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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Federal Prosecutors Are Working To Bring Charges Against Suspected Buffalo Attack Gunman; Shooting Survivor's Mother: "His Recovery Has Been A Miracle"; Finland And Sweden Edge Closer To Joining NATO, Putin Warns Military Expansion Will Cause A "Response." Aired 9-10p ET
Aired May 16, 2022 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[21:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: 10 people were murdered, in Buffalo, over the weekend, in a live-streamed racist massacre, at a supermarket.
The killer took the life of a dad, who was there to pick up a birthday cake, for his 3-year-old son. A beloved teacher was killed. A taxi driver, never mind giving a free ride, to someone, in need. Just to mention a few.
And Celestine Chaney, grandmother of six, a survivor of breast cancer, and brain aneurysms, a fighter, and someone who lived, to spread joy and love.
Joining us now, is her son, Wayne Jones, and the extended family.
Wayne, I'm so sorry for your loss. And I'm sorry, we're talking under these circumstances. Could you just tell us a little bit about your mom? What was she like?
WAYNE JONES, SON OF BUFFALO MASS SHOOTING VICTIM CELESTINE CHANEY: She was a beautiful person, outgoing, life of the party, you know? Strong woman, she raised a single son by herself, you know?
COOPER: And--
JONES: She was a beautiful person.
COOPER: And she must have loved her grandchildren!
JONES: She definitely loved her grandchildren.
COOPER: How many grandkids does she have?
JONES: Six.
COOPER: Wow!
JONES: And one grand great - one great gran.
COOPER: Wow! That's amazing!
And I know your family has said that she just would like to spread joy, wherever she went?
JONES: Yes, that was her. She was the life of the party, happy person.
COOPER: I mean, for, you know, she's a survivor of brain - of breast cancer. Two brain aneurysms. She sounds like an--
JONES: Three brain aneurysms.
COOPER: Three? Wow! How are you - how are you dealing with all this?
JONES: Day by day.
COOPER: Yes. I understand that your mom was at the store, with your aunt that she wanted to get some strawberries, to make a shortcake. How did you get the news, about what happened, on Saturday?
JONES: My aunt called me. And she's like, "Hey, man, we're just on Jefferson, at the Tops. There was a shooting. And I can't find your mother. Did she call you?" Because she - I guess, she thought they got split up.
And I'm like, "No, she didn't call me."
So, she said, "Well, you need to come down here right now. And - so we can figure this out."
So, I've got up, and went down to the Tops, to see what was going on. And when I got down there, it was cops everywhere. People everywhere. And we still couldn't find my mom.
So, at the time, they brought up like the last of the people in the building. And we still didn't find my mom. So, I'm like, night - we thought she was in the hospital. But we soon found out that wasn't the case.
COOPER: And I understand your aunt survived, after they got separated. She survived by hiding in a freezer. How is she doing now?
JONES: She's doing - I mean, she's doing OK. But that's her - that was her baby sister. So, she's still fighting with the fact that she made it, and her baby sister didn't.
COOPER: Yes. And I know your mom recently celebrated her 65th birthday. When was that?
JONES: May 6th.
COOPER: Oh my goodness!
What - when you, I mean, given what all that happened, on Saturday, what - how do you - how do you view it? What needs to change? I mean, what - this is - it's just - it's just sickening, and unacceptable. JONES: Yes. People need to change, you know? Like, the rhetoric was so high, on both sides. Even though this is not a political event. But, from the political arena, like everybody hate everybody. And don't - nobody really know each other. They just hate because of what they hear and see.
[21:05:00]
So like, even him going down there and shooting, six grandmas of seven? It was all older Black women, like what jobs did them women, take from you, for you to say that you're doing it because the Blacks are taking over, or whatever. Them grandmas, they were retired. Most of them people retired that he went down there, and murdered.
COOPER: Wayne, I'm so sorry for your loss. And those words sound so small, in the face of the greatness of your loss, and you and your family's loss. And just, I appreciate you spending some time with us, and letting us know about your mom. And again, our condolences.
JONES: Thank you for wanting to know about my mom.
COOPER: Yes. She sounds like an amazing, amazing woman! Appreciate your time. You take care.
JONES: Thanks. You too.
