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Clinton and Kaine Hit the Campaign Trail; Trump Backtracks on Call for Russia to Hack Clinton's E-mails; Trump: "Gloves Are Coming Off"; Russian Weightlifters Banned from Olympics; Zika Cases in the U.S. Aired 12-12:30a ET
Aired July 30, 2016 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[00:00:12] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine hit the campaign trail as news of a possible breach of campaign computers emerges.
Donald Trump says the gloves are coming off in the race for the presidency, his reaction to the Democratic convention.
And just one week before the Olympics, Russian weightlifters are banned.
It is all ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM. We're live from Atlanta. Thank you for joining us. I'm Natalie Allen.
The U.S. Justice Department and the FBI are investigating a suspected hack of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. A campaign spokesman says a voter database maintained by Democratic National Committee and used by the campaign was access as part of a wider bridge of the DNC.
Also hacked, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee which means hackers could have had access to far more records than first thought. Sources are telling CNN, the common thread in all of these intrusions leads right to Russia.
Donald Trump is backtracking meantime on his earlier call for Russia to hack Clinton's e-mails. Here's CNN Jim Sciutto.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Wouldn't it be nice if we actually did get along with Russia?
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump trading compliments with Russian president and U.S. adversary Vladimir Putin.
TRUMP: When people like me, I like them, even Putin.
SCIUTTO: Their relationship now under new scrutiny with U.S. officials now saying it is likely it was Russia that hacked 20,000 e- mails from the Democratic National Committee. WikiLeaks released the e-mails on the eve of the Democratic Party convention. The timing raising questions about whether it was an attempt to influence the U.S. election, perhaps in Trump's favor.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told us that while it's too early to say with certainty it was Russia, the Kremlin does have an interest in undermining the U.S. political process.
Is it your view that Russia has the intention of -- if not influencing this election, undermining confidence in the U.S. political process?
JAMES CLAPPER, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: They see a U.S. conspiracy behind every Bush. They believed that we are trying to influence political developments in Russia. Their natural response is, is to retaliate.
SCIUTTO: That is a very serious concern for the U.S. government.
CLAPPER: Was this just to stir a trouble or was this ultimately to try to influence an election? And of course this is a serious proposition.
SCIUTTO: When asked for Erin Burnett, Trump's campaign manager discounted the theory that Russia leaked the documents to help put Trump in the White House.
PAUL MANAFORT, TRUMP CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: It's just observed, because I don't know anything about what you just said. You may know it. If you do, then you are to expose it.
SCIUTTO: In fact, Trump maintains that he has no connection to Russia, whatsoever. And CNN has not been able to find any current business operations there.
TRUMP: I have nothing to do with Putin. I've never spoken to him. I don't know anything about him.
SCIUTTO: But when he brought his Miss Universe pageant to Moscow in 2013 Trump said he spoke personally with Putin.
TRUMP: I was in Russia. I was in Moscow recently and I spoke indirectly and directly with President Putin, who could not have been nicer.
SCIUTTO: And now Trump's favorable comments about Russia has U.S. allies worry about whether the U.S. would defend them against Russian aggression.
CLAPPER: Such rhetoric armory (ph) bothersome to our foreign marketers, our foreign partners and I hear that from my counterparts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: As Jim mentioned there in his report, WikiLeaks published thousands of Democratic Party e-mails that Russian hackers may have accessed. In an interview with CNN, WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange indicated that a lot more material, pertaining to the U.S. election could be released.
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JULIAN ASSANGE, WIKILEAKS FOUNDER: There has been multiple hacks of the DNC over the last two years. The DNC and the RNC, of course, they have been Swiss cheese in terms of their security. And the DNC has been notified quite some time ago if that is the case. And it has legal responsibilities that it must carry out to notify its donors if it is aware, but their confidentiality has been breached by the hack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Assange also refused to confirm if Russia was behind the DNC hacking.
Meantime, Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine have hit the road. They're traveling by bus through Pennsylvania and Ohio. The goal, to go after working class white voters which make up the core of Trump supporters. Jeff Zeleny is on the campaign trail.
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[00:05:14] JEFF ZELENY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The new Democratic ticket is taking its show on the road.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: As of tomorrow, we have 100 days to make our case to America.
ZELENY: Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine on a three-months sprint to Election Day.
CLINTON: What better place to kick off this campaign than right here in Philadelphia where it all started 240 years ago.
ZELENY: After a convention steeped in nostalgia, their challenge now, tapping into the country's hunger for change.
CLINTON: I'm not telling you that everything is just peachy keen. I'm telling you, we've made progress, but we have work to do and we're going to make sure everybody is included.
ZELENY: Their fight with Donald Trump is now fully joined as they try making him in an unacceptable choice.
SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: The Republican convention was like a twisted and negative tour. It was a journey through Donald Trump's mind and that is a very frightening place.
ZELENY: So the Democratic candidates set off on a bus tour of Pennsylvania and Ohio, evoking memories of another journey back in 1992 with the Clintons and Gores. This time the Clintons are along side Tim Kaine and his wife Anne, still focusing on the economy. CLINTON: We're going to be visiting a few places where people are making things. Donald Trump talks about make America great again. He doesn't make a thing in America except bankruptcies.
ZELENY: A Democratic convention rich in history ...
CLINTON: I accept your nomination for president of the United States.
ZELENY: ... is now the script for how Democrats hope to defeat Trump.
TRUMP: Russia, if you're listening ...
ZELENY: She said he doesn't have the temperament for the oval office.
CLINTON: A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.
ZELENY: Safety and security now a central piece of her argument.
