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President Obama And Raul Castro Meet At Summit In Panama; The Capitol On Lockdown; South Carolina's SLED Meets With Unidentified Passenger In Walter Scott's Car, Brutal Police Beating Caught On Camera; Tornadoes Ravage Midwest; Hillary Clinton To Make It Official Tomorrow; Aired 3-4p ET

Aired April 11, 2015 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:22] POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: Three o'clock Eastern here in the CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. And we begin with breaking news on Capitol Hill.

Right now, there's been a shooting incident at the capitol. The capitol is on lockdown while police continue to investigate.

Sunlen Serfaty joins me now from Washington. We've been monitoring this for about the last 45 minutes. What do we know at this point?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Poppy, the U.S. capitol police now confirming that this was suicide. Spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider saying in a statement that it was self-inflicted gunshot by neutralized subject.

This happened on the west front of the U.S. capitol building. That's the side of the capitol that faces the mall. But this situation is still ongoing because the entire capitol complex including the capitol billing itself and the capitol visitors' center, that is still on lockdown. Capitol police say they are still continuing to investigate a suspicious package. They say this is related to that incident. But members of Congress, they are still out on recess. So likely not many members were inside at the time, and they are not due back into Washington until Monday. It's a weekend. Many staffers were not inside at the time, but congressional staff, Poppy, they did receive a message from the capitol police that they -- if they were in the capitol building, they should shelter in place - Poppy.

HARLOW: Just so I understand correctly, the people that were inside the capitol and those outside wanting to get in, still at this point cannot move inside or out?

SERFATY: That's right. The whole capitol complex is on lockdown, even though this shooter, suspected shooter has been neutralized by how they describe self-inflicted gunshot wound because of that suicide. But they say it's still on lockdown because they are also investigating a suspicious package, but important to note they are saying it is related to this other incident.

The whole capitol complex including the capitol building and importantly the capitol visitors' center. You know, Poppy, this is a time of high tourism in Washington, D.C. The cherry blossom festival brings a lot of people, the city packed with people that's close to the capitol visitors center. And a lot of people are coming to see the iconic view of the national mall. Of course, we're kept at bay once the incident started to unfold a couple of hours ago - Poppy.

HARLOW: All right. Thank you so much, Sunlen. Keep us posted as soon as you know more and as soon as they lift the lockdown there at the capitol. Appreciate it.

Also this hour, Cuban president Raul Castro apologizing to President Obama today at the summit of Americas taking place in Panama. The Cuban leader used a form to rail against more than 50 years of official animosity from the United States and other nations. He then later apologized for his bluntness and said, he gets passionate when speaking of the Cuban revolution. He added, quote, "President Obama bears no responsibility for any of this."

Our Sashta Darlington joins us live from Panama City right.

Sashta, this is fascinating. I wasn't even there to see it, but just to read the transcriptions of what the president said and what Raul Castro had to say, what do you make of this choice of words, calling out the United States and then specifically saying that this is no fault of the president?

SASHTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is fascinating, Poppy. I think there are couple things that we are seeing here. On the one hand, we saw some real classic Raul Castro. He has got kind of biting wit, so he started off actually saying, listen, I'm not going to use just the eight allotted minutes that everybody else gets because you excluded Cuba from the past summits. I'm going to go on for a while.

And that's what he did. And we went into the classic anti-American sentiment, you've invaded Latin America, you propped up cruel dictators. But as you said, he turned to President Obama, looked him in the eye, and said, but I apologize, President, this is not your fault. I don't blame you. And he said, he thought that Obama was an honest man, someone who should be supported.

What I think we're also seeing here is a strategy. Cuba has been at a war of words with the United States for over half a century. And so he's got to separate that country that they've been at war with for so many years from the man that he's negotiating with. This is as much for his people as it is for the world to see. He has to justify what he's doing. And I really think we're seeing this play out on the world stage. Yes, there's that United States that propped up all these dictators, but there's also this man who does not represent that.