COOPER: We are also learning more about the gunman, whose name we're not saying tonight, or any night because, frankly, he doesn't deserve any more attention. Authorities had a lot to say today, almost all of it horrifying.
CNN's Omar Jimenez reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New details show the alleged gunman meticulously planned the attack, months in advance. Investigators saying, he's believed to have scouted the store, in early March, and prepared for a gunfight.
COMMISSIONER JOSEPH GRAMAGLIA, BUFFALO POLICE: Because of the body armor that he had on, he could have easily have retreated back into that store, where there were dozens of other customers, in that store, fleeing for their lives, which could have then turned that into another barricade, and further slaughter.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): Investigators, piecing together, the sequence of events, on what authorities say was a racially-motivated attack. The Erie County District Attorney tells CNN, the suspect seemingly planned on killing more Black people, if he could.
JOHN FLYNN, ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: It appears that way. Again, we need to drill down further.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): Federal investigators, drilling down further, going to the home, where the 18-year-old suspect, lived with his parents, as well as the gun store, where the suspect purchased the Bushmaster assault rifle.
They're also looking into his planning, ahead of the attack, including illegally modifying his gun, to carry 30-round magazines.
FLYNN: We are going to look into everything that this young man was doing and thinking.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): Including analyzing the alleged shooter's past, how last year, police paid him a visit, after he did a high school project, on murder suicides, according to the Erie County Sheriff.
And analyzing his state of mind. Just before heading to the market, he's believed to have written, and posted, a 180-page statement, proudly, labeling himself a white supremacist, and outlining the attack.
The Buffalo Police commissioner says he live-streamed the horrific attack that has scarred this community. Still grieving, over the lives of 10 of their own, gunned down, in a matter of minutes.
Ruth Whitfield was 86-years-old, and on her way back, from visiting her husband, in his nursing home, when she stopped for groceries. Her son called and called. No one ever answered.
JIMENEZ (on camera): You're looking for her. You find out. You go home. What's going through your head?
GARNELL WHITFIELD JR., SON OF RUTH WHITFIELD: I'm angry and hurt. She was a beautiful person. We're still - we're still in the midst of this thing.
One of the things that we, as a family, wanted to ensure is that we call it what it is. It is white supremacy. It is hate. It is racism. It is bigotry. And we got to call it what it is, and stop beating around the bush, and take it head on, because it's proliferating. It's not getting better.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Omar Jimenez joins us now, from Buffalo.
What else you're learning about this alleged gunman's visit to Buffalo?
JIMENEZ: Well, Anderson, for starters, Buffalo's Police Chief says the suspect was basically doing recon, prior to this particular shooting, seen in the area, or at least known to be in the area, as recently as this past Friday, and as early as months ago, back in March.
Now, earlier today, FBI Director Christopher Wray says based on what they know, at this point, they believe this to be a targeted hate crime attack, and an act of extreme racial - or racial extremism, excuse me.
But, at this point, they do not believe there are - we are not going to see federal charges, at this point. Prosecutors are working towards that. They're expecting to get to that point, at some point, later in the week.
Guns found at the scene, and photographed, show the words "White Lives Matter," written on them, along with names of victims associated with Black on White crimes.
And again, that is all part of that federal investigation, into potential charges, as well. That would come on top of the state charge, he already faces, which is first degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to that, over the weekend. But he is due back, in court, on Thursday.
And lastly, President Biden, is expected to be here, visiting, with victims' families, tomorrow, Anderson.
COOPER: Yes. Omar Jimenez, appreciate it. Thank you.
Joining us now, the Mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown.
Mr. Mayor, I appreciate you joining us. How are you, and the community, doing tonight?
[21:10:00]
MAYOR BYRON BROWN, (D) BUFFALO, NEW YORK: It's been a hard two days, a very painful period, in the City of Buffalo. Lot of people grieving, a lot of people, angry.
We are a strong community. We're wrapping our arms around the families that lost precious loved ones. We are lifting and holding each other up, and working to get through this very, very dark and difficult period, in the history of our city.
COOPER: I understand, you knew one of the people killed, the security guard, heroic security guard, Aaron Salter, former Buffalo Police Lieutenant. I understand, you knew his family.
What do you want people to remember about him? And how is his family doing tonight?
BROWN: Actually, I knew three of the people, killed.
