Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Paris Court Finds Ringleader, 7 Others Guilty in Kardashian Robbery; 5th Suspect Arrested for Allegedly Helping Escapees; Police Using Controversial Facial Recognition Tech in Manhunt; Kermit the Frog Inspires University of Maryland Graduates; 17 Injured, 4 Critically, in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Germany. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired May 23, 2025 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

KEILAR: Breaking news, the ringleader and seven others behind a 2016 hotel robbery of Kim Kardashian have been found guilty by a Paris court. Kardashian was tied up. She was held at gunpoint during that burglary, and she told the court that she thought she was going to die.

The robbers ultimately made off with millions in cash and jewels. Kardashian has reacted to the verdict, telling CNN, quote, the crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. She added, well, I'll never forget what happened. I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all -- Omar.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN HOST: Well, Brianna, we're also following news out of New Orleans, including new developments in that jailbreak there. Police just announced the arrest of a fifth person tied to the case, and authorities say the 30 year old woman admitted she helped transport two of the escapees after they got out. Now, so far, five inmates have been captured. Five others are still on the run. You can see some of them here.

We're also, though, learning more about a controversial technology the police are using to find the remaining escapees.

Joining us now is CNN tech writer Clare Duffy with more. So Clare, I mean, how -- what is this technology? How often are they using it?

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH WRITER: Yes, so, Omar, I'm told that this facial recognition technology was involved in locating two of those five inmates that have since been recaptured after that Friday jailbreak. And what's interesting about this is that this facial recognition technology isn't actually operated by local law enforcement.

It is run by a nonprofit called Project NOLA. Project NOLA has 5000 cameras around New Orleans. Two hundred of them have this facial recognition technology.

And the group declined to tell me what third party company is making the AI model that they're actually using for the facial recognition. But essentially how it works is that they take photos from law enforcement be on the lookout announcements. They take crime shots, surveillance images. They take mug shots. They plug those into their system. And then when one of their cameras sees one of those people on the street, law enforcement will then get an automatic alert.

JIMENEZ: And I know when we've seen other companies or law enforcement departments experiment or think about this sort of thing, especially in regards to facial technology, there is sometimes some pushback and controversy over how that data is handled. Are there any concerns about how this particular technology is being used?

DUFFY: Yes, there have for a long time been concerns about police using facial recognition technology, concerns just about individual privacy. In some cases, we've actually seen false arrests in other cities because people were misidentified by facial recognition technology. So that is a big concern.

And when it comes to this Project NOLA in New Orleans, there may also be heightened concerns because this is not operating within the police force. So it's not necessarily subject to the same accountability that a government agency would be.

But I spoke with Brian Lagarde. He's the executive director of Project NOLA, and he essentially described this as a community effort. He said that they place cameras on churches, businesses, homes, schools that allow them to do that and that they can remove them at any time. He said this has been a community endeavor from the very beginning. If we ever violate public trust, the camera network comes down instantly and effortlessly by the community that built it.

But look, this is something that lots of cities are going to have to consider as this technology becomes more widely adopted.

JIMENEZ: Clare Duffy, really appreciate you explaining that for us. Thank you -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right let's talk about this more now with former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. So Ed, talk to us about how accurate this technology is.

ED DAVIS, FORMER BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER: Hi Brianna. Well, the good news is it's getting more and more accurate every day. As technology improves and as cameras proliferate around the country, these kind of conversations need to be occurring.

I think it's great that they are using it in this particular case to track down people who were tried, convicted, and escaped from prison who present a threat to the citizens. And I also think it's great that a community group is using this technology to make their neighborhoods safer. I think that we must remember that the police will follow the Supreme Court decisions on these new technologies.

[15:35:00]

And sometimes it takes time, months, sometimes years, before we get a good case that comes out of the Supreme Court on something like this. But when it does, we will use them appropriately. You know, when I say we, I mean police will use them appropriately, work with community groups.

And I think what you have to remember here is the cat's out of the bag on privacy. You know, these cameras are out there. They're being used every day. And the data is available to people. So, this is something we have to contend with as a society. Make sure we have the right rules around it.

KEILAR: Yes, well, to that point, how do you kind of systemically avoid over-reliance on it when you have studies that have found that technology can tell, for instance, have trouble telling, for instance, Black people apart? It can actually lead to an increase in racial profiling. If you have officers who may be making arrests, and at some time, at some points, they're doing it inaccurately, and then that's going to lead to them being more likely to do it to Black people.

That's a problem. So, how do you correct for that?

