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Lynch To Accept FBI Guidance On Clinton Email Probe; Source: Gingrich, Christie Being Vetted For VP; U.S. Rep. Names Suspected Planner Of Attack; U.S. Considers Deal With Russia To Fight Terror. Aired 9:30-10a ET.

Aired July 01, 2016 - 09:30   ET

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


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[09:32:27] PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Counting down to the conventions as veep talks heats way up. Trump is now vetting onetime rival turned supporter, Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor receiving official paperwork yesterday, we've learned. Another Trump's finalist is Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the longtime Washington fixture, one of the earliest D.C. elite to repeatedly defend Trump.

And for Hillary Clinton, one of her rumored shortlist is Tim Kaine, who is facing public scrutiny for gifts he received during his time as Virginia's governor. The gifts that totalled more than $160,000 were legally accepted under Virginia law.

Now, with me now, Julian Zelizer, my bad, historian and professor at Princeton University and author of the "Fierce Urgency of Now." Welcome. We are just learning from our Jim Acosta that Donald Trump is expected to announce his V.P. pick before the convention to drum up excitement. Your reaction to that.

JULIAN ZELIZER, HISTORIAN AND PROFESSOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Well, that's not a surprise. There's been a lot of questions about how this convention would go, and a lot of concern that many Republicans, including former presidents, are not showing up. So, I think what he wants to do by announcing this is to garner positive attention about what he is doing and go in to this very important televised moment with the sense that his campaign is moving forward.

BROWN: So, why might Chris Christie be a good pick for Donald Trump?

ZELIZER: Well, one of the qualities Donald Trump wants to give Americans confidence in is that he can govern. And many people are raising questions about that including Hillary Clinton and so, someone like Chris Christie or Newt Gingrich, both have experience, one as an executive, as the governor of the state, the other as speaker of the house.

And it would at least give the impression. I'm sure it will be challenged that he will be able to govern and he'll be able to form connections to the decision-makers of Washington.

BROWN: But part of Trump's appeal is that he is anti-establishment. How might a Newt Gingrich V.P. pick impact that?

ZELIZER: Well, Newt Gingrich is the quintessential Republican establishment. He has been around for a while now. He has been at the heart of the Republican revolution. So, it could hurt. Although Gingrich still have this aura of being a political network (ph) insider. So, I think that's part of what makes him appealing.

But I think Trump will give a way a little bit of this potential risk in exchange for someone who has a bit of gravitas in terms of governance and in terms of someone who will take the job. There's many Republicans who won't do it.

[09:35:02] BROWN: All right, let's turn to Hillary Clinton's possible V.P. picks. There is speculation that Tim Kaine is in the running, that he is being vetted and then we're getting this information that he accepted these gifts when he was governor. It was done legally however, under Virginia law, but will this information sit well with voters in your view?

ZELIZER: It could hurt. Look, perception matters a lot. I think Hillary Clinton knows this more than anything. And so, there's no evidence he has done anything illegal. He followed the law. But the problem that arises is, does he become yet another part of the Clinton campaign that will be subject to attack for someone who likes to take things from people and core interest groups. So, it will be something I think the Clintons will consider although he brings many attributes to the table.

BROWN: And let's talk about Elizabeth Warren because we saw earlier this week how strong she did with Clinton at a joint rally. Does this Kaine scrutiny and the controversy, if you call it, that surrounding him only help her chances of being a V.P. pick for Clinton?

ZELIZER: It certainly does. Look, for Clinton, the choice is between excitement and energy versus safe status quo. And as soon as the safe status quo looks a little less safe, there will be people on the Clinton campaign who think harder about why not go for big, why not go for a ticket with Warren for example that would really energize all the voters who have been coming out in this primaries with Sanders and make this ticket something even more special. So, I do think this could affect the calculation.

BROWN: All right, Julian Zelizer, thank you so much for coming on. We do appreciate it.

And still to come, on this Friday, the nation's roads, rails, and skies will be filed with travelers this holiday weekend. We're going to have all the details on how U.S. officials are planning to keep you safe.

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[09:40:56] BROWN: Well, the 4th of July holiday weekend could break records as an estimated 43 million people are expected to travel over the next few days. And in the wake of that deadly terror attack in Turkey, U.S. officials are stepping up security at the nation's airports and other high profile destinations.

