Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
At Least 21 Dead After Tornado-Spawning Storms Pummel Central U.S.; Trump Says He Will Speak With Putin By Phone On Monday; Axios Releases Full Audio Of Robert Hur's 2023 Interview With Biden. Combs' Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Ventura Ends 4 Days Of Explosive Testimony; DHS: In "Very Beginning Phases" Of Immigrant Reality Show Pitch Review; Leaders Set To Tee Off Soon For 3rd Round Of PGA Championship. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired May 17, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
[12:00:00]
PAYAL KAPADIA, DIRECTOR, "ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT": -- sort of world is so all-consuming that it's very difficult sometimes to think that there's another way.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN ANCHOR: And as she judges films at Cannes, Payal Kapadia is certainly paving her own way.
That is all we have time for this week. Don't forget, you can find all our shows online as podcasts at CNN.com/audio and on all other major platforms.
I'm Christiane Amanpour in London. Thank you for watching and see you again next week.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this Saturday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
And we're following two breaking stories at this hour, violent weather, slicing a path of destruction across several states.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a tornado, man. We're in a tornado.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
WHITFIELD: Incredible tornadoes carving a deadly path through parts of the South and Midwest. And moments ago, President Donald Trump announcing he will speak by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday about ending the war in Ukraine. Much more on that in a moment. But first, back to the breaking news story on the rising death toll from those devastating storms. At least 21 people are dead in Missouri and Kentucky after a violent tornado spawning storm system hit the central U.S. overnight. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says at least 14 people died in the southeastern part of his state and he expects that number to climb.
The storms leveled homes, uprooted trees. Video from hard hit Laurel County shows first responders searching through piles of debris and mangled vehicles looking for victims.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
LEO REDNOUR, TORNADO VICTIM: I went in the house and I looked at the side window. And when I got -- when I started on the side window, it looked like all that stuff was coming from up. And so you couldn't see -- I couldn't see the tail or nothing. But it just lifted -- like he's lifting everything up. So I got in the hallway and put my hands over everybody. And it started blowing windows out.
And you talk about praying. I prayed harder than anything I could ever do.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
WHITFIELD: That came after a devastating tornado hit Missouri Friday afternoon, killing at least five. Two other storm related deaths were reported in another part of the state. Fire officials in St. Louis say about 500 first responders are working around the clock.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
CHIEF DENNIS JENKERSON, ST. LOUIS FIRE DEPT.: This is going to be a very exhausting and extensive search pattern. Right now, we're still in -- we're going to search every building tonight. We will be on it.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
WHITFIELD: The widespread storms also brought down power lines across a dozen states from Michigan to Alabama.
I want to bring in now CNN Correspondent Julia Vargas Jones, who is on the ground right now in St. Louis. So, Julia, tell us what you're seeing there. We see trees are down, power lines. We can hear the, you know, responder, crews behind you. What else is happening?
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I'm sure you can hear them. I'll show them in a second, Fred. We're in a residential area of St. Louis. A lot of structures here, severely damaged. Starting over here, I spoke with a resident who told me this building used to have another floor on top.
We're seeing so much debris, so many bricks, parts of buildings. And a lot of it is residents already trying to clean up, trying to see how they can possibly move back in their homes. Just across the street here, this is a church -- local church here. Lots of heavy machinery trying to move some of that debris out of the way.
Some of it had been on top of buildings. All these big pieces of trees flying up. We are hearing estimates that this storm last night reached speeds of 100 miles an hour. A lot of residents here, you see these lines. We've been speaking to some of them. They're trying to come home.
They had left -- some of them had left, and I'm trying to see what's back here. We're hearing, Fred, this might take a while to get back into these homes. A lot of broken windows, a lot of places that are having to be covered up because they could be expecting rain still, some of it over here on Washington Street.
We saw three or four different crews trying to repair and just clear so they can see the path back into their homes. The destruction and the randomness of it all is just so striking because you see some homes that have not been touched and some that have and that are not going to be livable for quite a long time. Some car destroyed here as well, entire streets.
Come on, let's take a look down here. This is Washington Street where we spoke to a bunch of different residents. And I'm hearing from them.
