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New Day Sunday

Tropical Storm Bonnie Bearing Down On South Carolina; Gorilla Shot Dead To Save Boy In Zoo Enclosure; NBA Player Killed Entering Wrong Apartment; Dole: Trump Must Change Rhetoric, Be Presidential; Senator Bernie Sanders Holds Two Rallies in California; Libertarians Slams Dems and GOP; ISIS Tunnel Network Discovered In Iraq; Imprisoned Americans To Learn Fate In UAE; Wounded Vet Summits Everest Aired 6-7a ET

Aired May 29, 2016 - 06:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[06:00:03] UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: A 3-year-old child has fallen into the gorilla cage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The gorilla took him into one end of his habitat, and then the little boy started screaming again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just an unlucky situation where he broke into the wrong person's apartment.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm tired of a corrupt campaign financed (inaudible) that allows millionaires --

BOB DOLE, FORMER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND SENATOR (via telephone): This is a real phenomenon that he's done from scratch, but I don't applaud him for the insults.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: I want to be helpful. I don't want to be harmful because I don't want Hillary Clinton to be president.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of news going on this morning on this Sunday and we're so grateful for your company as always. Good morning. I'm Christi Paul.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to be with you.

Also at this hour, after losing a leg to an IED attack in Iraq, a combat veteran found peace in nature and he decided to take on one of nature's toughest challenges, Mt. Everest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STAFF SGT. CHAD JUKES, COMBAT-WOUNDED VETERAN (via telephone): It was still very unreal to stand on top of Mt. Everest and realize I was actually there. You know, looking up at that mountain, it is so imposing and so large, that it's really a surprising and phenomenal accomplishments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Coming up, climbing down from the highest mountain in the world, we speak to Staff Sergeant Chad Jukes from base camp.

PAUL: We want to get to some breaking news this morning, days of drenching rain is giving way to some deadly flooding across parts of the Great Plains. Three people have died in Texas, at least four others are missing.

That includes a 10-year-old boy who was believed to have been swept away by a river yesterday while he was fishing with friends. Emergency rescue teams are set to continue that search for that little boy this morning. We'll update you as soon as we get more on that specific situation.

BLACKWELL: Also this morning, Tropical Storm Bonnie bearing down on South Carolina. We've got live pictures from Myrtle Beach. The system already whipping up heavy rain, winds, plenty of misery for people who are hoping to enjoy the beaches this Memorial Day weekend. Our weather team is covering both of these severe storms.

PAUL: Allison Chinchar is in the Weather Center. Jennifer Gray is live in Charleston, South Carolina. Allison, I want to go to you first. What is the update on the Texas flooding as we know that there are search and rescues in place right now?

ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, the problem going forward, Christi and Victor, is going to be the river flooding because even though it really isn't raining that much at the moment, the river flooding is a delayed effect so it takes a little bit longer before you really peak with that especially around the Houston area.

So here is a look at what we have going on in the Texas area. This will be as we progress through the day. Notice we have more even showers and thunderstorms, even the potential for some severe weather to impact this area going into the later portions of the day.

That area between Houston and San Angelo, Texas is really where we've had the bulk of the rain the last couple of days so that's going to be an issue.

But we're also following Tropical Storm Bonnie. Again, we want to give you a little idea of that of the storm. So here's the low pressure system, but as we zoom in a little bit closer, some of the areas of concern would be Charleston, Savannah, and also around Wilmington.

Where the high pressure and the low pressure meet up, you get a pressure gradient. The winds get really strong right there along the South Carolina and North Carolina coast.

That can also lead to very bad rip currents, and we know at least one person at this hour that is missing off the North Carolina coast, a missing swimmer. For more details on the rip currents and other issues, we turn now to Jennifer Gray -- Jen.

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Ali, you're right. The rip currents are going to be a huge concern. A lot of times we talk about tropical systems. It's the flooding. It's the storm surge. It's the wind.

With this one, I really think it's going to be the rip currents. We have people that have come to the beaches from all over the country across South Carolina and North Carolina.

And when we get that really strong east wind, it's going to bring in the rip currents. When the weather starts to improve later today and especially into tomorrow, as long as the east wind is still driving in, people need to be very, very careful at the beaches with those rip currents.

