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New Day

Border Hypocrisy?; Cheney's Crusade: Keep U.S. Alert; Concerned About Elizabeth Warren?; Escort Accused In Google Exec Death In Court; Customer Endures Epic Battle To Cancel Service

Aired July 16, 2014 - 07:30   ET

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

TANIA CHAVEZ, UNDOCUMENTED FRIEND OF JOSE VARGAS: I think that mother's despair is very much. I think that for a mother to be able to make that decision --

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Do you think also the message should be don't send your children because they could die on the way here and be abused and assaulted?

CHAVEZ: I think -- I think that the root of the issue is being able to go back to the Central American countries and being able to determine what is the root of the issue. What is the cause of the problem? If we're able to go to other parts of the world to determine what's happening there, why can't we do the same thing in Central American countries? Is it because the level of poverty is too low that the United States does not care? Is it because that they don't have something at stake? They are humans, too.

BOLDUAN: Tania Chavez, thank you so much for your time.

CHAVEZ: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Later this morning, Tania's friend, we'll speak with Jose Antonio Vargas himself. He'll be joining us to talk about his situation now. He's spoken out. He's the filmmaker, become very famous for his situation. Why he was detained yesterday and what's going to happen to him now. We are going to talk to him about that.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: And his take on what are some really straight line questions in this situation. He laid them out there well to his friend, and we'll see what his answers are as well. There are questions that will have to be answered by the next president, and that takes us to our next topic. When we come back on NEW DAY, an office with no corners. That was Hillary Clinton still playing with the all-important question of whether or not she will run. The long 2016 tease continues with her friend, Jon Stewart. "Inside Politics" takes it on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Boy, to say there's a lot going on in politics is a gross understatement so let's get right to John King with "Inside Politics" on NEW DAY. Hello, sir.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Good morning. Good morning, Chris. Good morning, Kate and Michaela. You're right. No sleepy July. Sometimes Washington shutdown in July. Not this year and lots to talk about. So let's go inside politics.

Here with me to share their reporting and their insights this morning, "The Atlantic's" Molly Ball and Manu Raju of "Politico." The governor, Martin O'Malley last week made a lot of headlines and thought here's a 2016 Democratic contender trying to get to the left of Hillary Clinton when he's talking about the children at the border.

He said this, "We are not a country that should turn children away and send them back to certain death." That was at the National Governor's Association last week. Now though the site been proposed in western Maryland. There was some graffiti put on that site as a sign of protest and a Democratic source telling CNN yesterday the governor privately said please don't send these kids to Western Maryland.

So Molly, the question is now, not only is he going to be asked, but he's not running for re-election. The candidates for governor is going to be ask, if not Western Maryland, where? What does the governor have to do now?

MOLLY BALL, "THE ATLANTIC": Well, and this is the situation. You know, it's been very easy for Martin O'Malley to get sort of a lot of good press and free press for sort of being out there and doing things that Hillary Clinton is not, admitting that he's looking at 2016, going to Iowa and doing the rubber chicken circuit.

And you know, taking a lot of these sort of popular liberal positions with the Democratic base, but he is still the governor and clearly someone in the White House or somewhere didn't appreciate that little foray into this issue and so now he's going to have to answer for whether that was the case.

KING: To Molly's point, a lot of governors we've seen, Governor Branstad of Iowa, Republican Hickenlooper of Colorado, Democrats saying, well, not in my backyard. Eric Garcetti, the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles is saying, sure, bring them. I'll work with Catholic Church. I'll work with the federal government. I'll work at non- profit groups. We can find a place for some of these children. If you're Martin O'Malley and you're running for president and you lay this out there, what do you do now to try to clean it up?

MANU RAJU, "POLITICO": You have to be a little bit clear on where exactly you think the immigrants will go. What's interesting here is the warning sign, warning shot that's been levelled at Martin O'Malley. There are a lot of pro-Democratic forces that are not happy with O'Malley trying to run to the left of Hillary and flirting with the presidential bid right now.