[12:05:08]
Basically, they've been here since last night trying to clear this path. Although the mayor did say not long ago for residents to please connect with local authorities before they go into places like this because it could be dangerous. Around an estimate of 5,000 structures were damaged here. And in St. Louis, as we said, five deaths in this area.
This is what a lot of the streets look like here. We're down power lines, folks trying to get in and those that were able to board up their homes now trying to see what is left of them. And right next door, this is so striking. A building that's perfectly fine. Again, that randomness of it getting to people just feels -- it feels quite that all of this is up to fate.
And as this storm has calmed down (technical difficulty), people pick up in other parts of the country moving southeast now, southwest now from here towards Texas, where we are expecting more strong winds to come in the coming days.
WHITFIELD: And then Julia, while we have a signal with you, hopefully we can keep that signal, what about searches for people?
JONES: Yes, those searches are still ongoing, Fred. We just heard from officials that they will continue to look for those who are still missing. So many families still wondering about their loved ones and also a warning, especially from Kentucky, that the number of deaths could still go up.
Like I said, five of those deaths here in St. Louis, seven in the state of Missouri and 14 in Kentucky. So those numbers could still continue to climb. WHITFIELD: All right, Julia Vargas Jones, we'll keep checking with you there from St. Louis, Missouri. Appreciate it.
All right, the threat for severe weather is not over this weekend as another system is developing around Texas and the Deep South. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam has the latest forecast. Derek, what are you seeing?
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It has been a devastating and unfortunately deadly past 24 hours across the Mid-South. And it's all thanks to this storm system that has fueled severe weather. And we're not done yet. We're actually in the midst of a multi-day severe weather outbreak.
And this has produced nearly 30 confirmed tornadoes just in the past 24 hours. But look at all the wind and hail damage reports from the system as it roared across the southeastern U.S. So where do we have a chance of severe weather for the day today? The storms that brought the severe weather to the Mid-South are really starting to lose their punch.
But we do anticipate more severe weather to develop later this afternoon across central portions of Texas. So heads up, Dallas. Also an area, slight risk across the interior of New England. So that's an area we'll monitor very closely as well.
Here's a look at the time frame. Check by this evening, dinner time. In and around Dallas, the Fort Worth region, we could see those thunderstorms roll through. The potential there for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds certainly exists. And then that moves eastward. But this just continues our multi-day severe weather threat tomorrow across the Mid-Plains.
Then we look towards Kansas City, Wichita, and Oklahoma City for Monday, the start of the work week. And that chance of severe weather shifts to once again the Deep South as we head into Tuesday of next week. This is certainly living up to the busiest time of the year for tornadoes.
You can see, climatologically speaking, May is the most active month for tornadoes. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Eek (ph) month. All right, Derek Van Dam, thank you so much. We'll check back with you.
All right, now to our other breaking story, President Trump just moments ago posted that he is planning to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Monday.
CNN Correspondent Julia Benbrook is at the White House for us today. Julia, this announcement following Trump's comments this week where he said that only he and Putin can end this war. So what is planned or expected for this phone call?
JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Donald Trump announced what he hopes will be a productive day of discussions on Monday. He says that he will be having a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin at 10:00 a.m. And then following that phone call, he plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as various members of NATO.
Now, these conversations come after representatives from Ukraine and Russia had their first face-to-face talks in three years. They had direct talks at a lower level than expected, but they were able to agree to a prisoner swap, however, did not seem to make any significant progress when it comes to a peace deal.
And that meeting took place after there was a lot of speculation on who might be attending that meeting. At one point, there were thoughts that Zelenskyy, Putin, and maybe even Trump could have a seat at that table.
[12:10:06]
While Zelenskyy ended up sending his defense minister to have these conversations, he criticized Putin for not sending any real decision makers to have that conversation. Now, the U.S. has said that they don't believe that there will be a significant breakthrough on a ceasefire until Trump and Putin can have a conversation.
As you mentioned, while speaking with reporters in the Middle East, Trump said this. He said, quote, "I don't believe anything is going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together". Now the Europeans and the U.S. have been really trying to put pressure on Putin to accept a 30-day ceasefire deal.
And following those direct talks that took place on Friday, Zelenskyy said that it is crucial that pressure be maintained on Russia. Now, again, Trump said that he hopes that these conversations will be productive and that there will be a ceasefire deal come out of it. He expects to speak on the phone with Putin first at 10:00 a.m. on Monday.
