Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Iconic French Actor Gerard Depardieu is Accused of Sexual Assault; Canada Prime Minister Carney Announces Snap Federal Election for April 28; White House Seeks Corporate Sponsors for Easter Egg Roll. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired March 24, 2025 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:30:00]

MICHAEL BOCIURKIW, GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Ukraine needs full access to sea lanes, to roads and railways as well to shut their stuff out. But the main thing right now is that that peace needs to happen because the longer this goes on, of course, the more chances there are of those millions of Ukrainians who went overseas not coming back and for the economy to fall even further. And right now, for example, the Ukrainian state has a $3.5 billion monthly hole in its budget, hence difficult to pay pensions and teachers' salaries, things like that.

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, yes, bringing it back to the economics of it all. Mike Bociurkiw, Michael Bociurkiw, we'll leave it here. Appreciate your time this morning. Thank you.

BOCIURKIW: My pleasure. Thank you.

SOLOMON: All right. And just ahead for us, he's one of France's most famous actors. Gerard Depardieu is expected in court today as his sexual assault trial begins in Paris.

And some much-needed rain is expected today as firefighters battle wildfires across the Carolinas. Those details straight ahead.

[05:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOLOMON: Welcome back. A South Korean family visiting the U.S. has been missing for over one week after a vacation to the Grand Canyon. Officials say that they were last known to be on a highway where a deadly crash occurred during a winter storm involving 22 vehicles.

Julia Vargas-Jones has more now on the search for the family of three.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Investigators are still combing through the wreckage, a scene they say is intricate and time-consuming to process. But just last night, we heard from authorities that in the early afternoon of Saturday, Highway Patrol investigators discovered additional remains they believe may be human. Those are now with the county medical examiner.

The Coconino County Sheriff's Office has released a flyer asking for the public's help. They identify 33-year-old Jiyeon Lee, 59-year-old Taehee Kim, and 54-year-old Junghee Kim as last seen on March 13th, traveling westbound on Interstate 40 in Arizona. The last signal from their GPS was at 3:27 p.m., the same time and place as the deadly pileup just outside Williams, Arizona. That collision involved 22 vehicles, and some were engulfed in flames and burned at extreme temperatures, resulting in extensive destruction. At least two people were killed, and 16 others were taken to hospital. According to the Arizona's Department of Public Safety, some passenger cars were rear- ended and pushed underneath tractor trailers.

Teams are still meticulously examining evidence from the crash site to identify possible remains. That crash happened on a stretch of I-40 that was covered in snow and ice about 30 miles west of Flagstaff and 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon National Park entrance.

Meanwhile, the Consulate General of South Korea here in Los Angeles is working closely with Arizona authorities, and anyone who's seen or heard from the family since the 13th is urged to contact the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.

Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: Relief in the form of rain could be headed to the Carolinas. That's where firefighters have been battling several wildfires. On Sunday, the fires prompted mandatory evacuations in parts of North Carolina, an area still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

In neighboring South Carolina, the governor declaring a state of emergency as crews battled the Table Rock Fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been battling its own fire in the Wharton State Forest. The fire broke out on Saturday and was about 80 percent contained, according to a Sunday evening update. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Gerard Depardieu is expected in court later today as his sexual assault trial begins in Paris. The case is attracting attention for reasons beyond his status as one of France's most famous actors.

It's also reigniting the MeToo movement in a country where it had previously stalled. CNN's Saskya Vandoorne explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SASKYA VANDOORNE, SENIOR PRODUCER (voice-over): He's France's best known actor now on trial, accused of sexual assault by two women who claim Gerard Depardieu attacked them on a film set in 2021, according to the prosecutor's office. Both women alleged that, on separate occasions, the actor pinned them between his legs and touched their genitals, buttocks and chest over their clothes. While Depardieu has denied the allegations, the case has reignited the MeToo movement, stalled in France as prominent actresses supported men's freedom to pester and defended art.

Actress Judith Godreche says art is no excuse for crime.

JUDITH GODRECHE, ACTRESS: In this country, I feel that it's not just the men who are the abuser who are trying to shut down the women. It's the society.

VANDOORN (voice-over): But now a societal reckoning brought on by the Pelicot trial. Dominique Pelicot was found guilty of the drugging and mass rape of his then wife, Giselle Pelicot, in abuse that spanned nearly a decade. The case sparked a national discussion around sexual violence and consent.

MARINE TURCHI, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST, MEDIAPART (through translator): The Depardieu and Pelicot cases have played an important role in raising public awareness and changing how we view certain behaviors, that they are not about seduction, but rather about power dynamics and domination.

