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at contra costa college. start today at contracosta.edu the plan would have made

donald trump the presumptive nominee for the gop. tonight, on laura coates live. ♪ ♪ ♪ news, sorry. good now? great. news today has been stunning. that republican national committee was considering, i mean, seriously considering a resolution that would declare donald trump the presumptive nominee. and just like that, after we've only heard from, remember, it's only been two states. we do have 50, and territories of course. in essence, that would be in iowa, new hampshire would get to decide who is nominee. leaving everybody else, even those who plotted to vote, totally out of luck. the whole thing blew up in their faces. trump ally and rnc committee

member david rossi withdrawing the resolution tonight. but here's the thing. a source tells cnn the trump campaign had initially backed the idea. and the former president himself was, well, on board. not surprisingly. all of us often, he changed his tune when the backlash began. posting on social media tonight, they should, quote, do it the old-fashioned way and finish the process off at an appellate. box all caps, of course. followed by, i mean, even kept an obvious would have written that at some point in time. of course you fellow the old-fashioned role. it's called democracy. oh, my. the haley camp not surprisingly less enthusiastic about the whole thing because she's still running. quote, who cares what the rnc says. going on to suggest the rnc chair woman ronna mcdaniel organize a debate in south carolina. let's go to cnn senior data reporter harry enten at that magical wall. harry, we know if the rnc was poised to declare trump the

presumptive nominee. this would really be unprecedented, of course, at this point in the race. right? >> unheard of. there is no other word around. it a competitive gop primary -- ending with a presumptive gop nominee. march 4th, back in 2008, it's the earliest in the last decade and a half, it's also the earliest on record in the modern primary era. and of course, keep in mind, laura, at that particular point, would already run through super tuesday, already run through most of the delegates. other dates more recently, 2012, april 25th. 2016, when of course trump clinched that particular cycle, may 3rd. laura, the idea would have a president nominee in january is frankly off the maps and not anything awkward have ever heard of, it is before this year. >> by the way, only a tiny fraction of primary voters have even had a chance to even cast their votes. you've got iowa, new hampshire, now accepting the rest of the 48 states -- can you put that into perspective about the relative number of people who have

actually participated so far, and what would actually be ignored if they actually get to clear that? now >> i, maine said, it? right take a look at the map. gop contests that have taken place so far, in right in iowa, in right into hampshire. there is a lot of great on this map -- the mentioned those 48 other states. you might also mentioned the district of columbia. how about some territory but also haven't had their contest so far. don't forget about guam. i never forget about guam, laura. >> don't forget about guam. >> don't forget about guam. republican delegates so far. only 62 have been allocated. only 62. majority up for grabs, to a 1367th. i'm not necessarily of math major, laura, but 2367 seems a lot larger than the 62 that have been allocated so far. >> could you imagine if this for the actual general election, and someone said, we have got results from two states, we are

going to declare a percentage of vector, and by the way, there is someone still and the rice like nikki haley who's saying what about the remainder? and as you mentioned, guam. but does it surprise you, harry, that trump thought that many endless gop establishment would actually support this decision? >> no, you know, trump likes to sell himself as an anti establishment candidate. but the fact of the matter, is if you look at major gop endorsements from governors or members of congress -- look at this, donald trump has 121. thank at this point in the 2016 cycle, he had zero. he had zero. look how many nikki haley has so far. she has three. trump may say he's the anti establishment candidate, but at this point the establishment loves donald trump. >> harry enten, thanks so much. >> thank. you >> know i want to bring and people i love, republicans are not just rain shull and former rnc communications director doug. i'm glad you're both here. doug, sources say trump at first was on board.

but that he does it by truck when he got that backlash. the fact of this was even on the table, was it a miscalculation on their part? >> it was a miscalculation. if at lakes. and at lakes because david drucker at the despite was able to report. this if it hadn't lakes and go into that winter meeting, and probably would have passed. what this would have done, huge change and will be called the rnc rule 11, a row of nearly. and a role of such neutrality, you think this would surprise a lot of people. the rnc cannot support mike johnson and his reelection for congress. republican speaker of the house. if he has anybody running against him in a republican primary, some craig pot who thinks not only the allianz have been here but are coming back and britain elvis with them -- rnc has to be neutral -- the two rnc committee members and the state cheer of file and rule 11 candidate. that's true of how candidates, senate candidates, and the presidency as well.

