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Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield

Parents of Michael Brown Testify in Front of U.N.; Possible Evacuation of U.S. Embassy in Yemen; George W. Bush Speaks about his Father

Aired November 11, 2014 - 12:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: "LEGAL VIEW" with Ashleigh Banfield starts right now.

ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Ashleigh Banfield. And welcome to LEGAL VIEW.

We've got some live pictures from the White House. We're going to be showing you some of the pictures from there. A civil war hero honored for his service more than 150 years after his death. We're going to take you there.

But I want to start right now with a story that you probably wouldn't have expected to see and an interview with the parents of Michael Brown in a place that you probably never would have expected to see them and they probably never would have expected to be as well. You'll remember that Michael Brown is the 18-year-old young man who was shot and killed on August 9th. And it was a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, who shot and killed him and whose fate is now left up to a grand jury.

But in the meantime, Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown, Sr., are overseas for the first time in their lives. They are forefront in not just a national debate, but an international one as well. One that has lead them to travel the oceans. They testified today before the United Nation's Committee Against Torture, appealing for global intervention in the way that police currently function in America. And they join me live now from Geneva, along with their attorney, Daryl Parks.

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. And I hope we've caught you at an opportune moment. I want to hear about your testimony and what you've told this convention. But in -- first off, I want to hear how you're being received in Geneva. And go ahead, Lesley, you can begin.

LESLEY MCSPADDEN, MICHAEL BROWN'S MOTHER: We've been received very well. They've given us a lot of love and support since we've been here. And everything seems to be positive. It's a - it's a great experience.

BANFIELD: And, Michael, maybe you can explain a little bit about what your mission was in going over to the United Nations and the message that you wanted to bring to the U.N.

MICHAEL BROWN SR., MICHAEL BROWN'S FATHER: Just giving the U.N. an outlook on what's going on in the United States and all over the world with the police, police brutality, no justice, just trying to get the eye opened up, attention to the situation that's going on in St. Louis and all over America.

BANFIELD: And, obviously, this is such a tense time as we all await a decision from a grand jury that I know you are all waiting on as well, as to whether the officer in this case is going to be indicted or not or at what level, if he is indicted, will he be indicted.

Can I ask you, Lesley, your thoughts as you speak to the U.N. about what's happening and your perception of policing in America. If you had the ability to speak to Officer Wilson directly, what would you want to say to him?

MCSPADDEN: There's plenty of things I would like to say to him. But I would rather not talk about it.

BANFIELD: Is it a - is it a personal message that you don't want to broadcast or is there a wider societal message to him and to other police that you might want to comment on?

MCSPADDEN: Well, the message would be delivered to all police in all municipalities that have bad apples in their bunch. But, of course, I would have a direct message for him.

BANFIELD: When you think about Officer Wilson -- because no one has been able to speak with him, no one has been able to see him and no one has heard from him, what are your thoughts when he crosses your mind?

MCSPADDEN: I don't think about him. He doesn't cross my mind at all.

BANFIELD: So there's nothing that -- there's no residual anger that you feel and curiosity as to what exactly happened in those moments?

MCSPADDEN: Well, there's one thing for sure, he shot our son. He killed him. So anything that he has to say that he didn't say that day, if he felt that he was right, I don't want to hear it.

BROWN: Well, for one, we -- we're trying to figure out why was he playing the part of a judge, a prosecutor and an executer that day, that moment he interacted with our son. He had no right to address the law the way that he did to Michael Brown Jr., our son. And it's a painful deal. We're really lost with words on how to express ourself about it because we're trying to stay humble and not to be so upset to where -- it's a situation where I'm surprised we haven't even lost our mind yet over this.

BANFIELD: Are you --

BROWN: But we're being strong and are --

BANFIELD: Go ahead.

BROWN: And hopefully justice will prevail. BANFIELD: So I want to talk to you about that justice, because justice

is a very nebulous thing. And justice prevailing may not feel like justice for some. And I want to know if there's any situation at all that you could foresee where there is not an indictment of Officer Wilson and how you would react to that.

BROWN: I can't answer that question.

BANFIELD: Lesley, do you want to try? Just how you might react if there is no indictment and would you blame a grand jury or would you be open to looking at the evidence that up until now you haven't been able to see?

MCSPADDEN: Well, my faith is in God and I'm pretty sure there will be an indictment. I'm pretty sure.

BANFIELD: And -

MCSPADDEN: Why wouldn't there be an indictment?

BANFIELD: Well, I feel as though I'm in the dark, but for what people who have been witness to the event have said, and there have been varying accounts. And so the evidence that the grand jury sees is what's really key in all of this and so I'm looking forward to that being made public. But I want to know, if there's no indictment, if there's any kind of evidence that's made public that could ever make you feel that justice did prevail.

MCSPADDEN: I don't even think like that. Like I said, I -- my faith is in God and I'm -- I see an indictment. I don't see anything else. So I don't think anything else.