Right now, we are getting breezy conditions. We've had off and on showers. The storm is still about 60 miles offshore. It is going to make landfall later today. We could get anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rain. Isolated amounts up to 6 -- Ali.

CHINCHAR: Thank you so much, Jen. Yes, and the storm is going to continue to make its way up the coastline of the Atlantic and will continue to have more updates for you guys coming up in just a little bit.

PAUL: We certainly appreciate it as so those folks I'm sure. Allison Chinchar and Jennifer Gray, thank you both.

BLACKWELL: Now, let's get to this disturbing story. This is out of Cincinnati where officers say they were -- officials say they were forced to kill a gorilla in order to save a young boy's life.

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[06:05:10]UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: Engine 32, we're going a second run to the Cincinnati Zoo. This is the gorilla cage and a 3-year-old child has fallen into the gorilla cage and the gorilla is slamming the child into the wall and the child is in the water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: That incident started when that child was visiting the zoo yesterday and was able to slip away from its parents into that gorilla enclosure. The zoo's director said that's when the gorilla grabbed him and dragged him, hit him against the wall. CNN affiliate, WKRC, has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANGELA INGRAM, WKRC REPORTER (voice-over): A 4-year-old boy climbed through a small opening and fell roughly ten feet into the enclosure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a lot of panic. We heard some chaos.

INGRAM: This is older video of the gorillas. (Inaudible) a male that just turned 17 years old yesterday, according to the zoo's website, picked up the boy who was splashing in the moat. A family who witnessed it called it horrific. They asked us not to show their faces.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was being dragged by the gorilla and then the gorilla took him to one end of his habitat and the little boy starts screaming again and the gorilla dragged him back again.

INGRAM: The zoo's Dangerous Animal Response team weighed options to save the boy. Zoo workers say (inaudible) weighed more than 400 pounds. He could have easily killed the small child. While the team was working to stop the threat, families nearby were wondering what was going on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love the zoo. It's very friendly and everything is beautiful here, but when you see something like that and you have the disappointment because what do you say to your grandchildren.

INGRAM: Medics say the incident lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. While zoo workers removed two other gorillas, (inaudible) still had a grip on the boy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was down there witnessing him being thrown in the air and the gorilla climbed up the ladder with him.

INGRAM: Ultimately the team shot and killed him. The zoo says it had to be done to save the boy's life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a sad day all the way around. It's the right choice was made. It was a difficult choice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: All right, thanks to Angela Ingram of CNN affiliate, WKRC, there in Cincinnati for us.

PAUL: Well, friends and family members this morning are mourning the loss of NBA player, Bryce Dijon Jones after he shot inside a Dallas apartment.

BLACKWELL: Yes, police say that Dijon Jones was killed after he kicked open a man's bedroom door. Now his agent says he was on the wrong floor and entered the wrong apartment. His girlfriend lives one floor above that crime scene.

PAUL: CNN's Rashan Ali has more of the details for us here. Good morning.

RASHAN ALI, CNN SPORTS: Good morning. Dijon Jones only played 14 games for the Pelicans as a rookie before he broke his wrist (inaudible) his season. He had just signed a three-year contract worth nearly $2 million with the team in February.

The 23-year-old played for three different college programs ending up at Iowa State and was not drafted by an NBA team. He was in Dallas yesterday to celebrate his daughter's first birthday.

His agent, Scott Nichols, said Dijon Jones had visited his girlfriend's new apartment on Friday, came back later that night, but went to the wrong unit on the floor below her fourth floor apartment.

According to the police, the 23-year-old knocked in the front door and bedroom door when the resident fired his gun. Dijon Jones was hit in the abdomen and collapsed outside. He was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries. A neighbor says it's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT COFFMAN, NEIGHBOR: Just an unlucky situation where he broke into the wrong person's apartment. I've got a gun in mine too. If someone breaks in my apartment, you know, the same thing would happen. I'm going protect myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALI: Police have not said if any charges will be filed. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement regarding Dijon Jones death. It reads in part, "Bryce inspired countless people with his hard work and perseverance on his journey to the NBA, and he had a bright future in our league.

Our thoughts and sympathies are with Bryce's family and the entire Pelicans organization during this difficult time." We'll continue to monitor any developments and bring the latest to you.

