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Officials Identify Suspect In California Fertility Clinic Explosion; 2 Dead, Dozens Injured After Mexican Navy Ship Hits Brooklyn Bridge; Ukraine: Russia Launched Largest Drone Attack Of The War; Violent Tornado Outbreak Kills 25 Across Kentucky, Missouri; Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial Enters Week 2 Tomorrow. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired May 18, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[14:01:29]
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this Sunday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
Two breaking news stories that we're focusing in on this hour.
Moments ago, officials in Palm Springs, California sharing new details on the explosion at that fertility clinic. They have identified a suspect and insist the community is safe.
And new details on the Mexican navy ship that hit the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, snapping the masts, killing two people on board.
All right. First, new details on the explosion outside that Palm Springs fertility clinic. The suspect, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, who lived about an hour's drive outside of the Desert City. He was living in Twentynine Palms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AKIL DAVIS, FBI ASST. DIR. IN CHARGE OF LOS ANGELES: The subject had nihilistic ideations, and this was a targeted attack against the IVF facility.
Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism. We are tracking a possible manifesto out there, and it's part of our ongoing investigation.
We believe he was attempting to live stream it. And yes, that is also part of our investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. We've got a team of correspondents covering these developments for us. CNN security correspondent Josh Campbell in Los Angeles.
Let's begin with you, Josh. JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So we did get some new
details there about this individual. As we previously reported, the individual was believed to be a 25-year-old man from Twentynine Palms.
Authorities just a short time ago, identifying him by name, as you mentioned, Guy Bartkus is his name.
You're seeing an image that the FBI just released of this individual. And I think it's worth pointing out because after these types of incidents where this appears to be some form of domestic terrorism, we always grapple with, well, you show the suspect how much notoriety do you give them?
It's worth pointing out the FBI wants you to look at this picture. They're trying to get as much information as they can from anyone who might know who this person was, whether they knew in advance that something like this may have been in the works.
They also released information about his vehicle, it was a silver Ford Fusion. They were trying to figure out where he was in the hours before this attack yesterday morning around 11:00 in Palm Springs.
And then finally, as the assistant director there, the FBI just mentioned, they're looking into this possible manifesto. I'm told, from a law enforcement source, one thing they're looking at is an audio recording from someone who claimed that he was going to conduct an attack on an IVF facility. Obviously, this occurring at a fertility clinic there in Palm Springs.
In that audio recording, to be honest, it is quite rambling. He talks about a number of different grievances that he has, but he does specifically mention IVF, calling himself anti-life and saying that the government shouldn't restrict when someone has a right to die.
I'm told from law enforcement sources, authorities are looking into whether mental health issues may have played a role here. But we did get some new information there about the suspect.
And again, authorities are appealing to the public for any information they may have about this individual, 25-year-old Guy Bartkus.
WHITFIELD: Ok. Josh, thank you so much.
Stephanie Elam, you were there at the press conference. There was a lot of important detail that was revealed.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For sure. Fred. I mean, you have this 25-year-old man who seemed to be attacking an IVF clinic, but the only life that was lost was his.
[14:04:47]
ELAM: We know that the four other people who were injured have been treated for their injuries and have been released from the hospital. That's the good news on that end. But still, what is under investigation here is how large of a scope
this bombing was here in Palm Springs. And we know some of the streets are still closed off as they're going through this debris field, which they said it was like 250 yards.
In fact, take a listen to the assistant director of the Los Angeles field office for the FBI. Talk a bit about how large of a blast this was here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: This is probably the largest bombing scene that we've had in southern California. This does eclipse the bombing matter in Aliso Viejo. It's that big.
And just for reference, to throw pieces of vehicle hundreds of feet in the air and then several blocks away, you can use your imagination and imagine how big that that that bomb device was.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: And to that end, they did work out a search warrant on this address in Twentynine Palms. Some people nearby were evacuated. They said that was just a motion of caution and safety. They do believe that the city of Palm Springs is safe, that area is safe.
But just when you look at the scope of this bombing, Fred, they're saying that there are buildings nearby where the windows were blown out. There were smoke that was happening. There were personal residences that were also impacted.
