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Trump Faces Growing Calls to Fire Defense Secretary Hegseth; Lindsay Clancy Attorney on Possible Second Trial, Bring It; Two Dead, Multiple Others Injured in Minneapolis Apartment Shooting. Aired 10- 10:30a ET

Aired September 03, 2026 - 10:00   ET

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

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PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, pressure on Pete Hegseth. Two Republicans calling on the defense secretary's ousting, one saying he's inept for the job. Hear what the president is saying this morning.

Plus, edge of mistrial? We are live at the Lindsay Clancy trial. What happens if the jury is once again locked today?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Also only on CNN, our team's on the ground and with the Lebanese army as Israel withdraws from the region. Our Jeremy Diamond with exclusive access.

And flooding emergency, parts of Texas getting a month's worth of rain in just a few hours.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer with Pamela Brown, and you're in The Situation Room.

Happening now, President Trump is facing growing calls to fire his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. It follows the loss of top military leadership, including the U.S. Army secretary, Dan Driscoll. He resigned this week after months of reported friction with Hegseth. Even a Republican who cast a crucial vote to confirm Hegseth says it's time for him to go.

North Carolina Congressman Thom Tillis posted, and I'm quoting him now, I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country, end quote, and I urge the president to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it, end quote, again.

The backlash also comes as multiple sources are now telling CNN they believe Hegseth is damaging the Army's efforts to adapt to the modern battlefield as he focuses instead on what are designed as culture wars. Another Republican congressman, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, worries about the loss of key military leaders under Hegseth. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. DON BACON (R-NE): I hate to tell the president who he should hire and fire. I don't know if it's really my role, but I would say this, I would not -- he would not be on my team. I think he has not been a very good leader in many ways.

I felt like he was trouble from the beginning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: CNN's Alayna Treene is over at the White House for us. Alayna, what are you hearing from administration officials?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf. Look, I think Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has long been a controversial figure to lead at the Pentagon. But what's different about this moment is you are hearing these growing criticisms from Republican lawmakers, many of them raising major concerns over the turnover of senior staff within the military and throughout the Pentagon, the lack of clear planning for ending the war between the U.S. and Iran, and then also, of course, they haven't really been, the Pentagon, briefing a lot of Democrats on some of the key issues when it comes to Iran, and that's raised concerns about a spending fight that is soon to come to Capitol Hill.

There's a lot of tensions between, as I mentioned, Hegseth and some of these lawmakers, and it's expected to come to a head in the fall when the administration makes a push for more than $70 billion in emergency national security funding to continue the war. And there are questions about whether or not they can keep up the intensity at this pace of the war if they do not get that funding.

And I think part of the reason you're seeing a lot of the attention on Hegseth right now is because it's no secret that he has clashed privately with a lot of top generals and different officials. You know, you had the resignation of the Army secretary, Dan Driscoll, just a couple of days ago. They have long had a lot of tensions between them, disagreeing on certain things. Driscoll actually told the president and others that he was concerned about military readiness when he submitted his resignation.

A couple of months ago, we saw the departure of John Phelan, the secretary of the Navy, someone who also had a lot of tension with Hegseth. We've also saw a number of well-respected senior military officials, people like General Randy George, the former Army Chief of Staff, and General Christopher Donahue, the top Army commander in Europe under Hegseth's tenure.

But to get to your question, Wolf, about how is the president thinking about this, he's continued to say that he has confidence in Hegseth and that he believes he is handling the war well. I want you to listen to what he said just yesterday.

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DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: You did a good job last night in Iran, by the way. You knocked the hell out of them. Very good. We're winning. We're winning that one very big by the way, in case you haven't noticed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: So, look, as you heard there, the president having kind words to say about Hegseth. Every time he talks about him in public, he does praise his secretary of defense.

But this is really a major concern, I think, for people on the other end of Capitol Hill, and it could, like I said, come to a head over this upcoming spending fight. So, keep a close eye on that.

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And, of course, as well with the midterm elections just two months away, we often see turnover after that as well.

So, a lot to watch for here as it comes to the relationship that Hegseth has with some of these Republican lawmakers. Wolf?

BLITZER: We'll be watching together with you. Alayna Treene at the White House, thank you very, very much. Pamela?

BROWN: All right, Wolf. Happening now, a billionaire associate of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein won't appear at this hour's closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill, and is instead suing the panel. Leon Black is trying to block this panel from obtaining his non-disclosure agreements and testimony.

The House Oversight Committee has issued two subpoenas to Leon Black in its Epstein investigation after the committee chair said he refused to answer the panel's questions.

So, CNN Senior Reporter Annie Grayer is on Capitol Hill following all of this. How is the committee responding to this, Annie?

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, this is a major escalation that's playing out in real time. In the room behind me is where Leon Black was supposed to be appearing for his deposition today, but he is not going to be here. Instead, he is suing the committee in federal court and refusing to appear for his deposition.