CNN's Chris Frates is at one of them, Reagan National Airport in Washington. So, how is it there, Chris?

CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Pamela. As you can see, it's a pretty smooth and groovy right behind me here at the airport. Security line is not so much earlier this morning, much, much longer lines.

But one of the things that you can't see right now is the ramped up security all throughout this airport and then airports around the country, security officials trying to make sure that the tragedy that happened in Turkey and Brussels doesn't happen here or anywhere in the U.S.

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FRATES: U.S. security personnel are mobilizing to protect the over 40 million Americans traveling this weekend.

JEH JOHNSON, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The American public should expect to see this July 4th weekend an enhanced security presence at airports, train stations and other transit centers.

FRATES: U.S. home the four world's top 10 busiest airports, topping at list, Hartsfield-Jackson at Atlanta, where hundreds of thousands of travelers will fly out of this weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess you're more vigilant. You're looking around for things probably more than you normally would.

FRATES: The airport is increasing its security presence, some even going undercover.

ROOSEVELT COUNCIL, JR, ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, INTERIM GM: We also have people that are not necessarily dressed as officers that are actually patrolling as well.

FRATES: And officials are also beeping up security outside the terminals and along local roads.

MAYOR KASIM REED, (D) ATLANTA: I can't discuss what we're doing to harden the perimeter of Hartsfield-Jackson, but what I can tell you is that it's substantial and it's serious.

FRATES: The nation's other top three airports, in Chicago, Los Angeles and Dallas-Forth Worth, are also heightening their security measures.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, FORMER LOS ANGELES MAYOR: I can tell you we're focused like a laser beam. When it comes to soft targets, you can't completely, you know, insulate yourself, but there's no question that we're going to heighten focus. FRATES: Counter-terrorism officials are also focusing on soft targets like the July 4th firework displays in New York and in our nation's Capitol where massive crowds are expected to catch the Independence Day celebrations.

LT. JAMES MURPHY, U.S. PARK POLICE: Precautions have been taken, planning has been going on for months, and it is a coordinated multi- agency event.

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FRATES: Now, while officials are concerned about terrorism, it's important to point out here that we've talked to a Homeland Security official who said that there's no specific or credible threat this holiday weekend. And that squares with what I've heard from some airline officials and executives, there not heightened concern here this weekend and they're hoping that these TSA security lines continue to move like the one behind me. They spent millions of dollars to help expedite that. We'll see if when the crash comes this afternoon, if it still looks the same, Pam.

BROWN: All right, sounds good. Chris Frates, thank you so much.

And now, turning to another story, we're following the human toll of the attack in Istanbul. It is a city in mourning, as heartbroken families gather to bury children, parents, siblings. Some of the mourners were beside their loved ones when the terrorist struck but powerless to save them. Their shocks slowly dissolving into anger.

CNN's Matt Rivers joins us now from Istanbul with more. Matt.

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pamela, well there's been a lot of funerals going on over the last two days here in Istanbul. It is the Muslim tradition to bury the dead as fast as possible, usually within 24 or 48 hours, and that's what we've been seeing going on here. Incredibly sad, funerals we attended one yesterday for three sisters ages 24, 16 and 14 as well as their 8-year-old niece, all buried together, at a funeral. That was just incredibly sad yesterday.

Another funeral that went on yesterday was for a student, a 25-year- old young man who went to the airport to pick up some of his friends, and lost his life there. He is described as an electronics teacher who was paying his sibling's way through school. Those are the kind of stories that we've been hearing from friends and family of this victims.

[09:45:00] And there was also a memorial service at the airport where this took place, where each of the victims was memorialized and there was a moment of silence held there for them. So, it's just a very, very sad scene across the city of Istanbul over the several days. And the fact that there are so many people that remain in the hospital would serve to remind us that this tragedy is not over yet.

BROWN: Just awful. Your heart really goes out to them. Matt Rivers, thank you so much. And still to come, on this Friday, months after U.S. sailors were detained and released by Iran, a scathing report and it's pointing the finger right at top Navy officials.

