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Interview with Nathan Johnson, (D) State Senator: Investigators Search for Motive in Deadly ICE Facility Shooting; DOJ Close to Deciding Whether to Charge James Comey; FDA to Fast-Track Label Change for Leucovorin for Autism. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired September 25, 2025 - 08:00   ET

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

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ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We anticipate that it will become a hurricane this weekend, potentially even becoming a major hurricane by the time we get to late Sunday as it continues to slide up to the north and then just west of Bermuda.

So again, for reference, here is the other system we were talking about. But this is the thing. When they get close like this, they can often interact, sometimes even clash with each other. So it really becomes a what happens to both of these systems, because right now, here's where a lot of the spaghetti models take them. So there you can see Umberto kind of sliding it just west into the Atlantic and then just to the west of Bermuda. This leaves this one awfully close to the United States.

But really, the question becomes a lot of the steering mechanisms, because we've got two things at play here. You've got this high pressure system here, the Bermuda High, but you also have this trough right through here. That's essentially going to block that next storm really from pushing too far inland, especially over a place like Florida. But if it starts to break away or if this storm starts to speed up a little bit, a lot of things could change. So we'll have a lot to keep a close eye on over the next five to seven days.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, three potential -- two storms for definite. The third potential that looks like it is much closer to landfall. A lot to watch over the next few days. Thank you so much, Allison Chinchar. Appreciate it.

The new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Security locking down at ICE facilities across the nation after the deadly sniper attack in Dallas. This morning there are new details coming in about the gunman and the search for a motive as the finger pointing already beginning.

And the escalation over the escalator. President Trump now wants an investigation into his entrance to the United Nations this week when an escalator broke down. The president trying to label it triple sabotage.

And it was a wild chase. SWAT vehicle ramming a stolen big rig. What we're learning about the suspect behind the wheel, it was John Berman.

I'm Kate Bolduan with John Berman and Sara Sidner. This is the CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, ICE facilities nationwide tightening their security on the heels of the deadly attack in Dallas that killed one detainee and injured two others. We're learning new details about the shooter. The shooter, authorities say, took his own life at the scene. Sources tell CNN he was 29 years old. An image appears to show him when he was booked for a prior offense back in 2016. The names of the three victims have not been released, but we have learned that one of the injured is a Mexican national.

And as the shooting unfolded, one woman says she was waiting for her mother in a vehicle outside the ICE facility. She captured the sound of the gunshots on a video call. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(GUN SHOTS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: President Trump labeled the act a, quote, of radical left terrorists, we should note. That is before all the details are in. The investigation still very much ongoing with us now is Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson, a Democrat running for Attorney General of Texas. Senator, thank you so much for being with us. You do represent Dallas County. Just tell me how the community is reacting this morning.

NATHAN JOHNSON, (D) TEXAS STATE SENATOR: The community is very upset about it of course. You hear the gunshots on the recording. When that comes to your community, it takes on a different level of sickness and terror than when you read about it in the news.

BERMAN: The president, you just heard us say, has labeled this the work of radical left terrorists. The investigation is still very much ongoing. What's your reaction to his statement?

JOHNSON: Yes, it's super irresponsible. I don't need to say unpresidential. It's irresponsible of anybody to attribute the violent, arranged actions of a single individual to a political party, Republican or Democrat. And it's with some irony, because he is the one who is fanning the flames of violence in this country. And it's just absolutely reprehensible behavior. He blames the media. He blames Democrats. He blames anyone but himself. And that's problematic in this country. It's got to stop. It's a bad example.

BERMAN: So I was with the deputy -- not the deputy -- the acting director of ICE yesterday morning, just as this shooting, the details were unfolding. And he told me that threats against ICE agents are up some, you know, 1,000 percent. What do you think of that? What do you think of the rhetoric concerning ICE lately?

JOHNSON: I think it's important to distinguish between hostility that we're seeing right now in this country towards ICE and hostility generally towards law enforcement and the rule of law, because I hear those things confused all the time. Disrespect for law enforcement did not pull the trigger that killed Melissa Hortman. Disrespect for law enforcement is not slaughtering kids in their schools. Disrespect for law enforcement didn't kill Charlie Kirk. Disrespect for law enforcement did not cause somebody to open fire on ICE.

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We live in a violent time when people are so afraid of each other and they're feeling so disempowered that they're willing to resort to psychotic, horrific acts of violence in order to make themselves feel like they're part of this -- of this society, right? And we're driving kids to desperation. And to say that it's a disrespect for law enforcement is to misunderstand the problem.

