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U.S. Boosting Security Measures For Holiday Weekend; Trump Fires Back At GOP Critics; New York Escapee To Daughter: See You "On The Outside"; Shark Attacks on NC Beaches; Greece to Vote on Referendum Tomorrow; DOJ To Investigate Airline Collusion; The Declaration of Independence. Aired 12-1p ET

Aired July 04, 2015 - 12:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Americans here in the U.S. and around the world are celebrating Independence Day and the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are warning authorities across the nation to be extra vigilant saying that big holiday events could be targets of a terror threat.

[12:00:11] Along with a heavy police presence, authorities have set up counter-terrorism measures that include police snipers in strategic places and spotters in large crowds.

Even U.S. diplomatic posts around the world are being asked to double check their security measure measures, all of this comes as the radical group ISIS continues to call on its supporters to carry out attacks. The group also said the current holiday of Ramadan is a time when Jihad is most important.

We have full coverage for you. CNN national correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is at the National Mall in Washington. CNN's Boris Sanchez is at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, and former FBI special agent, Jonathan Gilliam joins us with his analysis.

So Sunlen Serfaty, let me begin with you in the nation's capital. So how is security being handled differently this weekend in Washington when so many crowd at the mall there?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, so many crowds, Fred. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be down here on the National Mall later today, but this sort of major security presence isn't anything new for Washington during the 4th of July holiday.

But authorities do tell us that they are taking those threats coming from the intelligence officials very seriously about potential attacks this weekend. We spoke earlier with the head of the D.C. parks police, which is responsible for all the people inside the National Mall today. Here's what he had to say.

Sorry about that. We don't have that sound available, but basically he said this is a state of posture that their security here in Washington has been since 9/11 so no distinct changes, just extra vigilance.

They have extra special (inaudible) at Washington landmarks here in town. Authorities also say there will be a heavy police presence seen and unseen all day today here on the National Mall. There are also special teams they say that are monitoring social media, monitoring special web sites, looking out for any of those concerning watch words -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And then Sunlen, we talked to our Tom Fuentes earlier, talking about the concern of soft targets and those areas before people get into hard target areas, like saying the National Mall, where there may be more security.

It's places like the metro as it pertains to Washington that would be of great concern. So is anything being said by D.C. police, metropolitan police, about how they are trying to be extra vigilant in those soft target like areas?

SERFATY: Absolutely. They are aware of that and that's something that not only are there are a lot of security checkpoints like you said here at more obviously where thousands will gather here on the National Mall, nine checkpoints, this being one of them.

But of course, there are extra patrols around town after some of those soft targets, but again authorities emphasizing that they haven't necessarily boosted up security this year on the 4th of July.

This is always a symbolic holiday. It always vulnerable to attacks, but certainly they are paying attention even though authorities said there's no specific credible threat, just an increase in chatter on the part of ISIS calling for attacks over the course of this weekend -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sunlen Serfaty, thanks so much, in the nation's capital.

Right now, let's move further north, law enforcements in New York City are on high alert there as well. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warning that his state is, quote, "Top target for a terror attack."

CNN's Boris Sanchez is live for us at the Brooklyn Bridge. So this is also a location where incredible fireworks displays take place, people crowd, so what exactly are authorities warning or encouraging people to do?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Millions of people are gathering to enjoy fireworks in a festive 4th of July so law enforcement is focusing not only on travel hubs, but also places like there, monuments and places where people go to enjoy themselves.

This is obviously the Brooklyn Bridge Park where you mentioned there is going to be a great fireworks display later. Governor Andrew Cuomo saying yesterday that he was beefing up staff and patrols at the emergency operation centers in the city.

Law enforcements are also placing snipers and spotters at key strategic locations around town. They have also scanned for explosives and radioactive devices, not only on land and sea, but also from the air.

They also have 7,000 cameras scanning crowds, looking for anything that may be out of place. Officers say they are ready for any kind of attack. We spoke with a traveler earlier at Penn Station, saying she was happy to see that added law enforcement presence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've noticed more of a police presence, which makes me feel safer, you know. Like I said, I was born and raised in New York and, you know, pre-9/11, stuff like that.

[12:05:02] And yes, we need to take security, you know -- we have to, for the safety of everyone. We need our police presence and I think it makes people more secure when we do have a police presence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: The governor also asking New Yorkers to do something they've heard many times before, remain vigilant. Look for anything that looks out of the ordinary and report it to law enforcement right away.

