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Senate Supporters of Iran Deal Pass Necessary Minimum; Defense Motions Denied in Baltimore Police Murder Case. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired September 02, 2015 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:32:51] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: A huge milestone for the Obama administration today. And it quest to win support for the Iran nuclear deal. A much needed 34th senator announced support for the agreement. The senator to that, Maryland Democratic senator Barbara Mikulski. This now gives President Obama enough votes to prevent Republicans from killing the deal.
Just a short time ago, we did hear from secretary of state Kerry John defending it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Without this agreement, IEAE would not have assured access to undeclared locations in Iran where suspicious activities might be taking place. The agency could seek access. But if Iran objected, there would be no sure method for resolving a dispute in a finite period which is exactly what has led us to where we are today. That's standoff.
With this agreement, the IAEA can go wherever the evidence leads, no facility, declared or undeclared, will be off limits, and there is a time certain for ensuring access.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Jake Tapper joins me from Washington.
Jake Tapper, I'm more interested in asking you actually not how this is resonating among Democrats but Republicans, because you, sir, are moderating the debate in two weeks at the Reagan library and this news will be adding fresh fuel to that race and to that debate.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's right. They all -- all of the candidates are against the deal with Iran, and they are all eager to talk about that. Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz tweeted, the greatest national security threat facing America is a nuclear Iran. Lindsey Graham out there talking about the only reason the ayatollahs aren't dancing in the streets of Tehran is because they don't believe in dancing. So this is something that they all want to talk about. It's certainly an issue for them.
I think one of the challenges for us doing the debate though, Brooke, is we want to talk about policy differences that they have, so -- well, I was going to say where I think some of the differences are, but maybe they are watching CNN right now so I'm not going to talk about that. BALDWIN: May be they are. Don't give away the whole show with the
questions you have there.
You know, also, you are reading tweets there from Republicans, the vice president jumped on Twitter short time ago and he tweeted this. The #IranDeal is the best available option to block Iran from a bomb. It is our national security interest. And that tweet, of course, comes as he's, you know, in the battleground state of Florida. We know he is delivering the first major speech since all this, you know, speculation began. Would he or will he not, you know, challenge the other Democrats and particularly Hillary Clinton when it comes to the primaries? We just pulled a little bit of what the vice president has just said. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[15:52:34] BIDEN: And, by the way, it's amazing how good this schools. Look at all the press you've attracted. Their interest in community colleges impress me greatly, and I hope that's what they are going to write about. The middle class is not back yet. The middle class is not back yet. A strong, vibrant middle class, a growing middle class has provided the political and social stability in this country for the last 100 years. It's the reason why unlike any country in the world when we've gone through even our allies and friends in Europe, when there's been serious economic or social turmoil, we have been able to move forward because -- because people believe that there is an American promise. There is an American dream, that if in fact you do all you can, you do all you can and play by the rules that you can get ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That's a fired up vice president, Tapper. And let me also mention your buddy Stephen Colbert is having him on his very first show next week. Don't know if that's where an announcement could be made. How are you seeing all of this?
TAPPER: Well, I think he's legitimately torn. And the sources I've spoken to say that that's the case. I mean, look, first of all, this is a guy who has already run for president twice.
BALDWIN: Right.
TAPPER: So back in 1988 he thought he could do the job. It's not as though he's less experienced and less seasoned now. He's more prepared than he was back in 1988. And obviously his beloved late son beau wanted him to run. But there are lots of other questions about it. First of all, the vice president is a practical guy. Is there a path for him? You heard him exploring one path, this idea of the middle class, that's always been something he talk a lot about. Could he be a better spokesman for articulating that than the former secretary of state Hillary Clinton? Perhaps, that's what his supporters think anyway. But then there's also, and I don't think this is talked about enough,
the vice president, I'm told, feels a tremendous sense of responsibility for Beau's widow and two children, financial responsibility in addition to emotional responsibility. And Beau who, you know, was the attorney general of Delaware does not leave behind some largesse, some huge trust fund to take care of them, how much does that factor into the vice president's decision?
BALDWIN: OK. Moving past the vice president for now back to this debate. You know, it's been a big deal all over the headlines in the last 24 hours, CNN amending the criteria for who can participate in the upcoming debate you are moderating. You know, many questions about will Carly Fiorina then potentially be on big stage or not? And why the change?
TAPPER: Well, the change was made because when CNN made the criteria in May, they were basing the fact -- basing the rules on what had happened in 2008 and 2012 when there were a bunch of polls done during this time period so that it would reflected state of the race. But this time there have only been three polls, so to take all the polls since July and there are only three since the FOX News debate, you are basically unfairly weighting the pre-FOX News debate polls because there were more of them than there have been since and that doesn't adequately reflect the state of the race today. The people who came up with the rules want to reflect the state of the race today. So because all these other news organizations haven't polled for whatever reason, that does not include CNN, we're going to amend it to better reflect what's going on right now.
BALDWIN: OK. You ready for this?
