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Kushner Reveals Details Of Contacts With Russians; Charlie Gard's Parents End Legal Fight; U.N. Security Council To Address Jerusalem Crisis; Taliban Claim Blast That Killed At Least 29 In Kabul; U.S. Close To Finalizing Afghanistan Plan; Coming Back To Life After A Nightmare; British Princes Talk About Diana's Life And Legacy Aired 11-12p ET
Aired July 24, 2017 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Of all the president's men, one of the closest to him is being grilled this minute over his Russian contact.
Jared Kushner offered his first public account of those controversial meetings just hours ago. The latest from Washington for you viewers is up
next.
Also ahead this hour, it is too late. The parents of a terminally-ill baby captured hearts worldwide and dropped their bid as they came to the U.S.
for treatment. And...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is all Taliban country, all of it. So there's -- there's Taliban that come through here on a daily basis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A frying visit to deal with and entrenched enemy is America's longest war in danger of becoming an indefinite one. CNN is in Afghanistan
asking that question.
A very warm welcome to Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. I did not collude and I have nothing to hide. Jared Kushner delivered that
public message just hours before he began testifying in private today.
He's speaking right now to staffers on the Senate Intelligence Committee about his contacts with Russia. It is the first time anyone in President
Donald Trump's inner circle has faced questioning on Capitol Hill.
And Mr. Trump's son-in-law whom closed advisor released an 11-page statement today, details for meetings he had with Russians during the
campaign and transition.
Kushner's statement says in part, I did not collude nor know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded, with any foreign government. I had no
improper contacts. I have not relied on Russian funds to finance my business activities in the private sector.
Hopefully this puts these matters to rest. The new White House communications director says Kushner's testimony will put the issue to rest
saying there's nothing to the Russia story.
Anthony Scaramucci spoke to CNN's Jake Tapper also revealing some high leveled skepticism about Russian interference in the U.S. election. Have a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, INCOMING WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: There's a lot of disinformation out there. You know, somebody said to me
yesterday, I won't tell you who, that if the Russians actually hack the situation and spilled out those -- those e-mails, you would have never seen
it.
You would have never had any evidence of them, meaning that they are super confident in their deception skills in hacking. My point is, all of the
information isn't on the table yet. But here's what I know about the president.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Wait, wait, wait, Anthony...
SCARAMUCCI: Let me finish.
TAPPER: Anthony, Anthony.
SCARAMUCCI: Let me finish.
TAPPER: You're making a lot of assertions here, I don't know who this anonymous person is, it said that if the Russians had actually done it, we
-- we wouldn't have been able to dissect it but it is...
(CROSSTALK)
SCARAMUCCI: How about it was the president, Jake?
TAPPER: OK, it's the consensus of the Intelligence Community.
(CROSSTALK)
SCARAMUCCI: He called from Air Force One.
TAPPER: Yes.
SCARAMUCCI: And he basically said to me hey, you know, this is -- maybe they did it, maybe they didn't do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, we are joined now by White House Reporter Stephen Collinson said, a witch hunt is how his father-in-law refers allegations of
Russian collusion in the U.S. election. Does what we have seen today in the statement released by Jared Kushner put, and I quote this whole thing
to rest?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: I don't think it's going to put this whole thing to rest just because there are so many questions
swirling around the White House about the president's attitude to Russia in past contacts with Russia.
After all, this testimony is taking place after we have had a sort of slow accumulation of details about Jared Kushner's meetings with the Russians.
He hasn't -- he didn't come out there in October or January and release this statement. It's taken this long.
And I think it's a symptom of the fact that this investigation is getting very serious. Having said that, if you read through this 11-page
statement, it is worth a read, it's on the CNN website, this is the most professional.
And I think, in-depth accounting of anybody in the Trump's orbits explanation of what exactly they were doing meeting the Russians and
whether they met the Russians. Now, Kushner is not under oath in this meeting with Senate staffers.
[11:05:00] But if he gives information that is not true, he's going to find himself in legal jeopardy. So I think this statement reflects the
intervention of a very professional set of lawyers now that Jared Kushner has taken on board.
And it also reflects the gravity of where we are in this investigation now. This is getting very serious. You have Jared Kushner testifying on Capitol
Hill about this issue.
ANDERSON: If you read through that 11-page statement, you're absolutely right. I mean it is fascinating and it is on the CNN digital site.
