Return to Transcripts main page

New Day Saturday

Man Accused of Suicide Bomb Plot at Army Base; Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on ISIS and Al Qaeda; Tornado Cleanup in the Midwest; Clinton to Announce Presidential Bid; Saying Farewell To Slain Walter Scott; Necessity to Wear Body Cameras for Police; Another Police Beating Caught on Tape; Community Helping Tornado Survivor; Reporting from Masters Tournament. Aired 6-7a ET

Aired April 11, 2015 - 06:00   ET

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


[06:00:12] VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Homegrown terror. New details this morning about a former American Army recruit accused of trying to bomb a U.S. military base in Kansas.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Happening overnight, the handshake that is setting the stage for a historical meeting between President Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro.

BLACKWELL: It's about to become official. Hillary Clinton set to announce her candidacy for president. But she's not the only one getting ready to announce this week.

PAUL: And new dash cam video from the fatal police shooting in North Charleston. For the first time now we're going to see the passenger who could possibly explain why Walter Scott ran from police.

My goodness. What a way to start the Saturday. It is crazy already.

BLACKWELL: There's a lot going on.

PAUL: We are so grateful that you are with us this morning. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to be with you.

New details this morning into the federal surveillance that took down a very young man and his plot Fort Riley military base. We now know more about the sting operation that led to arrest of John T. Booker, Jr. in Kansas. In the 13-page federal indictment, we're now learning that Booker, also known as Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, has been charged with attempted to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempted to damage property by means of an explosive, and attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

PAUL: CNN justice reporter Evan Perez has been following this story.

So, Evan, what else have you learned this morning?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: A 20-year-old American man was arrested as he prepared to carry out what he thought was a suicide bombing at Fort Riley Army Base in Kansas. John T. Booker enlisted last year in the Army. But the Army cancelled his enlistment before he showed up for basic training. That's after the FBI says it found Facebook postings claiming he wanted to carry out jihad attacks.

Booker also goes by the name Muhammad Abdullah Hassan. The FBI says he wanted to carry out Friday's attack for ISIS. Two undercover FBI informants helped orchestrate a sting operation, helping him buy components in what he thought were explosives.

Booker was interviewed last year by the FBI about the Facebook posts. One of them read, "I will soon be leaving you forever. So goodbye. I'm going to wage jihad in hopes that I die." The FBI says he told agents he wanted to carry out an insider terrorist attack like the one on Fort Hood in 2009 that killed 13 people -- Christi, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Evan, thank you so much.

John Booker is one of several Americans who have been trying to join or help ISIS in the past several months. Listen to what the U.S. attorney had to say about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY GRISSOM, U.S. ATTORNEY: Unfortunately today's announcement once again reminds us that we in law enforcement have to remain vigilante. That there's not a moment where we can let our guard down. We can't think of something as horrific as the Alfred P. Murrah Building 20 years ago as something in the distant past.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Yes, in fact, 20 years ago next Sunday.

We've got with us Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, CNN military analyst, and Tom Fuentes, CNN law enforcement analyst.

I want to start with you, Tom. According to investigators this man said that he believed ISIS wanted him to detonate a truck bomb in the U.S. From what I've read no direct contact with the group. Is this proving that this slick marketing strategy is working? Is this the pattern that we're seeing?

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: No. That's true, Victor. It is proving it. He was recruited basically indirectly over the Internet by these Web sites. And fortunately in this case last year, March, a year ago, he posted on Facebook that he wanted to commit jihad, he wanted to, you know, go out on a blaze of glory essentially and take high-ranking military officers.

And at that time one of the citizens came forward, contacted the FBI and said here, look at this person, look at the postings that he's putting out there. That's what started the investigation. Almost immediately the FBI went to him and interviewed him to see, do you really mean this, and everything he did since then was essentially in motion to carry out the attack, including trying to get into the army, and you know, when the FBI contacted the army and told them of the investigation, then they withdrew his acceptance just a month ago and said you're not coming in, and then that was it. He was going bomb the base.

