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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Ben Carson Attacking Donald Trump; How Donald Trump Sees the Rest of the World; News In Investigation Into Murder of Illinois Police Officer; Another Car Hit by Bullet in Arizona. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired September 09, 2015 - 20:00   ET

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

[20:00:00] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Good evening. Thanks for joining us.

There is breaking news tonight with new polls show how narrowing the gap with Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson has just taken a swipe at him. A soft-spoken swipe it is but unmistakable. Listen to how Dr. Carson answered this question just moments ago about what sets him apart from the GOP front-runner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The biggest thing is that, you know, I realize where my successes come from. And I don't in any way deny my faith in God. And I think that probably is a big difference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: He made the remarks at a campaign rally in Orange County, California.

CNN's Maeve Reston is traveling with him and joins us now.

So you were there when Ben Carson said this. I mean, did the crowd interpret it as kind of a jab at Donald Trump?

MAEVE RESTON, CNN NATION POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, this actually took place backstage, just before the big event where there are thousands of people here to see Ben Carson. He was talking to the media. And he was asked what the distinction was between him and Donald Trump.

This is the first time he has really taken the gloves off. And it was fascinating that he went after Trump as inauthentic on religion. And I think we have a little more of the sound here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARSON: By humility and the fear of the Lord, our riches, and honor and life. And that's a very big part of who I am. Humility and the fear of the lord. I don't get that impression with him. Maybe I'm wrong. I don't get that impression.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: It is striking because up until this point, Trump and Carson haven't - I mean, they haven't taken jabs at each other.

RESTON: Right, and it's just so striking that Ben Carson perhaps the most mild-mannered candidate in the race would go after Trump in this way when so many other Republican candidates have been afraid to go after him. And to go after him on something like religion, there is an opportunity here for Ben Carson to potentially consolidate evangelicals behind him. A lot of people that I talked to in the crowd here, were feeling like Trump was inauthentic in that way. And they don't like his answers on religion so far. So there may be an opportunity for Carson here.

COOPER: It is interesting, though. This is something Rick Perry tried. And it obviously has the not worked out very well for Rick Perry if you look at the poll numbers.

Maeve, I appreciate you being with us.

Donald Trump, his voice - it is vocal opposition to the Iran nuclear deal at a big Washington rally today. And his political bromance with the rival he share the stage with, fellow candidate Ted Cruz. He, Senator Cruz and Sarah Palin all speaking out today against the deal that could come up for a congressional vote in a couple of days. There is late word as well on some GOP infighting surrounding it.

More on all that now from Dana Bash who joins us at the center -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, I'm told that it was actually Ted Cruz's idea to invite his competitor. He know that where Donald Trump goes, goes the spotlight. It is one of the many reasons why Cruz has made unusual moves to cozy up to Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voiceover): Here is something you don't see every day. Competitors for the White House embracing, literally. But Donald Trump and Ted Cruz hugging it out is actually just taking their budding political bromance to the next step.

You and Senator Cruz seem to have an unusual relationship when it comes to Republican competitors, why do you have this bromance. ?

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is a little bit of a romance. I like him. He likes me. He has backed me 100 percent --.

BASH: Trump is right. Cruz is the one who made the first move.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump is a friendly guy.

BASH: While other Republican 2016 candidates slammed the billionaire front-runner, Cruz courts him.

CRUZ: There are not a lot of people.

BASH: The Texas senator even flew to New York for a private meeting. As a result, Trump follows the Trump rule. Say nice things about him. He will do the same.

TRUMP: Senator Cruz has been so nice to me. I can't hit him.

BASH: Why have you been so loving towards Donald Trump?

CRUZ: I like Donald Trump. And I'm glad that he has energized and excited a lot of people. I also think Donald Trump has been tremendously beneficial to our campaign.

TRUMP: Mexico sends its people.

BASH: Because Cruz says, Trump has forced the GOP2016 debate on illegal immigration, a topic he cares about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator Cruz.

BASH: At first blush, Cruz's Trump love seems self-defeating since Trump is drawing anti-Washington GOP voters who may otherwise support Cruz.

You were the one supposed to be the outsider. How is he not taking votes because people say, oh, there is an outsider, Donald Trump, not the guy with senator in front of his name?

CRUZ: You know, I am a big fan (INAUDIBLE) that every battle is won before it is fought. It is won by choosing the terrain on which the battle would be fought framing the argument.

BASH: You are fighting on the same terrain.

