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Sanders, Clinton Battle Over Who's More "Qualified"; Belgium Police Lay More Charges In Terror Attacks; Cruz Aims For Delegate Sweep In Colorado; Battle Lines Drawn Over Mississippi Measure; Contested Convention Looking More Possible for GOP; Prosecutors: Former House Speaker Covered Up Abuse of Boys. Aired 12-1p ET

Aired April 09, 2016 - 12:00   ET

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


[12:00:00] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Fredricka Whitfield. At this hour, two landmark events in the race for president. Out west today, Democratic caucuses in Wyoming are set to start in one hour. These are live pictures of people assembling in Cheyenne.

On the Republican side, it is day two of the Colorado State Republican Convention in Colorado Springs. Senator Ted Cruz is delivering remarks there. So far he has won all of the delegates up for grabs in the last couple days in that state. The final 13 delegates will be up for grabs today and awarded.

Let's start with CNN's Paul Vercammen, who is at a caucus location in Cheyenne. So Paul, it seems when I talk with the former secretary of state of Wyoming, there's a lot of enthusiasm. Describe how excited people are about caucusing.

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're extremely excited. I'm smiling because you're not only going to see the enthusiasm, you'll hear it. We heard from a Clinton supporter just a short time ago.

So now it's time for Sanders supporters, call them the Bernie Sanders singers, come on in, only in Wyoming would they have crafted a song. What inspired the song?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a Preschool teacher and I'm a very concerned about the future of our children.

VERCAMMEN: Without any more adue, the Bernie Sanders singers and their song.

(GROUP SINGING)

WHITFIELD: Paul, clearly so enthusiastic that they're putting it into a song there.

VERCAMMEN: They are expecting record turnout in Cheyenne and throughout Wyoming. We have early reports they're going to exceed 2008 numbers. At this gymnasium, 1,200 expected to show up in Cheyenne. As we said, a lot of enthusiasm for Bernie Sanders. If you use 2008 as a blueprint, Hillary Clinton, of course, going up against Barack Obama. Barack Obama got about 60 percent of the vote here in Wyoming. That's 14 delegates are at stake this time. Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, 14 delegates at stake there in Wyoming. All right, thank you so much, Paul Vercammen. They are taking it very seriously, but at the same time, having a little fun, too.

All right, meantime, Bernie Sanders is campaigning in New York today. Hoping to prove that he has the home field advantage over Hillary Clinton.

Earlier this week, Sanders ignited attacks that Clinton was, quote, "unqualified to be president." Let's bring in CNN Chris Frates. A whole lot of back and forth over who's qualified, who said what, et cetera.

So Chris, is Sanders saying why he thinks, is there a new version or iteration of why she's unqualified or not?

CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fred, he is. He is questioning Clinton's judgment. Point to go her past support for the Iraq war and all that prevented the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage. Clinton since called her Iraq war vote a mistake, came out in support of same-sex marriage, but Sanders is hitting her on flip flops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just want them to understand we have tried to run an issue oriented campaign, but we are not going to be attack every single day. Our record is not going to be distorted. We are all going to fight back.

What I said is that a candidate like Secretary Clinton who voted for the disastrous war in Iraq, was supporting every disastrous trade agreement, which cost us millions of decent paying jobs, and who receives incredible amounts of money.

We are talking about tens of millions of dollars for a super PAC from every special interest that you can think of, from the billionaire class, you know. I have my doubts about what kind of president she would make.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRATES: Now Sanders defended his criticism, arguing it was Clinton's camp that first questioned his qualifications to be president and the fight blew up when Sanders said Clinton wasn't qualified to be president.

A jab Bill Clinton suggested was a double standard, one that Clinton's camp saw as largely helpful because it draws attention they see as a key strength, that's her experience. This all comes as Sanders is playing to the Democratic base, trying to upset Clinton in her adopted home state of New York where she leads in the polls. Even after winning seven of the last eight contests, Sanders trails Clinton by about 230 pledge delegates.

He needs to win 77 percent of pledge delegates remaining to clinch the nomination. Clinton needs just 36 percent and Sanders is hitting the stump hard today. He's already hit his first of four stops in New York City, trading some of his trademark rallies for smaller retail stops. He will make it to the western part of the state early next week.

