Return to Transcripts main page
CNN This Morning
Quid Pro Quo Suspected in Dropping of Eric Adams Case; Conflicting Messages at Munich Security Conference from U.S. on Ukraine; Trump Admin Tells Agencies to carry Out Widespread Firings. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired February 14, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Its Friday, February 14th, Valentine's Day. Right now, on CNN THIS MORNING.
[05:59:31]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is unbelievably unprecedented. The Biden administration and that Department of Justice is already showing they're corrupt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Calling it quits. A top prosecutor and DOJ officials step down over orders to drop the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know him very well. Yes, I think he wants peace. I trust him on this subject.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Trust Putin. President Trump believes Vladimir Putin when he says he wants peace. The vice president, however, has issued a warning to Moscow if it does not work in good faith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I love to fire people. You didn't do your job. I'm sorry. Say hello to your family. You're fired. Get out!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Firing season. Thousands of federal workers, many of them with families, are shown the door as the White House widens its blitz to slash the federal government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: That's the impact that tariffs have. And I say it loudly. It's the most beautiful word.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: The tariff tango. President Trump doubling, tripling, quadrupling down, tasking his team to order up reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trade partners. How that could affect the global economy.
Six a.m. Here on the East Coast. Here's a live look at the Statue of Liberty. Looking beautiful this morning on this Valentine's Day.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Jim Sciutto, in this week for Kasie Hunt. Great to have you with us.
A showdown between the Trump administration and its own Justice Department prosecutors. At least six DOJ officials resigned in protest, because they were ordered by the acting deputy attorney general to dismiss the New York City mayor's federal criminal charges.
Acting attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon told Attorney General Pam Bondi that dropping the corruption case against Eric Adams would be, quote, "inconsistent with my ability and duty to prosecute federal crimes without fear or favor and advance good-faith arguments before the courts," end quote.
Sassoon refused to sign the document dismissing that case. So, too, did other prosecutors working on it.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove then turned to officials in the DOJ's Office of Public Integrity. They, too, resigned, rather than comply.
Bove, you'll remember, represented Donald Trump during the New York state case in which he was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The president has denied any involvement in the Adams case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.S. attorney has resigned over the DOJ's request to drop the case into Eric Adams. Did you personally request the Justice Department to drop that case?
TRUMP: No, I didn't. I know nothing about it. I did not.
That U.S. attorney was actually fired. I don't know if he or she resigned, but that U.S. attorney was fired.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: In fact, contrary to the president's claim there, Sassoon's letter spoke of resigning, not getting fired.
In it, she claims that Mayor Adams' attorneys sought a quid pro quo arrangement with the DOJ, arguing that Adams would only be able to help with President Trump's immigration crackdown if the DOJ dropped the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR ERIC ADAMS (D), NEW YORK CITY: I believe the president was clear, and the incoming attorney general was clear. We're going to stop weaponizing our systems against Americans. No American should have had to have gone through what I went through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Biden's policy. President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, visited New York City on Thursday, meeting with Adams and members of the city council.
The mayor then announced he will increase cooperation between city officials and federal officials on immigration.
All of this raising concerns the Trump administration is using the Justice Department for political purposes after President Trump himself campaigned on what he called weaponization and lawfare.
That possibility, something mayor's -- Mayor Adams' attorney was asked about earlier this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there truly this looming threat that I think a lot of the mayor's political opponents have speculated on, that the Trump administration could just bring it right back?
ALEX SPIRO, ATTORNEY FOR MAYOR ERIC ADAMS: There is no looming threat. This case is over. This case will never be brought back. It wasn't a real case in the first place. This isn't hanging over anybody's head. This case is over. I think everybody knows this case is over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Not what the New York attorney said.
Joining me now to discuss: Alex Thompson, CNN political analyst, national political reporter at Axios; Hyma Moore, former regional communications director for Joe Biden's 2020 campaign; and Brad Todd, Republican strategist and CNN political commentator.
Good to have you all on.
BRAD TODD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.
SCIUTTO: Brad, I wonder. You have a very conservative New York attorney, long history in conservative causes, alleging a quid pro quo here.
