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Police: Suspect In Deadly Shootings Is In Custody; Senator Graham: Won't Vote For Trump Or Clinton; Speaker Ryan To Meet With Trump Thursday. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired May 06, 2016 - 15:00   ET

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


UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- presser, but we'll do our very best to give you as much notice as possible about where that will be and what time that will happen.

[14:30:00] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anything about why the mall was not on lockdown?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not in charge of that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was arrested at the other strip mall, though, in the mall itself?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the Aspen Hill area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So he was hiding out close to where that second shooting went down it looks like?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know whether he was hiding out or not. That's where we located him. That's where he was arrested without incident. We will have more later.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think he was planning --

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, really short news conference. A lot of information still not made public. Listen. This is just happened. This is how things work but the bottom line, the most significant piece of news they have the suspect in custody.

We have Brian Todd on the scene. We'll talk to him in just a second. But Evan Perez, our justice correspondent, is working this for us. So now we have the suspect in custody, Eulalio Tordil (ph), 62 years of age. What do we know about him?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: Brooke, this is an amazing situation. The takedown, I'll give you a little bit more details about the takedown. It occurs just across the street from the scene of that second shooting that took place earlier today, earlier this morning.

This is at the Giant Foods Supermarket. That's where they arrested him. So he appears he didn't go very far while authorities in this region mounted a massive manhunt to try to hunt him down.

Now, we describe him, again, he's Eulalio Tordil. He is 62 years old. And the first incident in which he is suspected is a shooting that took place outside of a high school in Maryland, just outside of -- Greenbelt, Maryland.

It appears that his estranged wife was there picking up her kids and he approached her and he shot and killed first someone who tried to intervene and then -- sorry. Shot a person who tried to intervene and then shot and killed his estranged wife.

Now less than 24 hours later, the first shooting today occurred, which is outside the Montgomery Mall. This is in Montgomery County in Bethesda, Maryland. Three people are shot there. Similar circumstance.

A suspect approaches someone, two tried to intervene. He shoots those two people and then shoots the third person that he was targeting. One person is deceased at that scene.

A short time after that is the third shooting at that Giant Supermarket, again, in the Bethesda area. One woman is shot and killed at that scene. Brooke, again, six people in all have been shot. Three different scenes. Three people are dead as a result of this -- of this shootings.

I should add that Tordil is a federal protective service officer, a federal law enforcement officer. This is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

We do have a statement from the Homeland Security Department and they say that in March, FPS placed him on administrative duties, some kind of a suspension, after a protective order against him.

They removed his weapon, badge and credentials. "The Washington Post" is reporting that the protective order issued as a result of the request of the estranged wife.

A lot of information still to come about the circumstances of his arrest but now he is arrested. It appears that it was done without incident. Nobody else was hurt after these three shootings.

BALDWIN: All right. Evan Perez, thank you so much. I think we also have video of the takedown, which is what you led with bringing this individual into custody. As we look at that for a second -- I'm sorry. You got to tell me again.

We have Art Roderick standing by, CNN law enforcement analyst and former assistant director of U.S. Marshalls Office. So, you know, we were just chatting about this a couple of minutes ago. You were thinking federal agents on the scene that, you know, getting this individual in custody would be eminent. You were correct. What are they doing right now?

ART RODERICK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: I'm fairly sure they probably had him under surveillance of a period of time before the takedown went down with the SWAT team from Montgomery Country. So what they were doing is making sure that the public was safe, number one. Number two, that officers responding to make the arrest would be safe and they were just observing what he was doing. Now, whether the tip came in as a result of the vehicle description that had gone out earlier or they were able to track some type of communication device that he was using at that period of time.

And then located him basically across the street from where the mall shooting occurred, we don't know that yet. I'm sure that will come out as we hear more pressers from law enforcement.

But right now, obviously, they're looking at the vehicle, they're racking, trying to see who he was in communication with. I'm sure they're executing search warrants at his home or apartment.

And obviously checking his personnel records to see any other relatives out there. There's still a lot -- quite a bit to do here to wrap up this case up.

[15:05:02]But thank goodness he's in custody, very armed and dangerous individual. And law enforcement responded very quickly and able to take the individual down.

BALDWIN: Again, this individual, 62-year-old Eulalio Tordil, a federal law enforcement officer who had been on administrative leave last night. Shooting and killing his estranged wife and then two others shot and killed today.

