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Violence Erupts in Hong Kong on Chinese National Day; Polling Shows Growing Call for Trump Impeachment and Removal from Office; U.N. Special Rapporteur on Anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi Killing; Former British Prime Minister Responds to Trump's Ukraine Call; U.S. Secretary of State Pushes Back on Impeachment Inquiry. Aired 11-12:00a ET
Aired October 01, 2019 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If they don't fight now, Hong Kong will never be the same again.
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: A day that has been described as a day of mourning by the protesters.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT(?): They do not want these scenes to upstage or overshadow what is happening on the mainland.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're trying to find out about a whistleblower, when you have a whistleblower that reports things
that were incorrect.
SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA), VICE CHAIR, SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Any rational person would be concerned about the whistleblower's safety after
the president's comments.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president now has to worry about conversations that he's having with world leaders being leaked to the press, that is not good.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): That and a lot more this hour. We speak to one of the few people who heard the last brutal moments of the
murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
It's late in the night in Hong Kong and protests are heating up again. There is fire and smoke and a tense standoff happening while we speak,
while in Beijing, the mainland marking the national day celebration with fireworks and a festive light show.
The contrast could not be more stark. It's been a day of chaos and violence in Hong Kong with more than 50 protesters injured and for the
first time, a police officer firing live ammunition, hit a protester.
In Beijing a different story. Very big, very ornate and carefully controlled National Day celebrations. Along with a vow from China's
president to uphold the principles of one country, two systems in Hong Kong and the special administrative region of Macao.
I want to be bring in Anna Coren in the middle of the protests in Hong Kong, needing to wear a gas mask which she's just taken off.
We spoke last hour and things looking chaotic, explain what's going on where you are.
COREN: When we spoke last hour, Becky, the riot police and special forces police came in and made numerous arrests. They have now dispersed; the
police have gone. We've walked to the police station, where police are up there, protesters flashing their lasers.
And it's only the press that is standing here. Only the media that is here. They put up a sign and told us that we all had to disperse or they
were going to fire tear gas. There was a police officer telling us to move from the corner there or he was going to shoot us. He had a shotgun.
And then sure enough the tear gas, they fired it at the media standing here outside the police station.
We are not provoking anybody. We were not vandalizing, trashing. We are simply standing here. And we were told this is an unlawful assembly. This
is Hong Kong police, Becky.
I realize that 17 weeks has taken a toll on the police officers here in Hong Kong but the actions that we have just witnessed are completely absurd
to everyone standing here. We were sitting on the ground when the police fired tear gas at everybody else who was standing here, sitting here as
well.
It was just -- firing again. Firing again. Firing again over at -- at the media. I mean, they're firing tear gas at the media. It doesn't make
sense, Becky. It does not make sense. I don't know what else to say.
ANDERSON: It seems there's an awful lot that doesn't make sense at present in Hong Kong.
(CROSSTALK)
COREN: -- what we are witnessing this afternoon and evening.
ANDERSON: I can understand. We do know that police have confirmed that an officer shot and injured an 18-year old.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: The first time that lethal force has been used in what is this more than four months of unrest. You were suggesting earlier on that you
felt that could be a game changer. Explain what you meant by that.
COREN: As you say, that 18-year-old male student was shot with a live round at 4:00 this afternoon, about 15-20 minutes from where we are here.
And we've all seen the video, the protester is hitting the police officer with a metal pole, he hits his arm. The police officer pulls out his
sidearm and shoots the man in the chest.
Live rounds have been fired beforehand -- I want to show you, Becky, this is -- it's just the media standing here and they're putting up the black
flag, telling us they're going to fire tear gas on us once again. This is Hong Kong police.
As I was saying, the police officer -- over the past 17 weeks they have fired live ammunition but they have been warning shots. This is the first
time that a police officer has fired at a protester and at short range, pointblank range. It was extremely close. Police say that the officer was
in fear of his life, as were other officers.
Obviously this is now going to be subject to an inquiry but the protesters here that we have spoken to are furious. They cannot believe that a police
officer has fired, using live bullets, at a protester. And one of their demands is for an independent inquiry into police brutality here in Hong
Kong -- Becky.
ANDERSON: We'll let you go because those black signs, as we are well aware, means the potential for tear gas once again. So we'll let you go to
ensure that you are safe.
It's been an extremely long day, chaotic day for protesters and, as you can imagine, media on the streets of Hong Kong today.
In Beijing a very different story. Let's look at those very big and festive, carefully controlled National Day celebrations. David Culver has
that for you.
