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Police To Release Man Detained Over Brown University Mass Shooting; Reiner Family Announces Deaths Of Rob And Michele Reiner; At Least 15 Killed, Dozens Wounded In Attack On Hanukkah Celebration In Australia; At Least 15 Killed in Attack on Australia's Jewish Community; Reiner Family Announces Deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner; National Menorah Lighting Following Sydney Terrorist Attack; Trump Offers "Deepest Regards and Respects" to Families. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired December 15, 2025 - 01:00   ET

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

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello and welcome to CNN Newsroom. I'm Polo Sandoval joining you live from New York. We are following several major breaking news stories at this hour and that includes the latest from Rhode Island.

And that's where authorities now say that the person of interest that was originally detained in Saturday's deadly shooting at Brown University, that they are being released from custody. That person, a 24-year-old man, was detained at this hotel near Providence just hours after the shooting on campus left two students dead and nine others injured.

But earlier we just heard from the city's mayor, the police chief as well as other city and state officials who say that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the individual. That essentially the evidence or at least the case is now pointing them in another direction so far.

The state attorney general says that evidence is still being processed right now. And perhaps most alarming that the mayor acknowledges that authorities have no way of knowing where the gunman might be or whether that person may even be in the state.

For the very latest, let's go to CNN's Leigh Waldman, who joins us now from Providence, Rhode Island. Leigh, you were there as investigators were offering that update. Did they elaborate more on perhaps where they will shift their attention next?

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Polo, we know from the mayor that he is telling this community that they're seeing, but like you said, it's alarming when he says they have no way of knowing exactly where this guy is. Is he still here? Has he left the state? Where are they going to -- where are they going to continue on this search?

He did tell people in this community, as you wake up tomorrow, as the sun rises, you're going to see more officers present in the community, actively searching around. We know a large majority of that search effort was around the Brown University campus on Hope Street and on Waterman Street. That's where that 10 second video released showing what appeared to be the back of a person of interest dressed in dark clothing.

We heard from officials tonight they still think that is their guy, but they were frank with us letting us know if we had a photo of his face or a video of his face, we would release it. So that tells us they don't have one, which is why they're renewing those calls, asking people to review any kind of camera footage they have on their homes or small businesses. Those doorbell cameras, look through everything. If you see anything at all.

They're urging people to upload it to the FBI tip line or call in that information, you know, you almost felt like there was hope when we had this person of interest who had been detained, and it seemed like that hope was ripped away.

A few hours ago when we had this press conference and we heard from authorities who said, yes, we had to release him. The attorney general saying at this point, it's fair to say there's no basis to consider him a person of interest, and that's why they are releasing him. He also said that, you know, he's been around in this business for decades now, and over the course of his career, he's seen this happen time and time again.

You follow the evidence, you follow the leads, heading down one path, and then you have to switch paths. You have to follow new leads, chase down new pieces of evidence. He said that's what's happened here over the last 24 hours. And while we don't know where exactly this guy is, he is assuring people, the aggressive, letting people know that while they haven't solved this yet, Polo, they are going to solve it.

SANDOVAL: As the AG said, that they face difficulty in terms of developing evidence, which likely speaks to one of your other points there in terms of trying to go door to door, trying to canvas neighborhoods.

We also heard from the Providence mayor saying that the shelter in place is not recommended at this time. Also, you know, encouraging people to go about their lives. I mean, what else is he telling people? Because at the same time, you're also hearing from other state officials who say there's still a murderer out there.

WALDMAN: Yes, there's still a murderer out there. Someone who shot and killed two students, shot eight others, another person hurt by shrapnel in what happened on Brown University's campus on Saturday. So, yes, there's still a threat out there. They're still looking for the person responsible for this.

But the mayor said that people don't have to shelter in place now that their community is safe. He is assuring people that because he says there's so much law enforcement presence here, you're going to see it everywhere you turn when you're in this community.

