Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Whistleblower's Attorney: I'm Representing a Second Whistleblower; Romney Slams Trump's Appeals To Ukraine & China; 100 Plus Dead, Almost 4000 Injured in Protest Across Iraq; Zelensky Facing Backlash for Peace with Russia Policies; U.S. Program Means Muslim Migrants Kept In Limbo; Vatican Considering Change to Allow Some Married Priests; U.K. PM Unveils New Blueprint, Needs EU Approval; France Prepares for Impact of No-Deal Scenario. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired October 06, 2019 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:30] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: On the attack, the U.S. president on a Twitter tirade. This as CNN learns of a second whistleblower.
Defying the ban, protesters in Hong Kong take to the streets again and --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is an obsolete nation, a tired nation.
ANDERSON: Iraqis vowed to keep up demonstrations as unrest enters the 5th day.
Plus possibly one of the last things you'd expect to see while getting your haircut.
It is 6 p.m. here, 10 on a Sunday morning in Washington. I'm Becky Anderson. Thanks for spending your day with us here on CONNECT THE WORLD.
And a big story this hour, Washington consumed by the "I" word. I'm talking impeachment inquiry, of course. And we are tracking fast
developments as the investigation gathers momentum, and watching as U.S. President Donald Trump rages against it.
Let's update you on some breaking news this hour. The lawyer for the first whistleblower now tells CNN's Jake Tapper that he's also representing a
second whistleblower, and that person is also a member of the intelligence community.
Now, this is the latest development in a torrent of new revolutions that add to the case against President Trump. This as House Democrats ratchet
up their investigation with a subpoena of the White House that a request for documents from Vice President Mike Pence, all the while President Trump
raging against the inquiry taking to Twitter to vent his fury. All of this is central to the question of whether President Trump abused his power, and
undermined U.S. national security by seeking to get dirt on his political opponents. That is the bottom line here.
CNN U.S. Kristen Holmes kicking this off for us, standing by at the White House, newlines in this investigation coming thick and fast in the past
hour, CNN confirming the existence of the second whistleblower. Just how significant is this, particularly the news that this person has "first-hand
knowledge?"
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Becky, this is incredibly serious. And here is why, President Trump has set a narrative now for the last two
weeks since we first saw that whistleblower complaint, essentially trying to discredit the whistleblower, and not just him. Republicans on both
sides of the House and Senate also joining in on the saying, all of it is hearsay that you can't prosecute someone for hearsay. So this idea that
someone is out there who has first-hand knowledge, that has been a huge argument, this guy did not have firsthand knowledge that's what the
president is saying, so know has first-hand knowledge is going out there. This is a very, very big deal moving forward.
Now, I have a couple of things to say. One, here is what we know, we know that this whistleblower, I'm referring to it as a he but we have no idea,
could be they, he, she has already spoken to the inspector general of the intelligence community. However, they have not filed a formal complaint
yet but the lawyer tells us this that this person is officially a whistleblower once they go to the inspector watchdog. So as soon as they
have that conversation, this person is a whistleblower, but we've just going to have to wait and see if this person is going to file a formal
complaint and what exactly it will look like.
But meanwhile, Becky, touched on this, President Trump yesterday really trying to reshape the narrative going on Twitter spending about eight hours
attacking multiple people including this at the time potential second whistleblower, and so we're going to pull that up in a tweet here. And
this is what he said. The first so-called second-hand information whistleblower got my phone conversation almost completely wrong, so now the
word is they're going to the bench and another whistleblower is coming in from the deep state, also with second-hand info. Meet with shifty, keep
them coming. Shifty, they're obviously referring to Adam Schiff.
But again, it's very interesting to look at this because first of all, part of it is untrue. We know that the whistleblower's account, the original
account of the conversation met very closely with the transcript. That was the official transcript released from the White House. So this is clearly
a reshaping of the knowledge -- excuse me, of the narrative which is something we know President Trump loves to do. He loves to go and be his
own messenger. So it's going to be interesting to see how it plays out now, particularly given that one piece of information that you mentioned,
the fact that this whistleblower has a first-hand knowledge.
[10:05:16] ANDERSON: We will pursue all lines of inquiry on this, of course, meantime, both the White House and the State Department have now
been issued subpoenas to hand over documents that Democrats say are central to this impeachment investigation. What has been their response?
HOLMES: Well, the White House response has been very interesting to this subpoena. Essentially, all we've seen from officially is this Press
Secretary response that we got right after the subpoena that basically said the subpoenas change nothing, that this is just the Democrats putting on a
show. And then goes on to attack the Democrats, nothing about whether or not the White House would comply.
However, we do know that there have been internal discussions among the White House that President Trump doesn't have to turn over these documents.