And so these people, they say they're working around the clock to get these people the help that they need. But a very large scope, and they're still processing some of this area because the debris field is so large, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. The investigation is ongoing. But we heard from all those officials there trying to reassure people that Palm Springs is safe and is open for business.
Stephanie Elam, Josh Campbell -- we'll check back with you. Thank you so much.
All right. Now to our other breaking story.
We're learning new information about the Mexican navy ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge last night. Officials saying it was heading in the wrong direction on the East River when it hit the bridge just minutes after leaving nearby Pier 17.
This is shocking video right here you can see -- the boats, all three of the masts there being snapped. Two people on that ship were killed.
We're also hearing new audio from the emergency crews responding to the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it looks like a sailboat was going under the Brooklyn Bridge. Hit something over there with the mast broken off and was drifting under the Manhattan Bridge with people on the boat.
PD reporting that there is a tugboat taking people from the boat to Brooklyn Bridge Park. We have an engine heading over that way.
Your box is going to go to an all hands. They have multiple serious patients coming into your location, and we're going to go to a hand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: CNN's Gloria Pazmino is along the East River there. Gloria, an NTSB go team is headed there as well. What are you learning?
GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred. They are expected to arrive here this late afternoon. You know, the Cuauhtemoc, the ship that is now behind me had been on a month's long mission all around the world, and its mission was to bring the Mexican people a message of peace and goodwill to the seas and ports of the world. That's according to the Mexican authorities.
But as we know now, that mission has sadly ended in tragedy. Two people losing their lives as part of this accident. Dozens were injured. A total of 277 people were on board the Cuauhtemoc last night when it struck a pillar of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Now, I spoke with the commissioner of the city's Office of Emergency Management just a short while ago, and he told me that the captain reported losing power last night and that the ship was going in the wrong direction.
Those videos that we are seeing on social media, video captured by bystanders, by witnesses, show the ship moving in the wrong direction.
The currents of the East River last night were extremely strong, and the commissioner told me they believe that might have also played a significant role in helping to move the ship in the wrong direction.
Now, the captain of the ship reported losing power, which led to a failure of the rudder of the ship. If you don't have a rudder, Fred, that means you cannot steer the ship. And that's why we are seeing that video as the ship just basically collides with the pillar of the bridge.
Now, the investigation is still very much in the early stages. The NTSB is expected to arrive here later this afternoon. Right now they are looking into exactly what might have caused the power failure. And if it was a mechanical issue or human error.
But I want you to take a listen to one of the eyewitnesses who saw this last night as the ship was getting closer and closer. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FLAVIO MOREIRA, MEXICAN SAILBOAT CRASH EYEWITNESS: It just kept coming towards the Brooklyn Promenade region, where we -- me and my family, we were standing.
so it was kind of odd and it just kept coming closer and closer to us.
[14:09:50]
MOREIRA: And at some point I was like, I don't think that's right. I don't think something is kind of off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PAZMINO: Now, Fred, the primary focus, I am told, is not only the investigation, but taking care of the crew members that are still in the hospital at this hour.
Also, several crew members that are still on the ship, they spent the night on the ship after the ship was towed here to this other pier on the Manhattan side of the city. That is the focus right now.
And of course, making sure that the two people who tragically lost their lives can be returned to their family and their loved ones back in Mexico.
Mexican authorities also working with local government officials here in the city to make sure that that happens, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Gloria Pazmino, I'll check back with you momentarily. Thank you so much.
All right. New today, Russia launching its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the war. That's according to Ukrainian officials.
They say 273 drones targeted Kyiv and eastern regions of the country earlier today. The attack comes as President Trump is scheduled to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone tomorrow and just a couple of days after Russia and Ukraine had their first face to face talks through various representatives, the first face to face in three years.
CNN's chief international security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh is joining us now from Kyiv. Betsy Klein is at the White House.
And Nick, let's go to you first. Not all of these drones were attack drones?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: No, but a standard tactic now from the Russian military is to launch attack drones, yes, but interspersed them with decoy drones, some of which may appear to be missiles or other things on the radar to essentially overtax and overstretch Ukraine's air defenses.
