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Dallas Police Department Attacked; Prison Worker Charged As Hunt For Killers Intensifies; Hillary Clinton Gives Major Speech in New York. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired June 13, 2015 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Victor and Christi -- thank you so much.
As we continue to watch these live pictures right there out of Hutchins, Texas our breaking news coverage continues. Authorities are right now trying to determine if the suspect in the attack has died after his vehicle, as you see right there, that blue van, it was shot by police. Police have surrounded this armored vehicle -- that's how they have described it -- one that this suspect apparently used while conducting a gunshot, a gunfire right outside the Dallas police headquarters then heading about 18 miles over time to this location in Hutchins, Texas.
Now, we've seen that robot that's approached the vehicle there. And it's believed that the bomb squad robot will perhaps try to penetrate this vehicle. A determination will be made whether the alleged gun man inside has also been hit just as police also try to shoot-out the engine block.
Here's how it all began in the early morning hours of Saturday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. So this is how it all began. Cell phone video being captured by many eye witnesses, you see right there what is believed to be that blue armored vehicle ramming into a police squad car. It all happening around 1:30 Eastern time. The suspect armed with automatic weapons and explosives opening fire right outside the Dallas Police Department. And windows at the Dallas police headquarters were shattered, bullets piercing squad cars.
But then officers shooting back, forcing the van to flee as you saw in that image earlier and then the cops cornered the vehicle at a parking lot near an interstate just 14 minutes later. You see right there, images of the van trying to get away and then ramming right into a police squad car there.
We also understand a SWAT team, the SWAT team was called in and shots were fired into the suspect's vehicle. The suspect in that van told police his name, James Boulware. And that he is angry because they took away his child. And in the past have labeled him a terrorist.
Joining me right now, by phone from Dallas is CNN law enforcement analyst Cedric Alexander; from New York Jonathan Gilliam, a former Navy SEAL and former FBI special agent; and ATF agent Matthew Horace is on the phone with us from New York City.
Cedric, you're there in Dallas and what we understand from these live pictures right now, a robot being used to approach this armored vehicle that's how it's been described, this blue van here. Unclear whether the alleged suspect has been hit in the gunfire. We do know that Dallas police say that they believe that gunfire hit the engine block. That vehicle cannot go anywhere.
Help us understand in your view what is transpiring there. What's being assessed as this robot is being used?
CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST (via telephone): Well, what we know right now -- and I think what we pretty much can base a lot of the information on it from just previous presser, that Chief Brown was able to deliver.
But at this very moment they're going to continue to keep eyes on this vehicle. The vehicle is disabled. They have the technology, i.e. robots, that are going to continue to surveil, take pictures, take all precautionary actions that they can, staying at a safe distance.
As they begin to peel back each layer of precaution, they'll make some determination at some point as to when they need to move in and put eyes on that vehicle. But right now there appears to be I guess we can say no activity in and around the vehicle. But here again we don't know if that vehicle is rigged with explosives.
And I think Dallas is doing a fantastic job in taking their time, pacing themselves, being very methodical about how they approach this vehicle. At some point here again they're going to have to put eyes on this vehicle. But it's just a very slow, deliberate process and it's going to take some time to accomplish that mission.
WHITFIELD: Ok, and Matthew Horace, formerly with the ATF and joining us by phone in New York, from your vantage point and your experience, when robots like this have been used in investigations you've been involved in, when you hear Cedric say it's going to be a slow, methodical process, just how slow?
[11:05:00] What are we seeing evolve right here when we see this robot is slowly approaching, slowly approach the vehicle? But then what is the next expectation?
MATTHEW HORACE, FORMER ATF AGENT (via telephone): Well, Fredricka, there's never a rush to judgment, or a rush to do when things like this happen. If you think about what's happened over the course of the past 10 to 20 years in the United States and abroad, we never take chances when it comes to explosives.
Now it very well might be that the vehicle was not booby-trapped, but we can't take a chance that it is booby-trapped because when it comes to explosives and devices, it could be rigged to a window, rigged to the ignition, rigged to a chair. There's so many different variables that we have to take it very slow. The robot has arms -- it has an arm on it that has a hand-like motion and is able to peel back layers of that vehicle.
Anything else that it needs to do. It's operated remotely by a confident and qualified POG (ph). And with our (INAUDIBLE) over explosives the next several minutes or hours or even days if necessary, because this vehicle could have a large amount of explosives or it could have no amount of explosives -- slow and steady wins the race.