that would allow the rnc in an unprecedented way to have a joint fund raising campaigns with the trump campaign -- and would allow the rnc to serve as an anti-nikki haley propaganda arm, and digital and data arm as well. it would be a huge deal. that was the miscalculation, that they could do this and. sacred >> just thinking about what that would entail. the secrecy of it. the fact that it would disenfranchise voters as well. only to hampshire and i will talk to us two of the 50. the idea that would be a dozen fighter. as you saw from, harry early this would be in the process. what about the idea for voters who say this and say, what about us? >> i find it really, really rich. because of the crowd that loved to scrape election interference at frankly anything over the past four years is now trying to interfere in an election. when there is one of their own who actually stands on pretty good fortune, despite the iowa and new hampshire results. and i've heard the most

reductive, most professional arguments in support of donald trump come from ronna mcdaniel 's mouth. and i think that is shameful for her. i think it's in place a pretty change to be in. and i think there needs to be a reckoning. i think there needs to be republicans who say you are stepping so four out of lent your actually making this party a smaller and smaller can't. there are americans so frustrated with joe biden that they're willing to look at that republican party, give it an honest shake after that trump era. these are people who couldn't stand trump, that are willing to say, will this party make my life better? i've heard arguments from nikki haley and yet you have the entire gop apparatus ready to act in the interests of that mafia boss. that is what trump has tried to behave as. and the adults in the room got involved and he finally has a really solid operation around him. stacked with bush people, i must. it's very scary. they, i'm sure, said to him, put this kind of statement out. >> nikki haley is fundraising on this already. >> she's done well, but, yes

trump to point out has a motivational stuff. all things about donald trump, we know, it requires a word he used and the statement. devotion. all things must be held to scissor. if you come up with an idea, donald, we have got a good idea so you are not going to have to deal with this, miss he's going to like. it may not be the best idea of all-time. and the vetting here have been publicly. part of the irony is the rnc needs help with fund raising, the trump campaign aides help with fundraising. if this had gone through it means ronna mcdaniel's job would be in jeopardy because she had either be shown the door by donald trump or layered over or saint -- you can have an office and the basement, will move you a couple days later. this wouldn't have been a good idea for anybody, including but trump campaign because of the argument of democracy and unfairness, and ultimately the swamp and things like establishment. >> the very next moment, if nikki haley drops out of the race, if she does, if she decides not to or is not

successful for some route. they couldn't do that. they could call him that presumptive nominee. >> sure. if you have anybody running, anybody on any ballot, you still have to remain objective. that's why there is the political reality here. the mathematical one harry went through. and he, is the two numbers don't necessarily compute there. but the roles of the rnc, to be neutral, that's what we have a congressional committee and as senatorial committee that don't have to be neutral. they can play and primaries whoever they choose -- the rnc, that rule 11 neutrality is sacrosanct. this would have been unprecedented. >> rina shah, doug heye, the thank you both so much. really, really fascinating. emotions are running high in the trial of the mother of the michigan school shooter. her son, ethan crumbley, pleaded guilty to killing four students and injuring seven others. today, the prosecution alleges, quote, she didn't pull the trigger but she is responsible. we'll break down the arguments, next.

the trial of the mother of michigan school shooter eight and crumbly getting underway today. jennifer crumbley, along with her husband james, faces four charges of involuntary manslaughter for the alleged role they played in harrison's shooting rampage. they are standing trial separately, both have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. if they are complicit, that face 15 years in prison. to break down the arguments were in court today, of gabon prosecutor and defense attorney here with me tonight. cnn legal analyst and criminal defense attorney joey jackson along with civil rights attorney and legal commentator areva martin. areva will act as the prosecutor in this case and

