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New Details on Prison Escapees; Jeb Bush to Kick Off Presidential Campaign Today; New York Prison Employee Appears in Court; Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired June 15, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[10:00:13] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: a prison worker behind bars this morning. The two convicted killer she allegedly helped escape still free.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: We don't know if they are still in the immediate area or if they are in Mexico.

COSTELLO: New details about the abandoned getaway plan, and whether these two dangerous criminals had a plan B.

Also, Jeb jumps in. A new logo, a slick campaign video.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Jeb is different than George. Jeb is who he is.

COSTELLO: And a push to define himself outside his famous last name.

And chaos, fear, and panic in Georgia. More than one million people urged to stay inside as lions, tigers, and bears and even a hippo roam the streets after a zoo was flooded.

Let's talk. Live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. Reversal of fortunes. Two prison inmates are roaming free and the prison employee who befriended them is locked up.

This is Joyce Mitchell in shackles and on her way into court on charges that she helped those convicted murderers escape. Right now there are at least 800 law enforcement officers searching for those men, scouring the woods around the New York prison and stopping vehicles on area roads. State police say they've received 870 leads, and more stream in every hour. Yet despite all the resources and the public's help, there have been no confirmed sightings of these men.

CNN's Sara Ganim and Polo Sandoval are in Plattsburgh, New York, where Mitchell is in court.

So, Sara, tell us about the court delay. Why it happened? SARA GANIM, CNN INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Joyce Mitchell

arrived here about an hour ago, Carol, but she hasn't appeared in court yet. She actually got a new attorney this morning. The court appointed her a new attorney. Her last one had to stop representing her because of a previous -- a conflict with a previous case.

Now she's here this morning for a pretty routine proceeding on the criminal complaint against her. You will recall on Friday she was arrested, charged with bringing contraband into the prison. Remember, she's the prison seamstress who had a relationship with both of these men who have escaped. She's been charged now with bringing them tools that police say they used to get their way out of prison, to sneak out that night.

Now we expect her to be in court at some point this morning. However, that hasn't happened yet. As we said, she has a new attorney. They've been meeting for the past hour or so, presumably talking about this case. We do expect to hear more, but over the weekend I talked to the district attorney, we learned new details about what the plan was supposed to be before Joyce Mitchell got cold feet.

The DA told me a couple of things. He said, first, he believes that these men were rehearsing their escape in the nights leading up to the night that they broke out of prison, going into the walls in the middle of the night, possibly planning out their route of escape. He also told me that Joyce Mitchell had planned to pick them up in the middle of the night at a specific location in town and then drive them to a new destination that the two convicts had picked.

A destination, he said, was up to seven hours away, but that Joyce Mitchell didn't know where it was. He also told me that Joyce Mitchell planned to run off with the two of them. There are reports that Joyce Mitchell said that Richard Matt made her feel special, but in the end she got cold feet and the DA told me that part of the reason why was because she decided that she still loved her husband -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Sara Ganim, many thanks. I know you're keeping an eye on that court hearing and when it begins we'll get back to you.

I want to turn now to CNN's Polo Sandoval right now.

So, Polo, this morning the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a new investigation into the prison escape. Tell us more about that.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. This was an expected development here. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo now ordering the state's Office of Inspector General basically come into the equation here and initiate their own investigation. They will be tasked with taking a very hard look at the Clinton Correctional Facility which is where these individuals escaped from 10 days ago.

This investigation will include bringing in an outside expert, somebody that would be able to offer some perspective and a fresh look at the facility's security, their infrastructure and policies and procedures. And that individual would then basically provide feedback to see if there are any changes that need to happen at that facility to make sure that this does not happen again and most importantly, Carol, if any -- if any further charges have to be filed against any other individuals.

COSTELLO: I also understand schools are reopening where you are despite this manhunt. Are there precautions being taken?

[10:05:02] SANDOVAL: Yes. Well, school is back in session for this part of upstate New York. We do know that outdoor activities have been suspended for now. Officials want to keep the students inside. We also know that parents and students can expect a heavy police presence on some of those campuses.

And it's really what we see throughout upstate New York, Carol, even at this particular checkpoint here. You see that detour and that checkpoint still in place right now, that roadblock as well. Police here heavily armored as well and heavily armed police rather keeping a very close eye on the public because at this point what's interesting, though, Carol, is that investigators still don't have a solid indication as to where David Sweat and Richard Matt could be.

Just yesterday we heard from Governor Cuomo from New York who said at this point they could be as far as Mexico, and as you may imagine, hearing that update is -- could potentially be very disheartening for the nearly 800 men and women that continue trying to track these individuals down which again at this point no positive sightings of either one of these dangerous men.