[01:05:02]

So he says that should be assuring to people. But he did recognize that there's going to be a lot more anxiety tonight as people are trying to go to sleep knowing that there's no one in custody, no one being detained at this point.

The AG recognizing that, you know, this could go quickly, it could drag on. But no matter how long this takes, they're committed to finding the person who is responsible. The police chief weighed in talking about this partnership that's going on with the federal partners here. The governor saying he got a call from Kash Patel himself, the FBI director, talking about the resources that they're continuing to provide in this ongoing search. So nothing is stopping here.

If anything, it's kind of resurging that desire to find the person who is responsible for this. But we're going to see more officers around this community. We see officers driving around now. We're in the public safety, but we know that's going to continue until they find this person.

SANDOVAL: A reminder that they still do not have a suspect. I certainly did feel shocked when I was watching that press conference. I can only imagine for you there in that room as you were Hearing from investigators. CNN's Leigh Waldman continuing her reporting live from Providence, Rhode Island. Thank you.

Let's turn now to our law enforcement contributor, Steve Moore joining us again now as we once again try to break down for viewers what this means. Steve, like I told, Leigh, I mean, I was shocked as I was watching that press conference from I was expecting this to take a very different direction.

But now we are once again talking about a suspect search. I was also struck by something that I heard from the Rhode Island attorney general, which he said that they have faced difficulty in terms of developing evidence.

From your perspective and your experience with the FBI, what challenges do you think that they're currently encountering?

STEVE MOORE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I'm guessing what he's saying is that the suspect left nothing behind that was of much use to them. Now, I know he left casings behind, bullet casings behind, which usually can give you a lot of good information. But it could be that this person has planned this out so well that there are no fingerprints. There is nothing left behind. He took it all with him except for, say, those casings, which, you know, causes a lot of problems.

The other thing is we've gotten used to as law enforcement and as the public seeing a lot of cases solved by cameras everywhere. Well, apparently this guy didn't walk in front of a lot of cameras. Which is surprising. And you can't really -- you can't really prepare for that. You can't go down the street and figure out who's got ring cameras and things like that. So he's either very lucky or he's very good.

SANDOVAL: We also heard from investigators saying that they were still looking at surveillance footage from the area. As you were hearing that update, I mean, did you hear any sign that perhaps investigators are other. Maybe combing through other angles, other cameras, or footage from other cameras that may have captured him or, I also have to say there was some frustration coming from the attorney general saying if we had video showing his face, we would be showing it to you.

So is that telling us that video may not even exist?

MOORE: Right. They are saying that they -- they don't have video that will -- that will identify him they think. See, what I suspect is that they do have him on video, or I think it's entirely possible, I should say, that they do have him on video in the room or in the rooms or in the area, but they don't recognize him as the same person who fired because it is unlikely. At least it seems to me as an investigator that he walked into the -- the building where the finals were being taken -- were being taken with a camouflage mask and a gun in his hand.

He likely came in with some kind of backpack, some kind of container, and he might have literally changed clothes. So they might actually have film of him. They just don't know it yet.

SANDOVAL: Would you be surprised, bearing in mind that we don't know exactly what the cards. What all the cards are that law investigators are holding right now? I mean, would you be shocked to learn that there really isn't a big, wide variety of cameras available to them, especially when you're talking about an Ivy League university in a relatively large city?

MOORE: Yes, that would be -- that would be kind of disappointing for me. After leaving the FBI, I was deputy head of security for a major university, and there were lots of cameras, at least in the classrooms.

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Certainly you're not going to be putting a lot of cameras in dorms because of privacy issues. But in classrooms I would be surprised if they don't have these kind of things, especially in a building as relatively modern as that one.

I'm also surprised that street cameras didn't follow him all the way to either a vehicle or a location or maybe some kind of public transportation.

SANDOVAL: It is such a good point. I mean, we've been here before. You and I have spoken in other situations, other investigations where I remember during the Mangione hunt, for example, they had cameras. Obviously this was the middle of Manhattan. There were cameras on every single corner.