Now, he did speak with Zelenskyy following those direct talks as well. So these have been ongoing conversations. But he's put a lot of pressure and a lot of anticipation on this conversation with his Russian counterpart.
WHITFIELD: All right, Julia Benbrook at the White House, thanks so much.
All right, we're also learning this morning that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is discussing Ukraine with the Vatican while he is there for Pope Leo's inaugural mass tomorrow.
With us now, Jane Harman, she's a former Democratic U.S. representative from California and a former ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. Congresswoman Harman, always great to see you.
JANE HARMAN, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (D-CA): Thank you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: So how much faith do you have in this scheduled phone call for Monday between Trump and Putin?
HARMAN: Well, President Trump is coming off a high in the Gulf States and feels very confident that he can singularly change all these conflicts. But I think a lot of skepticism is in order. Vladimir Putin has been playing Trump for a long time. And I can't see how he would be interested.
I don't think he is interested in making a deal that would involve in any way compromising what he has and what he aspires to. What does he aspire to? All of Ukraine and then Europe following that. I mean, that's the goal he's outlined for years and years and years.
So he's increasing his arsenal of things to use in the war with Ukraine. A ceasefire would give him even more opportunity. He's working with China, Iran and North Korea to get even more stuff, drones and other things. And so I just -- I don't see this.
And I can imagine Trump would threaten him with secondary sanctions. That's a good thing to do. If he follows through on secondary sanctions, something Congress is interested in, that would have a big impact on Russia's economy, which is not that strong.
So, you know, I'm for that. But I don't see a deal coming out of this. I think it's a very different situation from what Trump was doing with the Arab states. It's interesting that Peggy Noonan today says Trump's foreign policy in the Middle East is hates war, loves gold. And that seemed to work out pretty well.
WHITFIELD: Right.
HARMAN: But Israel is still a problem. Iran, no deal yet. But some progress, I would say, in Syria against the Houthis, India, Pakistan. So I would give him some wins. But I think this one is going to be much tougher than he thinks.
WHITFIELD: Trump's approach, particularly in the Middle East, is much more transactional business deals.
HARMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Right. Where the apex and central to his mission. So as it pertains to Putin, what possibly -- and I know you said you, you know, you have low expectations about what could really be offered. But what would Trump be offering that would further incentivize or that would incentivize Putin at all to whether it be to commit to a ceasefire or completely end the war?
I mean, because the president is talking that he can very confidently end it all. But what could he possibly say to a Putin to change the tone and the approach that Putin has on his war in Ukraine?
HARMAN: Well, no sanctions, other kinds of preferences, deals for critical minerals, things of that kind to get Putin to back off some of his claims. But unless, first of all, Ukraine agrees, let's understand Ukraine is the aggrieved party. Russia invaded a sovereign country. And there's just no controversy about that, except perhaps Donald Trump may not agree with that. But certainly the whole world agrees with that.
[12:15:04]
He could offer all that. But then Putin would have to give up or at least temporarily put aside his aspirations to a greater Russia, you know, make Russia great again, which he's had for his --
WHITFIELD: Oh, darn, we just lost our signal there.
OK, no, you're back. OK, yay.
HARMAN: I'm sorry I lost you. Even if it happens, I don't see Putin following through. I mean, if there is a deal, but there is no way to police the border that Russia agrees to and Ukraine agrees to, Russia is just going to move on into Ukraine later. He's violated every deal he's made since 1994 to respect Ukraine's sovereignty.
WHITFIELD: So what do you suppose European allies are thinking now or what kind of hopes do they have on this phone call between a Trump and a Putin? Do they feel that that would undermine whatever progress they feel they made while they were visiting together collectively with the president of Ukraine in Kyiv just barely a week ago?
HARMAN: Well, I think they feel they need to be at the table. They are helping Zelenskyy have better cards to talk in Trump speak. They really are. And NATO matters here because NATO is the next move after Russia moves through Ukraine. So they have skin in the game.
They also are trying to do more and they need to do more to provide aid to Ukraine. They can provide military assets, financial aid, et cetera, which Ukraine desperately needs. So I think they're hoping that this this phone call, I think, followed by another call with Zelenskyy and maybe with them, will put something on the table that they can agree to.
