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ISIS claims two deadly car bombings in Baghdad; UK party leaders face election grilling; Former dictator of Panama Manuel Noriega is dead; Sources: Russians discussed potentially derogatory information about Trump and associates during campaign; CNN Freedom Project

Aired May 30, 2017 - 08:00   ET

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


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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to "News Stream." Pyongyang defiant -- Kim Jong-un says he will continue

to develop ballistic missiles after North Korea tests its third in three weeks.

A CNN exclusive -- we've got new details in the Russian probe. Sources tell CNN, Russian officials may have discussed potentially derogatory

information about Donald Trump and his aides during the campaign.

And ISIS targets Iraqi families during Ramadan, blowing up a car bomb outside an ice cream shop in Baghdad. And we begin with a bold claim from

North Korea.

Pyongyang says that its latest missile has the ability to perform a highly accurate strike. But some experts are skeptical.

And we do know the short-range missile splashed down within Japan's exclusive economic zone. North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, says he will

push ahead with building more ballistic missiles for self-defense.

Now, let's bring in CNN's Paula Hancocks who joins us live from the South Korean capital of Seoul.

And Paula, North Korea may make this claim, say that it's tested this highly accurate missile. That, experts say, is very hard to verify. So

what do we know about what was fired on Monday?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reporter: Well, Kristie, what we know from the U.S. and South Korean military is it was a short-range missile.

They believe at least in South Korea, it was of the scud (ph) missile range.

And what we're hearing from North Korea, as you say, we -- we can't verify that for sure. But they are saying that it was -- they were practicing the

precision control guidance system.

So effectively, North Korea, through KCNA state-run media, has said that they were able to fire this missile and make the warhead land about seven

meters or within seven meters of its intended target, so specifying that they are able to pinpoint it up to about seven meters or 23 feet. And as

you say, experts are looking into this. There's analysis ongoing at this point as to whether or not that's the case.

Of course, the interesting thing is that Kim Jong-un through KCNA once again is saying that the missile launches will continue. He has been

saying this consistently, but clearly, not going to change anything at this point.

Now, just a few hours ago, the president of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, spoke to the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, about this ballistic launch,

about the issue of North Korea.

The details are coming through now, Prime Minister Abe saying that they need Chinese economic pressure as well as U.S. military pressure. But he

says it's not the right time for talks with North Korea.

Now, remember, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea campaigned on a pro- diplomatic engagement card with North Korea. He supports talks. But on the call, he did say he agreed it wasn't the right time for talks and said

that it's time to raise sanctions.

The end goal, though, for the South Korean president is diplomacy with North Korea.

Kristie?

STOUT: Yes, interesting statement, though, from the new South Korean president -- the end game may be diplomacy, but at the moment, the focus on

sanctions. From the U.S. side, we know that the Pentagon is set to test a new anti-missile system on the wake of North Korea's constant missile

tests.

Your thoughts on this system? Would it keep the U.S. safe?

HANCOCKS: Well, these are ongoing tests that the -- that the Pentagon carries out. It's certainly going to be helpful if it -- if it gets to the

point where North Korea is able to hit mainland United States.

And it's something that the U.S. needs to -- to keep testing because Kim Jong-un himself, the North Korean leader, has said that he is close to test

launching an ICBM, an intercontinental ballistic missile. He said this in his New Year's address on January 1 and said -- he has said a number of

times, this is what he wants to be able to do.

He wants to be a able to have that nuclear-tipped ICBM that could hit mainland United States. So of course, the United States is going to have

to continue to test these kind of systems that would be able to counter that threat.

But most experts believe that -- that -- that Kim Jong-un, that North Korea is not there yet. They say they are making significant progress.

We've heard from intelligence agencies in South Korea and in the United States through reports but not there yet with the ICBM.

STOUT: Got you. Paula, always appreciate the perspective check with you.

[08:05:01]

Paula Hancocks reporting live for us from Seoul. Take care.

Now, we are getting some new information about the U.S. probe into (ph) possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Now, CNN has

learned that Russian government officials discussed having potentially derogatory information about then presidential candidate Donald Trump as

well as some of his top aides. According to two former intelligence officials and a congressional source, this comes from conversations

intercepted by U.S. intelligence during the 2016 election.