HARLOW: Right. And the president saying among other things in the remarks today, among other things, the United States will not be imprisoned by the past, clearly indicating more of a shift in the relationship between the United States and Cuba. We know President Obama is going to hold this news conference in just a few hours. What is highly anticipated is whether or not he's going to announce that the U.S. is officially removed Cuba from the list of countries of sponsored terrorism. Any word on that front? [15:05:06] DARLINGTON: No word so far, Poppy, but you are right.

This is very important. And it's in some ways the biggest stumbling block to sort of advancing negotiations at this point. You know, we saw the handshake. That, of course, was the historic moment that we've all been waiting and watching for. But it was an informal encounter. And, really, White House officials told CNN's Jim Acosta that what we expect today is kind of a pull aside. It won't be a substantial as a bilateral meeting, but a moment for the two leaders to interact and talk about important issues. We have also heard from White House officials that coming soon will be that announcement that Cuba is being taken off the list of countries sponsored terrorism. So that could be exactly what comes out of this. We'll have to wait and see, Poppy.

HARLOW: Yes, we will, but still, what a historic moment. The largest meeting between U.S. and Cuban leaders since 1959 when then vice President Nixon met with Fidel Castro. So quite a significant moment. Those pictures will be circulating for a long time to come.

Sashta Darlington, thank you so much. We'll get back to you as we await the press conference with the president.

We do want to take you to South Carolina now where Walter Scott, the man fatally shot in the back by a police officer one week ago today is being laid to rest. His flag draped casket was carried into the Summerville, South Carolina church this morning. The service the open to the public. Family members followed, embracing, and crying. After the service, South Carolina representative Jim Clyburn said a few words about Scott's life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JIM CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: The first time he was put in jail for failure to pay his child support, he was working on a $35,000 a year job. But he lost that job when he was incarcerated and went over the deep end because he was not able. He said it was the best job he had.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Meanwhile, South Carolina state law enforcement division met with the unidentified passenger, the person who was sitting in the car with Scott last week right before he was shot and killed, you just see him, that passenger in the video, the passenger has not yet been named, and also was released without any charges.

Let's go straight to our Martin Savidge. He joins me now in Summerville, South Carolina.

I know Martin, you were inside this morning. What was it like?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: First of all, there were more people that showed up for this funeral than could possibly get inside. The body of the church holds about 300 people. There were well beyond that. A lot of people stood under an awning. It was raining here at the time. Glimpsing through the front doors of the church, they just wanted to be able to say that they were here. They just felt that their presence here was that important.

It was a police escort that was given to the hearse as it made its way here. Some may find that ironic, but it is part of the bridge building that the mayor promised in trying to provide the family everything they need at this terrible, terrible time.

And one of those who spoke inside poignantly was Scott's brother, Anthony Scott, and he said God had selected his brother as a candidate for change for America. And the other one who spoke was the pastor of the church. He was more direct. He said that Walter's death was motivated by racial prejudice. It was, he later said, that an act of overt racism, but the theme of the service was talking about change, and that change must be the final epitaph, if you will, of the death of Walter Scott. Now the burial begins, and this will eventually be the end of the day of mourning for him - Poppy.

HARLOW: Martin, what's the sense that you get there being in the community? You know, you hear those words from the pastor, that you just told us about, how does this community come together after something like this?

SAVIDGE: Well, the community is still watching. You know, of course, we have not seen violence. There have been protests, but no violence here. Despite the fact that, of course, you're witnessing on that video a shocking and horrific death. And I think the reason that so far you have not seen problems is that immediately it was announced you got an officer under arrest charged with murder. That does not normally happen in the state of South Carolina in the minds of many people in minority communities. What they will be watching for is what comes next. There have been officers charged before. They have not been convicted before.

HARLOW: Right.

SAVIDGE: This is just the beginning as many say.

HARLOW: It is. And before I let you go, Marty, I'm wondering if we heard anything from the family of the officer, Officer Slager?

