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Fed Agent Shoots Man DHS Says Assaulted Him, Prompting Protests; Trump Threatens to Use Insurrection Act, Deploy Troops to Minnesota; Mortgage Rate Fall to Lowest Level in Over Three Years; Testimony Resumes in Brendan Banfield Trial 3-3:30p ET

Aired January 15, 2026 - 15:00   ET

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

CLARE DUFFY, CNN BUSINESS WRITER: ... for young people.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN HOST: Hey, if it works fantastic. I'm just going to be looking at the web for ways around those controls, which I'm sure someone's already working on. Clare Duffy, thanks so much.

A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Protests flare up in Minneapolis, demonstrators and federal agents facing off as President Trump warns he could invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy American troops to Minnesota. CNN is at ...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:56]

KEILAR: ... medical evacuation that led to that move.

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

SCIUTTO: President Trump is warning once again he might deploy U.S. troops to Minnesota, threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act as protesters continue to clash with federal law enforcement there. Earlier, the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, repeated the President's warning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think the President's Truth Social post spoke very loud and clear to Democrats across this country, elected officials who are using their platforms to encourage violence against federal law enforcement officers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: It was a tense scene overnight in Minneapolis, officers deploying pepper balls, tear gas canisters, and what sounded like flashbang grenades, the chaos unfolding near the scene of a second shooting involving a federal agent. The Department of Homeland Security says that agent shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after the suspect began to, quote, "violently assault" one of its officers. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones is in Minnesota. She joins us now.

Julia, tell us the tenor of the protests there, and are they mostly peaceful, or do you see defiance or -- or folks getting in the way of the federal agents in a number of places there?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look, Jim, here what we're seeing is a very -- a crowd that is very confrontational in some ways. I would say there's a lot of expletives. There's a lot of flipping the birds as they see federal agents going in and out of the Bishop Henry Whipple building, that is where this protest is taking place. A lot of expletives around me. I will warn our viewers right now. There is frustration here.

I've spoken to a couple people who have been here for a few hours or since earlier this morning, and they're saying, look, we don't want any more ICE agents in our city. We are tired of this. This is causing division. Of course, now, we have also heard, Jim, from local authorities here, the mayor, Jacob Frey, calling for these protests to remain peaceful, saying that protesters who are antagonizing those ICE agents are just giving in to the bait. Those were his words. But then again, the -- the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, saying that he doesn't want people to leave these -- the streets of Minnesota to continue documenting this.

So, there's definitely a mix of emotions here as well. People who seem very organized, some people who are a little bit louder, getting a little bit -- a little bit louder as those agents come in and out.

Now, we weren't here when this happened, but as we were making our way to this federal building, we heard that there was a little bit of an altercation. Now, what happened, as a couple of eyewitnesses described to us, is that federal agents came out of the building and threw some kind of projectiles into an area next to the crowd. They were not thrown at the crowd. It was next to the crowd. It's unclear if that was pepper spray or if those were just stun grenades that then came over to another site.

There are about, I would estimate, again, this is just my estimate, a little over a hundred people here right now. Some of them seem to be ready for that kind of response from federal agents. They are wearing goggles. They have hats. They're also ready for the cold. It is freezing here in Minneapolis. And -- and I have to say that asking people here why it is that they are taking time out of their day to stay in the cold, screaming for hours at a time, they're saying this is just how important it is for the city. This is how much they care about the people that live in Minnesota, Jim.

[15:05:07]

SCIUTTO: Can you tell us what we know about the circumstances of this most recent shooting involving a federal agent?

JONES: Yes, we -- we did hear some more details earlier this morning from the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem where she did give a little bit more details. She said that in that altercation with the federal agent, that that person -- that Venezuelan national reacted violently. She also said that the vandalized vehicles that we saw overnight belonged to the FBI.