Now 88, we hear from the air force were shot down, and they believe 128 of the 273 were decoy drones. Two killed, including a 28 woman on the outskirts of Kyiv here and a six-year-old injured too.
I should remind you, this is the second time in just 48 hours we've been reporting on the death toll. Particularly horrific was a strike in the Sumy region yesterday by a drone on a minibus carrying civilians that killed nine people there, including two parents and their young daughter.
So this is just an example of the daily barrage here. And I think in the hearts of Ukrainians, evidence in their mind that Russia isn't looking to suddenly broker a peace deal. It's using the night skies to try and leave Ukrainians desperate for the war to end in any way, shape or form.
One other thing to point out, we have had a warning from Ukraine's defense intelligence that they are concerned Russia might try a training or combat launch of an ICBM-type missile, potentially in the coming 24 to 48 hours.
People might remember the Oreshnik that Russia unveiled firing at Dnipro City late last year, they said in response to supply of ATACM missiles by the United States to Ukraine. That caused significant psychological impact although the missile experts say turned out to be old, with non-nuclear warheads obviously installed.
But obviously this is another sign that Russia is trying to potentially increase psychological pressure ahead of this vital phone call on Monday.
WHITFIELD: All right. Betsy Klein to you at the White House, what are we hearing?
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, we have heard President Trump repeatedly say he believes he is the only person who can end this conflict between Russia and Ukraine. And there will be no breakthrough until he speaks one on one with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
So those talks are set to begin in earnest tomorrow morning, 10:00 Eastern time. The president will speak by phone with Putin. And his team is really setting up very high expectations ahead of this call, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, who said in an interview with ABC News this morning that the call could, quote, "clear up" some of the logjam in this conflict.
Of course, ending this war has been a top priority for President Trump, and a solution has really proven elusive, particularly as we saw that play out this week as Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly moved the goalposts on Trump.
We saw Ukraine's Zelenskyy and other European leaders provide this Trump-backed solution for a ceasefire. Putin then proposed those in- person talks in Turkey. Trump called on Zelenskyy to join the talks and then repeatedly floated joining them in person.
Then Putin made clear that he was not going, leaving Trump hanging, essentially. But talks on Friday between a lower-level delegation marked the first time that Russia and Ukraine has spoken directly in three years. So a positive step forward.
But listen to how Secretary of State Marco Rubio is laying out expectations for these talks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: So they're tapping us along. Well, that's what we're trying to find out. Well find out pretty soon. They met last -- yesterday or the day before in Turkey. From that they agreed they're going to exchange paper on ideas to get to a cease fire.
[14:14:52]
RUBIO: If those papers have ideas on them that are realistic and rational, then I think we know we've made progress. If those papers, on the other hand, have requirements in them that we know are unrealistic, then we'll have a different assessment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KLEIN: Now, all of this comes after Rubio, along with Vice President J.D. Vance, met with President Zelenskyy in Rome earlier today. Both sides posting photos of the leaders smiling together in such stark contrast to that February 28th Oval Office meeting.
Clearly, both sides looking to go into these talks with a united front, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Wow. That is a contrast, a huge departure from the last time we saw them in the same space.
All right. Thank you so much, Betsy Klein and Nick Paton Walsh at the top there from Kyiv. Thanks to both of you.
All right. Still ahead, families are cleaning up in the aftermath of a deadly tornado outbreak which spread across several central U.S. states. The latest on what's being done to get victims on the road to recovery.
And we're continuing to follow the breaking news out of southern California. Moments ago, the FBI identifying the suspect of the Palm Springs fertility clinic explosion.
[14:16:03]
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CURTIS MCMATH, NORTH ST. LOUIS RESIDENT: The way it got so hard, I couldn't even get to the front door. It kept pushing me back out. I just couldn't believe it. Just the whole house just got blown. All the windows blew out. The bricks started falling. It was just -- it was just. I never experienced that. Like, I didn't think I was going to make it at all because I couldn't
get back to the door. The wind was so strong and stuff was hitting me. My back was cut up. And that's my car.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God.
