Maui, the death toll is soaring as we get new reports from the devastation. And back in court. Donald trumps legal team is about to appear before the judge in the 2020 election case for the first time, as prosecutors are now asking to start the trial in january. What is the judge going to say . Five americans wrongly detained in iran on the verge of freedom after the u. S. Strikes a deal with tehran. Im john berman with kate bolduan. This is cnn news central. This morning the scenes in parts of maui are apocalyptic as Rescue Crews Reach new areas. The death toll rose sharply overnight to 55. The governor estimates some 80 of lahaina were destroyed. When the mayor said its all gone, its all gone. Its all gone. Its gone. Im telling you, none of its there. Its all burned to the ground. The mayor says the death toll is likely to rise. They have only been able to count bodies found outside structures and many people are still unaccounted for. Today Search And Rescue teams from california an
Pair of legal bombshells here in washington today that could have huge ramifications for the 2024 election. Last hour, attorney general Merrick Garland announced a federal prosecutor who is raiding hunter biden has been Special Counsel, at his question. David weiss requested the status change. Garland did grant that. This comes just a few hour after trumps lawyers and Special Counsel prosecutors appeared for the first hearing in the election interference indictment. A key ruling could come down at any moment. Were on top of this. Lets star with the hunter biden news. Kara, tell us about this special appointment. Merrick garland announced this a little less than an hour ago, that david weiss, overseeing the investigation into hunter biden, requested Special Counsel on tuesday. Garland said he agreed to grant that. What this Special Counsel status means is david weiss, the u. S. Attorney for delaware, will have authority to investigate this case anywhere in the u. S. Thats been an issue,
the bankruptcy judge s plan here because it exceeds what the bankruptcy code allows. this is what the federal government had said, and wanted the whole thing put on hold, at least for now. and the solicitor general said this was an exceiol unprecedented agreement, and here wt she said, in part, to the court. allowing the court of appeals decision, which endorsed the bankruptcy judge to stand leave in place a road map for wealthy corporations and individuals to misuse the bankruptcy system to avoid mass tort liability. now, purdue pharma was countering that, telling the supreme court th at issue will provide billions of dollars and li-saving benefits to the victims of the opioicrisis, but those funds n not be distributed until the plan i consummated and a stay, postponing this case in any way, would waste valuable time, potentially several more months. and indeed we now know, kate,
in return for the $6 billion it was going to turn over to help relieve some of the victims needs, that the condition was that the sacklers could not be liable for any future claims. any opioid-related civil claims. what the solicitor general of the united states said was that kind of deal was unprecedented, exceptional, and would not conform to u.s. bankruptcy code. here is part of what she told the court allowing the court of appeals decision, which endorsed the bankruptcy judge to stand, would leave in place a road map for wealthy corporations and individuals to misuse the bankruptcy system to avoid mass tort liability. now, purdue pharma countered by saying to the justices, hoping they would not intervene, the plan will provide billions of dollars to life-saving benefits to the victims, but those funds