And the reason why this was leaked, I'm sure, because they don't like the fact that he's doing that, and if he is going to run, the pro- Hillary forces will come out even more aggressively against him. So Martin O'Malley has to clean up his mess and explain clearly where he wants these folks to go because right now it looks like he's being hypocritical. KING: Dick Cheney is a very provocative guy. The former vice president, he says a lot of things. He says, for example, that at some point this country will face a terrorist attack much worse than 9/11. He says he believes Barack Obama is the worst president in his lifetime. Why does he say all these things? Well, here's how he explained it to CNN's Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY: I'm 73 years old. Every day I get up as a gift. I was in end stage heart failure two years ago, got new heart, that does wonders for your attitude, but from my perspective I feel very strongly these things need to be said and if I don't say them I don't know who else will from the standpoint of the Republican Party or someone with my background and experience over the last 40 years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: If he doesn't say them, no one else will. Does that mean he has great courage or does it mean that he's a lonely voice?

BALL: Well, I think he is a bit of a lonely voice these days. You know, at a time when sort of the Rand Paul position on foreign policy has gained increasing traction within Republican Party, there are fewer voices defending the legacy of the Bush administration and particularly a lot of the unpopular foreign policy positions that Dick Cheney pushed very aggressively, and so, you know, he does feel like a man living on borrowed time. He does feel like he has a responsibility to defend that legacy and, you know, time will tell if history agrees with him on it.

KING: Here is an interesting point. I had a conversation a couple years ago 9/11 at the vice president's residence where he said that he essentially cut a deal with George W. Bush, that he was always going to be the worst case scenario and he said as time pass and people started to forget 9/11 that people would just get more relaxed. They would view these threats less seriously and I said that's like the dark side. He laughed about the Darth Vader reference and he said he would always take that position because somebody had to. It's a bit bizarre, but --

RAJU: And the timing works pretty well for them with the violence that's happening in Iraq and questions about what the president has done in withdrawing forces from there, so they sense that there's an opening, and clearly after the Wyoming Senate primary last year, when Liz Cheney, his daughter ran and had a rocky bid and she had to get out of that race.

This is an opportunity to reinsert themselves into the national debate and potentially if Liz wants to run for another office this could be a way in. Get her back on the national stage, and clearly I'm sure this has something to do with that.

KING: It's provocative whether you like his politics or don't. More of that interview at cnn.com. Asked the question by Jake specifically, Hillary Clinton or Rand Paul. He said he's a Republican, but he didn't answer directly. Dick Cheney is not going anywhere.

Let's move to another Republican, this one offering advice to Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton might not want to take advice from Michele Bachmann, the Tea Party favorite, the Minnesota congresswoman, but she is looking at what is happening of late and she says Hillary Clinton should be nervous.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPRESENTATIVE MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: I think that if I was Mrs. Clinton, I'd be extremely concerned with what I see, and it's interesting. What I'm seeing in all of the national journals, it's a swoon fest right now over Elizabeth Warren. They are just salivating over her because she represents a very progressive view. People want to go that direction, and I think there could be trouble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Should Hillary Clinton be paying attention to that?

RAJU: Well, I'm not sure if Elizabeth Warren is going to run, but I think that what Hillary has to realize is that there is this populist, very anti-establishment, anti-big institution forces on the left flank, and it doesn't necessarily coincide with the Clinton centrism that dominated her president's administration and which she has tried to show in her time in office. So that is certainly a feeling on her left, that she will have to worry about, but I'm not sure if it's going to be Elizabeth Warren necessarily challenging.

KING: Not sure if it's Elizabeth Warren, but there is a new group ready for Elizabeth Warren, trying to send a signal. Now again it's a relatively modest group compared to "Ready for Hillary," which is Fort Knox when it comes to finances and the like. But is Michele Bachmann right to the idea that, you know, Hillary Clinton should be looking left a bit more nervously?

BALL: Well, I don't think. The interesting thing if you look at the polls is not only does Elizabeth Warren not make a dent in the formidable support Hillary has among Democrats, but liberals like Hillary more than any other group. It's the liberals in the Democratic Party who most want her to run. So this idea that she's alienated the left flank of her party doesn't seem to hold up, at least in the preliminary opinion data.

You do see Hillary talking about Elizabeth Warren's issues, and if you believe what Elizabeth Warren says at face value that's what she really wants is not to be president herself, but to get these issues in the arena, to have those issues of income inequality talked about by the candidates to have people address them and Hillary is doing that.