They're actually planning on possibly sending a letter of this Monday tomorrow before the subpoena was even issued, that basically said that to
Leader Nancy Pelosi that basically said that they didn't have to comply because it wasn't an official investigation, the reason for that being, the
fact that there hasn't been an official House vote.
Now, Nancy Pelosi has said the door is open to have that vote. However, they do not need to have that vote in order to launch an impeachment
inquiry. Again, look at this. We're not talking about two polarized sides here. Everyone's sticking to what they're doing and doubling down.
ANDERSON: Then leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us and more from the White House, of course, as we get it, you will
remember thank you on Friday.
The president himself made and what was remarkable cool for China's who investigate Joe Biden, reaction to that from Republican lawmakers has been
largely silent.
Take a look at this, CNN contacted the offices of 85 GOP lawmakers and the House and Senate. We wanted to see if any had concerns with what the
president was asking of Beijing. Only a few responded and just three expressed misgivings. Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney called Trump's
words wrong and appalling and Donald Trump has been reacting to Mitt Romney's position.
Let's bring in two CNN political commentators, one for each side of the political spectrum in the U.S., Mitch Landrieu is a former Democratic man
of New Orleans. He's live for us from Washington, and Ben Ferguson is the host of the Ben Ferguson Show. He joins us from Houston, Texas.
And Ben, let me start with you. And then I'll get to you, sir. With the news of a second whistleblower, this in the past to an hour and a half, CNN
confirming the second whistleblower's first-hand knowledge of this Ukraine controversy. We need to see whether he or she follows a formal complaint,
but your thoughts on these significant, sir?
BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Now very significant for the fact that we already have the transcript. I mean, we have the transcript of the
phone call, which is what this is all about. Everybody's seen the transcript now. And we're acting like it's a big deal that there's another
whistleblower when they would be telling us what they remember from an actual transcript that we already have.
So this is more about the politics of this and playing the politics of this from -- to keep the momentum going for the Democrats on the House and the
Senate side. When the reality is, it doesn't really matter what this whistleblower has to say, because it's all trumped by the transcript. We
don't have to, you know, say what do you remember or what did -- you know, remember, this was months and months and months ago? We already have the
facts. We have the actual transcripts, so I kind of roll my eyes at it, saying it doesn't matter if there's one more or 15 more whistleblowers,
once you have the actual words that were said. It really is at that point, you judge it base on the merit of that conversation.
ANDERSON: Right. That's an interesting position, because that's not the position that Donald Trump is taking, of course, he's saying this is a
whistleblower who doesn't have first-hand knowledge of my dealing --
FERGUSON: Which very well may be true?
ANDERSON: Let me bring you in, Mitch, yours -- Hang on sir, hang on. Mitch, your response? Do you see this as significant?
MITCH LANDRIEU, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, it's important just to stay focused on the facts and the law. The facts are fairly simple, and I
think, Ben is probably right. The president of United States is recorded, and then he said it yesterday on the White House lawn, asking foreign
governments to participate with him and an effort to affect the election, that is against the law in the United States. It is, in fact, an abuse of
power.
And so this is a -- it's not a happy time. This is a very sobering time for the country. And I think people have to put all the political
ramifications aside and just do their duty. And in this instance, the founding fathers when they wrote the Constitution, and then when they
explained it in the Federalist Papers expressed this as a high crime and a misdemeanor, and unfortunately, the president has crossed the line, and I
think the country is going to come to realize that sooner rather than later.
[10:10:04] ANDERSON: That's interesting. Republican Senator Mitt Romney, one of the few members of the president's party to speak out against the
president. Ben, the Senator from Utah, said it was wrong and appalling --
FERGUSON: Yes.
ANDERSON: -- that the U.S. leader would solicit a foreign power to investigate one of Mr. Trump's political rivals. But we are well aware he
is amongst the minority from the Grand Old Party, would you expect that to continue? Or will we see more?
FERGUSON: No, this is exactly what I would expect from Mitt Romney, a guy that lost the presidential election hates living the shadow of Donald
Trump, can't believe that he's not actually the president of United States of America right now. And he's disgruntled and unhappy, and he does
anything he can to get a headline for himself. And the only way he gets headlines now is basically attacking the president's own party.
This is exactly what everyone expected from Mitt Romney if you're Republican, he's not going to ever help this president out. He's always
going to act like he's better than him or some sort of statesman on and try to self elevate himself. And the reality is, you know, he can go out there
and yell at the microphone as much as he wants to. Democrats will use it as propaganda for their side, but the real Republican Party is not
listening to him at all. So for me, I'm not surprised, and I don't think the president really cares.
LANDRIEU: Well, I'm not -- if it was only Mitt Romney, I'm not sure that that would be -- that might not be true. But Susan Collins from Maine and
Ben Sasse --
FERGUSON: How many other senators are there?
