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Secret Service Security Lapse Raising Questions; Ferguson Police Shooter on Loose as Police Raid House; Carjack Victim Testifies in Boston Bombing Trial; New Photos of Osama bin Laden, Afghanistan Hideout.
Aired March 12, 2015 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Just past the bottom of the hour. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
The new security lapse involving the White House Secret Service raising the question, what's going on inside this agency tasked with protecting the president of the United States? Here's the deal. Two senior agents are now reassigned, under investigation after crashing a government car into a White House barricade. All happened last week, possibly after a night of drinking. One of them, so senior he is a top member of the president's personal protection program, the detail. Neither was arrested, neither given a sobriety test. White House officials telling CNN the president is disappointed. But we'll wait for Homeland Security's investigation to be completed.
I want to talk about this a little bit more with author and journalist, Jeffrey Robinson. He co-wrote "Standing Next to History, An Agent's Life Inside the Secret Service."
Mr. Robinson, welcome back.
JEFFREY ROBINSON, JOURNALIST & AUTHOR: Thank you, always great to see you.
BALDWIN: Lots to talk about, beginning with the fact that one was the president's number-two personal detail guy, which to me says this -- he's very high up the chain.
JEFFREY ROBINSON: Doesn't matter.
BALDWIN: Why?
ROBINSON: Doesn't matter. If he was drunk, he needs to be fired.
BALDWIN: He needs to be fired?
ROBINSON: He needs to be fired. The other guy in the car, if he was drunk, needs to be fired. The reason why is very simple. The Secret Service is a great organization. As you know, I have enormous --
BALDWIN: Huge respect. ROBINSON: Yeah, huge respect for the men and women who do a fantastic job. But there is no room for a mistake. Because we know what a mistake looks like, November, Dallas, '63. That's a mistake. This was a prelude to a mistake. And Joseph Clancy, who is now director of the Secret Service, this is his first big challenge. He either puts his stamp on the Secret Service and says discipline matters or he has lost it.
BALDWIN: There's been criticism. Now as this new leader of this agency, he has yet to come forward and say anything, instead, you know, "The Washington Post" broke this wide open. And then there's been criticism that he should perhaps not be chief if he came from within? Is it better to have someone from the outside? What do you make of those criticisms?
ROBINSON: First of all, you can't have someone from the outside.
BALDWIN: Why?
ROBINSON: Because the Secret Service is a special organization and people from the outside don't understand the culture or mission. You need to come up through those ranks in order to do it.
Listen, the chief of Naval Operations is a carrier pilot and a submariner, and that's a reason why that you come up through the organization to run it.
BALDWIN: But is there not something -- forgive me for interrupting -- an issue with the culture.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBINSON: Ah, yes.
BALDWIN: Look at this litany. 2012, the soliciting of prostitutes in Colombia. March 14th, three agents sent home after one agent passed out drunk in an Amsterdam hotel. September of this past year, White House fence jumper makes it to the East Room. I have a list, I could keep going.
ROBINSON: Yes.
BALDWIN: There seems to be some problem with the culture.
ROBINSON: The culture changed right after 9/11. When the Bush administration -- and it wasn't President Bush himself. It was the administration and certainly the Neo-Cons who were building a big national security force, took it out of Treasury -- the Secret Service was traditionally in Treasury since 1865 -- and put it in Homeland Security. And Treasury is a very special organization. There was an enormous amount of special pride. Budget was not a problem. Put it in Homeland Security and now it's just one of a number of departments who are fighting for budget and fighting for attention. Huge mistake. And it's from that point that you can trace the decline of the Secret Service. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration's Secret Service was the gold standard. What needs to happen is they've got to go back to that gold standard of discipline, of pride, and of proximity. You don't see that with the president today. You don't see proximity. Reagan had Secret Service guys on his shoulder all the time. Obama doesn't.
BALDWIN: So you say, depending on the outcome of this investigation, these two agents, you know, heads should roll?
ROBINSON: Absolutely.
BALDWIN: And what about the fact that when this happened on White House grounds, you had this initial officer, this eye witness, who saw this. He wanted to administration the breathalyzer, et cetera, et cetera, all this protocol, and his supervisor came along and said no.
ROBINSON: Supervisor's head has to roll, as well. No tolerance. Sorry. This is the prelude to a tragedy. And you cannot tolerate this. And if Clancy doesn't handle this properly, with enormous amount of zero tolerance, then he's going to have to leave also, because it's just not going to work.
BALDWIN: Jeffrey Robinson, thank you.
ROBINSON: Always great to see.
BALDWIN: We appreciate it very much.