KING: In an odd way having Elizabeth Warren out there so high profile this year. Liberals like because it maybe pulls Hillary a little bit their way, but keeps their candidate happy in the race, right? RAJU: That's right. Yes, they know those forces are out there and she'll have to pay attention to it.

KING: All right, we'll watch that as we go. Manu, thanks for coming in. Molly, thanks for coming in. As we end, we mentioned Hillary Clinton, as you guys noted, she went to see Jon Stewart last night, a lot of questions and a lot of laughs including she's unemployed at the moment. A lot of talk about her speaking fees but she doesn't have a job. What about a home office?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": I think no one cares. Just want to know if you're running for president. Do you have a favorite shape for that home office? Do you like that office? Let's say would you like that office -- would you like to have corners or not to have corners, I don't know.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: You know, I -- I think that the world is so complicated, the fewer corners that you can have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: The oval office has no corners, has a nice rose garden, just saying.

BOLDUAN: True. Our desk, as I keep pointing out is also oval, so maybe that's what she's looking for.

CUOMO: She's setting herself up for the biggest anti-climax announcement to run for president ever.

BOLDUAN: At this point, she's running until she tells us she's not. That's policy.

KING: That won't be breaking news, is that what you're trying to say?

BOLDUAN: Exactly. We'll throw up that breaking news banner. Don't worry, John. Thanks, John.

Coming up on NEW DAY, the woman accused of killing a Google executive heads back to court today. New details about the incriminating evidence that lawyers are looking over.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY. A prostitute accused of killing a Google executive is in court today. Police say Alix Tichelman injected Forrest Hayes with a lethal dose of heroine while on his yacht. Center of the case is surveillance footage, which police say shows Tichelman finishing a glass of wine and then stepping over Hayes' body as she leaves.

Joining us now CNN legal analyst, Danny Cevallos and HLN legal analyst, Joey Jackson. Gentlemen, good to have you both with us. Why don't we start with you, Danny? Good morning to you, darling, both of you. Her arraignment is today. How do you defend her, Danny?

DANNY CEVALLOS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, the key is going to be the video. Without the video this is actually a defensible case because the prosecution is going to have to prove not only that she brought the heroin that she was holding, but that she somehow assisted him in injecting it. And I have to presume that the video must show that pretty clearly because I've read the criminal complaint, and the prosecution clearly feels confident they can prove that she injected, she was carrying and she possessed the heroin.

PEREIRA: Do you defend her the same way, Joey?

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Here's what I would also do, Michaela. The fact is that the defense has to play big on the nature of this relationship. This was something that she didn't come there with any intent for this to happen. This is indulgence gone bad. This is a voluntary person, the defense will say, who came. The father said, look, I want to hire a prostitute. She voluntarily came. He voluntarily invited her on the yacht and as a result of that things went bad.

PEREIRA: Right.

JACKSON: And also with regard to her past conduct, you know, we want to get out if you're the defense any allegation of that Georgia issue. You heard, of course, not only California, but they are looking into allegations in Georgia. You want that out of any trial, and you certainly don't want the judge considering that.

And finally, Michaela, regarding her closing the blinds and stepping over the body. The defense was to say how was she to know that he's dead and when you party and you're injected with heroin that's how people appear. My client had no idea he was dead.

PEREIRA: Super unsavory details emerging. There's an eerily similar situation in Atlanta, Georgia, a guy by the name of Dean Riopell overdosed on heroin. It was ruled accidental but those investigators are saying, wait, wait, wait, she was there and the one that called 911. Danny, it's hard to defend when you see a case very similar to that one.

CEVALLOS: Let's just play the numbers. First of all, the implication she's some kind of serial killer. Just numbers alone, serial killings are rare and female serial killers is even rarer. What's more likely we're dealing -- maybe she runs fast and loose with some bad heroin. There's been a lot of talk, Phetnol is a popular drug to cut heroin. It's very dangerous. People can't regulate the doses and often overdose. This may be a highly disorganized person who is carrying around a lot of bad heroin.

PEREIRA: You make a good point. Joey, on the other side, put your hat on for the prosecution. What do they have to do for a defense against Danny.

JACKSON: Well, what they are going to say is look we have a video. In that video, we see the injection. We see her callous actions. We see her stepping over the body. We see her looking to see if he's responsive. This is not her first rodeo. This is what she does. She knows when a person is unresponsive. We'll try to get that Georgia case in and establish prior conduct.