President Trump campaigned, saying he wanted to end weaponization, politicization of the Justice Department here. So, what's your reaction to seeing a case against the mayor dropped after, it seems, he says, I'll work with you on immigration? TODD: Well, I think the Department of Justice and the president had
been talking about the fact that they thought Eric Adams had been targeted for his criticism of Joe Biden's immigration policies for quite some time.
And, you know, the departures at the Southern District of New York, the firings, this is normal. Every time a new president is elected, the U.S. attorneys are removed from their jobs.
[06:05:11]
SCIUTTO: No, it's not -- it's not normal --
TODD: If they don't remove.
SCIUTTO: -- to -- to resign in protest. A series of protests, right? Not just the New York attorney assigned to the case, but then the Plan B, in effect. Right?
They go to the Office of Public Integrity. And they say, no, we're not going to drop this case under pressure. That's not normal.
TODD: No, it is absolutely normal. Appointed U.S. attorneys retire or resign or fired immediately after every -- after every presidential election.
SCIUTTO: It's not -- they didn't do that after a change of the administration. They did it in protest to this decision.
TODD: Well, they protest because --
SCIUTTO: I wonder. I wonder, Hyma, what your view --
TODD: -- they know that they're going to get fired.
SCIUTTO: It's a fact. It's just a fact. It's a fact.
TODD: They know they --
SCIUTTO: Did you read the letter? Did you read the conservative New York attorney's letter about this case?
TODD: Are you asking -- are you asking questions or are you on the panel? I mean, they retired because they --
SCIUTTO: I'm asking you. I'm asking merely for a recognition of the facts here, as opposed to a repetition of talking points.
TODD: No. Every time there's a change of administration, the U.S. attorneys turn over. They either resign or they are fired. That's the way it works.
It's worked that way in every presidential administration since we've been alive. That's what's happened here.
SCIUTTO: OK. Hyma, given that he will not acknowledge the letter from the conservative New York attorney, explaining her reasons for -- for leaving, what's your reaction to seeing this?
HYMA MOORE, FORMER REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR JOE BIDEN'S 2020 CAMPAIGN: Look, Jim, I'm not surprised by this.
And I -- I know Mayor Adams. I've been with him a couple of times. I'm not surprised by how this has played out.
I mean, when you think about what happened over the last two years with Mayor Adams and the immigration crisis in New York, he has not been a friend of Joe Biden. And Joe Biden was not a friend of his.
And so, I'm not shocked that he's kowtowed to Donald Trump in order to get this dropped. I mean, he's fighting for his life right now. He wants to be mayor of New York again. But look, I think people are right. I think this is a bit of quid pro quo.
And I think he has been very clear that if he's friend, if he's friends with Donald Trump, he will not be prosecuted. And that's what's happening.
SCIUTTO: Alex, the -- you've heard from some. Well, from mayor Adams himself and from others that this case was purely in response to and, in effect, retribution for Adams criticizing Trump's [SIC] immigration. Rather, Biden's immigration policies in New York.
The prosecutors say the investigation began before that. And we should note that other members, many -- several members of Adams' administration, have been under prosecution themselves. Corruption charges, et cetera. What are the facts of the case here?
ALEX THOMPSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, both things can be true here: that the Biden administration and Eric Adams had a lot of tension over the immigration issue, and that they clashed behind closed doors, also out in public.
It can also be true that this case is different than those tensions, and it had nothing to do with them.
I would also say, to your point, the person that resigned here is -- was a member of the Federalist Society; had clerked for Supreme Court Scalia; was not some sort of left-wing activist or just like a liberal Democrat resigning in protest.
So, those are the facts of this case.
I'd also say that Eric Adams has been campaigning subtly for this. He met with Tom Homan, you know, the Trump border czar, you know, very early after Trump's victory. And he also went on even Tucker Carlson's podcast just the other week, a very close Trump ally.
SCIUTTO: So, Brad, what's your response to that? Does it change your -- your characterization of the case?
TODD: Well, the U.S. attorneys and the districts work for the Department of Justice. This has always been the case. And the Department of Justice issued a directive to the Southern
District of New York that it did not follow. The attorney general, Pam Bondi, is going to get her way when it comes to the U.S. prosecutions. That's -- that's -- it's just -- that's an insubordination.
And, you know, the kinds of people who become U.S. attorneys are strong, confident, self-assured people. They're not going to -- they don't like taking direction from Department of Justice. But that's what's going to happen in this case.
