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Justice Scalia Lies in Repose at Supreme Court; Round Two of GOP Town Hall; Clinton, Sanders Make Final Pitches in Nevada; U.S. Strikes ISIS Camp in Libya; Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired February 19, 2016 - 10:00   ET

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


[10:00:38] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello outside of the U.S. Supreme Court. As you can see, the casket of Justice Antonin Scalia now lies inside the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court. You can see the four clerks standing around that casket as is the tradition. Right, Jeffrey Toobin? Those four clerks will remain there -- well, not the same four clerks, but there are many clerks participating in today's ceremony. But someone will remain near the justice's casket throughout the day and into the night.

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: And into these -- all through the night and until the funeral tomorrow. So it is a -- it is a very impressive all night vigil.

COSTELLO: Yes. It was such a beautiful ceremony throughout this morning. Justice Scalia's casket arrived from a funeral home in Fairfax, Virginia, and then it arrived at the U.S. Supreme Court. The pallbearers were members of the Supreme Court's police force, and then there were many, many of Justice Scalia's law clerks that went in, that streamed in behind the casket, and then the justice's son, Father Paul Scalia, said a prayer over his father's casket and then the family left the chamber, and of course they're probably getting ready for tomorrow when there'll be a mass at the Basilica here in Washington, D.C.

I want to head over to the Supreme Court to check in with Pamela Brown. She saw the scene up close. Tell us more, Pam.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, already 100 people lining up all the way down the block waiting to pay tribute for Justice Scalia when they're allowed in at 10:30 after this private ceremony that's going on right now.

We see right here the casket that arrived here was brought up these marble steps. You could just feel the history in the air. The place was crowded with people just watching these court police members, these pallbearers bring the casket up in between Justice Scalia's former clerks.

Paul Scalia, his son who was a priest, was standing at the top of the steps. They brought the casket through the 16 columns where it said, "Equal justice under the law," on the building into the Great Hall. And that is where we saw the current and one former justice there waiting to pay their respects. And it was very emotional. You could see Virginia Thomas, Justice

Thomas's wife, wipe tears from her eyes. They were very close with Justice Scalia. Not only did Justice Thomas share his conservative ideology but they were friends off the bench. Also Justice Ginsburg was there. You could see the emotion in her face. And Justice Kagan, who used to go duck hunting with Justice Scalia despite the fact that they also shared different ideologies.

And then once the justices walked through and paid their respects, the first four law clerks out of around 120 clerks that are expected to be here today, stood guard. They are going to be here. The clerks will be here taking shifts standing guard at the casket all day in through the night per tradition. A little interesting thing to note here is that Justice Scalia over the years liked to have one liberal justice.

We know Justice Scalia was a conservative giant. But he liked to have one liberal clerk, I should say, to challenge him, challenge his opinions, and so some of them are also here today. But I will tell you, Monday will really be a difficult day for the justices as well, because that is the first day of oral arguments, and we know Justice Scalia's chair is draped in wool, it just won't be the same without him.

You know, as we've been talking about, Carol, he added so much life to the oral arguments. He was so fiery. It just won't be the same without him come Monday.

COSTELLO: That's certainly true. Pamela Brown, many thanks.

Pamela mentioned that Father Paul Scalia, Justice Scalia's son, said a prayer over his father's casket. Let's listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FATHER PAUL SCALIA, SON OF JUSTICE SCALIA: In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit. My brothers and sisters, Jesus says, come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. And you will find rest for yourselves, for my yolk is easy and my burden light.

Out of the depths I cry to you, oh lord, lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.

[10:05:05] If you, oh lord, mark iniquities, lord, who could stand, but with you has found forgiveness that you may be revered. I trust in the lord. My soul trusts in his word. My soul waits for the lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. But with the lord's kindness, and with him as plenty as redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us.

Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

God of faithfulness, in your wisdom, you have called your servant, Antonin, out of this world. Release him from the bonds of sin and welcome him into your presence so that he may enjoy eternal light and peace and be raised up in glory with all your saints.