CRUZ: Well, no. What Donald Trump right now the people supporting Donald Trump are looking for someone who will stand up to the Washington cartel. I have a proven record of doing so.

[20:05:03] BASH: And Cruz has a more practical reason for liking Trump. He gets attention.

CRUZ: I want to thank my friend, Donald Trump for joining us today.

BASH: It is why Cruz invited Trump to this rally opposing the Iran deal.

TRUMP: He actually asked me to get along here, come along. And I guess he figured that we'd get a big crowd.

BASH: Cruz says Trump is a celebrity helped him in the last GOP debate.

CRUZ: You know, Donald has an incredible ability to attract attention, 24 million Americans watched the first debate. Millions of eyeballs watched that debate. Our national support doubled. BASH: And unlike other candidates, Cruz has a lot of cash for his

campaign and super Pac. The hope, if Trump fizzles his supporters will return Cruz's love. That's where Trump draws the line in the unusual relationship.

If it ever came to it and you dropped out for whatever reason, would you encourage supporters to support Ted Cruz?

TRUMP: I'm dropping out of anything. I never dropped out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Dana, how long can Ted Cruz afford to, you know, be in this bromance with Donald Trump? Because as you say, Cruz only really benefits if Trump ultimately gets out of the race which certainly doesn't seem likely.

BASH: It doesn't. My understanding, to answer that, Anderson, is that Cruz's feeling is in places like Iowa and South Carolina where there are a lot of hard core conservative voters. There may be enough Cruz voters that he can do well with those who like Trump's message, but aren't sure he is a real conservative. That's why Cruz doesn't criticize Trump. But if you listen carefully, he says that he is a consistent conservative. That seems to be a bit of a dog whistle if you will.

And then, the other thing, if you kind of notice, Cruz's quietly been campaigning in southern states, states that may help him sustain his campaign if you kind of look at the long road on the political calendar.

But as you say at the end of the day, there is only one man likely to be standing in the sort of anti-establishment conservative lane of the field. It's, hard to see, both of them surviving. But, Cruz is just kind of, going the distance. To try to bank on fact that maybe Trump will implode at one point. And then maybe, the fact that he was so nice to him could benefit him in the end.

COOPER: Dana, appreciate the reporting. Thank you.

Perspective now from CNN political commentators, Amanda Carpenter and Jeffrey Lord. She is former communications director for Senator Ted Cruz. He is a Trump supporter and former Reagan White House political director. Also joining us is Republican strategist, Rick Wilson.

So Amanda, I mean, Trump has said that he has been hoping for, for Dr. Carson to really hit him at some point because in his words he loves to counterpunch. What Dr. Carson said about Donald Trump raising questions about his faith, is that the hit that Trump was waiting for?

AMANDA CARPENTER, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR SEN. TED CRUZ: Well, it happened regardless of how it came. And I just think -- I am really disappointed by the decision that Ben Carson made here particularly to go after Trump on his faith. I mean, that's such a personal thing and to try to say that my faith is bigger than yours. It doesn't play right. And here's the thing. I think, September is going to be a huge month

for Christian voters to decide which candidate they may back. You have the fight over Iranian deal, you have the fight for the Planned Parenthood, you have the ongoing fight over marriage, and attacking other candidate rather than engaging on those three major issues, I think is an enormous mistake.

COOPER: Rick, I want to ask you about it, but I want to play what Dr. Carson said, again, the second part it when he was following up his initial remark.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARSON: -- by humility and the fear of the Lord, our riches, our honor, our life. And that's a very big part of who I am. Humility and the fear of the Lord. I don't get that impression with him. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't get that impression.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Rick. I mean, you have been a vocal critic of Donald Trump all along. What do you think of Carson's remarks? Because I mean, Rick Perry tried this a while ago in much harsher language, in much more of a frontal assault and certainly didn't have the impact that he wanted.

RICK WILSON, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I think this really draws out something about the possession of the two men as the outsider, the primary outsider candidates right now. Trump is the id of the Republican Party. And Carson is the super ego. He is sort of the aspirational image of people. You know, he is so accomplished. He is so mindful. And obviously, he is very deeply driven by and imbued in his faith. And people respect that. And people find that to be a very appealing characteristic about Ben Carson.

And the fact that he is drawn a contrast with Donald Trump, who an awful lot of people have noted that Donald Trump's sudden adoration of the bible seems about, you know, a millimeter thick. And his professed faith seems to be something that is really sort of perked up during election season.