One source described the information as financial in nature and said the discussion centered on whether the Russians had leverage over Trump's inner

circle. Now, the source said the communications suggested that the Russians believed they had the ability to influence the administration

through this information.

But the sources cautioned the Russian claims to each other, quote, "could have been exaggerated or even made up." Now, these developments come amid

ongoing scrutiny facing Mr. Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, and contacts he may have had with Russian officials. Jim Sciutto reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is the subject of intense scrutiny after a source tells CNN that

he requested back-channel communications with the Kremlin. This happened last December when Kushner met with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. during

the transition.

Now, some Democrats are challenging Kushner's role in the White House.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: I do think there ought to be a review of his security clearance to find out whether he was truthful, whether he was

candid. If not, then there's no way he can maintain that kind of a clearance.

SCIUTTO: According to the "Washington Post," Russian Ambassador, Sergey Kislyak told his superiors that Kushner wanted to use Russian diplomatic

facilities for an off-the-record communications system to evade U.S. intelligence monitoring, a move that even Kislyak thought was risky.

Sources tell CNN that Kushner sought a secured channel for him and now former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, to discuss military

operations in Syria and other matters with Russian military officials.

Former FBI Director, Robert Mueller, the man now leading the investigation into whether Trump's campaign associates colluded with Russia, spoke at his

granddaughter's commencement today, where he urged students never to sacrifice their integrity.

ROBERT MUELLER, FORMER DIRECTOR, FBI: If you are not honest, your reputation will suffer. And what's lost, a good reputation can never, ever

be regained.

SCIUTTO: His first public speech since his appointment. But over the weekend, others in the intelligence community raised the alarm. Former CIA

and NSA Director, Michael Hayden, called Kushner's attempt at (ph) back channel unprecedented.

MICHAEL HAYDEN, FORMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY: This is off -- off the map, Michael. I know no other experience like this in -- in our

history.

SCIUTTO: Former DNI, James Clapper, raised similar concerns.

JAMES CLAPPER, FORMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: My dashboard warning light was clearly on. And I think that was the case with all of us

in the intelligence community.

SCIUTTO: Homeland Security Secretary, Retired General John Kelly, however, called such clandestine (ph) communications perfectly normal.

JOHN KELLY, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: It's both normal in my opinion and acceptable. This (ph) -- any way that you can

communicate with people, particularly organizations that are maybe not particularly friendly to us, is -- is a good thing.

SCIUTTO: For Jared Kushner, new contacts with Russia keep surfacing. In addition to the December meeting with Kislyak, Reuters reports that Kushner

had several previously undisclosed communications with the Russian ambassador, including two phone calls prior to the election last November.

In response, Kushner's lawyer tells CNN, quote, "Mr. Kushner participated in thousands of calls in this time period. He has no recollection of the

calls as described."

Jim Sciutto, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And we'll have much more from Jim Sciutto on these latest developments in the Russian investigation a little bit later in the show.

But joining me now is our Senior International Correspondent, Ivan Watson, who joins us live from Moscow.

And Ivan, we heard the report just -- just then. We have these sources describing derogatory information that the Russians had about then

candidate Trump and his campaign aides. What does this mean for the investigation?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, again, all of this information is coming from leaks coming from the U.S. side. And from

the perspective here in -- in Moscow, we're not likely going to hear very much.

We have not heard very much at all over the course of months and months and months of leaks and allegations of these communications between Russian

officials and allegedly people in the Trump campaign as well as the other allegations of Russian hacking into the election and things of that nature.

The Russian strategy and approach to all of this information coming out, all of these allegations and accusations, has been to deny, deny, deny, and

in some cases to make fun of these accusations or in other cases, to suggest that there's a kind of Russo-phobic (ph) approach to what's going

on in Washington, that there is some kind of Mccarthyism (ph), as the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said over the weekend in response to

reports of these communications.

