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Defense Cross-Examines Witness in Combs Trial; Colorado Attack Investigation. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired June 02, 2025 - 13:00   ET

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

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ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: A horrific crime in Boulder, Colorado, after a man sets people on fire at a Jewish community event. The suspect is in custody, set to appear in court just hours from now. We are also learning new details about the attack he allegedly carried out, including the number of Molotov cocktails found at the scene.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: And Sean "Diddy" Combs former assistant back on the stand saying that she was young, manipulated and even brainwashed, as his defense grills her over messages of love and support she sent Combs over the years.

And an audacious operation by Ukraine's military, a drone mission code-named Spider Web hitting thousands of miles inside of Russian territory. Ukraine now reporting dozens of Russian warplanes are destroyed. The latest on how it could change the dynamics of the conflict and peace talks ahead.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

HILL: And we begin this hour with the new details just breaking about the fiery attack at a Jewish event in Colorado over the weekend. A short time for now, the suspect is expected to make his first court appearance.

And we have now learned that he's also been charged with a federal hate crime. Officials say he set people on fire with what they're calling a flamethrower, the FBI designating this a targeted terror attack.

The horrific scene unfolding at a walk which has been held weekly now for Israeli hostages. You can see victims burning, witnesses rushing to douse them with water. We know at least eight people were injured, among them a Holocaust survivor. All are expected to survive.

I want to get right to CNN's chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller.

So, John, what more are we learning, including about this additional charge?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, he's charged with Title 18 U.S. Code Section 249, 1 and 2, which is basically the federal hate crime statute.

It means that people were singled out and violently attacked based on their religion, national origin or beliefs. That's a count that carries 10 years.

What we're learning about the suspect, Mohamed Sabine Soliman, is that this is something, according to law enforcement sources, that he has been planning for some time, perhaps up to a year. But, yesterday, according to officials, he drove from Colorado Springs about 100 miles or two hours to get to Boulder, Colorado, stopping along the way to buy gasoline to fill these glass wine carafes that he had stuffed red rags into, but, also, this -- what they have been referring to is a makeshift flamethrower.

This is one of these things. You can see it right there. It's the white item against the tree. He had been wearing this, pretending to spray for weeds in the grass, wearing one of those orange vests, which you can see on the ground behind this device, apparently trying to pose as a landscaper, knowing that, in a few minutes, that march, the Run for Their Lives March, which is held in support of the Israeli and American hostages being held in Gaza, was going to pass by that spot.

We are told at that point that he began to spray gasoline from this weed device and then through the Molotov cocktails at the same time, having soaked the area with gasoline and then added these Molotov cocktails to it, causing them to burst into flames in the crowd, which we know injured more than half-a-dozen people, a couple of them very seriously that are still in intensive care, still fighting for their lives.

HILL: So, John, you and I unfortunately have talked about too many events sort of in a vein when it involves an attack. We know that, of course, investigators will be combing through social media. They will be trying to find, were there any alerts, was there anything that they could have missed in the run-up to this event?

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What more do you expect, though, that we will actually learn at this court hearing this afternoon? Because that could provide some details in terms of what they found.

MILLER: Well, they could.

A search warrant was executed on the suspect's home. This is a place -- he is a man who was married, has five children, including college- age children. So they will recover things that were left there.

What they're looking for is a claim of responsibility or motive, which we are told was written into a book that they were looking to find at the house, as well as whatever is on his phones and computers. They have got to get through a couple of important questions. One, at this moment, they believe he acted alone, not with any

accomplice, that he had been planning this on his own for some time. But, two, they need to check that with, who was he in touch with electronically? What propaganda may he have been looking at from a foreign terrorist organization and what other things or persons or propaganda might have inspired this attack?

HILL: John Miller, appreciate it, as always. Thank you -- Boris.

MILLER: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: Just minutes ago, President Donald Trump posted on TRUTH Social, writing -- quote -- "Yesterday's horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, will not be tolerated in the United States of America. He came in through Biden's ridiculous open border policy, which has hurt our country so badly."