We ask this through Christ, our lord.

Blessed are those who have died in the lord. Let them rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them. Eternal rest grant unto him, oh lord. May he rest in peace. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. May the peace of God which is beyond all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son, Jesus Christ.

May Almighty God bless, you the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. You see Father Scalia, Father Paul Scalia blessing his father's casket. Father Scalia will also be giving the homily at tomorrow's funeral service which will take place at the Basilica in Washington, D.C.

Ariane de Vogue was inside when all of that took place. I want to bring in Ariane right now. Tell us what it was like in there.

ARIANE DE VOGUE, CNN SUPREME COURT REPORTER: You know, the Supreme Court is different from the political branches mostly because there hasn't been a lot of turnover. So you saw the family members there, the justices and all the employees peered behind.

Before that casket came in the justices walked in, they stood in order of seniority, and they were silent for several minutes. Looking sad near the center as you saw was Ruth Bader Ginsburg. His really good friend. She was wearing her purple lacy glove. But behind the portrait of Scalia, peering behind were several employees, employees who have worked here for years. You know, Scalia was on the bench for so many years, and you could see some teary eyes there.

And behind that was the courtroom door. And it was open. And if you peered through it, you could see the black cloth over his bench seat and black cloth was around the doors. It was very poignant, very quiet in that room right in front of that Supreme Court chamber.

COSTELLO: I also want to bring in Joan Biskupit. She's the legal affairs editor for Reuters. And she wrote a book on Antonin Scalia. And she interviewed him many, many times.

Joan, tell us about Antonin Scalia and how his family is remembering him this morning.

JOAN BISKUPIT, LEGAL AFFAIRS EDITOR, REUTERS: Well, I'm just struck, Carol, by the numbers of people represented there and it shows his place in many lives. You know, nine children, 36 grandchildren, 98 to 100 law clerks. As a justice, you just see his place. And I think that there are some people from his childhood also there. He was quite close to an aunt from his mother's side because his mother was one of six or seven children and he had some -- they had younger people in the family who used to take care of them.

And I remember this one aunt who I believe is there saying, you know, even as a boy, you know, he could be stubborn and argumentative. You couldn't tell him anything without him wanting to fire back. And I think that you're seeing a great metaphor in the representation there.

And I was also struck by something that we saw, you know, Maureen Scalia, his wife, since I think 1960, 55 years of marriage, standing there also tearing up, obviously, and she used to come to arguments all the time, and Jeff Toobin has so aptly described what arguments are like.

[10:10:07] And I remember saying to Maureen Scalia, when he's making some of his bad boy comments to some of the lawyers who stand before him, what do you think? Do you cringe? She said no, I say, get right in there. So she was a partner with him in the raising of this, you know, terrific family, you know, on display today, and also just in terms of his own adventures. They met when he was at Harvard. She was a Radcliffe student, and obviously someone who was quite studious and committed herself. But what she did was she committed to raising this large family with him.

COSTELLO: Nine children with 36 grandchildren?

TOOBIN: Yes. That's --

BISKUPIT: Carol and Jeff, I just want --

(CROSSTALK)

BISKUPIT: Can I just mention one other thing about that portrait?

TOOBIN: Please.

BISKUPIT: You know, I'm glad you keep showing that beautiful portrait that's in the corner of the Great Hall there and he does look, you know, quite distinguished, quite him, sitting in that chair with all the memorabilia around him. But I have never seen him look so comfortable in a chair as that picture. When he was on the bench, as Jeff will attest, it almost seemed like he was going to spring out of a chair. And whenever I would talk to him, he'd always get fired up about one thing or another and seem to be ready to leap out. So I think this portrait captures him, but I've never seen him so -- looking so comfortable.

COSTELLO: No, I love really the style of this portrait because it was done by a famous artist named Nelson Shanks.

BISKUPIT: Right.