TAPPER: I hope so. We'll see. You'll tell me afterwards.
BALDWIN: I will indeed tell you afterwards and I will see you there at the Reagan library.
Jake Tapper, my friend, thank you very much.
Make sure you watch Jake at the top of the hour on "the LEAD." Of course, and you'll be watching him moderate the debates on September 16th right here on CNN.
Coming up next, a judge in Baltimore getting ready to rule during the pre-trial hearing on the Freddie Gray death. Hear what happened in the courtroom and what's expected from protesters tonight. We'll speak live with local lawmakers in that community next.
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[15:44:15] BALDWIN: We are following breaking news out of Baltimore. Today a judge has denied two key defense motions in the death of Freddie Gray. Lawyers for six police officers charged in this case failed to get the state's attorney Marilyn Mosby recused who lead prosecutorial misconduct.
Also today, the judge denied motions to toss out charges against the officers accused in Freddie Gray's death. Those charges range from murder to assault. Freddie Gray died back in April in police custody. And I just want to take a look back at how the city of Baltimore got here.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That boy's leg is broke and you're dragging him like that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Investigators say his neck broke during a ride in a Baltimore police van.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Until his death one week later.
CROWD: We will fight for Freddie Gray.
[15:45:03] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No one is above the law.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: And ranged from second-degree murder to misconduct in office.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No justice.
CROWD: No peace!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No justice.
CROWD: No peace!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: From the chaos in Baltimore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You loot it, you stole medicine from old people and everything. Guys, we're doing this the wrong way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turned this into an ugly event, ugly day. For most part people did what they were supposed to do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is one of our darkest days as a city, and I know that we're much better than this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please, please stop the violence. Freddie gray would not want this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As our investigation has continued, additional information has been discovered.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is about getting results and getting answers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's too important not to get this right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Let's go to Baltimore now to two leaders there, two members of city council. I have with me Carl Stokes and Helen Holton. Wonderful having both of you on. Welcome back to the program. And, Carl, let me just ask you first, just reacting to the news of the
day, when we just went over the fact that, you know, a, we now know that this trial is happening and that Marilyn Mosby is prosecuting it.
CARL STOKES, BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL: Yes, we do, and I think that that's the fair verdict. I think that as best as I could tell from other legal analysts that the defense motion which came in was devoid of any real legal precedence or fact-based information. So I think the judge made the right decision to move forward with the trouble so that there is a justifiable outcome here.
BALDWIN: All right.
And then Helen, as far as what's happening right now, and we're told this could go on for a little while, we know that the defense attorneys want those six officers tried separately. Do you think they should be tried separately which, you know, would mean multiple jury pools or together? What do you think?
HELEN HORTON, BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL: I think that either way, personally I think separate because each man and woman should stand on their own accord of what they have done or not done. The thing about trying them all together is if it's a verdict that applies to them all, but that's a choice that the state's attorney's office has made and I'm in the going to second guess their reasoning for doing so. I'm going to leave it in their hands because they would know best.
BALDWIN: And that is what's being determined in the building behind you. We are waiting for the judge to issue a ruling on that.
To both of you, in terms of, you know, activists or protesters right now. I know there's been one arrest but thus far it's been entirely peaceful today. Given what we've just been talking about, how do you think it will evolve into the evening?
HORTON: You know what, I think it's going to continue to remain relatively peaceful. And I think that part of what the media does is put things out there to incite people or entice them to gain media attention. But I think that -- I'm glad that the protesters are out there because I'm glad that people in Baltimore are waking up to a reality, a reality that we all need to be mindful of and, you know, some of what disturbs me today, you know, it's a given all lives matter, but I think it's important to understand that black lives matter. And since blacks came to America there has not been the respect, the regard, civility.
We could go back 50 years ago and Paul Connor hosing children in Alabama. But the point is this. Until black lives matter no lives are really going to matter. So I think the protesters have it right. Let their voice be heard.
BALDWIN: So on your point and knowing the city as well as you do, do you think this trial should be held in the city of Baltimore?
HORTON: Absolutely.
STOKES: Yes.
HORTON: And if you understand historically trials of police officers in Baltimore, more have been acquitted than not. And so, I think that they will get a fair trial here of their peers. But I do think what happened happened in Baltimore and they should be tried in Baltimore. Too often, you know, we have people wanting to take it outside of the venue. This is where it happened.
STOKES: Right. Absolutely correct, Brooke. I think that it obviously should be tried here in Baltimore. I'm pretty sure that it will be tried here in Baltimore.
Let me go back to a point earlier if I can just take a second. Remember, in April when Freddie Gray was killed, that we had two weeks of peaceful protests, demonstrations. With just a few hours, few hours is the scene that we've seen over and over and over again, but we are two weeks of peaceful demonstration and protests in our city. And that will continue. It will continue, as it has today and as it will tomorrow and going forward.