You know, I think Ben Carson drawing that contrast is something that was not done in a hostile or nasty way, but certainly done in a way that emphasizes that Ben Carson's faith is a huge part of his background, a huge part of his upbringing and huge part of his success. And I think that is something he is drawing a contrast in a way that he feels very comfortable doing.

And as always, Ben Carson's affect is so calm and so steady, that even, even something that is a pretty hard hit doesn't come across in the same way. Perhaps someone from a more traditional political mean would have done.

[20:10:30] COOPER: Jeffrey, do you agree? I mean, Carson seems, obviously, driving tremendous amount goodwill among Republican voters right now. And the way he went about this was certainly different than how Rick Perry did. Do you see Trump responding, kind of with, you know, guns a-blazing?

JEFFREY LORD, FORMER REAGAN WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL DIRECTOR: He might. Sure. Sure. He might. I mean, he does do the counter punch. But I would also say that, you know, there was a "Washington Post" poll last month, I believe, that showed Donald Trump ahead of the field by six points when it came to evangelicals. So he has considerable support in the evangelical movement.

And I would say this about evangelicals as I say this about every individual voting group. They're more than just that individual concern. I mean, evangelicals have mortgages to pay. They need jobs. They are concerned about Iranian nucs. They are concerned about illegal immigration. They're not one dimensional figures. And I think at the end of the day, the winner of this will be somebody who appeals across the board to a wide selection of people who have common concerns, not just one particular individual concern.

COOPER: Rick, I mean, I guess Donald Trump could, could respond in a way that would actually win on two fronts. One he could say, you know, he believes in turning the other cheek which would not only respond to Carson, but would also satisfy those who wanted a bible passage from him, which I think he had not yet -- or bible reference he hadn't yet given him.

WILSON: Well, look. The "art of the deal" is not part of the apothecary even. But I think that Trump, you know, is going to find that his supporters are going to, you know, carry the attack to Ben Carson. This is the sort of thing that seems to happen now that he is galvanized, and sort of very active, very vocal set of supporters who the minute someone comes up against Trump they become anathema. They become, you know, the history's greatest monster and they have to be destroyed.

So I think it is one of these things that Trump's response to Carson will be - it will be very interesting because - he and Carson are the two primary outsiders right now benefiting from anti-establishment, anti-Washington mood.

COOPER: Amanda --

LORD: One other thing, Anderson.

COOPER: I'm sorry, Jeff. Go ahead.

LORD: One other thing, Anderson, is that historically when we see this kind of things between a leading candidates and a primary situation, sometimes they wind up on the same ticket. Kenned and Johnson, Reagan and Bush, you know, that sort of thing. Obama, well he didn't pick Hillary Clinton, but she wound up as secretary of state.

So, you know, there is, there is more smoke here sometimes than there is an actual fire. And at the end of day, they all do manage to get together as a rule.

COOPER: Amanda, going back to the rally today against the Iran nuclear deal with Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, there is obviously a great deal of strategy that goes into both sides of this alliance. Who is benefiting, you think, the most from it, between Trump and Cruz?

CARPENTER: Well, that's a really interesting question because they both get such a huge benefit. A, Ted Cruz has the appeal of getting Donald Trump there, getting a lot of cameras. And also showing that he can play nice with other presidential candidates which is huge for both of them.

But also, Donald Trump gets the benefit of engaging in a legislative issue and he is not an elected member of office. Frankly, I would like to see more presidential candidates get engaged on the actual mechanical fights against the Obama administration that are currently being fought in the United States capitol.

You see a lot of people aiming their fire at Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner for political benefit. But when it comes to the nuts and bolts of things, I like to see more get in the action. And so, I think it is very beneficial to the both of them. But I give a slight advantage to Ted Cruz.

COOPER: Jeffrey, I mean, is there a risk in this? I know, you see them as a natural team. Is there a risk that they take votes away from each other?

LORD: Yes. Yes, I think, there is a potential here for an alliance of sort. And I would call your attention in, in October of 2013, the "American Spectator" for which I am contributing editor had their big fall dinner in Washington. And the two attractions by chance were Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. It was pretty clear that they really hit it off. And, you know their separate speeches are on You Tube. And there they are ribbing each other about different things, and Donald Trump is giving Ted Cruz encouragement. And Ted Cruz is talking a game show, you know, "win Donald Trump's money." You know, it was quite a, quite a remarkable thing. Now that you look back on it. And I think that was the beginning of, what they might say is a beautiful relationship, friendship.