PAUL: All righty, hey, Rashan, thank you.

BLACKWELL: Thank you.

Bob Dole, former presidential nominee and senator, is speaking out on the presidential election this cycle. He tells CNN that Hillary Clinton has a tough task ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOLE (via telephone): I think Hillary has a lot of baggage, and while she doesn't admit it, it's there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[06:13:05]

PAUL: It's 12 minutes past the hour right now. In an interview with CNN, Bob Dole, former Republican presidential candidate and senator weighed in on this presidential race. BLACKWELL: He's speaking out on presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, and what he thinks Trump should do to win this election and also why Hillary Clinton's path to the White House may be an uphill battle. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DOLE (via telephone): One of my closest two or three friends, John McCain, and I'm going to try to get Trump to issue an apology. This young man at the time did everything that you would want a serviceman to do above and beyond the call of duty.

That's the one area that I hope nominee Trump would do is honing down. There's nothing wrong with apologizing to the governor of New Mexico or John McCain. I can already see a sort of a shift in Trump's tone, and he needs to start talking about -- he's about to be president.

The only way to turn people around is to, you know, meet with them and speak with them and lay out a plan that is attractive to them, not always we're going kick everybody out of the country. He's called me twice. He called me last week. He said he'd be calling me again this week.

We just had a nice visit, a nice suggested maybe lower the rhetoric, and I put a plug in for Newt Gingrich because I know Newt. I've watched -- Newt and I didn't always get along when we were in Congress.

[06:15:11]But I've watched Newt the past several months, and I believe he'd be a real asset. Hillary has a lot of baggage, and while she doesn't admit it, it's there. She's been there a long time and people are looking for fresh faces.

Bill Clinton would be a great asset, has had this health problem and doesn't look strong and robust like he has been. I don't think you can have a shared presidency even though you trust your wife. I assume she trusts him.

You know, I believe Jeb is a man of integrity and honesty. I just hope he keeps his word when he said he would support the nominee. I know Trump didn't make it very easy for him because of all the things he said about Jeb, but Jeb is bigger than that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: All right. Donald Trump supporter, Kevin Scott and Hillary Clinton supporter, Emily Tish-Sussman, they'll join us after the break to weigh in on Bob Dole's advice to Donald Trump.

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BLACKWELL: Welcome back. Before the break, we brought you part of Bob Dole's interview, the former Republican presidential nominee and Senate majority leader weighed in on the presidential election right here on CNN. So let's bring in Kevin Scott, Republican strategist and Donald Trump

supporter, and Emily Tish-Sussman, campaign director for the Center for American Progress Action Fund and a Hillary Clinton supporter. Good to have both of you this morning.

[06:20:12]KEVIN SCOTT, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Good to be here.

EMILY TISCH SUSSMAN, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS ACTION FUND: Good morning.

BLACKWELL: So let me start with you, Kevin. The majority leader's suggestion of Newt Gingrich. How does that -- does it change the landscape for Donald Trump? Does it solve any of the problems he's facing?

SCOTT: Well, he would certainly be an unconventional pick in a series of unconventional things that have happened in this campaign. So first of all, Newt would not help with the women perception. He would not help with minorities.

So in many ways he wouldn't really help Donald Trump. At the same time if Donald Trump were to be elected, there may be no person in America who could more effectively push legislation through than Newt Gingrich.

I mean, let's look back. The last time serious legislation that the majority of Americans like was passed, Bill Clinton was president. Newt Gingrich was speaker of the House. So in that way, if Trump thinks he can definitely win, Newt would be an amazing pick for vice president.

BLACKWELL: Emily, let me come to you. I mean, we thought that we had gone by the narratives of the 90s now that Jeb Bush is out of the race and this wasn't going to be a Clinton v Bush race, but I mean, talk about going back to that era, if you have Gingrich fighting against the Clintons again, how does this change the calculation for the Clinton campaign if Gingrich were to be the VP pick?

SUSSMAN: Yes, the '90s are back for sure. I think what's important to remember about Gingrich that yes, he was the speaker of the House, but he to resign because he had lost the support of his colleagues. They were going to toss him out.

