Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Terror Plan Foiled In Australia; Israeli Upholds Soldier's Manslaughter Conviction; U.S. Wants Kremlin To Clarify Expulsion Numbers; American Businessman, Putin Is Worth $200 billion; Human Rights Activist Arrested In Turkey; Germany Protest `s Detention Of Its Citizens In Turkey; Movie Stars Set The Stage; Aired 11-12p ET
Aired July 30, 2017 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: Capacity to strike, North Korea says its missile can now reach much of the United States. And Washington wasted no time in
ordering a show of force. The live reaction in the region.
Also ahead, violence in Venezuela, people there are casting ballots in a poll to get more power for the president. This is we learn one candidate
is shot dead.
Plus, Australia has a major terror to bring down a passenger jet. The details from Sydney ahead.
Hello and welcome to Connect The World. I'm Lynda Kinkade live in Atlanta, filling in for Becky Anderson.
The U.S. is flexing its military muscle feeling North Korea's latest missile launch, which experts say puts most of the continents of the U.S.
within striking range.
And the U.S. and its allies responded with their own show of force flying two bombers over the Korean Peninsula and testing its missile defense
system known as THAAD.
President Trump also took China to Twitter for not doing anything to Kim Jong-un, writing I'm very disappointed in China, foolish past leaders have
allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet they do nothing for us with North Korea, just talk. They will no longer
allow this to continue. China could easily solve this problem.
North Korea said they will respond with firm action if Washington continues to bestow sanctions against it. Let's get the latest now from the region,
our Kristie Lu Stout has been talking.
Kristie, we have been seeing twit response to North Korea's latest provocation. Military drills in the region and now, the U.S. is testing
its anti-missile defense system. And it looks like that worked.
KRISTIE LU TOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. In fact, that just happened, but that was independent of Friday's ICBM task. The U.S. Missile Defense
Agency making the announcement that it conducted a THAAD missile interceptor task, successfully intercepted a mid-range missile.
But there has been a flurry of responses across regions to what happened on Friday, response today from the North Korean Foreign Ministry vowed to
retaliate against the United States if it pursues additional sanctions against the regime.
We also heard reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump taking the Twitter pointing the finger squarely at China's saying he was disappointed in
China, that China could easily resolve the problem.
In the eyes of the Trump White House, they believe that the pressure point is on China, so much so that the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has
named Beijing along with Moscow as one of the key economic enablers of North Korea's weapons program.
And finally, reaction to stay from Japan. Japan's foreign minister and defense minister making a statement on the back of joint air drills between
the U.S. and Japan in the airspace between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula. Here is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FUMIO KISHIDA, JAPANESE FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTER: And there is the severe security circumstances, including North Korea's missile launch on
Friday. We needed to step up the Japan-U.S. alliances, deterrence and responsibility. We wanted to show Japan's ability to stabilize the region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STOUT: Fumio Kishida saying that the U.S. and Japan need to step up their deterrence and response to North Korea on the back of that ICBM test that
took place on Friday, the second by North Korea in the space of a month, that resulted in a missile landing just 200 km off the coast of Northwest
Japan. Back to you, Lynda.
KINKADE: And Kristie, you mentioned the U.S. stepping up pressure on China to do more. And we saw these twits from President Trump. But it was
not that long ago that we saw President Trump talk quite fondly of China and its leader.
STOUT: That's right. It was just a couple of weeks in fact when Donald Trump complimenting a great man and said that in regard to North Korea, he
could do a little bit more, but let us wait and see.
The tone as we saw in the series of two twits that he sent earlier today has completely changed. But its hard to see what Donald Trump can do. I
mean, forcing China to do something is uncharted territory.
We know that the U.S. and China, their two economies are so intermingled. Either side wants a trade war. At the day, when it comes to North Korea,
let's face it. Only China can play the China card. Back to you.
KINKADE: All right. Kristie Lu Stout for us live in Tokyo. Thank you very much.
More death in Venezuela, this time, a candidate in the country's hugely controversial person shot dead in his home. Police are investigating. For
months, the today's ballot has sparked violent opposition to a man who could, if President Nicholas Maduro.
And now, Venezuela is within hours from what could be a totally different future. His critics say democracy itself is at-stake in today's nationwide
vote. The opposition says it is fighting for freedom and food, but he doesn't understand how a country with a world's richest oil reserves now
struggles to feed its own people. Paula Newton has the latest for us.
