Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Officers Accused In Shooting Death Of Alton Sterling Identified; Donald Trump On Capitol Hill Today; Fox CEO Roger Ailes Vigorously Denies Gretchen Carlson's Claim of Sexual Harassment. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired July 07, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00] DON LEMON, CNN HOST: With the latest news I have been sort broke in America, we were just coming to grips with what happened barely 24 hours earlier in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For the first time we can now show you the faces of officers accused in the shooting death of Alton Sterling, officers Blane Salmoni and also officer Howie Lake II. We will get those pictures up for you in just a moment. They are both on administrative leave. Both on administrative leave.

Now, as this investigation unfolds under the jurisdiction of the justice department, CNN has now learned that a homeless man begging Sterling for money is the one who called 911 alleging that the 37- year-old showed him a gun. A senior law enforcement source says Sterling indeed was carrying a gun that police recovered at the scene. But people are still outraged by the video of sterling's killing and now there is a second video of this gruesome scene. And again, we want to warn you that the images are especially graphic and they are disturbing.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

LEMON: And another man is dead.

Joining me now, Baton Rouge city councilman, LaMont Cole. Councilman Cole is a friend of Alton Sterling's family.

And listen. Hold on before I introduce you, councilman. I want to put these officers' pictures up. These are the officers again, Officer Blane Salamoni and officer Howie Lake. Both are on administrative leave right now. Those are the two officers involved.

Now let me bring in the councilman.

Councilman, thank you very much. You're friends with the family. How is the family doing?

LAMONT COLE, COUNCILMAN, BATON ROUGE CITY: The family is doing well under the circumstances. I have been in constant contact with the aunt who has served as the mother figure of Alton and d daily since the incident occurred. Actually she texted me at 5:30 a.m., the morning of the incident and told me to pray for her because her son had been killed by the Baton Rouge city police and I offered my condolences. And since that time I've tried to be in constant contact with her. Under the circumstances, the family is doing well. LEMON: Yes. I don't know if you know that I'm from Baton Rouge. My

sister was out there at the vigil and memorial and called me this morning. And just talking about how people are doing there. She said that people are upset but they're peaceful. How would you describe the mood in Baton Rouge today?

COLE: Well, I think people particularly from the community where the incident took place are angry. They're frustrated. But I think at this moment people are hopeful because the elected officials, the leaders in our community were swift in asking our governor to request that the U.S. justice department come in and that there be an independent investigation done of the incident. And so people are hopeful.

Also I want to make mention that there are so many leaders from the clergy, elected officials, leaders in our community, community activists who are in community at these prayer vigils at all of these different political protests talking to residents and asking them to remain peaceful, to remain proactive, remain peaceful, but to make sure that we do what is right in the name of Alton Sterling. And that is protest, be aggressive but be peaceful and not cause damage to property in our neighborhood and not be violent at all.

LEMON: I want to ask you about this and some other questions because there has been some criticism of the governor, governor John Bel Edwards, talking about handing over this investigation to the department of justice, that he may have been advocating the role of law enforcement or the justice department in Louisiana. Do you think it was the right thing for him to do to hand this over so quickly?

COLE: I think it was the absolute right thing to do particularly when it was what all of us who serve in positions like I serve in were requesting of him to do what were requesting of the city to do. I think that an independent investigation allows for them to be some transparency, to be fair, to be impartial, and to allow us to receive information in our community that doesn't seem as if there was bias because when you make the attempt to investigate yourself at times there can be a level of distrust. When police officers kill a man in the street, in the community that we live in, then we're told that they're going to do the investigation, immediately red flags go up because we assume or we believe that there is going to be a cover j up based on so many of the cases we've seen in America. So we have to be very careful about that. And so, I think the governor acted swiftly and I commend him for doing so.

[15:35:13] LEMON: You used to be the local NAACP chapter president. Can you talk to us about the history of Baton Rouge police department's, their interactions with the community because many people say there is a history of brutality and a lot of it is racially tinged or racially charged?