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DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With the sun searing through Beijing's early morning smog, they marched. Members of China's military
rehearsing up until show time. A performance for the world with President Xi taking center stage. His platform the gate of heavenly piece, over
looking the people's republic.
No force can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead.
China marking seven decades of rapid growth from the first celebrations in 1949, the country went from famine to feast. Today enjoying a surge of
economic wealth and military might. The people's liberation army on full display here.
They will save guard the sovereignty, security and development interest of the nation and resolutely protect world piece. World peace. World peace.
China using their October 1st national day parade to show off new defense technology, including radar, making their missile defense more effective.
They also show cased a new cruise missile. And we spotted the knew intercontinental ballistic missile. Above the crowd, a display of
airpower, a strategic bomber that can be armed with anti-ship ballistic missiles. The crowds gathered here enthused and patriotic. You can see
the people, mostly media in this section. But other people have gathered, only invited people. Not every resident of Beijing could come out here and
watch. China's security team locking down the city for several weeks to pull it off. Their planning for national day continued with unrest in Hong
Kong, an ongoing U.S. trade war and a domestic economy. Challenges facing China's increasingly powerful leader.
Long live the great People's Republic of China, love live the great communist party of China and long live the Chinese people.
The obstacles pushed aside for a delay of celebrating but they will resurface as soon as the scripted parade and parties come to an end.
[11:10:00]
CULVER (voice-over): David Culver, CNN, Beijing.
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ANDERSON: Much more throughout this hour. We're keeping you up to date on this situation, of course, in Hong Kong, with minute by minute news on what
is our webpage's live blogs, online at cnn.com.
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ANDERSON: The U.S. secretary of state pushing back against House Democrats and their presidential impeachment inquiry. This is important. Mike
Pompeo calling efforts to depose state officials an attempt to, quote, "intimidate and bully" them.
We learned he sent a letter to the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he writes, the calls for state officials' depositions this
week and next are not feasible.
Pompeo is one of the top level officials in President Trump's inner circle being pulled into this inquiry. Also in the crosshairs, Mr. Trump's
personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
He's being subpoenaed by House Democrats for text messages and other documents related to that now infamous call between Mr. Trump and the
Ukrainian president and attorney general Bill Barr.
A source telling CNN, President Trump pressed Australia's prime minister to help Barr look into the origins of Robert Mueller's Russia probe. It was
reportedly at Barr's request.
And the discussion is being framed by "The New York Times" as, quote, "another instance of the president using American diplomacy for potential
personal gain."
Mr. Trump continues to deny ever using his power for politics, claiming again on Twitter today his call to Ukraine's president was "perfect." He
wrote that in capitals. He meant it.
We have all the angles covered for you on this story, CNN political analyst and writer Harry Enten is with us from New York, Manu Raju is with us from
Washington.
That's where I want to begin. Mike Pompeo calling efforts to depose state officials an attempt to bully and intimidate them. That's an interesting
response.
What do you make of it?
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's the first indication that the Trump administration is not changing their posture with House
Democrats despite Democrats announcing they're in an impeachment inquiry.
What we've seen all year long is the Democrats have gotten resistance from the subpoenas, from the White House, from other aspects of the Trump
administration because the Trump administration has refused to comply by saying they were essentially out of bounds.
And that has led Democrats in those instances to go to court to fight to try to get information, to try to get documents, get testimony. And
Democrats so far have been largely unsuccessful because the fights have been tied up in courts and that could take some time.
Despite the Speaker of the House announcing last week that the House is now in a impeachment inquiry, the Democrats hoped the posture of the Trump
administration could change and they could presumably get some information.
But the administration is showing no concern that they're not going to -- no concern about the calls to potentially impeach this president. And
Democrats are suggesting that any efforts to not turn over information could be used as evidence of what they call obstruction of Congress, which
would be an impeachable offense against this president, something cited in the Nixon impeachment proceedings that began a few decades ago.
We'll see how this turns out but at the moment the administration saying they're going to fight the Democrats, despite there now being official
impeachment proceedings.
ANDERSON: A new CNN poll on impeachment does show a major shift in public opinion. And this could be really significant because Congress, well aware
that voters historically are not fans of the impeachment process; they'd rather have their opportunity to vote on who they believe should be
president during an election, perhaps understandably.
Let's bring in Harry Enten for more on this.
Walk us, Harry, if you will, through what these new polls are now suggesting.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: So I mean, if you look at our CNN poll, we asked, do you want to impeach and remove the president of the
United States?
