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Donald Trump Press Conference; Recaptured Convict David Sweat Talks; Supreme Court Upholds Lethal Injection Drug Sparking Debate on Capital Punishment; Political Push Back on Same-Sex Marriage. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired June 29, 2015 - 14:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:32:11] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to go quickly here to Chicago. Donald Trump is now taking questions from members of the press. We just reported with Brian Stelter how NBC is severing ties because of some of his derogatory language toward Mexicans in some of his speeches. Let's listen.

(CROSSTALK)

DONALD TRUMP, CEO, TRUMP GROUP & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, the city is in trouble, but I got out seven years ago. I left Atlantic City seven years ago. The financial press has given me great credit because my timing was great. But I left Atlantic City about seven years ago when I heard that they wouldn't approve it in Pennsylvania. That's what happens. I know one of the folks at "The Tribune" today was asking about how Chicago would set up for gaming. And gaming is a mixed blessing. But when I left Atlantic City right after that, it really went -- I mean, I got a lot of credit for my timing. But Atlantic City was great for me, and I have a great warm spot because I was there during the heyday.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What do you think about gaming possibilities in Chicago?

TRUMP: Look, it's a mixed blessing. One of thing the things that happens, is it goes great, then the neighboring states go crazy. Then it ends up going badly for everybody. And it does bring problems. It brings gambling to people who can't afford it. Where they can't pay taxes because they've gambled their money. And it does bring crime. In Atlantic City's case, that was different because it was a deserted area. Whereas, Chicago --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)

TRUMP: I think for Chicago, I'm not sure it would be the right thing. You'd have to study it. But Atlantic City was a great thing for me. I made a lot of money in Atlantic City. But Atlantic City not is doing very poorly.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION) TRUMP: Well, I think NBC, frankly -- I've had a great relationship with them. They didn't want me to run because they wanted to do "The Apprentice." As you know, they renewed "The Apprentice." I just told them, I cannot do "The Apprentice" because of the fact I'm running. As long as I'm running for president, they were not happy with it. They wanted me to do "The Apprentice." Now with my statements on immigration, which happen to be correct, they are going to take a different stance, and that's OK. Whatever they want to do is OK with me. I've had a lot of great relationships with NBC. I think as far as ending the relationship, I have to do that because my view on immigration is much different than the people at NBC.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)

TRUMP: Want to control what? You have to stop illegal immigration. You cannot have -- I know NBC may disagree with me -- and it's very important, illegal immigration. You don't have a country if you have that. People are coming into our country. We have no idea -- and they're from all over the world -- who they are. We have to have strong borders. If we don't have strong borders, you don't have a country anymore. So I told NBC, I can't change my stance. And this is one of the things I do. I say anybody that's very successful, it's hard to run for political office because you're going to upset people. The fact is, my stance on immigration is correct, and some people may not think so, but ultimately my stance is correct on immigration.

[14:35:] UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Get jobs back to America, how would you do that?

TRUMP: Get jobs back from China --

BALDWIN: You heard him over and over. Despite the fact that he called Mexicans -- they were bringing in drugs and that they are rapists, he is standing by his comments, not backing down. Let me be precise on the language from NBC. NBC citing Trump's recent derogatory comments, they have ended their business relationship with him and will no longer air Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants. When he spoke in Chicago a little bit ago, cited how he's been doing in polls, specifically CNN polls. We'll have that conversation, what exactly Donald Trump said to this crowd in Chicago next hour.

But I want to get back to our breaking news. Escaped cop killer, David Sweat, shot, wounded, back in custody after 23 days on the run. He is in this hospital in Albany. Sources telling CNN he is talking. He's cracked. A sample of what he's telling investigators, the original plan was for prison employee and seamstress, Joyce Mitchell, to pick him up and his fellow fugitive, Richard Matt. Know where they were supposed to go? Mexico. But when she did not show up, they had to improvise.

I want to bring in our national correspondent, Deborah Feyerick.

It strikes me so much that it hasn't even been 24 hours this guy has been in surgery in the hospital. He's talking. So we're learning that he and Matt split. He ditched him.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right.

BALDWIN: Days ago.

FEYERICK: Exactly. One of the things is, DNA evidence suggested Richard Matt was very sick, that either he had eaten something or had something to drink that was actually reacting very badly in his body.

BALDWIN: Held him back.

FEYERICK: Together, they were successful. Sweat is telling investigators he decided to go it on his own because he felt Richard Matt was holding him back.

When you think about it, David Sweat was able to get a mile and a half from the Canadian border. He was dressed in camouflage. We've heard about the pepper shakers that the men were using apparently to throw the dogs off their scent. But the camouflage clothing belonging to someone else was making it much more difficult for investigators to find them.

But getting back to when the men split, they believe it was sometime midweek. Investigators are working on the premise that, in fact, one of the reasons Richard Matt wanted to take that camper van -- remember he shot at the van, very carefully not as to blow out a tire, not to make the van crash, because he was getting weaker. That's the premise that they're operating on. He had also apparently been drinking, had found some alcohol in one of the cabins. Apparently, one of the investigators said that the smell was extremely strong.