SCIUTTO: Several of them resigned in protest.
Stand by. We have a lot more to talk about this hour. Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, today, Vice President Vance meets with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Munich as questions mount about what seat at the negotiating table Ukraine will hold.
Plus, Senator Mitch McConnell, the only Republican "no" on RFK Jr.'s nomination, reigniting a years-long feud with President Trump.
And a new wave of firings, to Trump's tariff era. How Democrats are trying to find leverage, if they can, in a second term in the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What he's looking to do is not make government more efficient for America. He's looking to come in with Elon Musk and do this corporate slash-and-burn technique -- technique, which doesn't work and which will make our country less safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:14:19]
SCIUTTO: The vice president, J.D. Vance, reiterating that NATO is a very important alliance, in his words, for the U.S. This at the Munich Security Conference this morning.
NATO a very big issue as he meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Earlier, the vice president told "The Wall Street Journal" that the U.S. could hit Russia with sanctions and even possibly send U.S. troops to Ukraine if the Russian president failed to negotiate in good faith, saying, quote, "There are economic tools of leverage. There are, of course, military tools of leverage, as well."
CNN's national security correspondent, Alex Marquardt, joining us now live from Munich.
And I wonder, Alex, who do European diplomats and officials believe? Because you had Hegseth say one thing. You have Vance saying another. And you have Donald Trump now making concessions prior even to the start of the negotiations. ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim, it's a
very good question. And I think the biggest concession is the question of NATO membership for Ukraine.
Pete Hegseth really alarming European NATO allies just a few days ago, saying that -- that Ukraine would not end up with NATO membership in any kind of peace deal with Russia. And Donald Trump essentially confirming that yesterday in the Oval Office.
But we are hearing from the vice president, J.D. Vance, who is essentially taking a tougher line on Russia than we have been hearing out of the administration over the past few days, and saying, very generally, that all -- all possibilities remain on the table, that nothing is really set in stone.
And so, you have J.D. Vance, who's already here in Munich, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his way. They will be meeting with President Zelenskyy later today.
And in just about two hours' time, we'll also be hearing directly from the vice president, who is expected to speak about Ukraine, among many other issues.
But you can imagine, Jim, behind the scenes, there's going to be a flurry of meetings, not just with Ukrainian officials, but also with European officials.
And they're going to want a bit of a finer point from these top Americans about how they see this playing out. What would a deal actually look like in terms of that NATO membership for Ukraine? Is that even a possibility?
But then also remember, Pete Hegseth ruled out the possibility of U.S. troops going into Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force; whether the U.S. would partake in any kind of security guarantees to make sure that Russia doesn't invade Ukraine again in the future. Pete Hegseth ruling that out. But now the vice president saying that that is on the table.
So, there is a lot of confusion, Jim. The bottom line is we are going to be going into some weeks, if not months, of talks about a potential deal, talks that Ukraine is insisting they need to be at the table for. That is something that President Trump has agreed with.
One interesting thing that President Trump said just yesterday is that there will be meetings with top Russians here in Munich, as well. It's not clear who he's referring to, whether that is going to happen.
The Ukrainians, for their part, say that that is that -- that it is way too early for that. They will not be meeting with Russians anytime soon -- Jim.
SCIUTTO: Alex Marquardt there in Munich, thanks so much.
Still to come on CNN THIS MORNING, firings now underway at several government agencies as President Donald Trump looks to slash costs and also shrink the federal workforce.
Plus, could the president's latest push for more tariffs raise costs for Americans?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:21:57]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELON MUSK, ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I think -- I think we -- we do need to delete entire agencies, as opposed to leave part of them behind. Because if you leave part of them behind, it's easy. It's kind of like leaving a weed. If you don't remove the roots of the weed, then it's easy for the weed to grow back.
But if you remove the roots of the weed, it doesn't stop weeds from ever growing back. But it makes it harder. So -- So, we have to really delete entire agencies. Many of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Elon Musk there and President Donald Trump directing widespread cuts to the federal workforce and, as he's saying, to entire agencies. Part of the president's push to cut costs with Musk and what he calls the Department of Government Efficiency leading the way.
Now, scores of federal workers' jobs are already on the chopping block. Probationary workers, who have been employed for less than one year or two year, are taking the brunt of this hit.