BLACKWELL: And, General Hertling, this Facebook quote, "getting ready to be killed in jihad is a huge adrenaline rush, I'm so nervous. Not because I'm scared to die, but I'm eager to meet my lord." Are these soldiers and enlistees media accounts monitored by the military in any way?

LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: They are not, Victor. There's about -- today there's about 130,000 young people who join the -- join the Army every year. Just the Army. You can't monitor that amount of Facebook page, but you do expect this kind of tips to come through. And remember this individual, Mr. Booker, had only enlisted in the Army. He had not reported to basic training. He was scheduled to report in April of this year in what's called a delayed entry program.

[06:05:15] So none of this would have come through until he was tested and until he got to his first basic training unit. So some of these things are quite disturbing but the background of this individual, as Tom said, is really interesting because he was part of Junior ROTC in high school. It's apparent that his father was a veteran of the Army, in fact seemed to have fought in Desert Storm.

So all of these things are very disturbing and none of these triggers would have been pulled to understand this kind of individual had this kind of mental capabilities.

BLACKWELL: Hey, Tom, really quickly, one more for you. What I do not understand is why allow the suspect to get to the gate with this fake bomb? Would not the plans and the plot been enough to arrest him months ago?

FUENTES: Well, you know, when the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office are trying to avoid any claim that well, he didn't really mean it. He's just mouthing off, bragging, he's aspirational, not operational, so in a case like this and the FBI already knew that the explosive material was not going to be able to be detonated, they wanted to give him every opportunity on his own to take it as far as they would take, and to show that he meant it.

That it was serious and get to where they were actually putting the final components together to what he thought would be -- make the bomb ready to explode. So, no, they can talk about it and then people are going say well, he really wasn't going to do it. They want to make sure, you know, he was going to do it.

LEMON: Good point. Tom, General Hertling, stay with us.

I'm going to hand it over to Christi.

PAUL: Right, because Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says he's ready to do whatever it takes to fight ISIS including make the recommendation of putting boots on the ground if that is needed.

CNN's Erin Burnett asked him about ISIS and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIN BURNETT, HOST, "ERIN BURNETT OUT FRONT": What's a bigger threat to the United States right now? Is it ISIS or al Qaeda?

ASHTON CARTER, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Al Qaeda has now suffered more than a decade of constant pounding by the United States so they are much reduced compared to what they were and their ambitions. However, they still have a serious preoccupation with direct attacks upon the United States, particularly several branches of them like AQAP. And so I think we have to remain worried about al Qaeda because of their determination.

BURNETT: And you said AQAP is growing right now in strength.

CARTER: Well, AQAP has opportunities in Yemen that it didn't have when there was a government that -- and Yemen's in a middle of a civil war now that obviously creates opportunities for terrorist groups.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: OK, so I want to start with you, General. When we look at what he said, he said decades of U.S. fighting al Qaeda has hurt them. Is the fight against ISIS just the beginning of more decades of a fight, and is the U.S. ready for that?

HERTLING: Christi, that's a great question. And I think many people have said recently we're at the start of decades or -- I've even heard one person say a hundred-year war against jihad. That's a possibility. But I'm not sure I buy into it. I think what we're going to see is some implosion of ISIS in the next several months. Operationally some very good things are happening in Iraq. We have to extend that into Syria.

But all of that is problematic right now. It appears to be a bleak future, but I am a little bit more glass half full. I think some good things are happening right now in Iraq that are helping ISIS to be defeated.

PAUL: All right. We know that ISIS is in Iraq, but we also know that ISIS is in Syria. We've heard that there are parts of ISIS that may be trying to get into Yemen. So when we talk about Yemen and the dysfunctional government that was there, as the Defense secretary was talking about, how that has provided an opportunity for AQAP, what about ISIS? Does it boost them as well and what does the U.S. do in response to the Yemen factor, Tom?