It makes some really interesting reading, not least a couple of people are speaking to suggesting that it could to a certain that said to be Jared
Kushner chucking Donald Trump's son, Donald Jr., under a bus when he -- when he talks about this e-mail exchange in the lead up to the meeting as
it were at Trump Tower before the election.
He says, I didn't read through the e-mail exchange, which, of course, we know goes on to mention Russian government ethics to help the Trump
campaign. Would it be fair to say you could read this as Kushner chucking Trump Jr. under a bus?
COLLINSON: Certainly. And after all, it's the job of Jared Kushner's lawyers to protect Jared Kushner. They're not operating for the
administration or Donald Trump Jr.
This may be the best way to save him from any legal liability over that meeting. If you remember that e-mail -- the heading of the e-mail was
about how the Russians -- how this meeting was supposedly going to show some Kremlin dirt on Hillary Clinton, that was the premise on which Donald
Trump Jr. took the meeting.
Kushner is now saying, well, didn't read the header of the e-mail, I scrolled down to the bottom and just saw the moment where I was supposed to
be there at 4:00 P.M. You can believe that or not.
I mean, it does seem a little far-fetched, but I guess it's possible. People don't always read all their e-mails. And he says in his testimony
that after ten minutes of that meeting, which he said was confined to the issue of Russian adoptions.
He e-mailed his secretary and asked her to call him on his cell phone, so he could get out of the meeting and he said it was a completely pointless
meeting for his point of view then he says he left.
And he provided the e-mail to his secretary to the committee to back up that assertion. Now, that's his story. We don't know exactly what went on
in that meeting.
It will be very interesting to see if the -- the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller, now probes both sides of this story. If somehow Donald Trump Jr.
were to come out and say, well, he did know the content of the meeting, that would be very interesting.
ANDERSON: Stephen, put this into context for our international viewers, I still remember that in February, Mr. Trump was asked if anyone in his
campaign had any contacts with Russia during the election.
He said, and I quote, no, nobody that I know of. Well, since then, we have seen multiple contacts confirmed and yet, the president still calls Russia
a witch hunt.
He is firing off a bunch of tweets this morning including this one. So why aren't the committees and investigators, and of course our beleaguered A.G.
looking into crooked Hillary's crimes and Russia relations?
AG referring there to his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. Briefly, Stephen, crystal ball gazing here, what on earth should we read into what
Trump means in all of this?
COLLINSON: Well, clearly what he's trying to do is deflect from the Kushner testimony with that tweet, but the reason Kushner's testimony is
not going to put all this to rest is exactly because of that behavior by President Donald Trump.
If he has nothing to hide, he hasn't been acting like he has nothing to hide. Casting doubt on the judgments of his own Intelligence Agency,
saying the reason he fired FBI Chief James Comey was because of the Russian investigation.
And now teeing off on his attorney general who recused himself from the investigation because he was trying to live up to the requirements of the
constitution.
ANDERSON: Mr. Collinson is out of Washington for you viewers making an awful lot of sense as ever. Stephen, thank you for that.
Well, you would speak to anyone, you would go anywhere, you would fight in every way you could imagine and everyway you now how to save your child.
You don't have to be a parent to know that, but sadly sometimes absolutely everything you have to give can't save them. So now the parents of this
baby, Charlie Gard, are having to, against everything they want, against their better judgment and their battle to keep him alive.
Are they going to let the machines keeping him alive be turned off. He'll be allowed to die.
[11:10:00] His parents just spoke in what was frankly a heartbreaking few moments. CNN's Erin McLaughlin can tell us all about what was said. Erin.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky. It was an emotional court hearing in London today.
The lawyer for the parents of Charlie Gard are telling the judge that they have taken the decision that it is in Charlie Gard's best interest to die,
that they are letting their son go.
This after a full body MRI scan, the results of which the family received at the weekend shows, according to the very -- that the muscle damage that
Charlie has experienced as a result of his mitochondrial depletion and thermal genetic disorder that he was born with, that his muscle damage is
irreparable.
The experimental treatment that they wanted for their little baby being offered by a hospital in New York would not work. And so they have decided
that they are going to let the child die. Chris Gard, Charlie's father, made an emotional statement here outside the courthouse just a short while
ago. Take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS GARD, CHARLIE GARD'S FATHER: To Charlie we'll say, your mommy and daddy, we love you so much. We always have and we always will, and we are
so sorry we can't save you. Sweet dreams baby, sleep tight our beautiful little boy. We love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLAUGHLIN: It's impossible to imagine the pain that family is going through right now. Justice Francis who heard this case saying that no
parent could have done more for their child in tribute to Connie Yates and Chris Gard.