[08:10:08]

Another element that we've heard just recently from the deputy foreign minister here is a defense of Russia's ambassador in Washington, arguing

that he's been constantly kind of denigrated by these reports that have been coming out of his alleged ties with Jared Kushner, other top officials

that were in the Trump campaign, the departed foreign national security adviser, Mike Flynn, and to also say that -- insist that the Russian

government will not publish any information about Russian diplomats and their contacts with the wider world. And certainly, the Russian government

has not leaked anywhere near as much as the U.S. government has leaked over the course of the Trump administration.

Kristie?

STOUT: Got it (ph). So these new reports may bring new light to the investigation in the U.S. but no new comments from the Kremlin. But while

we have you, Ivan, let's talk about the other election that the Russians are accused of interfering in -- the French election.

You know, yesterday, Vladimir Putin met with Emmanuel Macron at Versailles. How did Putin respond to charges of hacking that election campaign?

WATSON: Well, he, as I mentioned before in the U.S. case, denied, said there's simply no story there and also pointed out that neither leader

discussed it during their talks that lasted for an hour longer than were (ph) originally planned. So again, we have -- hear that Russian approach

of denial.

And certainly, it was the Macron campaign itself that accused the Russians of meddling in that hotly contested election, which was just resolved just

three weeks ago. But Macron made it clear that he wanted to move forward as well despite the fact that there had been accusations that Russia had

played a very partisan role in that election and despite the fact that the two governments still have stark differences in places like the conflict in

Ukraine, the conflict in Syria as well.

And I think the red carpet treatment that Vladimir Putin got at the Palace of Versailles outside of Paris was an indicator that the French are ready

to try to move forward despite those differences -- differences that came out in their joint press conference where Macron openly accused the Russian

news outlets, R.T. and Sputnik, of basically being propaganda organs. That has been rejected by the top editorial staff of R.T. and also by Russia's

foreign minister who went on to claim that there was no evidence provided to -- to back these claims from the French president and also claimed that

the British regulatory body, Ofcom, had never once filed a complaint or a charge against either of these news outlets.

Well, we did a cursory search on the website of R.T., for example, Kristie, and found that, in fact, R.T. had been found in 2015, September, to have

been charged with four infractions by Ofcom. Perhaps, the Russian foreign ministry should do a search on the R.T. website before they make further

claims in this regard.

Kristie?

STOUT: Sorry (ph), the answer is just a Google search away. Ivan Watson reporting live for us from Moscow, thank you so much. Take care.

Now, Germany is shoring up ties to two major Asian powers as Chancellor Angela Merkel stands by her remark that Europe can no longer rely

completely on the U.S. Speaking after meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Chancellor Merkel said once again, there are more

reasons than ever for Europe to take its fate into its own hands.

On Wednesday, Germany will welcome the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, who will also travel to Belgium. Now, let's bring in Fred Pleitgen. He joins

us live from CNN London.

And Fred, as Angela Merkel signals a deepening rift with the U.S., we discussed this yesterday, she's meeting with these two high-profile Asian

Leaders this week. What should we expect?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that you can expect expanded ties, not only between the U.S. and India, but also specifically,

between the U.S. and China. And you know, Kristie, it's something that's been building up over the years where especially -- or I should say Germany

and India, and Germany and China -- that these countries, especially Germany and China, have really increased their trade and have really

deepened it.

It really is an interesting trade relationship that you have between Germany and these Asian countries, where on the one hand, you do have the

regular trade that takes place. But you also have German companies producing in some of these countries.

You also have, for instance, Chinese companies that have bought up a lot of industries in Germany as well. And the balance in the trade between these

countries really is quite fair for both sides.

So it's a mutual trade relationship that's been working very well. And certainly, if, indeed, the Germans do find that they feel that they can't

rely on the U.S., especially with the Trump administration in power at the moment, then you could see them trying -- I wouldn't say pivot towards

Asia, but certainly, try and move some of their influence over to Asia and try and deepen those ties more than they already have, so certainly, some

very key visits coming at a very important time, especially right now when you have that, you know, sort of standoff between the Trump administration

and Angela Merkel going on on social media and the media as well.

[08:15:17]

STOUT: That's right. Let's talk about that standoff playing off in social media because Donald Trump fired off a tweet directed at Germany. This

happened, what, like.

PLEITGEN: Yes.

STOUT: .in the last hour or so, an hour or so. He said, quote, "We have a massive trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay far less than they should

on NATO and military -- very bad for U.S. This will change."