Now, joining us from Caracas, Paula, during the month of unrest, we have seen more than a hundred people have lost their lives. And just this
weekend, more violence, what can you tell us about its political candidate who was killed?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not a lot known right now. He was in the Eastern State Bolivar states. This man was apparently shot multiple times
in his own home last night. The attorney general's office here is investigating. But, Lynda, it really adds to this is that many people here
are fearful.
A lot of them have been just staying in their home. And again, there is a certain lawlessness combined with a threat, many people feel from different
political factions in their own communities.
As I have said, the attorney general's office now investigating that, and that add to more than hundred people that have already been killed during
the protest in the last few months. Almost 2000 injured now. We continue to see some sporadic violence today throughout Caracas and the rest of the
country, as people have started voting.
KINKADE: And, Paula, to, as people head to the polls, what the opinion polls suggest, most of the country is opposed to this election. You've
been out at the polling booths, what has the turnout been like?
NEWTON: Yeah. It is interesting, isn't it? You know, many people have said that by just holding this selection, Maduro has already won. Having
said that, turnout is important.
I can tell you that I have covered other elections in Venezuela, this turnout here in the areas I went to in Caracas, was quite low. Now, again,
that would be logical in the sense that the opposition has boycotted all of this. Still, those that have gone out are very clear as to why they are
there.
They believe this new super body, while critics say, it will in fact mean a dictatorship here in Venezuela. They believe it is going to be something
totally different. They believe there will be peace here. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The constituent assembly threatens the interest of those countries who want to invade Venezuela. You know, they will just
take our oil like they have done to Iran and Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: You know, Maduro's comments have always been that they need this super body in order to protect the sovereignty of the territorial integrity
of Venezuela, constantly harping at the fact that the U.S. is an enemy of this country and a threat to this country, because it is just looking for
oil resources.
And the people that we have spoke to in the polls very much follow that range of thinking. The problem here though, Lynda, is the fact that you
know in terms of turnout right now, from what we can see, it will be quite low and we won't get the numbers until the early morning hours at least.
KINKADE: And, Paula, the president of Venezuela voted earlier today and he took a swat at U.S. President Donald Trump, what did he say?
NEWTON: Well, there is a pointing that he is an imperialist, that he wants to invade as well. A lot of what we had heard in that proud quote and he
has been ratcheting up that rhetoric the entire week, which has been more interesting to date though, Lynda, is the response of the White House.
They have said that just by holding this vote today, that Maduro's government in the crosshairs for the American government and that they will
respond with swift and strong economic action.
And open question, Lynda, is will they actually go through, the United States, with putting sanctions on the oil that is exported out of
Venezuela. And a lot of people are skeptical as to whether or not that will help.
KINKADE: OK. We will have to see. Paula Newton, we will talk to you very soon. Thank you so much.
Well, between the violence and the brutal economic hardships, millions of Venezuelans are caught up in the chaos. Here is more reporting from Paula
Newton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: This is a snapshot of everyday life here now. The protestors hurl with cocktails with authorities in the middle of the street. But now, look
beyond the chaos, and look there, right there. And you see how Venezuelans are caught in the crossfire.
This auto repair shop has seen it all, vandalized, robbed, a grenade fell on a car, Escalante (ph), the security guard says protesters beat him and
cut his throat, believing he was for the government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I want to do is work. And they heard me. If I don't work, what do I bring home?
NEWTON: The employees here are less than 50 feet away from scenes like this. Through all the street combat, they try to carry on with their work.
Portrait the details, survival.
One of the things that is so disarming when you're covering the street protests here in Caracas is that you have all of these confrontations on
the street. And yet, people are getting on with their everyday lives, that includes going to church. There are just people who are just leaving the
church.
The endless confrontations can pop up anywhere. And there is just another thing to contend with. But this woman tells us not to mistake Venezuelans'
survival instinct for resignation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I continue here because I love people. If for me, here, I'm happy.
NEWTON: She manages she said. She has been on the front lines, there still plenty of it to be found here. Paula Newton, CNN, Caracas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: As voters head to the polls, you can head to our team live from Caracas. This is a day that could change the future of Venezuela. We'll
take a closer look at what is at stake and find out what the international community is saying about it. And get it all at CNN.com/Americas.
Let's get you up to speed on some of the stories that arrived on our radar. German police looking for the person a deadly nightclub shooting in city of
Konstanz, but they do not believe it was terror-related. One person was killed and three wounded in the early hours on Sunday. The gunman was then
killed in a shootout with police.
An Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter for killing a wounded Palestinian. The assailant has lost his appeal. Judges say he will have
to service his full 18-month sentence because he acted out of revenge. The Palestinian man has stabbed another soldier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ousted over allegations of corruption, now wants his brother to be his successor, Shahbaz Sharif,
first needs to resign his provincial position and run for the parliament's seat vacated by his brother since he's not a member of the national
assembly.
In Mexico, 178 migrants from Central America are on their way to the U.S., have been rescued from an abandoned trailer. Officials say they made it
just in time. The man, women and children were found in a Mexican state of Veracruz, no wave yet on their condition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Australia says it's all a plot to bring down a passenger jet. According to the Australian prime minister, this was no lone wolf
attempt but rather an elaborate plan.
The aim, to cold mass casualties, it's unclear whether the time it was a domestic or an international flight. Will be able also find have arrested
in raids across several Sydney suburb and the investigation is ongoing as police look for evidence.
While the details unfold, authorities say it was an informist inspired terrorist plot. Anna Coren is following the story for us from Sydney where
the search is ongoing.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lynda, the government has described it as a leveraged credible conspiracy and one that had an Australian security and
intelligence agencies scrambling to stop terrorists from blowing up an Australian plane. But police foiled this terror plot and four men have now
been arrested.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALCOLM TURNBULL, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: I can replay it last night that there has been a major joint counterterrorism operation to disrupt a
terrorist plot to bring down an airplane.
COREN: (Inaudible), which is not in Sydney, heavily armed counterterrorism police stormed home after home hunting down suspects involved in a plot to
murder innocent civilians.
After restating a tip-off that homegrown terrorists were plotting to blow up and an Australian plane, police rated five properties, one, in the inner
city, the others in Sydney Southwest identified by police as a breeding ground for (Inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Going out to the front of the house and then there was a policeman there with kind of mask. And said get back in, stay in
your house.
COREN: Four men were arrested and taken into custody. They get to be charge with under Australian terror laws, police can hold suspects for us
to a week without charging them.
TURNBULL: Now we have strong transport security systems in place in Australia to prevent acts of terrorism. Upon the receipt of advice from
our security and Intelligence Agencies, the government moved swiftly in order to protect the public while operations where on the way.
Prime Mister Malcolm Turnbull says this was not a lone wolf attack but rather a credible and elaborate conspiracy. The government says the
operation which is already uncovered suspicious devices is ongoing and could last for several days.
ANDREW COLVIN AUSTRALIAN, COMMISSIONER, FEDERAL POLICE: Early rising discussions has I said before, we do believe it is Islamic inspired on
terrorism exactly what is behind this is something that will need to investigate fully.
COREN: Security has been increased at all airports across Australia with extra police presence and additional baggage screening. Passengers will
not deter from traveling were on heightened alert.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the other day, (Inaudible) job as though, they might come a little bit early today to get their right scans done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I was in Europe when the bombings were happening and everything so is quite scary by a threat in Kiama, Australia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's freaky. It's quite frankly. How do I feel? Freaked out that something that I can't cancel -- I need to get from A to
B.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: Now, since 2014, has been a sharp increase in the number of ISIS inspired terrorist and homegrown terror. In fact, the government says this
is the 13th significant foiled terror plot in the country, and because this involves planes and airports, there are concerns, this plot is far more
sophisticated and could have length to oversees terror networks, Lynda.
KINKADE: Thanks to Anna Coren for that report. Well still to come, we look at challenges ahead for the new White House chief of staff, and how he
will hold the turmoil as being viewed in Trump country. CNN tours to voters in Alabama.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Well, this may be a good time to get away from Washington. Right now, U.S. president -- vice president Mike Pence is in Estonia where he
just arrived to begin a three nation tour of Eastern Europe. That trip will also take him to Georgia and Montenegro to meet with regional leaders.
International diplomacy may be a refreshing change after a wild week in Washington. It started with President Donald Trump hinting that his
attorney general should resign but ended with Mr. Trump's chief of staff getting the brut instead.
In between, Mr. Trump's new communications director gave an expletive let in the interview ripping into his new administration colleagues and in
another set back for the U.S. President, Republican efforts to repeal and replace, or even just repeal Obamacare have crashed and burned.
Now, despite the latest set back on Obamacare, President Donald Trump isn't giving up. In a tweet just a short time ago, Mr. Trump again quote on the
U.S. Senate to change its rules and get rid of the plan by a simple majority vote.
