Transcripts For MSNBCW MSNBC Live With Craig Melvin 20201007

MSNBCW MSNBC Live With Craig Melvin October 7, 2020

Applying every week, safe to say americans want answers and results, not whiplash. Were also keeping a close eye on Salt Lake City, utah. That, of course, is where this pandemic will be center stage. Tonight a live look at the debate hall where in just a few hours senator Kamala Harris and Vice President mike pence will face off in their first and only debate, separated by plexiglas. Also this hour, we expect attorney general bill barr to hold a News Conference on a National Security issue. Were not getting a great deal of information. We will be watching for what exactly that is. A live look there at the Justice Department. Well take you there when it starts. We have also learned in the last 30 minutes or so that two isis terrorists who are part of a group dubbed the beatles are expected in court in alexandria, virginia, today. We start, though, with our reporters following the president s treatment for covid19 and how hes impacting those relief talks. Carol lee is covering the white house, garrett on capitol hill. Carol, again, we havent seen the president for a day and a half now as he recovers there at the white house. This morning, there appears to be more confusion over the president s movements from two Top White House officials. What do we know at this hour . Craig, confusion seems to be the word so far this morning in terms of things coming out of the white house. Larry kudlow, one of the president s economic advisers said publicly that President Trump yesterday had gone to the oval office, which obviously would have been significant, both from pandemic perspectives in terms of how they would protect that area given the president has currently active coronavirus. But also, we havent seen the president , as you noted, in 36 hours. Mark meadows had to come out and actually say that didnt happen, that kudlow misspoke, that while the president wanted to go to the oval office yesterday, he didnt. Mark meadows said the president was in the residence and they spent time working together. Thats the message were hearing from the president s aides is that, even though we havent seen him, hes working, focused on conducting the countrys business. Were really relying, craig, on folks like mark meadows to tell us what the president s current condition is. What he said this morning is that the president is doing very well. He said that he is on a positive trajectory, theres a lot of optimism. Theyre putting forward a very positive note. However, we havent heard from the president s doctor since yesterday where he issued a paper statement, very short, saying the president wasnt exhibiting any symptoms at that time. In terms of where we go from here, i think theres questions about who else in the white house may test positive for coronavirus. We know the president s top aide, stephen miller, has tested positive for coronavirus. Mark meadows who was spending time with the president says he hasnt. Theres still the window is still open for people carol, my apologies. To the Justice Department, attorney general bill barr. Lets listen in. We are here to announce the indictment of alexanda cotea and El Shafee Elsheikh. They were members of the isis hostage taking cell known as the beatles, a name their captives gave to them because of their british accents. The defendants are charged with terrorism offenses related to hostage taking and killing of four americans as well as citizens of Great Britain and japan. For over a year, kokey and elsheikh were held by the u. S. Military under the law of armed conflict. Im pleased to confirm theyre now in fbi custody and will soon appear in federal court in the Eastern District of virginia. Today is a good day, but it is also a solemn one. Today we remember the four innocent americans whose lives were taken by isis. James wright foley, stephen joel sotloff, Peter Edward Kay sec and kayla jean mueller. Many around the world are familiar with the barbaric circumstances of their deaths, but we will not remember these americans for the way they died. We will remember them for the way they lived, their good and decent lives. James foley was a print and video journalist covering the civil war in syria. He had previously served as a conflict zone correspondent in iraq and then in libya. James was a former Elementary School teacher. Steven sotloff was a journalist who covered the middle east and was in syria reporting on the refugee crisis. According to a longtime friend he was drawn to the region to, quote, give a voice to the people who didnt have one, closed quote. Steven was the grandson of Holocaust Survivors who inspired him to be that voice. Peter kasich was in syria working for a humanitarian organization he founded to deliver food and medical aid to the refugees. He previously served as an elite Airborne Ranger in the u. S. Army which included service in iraq. Kayla mueller was a humanitarian aid worker and human rights activist who, inspired by her faith, devoted much of her young life to serving those in need both at home and abroad. As President Trump shared during his 2020 state of the union address, the american warriors who conducted the military operation that resulted in the death of isis leader al baghdadi were so inspired by kayla that they named the Mission Task Force 814, a reference to august 14th, kaylas birthday. Todays announcement is as a result of many years of hard work in the