How does someone leave and close the blinds so that nobody detects the body and how does somebody clean up the crime scene and sip a little bit of wine as they see someone is unconscious and just walked out. This is a person who knew exactly what was happening and therefore, says the prosecution be convicted of felony manslaughter.

PEREIRA: You know he means when he throws his shoulder in it. Joey, Danny, her arraignment, Alix Tichelman's arraignment is today. We have to see what happens. Thanks so much for joining us this morning.

JACKSON: Thank you, Michaela. Great day.

CUOMO: Good look at both sides there. Michaela, thank you for that segment.

Coming up on NEW DAY, the phone call that can only be described as epic. A customer service rep does everything but cancel one guy's cable. Hear it coming up. You probably all had a call almost exactly like this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Yes. It is being labeled the worst customer service call ever. Comcast service agent would not let a customer cancel his service. Would not. Putting up an aggressive fight to keep his business. The customer recorded part of the call and posted online and of course, it went viral. Nischelle Turner is here.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Amazing stuff. First of all, I would say putting up a fight is an understatement. This is crazy, generally I don't like to irritate people when they are waking up. I'm sorry. You have got to hear this call. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLOCK: We'd like to disconnect please.

COMCAST: Why do you think you don't want faster speed? Help me understand why you don't want faster internet?

BLOCK: Help me understand why you can't just disconnect us?

TURNER (voice-over): It's the customer service nightmare everyone is talking about. Tech journalist, Ryan Block, calls Comcast to cancel his service, but instead of politely obliging him the customer service rep incessantly hounds him in a circular argument.

BLOCK: The way you can help me is by disconnecting our service. That's how you can help me.

COMCAST: How is that helping you though? BLOCK: Because that's what I want.

COMCAST: OK, why is that what you want?

BLOCK: Because that's what I want.

TURNER: Block said he and his wife had already been on the phone for 10 minutes before this 8-minute recording even begins. The rep aggressively ignores Block's request, repeating questions, refusing to accept his answers.

COMCAST: I'm here. You've been a Comcast customer. Clearly the service is working great for you. You weren't having any problems. What is it that's making you want to change that?

BLOCK: Because that's what we want to do.

COMCAST: Why is that what you want to do?

BLOCK: That's none of your business. Your business is to disconnect us, please.

TURNER: More than 2 minutes later, the rep still insisting on wanting to know why he was leaving the number one provider and berating him for wanting to switch.

COMCAST: So why not keep what you know works? What you know was a good service?

BLOCK: Because we are not doing that so please proceed in disconnecting our service.

COMCAST: You don't want something that works.

BLOCK: No. I guess, I don't want something that works.

TURNER: Nearly 16 minutes into the call explaining that he's not trying to argue just trying to help. The rep finally concedes.

COMCAST: I'll disconnect your service. OK.

BLOCK: Fantastic.

TURNER: Edging up to the 17 minute mark and the sales pitch doesn't end there.

COMCAST: What about those services. Are you not wanting?

BLOCK: Are you done? You literally just a moment ago said that you would disconnect our service.

TURNER: Finally, 18 minutes in.

BLOCK: I'm just going to wait until you confirm that we've cancelled services. I'll hang up here.

COMCAST: You're disconnected. Thank you very much for being a great part of Comcast. Have a wonderful day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TURNER: So Comcast issued a statement saying that they are embarrassed and they have reached to Block and his wife to personally apologize. They also added the way in which our representative communicated with him is unacceptable and not consistent with how we train our customer service representatives. We're investigating this situation and will take quick action. My nerves are bad. But I'm watching Chris' face during that whole thing and he's --

CUOMO: I've had a different experience. For me, I can get them on phone, they won't help me.

TURNER: Don't go there.

CUOMO: This guy was a really zealous representative of the company. He was trying to sell their service.

PEREIRA: You sound like management.

CUOMO: I would have hung up.

TURNER: It's customer service.

CUOMO: Really --

TURNER: The guy said is this for real? Am I being punked? Thanks, guys.

CUOMO: Coming up on NEW DAY, immigration protests are spreading all along the western U.S. We'll breakdown the latest flash point.

Plus the activist and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist profiled in the CNN film "Documented" was detained when he went down there. We'll speak with him about what happened and what he thinks will happen next.

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