He wrote, don't give up Republican Senators, the world is watching. Repeal and replace and go to 51 votes, new option, get cross state lines and more.
That was a follow-up on some earlier tweet. This weekend, like this one, more he said, unless the Republicans senators are total quitters, repeal
and replace is not dead. Demand to know the vote before voting on any other bill.
And also this one writing, Republican Senate must get rid 60 votes now. It is killing the Republican Party, allowed eight Democrats to control
country, 200 bill seats in Senate, a joke.
Well, meantime, President Trump gets a new chief of staff on Monday. John Kelly has spent the past six months as secretary of Homeland Security but
he made his name as a general in the Marines. CNN's Dianne Gallagher has more on how that experience might influence thank you West Wing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Friends describe John Kelly as a plain spoken, mission oriented, a leader, basically, consulate Marine but
perhaps more importantly, President Trump's likes and respects Kelly, and it appears, the feeling is mutual. It was another major announcement made
over Twitter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're following breaking news, President Trump just announcing a new White House chief of staff.
GALLAGHER: The president tamping Homeland Security Secretary, General John Kelly to replace Reince Priebus as his new chief of staff. Kelly, a
retired Marine Corps general with nearly 5 decades of military service has served many roles, the latest Homeland security chief.
Reiterated high marks from the president for defending and enforcing the White House immigration policy. But earlier in his career, Kelly served
tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. His son Robert Michael Kelly was killed during combat in Afghanistan in 2010.
President Trump and General Kelly visited his son's grave on Memorial Day earlier this year. Starting Monday, General Kelly enters a new arena,
White House politics.
JOHN KELLY, INCOMING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: What I never soar on the military side was the level of toxic kind of politics that are associated
with -- with for I do now.
GALLAGHER: The question now is, can General Kelly unite the West Wing, where sharp elbows staff in fighting and loose lips have distracted from
the president's agenda.
And General Kelly is also described as fiercely loyal to his troops, to this staff, in his statement acknowledging he was chief of staff, only one
sentence was actually dedicated that, the rest was praising the staff of the Department of Homeland Security.
This is something that is very important to him. He's moving to a White House where there is a lot of public rebuking, name-calling and
backstabbing, the president himself out really speaks ill of those staff members and people within the cabinet, and so this is something that John
Kelly is either going to have to change where he used to very quickly in the White House. Dianne Gallagher, CNN Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: So can John Kelly bring order to a chaotic White House. I'll tip you as Correspondent John King and the panel, discuss that very question on
CNN's inside politics. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARGARET TALEV, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, BLOOMBERG POLITICS: I think there's two things that we need to see as precisely that, how will he
impose order on both the -- you know, senior level staff and the family, and that outside friends who influence the president or have just wide-
ranging walk-in privileges, call-in privileges, conversational privileges?
Will he seek to limit exposure to the president? Will he seek not to do that but to get kind of reports after the fact on what folks talked about?
And how broadly will that apply?
We all assume that the family, that Jared and Ivanka, can come and go as they please. Will this apply to Anthony Scaramucci? Will it apply to
official -- you know, Steve Bannon, strategist, that sort of thing? We don't know yet that.
And is that the most important thing or is it how he manages President Trump himself? Does President Trump want more self management or is that
not what this is about?
SARA MURRAY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: But I think the bigger question is, can you be a productive administration even amid all this
chaos? The chaos doesn't necessarily bother Trump. What bothers Trump is that nothing is getting done that he wants to get done. OK.
So, maybe you still have these warring power centers. I mean, you know my theory in this. He's 70 years old. He's not going to suddenly stop
calling his friends or stop inviting people to pop by in the West Wing.
But if you can do that and not be making policy about transgender individual serving in the military on Twitter, without notifying the joint
chiefs, without going through proper order, can you have a chaotic West Wing but still be a strong governing partner and be able to get you a
legislative priority through Congress? Can you do tax reform?
If you have a little bit of back biting in the West Wing but you are still able to execute on those priorities, I think Trump would be perfectly happy
with that. I just don't know that that's something that John Kelly will be able to do either.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF U.S. CORRESPONDENT: If you look at the top eight, or 10 or nine, or 12 people in the White House, there's nobody with Washington
White House experience. Can he impose the discipline and, to Sara's point, get things done for this president?
MICHAEL BENDER, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: He should be able to impose the discipline. I think John Kelly is certainly capable
of -- of being an effective chief of staff.