pursuit of justice for these americans. We have been inspired by their memories and moved by their determination and grit of their families, families which will never rest until justice is done. To them, i say this, neither will we. Although we cannot bring back your children, we will do all that we can, obtain justice for them, for you and for all americans. As for kotey and elsheikh, like many terrorists before them, they have underestimated the american resolve to obtain justice, for citizens harmed and killed by terrorists anywhere in the world. These men will now be brought before a United States court to face justice for the depraved acts alleged against them in the indictment. As for their ringleader, Mohammed Emwazi, infamously known as jihadi john, he faced the mighty reach of our military which successfully targeted him in an air strike several years ago. My message to other terrorists is this. If you harm an american, you will face the same fate as these men. You will face american arms in the battlefield. If you survive that, you will face american justice in an American Courtroom and the prospect of many years in an american prison. Either way, you will never live in peace. You will be pursued to the ends of the earth. No matter how long it takes, we will never forget. We will never quit. To the American People, todays announcement is a reminder of the threat we continue to face from radical islamic terrorism. These terrorists despise the freedoms and the ways o of life we cherish and are hellbent on imposing their ideologies on a world that continues to reject them. Although our nation faces a variety of the security threats from many quarters, we will not relent in our efforts to protect america and her citizens from the threat posed by terrorists. Todays announcement would not have been possible without the relentless of countless dedicated prosecutors, analysts, agents who are the bedrock of the department of justice. I want to thank the prosecutors of the u. S. Attorneys office in virginia, my own National Security division and all the many fbi agents and analysts who have worked tirelessly on this case. I also want to thank the office of International Affairs and the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of new york, both of which assisted with important aspects of this investigation. The attorney general wanted me to convey that the support of the United Kingdoms home secretaries, jaf individual and patel was critical to movetion this investigation and prosecution forward. He extends their sincerest gratitude for the unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice in this case. We want to thank our International Partners who have come forward thus far with evidence. I would encourage any others with evidence to come forward as well. We understand that the justice we seek in this case will extend to people in many numerous other countries around the world. We humbly and enthusiasm tickly accept that responsibility. We all have our part to do our part in confronting and defeating isis. Just last week the department announced our significant successes in repatriating and prosecuting a number of u. S. Citizens who went to syria to join and support isis and were detained by the Syrian Democratic forces. The United States has been a leader in taking responsibility for its citizens who left to join isis. And, as the case we are announcing today highlights, when we have the evidence to do so, well also take responsibility for prosecuting those nonu. S. Citizens who have injured or killed americans anywhere in the world. If you have american blood in your veins or you have american blood on your hands, you will face american justice. This department has successfully prosecuted hundreds of defendants since 9 11 for terrorismrelated offenses in our federal courts and we will continue to do so. Finally i want to acknowledge the departments of state and the department of defense. We will continue to Work Together with them and our other partners in the u. S. Government to combat the scourge of terrorism. The staep we take today is just that, a step, but it is a big step, and i can assure you that the women and men of the department of justice will not stop until justice is won. Thank you. Director wray. Good morning. Todays announcement makes clear once again that combating terrorism remains the fbis top priority, and that the entire United States government remains committed to bringing to justice anyone who harms our citizens. We show that resolve to the world last week by repatriating americans who traveled to syria to support isis so they will face charges here. Today were demonstrating that resolve by bringing to our shores two men who left britain to become isis terrorists. Now theyll face justice in an American Court of law for crimes against american citizens. Not long after these terrorists were captured in 2018, the parents of their american victims wrote the following about their loved ones, and i quote. One by one, our children were taken from us by the hateful criminals of the Islamic State. Jim, steven, peter and kayla were like so many of your own sons and daughters. They were four unique, passionate Young Americans and all risked their lives pursuing a greater good. The families of those victims have suffered the pafl loss of their loved ones at the hands of beautiful killers. While their pain may never fully subside today with the announcement of this indictment, were beginning to bring