Now, ICE itself performs an important function in this country. But when you're putting people -- and let's just be honest about it -- when you're putting them in masks and you're sending them into communities and you're asking communities to not be upset as their gardeners and their housekeepers are being nabbed instead of violent criminals or fentanyl dealers, I think you're misunderstanding the problem and doing a disservice to the whole country.

BERMAN: One of the things, and of course, California has passed a law, may not be enforceable, that says that ICE agents can't be masks, federal agents can't be masks, or no law enforcement can, when doing raids. What ICE officials will say is that those masks are necessary to protect the identities because of the threats that these agents are receiving around the country. What do you say to that?

JOHNSON: You know, we've had Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country for a long time. They just started wearing masks right now. So I think that that there begs the question. And I want to emphasize, too, that nothing, nothing justifies this homicidal attitude towards ICE. Nothing justifies pulling a trigger. But I do think that we have a problem when we take our law enforcement and dehumanize them and turn them into instruments of fear. Because law enforcement must have a positive relationship with the community in order to be effective. And when when we have ICE being directed to behave as they are, I think we undermine public safety.

BERMAN: Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson, as I said, running for attorney general of the state of Texas. We do appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very much -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: This morning, President Trump is demanding an investigation into what he is calling triple sabotage during his visit Tuesday to the United Nations.

In a social media post, he wrote this, A real disgrace took place at the United Nations yesterday. Not one, not two, but three very sinister events.

The events he's referencing are an escalator that broke down briefly upon his entrance, a teleprompter that also broke down, and audio issues in the room. Here's what the White House press secretary said on this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There was some concerning reporting over the weekend from the London Times, as you pointed out, that U.N. globalist staffers were basically plotting to set up the president of the United States. And first it was the escalator, then it was the teleprompter, and then Katie Pavlich from Town Hall, who we offered a seat in the press pool to cover the president's historic speech today, noticed that the audio inside of the room was much lower and different for the president of the United States than the previous speaker. So when you put all of this together, it doesn't look like a coincidence to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: A spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary General released a statement in response, saying, in part, that the Secretary General informed the U.S. permanent mission that he had already ordered a thorough investigation, and also saying he conveyed that the U.N. is ready to cooperate in full transparency with relevant U.S. authorities on the matter -- Sara.

SIDNER: All right, thank you, Kate. Up ahead, days after the president pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Justice Department races to potentially indict former FBI Director James Comey for possibly lying to Congress.

Plus, Kamala Harris is met with protest at her first night of her book tour. More on that ahead.

And it takes humans 1,000 hours of intense studying to pass the three- part Chartered Financial Analyst Exam. How AI is now cruising through the most difficult level of the daunting CFA test in a matter of minutes.

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SIDNER: The Justice Department could soon seek an indictment of former FBI director James Comey. That's what sources are telling CNN this morning. And if they do, it has to happen in the next few days. Federal prosecutors are looking into if Comey lied to Congress when he was asked about leaking information during the investigation of the Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The testimony happened September 30th, 2020, and under criminal law, prosecutors have five years to the day to bring a charge. That five- year deadline is Tuesday. CNN's Katelyn Polantz joining us now. Katelyn, what are you learning about this?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sara, we have the rough contours of what we are thinking may happen based on what sources are telling us, with federal prosecutors preparing to bring an indictment, at least present it to a grand jury against Jim Comey.

The big picture here is that this is persona non grata number one for the Trump administration. This is somebody that multiple Trump advisors, Donald Trump himself, have called to be prosecuted for unspecified reasons, just generally because of his oversight of the 2016 Russia investigation when Comey was the FBI director.

But we do know so far that the Eastern District of Virginia federal prosecutor is now led by a former personal lawyer to Donald Trump. Her name is Lindsey Halligan. They are looking at whether Comey lied to Congress.

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So it's a possible perjury case. That is something that a grand jury would have to approve. That -- a perjury case, it would be based upon what happened five years ago, Comey testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the 2016 Russia investigation. So prosecutors would be looking at answers there and looking for an alleged lie -- Sara.

SIDNER: You mentioned something at the very beginning. You mentioned the word -- or the two words, grand jury. What happens next in this case?

POLANTZ: Well, Sara, we're going to be watching courthouses very closely in the Eastern District of Virginia because a prosecutor can't just bring an indictment on their own. They have to go to the jury of peers, in this case, a grand jury. That's a confidential group of people who are looking at cases for the possibility that there is probable cause to indict.

In this situation, the grand jury would have to look at what prosecutors present on this alleged potential perjury case against Jim Comey related to that testimony from five years ago, and they would have to determine and vote yes if they wanted to indict Comey, determine that there was enough for a charge there.