He also though had words of support for the hospital that has been treating the 11-month-old which has come under increasing pressure receiving
thousands of threats, sometimes death threats to doctors and nurses as a result of the intense public interest that has come out of this case.
The judge saying, each and every man, and woman working there at Great Ormond Street Hospital is committed to the treatment of sick children. And
it is a disgrace that they have in subject to threats.
The justice also taking the opportunity to criticize outside interference in this case saying that it's absurd notion that Charlie has been a
prisoner of the National Health Service, which is the health service here in the United Kingdom.
He went on to say, children in this country have rights, independent of their parents. Now, in terms of next steps, we understand that the family
and the hospital are currently in mediation. Becky.
ANDERSON: Erin, thank you. Well, to Jerusalem now, a city grips for the rising tension that has the region and the world extremely worried.
Clashes over security at some of the city's holiest sites have seen diplomatic efforts by the United States amongst others with the U.N.
Security Council.
Now planning to hold an emergency meeting later today and the Arab league are set to hold an emergency meeting themselves on the situation later on
in the week.
Well, Ian Lee is in Jerusalem to explain all of this for us. What does lie, Ian, at the heart of what is this incredibly inflammatory situation?
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in one word, Becky, control. Control over a holy complex, which for Jews, they call it the Temple Mount, for
Muslims, it is the Noble Sanctuary.
Now, their status quo which has been in place for years is that the Jordanian religious endowment known as the Walkford (ph) administer site
then Israel would provide security.
Well, after an attack against two Israeli police officers which killed them over a week ago, Israel installed metal detectors as well as cameras at the
entrance to this holy complex.
That decision, though, taken unilaterally and that what's angered the Palestinians and the Jordanians who say that they believe that this is
Israel trying to expand its control over the holy site.
And Israel says this is just for security measures. But that has been at the heart of this recent crisis, one that we have seen clashes almost on a
nightly basis. Four Palestinians have been killed in those clashes with police.
And also, in the west bank, three Israelis were killed when a Palestinian snuck into their house with a knife and killed them. So this is a crisis
that really needs a diplomatic solution. And that's what we're seeing right now with the Americans through Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt,
the envoy to this region.
[11:15:00] They are looking for that, speaking with the Jordanians, the Israelis and the Palestinians to try to come sort -- come to some sort of
agreement. But right now, they haven't been able to do that, Becky.
ANDERSON: Ian Lee out of Jerusalem for you this evening. Now America has been fighting in Afghanistan for, get this, 15 years, 9 month, 2 weeks and
3 days. We need some American marines who have been there again and again, and again as part of that. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: It is people, 6:40 a.m. in Kabul. It was the wrong time and wrong place to be in. Just going about their lives, as we all do, a huge
car bomb rips into the morning air shattering lives as much as the city itself.
The Taliban all too happy to claim this attack where they murdered at least 29 people in what a victim describes as simply horrific.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through a translator): After the blast, it was a horrific scene. Many people were on the ground then I managed to get
myself to the ambulance. I don't know what happened next.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, even asking what happened next in a country where confusion fills the air as much as just look here, the fighting itself, it
is hard, perhaps impossible to answer escaping one, two, three American presidents already.
Since their troops set foot in what is often called the graveyard of empires nearly 16 years ago. Just after the September 11th attacks even,
then it was hardly Washington's first time in Afghanistan.
The CIA giving money, weapons and ideas to the Mujahideen fighting to get the soviets out of the country way back when, Nick Paton Walsh most
definitely inside it for us now, he's been there a lot over the last ten years. Nick, what have you got?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is extraordinary, Becky, to see how this war continues and yet another phase,
yet another bid from your idea this time from the Trump White House.
But already ahead of that announcement expected into coming days, there are 300 marines in the most volatile province of the country, Helmand. They
left awhile ago. Now they have to come back to prevent the whole place really falling into their hands of insurgency. This is what life is like
for them there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Here we are again, but it's been going on so long these guys have left and then come back. Afghanistan's Helmand and America's marines, when
does it end?
[11:20:00] A year ago, the Taliban were at the gates of this key city, Lashkar Gah. Now it's not good but it's better because the marines, even
though there's only 300 of them, have brought huge firepower with them.