WHITFIELD: So then Matthew as we look at this live image here, we're also seeing there are structures nearby, not sure if those are businesses or if their residences, it sure looks like residences so that really speaks to the volatility here. You say that they have to peel back the layers very slowly.
But this robot, even though it is remotely controlled, it has to be assessed, where's the first layer in which to peel back? Will it be from the hood of the engine? Would it be from the window? How do they make that assessment? What are they looking at? What is the person operating that robot looking at to assess the safest place to begin peeling back the layers?
HORACE: They're assessing everything that will give them evidence right now to let them know that there might be a possible explosive device. There could be some wires, there could be -- listen, we've already thought of pipe bombs -- there could be a pipe. And let's face it, because of how this thing developed, we can't assume that there's nothing inside of that vehicle. I would often rather err on the side of caution on this one than go in the other direction.
WHITFIELD: Ok. So Jonathan Gilliam, former Navy SEAL, former FBI special agent joining us from New York. From your vantage point, what are the tools that this robot will be able to use to try to assess whether it is booby-trapped, whether it does pose an even greater danger as they try to tamper with it?
JONATHAN GILLIAM, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: A lot of different things that they can use on these robots. I mean one of the biggest things is just a camera so they can get a view inside of this vehicle.
As the other gentlemen were just talking about you know this is not a speed evolution, this is an evolution where they study the vehicle and they try to see first of all what the environment is in and around it. After they have identified that, then they have different tools that they can rig up on to these robots to actually breach the doors. In some cases they may have, I know some departments they have x-rays that they can put on there. And it really depends on the capacity that that department actually has.
WHITFIELD: Ok. And live pictures right now, I believe the producers confirm that this is the case. Now we're seeing kind of vantage point of the police presence there and you're seeing what appear to be a highway, an overpass. Traffic has been stopped in all directions as this operation is carried out.
And then Jonathan, back to you. I wonder reportedly this van could have, it does fit the description of a van that was sold, purchased, many states away, in Georgia. And now clearly give us an idea what kind of investigations are under way that police would try to probe the potential purpose -- purchase. Who may have owned this vehicle prior? What it may be rigged with naturally before -- before the purchase was made. What kind of investigation in your view is likely under way in that respect?
GILLIAM: Well, first off they're going to take the name that this individual gave them. I'm sure they are scrubbing every database, every source that they have. Going to his the location where he may have lived and studying to see if that's actually the person.
Secondly they're going to look at where the van was bought and try to link up and see if there's any way to identify the same person. You're looking for links in the chain of this investigation or pieces of the puzzle, if you will.
Also, they're going to try to do the background on the individual and see what they might have had access to because, you know, not just anybody can get C-4. How did he get C-4?
WHITFIELD: Describe for us what C-4 is. Why is it particularly concerning for authorities there?
GILLIAM: Well, I've used C-4 when I was a SEAL. It's a plastic explosive, you can mold it, you can -- do just about anything with it -- you can actually cook with it. But it's highly explosive when it has another charge that sets it off.
[11:09:53] I mean in layman's terms, C-4 is something that you can carry around, and when you need to use it, use it. But it's very stable when it's not being detonated. So the ATF agent can probably tell you more specifics about the explosive rate and so on and so forth about C-4. But I will tell you from my experience it's hard to get. I mean it's not something that you can just go in and get off the shelf.
WHITFIELD: Ok. And so Matthew Horace, formerly ATF also with us via phone in New York. Can you kind of assess for us the difference between what has been described as a pipe bomb that was detonated near the police headquarters and this C-4 that this alleged gunman claims to have? The differences, similarities?
HORACE: Galvanized steel pipe, generally. Sometimes people use PVC pipe. They contain combinations of high or low explosives and sometimes, they may have shrapnel, (INAUDIBLE) and nails.
In this case, this individual is a bomber, I would say a broad stretch to say to use pipe bombs at the beginning of the day, you very well have to be concerned about pipe bombs in this vehicle and any other place that the investigation takes this, where the suspect has been.
WHITFIELD: Jonathan, you said C-4 very difficult to get. What would be the options? How would this alleged gunman be able to have his hands on C-4, if indeed he does.
GILLIAM: You know, the only way I can think of is theft. I mean this is something that's controlled. C-4 is used in the military, may be used in some demolitions. But by and large, this is a military-grade explosive and it's not something that you can just purchase. And so, you know, I would be very interested to see if he has any contacts with military individuals. Other individuals that may have had the opportunity to steal this or if he stole it himself. That's just a very interesting thing that he had C-4.