LANDRIEU: -- have now started talking about it. And one of these things that happens over time, that it happened with the Nixon impeachment, as
this thing went on, and more information came out, when the facts actually became known, people began to express a different opinion. So I think that
you may see some significant movement if, in fact, the facts come out surrounding the circumstances as we know them.
FERGUSON: There's a lot of ifs in that statement, and that's one of the issues --
LANDRIEU: Well, of course, we're in the middle of it on a process.
FERGUSON: But we have the phone call. And I would say this, what in the phone call, what in the transcript is impeachable? There's nothing there
that's impeachable. That's why they've continued to have to say, but wait, there could be more, there might be more, there might be. We have the
phone call. I think the president of the United States of America won reelection September the 24th when the transcript was released, because the
American people are really smart, they can read and they can read a transcript. And they can understand that now there's a real problem with
Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, and that's a question that has to be answered as well. I think this is only going to help the president of the United
States of America.
LANDRIEU: Ben, that's a nice theory.
ANDERSON: But let me ask you this, Ben. Hang on a minute, guys. Ben, you're telling us that you think you agree with the president, that call
was perfect, and that you disagree wholeheartedly with Mitt Romney? He says it was wrong and appalling?
FERGUSON: I think it's entirely appropriate for the United States of America when he knows information about pressure put, and a vice president
on the record, on tape bragging about getting the top prosecutor of a foreign government fired when that foreign government had their prosecutor
is literally investigating, a company that his son is sitting on the board making millions of dollars off.
(CROSSTALK)
FERGUSON: The president of the United States of America has the absolute right to ask that question.
LANDRIEU: Come on, Ben, that's a nice story but was that --
ANDERSON: There is no evidence to support that argument.
LANDRIEU: That's a nice story, but what that telephone call reflects --
FERGUSON: Wait, wait, wait one second.
ANDERSON: Stop Ben.
FERGUSON: Did Joe Biden's son sit on the board of a company that's was being investigated?
LANDRIEU: Ben, let's ask him on that phone call the president of the United States --
FERGUSON: It's yes or no.
LANDRIEU: -- pressured Ukraine, threatening to withhold military aid unless they helped win his election.
FERGUSON: He did not try to withhold military.
LANDRIEU: He absolutely did.
FERGUSON: The only person threatened with whole money was Joe Biden.
LANDRIEU: No, not the thing.
FERGUSON: Joe Biden is the only person that actually said if you don't fire someone, I'm not going to give you a billion-dollar loan guarantee
which would make Ukraine insolvent, a billion dollars to Ukraine at that moment in time would be a trillion dollars in American dollars in this
country and influence. And he literally said, you have six hours before I leave, to fire your top prosecutor that is the only quid pro quo that
happened in any of this.
LANDRIEU: You can talk about Joe Biden all you want but the president of the United States in the Oval Office, and then the other day on the White
House lawn asked foreign governments to help him win an election. That is wrong, he should not have done that, and that's really what this is about.
FERGUSON: Again, what's wrong is force, to force a country to fire a top prosecutor to protect your son sitting on the board.
ANDERSON: Hang on.
LANDRIEU: That is exactly not what happened.
ANDERSON: That wasn't the point.
FERGUSON: That is corruption.
LANDRIEU: That is exactly not what happened.
ANDERSON: Hang on both of you. Mitch?
LANDRIEU: Yes.
ANDERSON: Ben, the question was, or Mitch's point was last week, the president of United States called on China and on Ukraine to investigate
the Bidens, are you telling us you think that's appropriate behavior, from the U.S. president?
FERGUSON: I think based on the facts that are in the public, based on what we know about the prosecutor being fired, based on the billions of dollars
in loan guarantees that Joe Biden's son was able to grab days after flying an Air Force Two --
ANDERSON: Hang on, that --
FERGUSON: -- it is absolutely appropriate for the United States of America to say to two other countries, hey, you may want to look into this because
this does not look good at all.
[10:15:02] ANDERSON: While in Greece, your Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referred to the impeachment inquiry as a game. Have a listen to this, both
of you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think that there were any red flags raised during that call that require further investigation?
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: I don't think anybody here is particularly interested in this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sure they are. I'm sure they are.
POMPEO: I don't think so. This is what's wrong, when the world doesn't focus on the things that are right, the things that matter, the things that
impact real people's lives, and instead you get caught up in some silly gotcha game --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: But this inquiry is a serious matter. Ben, to you first, and then to you, Mitch, are Republicans underestimating the gravity of this
situation?
FERGUSON: Yes, I would say no, there's 86 different reasons now that Donald Trump, Democrats have said he should have been impeached, including
some of them as ridiculous as saying, well, he tweets mean things. When you're on number 86, at some point, Republicans just roll their eyes. I
would say the Democrats, hurry up and impeach him. We know you're doing this, the motto seems to be clear, if you can't beat Donald Trump and an
election, they're terrified of losing in 2020, then you must impeach him before 2020. Hurry up and do it, quit wasting taxpayer's money and let the
people decide on election day, if they agree with you or not.