The bottom line is whether Trump will empower him. I think that, you know, what's worked -- what John Kelly has working on his power right now is that
he has the respect of the president. You heard him talking there about what a great man he is.
I'm told that when these cabinet officials come in periodically for updates to the president, to the top staff, one of the top -- John Kelly has always
stood head and shoulders above almost all the rest of the cabinet, has results all the time for the president.
The president respects his record. And that's something that was really -- Priebus struggled with from the start. He just wasn't able -- the
president viewed him as weak from basically day one.
MICHAEL WARREN, SENIOR WRITER, THE WEEKLY STANDARD: Yes. So, I think the question is, how long does the president respect John Kelly? I mean, right
now, he does have him at somewhat of a distance coming in for updates as a cabinet member, not somebody in the West Wing at all times.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: So it seems Washington spends a lot of time thinking and talking about well Washington, by when it isn't, it seems to focus on Russia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL BROWDER, CO-FOUNDER, HERMITAGE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: Vladimir Putin I believe to be the richest man in the world. I believe he is worth $200
billion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: It's the bog claim but is there any evidence to that. Well, many just heard them making some very big claim to lawmakers last week. Speak
to me in just a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade. This is Connect the World. And these are the top stories we're following. Police are investigating the fatal
shooting of the candidate in Venezuela's controversial election, the polls have been open for hours and after months of violent protests, voters are
deciding on a new assembly that could rewrite the constitution.
The opposition says the assembly will give President Nicolas Maduro unlimited powers. The U.S. is answering North Korea's latest missile
launch with display of military might, flying B-1 bombers over the Korean Peninsula in conducting a test of its missile defense system known as THAAD
in the Pacific Ocean.
President Trump also blast to China on Twitter for not excerpting more influence over Pyongyang. Authorities are searching for evidence, several
locations in Sydney after stopping what they call a credible conspiracy to bring down a passenger jet. All men are in custody and security has been
step up at all major airport.
An Israeli military court has upheld a guilty verdict for soldier who is fatally shot a Palestinian in the West bank last year. Palestinian was
suspected of attacking another soldier and had already been arrested.
He was born there, he studied there and his ambitions began there and just hours ago Russian President Vladimir Putin back there with a message to the
world from Petersburg watching all over this huge naval parade every submarine, ship and sailor making the obvious way. Moscow being very
clear, don't mess with us.
Perhaps men in a diplomatic sense and more than any other right down the country state media reporting this, more than 700 American diplomats could
be expelled in response to new sanctions from Washington. Let's go over to Moscow now, where Clare Sebastian is joining and Clare, this week we saw
something very unusual in Washington both parties unanimously passing a bill in new sanctions in Moscow, it hasn't been sign just yet by President
Trump, but already Russia is retaliating and if this numbers are correct that Moscow would kick out about 700 American diplomat, that would be
pretty serious.
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: yes it would indeed. Now just what we know for sure is that Russia has said it once the US cut the size of the
diplomatic mission here in Russia down to 455 people at the same number that Russia said that it has diplomats in the United States now going to a
meeting about me cutting by 745 people which would mean cutting the size of U.S. here in Russia by more than half way to make extremely. Indeed the
State department and the Russian embassy, the U.S embassy rather here in Moscow not commenting on that number. Today the diplomatic source had told
CNN that they are seeking clarity on that NASA, Russia's part they say this is a very measured and appropriate response as to what the U.S. did to it
back in December, you remember the Obama administration close to Russian diplomatic compounds in the US expelled 35 diplomats. Russia had also
confiscated tow U.S. diplomatic compounds here in Moscow that the 35 diplomats very different from 745 if that number does end up being true.
KINKADE: It is a huge number of people. This sanctions of both Clare not just about punishing Russian meddling in the U.S. election, but of course
Russian denied, but also a little aggression in both the Middle East and Europe. What impact will these new sanctions on Russians, could Russia
take further actions?
SEBASTIAN: I think the answer is on the past president of the cases, and sanctions have not cause Russia to change course, Crimea for example, you
know one of the conditions for the sanctions according to the U.S. was that Russia (inaudible) Crimea that is not even a topic that should be discuss
in here. You know the Eastern Ukraine and issue of cyber meddling Russia has never confessed any of those things, it still says it is not party to
the conflict officially and in Eastern Ukraine and It did not meddle in the U.S. or any other election. Having said that though, Russian economy had
suffered on the sanctions, Russia for its part say it doesn't bow to pressure and it will if the U.S. does anymore to deteriorate their
relationships, it will retaliate, further the Foreign minister said in an interview ABC news on Friday that Russia has what he called a rich toolbox
disposal that they are willing to retaliate against the U.S. it has done so in the past, we don't know what that would look like at the moment, but it
is very clear that is still on the table, Linda.