BALDWIN: It's over. 23 days later, it's over. We're going to get new comments from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at the top of the hour. We'll bring those to you.

Deborah Feyerick, thank you so much.

Coming up next, the groundbreaking decision from the nation's highest court legalizing same-sex marriage in every state. Some push back from elected officials challenging the ruling, some on the grounds of their religious beliefs. We have that coming up for you.

You're watching CNN.

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[14:42:38] BALDWIN: A divided U.S. Supreme Court today upheld the use of a controversial drug for lethal injections and executions. This sparked bitter words from justices on both sides, including a renewed debate over the legality of capital punishment.

Let's go to our justice correspondent, Pamela Brown, who is in Washington.

Tell me who brought the case and what they were trying to accomplish here.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, this case was brought by three death row inmates challenging Oklahoma's lethal injection protocol, specifically the controversial drug that is supposed to render a person unconscious, so that person is not having pain. This was used in the botched execution where the inmate died after 40 minutes. The suit claims the drug doesn't work effectively and it violates the Constitution's Eighth Amendment of Cruel and Unusual Punishment. But today, the conservative judges on the court disagreed and ruled in a 5-4 majority opinion that the plaintiffs failed to show that the drug violates the Constitution.

As you point out, Brooke, this is an issue that has sparked contentious debate among the justices during oral arguments. That is reflected in the fiery dissent. Judge Sotomayor argued the drug poses substantial risks and leaves the petitioners are left exposed to what may be the chemical equivalent of being burned at the stake. Justice Breyer brought up the fact that he says it's highly unlikely the death penalty violates the Eighth Amendment. A dramatic way to end the term today -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: What a last week it has been in Washington, D.C.

BROWN: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Pamela Brown, thank you very much.

You know, that same-sex marriage ruling may be etched forever in the history books, but the fallout as well from this landmark decision is startling. The weekend marking the celebrations of same-sex weddings in cities all across the country, but for others, it's a waiting game as elected officials in many states are voicing their concerns and holding off on issuing marriage licenses.

Country music star, Chely Blitzer-Wright, who is gay, spoke about those resisting this decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHELY BLITZER-WRIGHT, COUNTRY MUSIC STAR: I promise you all of these people who are trying to stir the pot of hate about people like us, they have gay children, they have gay siblings, they have gay neighbors. They may not know about that because their neighbors and children and employers perhaps are reticent to tell them who they are. But I can assure you, those GOP nominees hoping to get the nomination, in 20 years, will look back and I really firmly believe this will be a regret for them.

This will go down in the annals of history of American history as one of the great days for civil rights. We know that even long after the ink dries on legislation it takes a long time for hearts and minds to change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[14:45:20] BALDWIN: Let me bring in our senior legal analyst, Jeff Toobin, who -- you know, Friday was a big day for a lot of people, and if you lived in New York we saw the celebrations through the weekend.

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Sure.

BALDWIN: But not everyone is celebrating. I think my first question -- and I could cite is examples, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, there are folks, to put it in your phraseology, with religious scruples, who do not wish to, let's say, if asked, participate or marry a same-sex couple. Would he or she have that right?

TOOBIN: The answer is at this point, we don't know for sure. But what we do know is that, if let's say in county "X" in Alabama, a person says, I don't want to perform this same-sex wedding, almost certainly the courts will say, person "A," you don't have to do it, but somebody has to do it. That every place that performs weddings is going to have to give same-sex couples the opportunity to get married. They're not necessarily going to have every individual who usually performs weddings, but they are going to have the right to get married in every county in the country. That's what I think the ruling means.

BALDWIN: It may not be probate judge "A." It could be probate judge "D" in said county who would marry the same-sex couple.

TOOBIN: Correct.

BALDWIN: OK.

TOOBIN: Although, I expect there will be litigation because some counties will say, well, you can go to the next county or you can go to the county two over. And the courts are going to be forced to say, when does the right become really compromised?

BALDWIN: And that will be one of the potential fallouts --

TOOBIN: Indeed.

BALDWIN: -- that we'll be discussing in these different suits.

Let me ask you about this, because I was reading in "The New York Times" talking about potential implications with conservative religious schools that currently have policies on the books where you cannot be a same-sex couple or be taking part in their married student housing if you're a same-sex couple. With this ruling, how would that affect those policies or perhaps their losing their tax exempt status?

TOOBIN: This is a real unknown. This comes from the Bob Jones University, which doesn't allow interracial dating. Back in the Reagan administration, the Supreme Court said, you lose your tax exemption because that's a violation of public policy. So the question is, if a university has religious scruples involving discrimination against gay people, do they get to keep their tax exemption? And the solicitor general was asked that question during the oral arguments on same-sex marriage --

BALDWIN: What did he say?

TOOBIN: -- and he said, that's a good question, I don't know the answer.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: We don't know a lot of things yet. It's just beginning.