COLE: Well, let me say this. We have had cases of police brutality in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Some of them may or may not have been racially charged, but what I want to say is simply this. There are good and bad people who work in every profession that we have in this country. And we are not indicting the entire Baton Rouge city police department because of what individuals who choose to work in this profession are choosing to do when they go out in the community. There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of good officers. But the bad officers, the ones who go out into the community and perpetrate wrong upon o people every single day, those officers we need to deal with. Those are the officers that we're asking our chief of police to deal with. Those are the officers that we are asking the U.S. justice department to investigate. We can no longer continue to allow individuals who are serving in the capacity of police officers who have been sworn to preserve and protect property and life to continuously go out in our communities and do harm.

Now I think the bigger problem is the narrative that police officers have on black men. And then the narrative that black men have in our communities on police officers. There needs to be a serious, serious look at de-escalation process or the de-escalation training that officers undergo once becoming officers. And I think those of us who are working in our community need to definitely be talking to our young men and young women about exercising restraint when you find yourself in a position where you have to interact with a police officer.

LEMON: I got to go, but if you can answer this for me quickly. Carl Dababie who is the police chief, I went to (INAUDIBLE). He graduated a year before me. He was good enough guy then. There have been calls for him to step down. Do you think he should step down?

COLE: Well, I think that is a decision for him to make. But what I do think he needs to do, and I hope that he does do, is work with the community to make sure we have a process in place for de-escalation when a police officer is called to a scene in any neighborhood but particularly in neighborhoods where we know black men have been killed before.

LEMON: I would love to talk to him. And if he is watching, Carl, come on the show and let's discuss this.

Thank you, councilman. Appreciate it.

COLE: Thank you for having me. I appreciate the opportunity.

LEMON: Let's talk now with CNN law enforcement analyst and author of the new guardians policing in America and the 21st century, and that is Cedric Alexander.

Cedric, here we go again. I'm sure everyone is, you know, everyone is talking about this today. Why does this happen? Why does this happen?

CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, you know, it is amazing, Don, that two years ago the tipping point with the Michael Brown and the work that's been done over the last couple of years, both from the president's task force and communities across America talking with their chiefs and leaders about how do we build and bridge these relationships. A lot of good work has been done. But when you have two incidents that we have just seen across this country, vivid, graphic reminders of loss of life and police officers being in the center of it, you know, there is going to be an investigation, independent investigation in both of these cases which are very important to the integrity of the outcome. But more important, it gives the community an opportunity to feel that something fair I going to take place.

But we got some real issues that we still got to address, Don, in this country as it relates to those relationships. You know, I'm not going to speculate, prejudge anything. The videos are pretty graphic. I think there still could be some emerging videos and other evidence that's going to come into play. But we are in a place in this country right now that we really got to work and find a way through this because this is pretty tough stuff right now.

LEMON: Well, and the simple thing is, listen. There could be other information that comes out. I always say that. And you know that many times people want to shoot the messenger because we have to get the information. Right? And be as objective as possible when it comes to these situations. But when you look at the video of this, of both of these incidents, especially the second one, it looks bad unless there is some other emerging information to come out of this. But it does look bad. And as the president said, regardless, we should be as Americans trying to come together how we figure it out how we work together and make this better instead of you did this, you did that, why didn't you comply, and did you this? How do we work together to make this - to fix this.

[15:40:05] ALEXANDER: You know, right now this entire country, not just in those two communities but across this country, people are outraged today. People are angry. The number of tweets and Facebook contacts that I have received and email, people are livid. They are outraged when they look at that footage. How could this happen again? And again. And again. And again. And that becomes the question.

But the bigger question here is again, Don, is that we got to figure out as a community and as police we got to do our training. I think there clearly has to be more training. There clearly we got to look at the way that we recruit. And not just in terms of race and gender, but making sure we recruit the right individuals who are willing to be guardians in these communities.

But policing is a very tough job. I don't have to tell you or anybody else that. It is a very tough job. But when you make a decision to pull the trigger, you're going to have to account for each one of the bullets that come out of that gun. And that's going to be the case here. But when America looks at the footage that they're seeing right now today, and for the last 72 hours, it is very disturbing to everyone but we must keep our wit. We must keep our sanity about it. We must be supportive of each to work through this and find a way to work through this. That's the only way we're going to fix this.

LEMON: Words of wisdom. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

ALEXANDER: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: I just want to take a moment here and change the mood and welcome my colleague back. It is such a horrible. We're covering such horrible news but I couldn't think of a more competent person to be working with and welcome back to CNN. Welcome home.