MCMATH: So I lost that too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: I mean, incredible destruction. Communities across central -- the central U.S. are actually picking up the pieces after deadly tornadoes tore a path of destruction this weekend. The death toll climbing to at least 25 people in Kentucky and Missouri.
Mangled cars, splintered trees and homes simply leveled. All that's left is what you're looking at in some communities, especially in the hard-hit St. Louis area. The devastating EF-4 tornado barreled over at least eight miles, according to an initial survey by the National Weather Service.
The city's new mayor calling it one of the worst storms in St. Louis' history.
I want to bring in now CNN correspondent Julia Vargas Jones, who is there in St. Louis. And what more are you hearing from people?
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, it's just been a hectic 48 hours for this community. We are here on the west side of the city. You see behind me the level of destruction.
We've seen row after row of houses like this, including over here on my left, the house of Liz Craig (ph) and Devin Craig. This was your house?
DEVIN CRAIG, ST. LOUIS RESIDENT: Yes. It was my house.
JONES: Tell me, where were you at the moment that the storm hit?
CRAIG: I actually went to the store and I was just left the store. I was in the middle of the park.
JONES: And when you came back, what did it look like?
CRAIG: It was gone. Completely gone. You know, I lost everything. Me and my kids stayed -- we lost everything. But, you know, today we out here, we barbecue and giving out stuff. You know, we got to give back also.
In the midst of all this tragedy. Yes, I lost everything. But, hey, I'm still optimistic. You know, I'm still smiling. I'm still happy. I'm still hurt. Because normally I would have been in our sleep getting ready for work.
JONES: Yes.
CRAIG: So I'm here.
JONES: And Fred, this is what we're hearing.
CRAIG: It's Craig.
JONES: Craig?
CRAIG: Yes, ma'am.
JONES: Fred is the anchor were speaking to. And, Fred, this is what we're hearing from the community. We're seeing this morning where we visited a shelter run with the Red Cross in one of the churches here where 80 people were there for beds. They didn't have anywhere else to turn to.
And the pastor telling us this is the most beautiful part of all that's happened in these horrible 48 hours, is that community is coming together to help each other.
We watched as truck after truck and cars of people that were putting together donations to bring to those who have lost their homes. At least 5,000 buildings were damaged with this EF-3 storm that came barreling through these eight miles of St. Louis on Friday afternoon.
People told us the story of all of the trauma they went -- they went through surviving the storm, hearing those haunting high winds banging at their doors, surviving and not having bodily harm for just seconds, and hearing those alerts, looking for shelter.
And still in the middle of this trauma, still this community coming together to help each other. Those are the moments that humanity really shines in, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Indeed. And Julia, I wonder if we have a moment or two still with Craig who's there with you and ask Craig, because I thought that was remarkable, that he is talking about how he's lost everything, but then how even on this day, he's trying to help other people. How? What is he planning?
JONES: Yes. Can I -- can I ask you, Fredricka in Atlanta is asking you, how is it that after losing everything, you still find the strength to come out here and barbecue and help your community?
[14:24:45]
CRAIG: Just got to, you know. One, it's a tragedy. Look at my house. It's gone. You know, I can get all that back. There's other people around also need help in the midst. I just can't stop at me, that's selfish.
So I want to help everybody I can. We want to help everybody we can. That's all to it.
Like the negative stuff around us, we don't need that right now. And after I walk over there, I'm going to let them know. We don't -- we don't want that on this corner. If you aren't over here, positive helping us pass out some food, pass
out some of the things we got, pass out some water. Just help.
JONES: And we're seeing people like these volunteers also coming together to help clean up.
CRAIG: Yes. Everybody needs help. So you probably don't even live around here. It's gone. Gone with it.
We don't need no negativity. We want everyone who can help. Everyone able to help because we going to help. Even though I need help, I'm going to help other people. That's all it is to it.
JONES: Have you been helped too?
CRAIG: I mean, with my family and friends. Yes. But, you know, it's just the beginning.
JONES: It is just the beginning.
CRAIG: Yes.
JONES: Thank you both so much --
CRAIG: You're welcome.