KINKADE: And Clare, when was President Trump was elected there was a lot of jubilation Moscow, Russian government hoping that it would be better
relations between Russia and the U.S. How bad are the thing is looking right now, how have the relations change since Donald Trump became
President?
SEBASTIAN: I think this is something as a turning point that really Linda on how Russia views the Trump administration. You remember that sanctions
were big part of why Russia thinks to support Trump as a candidate, you said on many occasions that he might be open to lifting over that same
sanctions and I think the past week is really cemented the idea to Russia that, that is not going to happen not only the new sanctions are going to
happen but overwhelming majority in congress that voted for them and the bill doesn't just bring you new sanctions it ties the presidents hand, you
know from the last lifting older sanctions. That really represents a reversal of Russia's hope when it comes to Trump. But I think it is really
interesting to know that it is not actually Trump that they are criticizing at the moment, they have not laid this on the president himself. He talked
repeatedly about the Russia phobic forces in congress that had put him in this position whether or not that means that leaving the door open to
improvement in the future that clears at this moment that it certainly does seem to be a turning point on how they view the U.S. administration.
KINKADE: All right Clare Sebastian for us live in Moscow, thank you very much. Well that of course is the latest rounds of American sanctions that
we are discussing, but there is another set already in place, all coming from one law known as the Magnitsky Act. It is name from Sergei Magnitsky,
he was a Russian lawyer who after he uncover more than 200 million dollar tax scheme, he was sent to jail where he died, what can only be describe,
well suspicious circumstances. He was hired to look into all of that by this man, Bill Browder, he work in Russia for years making vast tons of
money until it went bad. Take a listen to what he told U.S. lawmakers on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL BROWDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HERMITAGE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: Vladimir Putin, I believe to be the richest man in the world I believe is
worth $200 billion. That money is held over the world and banks in America and all over. The purpose of Putin's regime has been to commit terrible
crimes in order to get that money presents for straightforward 50 percent, 50 percent for the Russian government for, 50 percent for presidential
administration of Russia, 50 percent for Vladimir Putin. The Russian government has made a number of threats against my life tried and failed
three times have me put on the inner your poll most wanted list like to be arrested is traveling to try to extradite me from the UK is probably 250
people working inside of the Russian security services, law enforcement agencies on the Bill Browder story trying to destroy me in whatever way
they can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Tell Browder that now well both claims from the Senate floor, Bill Browder of our chief executive capital management as you just heard
the head of a vocal critic of the Russian president. And he joins us now from London, good to have you with us, Bill.
BROWDER: Good to be here.
KINKADE: You have been blacklisted by the Russian government. Why did they consider you a threat to national security?
BROWDER: When I was an investor in Russia, I ran the largest investment fund in the country, we discovered billions of dollars going missing from
the companies we invested in companies like gas prominent, national electricity company and so I went about a campaign to research how the
stealing took place in publicized research for the international media and for a while this the strategy works of, of diminishing the amount of
corruption, but as you can imagine the people who were making billions of not making it anymore, because of my exposes were quite mad and those
people were effectively partners of Vladimir Putin and so in November 2005, I was flying back to Russia. I was stopped at the border. I was then
detained for 15 hours and then deported from Russia declared a threat to national security.
KINKADE: And we just had you speaking to lawmakers here in the U.S. last week about potential meddling in the U.S. election shortly more and more
detail are surfacing about the meeting between Trump and the campaign staff, including the president son, his son in law and Russian operatives,
why would Russians want that meeting.
BROWDER: Well done so to just finish up with my story after I was kicked out my office rated higher young lawyer Sergei Magnitsky ski he looked at
the purpose of the raid and discovered it was to steal $230 million of taxes that we paid. He exposed that he testified against the officials, he
was subsequently arrested, tortured and killed at the age of 37 and half years ago and that led to the passage in the United States, in what they
called the Magnitsky act which freezes the assets and dams the visas of people who killed Sergei and people who do similar types of things.