Knew Officer Salter Psalter, very well. Probably knew him for over 15 years, knew his parents. Good man, a hard-worker, cared about the community, someone that believed in protecting and serving the community.
Even after retiring, from the Buffalo Police Department, went to work at Tops supermarket, as a security officer, continuing to protect and serve the community. And if not, for his heroic actions, engaging the shooter, and exchanging fire, with the shooter, there potentially could have been more people, killed, inside the Tops supermarket, on Saturday.
Ruth Whitfield, the mother of retired Buffalo Fire Commissioner, Garnell Whitfield, wonderful woman, met her many times. Heard the Fire Commissioner talk glowingly, and reverently, about his mother, over the years, what a special person she was. Married to her husband for about 68 years.
COOPER: Wow!
BROWN: He has been sick, for about eight of those years. And every single day, seven days a week, she went to see him, in the nursing home, taking care of him, as his primary caregiver. She is a tremendous loss, to her family, and to our entire community.
And Kat Massey, a member of the Buffalo branch of the NAACP, a block club member, an active community member. Any community meeting in the City of Buffalo, talking about bettering this community, and what could be done, to improve and uplift the community, Kat Massey was there.
COOPER: Wow!
BROWN: She was a constant presence, in this community. She will be terribly missed.
COOPER: I mean, the ripple effects, of this, the lives lost, the families that are forever changed, and the community impacts of this? I mean, it is impossible to calculate.
BROWN: Absolutely impossible to calculate the ripple effects. The loss of these 10 precious lives, is just absolutely still hard to process, hard to believe. Before this occurred, the thought of something like this happening, in Buffalo, the City of Good Neighbors, a warm and welcoming community, was almost unimaginable.
COOPER: Law enforcement officials had said, they've been hearing, about other threats, since Saturday's mass shooting. A man has been arrested in connection to that.
Do the people of Buffalo, specifically, people in the Black community, need to be worried about a potential copycat, at this point?
BROWN: Law enforcement at every level, federal, state, Buffalo Police, Erie County Sheriff's Office, are on the highest alert. There was an arrest, yesterday, for threats. There was another arrest, tonight.
So, this is something that's being watched very closely, by law enforcement. Lot of chatter, on social media. Lot of calls, prank calls, threatening messages. But they're all being taken seriously, all being watched very closely. And this is not the place, to try a copycat type of activity.
COOPER: You told CNN earlier that far-right public figures that promoted White Replacement Theory are complicit in these murders. Obviously, they will deny that. What does accountability look like, to you, in that regard?
[21:15:00]
BROWN: I think one way accountability looks is to ban that kind of hate speech, that kind of misinformation, on public airwaves, in social media, on the internet. It should not be allowed. False information, hateful information, attempts to indoctrinate people, in different forms of hate, and violence, on the internet, and on the airwaves, of this nation, should just absolutely be banned. It should not be tolerated. It should be denounced.
COOPER: Mayor Brown, I appreciate your time tonight. And I'm sorry, it's under these circumstances.
BROWN: Thank you very much, Anderson.
COOPER: Coming up next, a former top FBI official, on the challenges of preventing these mass killings, in a social media environment and political climate that many, including Mayor Brown, fear, encourages them.
Later, new developments in Ukraine, the end to a remarkable story of almost unimaginable bravery, against all odds. The 82-day siege at a steelmaking complex, in Mariupol. That, and growing Russian losses, elsewhere, and possible new members for NATO.
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, General Wesley Clark, joins us ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:20:00]
COOPER: We touched on this, earlier this evening that the alleged killer's weapons were covered in racist language, including the phrase "White Lives Matter," and the N-word.
We've spoken as well about the White Replacement Theory ideology that the killer apparently believed, and wrote about, in his rant, which he apparently plagiarized, portions of.
Want to get some perspective now, from someone, with long experience, dealing in extremism, and domestic terrorism, including the capture of Eric Rudolph, the Atlanta Centennial Park bomber. Joined by former FBI Assistant Director, Chris Swecker.
Chris, based on what we've seen, heard, so far, could this attack have somehow been prevented? I mean, there were certainly red flags. This person was known to police and mental health professionals.
CHRIS SWECKER, FORMER FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Yes, Anderson, most of these mass shooters are flashing red, especially the young ones, like this.