The president there taking a shot at his predecessor and then going on to write -- quote -- "My heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy and the great people of Boulder, Colorado."

We are learning more details about the suspect's immigration history. Multiple law enforcement sources tell CNN that he originally applied for asylum in the United States all the way back in 2005, but he was denied a visa to enter the country. Sources say he then entered the U.S. some 17 years later in August of 2022 as a non-immigrant visitor on a tourist visa.

A month later, he filed an asylum claim and in March of 2023 he was granted a work authorization, which expired in March of this year. At that point, the suspect appears to have remained in the United States illegally.

Let's get some perspective now from CNN senior national security analyst Juliette Kayyem.

Juliette, thanks so much for being with us.

It's interesting to me that, so far, none of the victims that we know of have died. That's as of a few hours ago, according to Boulder police. So what do you make of online records showing that he's booked on two counts of murder in the first degree, that the circumstances around those charges are unclear right now?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: That's right.

So he has a record. We don't know what the motivation or circumstances were of those, but most people don't have that kind of record, whether they're immigrants or citizens, at this stage.

This attack, to be very clear, was a cruel, grotesque, antisemitic attack that was very performative. We don't see attacks like this. I don't want to be gruesome. I don't want to highlight this, the hideous nature of it, but the flamethrower to the Molotov cocktail is a burning crime. That's how we intended people to die. It is a slow, painful death. So

this is likely different than the other allegations against him, but it also speaks to the heinous nature of this antisemitic attack, very, very specific and very, very cruel. It sort of reminds you of the ISIS beheading videos.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

And speaking to the sort of process to carry out an attack like this, when you hear that this was a recurring community event, that he used a makeshift flamethrower, Molotov cocktails, walk us through the level of planning that went into this.

KAYYEM: Yes.

Well, and, as John Miller was just reporting, he clearly wanted to get into the area, not looking like he was about to do something violent. So he's clearly thought this through. I think the weekly aspects of this kind of gathering means that he may have been there before, may have looked at it. The investigation will determine that.

He also, let's just be clear, would have known the ages of the victims as well, that it might not have given their -- their -- most of them were elderly. Not easy for them to defend themselves. Not easy for them to run. A lot of our witnesses that we're interviewing are younger people who came into help.

So he clearly planned this, both in terms of the group, in terms of who they were and his antisemitic motivation, but also their ability to defend themselves, essentially. And so that -- the investigation will look at his prepositioning, his preplanning in that regard.

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They're saying he had no -- that he probably acted alone, but, of course, the digital footprint might show either that he was aligned with groups or maybe he got some help with the Molotov cocktails and the flamethrower, given that it does not appear that he used -- that there's a history of him with arson, so to speak, that would make sense of this in a way -- and nothing makes sense about it -- so to speak.

So I'm really curious about his means. We know the motivation, but -- and why he chose that.

SANCHEZ: Juliette Kayyem, very much appreciate your point of view. Thanks for joining us.

KAYYEM: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Erica.

HILL: Tara Winer joins us now. She's a member of the Boulder City Council. She's also participated in Run For Their Lives events in the past.

Thank you for being with us this afternoon.

As I noted, you have participated in these events before. You know several people who were injured in the attack. Just first of all, how are they doing today?

TARA WINER, BOULDER, COLORADO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: Yes.

Well, I spoke to a few of them this morning. And they're doing OK. But, as you know, some of them are fighting for their lives.

HILL: And -- but those who are in more serious condition, were you able to speak with them directly or was it their family members? Are they hopeful in this moment that they will be pulling through?

WINER: I wasn't able to speak to them, but I can say that the other victims who were not as burned as these victims are very worried about them.

HILL: OK.

I know you have been a part of these walks in the past. Were you ever concerned that they could become a target?

WINER: Absolutely.

I just want to say that I am outraged. I am so angry that what was clearly an antisemitic act of terror on our Jewish community here in Boulder. As you know, some of these were my good friends. Some of the victims are my good friends.