BANFIELD: Michael, if you had a chance to speak directly to the grand jury, what would you say?

BROWN: Oh, Ashleigh, just (INAUDIBLE) to look over the evidence thoroughly. Take your time. Don't just rush. Because we feel like you have all the evidence that you need to push forward, to have an arrest for this case.

BANFIELD: If there is - and, again, it's anyone's guess as to what that panel will return. But if they don't return an indictment, will you - will you take to the streets and protest?

BROWN: Um, yes. Yes. Yes. Because the fight would not be over. The movement would be - well we -- like I - like we said earlier in our last interview, we understand that our son is gone. But the movement will be that we're trying to make sure that this doesn't happen to anyone else. That no one else has to feel how we feel. So, yes, the protests will carry on.

BANFIELD: And, Lesley, tell me -

BROWN: In a positive manner (ph).

BANFIELD: And that's exactly what I wanted to know. Lesley, tell me what you want to tell the people of Ferguson and beyond who may want to be on the street with you if that, in fact, does happen. What do you want them to do and how do you want them to do it?

MCSPADDEN: Once again, we just want peaceful protesting if that's what they're out there for. Only positive things. Pause, plan and prepare. We don't want anyone acting rational or acting before thinking because it wouldn't be serving us any purpose. It wouldn't do us any good. We're trying to get a message across.

BROWN: Yes.

MCSPADDEN: And that's part of the reason why we're in the U.N. as well.

BANFIELD: Can I also ask the both of you, logistically --

MCSPADDEN: This is something that's been happening for years.

BANFIELD: Can I ask you about the logistics of when the decision comes down? There's been a lot of talk about requests being made from the protesters. They want 48 hours' notice in advance. They want a list of conditions met. Are the authorities working with you, too? Are you being given any kind of care and treatment in when the indictment or non-indictment is announced? Are you being given advanced notice? Are you being taken to a secure location? How are you being treated in all of this?

BROWN: No, it's basically the same with both of us. We're still - we're still in the limelight. We're still dealing with this situation. We haven't heard from anyone, which that I feel that's pretty cruel and unfair, you know, with this - with this type of situation going on. No one really reached out, let us - you know, no hand, no hug, no nothing. Just, you know, basically just deal with it, you know.

MCSPADDEN: Right. No forewarnings on anything.

BROWN: No. So -

MCSPADDEN: So, no.

BROWN: Yes.

MCSPADDEN: No.

BROWN: It's been the same.

BANFIELD: So you two will be learning along with the rest of the public on the day that the grand jury results are handed down, is that correct?

BROWN: Correct.

BANFIELD: Well, I hope we can speak with you further and good luck on your trip. And I really appreciate you taking the time at 6:00 in the evening to come out and speak with us about it. And hopefully we can speak when this decision does come down because I know you'll have a lot to say either way. Thank you to Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown.

MCSPADDEN: Thank you.

BANFIELD: And Daryl Parks, I know, I'm sorry you didn't have an earpiece, so it was - we couldn't do the interview with you, but we appreciate you being there as well. Thanks to all three of you.

MCSPADDEN: Thank you.

BROWN: Thank you.

BANFIELD: Thank you.

I also want to thank our viewers in the United States, but also around the world for joining us for that interview. Much more to come right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BANFIELD: And breaking news out of Washington. The United States military is updating its plans to potentially evacuate the United States embassy in Yemen. This all coming in the wake of rising violence and uncertainty about the security situation in that Middle Eastern country.

I want to bring in our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, who's been following this.

This sounds a bit astounding but for the fact that we've been hearing dribs and drabs about unrest. Why all of a sudden does this sound so much more imminent?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, I have to tell you, Ashleigh, U.S. defense officials are saying they've been watching that situation for several weeks but in the last several days the violence in Yemen has gotten considerably worse, and importantly there has been fighting around the airport in the capital. And when you can't rely on commercial air traffic to get diplomats out, that's when the military begins to watch very carefully. Any request to evacuate the embassy would have to come from the ambassador, the State Department.

That has not yet happened. But the Pentagon, clearly after the disaster in Benghazi a couple of years ago, doesn't wait around. So they now, this week, we are told, are updating evacuation plans in case it comes to that, if the airport is not secure, if the violence continues, if the State Department, if the administration makes the decision to shut the embassy down to evacuate personnel.

They've already had some departure, some drawdown of diplomats there. Officially, the State Department says they have no plans to close the embassy, but everyone is well aware, in the last few days, the violence, especially in the capital, between government forces and rebel forces, has grown more serious.

But here's the problem, Ashleigh, sitting in the middle of all of this, al Qaeda. The al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen is one of the most deadly, one of the most capable of potentially attacking the U.S. It's a big reason the State Department wants to keep the embassy open. If they have to leave, they lose their window into understanding what al Qaeda is up to in that country, any plots against the U.S. This is a mess, a soup of problems for the U.S. right now. The priority is to keep U.S. diplomats safe, but it may become very tough to do that and stay there in the face of the violence.