First of all, he had ethics violations against him, which is not great. Well, he actually ended up being found guilty of, and the ethics was using his political influence for personal gain, which is really would not be good for Trump.

Because that's basically what Trump has been saying that he's been doing his entire career, right? Like preying on people who are desperate for his own personal gains. That would be very difficult for him.

But the thing that actually Gingrich -- why he lost the speakership in the end and why he was forced to resign is because he had pushed the Lewinsky scandal so hard among his colleagues and encourage his colleagues to go after it so hard.

He'd vastly over underestimated what kind of impact that would have on the voters and he oversaw the largest loss in the House in I think about 65 years by a ruling party.

So he doesn't really have a good handle on it. He definitely has been here before, but he has vastly overestimates scandals.

BLACKWELL: That introduces one other element that former Senator Dole talked about was baggage. He said that Hillary Clinton has baggage going into this race. Trump has his own baggage also.

SCOTT: Certainly. I don't think there is anybody in this race at this point that doesn't have the baggage. It was interesting to hear Bob Dole really criticize Bill Clinton and say that he could almost be a negative factor on the campaign trail.

Now, I'm a conservative. I'm a Republican. I don't have any -- I'm by no means a fan of the Clinton campaign, but I think Bob Dole overreached when he said that Bill Clinton would be a drawback.

I mean, Bill Clinton is one of the best politicians in America and not going to be a drawback on the campaign trail.

BLACKWELL: I assume, Emily, that you don't foresee that as Bob Dole suggested that Donald Trump will be apologizing to the New Mexico governor or John McCain?

SUSSMAN: I do not see that. I think what Dole is doing, look, I respect Dole's career. I respect his advice, but I think what he is trying to do is what a lot of people are trying to do is they're trying to pick and choose pieces of what Trump has done and then said, the rest of it is not real.

It's not Trump's policies that are a problem, it's his tone that's a problem. Just go in and apologize and that will all be fine, but people are sort of projecting the pieces they like and the pieces they think they can just wash away and I think that's what Dole's doing here, but I do not actually foresee it happening, so --

BLACKWELL: Kevin, I wonder, what do you glean from the existence of these phone calls? Bob Dole says that Trump has reached out twice. That they are scheduled to speak again. The outsider now reaching out to party elders.

SCOTT: Yes, you know, as soon as Trump secured this nomination, there was this talk about this third party or a conservative alternative, I think you're beginning to see this group coalesce around Trump. And you're seeing him proactively reach out to people like Dole, these party elders. You saw Rubio coming on board this week.

BLACKWELL: Well, you talk about the group coalescing around Donald Trump, I mean, Bob Dole is the most recent president or nominee who has endorsed him. You have to go back 20 years to find one.

SCOTT: Yes, for sure and -- BLACKWELL: So there isn't like a coalescing. There is just Bob Dole.

SCOTT: There is Bob Dole, but you are starting to see rank and file Republicans begin to reluctantly albeit, but say, you know what, he's our nominee. As the third party prospects really begin to fade, I don't think you see a legitimate option.

Unfortunately, for a lot of Republicans who are going to have to do it, they're going to hold their nose and vote for Trump because they can't stand the thought of Hillary Clinton and the corruptness that she brings going back to the White House.

[06:25:05]BLACKWELL: Emily, Bob Dole also called for Mr. Trump to tone down the rhetoric and stop some of the attacks. But it seems that that has actually worked for him at least in the early phase of this campaign. There's a lot of reporting on the Clinton's campaign inability to kind of find their footing and how to respond to some of these attacks.

SUSSMAN: Well, I think the Clinton campaign hasn't really been trying to respond to his attacks. Trump has really --

BLACKWELL: Is that effective, though?

SUSSMAN: Well, I think it is effective. I think it's not effective if we are talking about who is going to win the next episode of the reality TV of the presidential campaign, which is kind of where we are right now.

I think it is effective if you're trying to be the president of the United States. Ultimately people do not want somebody who lives in the mud and Trump has just gone in.

What he has been very effective at doing in the Republican primary is he's gone to where candidates felt like their strength was and he minimized it. And then he just kind of didn't care where the facts were and stuck with it.