JONES: -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Wow. Such incredible optimism coming from Craig that he wants to help others. And he is in, you know, huge need, just like so many of his neighbors.
All right. Thank you so much, Julia Vargas Jones. And thanks to Craig and his friend there for sharing their story. Of course, we're hoping for all the best for him and his neighbors.
All right. We continue to follow the breaking news out of New York City as well, where a Mexican navy training ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. A lot of it caught right on tape, as you're seeing right there.
Two people on that ship died. Many more were injured. The NTSB now sending a go team to the site.
[14:26:30]
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[14:30:46]
WHITFIELD: All right. We're learning new information about the Mexican navy ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge last night, killing two people. Officials saying it was heading in the wrong direction when it hit the bridge just minutes after leaving nearby Pier 17. And you can see the moment of impact right there. Earlier today, crew members left the ship after staying on board
overnight. NTSB and the U.S. Coast Guard, they are working with the Mexican government as they investigate this crash. Authorities are now focused on moving the ship so that it can also be repaired.
Here to discuss is retired Coast Guard captain, Peter Boynton.
Captain Boynton, great to see you.
So, walk us through how something like this could potentially happen. I mean, what kind of communication is there between and between whom? Just prior to launch?
PETER BOYNTON, CAPTAIN, U.S. COAST GUARD (RET.): Sure. Thank you, Fredricka, and condolences to the families and crew. It's a terrible, tragic accident. And a lot of times with these accidents, they happen very, very quickly with very little time to react. So, when you see that video, the ship is not only going in the wrong direction, its going backwards.
Now you can think of this like a car backing out of a parking space at the shopping center. You back the car out, then you stop. Then you turn the wheel and come ahead and turn. So, it's very for a ship to back away from the pier, totally normal. But after it gets past the pier, it should be stopping, coming ahead and turning.
And in this case, for some reason, it continued to back all the way across the east river, which in this case is very narrow. It's only 1500 feet. It's actually not a lot of room for a big ship like this to maneuver.
So, the questions are, did they have an engine failure and did the current carry them into the bridge? And the East River is known for very strong currents. Or did the engine get jammed in reverse and they couldn't take it out of reverse? Now that's rare, but it can happen in this type of tall ship only has one engine, one propeller.
Another question is, did they take a local pilot on board who can sometimes help? Although that's more for navigation. But a naval vessel is not required. And more importantly, was the tugboat available when they were pulling away from the pier?
Now you can see a tugboat in this video and the ship is moving so fast that the tug looks like it's at full speed, trying to catch up, and it couldn't. And the last ditch effort would be to let go the anchor. Its 40 feet of water that could possibly have stopped, or at least slowed the ship. And so, these are all questions we need to ask in the investigation the NTSB will look into.
WHITFIELD: And our Gloria Pazmino did report earlier that it did lose engine power. So now the critical juncture here is at what point like, like you described, while it may have had the engine power to back up, might it have lost it in that moment? And then it just, you know, started drifting because the currents apparently reportedly were very strong. And that tugboat just could not possibly catch up. So, then talk to me about the communication then. I mean, if the
discovery is made that, okay, we've lost engine power. You know, then the who is the ship talking to help convey that so that tugboat can even get underway.
BOYNTON: So, there should be two critical communications at that point. And a third notifying the crew that collision is imminent. But one communication should be a radio call from the bridge to the tug. Now, that's where a pilot on board can be very helpful because the pilot can communicate with the tug, giving them instructions to put a line on the vessel and help stop or turn the vessel.
The other communication should be to the crew that's on the forward part of the ship, where the anchor gear is located.
[14:35:01]
Having them stand by and then let go the anchor and hold. And this is not something where you crank out the anchor slowly. This is.
WHITFIELD: And you don't need the motor -- you don't need the motor to let that anchor go.
BOYNTON: Correct. You let it go. It freefalls and then you hold it and it will drag. And if all goes well, slow or stop the vessel. And then there's also alarms on ships like this. And one of them is a collision alarm. So, you don't actually have to say anything. You sound the alarm and everyone on board knows to brace because a collision is coming.