And what we show now is that the number who say they do want to do that is equal to the number who say they don't. We're not the only poll showing
that. Quinnipiac University is showing that also.
To look at the trend line, when we asked this question back in May what we saw a majority said they didn't want to impeach and remove the president of
the United States. That was the same as Quinnipiac University showed last week.
Now we're seeing a massive movement towards people saying they do want to impeach and remove the president of the United States, though it's still
close.
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ENTEN: The one thing I will point out is we're not at that point yet. We're looking at an impeachment inquiry. When you ask that particular
question, what we see is a clear plurality of voters nationwide, saying, yes, they like this idea of an impeachment inquiry. And that is massive
movement from where we were in August, when a majority said they didn't. We're seeing massive movement in the polls towards, yes, an impeachment
inquiry.
ANDERSON: What else should we take out of this polling?
Because, as you rightly point out, this is not just CNN polling with these new figures.
ENTEN: I think that's so important, right. One poll can have a margin of error, things can shift around, you're never quite sure. But we're seeing
across different polls we're seeing these numbers move and that to me suggests real movement.
I think part of the reason you're seeing real movement we asked, questions Quinnipiac University asked, where were these phone calls between President
Trump and the Ukrainian president improper?
We see both in our poll and the Quinnipiac University poll, we see a number saying these calls are improper. And that's why we're seeing the movement
on the impeachment inquiry question because Americans are saying this doesn't seem kosher to us.
ANDERSON: We also looked at how Donald Trump compares to other presidents as far as I understand it.
What do we get out of that?
ENTEN: I think this is really interesting. There have been in the last 45 years, there have been three moves for impeachment, Trump, Nixon and Bill
Clinton. What we see on the impeachment inquiry question, we see more Americans say, yes, today by 10 points than said yes to Clinton at a
similar point in 1998.
If you look back in 1998, most Americans said, no, we don't want to impeach and remove the president. The numbers today look a lot more like the
numbers that Richard Nixon was facing in March of '74 just after they set up the impeachment inquiry.
When I look at the poll numbers, these suggest major troubles to me for the president of the United States, that voters are going along with the
Democrats or at least they're not saying, no, we really don't like this.
ANDERSON: The character at the center of all of this, of course, Donald Trump, making unfounded allegations against the potential Democratic front-
runner -- he's a front-runner at present, Joe Biden, of course, somebody that Donald Trump, I think it would be fair to say, sees as a contender
going forward.
How do they stand in voters' eyes at this point?
ENTEN: I think it's really interesting. If you look at the president's approval rating, I think that's the real question, he's been underwater
consistently. His disapproval has been above his approval rating.
Basically those numbers have stayed steady. But I think there is one key nugget in the Quinnipiac University poll that's up on the screen now,
that's the strongly approve category. This is the type of voice that Trump wants in his corner.
Is the base rallying around him?
We see the percentage who say they strongly approve of the president is up from say over last week, the highest of his presidency. But the strongly
disapprove category, those people who cannot stand Donald Trump, that number is vastly outstripping the strongly approve.
It doesn't seem there's been too much of a backlash against this impeachment inquiry, even if Trump is seeing rallying around the base.
You mentioned former Vice President Joe Biden, the question obviously, would this sort of inquiry and all this attention, the Ukrainian stuff,
would that affect the standing in the Democratic primary?
So far no, he's the same point he was last week, 29 percent. That doesn't mean he's going to win the nomination, he's far from it. But at this point
the Ukrainian stuff is not hurting him in the polls.
ANDERSON: Harry, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir.
ENTEN: My pleasure.
ANDERSON: His killers called him a sacrificial animal nearly a year on. We hear from one of the few persons to hear Jamal Khashoggi's last words.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What am I going to do now? You know, I mean, yes, life goes on but this is the life I lived and I never get to do this again in my
time. And, you know, my wife is gone, my partner, my love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A month after Hurricane Dorian ripped through the Bahamas, hundreds are still missing. We'll take a look at how those left on the
islands are trying to pick up the pieces.
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HATICE CENGIZ, JAMAL KHASHOGGI'S FIANCEE (through translator): I want the role of the political leadership in this brutal killing to be brought to
light. I want justice for Jamal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right now justice still elusive for the fiancee of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as we approach one year from his brutal murder.
Even while this week Saudi Arabia's crown prince accepting full responsibility for the murder happening on his watch but denied ordering
the killing.