Ashleigh.

BANFIELD: It's been harrowing to see this plan could involve, you know, U.S. Marines coming in, helicopters stationed on an amphibious warship, you know, off the coast of Yemen. So keep us posted and let us know where they go. It seems to be moving fairly quickly. Barbara Starr, excellent work at the Pentagon, as usual. Thank you.

STARR: Thank you.

BANFIELD: I want to move on to another story now that we're following. It is a big day for the Bush family. George W. Bush speaking about his father, George H.W., and revealing his brand-new book that he wrote about his dad. We are going to take you live to College Station in Texas next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BANFIELD: Some live pictures taking you directly to Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. And I'm sure that you recognize those photos on the dias (ph). In between those flags shortly, you will see Bush 43 speaking to his former chief of staff, Andy Card, about Bush 41, his dad, who somewhere beneath that banner is sitting or will be sitting in the front row alongside Barbara Bush. This is going to be a very touching day, folks, because this is the moment where a son, a president, salutes his father, a president, with a touching memoir about not only the professional accolades that his father has achieved, but also the personal accolades as well.

There's the cover of the book. "A Portrait of My Father," by George W. Bush. By the way, we were just asking about it on the set. How old is George H.W. Bush? He's 90. And he celebrated his 90th birthday in June by jumping out of a plane, because every five years that's just what he does.

It's great to look back at these pictures too because, obviously, you can see an incredibly resemblance. And then you see all the Bush boys and there's an incredible resemblance. But then to hear the personal stories that you never heard when either was in the White House, it's something else as well.

And on this Veterans Day, it's particularly poignant because those are two vets that are going to be up there, folks. There's dad and baby. And clearly, so many years later, both have served their country. If you didn't know this, Bush 41, the dad, flew 58 combat missions for the Navy during World War II. And his son, Bush 43, he was a pilot with the Texas Air National Guard. So it's just a great time for this. It's kind of like America's royalty in a way.

On NBC' "Today" show, Bush 41 told his granddaughter, Jenna, the secret of his parenting success.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNA BUSH: So when you were raising your kids, what type of things did you want for them?

GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER U.S PRESIDENT: I wanted all the best. I wanted them to feel there were no horizons, they could reach for the stars, accomplish stuff. And sure enough, they have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: I wonder how she got that interview?

I want to bring in my colleague, Suzanne Malveaux, a veteran of the Bush 43 press corps, with a preview of today's event.

I bet that makes you all wistful for the days upon end that you stood out on the North Lawn of the White House reporting. Set the stage for what's going on there today, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Ashleigh, it's really interesting to pick up the book and to read this book because there's a lot of stories inside of these - it's like golden nuggets. Things that we used to ask the president and really try to get a deep dive on that he, quite frankly, didn't talk about openly and honestly in a candid way. And those are the stories that we'd really love to share with you because, you know, I covered him for six years, got a chance to interview his father as well, and he talks about the lessons learned, not just what his father did for him, but the lessons learned from his mistakes.

And one of the passages he talks about in his college days as a young college student coming home when he said he drank too much and drove into the neighbor's lawn and hit the trash can and his mother, Barbara, said, you know, your behavior is horrible, go to your father. And he writes this. He says that dad was reading a book, he lowered his book and slid off his reading glasses and stared right at me. Then he put his reading glasses back on, lifted up the book and he said, I felt like a fool. He would let my siblings and me know when we were out of line and he expected us to correct the problem. Eventually we did. He talks about this numerous occasions in the book about his father's unconditional love, that that's what he did for him.

There's another passage, Ashleigh, where he talks about the way his father was affected by the defeat of Bill Clinton.

I'm going to - I'm going to stop now. The program is about to begin. Andy Card is going to be moderating, his former chief of staff. And he's going to talk about the lessons learned from his father. And let's just go ahead and we're going to take a listen. We'll get back to you shortly, Ashleigh.

BANFIELD: OK, Suzanne, thank you. You're actually just behind all those people standing. We can know see the front row seat where George Herbert Walker Bush has just been brought in alongside Barbara Bush and they're taking their front row seats as the program is set to begin.

This is great. As Suzanne was just mentioning, there's a lot of the professional highlights, but also the personal stuff, too. And you're also going to hear about, more than likely, some of his World War II combat. The things he did in the White House, also this unexpected relationship that that man right there, President Bush, developed with the man who succeed him, Bill Clinton. Some very personal anecdotes in this Bush written by - in this book written by his son and then, of course, George Bush, Bush 43, writes about the influence that his dad had on him, and not only that, with regard to policy, like the Iraq War, a country that really plagued both of those administrations.

So as we just get ready for this to get underway, we're going to scoot off to break. But we're going to keep an eye on things for you and you'll see a lot more of it in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)