But I'm skeptical. I just don't see Putin that interested. And Putin's got a lot of cards. He just had a major military celebration with Xi Jinping there. I mean, Trump's now going to have one. He's trying to match it. But I wonder if he's going to have Putin and Xi Jinping at the one in the United States. I wonder how that would play politically --
WHITFIELD: Oh boy.
HARMAN: -- in the United States if he even tried.
WHITFIELD: That would be interesting indeed, to say the very least.
All right, Congresswoman --
HARMAN: I'm not recommending it.
WHITFIELD: I know you're not. I know you're not. But that's an interesting idea out there.
All right, Congresswoman Jane Harman, great to see you. Thank you so much.
HARMAN: You too. Take care.
WHITFIELD: All right, still ahead, newly released audio from the now closed probe over Joe Biden's handling of classified documents. You'll hear what the former president sounded like in his 2023 interview with the special counsel who described him as an elderly man with a poor memory.
Plus, after nearly 20 hours of dramatic testimony from Cassie Ventura in the Sean Combs sex trafficking trial, a former member of one of Combs music groups takes the stand. What to expect when testimony resumes on Monday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:22:47]
WHITFIELD: Axios has now released the full audio of then-President Joe Biden's 2023 interview with Former Special Counsel Robert Hur. The tapes lasting more than five hours were part of the now closed probe over Biden's handling of classified documents.
The interview led her to describe Biden as an elderly man with a poor memory. Transcripts of those discussions were released last year. But these are the first audio recordings of the interview to be made public.
CNN's Arlette Saenz is joining us now with more on this. Arlette, tell us more.
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, these new audio recordings obtained by Axios really provide a fuller picture of what former President Joe Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur was like. Now, Hur did not charge Biden in this investigation relating to classified documents.
But his description of Biden as a well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory is something that did do political damage to Biden. Now, the transcripts had been released and Hur had described some of the memory lapses that Biden went through during this interview.
There were instances in this new audio that you can hear where the former president was unable to remember the year that his son, Beau Biden, had died. There was also this exchange where he struggled to remember exactly when President Donald Trump was elected the first time.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
JOE BIDEN, THEN-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Trump gets elected in November of 2017 --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 2016.
BIDEN: '16, 2016. All right. So -- January (ph) of 2017. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's when he left office in January of 2017.
BIDEN: Yes, OK. But that's when Trump gets sworn in, right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, correct.
BIDEN: OK, yes.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
SAENZ: Now, as you could hear there, he spoke very slowly, haltingly at times. There were other instances in the audio where he is very engaged in the lines of questioning. Now, a Biden spokesperson pushed back on the release of these recordings, saying that the transcripts were released by the Biden administration more than a year ago. The audio does nothing but confirm what is already public.
[12:25:11]
Now, House Republicans had sought these audio recordings as they were waging that impeachment investigation into Biden that eventually fizzled out. But Biden had actually exerted executive privilege over releasing these audio recordings at the time.
Back in May of last year, many allies had been concerned about what this could -- damage this could do to Biden politically if these audio tapes had been released. Now, this is all coming as Biden's health and cognitive abilities have returned to the spotlight.
Our colleague Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson are -- have an upcoming book called "Original Sin", where they detail some signs of mental and physical decline in the former president. And many top Democrats are currently facing questions, including 2028 potential contenders, about what they knew of former President Biden's decline while in office.
But Biden himself just a few weeks ago had pushed back on some of the reporting that was expected to come out, saying that there were no signs of cognitive decline while he was in the White House.
WHITFIELD: All right, Arlette Saenz, thanks so much.
All right, still ahead, the star witness in the sex trafficking trial against Sean "Diddy" Combs wrapping up her testimony, telling the jury she was, I'm quoting now, "basically a sex worker", end quote. Shocking moments from Cassie Ventura's testimony, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:58]
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Cassie Ventura, the ex-girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs, finished four days of graphic testimony, describing years of repeated physical and sexual abuse by the music mogul. After Ventura wrapped up nearly 20 hours of testifying, a former member of a musical group founded by Combs took the stand. Dawn Richard testified that she saw him attack his former girlfriend in 2009. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering, conspiracy and sex trafficking.
CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister has more on the explosive testimony from this first week.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For a second day in a row, the government's star witness, Cassie Ventura, facing tough questions from Sean Combs' defense team, who suggested Ventura still wanted to stay in a relationship with Combs even after this 2016 assault, which Ventura said happened when she tried to escape a freak- off, a drug-fueled sex session with Combs and a male escort.
Not a good vibe. We need a different vibe than Friday, Ventura texted. F Friday, LOL, Combs replied. I don't even want to do that again. LOL, true, Ventura said. When Combs said he loved her, Ventura replied, love you.
The 2016 hotel assault allegedly happened just a day after Ventura promoted her latest movie, telling CNN --
CASSIE VENTURA, ACTRESS AND SINGER: When it comes to relationships, I think that you always need to be confident walking into the situation. And if you're not happy, it's not the place for you.
WAGMEISTER (voice-over): But Ventura stayed with Combs, as the defense highlighted Combs was intoxicated during the assault. When you get F'ed up the wrong way, you always want to show me that you have the power and you knock me around, Ventura said to Combs in a message read in court. I'm not a rag doll. I'm someone's child.
Ventura's husband, Alex Fine, left the courtroom before the defense challenged her claim that Combs raped her in Malibu, following a dinner in 2018. Ventura also confirmed she voluntarily saw Combs the next month at a friend's party and had consensual sex with him, even though she was dating her future husband.
Later that year, after the memorial for Combs' former partner, Kim Porter, Ventura wrote Combs, You posted that Kim was your soulmate. What was the 11 years all about?
The prosecution downplayed loving exchanges between Ventura and Combs. Were there periods during which Sean was kind and loving? Yes, Ventura said. Did those periods ever last? No, Ventura said, adding that Combs' mood swings affected my whole life, my career, my self-worth. I was basically a sex worker, she said.
In wrapping its cross-examination, the defense highlighted Ventura's canceled 2023 music tour and the $20 million settlement Ventura got from Combs a day after filing her civil suit against him. As soon as you saw that you were going to get the $20 million, you canceled the tour because you didn't need it anymore, right? That wasn't the reason why, Ventura replied, later saying she felt overwhelmed and wanted to be with her kids. Combs' attorney asked, do you hate him now? I don't hate him, Ventura replied. I have love for the past and what it was.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WAGMEISTER (on camera): After Cassie Ventura finished her four-day testimony, her attorney came just out here outside of the courthouse to praise his client and how proud he is of her. He also read a statement from Cassie Ventura. She said that this week was challenging and that she is glad to put this chapter of her life behind her. But she also says that she hopes her testimony gives power and strength to other survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Now, next week, we are expecting to hear testimony from Cassie's mother and also from a former best friend of Cassie's who came up in a lot of her testimony, so we can anticipate that she will corroborate much of Cassie's account. Back to you.
[12:35:03]
WHITFIELD: All right, Elizabeth Wagmeister, thank you so much.
All right, joining me right now for more perspective on all this is entertainment attorney Lisa Bonner. Lisa, great to see you. So, I mean, it's early, but, you know, In your view has the prosecution done a good job of laying out the framework, you know, to support these charges, because it is a very complicated case.
LISA BONNER, ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY: It's a very complicated case, and it's important to remember that there are three counts. There's RICO, there is a sex trafficking, and then transportation of -- for the purposes of prostitution. So we had week one, and that is it, and it's a framework, but we don't really see a lot of the RICO charges unfolding because sex trafficking is a part of the RICO case, but it is also a separate and distinct claim from the RICO case.
So in the RICO case, they're going to try to prove kidnapping, arson, bribery, obstruction of justice. So there is a lot more to this, and that's why people are getting really mired down in all the noise of the salacious testimony of Cassie, when that's just a very, very small part of the case.
WHITFIELD: The Cassie portion. But the reason why perhaps the prosecution found it was important that she as part of the, you know, opening salvo is that A, you know, she's a powerful witness. People in his -- people's minds have been colored already by the surveillance video that came out of, you know, showing Sean "Diddy" Combs, you know, abusing her. That's influential.
