Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) to Resign Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Vance on Iran Negotiations, Ball is in Iran's Court; Husband of Missing Woman in the Bahamas Released Without Charges. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired April 14, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: As far as we can tell, an unprecedented act, two members of Congress announced their resignations on the same day from scandal. This morning, we're standing by to see if there could be more. We have a new interview with one of Eric Swalwell's accusers.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And are they headed back to the negotiating table? There's new reporting overnight that the U.S. and Iran may give talks another shot after the first round failed. So, what does this mean now for this new blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.

And police say a wrong way driver handed over a Barnes and Noble gift card instead of her I.D. When finally pulled over. What happened next, we'll bring that to you.

Sara is out today. I'm Kate Bolduan with John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

BERMAN: Well, this morning, the House is shrinking and the question is, is it done? Two members announced their resignations amid scandal of averting possible efforts to kick them out. I'm not sure we've ever seen anything quite like this in the same day, California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez.

Swalwell, who just two weeks ago was a front mutter in the California governor's race, faces allegations of sexual misconduct from four women, one of whom spoke to CNN in her first public comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLY SAMMARCO, SWALWELL ACCUSER: I think that it was a hundred percent the right thing for him to do. I think it should have been done even sooner, but I'm glad that he did it. I don't think that putting him back into a Congressional office would've been good for anybody. And I don't think those women in his office or on Capitol Hill, in general, should be around him for one more day.

So, I am glad that they won't have to endure that and it's over for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: Swalwell, who had already ended his gubernatorial campaign, has denied the assault allegations, including one former staffer's allegation that he raped her.

Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales admitted an affair with a former senior aide who later died by suicide. There are records of lewd texts he sent before her death.

With us now is Daniella Diaz, a Congressional reporter for NOTUS and our friend of the show. Great to see you this morning.

As I said, two, announcing their resignations on this same day, a pretty unprecedented act going to create quite an atmosphere when Congress shows back up to work this morning.

DANIELLA DIAZ, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, NOTUS: Unprecedented indeed, John. But it does mean that we're not going to see them today. The House is back today, this tonight actually, for the first votes that they've had in the last two weeks. And as you noted, there's been a lot of news just in the last couple of days when it came to Congressman Eric Swalwell, and it really collapsed quickly for him.

Friday was when we saw the sexual misconduct allegations published in CNN, in the San Francisco Chronicle. NOTUS confirmed, I confirmed some of those allegations. Then on Sunday, we saw him drop out of the gubernatorial race, saying that he wanted to focus on his family. He also apologized to his wife and, in many ways, admitting that maybe he did something, but saying that he was going to defend himself against serious false allegations.

Then last night, we did not see this coming, he decided to resign from Congress. And then shortly thereafter, Tony Gonzales decided to resign from Congress for similar allegations for having an affair with a member of a staff who committed suicide.

This was going to be the drama of today where we were going to see their colleagues force expulsion votes to remove them from Congress. John, that's not going to happen anymore because they decided to resign. They took matters into their own hands.

BERMAN: Yes. And, of course, there's also this issue now of balance as well, one Democrat, one Republican. It might mean there is no more action. There are two other members, one Democrat and one Republican, who've been to the crosshairs for some time in terms of ethics as well.

Daniella Diaz, thank you so much for your reporting on this. Thank you very much. Kate?

[07:05:00]

BOLDUAN: So, this morning, new images are coming in from inside of Iran, protesters in the streets of Tehran as the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports takes hold. Could the two sides be heading back to the negotiating table already is a big question right now. A source says that the Trump administration is eyeing a potential second round of in-person talks before the ceasefire expires in about a week.

The first round, as we well know, did not go well. Vice President J.D. Vance, he left those talks after 21 hours. And now J.D. Vance is accusing Iran of economic terrorism for its own efforts to block traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. He did though leave the door open for more talks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: We must have their conclusive commitment to not develop a nuclear weapon. And I think that if the Iranians are willing to meet us there, then this can be a very, very good deal for both countries. If they're not willing to meet us there, that's up to them. That's their decision. And, really, the ball is very much in their court.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: We're also now learning more about what happened in round one of those talks. The source says the United States proposed a 20- year pause on Iran's enrichment of uranium, and a U.S. official says that Iran responded by offering five years, which the U.S. rejected.

And more developments on another major front of this war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to take part in talks today in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, this over what is and is not involved in the ceasefire.