WHITFIELD: And so while we, Matthew and Jonathan, are looking at the live picture of the robot that we no longer can see and view, but it is in the vicinity of this blue so-called armored vehicle. This is what we see in terms of the concentrated efforts of law enforcement. But what is it that we don't see, Matthew? As investigators try to figure out who this person is, the motivation, the methods used here and what potentially could be in his planning?
HORACE: Well, Fredricka, right now while this is going on, assuming that the name he gave was the correct name. ATF is going to go back and check that (INAUDIBLE) to determine if he had any sort of license to purchase or possess explosives, they're going to check his friends. They're going to run his contacts. They're going to look at them on social media. They're going to take every step to try to determine who he is and what he's involved with. At that point, the investigation is going to begin and work backward.
WHITFIELD: And we know that evacuations had been conducted, there are some locations in between this 18-mile span, the distance between here Hutchins, Texas and the Dallas headquarters where it all started in the middle of the night, 1:30 Eastern time.
We understand that some evacuations have been lifted. People have been allowed to go home. We saw on an earlier picture, traffic has been stopped. So Jonathan, if people live in this general vicinity where this investigation is being concentrated right now what would be the perimeter in which people would be evacuated or asked to stay away, even be escorted out.
GILLIAM: You know that is a great question. And I'll tell you the way do you this a lot of times is you have different perimeters, depending on the size of the explosive and only certain people are allowed in certain perimeters.
This is a van, they don't know -- I mean that van right there, the size of it I'm looking at of that van, you could have 500 or 1,000 pounds of explosives in there. Timothy McVeigh had a Ryder van and that was upwards of 5,000 pounds of explosives. I would think the perimeter of this should be -- I'm not saying it's going to be -- but it should pretty big.
I couldn't tell you right off the bat, you know, I don't work -- I never was on the bomb squad. I couldn't tell you exactly how far those perimeters are. But there's a calculation that they make, that tells you if it's potentially this big. We need to push everybody back this far. And I think that I'm sure they have a handle on this. Because police departments now with their bomb squads, they're very effective at calculating these things and setting the proper perimeters.
WHITFIELD: And then Matthew we know that FBI, ATF, Dallas PD all involved here. But everyone brings a different level of expertise. Break down for us if you could what roles these various law enforcement agencies are playing in this kind of investigation right now?
HORACE: As it develops obviously the ATF is going to bring the explosive and arson back on particularly and also with the fire investigations, people on ground, they'll be pursuing leads.
The FBI with its amazing intel capability and investigative capabilities and they'll be working with the Dallas police chief who is doing an incredible job. You're going to see a seamless incident command, that's already begun to carry itself out until this scene is reconciled.
[11:15:04] WHITFIELD: And then we heard how the SWAT team was involved earlier, Matthew and what capacity. I mean we just saw a SWAT vehicle. Are they in a kind of wait-and-see mode? or is there something the SWAT team is already carrying out that perhaps we cannot see?
HORACE: Well you know, Fredricka, there are several areas to this investigation. There's a strategic level, the tactical level and the operational level. The SWAT teams are on site this morning to try to navigate through the initial stages of the investigation.
Now as far as the bomb mitigation, it's hurry up and wait. Determine what we have, establish what the boundaries are,. create perimeters and everything has to be done in the interest of public safety.
After that is satisfied then we'll go back. We'll galvanize the federal resources. We'll work with the state and local police officers and we'll determine how, why and why this happened.
WHITFIELD: And then we heard the Dallas police chief, Brown, talk about the limited conversations that have taken place with this alleged suspect. At first this you know, alleged gunman actually left a four to five-minute rant trying to justify his actions or even you know, his plan. And then we hear from Dallas police that there was some negotiations, that have been cut off. And now I'm hearing from one of my producers that there's been no contact with Dallas police and this suspect.
Jonathan, what does that tell you? Does, just simply what does that tell you?
GILLIAM: Especially if they shot him with a .50-cal, it's going to you that he's dead. And, you know, that is not uncommon for this type of situation. When somebody goes in, this hot and heavy into a situation, this bent out of shape, for them once they get isolated, to go ahead and end it right there. I would rather actually have to see this outcome, where this individual has gone ahead and stop this in its track himself than go any further.