She's very pregnant, right? And -- and where she is in the term of her pregnancy, it's very volatile. It's important for her to be at the -- the beginning of the case. So how might she, her testimony, also lend an opening to where the prosecution is going? Because she certainly established, you know, her willingness, the coercion, you know, of her relationship, that she was also an instrument into these many allegations that now Sean Combs is facing. BONNER: Right. And it's important to remember this is an eight-week trial. So they have to the prosecution has to prove coercion. They have to prove allegations of forced labor and things, so concealment of weapons, transportation of narcotics with the intent to distribute.
So what she said, yes, we -- we procure cocaine. I held a gun for him. So these are things that they are trying to establish. And again, it's not to get mired down in the noise of the domestic violence, because that's -- the domestic violence, everybody's owned it. And that's not a charge in the federal court, in the federal case, in the federal indictment, nothing to do with it.
So she is laying the groundwork for other charges that and other allegations that we are going to see coming forward, supposedly.
WHITFIELD: And that might be part of a deal sort of made, right. Even with her, because even though she received a $20 million settlement from him, she had another $10 million settlement from the hotel, from the surveillance, et cetera. And most likely with the settlement with him, she probably had an NDA.
BONNER: Oh, she absolutely --
WHITFIELD: But why is that no longer? You know, how is it prosecutors were able to get her to testify knowing that there was that arrangement? Because she is now telling all and she's also establishing that in in parts, too. She's kind of an accomplice, but she is escaping charges herself as a result.
BONNER: Right. So with -- with respect to the NDA --
WHITFIELD: Yes.
BONNER: -- the nondisclosure agreement, in every nondisclosure agreement and confidentiality provision, there is a clause that has an exception for subpoena or a court order. And so that even though she signed the civil suit, yes, the civil suit, which included a confidentiality provision, there was an exception in there where she could talk and you cannot contract around that.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
BONNER: So that's very important. That's how she was able to lend herself and be victim and testify as victim number one.
WHITFIELD: Wow. It's fascinating. And so what's expected now as we enter week two?
BONNER: They're going to start talking about the allegations. We're expecting Cassie's mother to talk, to testify and talk about how she tried to escape. I saw her with bruises. She was at my house, perhaps. And so she's going to be laying out what Cassie was -- was saying, that this was not my choice. I tried to leave. Her mother is going to establish that. Her best friend that we're looking for that might testify is also going to allegedly and most likely testify that because consent is -- is principle -- WHITFIELD: Right.
BONNER: -- in any kind of sexual relationship and certainly in sex trafficking. What they're saying is I may -- I may have consented at some point. But look at the totality of the circumstances.
WHITFIELD: Yes. It's very complicated.
BONNER: Right.
WHITFIELD: Because, you know, victimized as well.
BONNER: Right.
WHITFIELD: I mean, clearly very much victimized. But of course, the prosecution wants to say, wait a minute, she was a willing participant.
BONNER: Correct.
WHITFIELD: So but how she really --
BONNER: Right. How willing was she? If I tried to escape and you sent your goons to bring me back. And that is one of the things that we have heard and that has been alleged that he did. He sent people to go and retrieve her when she stopped talking to him and would not return his calls. Allegedly, people from Sony, the record label, came and said, you must return Sean's call, if you do not --
[12:40:10]
WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. So this opens the door for the other kinds of witnesses. They're calling her the star witness. But wait a minute. You know, when you're talking about others in the industry now who might be complicit, you know, know of, et cetera. They, too, are going to be called into this besides, you know --
BONNER: Correct. A part of the criminal enterprise.
WHITFIELD: Right, right.
BONNER: So we're going to see this unfold. And there's so much talk about now is a everybody is going to get a lesson in criminal procedure during this trial.
WHITFIELD: This is just the tip of the iceberg.
BONNER: This is just the tip of the iceberg, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Incredible. We'll have you back.
BONNER: Thank you, I'm looking forward to it.
WHITFIELD: Thank you Lisa Bonner.