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Thank you, Don. It is a tough it is good to be home, as you said it is a tough news day and unfortunately we have been talking about things like this more and more often. But, you know, that's why we're here and that's what we do. And as you said, it is about presenting the facts. And sometimes people don't know it was like the messenger, but you have to start the conversation, you have to get out there. So it is a pleasure as always and an honor to do it next to you and to be back here at home at CNN. So Don, thank you.

And as I said, we are shifting gears a bit here. Breaking news for you coming up on the political front. Senator Ted Cruz getting a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. But after a brutal campaign, just what will he say about Donald Trump?

Plus, he was one of dozens of lawmakers who met with Donald Trump today in Washington. One Republican senator though getting into a heated exchange with the Republican front-runner. We have details on just what was said behind closed doors. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:46:58] HILL: Welcome back. I'm Erica Hill in for Brooke Baldwin.

In the race for president, reports of a combative Donald Trump today on Capitol Hill. Trump planned to meet with congressional Republicans in a continued effort to unite the party. It wasn't all rosy, however. Reports emerging of a divisive exchange between some senators. Trump didn't appear to do on those moments, though tweeting this afternoon, just leaving D.C. Had great meetings with the Republicans in the house and Senate. Very interesting day. These are people who love our country.

Also today, the Republican presumptive nominee coming face to face with another party rival. Texas senator Ted Cruz.

I want to bring in now CNN political reporter Manu Raju who has been on the hill all day with more information at that meeting and the many meetings taking place.

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Trump actually met with house and senate Republican since becoming the Republican nominee. And at the meeting, it was -- started off actually pretty civil. It was a meeting with house Republicans first earlier today. Trump answered some questions and it was dealt with pretty civilly. We had some pointed questions particularly about immigration and some other issues, but for the most part it went somewhat well.

But afterwards the Senate Republican meeting there was a little bit of a flare-up, particularly between him and Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona. Now Flake is part of that so-called "never Trump" caucus, a strong Trump critic. At one point Donald Trump said Mitch McConnell should be nicer to him. We are told from sources in the room. He said that Republicans should stop criticizing him. And that prompted a little bit of back and forth with Jeff Flake who said, well, maybe you should stop criticizing Hispanics.

Donald Trump we're told from sources in the room said, well, you know, you should line up behind me, sing the same song. I will work to defeat you this year. And we are told that Jeff Flake corrected him, said well, actually, I'm not up for election this year. I'm up for reelection in 2018.

Now, similarly, Donald Trump also criticized an Illinois Republican who is up for reelection this year in top race. Mark Kirk pushed back, criticized him for the way he's sort of abandoned Donald Trump's candidacy this year. So that was not really taken over very well in the room. He did have some good moments from his perspective. He met with Ted Cruz earlier today at the national Republican senatorial committee headquarters. And he came out, both of them actually said nice things about each other. It was the first time we have heard that for a while. No endorsement from Ted Cruz. But Ted Cruz did say that he would speak at the Republican national convention this month. So clearly some movement there on that front. Donald Trump thought it was a good meeting today. But the other Republicans sort of had a mixed review.

HILL: Manu Raju, with the latest for us on those meetings. Appreciate it.

Stay with us. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:53:50] HILL: Top news, CEO Roger Ailes is vigorously denied Gretchen Carlson's claim of sexual harassment. Carlson, a former FOX News host, alleges in a lawsuit she was terminated for refusing Ailes sexual advances. Ailes says quote "this is a retaliatory suit for the network's decision not to renew her contract which due to the fact that her disappointedly low ratings were dragging down afternoon lineup.

Now, the parent company of FOX News is launching an investigation into the matter. I want to bring in CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter, host of "RELIABLE SOURCES" and legal analyst Laura Coates, former federal prosecutor.

And Brian, as I understand it this afternoon you have some new details about Carlson's possible legal strategy. What more have you discovered?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Carlson's lawyers again saying today they have heard from other women who reached out to the law firm wanting to tell similar stories of harassing behavior. However, the firm is not representing those women right now. They might be vetting some of them, possibly wanting to call for them to testify if there is a trial. But for now the only person who is speaking On the Record about this alleged harassment is Gretchen Carlson.