[12:05:05]Clinton campaigned outside the city this week. There is one event scheduled in Brooklyn today and of course, both candidates, Fred, will face off for the first time in more than a month on Thursday when they debate here on CNN.

WHITFIELD: All right. That's expected to be quite interesting. Thank you so much. Chris Frates, appreciate that. We are all looking forward to Thursday night.

All right, meantime, Senator Ted Cruz is hoping to lock up all of the delegates in Colorado today. He's already won 21 of 34 delegates at stake so far. Colorado has a rather unusual method of awarding delegates over a period of days. And today, the final 13 delegates will be awarded.

CNN's Ana Cabrera joins me now from Colorado Springs. From that audience, we heard people very excited. A little quiet right now, what's going on?

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's just a lull between speakers. Today is the big state party convention. A lot of conservatives in this crowd. It will be a crowd that's very supportive of somebody like Ted Cruz, who is expected to join this Crowd this afternoon, try to rally, make his last pitch for supporters as they elect the remaining Colorado 13 delegates that are still up for grabs in this state.

Twenty one have been elected so far. That happened at the district conventions. So far they've all gone Cruz's way. Colorado's election process is a little bit different, which may explain why Cruz has done well.

There's not a traditional primary or national caucus where campaigns have to focus on getting voters to the polls. In Colorado, it is about honing in on potential delegate candidates that will play well at the district and state conventions where these candidates are elected.

We understand there are hundreds of delegate candidates in the running for all 34 spots in Colorado to go on to the RNC. Trump's campaign has acknowledged that they may not have approached this state as effectively as they could have.

Cruz's campaign on the other hand has been here for months, working the phone, sending robo-calls, e-mails, meeting with people in person to try to get their delegates in position to get elected from Colorado. So far that seems to be working -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Ana Cabrera in Colorado Springs, thank you so much. So it is a big week for politics on CNN. Tomorrow on "STATE OF THE UNION" with Jake Bapper, Bernie Sanders will join the show along with Hillary Clinton. That's Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

And then Tuesday, Donald Trump is speaking with voters in a CNN town hall moderated by Anderson Cooper. Tuesday, 9:00 p.m. Eastern time.

And in five days, CNN hosts the Democratic presidential debate. Don't miss Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders facing off live from New York Thursday night, 9:00 eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:10:57]

WHITFIELD: All right, we are following breaking news right now, police in Belgium have charged Mohamed Abrini for participating with activities of a terrorist group. Prosecutors won't say if he's the man in the hat seen at the Brussels airport before the bombing there.

They've also identified Osama Krayem as the second person present at the subway attacks in Brussels. Police are carrying out new raids today in the Brussels neighborhood. Dozens of police officers moving into the area as residents there evacuated.

Right now, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is just wrapping up a trip in Afghanistan. He met with Afghan leaders to push them to improve security in Afghanistan and ease political inciting.

It's another surprise Middle East stop by Kerry. He spent the day yesterday in Baghdad, Iraq talking about the fight against ISIS with Iraqi leaders. Kerry is headed to Japan where he will meet with G7 ministers for talks as well.

And North Korea is making a new claim about its weapons development program. According to the state run news agency, North Korea has tested a new engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile. So far there's been little confirmation of that report.

Earlier this year, the regime claimed it conducted a hydrogen bomb test. Lots to chew over. Let's get more on the developments with Lieutenant General Mark Hertling who is here in studio, CNN military analyst, and former U.S. Army commanding general.

Often we are used to talking via satellite and Skype. It's nice to have you in house. Welcome.

LT. GENERAL MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Thank you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Let's talk about the arrests and raids in Belgium and what this says. Is it a significant development as it pertains to intelligence gathering, trying to get to the bottom of what happened in Brussels and the Paris connection?

HERTLING: This is a continued fight for intelligence. That's a key phrase you have to keep using with this kind of operation. Once you start peeling things back and get one person to give you information, more people giving you information, it starts to break up a network. That's what we are seeing in Belgium right now and in some of the other countries.

WHITFIELD: Potentially breaking up a network also means cooperation of suspects. Is there a feeling, any indicator that these suspects that have been arrested would be willing to talk to share more when there were missed opportunities of at least one other suspect in custody where the question wasn't really asked, there wasn't information divulged on the next potential attack.

HERTLING: Certainly, it's good to get interrogation going and to get the information, but you also get a lot of information just by finding where they are living, searching their apartments, getting clues, connections with computers and cell phones. It becomes a crime scene. All those things lead to intelligence, one snippet of information can give all kinds of information about a cell or network.