But this is nothing but a game Pompeo was right when he said it, it's a charade. It's a joke. It's wasting a lot of taxpayer's dollars and
Democrats actually start working on actually helping the American people instead of giving another reason why they want to want to impeach Donald
Trump. We're at 86 different reasons.
ANDERSON: And Mitch, this investigation is going very, very, very quickly, your response?
LANDRIEU: Let me respond to Ben, because he and I, we may agree on one point, first of all, I was against proceeding with impeachment before the
Ukraine transcript became available. I think the president made it impossible for the country to look away, after it became really clear that
he was asking foreign governments to assist him with his personal reelection, which is, in my opinion, and many other opinions against the
law, so that is when I changed my mind.
The second thing would be this, it is a very serious matter. It's not a trivial matter. And I do agree with Ben that the House of Representatives,
which is the house of the first impression on this should move expeditiously, they should be fair, they should be impartial, and they
should hurry up and make a decision and do their duty, then allow the Senate to do that duty. And at the end of the day, should the Senate
decide based on all this evidence not to convict the president, then it's going to go to the voters and the voters will decide whether this was a
minor affair or not. But most Americans that I know, don't necessarily wake up in the morning with a Republican or a Democratic jersey on. They
want to do what is right for the country. And they do not believe the president is above the law. They've demonstrated that throughout history
many, many times. And if you go back, Ben, to the Constitution, and to James Madison, and to Alexander Hamilton --
FERGUSON: I agree with you --
LANDRIEU: -- they have the -- let me finish because I know you're a constitutionalist and you're an originalist, if you go back to the minutes
of the constitutional convention and to The Federalist Papers, 65. And you read what Alexander Hamilton wrote and what James Madison said, this is
what was -- they were really concerned about, and this qualifies as a high crime or a misdemeanor. So let us -- Let's go to trial, let the American
people make a decision either through their elected representatives or at the election cycle, and you and I can visit back up to 2020 and say, who
was closer to being correct?
ANDERSON: With, we're going to leave it there.
FERGUSON: All I say is let's have the same standard, all elected officials. Thank you.
LANDRIEU: Sure.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much indeed for joining us. We'll have you back. You're watching Connect The World. Stay tuned.
In the next hour, we have former chief of staff to Nancy Pelosi, Nadeam Elshami and Steve Rogers, who is on the Trump campaign advisory board.
We'll have that face coming up.
Well, this hour in Iraq, clashes, and protests over unemployment and corruption continue to paralyze the country. At least 100 people have been
killed almost 4,000 injured just over the last week.
Well, as the death toll climbs more funerals and more anger has families bury their loved ones. U.N's top official in Iraq on Twitter calling for
an end to the violence referring to the situation as a "senseless loss of life."
CNN's Senior International Correspondent Arwa Damon has spent over a decade covering Iraq from the trial and execution of Saddam Hussein's, the rise
and fall of ISIS. She is following the story for us from Baghdad. And Arwa what is the latest there?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Becky, the situation still remains incredibly tense overnight. The Prime Minister's
Office did issue a statement that included a package of reforms meant to address the protesters' grievances but that is done very little to temper
the anger in the streets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:20:15] DAMON: Is that all smoke from the tires? You can see that.
(voice-over) Security forces have been deployed across the capital. Roads are blocked. The internet shut down and media access is severely
restricted.
(on camera) All the fires are burning down there.
(voice-over) We want a country we can live in. It's been 16 years, this young man yells. I am a university graduate. He doesn't have work. Many
of the demonstrators are the country's young adults, among whom unemployment is especially high.
Another man here says he studied law. The only work he found is in a hair salon. He says he's been demonstrating for days.
(on camera) His friend was just killed.
(voice-over) They shout over each other about the government's use of force. Their friends were killed in the demonstrations, the injustice.
This man who doesn't want his identity disclosed has been filming from the start.
(on camera) This is the first day. You can see in the video all of it, there is nothing. He is saying the people weren't attacking the security
forces. Our only weapon was to physically block off the street so that the security forces couldn't advance.
(voice-over) The demonstrators' demands are not unreasonable, he says, end corruption, provide employment and improve basic services.
But the protests have grown more violent, threatening this country's already fragile security. And the rising death toll has incensed those
tying to take to the streets.
(on camera) This video is from day three when there was still a curfew in place. It's really hard to look at because there is a man on the ground
who has a head wound. The audio of the gunfire is just constant.
A few minutes later, another man is seen bleeding from a gunshot wound. He says all they want is to be heard. Stop the killing, he pleads. Listen to
what they want to. Send someone from the government to say I am here to talk to you, what do you need.