Brian Todd is there on the screen for us in suburban Washington, D.C. You were asking a question of that law enforcement officer. I believe that was your voice and asking if any of the victims were related to the shooter. What did you learn?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They haven't really said anything about that, Brooke. We are still trying to determine whether the shooter knew the victims who were shot here at this parking lot at the Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and also at that Giant grocery store in the Aspen Hill area about 8 miles away from here.

Not clear if this suspect actually knew those people or not. We'll try to determine that a little bit later. We do have some reporting that he shot and killed his estranged wife yesterday.

Remember, you have three very violent incidents within the span of 24 hours. Yesterday, the suspect according to police shot and killed his estranged -- his ex-wife, 44-year-old Gladys Tordil in the parking lot of a high school in (inaudible) Maryland yesterday afternoon.

Another person was wounded in that incident. Then a few hours ago, this is the scene right here actually where these police officers are congregated. There's still some evidence on ground behind me.

What we're told sis this suspect approached a woman over here in this parking lot. Shot her. Two other people came to her aid. At least one of them -- both of them shot. One of them was killed. Those two were males. One of the males is in critical condition. The woman has nonlife threatening injuries and then about 30 minutes later, the suspect, according to law enforcement officials we spoke to, left this area, 30 minutes later at the Giant Shopping Center parking lot about 8 miles away from this location investigators believe he shot and killed a woman in that parking lot.

The big question is, as you mentioned, Brooke, do the victims at this parking lot and at the Giant parking lot, did they know this man? You've got at least two survivors from this parking lot. Maybe police will have the answers in the coming hours -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Other people who were trying to intervene. Keep in mind all three of these shooting locations were public places, parking lots. Some of them presumably innocent bystanders shot as well. So much more information to come out. We're watching and waiting for an additional news conference.

Brian Todd, I know you will be there. Thank you so much, Brian Todd, Art Roderick and Evan Perez. We'll be talking on the other side of this break about South Carolina's senator, powerful senator, Lindsey Graham telling our Dana Bash just in the last hour that he will not be voting in good conscious is how he put it for the next president of the United States. No to Trump and Clinton. So much to discuss there. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:12:14]

BALDWIN: We are back. You are watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Breaking news, a political bombshell from a sitting Republican senator, a powerful party elder. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham announcing today he will not vote for his party's presumptive nominee, Donald Trump.

And not only that, he says he is not voting for Hillary Clinton either. He may not vote at all for the next president of the United States.

Senator Graham, Trump's one-time rival, for the Republican nomination, told my colleague, Dana Bash, he quote/unquote, "cannot in good conscious support his party's presumptive nominee."

This news just a day after the speaker of the House, Paul Ryan says to Jake Tapper he is, quote, "not ready to support Trump. Let's bring her in, chief political correspondent, Dana Bash. Dana Bash, tell me more about what he said.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll just give you one of the teasers. He said of Donald Trump, eating a taco is probably not going to fix the problems we have with Hispanics and it went on from there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: Senator Graham, you're announcing here that you won't vote for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. You are a dyed in the wool Republican. Why can't you get on board with your party's nominee?

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, it's pretty easy to say no to Hillary because I think she's a third term of Barack Obama. I just don't believe Donald Trump is a reliable conservative Republican.

Good luck with Paul Ryan trying to find a conservative agenda with this guy. I don't think he has the temperament or judgment to be commander-in-chief. A lot of colleagues will vote for him enthusiastically. Some hold their nose. I can't go there with Donald.

BASH: But, Senator, Republican voters chose Donald Trump over you and 15 --

GRAHAM: Absolutely.

BASH: -- other Republican candidates for president. So are you the one out of step with your party?

GRAHAM: Could be. I would have supported all 16 except for the Donald. Rand Paul and I are on opposite poles when it comes to foreign policy. I'd supported Rand Paul because I think he is conservative.

Ted Cruz and I have monumental differences at time. I was going to support Ted. I just don't think Donald Trump is a reliable conservative Republican and quite frankly he lost me when he said my friend, John McCain, was a loser because he was captured as a POW.

He lost me when he accused George W. Bush of lying to the American people about the Iraq war and he thinks Putin's a good guy. So I just can't go there. I respect people who can.

To Donald Trump, congratulations. You did a hell of a thing. You bet me and everybody else. I believe really the Republican Party has been conned here and this guy is not a reliable Conservative Republican.

BASH: You know, another one of Donald Trump's opponents who was quite critical of Trump was former Texas Governor Rick Perry. He told me yesterday, Senator, that he believes in the process.

[15:15:02]And he said the process has said Donald Trump will be our nominee and I'm going to support him and help him and do what I can. Why is he wrong?