So, I mean, your thoughts on this? I mean, as you said just now, it's not a pivot. But there is a movement. So do you think that this is a start of

a shift of some sort, the start of Germany not pivoting away but moving more towards Asia rather than towards a U.S. under an isolationist and

angry president?

PLEITGEN: Well, I mean, this is one of the things. The big question is how long term is all of this going to be?

It was interesting that Angela Merkel said, look, on the one hand, we obviously are finding out that we can't really fully rely on others anymore

for security, but also possibly for trade relations as well. And so, therefore, there could be a bit of a shift.

And naturally, it's going to be a longer-term pivot. A lot of it is going to depend obviously on the next presidential election in the United States

as well.

But certainly, this is something that is a deepening rift. And it's also interesting to see that you had President Trump tweeting, as you said,

about an hour or half hour ago and the Germans already reacting, a top social democratic leader saying, look, this clearly shows that President

Trump believes that Germany is an opponent.

And that's something -- a kind of rhetoric, is something that was unheard of only a couple of months ago. So certainly, you can see that that rift

is growing stronger, is growing more protracted.

And it really is going to be interesting to see whether or not the two leaders of these countries are going to be able to sort this out because

right now, it really seems as though it's growing rather than being mended.

STOUT: Yes, the rift is there and is growing. Fred Pleitgen reporting live for us. Thank you so much, Fred.

Now, the Iraqi capital has been hit with two deadly bombings. We have more on the terror that struck at the start of Islam's holy month of Ramadan --

that just ahead.

And we'll also have the latest on the tightening U.K. election race. Prime Minister Theresa May faced quite a grilling from a T.V. audience.

We'll tell you how it could affect next week's vote.

[08:17:28]

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[08:19:38]

STOUT: All right, welcome back, coming to you live from Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream." ISIS is claiming responsibility for two deadly car

bombings in Bagdad.

One happened near government buildings in Central Baghdad, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens more. And earlier, just after midnight local

time, a blast hit an ice cream shop also in Bagdad.

[08:20:00]

At least 10 people were killed there. And joining me now from Istanbul with more is CNN's Ian Lee. And he joins us live.

And Ian, two attacks in Baghdad, including one as noted -- a car bombing targeting a popular ice cream shop during Ramadan. I mean, what more have

you learned about these attacks?

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, hearing from ISIS, they're saying that they are targeting Shiites in -- in Baghdad. They ISIS has

called for an increased number of attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

And when you look at the timing of this attack, this is a time when people are going out celebrating Ramadan. It's after they've broken their fast

for the day.

You see a lot of families usually going out with their kids. And they're hitting an ice cream shop, very similar to what we saw in Manchester, going

after children and their families in this horrific attack.

STOUT: Yes, just terrorizing and tearing apart the social fabric of the community there. It's just horrible to watch that video.

As you mentioned, ISIS claimed that it's behind this attack. Is ISIS gaining ground in Iraq despite the coalition air strikes, despite the

advances by the Iraqi military?

LEE: You can almost say that it looks like they're shifting gears maybe a little bit going from the sort of warfare that we're seeing in Mosul to

more of these suicide bombings, although it -- it is Ramadan right now. They have called for increased number of attacks.

This isn't unusual. Last year, we saw ISIS do the same thing. And there was a car bomb that went off in Iraq that killed over 300 people.

So this is very typical. And tragically, it's likely that we'll see more of these style of -- styles of attacks throughout this month.

STOUT: Yes, and so if ISIS -- when ISIS goes after these soft targets during Ramadan in the Iraqi capital, targeting children, does this

undermine the people's confidence in the Iraqi government and the government's ability to protect them?

LEE: Well, the government came out, Kristie, and said that they are going to try to find out who carried this out and punish those people. But it

does, for a lot of Iraqis, they are concerned about security, not only in the capital but in other parts of the country where ISIS has carried out

such similar suicide attacks.

But the one thing that they've got to be very careful with, and this is something we've been talking about for years now, when it comes to Iraq, is

the one thing ISIS wants is to have sectarian violence on -- sectarian divide, separating the Sunnis and the Shiites in Iraq. And that's

something that we saw that helped them really create fertile ground for the organization when they took control in 2014.