MOORE: Sure. SANDOVAL: But 10 typically they begin to reconstruct potential escape path. And here all we have, and we can show it to viewers again one more time because that's essentially where we are yet again, where this is the only publicly released window of a suspect right now.

MOORE: Yes, and I was thinking of the Mangione case. They tracked him for blocks and blocks and blocks. Really a phenomenal job. I'm kind of surprised that they haven't been able to trace this shooter farther.

You know, and there's still evidence out there. And once they had this, the first person of interest, they didn't stop the investigation because they were still preparing for trial. They're trying to wrap up all the leads. So they never stopped. It's just that now they have to start over again and find out what do we have, what do we not.

SANDOVAL: I have a few seconds with you. Just finally, should people still -- should the residents there still have full confidence investigators that they will be able to track this person down, given the news that we learned late Sunday night?

MOORE: They will. And the fact that no -- that no attack happened when they had the wrong person indicates to me that the person isn't an immediate threat.

SANDOVAL: That's an important point. Steve Moore, as always, thank you for your insight, really appreciate it.

And we do want to get you back to our breaking news that we're currently following out of Los Angeles where the family of director and actor Rob Reiner has announced his death and that of his wife Michele. This comes after a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were found dead at an address at a home associated with this Hollywood director.

The Los Angeles Police Department, however, yet to officially declare the victims are in fact Reiner and his wife. They say that they are seeking a search warrant to conduct a full crime scene investigation of the inside of that home and the outside. An LAPD spokesperson added that they are not searching for anyone as a suspect or in any other manner at this time. So important to point out that could change at any moment.

For the latest, let's take you now live to Los Angeles and CNN's Julia Vargas Jones. Julia, you've been there. You and I spoke in the last hour. I'm curious from the police line, what is the general mood there? Have you seen any movement or any sign that investigators could be preparing to have that warrant and then move in to start searching the house?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's what we will be looking for here, Polo, is just any kind of indication that is what the investigators will be doing at this time. We have seen, you know, throughout the past few hours, investigators, police cars going in and out of this cordoned off area where is the house of the Reiners.

But no, they have made it quite clear through a rather tumultuous press conference in the past hour that there will not be any further updates, that we won't know any further information until at least tomorrow morning. They said that teams from the investigators will be working through the night detectives, forensic science to investigate and to process that scene.

Now that does make sense because a little bit before that press conference we had heard from a press information officer that the scene had not yet been processed. And we've heard from our law enforcement analysts as well that is common here in California, that they need to go through some steps before they are able to go inside that house, process that scene in that. For that they also would need a warrant.

Another important and key point here, Polo, is that the deputy chief earlier said that they don't have anyone in custody. They haven't questioned anybody. Again, pointing to the early stages of that investigation. That doesn't mean that they don't have anybody in mind. We've learned later.

But at this point, again, they need that search warrant in order to do anything else.

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But it is interesting that the deputy chief did say that they don't believe that the community is at risk. So it raises again the question of, like, who could be a person that they have any interest on, even if they're not yet a person of interest, even if they haven't. And they won't be communicating anything to the media until at least tomorrow morning.

Now, another thing they mentioned is that the house is in the same state that it was when they arrived. Again, we haven't seen any movement since that press conference about an hour ago. We have seen, though, some neighbors who had come to get their cars, trying to get past this police line, get their cars out of here.

We know that this happens often as more law enforcement and media starts getting here, it becomes a little bit out of hand. We also saw some of these people, Polo, embracing each other, taking a moment to cry together.

Now, we don't know what the relation would have been between the Reiners and the folks that we're seeing here today, but we did speak. My producer, Sarah Moon, did speak to one of the neighbors here in Brentwood who said that he was shocked that he had heard the helicopters, that he thought that they were looking for a suspect.

And then eventually he got a call from another neighbor who lives behind Reiners home that they had a backyard that sort of connected and that he had heard rumblings about issues with the son, but he was not sure about anything else.

