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Two Americans Freed From North Korea; Loretta Lynch for U.S. Attorney General

Aired November 08, 2014 - 16:00   ET

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

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everyone, welcome, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Poppy Harlow, joining you live from New York.

Two American citizens one of them held in North Korea for two years are on their way home. That's Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae were set free today. Until a few hours ago they were still the only Americans that were still detained in North Korea. Miller charged with committing hostile acts against North Korea earlier this year.

Bae faced the same charges. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. We're told the North Korean government reached out to the U.S. for a high-level U.S. official visit before handing the two men over.

Erin McPike joins us live from the White House. This is great news. Their families elated, no doubt. These men on a plane as we speak back to the west coast. But let's talk about who secured this. High-level official, you got James Clapper, U.S. director of national intelligence. Do we have any sense how he did this?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Poppy, first we want to say that we have heard over and over again from State Department officials today that there was no quid pro quo. In other words, there was nothing given to North Korea in exchange for the release. North Korea did signal, however, that they wanted a lot of attention from the United States. They wanted a high-level official to come over to North Korea and do this. And it was James Clapper who was selected by the Obama administration to be the presidential envoy to secure their release.

We know that on Wednesday he was supposed to be in New York for a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations but that was abruptly canceled and then he was, of course, in North Korea to secure the release of these two men. I want to play for you a little bit of what President Obama said today when he was asked about this. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wonderful day for them and their families. Obviously we're very grateful for their safe return. I appreciate Director Clapper for doing a great job on what was obviously a challenging mission.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MCPIKE: Now, Poppy, we also learned today that members of Congress in the past few days have been briefed on this. Sometimes on these missions members of Congress are not briefed beforehand, but in this case they were, Poppy.

HARLOW: And what are people saying in Washington, Erin, right now? I know it's early, early stages. About the timing of this, why this happened right now.

MCPIKE: Well, generally what we're hearing is that North Korea is looking to have a better relationship with the west. Again, the State Department keeps stressing that nothing was given in exchange.

But there could be diplomatic relations the future, of course, as you know, the White House and the United States have not had diplomatic relations with North Korea since the Bush administration. That could all change. But North Korea has to signal more to the U.S., Poppy.

HARLOW: We'll be watching, but it is great news for them and their families, for this country. Thanks, Erin, appreciate it.

U.S. officials say there was absolutely no quid pro quo, no deal made for the detainees as you heard Erin tell us. Sources do tell CNN that North Korea contacted the U.S. government out of the blue and urged the Obama administration to send a high-level cabinet official to discuss the two detained Americans.

I want to bring in Elise Labott, she's our global affairs correspondent. You have been talking to your sources with knowledge of this all morning. First, I want to talk about Kenneth Bae's family. What are they saying?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, basically, Poppy, they are just thrilled saying that -- issuing a statement just a short time ago saying "Kenneth is finally going home and we're so happy that he's going to be coming home, very grateful to the U.S. government and to the Swedish government for helping" and after two years this family has been very outspoken. Really making sure that Kenneth's name was not forgotten on social media.

There was a hashtag #bringkennethbaehome. So obviously this family elated right now that they're going to be seeing him. A lot of concerns about his health. And basically the U.S. has been talking to North Korea for several months about trying to get these American detainees home but, you know, the actual calls, they didn't know when they would come, when the North Koreans called and asked to say that they would want to see a cabinet-level official to bring him home, they didn't know when James Clapper got on the plane that he would actually for sure be bringing Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller home.

I want to read a statement from the State Department issued earlier today, "We are grateful to director of national intelligence Clapper who engaged on behalf of the United States in discussion with the DPRK authorities about the release of the two citizens," DPRK being shorthand for North Korea. "We also want to thank our international partners especially our protecting power the government of Sweden for their tireless efforts to secure the freedom of Mr. Bae and Mr. Miller. The Department of State reiterates our strong recommendation against all travel by U.S. citizens to the DPRK."