HILL: If they did come forward, Laura, how could that potentially impact Gretchen Carlson's case if it all? LAURA COATES, LEGAL ANALYST: It could impact it greatly. In fact, a

lot of these cases turn on credibility of the actual person who the story to claim, the victim in this cases. And any other statement that would suggest this is not only a common practice but then it continues to overall work environment that she is facing which she calls it very hostile, it could do nothing but buttress her own credibility and each of her claims of that hostile work environment. If there is quid pro quo meaning this for that sort of sexual advancements that were made in exchange for promotions, et cetera, that could only help her case.

[15:55:29] HILL: One of the things that is in the complaint, one of the things that actually Roger Ailes addressing as well, Brian Rogers Ailes contest that Carlson's contract wasn't renewed because of poor rate and because she was dragging down the afternoon line-up. But in the complaint Carlson's team very clearly lays out saying that in fact the ratings were strong. So you look at the staff all the time. Break it down for us. What is the real story here when it comes to her show?

STELTER: Yes. I do look at these numbers every day. The reality is that her program, the 2:00 p.m. hour on FOX was relatively weak by FOX standards. But that means numbers were still pretty high among total viewers. Still bringing in many viewers every single day. Her numbers were up this year versus last year but that is because every program on cable news is up mostly because of the election.

So in a sense both arguments are true here. That yes, her numbers were relatively weak by FOX standards but they were also relatively strong by cable news standards. This is one of the things they could potentially argue about in court or in settlement talks. But you have to expect FOX to say to tell you the truth. But that was FOX's response to these allegations yesterday and no there has been no additional response from FOX today. But I can tell you, my sources tell me that this internal review that is being done way above Ailes' at the top of the entire company is being taken very seriously by the Murdochs. They are the ones that ultimately own FOX.

HILL: So that review is being done above him.

One thing that stood out to me, as well, though, in those complaint, and Laura, I want to throw this to you is it was number 26 stating that Roger Ailes had in fact added acted outside the scope of his responsibility and of jurisdiction in the way that he dealt with these things. When you saw that, what does that tell you about not only the way things were allegedly handled according to the complaint, but what the power actually is that she is referring to there.

COATES: I think from what I gathered from the rest of the complaint is that the power she is alluding to is that he was in a position that could actually affect the behavior that she alleges happened with her co-worker. And that she could contribute to not only reprimanding that person, but beginning to changing the environment. And he chose not to. Instead, kind of dismiss it of what happened. And in his role, the kind of a judiciary duty in his position, was to be sure to taking claims seriously, to address them quickly and try to seek resolution, not to be dismissive. And he stepped outside of his bounds, according to her, by failing to actually live up to that particular standard as it requires other positions, yes.

HILL: Laura Coates, Brian Stelter, appreciate you both joining us this afternoon. Thank you.

COATES: Thank you.

HILL: I want to bring you back now to our breaking news we have been covering, of course, the two high profile shootings, two shootings in as many days. The mother of one of the black man shot to death by police officers telling CNN she is outraged. (INAUDIBLE) was pulled over by police, his fiance (INAUDIBLE) and her 4-year-old daughter were in the car at the time. Reynolds says the officer shot him, shot (INAUDIBLE) as he reached for his wallet. And that is when Reynolds begin streaming video live. (INAUDIBLE) mother and uncle thanked her for capturing that horrific scene, one that many people have now see round the world. And they spoke this morning about it on "NEW DAY."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I appreciate Diamond streaming that video live because we never would know exactly what happened had she not put that out there like that. And then for him to blatantly into that vehicle with the child in there and that female. And I know for a fact my son would never jeopardize his fiance and the child by doing anything to provoke this officer to think that his life is in danger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is not an officer. He is just a man. An officer is supposed to protect and serve. He is not an officer. It was a man who did that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did everything right as a parent. I made sure my kids understood the difference in being law abiding and that the police were there to help. I never once in my life would have thought that my son would actually be killed by the persons that are supposed to protect and serve him. We are being hunted every day. It's a silent war against African-American people as a whole.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it is sad to say. I mean, we think we in a land of plenty, freedom and things like that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are never free.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: We are just moments away from a news conference with the governor of Minnesota. I want to hand it to my colleague Jim Sciutto in Washington.

[16:00:01] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Welcome to "THE LEAD." I'm Jim Sciutto in again today for Jake Tapper. We begin with breaking news.