[05:40:00]

It is now a collective issue, not just a women's problem.

VANDOORN (voice-over): The plight of household named Depardieu has gripped the nation.

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: I'm a great admirer of Depardieu. He makes France proud.

VANDOORN (voice-over): The president's defense over two years ago still sparking outrage today.

CROWD CHANTING (through translated text): He does not make France proud.

VANDOORN: And this trial may not be Depardieu's last. Lawyers say he's been accused of assault by over a dozen other women and is embroiled in a separate case where he's accused of rape.

JEREMIE ASSOUS, LAWYER FOR GERARD DEPARDIEU (through translator): These are nothing but slanderous accusations, each more serious than the last, so he's been deeply affected. But he will finally have the chance to defend himself in a setting where the principle of fairness is upheld, as for months, even years, he's been facing numerous accusations.

VANDOORN (voice-over): If convicted, Depardieu faces up to five years behind bars. A verdict is still months away, but in the court of public opinion, especially in the wake of the Pelicot rape trial, the pedestal Gerard Depardieu once stood on so proudly is already long gone, while the MeToo movement has been truly resuscitated.

Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris. (END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: All right, still ahead, a plane full of deported migrants from the U.S. lands in Venezuela for the first time in weeks. We'll have the latest on those efforts straight ahead.

Plus, the White House is inviting corporate sponsors to advertise on the South Lawn, coming up the ethical concerns looming around this year's Easter egg roll when we come back.

[05:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOLOMON: Welcome back, I'm Rahel Solomon. And here's some of the stories we are watching for you today.

Right now, delegates from the U.S. and Russia are in Saudi Arabia for talks over Russia's war on Ukraine. Yesterday, the U.S. team met separately with Ukrainian officials. Ukraine's defense minister called those talks productive and focused.

U.S. Second Lady Usha Vance will head to Greenland this week on a cultural visit. But the prime minister of the autonomous Danish territory is slamming the trip, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to express interest in annexing the island. A source says that national security advisor Mike Waltz is also expected to travel to Greenland this week.

South Korea's top court has struck down the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The court also has restored his powers as acting president. Han was impeached by opposition party lawmakers in December.

After serving as acting president for 13 days, Han replaced then- president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended for declaring martial law.

The U.S. is resuming repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants after the two countries reached a deal. The first flight landed in Venezuela a short time ago with nearly 200 people on board. And it comes amid growing outrage in the country after some Venezuelan migrants were sent to an infamous prison in El Salvador last weekend. Repatriations to Venezuela had stalled since February after the Trump administration revoked the license allowing the oil company Chevron to carry out some deportations in the country.

Canada's new prime minister has announced a snap federal election. It is set for April 28 -- very short turnaround. It comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney says that the country faces, quote, the most significant crisis of our lifetimes, forged by President Trump's tariffs and promises to turn Canada into the 51st state.

Mr. Carney will face off against his main rival, who you see here, who is the leader of the Conservative Party. Now, they're both promising that their party will put up a strong fight against Donald Trump's existential threats. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: I'm asking Canadians for a strong, positive mandate to deal with President Trump and to build a new Canadian economy that works for everyone. Because I know we need change. Big change. Positive change.

PIERRE POILIEVRE, CANADIAN CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER: I will insist the president recognize the independence and sovereignty of Canada. I will insist that he stop tariffing our nation. And at the same time, I will strengthen our country so that we can be capable of standing our own two feet and standing up to the Americans where and when necessary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Travelers are becoming increasingly concerned as nations around the world begin to issue advisories to tourists visiting the U.S. In the U.K., people are worried and being warned that they could be arrested if they fail to comply with U.S. entry regulations. Germany recently issued a warning as well after several German tourists were detained and later deported from the states. They say that despite visas and entry waivers, Germans are no longer guaranteed entry into America.

Meanwhile, Denmark and Finland are cautioning tourists who identify as transgender. Denmark has advised that those who do should reach out to the U.S. embassy before visiting. Although tourists aren't directly advised against visiting America, the warnings do outline a growing concern between Europe and the U.S.

All right, it is a Monday morning. It's a new week. Just a few hours now until the opening bell here in New York. And let's take a look at where U.S. futures sit heading into this new week. It is a green across the board, which is a really nice way to start the week. Dow futures look up about 320 points at this point.

It would be nice to maybe get another winning week for the S&P. We shall see. It is very early in the session. It's very early in the week.

All right, and maybe not the way you want to start off your week.

