Interview With Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; Terror Attack in Egypt Kills Hundreds; Flynn Lawyers Stop Sharing Info with Trump's Lawyers U.S. Intelligence Fears Terror Attack Over Holidays; CNN Exposes Modern Day Slave Trade.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN HOST: Happening now: terrorist assault. Hundreds of people killed in a coordinated attack on a mosque. Bomb blasts sent worshipers fleeing, only for them to be slaughtered by waiting gunmen. Who is behind this horrifying massacre? Cooperating witness. Lawyers for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn stop sharing information about the Russia investigation with President Trump's legal team. Does it mean Flynn is now cooperating with the special prosecutor and trying to cut a deal? Heightened alert. Frayed nerves in London, but no sign of terror after reports of gunshots in a crowded shopping district. But European and U.S. intelligence fear ISIS or al Qaeda may be plotting to attack over the holidays. Why are terrorists more desperate than ever to strike? And course projection. President Trump tweets about his game with two of the biggest names of golf, promising to play a quick round that stretched for four hours. After repeatedly slamming President Obama's golf outings, why has President Trump now visited his own golf courses 80 times since taking office? We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. Wolf Blitzer is off. I'm Jim Acosta. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM room.</s>ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.</s>ACOSTA: We're following breaking news. President Trump just off the phone with Egypt's president expressing condolences and condemning a terror attack on a mosque that left at least 235 people dead. The attackers first detonated bombs that sent worshipers fleeing right into the sights of gunmen outside, who later moved into the mosque to slaughter even more victims. We're also following growing alarm within the U.S. intelligence community over possible terror attacks over the holidays by both ISIS and al Qaeda, with ISIS believed to be especially eager to strike after major losses on the ground in Iraq and Syria. The heightened concern was evident in London today. Police went into full terror mode after reports of gunshots at a popular shopping area, but no suspects or evidence were found. There's speculation tonight that fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn may be cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia investigation and possibly trying to cut a plea deal. That is being fueled by word that Flynn's lawyers have stopped sharing information about the probe with President Trump's legal team. We're covering all of that and more this hour with our guests, including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees. Our correspondents and specialists, they are also standing by. But let's begin with the terror attack on an Egyptian mosque that's left at least 235 people dead. CNN's Ian Lee is working that story for us. Ian, this is believed to be the deadliest attack in that country's history.</s>IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Jim. Tonight, Egyptian security forces and the military are combing the desert looking for the culprits behind this deadly attack. Not only did these militants wait for people to flee the mosque before starting to shoot and then going inside and executing people, but they also ambushed ambulances who were trying to get to those people who were injured. And it took security forces to secure the entire area before the ambulances could go in and ferry the people to hospitals in the area and in Cairo. Over 100 people were injured in the attack. While no one has claimed responsibility, Jim, this bears all the hallmarks of ISIS. ISIS has been operating in the northern part of Sinai and they have carried out mass attacks like this in the past in Egypt. And in the aftermath of such attacks, We hear from the president, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and he always comes out strong, and this time he came out strong, too, saying he will use brutal force in hunting down the people involved in this. We heard President Trump spoke with President Sisi, offering his condolences and support. The Egyptians though are also concerned about what they're seeing in Iraq and Syria. As ISIS loses territory there, Egyptian officials are concerned that militants could be coming to Egypt and other territories where ISIS has a foothold. Again, ISIS did not claim responsibility for this, but all the signs point to the terrorist organization -- Jim.</s>ACOSTA: And intelligence agencies around the world have to be on guard this time of year. Ian Lee, thank you very much. And we're learning new details about President Trump's phone call to Egypt's president following that attack. CNN senior White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny is in Florida with the president. Jeff, he condemned the attack and said the U.S. will continue to stand with Egypt in the face of terrorism, but he also had other comments on what happened in Egypt, right?</s>JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: He did, indeed, Jim. He condemned the attack. And he did have a brief telephone call this afternoon with the Egypt president, as well as a call earlier this morning with the Syria president -- or -- excuse me -- with the Turkish president about Syria. This brings to three the number of world leaders the president has talked to here during this week, which has been a working vacation, as we saw today later on the golf course.</s>ZELENY (voice-over): President Trump hitting the links today with two of the biggest names in golf, Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson. The White House rarely confirms when the president is golfing, but he made the announcement himself on Twitter, saying he would be "heading over to Trump National Golf Club, Jupiter, to play golf quickly." He departed after more than four hours at the course. His visit marking the 80th day he's spent at one of his golf properties since taking office and his 100th day at a Trump-branded property. Many Americans and more than a few presidents play golf. It's only notable because of what Mr. Trump repeatedly said before winning the presidency.