(voice-over) Baghdad's focal point for demonstrations is surrounded by a ring of security. The capital is tense, on edge. The government it's
calling for calm and has pledged to address the demonstrators' demands, promises the population has heard before. But hollow words will no longer
smother the people's rage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Arwa, we had reports of mass government attacking the offices of Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya, an Arabic news channel in Baghdad
Saturday. What do we know who's behind this targeted attack?
DAMON: That's the issue, Becky. We don't actually know who specifically is behind that attack. Their officers were stormed by men wearing masks,
they broke equipment, they beat up the staff that was there. And this wasn't just an isolated incident that was targeted at Al-Arabiya. There
were also a handful of smaller Iraqi stations who also reported that their offices, their locations were raided as well by unknown masked men.
And there is this growing sense of concern that either the government or armed forces outside of the government are trying to further restrict the
reporting on what is happening. Many people were talking to, Becky, say that one of the government's fears when it comes to blocking the internet
is that the minute it is turned back on, more and more videos from those demonstrations are going to emerge. And as we have been reporting so far,
all of the government's promises of reforms, all of the reform packages that they are putting forward are not really preventing the demonstrators
from attempting to take to the streets, Becky.
ANDERSON: Arwa Damon is in Baghdad for you. Arwa thank you. All these protests come in a region that is already tense next hour from Hezbollah to
the (INAUDIBLE), we look at non-state players rocking this region is so volatile rift reach tipping point.
Well, it's also been a massive show of defiance in Hong Kong. Demonstrate has been taken to the streets in the thousands to protest the law banning,
face masks all began as peaceful marches turned to clashes with police, some protesters through bricks and set fires and police fire tear gas and
made arrests in response. We'll get you on the ground there in the next hour.
[10:25:11] You're watching Connect The World with Becky Anderson. It is 25 minutes it will take past 6:00 here in Abu Dhabi. This is our Middle East
broadcasting. Up stills come, the special relationship sours the wife of a U.S. diplomat leaves the U.K. following a fatal road collision what British
Foreign Secretary is saying about that, up next.
Plus, centuries of Catholic tradition could soon see a major change. Why the church is considering allowing some married men to become priests.
That is ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Into a developing diplomatic route between the U.S. and the U.K., the British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urging the United States
to return a diplomat's wife to the United Kingdom, following a fatal accident. Now the woman is a suspect in a traffic collision, which killed
a teenager Harry Dunn.
Speaking to Sky News, his mother made him motion to appeal to the woman who has diplomatic immunity to return to the United Kingdom. And she spoke of
her son's death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLOTTE CHARLES, HARY DUNN'S MOTHER: Everyone loved him, we're utterly broken inside and out, everything hurts day and night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And his mother told BBC Radio for how the crash killed her son happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES: We've had it confirmed that she pulled out the RAF base on the wrong side of the road. He had absolutely no chance of avoiding the
collision, so she hit him at all. We didn't get told until a few hours after she'd been told by the police the next day that she'd killed Harry.
We were then told a few hours after that Northamptonshire Police were told a few hours after she'd been given that information that she had this
apparent diplomatic immunity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Anna Stewart has been following this story from London for you.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: A spokesperson for the family of Harry Dunn says that the family will be meeting with the British Foreign Secretary
Dominic Raab sometime this week.
So far, Raab has said that he's spoken to the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. and expresses the U.K.'s disappointment over the case and that is publicly
at least as far as the British government has gone. The issue of diplomatic immunity is a highly complex one, and really one that can only
be waived by the United States of America. So CNN, of course, has spoken to the State Department and this is the statement we have received.
[10:30:03] "Any questions regarding a waiver of immunity with regard to our diplomats and their family members overseas in a case like this receive
intense attention at senior levels and are considered carefully given the global impact such decisions carry, immunity is rarely waived."
Rarely waived? But that's not to say that it cannot be waived or that it will not be waived. And there is huge pressure on both sides of the
Atlantic high up in the governments to see whether some progress can be made here.
Becky, I'm now on my way to go and speak to the family of Harry Dunn. He will be hopeful for any news of progress. More on that soon.
ANDERSON: Yes. And when Anna has completed that interview, of course, you will be the first to see it. You're with CONNECT THE WORLD folks, joining
the dots on today's global stories for you. Good having you on board.
Next up, Ukraine's president has been tarnished by the U.S. impeachment inquiry now facing thousands rallying against him at home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Our top story is the impeachment inquiry that is gripping the United States and indeed Ukraine. Just in the last few hours, the lawyer
of the initial whistleblower tells CNN he is now representing a second whistleblower. And he tells CNN that the second person has already spoken
with the Intelligence Community's Inspector General.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been lashing out on Twitter all weekend as Democrats ramp up their investigation.
[10:35:00] The days ahead will likely be moving just as fast as the story captivates Washington and beyond. We are continuing to follow all the
twists and turns as they happen as you would expect us to.