Afghan troops just now retook one district. The marines, not at the front, but advising on base instead and congratulating them indoors, nothing lasts
forever here, except maybe the war and the triumphs soon fades.
The rockets just hit landing about 20 meters from us outside. A total of three indiscriminate, an 8-year-old boy wounded in the attack.
President Trump is now weighing his first move in a war that for men like Colonel Reid whose birthday is September 11th is absolutely nothing new.
He was asked 7-year-ago but then with thousands of marines, so fewer now.
COL. MATTHEW REID, DEPUTY COMMANDER, TASK FORCE SOUTHWEST: There are 300 and still losing troops in the grand Gah here.
WALSH: Now they have to do it all over again.
REID: It is discouraging, right? I mean a lot of blood on the ground.
WALSH: Do you feel like an extra sense of heaviness when you try and take it all on again?
REID: There is a definite feeling and a sense of obligation to get this right because of those that have gone before us, for sure.
WALSH: So how many friends have you lost here?
REID: I don't think I have ever bothered to count. It's too many. Yes, between here and Iraq.
WALSH: Some marines advise near the front where you can just make out the Taliban's white flag.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is all Taliban country, all of it. So there is -- there is Taliban that come through here on a daily basis.
WALSH: But the marines aren't meant to fight them. The Afghans are and they aren't as many here as there are supposed to be. Listen to how these
45 marines almost double what's meant to be a 500 strong afghan unity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only about 200 that are assigned right now.
WALSH: By assigned you mean that actually exist?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That actually exist.
WALSH: And they have 500.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
WALSH: Now, we have about 200.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of those 200, there are about 100 of them that aren't even here.
WALSH: Some on operations or on patrol, so 50 to 100 Afghans are actually here. This marine up unit falls back after a week. The marines are
leaving but this is only supposed to be a short mission.
They have come, they have go, and they come back again each time hoping the Afghan security forces they leave behind them will be able to do their job,
to hold the Taliban back. The question is, with only 300 of them here, marines this time, what has changed?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Now, Becky, a key moment for the Trump White House and for Afghanistan, they are really short of sparking new ideas frankly, but many
have been looking for now months for that first initiative.
And down there in Helmand, the situation does feels like those marines are kind of holding back the tide, to some degree. They have had some success,
but they save themselves, they need an extra resources to make economic progress. Becky?
ANDERSON: Nick, history may not itself but in Afghanistan it sure feels like it at least rhymes. We have jumped into CNN's archives, I want to get
our viewers two clips now. One is of you from right where you are now, Kabul. This was just last year. The second from back in Lashkar Gah some
six years ago. Stand by.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Helmand is the indisputable hard land at the south that NATO fought so hard to push the Taliban back. And in fact in here in Kabul, you can
talk to many officials who say this capital Lashkar Gah could fall at any day, really that gives you a sense of how much on the offensive the
Taliban are and what could happen in a summer fighting season ahead.
And in Lashkar Gah, the hand-over doesn't mean they flight, in fact, the Taliban are still very much part life here. Well, the hand-over means the
Afghan police taking responsibility to security and Lashkar Gah, many people here of camera tell us the Taliban retain a strong presence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Nick, what is America's longest -- or does war is America's longest war feeling like an endless war of endless repeating violence?
WALSH: It is strange (Inaudible), to see those clips. It is just strange to see again and again the same message, the crisis playing out it seems
almost in each summer, you know.
We were here a year ago when Lashkar Gah, was significantly under threat and those marines have put themselves run on the outskirts holding Taliban
back.
You saw in the package though they -- themselves get rocketed intimately from quite close near the town it seemed. It's very hard to know how you
bring the violence here to an end because you know, America's been here 15 years or more but if Afghanistan is being ripped apart by whatever 38
years. So many, many people here haven't known anything else.
[11:25:00] And, as a result, so much of the industry here, so much of life is built around the concept that there is some sort of conflict around it.
So it is very hard to magically find a solution that transforms the economy into something totally divorced from that and gets people's mindsets out of
the way of believing that might be the way to solve basic certain issues. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. What really happens in Afghanistan, of course we know is oftentimes mapped out in Washington, so mixed messages from there at a time
like this would be pretty bad, right? Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a total and complete disaster. And honestly, we don't know what we're doing. We have a leader
that has no clue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: No clue. Well, over time, Mr. Trump has been pretty clear he wants out but just weeks ago, a senior American source told CNN America's
commander in chief wants to be there for the long haul, briefly from where you are, is there a sense about what he really thinks or what he really
cares about, or whether he cares enough about Afghanistan?