Meantime here at the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fredricka, not too much of a law enforcement presence, some roads are blocked off, but the fireworks show kicks off at 9:00 so we are expecting things to ramp up here later in the day.

WHITFIELD: All right, Boris Sanchez, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

All right, let's bring in Jonathan Gilliam in New York. He is a former FBI special agent, police officer and air marshal. So we've had terror threats on holiday weekends before. What in your view is different this go-around?

JONATHAN GILLIAM, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, right off the bat, Fred, and happy Independence Day. What is really different now is the group that is targeting us. Before, you know, a lot of the times tiffs groups that were like al Qaeda looking for big dramatic attacks so that they could get worldwide press.

They thought they had to crash planes into buildings, but as we've been warning for years and years, there could be a shift, and now that shift has happened where they figure out that it doesn't take a plane into a building.

You can simply go in, like happened in Tunisia a week ago, onto a beach and kill over 30 people with a gun, one guy. Imagine if that happens tonight, and imagine if it happens in two cities, they'll get the worldwide media attention, which they've been getting all around the world doing these different hits.

As you see that's the biggest threat now as they've involved in their tactics. They've actually gone to smaller easier attacks in order to put out more and more terror amongst the American people.

WHITFIELD: And then Jonathan, you know, we just heard Boris' live shot there at Brooklyn Bridge, and he said while in some instances it may not be that apparent or obvious to see law enforcement, but help people understand that just because you don't necessarily see law enforcement, how do you assure them that there are eyes everywhere?

And technology is helping in large part, so that you may not see a uniformed officer, but you are being watched, place are being watched.

GILLIAM: Absolutely. You know, Fred, you can see right behind me, this is Columbus Circle. There is a subway stop right back here, if you look right now, it's not that big of a deal, not a lot of people coming out of there.

However, later on tonight, that would be a very critical area and a very critical time, so there are cameras all over this city. There is law enforcement all over the city, but more importantly than even all that, there are people all over the city.

They are the eyes and ears for law enforcement. That's why we keep saying, if you see something, say something, because law enforcement does have a presence. They have undercover, uniformed officers, cameras, dogs, and all these things, but the reality is your eyes, wherever you are in the United States.

WHITFIELD: You're talking about citizens, visitors.

GILLIAM: Anybody. Anybody that has two eyes can see that something is wrong. Even if you're not from New York, you know it's not normal for somebody to set a bag down and walk away from it during an event. That's not normal.

Look. Enjoy yourself, just be aware like you are at night when you go to bed and you lock your door and you lay your head on your pillow. You're aware of what's going on around you, but you're not afraid. Do the same thing here tonight or wherever you are in the United States and you'll be safe.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jonathan Gilliam, thank you so much. And yes, I agree, happy 4th.

All right, coming up, Donald Trump fires back at presidential candidates in his own party after they attack him for his comments on immigration. His response, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:12:10]

WHITFIELD: All right now, presidential candidate, Donald Trump, is responding to his critics for his comments about immigration. He's been going after his fellow GOP presidential candidates. He spoke out on Fox News this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): Well, I know Pataki well. He is a sad figure. He's got zero in the polls and he was a terrible governor in New York, terrible. If he would have run again, he wouldn't have gotten anything. He was a failed governor.

As far as Rubio, he's very weak on immigration. I've been saying that for a long time. I respect Ted Cruz for the view that he's got. He was really out there and strong on it, and I shouldn't say this, because I assume he's an opponent, but the fact is he was very brave in coming out.

When I look at somebody like Perry, who was the governor for a long period of time, he could have done something a little bit -- maybe a lot more in terms of protecting people, because again the crime is rampant. This isn't a Mexico thing.

I have great relations with Mexico and I love the Mexican people and the spirit of the Mexican people. These are people just pouring across the border, and it involves more than just border. It involves trade. Everything we do in this country is just off.

Our trade deals are terrible. Our border protection is terrible. You look at what ISIS is doing to us, they're laughing at us. You know, do we have victories anymore in the country? And the answer is really no.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, CNN's MJ Lee is in New Hampshire where five GOP candidates are stumping today along with two Democratic candidates. So MJ, what is being said about Donald Trump's latest comments and whether overall is he becoming a distraction for the Republican Party?

MJ LEE, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Well, Fredricka, it does seem like wherever the 2016 candidates go, they're being asked constantly about Donald Trump and his controversial comments. I think this is a tricky line for a lot of the candidates to walk.