DAVIS: No question. Those kind of mistakes need to be programmed out of the systems. Now, that happened when systems were first put in place. And a lot of the work was done at MIT, and they used the students at MIT to try to differentiate people. It wasn't a very diverse group that they were using. There's been a lot of work done since then.

So, as I said, these systems are improving all the time. Clearly, it is totally unacceptable to be picking out people who are innocent. And I like this technology when it's used in conjunction with other indicators.

The idea that someone just sees an image and a computer tells them this is Johnny Jones and you should go arrest them is absolutely not the way police should be operating. You need to corroborate the information you get. These camera leads are just that. They're leads. And any department that is just using that and that alone is doing a disservice to their community.

KEILAR: You were police commissioner in Boston, which banned the use of this in 2020. Can you talk to us a little bit about what went into that decision?

DAVIS: Well, there was certainly a huge debate that occurred, especially after the Floyd incident and tragedy that occurred, about over-policing and about controls put on different uses of technology. And there have been cities across the country that have various stages of control of what the police can purchase and utilize. The problem with those controls is they don't apply to the private sector.

And that's really where we're seeing most of this data coming from. Ring cameras, surveillance cameras in companies. So, that's why I say the Supreme Court really has to make a decision on what's appropriate and what is inappropriate and protect people's rights.

But at the same time, make a tool that's available, effective in keeping people safe. And I think that that is a balancing act that has to be done.

KEILAR: Certainly what people in New Orleans are hoping for right now. Former Commissioner Ed Davis, thank you so much.

DAVIS: Thank you, Brianna.

KEILAR: Up ahead, we are going to take you into the lab where the Trump administration's fight with Harvard is potentially putting decades of crucial research at risk.

[15:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: It was a graduation ceremony unlike any other for the class of 2025 at the University of Maryland. Kermit the Frog.

JIMENEZ: The one and only.

KEILAR: Isn't that amazing? Delivered their commencement speech. Beloved Green Muppet dispensing wisdom and encouragement to the grads.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERMIT THE FROG: It's important to stay connected to your loved ones. Stay connected to your friends. And most of all, stay connected to your dreams.

No matter how big. No matter how impossible they seem. So as you prepare to take this big leap into real life, here's a little advice if you're willing to listen to a frog.

Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side. Because life is better when we leap together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: I'm like inspired, ready to run through a brick wall. Like that was --

KEILAR: Jump off that brick wall.

JIMENEZ: Life is better when we leap together.

KEILAR: With Sara, with Omar.

JIMENEZ: I would leap with Sara Sidner any day who had a chance to sit down with the frog and joins us now. I feel even weird calling the frog the esteemed Muppet.

What did you think of Kermit's speech? How was your conversation with him?

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR AND OK, in a totally unbiased opinion, it was the best speech the University of Maryland has ever had and will ever have. Maybe that's because I met him and I was verklempt. I literally was just like tongue tied at first.

I'm literally sitting with Kermit the frog. I had to ask him, do I refer to you as Kermit or are you Mr. The Frog? How does this work?

[15:45:00]

I've never done this before. He said it's Kermit, just Kermit. That's my best interpretation of Kermit the frog.

But yes, Kermit the frog, he is given great advice. And what did I think? Doesn't matter.

But if you look in that crowd and you saw the parents of some of the students that were graduating, they were crying. They were crying over Kermit's words. Kermit means a lot, especially to the old Gen Xers who really grew up with him coming and visiting Sesame Street.

He was a famous journalist. He used to blow his top a lot, which I loved because I understand that. I'm sure you all do, too.

But we had a whole conversation. He had a very similar conversation with the students there and the faculty. Giving a really hopeful speech and a speech about togetherness, which frankly I think we all really need right now.

And people could take things in because it is a Muppet talking to you guys. Like it's hard to, you know, kind of ignore the little green amphibious creature up there in his little cute outfit. Looking like he's a doctorate of, I don't know, Sesame Street-ology.

But I did ask him a question that I've always wanted to ask Kermit the frog. And that is this. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Why isn't it easy, Kermit, being green?

KERMIT: First of all, I love that song, being green. It's written by Joe Raposo. It's meant so many things to so many people over the years.

But to me, the message of the song is that we are all unique and special, you know. And it's about how our differences are what make us all beautiful. And yes, even though it's not always easy, your differences are what make you, well, you, Sara, right?

SIDNER: It's not easy being a Black woman either. But, you know, I take your point, Kermit. I totally get what you're saying.

KERMIT: That's right. It's not easy being a frog.

SIDNER: Or a human.

KERMIT: Yup, or a chicken.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER (on camera): Or a chicken.