COSTELLO: All right, Polo Sandoval reporting live in upstate New York for us this morning. Thank you.

So let's talk about this further. With me now CNN legal analyst Mel Robbins and Gil Alba, a former NYPD detective.

Mel, I want to start with you. So this hearing has been postponed. This is just, what? They're calling it a formal arraignment. What is that?

MEL ROBBINS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: That's basically where she'll appear in court, Carol, with her attorney. The charges will be read against her. And they will enter a plea. You can be certain it will be a plea of not guilty. The reason why is there's probably absolutely no offer on the table in terms of some kind of a deal.

I personally don't think that this lady has much information at all. If you look at the big grand scheme of things, she's a 51-year-old grandmother with no criminal record going through a mid-life crisis who was a pawn and was played and manipulated by these guys. I highly doubt that they were even planning on using her as the getaway driver. She had absolutely no information about where they were going to be headed.

On top of that, they didn't need her. They needed her car, Carol. So it will be interesting to see if we can even find these guys because I suspect that they're long gone by now.

COSTELLO: So, Gil, do you agree that in the end these two guys didn't need Joyce Mitchell?

GIL ALBA, FORMER NYPD DETECTIVE: I think that even if they used her, I think they would have gotten rid of her somehow. I'm not sure if they were going to go to her house first and do something to her husband or something, and then have her drive them some place, but I think eventually they would have gotten rid of her, meaning they probably would have killed her some place along the lines.

COSTELLO: Goodness. So, Mel, if you were her attorney and she's gotten a new attorney, what would your advice to her be?

ROBBINS: Well, it depends on how much information she has, Carol, because her only shot right now is getting what we call a really good disposition or plea bargain in this case. If she's got a lot of information that she can share that actually help in apprehending these two escaped convicts, then that helps her get a better deal. But on the other hand, you know, I agree with Gil. I think that she was a pawn. I don't think that she was central to the narrative.

She didn't even provide them with the power tools that allowed them to cut through the walls, and you've got the governor saying that he's going to throw the book at anybody else that's found that helped them escape. So basically what you want to do is cooperate as much as possible so that at the end of the day these guys are caught and you can get a better sentence than eight years in prison for this grandmother of 51.

COSTELLO: So there is tantalizing new information coming out about how these men planned their escape.

Gil, supposedly this was two years in the making.

ALBA: Yes.

COSTELLO: There had to be other people involved. Why is it taking authorities so long to figure out who those people are?

ALBA: I'm sure the other persons are not going to come out and say, you know, they helped because they will be in trouble. But you know, I sort of agree, if I was involved in there to talking to her, I can give her -- we can give her, the law enforcement can give her a better deal if she talks because we need all the information against these guys, to find these guys because it's really dangerous.

I mean, that's why we have 800 police looking for them. Because that's how dangerous these guys are. Personally, I do believe that they're going to find them and get them. Are they in Mexico? I don't really -- I mean, that's not easy to get to from --

COSTELLO: Yes. But they gave Joyce -- I guess Joyce Mitchell gave authorities this little bit of information that supposedly they were going to meet her at this car and she was going to drive them somewhere that would take seven hours.

ALBA: Right. COSTELLO: And I think we have a map there that shows the radius of

the huge area that that might entail. OK. We don't have that, I'm sorry, but you know, if you draw a circle, right?

ALBA: Right. Yes.

COSTELLO: Seven hours, that's a lot of territory.

ALBA: Yes.

COSTELLO: So how do you search for guys in that much territory?

ALBA: Well -- there's a lot of background check to be done. Who are these two guys? What about her? Why are they picking this location? Why are they -- who do they know? Just like they have the -- you know, the information about her, you know, using a cell phone. That's how they actually caught her, you know, because she had, you know, connections there -- their families and all that. So the same thing here. Find out everything you can about them and why would they go to this certain location.

[10:10:04] So everything could be at some point, you know, brought down, to focus a little bit. Right now it's all over the place, but personally I feel like they're going to have these guys and you know how the tips come in? They come in like this. A tip comes in, I just saw these two guys and that -- you know, all those other tips, you can tell right away, but when the tip comes in, it's going to be right on.

COSTELLO: I hope you're right, Gil Alba, Mel Robbins, thanks to both of you. I appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the GOP field getting even more crowded, but was Jeb Bush's leap a little too late?