[05:50:00]

But genetic testing firm 23andMe is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company is seeking a court supervised sale after struggling for years to find a sustainable business model. In a statement, 23andMe said that it will continue to operate business as usual pending a sale, adding that the CEO, who was a co-founder, had resigned effective immediately. The company also intends to use funds from a potential sale to resolve legal matters surrounding a hack in 2023 where someone illegally accessed seven million customer profiles containing confidential information.

The annual White House Easter egg roll could look a lot different this year. The White House is taking the unprecedented step of seeking corporate sponsors for the activities. CNN's Betsy Klein explains why the move is raising ethical concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: The White House, through an outside production company called Harbinger, is soliciting corporate sponsorships for this year's Easter egg roll. They range from $75,000 to $200,000 and offer logo and branding opportunities.

Now, I obtained this nine-page document that's being sent to prospective sponsors. And when I showed it to a range of ethics experts and former White House officials on both sides of the aisle, the overwhelming reaction was shock and concern.

Now, the egg roll has been privately funded for many years. What's different this year is this explicit promise of logo and brand activations. I just want to read to you some of the promised sponsorship perks from this document.

Naming rights for key areas or elements, sponsor logos featured on event signage, custom-branded baskets, snacks, beverages, or souvenirs, and mentions in official event communications and social media posts. Sponsors will also receive tickets to the event and access to a brunch hosted by the first lady, as well as a private White House tour.

Now, all of the money raised is going to go through the White House Historical Association to pay for event production. And any excess funds raised, a source familiar with planning tells me, is going to go to similar events like Halloween and the Fourth of July.

Now, the concern I am hearing from a range of ethics experts and former officials here is twofold.

Number one, this document itself, the access and branding is promising. I talked to Richard Painter, who was in the White House counsel's office during the Bush administration. He told me this pitch document wouldn't have gotten through counsel's office in most other administrations, and he said it would have been vetoed in about 30 seconds in his day.

And second, what actually happens and what it looks like to have logos and branding on the South Lawn and on social media. We still don't know if those promised social media mentions will be from official White House accounts. All of this directly goes against regulations prohibiting public officials from promoting private business. But of course, this is a regulation, not a criminal statute.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: Our thanks to Betsy Klein there.

Well, a new pairing for Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods confirming on social media that he is in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, former daughter-in-law of President Trump. Woods posted, quote, love is in the air and life is better with you by my side. She was married to Donald Trump Jr. and had recently been seen with Woods at a tournament that he hosts. Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon earlier this year, ruling him out of the Masters next month.

All right, still ahead for us, panic at Disney World in Orlando. Details on the fire that broke out at Epcot theme park in just a few minutes.

[05:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DWARF: It's a human!

SNOW WHITE: What did you think I was?

DWARF: Nothing.

DWARF: Ghost!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: With these live actions, Snow White got off to a sleepy start at the box office, earning $43 million in the U.S. and Canada on its opening weekend. And that is well below analysts' expectations. The film cost about $270 million to make.

Now, it was already facing headwinds with political opinions surrounding its stars, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, as well as its controversial handling of the Seven Dwarfs characters.

But we are learning more about a fire that broke out at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando. A Disney spokesperson telling CNN that some equipment caught fire in a backstage area at the French Pavilion Saturday. Visitors were evacuated from the area as a plume of heavy smoke filled the air. Officials say at Disney that the flames were put out and the pavilion was reopened. There's no damage to the building and no injuries were reported.

Now, cruise ships are returning to Santorini after wakes of earthquakes stopped travel to the Greek island last month. From late January to the end of February, more than 20,000 minor earthquakes were recorded off the island. But those have now subsided, and Greek officials say it is safe to travel to Santorini. On Sunday, the first cruise ship arrived.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEBORAH TERRY, TOURIST: It's exciting, yes, to know that the island's open again and we get to visit first. It's safe.

JULIE EBERLY, TOURIST: We love being the first cruise ship that got a chance to come to Santorini. We feel really blessed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Now, millions of tourists visit Santorini every year, many of whom come on cruise ships. Despite the business bloom, many locals say that they are worried about over-tourism and sustainability.

And speaking of tourism and a trip, a price hike for a hike in Japan, now doubling the cost of a permit to climb Mount Fuji to around $27 and forcing would-be hikers to take a test first. Mount Fuji is a world-famous landmark and an iconic symbol of Japan, but the mountain has been overrun by tourists in recent years. Some tourists have even required medical attention after bringing the wrong gear or not carrying enough water.

Authorities will institute a mandatory safety class with a test that has to be passed before you can climb Mount Fuji. Apparently, it takes like six to seven hours to get up, four to five hours to get down, so maybe just the class.

All right, Thanks for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon, live in New York. I will see you tomorrow. But in the meantime CNN "THIS MORNING" starts right now.