Well, Ukraine has been happy to work with the U.S. as a buffer against Russian interference in the past. That was made clear in a call between
Mr. Trump and the Ukrainian president. Now that president, Mr. Zelensky, has been thrust into the global spotlight and he's facing pushback against
his policies at home. Thousands protested against his plan to hold local elections in separatist parts of the country. President Zelensky has
described the deal as a necessary step towards a peace deal.
Sam Kiley is in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. He joins me now with more. What is the sentiment there with Ukraine, of course, caught up in the
middle of all of this impeachment inquiry?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the principle here is that to Mr. Zelensky's proposal for into a high degree
really of autonomy for the east of Ukraine which is backed -- where Russian-backed rebels have been fighting for the last five years. And bear
in mind, the same process led to the annexation, the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, Becky. That is the focus for both the president and
the people protesting against the president's policy to allow that degree of autonomy, to allow local elections in return for peace.
They are simultaneously, and this is people on the ground that I spoke to in that demonstration, extremely scornful of the attitude struck by Donald
Trump in the phone call, the famous phone call that was part of which was published by the White House that showed the degree of pressure being put
on Mr. Zelensky during which -- or during the same period in which military aid to Ukraine, some $400 million worth was suspended. Now the aid is now
back on track. The people on the ground said that -- for example, one young woman said that Mr. Trump was playing with the lives of Ukrainian
soldiers.
So a deep sense of contempt really from Ukrainians towards Donald Trump. But their real focus, Becky, is on the war in the east, whether or not they
support Mr. Zelensky's proposals for peace that is their preoccupation. This is a war that has killed many thousands of people, after all, Becky.
ANDERSON: Sam Kiley is in Ukraine for you. Sam, thank you for that.
Well, the debate around immigration has played a huge role in the Trump presidency but our next story about something that actually came in under
President George W. Bush. It concerns an Iranian man who's lived and worked in America for years, even starting a family there. But his life is
in total limbo due to a mysterious U.S. national security program.
Daniel Burke explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANIEL BURKE, CNN RELIGION EDITOR (on camera) So what is this? What is all of this?
MEHDI OSTADHASSAN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA: This is basically our immigration case and somehow how we are trained to make a
life in the U.S.
BURKE (voice-over): This is Mehdi Ostadhassan, he's at the center of a landmark lawsuit that could affect the U.S. immigration system and many
other immigrants who want to live and work in the United States.
OSTADHASSAN: I am paying for my beliefs.
BURKE (voice-over): The ACLU is representing Ostadhassan in a class-action lawsuit that accuses Donald Trump and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services of holding his application for extra vetting, in part because he's a Muslim who has lived and traveled to Iran. Ostadhassan first applied for
a green card five years ago. He says the long delay has affected his job and his family.
OSTADHASSAN: I just want my immigration to go through because I just need to see my family. If I leave this country, it would be impossible for me
to come back.
BURKE (voice-over): Ostadhassan's lawyer believes his green card application was flagged by a little known national security program called
CARRP.
SABRINA BALGAMWALLA, OSTADHASSAN'S ATTORNEY: CARRP is like another program that a lot of Americans know about which is the no-fly list. That you
could end up on the no-fly list and not know how you got there.
BURKE (voice-over): Under CARRP, USCIS flags applicants for additional vetting if the government believes their application presents a potential
national security concern. The ACLU counters that CARRP unfairly targets Muslim immigrants and immigrants from Muslim majority countries.
Immigration officials say Ostadhassan omitted some significant facts when applying for a student visa to study in the United States in 2009,
including his membership in the student branch of an Iranian organization called "The Besiege".
OSTADHASSAN: Basically, when I was a student, the only available organization was Besiege because Besiege was responsible for cultural
activities and religious activities.
[10:40:05] BURKE (voice-over): In 2019, the Trump administration designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its subsidiary
organizations including "The Besiege", as foreign terrorist organizations. The USCIS declined to answer CNN's questions about CARRP or Ostadhassan's
case citing the pending litigation. In a statement, a spokesperson said that "The agency fairly identifies, vets, and adjudicates applications that
present national security or egregious public safety concerns."
In April, almost five years after he first applied, Ostadhassan's green card application was rejected for a second time. He could be deported at
any time whether or not a judge rules in his favor this spring. It's a class-action lawsuit which means the outcome could affect thousands of
immigrants who suspect CARRP has played a role in delaying their applications as well.
OSTADHASSAN: If I pay the price, at least things get better for everybody.
BURKE (voice-over): That's a lot to have on your shoulders, though, isn't it?
OSTADHASSAN: Definitely. Definitely. But I think I am able to handle that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Daniel Burke there.
Next year, CARRP is due in court at a federal trial that will examine this issue. It's a class-action suit, meaning as Daniel explained, the outcome
could affect thousands of migrants.