And that's the rub, Poppy. The concern is that if more Americans were to travel to North Korea and you'll have, a lot of these missionaries, a lot of religious people that try to go to North Korea, (INAUDIBLE) and such, it's very possible that North Korea could nab them up again, and so the U.S. obviously making that point. Do not travel to North Korea.

HARLOW: It's a very important point.

Elise, also the timing, I want to talk about this damning U.N. commission report that just recently came out talking about horrifying atrocities. Torture, et cetera, in North Korea. What can you tell us about the report? And do you think that had something to do with the timing here? The image that North Korea was trying to shake?

LABOTT: Well, this is a widely anticipated report that was issued last week detailing this widespread abuses by the regime as you said, torture, starvation, imprisonment, execution and the damning part is that it referred the regime -- it didn't refer but recommended that the regime be referred to the International Criminal Court and you've seen in recent weeks the North Koreans on this so-called charm offensive, sending out diplomats across the globe trying to present this kinder, gentler face of the regime.

A lot of people think that that could have something to do with it because they wanted to show they were more reasonable, that they were more -- that you could do business with them. We don't know exactly why they decided to let them go but certainly the U.S. is saying that it is a good move. I will say, though, that is this going to be an opening between the U.S. and North Korea. The United States says no. The North Koreans have to handle, you know, issues related to the nuclear program. They have to address this -- these human rights concerns.

HARLOW: Yes.

LABOTT: I think the North Koreans are looking for the U.S. to say that this is going to open up a chapter in better relations, Poppy.

HARLOW: We'll be watching. We'll see what happens. Elise Labott, thank you. Appreciate it.

I want to get more information about the other American detainee freed Matthew Todd Miller. He was facing six years of hard labor in North Korea before he was suddenly freed today. Our Kyung Lah is on the phone with more information.

Kyung, I think it's important because we've heard so much about Kenneth Bae because his family has been so outspoken, they've come on CNN multiple times to talk about this, especially his sister, but we really haven't heard much at all from Matthew Todd Miller's family. KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (OVER THE PHONE): We've heard nothing from the family and that's been very intentional. When we've gong to the Miller home in Bakersfield and we've been there repeatedly, there is always a sign, a pink sign, very visible, from the street, saying that they do not want to be bothered by the press.

Now, over the years we've seen one of two reactions. Either the Kenneth Bae family reaction of they want to talk about it, they want to keep the pressure on, they want the DPRK which monitors programs like CNN, they want them to know that Kenneth Bae is wanted home.

In the case of Matthew Miller, it's a much more curious case. Because there's some curious lead-up into what led up to his imprisonment. He went there according to his tour company, did not tell the tour company that when he got there he intended to tear up his visa. And he said that he wanted asylum in North Korea according to the North Koreans.

So, we don't know what sort of mental state this young man is in. What we do know about him, Poppy, is that, you know, people in the neighborhood describe him as an average California kid. He studied abroad. He was there in South Korea visiting his brothers who is in the military and they were hoping he could come home so they could figure out exactly what's going on with this young man, Poppy?

HARLOW: Thank goodness he is coming home, but Kyung, the fact is, we only really know, then, what the North Korean government has said. They're the ones that said he came, he tore up his visa and he wanted asylum in North Korea but we know when he spoke with our Will Ripley, you know, a few months ago, he said he clearly wanted to come home and come back to America. How much can we trust the words of the North Koreans are saying about him?

LAH: You know, it's the hermit kingdom for a reason. They don't talk, they don't tell the truth always. The thing is when Will did ask him about why he was there, did he tear up his visa, he didn't want to talk about it. We know it's something sensitive. We don't know if the North Koreans are telling the truth. And certainly we're going to want to ask him. We don't know yet if his family is going to let us talk with him. They haven't released a statement. As far as we know they're going to continue to try to be as private as possible.