It looks like they could be trying to stir that pot again. So that's going to be something for the Iraqi government to do as this advancement goes

through Mosul and the rest of Iraq, is to make sure to help heal that sectarian rift, something that has been difficult for the government in the

past.

Kristie?

STOUT: Yes, so many challenges there. Ian Lee reporting live for us from Turkey, thank you.

Now, the people of Manchester have said an emotional farewell to the 22 people killed in a suicide bombing last week. Church bells chimed as

crowds gathered for a vigil to mark exactly one week since the attack.

And slowly, normal life is resuming in Manchester. Its main Victoria railway station reopens.

But behind the scenes, investigators are still frantically searching for clues about the suspected terror network that they believed helped suicide

bomber, Salman Abedi, plan his attack. And they are now calling for the public's help.

They're asking people to come forward if they saw Abedi with this suitcase. He was spotted carrying it hours before the bombing.

Just (ph) over one week to go until Britain's crucial general election -- what was meant to be an easy win for Prime Minister Theresa May is quickly

turning to a neck-and-neck race with her lead in the polls shrinking. The prime minister had plenty to prove when she appeared for a televised

grilling alongside her rival, Labour's Jeremy Corbyn.

Now, Brexit, of course, was a common theme. And she was asked if voters had been duped by the claim that Britain was handing half a billion dollars

a week to the European Union when it really cost about $150 million.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THERESA MAY, PRIME MINISTER, BRITAIN: I think what's important now is that we ensure that we get the best possible deal from Brexit. It is about

ensuring that in the future, we won't be sending vast sums of money to the European Union every year as we do as members of the E.U.

And we will be able to look at what -- as funding comes back, how we use that funding. But it is important that we get that best possible deal

because it underpins so much else of what we want to do.

[08:25:00]

And we can only get that deal if we've got a plan to go in there and really stand up for Britain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Now, Jeremy Corbyn said Brexit would change, Britain particularly, when it comes to immigration, which he (ph) says is necessary, but with

conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY: If people hadn't migrated to this country, we would have a much worse health service, education system

and transport system than we have. The contribution its made to your living standards and mine by people who have come here is huge.

But I'll tell you what will change, we will not allow companies to bring in whole groups of very low-paid workers in order to undercut often fairly

low-paid workers in this country.

(APPLAUSE)

.that's displaced (ph) their workers (ph) in business.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: From London, CNN's Nina dos Santos joins us with the reaction to Monday's event. And Nina, more on that televised face (ph) update.

Did either candidate move the needle in a significant way with their performance last night?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It doesn't seem as though they really have. Remember that the needle have moved significantly out of the way of

Theresa May's favor over the last week and a half. Just a couple of weeks ago, she was enjoying something like a 17-and-a-half-point lead over the

Labour Party.

That was gone to (ph) -- at that time, it seemed propel her towards the biggest landslide since Margaret Thatcher's time. But actually, that lead

seems to have evaporated significantly.

There's only a 10-point difference between the two at the moment. And that difference seems to be narrowing by the day.

So when it came to this televised debate, that's probably one of the reasons she eventually did agree to appear on T.V., albeit, not in the kind

of debate formats that we've seen in the past with all of the party leaders debating head on. Instead, this was an audience question-and-answer

session followed by a grilling with one of the most formidable interviewers of this country, Jeremy Paxman.

It would seem to be a bit of a draw here. We didn't learn a huge amount from either of these two candidates. If anything, it was Jeremy Corbyn

that appeared more relaxed.

And we learned a little bit more about his past but not so much about what he wants to do about the future.

Kristie?

STOUT: Theresa May has (ph) to pull ahead of her rival. And it all comes down to Brexit -- the defining issue of this general election.

Do you think that Theresa May, you know, whether you see her on T.V. in last night's debate or on the campaign trail, is she giving the impression

that she is 100 percent committed to Brexit's success?

DOS SANTOS: She seems to be 100 percent committed to Brexit in the sense that the U.K., she believes, can make a good go of Brexit, that it can

provide opportunities to the country. She also seems committed to what is probably a hard Brexit, if you like.