Now, this is one of the tragic parts of this. You see all those people up in the rigging, there's no way to get them all the way to the main deck with just a minute or two notice. You just can't get down that quickly. So, very tragic that they saw it coming. They knew it was going to happen. Unfortunately, two were lost and many were injured.
WHITFIELD: So sad. All right. Captain Peter Boynton, I mean, that was just fascinating and filled in a whole lot of blanks. But we know the investigation is still ongoing. Thank you so much for your expertise. Appreciate it.
BOYNTON: Thank you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Still to come, what are the priorities for the prosecution as it begins now? The second week at the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial.
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[14:41:03]
WHITFIELD: All right. The new CNN original series, "MY HAPPY PLACE", follows six celebrities as they travel around the world to cities that have become their personal sanctuaries.
CNN anchor Sara Sidner takes us on a horse ride in the hills overlooking Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, SENIOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You really like it.
(voice-over): These majestic beings are the perfect partners for a ride where you'd least expect it, L.A.
The minute I start touching them, I swear my whole body feels better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
SIDNER: Like I feel better.
Apache is my guide for the day.
SHEENA LEIGH GRAVES, WRANGLER, L.A. HORSE RENTALS: Apache's kind of like regal, curious. He likes to do his own thing, but he also doesn't want to be too far away from everyone.
SIDNER: Our personalities match. We're both curious and we like to win.
Oh, Apache does not like being fast. This is my happy place. On a horse, around a horse, feeding a horse, petting a horse.
Up in the dusty hills of Griffith Park, above the highways and byways, where the coyotes roam free, and the view stretches out from the mountains to the sea.
We made it to the top. Such a good job, baby.
Up here in the bright California sun, we are closer to Hollywood heaven, or at least the sign. Down below, there are signs of the way the West once was. Hollywood heritage runs deep here in Griffith Park, home to a museum named after Gene Autry, Hollywood singing Cowboy.
Even, my buddy Apache has movie credits to his name, most of the horses on this ride do.
Rather a horse than a car any day.
You can even ride by or stop in and check out the place in Griffith Park where Walt Disney envisioned what would later be deemed the happiest place on earth. Disney's joy was tinkering inside this barn. His brain brimming with an idea for a childhood paradise that we all know as Disneyland.
There you go.
And then we return to another kind of paradise, the Burbank and Glendale Rancho as it's known.
That house, just there to my right, was Betty Davis' house. And there's a little green gate and she used to come out and ride her horse.
An unlikely sanctuary for horse people and horses alike.
A slow-paced country gem in the land of vast freeways. May it survive the onslaught of human development and let the horses reign.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Ooh.
That's a fun ride. And you can watch an all new episode of my happy place with Emmy and Tony Award-winning performer Billy Porter tonight at 10 p.m. eastern and pacific, only on CNN.
All right, still to come, one of the world's top golfers is riding a major surge and looking to possibly claim his first win of the PGA championship. A live report on what's happening in the final round next.
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[14:48:57]
WHITFIELD: All right. The Sean "Diddy" Combs federal criminal trial enters its second week tomorrow. Dawn Richard, former member of the musical group Danity Kane, is set to resume her testimony in the morning. She testified on Friday that she saw Combs attack his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, back in 2009. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all five charges against him, including sex trafficking and racketeering.
Joining me right now is criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Michael Bachner, who represented the former bodyguard of Diddy in a 2001 trial.
Great to see you.
MICHAEL BACHNER, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Nice to be here.
WHITFIELD: So, we know that Cassie Ventura, you know, testified for many days. Is she considered the big fish in this trial or is there more? Are there more, bigger surprises?
BACHNER: I don't think there's more bigger surprises. She was certainly the crux of the prosecution case. And they made no secret about that. In their opening statement. I can't say that everything hinges on her case, but it certainly is very significant. She's made out all of these issues about non-consent, et cetera., to the relationship that all these sexual contacts were not consensual in nature.
[14:50:08]
But the prosecution is not going to stop with her. They need they know they need to corroborate her testimony, and that's why they're going to be calling Dawn Richards and other individuals who can corroborate what Ventura said happened.