WALSH: I think it's been pretty clear Donald Trump doesn't really have Afghanistan on his heart, but he certainly will listen to what Secretary of
Defense Jim Mattis says.
And Jim Mattis does have close to his heart. The broader two things you have to recognize here are that first of all, there's no new sparkling idea
that no one has tried yet in the last 15 years that may suddenly bring this to an end.
They have tried all of it. They have tried extra troops under Obama. They have tried talking to the Taliban. The Taliban aren't really interested
because they're winning and they still are and are more radical frankly as ever.
They thought about leaving but then actually left the country so unstable, they have to come back to some degree. So you're likely to hear from Jim
Mattis, a policy that's pretty much more of the same of keeping Special Forces here to hunt ISIS and al-Qaeda and key Taliban leaders, and trainers
to boost the Afghan security forces.
The broader real issue is what is the long-term agenda here. And I think frankly, they need a long-term presence because they know they can't leave
but they are not really sure what they need to do and what they can do if they stay. Becky.
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh on the ground for you in Afghanistan. Thank you, Nick. Well, I want to get you up to speed in some of the other
stories that on our radar right now up.
A truck driver accused of human trafficking faces criminal charges in a Texas court. His vehicle was found with more than 100 undocumented
migrants crammed into the back in suffocating heat. Authorities say a tenth victim has now died at the hospital.
A manhunt is underway in Switzerland for an attacker who injured five people with a chainsaw. Police say it's not terror-related. They have
identified the suspect as a 51-year-old man who lives in the forest. They say they found the van that he was driving.
Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Qatar, the latest stop on his diplomatic toward try to diffuse the rally between gulf countries.
On Sunday, he visited Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Saudi -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, you'll remember they cut ties with Qatar over
the last month accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the allegations.
Well, do not miss a beat on any of these stories. Head to CNN.com for the very latest on that digital page where you'll find a complete coverage of
news from around the world as well as in-depth analysis and opinion pieces. That is CNN.com. You know where to find it.
And the latest world news headlines are just ahead. Plus, a new face in the White House press office, but are the same issues still getting in the
way? We'll take a look at that, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00] ANDERSON: If you are just joining us, you are very welcome. It's just after half past 7:00 in the UAE. This is Connect the World, I'm
Becky Anderson.
And these are your top stories this hour. Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is on Capitol Hill this hour answering tough questions on Russia.
From Senate staffers, now Kushner released a public statement before his private testimony detailing four meetings with Russians. He said he did
not collude and has nothing to hide in quotes.
Well, after a five-month legal battle to save their son's life, Charlie Gard's parents have decided to end their fight. A lawyer representing his
parents told Britain's high court that quote, time has run out for the terminally ill baby and they want to treasure the short time that they have
left with him.
His parents wanted to take the 11-month-old to the United States for treatment.
And at least 29 people were murdered in this early morning car bombing in Afghanistan's capital Kabul. Dozens more were wounded. The Taliban
claiming responsibility for it as well as a series of other recent attacks.
Poland's president has announced he will veto a controversial judicial bill. The bill would have given the government power to replace the
Supreme Court judge's protest spread across the country after parliament approved the bill over the weekend.
Well, let's lead back to our top story, President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner on or in the hot seat on the Capitol Hill facing questions from
Senate Intelligence staffers about his contacts with Russia.
We'll bring in Clarissa Ward who is live in Moscow. Who are the Russians that Kushner is or is alleged to be linked to?
CLARISSA WARD, CNN Foreign Correspondent: Well, Becky, three key characters here. Let's start with the most recent that came to light this
attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya who met with Donald Trump Jr. and with Jared Kushner in that meeting in Trump Tower last summer.
She is a lawyer who is known to be very active in lobbying against the Magnitsky Act, that package of sanctions that were imposed by the U.S. on
the Russian individuals suspected of human rights abuses in 2012.
Now, she has said that was what she wanted to talk about. She never had any damaging information on Hillary Clinton despite the fact that we now
know according to those e-mails that Donald Trump Jr. released that that was the original pinning to that meeting.
And she has also denied, she has any links to the Russian government, now the second key character is Sergey Kislyak, he is now the former Russian
ambassador to Washington.
He left Washington just this Saturday at the end of his tenure. He was a very long-serving ambassador there since 2008 and really at the center of a
lot of the controversy in the allegations of collusion between Trump officials and Russia.