And then, Jim, she also spoke about the -- answering a question of one of the journalists that if American citizens or people in the United States should now expect to show proof of citizenship if they encounter these federal officers, that -- that yes, that they would have the chance to verify that these were targeted operations and that they would have the chance to verify the citizenship status of people in the streets of Minnesota.

Now, again, this is a city that we've heard from various people over the -- of the past few years that has been struggling to -- to even just regain, Jim, the -- the -- I'm sorry, this is getting a little bit loud. Let's just walk back a little bit, if we can -- to regain the trust of Minnesotans after 2020, after the protests with George Floyd. And that has been also frustrating.

And again, we got here not long ago and already we've encountered people talking about this level of frustration and this level of division and how sad it is to see Minneapolis be divided in this way.

SCIUTTO: And we should note a number of lawyers have questioned whether it's legal for federal agents to demand proof of citizenship. Julia Vargas Jones, thanks so much. Brianna.

KEILAR: We're joined now by Gil Kerlikowske. He's a former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Gil, thanks for being with us.

First, I just want to get your reaction to the President threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act. Is it warranted in Minneapolis?

GIL KERLIKOWSKE, FORMER COMMISSIONER, U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION: Well, we know that city police departments, I was chief in Seattle for nine years, Los Angeles, Chicago, et cetera. We know that city police departments deal with protests and deal with people all the time. They're experienced in it, they know how to handle it. And as we saw in Illinois, you know, they -- they can handle it well. What we don't see being handled well are these protests in which ICE, Border Patrol and others who have no skill, no training, no background in any of this are -- are acting out.

KEILAR: What do you think about how ICE, and Border Patrol and federal law enforcement writ large are comporting themselves in Minneapolis right now under the leadership of CBP commander, Greg Bovino?

KERLIKOWSKE: Well, we've seen in -- in all of these different cities as the different judges, many judges appointed on either side of the aisle, as -- they look at the evidence, they look at the declarations and they are appalled by the tactics. These are tactics that no legitimate police department would employ, tossing tear gas, body slamming people to the concrete, shooting them with pepper balls, et cetera.

On the other hand, the people have no right to obstruct or interfere or prevent these federal agents from doing their job. And in fact, if that's what is occurring, and in fact has occurred somewhat, they should be subject to arrest. And that is what a police department would do. They'd arrest the perpetrators.

KEILAR: You were an expert witness for protesters and journalists in a case alleging federal authorities used excessive force in the Chicago area. So, I hear you saying that a lot of these tactics, they're not how you think they should be used, but then you also see some people behaving illegally. How are you viewing the use of force in this case in Minneapolis?

KERLIKOWSKE: Well, when people interfere, when people throw fireworks, when people obstruct or attempted to keep an agent from doing their job, they should be arrested. They should be physically arrested. If the crowd is too great and there are too many people, then you can declare it an unlawful assembly as a police department would do, and I think has already done, according to -- to remarks from Chief O'Hara.

And you can tell them that chemical munitions, tear gas, et cetera, are going to be used and that they should immediately leave the area. What -- you don't see that professionalism with ICE and the Border Patrol.

[15:10:06]

KEILAR: So -- and as you mentioned, he did say that, O'Hara, that this was an unlawful assembly. He's also talked about how Minneapolis police have, at times, you know, they are getting involved when things get out of hand, right? They end up finding themselves in the middle of this, not conducting ICE operations, but they're engaged in kind of the chaos that is happening around them. And he said Minneapolis police then become the targets. What kind of line is he having to walk and how do you think he's doing?

KERLIKOWSKE: Well, what happened in Los Angeles, Chicago, and now Minneapolis, is ICE finds itself way over its head, completely unsure of what to do other than to -- to use some level of chemical munitions. And the first thing that ICE does is then say, geez, we'd better call the Chicago police, the Los Angeles police, the Minneapolis police to come and take care of this crowd situation.

So, you know, those are the kind of things that a police department does. They don't have to be involved in immigration. And remember too, that immigration is the sole complete responsibility of the federal government. It is not the responsibility of any state or local government.