WHITFIELD: There has been criticism leading up to the latest Brussels attack and then especially conversation heightened about intelligence sharing, how so many European nations aren't doing enough of that. You dispute that?

HERTLING: I do, Fred. Because having been assigned in Europe, spent nine years of my career in Europe, last couple years as commander of U.S. forces in Europe. There are some countries in Europe that don't have capability or are lacking in intelligence sharing or have disconnects between federal and local and government.

But that's not all of them. There are 48 countries in Europe. Some of them have extremely good intelligence networks, some of them exchange great information with countries across borders.

WHITFIELD: Is there a competitive nature or trust that keeps nations from wanting to divulge more?

HERTLING: No, I think it is more intelligence elements who say hey, I have to hold onto some of this information. I can't share it to break my case or it is different languages or different parts of Europe.

You're talking about multiple borders, 48 of them across the country, with multiple languages, 78 languages in Europe, and federal and local officials that sometimes aren't as giving as they should be with this kind of information.

[12:15:08]WHITFIELD: Now Secretary Kerry has made a stop in Iraq, now he's in Afghanistan, soon to be leaving Afghanistan before going to talking about his presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, which clearly are showing many signs of instability, Iraq is a great worry with ISIS being able to take over cities there.

What's the message behind the secretary of state mission there? Is it to rattle the leaders of those countries to say you've got to get it together or is it a promise of more support, even though we are in the final year of the current administration?

HERTLING: Little of both. I think in Iraq, you have one message, you are talking about a government, Mr. Alabadi (ph) that came into power after Maliki was opposed. He was in my view the instigator of much of the trouble.

You have a new Shi'a leader, who is trying to pull together different elements of that Iraqi government, very tough. We often talk about the Sunni, Shi'a divide. You also have to put the Kurds in the mix, too.

Because there are different approaches to this problem of fighting ISIS as Mr. Alabadi is attempting to bring the government together, build the economy. It appeared for a while that the Iraqi army was getting much better and they were beginning to take the fight to the enemy.

Then there was evolving back to the old sectarian state of different agencies, Shi'a and Sunni militias fighting each other. I think Mr. Kerry going there was basically saying don't lose it now. Don't let the gains that you've made start deteriorating. That was the message in Iraq.

WHITFIELD: Is it reassurance that perhaps leaders of an Afghanistan and Iraq feel like they need to -- wouldn't there be great worry at the end of one administration, the beginning of another, nobody can really call now? I don't know if it is a Democrat, don't know if it is a Republican in the White House. There has to be some anxiety.

HERTLING: There is, definitely. Whenever you are dealing with these kinds of engagements with countries, they're looking at our politics, too, seeing what's happening here. Promises made today many countries are very concerned with the rhetoric of the political candidates that those might not be the promises we keep tomorrow.

So yes, Mr. Kerry going to both countries, even though they're very dissimilar in terms of approaches and what's going on in Iraq versus Afghanistan, the fact he is there doing a shuttle diplomacy quickly, it is saying we still support you.

We will continue to support you. We will get things in place that will allow you to continue fighting months of the summer as we head into election season. There's support behind this, but there is also a message that the government of the United States is still behind the countries.

WHITFIELD: Potentially very meaningful not just a picture op.

HERTLING: Right.

WHITFIELD: All right, General, good to see you. Glad to see you in person. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

And then take a look at this. Something else we're keeping a close watch on. This is Mississippi's tourism magazine. Who is on front? Robin Roberts who is a lesbian. The state passed a law that allows businesses to deny services to the LGBT community. What is the message that Mississippi is sending really?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:22:08]

WHITFIELD: Bruce Springsteen cancelled a concert in North Carolina because of the state's so-called bathroom law. The new law requires individuals to use bathrooms that corresponds with the gender on their birth certificate. Critics say it discriminates against gay, lesbian, and transgender people.

Springsteen is not the only celebrity to call for a boycott of a big event in North Carolina. Just last week when I was covering the NCAA championship in Houston, I spoke with NBA great, Charles Barkley, who said this type of discrimination cannot be tolerated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: You've also made strong comments about say Indianapolis last year, the NCAA --

CHARLES BARKLEY, FORMER NBA PLAYER: Yes. As a black man.