BONNER: Good to see you. WHITFIELD: All right. Still ahead, a reality show where immigrants compete for American citizenship. Yes. I'm seeing your expression. Maybe you want to stick around and you can comment further on. The Department of Homeland security says it has begun the vetting process of a pitch for that show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:37]
WHITFIELD: The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing a reality T.V. show pitch in which immigrants would compete for U.S. citizenship. The idea comes from a producer whose credits include "Duck Dynasty" and "The Biggest Loser."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they're taking it seriously. I feel good about it. You know, I -- I'm not the Department of Homeland Security. So I -- I can't tell you the whirlwind of the last 24 to 48 hours since my pitch document was leaked to somebody in the press.
I don't know where they stand exactly now, but I feel like we're trending in a good way and I want to look for I mean I have interest from networks, I have interest from production companies to pair with and I feel good about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: In a statement to CNN, DHS says it receives hundreds of television show pitches a year adding, I'm quoting now, each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval.
This morning, CNN's Victor Blackwell asked DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin if such a proposal could actually become a reality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Why consider after all that we've discussed how serious who's being brought into this country, the refugee program, immigration literally turning it into a game, why consider that?
TRICIA MCLAUGHLIN, ASST. SECY. FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Victor, we get hundreds of pitches pitch decks and they go to one person's office and they're reviewed. Again, I've not reviewed that pitch deck. So for you to say we're taking anything seriously is just not true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Back to the producer of that proposed show he says the working title is the American.
All right. Still ahead, rakes, snakes and an ace and an unlikely rise to the top of the leaderboard. We've got all the drama from the PGA championship live from the green, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:52:16]
WHITFIELD: All right. The leaders for the 107th edition of the PGA championship will be teeing off for the 3rd round soon this year's leaderboard in Charlotte, North Carolina features a group of lesser known underdogs but there are a few big names within striking distance of the lead on what is considered moving day when golfers try to move up the leaderboard heading into Sunday's final round.
CNN's Patrick Snell is there joining us from Quail Hollow the site of this year's PGA championship. So bring us up to speed. There are a lot of interesting quirky moments happening. Aren't there?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hi Fred. Yes, there has been a lot going on here. You're absolutely right. But the headline act so far is the Venezuelan golfer, Jhonattan Vegas, making history every step of the way at 40 years of age. He really has made a huge impression. He has a two-shot lead going into the third round here moving day as you so rightly say it could have been a four-shot lead had he not double bogeyed at the last on Friday, but he's been very, very impressive indeed.
And that reference to history, he is now the first man from his country to have ever led a major golf tournament quite incredible remarkable story really, Fred, when you consider he grew up in his homeland practicing the game with a broomstick and a rock but after his round I asked him what this whole new experience of leading from the front is actually like. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JHONATTAN VEGAS, GOLFER: It means a lot right? I mean, this is kind of what we put all those hours for. You put all those hours to -- to give yourself in -- in chances like this. Fortunately haven't been able to do it throughout my career, but you never know, you know, you just got to keep the pedal down, keep your head down and -- and -- and keep working hard and, you know, you never know when things are going to turn your way. So I just got to do what I do. So and, you know, good things could happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: We'll see lurking with intent though, Fred, is someone who knows all about winning at major tournaments, namely at Scottie Scheffler, the world number one player is right back in contention. He's at five under par going into his third round. That means he has the lead of Vegas right in his sights. He's just three shots back. And as I say, if there's anyone who can win a major, he knows how to get it done. Scottie Scheffler looking to win the PGA Championship for the very first time.
Now, you mentioned some quirky incidents. We had a historic hole-in- one, but we also had a snake, a slithering reptile on the golf course on Friday on the par 5, 10th hole. Indeed, it was former champion Shaun Micheel.
He was keeping his distance from the snake, a brave tournament volunteer in the end, basically ushering the reptile --
[12:55:03]
WHITFIELD: No.
SNELL: -- off the course with his foot.
WHITFIELD: Who does that?
SNELL: Brave volunteer, indeed.
WHITFIELD: What? Back to you.
SNELL: Oh, yes.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Who does that? OK. He obviously, you know, knew that -- that was a non-venomous. Is that one of those gardener snakes or something like that? Because I don't think I'm kicking one around a golf course or not. That's a brave soul there.
SNELL: It was certainly a big snake, that much I can tell you.
WHITFIELD: It looks big. OK, they are not at all ruffled. You know, they're just keeping -- keeping it moving. All right, Patrick Snell, we're going to let you keep it moving too. We'll check back with you. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)