Where you look at Parkland, you look at here, these are young people, who are, at that age, where they're pretty vulnerable, to media influences, social networking influences, social media sites, et cetera.
And, in this case, he was indeed flashing red. He wrote about a murder suicide, when, in his senior year, in high school. And that got his - that got law enforcement's attention. He also showed up, in the last day of school, in a HAZMAT - full HAZMAT outfit.
He was acting bizarre, a year ago. Always had some sort of fascination with guns. He was evaluated, from a mental health standpoint. And apparently, they - whoever did the evaluation, didn't see a threat.
And that's in light of the fact that New York has a red flag law, in which you can - which is a great tool, for law enforcement. If they see someone, who presents a danger, they can go and get what's sort of the equivalent of a restraining order that will prevent them from getting weapons.
But somehow, he fell through the cracks. He got his hands on an AR-15, extended magazine, and went in, and did a most heinous act. And, I think, it was predictable. And it was preventable.
COOPER: Yes. I mean, there's a lot we don't know about his family and stuff.
From the early reports that we have, one of the guns found, in his car, was given to him, by his dad, for his birthday, recently, which I'm not sure why you would give a gun to somebody, who was put on a mental - who had some mental health issues, and was hospitalized, and interviewed, by police, previously.
But, in the last hour, we talked to extremists - a professor, who studies extremism, Kathleen Belew.
She ran this guy's diatribe, 180-page diatribe, through a plagiarism program. Said, found passages that were lifted directly from the one that the shooter in Christchurch, New Zealand, wrote, where 51 people were killed. And that one, he also live-streamed. And that's apparently where this guy got the idea, to live-stream, this attack.
The idea that they - one shooter kind of leads to another that a shooters take - these people take inspiration, what we see as a sickening crime, of 51 people killed, in New Zealand, this guy sees as something that he wants to repeat. I'm not sure how there's any way to stop that.
SWECKER: Yes. It's hard for us to see things through the eyes of a deeply-disturbed individual, like this. But, I think, there is a viral nature, to this, and other mass shootings, and other catastrophic events, like this.
The influence of prior events, social media coverage, regular media coverage, I think, tends to highlight the cause. In their perverted minds, they think they're doing something noble. They think they're doing something that makes their life count for something.
COOPER: Yes.
SWECKER: It's twisted. It's hard to get our minds around it. But we see it time and time again.
And that's why, we, I think, most of us, in law enforcement, would like to see the political dialog, toned down, and not demonize everyone, for not seeing things, the way you see them, and not instill fear in people.
Because those right-wing or left-wing, you name it, they have wing nuts, on both sides. And they're sitting there, seething, and waiting, and looking for someone to blame.
COOPER: Yes. What type of challenges, do law enforcement face? I mean, trying to track down, and stop someone, like this, before an attack, is that - obviously, I mean, there can be red flags. Police can get involved. But we live in a free country. You can't just hold somebody because they seem--
SWECKER: Right.
COOPER: --seem nuts.
SWECKER: The biggest challenge in domestic terrorism is the First Amendment. And I don't mean that the First Amendment is a bad thing. It's a good thing.
But law enforcement can't just creep around on the internet, looking for threats. They need tips from people. They don't crawl the internet, without some sort of predication, or some sort of pre- existing information that's been brought to their attention.
So, they're really relying on tips, and leads, from people, who know and observed the bizarre behavior of people, who are percolating, if you will. The things that they're posting, the things that they're saying, the things that they're writing.
[21:25:00]
I look at the parents. I look at the people that know this person, and many of the other shooters. The Parkland shooter sticks out as a very similar situation, here, where people, some people picked up the phone. Some people provided tips and leads.
So, it's the obligation of law enforcement, to follow up on it, aggressively. I think they just see too much of this, and they get complacent.
COOPER: Yes. Chris Swecker, I appreciate your time, tonight. Thank you.
SWECKER: Thank you.
COOPER: Coming up, the incredible story of one of the survivors, who was shot by the suspected gunman, outside the supermarket, shot up close, in the neck. I'll speak with his mom. He survived. I'll speak to his mom, about how.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: As we remember, the 10 people, who lost their lives, during the mass shooting, in Buffalo, we also have the terrifying stories, of those, who survived the attack. One of the wounded is Zaire Goodman. He was outside the supermarket, trying to help another person, with their shopping cart. His mother, Zeneta Everhart, joins me tonight.
