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Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield

Bryan Cranston Plays LBJ In New HBO Film; Cranston Discusses 2016 Presidential Race; "Rock One Sock" Campaign To Help Find Missing Kids; "The Hunt" With John Walsh Returns In June; One Year Since Deadly Shootout At Biker Bar In Texas. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired May 17, 2016 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00] ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Two weeks ago, I saw you in Washington and you were fresh off the heels of an Oval Office visit with the president of the United States. Walking into the real Oval Office, having spent, what, I don't know, a better part of a year in a fake Oval Office.

BRYAN CRANSTON, TONY AND EMMY-WINNING ACTOR: Right.

BANFIELD: So the surreal moment that that must have been. Take me there.

CRANSTON: I walked in and I was able to say to the president, "Ah, that's looks familiar and I hear you're moving. Have you put this on the market yet?" And he's a very gracious, smart, welcoming man. And first thing he said, "Do you want to take your coat off? Let's make this relaxed." And so we did.

And we talked about things outside of politics. We talked about being husbands and being fathers and being citizens of our society and how -- what means and what you hope to accomplish measured by your familial responsibilities are.

BANFIELD: And a lot of -- they'll be jay conversation as well. And I read this one piece between the two of you that was super fascinating. And I think it might be helpful for people frustrated with the polarization our politics today. Between you and the president, you sort of illustrated that we've got perhaps the least corrupt Congress of all time and in LBJ's day, some of the things that he had to lubricate the process would cause an indictment or an impeachment today.

CRANSTON: Right. And the polemic nature in politics is tragic in the sense because it's created a condition where nothing really is getting done.

And I think the first step in order to bring people together to realize that what is a good idea regardless of which side of the ideological fence it's on is to be supported, it's to be championed. And I want to promulgate the idea that just because someone has a different opinion than yours, it does not make them an enemy. If we cannot do this anymore, we cannot point fingers and say, "That person is trying to ruin the country." So I will say, right here right now on national television that I believe Donald Trump loves this country. I truly believe that. And I know he does. It's just that his approach to how to remedy America's problems differ greatly from what I think should happen.

BANFIELD: I believe Donald Trump loves this country as well. And I don't know of any candidate that doesn't love this country. But this country is doing strange things today. And I think as a celebrity, you probably feel this more poignantly than anybody can imagine.

I think President Obama even mentioned it too that the level of celebrity, it's sort of awesome and awed at the same time and we're seeing it transposing into an election because Donald Trump is a celebrity before he was ever a politician.

His track record isn't really known. He's not releasing transcript of his taxes, et cetera. So as the celebrity in the room, and I love that you were the second biggest celebrity in the Oval Office, did that resonate with you when you talk to the president about the celebrity factor?

CRANSTON: Rightly or wrongly, celebrities have been given a soap box to be able to make their proclamations.

And since I have a certain amount of that as well, I too want to be able to say, this is what I feel is right and this is what I feel is wrong. And the first thing I do, when anybody talks about some film they've seen or "Breaking Bad" or something, it didn't work for them, I support their opinion. As supposed to trying to tell them or change their opinion or tell them they're wrong. How you feel is how you feel.

So if I were to meet a Trump supporter, the first thing I would do is I would want to discuss, what are the issues that led you to that decision? And I want to know about that and not to make them wrong but just to understand.

BANFIELD: Is the role of a lifetime to come and say the movie of the polarization of the country or is the role of a lifetime Walter White or is the role of lifetime LBJ. What's the role?

CRANSTON: I don't know. The Shakespearean figure that is Donald Trump, it looks awfully inviting.

BANFIELD: Can you do a little imitation for me?

CRANSTON: I can do a slight imitation, but I think, no, make mistake, and I could tell you this, I'm almost -- I'm doing an impression of Jimmy Fallon doing Donald Trump. Here's what it is, or Darrell Hammond. So it's like, second or third removed. It's terrible.

BANFIELD: Can you do Hillary? CRANSTON: No.

BANFIELD: Would you ever?

Really quick, any ideas for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on the best V.P. choices?

CRANSTON: Yes.

BANFIELD: OK.

CRANSTON: OK.

BANFIELD: This will be good.

[12:35:00] CRANSTON: So for Hillary Clinton, it would be Bernie Sanders' gastroenterologist, so that she never again feels the burn.

I think for -- I think we should have the brawny lumber jack for Trump just someone who represents, you know, just ...

BANFIELD: Tougher than Trump.

CRANSTON: Tougher than Trump. That's a good bumper sticker. Tougher than Trump.

BANFIELD: Maybe that's your movie, Bryan.

CRANSTON: Here it is, I don't know. I want to come up with some more about that.

BANFIELD: You know, it's just great to see you.

CRANSTON: Thank you.

BANFIELD: I always love seeing you out and about, I was love having you on the set. And I love this play and movie. It is fantastic.

It is great entertainment but it's really interesting stuff. It's a great history lesson from LBJ, weirdly.

CRANSTON: Thank you very much.

BANFIELD: As always, thank you.