But Clinton is a very different kind of opponent. She's been under fire for 30 years. She understands how it works. I think by not engaging in it, she does elevate herself to the role of president.

BLACKWELL: That's one element that Mr. Dole talked about was that she's been around for 30 years that Americans wants a fresh face. However, in the same conversation, he's suggesting that Newt Gingrich should be the running mate for Donald Trump.

So we'll talk more about this in the next hour. Emily Tisch Sussman --

SUSSMAN: A bit of irony there.

BLACKWELL: Yes, a bit of inconsistency there. Thanks so much. We'll continue the conversation later -- Christi.

PAUL: Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders is bowing to fight to the very end. So it has a lot of people wondering this morning why is he offering thoughts on who Hillary Clinton should pick as a running mate.

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[06:30:24]

PAUL: Rest this weekend for Bernie Sanders. He is campaigning hard for the biggest prize, (INAUDIBLE) this primary season which is, of course, California.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Sanders holds two rallies today in the Golden State.

His focus lately has been less on Hillary Clinton and more on Donald Trump including how and why Trump backed out of Sanders' debate challenge. Our Dan Simon has more for us.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bernie Sanders doesn't seem to care that Hillary Clinton has what appears to be an insurmountable lead when it comes to the delegate math. He is campaigning hard in California. He had this event at Santa Barbara City College. He is calling California the most important battle in this primary season.

Right now the polls show a statistical dead heat. Secretary Clinton's lead has now essentially vanished. Now, one of the lines that seem to draw the biggest applause had to do with Donald Trump. As we know, Bernie Sanders challenged Trump to a debate. Trump seemed open to it then changed his mind. This is what Sanders had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Trump initially said yes. Then he said no. Then he said yes. Then he said no. So I think for a guy who changes his position so many times, I would hope he would change it one more time and say yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMON: Now, if somehow Sanders can win the primary on June 7th in California, it would certainly strengthen his argument that super delegates should come over to his side. Of course that is a far- fetched scenario. The more realistic scenario is that it would give him more leverage when it comes to the party's platform at the convention in Philadelphia.

PAUL: So let's about what's happening with Harlan Hill, democratic strategist and Sanders' supporter. And Kevin Scott, republican strategist and Trump supporter back with us here.

So I want to talk first about, Kevin, about this tweet from Donald Trump, one of the latest where he writes, "Don't believe the biased and phony media quoting people who work for my campaign. The only quote that matters is a quote from me."

So we've heard, you know, Donald Trump say he's going to appoint some of the best people, some of the smartest people to be in his administration, are we going to if, hypothetically, Trump does win and he's in the White House, are we going to hear from those people? Are they going to have some sort of a voice or are they going to be, we have to wait to hear from him?

KEVIN SCOTT, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I think the truth is we don't know because it really depends on Donald Trump rewriting the rules as he has continued to do.

I mean, when his spokespeople says what he likes he says that what they say is right and then when they don't he says only listen to him. I think when he's president, if he is, things will have to be different. He is going to have a cabinet. He's going to have people speaking on serious issues. And I think that's some of the things we were talking about a few minutes ago. Bob Dole is pressing him to change a little bit because some of the tactics that have worked on the campaign trail this far will not work if he's the president ultimately.

PAUL: Do you agree with that as a supporter of his that there are going to have to be some (INAUDIBLE) made?

SCOTT: Well, I think absolutely. I mean, the tone and tenor of the campaign is going to have to shift a little bit.

PAUL: And do you trust that it will?

SCOTT: I think that's up to the American people to decide. And I think you're going to see right now he is surging in polls as -- I don't think people ultimately love Donald Trump that much. I think they dislike Hillary Clinton so much, they don't trust her. They're looking at what's happening on the Democratic side and saying their process is rig and that really is helping Donald Trump.

PAUL: We're going to talk about that in a minute. But I do want to talk about Bernie Sanders here too this morning.

He's on the "Meet the Press" and he's warning Hillary Clinton that her pick for running mate will be critical for winning over his supporters. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANDERS: That means having a candidate who can excite working families, excite young people, bring them into the political process, create a large voter turnout. And when we do that we're going to win the election. So I would hope if I'm not the nominee, that the vice presidential candidate will not be from Wall Street, will be somebody who has a history of standing up and fighting for working families.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: OK. So obviously credit where credit is due, he was asked a question and he answered it. For that certainly kudos.

