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Interview with Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI): U.S. Eyes Potential Second Round of Talks with Iran; U.S. Blockades Iranian Ports as Tehran Essentially Closes Strait; Reps. Swalwell and Gonzales to Resign Amid Sexual Misconduct Claims; Officials Investigating ICE Over Wrongful U.S. Citizen Arrest. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired April 14, 2026 - 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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FATHER EDWARD BECK, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST: On his first day, and Augustine created the just war theory, and Trump is saying this war is the just war. The Pope is saying no. So this image of him kneeling at the tomb of the one who created this just war theory, which goes against what Trump is saying, I think was a very important one and a very divinely serendipitous one. What are the chances that he's going to be there at that tomb on that day when all this emerges?

So it was interesting to me, and I think it's a wonderful mission of him to go to these countries and choose these countries and speak as forcefully as he is.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely, it is great to see you.

BECK: Always great to see you.

BOLDUAN: Thank you so much for being here.

A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Will there be a new round of talks? New reporting on signs that the U.S. and Iran are positioning maybe to head back to the table.

Breaking this morning, the president weighs in on his teleporting FEMA official, the one who says he teleported to a Waffle House and talked with Satan on a walk through Spain. CNN called and talked to the president about it. Wait until you hear what he said.

And then violent storms tear through the center of the United States with multiple tornadoes, torrential rain, and hail. Today could be even worse where those storms are headed now.

Sara is out. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

BOLDUAN: All right, take a look. This is from just overnight. Protests erupting in Tehran as the U.S. blockade tightens around Iran's ports near the Strait of Hormuz. Though this morning, there may be some renewed hope that a deal is possible to end this war. A source says that the Trump administration is now considering the potential of a second round of in-person talks before this ceasefire expires in about a week from now. The first round, though, ended with Vice President J.D. Vance walking out of these marathon 21-hour talks, and obviously those did not end well. He now says that there was though some progress, though it's up to Iran to make the next move.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The president wants the Iranian people to thrive and succeed. He has had his negotiation team put on the table a serious proposal. The ball is in Iran's court.

Did we make progress? Yes, but we're going to find out from the Iranians whether we can make that ultimate bit of progress that gets us to a big deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: We're also overnight learning about what was proposed, what was discussed in that round one of negotiations on the central issue of a nuclear program. A source says that the United States has proposed a 20-year pause on Iran's enrichment of uranium. A U.S. officials said Iran responded by offering five years, and the U.S. rejected that.

Also today in Washington on an important part of this ceasefire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to take part in the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in more than 40 years. The U.S. and Israel say that Lebanon and have maintained that Lebanon and Hezbollah, Iran's proxy in that country, that they are not part of the ceasefire deal that they struck with Iran. Iran has maintained that it was and needs to be brought under the umbrella of the ceasefire in order for it to be maintained -- John.

BERMAN: Right with us now, Congressman Gabe Amo, a Democrat from Rhode Island. He is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman, good to see you this morning.

So the United States reportedly put forth a proposal at the talks in Islamabad for a 20-year pause on any uranium enrichment by Iran. Iran responded and said, how about five years? How would you feel about a deal somewhere in the middle of that?

REP. GABE AMO (D-RI): Well, look, I think this highlights the foolhardiness of the administration for abandoning diplomacy at the beginning and launching a war of choice. There should certainly be no capacity for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. That's why President Obama had negotiated the JCPOA, that we had verifiable monitoring that was necessary to prevent that from happening.

This is, again, going to be a delay in Iran's capacity. So look, anything that we can do in that regard. However, the choice to go to war has inflicted a ton of harm on the world, including the American people. We've lost 13 service members and we're seeing gas prices at a daily average of over $4. So again, was it all worth it? Did this need to be the path forward?

It doesn't seem to me that that is the case and that's why this war needs to end as soon as possible.

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BERMAN: Under the Obama administration, the deal did allow for some low-level uranium enrichment. This reportedly would not be any uranium enrichment either for a five-year or 20-year period there. What's your feeling on the blockade, the United States saying that no ships leaving Iranian ports can traverse the Strait of Hormuz?

AMO: Well, look, this is a complicated and difficult thing to execute. A blockade is certainly something to pursue if we have the ability to do it without reigniting conflict. And that is my large concern here.

This war of choice from President Trump has launched us into great uncertainty and frankly real economic chaos for the American people. The global markets that are impacted are hitting us right at home with high grocery prices and high costs at the gas pump. And so we need to have thoughtfulness in whatever next steps they take.

But Iran still possesses a significant leverage and that's what they are demonstrating now. And we have to end this war as quickly as possible.