Zeneta, first of all, how is your son doing? How are you doing?
ZENETA EVERHART, SON SURVIVED BUFFALO SHOOTING: Zaire is fine. And so, that's making me fine. He's actually - I'm pulling from his strength, at this moment.
[21:30:00]
His recovery has been a miracle. What happened to him has been a miracle. And his recovery has been great. He is not really taking any pain meds, so. And he says he's not really in pain. He's eating. And just being Zaire.
COOPER: It's incredible to - given what he has been through. Can you just take us through what - I know he told you everything about what happened. Just - can you just walk us through what happened to him?
EVERHART: He called me to tell me. He said, "Mom, get here now. Mom, get here now. I got shot."
And Zaire said, he was in - he was outside of the store, helping a woman. He was just - I think he said, with the cart, or her groceries, or something like that. An older woman, he said.
And he said, a corner - Zaire, he saw a man, get out of a blue car, with full army gear on. And his head was covered. His hair, head, face, everything was covered. And he saw his gun. And he pointed it at Zaire, and shot him.
COOPER: Gosh!
EVERHART: And then he--
COOPER: Do you know how far away he was?
EVERHART: I don't know how far away. But he - Zaire said, he was pretty close. He wasn't that far away.
COOPER: Gosh!
EVERHART: And then, he shot the older lady that Zaire was helping, right in front of him.
COOPER: Do you know if the older lady survived?
EVERHART: She did not!
COOPER: And your son, Zaire was shot, I understand, in the neck. Is that right?
EVERHART: Zaire was shot in his lower neck, like right here. And it went out his back, on the left side. COOPER: Oh my god! And I mean, it's incredible that he survived that!
EVERHART: Divinely orchestrated, right? Like, how does - how does a person walk away from that? How does a bullet miss your spine? How does it miss everything? How does - how does that happen?
COOPER: A few centimeters or a few inches in one direction, it could?
EVERHART: Yes. Or the other, any direction, and he could be paralyzed, or he wouldn't be here.
COOPER: Did they remove - the bullet passed all the way through him?
EVERHART: Well, it was - the doctor told me that it was one of those bullets that when it goes into you, it shatters, it explodes. So Zaire has been left with shrapnel inside of him that they said will probably eventually come out, out of his skin, at some point. But it would do more harm to do surgery to remove it.
COOPER: Wow!
EVERHART: So, they don't want to do that. Though Zaire, truly a miracle, has not had surgery. He didn't even get stitches.
COOPER: Is that right? Wow!
EVERHART: Yes.
COOPER: And he called you, from the parking lot, when he was on the ground?
EVERHART: Well, he said that - and then one of his co-workers helped him up. And they ran, across the street, away from the store. And then, he called me.
COOPER: I see. And he stayed on the phone with you, and you were on the phone, when EMTs came?
EVERHART: Yes, all the way till he got to the hospital.
COOPER: And now that you know the result of what happened, for the deaths of so many people, I mean, how do you see this? What do you think about what happened?
EVERHART: I'm disgusted. I'm angry. My son was at work, right? Like he's at work. He's doing his job. And this happened to him. 10 people are dead. 10 people, from my community, are dead, from the east side of Buffalo are dead. This, a terrorist, a terrorist, came into my home, which is my community.
COOPER: Zeneta, I'm so sorry, we're talking under these circumstances. But I'm so glad your son is alive.
EVERHART: He's protected. He's divinely protected. I believe that. I believe that the ancestors had his back, literally, that day. Yes, the universe shifted, for my baby, on that day. COOPER: Yes.
EVERHART: And I'm grateful - and I'm grateful for that.
COOPER: Yes.
EVERHART: Because 10 families can't say that today.
COOPER: Yes. Zeneta Everhart, I wish you the best continued strength.
EVERHART: Thank you, Anderson. I appreciate you.
[21:35:00]
COOPER: Well, coming up, the breaking news, out of Ukraine. The months-long siege of the steel plant, in Mariupol, is over. Hundreds left inside that site, of resistance, finally evacuated. How it all came to an end, after 82 days, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: There's more breaking news. Ukraine's military has declared an end to the 82-day long combat mission, at the Azovstal steel complex, in Mariupol, the hold of Russian forces, the site that's become a symbol of the resistance of this invasion.