He said that there were two homes that the Reiners owned here in this area. Now, they were not directly across from each other, but they were in the same vicinity. So the family was clearly here together, close by.

Now, to connect that to something that the deputy chief said earlier in the presser. He said that he was a family member. He was someone who was at the house who had made the call to law enforcement. And we know from CNN reporting from a source connected to the investigation, that it was a family member who discovered the two people dead inside the Reiners home.

Again, we don't have that connection between the two people dead inside the Reiners home and the identity. And what we do have is that statement from the family, confirmation from this family.

And at this point, so much response from the public from public figures who have come out to say how much they are mourning the loss of the Reiners, from former President Barack Obama to former Vice President Kamala Harris to Nancy Pelosi and many, many in the entertainment industry, Polo, just goes to show how beloved they were both in the industry, in the political world. And of course, by the millions of fans of Reiner's work.

SANDOVAL: Yes. To all of us, Rob Reiner was a Hollywood icon, but for so many of the people there where you are, he was a neighbor. And so fair to say that they have a lot of questions. Julia Vargas Jones, thank you and your team for all your reporting there. We'll check back.

We do want to get a bit more reporting and also some more analysis here. I'm joined by CNN anchor Elex Michaelson joining me now from California. Elex, it's great to see you again.

You've also been doing some digging, some reporting on this, speaking to sources. I mean, what else are you hearing? His family saying this is a tragic loss, calling it a sudden loss. What else are you hearing?

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, the family confirming the loss of both Rob and Michele. The family devastated. Hollywood devastated. The world devastated as well. And many of them also taking time to honor his life and honor his work.

Let's take a moment to think about the amount of incredible work that he did and the breadth and depth and variety of it. You know, he was Carl Reiner's son, one of the funniest, longest serving Hollywood icons in both TV and writing. But he emerged from his shadow as Meathead on All in the Family, which is widely seen as one of if not the greatest comedies in the history of television.

And then he went on from that to work on all these different kinds of projects, from rom coms like "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally" to dramas like "A Few Good Men," movies like |Misery," comedies like "First Wives Club," all over the map, all of them really good.

And, you know, he started decades ago with "Spinal Tap" and is now again about to have another "Spinal Tap" mockumentary come out. Something else he sort of innovated on. And so that was the entertainment side of him. But much like his family, his father, he was also very focused on

issues. And his second father, you know, from all in the Family, Norman Lear, was also somebody who was so focused on issues and he got involved in politics.

[01:20:08]

One of his legacies here in California is something called First 5 California. Essentially, what that was a tax on tobacco companies and people that were using cigarettes as a way to fund early childhood education. It's a program that's been in place for about a generation now and has really helped a lot of kids, and that's something that's celebrated.

And he was a huge political donor and in regular communication with all of the biggest names in politics, which is why tonight we are seeing statements from Barack Obama and from Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass and Kamala Harris and basically every major player on the Democratic side.

But also, interestingly, a statement from Andrew Kolvet, who is the head of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk's organization, pointing out a video of Rob Reiner being gracious and devastated and at Charlie Kirk's murder and saying, this is somebody, regardless of politics, who is a human being and somebody. Nobody deserves to die like this. And somebody that we should celebrate for how gracious and kind and classy he was towards us when were hurting and sort of, you know, saying, we got to do the same thing back to him now.

So it's not just a Democratic Party thing. We are seeing conservatives coming out saying, nobody deserves to die like this. And there's so many people, regardless of their politics, who just really loved Rob Reiner's work, whether it was a comedy, a drama, or somewhere in between.

SANDOVAL: And that's really what's fueling so the desire for answers and so many questions as to why, you know, he was taken away so suddenly, along with his wife, Michele. But really, Elex, and it's great that you point out, I mean, his work transcends so many generations.

As you pointed out, he was still working. He was still getting ready to put out more -- more of his work. I remember as a kid, that was my first sitcom experience, watching with my mom All in the Family, and he was the subject of Archie Bunker's ire.