COSTELLO: Who painted the picture of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, Pope John II, right? There's a lot of symbolism contained within that painting. You see Justice Scalia's hands resting on two books. One is the U.S. Webster's Dictionary, the International Webster's Dictionary, and the other is the Federalist Papers.

There's also a portrait within the portrait of Sir Thomas Moore who is the patron saint of lawyers, right? And Scalia greatly admired Sir Thomas Moore. In fact, you know, you see that fuzzy had that Sir Thomas wears?

TOOBIN: Right. It sort of like a fat beret.

COSTELLO: Yes.

BISKUPIT: That's right.

TOOBIN: Every presidential -- excuse me -- inauguration, Justice Scalia would stand out because he was wearing that sort of brackish beret and we would always remember that it was because it was the Thomas -- a tribute to St. Thomas Moore. Also on that portrait is a photograph of Maureen Scalia. In the portrait as well so --

BISKUPIT: That's right. From their wedding right?

TOOBIN: His devotion, his world. I believe so. Yes.

COSTELLO: That's really lovely. Very lovely. All right. I have to take a break. But we'll have much more from the U.S. Supreme Court after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:16:50] COSTELLO: And welcome back. I'm Carol Costello live at the U.S. Supreme Court. Want to talk a little bit about politics right now. It is the final push. Just one more day until South Carolina voters cast their votes in the GOP primary. The candidates doing everything they can to lock in that last-minute support.

During round two of CNN's town hall with Anderson Cooper, Donald Trump tackled what everyone is talking about. The Pope's controversial comments on Trump's immigration plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And he also talked about having a wall is not Christian. And he's got an awfully big wall at the Vatican, I will tell you. So it's going to be an interesting --

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN TOWN HALL MODERATOR: But people do come and go through the Vatican. And it's opened the door --

TRUMP: And they're going to come and go through the wall, I mean, you know, but they're going to come and go legally. I have a lot of respect for the Pope. I think he's got a lot of personality, he's very different, he's a very different kind of a guy. And I think he's doing a very good job. I think he was much misinterpreted, and I also think he was given false information. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Trump also danced around previous claims that the Bush administration lied about weapons of mass destruction leading up to the war in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I'm not talking about lying, I'm not talking about not lying. Nobody really knows why we went into Iraq. What may have been the worst decision going into Iraq, may have been the worst decision anybody has made, any president has made in the history of this country. That's how bad it is. OK? Iraq did not knock down the World Trade Center.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All of this happening as a new CNN poll of polls shows Trump holding on to the top spot in South Carolina.

Let's bring in Athena Jones. She's live in Spartanburg this morning where Jeb Bush is about to hold a meet-and-greet with his famous mom, Barbara Bush.

Good morning, Athena.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Jeb Bush is talking right now at a town hall. We also heard from his mother. This is a friendly crowd. A lot of folks who say they're already Bush fans. Others are undecided. But these town halls like this one and also our town hall last night which had of course a much bigger audience, he will give you a chance to have an insight into the candidate. Take a listen to Jeb Bush last night talking about being an introvert.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Introverts set goals.

COOPER: Right. Yes.

BUSH: And grind.

COOPER: Yes.

BUSH: And they just like, they just go at it. You know?

COOPER: Right.

BUSH: Which is a pretty good thing to be when you're running for president when you've been written off over and over and over again, and you're not deterred by that. In fact, that just makes me more motivated and more energized. So I've overcome my introversion which makes me I think better than an extrovert.

(END VIDEO CLIP) JONES: He went on to talk about -- he went on to say that being an introvert has made him a better listener so he's not a blowhard. He's able to listen and learn which was an indirect hit on Donald Trump.

Kasich, meanwhile, has been campaigning as the reasonable, optimistic, compassionate person. Someone who's not bound by ideology. He's talked about expanding Medicaid in his state with Obamacare funds. And in terms of compassion and economic terms, last night he talked about a memorable moment where he gave a hug to a questioner at a town hall earlier in the day. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We all need to slow down a little bit. There are a lot of people out there who are lonely and they're looking for a place to tell people about their issues.