And still ahead, top church leaders are meeting now in a summit that could redefine who is allowed to become a Catholic priest. I'm going to get you
to Rome for the very latest details on that. That's up next.
And honing in on getting out, the prime minister -- the British prime minister says he is so confident he can deliver Brexit on time. He is
reportedly willing to challenge the queen to sack me if you dare.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Pope Francis there, celebrating mass in the Vatican to kickoff for what is a three-week summit of bishops. Amid all that solemn
tradition, they could be about to decide what a change in the rules so significant the word historic barely seems to capture it. There could now
be about to end the century's old ban on married men becoming priests for some men, at least.
Delia Gallagher knows the holes of the Vatican inside out and is with us now from the eternal city in Rome. Just explain what is being discussed
and the significance of this move, should it happen?
[10:45:06] DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, Becky, this is shaping up to be a really contentious three weeks here at
the Vatican. We've already seen some protests in the week leading up to it because of this proposal. They're meeting to discuss issues of the Amazon,
so the environmental issues of the indigenous people and so on. But one of the proposals that they're discussing is the question of allowing some
married men who are in the Amazon, who are respected elders in their community to become ordained Catholic priests because there's a shortage of
priests in the region.
Now you can imagine that this would change centuries of tradition of unmarried priests and so it's really created quite a stir, and we've had
conservatives out holding prayer vigils trying to pray for the outcome of this meeting. I should say we've also had protests on another side which
is that at this meeting, it will be men, 185 bishops and cardinals, who will be voting on these proposals. There are 35 women including nuns who
will be at the meeting but they do not have a vote. So we've also been seeing Catholic women's groups and nuns holding signs in front of the
Vatican demanding their right to vote. So we've really got a lot going on.
The meeting starts tomorrow. It's all behind closed doors, Becky, so we won't actually know the outcome until the final vote. And I should say
that even if they do vote to approve this proposal of allowing married men to become a priest in the Amazon, keep in mind, this would only be an
exception for the Amazon. But of course, the concern is that if you allow it for the Amazon, you have to allow it in other parts of the world as
well.
And even if they do vote for that, Becky, it's only a recommendation for the pope and it will be the pope who has to make any final changes.
ANDERSON: And just for some context, amongst the faithful, as I understand it, 85 percent of Amazon villages can't actually celebrate mass. That is
the sort of context for these Catholic priests shortage. Well, keep your ear to the ground on that because that's absolutely fascinating.
The summit now begins a day after the pontiff appointed 13 new cardinals. They hail from a range of different countries. What does that tell us
about the legacy that Pope Francis is hoping to create do you think?
GALLAGHER: Well, obviously, the appointment of new cardinals, Becky, is one way in which a pope affects the future of decisions in the Catholic
Church. And so we've seen that Pope Francis has chosen cardinals. You know, cardinals used to really -- it used to be very European. It has
slowly -- and this happened also under John Paul II, but it has slowly branched out to include men from other parts of the world, who of course,
bring different perspectives to these issues.
And so the Pope has named one cardinal who is very involved with migrants and refugees, for example. And I'll just give you a little story which is,
you know, the cardinals choose to wear a cross. And this man, who's a Jesuit called Father Czerny (ph), chose his cross made of wood from one of
the boats used by migrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea. And the cross has given that they are normally made of gold or silver, even have jewels
in them, that was kind of a huge statement. That's kind of a Francis statement, you know, to choose a cross of wood from a boat.
So that gives you an idea of some of the men that Pope Francis is putting in. And, of course, the idea is that even if changes aren't necessarily
made under this pontificate with this pope, the men who are cardinals now will be those who are in charge in the future. Obviously one of them will
be a future pope as well.
Becky?
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Thank you for that. Delia is in Rome for you. This is a busy hour and we are not done yet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN BARCLAY, BRITISH BREXIT SECRETARY: The backstop is a unicorn that has failed to materialize three times in parliament.
ANDREW MARR, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But it's not a unicorn. It's just been voted down.
BARCLAY: Three times. It's been rejected three times in parliament.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, if you're a fan of British mythology, you will know that the English lion once defeated the unicorn. But will the U.K. be as lucky
with this so-called unicorn? The latest in the Brexit saga in just a moment.
And shampoo, rinse, and a deer crashing through the window. Yes. Details on a haircut that got, well, unexpectedly exciting. That's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:51:54] BARCLAY: The backstop is a unicorn that has failed to materialize three times in parliament.
MARR: But it's not a unicorn. It's just been voted down.
BARCLAY: Three times. It's been rejected three times in parliament. And the reason for that were the concerns around laws applying in Northern
Ireland over which people would not have a say. And the fact that it was at odds with the Belfast Good Friday Agreement in terms of failing to
secure the consent of both sides.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The U.K's Brexit secretary there, that's Steven Barclay speaking as lawmakers prepare for a new week of crunch talks. A reminder, there are
just 25 days until Britain is due to leave the E.U. That is 25, 25, yes, you heard me right. The Irish backstop, of course, remains the most
contentious issue and that's what Mr. Barclay was speaking about there.