The military says, the defenders of Mariupol have quote, fulfilled their order, distracted the enemy and are, quote, heroes of our time.
More than 260 additional people were said to have been evacuated, including 53 seriously wounded. Most of the city has fallen to the Russians. But Ukrainian forces are claiming major gains, on the battlefield elsewhere, in Ukraine.
And the United Kingdom estimates, the Russians may have already lost one-third of its combat forces, inside the country.
Vladimir Putin has so far failed to achieve many of his goals. And it looks like he's on his way to suffering one of his greatest setbacks yet, with NATO, about to expand, not break up, as he hopes.
He's lashing out at Finland and Sweden, today, over their new moves, to join the alliance, after decades of neutrality, warning it'll cause a response. But he's trying to play off, like it wouldn't be a threat to Russia.
[21:40:00]
I want to bring in former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, and CNN Military Analyst, General Wesley Clark.
So General Clark, Finland and Sweden announcing their intention to join NATO, how big a deal is that?
GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, CNN MILITARY ANALYST, SENIOR FELLOW, UCLA BURKLE CENTER: I think it's a great thing that they're joining.
Of course, they've worked closely with NATO, for years, as has Finland. And it was always a very close relationship. But they weren't actually members of the decision-making body. We did do joint military exercises, and so forth.
I think this does improve the security position of the three Baltic States, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania. Because they're right across the Baltic, from Finland and Sweden. And this gives NATO, the potential, in a time of crisis, have greater control over the Baltic Sea. So, it's a very positive move for NATO, militarily and politically.
COOPER: British military intelligence has said on Sunday that Russia has likely lost roughly one-third of the ground forces, it committed to the war, in Ukraine. I mean, we don't know. We can't verify that ourselves.
President Zelenskyy had said Russia has lost as many as 27,000 forces, inside Ukraine. If that is true, they've lost one-third. I mean, that's an astounding amount, isn't it, in so short a time?
CLARK: That's a really high level of loss. But the figures are like 20,000 - 25,000 killed, and maybe twice that many wounded. So you figure that's maybe 65,000, 75,000 that are casualties. So, some of those that are wounded will recover. But yes, that's a very high rate of loss, in a very short period of time.
COOPER: I mean, the Soviet forces, in Afghanistan, over the many years, of their involvement, there, lost a total of, I think, about 15,000 troops?
CLARK: Yes. That's correct. 15,000 dead.
COOPER: Yes.
CLARK: So, they've lost much more here than they did, killed, in Afghanistan.
COOPER: Yes, over the course of--
CLARK: Well these are on and off case (ph)--
COOPER: --many years?
CLARK: These are like World War II Eastern Front battle losses, where huge armies fought, and were surrounded, and in one encirclement, a million Russians were captured, and taken prisoner, early in the war, in 1941.
COOPER: It's just extraordinary!
CLARK: So, this is war - yes, its war on the industrial scale. It really is.
COOPER: Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister said that 260 people have been evacuated, from the steel plant. What do you make of - you know, this was so-called phase two of Russian - they took their troops, out from the Kyiv area, gave up on trying to take over Kyiv, were going to focus on the east. Now, it seems like they're basically removing troops, from Kharkiv, or being pushed back, and are now just focusing on the south?
CLARK: Well, I think, Putin wants whatever he can get. Secretary Austin pleaded with the Soviet, or Russian Minister of Defense, on Friday, to do a ceasefire, around Mariupol. And the Italian, German, the French, leaders have all talked to Putin. So, Putin is sort of gradually adjusting his objectives. But he wants the South.
Now, this is sort of a bittersweet moment, Anderson. Because these incredibly brave soldiers, in Mariupol, have done a fantastic job. And as long as they were there, Putin couldn't claim it.
Well, they're going to be gone. And if so, and he then lays claim, and says, "This as part of Russia now," then we have a different problem, in the negotiations, or in the ending of the conflict.
Ukraine doesn't want to cede any terrain, to Russia, and especially not this terrain, in the south that's on the Black Sea. And so, this would be really, really unpleasant.