joey will act as a defense. i want to hear sides of the argument. i also will ask how do you really feel went those masks come off. areva, begin with the prosecution. this year approach. not watch the opening statement goldman for us and this case as to what jennifer crumbley ought to be prosecuted for the crime that was carried out by her son? >> here is what i would say, laura, if i was the prosecutor in this case. hudson the evidence and this case will show that ethan crumbley's mother, jennifer crumbley, didn't pull the trigger but she is as responsible for the death of those for anderson students and that michigan high school as her son's. it will show that even though, typically a parent is not held responsible for the intentional actions of their children, there are exceptions to this role. and this case, the evidence is so overwhelming and so heinous that this is that exception. the evidence will show that this defendant ignored flashing

red lights and waving gigantic red flags. the evidence will show she knew her son had very severe mental health issue. he complained to her repeatedly about hallucinating, feeling isolated, feeling alone, hearing voices. and having physicians of using violence against others. it will show despite no one all of this, this defendant put her own selfish desires over the needs of kherson. she would not take him to a medical facility. she wouldn't take him to a doctor or hospital. but she found time and her schedule to have an affair, outside of her a marriage, and to care for her horses. and if she had provided her son with a kind of time and care that she provided those animals, and the time she dedicated to that extra marital affair, those four students in that high school would be alive today. take a listen to what the prosecution said in that

courtroom today to establish those right flags. >> this drawing, was sent to her november, third 2021. at 9:30 in the morning. shape was santa's by her son's school counselor when he requested and immediate mating worth at the school that day. he requested that mating because this drawing, those words, suggest both weapon and injury. you will learn these kind of meetings when that occur, parents [inaudible] that spawn was abruptly ended by jennifer crumbley after just over 11 minutes. you will learn that after the meeting, when they left, they didn't fix it. you will laurent their home is just got the road from the high school. they didn't stop by the house to look for the gun. >> this is a very important point that areva has made. that thought really does show people a little bit more. prosecution, thanks so much. joey, we'll not turn till the

defender's opening statement. of course, you have the presumption of innocence. why shouldn't jennifer crumbley face prosecution for her son's crimes? >> we cannot be a society that predicates guilt upon simple blame or predicate skilled upon inventions. this case is not about horses, it's not about affairs, it's about a tragedy that occurred that should not have. but we do know that potentially it could have been prevented, not to blame the mother for this, when she did not have that knowledge of what her child was doing is just wrong and it's a bridge too far. the fact is, we are not here to assess perfect parenthood. we are here to assess accountability. and in looking at the issue of accountability, parents have challenging jobs. life is a challenge in and of itself. does a parent and everything your child is doing? should a parent be accountable for every mental health battle they do not know the extent and

severity of? it takes a village. and to blame the mother for her not know or heavenly understanding as to the extent of her child and juries is not within that realm of the criminal justice system. take a listen to what the defense had to say with respect to that issue in the opening statement. >> she will tell you that when she saw that materials and this case, she learned that her son had not been her son for months. that he had been manipulating her, that he had been hidingr, d been sending text messages, alarming text messages, to other people. >> we were at the very beginning of this trial. both of you have put on the mask and played the role of either prosecution or defense, eliminating some of the arguments we're going to hear. and of course, there will

likely be testimony from a defendant in this case. she is asking for her son, i think, as well to testify. so it's both of you take off the masks for a second. i want to get your insight and vast experience. beginning with you on, this joey. crumbleys parents are being tried separately. what does that signal to you when you first heard? that is that going to be a point of the fingers, hoping that benefit of the doubt is given to one of the other? >> laura, you've seen. this areva, you will see this as well. we are defendants point fingers at each other. that's exactly what's happening here. the defense has taken the posture, the father is to blame. as much as he purchased the weapon, got the gun, not with that knowledge of the mom. you will hear at the mother in addition to that, jennifer blamed the school for failing to allow her. but when it comes down to very briefly are a few issues. one is foreseeability. it's been foreseeable if you are this careless, something like this can happen. and i think the jury could conclude, could conclude the