Coming up next, we got to take you back to our breaking news here. Two police officers shot in Ferguson, Missouri. Right now, the manhunt is under way to find the suspect or suspects, as we hear more about this house that has been raided today. What did they find? Who did they find? We'll take you there live next.
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BALDWIN: Michael Brown's family is now responding to this latest outbreak of violence in Ferguson, Missouri. And a manhunt is under way after these two police officers were shot overnight. This happened after protesters took to the streets, all in response to the resignation presumably of the police chief there in Ferguson. Michael Brown's parents issued a statement condemning the shooting of these two officers who have been released from the hospital and called it "senseless."
Let me read you part of their statement that we have, quote, "We reject any kind of violence directed towards members of law enforcement. It cannot be tolerated. We must work together to bring peace to our communities."
CNN's Victor Blackwell is live from Ferguson with more.
I should also point out, we did hear from Attorney General Eric Holder Victor, just this past hour, referring to this as "heinous, cowardly acts." He unequivocally condemns the repugnant attacks and wants to throw federal resources into any investigation there in Ferguson. Tell me what you know. VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very strong word, as you said,
from the attorney general, saying that this was not someone who wanted to bring harmony to this community. He called this person a "damn punk," and that "damn punk," in the attorney general's words, that's the person they're still looking for.
We can tell you, of course, about that tactical operation this morning that happened at a home in Ferguson. We can tell you that the latest we just received from St. Louis County Police Department is that two men and one woman who were inside that home that officers went into are still being questioned. No arrests in relation to that tactical operation. They are not in custody but still being questioned by St. Louis County investigators. But not just state authorities, local authorities, as well, but there will be federal resources, as you said, pouring into this investigation.
Shell casings from this area had been collected by investigators. We know from St. Louis County police that they believe a handgun was used based on the injuries and based on statements from witnesses. But they have not yet determined if the shell casings collected were from the gun that was used to shoot these two officers.
And, Brooke, before I come back to you, I think as we have this larger conversation for people who are dipping in and out throughout the day, it's important to remind them of the conditions and these two officers themselves. We have this 32-year-old officer from Webster Groves Department, who was a seven-year veteran, who was shot just above his right cheek, below the eye. That bullet is still lodged in his -- right behind his ear. We have that also 41-year-old veteran who had been 14 years on the force with St. Louis County Police Department. That bullet going into the shoulder, out through the back. According to the police department, both have been treated and released from a local hospital, so some indication of their conditions. But prayers from the president, the Senators here, the governor. Governor Nixon released a statement as investigators continue to look for the person or persons responsible.
BALDWIN: Prayers all around. As Eric Holder mentioned, he has his own brother in law enforcement, and law enforcement should deserve to get to go home at night.
Victor Blackwell, thanks.
Next, we'll share some emotional testimony in the trial of accused Boston bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Today, the man who was carjacked by the Tsarnaev brothers, what he told them, and how he managed to escape.
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BALDWIN: Hard to believe two years ago, I was in Boston covering the hours that led up to the capture of the Boston bombing suspects. You're about to hear from the man who those brothers carjacked.
But first, a reminder of what it was like as that standoff unfolded live. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We heard three big booms and multiple gunshots.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like a ton of gunshots and then like boom, boom, like three big bangs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My home and it's scary to think of your home as like a war zone.
UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: What we're looking for right now is a suspect consistent with the description of suspect number two.
UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: We're asking people to shelter in place, in other words, to stay indoors with their doors locked and not to open the door for anyone other than a properly identified law enforcement officer.
UNIDENTIFIED ANCHOR: We are getting new details on breaking news from the Boston area, that shooting of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A police officer was shot.
(GUNSHOTS)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Police say the suspects shot and killed, an MIT police officer, 26-year-old, Sean Collier. They then carjacked a man at gunpoint. Police chased down the suspects in the stolen car.
UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: During the course of that pursuit, several explosive devices were discharged from the car at the police officers. In the exchange of the gunfire we believe that one of the suspects was struck.
UNIDENTIFIED UNCLE OF DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV: I say, Dzhokhar, if you alive, turn yourself in.
UNIDENTIFIED ANCHOR: We do have new information. They do have him cornered right now.
BLITZER: They have who cornered.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have the suspect. They believe it is the suspect.
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We heard what appeared to be several shots that sound different than the flash bang. I've heard one of those before and it distinctively sounded different. It was definitely shots being fired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm told from a Boston police source that they have a suspect cornered in a backyard of a home. ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, A.C. 360: What started about 23 hours ago now
seems to be finally over. The last suspect being searched for by police, according to the Boston Police Department, that suspect is now in custody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Two years ago, just about.