I'll tell you one thing, Fred, that you can really look at. And that people really need to take notice here. This is two incidents we've had recently that includes law enforcement on a massive scale. The thing up in New York with the prisoners escape and now this.
We're starting to see now live on TV how witnesses can get things wrong or they can overestimate like in this case they're saying four shooters when this started. Witnesses were telling you know people, the press and law enforcement. The same up in New York with these prisoners.
WHITFIELD: However, we still don't know the outcome. We still don't know really who else if anyone may be in that van.
GILLIAM: No, I mean we don't. We don't know who else could be in there. That's the other thing. There could be other people in there. But, but witnesses, that is something that is very common in law enforcement. You have to take what witnesses say with a grain of salt. However, you can't just cast aside the things that they say.
WHITFIELD: Ok. Well we know all options are really still on the table. Jonathan Gilliam, Matthew Horace -- we're going to continue our conversation, even though there's been no contact with the suspect according to police right now. Still unclear what this means about the demise of the alleged gunman. It can't be presumed that he is believed dead.
Authorities are thinking that but again just moments ago, this is about an hour, hour and a half ago, where police say that the alleged gunman cut off negotiations and so contact was severed at that point.
So we're going to continue to watch the situation here with these live images of this armored vehicle being surrounded by authorities as well as a robot. Much more of our live coverage when we come back.
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WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back.
Live pictures right now in Hutchins, Texas just about 18 miles or so this location outside of Dallas and you're looking at a blue van, an armored van where police believe a suspect a man who allegedly opened fire outside of Dallas headquarters in the wee hours of the morning and then carried on with the chase to this location.
Police have a robot that is now approached the vehicle. They're trying to determine whether the suspect is alive or dead inside that vehicle. Police opened fire in that vehicle. Shooting out the engine block and now still a very volatile situation, unclear whether that vehicle is also loaded with explosives, because the suspect claimed to have the c-4 explosive, plastic explosive with him. So the ongoing situation here.
But who is this suspect? The name, James Boulware, a man that apparently Dallas police are very familiar with because in the past he has reportedly have had run-ins with authorities there before.
Joining me right now from Washington, CNN national correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty, who has been doing a little bit of digging on who this alleged gunman, this suspect is. What more do we know?
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, as you said, this isn't the first run-in he's had with police. According to the Dallas police chief just moments ago. He says that he has previous, the suspect has a previous record of domestic violence including at least three previous family violence offenses. The police chief also noting just a few minutes ago, they believe he might have been involved in some sort of family custody battle, including his children. We don't know if that was potentially the motivation.
We do know according to police and the rants he made to a 911 and police in the back and forth in the early hours of the morning. During the phone calls which police called as very angry he described how he was angry at police, they took away his child. He also accused police of labelling him a terrorist.
Now police have not found any known motive at this point. But of course they're scouring all parts of his background, including his social media page which police describe as very concerning. Noting om some of his social media pages, that's he's made threats against judging in the past. But again Fred, at this, they don't have any known motive for what's caused him to potentially do this today -- Fred.
SKEILAR: but what is at this point or maybe it's a question, is it being ruled out any kind of connection to terrorism?
SERFATY: at this point, it is being ruled out. The Dallas police chief saying very point blankly (ph), there's no nexus to terrorism at this point. But of course The investigation into this background does continue. They say that, that they are scrubbing the databases and at this point, the name that the suspect gave to police, which they have not confirmed, that name did not show up on any sort of terrorism watch list.
But of course, they're going to try get the full picture now into his background and really get a full extent of what was bothering him. What motivated him to potentially do this, this morning -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Sunlen Serfaty, thank you so much.
Let's talk more about this suspect, James Boulware and what authorities believe they know about him. Attorney Phillip Holloway is with me here in Atlanta.
[11:20:01] And with your expertise in law as well as in law enforcement what do you assess when you look at this situation and what authorities believe they know about him in that they're familiar with the name. They say that there have been other reports, you heard Sunlen talk about everything from domestic issues to threats before. But then this is escalated to an incredible level. Even though there's that familiarity with the Dallas police there was a threat overnight with this alleged exchange of gunfire.
But now everything seems to be at a standstill there seems to be a lot of patience in other words that's being execute by Dallas police.
PHILLIP HOLLOWAY, ATTORNEY: Yes, the exigency of the circumstances has now sort of stopped because he's believed to be dead and I heard a previous guest say that they thought he was dead and I concur with that.
WHITFIELD: Is it safe to assume or even think about?