We are going to be watching specifically what Lindsey Halligan does here because the White House has been putting overt political pressure, calling for some sort of charge against Jim Comey. And there is, of course, that deadline you mentioned next Tuesday.

There's a five-year statute of limitations for most federal charges, meaning that once midnight of Tuesday comes around, that Senate testimony essentially could not be charged for a perjury case -- Sara.

SIDNER: Unprecedented the amount of political pressure on the DOJ, which is generally supposed to remain independent. We will see what happens in this case. A lot of people watching this, namely James Comey. Thank you so much, Katelyn Polantz, appreciate it -- John.

BERMAN: Right. It is, quote, violence against the truth. Former President Barack Obama with a blunt statement about new White House recommendations on autism.

And then shortly, attorneys for Sean Combs might try to get his conviction overturned. So what case do they have?

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BOLDUAN: Former President Barack Obama now speaking out about the current president's attempt to link autism to the use of Tylenol during pregnancy. This happened during an onstage Q&A -- you see some images there. Obama denounced President Trump's announcement around this, calling it violence against the truth. Even still, the FDA commissioner is now saying that his agency is now speeding up the promised change to the labeling of leucovorin as a treatment for autism. This was kind of the second-half of this announcement coming from the president this week, a change that will make it eligible for Medicaid coverage.

But there are real concerns around this drug's effectiveness still. CNN's Meg Tirrell has all of the detail to explain this. Again, there are still a lot of questions around every aspect of the announcement that's coming from the administration in this. Tell me about this drug.

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is sort of the second part of the announcement as you noted, and one that didn't get as much attention. It is an unusual move from the What they're doing is taking an old drug and approved drug called leucovorin, and it was approved originally in 1983, and its primary use is to mitigate the harmful effects of chemotherapy.

Now the FDA says it's working to approve it for a condition called cerebral folate deficiency, which is essentially a neurological condition where you don't get enough transport of folate into the brain. That's a vitamin B9 essentially, and there have been some small trials that have been run in kids with autism spectrum disorder and some adults actually. There are are some early data from these small studies that suggest there could potentially be promise here that some of these kids with autism spectrum disorder also may have the cerebral folate deficiency. And by giving them leucovorin, which is thought to help transport folate into the brain, maybe you can mitigate some of those effects.

Specifically, they look at effects on things like speech development, speech delays, and there are these anecdotal reports and some from these clinical trials, although they are small, that suggests some kids could benefit.

Our Brenda Goodman on the and health team talked to one family, a little boy named Jose. He's four. His guardian, Keith, says that before trying this medicine, he would essentially say maybe 2 word sentences and then a few months after trying it, he was having full on conversations. You can see them there. He's wishing to play on his guardian's head.

And so, you know, there are these sort of miraculous stories, but this is typically not the level of data when you see the FDA seek to approve a drug. And this is also coming from the FDA and not from the makers of the medicine. So it's a little bit backwards in that way, too.

BOLDUAN: It is like on multiple fronts as you lay out so importantly that it does -- it is not traditional. The size of the studies is not nearly what you would normally have before a big change like this. And some experts and scientists are skeptical of this, too.

TIRRELL: Yes, absolutely. Some experts we spoke with said that the the level of the benefit appears to be modest. You also heard from the Autism Science Foundation that says, quote, a much higher standard of evidence would be needed to determine if leucovorin is an effective and safe treatment for autism.

There are also known risks with this drug, although it is a prescription vitamin essentially.

BOLDUAN: OK.

TIRRELL: So thought to be pretty safe. But in specific populations, including kids who take seizure medication, it can make seizures worse. It can also lead to increased hyperactivity, behavioral issues, and we should also note there is an over the counter version of folinic acid, which is what leucovorin is, given as supplements and vitamins, and that is not recommended. That is a different dose. You also don't know if there are additional additives.

So there's concerns people might seek to use that and not the prescription version with medical supervision.

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And we've already seen, at least in terms of the prescription version, as there's been increased attention on this this year, prescriptions of leucovorin have already gone up. You can see this from GoodRx, about an estimated 50 percent in the data. And that's even before this announcement. So we're going to be watching this closely.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. And just reinforcing yet again that all of these conversations before anyone makes a change, it has to come with your physician. Because I didn't even realize about the over-the-counter piece of this, which is very confusing and very important to point out. Thanks, Meg.

TIRRELL: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Thank you so much -- John.

BERMAN: All right, breaking this morning, reports that Health Secretary Robert Kennedy is launching a review of abortion pills.

And a huge truck in the middle of a high-speed chase through several cities. And right in the middle of it all, you see it right there, a dramatic collision.

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