SAVIDGE: Yes, Michael Slager. A number of things, first of all, you know, he's held in the county jail. He is being held in isolation for his own safety. His wife and his mother were able to visit with him. We are told yesterday, a visitation that took place between glass. You can get a pretty good idea, most people have seen that sort of thing. But it was an opportunity for them to see their husband, see their son. And clearly, a difficult time for them as well. And that has been stated by the mayor. Two families are suffering here as a result of one horrific event.

[15:10:07] HARLOW: Martin Savidge live for us in South Carolina. Marty, thank you very much.

Coming up, We are going to talk more about this.

Also, who was the person in the car in the passenger seat with Walter Scott? Also, how could his account of what happened affect the case? Our panel discusses next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:13:51] HARLOW: A week after Walter Scott was fatally shot by a North Charleston police officer, there are still many questions about what exactly happened during the Officer Michael Slager's traffic stop.

Let's discuss with what we know. Bernard Kerik joins me now. He is a former New York City police commissioner, also author of "From Jailer to Jail." Also with us, criminal defense attorney Mark Schamel who represented an off-duty officer in another shooting investigation.

Thank you, gentlemen, both for being here.

Bernard, let me start with you. Let's take a look at some of the dash camera video that we have, and let's pull up it as we discuss it. What does this tell you about Officer Slager's mindset at the time. Because at the beginning it seems very routine, pulling him over for a buster taillight, asking for license, registration, et cetera. Anything stand out to you?

BERNARD KERIK, AUTHOR, FROM JAILER TO JAIL: No. Based on what I see on the camera, no. Nothing stands out. Seemed like a normal stop.

HARLOW: Because, Harry Houck, another former police officer had said that when you see Scott run away, that the officer should not have even chased him. That he believes he should have just let him go and then, you know, go from there. Do you agree with the assessment, he shouldn't have chased him when he ran?

[15:15:011] KERIK: Well, thing is, you don't know -- I don't know what the circumstances was, and maybe the other -- maybe the detective did. I understand there was another person in the car. You want to keep the car secure. You want to keep the other person secure if there's another person in the car. You have a radio. You could radio to other units that are in the nearby area to look for the suspect. You know, it appears based on that video that his life was not in danger.

HARLOW: Right.

KERIK: That, you know, there was no imminent threat of deadly force. Based on what I've seen. I haven't seen all the evidence, but base on what I see, that's what I believe.

HARLOW: Mark, to you. Look, one defense attorney on CNN said yesterday that the defense attorneys are going to use this by saying this happened in the heat of the moment. This was a moment of passion. And that is what they are going to bank on for their case to try to get manslaughter charges over murder charges.

How strong a case do they have on that front given the fact what we don't have video of is the altercation, any sort of struggle between the two. MARK SCHAMEL, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think that's the problem

you have with this case for the defense perspective representing the officer is all you see is what happens after there's this sort of struggle. When the gentleman who is videotaping comes up on scene, he gets the -- what appears to be the end of the struggle, you see a gentleman running and the officer, seems to be in a cold calculated way, stop, take aim, and take shots. He's not chasing him.

But the law here is very clear, I think, you cannot shoot a fleeing felon. You certainly cannot shoot a fleeing misdemeanor. And I guess the question is, what happened beforehand? And so, what I think the defense is really going to have to do is focus this back to what we don't see in the video. What was going on, why he felt in danger. It's going to be tough.

HARLOW: Right. Bernard, do you -- this obviously brings front and center the issue of body cameras. You would know so much more if a body camera were on. Because, again, the bystander that filmed part of it did not capture all of it. Do you believe this goes to the argument that body cameras worn by police officers across the country should be mandatory?

KERIK: Well, I think this is probably one of the best arguments I have seen as of late because we would be able to tell a lot more. The other thing is, as mark just mentioned, you know, we don't know what happened in those early moments. That's not to say that there's not video off the dash cam. That's not to say that the authorities don't have something more. They may. They may not.