On the one hand, Donald Trump is an important donor. He now is obviously now a candidate and I think a lot of candidates feel hesitant to go full out attacking Donald Trump.

But on the other hand, this was obviously comments that were very offensive to a lot of Latinos and minority groups, and I think that, as the party has worked so hard to try to court minority voters, the comments that Donald Trump made certainly doesn't help the party's cause.

WHITFIELD: And then, M.J., while some of the other fellow Republican candidates are avoiding speaking colorfully about what Donald Trump said, he did make reference in that interview that Ted Cruz, he believed Ted Cruz offered some support.

It was Ted Cruz who said, you know, Donald is bold and brash, however, I'm not interested in Republican on Republican violence. I salute Donald Trump on the need to address illegal immigration.

[12:15:08] Perhaps he may -- he may have said some things that Donald Trump is welcoming while other candidates are not being as verbose about it. Why not?

LEE: Right. Look, at the end of the day, Donald Trump has said that he was not trying to make comments that were racist or offensive. He simply was trying to make a point about the fact that the country has an illegal immigration problem.

And look, the reality is that there is a sliver of the Republican Party and conservatives who do feel that legal immigration as a serious problem and who are going to be happy to hear Donald Trump say the things that he's saying, at least about addressing the problem of illegal immigration, and I think the rest of the Republican field gets that and understands that.

WHITFIELD: So what are some of the other candidates doing today?

LEE: Well, July 4th, as you know, this weekend is a very important tradition for a lot of the presidential candidates to get out there, especially in states like New Hampshire and Iowa to meet with voters, to mingle with them.

I'm hearing Gore in New Hampshire on the northern town of this state where Hillary Clinton actually is on her way right now. She will be participating in a parade right behind me.

We have several other Republican candidates who are also spending time in New Hampshire. In fact, Jeb Bush and Rick Perry had a little rendezvous in Amherst, and I think Jeb Bush spoke earlier today actually about the importance of campaigning in a state like New Hampshire. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This style of campaigning for me is perfect. New Hampshire voters are discerning. They're educated, and it gives me a chance to tell the Jeb story and talk about ideas that I think are important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: So I think we're going to be seeing a lot more candidates bumping into each other, and we will bring those interactions to you as we get them.

WHITFIELD: And then we also hear that Marco Rubio is going to be at Mitt Romney's lake house. What do we know about that meeting and what it means?

LEE: Yes, many of the 2016 Republican candidates consider Mitt Romney to be an important leader of the party now. In fact, as you mentioned CHRIS CHRISTIE and Marco Rubio, they had a little sleep over at Mitt Romney's lake house in Wolfeboro last night. And Jeb Bush earlier today told CNN that it would be important for him to get the endorsement from Mitt Romney because of his stature and role in this primary process.

We don't know if Mitt Romney will do that. He has previously said that he will probably not make an endorsement in the primaries, but we'll see if he actually means it when he says he doesn't mean to wade into this process.

WHITFIELD: All right, MJ Lee, thank you so much.

All right, still ahead, a 10-month-old baby drifting out to sea for half a mile before her parents even notice that she's gone? The shocking details about what happened next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:21:45]

WHITFIELD: All right, checking our top stories now, the FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash of a medical helicopter moments after takeoff in Colorado. Witnesses describe seeing the relatively new helicopter spinning uncontrollably before crashing and exploding. The pilot was killed. Two other crew members on board are hospitalized with significant injuries.

And shocking video of a 10-month-old baby girl drifting out to sea by herself, her parents apparently forgot they have placed her in a floating crib. The parents said they weren't even aware their daughter had reportedly drifted half a mile away from the Turkish coast.

Thankfully some sunbathers spotted the baby before things got worst. The Coast Guard was able to rescue the child and return her to the parents. Stunned beachgoers erupted in applause when the baby was safely in the mother's arms.

We're also learning much more about the two convicted killers who broke out of a New York state prison and were on the run for nearly three weeks. David Sweat has been talking to police since his capture last Sunday, detailing how law enforcement came very close to catching him early on.

We are also finding out more about his fellow escapee, Richard Matt, who was shot and killed by police. Matt reached out to his daughter in a letter. CNN national correspondent, Deborah Feyerick, has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Killer, Richard Matt, was so confident he would elude immediate capture after breaking out of his maximum security prison he sent his daughter a letter.