And so, you know, how will this hit, you think both, you know, younger and perhaps the more seasoned generations who have seen his work both in front of and behind the camera. You think, what's your final thought on that?

MICHAELSON: Yes, I mean, I think people have connections to him and his work from so many different generations. If you think about it, his work really started to become prominent in the 1970s and is still going now, you know, over 50 years later. So you think of all the generations that have different connections to him. And the kind of people that would watch "A Few Good Men" may not be the kind of people that are watching "Sleepless in Seattle," but there's all these different genres that he touched.

And it really is extraordinary the sort of level of excellence that he hit in so many of them and the fact that he had one of the most famous and successful fathers and was able to really establish his own thing for so many years.

And because he worked with so many people for 40, 50 years, I think the tributes that we're going to see in the days ahead will be extraordinary. I mean, I've heard from some people tonight that worked with him, especially in the political world, who just describe him as a loving, kind mentor and boss and somebody who was really gracious and went out of his way to lift other people up.

And I think in the days ahead, as some of this shock subsides and we really start to hear some of these stories, I think it's just going to be overwhelming to see the tributes to him, a lot of different eras and generations of American life.

SANDOVAL: An actor, a director and a civil activist, respected, as you point out, on all sides, by all sides. Elex Michaelson, thank you so much for this reporting. We'll certainly look for more of it in the coming days as you continue your coverage on the story. Elex, thank you.

And still to come, the very latest on a deadly shooting in Sydney, Australia, which targeted members of the Jewish community who were celebrating the start of Hanukkah. We'll be hearing from witnesses to that attack and also bring you brand new details on this investigation. Stay with us.

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SANDOVAL: Welcome back to CNN's breaking news coverage. We're following the latest developments out of Sydney, Australia, where at least 15 people are dead and dozens injured after two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration next to a beach. At a popular beach. Police now say that the suspects were a father and son. The father was shot and killed by police at the scene there in Bondi.

The son is now in critical but stable condition. Witnesses described the cha that attack played out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw those fireworks at the start and then next second we see people lying on the floor. So a kid get shot. It was probably the worst feeling I've ever seen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All hell broke loose. There's just people everywhere, kids everywhere, kids screaming, people screaming. And yes, just everyone everywhere just, yes, it was horrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Let's get the latest now on the investigation. And also what is a growing memorial there where we'll find when we find CNN's Angus Watson live from Sydney. I mean, what are investigators saying about the case? And also how is the community trying to come to terms with what happened this weekend there?

ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Take a look at this, Polo. I just want to show our viewers what's happening down in Bondi right now. Moments from where this horrific attack took place on Sunday afternoon. Now, a memorial of flowers, people coming together, holding each other, some people crying, talking about what happened, trying to come to terms somehow with this horrific violent incident, this antisemitic terror attack which targeted the Jewish community here in Bondi Beach.

This place is a focal point for Sydney's Jewish community, a historic hub for the Jewish community, a vibrant place that was attacked on Sunday afternoon.

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And I just want to show you one of the victims here, a 10-year-old girl, Matilda. Her family described her as a beautiful girl with a beautiful smile.

These pictures were taken right before she was killed. She was at an event called Hanukkah by the Sea, celebrating the first night of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah there.

She was shot, and later that night she was taken to hospital and she died of her injuries.

Ten years old, Matilda was the youngest victim of this senseless, this horrific attack.

The oldest victim, 87 years old, a Holocaust survivor who came to Australia after the horrors of the Second World War to live a better life. And he died, too, on Sunday afternoon as a result of this violence.

Now the two perpetrators, one was killed at the scene, the other one is in a serious critical, critical but stable condition in hospital. They're making up the focus point -- he's making the focus point of the police investigation, of course.

But right now, this community is grieving. And the Jewish community here has come under attack.