[20:15:07] COOPER: Rick, quickly, before we go. Jeb Bush did an imitation of Donald Trump last night on Stephen Colbert's late show. And I want to play a bit of that for the viewers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will turn the national mall into a luxury golf course. And China will respect that. I promise to put meat loaf on the $10 bill and give little John a cabinet position which will send the message that this great nation will never turn down for one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: So, I mean, I guess, the supporters of Jeb Bush would say anything that showcases Jeb Bush in a different light, especially if it is a Trump's expense is a good thing. In your view, I mean is this kind of thing, does it matter?

WILSON: Look, I think the fact that Jeb Bush was on TV last night where Stephen Colbert captured 6.5 million viewers, matters. I think it is a venue that you would be a fool not to take advantage of if you are any presidential candidate. Especially, since, the other candidates aren't like Donald Trump. They can't snap their fingers and cause cameras to magically appear wherever they are. So you take advantage of those things.

And you know, I have to tell you, though, it strikes me as very funny that the lines Colbert and writers put together there. You could easily imagine the same things coming out Donald Trump's mouth with no sense of irony whatsoever.

COOPER: It's an interesting point.

Rick --

LORD: And naturally, not scripted.

COOPER: Yes, naturally, sure.

Rick Wilson, good to have you on. Jeffrey Lord, Amanda Carpenter as well. Thank you.

Coming up next, more on how Donald Trump sees the rest of the world. Why his view has resonated with some Republican voters and whether or not he can turn night presidential foreign policy.

And later, there is breaking news in the shooting death of an Illinois police officer. Three suspects still at large. And now, late word on how investigators believe the lieutenant died. At least, where the investigation is leading at this stage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:20:47] COOPER: Once again today, GOP front-runner Donald Trump takes center stage speaking out against the nuclear deal with Iran. He is doing things the way he has done them throughout his long, pre- political career with sharp elbows and big talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We will have so much winning if I get elected, that you may get bored with winning. Believe me. I agree. You will never get bored with winning. We never get bored.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: He says he will strike a different tone if elected and will surround himself with advisers on global affairs. For now, though, it seems to be pure, uncut, 100 proof Donald Trump.

Tom Foreman shows us Trump's world in his words.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TRUMP: They rip us off. They take our money. They make us look like fools.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump was talking about Iran and the nuclear deal, but he might have been talking about any number of countries. On the trail he is relentlessly describing and criticizing the world, all of it according to Trump.

TRUMP: They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime.

FOREMAN: His comments about undocumented Mexican immigrants have made headlines recently. But last year, he was railing against Russia.

TRUMP: I mean Putin has eaten Obama's lunch, therefore our lunch, for a long period of time.

FOREMAN: In Iraq and Syria, he has argued for vigorous bombing of assets held by ISIS.

TRUMP: I would bomb the hell out of those oil fields. I wouldn't send many troops because you won't need them by the time I got finished.

FOREMAN: He favors renewed diplomatic relations with Cuba even as he insists there and everywhere else the U.S. is making bad deals.

TRUMP: But I know the best negotiators in the world. And I put them one for each country. Believe me, folks, we will do very, very well.

FOREMAN: And of course there is China. Trump has accused China of shady trade deals, manipulating currency and making off with Iraqi oil so many times. An edited video has become an internet sensation.

TRUMP: China.

TRUMP: China.

TRUMP: China.

TRUMP: China.

FOREMAN: Mind you he is not really blaming the Chinese.

TRUMP: They have tough smart people. It's time that we have tough, smart people. Because we're not going to be able to go much longer the way well are going right now.

FOREMAN: Still the depth of Trump's knowledge is unclear. He says he follows many military entanglements by watching TV. And when a radio host asked him about an elite Iranian military force, he seemed confused.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: He runs the Quds force.

TRUMP: Yes. OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Do you expect --

TRUMP: And I think the Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated by --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: No, no, not the Kurds, the Quds forces, the Iranian revolutionary guards, Quds Force, the bad guys.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: Trump later said he misheard. But that certainly did not help answer a basic question lingering over his campaign. For as much as Trump says about foreign affairs, how much does he really know -- Anderson.

COOPER: Tom, thanks very much.

Let's dig deeper now. We turn to CNN political analyst David Gergen, and Gloria Borger, also Christopher Dickey, foreign editor for "the Daily Beast."