HOLLOWAY: It's never a bad idea to be extra cautious which is why you see them using these robots and no human beings are approaching the vehicle at least at this point in time. In all likelihood there's no one alive in that vehicle. But just to be on the safe side that's why they're handling it the way that they did.
If this is the right person there are reports that he's had a troubled past including violence and things of that nature. Any time you have the government getting involved in taking away your kids, sometimes people snap. And Fred, that's probably is what looks like has happened here.
WHITFIELD: Now, even if there is a presumption, or if there is a gut feeling that the suspect is dead, they have not removed the robot. It is still going to be used very cautiously, trying to as we had one expert formerly with the ATF earlier say peel back the layers as carefully as possible because they don't know if the vehicle is booby- trapped.
Dallas is a very sophisticated police department. They've had a lot of experience in a lot of different ways, I used to live in Dallas so I'm pretty familiar with that as well. ?But their approach here, while they take the lead, they are working in concert with the ATF, with the FBI.
HOLLOWAY: Absolutely and this vehicle, if it's the one we think it is, has some connections to the Atlanta, Georgia area. So it makes great sense to bring in federal authorities because they're in a better position to do this sort of intrastate investigation. And to find out exactly how this van was purchased. Who purchased it? Was there any third party involved? Was this guy acting alone? Did he have some help? And did somebody know about it? Those are all the very important questions that will have to be answered in the days and probably weeks going forward.
WHITFIELD: All right. Phillip Holloway, thank you so much for waiting. We're going to continue to watch Hutchins, the live situation there. Hutchins Texas, just outside of Dallas, Texas. We're going to take a short break for now we'll be right back.
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[11:30:04] WHITFIELD: All right, hello again, everyone. Thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Three major stories we're keeping a close eye on at this hour. In Dallas, authorities are right now trying to determine if the suspect in the attack of its police department has died after being shot by police. They have surrounded his armored vehicle. Just outside of Dallas now in Hutchins, Texas and police have shot at the window and they're using a bomb squad robot to see if the van has been rigged with explosives.
And then in New York, the manhunt is still under way, intensifying in fact for two men who escaped prison one week ago, Richard Matt and David Sweat. Prison worker, Joyce Mitchell is now behind bars. She pleaded not guilty to charges relating to assisting in their escape. Mitchell's husband, who also works at the prison is also under investigation, but has not been arrested nor charged.
As our third story we're keeping a close watch on, Hillary Clinton is about to address a crowd on Roosevelt Island on New York. She is going to launch her first major campaign initiative in a speech, which is about to start in 15 minutes, from now. And we'll bring it to you live. You can see a huge crowd already.
But first, let's go to CNN's Sara Ganim in West Plattsburgh, New York, what's the very latest on the search for these prison escapees and what are investigators learning from that prison worker, Joyce Mitchell, who is now in custody?
SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fred. Yes, we're on the eastern edge of the search perimeter. I have to tell you there's a sense of urgency here. No car makes it through the intersection without a vehicle search and there are more than 800 local state and federal law enforcement officers who are searching this area.
Chasing leads, more than 700 leads this is now day eight of this search. Those two convicted killers still on the run. But the woman who police say helped them escape, she is now behind bars.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The defendant is charged here with two offenses.
GANIM (voice-over): Shackled and appearing terrified. Prison tailor turned prisoner, Joyce Mitchell was arraigned late Friday night accused of helping Richard Matt and David Sweat break out of the Clinton County Correctional Facility. She faces a felony charge of promoting prison contraband and a misdemeanor of criminal facilitation charge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bail will be set in the amount of $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond on the felony, and $10,000 cash and $20,000 bond on the misdemeanor.
[11:35:04] GANIM: The two killers have been on the run for a week, but it's Joyce Mitchell, who now faces up to eight years behind bars. Authorities say she provided them lighted glasses, hacksaw blades, chisels and drill bits to cut their way out of prison. But she got cold feet, authorities say, when it was time to get behind the wheel as the get-away driver. Since then, Joyce Mitchell has been cooperating with police. She told investigators that Matt made her feel special, but sources tell CNN she had a relationship with both prisoners. And it gets even more complicated.
Joyce Mitchell is married to a fellow prison worker, who is now also under investigation. Lyle Mitchell worked in the maintenance department of the same tailoring block that his wife worked and where both fugitives worked.
ANDREW WYLIE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CLINTON COUNTY: We have information that is coming through, through interviews through our investigation that he possibly could have been involved or at least had knowledge of what was happening.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Any idea of what his role might have been?