HARLOW: Right. And we know that even Kenneth Bae's family who has been very outspoken right now is saying to the media, to the public, we need some time, some privacy right now and, of course, we're giving that to them. Thank you, Kyung. Appreciate it.

Kenneth Bae's two years in detention has finally come to an end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH BAE, DETAINED BY NORTH KOREA: Condition in labor camp is I'm working eight hours a day, six days weeks.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HARLOW: As Kyung and I are just saying our Will Ripley had an exclusive access to talk to the three detainees at the time just a few months ago. He joins us next live, to talk about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Two Americans once trapped in a nation ruled by a reclusive dictator are now free and they are on their way home. North Korea released detainees, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller and they are expected to arrive on U.S. soil tonight.

Bae had spent two years in North Korea's hard labor camp as he struggled with health problems. Miller had been detained since April and our sources at CNN tell us that North Korea contacted the U.S. government out of the blue and asked for a cabinet level official, a high-ranking official to come talk. That official turned out to be U.S. director of national intelligence James Clapper. He made the last-second trip to secure their release.

Our Will Ripley spoke with Kenneth Bae, Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Fowler just a few months ago when they were all being detained in North Korea. He met them at a Pyongyang hotel. Each detainee was given only five minutes to talk. They each asked for the U.S. to help with their release and look what has happened.

Now Will Ripley joins me live from Tokyo. It is amazing. It must be amazing for you, Will, having have been with them when they were detained, just two months ago and now they are free. First, let's talk about Kenneth Bae because his health was really in focus. His family was saying he was not doing well. How was he when you were with him?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I was struck, Poppy, when I saw him in person because I'd only seen video clips of him previously and he had lost so much weight. And another thing that I noticed, it didn't show up well on camera but there were chunks of his hair that were falling out. There were some long pieces but a lot of bald patches on his head.

I didn't know what was going with that, but he was very tired. He seemed very worn out. Two years in North Korea, it certainly is an exhausting place for a lot of different reasons. Mentally and physically. The fact that in spite of his declining health he had just gotten out of the hospital but he was at a labor camp doing agricultural work six days a week. He talked to me about his health conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BAE: I'm working eight hours a day, six days weeks and working agricultural work to other hard labor that is required to do every day. I do have sleep disorder right now and back pain, anterior back pain and also, (INAUDIBLE) is not doing so well. My hands get numb and I have tingling hands and so it's been very difficult sleeping at night and I was working in the field every day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: And certainly, Poppy, if his health was continuing to deteriorate that would really make Kenneth Bae a liability for North Korea if he were to get more seriously ill, so certainly a top priority right now in addition to reuniting him with his family will be to have doctors check him out and get him better.

HARLOW: You can believe his wife and his three children are just absolutely elated along with the rest of his family. Will, what about the young, 24-year-old Matthew Miller? I want to hear what you think about him, because there's been a lot of talk about why he was there in North Korea. What did he say to you?

RIPLEY: Well, he didn't talk about his reasons for entering the country, tearing up his visa, seeking asylum. North Korea believed he went there to try to witness for himself the human rights abuses that the United Nations has accused North Korea of in a scathing report. The report that came out earlier this year and then an official report just within the last few weeks.

But while his health was OK, physically he was all right, I noticed he was very nervous. He didn't answer a lot of questions. It seemed as if he was afraid he going to say the wrong thing. We were being watched the entire time we did the interview, people were recording us. Here's what Matthew Miller told me.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW MILLER, FREED BY NORTH KOREA: My situation is very urgent. It's very soon I'm going to trial and I would directly be sent to prison. I think this interview is my final chance to push the American government into helping me.

RIPLEY: So it's your final chance. What do you want to tell them? That you haven't already said?

MILLER: That I need help and they need to quickly make movements because there's not much time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY: And shortly after this interview he was found guilty and sentenced to hard labor for the crimes committed in North Korea, Poppy, but now he along with Kenneth Bae on the way home to -- back to his family.