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[10:15:11] COSTELLO: Finally Jeb Bush will do what we've known all along he was going to do. He's going to declare his run for the president of the United States. Hours from now the former Florida governor will officially launch his bid for the White House making him the 11th GOP contender. Over the weekend Mr. Bush released a new campaign ad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: The barriers right now on people rising up is the great challenge of our time. So many people could do so much better if we fixed a few things. My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line, not the back. This is what leadership is about. It's not just about yapping about things. There's a lot of people talking, and they're pretty good at it but we need to start fixing things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Mr. Bush's goal, to try and appeal to nontraditional Republicans.

CNN's Alina Machado was on the ground in Miami where Mr. Bush's announcement will take place.

Good morning.

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Yes, he'll be making his announcement here on the campus of the largest college in the country and it comes after months of talk about his presidential ambitions.

Now those preannouncement videos that you mentioned revealed the campaign logo which consists simply of the word "Jeb" followed by an exclamation point. There is no mention made of the Bush last name.

Dana Bash had the opportunity to interview Bush over the weekend, and she asked him, who is Jeb Bush and what is it about him that people should think about when they vote? This is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I've lived overseas, I've worked overseas, I have been in business, I have served as governor. I give back to my community. I have a great relationship with my wife and family, and I'll get to share all that, part of that, that's important. It's something that took a little getting used for me personally to be able to show my heart because I'm kind of introverted but it's important to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACHADO: Now the latest CNN/ORC poll show that is Jeb Bush is trailing Florida Senator Marco Rubio and only slightly ahead of Mike Huckabee and Scott Walker, and Marco Rubio just released a statement moments ago basically calling Jeb Bush his friend and welcoming him into this race -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Alina Machado reporting live from Miami. Many thanks to you.

I found it intriguing that Jeb Bush admitted that he's an introvert because I, too, am an introvert. I love people. I listen intently to them but then I like to immerse myself in thought. I like to think deeply about what they just told me. I don't enjoy being the center of attention. I don't like small talk. I like to debate big challenging topics. Needless to say my friends are often very frustrated with me.

So I wonder about Governor Bush and his admission and joining me now, CNN political commentator Ana Navarro. She's a Jeb Bush supporter and also his friend.

Were you surprised that he admitted he was an introvert?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I'm surprised you just admitted you're an introvert. I tell you, both you and Jeb picked a heck of a career for introverts. (LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: I know.

NAVARRO: You know, you on TV and he in the main stage in politics. You know, I think he's a very thoughtful guy, and he does like to think. He does like to be alone with his thoughts. He likes to read a lot. But I also think he's very socially adept. I see him say, you know, hello and chitchat with so many people, and he does it in a very natural way.

You know, it's funny because, you know, he's lived in Miami since 1980, as have I. So he's lived with so many Hispanics and in the Hispanic culture we're very touchy-feely. We hug, we kiss all the time and it's something that he does very naturally. As you know we kind of claim him as one of our own.

COSTELLO: I understand. You know, it's interesting his logo. It just is Jeb with an exclamation point. You don't see his last name. I'm sure that was by design, and I'm sure also that maybe his admitting he's an introvert is also by design because when you think of George W. Bush, he's certainly not an introvert, he's very charismatic and very friendly. People always said oh, he's a guy you can sit down and have a beer with him. I don't know that you would think about Jeb Bush in exactly that same way.

NAVARRO: Well, you know, I think you can -- I can tell you that you can sit down with Jeb Bush and have a drink. He's a very natural, grounded guy.

On the logo, Carol, you know, it's funny because I have heard so much psycho analysis of this logo. Sometimes a logo is just a logo and, you know, that is basically the same logo he's had his entire life. I live in Florida. That's pretty much the same logo, Jeb with an exclamation point, that he had in '94 for his first campaign which he lost. In '98, in 2002.

I have a bumper sticker from 2002 with that logo on my car right now which I still have saved because, yes, I admit, I'm a hoarder. In fact I think -- I think that logo may have been designed in 1994 when Alex Castellanos was running his campaign back then, our former colleague here on CNN. So --

[10:20:11] COSTELLO: So it has nothing to do with the last name Bush at all?

NAVARRO: No.

COSTELLO: Nothing.

NAVARRO: I hate to disappoint, but there is no melodrama, no psycho babble going on. Sometimes a logo is just a logo.

COSTELLO: OK, so --

NAVARRO: It's his name. What can I tell you? COSTELLO: OK. I'll have to take you at your word because you know

how much I love you, Ana Navarro.

So this is a statement from Marco Rubio because supposedly Jeb Bush is Marco Rubio's mentor, right? So Marco Rubio put out this statement. And I'm just going to read it to you because I just got it. He said, quote, "In politics people throw around the world friend so much it often has little real meaning. This is not one of those times. When I call Jeb Bush my friend, I mean he is someone that I like, care for, and respect. He and I have worked closely together for many years on issues big and small. He is a passionate advocate for what he believes, and I welcome him to the race."