And in his lawsuit, Black argues that the subpoenas against him are invalid, and that the documents that the committee wants, specifically these non-disclosure agreements that Black has entered into, are not relevant to the committee's investigation. He says that Epstein had nothing to do with them. And just because the committee might want them, he doesn't feel that the committee has made enough of a compelling case in order to get them. He also argued that these subpoenas are overly broad, and that there would be real privacy concerns if he were to turn over these documents.

But now the committee has a decision to make. Now, that Black has defied a subpoena and not showed up for his scheduled deposition this morning, lawmakers have to decide if they are going to move forward with holding him in contempt of Congress for defying his subpoena. Democrats are quick to say that that is a move that the committee should take, but, of course, Republicans are in charge, and they have yet to make that play call. We're waiting to hear from House Oversight Chair James Comer about what he thinks about all this.

But the committee has really wanted to hear from Leon Black. He has long been an associate with ties to Jeffrey Epstein. But the Department of Justice release of the Epstein files really shed new light on the ties between those men. It's found that from 2012 to 2017, Black made payments to Epstein around $158 million. The committee wants to learn more about what those payments are all about.

And so we'll see how the committee decides to handle this in their ongoing investigation into Epstein. Of course, Black did appear voluntarily back in June, but that wrapped quickly when he refused to answer questions, and that's where we got to today, this major escalation.

BROWN: All right. Annie Grayer, thanks for bringing us the latest there from Capitol Hill. Wolf?

BLITZER: And still ahead, suspending automated license plate-reading cameras, Florida taking them off public roadways. We're going to speak to one of the sheriffs in the Sunshine State who's following suit.

BROWN: And happening now, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial is now on day six of deliberations. Our Jean Casarez is right outside court. Jean?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They started deliberating one week ago today. They continue to deliberate this morning, but anything can happen at any moment. We'll be right back.

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BROWN: Happening now, jurors in the Lindsey Clancy murder trial are back for the sixth day of deliberations. The panel has already spent 30 hours considering Clancy's criminal liability in the death of her three young children. Clancy's defense argues she was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings.

Jurors have already sent two notes to the judge indicating they're deadlocked. Both times, the judge instructed them to keep trying for a consensus.

But the impasse is raising questions about what happens next in the event there is a mistrial. Here's what Clancy's defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, said this week.

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KEVIN REDDINGTON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Very proud of the jury. It's a tribute to the system. They're amazing. They're working very, very hard. Whatever happens with the case, they're -- nobody can say that they haven't given it their all.

I wouldn't be surprised if they came back with a verdict, if they said that they could, wanted to continue or, or they want to stop.

REPORTER: Some people say a second trial would favor the prosecution. What do you think about that?

REDDINGTON: Bring it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: All right, let's go live now to CNN Correspondent Jean Casarez, who's reporting from Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the trial took place. Jean, what happens if there is ultimately a mistrial here?

CASAREZ: Well, first of all, a mistrial, it's all over. The, the trial is over, everyone goes home, and a mistrial is not a verdict, right? But in the courtroom, if the judge orders that this is now a mistrial, the prosecution is not going to want Lindsay Clancy to be free because she's a free woman. The trial is over. She was not convicted. So, the prosecution, I expect, would stand up to make sure that she remains in custody on no bail.

And, remember, this is a triple homicide. They are not going to want to allow anything but that, and the prosecution may say, Your Honor, our intent is to retry this case, because that would allow her to have to stay in custody along with no bail.

It would be the district attorney of Plymouth County, and I'm sure in consultation with the prosecutors of what they do, but I think that's what we will see in court if this ultimately comes to that mistrial.

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BROWN: You've covered so many trials over your years as a journalist, Jean. I'm just wondering, what is the likelihood that the jury will reach a consensus at this point after going to the judge twice saying that it's deadlocked?

CASAREZ: Oh, boy, what a question, right? I mean, you would tend to think no, that they could not reach a consensus. However, it has been done, could be done. You know, this morning when they walked in, our producer said that every juror was just looking at the ground. That's what they were doing, looking at their feet as they walked in. One male juror was just rubbing his beard. A female juror was just rocking back and forth on her feet as they were standing there as the jurors came in. But they did say good morning to the judge when he said good morning to them.

But, obviously, the emotional toll that this has taken on them, because think about it, I mean, a week ago today they started deliberating, and here they still are deliberating. And they are not sending a note so far. They are still trying.

BROWN: You just -- yes, you do have to think about the emotional toll. I mean, at the center of this is three dead kids, and what they're considering is whether she is criminally liable. If they come back, they say they're deadlocked again, and the decision is made that another trial would take place, do you think there would have to be a jurisdiction change of where it would be held, Jean?

CASAREZ: Well, it's an excellent point, because you've got a saturated jury pool right here. I mean, everybody is talking about this case. Everyone knows the evidence in this case. They're just not randomly, oh, yes, I know that case. They'll tell you all about it. I mean, they've got it down. So, at least there has to be a cooling off period, I would think, before they would go for round two.