Vladimir Putin was absolutely furious about the Magnitsky Act because it affects them personally, and he has been on a campaign ever since then to
have a Magnitsky act repealed and that lawyer, Natalie (inaudible) and we not mention the lobbyist went to Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 last year and
they went with one specific request which was to repeal the Magnitsky act if Donald Jr. father became president.
[11:40:23] KINKADE: What do you think we know about that meeting and suggest what you had, why do you think the Russians were doing anything
with it purely about those sanctions, about the Magnitsky Act?
BROWDER: It was purely about the Magnitsky act. How do we know that we know that because that was the only meeting they were doing the same group
of individuals had a full scale operation going on Capitol Hill to try to achieve the same objectives and so we, we watch them in action and that is
all they were doing. There were doing this for quite a length of time and they were not shy about it. You heard the old one. The one thing I
believe from their own description of that meeting which they said themselves was. It was about the repeal of the Magnitsky act. There is no
mystery in this particular question.
KINKADE: You made a lot of claims this week including the 250 intelligence agents trying to kill you. What sort of evidence you have to support this
claims?
BROWDER: Documentary evidence so the Russians is like the Russians were kind of like the Gestapo in Germany everything is documented and we have
pieces of paper with people's names all over them and I consider 250 people try to kill me there 250 people in one way or another tried to destroy me
and that what that means is try to arrest me, trying to seize my assets trying to making movies about me and there are some people in that group
trying to kill me.
KINKADE: You also claim that the president person at the wealthiest person in the world with more than $200 billion that is double the wealth of the
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and double the Microsoft. Bill Gates is the value, where do you have evidence to support that claim.
BROWDER: Well what we know is that when Putin arrested the richest oligarch in Russia. Michael Porter Koski in 2004 before my trial the
television cameras to film the richest man sitting in a cage and the rest of the oligarchs went to him and said what we have to do to make sure we do
not sit in a cage and he said something to be effective 50 percent. Vladimir Putin doesn't keep any of this money in his own name is held in
the name of oligarchs, trustees, but as time has gone on. We now have evidence of oligarch, trustees holding money for Vladimir Putin. There is
a billion-dollar house on the Black Sea that has been attributed to Vladimir Putin by the person by one of the people managing the finances of
that house the is treasury disclosed three names of three oligarchs were trustees for Putin and even the Magnitsky case. We found money from the
Magnitsky the crime that Sergei Magnitsky discovered the $230 million theft going to one of the nominees of Vladimir Putin. And so as time goes on the
picture gets built up
KINKADE: That still doesn't add up. You are talking about that $200 billion. If President Putin has $200 billion where is it tied up?
BROWDER: It is tied up in the hands of Russian oligarchs, so the Russian oligarchs when you see their wealth on the Forbes list that wealth is not
all their money. Half the money belongs to Vladimir Putin and that money is being held by oligarchs in American banks and hedge funds and private
equity funds in trophy properties all over the world and that is how he holds as well.
KINKADE: We look forward to seeing more evidence of that. Bill Browder, good to have you with us. Thank to your time.
BROWDER: Thank you.
KINKADE: You are watching connect the world, still to come a diplomatic crisis is brewing between Berlin and Angora. While Turkey says it has
arrested in German citizens, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:46:06] KINKADE: You are watching CNN and this is Connect the World, I am Lynda Kinkade, welcome back. Relations between Germany and Turkey seems
to be at a tipping point, after Turkey arrested several German national and accuse them of terrorist activity. Since last coupe attempt Turkey's
government has been cracking down civil liberties from closing University to arresting journalist and activist. CNN Atika Shubert talks with the
partners of the two detainees.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Linda Minotaur decided to marry Denise is now that is not the wedding of her dreams. It was not a celebration she
told us. We had two witnesses and -- a officiate it was on one of her open visitation day so we could hold hands but it was nothing more than that.
We set our vows and then I have to let my husband go. That man is a journalist. He has been in solitary confinement in a Turkish prison for
more than 150 days with no indictment against him, the reason for his arrest propaganda in support of a terrorist organization and inciting
public violence. He has articles for Germany's respected develop newspaper were submitted as evidence by Turkish authorities. He sell is Turkish but
also a German citizen's
This month human rights activist Peter Schweitzer was arrested along with nine others charged with vote committing crimes in the name of the
terrorist organization without being a member. He was arrested in the midst of a workshop in IT security training in mental health for human
rights workers, including Amnesty International, his partner spoke to us in Berlin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: if International organizations and human rights defenders are under threat. I think it is a threat for everyone.