CRANSTON: Thank you, Ashleigh Banfield, you're quite an anchor person. Whatever that means, I don't know what that means.

BANFIELD: I just -- I'm without words, as anchor person that doesn't happen.

Bryan Cranston, everybody.

All the way, airing this Saturday night on my son's birthday, so thank you for that, very ...

CRANSTON: Seriously for that.

BANFIELD: 8:00 p.m. on HBO, folks. Take a good long look at that, pretty remarkable stuff.

We're back right after this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But the fellas are coming up behind me are utterly without principles of any kind and you see how you like dealing with them. You'll going to miss me when I'm gone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I still need you, Dick.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:40:55] BANFIELD: 220,000 kids. That's how many children The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has helped to find over the last 30 years. And it's largely because of this child, Adam Walsh, who was abducted from Florida in a shopping mall in '81 and later found brutally murdered.

After Adam's disappearance, his parents worked tirelessly to help establish a National Resource for Families of Missing Kids. Adam's father and host of CNN "The Hunt" is John Walsh. And as we well know, that is your brain child, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and it is so good to have you with us today to talk about the very newest messaging that the national center is bringing out.

And as you were walking up on the stage and Bryan Cranston was walking off the stage, all of a sudden, we realized you are also involved with the same campaign and you're involved with John Walsh.

John, how is Bryan involved and tell me about this Rock One Sock.

JOHN WALSH, CNN HOST, THE HUNT: We were friends a long time ago, all the years we were on Fox together "Malcolm in the Middle" and he was the king of tidy whitey's. And he asked me one day said, "Where are you going all the time to raise money for this charity?" And I said, "If you got a chance, would you ever come and see our building, our seven-story building in Washington D.C., The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children?"

He came and saw it. And he and his wife, Robin Dearden signed on immediately. He's been a spokesperson for years for the center, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars at various events and last Sunday -- last Wednesday, we had our hope awards where we honor survivors of abduction or sexual assault.

Bryan was there. We started the Rock One Sock campaign where we're asking people to ...

BANFIELD: We should show this. They're showing it. Just before, we took a quick brief from you guys on the set, wearing one sock each on the entire newsroom doesn't know what on earth is going on.

WALSH: May is National Missing Children's Month and May 25th is National Missing Children's Day that Congress and Ronald Reagan assigned years and years ago. And we're asking people much like the ice bucket challenge to go to rockonesock.org and make a donation to the national center. But take your sock off and put it on social media because those kids need to be brought home and lots of parents have waited for years for an answer. They're not knowing is the worst. So Bryan and I are trying to bring attention to the fact that we can't forget these kids. We have to look their pictures and find them. And we find kids that Jaycee Dugard was found after 18 years. So we never give up hope. This is a good man, right here.

BANFIELD: Bryan, how do you even find the time? It's just remarkable with all the projects that you've been getting in between to do something like this with John. And by the way not even mentioning it, I mean these are the things. I didn't know you had seen Obama the other day. You keep this under your hat.

CRANSTON: You know, what we are talking about why is a celebrity given a soap box, it's also, I think, a civic responsibility that if you've been fortunate in your life, I have a healthy child and everything is great, it's to give back.

So when I talk to John, I realize what he was involved with, the national center is a great organization. And it is a non-partisan. Or you don't need to be Conservative or Liberal or it doesn't matter what you are.

If you're concerned about the health and safety of American and international children, the national center or the international center for missing and exploited children is a really, the place to go, it is the quintessential organization, not just for finding missing children, which there is no organization better. But now with the advent of online predators, that's really been the main focus for years. So I'm happy to be a spokesperson.

BANFIELD: So if anybody wants to see the viral campaign you were talking about that you want to sort of maybe mimic the success of the ice bucket challenge, which by the way, multiplied for L.A.s., the donations by about five times the year after it run.

[12:45:01] Here's a quick look at this campaign that's about to head out and be all over your internet. Take a quick look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIELD MALE: There are thousands of children missing in America. And we can make sure they're never forgotten.

Challenge your friends to Rock One Sock this May to show your support for missing kids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: It's fantastic. So the idea is, it's going to go viral. People can give money and also send this out and we're going to talk about The Hunt real quickly, you've got the new season coming up real quick.

WALSH: Yup, new season starts June 19th.

BANFIELD: I can't wait. So you're not only finding missing kids, you're also finding bad guys. You're just a great guy. And I sure appreciate you being a greater guy, I didn't know. And so thanks for staying on to back up through as well. Appreciate it, Bryan.

CRANSTON: Thank John, good to see.

WALSH: You're the man.

BANFIELD: John Walsh, The Hunt, coming back to CNN starting in June as John just said. And if you have a tip, as always, this is the key for you folks 1-866-THE HUNT, call 1-866-THE HUNT.

Just ahead, it was the most violent day in Texas biker history. And one year later, the legal wrangling from the deadly shootout, just getting started and you won't believe who's fighting who now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:50:07] BANFIELD: Today marks one year since the deadly biker shootout in Waco, Texas.

In less than two minutes, nine bikers were shot and killed, 18 bikers were wounded, 54 bikers eventually were indicted because of all of this.