WYLIE: We have information on what part of his role would be and I hate to keep saying this to everyone, but this is an investigation not only is focusing on, obviously, taking Matt and Sweat back into custody, but we are pursuing other people that were involved.
GANIM: Bloodhounds picked up the fugitives' scent Wednesday night a mile away at a gas station, but nothing has panned out despite hundreds of leads and an intense manhunt.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GANIM: Now as I mentioned, Fred, this is day eight. Eight days that this town has been essentially shut down while police are on this manhunt looking for these two convicted killers. Some residents are saying they're quite frankly they're tied. They're scared when they first learn that these two had escaped.
They quite frankly believe that they were long gone, far from town. But now evidence shows that very likely that they're still in a very close area to the correctional facility, which is very close to the town.
Yesterday the search intensified at times. Specifically right after a woman posted to Facebook that two men were seen scaling a wall near her parents' home. Authorities moved in with all-terrain vehicles and other equipment. But ultimately, Fred, nothing was found.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sara Ganim, keep us posted on the ongoing search there. Let's talk more about the legal trouble for this prison worker, Joyce Mitchell, what is she facing? Let's bring in HLN legal analyst, Joey Jackson.
All right, so Joey, we know that she's being charged with assisting the prisoners, a felony. But one has to wonder if and when these inmates are apprehended might she be looking at other charges, too, potentially?
JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Sure, Fredricka, good morning to you. What happens that the prosecution has leveled initial charges against her and of course, to be clear, they are promoting, you know, really prison contraband and whenever you put something inside a facility that could potentially be dangerous, or in this case, assist in the actual escape of a prisoner, that's a problem, it's a D-felony in New York.
You can get up to seven years for it and then of course, the misdemeanor whenever you provide the means or the opportunity for someone to do a felony, engage in that act, that's a criminal offense, too. But I think at this point the prosecution is walking a fine line, could we see the upgrading of charges?
Of course, could that upgrading unfortunately coincide with something these prisoners may do as they're on the outside? Of course, but they also need her, they being the prosecution team, Fredricka, because she could provide valuable information.
We know that she initially has cooperated. We also know that she has a lawyer and we also know that any criminal defense attorney is going to be mindful of what her cooperation could mean in terms of her ability to escape a very steep sentence. So right now these are the initial charges in the future. They certainly could change.
WHITFIELD: Yes, you mention that, they need her. Authorities need her and that was the explanation, was it not, at first as to why charges came so late in the game. They had been questioning her, talking to her, but now that charges are there, how do they need her?
I mean, unless it is an issue of trying to make some sort of plea deal. But why would she be willing or even need to talk to authorities now that she's facing charges?
JACKSON: Because Fredricka, there are two reasons why certainly she may want to do that. The first of which we spoke about and that is those charges could be upgraded and so she has an incentive based upon the fact that charges could be upgraded and she could be indicted in front of a grand jury absolutely to cooperate.
The second basis is, make no mistake about it, the charges that she faces now are compelling and they are serious. Looking at seven years in jail is certainly nothing to sneeze about from a person who we know has never been inside a jail, save for being a civilian who has worked there.
[11:40:06] But it's a whole different story when you're not working in a jail, but you are actually serving time in a jail. And furthermore, while they have debriefed her to our knowledge and that has gotten information from her.
Certainly there will be follow-up questions that need to be asked concerning the use of her cell phone and what that cell phone, how it was used, who was contacted either on their behalf by her or who she allowed them to contact. What she knows about this and that will be an ongoing debriefing based upon information that's rapidly developing.
So it may be in her interest and that of course will be up to her and her lawyer, but to continue to cooperate, there are certain benefits involved in that.
WHITFIELD: Wow, all so fascinating. The investigation is still in its infancy as the search intensifies for the two fugitives, Joey Jackson, thank you so much.
JACKSON: A pleasure, Fredricka, thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right, we're also looking at politics, today is a very big day for Hillary Clinton. Look at the crowds, sizable. She's about to hold her first major campaign rally and Brianna Keilar is there.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Fred. Yes, I'm here on Roosevelt Island where this crowd is gathered. It's been two months since Hillary Clinton declared her candidacy for president and this is being billed as the big kickoff. It is her first campaign rally. She should be here any minute to speak and we'll take you there after a quick break.