</s>DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If I win, I may never see my -- I may never see these pieces again because I'm going to be working for you. I'm not going to have time to go play golf, believe me.</s>ZELENY: The president also talking by phone today with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the conflict in Syria. The Turkish foreign minister said Mr. Trump pledged to stop arming a Kurdish militia, the YPG, that the government considers a terrorist organization. The president also condemning the attack today in Egypt killing more than 230 people and wounding more than 100 others in the deadliest terror strike on Egyptian soil. He called the president of Egypt to discuss the attack, which he also seized upon to push his immigration agenda, tweeting: "We have to get tougher and smarter than ever before and we will. Need the wall, need the ban. God bless the people of Egypt." The president is also turning his attention to the tax plan up for a vote next week in the Senate. He offered a preview during a Thanksgiving Day call from Mar-a-Lago with American service members around the world.</s>TRUMP: Now we're working on tax cuts. Big, fat, beautiful tax cuts. And hopefully we will get that and then you're going to really see things happen.</s>ZELENY: The president is set to meet with congressional leaders at the White House and attend a weekly lunch of Senate Republicans on Tuesday. The Senate Republicans still don't have the votes to pass the sweeping tax overhaul amid the concerns of the bill's effects on the deficit.</s>NARRATOR: Congress is talking about tax cuts that will add trillions to our national debt and hurt our economy.</s>ZELENY: Senator Ron Johnson has announced his opposition, with Senator Susan Collins, Bob Corker, Jeff Flake, Lisa Murkowski all voicing concerns. Senator Rand Paul will likely support the plan with Senator John McCain as a wild card. As America marked Black Friday, the president's campaign joined in an the annual day-after-Thanksgiving shopping rush with Trump merchandise marked down 30 percent.</s>ZELENY: Now, the dinner hour at Mar-a-Lago, where the president is, he has just sent out a very interesting tweet, Jim, just a short time ago, an audacious tweet, if you will. Let's take a look at this. We have to read through this together. He said: 'TIME' magazine called to say that I was probably going to be named man/person of the year, like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway." Jim, this is sort of coming out of the blue here, but we do know "TIME" magazine often names their person of the year in the month of December coming up here. We're not sure which is more unlikely, that "TIME" would name him man of the year for the second year in a row -- he is correct that he earned it last year -- or if he would to decline it if they were to name him. We have checked with "TIME" magazine. They have not yet gotten back to us. But, Jim, this is also something to point out. There is still a fake copy of "TIME" magazine from 2009, I believe, hanging in some of his golf clubs. It turned out that was not real. "The Washington Post" reported that last year, if you recall. So the president, as we know, has been long a fan of magazine covers, so interesting that would have turned it down, if indeed that is even the case.</s>ACOSTA: Jeff, it may be the first time a sitting president has actually campaigned or lobbied to be on the cover of "TIME" magazine as well. Jeff Zeleny, traveling with the president in Florida, thank you very much. Lawyers for the president's fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn have told Mr. Trump's legal team they're no longer going to share the information about the special counsel's Russia investigation. And that could be a sign that Flynn is cooperating with Robert Mueller's team, in hopes of a plea deal. CNN crime and justice reporter, Shimon Prokupecz, is here right now with the latest. Shimon, one of the president's lawyers is warning against making too much of this development. Obviously, it could mean lots of different things, but certainly a pretty interesting development in this investigation.</s>SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it absolutely is. And based on the conversations we have had with sources, it appears that there are at least ongoing conversations between Flynn's camp and Bob Mueller's team. Now, this can mean several things. They could be negotiating a plea deal or perhaps more significantly there could be a plan in place where Flynn will plead guilty and cooperate with the investigation. Now, in terms of what his cooperation will bring, that's unclear. But as a result, he would want to distance himself from the president's team, so that he doesn't jeopardize any of the plea deal or any -- potentially a cooperation agreement that could come of this. And another perhaps significant explanation for this is that Flynn himself could be fighting these charges and, therefore, does not want to also inject himself into the president's team, again, trying to keep his distance from them. And so the president's lawyer yesterday issued a statement. Let me read that to you here. He basically said: "No one should draw the conclusion that this means anything about General Flynn cooperating against the president." No matter which way you look at this, Jim, as you said, this is a significant development, a significant shift in the defense strategy for Michael Flynn.</s>ACOSTA: And Jay Sekulow says don't draw any conclusions, but there may well be conclusions.</s>PROKUPECZ: Yes.</s>ACOSTA: Shimon, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Let's get more on all of this with Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas. She's a member of the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees. Congresswoman, thanks for joining us tonight. We appreciate it. Does it look like Michael Flynn is cooperating with the special counsel, based on these developments?