And politicians like Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, have had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY ALBANESE, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of terror, an act of anti-Semitism. An attack on the first day of Hanukkah targeted at the Jewish community, a dark day in Australia's history on what should have been a Day of Light.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: 27 people are still in hospital as a result of this horrific attack, which happened just a few moments behind me, where this -- just beyond where this memorial is now taking place, Polo.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: And that -- as that investigation presses forward, Angus, the importance of sharing those human stories and seeing the face of little Matilda really puts a face on this tragedy.

Angus Watson, thank you for your reporting there out of Sydney.

And up ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, we will be bringing you the latest on the breaking news out of Los Angeles, where the death of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, have been announced by his family.

And now police are investigating. The latest on the other side of this break.

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SANDOVAL: And we do want to get you back to our breaking news out of Los Angeles, where the family of actor and director Rob Reiner has announced his death and also the death of his wife, Michelle.

Police in Los Angeles, their homicide detectives, they are currently on scene after two people were found dead at a home associated with the Hollywood director. Law enforcement officials say that they are currently conducting an investigation, but they are still working to obtain a search warrant so that they can actually get into the property so they can investigate further.

So as that investigation continues to play out, let's get some analysis now and more about who Rob Reiner was.

We're speaking to Emily Longeretta. She's a senior TV features editor for "Variety" in Los Angeles. Thank you so much for joining us, Emily.

EMILY LONGERETTA, SENIOR TV FEATURES EDITOR, "VARIETY": Thank you for having me.

SANDOVAL: So before we go into how his reach extends beyond Hollywood, and we can talk a little bit about his activism, let's begin with Hollywood.

I mean, especially also, his wife as well. I mean, what -- how do you think he will be remembered by the entertainment industry?

LONGERETTA: I think it goes hand in hand, kind of like you said with his activism. A lot of people are, you know, taking to social media to talk about how much he, you know, how much he meant to them as, as a figure, as a director and an actor. A lot of people, you know, Paul Walter Hauser posted that something so

touching that the few -- "A Few Good Men" was the reason he became an actor and that Rob Reiner is the reason he learned to direct.

So I think something like that is something that a lot of people want to, you know, remember him for that.

I think another person that spoke out about this was the family of Norman Lear. Now, of course, Norman Lear created "All in the Family", where Rob Reiner got his start as an actor, playing the famous "Meathead" on "All in the Family".

And, you know, Norman Lear's family said that for so long, Rob and Michelle made sure to spend every breath trying to make the country a better place and trying to make everyone warmer and feel more welcome.

That is something that he would want to be remembered by. And that's such a powerful statement to hear.

SANDOVAL: Like if he could, if his character could survive the ire of Archie Bunker, you know, he was strong. The headline in "Variety" reading we lost one of "A Few Good Men", obviously a reference to that 1992 legal drama that he directed.

Can you maybe dive deeper into how his -- his presence really transcends multiple generations? I mean, he was still working, preparing still to roll out more of his work. And then also at the same time, you see -- you saw him make his mark and forge his own path in the entertainment world early on.

LONGERETTA: Absolutely. And I think just even running through, I was, you know, at a dinner when I heard the news and running through his movies, thinking that he made his first directorial debut in "Spinal Tap", which was such a different generation of people now, but it still goes down as such a famous movie.

And then from "Stand By Me to "The Princess Bride" to "A Few Good Men" to "When Harry Met Sally", I mean, his resume is just so packed and that's what -- it spans so many generations and it touches so many different people.

I mean, like you said, the reactions are flooding in and his -- he and his wife, both, who met on "When Harry Met Sally" you know, defined their lives by purpose, and made sure to every single thing they did with work, whether it was with work or in activism, made sure to lead with purpose and powerful storytelling.

And, you know, I think that that is something that came out. I mean, he was acting still and directing still. He was part of "The Bear" in this last year, the hit FX show.

So, you know, he was still a very big part of the industry. And this is really, really shocking.

[01:39:50] SANDOVAL: And important to remind viewers that the investigation is very much in its infancy stages at this point. The LAPD has not released much, not even confirming the identities. It's -- all the information that's coming right now is from the Reiner family.