HARLOW: That's wonderful news. Will Ripley, thank you. We appreciate it.

Just ahead in the "Newsroom," the woman chosen by President Obama to take over the Justice Department from Eric Holder. We're going to explain why Loretta Lynch will make history if confirmed as attorney general.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARLOW: No African-American woman has ever been U.S. attorney general, so if Loretta Lynch is confirmed by the Senate, she will certainly make history. President Obama explained yesterday why he believes -- today, rather, why he believes she is singularly qualified to lead the Justice Department.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: It's pretty hard to be more qualified for this job than Loretta. Throughout her 30-year career she has distinguished herself as tough, as fair, an independent lawyer who has twice headed one of the most prominent U.S. attorney's offices in the country. She has spent years in the trenches as a prosecutor, aggressively fighting terrorism, financial fraud, cyber crime, all while vigorously defending civil rights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Loretta Lynch's resume is impressive by just about any account. U.S. senators certainly thought so. The first two times they confirmed her as one of 93 U.S. attorneys. Our senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns takes a look at some of the high-profile cases that have really defined her career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As United States prosecutors go in the state of New York, the Harvard-educated Loretta Lynch has flown under the radar.

LORETTA LYNCH, JUSTICE SECRETARY: You're regretting these mic placements right about now, aren't you?

JOHNS: CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin worked with her as a junior prosecutor in Brooklyn in 1990.

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: She has made her name as a workhorse, not a show horse. She is someone who tried cases as a junior prosecutor. Ran the Long Island office and then was promoted to be the U.S. attorney for all of the eastern district of New York. It's a job that is not terribly glamorous especially compared to the U.S. attorney in Manhattan. But it's a job that she has done twice.

JOHNS: That's right, she's held her current job twice. First appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1999. At that time she presided over the infamous Abner Luima case, involving a Haitian immigrant victim who was sexually assaulted by a New York police officer. One of her first hires in the United States attorney's office doesn't see Lynch as a prosecutor with a partisan lawyer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's absolutely not partisan.

JULIE MYERS WOOD, CEO, GUIDEPOST SOLUTIONS: I'm a Republican, but she doesn't care if people are Republicans or Democrats, she cares about getting the job done. JOHNS: Lynch did a brief stint at the New York office of powerhouse law firm Hogan & Heartson, the same firm chief Justice John Roberts left when he was appointed to the Supreme Court and she served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank before returning to the U.S. attorney's office this time appointed this time by President Obama.

What she's best known recently is an investigation of Citigroup mortgage securities and the indictment of New York congressman Michael Grimm.

LYNCH: Michael Grimm made the choice to go from upholding the law to breaking it and in so doing he turned his back on every oath he had ever taken.

JOHNS: Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: New information on air strikes in Iraq coming into CNN right now. Details after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: The U.S. military is not confirming if the leader of ISIS was at a gathering targeted by coalition air strikes in Iraq yesterday. Here's the latest from Colonel Patrick Ryder, director at public affairs at U.S. Central Command.

I'll read you in full the statement. "I can confirm that coalition aircraft did conduct a series of air strikes yesterday evening in Iraq against what was assessed to be a gathering of ISIL leaders near Mosul destroying a vehicle convoy consisting of 10 ISIL armed trucks. We cannot confirm if ISIL leader Abu Badr al-Baghdadi was among those present. We have no further information to provide regarding these strikes. The strike demonstrate the pressure we continue to place on the ISIL terrorist network and the group's increasingly limited freedom to maneuver, communicate and command."

Of course, we will have a lot more on this at the top of the hour. But right now, on Monday, we got word that Tom Magliozzi, the popular co- host of NPR's "Car Talk" died of complications from Alzheimer's. He was 77 years old and Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and it's the only the can't be prevented, cured or even slowed down.

Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently got a very rare look inside a small village he says should be the future of what dementia care looks like.

SANJAY GUPTA, M.D. starts right now.