(CROSSTALK)

TOOBIN: I don't know the answer either.

BALDWIN: Jeffrey Toobin, thank you very much.

TOOBIN: All right.

BALDWIN: Coming up, former fugitive, David Sweat, is now talking, giving details about his prison escape, where they really wanted to go, what plan "A" should have been, and why he ditched his friend and fellow escapee, Richard Matt, in the woods.

And next, that unexpected moment during the president's eulogy in Charleston, South Carolina, Friday, stunning the crowd and anyone watching by singing "Amazing Grace" there. The organist -- you hear this? The organist who climbed in alongside joins me after the break.

We'll be right back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:52:44] BALDWIN: The nation witnessed just an incredible moment in Charleston, South Carolina, last Friday, when President Obama, while delivering that impassioned eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, broke out in song and praise through the hymn "Amazing Grace."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(APPLAUSE)

(SINGING)

(APPLAUSE)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Oh, that moment.

And the man behind the organ here, Charles Miller Jr., joins me from Charleston.

Sir, it is an honor to have you on. You know, you said you thought that maybe the president was getting

emotional. Instead, here he was starting to sing "Amazing Grace." What moved you to chime in?

CHARLES MILLER JR, ORGANIST: Well, let me first say, Brooke, it's an honor and pleasure to be on with you this afternoon in the midst of everything that's been going on here in the city.

And what really moved me was just all of my training and background and all of the lessons I've learned in life and most importantly letting God just lead me in that moment.

BALDWIN: You obviously knew the president was coming. He was delivering the eulogy. And it was such a moment for all of us to watch it. But for you to be sitting there, to feel it, what was that like in person?

[14:55:07] MILLER: To see the president in person and to hear such a stirring and moving eulogy given for such a great man that was Senator Clementa Pinckney, it was a lifetime experience that I will never forget and my spirit was so moved on that day.

BALDWIN: Did you get a chance to shake the president's hand, talk to him at all?

MILLER: I did not. You know, a role as a musician, we have to kind of not be in the moment too much, and I had to get ready for the next choir selection that was coming with the rest of the musicians. So it was just an in-the-moment type of thing, and you had to kind of switch gears and still be in your profession to do what you've been called to do.

BALDWIN: Understood. You had a job to do. That's precisely what you did.

But, Charles, if you had the president in front of you and especially listening to his entire message to really all of us, what would you have said to him?

MILLER: I would say, Mr. President, I thank you for the words of encouragement that you have given this city, this state, this nation and to the world, reminding us about God's Amazing Grace, how it is unfailing and it continues to be with us and bring us together at this time. We are much stronger now than we were three weeks ago.

BALDWIN: How, Charles, were you chosen to play that day?

MILLER: I am a former musician from Mother Emanuel. I used to play at the church. And the minister of music, Wayne Singleton, is the person I reached out to just offer my condolences, anything I could offer being that I work for FOX Music House. He said, I really appreciate that, and I will be in touch with you because I would need some musicians to help me out on that day.

BALDWIN: Could you, for people who have never sat in on a church such as this, explain the significance of the organ. MILLER: The organ has been around for centuries, in cathedrals, in

churches, despite denomination. The organ and any instrument of that nature really is a help to undergird the message of any service. It goes hand in hand with the word of God, and it just drives home the point that God is in the midst of everything, and he is controlling our actions and everything that we do. As long as we give him glory and give it all to him, that he would honor that.

BALDWIN: You talk about grace, the president talked about grace. I want to end with you just speaking about your mentor, Reverend Pinckney. You lost him. I also know you lost your cousin. Would you like to share some words about them before we let you go?

MILLER: I definitely am grateful to God for this platform that has been provided and, at this time, I just definitely want to bring focus back to those nine families, one of which I'm a part of. Reverend Pinckney was such a great man and mentor to me throughout my upbringing in the AME Church. And my cousin, Reverend Dan Simmons, was a wonderful member of the family, and we just saw him three weeks ago at my grandfather's passing.

BALDWIN: Charles Miller Jr., thank you so much. Just all of us watching from afar, it was beautiful. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Thank you, Brooke. God bless.

BALDWIN: And we move along. Top of the hour. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Let's get back to our breaking news. Captured alive and now talking, David Sweat, this cop killer, who has spent 23 days evading police, is revealing how he and Richard Matt improvised, surviving on the lam in the woods of Upstate New York, to how he hatched his plan with the seamstress there, Joyce Mitchell. A plan that came undone the moment Sweat and Matt emerged from the manhole and realized Mitchell had bailed.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaking about this plan to a local radio just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: So the plan was to head to Mexico, which would have been aided by Joyce Mitchell's vehicle. They would kill Mitchell's husband and then get in the car and drive to Mexico, on the theory that Mitchell was in love with one or both of them. And then they would go live happily ever after, which is a fairy tale that I wasn't read as a child.

But we all believe what we want to believe. When Mitchell doesn't show up, the Mexico plan gets foiled, and then they head north towards Canada.

(END VIDEO CLIP)