He was said to have met with Kushner during the campaign and again during the transition. Russia has strenuously denied that this was anything other
than the normal course of diplomatic work.
And finally, this third character is Sergey Gorkav, he is the head of VEB Bank, which is a Russian -- very influential Russian development bank for
things like funding infrastructure project, and giving credit lines to retail banks, things like that.
He has told Jared Kushner according to that 11-page statement today that he was very friendly with Putin and he went to a lot of trouble we now know in
that meeting, even bringing Kushner a bag of dirt from the better Russian town where his grandparents were from.
The interesting thing about this is that he runs a bank that is currently under U.S. sanctions. And there are two versions of the story as to why
they met.
[11:35:00] One because Jared Kushner and the Trump transition -- Trump administration have said that it was just a transition meeting, that he
was meeting with him in this capacity as a transition official.
The Russian side said it was a business meeting. So those are the key characters, Becky, and there are questions that have arise around this
meetings.
ANDERSON: Yes. Key characters in what is, seems to be an increasing jigsaw puzzle in this one. But any way look, we'll stick with it, thank
you, for your side of the story.
A major shake-up in the White House. Pressure has not stop the Trump advisers from attacking the media that brand White House communications
director hit the ground running, lashing out at the press roots coverage of the investigation in due whether Russia that interfere in the 2016
election. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCARAMUCCI: He doesn't feel that he's being effectively defended in the mainstream media with the nonsensical narratives that are out there. And
we're going to change that for him.
We're going to -- we're going to defend him very, very aggressively when there's nonsensical stuff being said about him and he'll probably dial back
some of those tweets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He didn't stop there saying that he will firing anyone on his team that leaks information to the media. The U.S. president himself has
called the Russia investigation a witch hunt. His counselor reiterated that message on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLYANNE CONWAY, U.S. COUNSELOR: if you're going to talk about Russia, and you're going to talk about e-mails and you're going to talk about
investigations, you're going to talk about...
(CROSSTALK)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're actually the one that brought up Russia.
(CROSSTALK)
CONWAY: Hold on.
STELTER: I didn't bring up Russia.
CONWAY: No, no, no, your network is obsessed with that. You're vested in it. All the chyrons say it constantly. All the guest talk about it.
STELTER: There's a big story going on, Kelly. And just because you deny it, doesn't mean it's not a big story.
(CROSSTALK)
CONWAY: The reason -- it's not a big story. What makes you think and you can't tell me that this is about the campaign and then we're not talk about
Hillary Clinton.
Americans are looking at the media, they are looking at Congress and saying, do your job. Your job is not to Russia, Russia, Russia all day
long and in hoping that something manable drops from heaven one day and this will be real and not phony.
(CROSSTALK)
STELTER: That's not how it works and you know it. People are figuring out what is going on through investigations.
CONWAY: OK. Well, why don't you cover what you do know is real?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So new face but very much the same message coming from the west wing. I'm not talking about Kellyanne there, of course I'm talking about
Anthony Scaramucci. Kellyanne Conway has been around for some time.
Joining us to discuss all of this is Politico's White House correspondent and CNN analyst Tara Palmeri -- Palmeri, sorry, who is in Arlington,
Virginia covering.
This is a witch hunt, they say it's all Russia, Russia, Russia, do you jobs media. They say. But this is a story. And they are sticking to it. Is
there any validity in what they say?
TARA PALMERI, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: It depends on who you speak to. To them, this is an effective talking point. If they say, you know, shoot the
messenger, attack the media and that will continue to be their drum beat.
They see the media as having a lower approval rating than Congress. It's the new crooked Hillary Clinton that she is no longer their foil. So the
foil is the media and the media has been covering the Russia investigation and will continue covering the investigation until it's complete.
There is no way to ignore the fact that there is an investigation going on and that every single day, you know, there's more revelations that come
out.
A lot of the leaks coming from the Intelligence Community and law enforcement community, but this is going to be the drum beat. You've heard
this for the past six months. And the next however long it takes for this investigation to close, and is it effective?
I think eventually the American people are going to want to hear a little bit more than just this is the media, this is the media, this is the media.
I don't know how long you can shoot the messenger.
ANDERSON: Sure. Right. And the media, of course, is the fourth estate. Let's just remind people it has a role. And -- and whatever you think
about how it conducts that role, it has a role. Right.