But the British prime minister has now unveiled a new strategy on the matter. Convincing the E.U. of its merits however remains another thing
but Boris Johnson is apparently so confident. The Sunday Times reports he is going to dare the queen to sack him rather than resign as prime minister
should there be a vote of no confidence. And it would apparently be in an attempt to get Brexit delivered by the end of the month.
Well, Brexit can at times feel like an abstract political notion can it, but it is already having an impact on people, particularly in the business
and administrative world. Like in France where preparations are in maze across the board for a no-deal scenario.
Jim Bittermann has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The British Parliament is a long way from the farms of France, but its
decision- making could soon have an impact here. Third generation cattle farmer Philippe Dufour worries that a hard Brexit and a hard border with
Ireland could ship cheaper Irish beef now sold primarily to Britain to markets in France.
PHILIPPE DUFOUR, FRENCH CATTLE FARMER (through translator): It is a huge concern because you don't know in the end what impact it's going to have on
market prices.
BITTERMANN (voice-over): Dufour outlined his worry to British farmers, who, a few days ago paid a visit to their counterparts in France. But the
Brits had a different worry, their lamb business. About a quarter of the lamb consumed in France does not come from here but from Britain. And
farmers there are worried hard borders with tariffs and delays for veterinary inspections could shut them out of their most lucrative market.
RICHARD FINDLAY, U.K. FARMERS UNION: The high cap (ph) in the export in our lamb would have huge repercussions at home. At the moment, we're
trying to plan for every outcome because we don't know what's going to happen.
BITTERMANN (voice-over): There is no less uncertainty along the French coast where 10,000 truckloads of trade go back and forth through Britain
each day. Here, the finishing touches are being put on new procedures required when Britain leaves the European Customs Union.
(on-camera) So when you talk about hard borders after Brexit, this is one of them. This is a customs station that's been built brand new in Calais,
France to handle the truck traffic from Great Britain. And here's another part of it. This is a veterinary inspection station to handle food and
animal products that come in from Britain to make sure that they are up to European standards.
[10:55:05] (voice-over) French customs has hired and trained 700 new inspectors nationwide to accommodate the worst-case Brexit scenario.
GILBERT BELTRAN, CUSTOMS DIRECTOR, DUNKIRK REGION (through translator): At the end of the month of October, we will ready to face up to whatever
formalities we need to take.
BITTERMANN (voice-over): Not far away from the Calais border post, at a discount wine store, Ben Peake and his mother, Sharon, from England are
also preparing for the worst.
BEN PEAKE, BRITISH CONSUMER: No one knows what they're going to do, do they? So, all the people in parliament, they haven't got a clue, have
they?
BITTERMANN (voice-over): Suspecting that a hard Brexit could end their ability to buy unlimited quantities of reduced taxed wine in France, they,
like hundreds of other Brits this day, have traveled across the channel to stock up.
The Peakes figure they've saved more than a thousand Pounds Sterling on the 460 bottles of wine they bought. And what's more, because they're good
customers, the wine store paid for their ferry ticket across the channel. But the surge in pre-Brexit wine sales to worried customers could be a
short-term gain for what may be a long-term pain. Stores could be put out of business depending on what form Brexit takes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the question that everybody is asking us but we don't know and nobody knows.
BITTERMANN (voice-over): So to paraphrase a mythical headline, there's a fog of uncertainty and confusion on the continent as Britain cuts itself
off. And for now, the sheep may as well have the last word.
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Guerville (ph), France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was getting you to roll your eyes, Brexit can well and truly make you say, oh dear.
And you know what else can? A little trip to get a haircut. Literally, a beauty shop in New York gets an unexpected drop-in when a deer came
crashing through the window then ran out the way it got in. Nobody, I have to say, was seriously hurt which is a really good thing. And the deer went
back into the nearby woods after it was all done.
There was nobody out of the woods in Washington, D.C. where there are two words that matter this hour. And well, in fact, you're going to have to
stay with us until after the break to find out what those words are. This is our new extended version of CONNECT THE WORLD back in a couple of
minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The most iconic documenting in Guinness history is the 9000-year lease on some St. James' Gate Brewery and that was signed by
Arthur Guinness on New Year's Eve 1759. And one of the really nice things on the lease is the Arthur Guinness signature which you find on the bottom
right-hand corner. And just over 100 years later, we see that Arthur Guinness signature turning up in a very, very first Guinness trademark
label in 1862.
So this is one of our oldest brewing recipe books in the Guinness archives. On the 14th of December 1801, the first recipe for export beer in the
Guinness portfolio a beer called West India Porter. By the 1800s, Guinness --
[11:00:00]
END