A few final thoughts from you, Emily. I wonder, I mean, how do you think he will be remembered? And just give us a sense, really punctuate how wherever this investigation may lead, it is likely to send shockwaves around the world for many entertainers.

LONGERETTA: Absolutely. I mean, it's like -- shock waves is the perfect way to put it. I mean, it really is, you just never know what can happen.

And with the investigation, there are so many questions of what happened and who did this and who's responsible. But it's very important to remember that both Rob and Michelle, they always try to highlight the goodness in people.

And any interview you've watched, anything that he was part of, that came out in his projects. And it wasn't just, you know, about telling a story about putting good beliefs into action and putting them -- that was shown through his projects and, you know, through his activism.

Like we said a little bit, I think that's a big way he would want to be remembered, is he was an advocate for marriage equality and for children and for civil rights. And that was something that he spoke about from start to finish and never worried about the negative -- any, any negative reaction that could come from that.

He really believed in the equality and really just supporting everyone. And that was something him and Michelle stood up to, to represent. And hopefully that will be how he's remembered, in addition to his incredible span of work.

SANDOVAL: And on that memorializing point honoring Rob and Michelle, we have to leave it there.

Emily Longeretta, thank you so much for your reporting and for all of this insight as we again wait to hear more on where this investigation will go.

And stay with CNN, we'll be right back with more news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANDOVAL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM.

We want to give you this look at the annual lighting of the national menorah just outside the White House, this taking place on Sunday evening. And it marks the first day of Hanukkah.

[01:44:48]

SANDOVAL: These ceremonies are taking place really, not just across the country, but around the world. The ceremony comes less than 24 hours after the deadly terrorist attack at a Jewish celebration in Sydney, Australia. And that's where 15 people were killed on Bondi Beach.

And the lighting of the menorah, it has been a White House tradition since 1979, certainly with added significance this year.

On Sunday, President Trump spoke at the White House about the multiple tragedies that have taken place just this past weekend.

Here's CNN's Julia Benbrook from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump is offering his condolences, his thoughts and prayers to those impacted by several tragic events that took place this weekend.

During a pre-planned holiday party here at the White House, he opened remarks by speaking about the shooting at Brown University, as well as the deadly attack that took place in Australia. We want to play you what he had to say.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to just pay my respects to the people, unfortunately, who are no longer with us. Brown University, nine injured and two are looking down on us right now from heaven.

And likewise in Australia, as you know, that was a terrible attack. And that was an anti-Semitic attack, obviously.

And I just want to pay my respects to everybody.

BENBROOK: He also spoke about a deadly attack that took place in Syria over the weekend. It left two U.S. Army soldiers and one civilian interpreter dead, as well as three others wounded.

Trump has referred to this as an ambush attack. He said it was an ISIS attack against the United States and Syria, and he has vowed retaliation.

In fact, in these recent remarks, he said, quote, "a lot of damage will be done to the people who did it".

Now, these remarks, like I said, they came during a pre-planned holiday party and after this somber beginning, he did pivot his comments to more campaign style rhetoric.

He was introducing notable attendees, speaking about his golf game, he took at least one dig at his predecessor as he touted his administration's work so far.

At the end of those remarks, first lady, Melania Trump, also spoke though about those that were impacted by these tragedies, saying that she is thinking of them, adding, quote, "my heart is with them".

Julia Benbrook, CNN -- the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Well, it's now Monday afternoon in Asia and the verdict is in in the landmark trial that's really been seen as a test of Hong Kong's freedoms under Beijing. Media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of national security offenses.

We're going to take you live to Hong Kong for reaction to the verdict. And also, what else came out of the courtroom?

[01:47:40]

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SANDOVAL: Media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty in a landmark national security trial in Hong Kong. Lai was one of the highest- profile critics of Beijing. After a series of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, he was charged under a sweeping national security law that was imposed on the semi-autonomous city in 2020.

Lai was found guilty on two national security charges, as well as a lesser sedition charge.

For the very latest, let's go to CNN's Kristie Lu Stout, who is live outside the court where that verdict -- was earlier at that court where the verdict was read.