Both the U.S. and Israel have said that Lebanon, Hezbollah, Iran's proxy in that country, that they are not included in the ceasefire deal. Iran and Pakistan, who helped broker the deal though say that it was. So, this is a big focus as well today.

CNN's Alayna Treene is live this morning at the White House for us. And, Alayna, you helped bring forth and break some of the news on this reporting of this potential second round of talks. How potential are they still this morning?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Look, so when I spoke with this person, familiar with all of these discussions, essentially, this is their hope that they could get a second round of talks. I'm told that, internally, Trump administration officials are looking at different locations and potential dates with the goal of trying to have another in-person meeting again with the top officials who were there in Islamabad on Saturday, people like the vice president, J.D. Vance, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, in person with the Iranians before this two-week ceasefire expires next week on April 21st.

Now, again, they are preliminary talks, and I'm told that's because they need to make sure that when they meet in person a second time, when they have all of these U.S. officials go abroad to have this meeting, they want to ensure that a deal can be had.

Now, of course, we saw Saturday's talks stretched 21 hours, a marathon session. From my conversations with Trump administration officials, Kate, they said they weren't expecting it to go that long and that there was some progress made. But, really, at the end of the day, and you kind of heard the vice president say this, during that interview you shared, he felt like perhaps the Iranian officials in the room with them face-to-face did not have enough authority to make some of the decisions that the Trump team was really pushing on them.

And so they're hoping that when a second round could potentially happen, if it potentially happens, they will be in a much closer place. There will be a lot more preparation and pre-work that could go into it to really outline the contours of what a final agreement could look like.

Now, you mentioned some of this, but some of the issues that we were told that came up during that Saturday session related to, one, the moratorium on enriched uranium, you mentioned it, but that 20-year moratorium the U.S. put forward, the Iranians coming back with a five- year one. And, really, it is the enriched uranium that has been a true sticking point here, of course, also this commitment that they want from Iran to say that they would never have a nuclear weapon.

All to say the Trump team does seem more optimistic than they had in the aftermath of that meeting on Saturday that a deal can be had. But, of course, there's so much going on here. We have to really see how the Iranians respond, especially as we're seeing this now U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, really designed to put an economic stranglehold on the Iranians. We'll have to see if that leverage is enough to push this forward.

BOLDUAN: Yes, that's for sure. Alayna, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. John?

BERMAN: So, a man released from custody without charges now after his wife allegedly fell overboard from a small boat in the Bahamas.

New images of a suspect hurling a Molotov cocktail had OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home. The man now charged with attempted murder.

And this morning, Phil Collins can feel it coming in the air. Billy Idol, well, it makes him want to yell. Two of the new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

[07:10:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: This morning, there is news coming from the Bahamas. Brian Hooker has now been released without charges after being taken into custody nearly a week ago for questioning in connection with his wife's disappearance. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEREL BUTLER, ATTORNEY FOR BRIAN HOOKER: I am happy to see that justice is really working in this country, right?

[07:15:01] They had no evidence and they had no choice but to release him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Brian Hooker told investigators that his wife, Lynette, fell overboard while the two were sailing in rough waters in the Bahamas, and that he lost sight of her.

Let's go over to CNN's Dianne Gallagher. She's been following this from the very beginning. And, Dianne, what are you learning now that we know of his release?

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Kate, Brian Hooker didn't speak to reporters. He didn't answer any questions when he left the police station on Monday night. His attorney said that he needs time to, quote, de-stress from this horrible experience that he's very emotional right now. But the 58-year-old American was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with his wife Lynette's disappearance.

He was questioned multiple times over the five days that he was detained. He was never charged with anything. And Brian Hooker has maintained his innocence the entire time.

Now, police said that the Department of Public Prosecution recommended no charges pending further investigation.

As soon as we got word that Brian was going to be released, I reached out to Lynette's daughter, Carly Ellsworth, who has been pushing for information the entire time since her mother was listed as missing. She told me, quote, as long as there has been a thorough investigation into all of the facts, then I'll have to live with the fact that it's an accident. But I don't think this is the end.

She told me all she wants is truth and closure. She's headed to the Bahamas later this week because her mom is still missing. And that is important to note that Lynette has still not been found. That's something that Brian's attorney continued to press on as well, that she just is still out there somewhere.