Chris, it is interesting. I mean, Donald Trump, you know, talks about taking the oil from Iraq, about bringing in oil companies, bring soldiers to surround the oil fields take the oil and bomb the hell out of ISIS. Every military official I have talked to has said or former military official said this doesn't make any sense. This is just completely, and yet, you look at the polls, and among GOP voters in Iowa, when asked who can handle terrorism better they say Donald Trump.

CHRISTOPHER DICKEY, FOREIGN EDITOR, THE DAILY BEAST: Well, I think that is because he is entertaining. But I mean, you listen to Donald Trump. And he is really a bully. That's what he is. He is a bully who says things that he thinks sound great as if he were standing on a street corner with his crew. And people who don't examine what he is saying, they think that sound great too.

If he stood up tomorrow and said the answer for ISIS is let's just turn those parts of Syria to glass. Let's just bomb them flat. Would that be good policy? No. But there would be a lot of people would say, hell yes, that is a real good idea. Because people want the problems, the many problems in the world right now to be solved. And he is saying, I can solve them. Look at me. I'm rich. I can do it. It is essentially a reality TV approach to foreign policy.

COOPER: David, I mean, do you agree with that? Because I mean, in the Hugh Hewitt interview, Trump said that his General Douglas MacArthur in the pack, then he would surround himself with strong team of advisers. I mean, there have been some reports advisers are reluctant to admit that they might be talking with Trump's campaign. What do you make of him on foreign policy?

[20:25:14] DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think his appeal is much more than entertainment in foreign policy. And that is the muscularity that he represents, the strength that he represents. The rise of Donald Trump to me is basically an indictment of the

political class, not only people in politics and frankly some of us in the media that people are so fed up. And they start to see so much incompetence, they would rather take someone or they are willing to take someone who is entertaining and exudes strength as opposed to somebody who is incompetent.

Now, I do think the standard by which he is being judged by the public will go up. And he cannot continue with this level very long if he wants to win this whole thing, as I think he does.

COOPER: Gloria, what do you make of this? Because I mean, again, in this recent poll in Iowa, voters were asked, who would do the best job handling terrorism, overwhelmingly, they said the candidate was Donald Trump. So whether or not he knows the difference between Hezbollah and Hamas, or you know, the Quds Force and Kurds, he does seem to be a candidate that certainly GOP voters in Iowa trust to handle such thing.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: You know, right now, it is not about his policy statements because there aren't many. But it is more of a feeling as David was saying that this is somebody who is impatient, which a lot of Americans are, who is angry, which a lot of Americans are. And they believe who has had some success. And they even rate him higher on the economy than handling terrorism. And so, they like how he sounds.

You know, after we have had a president, and then has been low key, and then you have Donald Trump who is anything but low key. And he speaks to, to people's anger and their impatience about what is going on in Washington, or what is not happening in Washington. He is the outsider. And that has appeal.

By the way, not only in the Republican Party this year, but you look at Bernie Sanders, and the way he is showing against Hillary Clinton. It is the same thing in the Democratic Party.

COOPER: Well, you know, Chris, I mean, to David and Gloria's point, it is interesting if you look at all the GOP field, I mean, I guess arguably, you would say, Lindsey Graham probably has the most actual hands-on experience who is not only in the military long time in the reserves I believe. But he, you know, has obviously been in Senate for a long time. He has dealt with foreign policy issues. And yet, he is not doing well at all in the polling.

DICKEY: No, but is that tough guy, bully attitude that is all part of the same picture with Trump which is I'm tough. I'm really going to drive hard bargains. I'm going to make tough deals. I am going to fire people. You are fired.

I mean, why doesn't he just say to the president of Russia, you're fired. I mean, it is that kind of tone. And people like it. It is not, David is right, it is not just entertainment. This is deadly serious stuff. But we are a long way from the election.

COOPER: David, I mean, you worked in the White Houses for both Republican presidents and Democratic presidents. You know, to Donald Trump's point that, well, look I may not know the details on something. But you know what? I hire really good people who do. And I'm going to surround myself with a really smart team. And that's how I am going to deal with this stuff. And you know when push comes to shove, I will, I will wade in and learn better than anybody. But, is that a valid argument? I mean, there have been presidential who have accused of not being detail oriented.

GERGEN: Well, that is true, Anderson. But here is the deal. That can work on many occasions. But the problem with being president, dilemma of being president is that the decisions that come to you are often like a 50/49 or 51/49 decision and your advisers are split. Harry Truman trying to figure out whether to recognize Israel. A total split in his administration. He was the one who had to make the choice. Made the right choice because he was deeply schooled in 2,000 years of history in the Middle East. Donald Trump cannot simply say I'm going to bring bunch of advisers now to get me through that. Advisers will often be divided on these very tough questions, they come to a president.