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[11:45:05] WHITFIELD: All right, a rousing crowd there and upbeat message on Roosevelt Island. Hillary Clinton will walk on the stage and on that podium. Yes, she's running for president, it's been the case for about ten weeks officially now. But in just a few moments she'll be giving her first major speech at her first major rally.
CNN's senior political correspondent, Brianna Keilar is on Roosevelt Island in New York City where the rally is being held and senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny is joining us from Marshalltown, Iowa at a watch party there.
So Brianna, first to you, where you are at the main event, this is her opportunity to really say -- I know your experience and I'm here for you. What else are we expected to hear from her?
KEILAR: That's right. And she's also not only is she going to try to make the case that she's a person to fight for the middle class. She's going to try to reintroduce herself. But you mentioned Hillary Clinton has been a candidate now for ten weeks.
You almost wouldn't know it she's been doing all of these really small events, little roundtables, very low key and this is the big kickoff, as far as her campaign season. It's almost really the big start of it. There's so much pressure on this event hoping of course that the crowd is enthusiastic and that her message is well received.
I will tell you this is sort of an area that is confined by either side of Roosevelt Island, which is a very thin bit of island here in the east river. There is an overflow area that is not being used. There are not enough people here to be in the overflow area where there's a jumbotron and speakers over there.
But the case she's going to make is a popular one, she's fighting for the middle class and as she reintroduces herself, she's actually going to be looking back in time to her time as a younger woman and stand apart from her husband in that.
She'll be talking about her mother, Dorothy Rodham, who really had a very hard-scrabble upbringing and she'll be channeling some of that as inspiration for the kind of people that she's fighting for. Important to note, Chelsea Clinton will be here, Bill Clinton will be here.
He's not expected to speak, just a sign she's trying to distance herself from what would be a Clinton dynasty if she is the nominee and she is elected -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And so Brianna, I can't help but overlook, there's a little symbolism there, a lot of symbolism with the skyline of New York back there, the red, white and blue feel of the crowd and when listen to the music it's current, upbeat, hip, now, in contrast to when the Clintons first ran or Bill Clinton first ran in kind of the baby boomer generation music, this really just kind of is a page- turner if you will, if anything, symbolically, isn't it?
KEILAR: That's right. So what's interesting is it's kind of top 40 here all the way when it comes to the music, she's here on Roosevelt Island, which harkens back to the populace message of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, who she talks about all the time and a big icon for her.
But I'll tell you earlier we heard, I think we'll hear it a little later, new renditions, modern renditions of old songs, so I like to think that there's also some symbolism there when you hear a reggae version of a Beatle song, maybe we'll hear that again today.
WHITFIELD: OK, and people were getting a little excited there, Bill Clinton now entering. I think that's the back of Chelsea Clinton's head as well. You made reference to them being there front and center stage. It will be Hillary Clinton's moment at the microphone.
So Jeff Zeleny in Iowa where there's a watch party under way. People are anticipating and there's the edge of their seats, what do they want to hear? What are they looking for? Why do they feel a closeness given the distance?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredericka. Hillary Clinton is going to come to Iowa after she gives her speech today because Iowa is the most important state for her at least in the short-term.
The Iowa caucuses next February launched her road to the White House and she knows that she has to perform strongly here in Iowa. She remembers so, so well eight years ago, she placed third in the Iowa caucuses and it really complicated the rest of her run for the White House.
So what her supporters are trying to do is strike up some enthusiasm here. I can tell you, Fredricka, that is going to be a challenge. We are here in Marshalltown, Iowa, it's a town about an hour from Des Moines and there are only a handful of people inside this watch party.
There are watch parties across the country. We picked this one randomly. There are five people inside who are watching this. Certainly many more will be on hand tomorrow when Hillary Clinton is giving a big speech at the Iowa state fair.
But her challenge is enthusiasm. She's not in this race alone. There are other Democrats running and Democrats here want to see a contest.
WHITFIELD: And so, Jeff, as I talk to you and continue to talk to you. There's a hint of Hillary Clinton in a blue there kind of standing out at the crowd and waving flags.
[11:50:13] You see her more prominently as she is making her way to the stand there. So Jeff, you mention these watch parties happening across the country. Are you saying that it's the Hillary Clinton campaign that has kind of commandeered these watch parties?
There she is front and center there clapping and waiving to the crowd there. I will let you talk until she does. Go ahead, Jeff.
ZELENY: Right. The campaign is trying to do watch parties across the country. They are trying to organize supporters for Hillary Clinton. That's what it takes to win a Democratic primary contest. Good organization, so they want people tuned in and plugged in.