Law enforcement sources telling the "Buffalo News," Matt wrote, "I always promised I would see you on outside. I'm a man of my word." The daughter, who lives in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, reportedly received the letter three days after her father's dramatic escape from Clinton Correctional Facility, about 350 miles across state.

There's no indication she knew in advance of her father's plans. Matt spent 20 days on the run before a border patrol special operations team found him alone behind a tree. He was shot three times in the head after apparently aiming a .20 gauge shotgun at an officer.

Matt's body has been taken to the Buffalo area after his family had a change of heart and decided to claim the body. The funeral home said there will be no public or private services.

David Sweat is listed in fair condition. He continues to heal from two gunshot wounds sustained during his capture. Police put out a photo of the type of backpack he was carrying when arrested just two miles from the Canadian border.

They believed the inmates took it from a camping ground in Franklin or Clinton County, and are asking the owner to come forward possibly to trace the escapees' route.

(on camera): The Department of Corrections has been criticized for failing to order a total lockdown in the Clinton facility following a fight in the yard a week before the escape.

The corrections official tells CNN that only a partial lockdown was necessary because the melee among 30 inmates in the prison yard lasted less than a minute, involved no weapons, and only one injury.

Security measures have been tightened to ensure daily random cell checks and weekly security inspections. Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Still to come, beach goers nerves are frazzled after 11 shark attacks off the coast of the Carolinas. Nick Valencia is in Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina.

[12:25:09] NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Fred. A very busy holiday weekend as locals and tourists alike are out here on Wrightsville Beach. I'm Nick Valencia with CNN. Coming up after the break, we'll tell you how people are reacting to this seemingly busy shark attack season.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:28:36]

WHITFIELD: Hello again. Happy 4th. Thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Millions of Americans are spending the July 4th weekend at the beach, but 11 shark attacks along the Carolina coast in recent weeks are rattling nerves for a lot of people there. North Carolina's governor is asking experts to try to find patterns in the attack. It's not only a safety issue, but for the state, a concern over tourism and the money that it generates.

The latest person to be attacked, a former Boston newspaper editor, who was rushed to the hospital after a shark pulled him under water and then bit his rib cage, hip, leg and hands. The attack happened off the North Carolina coast.

Our Nick Valencia is in North Carolina at Wrightsville Beach. So Nick, what more are you learning about Andrew Costello's condition? He is in the 60s.

VALENCIA: Yes, Mr. Costello is in fair condition. He was airlifted after being one of the 11 people who have suffered shark bites in recent weeks who have a lot of people very nervous.

What we're seeing here, though, today, Fred, a much different tone or attitude, perhaps it could be because of the 4th of July weekend, but we'll give you a sense of exactly what is going on.

People are in the water. We've spoken to surfers, locals, tourists, everybody here, who's been out trying to enjoy this holiday weekend. Some are a little bit more anxious than others.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB KIEBER, SURFER: It's a very rare occurrence. I know there's more this year, but it's such a rare thing. There are so many other problems you're going to have on July 4th.

[12:30:06] This isn't really should be something that they're concerned about. I know they're very scary, but they're just not that concerning to me.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: We're just hoping that we don't get bit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you scared at all?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Just like a little.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Yes, a healthy fear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: You heard it there from that little girl. That was some locals last night, Fred, and we were talking about it. It certainly was a topic of conversation, the recent shark bites. While it is seemingly on everyone's mind, there are those who say they're not that concerned. There haven't been that many attacks reported here, none of those 11 attacks happened on this beach. They all happened just north or south of us -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: So how about for that beach? Are people changing their habits? I mean, there are a lot of people behind you, but most of them are on the sand. Are there many in the water or are they changing the way they enjoy and getting out in the water because of this news?

VALENCIA: You know, you would think so, but not so much. People go in the water for a quick dip, come back out. It seems like a typical beach day here, though, experts and scientists are well aware of this threat.

And they are telling local residents if they are going into the water, swim in groups, don't swim at dusk or dawn, that seems to be the points that sharks are most active in swimming out there.

There are a lot of factors contributing to this uptick. It is turtle season. Sharks love turtles, apparently, and they are feasting on those. People have been attacked close to the pier, the shoreline.

Also drought conditions according to some scientists could be leading to this, but by and large, most of the locals here. They are not really that concern. Some of the tourists, though, a little bit different on their attitude towards what's happening.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nick Valencia, thanks so much in Wrightsville Beach, a very fun beach.

VALENCIA: You bet.