The strength of America is not some guy or woman coming in on a white charger here to solve our problems.

[10:20:08] Anderson, America, the glue of America is right here in this room. It's in our communities, in our families. We need to slow down and then we have to carry out our God-given destinies and potentials and gifts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: And so there you heard some memorable moments from last night. And these are two candidates who are -- well, certainly Jeb Bush is hoping to do well here. Kasich is already moving on to other states after today. But this is do or die. This is a very busy day, and those are part of the arguments that they were making as they tried to connect with voters in these final hours before the polls open -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Athena Jones reporting live from Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Let's head to Nevada now where voters are getting their final glimpses of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders before tomorrow's caucus. The contest drawing increased attention as the race between the Democratic rivals continues to tighten after a split decision in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Joining me now to talk about Nevada, senior Washington correspondent, Joe Johns. Hi, Joe.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Busy day on the Democratic side also in Nevada. And as far as we know, neck and neck. The question in the Nevada caucuses is always who's going to show up. So it's all about getting supporters out to caucus right now.

Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, pressing voters today, ending up with a big rally this evening at the Clarke County Government Center. Bernie Sanders starting in Elko at a town hall today. He's expected to end up with a concert and a rally in Henderson, Nevada, which is just outside of Las Vegas. So a very full day for both of these candidates at the end -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Joe Johns reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, honoring Justice Antonin Scalia. The public is getting its chance to pay its respects. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:26:32] COSTELLO: The U.S. unleashes new air strikes against ISIS after concern terrorists may have been gearing up for an attack in Europe. A U.S. official telling CNN American warplanes targeted an ISIS camp in Libya believed to be a training ground for foreign fighters.

This is new video. It shows the aftermath of that strike. CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video. The question this morning whether a key terrorist leader was killed.

Let's bring in Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. Good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

U.S. officials now say they do believe that they killed this man named Chouchane who was at this training camp in western Libya. This camp had been under U.S. intelligence and military surveillance for some time. They believe there were about 60 ISIS operatives there training for an advanced firearms and maneuver training for a possible attack.

Could it have been Europe? Possibly. Could they have been planning another attack back in Tunisia just back across the border? Possibly. No one really knows what they had in mind at this point. But when the U.S. several weeks ago saw this very advanced training begin to take place, that raised alarm bells. They were already looking for this operative. He turns up at the camp, and they got both objectives at the same time.

They're now about 5,000 ISIS operatives in Libya, in North Africa there, according to U.S. estimates, and that in it of itself is a big worry. Libya, of course, just across the Mediterranean from Europe. We've already seen a number of attacks in North Africa against Western interests and local people there. So a lot of pressure, if you will, right now, trying to be applied to ISIS as they emerge, essentially, as a third front in Libya in North Africa after their operations in Syria and Iraq -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Barbara Starr reporting live from the Pentagon this morning. Thank you.

And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me this morning. The public set to stream into the Supreme Court to pay their last respect to Justice Antonin Scalia. He now lies in repose inside the building's great hall. His family gathered here last hour for a private ceremony. The public will now visit -- well, they get to visit until 8:00 tonight, that's Eastern Time.

President Obama and the first lady are expected here sometime this afternoon. Justice Scalia's casket rests on the very platform that once held the body of Abraham Lincoln.

I want to bring in Ariane de Vogue. She was inside while the ceremony went on in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ariane, set the scene for us.

DE VOGUE: Well, you know, it was -- it was so somber. And before the casket even came in the justices were brought out very slowly. They had some of their spouses behind them and they stood for several minutes just in total silence waiting for the casket to come in. And then behind the portrait of Scalia you could see all the staff members, staff members who have served here for -- a lot of them for the 30 years that Justice Scalia did, peering over and crying.

And behind that was the courtroom. And on his chair, the chair he sat in -- he was the longest serving member -- was a black cloth.

The public is just I think about to start going in. We just saw Brian Garner. He was a co-author with Scalia in one of his last books and he actually traveled with the justice to Singapore just before his death.