WHITFIELD: -- all of the anti-gay legislation. Now it is North Carolina under the microscope.

BARKLEY: Yes. I think the NBA should move the all-star game from there next year. You know, as a black person, I am against any form of discrimination against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it.

And it is my job in a position of power that I'm in, able to be on television, I'm supposed to stand up for the people that can't stand up for themselves.

So I think the NBA should move the all-star game from Charlotte and we can figure out. Atlanta wants to host it, but they should move it out of Charlotte.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The NBA said plans in Charlotte are already under way for next February's event, but they were, quote, "deeply concerned that the law would impact its ability to host the all-star game."

Back lash against the North Carolina law is a part of a battle going on across the south. Religious freedom supporters are squaring off against advocates of LGBT rights.

One of the most controversial laws is now in Mississippi. Gay rights supporter, point to the irony of news anchor, sports person, Robin Roberts on the cover of the state's official tourism guide. She's lesbian and the magazine was published before the law made headlines. CNN's Polo Sandoval reports on the battle lines over this law.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So this is what I do daily.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jackie Buchanon is a second generation seamstress in Mississippi who stands by her Christian beliefs. She says that faith is the foundation of her business.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the time of year when weddings occur.

SANDOVAL: Buchanan says the doors to her shop are open to anyone. Dressing a bride for a same-sex marriage goes against her Christian values. Now she won't have to.

JACKQULIN BUCHANAN, SEAMSTRESS: I would probably decline on servicing them because I believe marriage is instituted by God between a man and woman and that is my belief.

[12:25:01]SANDOVAL: From private business owners like Buchanan to public employees that issue marriage licenses, the law allows them to refuse a customer if it means servicing a same-sex wedding. Some legal experts are warning the law's reach could extend far beyond.

PAGE PATE, ATTORNEY: Also it will allow discrimination based on couples who are not married simply because there's one recognition in this Mississippi law that it is a respectable or legitimate religious belief that sex only occurs within the confines of marriage.

SANDOVAL: Back in the heart of the Bible belt, Jackson bartender, Mark Leopold, wonders why the law is needed in the first place.

MARK LEOPOLD, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI RESIDENT: They're worried about maintaining religious freedom in a state that ranks among the most devoutly religious states in the country. Protection from who?

SANDOVAL: So far the laws effects have been less religious than they are economic. Days after Governor Phil Bryant signed it into law Tuesday, the Mississippi Tourism Association reported people are cancelling or postponing trips to Mississippi due to the national media reporting on this new law.

Everyone's welcome here is the name of the new campaign launched by the restaurant and hospitality association in response to the controversy.

(on camera): With this threat of economic fallout, some businesses in Jackson's neighborhood are taking some steps of their own, making it very clear all customers are welcome.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bills like this are killing our economy. That's one of the reason we are the poorest. SANDOVAL (voice-over): (Inaudible) and Dwayne Smith were among the first gay couples to marry in Mississippi after the Supreme Court's ruling legalizing same-sex marriage last year. For them, the new law is precisely why they'll stay in Mississippi, to fight it.

KNOL AUST, BILL OPPONENT: I have family here. I have my home here. I have friends here and I worked hard for that. I am not leaving my home, my family, my friends because some men in the capital think I am a second class citizen. I've committed to fighting it and I am staying here to fight it.

SANDOVAL: Polo Sandoval, CNN, Jackson, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The Republicans gearing up for what may be a contested convention. This wouldn't be the first time. Coming up, we will look at the last time there was no clear nominee.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:31:10] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Blake is working on, taking snowboarding to the next level but not on a mountain. This is Progresh an indoor active sports training and learning facility.

BLAKE HAYEN, SNOW BOARDER: Just drive and learning here my 360, 180 and grass.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is the brainchild of Kyle Henley who wanted to bring all the extreme Sports of Colorado's mountains and parks into a gym.