JIMENEZ: It's not easy being a chicken. Yes, we know that.

SIDNER: We went on and on. He said it's not easy being a rutabaga either. It's kind of hard to say that. But there you are.

You know, you might be wondering why Kermit the frog was chosen to, you know, be the commencement speaker. Or they're calling it the Kermencement speaker for the University of Maryland.

It is because, I'm sorry, I just took a shot, you know, I shot my shot. It's because Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, graduated from the University of Maryland in 1960s. And guys, can you guess what degree he graduated with?

Just take a wild, wild guess.

JIMENEZ: Ventriloquism? I don't know.

SIDNER: No. Home economics. I don't think that's a degree anymore at the University of America. But amazing. Amazing.

KEILAR: Wish it would be.

SIDNER: I think we're all better for it. Right? I need to take that class.

KEILAR: You know, some gentlemen out there. I love that he took it. OK. Sara, I wonder, did you ask Kermit about the big news that Sesame Street is moving to Netflix?

SIDNER: I did. And his answer sent me. I started laughing and couldn't stop.

He said, well, I certainly like streams because I'm a frog after all. And that was the end of that. I was done. I could not do a follow-up. I was finished.

JIMENEZ: Look, leave it to Kermit. We're all going to have a good time if Kermit the Frog is involved. And we're all going to have a good time if Sara Sidner is involved.

So this is a combo.

KEILAR: Win, win.

JIMENEZ: Yes, everybody wins here. Everybody wins. Sara --

SIDNER: Have a wonderful Memorial weekend, guys.

JIMENEZ: Of course. Same to you. Great to see you. Thanks for being here. All right, everyone, we will be right back.

[15:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: We do have breaking news. Officials say at least 17 people have been injured. Four critically in a knife attack in Hamburg, Germany.

A German woman has been arrested. And authorities tell us they believe she acted alone.

JIMENEZ: CNN's Sebastian Shukla is in Berlin following this developing situation. Now Sebastian, it seems like this took place at a busy rail station. What do we know?

SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, that's right. Good evening, guys. A really, really harrowing situation that's just taken place in the northern German city of Hamburg. Where several people, according to German police, 17 in total, have been injured on varying degrees of injuries. We have four with life-threatening, six severely, and seven minor. And this took place on a platform, so between those tracks as people were coming on and off trains.

And as you guys alluded to, this station carries some half a million people per year through its doors and on its trains. It's one of Germany's busiest transport hubs. Particularly busy, if you think of it.

This attack took place at around 6 p.m. this evening. As people were making their ways to and from work. Perhaps commuting back to other parts of Germany.

And also getting ahead of a holiday which is coming up here this week. So a truly disturbing and harrowing scene. And you're seeing from those images that we've seen on the screen just there.

Just how many police officers descended and first responders descended on the scene to arrest this 39-year-old German woman. It's critical to say that. German national here who has now been arrested.

We don't have any details about the motive behind this. Police are now telling us that they are looking into her mental welfare. They do not believe this to be politically motivated in any way. Nevertheless, still a very, very disturbing situation for those commuters.

[15:55:00]

And guys, it comes on the back of at least four other similar attacks that have taken place on the German people since December. There was a really horrific car ramming incident at a Christmas market in December. And there have been two other attacks, knife attacks by and large that have left people dead.

And there was a car ramming incident that took place just before the Munich security conference. Where J.D. Vance, the vice president, also attended. So this is a theme that has been happening here in Germany.

But what we're waiting to hear, though, and really see whether the political motivations behind this. But nevertheless, guys, a really, really disturbing scene home for people as they traveled through that train station -- guys.

JIMENEZ: Yes, and authorities are still looking into what the potential motive may have been here. A horrifying scene, nonetheless. Sebastian Shukla, really appreciate the reporting.

Everyone else, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIMENEZ: All right, welcome back, everyone. A two-month-old black bear cub is stable and not only surviving but thriving after being rescued from the Los Padres National Forest by the San Diego Humane Society. Now, they took the bear in after the wildlife team was unable to find its mother and then nursed the weak, underweight cub back to health.

[16:00:00]

That's not the cub. That's a guy in a mask.

KEILAR: That's right, because in order to ensure that he can return to the wild one day and also just to totally creep him out. Caretakers are dressing up as bears, creepy, creepy bears, to prevent the little one from imprinting on humans because no one would want to imprint on that guy. But he is.

Oh, my Lord. I can't even read. That is a nightmare.

But the bear is doing great.

JIMENEZ: That's good.

KEILAR: He's questioning the outfit, though, for sure.

"THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts right now.

END