them the justice they deserve. But we owe these families more than justice. We owe them our gratitude. I say that because their advocacy for their loved ones has led to positive changes in how our Government Supports and partners with victims families. One of those changes was the creation a few years ago of the hostage recovery fusion cell. This Multiagency Team based at fbi headquarters represents our governments unified approach to recovering american hostages abroad. Its single focus is to bring these hostages home safely and partner with their families in the recovery effort. A key part of that fusion cell is the Family Engagement team. That team not only coordinates support to family members of hostages during times of agony and uncertainty, it also supports hostages and families once the crisis is over. The fbi and our partners are working tirelessly every day to recover all u. S. Hostages held abroad. We wont rest until we see a similar resolution for justice against all those responsible for Holding Americans captive, especially when those captives lives are taken. Today i want to also thank the men and women of the fbi and our domestic and International Partners for their unflagging efforts to investigate, charge and ultimately hold these two men responsible for their crimes. Over the course of this investigation and many others like it, these dedicated professionals put themselves at risk conducting interviews and collecting evidence to build the cases that ultimately led us to where we are today, with these two men facing justice in the United States. Like assistant attorney general demers and based on conversations ive had on a number of occasions, including on the phone this morning with the attorney general, i know the attorney general thanks us in particularly thanking our british counterparts and International Partners in working with the United States to bring charges in our criminal justice system. We mourn not only our american victims, but the british victims and victims of all nations who suffered unimaginable cruelty at the hands of isis. Let there be no doubt the fbi, the u. S. Government and our partners remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism, including the threat from isis. Today isis is still trying to radicalize people here in the United States and elsewhere through online propaganda and their Global Network of supporters. Their goal is to motivate people to launch attacks against western targets wherever they are using any means available. But as todays announcement shows, the fbi and our partners, both here and overseas will continue to relentlessly pursue these terrorists and anyone who chooses to support terrorist organizations like isis, no matter where they are and no matter how long it takes. Now ill turn things over to zach terwilliger, the u. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of virginia to provide more details about the indictment itself. Thank you, director wray. First, i want to thank attorney general barr for his steadfast leadership and support of this investigation and prosecution. Let me be very clear. This day, this day does not happen without attorney general barr and his resolve and commitment to seeing these individuals were brought to justice. As director wray mentioned, im zach terwilliger, u. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of virginia located across the Potomac River in alexandria. If these alleged atrocities happened, im proud to be here as a representative of the United States and our criminal justice system. As many of you are now aware, yesterday an eightcount criminal indictment was returned in the Eastern District of virginia that charged two alleged terrorists, Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh with the following felony offenses. Conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, hostage taking resulting in death, one count for each of the american hostages. James wright foley, kayla jean mueller, Steven Joel Sotloff and peter edward kasich. Count six, conspiracy to murder United States citizens outside of the United States. Count seven, conspiracy to provide Material Support to terrorists in the form of hostage taking resulting in death and murder. Count eight, conspiracy to provide Material Support to a terrorist organization. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison for each count of conviction. Pursuant to wellknown protections provided by our Constitutional Republic in its system of criminal justice, kotey and elsheikh are presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise. All that im about to recount now are allegations and can be found in the four corners of the 24page indictment which was unsealed just a moment ago. As stated in that charging document, these alleged terrorists both grew up in the United Kingdom where they became radicalized. Their role within the isis terrorist organization was that of being part of a brutal hostage taking scheme by which american, european and asian citizens were taken hostage from approximately 2012 to 2015. Their alleged criminal acts include conspireing to commit hostage taking resulting in death and conspiring to murder american citizens james foley, kayla mueller, Steven Sotloff and peter kasich. As part of the conspiracy, their vicious acts and those of cocon spir towards Mohammed Emwazi and cc 1 include forced witnessing of murders, mock executions, shocks via electric taser, beatings, amongst other

© 2025 Vimarsana