KYLE HENLEY, PROGRESH: We cater to everybody here. We've got from one- year-olds learning to ski and snowboard to professional athletes coming in to train for their sport, competition, older athletes that are looking to get in shape. So, I think what makes us innovative is we're always adding different features.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like a synthetic snow hill for beginners and action landing pad. They say it is the first indoor one in n North America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I come to work on coming off the ramp, doing my flips, really getting a feel of the air. Part of what brought this idea to fruition, able to develop techniques and bring them someplace else. Let chance of injury here than being on the resort.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLI)

WHITFIELD: All right, the battle for presidential delegates continuing to heated up. Republican party insiders are meeting at this hour in Colorado, deciding which delegates to send to this summer's GOP convention and as you know, each delegate is, of course, always critical to win the nomination outright, a candidate needs 1237 delegates. If that does not happen on the first ballot and the convention becomes contested, the delegates' personal preferences matter even more. It's happened before. Chief political analyst Gloria Borger looked at the last time Republicans faced a contested convention in 1976.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALSYT: After millions of votes, dozens of contests, and heaps of mud flung along the way, the Republican presidential race has a bit of everything except a nominee.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We will win a majority of the delegates.

BORGER: The last time a contested convention happened was in 1976, when former California governor Reagan was the outsider challenging the president, Gerald Ford. Both men claimed to have the votes heading into the convention, but nobody was sure, not even Jim Baker who was then ford's top delegates hunter.

JAMES BAKER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We had no assurance whatsoever that he would get the majority of votes necessary to be nominated.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But he did, winning the nomination and earning baker headlines. But it was far from easy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President.

BORGER: Governor Reagan almost knocked off an incumbent republican president. We had to get in there, scramble for it, fight for it.

So, as Donald Trump gets ready to rumble at the convention, Baker has little sympathy for the argument that if Trump is closest to the finish line going in, he should be declared the winner.

BAKER: It's mathematically unfair.

BORGER: Is that the way the process works?

BORGER: That's a very good political argument for him to make but that's not actually the way the process is supposed to work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 20 votes for our fellow Texan.

That is it is supposed to work in a vote or series of votes by the delegates on the floor of the convention. They select the nominee. It is, after all, a party's nominating convention.

BORGER:: Good news for Trump is that his supporters, like Ronald Reagan's 40 years ago, are die hard.

BAKER: Reagan had the benefit of the movement. His delegates were really committed to what he stood for.

[12:35:08] Just the same way Trump's delegates, by the way, are very committed to Donald Trump as the outsider.

Provided Trump can get them selected as delegates and not have his delegate slots filled by a Kasich or Cruz person.

BORGER: In other words, winning the most delegates primary night is not enough. Winning states is one thing, but keeping your state delegates is another matter entirely. Not only on first ballot but hanging onto them if there are multiple votes leaving delegates free to roam, even defect. That's where Trump's anti-establishment campaign is playing catch up.

If you were running the Trump delegate selection process now, what would you be doing?

BAKER: Well, i think they need to be ramping up a sophisticated delegate selection process. I'm not sure they have been paying attention to the ground game.

BORGER: So how do you keep track of it?

BAKER: What you have to do, first of all you need to know everything there is to know about a potential delegate or a delegate. Most important thing to know is what turns them on, what turns them off, what they believe in, what they favor, what they disfavor, no smear, OK? You make a point to learn everything you can about each delegate. Then you massage that delegate, stay in touch with them. You work them, protect them to keep them from being stolen by the other side. It is a zero sum gain and as people say all the time, it ain't bean bag.

BORGER: With very few rules.

BAKER: You have to be careful. You can't buy votes.

BORGER: So, what can you do?

BAKER: Well there's somethings you can do and of course we took great advantage of it in 1976, the head of the party was the president of the United States.

BORGER: I know.

BAKER: That help a lot. Dinner for the Queen of England, so you have a -- get an uncommitted delegate, invite him to the White House for a state dinner, Queen of England, don't think you have a good chance of getting his vote? You have a good chance of getting his vote.

BORGER: Did you?

BAKER: Yes, we did. I bet I went to more state dinners in anybody in the four administrations with the exception of Betty and Gerald Ford.

BORGER: And some delegates brazenly ask for favors, from crossing the line.

BAKER: We got lot inappropriate requests, outrageous one, jobs, federal jobs.

BORGER: Federal jobs? BAKER: Yeah, Federal jobs. If I'm not mistaken there was a request to

layoff a relative of one of the delegates who had been prosecuted for a federal crime. Things like that.

BORGER: Improper requests aside, what's to stop a few friendly plane rides to Mar-a-Lago or hunting trip to Texas.

BAKER: The game wasn't only played on our side, it was played on their side too. We had better inducements to offer.