Kristie, you're back now with us. What else did -- what else came out of court? And what's been the reaction there in Hong Kong?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Polo. I'm now back in the NEWSROOM, but Jimmy Lai was a man for decades has long been a thorn in the side of Beijing.

The former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of sedition and two counts of colluding with foreign forces. Collusion here in Hong Kong is a very serious crime under the Beijing-imposed national security law. It is punishable by up to life in prison.

Sentencing that is going to come next. Earlier, Jimmy Lai had pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Earlier today, I was inside that courtroom. Jimmy Lai, he appeared calm. He was wearing glasses, a blazer, a light green sweater.

At one point he raised a hand and smiled at his wife and one of his sons, who was sitting behind me in the gallery alongside Cardinal Joseph Zen (ph), who is another outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party.

Before the verdict was read aloud, the court heard this. We were told that there must be, quote, "absolute silence". And sure enough, after the verdict came down, there was absolute silence in the court.

Jimmy Lai, wearing headphones, listening to the verdict that was delivered in English, simply looked straight ahead. Now, this is one of the most high-profile national security cases

since the law was imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in the summer of 2020.

This trial has been roundly criticized by western governments, who have called it politically-motivated. Western governments have also called on authorities here to release Jimmy Lai.

In fact, just a couple of months ago, the U.S. president, Donald Trump, pressed the Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free Jimmy Lai during their talks in South Korea.

China all along has warned against foreign interference. Hong Kong has insisted this trial, like other national security law trials in Hong Kong, was conducted in a fair and timely manner. And Beijing has its full support behind Hong Kong authorities here.

I want to show you recent comments from the ministry of foreign affairs. This came out on Monday. We heard a spokesman saying this, quote, "The central government firmly supports the Hong Kong special administrative region in safeguarding national security in accordance with the law and punishing crimes that endanger national security," unquote.

Now again, sentencing will come next. Jimmy Lai faces a possible sentence of life in prison. And Jimmy Lai, who is now 78 years old, for him, life would most probably mean life. He's already served about five years behind bars.

Back to you.

SANDOVAL: CNN's Kristie Lu Stout with that live update out of Hong Kong on that highly-watched case. Thank you Kristie.

STOUT: Thank you.

[01:54:45]

SANDOVAL: The U.S. special envoy, Steve -- well, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff says that progress has been made during talks with Ukrainian officials in Berlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been meeting with Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Also, some European officials have been at that meeting.

On social media, Witkoff said on Sunday that the meeting lasted over five hours. Well, he also said that the delegates discussed the peace plan to end the conflict in Ukraine.

One sticking point, it's been whether the plan includes language that prevents Ukraine from joining NATO. Ukrainians said that NATO membership isn't important to them as much as getting some security guarantees for their country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I support this. We need security guarantees. In any case, as you can see, in the past, they signed guarantees and agreements on security guarantees.

But one guarantor attacked us and the other guarantor is supporting us Only half of the time.

Whether we join or not join NATO, I think nothing will change because we are already defending ourselves with our own forces even without NATO. And when NATO itself was attacked, they did nothing.

So I thank God that we are a large and strong country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Syrian forces have arrested five suspects in connection with an ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter. U.S. Central Command and the Department of Defense say that the attack was carried out by a lone ISIS Gunman, who also wounded three other people the day of the attack.

According to the Pentagon, the soldiers were operating as part of a regional counterterrorism support mission. On Sunday, President Trump again warned of severe U.S. retaliation for the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And we had three great patriots terminated by bad people and not the Syrian government, it was ISIS. The Syrian government fought by our side. The new president fought by our side.

But I just want to pay my respects to the families. There will be a lot of damage done to the people that did it. They got the person, the individual person, but there'll be big damage done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And we do want to thank you so much for joining us the last hour here on CNN NEWSROOM.

Our breaking news coverage of the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, continues with my colleague Rosemary Church after a short break.

[01:57:04]

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