At the end of the day, I think the, you know, it's going to be interesting to hear what happened, and if they have video, to see what happened in those early minutes. But I have to tell you, as a cop that's -- I've been in this business 35 years. I've been involved in gun battles. I just don't see the justification for the shooting.

HARLOW: Yes.

Mark, in temples of the lawyer for the offer, this is the first attorney representing him, and then withdrew himself. So this attorney is saying that he has not received the cooperation from law enforcement that he says the media has. That he has not gotten documents that he's requested. What does that tell you about his defense?

SCHAMEL: That does not tell you much about the defense. I think it tells you this is - I mean, here we are on a Saturday afternoon, talking about this case on national television. This is a very highly charged case. The prosecutor thinks that they probably have a pretty slam dunk case based on a couple seconds of video that we have. The last thing they want to do is put themselves in position where they are going to lose the case. So they are going to be very careful, very deliberate and probably very slow in turning over that evidence. And I think that's what the second defense attorney is talking about.

It sort of an interesting situation how he had one counsel who came out and made all these statements and then, you know, posted on his website, I no longer represent this officer, and now we have a second officer -- second defense attorney who is saying not getting anything from the government.

So I think the government is going to have to get ducks in a row. They should do nothing with the press. They don't want to do anything to screw up their case. They want to turn over all the evidence. They don't want to get caught in any discovery violations. They just want to put it out there because this is going to be a tough case for the defense. They don't want to give any openings.

[15:19:31] HARLOW: All right. Gentlemen, stay with me. Thank you for that. And I do want your take on another case, just incredibly shocking and disturbing video. We are going to talk about this brutal police beating, all caught on camera. That's a camera in a news helicopter capturing this, take place in California. The victim's attorney says this is worse than the Rodney King beating.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:23:37] HARLOW: Well, as we cover the fallout from the videotape shooting of Walter Scott in South Carolina, there is now another police video sparking outrage. This, in California. The video shot by a news helicopter shows deputies repeatedly punching and kicking a suspect, many, many times. That suspect now has a lawyer, and he's calling his client's beating worse than Rodney King's.

Here is Stephanie Elam.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here's the pursuit.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is a police chase that looks like something out of the wild west.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have this guy on a stolen horse.

ELAM: This 30-year-old Francis Pusok attempting to outrun law enforcement on the back of a stolen horse in the rural part of San Bernardino County. At NBC (ph) helicopter was recording as the bizarre chase end when the horse bucked the suspect.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Suspect being tased.

ELAM: And sheriffs' deputies attempt to tase him. Then as deputy gets closer, Pusok appears to surrender, lying face down on the ground before putting hands behind his back. That does not stop the officers from mobbing around Pusok, kicking him in the groin and in the head, before kneeing him and landing punch after punch on his body. It is a beating that lasts about two minutes with ten officers involved. All of whom are now on paid administrative leave.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody should go to prison over this.

What I saw on the television was thugs beating up my client. That's what I saw. And these questions about what was he doing? What did they do? This is far worse than Rodney King.

[15:25:10] ELAM: San Bernardino sheriff John McMahon has ordered an immediate internal investigation. The specialized investigation detail is also conducting a criminal investigation as well.

SHERIFF JOHN MCMAHON, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: I am disturbed and troubled by what I see in the video. It does not appear to be in line with our policies and procedures, at least a portion of it. I asked that you allow us to conduct that investigation, and I assure you, if there's criminal wrong doing on the part of any of our deputy sheriffs or any policy violations, we will take action.

ELAM: The sheriff's department says deputies were attempting to serve Pusok with a search warrant related to an identity theft investigation when he first fled in a car, then abandoned it running in the desert to steal a horse and take off. In total, a chase that went off for some three hours.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not going to stand here and say that he's perfect because who is?