WHITFIELD: All right, I appreciate it.

All right so for more on the shark attacks, I want to bring in Jeff Corwin, the host of ABC's "Ocean Mysteries" and author of a new e-book called "Sharks."

So Jeff, why are there so many more shark attacks? It's just, you know, up by a few numbers, but they're saying this is the most probably in 15 years. What's going on?

JEFF CORWIN, HOST, "OCEAN MYSTERIES": There must be something happening in that ecosystem, along that coastline that's contributing to this unusual cluster in shark attacks, but statistically it's important to remember that your odds or chances of being attacked by a shark are much less than actually winning the lottery.

Every year statistically you have about a one in an 11 million chance of having a negative encounter with a shark, but I think there are a number of things happening in this beach where basically we're sharing the ecosystem with sharks. This is their domain.

Right now, this is the time of year, in spring and early summer, where multiple species, five or six shark species like bull sharks and other species come into these waters to reproduce. They also come into these waters to feed.

This is also the time where there's lots of prey items, baby sea turtles, baby birds, fish, and this comes telling in a way we have put ourselves right in the middle of the shark's buffet.

WHITFIELD: Right. So then what do we need to tell beachgoers? Because you know, everybody wants to enjoy going to the beach, but you know, reminder, we're the visitors, as you put it, this is their domain, their home. How do we coexist safely?

CORWIN: Well, Fred, I think that's the first important point that you just mentioned. We need to remind ourselves that we are out of our element and into the world of sharks.

But there are some common sense things that you can do to dramatically reduce that already rare chance of something bad happening. Number one, you want to stay away from a lot of glittery shiny jewelry or watches or necklaces, things that may look like a shiny flickering fish in the water.

As a reporter said before, you don't want to be in the water at dusk or dawn where the clarity is very low and the visibility is low. You want to stay out of the water during turbulence and rain seasons.

You want to be out of the water, for example, when people are fishing and cutting bait. That actually brings in sharks. These are some simple things we can all do to give ourselves a little bit of peace of mind.

But the most important thing to remember is that there are always sharks there. You are often never more than 100 yards away from a shark when you're in saltwater, which to me is unsettling.

But it also tell us, yes, they are there, but most of the time they're just going about their business. Also in the end, Fred, the biggest thing we need to remember is that sharks are in a lot more trouble from us than we are from them.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, that's a good point. Is it really the case that sharks oftentimes when they do bite humans is not that we are the prey they necessarily looking for. They just think we might be?

[12:35:06] They bite very seldom. Are we talking about people being consumed by sharks? They bite. They let go. We're kind of boney, maybe not as appetizing as I've heard some shark experts put it.

CORWIN: Yes, that's a good point. A lot of times when people are bitten by shark, they receive what is called a test bite. They are testing and tasting what's going on with their mouths. Also with their skin, they have they incredibly hyper sensitive little pits around their face to detect electro movement and stimulation in the water.

But they do these things called test bites. That gentleman, the editor from "The Herald" in Boston, he was taken on by a six-foot shark, I think a bull shark. If that shark was determined to consume him and not test bite him, it would have taken away of up to five pounds of flesh per bite.

It's a way for the shark to figure out if you're food or not food. It's not pleasant, but it's certainly worse than the alternative, which is actually being consumed, which is incredibly rare.

WHITFIELD: Yes, that is the half glass full point of view we're looking for from you. Thanks so much, Jeff Corwin.

CORWIN: We just don't taste good.

WHITFIELD: I don't even want to be test bitten. No, not interested.

CORWIN: Always remember, you can never outswim a shark. You can always out-swim the slowest swimmer.

WHITFIELD: OK, another great point. I like it. Thanks so much, Jeff Corwin. Appreciate it. Happy 4th.

CORWIN: You too, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, straight ahead, it's a picture that captures just hose desperate the situation in Greece, this older man breaking down in tears, as he and other await news to see whether the economy will be saved. The latest on that dire situation, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:40:25]

WHITFIELD: All right. Greece's economy is on the brink of collapse, and its ATMs are running out of money. Even supplies of food and medicine are starting to run low. A 77-year-old retiree turned away from four separate banks trying to withdraw a pension on behalf of his wife, breaking down in tears.