Why do you suppose Marco Rubio felt he had to put out that statement?

NAVARRO: I think it's classy. I think -- you know, I think it's genuine. I think there is an authentic relationship that goes back many, many years. They have been through many fights together, and, you know, I think Marco and Jeb don't see it as competing against each other. I know everybody in the national media see it that way.

COSTELLO: Hey, Ana.

NAVARRO: Yes?

COSTELLO: Ana, I'm going to have to interrupt you for just a second because I have to take our viewers to Plattsburgh city court. This is Joyce Mitchell, the prison worker accused of helping those inmates escape. She's in court for arraignment. Let's listen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Had time to discuss it with her, and what we're doing to do right now, Judge, is we're going to waive a preliminary felony hearing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. You're waiving then, the matter will be transferred to county court, and your next court date will come from the county court.

Anything to add, Mr. Wylie?

ANDREW WYLIE, CLINTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Yes, your honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anything to add?

WYLIE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Then we're adjourned for today. Thank you for appearing on such short notice. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bail continues, your honor?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bail continues.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

COSTELLO: All right. I want to bring in Brian Claypool, he is a defense attorney, and he joins me live now.

We didn't see very much of that hearing, Brian. So what can you tell us about, you know, the average formal arraignment?

BRIAN CLAYPOOL, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, this is different than average, Carol. What the lawyer for Joyce Mitchell did is he waived preliminary findings. It's really a jurisdictional issue. He wanted the case transferred over to county court, so there will be a new date set for county court in a county courthouse where she will be arraigned at that point in time, and she's going to have to answer to the findings and plead either guilty, and likely she'll plead not guilty at that point in time. So this was just a jurisdictional decision on the part of her lawyer.

COSTELLO: I'm just looking at the way she is dressed. She has that black vest -- is that a bulletproof vest? I don't know what that is. I'm just guessing.

CLAYPOOL: Well, it might be a vest she wears for one of those life saving vests, too, in case somebody throws her in the water and she's drowning. But, yes, it looks like it is a life jacket.

COSTELLO: What?

CLAYPOOL: But she looks -- I was kidding about that.

COSTELLO: Well, good. I'm like what?

CLAYPOOL: I said she's -- I said she was probably wearing a life jacket in case somebody tries to throw her in the ocean when she leaves court.

COSTELLO: Oh, Brian, Brian, Brian.

CLAYPOOL: But she looks pretty -- she looks pretty somber. Carol, I'm not -- I'm a little bit more outgoing than you are, right?

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: I know, but this is serious stuff and she does -- she looks --

CLAYPOOL: No, I --

COSTELLO: She looks scared to death as a matter of fact.

CLAYPOOL: She looks -- yes.

COSTELLO: And she probably should rightly be scared to death because she's possibly looking at eight years in prison.

CLAYPOOL: Right. Well, Carol, on a serious note, one thing that Joyce Mitchell has going in her favor, and this happens a lot with females who commit crimes like this, it's much different than men who commit crimes like this. They don't have any remorse at all, and they're doing it because they're angry or because they're violent people. Most women who commit crimes are not necessarily violent folks.

Women who do this are doing it because they have some kind of manipulation that they're subjected to, sometimes an abusive relationship. Here she was manipulated by one of these convicted killers, and what happens, Carol, is women will sell their soul to -- here a convicted killer, but once they're caught, the difference is they will cleanse their soul and that's exactly what she's done here.

She has opened up and she has given a plethora of information to law enforcement to help them try to piece this together to find these two convicted killers.

COSTELLO: But when you have the governor of the state of New York saying he's going to throw -- he wants the book thrown at anybody who was involved in helping these two men escape, I don't think she has much of a chance even if she shared lots and lots of information with authorities. Do you?

[10:25:07] CLAYPOOL: Well, I think she does, Carol, and I think here is what's happening behind the scenes. I think law enforcement is doing a masterful job of dangling a possible plea bargain with her if she cooperates and gives them additional information, which is what she's been doing because if you look at the charges right now, Carol, I know she could possibly go to jail for eight years, but I've done a little research and she could also be charged, for example, with accessory before the fact in New York, and that would add additional -- an additional six to eight years and also she could possibly be charged with conspiracy.

So there are two additional charges they are probably hanging over her head and they're probably working with her behind the scenes and saying, hey, look, you keep cooperating, we won't charge you with this, these additional crimes, and maybe we'll even cut you a deal down the road, but you've got to help us.

COSTELLO: We'll see. Brian Claypool, thanks for being with me. I appreciate it.

I'll be right back.

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