answer as. yes it also comes down to notice. are you on notice, areva in her compelling opening statement spoke to the as. you there are a series abnormalities here. should you have addressed them as a parent -- and heavy exit reasonably underplay circumstances? and as the answer to that is, no then the issue of accountability could very well, laura, like with that mother, jennifer, and she could be and significant problems and this. case >> areva, but sheri is comprised of men, women, parents and particular. you've got to imagine that her taking the stand when she ultimately does is going to be very significant and trying to build up that carries. what is going to strike you -- in this case? >> i'm going to be looking how the jury responds to the issue of a gift of a gun. i think that's going to strike, laura, at the heart of so many jurors. i think a lot of parents are going to be sitting very kelvin,

gosh, i taught want to be held accountable for everything my children do. but when they hear of this month or had information about her son's emotional state, and despite there being some contradictions about what that evidence is, it's very clear she knew her son was going through something very significant. and then to take a 15-year-old kid, going through something like that, into a gun store, applying havoc, on and go into a shooting range we're you shoot the gun with him, post on social media, bragging about taking him to that shooting range, i think it's going to be very compelling evidence in favor of the prosecution. >> we will see. the trials getting underway. we'll continue to follow this story. it's very important. it's the first time we're seeing parents be held to account, potentially, for the actions of a mass shooter in a school setting, in particular. joey jackson, areva martin, well done working out this issues to give us a greater understanding. thank you both. coming up next, our series

were to win here on laura coates live, exonerated. i'll speak to a grandmother who spent nearly 18 years and present for a crime she did not commit. her tearful and emotional story, next.

this one is for real and what it does is it tightens and lifts the appearance of bags underneath your. i'm not only does it work on the, bags it works on the appearance. crow's feet, fine, lines and wrinkles.

tonight we want to introduce a new series we are doing for you here on llorico's live. exonerated. we'll tell you the stories of the many people who have been wrongly convicted of crimes, and have spent decades in some cases in prison. people like rosa jimenez. who spent nearly 18 years in prison for a crime she did not commit.

thanks to the innocence project, she is now free. so what exactly happened in this case. back in 2003, rosa was a young mother living in austin texas. she was babysitting 20 month old ryan gutierrez. something she regularly did for children in her community. when ryan began choking, and later died. when paramedics arrived they found a log of paper towels in his throat. rosa jimenez, a pregnant mother of a two-year-old with no criminal record, was ultimately charged with murder. she was sentenced to 99 years in prison. but that's not all. when she was behind bars, awaiting trial, she gave birth to her son. while shackled, she was given only five hours with him before he was taken away. for the next 18 years rosen would not be allowed to touch her children.

here is the thing. there was no expert testimony during her trial. and frankly, once experts heard the details of the case they were shocked. by 2020, more than five judges, more than five judges head determined that the child's death was most likely an accident. she was released on bond in 2021. just in time to attend her daughter's wedding. it took two more years for her to be exonerated. that same day, while she was fighting to clear her name, she became a grandmother. joining me now, rose at jimenez and her attorney vanessa pot can, who is also the director of special litigation at the innocence project. so happy to see both of you. rosa, just in reading your story, just in hearing about it. it is truly stunning. let me begin with this beautiful notion that on the day that you were exonerated, you also became a grandmother. tell me about those moments

when you not only found out your name was going to be cleared, but your daughter had just gone into labor. you're crying, sweetheart tell me why. >> but what are you feeling right now? >> you brought back all of these memories about having my child in, prison and at the same time having my grandbabies when i got exonerated. so i got emotional. >> well i can understand, even thinking about that is difficult not to be emotional hearing about it. when you heard me describe even a portion of what that more than a decade in prison was like, can you believe that you are on the other side of this? >> it was really hard for me to believe that i was going to get out. one, because, when i went to prison i didn't speak english

at all. i didn't understand what was going on around me at that moment. i knew i was going to jail, i knew i was, pregnant i'm new and accident had happened. but i really didn't comprehend, my mind couldn't grasp everything around what they were talking about. i couldn't understand what they were saying about the whole situation. so it was very, difficult very hard for me to even rest my mind around it. they told me that they were going to take my kids. my daughter. they took her to cps. it was really hard. it was super hard. then finally when i started understanding english a little bit in prison. then i had my son. i have faith that i was going to go home. but after so many years, judges telling them, hey she's