(CROSSTALK)

HERTLING: Well, in -- I'm sorry.

FUENTES: Well, I think the U.S. is doing the best it can in spite of not, you know, being present to the degree it used to be when there was a government there. But also the U.S. did get tremendous assistance from Saudi Arabian intelligence because so many of the AQAP fighters are actually Saudis who came across the border particularly after 2003 when Saudi Arabia started to crack down on al Qaeda cells in Riyadh and Jeddah and other centers in Saudi Arabia.

So they were able to penetrate and have provided a lot of intelligence. We're still trying to leverage, you know, our assistance from them as well in that area.

PAUL: All righty, Tom -- excuse me, Mark Hertling, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling and Tom Fuentes, both of them are going to be with us throughout the morning. And we so appreciate that. Thank you, gentlemen.

FUENTES: You're welcome.

HERTLING: You're welcome, Christi.

[06:10:05] BLACKWELL: The symbolic handshake that got everyone talking this morning. President Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro -- Castro, rather, meet at the Summit of the Americas during the gathering of regional leaders.

PAUL: Tough time for folks, too. We have to talk about in the Midwest. Clean-up just beginning from that series of deadly tornadoes and a spectacular -- some spectacular pictures coming from there.

Also I want to tell you about this heist in the heart of London's jewelry district. New this morning, surveillance video showing you the culprits. We're talking about $300 million possibly.

BLACKWELL: Lots of money.

PAUL: More in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Thirteen minutes past the hour right now. So glad to have you.

A historic moment for U.S.-Cuba relations. President Obama shook hands with Cuban president Raul Castro at a summit in Panama and they even spoke on the phone a bit earlier this week. Now the last time something like this happened was way back in 1959 when then Vice President Nixon and Fidel Castro shook hands.

So now the White House, you know, is considering better U.S.-Cuba relations and having Cuba remove from the list of states sponsors of terrorism. We have a live report from Panama coming up for you next hour.

BLACKWELL: All the speculation about Hillary Clinton's political aspirations are about to be wiped away. Years of speculation. A lot of happening here.

Sources close to Clinton's campaign tells CNN that she'll officially launch her presidential candidacy this weekend. She'll make an announcement through a message, a video message on social media around noon tomorrow. And then she'll immediately travel to the early voting state of Iowa and New Hampshire to start making that case again to voters.

She's expected to reinforce herself, not -- reintroduce, rather, herself not as a former first lady, not as a former senator or secretary of state but as a grandmother in many ways.

[06:15:13] Jason Johnson joins us now, professor and author of "Political Consultant and Campaigns: One Day to Sell."

JASON JOHNSON, PROFESSOR, HIRAM COLLEGE: Yes.

BLACKWELL: "One Day to Sell."

Jason, so we understand that she is going to kind of pare down things from the big rallies to these smaller venues much like the listening tool we saw running for Senate.

JOHNSON: Right.

BLACKWELL: Why?

JOHNSON: It's a lot like if there's a new Hollywood movie, and they don't want all the critics to see it up front.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

JOHNSON: Because you don't know how it's going to play out? That's what they're doing with Hillary Clinton. We already know who Hillary Clinton is. Her weakness is connecting with people. So she doesn't want big crowds anymore. She needs to talk to small groups, get good anecdotes, good stories out there, so that's why she is going small to begin.

BLACKWELL: OK. So let's talk about the difference between 2008 Hillary Clinton and 2016 Hillary Clinton. Of course, four years as secretary of state added to the resume.

JOHNSON: Right.

BLACKWELL: But then you add the e-mail scandal and Benghazi and many other things. Is she better off or worse off now than she was eight years ago?

JOHNSON: Hillary Clinton is actually better off in 2016 than she was in 2008 for one main reason. Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton now gets to say not only have I served in a presidential administration, but you've already America, what diversity can do in the White House. Let's be honest. She's much more assertive this time about saying, I am running as a woman. I'd be great to have a woman president. She doesn't do that if there hadn't been someone who's African-American in the White House.