BORGER: Still, it was close. When it came to a head on the convention floor, Ford beat Reagan outright by just 117 h.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must go forth from here united.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BORGER: But this fight could be more bitter and last longer. And Baker warns if it does and the rules start changing in the middle of the game, there could be hell to pay for the entire Republican party.

BAKER: If you have a candidate who's within 100 or 150 votes of getting majority and you start changing the rules to screw the candidate out of the nomination, I think you're going to buy yourself some grief. You're going to buy yourself some grief in the general election because his supporters, all of them thought they were voting for significant change might stay home.

BORGER: And: that sounds pretty the Republican party. Gloria Borger, CNN, Washington.

WHITFIELD: All right. That's an incredible, insightful view of what may potentially be ahead. Of us

Coming up, prosecutors say former speaker Dennis Hastert abused young boys and his legal team issues an apology? Nick is covering the story.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Fred true, federal prosecutors released court documents that at least five case of sexual abuse on minors. What it has to do with his breaking banking laws case after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:43:00]All right Court documents reveal new details about sexual abuse allegations against former House Speaker against Dennis Hastert. Federal prosecutors say Hastert abused at least four boys during days as wrestling coach in Northville IIlinois. Hastert served as speaker of the house from 1999 to 2007. For more on what we're learning from these court documents. Now let's bring in CNN correspondent Nick Valencia. Prosecutors say Hastert violated a trust between the young boys and their coach. He is not facing charges as relates to these allegations, right? VALENCIA: Right.

WHITFIELD: But there are documents that federal authorities released. Why?

VALENCIA: They're laying out the case for sentencing. We should remind the viewers how we got here. It was back in October. Dennis Hastert pled guilty to breaking banking laws and it was two days ago his defense team released the request for sentencing. In that case, that sentencing will happen in a couple of week.

In response to that request by the defense Federal prosecutors released court documents that detail what they say are five cases of sexual molestation of minors at the hands of Dennis Hastert. How the two are connected, the recent crime of breaking banking laws is recent. Federal prosecutors say it is rooted in a dark part of Dennis Hastert's past in the 1960s and '70s was a wrestling coach at a highschool, and this money he was pulling out according to feds he was using to pay off one of the individuals who was an alleged victim of sexual molestation, essentially hush money.

We want to get into details listed in court documents. Before we do that, should say it of you home listening. This reads court document reads

"Individual D, one of the victims, 17 at the time, recalled the defendant put a 'Lazyboy' type chair in direct view of shower stalls in the locker room where he sat while boys showered. One day when individual D was 17 yes old, he stayed after practice to cut weight. Defendant had Individual D lie down face down on the table. Defendant soon removed individual D's pants and told Individual D to turn over on his back. Defendant then perform a sexual act on Individual D.

[12:45:08] There are at least four other young boys who alleged similar things happen to them at the hands of Hastert.

And Hastert, has never specifically admitted to any of these sexual molestation cases, only responding a couple days ago through his attorney saying, "Mr. Hastert is deeply sorry and apologizes for misconduct that occurred decades ago and resulting harm he caused to others."

And he mentioned Fred, he won't be charge or face any charges for these allege cases of molestation, the statute of limitations has passed. The prosecutors are saying, the banking laws that he broke have to do exactly with these cases in the past, he was trying to cover it up according to the defense.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nic, ands still with these details, and now with this apology from Hastert's attorney, we got to ask our legal guys who are come up after a break about whether this could potentially open up some sort of legal case down the road.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. I am Fredricka Whitfield.

So Former House Speaker, Dennis Hastert has pleaded guilty to financial violations for withdrawing large sums of money from banks avoiding mandatory reporting requirements.

In further federal investigations, authorities believe that money was hush money paid to at least one alleged victim of child sexual abuse. But Hastert has not been charged in connection with sexual abuse allegations, prosecutors have detailed in just released documents.

[12:50:09] Let's talk more about the legal aspects of how all of this is connected.

Joining me right now, Civil Rights Attorney, Avery Friedman and Criminal Defense Attorney, Richard Herman. Good to see both of you.

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: Always good to see you. OK, so Avery, you first, you know, Hastert pleaded guilty last year to violating federal banking laws, withdrawing this money, you know, in increments, low enough to avoid mandatory reporting requirements, at least that's what was thought.