SHUBERT: She tries to be stoic, but she admits their two children missed their father especially when he is not there to read story before bedtime.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For me it is important to know or try to feel that he is with himself and that there is strength within.
SHUBERT: There are about 3 million Turkish nationals in Germany have been massive rallies in support of President Erdogan on German soil, but they
have also been several military personnel after a failed coup attempt against Erdogan last year. Now there are fears that German nationals may
be held as political hostages, as one senior politician put it. Germany's foreign ministry had asked citizens traveling to Turkey to exercise
caution. Both Denise and Magdalena do not want to imagine their loved ones becoming political bargaining chips pretrial detention in Turkey can last
year's, both are determined to fight charges.
Denise said from the beginning I went in as a journalist I want to come out as a journalist, I expect a fair trial is absurd and as fantastic the
accusations are. We are not going to answer them in anger, because we are in the right. Germany is demanding their unconditional release and
threatening to reassess its relationship with Turkey with possible travel and trade restrictions. Turkey insists the law must take its course for
the families that are an agonizing wait, Atika Schubert CNN Berlin.
KINKADE: Coming out. The public is going to US politician is not fitting too well with (inaudible). Questions of royalty are next.
It will and 43 Celsius outside on a Saturday afternoon, you go to the (inaudible) to escape the heat. It is pretty cool, find out what happened
this weekend in Abu Dhabi next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: A highest lying adventure for some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Balloonist took flight this weekend in one of the biggest
International hot air balloon challenges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN MERCER, BALLOONIST: Berlin I must say is something really, really special and it is a lovely way of seeing the world. And when you are
looking this like in an airplane or helicopter, you have 360 degrees and you will go is really special.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Lovely I wouldn't mind doing that. In line to my report, you are watching CNN and Connect the World. I am Lynda Kinkade, welcome back. We
have been telling you about the White House staff shake out and the insiding, one target of President Trump has been his very own Attorney
General Jeff Sessions. Well CNN Martin Savidge report that the criticism is not going down too well in Sessions home state in Alabama.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Alabama it is not political. It is personal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am extremely disappointed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Attorney General Jeff Sessions is from Alabama, voter's electing him four times to the US in the last time he was unopposed is pretty well
liked to, Sessions was first senator to endorse candidate Trump and the political insiders here say that turn millions of conservative skeptics to
Trump voters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Make America again.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is endorsement of Donald Trump, take pause and step back and say do I need to give this guy an overlook.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Alabama voted overwhelmingly 62.7 percent for Trump. That is the highest percentage of any the southern state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Unbelievable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Trump naming Sessions Attorney General wasn't just seen here as reward, but right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF SESSIONS, ATTORNEY GENERAL: As Attorney General of United States you want integrity that is the bottom-line.
TRUMP: I am very disappointed with the Attorney General.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: The president sudden about-face of unprecedented public attacks on their native son has many Trump voters here shot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think it is right, more like Jeff Blake in drama. He could better. I mean there are more things to worry than little
things like this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it turning people away from the president in any way support was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean there are some people that probably well I have no polling data that shows me that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Some in Alabama heard enough, Congressman Will Broach who is running for Jeff Sessions old Senate seat issued a statement saying in
part, I support President Trump policies but this public waterboarding were the greatest people Alabama has ever produced is inappropriate and
insulting to the people of Alabama, but despite the anger or insult nothing here suggest that Trump voters are abandoning the president in large
numbers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Trump, he is so popular in this state and still feel very still lifestyle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: At Dick Russell's barbecue, Sessions hotel mobile breakfast and politics both come in generous portions and Matt is struggling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:55:00} UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am not trying to jump off the Trump --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: He is torn between the support of the president and the Attorney General home state hero.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am extremely discouraged with it. I hope that these two offices can move forward and you specially don't need to input over the
damn Twitter.
SAVIDGE: The president has put many of his Alabama supporters in a political quandary unsure which side to choose. Hoping they won't have to.
Martin Savidge CNN.
KINKADE: When you go to a mall on a quite Saturday afternoon, you don't necessarily expect this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Here is (inaudible) in the Middle East, two Bollywood superstars making an appearance and they have greeted by big crowd of adoring fans,
Saturday on a local mall Abu Dhabi.
They are performing on stage to promote their newest film. Bollywood takes on the Hollywood classic When Harry Met Sally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: I am Lynda Kinkade and that was Connect the World, thanks for watching, see you next time.
END