FOREMAN: It is interesting, Gloria, I mean, again to David's point. Foreign policy is an area of the presidency where the president can exert probably the most unilateral action.

BORGER: He can. Yes, he can. But, you know, presidents will tell you that Congress has too much authority. And I think when you talk to voters, what they say is you know we like this idea of checks and balances. We like the idea that Congress has war powers act. That Congress can have some input into an Iran nuclear deal. So, I think that with somebody for example like Donald Trump. I think voters might say to themselves. You know what? If you have Donald Trump as president, and you have a Congress, Congress can provide a check. You know, I don't think we are anywhere near there yet. I think in the end, last time around, people voted for a president without much experience in Barack Obama when he ran in 2008. Now we seem to be moving in a completely different direction which is not only do we want somebody with no experience.

[20:30:00] We want somebody who's completely outside the political system. And whether that's going to shift as we move into the primaries we will have to see. But the zeitgeist right now doesn't seem to be the dynastic candidates of Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush. It seems to be something totally different

COOPER: That's for sure. Gloria, thank you. David Gergen, Christi (INAUDIBLE) as well. Thanks.

Quick programming note. Tomorrow here on CNN, two big interviews, Donald Trump will be a guest on "NEW DAY" at 7:00 a.m. Eastern and at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, Jeb Bush will talk with Jake Tapper on "The Lead."

Just ahead tonight, breaking news in Illinois where the Lake county coroner has released new information about the officer who was slain in the resort area north of Chicago. Plus, there's breaking news in Arizona where another car has been hit by a bullet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: There is breaking news tonight in the investigation of an Illinois police officer who was killed in a remote resort area north of Chicago. 52-year old Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz, a 30-year veteran was found dead shortly after telling a dispatcher that he was in pursuit of three men. The killing sparked an intensive manhunt that so far has not led to any arrests.

[20:35:00]

COOPER: Now, tonight there's some new information from the coroner. CNN's Rosa Flores joins me with that. So, we may be close to learning exactly how the officer died. Correct?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Anderson, "The Chicago Tribune" quoting the Lake County coroner and saying that Lieutenant Gliniewicz died from one devastating gunshot. Now he is not expanding on where this gunshot actually hit the officer, if there were other wound or even manner of death. The coroner being very careful saying that he doesn't know where that gunshot came from. Where that bullet came from. And saying "Right now all unnatural deaths are up for suggestion." That means homicide, suicide, accident, undetermined. Now, I have called the coroner repeatedly. He has not returned my phone calls. But I have got to say, Anderson, in this particular case, both the coroner and investigators have been very tight-lipped about a lot of details in this investigation.

COOPER: There was DNA that found at the scene that did not belong to this officer. Is that correct?

FLORES: That's correct. That information released yesterday. Now I have got to give you some context here. Because from covering many, many crime scenes I can tell you that a few things really stand out. First of all, they were looking from the get-go for three suspects. That geographic search, door to door, with, you know, guns drawn stopped very early, Anderson. Also, we have got information from Commander Filenko who's in charge of this investigation. During the press conference he corrects himself in the middle of the press conference saying, calling it a murder and then saying "I'm sorry, a killing." And then you have got the surveillance videos that they were talking about. That were so important to this investigation that had the three people of interest in them. Well, after looking through them, after the FBI pieced all these videos together they said that they looked at the three individuals, they spoke to them and they're no longer persons of interest. So a lot of different details stand out, Anderson, because of the lack of details that we are getting from authorities in this particular case.

COOPER: And just finally they have not, so the coroner didn't say or specify how close the gun would have been to this officer when the shot was fired. Correct?

FLORES: You're absolutely right. And in this article, in the coroner talking to "The Chicago Tribune," it pretty much just says that, that there was one devastating gunshot wound. He doesn't get into the details as to where or how if there were other wounds on this police officer. How close perhaps in range that gunshot was fired. What we do know from investigators, however, is that the gun was found very close to the officer. That as much as they have told us so far.

COOPER: Hmm. All right, Rosa Flores. I appreciate that. Thank you.