WHITFIELD: Who else might be really important for the prosecutors to help establish or advance their case? Might there be people who are part of the industry in other ways, like the recording industry?
BACHNER: Well, I think they're certainly going to try to call people who worked with combs but were not people who are alleged to have been victimized people who may have been involved in cleaning up the room after these freak outs occurred. People who may have overheard conversations with Combs and some of the other women and men who claimed that they were part of these nonconsensual, freak out situations.
So that's important for them to do, too, because most of the women who are being called without at all disputing the truthfulness of what they're saying, there is an allegation of a financial motive, that exists. And whenever you have money involved in these cases, it tends to cloud things up. When we did the first Combs case in 2001, our cross-examination in connection with the case hinged almost exclusively on the fact that there was a financial motive to sue him and prosecute him.
WHITFIELD: Okay. So, the burden of proof, obviously is on the prosecution, but for the defense, what kind of narrative or evidence in the case do you would you want to undermine as the defense attorney?
BACHNER: So the defense is doing a very nice job in trying to demonstrate that the relationship, while it was abusive, it's kind of like the old robin leach lifetime lifestyles of the rich and famous. This is an activity that the people in Combs circle voluntarily engaged in. Yes, it sounds kinky to us. And yes, it sounds weird to us. And maybe combs. Combs was admittedly an abusive individual, but these sexual encounters were all voluntary. They were all part of the way that lifestyle existed.
And they will ask the jury to separate what appears to be the violent part of the domestic aspect of what he did. That is the way he treated people in his intimate and social relationship, and the way that the governments alleging was part of a racketeering organization in which the in which combs enterprise was run.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well leave it there for now. Michael Bachner, thank you so much. Good to see you.
BACHNER: Thank you for having me.
WHITFIELD: All right. We're also continuing to follow the breaking news out of California. Moments ago, the FBI identified the suspect in the Palm Springs fertility clinic explosion.
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WHITFIELD: All right. Just moments ago, the leaders for the 107th edition of the PGA Championship teed off for the final round in Charlotte, North Carolina. Scottie Scheffler, the world's top ranked golfer, starts the day with a three shot lead after storming from behind on Saturday. A win today would be his first at the tournament and his third career major championship victory. CNNs Patrick Snell is joining us right now from quail hollow in charlotte. Oh, I know there's a whole lot of excitement right now.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR: Oh, there really is, Fred. Yes. All eyes are on Scottie Scheffler as he bids for another piece of history. Now he started his third round three shots behind the then overnight leader from Venezuela, Jonathan Vegas. But he ended the day three shots clear of his nearest challenger. History on the line here as he seeks to add to his two coveted green jackets.
And after his round on Saturday, I asked him what another major title would mean to him and his family at the age of 28.
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SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, PRO GOLFER: It means a lot. You know, these tournaments are very important to us. And, you know, you work your whole life to have a chance to win major tournaments and any tournament for that matter. And tomorrow, I have a good opportunity to go out there and try and win the golf tournament. But it's going to take another really good round. Theres a lot of good, a lot of great players chasing me on the leaderboard and someone's going to put up a great round and it's up to me to go out there and have another really good round and, you know, finish off the tournament and I'm looking forward to the challenge.
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SCHEFFLER: Fred, this has been a quirky tournament on so many levels. Weve had snakes, we've had rakes, and we also had top Spanish stars by the name of Jon Rahm putting an approach shot yesterday off target actually hit one of these supporters. One of the fans out here on the course hit him on the head. Thankfully, he was okay, I'm glad to say. Rahm went up to him to try and put matters right, and have a few minutes of conversation with him.
This was Jon Rahm's take on that whole incident.
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JON RAHM, HIT FAN WITH GOLF BALL: I'm very impressed, I must say. I'm very impressed because when after I hit it and we saw the ball bounce out, which I haven't seen a ball ricochet like that in a while, I told him, I mean, if he was European and grew up playing soccer, football, if he just aimed a little bit better, just maybe get it closer to the hole. But besides that, I mean, he definitely he took it great, and he was a great sport about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Jon Rahm's humor there, Fred, making an allusion to the beautiful game of football. I want to stress, thankfully, the man in question was okay.