GRAHAM: Well, I don't think he's wrong. I think that's what Rick Perry feels like he should do. I'm just doing what Lindsey Graham feels like he should do. I like Rick Perry. I think Rick Perry has been a great governor.

I have a hard time supporting somebody who claims that Ted Cruz's dad was associated with Lee Harvey Oswald and involved in the Kennedy assassination.

I have a hard time supporting somebody for president who spent thousands of dollars of their own money trying to find out if President Obama was born in Kenya versus Hawaii. I think that's crazy.

I'm glad we're having the convention in Cleveland not Area 51. I think Donald Trump is going to places where very few people have gone and I'm not going with him.

BASH: Now, House Speaker Paul Ryan told CNN yesterday as I know you've heard that he is withholding support for Trump but not ruling it out.

GRAHAM: Yes.

BASH: Why are you flatly ruling it out? Do you actually think -- take a step back. Do you think there's no way that Donald Trump could change in any way that would get your support and unify the Republican Party?

GRAHAM: Well, if he said tomorrow that he's now convinced that Ted Cruz's dad had nothing to do with killing President Kennedy and that President Obama was born in Hawaii that would be a step in the right direction. I just believe the temperament and judgment is not sufficient to be commander-in-chief of the finest fighting force in the world.

BASH: Do you think he has any ability to prove you wrong?

GRAHAM: Yes. He can win. Maybe he wins. And I promise you this, if he becomes president of the United States, I will do everything I can to help President Trump or President Clinton.

Unfortunately, this is a race to the bottom in 2016. The two most unpopular people in modern history. I think we have a slightly faster car and winning the race to the bottom.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: That was just a piece of this awesome interview. Dana Bash, you know, out of the gate you're in journalism for a little more than a minute. You have been around the block. Have you heard of a sitting senator, even a member of Congress, period, say not voting for the next president?

BASH: No.

BALDWIN: No.

BASH: No. And frankly, I mean, I have never heard that I can remember -- I'm sure there have been examples that I'll probably get in about a nanosecond on the Twitter feed, but a sitting senior senator not supporting the party's nominee, which is really what we are talking about here.

It is kind of amazing. But you know, for all of his talk about, you know, how Donald Trump is conning the Republican Party, so on and so forth, again, we just have to go back to the fact that Donald Trump was voted for by millions and millions of Republicans.

He got more votes than any other of the -- as I said to Senator Graham, 16 senators and members, every candidate voting, voting against him and Lindsey Graham.

When I asked Graham, Brooke, whether or not he thinks it's time for a third party, he didn't get me get my question out. He said, no, absolutely not and saying basically from his perspective, we have to ride the storm.

Focus on House races, Senate races and then figure out what happens after the election and try to put the party back to together except here's the thing. You know, he's banking on the fact that Donald Trump doesn't win. And, you know, that's his gamble.

BALDWIN: I mean, he did say ultimately whoever the president is, right, whether it's President Trump or President Clinton, you know, ultimately he'll support, you know, and work for the American people and also let's be clear. You know, even though he's not voting for a president of the United States, you know, the senator will be voting, right, in November.

BASH: Yes. Probably write somebody in and, you know, that's not unheard of. People do that I wouldn't say all the time but certainly has happened. In fact, you know, on a Senate level, there's a sitting United States senator who won her seat based on a write-in.

But the point is that he's not calling to galvanize around another candidate. He is just saying these are the options realistically Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And he says he can't support either.

BALDWIN: Let's point the viewers to the entire interview. Go to cnn.com and look for you through the evening here. Dana Bash, thank you so much.

BASH: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: We have a great panel standing by just to parse through all of this including a Republican insider who's been meeting with the Trump team today. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:24:10]

BALDWIN: All right. Staying on politics here, the head of the Republican National Committee revealed today Donald Trump called him mere minutes after hearing this from House Speaker Paul Ryan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, "THE LEAD": So, Mr. Speaker, you have said throughout this process that you will support the Republican presidential nominee. Now you have a presumptive nominee, Donald Trump. Will you support him? REPRESENTATIVE PAUL RYAN (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: Well, to be perfectly candid with you, Jake, I'm just not ready to do that at this point. I'm not there right now. I hope to, though, and I want to, but I think what is required is that we unify this party and I think the bulk of the burden on unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Reince Priebus announces Donald Trump and Paul Ryan will meet next week. We have now learned from Speaker Ryan's office that that meeting will happen next Thursday, that it will be Donald Trump and the House speaker, a one on one, as well as with Republican leadership that day.