Tomorrow voters will hit the polls to decide how Greece should proceed. Massive rallies continue for each side, as polls show voters are evenly divided on the bailout issue. CNN's Isa Soares joining us now live from Athens, Greece. And what's taking place today?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Well, today is the calm before the storms perhaps. Things are very quiet. I think people taking it all in trying to decide which way they will go. We were not expecting to hear from politicians, from Alexis Tsipras today because 24 hours before the referendum, that is now prohibited.

People trying to go about their daily business today, some going shopping, some are just going out for coffee. People are still undecided. This is a country that's pretty polarized in terms of which way they are going to go.

You were mentioning that talking about the latest polls, only 1 percent difference, Fredricka, really stands between a yes and a no camp. The yes at the moment has 44 percent according to the latest polls, 43 percent for no. The 12 percent of votes still undecided. That paints a picture of how divided this country is -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Is there a feeling, Isa, that a lot of people are simply running out of money?

SOARES: Yes, it's not just a feeling, Fredricka. I think that is exactly what's happening. Yesterday just to give you an idea, yesterday a lot of people couldn't get the 60 euros because they have run out of the 20 euro notes.

I called one of my sources yesterday to find out exactly how much money was left in the banking system and this person said there was 1.5 billion euros left in the banking system. So I said what about the 5.5 billion that Greece has to pay the rest of the creditors this month, the pensions, the salaries, and wages.

And you know, government (inaudible) we don't have funding so in other words money is running out. This is really the deep freeze here. That I think is why it's so worrying. If there is no agreement, if it goes the way of the no vote, Alexis Tsipras says it make the negotiations slightly easier.

Europe doesn't see it that way, Fredricka. Europe says if it goes the no way, no vote wins, conditions may even be tougher than those they have put in the table say three weeks ago.

WHITFIELD: My goodness, all right, Isa Soares, keep us posted. Thank you so much from Athens.

All right, still to come, supply and demand determines what we pay for everything, but what if they're manipulated? That's what justice officials think some airlines might be doing. Details are next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:47:09]

WHITFIELD: All right, the Department of Justice has sent subpoenas to the four major airlines in the United States. They are determining if American Airlines, Southwest, United and Delta colluded to keep fares high by maintaining seat capacity on planes.

It is still not clear how the airlines coordinated or if they coordinated, but investigators say they are looking at public comments by airline executives and industry analysts.

So let's bring in our legal guys on this one. Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor joining us from Cleveland. Good to see you.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Richard Herman, who we will not see but we'll hear, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor, joining us from Vancouver this weekend on the phone. So Richard, can we hear you?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY (via telephone): Hi, everyone. I can hear you.

FRIEDMAN: There he is.

WHITFIELD: There he is. So Avery, you first, so how does the government, DOJ, go about trying to discern whether these airlines colluded. Does this mean going through e-mail or is it strictly public comments, phone calls, how do they do that? FRIEDMAN: Well, they've issued initial subpoenas, Fredricka, because they are looking into the fact that even though fuel prices are down 40 percent, non-fuel prices are down. Consumers are complaining about not enough seats, and yet the airline industry is setting records with a $30 billion profit. So it looks kind of strange.

The Justice Department, the Antitrust Department, and those are lawyers serious as a heart attack looking into this kind of problem. You have four major carriers, Delta, American, Southwest and you've got United that's 80 percent of domestic flights.

And so there should be a lot more capacity that's what consumers are saying, the industry is saying we are employing what's called capacity discipline, but nobody knows what that means and that's what investigation is all about.

WHITFIELD: So then, you know, Richard, at the root of this, does it have something to do with the consolidation of airlines as well because as Avery just pointed out, you have four carriers that represent 80 percent of the American market?

HERMAN: Well, Fred, you know it's one thing to sit and cry wolf here, but the DOJ created this situation we are in now by approving all the mergers. They didn't have to approve the mergers, they did. So basically as Avery said, there are four major airlines controlling the U.S. domestic market.

I think what the inquiry is this -- you can call one week for a ticket and they can tell you $250, and you call two weeks later for the same flight, and they tell you $1300. The questions is, are the airlines in collusion to limit the seats and to limit the capacity of these flights.

When you get what's called a civil investigative demand by the DOJ, you know, that's like being called a person of interest. That's a criminal, that's a quasi-criminal investigation.

[12:50:08] WHITFIELD: So then what could happen if DOJ determines, yes, they were in collusion, I mean, what would happen? Are we talking about a penalty that would go to these airlines? Does it mean refunds to millions of flyers? I mean, ultimately what does this half way look like, Avery?