innocent, and nothing happened. you start losing faith inside. and then you start wondering, hey, is this going to be my life until the data? and you just start questioning, and wondering, and sometimes even questioning your own fate. it's sad. so when finally vanessa told me, hey you're going to get out, i remember we were at the detention center and she was like, your free, and i was like, i don't believe it, until they let me out i won't believe it. but i'm still sitting here. any moment they could come. when i finally got out and i went to a place that they had for me i couldn't, sleep for a couple of days, i in my mind it

was like if i fall asleep i'm going to go back to present i'm going to wake up in that place and i don't want to wake up in there, so i'd rather not sleep and stay on that. happened three days in a row and then finally i was like i need to go to sleep. it was really hard to believe that i. but now i have my grandbaby, my son, it's been hard but we're trying to recognize that we don't know each other but we're trying. >> i understand while you were in prison you won't able to although, you could see your children at times you weren't able to touch them. is that right? >> that's right, i was not able to touch them because of the nature of the crime. >> has that been difficult in trying to reconnect with him at

this point in your life [inaudible] >> yes. right now my daughter lives with me and we hardly talk to each other. we try but it's like we're two strangers. alas when she was one year old, and then i come home and she's 19 years old, she doesn't know me, and the times that she went to visit me. and talking on the phone they couldn't afford phone calls so, can you imagine living with her has been very difficult. >> how about with your, sun how are things going with? him >> we were living together for a year when i got out, and i tell vanessa this all the time when i came home i wanted

everything back everything they took for me i wanted back. it's a big mistake i hope they have some type of class inside that they can tell you you know -- because it was a big mistake bringing my son in my home not knowing him at all. it was a disaster. we don't know each other like i say i had him in prison. . he doesn't have any memory of me whatsoever so it's like bringing a stranger into your home and hoping that they will acknowledge you as their mother and call you mom to. this day that hasn't happened. they don't call me mom. you know so that's hard. they call me rosa.

so it's like there are two strangers. i have tried so much, i got married. and my wife tries to make a bridge with them. i'm living here with my wife, she opened her home for my daughter because she wants us to have a connection to reconnect to have a relationship bought it's like they're not opened for it. sometimes i feel like they don't want to betray the people that raised them, >> the nasa, so many questions are going off in my head so many red flags. even beginning with the fact that she did not speak english before going into prison. my immediate question is the

representation. how is she aware of the court process, how is she aware of what was happening. have you gone back to look at that point of time to determine how this could've even happened? . it >> it's really unfathomable, during her interrogation it was questioned by an officer who was spanish speaking but he weaponized her child against her and basically, at the time, rose at one year old daughter. and basically said, if you tell me what i want to hear then you can see your daughter and really just try to get an admission from rosa which never came because this is something that she didn't do. throughout the court process, imagine how difficult it is for somebody who speaks the language, it's a foreign

process, relying on your council. unfortunately roses lawyer just didn't perform his basic duties so he never consulted with an expert who could've taken a look at the evidence way back in 2005 when she went to to trial so the only expert she consulted with just didn't have the relevant training were experienced weigh in on the. issue and in roses case, the paramedics who responded to the scene of the choking had just never seen anything like this. nor had the emergency room doctors who treated the child when he first came in. so they just jump to the conclusion that this was so unusual, and atypical that it must of been intentional. but just because something is a typical doesn't mean it's intentional. ultimately when the innocence project gone roses case, we submitted the medical evidence to the top pediatric airway doctors at several of the

nation's top children's. hospitals and all of them independently reviewed the evidence and came to the unanimous conclusion that this was a tragic accident and no murder had occurred. >> i mean, rosa i can't believe this was the experience for 18 years. i remember, i nursed both of my children i have a son and daughter, and just thinking about where you were when you're, bonding when you're feeding, when you're developing that relationship a, to have this happened at that moment and to know mother to mother that another child had lost their life, this must have just been so overwhelming for you in that moment and every day since. now i understand your fighting a different battle. even though you have been released and exonerated, this battle is now one for your health and your life in a different way. what is happening, and what is

the road ahead now for you? >> right now i'm doing dialysis, i'm in treatment three times a day, for four hours each treatment. when i go in. when i got out from prison they diagnosed me, that my kidneys were malfunctioning, and then they told me that i was going to need a kidney eventually. so i'm going to move to new york to find a kidney. but so far there's no luck on that kidney. we are praying that somebody can be touched and be willing to help me to live my life. i'm here struggling to live. if i don't go to a treatment i can actually die because my blood had to be filtered constantly.