BERMAN: You're heading back to Congress today for votes in the House after a couple of weeks. Really an unprecedented day. Two members have announced their resignation, Republican Tony Gonzalez and Democrat Eric Swalwell, both for different types of sexual misconduct allegations.

A number of women have come forward accusing Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including one who accuses him of rape. Given the number of women coming forward, there have been questions about whether or not anyone in the Democratic Party or House leadership knew. What questions do you have this morning?

AMO: Well, first, I want to address the brave women who raised their voices, who decided that it was important and it was the right thing to do to demonstrate a great amount of courage to speak their truth. And the resignations were necessary actions. We cannot have a workplace that is taking care of the nation's business, right, with the character challenges, the character errors, the character flaws that we've seen in these two individuals.

And so, look, Congress as a whole needs to look forward and investigate in every aspect of misconduct and the transparency that's necessary. That's the work that Congress has to do moving forward.

BERMAN: You're sitting in Providence, Rhode Island. I think Providence, excuse me, I think Rhode Island by percentage of the population is the most Catholic state in the country. You are Catholic.

When you saw the president's social media image, which he later took down of himself, and I think we can show it here, depicting himself, well, he says it's not Jesus. He says, you know, this was out of admiration for ER or the pit or something like that. He says this was, you know, he's a doctor here, but looks like Jesus to a lot of people here.

When you saw this, what was your reaction?

AMO: Well, look, this is characteristic of Donald Trump. This demonstrates his lack of fitness for the office. Look, he views himself as the divine.

But I think that what we've seen in the follow-up, both from sort of rank and file members of Congress, my constituents, and hopefully my Republican colleagues who tend to use faith as a weapon, I hope they see that this isn't only blasphemous and immoral, but this shows that Donald Trump cannot execute the high role and responsibility of the presidency.

Look, as a Catholic, you know, as someone who has sat in mass contemplating the importance of my connection to faith, I just see this as another example of why we need to pray for my Republican colleagues to get some backbone to stop Donald Trump from the nonsense that we've seen. Because it's not only hurting us, you know, when he posts a meme, it's hurting the economic livelihoods of people.

It's cruel, cutting healthcare, but yet saying that he's preferring a doctor. That doesn't make sense. And that's something that we just need to put a stop on.

These heinous actions from this administration to hurt the American people at the gas pump, at the doctor's office, and at the grocery store just have to stop. And that's not something a person of faith does.

BERMAN: Congressman Gabe Amo, great to see you this morning. Thank you very much -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Eric Swalwell resigns, as they were just discussing, from Congress over sexual misconduct allegations. One of his accusers is speaking to CNN in a new interview. We'll bring you more of what she has to say.

And there are new images of a suspect hurling a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. That man now charged with attempted murder and arson, and authorities are sharing new details about what they believe was his motive.

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And there's also news coming in from the Bahamas. The husband of the woman who is still missing after she allegedly fell overboard has now been released from custody. We've got the latest.

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BOLDUAN: This morning, the House is returning after a two-week recess. Overnight, they lost two members, and in the matter of just one hour. California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez both announcing plans to step down, as both had faced the very real potential of being expelled from the chamber.

Swalwell is facing a number of explosive allegations. A former staffer accusing him of rape. Three other women alleging sexual misconduct, including him sending unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos.

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The congressman has denied the allegations, and one of his accusers is speaking to CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLY SAMMARCO, SWALWELL ACCUSER: I think that it was 100 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 have been good for anybody.

Nobody else is responsible for what happened to him. Eric Swalwell is responsible for Eric Swalwell, not the media, and definitely not the women.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Less than an hour after Swalwell announced his resignation, so did Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez. He's accused of having an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide, a relationship that he denied until he didn't.

Joining us now, Andrew Desiderio, a senior congressional reporter for Punchbowl News. It's good to see you. So there's a lot that unfolded in the span of just really one hour between Swalwell and Gonzalez and their announcements. What are you learning about what happened behind the scenes and how this went down?

ANDREW DESIDERIO, SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, PUNCHBOWL NEWS: Well, we reported this morning in our AM newsletter that former Speaker Nancy Pelosi actually had a big role in pushing Congressman Swalwell to actually step down, to resign from Congress, which shows not only the influence she continues to have long after she's been the Speaker of the House and the leader of the House Democratic Caucus, of course, but it also speaks to this idea that members of Congress do not like to take what are considered difficult votes politically, right?

We don't know whether an expulsion vote of Eric Swalwell would have been successful. It requires two-thirds of the House in such a vote. But what this does, essentially, is it prevents that vote from happening in the first place, makes it easier for the rest of the members of Congress.