I wish I could say that this was an isolated incident, but I cannot say that. I have been worried that it would lead to something worse for the last year-and-a-half, and it has. This event is not the first time, though, that Jewish people have been attacked. In our City Council meetings, we have open comment.

And very often I personally get attacked by people with hateful vitriol. That has been going on for a year-and-a-half.

HILL: I have been reading about and heard about those attacks on you specifically. You note that they have been going on for a year-and-a- half.

Do you feel enough has been done within the city to address these antisemitic incidents and to address your safety even at those City Council meetings?

WINER: Well, it is an ongoing discussion. We have tried to change rules to make it safer for not only us, but also the community members that come to open comment. Those are the ones I am the most worried about. And I am worried.

I do want to say that it is my -- to the community members, to the individuals who constantly yell and scream and curse at me, I -- we must commit to creating a place where we can express our political differences in ways that are free from antisemitic tropes and personal attacks. This cannot become our norm here.

HILL: I imagine this feels like it was both just moments ago and an eternity since the attack on Sunday, given how personally too you are connected to this.

We have seen a number of cities talk about stepping up the law enforcement presence and security at synagogues and other religious sites in the wake of Sunday's attack. Have you seen an increase in security? You are saying this is an ongoing conversation, but have you seen measures that make you feel any safer today in Boulder?

WINER: Well, the attack -- we do have a lot of security at the synagogues and the JCC here. And we have some security, although not enough security, some security at our Boulder City Council meetings, but we also want -- have wanted to keep an atmosphere where people feel that they can come and talk, so there is that give-and-take.

But now I feel like we are going to have after this an -- we're going to have an uptick in the security, for sure.

What was your second question? I forgot.

HILL: Just, yes, I mean, really, what have you seen in terms of security?

But you mentioned the uptick in security. And I know you said that you were concerned that these events, right, which are to show support for the hostages who are still being held in Gaza, you had had concerns before at these events. Do you imagine that they will be held again in Boulder?

WINER: The Jewish community here is strong, and we are close. And we don't -- we're not afraid and we don't give up. So I would imagine that we're going to continue to have these events.

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And, in fact, our entire community is close here in Boulder. And I can bet that we're going to have many people join us on the next walk. That, I know. I have been getting so many calls from everybody in our community of support, of love, of concern.

And, like you said, it's been a very long, I don't know, 18 hours. But I do feel the love and support from our entire Boulder community.

HILL: We're going to have to leave it there.

Tara Winer, I do appreciate you taking the time to join us this afternoon. Thank you.

Just ahead here: a witness in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs invoking the Fifth Amendment. We have those details for you from the courtroom.

Plus, peace talks between Russia and Ukraine begin after Ukraine pulls off its most daring attack to date, striking a Russian air base halfway across Siberia thousands of miles from the front lines. SANCHEZ: And, later, two Massachusetts business owners say they began

filming an ICE arrest because something about the situation didn't feel quite right. We will show you their video.

These important updates and many more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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HILL: The cross-examination of Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-assistant is now under way in the music mogul's sex trafficking racketeering child.

Mia, who is testifying under a pseudonym, claims that Combs verbally, physically, and sexually abused her while she worked for him. Now, there were several tense moments in court already today, as the defense grilled Mia about some of the texts she sent Combs expressing her love and support for him.

Combs' attorneys also pressed Mia about a message she sent to him saying that she was thinking about Combs after he -- after she was in a nightmare that she had and apparently saved her in that dream.

SANCHEZ: Yes, she claimed that she had a dream that she was stuck in an elevator with R. Kelly, and that Combs came to save her.

The jury was also shown a video for Mia made by Combs telling him -- quote -- "I love you. Happy birthday." She's also seen blowing him a kiss in a video. The defense claims that the footage shows Mia as presenting a false persona to the jury.

Combs has pleaded not guilty and faces up to life in prison if he is convicted on all counts.

Here to discuss is criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Mark O'Mara.

Mark, the judge had warned defense attorneys not to ask argumentative questions, especially ones that the defense apparently knows will likely get struck from the record. I wonder if you think the jury, with some of their questions here, are potentially harming their case with the jury.