Breaking news as well. In Arizona where another bullet has hit another car. The latest in a recent string of these incidents. People clearly on edge. Police trying to figure out if there is a pattern here. Stephanie Elam joins us now with the latest. So, what do you know, Stephanie?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, when you look at this, you're talking about 11 incidents in 11 days, Anderson. And we know that there are about eight of them that have happened on an eight- block stretch on Interstate 10, which runs right through the heart of Phoenix. In that downtown area that this has happened. Amazingly no one has been majorly hurt or is dead. Which is unbelievable when you see that they're just randomly shooting at cars that are just driving down this highway. There was one 13-year-old girl on Saturday who was hurt when the windshield broke. And she had a cut on her right ear. But she was treated at the scene. And that is it. But we know that of these 11, eight of them have been on Interstate 10. And another three right nearby on two other related highways. So, still they're looking at this area. And trying to figure out who might be behind this. Because the timing of all the shootings has been really random. It's not happening at the same time every day. Anderson.

COOPER: Do we know if the same weapon was used? Do officials have any leads as to - who might have done this?

ELAM: They do say that they have some evidence that they're looking into. They are keeping some of the cards close to the vest. Because they've don't want to give out information that might tip off the person who was doing this when they're trying to find out who that person is. They do say that they're looking into ballistics as well to try to figure that out. They also are looking into surveillance video that may be around in the area. And they are using that to scale it down. But right now they do believe it is random because of the fact that all of the people who have been driving these vehicles have no connection to each other. They're saying there is nothing to link these people together.

COOPER: Lastly, these incidents. I mean they've had multiple times over the course of the last couple of weeks. Just to be clear. Authorities are not saying yes they're related. They're still investigating that?

ELAM: Right. They're still investigating that. But keep in mind, this is happening as recently as four hours ago, Anderson. There was just a shooting in Arizona and there was one earlier today at 11:00 local in Phoenix as well. So, this is still happening. Ongoing just this afternoon. So, that shows you that there's something that they're trying to pin down.

[20:40:03] And there is multiple organizations who are working with these officials to try to find out who this person is. They believe somebody knows something. And they want people to get back to the police officials and let them know.

COOPER: Or if it's multiple people. Stephanie Elam, I appreciate it. Thank you.

Coming up, he was a teenager who was thrown in jail and put on the sex-offenders registry for having sex with a 14-year-old. A girl who later admitted that she had lied to him about her age. She had told him she was of age. Now, Zach Anderson's fate may be changing. An update on the case. I'll speak with Zach Anderson next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Welcome back. A major and potentially life changing update to a story we brought to you last month. A judge has vacated the sentence of a young man in Indiana, a teenager who had consensual sex with an underaged girl who admitted she lied about her age. Zach Anderson was sentenced to 90 days in jail, five year of probation and 25 years on the sex offender registry. I'm going to speak with Zach and his dad in a moment. But first, here's some background in the case for Mercury Phillips.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here's what happened. Zach went on a racy dating app called "Hot or Not" hoping to meet a girl.

[20:45:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He did. They had sex. And that's when the problems began.

(on camera): How old did she say she was?

ZACH ANDERSON: She had told me that she was 17.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): But she lied. She was actually 14. By law he had committed a sex crime. He was arrested. And convicted. Now Zach is on the same list of sex offenders as child molesters and pedophiles. And his parents say that is a colossal mistake.

(on camera): When you heard those word that your son was a sex offender what was your reaction?

AMANDA ANDERSON, ZACH'S MOTHER: It is a blatant lie. It's not true. It doesn't even fit our lifestyle, it doesn't fit how we raised our kids.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Even the girls' mother appeared in court. Testifying that she didn't want Zach labeled as a sex offender. Because "he is really not." We also obtained this letter that the girl in question gave Zach's family. "I am sorry I didn't tell you my age," she writes. It kills me every day knowing you are going through hell and I'm not. I want to be in trouble. And not you."

(on camera): Did it ever enter your mind at any time that she could be underaged?

ZACH ANDERSON: No, not at all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And was the sex consensual?

ZACH ANDERSON: Yeah. Yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): But even if the girl admits she lied about her age and the sex was consensual as she did in court, it is not a defense in the eye of current sex offender laws. And that's why the judge and prosecutor in Zach's case didn't let him off the hook. Judge Dennis Wily, angry that Zach had used the Internet to meet a girl said "That seems to be part of our culture now. Meet, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, that same judge has now vacated the sentence. A new judge will be in charge of the resentencing. Zach Anderson and his father Lester join me.

Zach, the sentence being vacated. When you first heard the news what went through your mind?