But Harlan, I'm wondering. For a man who has vowed to stay in this race all the way through the convention, he is not backing up why would he have a conversation and give thoughts as to who the vice president should be if Hillary Clinton is the nominee? HARLAN HILL, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, I think he's actually is really speaking to a screen of thought amongst the Democrats, non- Clinton Democrats, that Hillary Clinton needs to really pay more than just lip service to Sanders supporters and people who are discontent with the establishment.

[06:35:00]

I mean frankly we remember that she has a 30-year track record of lies, deceit and fraud. She's an incredibly flawed candidate. That people just don't trust when you look at the polling. You know, we remember her stance on NAFTA and TPP before he changed it. We remember that she enabled a sexual predator, her husband, for decades and his misbehavior and mistreatment of women. And so it's more than --

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: So there are a lot of people that support her too. It's not as though he has this thing wrapped up. He has this nomination wrapped.

HILL: Yes. Sure. Absolutely.

PAUL: He's vowed to fight to the end. So I'm just wondering why he would even entertain that thought.

HILL: Well, to be honest -- I mean, he continued to fight to the end. And I think that he is -- he may be the last man standing if she's indicted which is not a foregone conclusion, but we'll see.

PAUL: Well, yes -- no.

HILL: No. I mean, it's certainly possible you know --

PAUL: It's -- OK.

HILL: At this point I think that she --

PAUL: At this point anything is possible, isn't it? I think a lot of us would say that. Hey, I do have some sound I'd like both of you to listen to.

HILL: You just really glossed over that. I mean, this is like a central issue in this campaign. Donald Trump is going to make it. I mean, make it won (ph) in the fall. And so as Democrats I think that we should be talking about that. She has the blood of the American ambassador on her hand.

PAUL: Nobody has glossed over it. It has been talked about. I want to make sure that when I - I've got some sound I want to get to and I want to get your opinion on this too before we run out of time.

Last night in Florida the libertarian party candidates held a debate. Listen to the moment when they were asked which is the lesser of two evils, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As between the Democratic Party or the Republican Party, which is the most anti-freedom, anti-libertarian or put in another way, from a libertarian point of view, which is the lesser of two evils?

GARY JOHNSON, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's a slam-dunk. No. They're both equally -- you know, they equally have their warts.

KEVIN MCCORMICK, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They're really just two wings of the same bird. And one wing loves war and socialism and stimulus and bailouts. And the other one who loves welfare and corporatism.

MARC ALLAN FELDMAN, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hillary Clinton said that Donald Trump was not qualified to be president. Donald Trump said that Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be president. For the first time I think they're both right.

JOHN MCAFEE, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The lesser of two evils is still evil. What we are dealing with -- what we are dealing with are two machines. That's all they are. They have no heart. They have no soul.

DARRYL PERRY, LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Both equally evil. And to ask which one is the lesser of two evils is like asking which is my favorite STD. I don't have one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: OK. Your reaction, Kevin, first of all to that.

SCOTT: Yes. I mean, obviously they're not a big fan of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

Here's the truth. You would think with such my negatives for both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump that a serious third-party challenger would have a shot. Right now the libertarian front-runner is looking like Gary Johnson. This is a guy that on paper should be a great candidate but in all practicality he is politically unpopular. He just doesn't have what it takes to be president.

And even though you would think they could have a serious shot this time I think you're going to see the libertarians fall flat again. They've got one percent nationally last time, maybe two or three percent at best this time. They just don't have the candidates and the charisma that it takes to really -- to run on the national --

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: They are pulling much higher though this time around than they were before.

Harlan, I want to give you a chance to react to that and to the polls that we know show unfavorables in the 50th percentile and above for both candidates. HILL: Without question, I mean, it' not a good place to be in if you're Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. I'm looking at the distrust numbers too equally bad for them. But -- you know, to Kevin's point, I mean, there really isn't a viable third-party option. And if there's not a viable third-party option this go around, I don't see when it ever happens in American politics.

PAUL: All right. Harlan Hill, Kevin Scott, appreciate both of you being here with us this morning. Thank you.