In the case of Tony Gonzalez, obviously, that was the same, but the Republican leadership initially did not handle it the same way because they essentially leaned on his announcement, saying he's just not going to run for re-election in 2026, but stay in office. So this was essentially a pairing, a one-for-one, in which you have one Democrat and one Republican resigning, and therefore it won't affect the margins, for now at least, in the House of Representatives.

BOLDUAN: Yes, and there's also, I mean, could it be two-for-two? I mean, what is this, what you've learned has happened, and how that impacts kind of the other possible expulsions that have been talked about with two other members, a Democrat and a Republican?

DESIDERIO: Yes, Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick from Florida has been found guilty by the House Ethics Committee of corruption-related charges. She's also been indicted by a federal court, and so they could be charging toward an expulsion vote on that matter. The Ethics Committee is still looking into it, so it's easier for the leadership to just sort of defer to what the Ethics Committee is doing and wait until that process is done. But frankly, a lot of members are ready to vote on expulsion for her.

On the other side, there's another Republican, Corey Mills, also from Florida, who has been accused of assaulting a girlfriend, for example, and a whole bunch of other things. And there are Democrats and some Republicans, including some Republicans from Florida as well, who have said they would vote to expel Corey Mills from the chamber as well.

So, as you mentioned, this could be a two-for-two situation, which doesn't end up impacting the very thin, razor-thin majority that Republicans currently have in that chamber.

BOLDUAN: Quite a moment when you add it all up. Andrew, it's good to see you. Thank you so much for your reporting. I really appreciate it.

So it was a moment that went viral during the immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Agents seen walking a man out of his home in freezing temperatures wearing just shorts and Crocs, and now officials are investigating that arrest, calling it a possible kidnapping case.

And new this morning as well, President Trump is now responding after a high-ranking FEMA official -- remember this video popped up, where he said that he had teleported to a Waffle House.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This morning, a legal standoff in Minnesota. Ramsey County officials have launched a criminal investigation into ICE agents over what they call the wrongful detention of a U.S. citizen. There is video of the man dragged from his home in sub-freezing weather, barely dressed.

Local authorities say the agents had no warrant, no probable cause, accusing them of kidnapping an innocent man. The Department of Homeland Security calls the new Minnesota probe a political stunt.

Let's get right to the scene as Whitney Wild has been covering this. What's going on here, Whitney?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, this centers on a case involving a man named ChongLy Scott Thao. You see him there. This was January 18th, and this really set off, you know, a firestorm. It caught the attention of lawmakers from Minnesota as well.

And it is important to understand the context here. ChongLy Scott Thao is a U.S. citizen. And as you point out, the Ramsey County attorney says that to their knowledge, based on their investigation, there was no warrant to go inside his home. And so the way that they have framed this is that they believe that they are now investigating criminal action by those immigration agents, saying that those agents broke into his home, handcuffed him, and then took him away from the home and interviewed him for about an hour before returning him home. And, again, they're saying that this is potential criminal action by these immigration agents.

They are now sending what's called a TUI demand, which is effectively a letter from local prosecutors to the federal government to try to get as much information as possible about this incident directly from federal officials. So far, they say they have very little information. They do not even know the identities of those immigration agents.

Here's more from Ramsey County Attorney John Choi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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JOHN CHOI, RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY: This case involves a felonious allegation of kidnapping. Illegal detainment, right? False imprisonment. I also want to make it very clear that we are not going to let this go. And what that means is that this could take a long time.

And I believe that the statute of limitations in these cases can be tolled. And the reason why it can be tolled is if there's fraud or concealment done by the actors that make it difficult for us to get to the truth, then we will use every legal argument that we have to make sure that we will find what happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILD: Choi went on to say that that is just one case they're investigating. They say they have another active investigation underway as well, and they have three more preliminary investigations. And when the question arises, what is the authority of the local prosecutor to investigate in this way immigration agents? They say, frankly, they have an obligation to their constituency to ensure that they are investigating and enforcing Minnesota laws, including their criminal statute.

Again, DHS is saying that this is just an effort to demonize those agents while they're facing an enormous increase in threats against them -- John. BERMAN: Just one new example of the lingering fallout from the federal efforts in Minnesota this winter. Whitney Wild, thank you for sharing your reporting on this.

The number three official at FEMA has an extremely important job. He also says he once teleported to a Waffle House. CNN called the president to ask about this. This morning we've got new reporting on what he said.

Torrential rainfall, tornadoes and hail, the severe storms tearing through the Midwest, why forecasters say today could be even more dangerous.

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