ELAM: Pusok's girlfriend of 13 years believes the officers went too far.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They beat the crap out of him, and now they are trying to do everything they can to avoid them being in any trouble.

ELAM: In trouble in an era where police tactics are under intense public scrutiny.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Stephanie Elam, thank you for that.

Also, this video has now led the FBI to open a civil rights investigation into the case.

Let's discuss this as well with our panel, joining me again, former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik and criminal defense attorney Mark Schamel.

Bernard, when you look at how many times this suspect was kicked, 17 times, punched 37 times, hit with a baton four times, that's what KNBC is reporting, is there any possible explanation for that kind of abuse of someone?

KERIK: Not from what I saw. I mean, I just -- this is the first time I've seen the video, but it's clear that the suspect surrendered. The suspect put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed. The fight's over. Should have been handcuffed, picked up, put in the car and taken off.

Anything that happened from what I've seen after he put hands behind his back to surrender, in my opinion, is not in compliance with policies, rules, and the law when it comes to affecting an arrest like this. HARLOW: What does this tell us about training? You know, when we

talked about cases in the past, it has brought up the issue of police training, right? And we've seen a change, for example, right here in New York City to police training. Does this, Bernard, tell you that something at the forefront has to happen?

KERIK: Well, there's a couple issues here. One is training. Two is supervision and accountability. First line supervisors, were there first line supervisors on the scene? There were an awful lot of people there. I don't know who they were. But this is something that I have to look at by the sheriff. And I think that at the end of the day, let the investigation take its course. I'm sure there's a grand jury investigation. But, you know, by all accounts from what I just saw, I don't think the use of force was justified.

HARLOW: Yes.

Mark, as a defense attorney here, when you look at this case, you heard the attorney for the man who was beaten coming out and saying, these were thugs beating up my client. What do you go after right now? Do you go after this individual police officers? Do you go after the department as a whole? What is in the best interest of his client?

SCHAMEL: Well, it's an interesting question. You know, and Bernie knows this better than I do having been on the job for 30 years. Being a police officer is a really hard job. And it is really difficult and it is really stressful. But part of what they are paid to do and part of what they are trained to do is to not lose their cool. And when you have a three hour chase, you know, these guys are upset, they are exhausted, they are frustrated, and I sort of agree with what he said. You know, he said this is worse than Rodney King.

In this situation, forget the number of blows, none of blows that I saw in the video that you just showed are justified. There's not a single training manual that I've seen in any police department in the state or the federal government, any place across the country, that permits a police officer to kick somebody in the face, period. They are not permitted -- police officers are not allowed to beat people up. They are allowed to restrain people, they are allowed to take control of the situation. They use force only when necessary to control somebody, and they looked like they are out of control.

HARLOW: Mark, this brings back up the issue of police body cameras. I'll ask you. We can see what we can from the aerial view from that chopper camera. What we can't see is what it was like on the ground. So we can't hear, for example, what was said. Do you believe that this brings to the forefront the necessity for body cameras on all officers required?

[15:30:06] SCHAMEL: I'm adamantly in support of body cameras. I think body cams will clear good police officers. And good police officers and good law enforcement personnel are out there doing their job properly. I think body cameras will exonerate them.

But I think it is also going to weed out a lot of the people that just not up to snuff that don't have what it takes to do this difficult job. And, you know, I know you can't hear it, but, frankly, unless he's saying, I have a bomb or I'm about to shoot you with some invisible gun, they don't have a basis to do what they did. They are only allowed to use force when necessary. And the force has to be proportional and it has to be justified.

And here, he's spread eagle. They have tazed him. He's flat on his stomach in the desert. He doesn't seem to have any weapons. I don't think there's anything he could and I think there is anything you would see in a body camera different than what you get from that video.

Will it help him, you know, as a defense attorney to clear his client from riding on a stolen horse and, you know, evading service, and fleeing and all the other charges? Maybe. You know, maybe he says, I knew these guys were out to get me. They were crazy. They were going to hurt me. I was just scared for myself. And that's why I did what I did. But it's sort of two things, right? I mean, one is, did he commit the underlying crime? And then it is what happened here with these police officers?