BLACKWELL: How does she introduce this I am now a grandmother variable into this equation?

JOHNSON: Well, because she wants to say that she's wise and she's mature. And if you think about it, you know, Bill Clinton when he had his scandals everybody called him slick Willy. Well, when she's got her scandal, she's the tough one mom. OK. I mean, like everything is going to fall off of her because she is wise and experienced now. And I think that's really going to resonate certainly in the Midwest.

BLACKWELL: So how does she connect with -- I mean, she's been in public right now for 25 years.

JOHNSON: Right.

BLACKWELL: And to say that there are people who still don't know things about her, how does she make that case now?

JOHNSON: Well, it's not that people don't know about Hillary Clinton. They don't know if they trust her. I mean, there have been so many scandals with the Clintons over the years. This is her opportunity to look someone in the eye and say look, I'm not the person that you saw on right-wing radio, I'm not the wife of Bill Clinton. I am my own woman, and this is what I feel like in person.

BLACKWELL: Is that not the case she made in 2008 that didn't work?

JOHNSON: I don't think it worked very well in 2008 because she hadn't been secretary of state at that point. She had been a senator for the state of New York. A lot of people had to say, well, what can you do if you have the levers of power? Now people know that.

BLACKWELL: She went in 2008 to Iowa and came in third place.

JOHNSON: Right.

BLACKWELL: Behind President -- now President Obama and Senator John Edwards. How does she go back now after going around the world, 100 plus countries, and go through the snow to exit issues in Des Moines?

(LAUGHTER)

JOHNSON: This is going to be hard. I mean, I think one of the things people forget about campaigns it is physically demanding. And I think Hillary Clinton has a whole new attitude this time. When she went in Iowa in 2008 she said look, this is a coronation for me and this Barack Obama guy and John Edwards can't do anything. Now she's really going, saying, look, this is what I can bring to the table. What do you want from me because I'll do that when I get to the White House? I think this is a humble, more seasoned Hillary Clinton going into Iowa this time.

BLACKWELL: But without a major challenger, does she have to say, I will do that? No one is going to pressure her on it.

JOHNSON: She is going to get a challenger. Someone else is going to end up running.

BLACKWELL: A serious challenger.

JOHNSON: I think she's going to get a serious challenger. I'm not putting an out-of-the-woods yet that Joe Biden may actually get into this race. Someone is going to come in and provide an alternative. If they don't, Hillary Clinton could be in more trouble if she doesn't have a challenger then anything she'd face from a Republican.

BLACKWELL: OK. All right. Jason Johnson, thank you so much.

JOHNSON: Thanks.

BLACKWELL: We're also keeping our eyes on Republican Senator Marco Rubio expected to make an announcement about a potential run on Monday. His people sending out a message about a big announcement coming up at the start of the week.

Also the "Baltimore Sun" is reporting that in May former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley will announce his decision about a run for the Democratic nomination for president.

But first be sure to tune in to CNN tomorrow for a special two-hour edition of "STATE OF THE UNION." The focus, of course, Clinton's 2016 campaign. Starts Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern -- Christi.

PAUL: Victor, we are just feeling for all of you folks in Illinois today as you're trying to recover after monster twisters just -- we know, kind of wound their way through the Midwest. Clean-up efforts, that's still ahead.

And coming up next half hour, a police chase that looks as though it's from the Wild Wild West. It's not pretty.

[06:19:37]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED). He is over. He's over. (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Go. Go. Go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call 911.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Ferocious and deadly. You can look at the pictures and understand that. But that's what officials are calling a swath of tornadoes that swept across the Midwest on Thursday. At least 14 twisters were reported. Most of them in northwest Illinois. The frightening storms left a trail of destruction and devastation. Homes destroyed.

The National Weather Service says the tornadoes were at EF-4. That's the second most powerful category available. It killed two women.