KEILAR: You said they're in over their heads. How are you seeing training of these federal officers in what is a lot of video that we're able to see?

KERLIKOWSKE: Yes, there is no training, there's no experience for them in making routine traffic stops. How to position a vehicle, not to stand in front of it, not to get behind it. You don't see them trained. And you can see just an excellent video of the Illinois State Police in Chicago, handling a crowd. They're not wearing masks, they're not -- they -- they have long batons, which is common in crowd control, but they are focused, they are disciplined. And guess what? The crowd listened to them and obeyed their decisions.

Then, you see ICE and the Border Patrol agents just come out in this rag tag, random fashion and being given orders like light them up and tossing tear gas canisters out of cars, et cetera. It is just the difference between night and day between a professional, well-trained, well-led law enforcement organization versus what we're seeing with ICE.

KEILAR: And also listening to law enforcement experts talk about how it's important for the safety of those in law enforcement, trying to deescalate some of these situations. This isn't just about those members of the community, some of whom are breaking the law, some of whom are not. It's about everyone.

Gil Kerlikowske, thank you so much for being with us.

KERLIKOWSKE: Sure.

KEILAR: Still to come, mortgage rates now at their lowest level in more than three years. We do have the latest numbers.

Plus, detectives take the stand in Brendan Banfield's double murder trial. He's accused of killing his wife and another man in a plot with his former au pair.

Then later, four astronauts are back on Earth after a medical issue forced their evacuation from the International Space Station. We have that and much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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[15:17:53]

KEILAR: Some encouraging news today for the real estate market. Mortgage rates have now fallen to their lowest level in more than three years, and industry experts hope that it will help break the stalemate that has kept reluctant sellers from selling and would-be buyers from buying. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich is with us now on this.

All right, Vanessa, how low are we talking?

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS & POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're talking about the lowest level in more than three years. So, the average rate for a mortgage, according to Freddie Mac this week, 6.06 percent. That is down significantly from a year ago when mortgage rates were above 7 percent. And if you look at this line chart on your screen right now, you can see, hopefully, that we're exactly where we were three years ago. The left-hand side of your screen in January of 2023 and the right-hand side of your screen in January of 2026.

That's encouraging news for homebuyers, prospective homebuyers who may have been waiting for mortgage rates to fall back closer to that 6 percent level. Why this is happening? Well, it could be pointing to the fact that President Trump did direct the purchase of $200 billion of mortgage -- mortgage bonds, and that was designed to lower rates. So, some experts saying that is why we're seeing these lower rates today. Real estate agents and experts, as you say, are hoping that this starts to actually move the market. Sellers willing to sell and buyers willing to get into the market.

But what is this going to mean for everyday Americans who may be thinking about buying a home? Well, if you're buying a home, let's say $450,000, you're going to do a 30-year fixed mortgage. You're going to put 20 percent down. Well, a year ago, you were going to pay a monthly payment of about $2,400. Now this year, January 2026, you're looking closer to $2,100, $2,200. That's a savings of $230 a month, and that is significant if you're looking to spend money on other things like groceries or a car payment.

And certainly, for folks who have been wondering if this is doing anything for the market at all.

[15:20:00]

Well, in the month of December, existing home sales actually rose by 5.1 percent compared to November. So, you can see people starting to get off the sidelines.

But Brianna, look at this, median existing home sales still rising, $405,400 is the average home price in the month of December. That means that it's now 30 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases. So, mortgage rates falling, but those housing prices still starting to creep up a little bit. Of course, Brianna, maybe that's the offset. Mortgage rates are falling, so people are more willing to get into the housing market and spend a little bit more, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes, maybe. There are a few reasons to miss the year of 2020, Vanessa, but I will say 6.06 percent being something to celebrate might be one of them, just have to say. All right, Vanessa Yurkevich ...