HILL: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Former presidential candidate Marco Rubio said he might have to run for re-election for the Senate if his close friend former lieutenant governor had not entered the race but he would have. In an interview with "STATE OF THE UNION" host Jake Tapper, Rubio also spoke about Donald Trump. Jake?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, STATE OF THE UNION: Victor and Christi, just a few weeks ago former presidential candidate Marco Rubio was still unsure whether he or not he would even attend the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July.

He earned 167 delegates during the primary this year. And he still holds them until he officially releases them. In an exclusive interview with "STATE OF THE UNION" he tells me his plans for Cleveland and the convention.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: When you last spoke, you said that you were not yet sure what you were doing, if you were even attending the Republican Convention in Cleveland. Have you made a decision?

[06:40:00]

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: Yes. My sense is I'm going to go to the convention.

TAPPER: You are?

RUBIO: And I'll -- I don't know if I'll have a role in the convention, but I have a lot of people going there that were supporters --

TAPPER: But if Donald Trump asked you to speak on his behalf, you would do so?

RUBIO: Yes. I want to be helpful. I don't want to be harmful, because I don't want Hillary Clinton to be president. Look, my policy differences with Donald Trump, I spent 11 months talking about them. So I think they're well understood.

That said, I don't want to be -- I don't want Hillary Clinton to be president. If there's something I can do to help that from happening and it's helpful to the cause I'd most certainly be honored to be considered for that.

TAPPER: Are you planning on releasing your delegates?

RUBIO: Yes, in fact, we basically, technically have already, because Donald is going to have the majority number. And at a point it will be irrelevant. So if we haven't done so already we will.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: Rubio obviously mincing no words with me about Trump despite misgivings on some policy and politics and the candidate's temperament, but he will certainly stand with his party this fall perhaps with an eye on his own future within the GOP, Victor and Christi.

PAUL: All right. Hey, Jake, thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: And catch Jake Tapper's full interview with Marco Rubio this morning at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

PAUL: A key American ally accused of beating two Americans held in prison, a judge is due to reveal their fate tomorrow. Jon Jensen is in Abu Dhabi following this story. Hi, John.

JON JENSEN, CNN PRODUCER: A father and son in prison in UAE for nearly two years and now claims of torture and forced confessions.

BLACKWELL: Plus, we speak to one of the first combat wounded veterans to summit Mt. Everest why he took on that challenge.

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[06:45:05]

PAUL: Whatever you're doing, take a moment. Will you please look at your screen. These are tunnels used by ISIS near the city of Fallujah. The militants are trying to escape the frontlines of battle and keep their soldiers alive.

Now this network of tunnels here was discovered by an Iraqi group. The Iraqi paramilitary group. One of the longest tunnels in the system surrounded a brick factory. The Iraqi military is currently engaged in a desperate fight to retake Fallujah from ISIS.

BLACKWELL: An American father and son imprisoned by a key U.S. ally are due to learn their fate from a judge tomorrow.

Kamal Eldarat and his son Mohamed have been detained in the United Arab Emirates for nearly two years charged with several offenses including at one time supporting terror groups. The U.N. says the Eldarats were beaten into confessing. The families call this ordeal a living nightmare.

CNN producer Jon Jenson joins us live from Abu Dhabi in the UAE. So, Jon, what do we know about the trial? JENSEN: Well, it's a high profile trial here in the UAE. But somewhat secretive given the past terror charges these two defendants have faced the men, Mohamed and Kamal Eldarat, both successful businessmen in Dubai now face two criminal counts including engaging in hostilities in a foreign country (INAUDIBLE) to Libya. They're also accused of having ties with various political groups in Libya that are associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

You'll remember that the UAE has been very harsh in its crackdown on groups associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the past few years. Now, the family, it should be said, denies these charges saying that both member were tortured and forced into signing confessions.

The daughter and sister of the two men telling me her nightmare began in August 2014. That's when she says security agents went into her villa in Dubai and they stormed in without an arrest warrant, taking both men. Locking her in a room for an hour and a half as they confiscated all of the family's electronics.

The two men were held incommunicado for several months. Now, we've spoken with officials from the UAE who have insisted that the father and brother are being treated in accordance with international fair trial standards. Human rights groups and the U.N. say not so much, citing incredible reports of torture.