But no one seemed to able to pin down the specific crimes alleged or to even get a trial date for these crimes alleged.

Ed Lavandera got an exclusive interview with the leader of the biggest, baddest, biker's club in all of Texas, the Banditos.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: San Antonio, Texas.

This is the epicenter of the fight against the Bandidos.

Here federal agents from the DOJ and the FBI have far more on their minds than what happened 200 miles away in Waco.

PAUL LOONEY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The San Antonio Federal Prosecution, I believe, is going to be an effort to completely crash criminal behavior from motorcycle clubs.

LAVANDERA: Attorney Paul Looney represents three bikers arrested in Waco.

Do you think any of these Waco biker cases will ever see a Waco courtroom?

LOONEY: No.

LAVANDERA: No, why?

LOONEY: I think that the federal investigators took charge of this on the first day. Their goal is to maintain the status quo while the federal agencies complete their investigation in the Bandido indictment our of San Antonio.

LAVANDERA: That Bandido's indictment was underway long before Waco ever happened and likely has a different goal.

Looney believes the feds are really after the big guys who call the shots for the Bandidos.

You don't know it was coming?

JEFF PIKE, BANDIDOS PRESIDENT: Hell, no, I didn't know it was coming. I'm going to wait on the date.

LAVANDERA: Big guys like Bandido's President Jeff Pike.

In January, the feds came for Pike in a big way. Torching their way through his front gate in an early morning raid.

LAVANDERA: They woke you up?

PIKE: Yeah, somebody's here. Get up. I look.

LAVANDERA: What did you see ...

PIKE: I saw an army tank looking thing (inaudible) and said maybe that was supposed to be the cop.

LAVANDERA: It was a cavalry of around 20 federal agents.

PIKE: I guess I better get up.

LAVANDERA: That morning, Pike and two Bandidos leaders were indicted the federal indictment included a wide range of charges, assault, extortion, and murder.

But no mention of the shootout in Waco, Pike pleaded not guilty and is out on bond awaiting trial.

The indictment against you and the others says you guys are extortionists, thieves, murderers.

PIKE: Who'd we kill?

LAVANDERA: Neither Pike nor the two men indicted with him were in Waco that fatal day when nine bikers were killed. Either way, Pike says, the Bandidos didn't start it.

Did the Bandidos declare a war on the Cossacks?

PIKE: They asked me that in my interview when they arrested me. And I laugh and I said, "How do you do that?" They said, "It's an act of congress," what do we do write them a letter or what, I mean, I don't know what they're talking about. Evidently some funny said it. But I'm sure it wasn't me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: I love this story. Oh, lord. Ed Lavandera, fantastic correspondent joining me now.

So what's -- you and I talked about this yesterday, about the federal case that's evolved from all of this, the three guys who do have trial dates who were not even there.

LAVANDERA: Jeff Pike, you saw there.

BANFIELD: But now there are motions that have been filed fighting the D.A. and the prosecutors in this case. What's happening?

LAVANDERA: Well this is a motion that is being filed right now in Waco and a lawyer for one of the Cossacks bikers that was wounded in the shooting is filing a motion to get the district attorney and his top two assistants working on this case recused from these cases.

BANFIELD: What's the beef?

LAVANDERA: Well, they say that the prosecutors came in very early into that investigation, into that scene when investigators were questioning all the bikers there and then this motion says, that the prosecutors determined the course and scope of the investigation that essentially they overstepped their bounds and influenced the way police investigators were doing their investigation there in that shooting and influenced it in a negative way that afternoon.

Now, whether or not this motion goes anywhere, obviously, this is just being filed but it's another wrinkle to the frustration and the tension and really the hurdle that prosecutors and police have in Waco in handling these cases.

BANFIELD: Oh, hurdles? I have like 400 plus weapons numbers of hurdles that they're going to -- I mean, look, when you have that many bullets, that many weapons, that many directions of forensics flying, it's pretty darn hard to pin down whose bullet from whose gun fired at the exact time even if they're all firing on video resulted in the death of one of the people or all nine. It's really a huge puzzle.

[12:55:17] LAVANDERA: And prosecutors will say, this is one of the reasons why it's such a complex case. It's one of the reasons why we haven't seen a trial yet and it's not exactly clear when one of these trials will see the inside of a courtroom.

BANFIELD: I see the squeeze play, we talked about it yesterday. Trial Schmile, I just want to get all of the information, I can out of you while threatening you with, you know, life in prison with that underlying murders.

LAVANDERA: And meanwhile the feds are watch on these other cases. BANFIELD: Fascinating stuff. And it's not over.

So Ed, thank you for following that it, diligently so because after year after the fact some people just won't forget and you haven't, thank you. Ed Lavandera for us.

And then by the way, also coming up, you're going to hear reaction from Donald Trump's campaign to John Kasich and what John Kasich said to Anderson Cooper like he will not endorse Trump right now and to Hillary Clinton as well who mocked Donald Trump on the stage in Kentucky.

Does the presumptive nominee even care? His campaign spokeswoman, live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)