If the whole conflict stopped right here, it'd be very difficult for Ukraine, after all those sacrifices, $600 trillion to $800 trillion dollars' worth of damage, thousands of war crimes, and then the world says, "OK, well, let's stop the fighting. And Russia is a big country. They've got oil. We have to get along with Russia"--
COOPER: Yes.
CLARK: --"Please, Ukraine! Get along with them." After people have killed your families, and slaughtered like that, boy, you're asking a lot for--
COOPER: Yes.
CLARK: --to pressure Ukraine. And the United States said we would never do it. And yet, our allied leaders are doing it.
COOPER: Yes.
CLARK: Well, this is a really big moment (ph) for Ukraine.
COOPER: Yes. And a lot of Ukrainians, who I've spoken to, say, "Well look, after Bucha, it's hard to make any deal, with giving them any territory, whatsoever."
CLARK: Sure.
COOPER: General Clark, I appreciate it.
CLARK: Yes.
COOPER: Thank you. To an exclusive, now. CNN's Sam Kiley just got to accompany Ukraine's most secretive force, as they embarked on one of their many missions, to root out traders. He was there, for the capture, of a suspected spy, for the Russians. And brings us this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): This is the former headquarters of the SBU. That's the secret police, effectively, of Ukraine. Now, it was hit, right at the beginning, of the war, with an airstrike.
[21:45:00]
Clearly, from the Russian perspective, this is an immediate necessity, to knock out the SBU's capacity, here, in Kramatorsk, because it is from this location that the counterintelligence operation would have been run.
"SERHIY": (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
KILEY (voice-over): "We've been working on him, for about four days. We have a complete picture of his actions," says Serhiy.
This is Ukraine's most secretive force, the equivalent of the FBI, and then some.
SERHIY: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
KILEY (voice-over): Serhiy says, "We have identified a person, who, according to our Intelligence, is committing a crime. Simply put, this as a person, who transmits, to the Russian side, the Russian military, information about the locations, of our units."
Their snatch team with orders to grab an alleged Russian spy.
SERHIY: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
KILEY (voice-over): The SBU says that spies feed a stream of information, on troop movements, and details of targets, to Russia's aircraft and artillery. In this region, the SBU says, it catches one or two agents run by Russia, every day.
And today's suspect is being watched.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He's ours. There he goes, having a smoke.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): All units, green pants, black sweatshirt, 1,000.
KILEY (voice-over): Special Forces sweep in. Resistance, pointless.
Two Ukrainians are asked to witness the interrogation. With our camera present, protocols are followed to the letter. He's told why he's arrested, for high treason, during martial law, and confesses on the spot, to spying.
He says that he was allegedly recruited online, gets orders via a messaging app, from someone called Nikolai (ph). The suspect says that he got about $10, for his alleged spying, which included the locations of Ukrainian military units, in the town.
According to an alleged exchange, between him, and his handler, the suspect was arrested mid-mission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I'll need your help for the same thing tomorrow.
Stay in touch. We'll need information on military housing.
More details in the morning.
Got it, got it.
Good day. You did a good job yesterday.
The same information is needed today.
Photos, videos, geo-data of the military on the CNIL.
How long does it take to get the information?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): And here I was talking.
Right there you went to get that information, didn't you?
"Got it, got it. I will text you back. One and a half to two hours."
That was today, wasn't it? At 11:29?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Approximately, I didn't watch the time.
KILEY (voice-over): There's no death penalty, for traitors, here. But as he's driven through these gates, he'll know that if tried and convicted, he could spend a lifetime behind bars. Serhiy's hometown is under constant Russian bombardment. So, for him, this is no small victory.
SERHIY (through translator): Russia is hitting us with missiles, rockets and air raids. These missiles hit the coordinates, which are transmitted, by these criminals. People die in these attacks, soldiers and civilians.
KILEY (voice-over): But, he adds, the more atrocities the Russians commit, the harder it's getting, for the Kremlin, to recruit local spies.
Sam Kiley, CNN, in Sloviansk.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, back home, more primary elections, are hours away, with contests, in battleground Pennsylvania, and major turns in the races, there. We have details ahead.
