with Anderson Cooper, CNN senior correspondent Donie O'Sullivan examines the cracks emerging in the MAGA movement, as some of President Trump's most loyal supporters have begun to question their allegiance. From the war in Iran to data centers, Donie has traveled the country to find out what's driving former Trump diehards to break with him and what it could mean potentially for the future of the Republican Party.

Let's go live right now to CNN Senior Correspondent Donie O'Sullivan for the details. Donie, tell us a little bit more about what Trump's supporters have been telling you.

DONIE, O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Wolf. This second presidency, this second term for President Trump really is putting the test of the loyalty of some of his most ardent supporters, really straining it. One issue that has really broken through where many in his base are not happy with how Trump has handled it is the Epstein files, anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein.

We spoke to one woman, Trisha Hope. She's from Texas. She was a -- was called a front-row Joe. She's went to dozens of Trump rallies, traveled all around the country going to Trump rallies, voted for the president three times, but last year broke with him in July 2025 when she heard his response. He was asked by a reporter about the Epstein files and when there would be more transparency around that, and he said, you might remember, are we still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? I can't believe that. We spoke to Trisha, and we were actually there when she met a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

O'SULLIVAN: Trisha, this is Dani.

DANL BENSKY, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Hi, nice to meet you.

TRISHA HOPE: It's very nice to meet you.

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Dani was a 17-year-old aspiring ballerina in New York City when she was sent to Jeffrey Epstein's townhouse as a masseuse. More than a year of sexual abuse followed. She's become an advocate for justice, even testifying before Congress.

BENSKY: Thank you so much for coming and being a part of this and taking the time to support. I'd love to hear --

HOPE: I'm so sorry. I'm just so sorry.

BENSKY: Can I hug you?

HOPE: So, sorry. I can't imagine. People who care. A lot of people who care. They may just be learning, but they care.

BENSKY: Thank you for saying that.

HOPE: It's true.

BENSKY: It means a lot.

HOPE: I was a Trump supporter for a long time, and, you know, I mean, a really hardcore Trump supporter, 42 rallies, and I am so sorry for any pain.

BENSKY: I'm so grateful that you took in that moment and were able to really see it for what it is.

HOPE: I am too. I am sorry we didn't see you.

BENSKY: Thank you.

HOPE: And I won't make that mistake again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'SULLIVAN: Yes. And, Wolf, as you see there, very emotional moments. Trisha really coming to terms with, you know, President Trump and a person she has supported for so many years. She now says she looks at everything the president says very differently.

That being said, she is still very much a conservative. She said she's planning on voting for Ken Paxton for governor in the Texas race down there. And she's also, you know, she wants to vote for a Republican in 2028 in the presidential election. Also, she does still believe election conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, which I think really just underscores just how sticky those types of misinformation and conspiracy theories are.

I should also mention, Wolf, that we speak to a lot of people who have broken with Trump in this hour, but there are still a lot, millions of Americans still in the very hardcore MAGA base remaining loyal to the president.

[11:55:00]

We speak to a lot of them as well. And all of those we ask about, whether it comes to the wars or the price of gas, they say, well, look, things are still a lot better under Trump than they would imagine it to be under Biden or Harris. BLITZER: Donie O'Sullivan, thanks very much for your report. And make sure this is to our viewers. Make sure to watch Donie's full report on the whole story with Anderson Cooper tomorrow, 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN and the next day on the CNN app. I'll be watching.

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'll see you back here Monday morning, every weekday morning, 10:00 a.m. Eastern for two hours, Inside Politics with our friend and colleague Dana Bash starts right after a quick break.

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