HARLOW: Right. Gentlemen, thank you very much, Mark and Bernard. I appreciate it.

Coming up next, we are going to take a quick break and talk about the absolute destruction from tornados in the Midwest. We're going to take you to the worst hit tornado area where one survivor lost her home, but got the help she needed with a simple Facebook request.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[15:35:59] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Bleep)! He's over, he's over. Call 911. Go, go!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Can you imagine seeing that? And now you're looking at the aftermath of a monster tornado so powerful it flipped a semi-truck, and at least 14 deadly twisters ripped through the Midwest yesterday, ravaging towns, shredding buildings, leaving two people dead, two women, neighbors died in their homes as the twister devastated a small town, the town of Fairdale, whose rated an ef-4 by the national weather service. That is the second most powerful rating for tornado, winds gusting up to 200 miles per hour.

And Nick Valencia is on the ground there in the community.

Nick, those pictures, areas are just flattened. It's pretty incredible that --

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely.

HARLOW: Incredible only two people died in all of this. VALENCIA: It is absolutely incredible. Those two people that you

were talking about respectively 67 and 69 years old, rescue found out early today, they were best friends. They had breakfast every morning together at a local diner we are eating at earlier. Just very heart breaking. And when you talk to residents here, this is what they are dealing with now, more than 24 hours later. This was used to be a tree that stood very tall here. This house, one of the - ones that got the least damage if you can believe that. The tornado ripped through here, just the back end, and came towards this welding shop. This shop here, we will talk about that story in just a little bit.

But to Lauren Hinche's (ph) story. I interviewed one survivor of this tornado who lost everything. Her house leveled by the EF-4 tornado, so she took to Facebook this morning to vent her frustrations, and asked for help. And what she found out was that even in tragedy there's always someone to lend a helping hand.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a friend's camper coming in.

VALENCIA (voice-over): A day after her home was destroyed, Lauren Hinche (ph) found help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Family, friends, I'm a schoolteacher, so a lot of schoolteachers came out for us today.

VALENCIA: On Friday morning, word quickly spread on social media her home in Illinois was one of the dozens leveled by an ef-4 tornado.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said, hey, we're fine, but this is what we need, and, you know, people just came out this morning.

VALENCIA: One by one, neighbors, family, and friends all showed up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're here to pick up. It is a wonderful thing in all of these people can help.

VALENCIA: Some with gifts.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, I had a port-a-potty here before I knew it. I had containers and trailers.

VALENCIA: Others to help her pick up priceless possessions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know, my heart rip. I was seeing that in the garage, like, please, be OK, please be OK. Between that and my running shoes, that's what I was worried about.

VALENCIA: Everyone seemed to show up with something.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tons of foods donated. So if you are hungry, please stop and get something.

VALENCIA: Her small farmhouse maybe uninhabitable for now, but even she has plans to rebuild. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it's probably kind of for now because

obviously, it has the roof's still -- I mean, there's something on top.

VALENCIA: Hinche (ph) was not home at the time of the tornado, but her husband was.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long have you been here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About 17 years, 18 years I guess.

VALENCIA: Long enough to form some pretty strong bonds with people who want to help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty neat, really.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: So many people going through the recovery process and still grieving, trying to picking up the pieces, and that's exactly what Jeremy (INAUDIBLE) is doing. He was actually, Poppy, in this truck, is that right? When the tornado hit? Your whole family with you, even your one and a half-year-old daughter. Tell me what was that like?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was -- it was terrifying. I don't know how else to put that.

VALENCIA: You told me you just had a couple of seconds before you shut the door and that tornado ripped right over you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. We were -- I actually shut the door just as the roof came off.