YURKEVICH: That -- that is for sure. That is for sure. We'll never get back, unfortunately, anytime soon to that 2-, 3 percent. So, 6 percent might sound good to some people.

KEILAR: And that's why I'm enjoying my forever home. Vanessa Yurkevich, thank you so much.

Coming up, testimony resuming in the trial of Brendan Banfield, the man accused of killing his wife and another man. What detectives just revealed about the gruesome murders next.

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[15:25:54]

SCIUTTO: Testimony is back underway in the Brendan Banfield double murder trial, a day after bombshell testimony from his alleged co- conspirator, who also happens to be his former lover, and the family's former au pair. She flipped on the defendant and is now testifying for the prosecution, telling the jury exactly how she and Banfield allegedly plotted to kill his wife and recruited a man to frame for the murder. Today, jurors have heard from multiple witnesses, including the lead

detective. They also viewed various crime scene photos. CNN's Jean Casarez has been covering the story.

Jean, tell us what testimony stood out today. Well, the important point today, and it was all about forensics, right? Because the au pair talked about this master plan that Brendan Banfield had, and it was, believe me, very, very premeditated, if she's telling the truth, and that that was to eliminate his wife. And so, you've got to see what matches up now, because we're in the forensics area, but the first thing that we saw today was a video of Brendan Banfield going to McDonald's on the morning that his wife was murdered by someone.

And that video, going to McDonald's, shows that Brendan Banfield, around 7:30 in the morning, was going there, and according to Juliana, the au pair, he decided to change his whole lifestyle a little bit several weeks before, going out to these fast-food places. And the plan was, he'd go there, she'd call him, say there's an intruder in the house, and he would come up to the bedroom, shoot the intruder, and then, obviously, murder his wife, but make it look like the intruder did it.

The next thing we saw from the crime scene investigator, the lead investigator in this case, was the kitchen. Juliana had said that Brendan said, put the phone in the kitchen so she can't call 911 once we get to the home. That phone was found in the kitchen, in a drawer.

Now, let's go to the bedroom. So much blood in this bedroom, and the forensics will paint a picture of that blood, and that is her phone, Christine, the victim, the wife, the pediatric nurse that was murdered by someone. There on the floor, the blood on the right, that was Christine Banfield's blood, and she was supposed to be sleeping. She was sleeping. How she ended up on the floor remains a mystery at this point, but that blood soaked through the rug and through the -- the foam underneath.

Right there, you're seeing the murder weapon. Question is, who killed her? Who -- that's a knife. That's a knife handle right there. And do you know, Fairfax, Virginia, so close to Washington, D.C., do you know that law enforcement stepped on that knife so much they couldn't find any DNA on it? We just learned that minutes ago. That was the gun. That was a service revolver because Brendan Banfield was an IRS criminal investigator, and he used that service -- that -- that service weapon, we know, to kill the, quote-unquote, "intruder" who they had actually planned to go to the house to pin it all on him.

It's a complicated case. It's forensically important, but this case will continue, they say, for four weeks, and the question is Brendan Banfield facing two charges of aggravated murder to spend his whole life in prison, and this was an IRS criminal investigator, and he's pleaded not guilty to everything.

SCIUTTO: So, the responding police stepped on the murder weapon repeatedly, so you can't get DNA off that.

CASAREZ: Yes. SCIUTTO: I mean, is there other -- are there other examples of mishandling the evidence that might even give a pathway ...

CASAREZ: Yes.

SCIUTTO: ... for the defense?

CASAREZ: Yes, yes, there is. Listen to this, once Brendan gets to the hospital, because his wife, who was stabbed multiple times in the neck, some two and a half inches deep, so he goes to the hospital because she's still alive when she gets there, his blood's all over his hands, and the officer who's with him felt bad for him, so let him wash his hands with soap and water, and we just heard testimony that that would potentially eliminate any DNA that was on his hands.

[15:30:09]

SCIUTTO: Wow.

CASAREZ: And that would be DNA ...