PAUL: We know blocks of homes were just leveled as you can see here from the video. Businesses completely demolished. Survey teams are there this morning sifting through the rubbles to assess the full impact of the damage. But authorities do believe that all residents have been accounted for. That is the great news there. They do not expect to find any more victims and we certainly hope that's the case.

BLACKWELL: So I know this sounds like another "Oceans 11" or 12 or 13, whichever number.

PAUL: Whatever it is now.

BLACKWELL: But it isn't. This is the real deal. New video captures the play-by-play as thieves pull off a heist in London's jewelry district last weekend. Authorities are yet to put a price tag on the stolen loot. But the speculation are about $300 million. The kicker is that police are now saying they heard the burglar alarm going off, they just didn't respond.

PAUL: That's not good.

BLACKWELL: No.

PAUL: Charges filed in the latest Secret Service scandal now. 29- year-old Arthur Baldwin faces one charge for attempted burglary, a felony, and another for property destruction. The off-duty member of the uniformed division was arrested yesterday after he allegedly tried to break into a woman's home. That woman, by the way, believed to be his ex-girlfriend. That clearly didn't end well.

BLACKWELL: No.

PAUL: The Secret Service has placed him on administrative leave.

[06:25:01] BLACKWELL: So the U.S. is now joining this chorus of countries calling for China to release five women's right activists. In a statement Friday Secretary of State John Kerry told China to, quote, "support them, not silence them." The women have been held for about a month on suspicions of picking corals and provoking troubles. Prosecutors must decide by Monday if they'll be formally arrested.

PAUL: Preparing to say good-bye. Funeral services are set for Walter Scott today as even new details are emerging about the mystery passenger who was with him just minutes before that deadly shooting.

BLACKWELL: And a South Carolina senator is behind the bill to require every police officer in the state to wear a body camera. But would that have prevented what happened to Scott -- to Walter Scott?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Coming up on the bottom of the hour now. Here's a look at some of the other stories developing.

In Kansas a 20-year-old man has been charged with planning a suicide bomb attack at Fort Riley Military Base.

PAUL: The Justice Department says John T. Booker Jr. had acquired bomb parts. He'd made a propaganda video and wanted to die in violent jihad in support of ISIS. But authorities added that Fort Riley security was never breached and the device was inert so it was not a threat. [00:30:01] BLACKWELL: President Obama and Cuban president Raul Castro

are at a summit in Panama City. The two leaders met at a dinner and shook hands.

We'll have a live report from Panama next hour on the historic relevance of this encounter.

PAUL: I want to share with you some new video that's coming out of a shooting that wounded a decorated police officer in Boston and ended with the death of the gunman. This tape was released in order to -- over the use of deadly force. And the video shows that suspect being pulled over by two unmarked police cars. Officer John Moynihan approaches the vehicle and that is when the suspect shoots Moynihan at close range. Moynihan is recovering by the way and was honored at the White House last May for his heroism in helping to save an officer wounded during the shootout with the Boston marathon bombers.

Friends and family will gather this morning in Summerville South Carolina to say good-bye to Walter Scott. Scott was shot and killed by a North Charleston officer one week ago today. And this comes as we learn new details about the passenger you see there highlighted on your screen who was captured on dash cam sitting next to Scott before Scott ran during that routine stop. This is new video of the passenger in this striped shirt here speaking with the officer -- another officer. State authorities say that they have met with this person and he has been released without charges. Still, little else is known about what was discussed with investigators or the identity of this person. Let's bring in CNN's Polo Sandoval who is in Summerville with the latest. And let's start, Polo, with what we know about the funeral today for Walter Scott.

POLO SANDOVAL: Good morning, Victor. It has undoubtedly been a very difficult week for many people in this South Carolina community. Particularly for the family of Walter Scott. This morning as the sun begins, at least prepares to rise over South Carolina, they're getting ready to say good-bye.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To help to bring this movement to where they are at now.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a brief pause for peace after a week of anguish, anger and outrage in North Charleston, South Carolina.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the name of Walter Scott, we can change this government.