VALENCIA: Now, you were standing around here, I really appreciate you inviting us on to the business property. And then you look at this, and, I mean, this used to be your welding shop. This used to be your workplace, and I understand you guys don't have insurance?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, only about 3,000 worth. That's not -- that's not going to put it dent in it.

VALENCIA: What can people do to help you out, Jeremy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we got a go fund me. I can't remember of the name of it to be honest.

VALENCIA: What do you guys need right now mostly? I mean, what is going on with the community right now? What's next for you guys?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rebuild. See if we can find different another place or rebuild this. I don't really know.

VALENCIA: I know. I mean, doesn't mean much from a stranger, but our thoughts with you, man, and you know, we are just glad you made it out. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

VALENCIA: That's Jeremy (INAUDIBLE), one of the Fairdale residents here. This is a tight-knit community, Poppy. When a devastation like this hits a place like this, it affects everyone. And you see that, you saw that in the sadness in Jeremy's face. It's a really tough time for the community here. Still trying to understand, make sense of what happened here, a place that's not used to get tornados - Poppy.

[15:40:13] HARLOW: Nick, do me a favor, if you could when you are on the ground there, find out from Jeremy and his friends what the name is of that go fund me page. If you could tweet it, I will tweet it out as well so people that are watching to see what he went through only $3,000 of insurance, that's not going to rebuild. They need all the help they can get. We'll tweet it out so anyone watching can help, if you would like.

Nick Valencia, thank you very much. And if you want to know other ways to help those affected by these absolutely devastating tornados, go to CNN.com/impact, a long list there of ways that you can help.

Well, less than 24 hours from now, Hillary Clinton makes it official. Big shocker, right? She will be in the race. Her first move as a candidate for the White House in 2016. We'll talk about it next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:44:36] HARLOW: Guess who is making headlines this week? Hillary Clinton, all eyes on her, that is for sure. The former secretary of state expected to launch her second bid for the White House tomorrow with a video message. She's doing it online. It's expected on social media. She will then immediately hit the road to go to the state where her 2008 campaign ran aground, Iowa where she came in third.

CNN correspondent Sunlen Serfaty has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[15:45:00] HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm back!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

SERFATY (voice-over): A new version of Hillary Clinton when she hits the campaign trail. Less of this --

CLINTON: Thank you so much.

SERFATY: And more of this.

CLINTON: Looking forward to coming and having a conversation with a few people.

SERFATY: The campaign's expected new strategy places Clinton is smaller, more intimate settings, intended to try to highlight her softer side each day and avoid the perception of inevitability that dogged her and led to her defeat in 2008.

CLINTON: Good to see you.

SERFATY: Central to that new pitch, a focus on Hillary Clinton, the person, to have aiming to reintroduce herself not as a former first lady, not as a former senator or secretary of state, but as a grandmother.

CLINTON: I have to say I'm still kind of in the grandmother glow six months in. It's better than any spa treatment. I highly recommend it. And I suppose it's only fair to say don't you someday want to see a woman president of the United States of America?

SERFATY: She's already coming in bruised, controversy swirling over her use of a private e-mail server while secretary of state.

CLINTON: Looking back? It would have been better for me to use two separate phones and two email accounts. I thought using one device would be simpler, and, obviously, it has not worked out that way.

SERFATY: And her trustworthiness, taking a hit. A Quinnipiac poll out this week from the crucial swing states of Iowa, Virginia, and Colorado show more voters believe she is not honest. An area of vulnerability Republican candidates have already pounced on.

SEN. RAND PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The question here is, are they skirting election law? Are they taking money and potentially getting influence bought by foreign countries through a foundation? It is unseemly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Sunlen joins me now from Washington.

Alright, so we know she's going to roll this out on video. We don't know what time, but everyone is on pins and needles waiting, at some point tomorrow. Some people have said this, you know, doing this way on social media through a taped video sort of exerts ultimate control. Is that the strategy here?

SERFATY: Well, that is actually what a lot of analysts have been pointing out, Poppy, that it really is her taking control of the message, and certainly something that is important in the first days of the campaign.