One of the problems is that they know that she does not have much of a competition in this Democratic contest. So it's harder to get people enthused and signed up. They know that they have time.
The Clinton campaign is trying to drum up enthusiasm and make this an urgent case, so that is why she is going to explain the rational on why she wants to be president and why she wants to run for president.
We're going to hear more Rodham in this speech than Clinton in this speech as Brianna said earlier. We're going to hear her talk about her family and mother and much more than she did in 2008.
In 2008, she presented herself as a strong leader and ready to go. This time, she is going to explain her whole career and show a few of her personal side and her vulnerability side. We'll see if that works -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, there goes that symbolism again with that song, "Brave," you know, talking about I want to be brave. I am brave. She will make reference to her brave mother who at the age of 14 and being a nanny and working in domestic work, and trying to make ends meet.
ZELENY: Exactly. She is going to show that she is a fighter. She is going to show that she has fought her whole career. They're going to try to distance. She is going to show that she has fought her whole career. They're going to try to distance them --
WHITFIELD: Jeff, you're being up staged by Hillary Clinton, sorry. Let's listen in to what Hillary Clinton has to say there at a rousing crowd there at Roosevelt Island, New York.
CROWD: Hillary! Hillary! Hillary! Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you so very, very much. (CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
It is wonderful to be here with all of you, to be in New York with my family, with so many friends, including so many New Yorkers that gave me the honor of serving them in the Senate for eight years.
(CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
To be right across the water from the headquarters of the United Nations, where I represented the country many times. To be here in this beautiful park dedicated to Franklin Roosevelt's enduring vision of America -- the nation that we want to be, and in a place with absolutely no ceilings.
(CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
You know, President Roosevelt's four freedoms are a testament to our nation's unmatched aspirations and a reminder of our unfinished work at home and abroad. His legacy lifted up a nation and inspired presidents who followed. One is the man that I served as Secretary of the State, Barack Obama.
(CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
And another is my husband Bill Clinton.
(CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
Two Democrats guided by -- that will make him so happy. They were and are two Democrats guided by the fundamental American belief that real and lasting prosperity must be built by all and shared by all.
(CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
[11:55:01] President Roosevelt called on every American to do his or her part and every American answered. He said, "There's no mystery about what it takes to build a strong and prosperous America. Equality of opportunities, jobs for those who can work, security for those that need it, the ending of special privilege for the few, the preservation for civil liberties of all, a wider and constantly rising standard of living."
That still sounds good to me.
(CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
It's Americas basic bargain. If you do your part, you ought to be able to get ahead, and when everybody does their part America gets ahead too.
That bargain inspired generations of families, including my own. It's what kept my grandfather going to work in the same Scranton lace mill every day for 50 years. It's what led my father to believe that if he scrimped and saved, his small business printing drapery fabric in Chicago could provide us with a middle class life, and it did. When President Clinton honored the bargain, we had a longest peacetime in history, a balanced budget, and, for the first time in decades, we all grew together with the bottom 20 percent of workers increasing their incomes by the same percentage as the top five percent.
(CHEERS & APPLAUSE)
When President Obama honored the bargain, we pulled back from the brink of depression, saved the auto industry, provided health care to 16 million working people, and replaced the jobs we lost faster than the historical average after a financial crash.
But it's not 1941 or 1993 or even 2009. We face new challenges in our economy and our democracy. We're still working our way back from a crisis that happened because time-tested values were replaced by false promises. Instead of an economy built by every American for every American, we were told that that if we let those at the top pay lower taxes and bend the rules, their success would trickle down to everyone else.
(BOOING)
What happened? Well, instead of a balanced budget with surpluses that could have eventually paid off our national debt, the Republicans twice cut the taxes for the wealthy, borrowed money from other countries to pay for two wars, and family incomes dropped. You know where we ended up.
Except it wasn't the end. As we have since our founding, Americans made a new beginning. You worked extra shifts, took seconds jobs, postponed home repairs. You figured out how to make it work. And now people are beginning to think about their future again -- going to college, starting a business, buying a house, finally being able to put away something for retirement.
So we're standing again, but we all know that we're not yet running the way that America should. You see corporations making record profits, with CEOs making record pay, but your paychecks have barely budged.
[11:59:55] While many of you are working multiple jobs to make ends meet, you see the top 25 hedge fund managers making more than all of Americas's kindergarten teachers combined, and often paying a lower tax rate.