Agnes Callamard is one of the few people who heard the tape of Mr. Khashoggi's last moments, U.N. special rapporteur leading the investigation
into his killing, concluded that the state of Saudi Arabia was responsible for a premeditated extrajudicial execution.
She has been critical of the Saudi crown prince's comments yesterday and she joins me live from Istanbul.
You heard the crown prince say he takes full responsibility, it was on his watch.
Your response?
AGNES CALLAMARD, U.N. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR: Well, two reactions to it. The first one implicitly he recognizes this was a state killing, this was a
murder for which the state is responsible to the extent that he is the state, that he is the quasi head of state. This is something I've been
asking for on the basis of my findings for the last three months, something the authorities have rejected.
So I'm glad somehow there's now a formal recognition that this is a state killing for which the state of Saudi Arabia is responsible.
Secondly, though, the crown prince takes great pain, distancing himself, creating barriers of layers of people and institution between the killing
and himself. And that distancing for me is not backed by the evidence that I have provided in my report.
The relationship between those that perpetrated the killing and the crown prince are close enough, far closer, in fact, than he's prepared to
recognize it and, in his statement, he still fails to recognize his personal responsibilities.
[11:25:00]
CALLAMARD: All he's doing is what corporate actors, head of state typically do to move away from the focus. He is claiming some high-level
responsibilities but refuses to acknowledge his personal liability for the killing.
ANDERSON: Let's just take a look at what your report states because you say there is credible evidence warranting further investigation of high-
level Saudi officials, including liability -- individual liability, including the crown prince.
Yesterday he told CBS, and I quote him here, "there isn't clear information or evidence that someone close to me" did something to that effect. There
are charges and they're being investigated.
Those were his words in response to a very specific question.
How do you respond to that?
CALLAMARD: Look, let's look at the evidence. OK, 15 individuals, all members of state intelligence or security agencies, a murder that was
planned at least three days before it was executed. It involved heavy state resources. It involved diplomatic clearance for the plane that
brought eight of those individuals to Istanbul.
Two of those traveled on a diplomatic passport. The killing took place in the consulate. There is evidence from the Saudi prosecutor himself that
one of the closest advisors to the crown prince was implicated.
The prosecutor has linked directly to the incitement to the killing, to the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi. All of those items, elements point to
state action, to premeditation, to planning, to well organized -- and let me add something -- an action with that degree of preparation, that degree
of confidence could not have taken place without the highest level of the state being implicated in its execution.
ANDERSON: Agnes, Jamal Khashoggi's son, Salah, has released a statement on Twitter -- and I quote this to you.
"One year has passed since the passing of my dear father, during which the country's foes and its enemies in the east and west sought to exploit his
case. May God have mercy on him to come after my country and my leadership.
"I repeat what I have said before, I have complete trust in the kingdom's judicial system in achieving complete justice against those who have
committed this heinous crime."
Saudi state media also tweeting parts of that statement. It's unknown under what circumstances he wrote that tweet; he is still in Saudi Arabia.
And this is a picture of Salah with the crown prince soon after his father's murder. I think the point is that he uses the same language as
the crown prince saying, quote, "heinous crime," and he asks in this tweet that the investigation be allowed to run its course.
To which you say what?
CALLAMARD: But the investigation is finished. They are at the level of prosecution at the moment. They are in trial. They've indicted 11 people.
So I'm all for a continuing investigation.
There is no evidence that the investigation is ongoing. There is no evidence that the chain of command is being investigated. In fact, the one
person that has been mentioned by the prosecutor himself is still not in the trial.
The first response, second response and I, you know, my heart goes to the son of Mr. Khashoggi. And I believe that justice must be delivered to the
victims and that includes him and the rest of the family.
But the killing, the execution of Mr. Khashoggi is bigger than what he may want for. If his fiancee, Mr. Khashoggi's fiancee is also a victim and she
has a very different position than the son.
Two, Mr. Khashoggi was a journalist, he worked for "The Washington Post," he was an American resident. Over the years, he had built a huge community
of people who respected him, who loved him, who wants now justice for him.
So while, of course, justice, according to what the son want, is important, this is not the only justice that must be delivered. There is far bigger
objectives right now.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Very briefly, then, what is your view on how the international community has responded over the past year?
What are you calling for next?
CALLAMARD: So all the international community has been weak in its response. Some of them have delivered good statement; they have not been
followed up by actions.
I -- there is one exception. I believe that at the moment, the U.S. Congress is demonstrating great leadership and commitment to ensure that
the crime does not get unpunished. So that's the first thing.