[15:25:06]So let me bring in CNN politics editor, Juana Summers, Jackie Kucinich, Washington bureau chief for the "Daily Beast," and Randy Evans, a member of the Republican National Committee. Great to see you all of you and have you on.

Off of this big news here, though, I want to begin, Randy, with you with the Senator Graham I'm not voting for any president headline today. Your reaction, first, to that.

RANDY EVANS, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER: I think it's a bombshell if he said he was going to vote for Donald Trump.

BALDWIN: Really?

EVANS: Absolutely. I think Senator Graham was very personal, the comments about Senator McCain was very personal and President Bush was very personal. And really what separates a politician from a leader is ability to separate that personal component from what being a leader of your party.

And I think that was just something he could not bring himself to do so I think it really wasn't much of a bombshell and everybody expected it. Those on the RNC and those many of us who serve on the inside not surprised at all to hear what he said.

BALDWIN: You don't think Reince Priebus will lose sleep over this?

EVANS: I think that Reince Priebus has a very challenging job ahead, which is to bring together a very desperate big tent of group people, which represent a lot of different views.

And when the tent is that big getting anybody to agree on anything is always a challenge, but I think Reince Priebus is up to the job and I think he will get the job done.

BALDWIN: Let me read a tweet that is coming in. We played the comments that made news with Tapper and Speaker Ryan from "THE LEAD" just about 24 hours ago so now we have a tweet from former House speaker, as well, Newt Gingrich and tweeted, Speaker Ryan's comments yesterday send the wrong signal. He is speaker. He has an obligation to unify the party. Juana Summers, is he wrong? JUANA SUMMERS, CNN POLITICS EDITOR: I think that if Paul Ryan, who I covered when he was the vice presidential nominee back in 2012, if he said to Jake Tapper yesterday, sure, I support Donald Trump, I stand by him, it would be contra to everything we have seen of his brand of conservatism and the wing of the party from which he comes.

And you heard him say that from that interview yesterday. He's spoken out forcefully against the Muslim ban. He's spoke out at times, though, perhaps not naming Donald Trump, but had some comments about the tone of the presidential primaries so far.

So I hear what Newt Gingrich is saying and certainly I assume most Republican leaders want to see the party unify around Donald Trump now that he is in fact the presumptive nominee.

But for Paul Ryan to do that would be frankly incredibly out of character much like the former guest said, would have been incredibly out of character to see Senator Lindsey Graham come out and embrace Trump after he's endorsed two different candidates and ran against Donald Trump himself --

BALDWIN: Rick Perry much? He called him a cancer and now he's saying, ah, if he asked me to be a vice president I would consider it.

JACKIE KUCINICH, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, "THE DAILY BEAST": It should be noted that Speaker Gingrich told me that he had been meeting with Speaker Ryan and some other Republicans on the Hill a couple of months ago to try to ease them into the idea of Donald Trump being their standard bearer.

So he is sort of working behind the scenes for Trump informally for quite some time so while he is the former speaker and obviously has clout there, he also is kind of picked a side here.

BALDWIN: What needs to -- Randy, let me -- I want to jump in but I want also ask you specifically, to be inside of this meeting between Donald Trump and Paul Ryan next Thursday, what needs to happen? Where's the wriggle room you think for -- on the Trump side on policy for Speaker Ryan to say, yes?

EVANS: Well, let me say this. Having been the counsel to the two prior Republican speakers including Newt Gingrich, I suspect that Newt was pretty -- I was with him just last night and he was as surprised as I was that Speaker Ryan, who were the congressional approval ratings lower than for Donald Trump, would be the one trying to set the stage.

But I think the key point will be entitlement reform and where you see the difference come about. I think you have seen Mr. Trump take a pretty strong position about holding things in line, holding things where they are.

And I think you have a speaker who is committed to entitlement reform and the question is, where can they come together on that single issue? I think that will be the main topic of discussion. BALDWIN: Hold on. Let me thank you for bringing up the meeting with Newt Gingrich. So I'm listening to you. Does the man want to be vice president?

EVANS: Well, listen, he was the last person to balance the budget, reform welfare, rebuilt the defense. He is very effective at working with the Congress and he would bring home the right. He would secure the other states.

Obviously, he would bring an enormous amount to the table. Whether or not he fits the demographics and the Electoral College map and the other pieces that Mr. Trump would want to look for in a VP I don't know.

I do know that I would be shocked if he isn't on the short list only because of so many things he would bring to the table.

BALDWIN: OK. So you're obviously not going to share anything privately that former speaker shared with you although feel free to tell the national audience (inaudible) we are all curious -- all the buzz --