SANDOVAL: Much of the community will join the family of Walter Scott for a final farewell.

MAYOR JOSEPH P. RILEY, JR. CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: It breaks everyone's heart and the citizens of Charleston are sharing the grief.

(GUNSHOTS) SANDOVAL: The 50-year old will be laid to rest with this image still fresh on people's minds. The deadly ending to the confrontation that began as a routine traffic stop when North Charleston police officer Michael Slager pulled Scott over for a broken break light.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your license and registration, sir.

SANDOVAL: Moments later Slager's dash cam video showing Scott making a run for it, the amateur cell phone video picking up the deadly shooting. The same video leading Scott's family to believe Slager apparently planted the Taser gun he accused Scott of trying to grab from him.--

ANTONY SCOTT, VICTIM'S BROTHER: It's a little bit of both of those. Angry and -- it's someone he would stoop to that low ground to cover up what you have done. The wrong thing, and gun downed someone like that.

SANDOVAL: And Scott's mother is still grieving and trying to focus on family and faith.

JUDY SCOTT, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I feel forgiveness in my heart, even for the guy that shot and killed my son.

SANDOVAL: Slager's family is caught in their own struggle.

KAREN SHARPE, MICHAEL SLAGER'S MOTHER: I cannot imagine him doing something -- that -- It's just not like him. That's not his character.

SANDOVAL: The video offers a glimpse into what may have happened last week. But questions still remain. A local grand jury may take up the case as early as next month. Until then the journey for justice continues for one family, and the struggle to see their loved one out of jail continues for another.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: And, of course, both of those struggles continue this morning. Now, as for the funeral itself, we do know that the funeral procession will be making its way from Charleston here to Summerville, South Carolina. The venue behind me actually chosen by the family as it can accommodate more individuals as the funeral is going to be opened to the public. Guys?

BLACKWELL: Polo, let's go back to an element we started with in this segment. This passenger, what more do we know about this passenger?

SANDOVAL: You know, Victor, that's a big question at this point. We do know that police officers and state investigators are working the case. I actually spoke to him yesterday afternoon. They obviously did get to speak to him just moments after the shooting a week ago when it happened. Since then he has been released. At this point we have not been able to speak to him. But it will be very -- at least the information he provides for investigators is going to be key. Because he could potentially paint the picture of what happened in that car before Walter Scott decided to run away from the police officer. But at this point, we do understand that law enforcement is in contact with them and he is cooperating.

BLACKWELL: All right. Polo Sandoval for us this morning. Polo, thanks. Christi.

PAUL: You know, the fatal shooting of Walter Scott is calls for police nationwide to wear body cameras.

[06:35:02]

PAUL: CNN's Alina Machado shows us what unfolded in fact in Daytona Beach, Florida where cops were wearing body cameras when a man there was shot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SHOUTING).

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is video taken from two body cameras last September when Daytona Beach police officers knocked down a door and saw a man armed with a knife threatening a woman, moments later.

(GUNSHOTS)

MACHADO: Officers fired several shots, an action they say saved the woman's life.

CHIEF MICHAEL CHITWOOD, DAYTONA BEACH POLICE: And what could have been a really bad thing in the community people start to look and say, oh, I understand what happened now. That's not what I was told.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: I want to bring in South Carolina state senator Marlon Kimpson. He represents the district that includes North Charleston where Walter Scott was killed. Senator, thank you so much for being with us. It's good to have you here.

MARLON KIMPSON, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE SENATOR: Thank you for having me.

PAUL: Of course. We know that you're cosponsoring this bill that would require all police officers in your state to wear body cameras. Do you think that this incident would have been different had one been employed in this situation?