FRIEDMAN: Well, this process will take a long time. It's going to be years and years and commonly these matters resolve. The last time the Justice Department caught the airlines doing this, they settled it. There was some monetary piece of it. There was an injunction against it, but the fact is, it's going to take a lot of time whether or not it ultimately gets to the question remains to be seen, but there's a long, long way to go in this.

WHITFIELD: All right, Richard, last word on this?

HERMAN: Fred, it is monetary. It would crush the airlines if they are able to determine this. The problem is without a smoking gun, it seems and all the experts are saying there's little or no chance for this investigation is going to be fruitful at all and probably a major waste of time and money.

WHITFIELD: My gosh, OK, Richard, so while in Vancouver, are you going to check out a little soccer or other stuff?

HERMAN: I'm hoping maybe heading up to Alaska here, Fred, so, you know.

WHITFIELD: Nice, nice, Alaska and maybe on the way, maybe you'll get lucky enough to get a ticket or two for the game tomorrow night. I know you can pull some strings.

HERMAN: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Avery Friedman, good to see you as well. Happy 4th of July to both of you. Appreciate it.

FRIEDMAN: Happy 4th of July to everybody. Take care.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Thanks, guys. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:55:31]

WHITFIELD: All right, as we celebrate America's birthday, it's important to remember one of the documents that started it all, the Declaration of Independence, but as CNN's Chris Moody found out there was mystery surrounding that priceless piece of paper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who put a handprint on the Declaration of Independence?

CHRIS MOODY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Declaration of Independence is one of the nation's most beloved documents. At some point in history someone put their handprint on it and never fessed up to it.

(on camera): We started at the conservation lab at the U.S. National Archives. I have no idea what I'm doing.

ALICE KAMPS, CURATOR, NATIONAL ARCHIVES: During the revolutionary war period, it traveled with Congress as they moved from town to town along the east coast.

MOODY: We're talking with the curator and conservator to try to help us find clues. Do we know how it got there?

MARY LYNN RITZENTHALE, CONSERVATOR, NATIONAL ARCHIVES: In 1888, the declaration was in Philadelphia, being reframed in a frame shop. The story goes that the person involved doing the framing had printer's ink on his hand, which would have been likely in a print shop. That we don't know for sure.

MOODY: You're one of the only living people who has handled the Declaration of Independence.

RITZENTHALE: That is correct, I suspect.

MOODY: Was it you?

RITZENTHALE: It was not me. I would feel very sad if it were me.

MOODY: I saw a documentary about "The National Treasure" about when this was stolen. Do you think Nicolas Cage might have done it?

RITZENTHALE: Well, I know he has really supernatural powers, I don't think they extend that far.

MOODY: So that documentary, "National Treasure" is a lie?

RITZENTHALE: Yes.

MOODY: I knew it. So off we went to the old patent office now the national portrait gallery. Maybe we could find clues inside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The one point this space was the largest room in America. This is where the Declaration of Independence was displayed.

MOODY: Can you walk me to how it got here?

DAVID WARD, HISTORIAN, NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY: After 1776, it's amazing that it wasn't destroyed. It moved with the Congress, whenever the capitol moving, and it kind of traveled with Charles Thompson, the secretary of the Continental Congress.

MOODY: Do you have any idea what it was like in here?

WARD: It was terrible. The Declaration is being moved around. It rolled it up all the time, which you're not supposed to do. It was exposed to light, exposed to smoke.

MOODY: Who put their handprint on the Declaration of Independence? Do you have any leads?

WARD: No, I do not. (Inaudible) the most anonymous of the founders, did he put his hand on it when he signed --

MOODY: You know what would make this better? Street cello music. Behind me is the library of Congress where the document was before and after World War II. Was it here where the handprint was put on the Declaration of Independence? We'll never know, because they won't let us in.

Nothing. What are you trying to tell us, Thomas Jefferson? Could it be the answer to our question has been in our pants this entire time? Was it this guy? George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison. Is it you, Samuel Adams?

After our investigation, we've come up with one conclusion. Couldn't have been you, Ben Franklin?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: It all goes back to that documentary. Thank you so much, Chris Moody, for making us laugh a bit.

All right, we have so much more straight ahead in NEWSROOM, and it all starts right now.

Happening right now in the NEWSROOM, ramped up security across the nation this 4th of July, concerns of terrorist threats have police on alert and extra patrols in place.

Plus fireworks out of control, several people are injured when shells fly into the crowd.