And now Brian originally told police that Lynette fell off this eight foot hard bottom dingy during rough weather while the couple was headed to their yacht off Elbow Key. He said she had the kill switch, which means that the ding lost power as he lost sight of Lynette while the current carried her away. He then sort of paddled and drifted a few miles across the water until he beached about 4:00 in the morning on Easter Sunday. That's when he reported his wife missing.

Lynette's family has said the entire time the story just doesn't add up for them, adding the fact that they say that they had a sometimes turbulent relationship. Brian has denied allegations of past domestic abuse from Lynette's family.

Police say they are still looking for information, so anybody who may know what happened to Lynette that night are encouraged to contact authorities. The U.S. Coast Guard also has an active criminal investigation.

BOLDUAN: Yes, still so much going on here and still she is missing, as you said. Diane, thank you very much.

Ahead for us, an officer asks a woman for her driver's license after pulling her over for driving the wrong way, and what she then hands over may have helped land her in trouble.

And floodwater up to the porch, the absolute mess in the Midwest this week that could bring more tornadoes, more hail, and even more flooding.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BERMAN: It is draft season, the WNBA up first with their draft overnight.

Let's get ready to CNN's Coy Wire. Who was the top pick, Coy?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, thanks, John. To the new collective bargaining agreement, this draft class is cashing in the top pick, pulling in half a million in year one alone. Seven times what last year's number one Paige Bueckers earned, same dream, same spotlight, very different paycheck, a sign of progress.

Azzi Fudd, UConn's sharp shooter taken number one overall by the Dallas Wings. Her journey as resilient as it is remarkable. Hugs from mom and dad because behind every draft night moment, John, is a lifetime of sacrifice.

Fudd reunited with former teammate last year's top pick Paige Buecker's in Dallas. And now record books too, a $2.2 million deal, richest rookie contract in W history. Three-time All-American from TCU Olivia Miles went second overall to the Lynx. Spain's Awa Fam Thiam, third overall to the Storm. And then, John, an avalanche of National Champs, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice going forward five and six, UCLA with a record six players taken in a single draft.

In the NHL, pure drama. The Carolina Hurricanes, the east top seed, but the Philadelphia Flyers said, we're not looking at your resume. Overtime thriller, John, a shootout, Tyson Foerster would hit the game winner, sealing a 3-2 and punching Philly's ticket to the playoffs, first time in six years. Let that breath for a second. Six years of waiting, grinding, doubting, and now dancing, red hot since the Olympic break. And next, just a little thing called a battle for Pennsylvania against the Pittsburgh Penguins, rivalry, history, bad blood. You don't watch it, you feel it.

Finally, John, drama in Baltimore, Orioles Manager Craig Albernaz hit with a foul ball from his zone guy, Jeremiah Jackson, in the fifth inning. Fortunately, he was okay, reemerged with a big red mark on his cheek in the next inning to see none other than Jackson say, this one's for you, coach, a grand slam. Baltimore was down 7-2 at the time, but that changed everything. Jackson would hit another homer in the eighth to seal a wild Baltimore comeback win 9-7.

MLB action is heating up and TBS has it covered all season long. Watch Alex Bregman and the Cubs battle Bryce Harper and the Philly's tonight at 6:00 P.M. Eastern on TBS and streaming on HBO Max.

John, we will not talk about what happened to your Red Sox yesterday against the Twins.

[07:25:02]

Give that man a tissue, please.

BERMAN: It was terrible. I stay -- I mean, it like gets into my bedtime. I stay up to watch the games and then Crochet gets just shellacked, the first two innings I've ever seen 11.

WIRE: 11 runs.

BERMAN: A happy subject.

WIRE: 11 runs against your ace.

BERMAN: The WNBA draft made me wonder, I don't think I've ever asked you this, were you drafted when you were coming out of college for the NFL?

WIRE: I was third round to the Buffalo Bills, not your New England Patriots, John, but that would have been fun. Yes, third, 97th pick pverall, and that's when I had hair.

BERMAN: What did it feel like to get that call?

WIRE: Literal dream come true, started bawling like a baby on the couch with mom, dad, brother and sister. And, yes, that draft's coming just around the corner. So, I'll be reliving some of those moments and we'll be talking about it right here with you in the morning.

BERMAN: Excellent, very good. I just wanted to know. Coy Wire, thank you very much.

President Trump warns gas prices could be even higher by the midterm elections. We've got new reporting on where they're going right now.

And after an outcry, safety change is coming to Roblox, one of the most popular games out there. What this means for your children.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]