The federal law enforcement officials say he withdrew the money, you know, to pay off of someone he sexually molested decades ago. So if prosecutors have no intention of pursuing sexual assault charges because, you know, the statute of limitations has run out, then why release these lurid details. What's going on here really?

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, it's the power of the sentencing brief by both parties. The defense team in this case, Fredricka, in a case that really is thermonuclear, given the position that Hastert used to hold the speaker of the house. They're looking at essentially justice.

They want to make sure that from the standpoint of the justice department's prosecution, they want to maximize the sentence. The defense team again is looking for probation. So the reason the details are included in the sentencing memorandum is to make sure the judge understands how egregious the behavior is.

This is $3.5 million paid to -- actually there were five people, one of whom is passed away. But the purpose of it essentially is to make clear to the federal judge that probation is not the appropriate sentence in a case like this.

WHITFIELD: So then Richard, you know, federal prosecutors want maximum penalty for that banking violation. And as I mention, no charges would be pursued for alleged, you know, sexual assault allegations involving what were children at the time because of the statute of limitations has expired. But then is it correct and understand that prosecutors do want a sex offender evaluation, you know, conducted? What would that mean? And how would you be able to do that without conviction on a sexual assault charge? HERMAN: That's a great question, Fred. And it's always the basketball

coaches and the wrestling coaches. But this is the most powerful, one of the most powerful politicians in the country who now is really going down in flames.

And when you say that the government wants maximum penalty here, they don't. The maximum penalty for this financial crime was five years.

In the plea agreement, the government agreed to ask the judge only for six months. So that was the inducement for him to enter into this plea. Great job by his defense counsel. So that's it.

Defense counsel is arguing no time. The government is going to say we agreed to only ask for six months. But now this judge who ultimately is the final person to make the ultimate determination on sentencing, this judge may get really, really upset over what he's hearing, maybe ask the government to get into that a little bit, and may reject the deal and maybe impose, two, three year sentence.

But your question, Fred, the government wants him to be on a sex offender registry, that's for conviction of sex crimes. This is not a sex crime, Fred. The conviction is not a sex crime, it's for financial fraud, financial structuring with the bank.

I don't think they're going to get it. I don't think the judge can order it. It's not in the cards here, while it should be.

WHITFIELD: And then, you know, Avery, as pertains to Hastert and his attorneys, I mean what is being said that the apology coming from Hastert is very perplexing because there's an apology without an admission that the sex offenses have taken place. But then it also doesn't sound like the attorneys are, you know, wanting to put up a real fight because they say instead, you know, that the public warmth that he once felt will be replaced with public shame. And that is penalty in and of itself. So what is his counsel really saying here? That sounds very unusual.

FRIEDMAN: Well, you need to walk into a sentencing of this nature to accept some responsibility. And again, this is sort of a non-apology apology.

It's true. He's arguing, the defense seems arguing, we don't want any jail time. I'm betting the federal district judge is going to look at this whole thing. And I think you can take this to the bank, Dennis Hastert is going to jail.

WHITFIELD: And Richard, your final word on what potentially is next?

HERMAN: You know, I think, Fred, I think it's maximum of six months. I don't think he's going to get more than six months, very, very powerful political guy.

Two sets of rules in this country, believe it or not, right or wrong, that's the reality of it. And this one of the most powerful politicians is going to get a slap on the wrist for something that could have been much more devastating, much more devastating had it been prosecuted timely and to the fullest extent.

[12:55:10] WHITFIELD: All right, Richard Herman, Avery Friedman, always good to see you.

I never see you enough. But when I do I'm so happy ...

FRIEDMAN: ... likewise.

HERMAN: We miss you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: We miss you too. All right, thanks so much guys. Appreciate it.

All right coming up in just moments, the Wyoming caucuses are getting started. We'll take you there live.

Plus the manhunt continues for terror suspects. We're live from Brussels when the NEWSROOM continues.

But first, at CNN we recognize people who go above and beyond. We call them CNN heroes.

And now I want you to meet one hero who introduces kids to the ocean.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you're in the third grade and they come on our field trip, they come over the hill on the bus, and they see the ocean and gasp because it is literally the first time many of them have ever seen the ocean.

It's a place of discovery to really explore their own potential in science all through studying the ocean.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Ah, so catch Sarah's full story at cnnheroes.com.

And while you're there, hey, you should nominate someone that you think should be a 2016 CNN hero.

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