This means leaving (ph) the negotiating table with Brussels without a deal because no deal is better, she says, than a bad deal. That was one of the

main points that she and Jeremy Corbyn differed on significantly in this debate, if you can call this a debate on Sky in channel 4 last night.

And he said, well, on the other hand, we would, as the Labour Party want to come up with a deal because we believe it is extremely important to the

U.K.'s financial future to have a deal with the E.U. in whatever form or shape it takes.

Kristie?

STOUT: All right, Nina dos Santos reporting live from London, thank you. You're watching "News Stream."

Still ahead, the story of this migrant farm worker who suffered abuse at her job. Now, activists are fighting to protect her and others like

Alejandrina -- details this week's freedom project.

[08:28:22]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU SCOUT, CNN HOST, NEWS STREAM: I'm Kristie Lu Scout in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM and these are your world headlines.

ISIS is claiming responsibility for two deadly car bombing in Baghdad. At least 11 people were killed in one attack near government offices and at

least ten people died in an earlier blast outside a popular ice cream shop where families were breaking their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

With just over a week to go until the UK election, Prime Minister Theresa May faced a grilling on TV along with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

They were questioned separately on their vision for Brexit.

Corbyn stressed if he wins next week's vote, there would be a Brexit deal, while the prime minister said no deal is better than a bad deal.

Now, the former dictator of Panama Manuel Noriega has died. He suffered complications following brain surgery. Noriega was one of Central America's

most notorious military strongmen. He was captured by the US military in 1989 and served almost two decades in an American prison for drug

trafficking. Noriega was 83.

This hour, exclusive CNN reporting on the investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, CNN's Jim Sciutto,

along with Pamela Brown and Dana Bash, broke the story. Jim Sciutto joins us now live from Washington with more.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, here's what we know. Two former intelligence officials and a congressional source

tell Dana, Pamela and I that Russian government officials discuss having potentially "derogatory information" about then presidential candidate

Donald Trump as well as some of his top aides. This, in conversations that were intercepted by US intelligence during the 2016 election.

One source described the information as financial in nature and said the discussion centered around whether the Russians had leverage with Trump's

inner circle. The source says the intercepted communications suggested US intelligence that the Russians believe "they have the ability to influence

the administration" through this derogatory information.

The sources, privy to the descriptions of the communications written by US intelligence, caution that the Russian claims to each other could've been

exaggerated and or even made up. The details of the communications do shed new light on information that US intelligence received about Russian claims

of influence.

The contents of the conversations made clear to US officials that Russia was considering ways to influence the election, even if their claims turned

out to be false.

CNN first reported the US intercepted discussions of Russian officials bragging about cultivating relationships with Trump's campaign aides,

including Trump's first national security advisor Michael Flynn, to influence Trump.

Following CNN's report - "The New York Times" rather said that Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort was also discussed. Kristie?

LU STOUT: All right, Jim. And do we know who the Russians were specifically talking about?

SCIUTTO: Well, beyond the president himself, none of the sources would say which specific Trump aides were discussed. One of the officials said the

intelligence report masked the American names, but it was clear that the conversations did revolve around the Trump campaign team.

Another source would not get more specific, citing the classified nature of this information.

We asked the White House for comment. They gave us the statement overnight. It says the following. "This is yet another round of false and unverified

claims made by anonymous sources to smear the president. The reality is a review of the president's income from the last ten years showed he had

virtually no financial ties at all. There appears to be no limit to which the president's political opponents will go to perpetuate this false

narrative, including illegally leaking classified material. All this does is play into the hands of our adversaries and put our country at risk."

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, they would not comment. The president himself has said on multiple occasions in public

that he has no financial ties with Russia.

LU STOUT: And, Jim, is this a part of the current investigation?

SCIUTTO: Well, the FBI investigation into Russian meddling in the US election, recently taken over by a special counsel here, Robert Mueller,

that does include seeking answers as to whether there was any coordination or collusion with associates of Trump. It also includes examining alleged

financial dealings of key Trump associates.

The FBI would not comment on whether any of the claims discussed in these intercepts we're reporting have been verified. I should also note, though,

that by the time Trump took office, questions about some of his aides' financial dealings with Russian entities were already under investigation,

Kristie.