KIMPSON: I do. When we look across the country at departments who have employed the use of body camera techniques and devices, citizen complaints are down, and generally the feeling is that people tend to behave better when they're on video. And so I think the evidence is there, and we need to move swiftly in this state, particularly in the aftermath of this horrific tragic accident to procure these devices on behalf of the state law enforcement officers and make the necessary and needed reform in the system. PAUL: You know, some people will say definitely this could help in certain instances as you mentioned. That it does have their less instances of use of force and less instances of complaints against the police, but we had Jim Berman, the president of the police foundation earlier saying the real issue is the relationship between the police and the community. Can you help us understand what the relationship has been between police and the community of North Charleston?

KIMPSON: Well I happen to agree with Jim. And quite frankly, last year I authored a proviso in the state budget, which will fund 115 body cameras. Those cameras were actually in route before the shooting of Mr. Scott. In addition, the proviso went beyond body cameras. We're putting about $200,000 in the city's hands to create programs to work and foster a development and a relationship with the community members. So programs in community policing in particular are very, very important. You know, there used to be a time where police officers were required to live in the neighborhoods in which they patrolled. And therefore if they came in contact with members, they would likely know those persons and there would be a better line of communication. I think we need to get back to those days. And we're working with these officials of the city of North Charleston to do that.

PAUL: We know that black lives matter. The group is there protesting and making their voices heard about this very instance. I have not heard any direct cause, perhaps, you have about racism being part of this, but again, we are sitting in a situation where we're looking at an unarmed black man being shot by a white police officer. Do you believe or can you help us understand the dynamics of that community in the sense that has there been any complaints against the police department in the form of racism? Are there racial tension there?

KIMPSON: Well, I can say this. I cannot speak as to why the police officer shot Mr. Scott. So, I don't want to speculate about that. But I can say this race is a real issue. The community is outraged because this is yet another shooting of an unarmed African American male in the state of South Carolina. Specifically in North Charleston we have had several incidents over the last decade. So that people are outraged. Their spirits broken, their hopes crippled. But people have a -- people feel like it's going to be different this time because of the video. And they believe that the officer who did the shooting will be brought to justice.

[06:40:04]

PAUL: All right. Senator Marlon Kimpson, we so appreciate your voice on this and your insight into that community. Thank you for being with us.

KIMPSON: Thank you so very much.

PAUL: Of course. Victor?

BLACKWELL: We're getting a first look, Christi, at a big brawl outside in Arizona, Walmart. You are going to watch this. An entire family -- the whole family here fights with police and then shots rang out. We have got this story coming up in our next hour. But first, the lawyer calls this beating worse than Rodney King's. The latest developments here in this pretty bizarre chase that's now under federal investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There we go. Here's the deputy chasing him. Deputy fell down. Oh, he shot him with the taser.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: New developments. The FBI now investigating this bizarre police chase that you are watching here. This involves a stolen horse in California. And look at the police there. It ends with this swarm of San Bernardino County deputies kicking and punching this suspect.

BLACKWELL: Well, that suspect now has a lawyer, and he's calling his client's beating worse than Rodney King's. Stephanie Elam is following the latest developments here for us this morning. Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Victor and Christi. The FBI has now launched an investigation to find out whether or not the man at the center of this video, if his civil rights were violated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here's your pursuit.

ELAM: It's a police chase that looks like something out of the Wild West.

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

ELAM: 30-year-old Francis Pusok attempting to outrun law enforcement on the back of a stolen horse in a rural part of St. Bernardino County.

[06:45:03]

ELAM: A KMBC helicopter was recording as the bizarre chase ends when the horse bucks the suspect.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Suspect being tazed.

ELAM: And sheriff's deputies attempt to taze him. Then as deputies get closer, Pusok appears to surrender lying face down on the ground before putting his hands behind his back. That doesn't 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's a beating that lasts about two minutes, with ten officers involved. All of whom are now on paid administrative leave. JIM TERRELL, FAMILY ATTORNEY: 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.

ELAM: San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon has ordered an immediate internal investigation. The specialized investigation detail is also conducting a criminal investigation as well.