I want to also point out one important thing that's happening at this -- or in Clinton world, the ready for Hillary event. This could be, again, is a live picture right there. This is the grassroots group that was formed in 2013 to encourage Hillary Clinton to run for president. This could be one of their last gatherings in New York right now. A lot of those people will turn, Poppy, into senior members of her campaign. She's also harnessing the energy and excitement that this grassroots group had over the course of the last two years as she runs for president.

HARLOW: You know, also this issue and question about inevitability comes up right, where you got former governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley who may also make a bid for the White House. You know, not directly criticizing Clinton, but saying it's inevitable until it's not?

SERFATY: That's right. That was an interesting comment from O'Malley last night. I think there's an awareness in the Hillary Clinton campaign about this issue of inevitability. It is one that keeps coming up. And one of the reasons that we might see Clinton making the sort of low key announcement, low key roll out toward campaign and then get right back out for the trail Tuesday.

Aide say that she wants to show that she's taking nothing for granted this time, but no doubt the issue will continues to dog her. And as you said, one of the potential contenders in the Democratic primary, Democratic governor of Maryland, former governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, he was in Iowa last night. This is what he told reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), FORMER GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND: History's full of examples where the inevitable front runner was inevitable right up until she was no longer or he was no longer inevitable. And the challenge here emerge as very often times here in Iowa. And so, that's why Iowa is such an important state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And O'Malley says that Democrats expect what he calls a robust conversation, and he says that conversation needs to happen in the democratic primary - Poppy.

HARLOW: Of course, everyone's talking about Hillary Clinton right now. But she's not the only big name about to jump in the race, right? We have got a big name coming on Monday too.

SERFATY: That's right. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida is announcing, a Republican, announcing that he will get in the race on Monday. Now, what's interesting to note that his aides have taken pains to say that they kind of welcome this comparison between Hillary Clinton getting in on Sunday and him on alleged (INAUDIBLE) on Monday, they like that Contrast. They want to draw the contrast between old generation and new generation. They believe he brings fresh energy into the nation. You know, Republican from Florida, Marco Rubio, on Monday, it really interesting timing given both of these announcements follow each other within 24 hours.

[15:49:59] HARLOW: Yes. And he also yesterday posted a five-minute video on You Tube, on social media platform sort of drumming up his supporters ahead of this big announcement. So you can see the power of social media, they're both using it in different ways in these announcements.

Thank so much, Sunlen. Quick break. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [15:54:06] HARLOW: Alright, much more news at the top of the hour including the latest from the lockdown at the capital. But first we want you to meet today's CNN hero. A young woman from New Jersey now helping Nepal's children.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAGGIE DOYNE, CNN HERO: Most 28-year-old girls my age have a very different reality. A lot of engagements and, you know, first babies. I mean, I took a very different path. After high school I decided to travel around the world with my backpack.

In Nepal for the first time I really saw the effects of civil war and children and women suffering and it changed me. There was one little girl, she was standing in a heap of garbage and she said (INAUDIBLE). That means "hello, sister." That was the beginning.

I called up my parents and I asked them to wire me over my $5,000 of babysitting money.

It's time to get up. Good morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning.

DOYNE: We started with the home and then we built a school. We select children who, without us, would not be able to go to school. As lot of them are begging on the streets.

You got it.

We have created one of the top performing schools in the entire region for 350 children. And 50 of those kids live in our home. Our first priority is to keep a child with their family. And then in The severe case of a child who really has nobody, they come in to live in our homes. When you walk in the front gates of Coppola Valley, you don't see suffering. You see healthy, laughing, thriving, kids.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:54:52] HARLOW: 4:00 Eastern. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. And we begin with this.

President Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro are meeting right now in Panama. This is certainly a historic moment. Take a look at the picture there. This is informal hello, if you will, follows an apology of sorts earlier today from Castro to the president.