The real question is how much is the U.S. pressuring its biggest ally in the Middle East behind the scenes. The State Department has voiced concerns. However, they've stopped (ph) short (ph) (INAUDIBLE) for a full release. And the family tells me everyone could be doing more.

BLACKWELL: And again, they call this a living nightmare. We'll see the outcome of this hearing tomorrow. Jon Jensen, thanks so much.

PAUL: Well, he lost a leg after an IED attack in Iraq. It didn't stop him from scaling the tallest mountain in the world. Look at this. We're speaking Staff Sergeant Chad Jukes from base camp.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

STAFF SERGEANT CHAD JUKES, COMBAT-WOUNDED VETERAN: It was still very unreal to stand on top of Mt. Everest and realize that I was actually there. You know, looking up on that mountain is so imposing and so large. That it's a really a surprising and phenomenal accomplishment.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

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[06:51:51]

BLACKWELL: This is a great story. They're the first group of active duty and wounded service members to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

PAUL: Yes, and they did this this week for several reasons. One to show that it was possible for a wounded veteran to spotlight those suffering from PTSD and to remember the friends they've lost. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be honest with you, it was an incredible experience. Honestly, it was probably the most challenging thing I've ever done in my life. We were facing many different challenges from unbelievably freezing temperatures. I mean, it dropped down to negative 20 all the way to, you know, high gusting winds that we were faced with. So definitely a challenge and very, very glad and fortunate and to be back down here at base camp all safe and sound.

PAUL: I know you're not doing this just for the fun of it. There is a purpose behind this passion for you. And I know that USX is trying to shed light on veterans' battle with PTSD.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, madam.

PAUL: How -- do any of these veterans who have ever suffered do they accompany you on these trips? Is that the point?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, madam. So we do have one veteran Chad Jukes. He's actually an amputee. He lost part of his leg to an IED in Iraq. Just an incredible person. A really inspiring story.

And the reason we're climbing is for those who are struggling with post traumatic stress and suicide. You know, there is a lot of soldiers out there who are struggling. And so our main mission wasn't just to summit Mt. Everest. You know, our real mission with all of this was to raise awareness, you know, that 22 veteran a day commit suicide.

PAUL: I was talking to Lieutenant Earls there. He was telling me that you, Retired Staff Sergeant Chad Jukes, are one of the only, I think, men on your team who had actually served. Is that right?

JUKES: Yes. I'm the only one that was -- the only member of our team who was a veteran who has served and has been active in the military.

PAUL: So, I want to ask from your perspective, what was it like to get up that mountain?

JUKES: You know, climbing Mt. Everest was a phenomenal experience.

It was really great to stand on top and to do it in this fashion with USX made it more important. I was able to represent many veterans who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder at the summit of Mt. Everest. And I have been able to raise the issue of post-traumatic stress and veteran suicide onto the national stage.

Our national leaders have not been discussing veterans' issues to the extent necessary. People talk about problems, but nobody talks about what we have to do to properly fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and get veterans the help that they need.

PAUL: Could you ever have imagined yourself doing something like this specifically with a prosthetic leg and after everything you've already been through?

JUKES: Yes. Well, you know, I'm also say -- people ask how it is that I could climb Mt. Everest with one leg and my answer is that's the only way I can climb it.

[06:55:07]

You know, I considered climbing Mt. Everest in the past. I've (ph) climbing (ph) for quite awhile. As a matter of fact I chose to have my leg amputated so I could continue to climb, but it was still very unreal to stand on top of Mt. Everest and realize that I was actually there. You know, looking up on that mountain is so imposing and so large. That it's a really a surprising and phenomenal accomplishment.

PAUL: It is and we thank them for their service. USX by the way says obviously this was a huge feat but it's just the first of many to come. The team has more challenging expeditions planned for the future though they will not dish.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: (INAUDIBLE) what's coming? He said, oh, we'll tell you later.

BLACKWELL: All right. We'll look forward to those.

The tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You know it rests atop of Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. in honor of a single unnamed American soldier. The documentary "The Unknowns" follows the training of the sentinels of that tomb. We'll talk with the film producer both (ph) the (ph) former sentinel -- that's coming up in the next hour.

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