As I look at this new character, Anthony Scaramucci, I don't want to dwell on him too much, because you know, communications director is about
communicating the message. We know that perhaps not the most important story around.
But it's an important one in that the way that Donald Trump messages is very different and communicates very different from the president's past.
Scaramucci wasn't always singing the Donald Trump's praises.
He went on a tweet deleting spree over the weekend, attempting to scrub many parts of view contradicting the president's agenda. But this opinion
piece depend during the campaign lives on while he never mentioned Donald Trump by name.
He wrote, unbridled demagoguery has driven the GOP, the Great Old Party, to an inflection point from which there is no turning back, it continues
saying, call it, if you will, a moral debt restructuring -- debt restructuring. One caused by the reckless behavior of a man who knows a
thing or two about bankruptcy.
[11:40:00] PALMERI: Right.
ANDERSON: So, is this a case of letting bygones be bygones.
(CROSSTALK)
PALMERI: Absolutely. I mean, so many of the staffers that now work in the White House that one time attack Trump, Kellyanne Conway is one his most
local faces but campaign manager for his -- you know at the end of his campaign.
He will -- she worked for Ted Cruz and was a Trump opponent. You can pull up lots of tweets that she made, you know, direct -- that were directed at
Trump.
The RNC, while they are not as political behind the scene, they were disparaging of Trump as well. And you see a lot of the RNC staffers in
that White House as well. So this is sort of politics, too.
You know that when people work for other campaigns, Scaramucci was tied with the Jeb Bush campaign at first. And it really depends on when they
switched their loyalties. And at the time, people align themselves with one candidate and trash the other candidate.
So that is sort of politics as usual. Trump is a particular character because he doesn't let go of these flights the same way that other
presidents see it as part of the game.
ANDERSON: Sure.
PALMERI: But it seems like with Scaramucci, he's going to give him a pass. Scaramucci is already -- brought up act the fact that he constantly brings
that up. I mean Reince Priebus as the chief of staff that one time, told him that he should drop out of the race. So it's just part of politics.
It's campaigning.
ANDERSON: All right. This is part of politics. It's an amazing game to watch. The White House -- they may dismiss the Russia investigation as
nonsense.
But according a recent CNN poll, almost six out of ten Americans disapprove of Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with that Russian lawyer last summer.
A whopping 83 percent of Democrats say the president's son should not have taken that meeting. But just only 36 percent of Republicans feel the same.
I think it's fair to say, despite party affiliation, this is an issue that Americans care about.
PALMERI: Absolutely. The idea that campaign officials from any campaign, not just Trump's campaign, would meet with a foreign national who is
providing, you know, information or dirt as we say on another candidate is very unseemly.
And the truth is about in these campaigns like we talked to, there's a lot of opposition research that's done. There's a lot of shady characters that
come forward with stories about the opposition and you fairly drew a lot of them.
A lot of them are crazies and even kooks, and some them are being legit. And the seniors that this -- that thing that makes this different is that
this was a foreign operative in a country that is known for meddling in foreign elections.
And any Democrat or Republican, any person who actually thinks for a second about the idea of opposition, research is going to be kind of grossed out
by the whole thing. And it is just like we said, it's the dirty part of politics.
But the fact that this person is a Russian, works for another government, that's very concerning. But at the same time, Hillary Clinton's campaign -
- they had outreached with the Ukrainian government which is very pro- Hillary.
And you know so it's -- both sides did this and there's a sort of desperation that happens during campaigns. Meanwhile, Don Jr. by taking
this meeting, having the e-mails, you know, inviting other -- inviting other campaign officials to them all, this smells of, you know, a sense of
complicity.
But also it really shows you what a political in office he is. I don't think, you know, other political hands in D.C. would be that, I guess,
ignorant at the laws of the federal election commission. And sloppy and careless about how they, you know...
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Thank you very much indeed for joining us. So, thank you. Thank you. You're watching Connect the World live from Abu Dhabi. We're
to take a break.
Coming up, CNN exposing human trafficking across the world. When we return, our three girls in Cambodia survived being sold into sexual slavery
by their own mothers.
[11:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Earlier this hour, we covered a horrific story of human trafficking in Texas. As many as 100 people possibly trafficked into the
state in the back of a truck boiling, boiling temperatures.
We're reminded the scourge knows no borders or boundaries. CNN's Freedom Project as you may well know is dedicated to shining a light on the people
in projects who work to fight this. And while happy endings are rare, we do have one for you today.