</s>REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D), TEXAS: Well, first of all, Jim, happy Thanksgiving to you and all the American people.</s>ACOSTA: You as well.</s>JACKSON LEE: I can frankly say to you as a lawyer and one who has served on committees that have investigated a number of issues, particularly the assassination of Dr. King and President Kennedy when it was reopened some years later, that this is bad news for the president's lawyers and the president and those surrounding him in the White House. It's particularly bad news as he is on the golf coast -- golf -- playing golf for the 80th time. And the reason is, there's several elements to this. And let me share with you those elements. When the agreement was in place, and the legal teams were sharing information, the president's team could be comforted about what they were seeing. They would have a sense of comfort where Flynn and his counselors were going. The information would give them a sense that this is not headed in their direction or that this is reasonable that he's giving this information, that this is nothing new and it isn't anything that would impact them negatively. Now, when the agreement has been disbanded, there's complete silence. That means the lawyers are not talking. They have to protect their client, in this instance, General Flynn. There's a potential conflict of interests, and they don't know what General Flynn is doing, either cooperating for a plea bargain or cooperating and providing information about the engagement of President Trump, his campaign officials in collusion or collaboration with Russia to undermine the 2016 election. So, I think it's bad news. And, yes, you can speculate that there's nothing there, but I can assure you that his lawyers are worried or they should be worried, because now they do not have a pipeline into the legal strategy of General Flynn's lawyers or General Flynn.</s>ACOSTA: And do you believe, based on what you have seen so far, is there enough evidence to indict Michael Flynn, do you think?</s>JACKSON LEE: Well, there's basic facts that he has violated some aspects of the law, the foreign agent registration, even though sometimes you can register after the fact, the potential issue with Turkey, taking, allegedly, dollars to lobby on their behalf or to help deport an individual who has legal status here in the United States. Those are elements that certainly could jeopardize General Flynn independently of anyone else. But, certainly, as an insider, as someone who was hired and present as a national security adviser, he obviously had intimate conversations, not only with campaign officials, but he was in the White House. And so he would have knowledge of facts of that general -- that special counsel Mueller would be very interested in, and being a top- notch prosecutor, former FBI director, he can truly put the pieces together. He has a top-notch team. I would be worried if I was the president of the United States and also his inner circle, but, in particular, General Flynn is concerned about his son. And, therefore, there may be a lot of leeway, a lot of room, a lot of desire to get this thing behind him, both for himself and his son.</s>ACOSTA: And let's turn to the attack in Egypt, where at least 235 people are dead after a terror attack on a mosque. President Trump reacted on Twitter this afternoon. I will read it to you and have you react to it, Congresswoman. It says: "Will be calling the president of Egypt in a short while to discuss the tragic terrorist attack with so much loss of life. We have to get tougher and smarter than ever before. And we will. Need the wall. Need the ban. God bless the people of Egypt." Can't argue with the last sentence there. But you sit on the Homeland Security Committee. what does the wall on the border with Mexico have to do with any of this?</s>JACKSON LEE: Well, first of all, I'm disappointed that the president of the United States could not behave like a commander in chief and a president that would offer the president of Egypt and the people of Egypt, which I would to want right now, my deepest sympathy and prayers for them and a recognition of the fight in the territory in which they're here, and to stand alongside of them in the fight against terrorism and ISIS. Here is a president that cannot singularly offer a statement that really represents the American people all over the nation, singularly focus on the Egyptian people. This was a dastardly, vicious act. Not only did they bomb the mosque, where people are worshiping, but they shot people fleeing for their lives and shot the ambulances. I'm horrified by this sickness with ISIS. But what should have been said is, we recognize that, as ISIS begins to lose its position of power in Syria and Iraq, that they are headed toward Africa. That is what happened in Niger. And it's happening around Nigeria and Chad. And to be able to say that we will stand with you and the Egyptian people to fight against the dastardly acts of ISIS, and ISIL, and that terrorism has no place in the world, that's the kind of statement that should have been made. It is absurd and really embarrassing. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, we know this all the time. We're in classified meetings about this. But it is embarrassing not to acknowledge the pain of a particular nation and to associate the ban here which has been ruled unconstitutional by the courts, but also the wall. Let me say, as a Homeland Security member of the committee, I want a safe and secure nation in the northern and southern border, but there are many ways that we must look at it, new technology, training of our Border Patrol agents, enhancing those numbers. But to mix that with the devastating, desperate acts that happened and the loss of life in Egypt, I just think is apples and oranges and certainly unfair and certainly inappropriate. My sympathy again to the Egyptian people.</s>ACOSTA: And we all share that sympathy, Congresswoman. Thank you very much for that. We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, want to talk to you about those growing sexual assault allegations up in Capitol Hill, other topics. We will be right back in just a few moments. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.