[08:35:13] So, it's a broad investigation here. The newest information is that Russians at least were speaking to each other in intercepted

communications claiming that they had derogatory information on the American president. Still an open line of investigation as to whether that

is substantiated.

LU STOUT: Got it. Jim Sciutto reporting live from Washington with that CNN exclusive. We thank you, Jim. Take care.

And coming up, you're watching NEWS STREAM. And up next, this woman, she moved to the US from Mexico as a teenager and she was met with abuse at her

job. And now, activists are fighting to protect migrant farm workers like her, in this week's Freedom Project.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: The CNN Freedom Project is dedicated to bringing an end to modern-day slavery. And today, I'm going to introduce you to a migrant farm

worker who once feared going to work every day. Now, she sees a brighter future thank to the work of activists who brought about change.

Amara Walker has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMARA WALKER, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Five-thirty a.m. in Immokalee, Florida. It's a dark morning under an overcast sky. As Alejandrina Carrera begins

the 40-minute walk to her sister's house to drop off her two small children. It's too early for them to go to school and they're too young to

stay home alone.

But Alejandrina has a bus to catch. Every day, hundreds of migrant farm workers like Alejandrina come to this parking lot in the center of town,

where they board old school buses that take them to the fields.

Alejandrina picks tomatoes on a farm about 30 minutes away. She likes her job now, says she's treated with respect, but it wasn't always that way.

Alejandrina came to Immokalee from Mexico more than 20 years ago. She was alone. Just 14 years old, small, scared, and extremely vulnerable.

She says it didn't take long for someone to take advantage of her. It happened at one of the first farms she worked at. She says her boss

promised her a better job in a warehouse, but as soon as she got in his truck, he drove to a remote part of the farm, and she knew she was in

trouble.

ALEJANDRINA CARRERA, MIGRANT (through translator): He told me, if we don't do this the easy way, we'll do it the hard way. I was afraid and trembling.

He tried to abuse me sexually, but he didn't get to because another worker heard me screaming and came to help me. The next day, the boss fired us

both.

JON ESFORMES, CO-OWNER, SUNRIPE CERTIFIED FARMS: Agricultural workers are without a doubt the most vulnerable workers in the United States and I

would say across the world.

WALKER: Jon Esformes is co-owner of Sunripe Certified Brands where Alejandrina works today.

[08:40:03] ESFORMES: Let's talk about reality here. This is farming. This is agriculture. Agriculture has, from the very early days of man farming

and needing to have work, has been full of opportunities for abuse.

WALKER: His family-owned farm is one of the largest in the US and was the first to join the Fair Food program. An innovative initiative that has been

held up as the most comprehensive social responsibility program in US agriculture.

Today, nearly every farm in Florida has signed on. The program combines a set of high standards that includes monitoring the farms and educating the

workers.

Leonel Perez works for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, or CIW, a non- profit organization that developed the Fair Food Program.

Today, CIW is holding a training session with farm workers, teaching them not only what rights they have, but what to do when those rights are

violated. Leonel and the other educators here have firsthand knowledge because they are all former migrant farm workers themselves.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The most important thing for me is to be able to talk to other workers because I have a shared experience. I

work in the fields too. And now we can work together to end worker abuse.

WALKER: The Fair Food Program works because it has market consequences. If a farm violates the code of conduct, it is suspended from the program and

cannot sell to participating buyers, which includes some of the biggest fast-food restaurants and grocery stores. It all makes a big difference for

those at the bottom of the supply chain, like Alejandrina.

CARRERA (through translator): You can work freely, you're not going to be harassed. You're not going to be insulted. You're not going to be forced to

work. There's more respect now.

WALKER: These days, Alejandrina wakes up in the morning happy to come to work, proud to talk to her kids about the company she works for. And that,

she says, is the biggest change of all.

Amara Walker, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And then end of slavery and the beginning of dignity for her and others like her. Now, tomorrow, right here on the program, many big

retailers have committed to protecting farm workers by becoming part of the Fair Food program.

And one fast food chain refuses to become a part of the program. Find out why tomorrow on the CNN Freedom Project.

And that is NEWS STREAM. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Christina MacFarlane is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORT)

END