BALDWIN: Well, one big change, wait, if I may, let me stay with Carl's point. Carl, let me stay with you. You know, one big change since that happened there is now, you know, a new chief at the top of Baltimore police, interim Baltimore police chief Kevin Davis.
STOKES: Sure.
BALDWIN: He has been in place, you know, for just about two months. And I'm wondering in that time that you describe from April till now, can you give me one tangible example of something that has changed and improved the city?
[15:50:15] STOKES: Well, I think that what we have is a better relationship between the police and the command of the police. That had broken down quite frankly, and I think also we're seeing more of the community police coming back. Now, let me just say that police and community in Baltimore have always been good. It just tore in the last couple months, to be honest with you, and since Kevin Davis has been the interim that rapport has gotten better.
HORTON: I don't share Carl's sentiments, but that's another story.
STOKES: Right.
BALDWIN: In 30 seconds, Helen, let me hear your voice. Go ahead and disagree.
HORTON: My voice is we've always struggled with police and community relations. And we throw and bouncing around the words of community policing, but we have not come to a viable place to have real community policing, where the community feels that the police are on their side and active and engaged in being with them. And that's what we have to get to.
BALDWIN: Helen --
STOKES: And we could go on with that.
BALDWIN: I'm sure you can, and I'm sure we'll have you back, because it's so important to tell the story of Baltimore. I really appreciate both of you for coming on. To be continued.
STOKES: Thank you, Brooke.
HORTON: Thank you.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
Next, back to the suburbs northwest of Chicago, and the search for three accused cop killers, police now expanding the search area. We will have a live reports of the status of the search, where it is now.
Also, we are nine minutes away from the closing bell. My goodness what a difference a day makes. Keeping eyes on the markets after yesterday's massive sell off. Stocks back in positive territory here at the moment, up 224 points. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:55:03] BALDWIN: Just into CNN, shots reportedly fired at a police cruiser in Massachusetts. The car from Millis County in southwest of Boston. We are told there's a search under way for the suspect that's happened less than an hour ago. We're told the cruiser crashed, then caught on fire. No word of any injuries. Police are looking for a dark truck, possibly maroon in color, updates as we get them here on CNN.
Meantime tonight, 9:00 eastern, a decade old murder mystery that focus of an hour-long CNN special. At the center of this is this woman. This is Shirley Reine. She was murdered in 2005 in her Cape Cod home. No one has been convicted, a trial last year ended in an acquittal. Here's a sneak preview of tonight's special.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: December 2011, after a six-year investigation, John Rams Jr. was arraigned for the 2005 murder of Shirley Reine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Ramsey, did you kill Shirley Reine?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: The latest chapter in his sorted family drama that plays out like a Hollywood script.
The Reine family, once run by a notorious arsonist, later divided over the family fortune. And then destroyed by the murder of one of their own. The DA said this man pulled the trigger.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They always told me that they believed that Rams did it. Did he do it? I'm not 100 percent convinced. Was he asked to do it? I believe he was. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: By whom?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By Todd.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Todd Reine, Shirley's stepson, also some John Rams has said over and over.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He repeatedly told investigators that Todd Reine wanted Shirley dead, and he was willing to pay someone to do it, he was willing to pay him to do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: The question is -- did he follow through with it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never once was I like, I'm going to solidly do this for you. Never once did I tell him, yes, I would do this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Randi Kaye is here with me.
Randi Kaye, if not John rams, then who?
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's a really good question. We know that her stepsons, Shirley Reine's stepson' Todd Reine who was in that video clip and also Melvin Reine Jr., neither of them were ever officially named a suspect or ever charged, Only John Rams who we also he was charged and then he was acquitted three years later.
But Rams tolls us that he had gone to authorities and warned them that Shirley Reine was going to be killed. Authorities told us they had no report of Rams ever coming to them and telling them that. But the DA during Rams' trial sort of alleged to the fact that maybe Todd Reine was the guy who wanted to pay John Rams to kill Shirley Reine. And another thing, Brooke, that was really odd was Todd Reine was at the trial. He showed and sat in the balcony, which certainly turned heads.
The whole thing was really strange. But again, never officially named as a suspect, Todd Reine, and never officially charged.
BALDWIN: So the husband here.
KAYE: He was also something that made a lot of people wonder, but the problem is that he was in a facility at the time. He was in an institution, because he had dementia, really bad dementia. And That's really the crux of this whole case is because when he had started to develop this dementia is when he did this will that cut out his stepsons and gave Shirley Reine, his wife, their stepmother everything. And they were suing her to try to get some of the estate back. Meanwhile, he is lock up in this institution. He didn't die until November in 2013. And so, she was killed ten days before they were supposed to show up in court to handle this lawsuit. A lot of twists and turns.
BALDWIN: A lot of twists and turns to put towards about out of my mouth. Randi Kaye, we will be watching this evening, "murder on Cape Cod, who shot Shirley Reine?" tonight 9:00 eastern and pacific.
Randi Kaye, thank you.
I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me. "The LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts now.