Now, one side or the other could ask for a venue change, but the judge is going to say in the commonwealth, everyone has heard of this case. Everyone knows this case. So, a venue change would not produce any benefit to anyone. But I don't see it starting right away.

BROWN: And just remind us, Jean, if you would, about the jury and what we know. Obviously, their names and other parts of their identity are confidential. But we do know a little bit.

CASAREZ: We know there are nine women and three men. We know the foreperson is a woman. And as far as their occupations and things about them, that really has been kept private. So, we do not know any more than that. But I can tell you from being in that courtroom, they're focused, they're so serious. They were dressed casually every day, but very nice casual. One man wore a tie every day when he came in with his vest and shirt. So -- and, obviously, their demonstrative actions in the last week have shown the dedication to this case is enduring.

BROWN: And this has sparked so much impassion, so many impassion conversations, right, those who think she is guilty, those who say that she is the victim of a failed system. What has it been like outside the courtroom? Have the lines been going up, been going down?

CASAREZ: Well, the supporters are here. And, you know, it's rained a couple of days. Today's a very rainy day. And so the supporters will not be as here as much when it's raining, downpouring. They will come. But they're dressed in pink. They're very supportive.

And I think no matter what happens, the conversation of postpartum issues is now going to be on the forefront of conversations with the medical community, with others, just to really look at it. You know, Callan was eight months old when this happened, and the DSM, which is the bible of the psychiatric community, that is what they refer to, they say postpartum is within the first four weeks.

There are some outside organizations that say it is longer than that. But, you know, I think a question the jury might be looking at is, is it truly postpartum at that point? Because both sides say she had a mental disease or defect. There's no question about that, no contention on both sides. You can still be mentally ill and know right from wrong, though.

So, I think the question is also mental illness, also treatment of that, proper diagnosis of that. Because how many times do we see when local news is talking about a crime that has happened, something, and he had a history or she had a history of mental illness. So -- but they still knew right from wrong conceivably as they allegedly committed whatever crime it was.

So, I think a lot of conversations are going to come and are coming from this trial.

BROWN: All right. Jean Casarez, thank you so much. Wolf?

BLITZER: And coming up, gunfire erupts at a high-rise apartment building in Minneapolis, leaving two dead and multiple others injured.

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CNN's Whitney Wild is following this story for us. Whitney?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: -- inside that building and share what law enforcement saw as they confronted a barrage of gunfire.

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BLITZER: Happening now, two people are dead and multiple others injured after a shooter opened fire inside a Minneapolis apartment building. Officials say the shooter is also dead.

Surveillance video from a nearby diner shows several law enforcement officers responding to the scene, and that was yesterday.

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In another video, you can hear gunshots ring out. We want to warn our viewers, some viewers might find this disturbing.

One resident who was inside the building described hiding in the elevator after hearing gunfire in the lobby.

Let's go live right now to CNN Law Enforcement Correspondent Whitney Wild. Whitney, what are you learning about the circumstances surrounding this shooting?

WILD: Wolf, there continue to be so many questions, but what law enforcement is saying right now is that there was a disturbance at that apartment building earlier that day, and it was, according to law enforcement, having to do with an eviction. They are trying to figure out if that disturbance is related to this incident, if the person involved in that incident was the shooter. That is the open question at this point. Law enforcement is not sharing the identification of the shooter, but did say that person was known to law enforcement.

This was a very chaotic scene unfolding around 4:30 yesterday afternoon, right downtown Minneapolis. This is right by the convention center. And as you saw, it elicited an enormous law enforcement presence. Dozens of law enforcement poured into that building while so many more staged around in armored vehicles, in their cruisers, and with ambulances at the exterior of the building because it was just not clear to what extent the bloodshed was within that building.

Law enforcement, when they ran inside, found wounded people inside that lobby, and then they followed the sound of gunfire up to higher floors. And it was there that they were met with haze, that they engaged in this gun battle with the shooter.

It is not clear exactly how the shooter died. The theory now is that the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but that is an open question as well, Wolf, and will continue to take investigation. It was an absolutely horrific scene. It was immediately chaotic. As you said, people were running from the hallways. They were looking for anywhere to hide in their apartments as well.

What we know now is that those three officers, one was shot in the leg, another was taken into surgery, and a third was treated. The officer shot in the leg and the third officer have non-life- threatening injuries, Wolf. So, a very chaotic scene, a lot of bloodshed in downtown Minneapolis, and I think importantly, a lot of heroism on display from the law enforcement there. Back to you.

BLITZER: Whitney Wild reporting for us, Whitney, thank you very, very much. Pamela?

BROWN: Minneapolis has been through a lot, right?

BLITZER: Yes.

BROWN: Coming up, struck by lightning and living to tell about it. What this New York man did right after.

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