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[09:50:06] BROWN: Mistakes, bad judgment and poor planning, a new scathing military report is casting blame now on top navy officials for the Iranian capture of U.S. sailors back at January. Investigators saying these 10 detained sailors suffered from "failed leadership" at all levels.

CNN's Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with more, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Pamela. Well, this report finally coming out after several months. Everyone remembers seeing that video, you're seeing there of several U.S. navy sailors captured by Iran.

This all happened in the Persian Gulf. They were on a small boat moving through the area and the report just details a mission gone so wrong. Frankly a little bit of keystone cops there. And several sailors now and more senior officers getting reprimanded, punished, essentially career-enders for them.

What the report tells us is that the crews were poorly prepared, their boats weren't properly maintained, they set off without even having a standard mission briefing and when they got into Iranian waters, they didn't even know where they were. They haven't even been able to navigate properly. They were inside of Iranian waters, near a very sensitive Iranian island, Farsi Island when their boat broke down and they started trying to fix their boat, they didn't even know they were inside Iran.

Let me just read you one thing that the report says about all of this, and the report says, "Essentially, there was no time given for the team to think through the task before executing. The collective team called a sense of urgency for a mission that have been previously rescheduled and no -- and had no required accomplishment date." In other words, it wasn't all that urgent and yet they rushed through it.

And the report was also critical of the sailors. Now, certainly, they were full of anxiety of being captured by Iran but some of them, the report said just simply talk too much while the Iranians were filming them. Some of them ate food in front of the camera that the Iranians gave them. But they did applaud the one female sailor because she apparently tried to activate some equipment on the boat right before they were captured to signal where they were to other superior officers.

Pamela?

BROWN: Barbara Starr, thank you very much for that.

And check, there are our top stories now. President Obama meets next hour with his top public health advisor. She gave an update on the U.S. response to the Zika virus. The president is expected to renew his call for nearly $2 billion in federal funding to fight the disease. A request first made back in February. Then the Democrats this week blocked $1 billion funding measure because of so-called poison pill provisions that include a cutting funding to help programs and Planned Parenthood.

Well, dry and windy conditions are blamed for a wildfire exploding to merely 3000 acres overnight in Oregon. Several area communities were evacuated as crews attack the flames from the ground, in the air. The blaze is currently about 60% contained, about 10 structures are threatened.

Well, a professional skydiver is grateful for a safe landing after his main chute got tangled during an exhibition jump in Oklahoma City. Take a look at the helmet cam capture the tense moments as he rustle to gain control of the lines while spinning helplessly toward the ground. Can you imagine? With just moments to spare, he finally cut it loose, deployed his backup chute, and landed in the target zone as planned.

And still to come on this Friday.

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STAR SWAINE: Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light --

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BROWN: The magic of song and spontaneity, an impromptu performance steals the show at the Lincoln memorial, the internet sensation joins us for a curtain call.

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[09:58:13] BROWN: Well, it might be swelter of pre-fourth of July in Washington, many tourist got chills as they gathered at the Lincoln Memorial.

CNN Jeanne Moos explains.

JEANNE MOOS: No one expected to hear this at the Lincoln Memorial, not even the woman singing.

SWAIN: Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave --

MOOS: 34-year-old Star Swain was just a regular tourist, coached by her friends to do an impromptu performance.

SWAIN: We could hear the acoustics and we're just like man, it sounds amazing in here.

MOOS: At first, no one noticed. Then people started to gawk. By the time she got to the ramparts, Star was turning heads.

SWAIN: -- for the ramparts we watched --

MOOS: She's been singing since she was a kid, and performs mostly in church, so she was shaking with nervousness.

SWAIN: Lord, please let these notes come out.

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SWAIN: -- for the land of the free and the free --

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MOOS: The video went viral. Commentators gushed about getting chills and goose bumps.

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MOOS: You mean they haven't called you for the Super Bowl yet?

SWAIN: No, and I am waiting.

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MOOS: Star, an assistant principal at a Florida school was so thrilled with the response, she sang her gratitude.

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SWAIN: Over 10 million views, I thank God for you.

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MOOS: That's one of her two kids popping up behind her. There was one guy in the audience who didn't react to Star's performance, who remained stone-faced.

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MOOS: Was it weird to sing with Lincoln sitting over there on the chair?

SWAIN: He would've gotten up and applauded. That was --