And Alexandra Field is covering this trial for us. She's live in Boston.
I'll never forget it. During the manhunt, it was eerie. It was eerie on Boston streets. I know today we heard from the carjacking victim, the owner of that SUV that the brothers stole. What did he say?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, this was one of the most harrowing stories of wrong place at the wrong time that you'll ever hear. Dun Meng was talking about how he became involved in this nationwide manhunt. He said that he was just out for a drive in his car. He had pulled over to respond to a text message when he says Tamerlan Tsarnaev shows up at his passenger side window. He lowers the window, thinking this is somebody who is going to ask him a question. Instead, he says Tamerlan reaches in, unlocks the door, jumps in, puts a gun to his head and robs him of his $45 and insists that he drive. The two continue to drive for about 20 minutes before Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, following in a sedan, gets in the car with them. And, Brooke, Meng testifies that Tamerlan, at one point, says to him, "Do you know about the Boston Marathon bombings? I did it. I just killed a police officer." He said they also had conversations in which Tamerlan said to him, "I'm Muslim. Muslims hate Americans." Meng says he responded by saying, "I'm Chinese. Chinese are very friendly with Muslims." He says that another point, Tamerlan asks him, "Do you think all white people look alike? Will you be able to remember my face?" And Meng insists he would not be able to remember his face. At one point, they all stop at an ATM and Meng says that is when Dzhokhar got out of the car, took Meng's ATM car and withdrew cash.
While all of this is going on, Brooke, Meng says that his roommates are wondering where he is, so they are calling him, texting him, and he receives a text message saying, "It's dangerous out there. Where are you? Come home." This is what's going on as he's in the car with both of the Tsarnaevs -- Brooke?
BALDWIN: And ultimately, he escapes, and we know how the rest of it ended up there in Watertown.
Alexandra Field, thank you so much for the latest on the trial in Boston.
Coming up next, never-before-seen photos of terror mastermind, Osama bin Laden, and his Tora Bora hideout, the place where he plotted the 9/11 attacks. Walls filled with books and stacked on top of grenades. We have these unbelievable photos I want to share with you, coming up next. And plus, more on our breaking news out of Ferguson, Missouri. Urgent manhunt for the person or persons who shot those two police officers in Ferguson. New details about this raid inside a home nearby. What did they find?
We'll be right back.
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BALDWIN: New photos show Osama bin Laden and his Afghanistan hideout years before he would plan the 9/11 attacks. These photographs were introduced as evidence in this federal terrorism trial here in New York. And they were taken actually back in 1996 by a journalist who was offered the interview by a bin Laden lieutenant. It was before the al Qaeda leader was placed on the FBI's most-wanted list.
And Anderson Cooper talked to terrorism analyst and expert, Peter Bergen, one of the few journalists to have met bin Laden in person. He described why these pictures are so extraordinary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: The series of pictures we're seeing for the first time are the only -- I mean, as far as I can tell, it's the first time we've actually seen the hideout where bin Laden lived in such detail. The hideout that, of course, was destroyed by U.S. bombs a few weeks after 9/11. I've gone up to that area. You know, all of that bin Laden compound was completely bombed out. So it's a different picture. This -- and, of course, at the time, Anderson, when he was -- you know, these pictures were taken, there was a lot of stuff in the future that we didn't know, 9/11, the embassy attacks, et cetera.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: A New Jersey woman knows no limits. Despite having cerebral palsy, she's now educating the world about her condition through laughter. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her story in today's "Human Factor."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAYSOON ZAYID, COMEDIAN: Mom, you're not going to hit a disabled child, are you?
(LAUGHTER)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Comedian Maysoon Zayid has cerebral palsy, an incurable neurological disorder that affects body movement, leaving some patients confined to a wheelchair, but not Maysoon.
ZAYID: I learned how to walk because my dad taught me how by putting my feet on his feet and just walking. And my parents also sent me to dancing school. I could hold on to the dance bar and that's how I learned to hold up my body to stand up.
GUPTA: Her parents also used other non-traditional methods like piano lessons to help her increase her dexterity.
ZAYID: Those piano classes enabled me to type and tweet.
GUPTA: Maysoon still dances and does yoga.
ZAYID: Before I started doing yoga, the resting position of my arms was this. It was nearly impossible to flex them and to relax them. And doing yoga has allowed me to have so much more coordination.
GUPTA: Maysoon has never let cerebral palsy stand in her way. She has headlined popular clubs, co-founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival. And at a TED talk in 2013, Maysoon even proved that comedy is a universal language.
ZAYID: I've got 99 problems and palsy is just one.
(LAUGHTER)
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