We are starting a special week of investigations to expose the abusive children and workers in Cambodia. In this, the first installment, we have
reunited with three girls we first met four years ago. CNN's Alexandra Field has their story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is once the heart of a dark world, the epicenter of child sex trafficking in Cambodia.
Svay Pak, a place where pedophiles came to pray. Four years ago while filming CNN's Freedom Project 2013 documentary, everyday in Cambodia, we
met three girls sold into the systems by their mothers.
Their parents have since expressed remorse for their actions. Kiue's mother had sold her for her virginity and then kept selling her for sex to
pay off her family's debt.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): First, they took me to the hospital for a blood test. The next day, they examined me again and then
they made me have sex with the man.
FIELD: Sephak's story was the same.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): I thought if I ran away, it would cause trouble. So I decided to stay.
FIELD: It happened to Toha when she was 14.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): I was sad. I went to the bathroom and cut my arm.
FIELD: The children we met then are women now who work alongside other survivors in a factory run by anti-trafficking non-profit by Agape
International Missions or A.I.M, the organization that rescued all three girls.
They earn their own money by their own hands. Their lives are better and they're even stronger. What did you hope would happen from telling your
story?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): At that time, I wanted to share my story to help other girls like me.
FIELD: At the trial, investigator said Toha had been raped 198 times in 22 days, a number so shocking that A.I.M. is now using 22 to raise awareness
about sex trafficking around the world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): We want people to know that the three of us are doing well.
[11:50:00] FIELD: Are you worried about the young girls or little girls who live here, are you afraid that they could be forced to go through what
you all live through?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): It's hard to understand why these mothers do this. They don't have money, so they make their daughters
work.
FIELD: When I asked the women how they feel about the families that betrayed them, Toha says she understands.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): I know my parents didn't want me to suffer like I did. But life is like that.
FIELD: But she is still angry and you can how much she still hurts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE (through a translator): I tried to earn money for my father, but i couldn't
FIELD: Kiue is a mother herself now to a baby boy. She says she's working here to make sure his future is better than her past. Alexandra Field,
CNN, Svay Pak, Cambodia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Coming up, the story of Princess Diana as told by her sons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: We felt incredibly loved, (Inaudible). And I'm very grateful that the love still feels there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Prince William and Prince Harry share memories of their mom 20 years after her death. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Prince William and Harry opening up about their mother's life and legacy, sharing intimate memories of princess Diana in a new
documentary 20 years after her death.
These previously unreleased photos are featured in the film giving us a glimpse of some tender moments the princess of Wales spent with her sons.
The princes say participating in the documentary was a healing experience but they are unlikely to speak so publicly about their mother.
They say again, CNN's Max Foster joins us now from outside of Buckingham Palace and it does take you back when you look at these images. I remember
when they were originally released 20 years ago. Why did the boys do this now, Max?
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Well, one of the reasons is the one you have just given really. This happened, she died 20 years ago, many
people in their 20s, I don't know how much about her at all, but I want to give the world a reminder really about the woman that they know.
Their mother, a tribute to her. We describe as a documentary but I think the palace was intimately involved with this. It is a tribute on behalf of
two sons for their mother. They want to remind the world of this woman who they thought was wonderful of course.
And they wanted to dispel a lot of the negativity around her to show the positive side of her as they remember it. And of course, they were so
young when she died. But here's a taste of what's in the documentary coming out tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE WILLIAM: This is the first time that the two of us have ever spoken about her as a mother. People like you and I both know her in this
photograph.
PRINCE HARRY, PRINCE OF WALES: Right.
PRINCE WILLIAM: You were in her tummy.
PRINCE HARRY: I know.
PRINCE WILLIAM: Yes.
PRINCE HARRY: I have been probably a little bit too raw up until this point. It is still raw.
PRINCE WILLIAM: There are not many days that go by that I don't think of her.
[11:55:00] We felt incredibly loved you know, by her. And I'm very grateful that the love still feels there.
PRINCE HARRY: It was that love that even if she was on the other side of the room, that as a son, you could -- you could feel it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: It's very powerful, Becky. They both admitted they have not talked to each other enough about Diana as they have tried to resolve her
death.
But now they're speaking on camera, they have described it as a very cathartic experience and as you say, they're not going to be speaking about
it again. So it's a moment of history as well.
ANDERSON: Thank you, max. I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World. So form the team her and those who are working with us around the
world, it was a very good evening. Do stay with us though, Quest Express, up after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