MARK O'MARA, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think you're right, Boris.

You have to be very careful. We still have a person identified as a victim, a female victim, of this ongoing coercion, abuse, whatever they believe from what she is saying. And when defense attorneys -- we're doing what we're supposed to do, and we're zealous advocates, but you got to play it in context of how those 12 people are looking at this woman who's saying she was abused.

And the arrogance, the questioning in a sort of aggressive way may not play very well to the jury. I think they need to be more careful and use a scalpel more than sort of an axe. HILL: So, in using that scalpel, Mark, what are they ultimately

trying to accomplish specifically with Mia as a witness? And what have you seen so far that tells you whether or not they're actually on that path?

O'MARA: Well, they have to prove, the defense has to prove this is just -- it's an ongoing relationship. Yes, it's not perfect. Yes, there was some fights. Yes, there was some arguments. Obviously, Mr. Combs has a much higher financial status and business status, but that it does not reach the level that the prosecution has to get that jury to, which is this duress and coercion to get them to sex trafficking and the RICO.

And I think that's where that scalpel comes in. Yes, you can still chew away at her and make this more normalized than aggressive.

SANCHEZ: So, Mark, there's a lot riding then on these expert witnesses to explain to the jury the complicated dynamic.

On one hand, you have someone who is sending these videos blowing Sean Combs a kiss and wishing him happy birthday, and, on the other hand, her describing violent assault, sexual assault, and making claims that paint their relationship in a very different light. I wonder what you make of what the prosecution is relying on those expert witnesses to do.

O'MARA: They have to get across those nuances.

We know, in the world of sex victimology, the way -- and it's traditionally women more than men as far as being sex victims -- the way that women react. And we know, for example, that in situations where there is no out, two or three children at home, no job, you can't get away, then there's a lot of sympathy given to those type of women victims.

It's a little bit more cautious that the prosecution has to be to get across those expert witnesses to say, look, even in a good situation where there is a lot of money, there is opportunities, particularly with Ms. Ventura, for example, where she had other possibilities to get away from the situation, yet didn't, that you have to be real careful that it's compelling testimony from the psychological experts that, look, victims are groomed to stay in the relationship.

That happens a lot.

HILL: Yes.

O'MARA: And, again, I think the prosecution is doing a decent job in getting across with the experts. It's just there's a lot of dynamics to it.

HILL: It's interesting. They have also done it with other witnesses, right?

I mean, I'm thinking of the former assistant who in many ways corroborated what we heard from Cassie Ventura, saying, yes, this may sound like two different things happening at the same time, but let me tell you why,and backing up her testimony.

To that point, when we look at the witnesses that the prosecution is bringing in, where does Mia fit into now in terms of the charges of racketeering, of trafficking that the prosecution is trying to prove?

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O'MARA: So, trafficking -- in order to get the trafficking conviction, they have to show that coercion, that duress, right, that not necessarily fraud in this case, but the way that Mr. Combs did everything he did for a particular purpose.

So they bring in all of these witnesses, including Mia now, to say, this is the environment that Mr. Combs is responsible for, and it was an environment of coercion, whether it's taking phones or doing this or threatening, or actual sexual violence or physical violence, or emotional and economic violence, or force, another term that has to be used.

We think about force and say, well, it's physical force. It's not. It's any type of force that has the effect of moving somebody towards a certain decision, economic force, emotional force, that kind of stuff. And that, I think, is where Mia fits in, because she lays out that this was just the way it always was with me and with everybody that I saw with Mr. Combs.

SANCHEZ: Mark O'Mara, great to get your perspective. We will see you again later this afternoon. Thanks for joining us.

O'MARA: Sounds good.

SANCHEZ: Next: Ukraine pulling off really a stunning attack, a surprise attack deep inside Russian territory, striking an air base closer to Japan than to the war's front lines. The question now, does this weaken or strengthen Vladimir Putin's resolve?

HILL: And the CDC updating its travel guidance after three new measles cases are traced back to a single flight -- those details ahead.

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