JOHN MCMAHON, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT. 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 the portion of it. I ask that you allow us to conduct that investigation, and I assure you if there's criminal wrongdoing 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 and then abandoned it and ran into the desert, where he stole a horse and took off. In total, a chase that went on for some three hours.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am not going to stand here and say that he is 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 that 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)

ELAM: And the sheriff's department saying that the officers were wearing audio recorders. But we have not heard the sound from those yet, but they will be part of the investigation.

Victor and Christi.

BLACKWELL: All right, Stephanie Elam, thank you so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Take a look at what happened here in Illinois. You wonder how do you clean up after those monster tornadoes. Well, we are going to take you there as communities in one Illinois town specifically are rallying to get there to help a homeowner who lost absolutely everything. CNN actually has that story just ahead.

Also she is a serial bride. A woman accused of saying I do ten times. Some people say they can't say -- get to say it once.

BLACKWELL: It takes a while.

PAUL: She is tossed in jail now. Details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: An amazingly frightening view of just some of the devastation left behind by multiple killer Midwest twisters. So, this airport tornado killed two people and ripped homes off their foundations. Look at this. I mean when you have this type of mess, where do you begin in a community like this? Well, survey teams this morning are on the ground here trying to access the damage. As CNN's Nick Valencia has the story of one home owner who lost her home and how a simple Facebook request turned into a huge gesture of good will.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a friends -- for coming in.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A day after her home was destroyed, Lauren Hinchey found help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Family, friends. I am a school teacher, so a lot of school teachers came out for us today.

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

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just put it out on Facebook and just said hey, we're fine, but this is what we need. And people just came out this morning.

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

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're thankful to be here to help pick up. It's a wonderful thing. And all of these people ...

VALENCIA: Some with gifts.

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

VALENCIA: Others to help her pick up priceless possessions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I know. My heart -- that was so - I saw it down in the garage and I was like, oh, 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 food donated. So, if you're hungry, please stop and get something.

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

obviously, that's still - the roof is still -- I mean there's something over the top of it.

VALENCIA: Hinchey wasn't home at the time of the tornado, but her husband was.

(on camera): How long have you been here?

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

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

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's pretty neat, really.

VALENCIA: Nick Valencia, CNN, Lindenwood, Illinois.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: I'm wishing those people all the best there. You know, President Obama may meet Kuban President Raul Castro again today. We have a live report for you just ahead.

And a bride accused of saying I do a few too many times in jail now. Because of motive for marital bliss was allegedly not about love.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: All right, now to a bride put in jail for walking down the aisle ten times.

PAUL: She's there buying whatever she is selling, aren't they?

BLACKWELL: Apparently, this was because the prosecutors say she would never divorce any of her husbands. 39-year old Liana Barrientos is accused of marrying men as part of an immigration scheme. Prosecutors believe at one point she was hitched to eight men at the same time and they suspect she is still married to at least four men allegedly.

BLACKWELL: Allegedly. Golf's biggest tournament, the Masters is in full swing this morning. Joining us now CNN's Coy Wire with one of the big stories coming out of Augusta court.

COY WIRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jordan Spieth is -- to win it in a gust. The guy is only 21 years old and after finishing tie for second at last year's Master's, he is already making history this year after two rounds. The kid is as cool as a center seed in a cucumber. He shot a six -- under 66 on Friday to push his overall score to 14 under. And that - add that to the 64 he shot Thursday. He not only have a new master's record, you have the lowest 36 whole total in 156 years of major championship history. It will be interesting to see if he's going to be able to keep up this level of focus, with 15 birdies through two rounds. He already has one more than he had in all four rounds at last year's masters. Sitting pretty right now heading into the final two rounds, but Charlie Hoffman who's currently in second is only five shots behind him.

[07:00:03]

And a lot of guys are playing really well and can make a run if Steve stumbles. So, Phil Mickelson seems playing well. He's currently a minus six. We'll see action get started at 10:05 today. (INAUDIBLE) gets started a little later in day. Maybe I'll come back.