What am I asking?
I am asking for continuing truthtelling over the chain of command. That information is in Saudi Arabia but it is also in the United States. The
CIA briefing must be declassified. The FBI (ph) must be undertaking an investigation. The Congress, that has demanded for a public report on the
-- on who ordered the crime, that should be realized as well.
Truthtelling is part of justice for Mr. Khashoggi. G-20 in Riyadh, that, too, is not justice for Mr. Khashoggi. It's the antithesis of justice for
Mr. Khashoggi. The international community must take a strong commitment and take -- you know, act in accordance with some of the big worlds that it
has delivered around the need for accountability.
ANDERSON: Agnes Callamard, we're going to have to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.
The crown prince in the CBS interview also calling for the release of the CIA information.
Taking a very short break. Back after this.
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ANDERSON: Welcome back. It is just after half past 7:00 in the UAE. Let's get you caught up on the major stories.
We're watching a day of chaos and violence in Hong Kong with just 30 minutes left in China's National Day. It's been tense and scary in the
city. More than 50 people injured and an 18-year old shot by a police officer.
Protesters tossed Molotov cocktails and police fired tear gas at the start of this hour. Our Anna Coren who's been following this story for us faced
what could have been a dangerous encounter with police. Here's what happened.
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ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR: We were sitting on the ground when the police fired tear gas at everybody else who was standing here, sitting here as
well. It was just preposterous --
Firing again. Firing again. Firing again over at the media. I mean, they're firing tear gas at the media.
It doesn't make sense, Becky. It does not make sense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Anna Coren just about a half hour ago in Hong Kong. In Beijing, a total contrast as Mainland China celebrated the 70th anniversary of
China's founding with elaborate fireworks, a light show and parades. President Xi Jinping telling his country no force can shake the foundation
of this great nation.
Former U.K. prime minister David Cameron has responded to President Trump's call to his Ukrainian counterpart that has sparked an impeachment inquiry.
He spoke to my colleagues on CNN's "NEW DAY" a short while ago. Here's his take on that now infamous call.
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DAVID CAMERON, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It's a conversation that I would never -- I never had and never would have. But I'm going to restrict
myself a little bit in what I say, because our countries do have an amazing relationship and I want that to continue, whoever is the president, whoever
is the prime minister.
And overcommenting on each other's domestic politics sometimes doesn't help that relationship to flourish.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: But you did answer the question right there. You said it's a conversation I never had or never would have.
Why not?
CAMERON: Well, I don't think it would be right to do so. We should fight our political battles at home using conventional weapons rather than
seeking assistance elsewhere. It just doesn't seem right to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's Hong Kong.
And that's the view of the U.K.'s former prime minister on impeachment rolling into our third story this hour. The U.S. secretary of state
pushing back against House Democrats and their presidential impeachment inquiry.
Mike Pompeo is in Italy right now. He's been meeting with the Italian president and prime minister there. While there, he sent out a tweet,
calling efforts back home to depose State Department officials an attempt to "bully and intimidate."
And he posted a link to a letter from the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs where he writes that depositions of State Department officials this
week and next week are not feasible.
But the House committees are scheduled to hear closed-door testimony from former U.S. diplomats starting tomorrow. This all came from a
whistleblower complaint alleging that President Trump put pressure on the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden's son with the intention of
digging up dirt on one of his biggest political rivals.
President Trump, meanwhile, continues to insist he has done nothing improper.
Coming up on CONNECT THE WORLD, take a look at this, a head-spinning sight to see at an airport. We'll show you what happens next.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Well, this feels like a visual metaphor for our times. Situation spinning out of control as pretty much everyone stands
watching on, confused, bemused, can you work out what this is?
It's a catering truck at an airport in the States, out of control, lurching wildly towards a plane until the hero we all need, quick on his feet,
saving the day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It says it all, doesn't it?
Speaking of flying high, let's get you back to Rhiannon.
Have you ever seen anything that bizarre at an airport?
RHIANNON JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I've got to be honest. I spent five years traveling the world and we went to plenty of airports with Real
Madrid. So I've seen plenty of bizarre things happen. But nothing I'm going to tell you on air. That we'll save for another time.
(LAUGHTER)
JONES: But what I will tell you about coming up very shortly --
ANDERSON: Thank you.
JONES: -- is about your beloved Spurs, here in action here tonight.
ANDERSON: Of course, fantastic. Looking forward to it.
END