so, i pray that somebody will be able to help us. not just me,. >> go ahead rosa please finish what you are. saying >> i was robbed of being with my children, both of them. and now that i have the opportunity to be a grandma i want to be there for my grandchildren. i'm only 41 years old. my grand babies are just five months old. i pray that i can see her, go to four, wedding and her graduation. i want to experience the things that i didn't get to do with my kids, that i wasn't able to because i was robbed of that experience. >> the nasa how can people help?

>> rosa has been evaluated for a kidney transplant -- the hospital is ready to do the transplant and all we need at this point is a living donor. somebody who is willing to donate a kidney. if people are interested, and could go to the website, kidney number four, rosa dot com. kidney for rosa dot com. they could learn more about the living donor process, and really that is what we are looking for right. now somebody who is willing to be a donor. the innocence project fought along rose aside, we helped her get her freedom, back but now she is in a fight for her life. and we are looking for partners to make sure that she can fulfill all of those things that she talked about. >> rosa, you and i are about the same age. and i just can't believe the

parallel tracks. and but for the grace of god as they say, go i and so many others. to not have an injustice inflicted upon them as it was for you. i'm so sorry that we met this, way but i am so happy to know that you have been exonerated, and you have a chance, because all any of us ever ask for in life is a chance. thank you for joining, us i really appreciate it. vanessa you as well. rose i'll be thinking about you. >> thank you. we'll be r right back.

the mysterious deaths of three kansas city chiefs fans is puzzling investigators and tormenting their families. the men were last known to have gone to a friends house earlier this month. they were found dead a couple days later outside of the house. police have not yet said how the man died. and are waiting for toxicology results. here is cnn's whitney wild. >> reporter: more than two

weeks after 38-year-old ricky johnson, 37-year-old david, harrington and 36-year-old clayton muggy, were found dead in the back of the kansas city home. there are few details and frustration is growing. adriana juarez who shares a child with ricky johnson says she feels too many questions remain about how long it took to find the three friends. >> how do you not know there's three dead bodies? >> according to cnn affiliate can be say, the three visited a friends, homer rented house in northwest kansas city after the kansas city chiefs beat the los angeles chargers january 7th. two days later a worried fiancée, who had not heard from her loved one looked for him at the home. according to police when there was no answer at the door, she broke into the basement of the residents and found a dead body on the back porch. when police arrived they discovered two more bodies in the backyard. cnn's not naming the friend, because he has not been accused of a crime or charged in the deaths. his attorney john person. oh >> in the early morning,

around two a.m. he believes, he got sleepy, he set up and crashed on the couch. he said goodbye to his buddies, and he thought they left out the front door. >> kansas city police are waiting on autopsies and toxicology reports to determine how the man died. at this point police consider this a death investigation and not a homicide. noting, it is still the case that no foul play was observed or suspected. johnson's niece, stephanie said, they want answers and some sense of closure. >> i never thought it would get as much attention as it has. i'm hoping that with the intention that it is getting that it will get us closer to getting answers. it can take a month or more to get toxicology reports and autopsy reports back. but every moment these families wait is simply gut wrenching. >> whitney wild thank you so much will. be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪

before we go tonight, be sure to check out the new cnn original series, the many lives of martha stewart. it traces her explosive rise to success, staggering fall from grace momentous come back an

>> martha is continually undereststimated by -- we read about it in the press, criticizing her, if she wants attention, she wants power she just doesn't want to stop. >> martha stewart is among those under investigation for martha stewart is being prosecuted not because of who she is matt fell fast and all. >> today is a shameful day. the >> comeback was beginning beforere shehe ever leftft. she loves to be clclever. she loves to surprise. and she loves to defy. >> if you had asked me, what would be the interest in martha stewart 20 years for, now it's absolutely. not boarded i underestimate. are >> the many liveves of marta stewarart, sunday y on cnn.

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