[21:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Five states, hold primary races, tomorrow. There's now some deep uncertainty, for Democrats, in Pennsylvania, hoping to flip, a crucial seat, in a 50/50 Senate. And also, some unexpected turns, in the Republican Senate primary, there.
CNN's Jeff Zeleny has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(APPLAUSE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A chaotic close, to the Pennsylvania Senate primary.
The leading Democratic candidate, John Fetterman, will spend Election Day, in the hospital, recovering from a stroke, he suffered, late last week that his campaign did not reveal, until Sunday, in this video, with his wife, by his side.
GISELE BARRETO FETTERMAN, WIFE OF PENNSYLVANIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOHN FETTERMAN: We had a little bump on the campaign trail.
LT. GOV. JOHN FETTERMAN, (D) PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE: Yes. It was on Friday. I just wasn't feeling very well. So, I decided, you know, I needed to get checked out. So, I went to the hospital.
BARRETO FETTERMAN: I made you get checked out.
FETTERMAN: Yes.
ZELENY (voice-over): On the eve of the primary, in one of the nation's most closely-watched Senate races, far more drama, and uncertainty, on the Republican side, where it's a three-way fight, to the finish.
A late grassroots surge, from Kathy Barnette, is threatening to upend a vicious months' long battle, between TV celebrity, Dr. Mehmet Oz and David McCormick, a former hedge fund executive and Army veteran. All three are trying to win over undecided voters.
KATHY BARNETTE, (R) PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE: I earnestly believe, 13 months ago, that if Pennsylvanians knew they had a better option, you will have the good sense to take it.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
ZELENY (voice-over): Donald Trump hangs heavy over the race, where his endorsement of Oz, has outraged many hardcore members of the MAGA movement, who are turning to Barnette. Her candidacy caught fire, with a compelling personal story, and repeated false claims that 2020 election was stolen.
BARNETTE: I don't think we have any more room, to just pick a warm body, with an "R" next to their name, and call that a win, for us.
ZELENY (voice-over): In a radio interview, today, Barnette would not commit, to supporting the GOP nominee, if she doesn't win.
ZELENY (on camera): Do you believe that's dangerous for the party? Given how important the seat is?
DAVID MCCORMICK, (R) PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE: Well, listen, I believe the stakes are so high, I think, we, as Republicans, have to win this seat. And so, I believe I'm going to win this primary. But if I weren't to win, then I would support whoever the candidate was that was selected by the voters.
(MUSIC)
[21:55:00]
ZELENY (voice-over): Republicans are not deciding whether to choose a candidate, in Trump's mold. That's been settled. But rather how Trumpian they hope their next senator will be.
DR. MEHMET OZ, (R) PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE: The 45th President of United States, Donald Trump, is actually going to call in.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's a loyal MAGA person. And again, I've known him for a long time. And he'll be your next senator. He's going to win it all.
ZELENY (voice-over): Oz has struggled to close the sale, with conservatives like Rich Hohenshilt.
RICH HOHENSHILT, PENNSYLVANIA VOTER: Donald Trump is not Jesus. He's capable of making a mistake. This stuff, I've seen about Oz, he doesn't come across to me as a conservative.
ZELENY (on camera): Even President Trump's endorsement is not enough to sway you?
HOHENSHILT: No, it's not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZELENY: And you could see, from the voter, we spoke to, right there. He was wearing a Kathy Barnette shirt and a Trump hat. So, he does plan to vote for Kathy Barnette.
But Anderson, new information, tonight, from our CNN KFILE colleagues. They unearthed a copy of a video that Kathy Barnette gave, the day, before the January 6 "Stop the Steal" rally.
She, in fact, led three busloads of people, to the Capitol, the very building, where she is trying to work, should she be elected senator. She called it the "1776 Moment."
Now, her spokespeople said, she did not go inside the Capitol that day. She did not participate in violence. But it just shows how close she was to that movement.
Ironically, the former President Donald Trump, speaking at that Mehmet Oz rally, tonight, he said she's not been vetted. She is not qualified, to win the general election. Anderson, that gets to the point here. Can the former President control his movement, or can he not? We'll find out, tomorrow.
COOPER: Yes. Jeff Zeleny, appreciate it. Thanks.
ZELENY: Anderson?
COOPER: More news, ahead. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: The news continues. Let's turn things over to Don and "DON LEMON TONIGHT."