ZACH ANDERSON: It was really good news. That the sentence was vacated. And I was going to be resentenced. And like I just heard the next couple of days, now I'm not on probation. It's just kind of nice to get back to how I was living before.

COOPER: Yeah, I mean, Lester, I can't imagine what this whole experience has been like for you and for the rest of your family.

LESTER ANDERSON: Yeah, it's been pretty stressful to say the least. The whole thing started in January. Pretty much. So we have been dealing with this for quite a while. A lot of ups and downs.

COOPER: Zach, I mean, since you were sentenced, you couldn't own a smartphone, couldn't use the Internet, and couldn't talk to anyone under 17, you couldn't even live in your parents' home. How difficult has that been?

ZACH ANDERSON: It's really hard. Especially like being - I am just now becoming an adult. I just turned 20. And like not being able to use a smartphone or Internet. It's like - it was really hard, because I am really good with computers. And I have been building them. And I know like the ins and outs of them. And it's just - it's really hard. It's like taking it from like really technologically advanced to very, very simple.

COOPER: And I mean Lester, the fact that this girl's mother defended your son in court, does it make it even more painful for you that even she couldn't influence the court? LESTER ANDERSON: Yeah, it definitely does. And even to be honest

with you, even since the ruling in the last two days we have been in contact. She actually contacted us, both yesterday and today about the ruling. So, there is still some contact with us. So, yeah, it's still hard to believe that, that that didn't have any influence on the decision.

COOPER: And Zach, I know the girl wrote a letter to you apologizing saying she wished she was in trouble. Did that give you any comfort?

ZACH ANDERSON: I haven't actually been able to completely read the letter. Because like legal reasons I wasn't able to read it. But the parts I caught from the news. It was kind of comforting.

COOPER: Lester, I mean, your son is not totally free from this. This is really just the beginning of the next phase, right?

LESTER ANDERSON: That's correct. I mean it is step one. We had to go through this process to even get, you know to a resentence or even start the appeal process. So, it's far from over definitely.

COOPER: So, what happens next?

LESTER ANDERSON: Friday, we have a bond hearing at 1:00. The same judge that sentenced our son, even though we did get a new judge for, for our, a new sentence, we still have to appear before the same judge on Friday. And he is going to set the bond conditions. So that's, that's going to be an, that will be an interesting, just to see how those things go.

COOPER: We'll follow that. Zach and Lester. I appreciate both of you being with us. Thank you.

ZACH ANDERSON: Thank you.

[20:50:00]

COOPER: Coming up. An update on the crisis in Europe with the refugees. Throngs of Syrians trying to find safety from violence. Are thousands of those refugees about to show up in the United States? What John Kerry said about that today. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Secretary of State John Kerry said today the United States is committed to taking in more Syrian refugees as hundreds of thousand try to make it into Europe. The journey is producing fresh images of desperation every day. In a Turkish port, refugees cramming on to rubber boats, paying smugglers $1,300 to try to cross the Egeian Sea to islands in Greece. And then there is this, hard to watch, and even harder to believe. A Hungarian camera woman working for a news station there, can actually be seen tripping and kicking fleeing refugees, adults and children alike. Brian Stelter reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BRIAN STELTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a shocking video that has garnered attention from around the world as waves of desperate migrants sprint from a holding camp in Hungary, a camera woman appears to trip a man running with his child in his arms. He falls to the ground on top of the boy and screams in disbelief. The woman also kicks other migrants as they run including a young girl. Now the camera woman is out of a job.

[20:55:00]

STELTER: She was covering the flood of migrants for Hungary's N1 TV, a far right station. It offers news from a nationalist perspective. In a statement, the station said the camera operator behavior was completely unacceptable. Her employment will be terminated. The station did not disclose her identity. But social media did. CNN cannot independently confirm her name. So, we are not identifying her. But thousands took to a Facebook shame wall to criticize the woman they believe is responsible. And on Twitter people vented their outrage with tweets like, "these people are struggling for a life. You have a life. Yet this is what you do? Shame on you." "She is running for her life, another wrote. You are destroying her life and you are earning money for it. Is she human?" And, "that photographer should be charged with assault. Criminal act." Criminal charges are indeed possible. There are reports Hungary's opposition parties will pursue them which could bring a prison sentence of up to five years. The woman being shamed online has not commented. Brian Stelter, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Much more in our next hour. Starting with some very harsh word just coming to light in a "Rolling Stone" profile. Donald Trump quoted attacking the looks of his rival Carly Fiorina.