Officials targeting their positions, because they have fewer job protections than other federal employees and are not able to appeal the decision.
According to recent data, there are more than 200,000 government employees who fall into that category.
Some of the agencies hit hardest this week: the Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Energy.
Democrats trying to push back against the changes. Certainly, an uphill battle, as they have little leverage in Republican-controlled Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. VERONICA ESCOBAR (D-TX): There are public servants across the nation who go to work every single day to fulfill their duties and their obligations to the American people, and all of them are at risk.
REP. JOSH BRECHEEN (R-OK): Excess federal employment and liberal ideology go hand in hand. We again need an efficient government. Not one -- not a government creating jobs for the sake of creating government jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Let's bring our panel back in.
Hyma, Axios had a focus group it did with Arizona swing voters, and they were asked about these cuts. And they said bring them on, in effect, that they want to see these cuts.
And I wonder from -- on the politics, in your view, do -- does Trump -- do Trump and Musk have it right on what voters, or at least a majority of voters want to see?
MOORE: Look, I mean, I think, Jim, if you think about Democrats, Republicans, independents, most people want an efficient government. But it's not about cutting and slashing and burning. It's about efficiency. It's about services that people feel like they need to receive a little bit more directly.
And so, I don't think the politics of this is going to work out well for Trump, only because when he got to D.C., I think people were hoping that he would cut costs for them personally.
It wasn't about cutting the government costs. It's about personal costs. Inflation is still way too high. Job numbers are going down. You guys saw these job numbers just yesterday.
And so, I don't think people really care about this government slash and cut that he's doing. They care more about their egg prices, their housing prices. They care more about the childcare prices.
And so, I think once that starts to hit the ground in a couple of weeks, then people will feel a little differently about what's going on with Elon Musk and President Trump.
[06:25:02]
SCIUTTO: To that point about prices, it was notable to hear from the new treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, on that issue. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: If prices go up -- and I'm not sure they will -- that because a huge amount is absorbed by the currency. Big amount is absorbed by the foreign producer. But if they do, we could see a one-time slight increase, and it would be very slight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Not everyone is convinced, Brad, that that will be a one-time increase.
If you look at what the Fed is saying, too, about holding off on further interest rate cuts. Are you concerned, given that President Trump ran on lowering costs for Americans, that inflation could stick around longer, might even increase, and call into question Trump's promise to immediately lower prices?
TODD: Well, I think first off, the Fed does have to keep lowering rates, right? That's the way we 00 that's the way we move the economy forward.
But secondly, this administration is going to unleash an energy boom. The cost of energy under Joe Biden was artificially driven up by the administration's actions.
And so, Donald Trump is going to cut the regulations on energy, bring down the cost of energy, which will make it -- reduce pressure on prices, on everything. It really is the key part of it.
I also think that the Trump administration is -- is going to reduce regulations. And those -- by doing -- reducing regulations, you also reduce pressure on prices.
SCIUTTO: Well, economists will say that cutting interest rates often put upward pressure on prices.
Alex, I wonder, when you speak to Republicans on the Hill, are they concerned that -- that high prices will stick around longer than they wanted?
THOMPSON: Yes. And, you know, save that clip. I'm -- it's sort of a cautionary tale. A lot of Democrats are remembering --
SCIUTTO: Yes.
THOMPSON: -- in the first six months of 2021, they were saying inflation is transitory.
SCIUTTO: Yes.
THOMPSON: It's going to be fine. And then, you know, sometimes events can get in the way that you do not expect. And that clip could come back to haunt the Trump administration.
Republicans are definitely worried about it, because they know those swing voters -- not all the Republican voters, but the swing voters, really, that put Trump over the line were because of, you know, inflation and all these issues. And, you know, high grocery prices.
SCIUTTO: Yes, I did -- as I was listening that clip, I had the exact same thought. It sounded like that transitory moment a few years back.
My panel, stick around. We'll be back in a bit.
Still to come on CNN THIS MORNING, an unlikely member of the resistance. How Senator Mitch McConnell is defying President Trump in his second term.
Plus, mixed contradictory messages from the White House when it comes to what leverage to use to try to end the war following Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: These negotiations are led by President Trump. Everything is on the table, in his conversations with Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