CLINTON: Donald Trump says and this is a quote, "I know more about ISIS than the generals do". No, Donald, you don't.
ZELENY: After a week in historic Philadelphia, Clinton made clear the history making moment that matters comes in November.
CLINTON: I believed every time we knock down a barrier in America it liberates everyone in America. Every parent in this country could look at their son or their daughter and now say the very same thing, "You too could be president of the United States." Thank you all. God bless you.
ZELENY: Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: For his part, Donald Trump says he's not going to be the nice guy anymore. He told reporters on Friday that he's going to get tough with his Democratic rival. Here's Jason Carroll.
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TRUMP: Just remember this, Trump is going to be no more Mr. Nice guy.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump on offense taking aim at Hillary Clinton on the heels of this week's Democratic National Convention.
TRUMP: I've been saying let's just beat her on November 8th, but you know what, well, no. You know what, I'm starting to agree with you, I'll tell you. After watching that performance last night, such lies. I don't have to be so nice anymore. I'm taking the gloves off, right?
CARROLL: Trump is also ignoring the advice of a friend who he says told him to stay focused on Clinton. TRUMP: I was going to hit one guy in particular, a very little guy. I was going to hit this guy so hard. His head would spin. He wouldn't know what the hell happened.
CARROLL: Trump going after former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg who delivered a scathing attack against Trump at the convention.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, FORMER MAYOR NEW YORK CITY: Trump said he wants to run the nation like he's running his business. God help us. I'm a New Yorker and I know a con when I see one.
CAROLL: Trump tweeting this response, "If Michael Bloomberg ran again for mayor of New York he wouldn't get 10 percent of the vote. They would run him out of town." Trump's prolific tweeting not lost on Clinton.
CLINTON: A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.
CAROLL: Trump firing back.
TRUMP: If somebody tweets, I do what I do. Who cares? I think -- I'll tell you, I think I have the best temperament or certainly one of the best temperaments of anybody that's ever run for the office of president, ever, because I have a winning temperament.
[00:10:08] CARROLL: The GOP nominee as he has done so many times in the past calling Clinton several names on Twitter. All this while his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, took issue with name calling after the president referred to Trump as a home-grown demagogue, during his speech Wednesday night.
GOV. MIKE PENCE (R-IN), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I don't think name calling has any place in public life, and I thought that was unfortunate that the president of the United States would use a term like that, let alone laced into sentence like that.
CARROLL: That is event here in Colorado Springs. Trump attacked everyone from the local fire marshal to New York City's former mayor. The question is, will those types of attacks work in terms of bringing in others into the campaign bringing in other supporters that certainly works with his base supporters. Will it bring in moderates? Will it bring in independents? That still remains to be seen.
Jason CAROLL, CNN, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: We turn to other news now that we're following around the world. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is calling the church attack in Normandy, a security failure. He told Lamont newspaper, the French justice system should have been able to prevent the attack. Authorities were familiar with both the attackers and caught one of them attempting to fly to Syria. In the Syrian city of Idlib, the territory (ph) group Save the Children says the bombing of a maternity hospital that it supports is shameful and illegal. Two people were killed, several injured, including pregnant women and baby. It is only maternity hospital in Idlib and it serves more than 1,000 women a month. It's unclear who carried out the bombing.
Humanitarian concerns in Syria are widespread to the northeast of Idlib taking full control of the city of Aleppo would be a significant victory for the Syrian government. And the U.S says it is skeptical that humanitarian quarters there would not be used for military purposes.
Senior International Correspondent Clarissa Ward with more from London.
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CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is what remains of much of Aleppo, once Syria's most populous city now an apocalyptic moon escape.
This video was released by the Syrian army as it celebrates cutting off rebel forces in the eastern part of the city.
Leaflets had been dropped on the besieged areas warning residents to leave. Syria's President Assad says he will offer amnesty to armed rebels who surrender. Russia claims humanitarian corridors will be opened. But after months of relentless bombardment, many are too afraid to leave their homes, and recent history has taught people here to be highly suspicious of government promises.
JOHN KIRBY, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: What needs to happen is that the innocent people of Aleppo should be able to stay in their homes safely and to receive the humanitarian access which Russia and the regime have agreed, in principle have agreed, certainly according to the U.N Security Council resolution to provide.
WARD: We made the drive into rebel-held Aleppo just a few months ago. Burns of earth (ph) flank the road to protect the way from enemy fire.
We now have to drive extremely quickly along this portion of the road because on one side you have the regime, and on the other side you have Kurdish fighters who are now fighting against rebel forces. And there are snipers all around here, but this is the only road to get into Aleppo.
That road is now completely cut off, leaving some 300,000 people trapped. The U.N. paints a grim picture of life inside, prices are up as much as 300 percent. Food will run out within weeks.
STAFFAN DE MISTURA, U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA: The clock is ticking for the Aleppo population that the commodities probably available in eastern Aleppo are sufficient for maximum three weeks.
WARD: For most here, the memory of the siege of homes is freshened their minds. Government forces cut off all food and supplies as they continue to bombard the city for years. A siege in Aleppo would likely be even longer and uglier, though it's hard to imagine how much uglier it can get.
Clarissa Ward, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: In Nigeria, the United Nations has suspended humanitarian aid missions in the northeastern Nigerian State of Borno after a humanitarian convoy was ambushed. Five people were injured after food trucks came under fire from Boko Haram terrorists. Doctors without borders say the region is on the verge of famine.
More Russian athletes banned from the Olympics, we'll tell you who will be sitting out the games in Rio as we push on here.
[00:15:08]Also, U.S. health officials say mosquitoes infected with Zika have made their way to the United States.
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ALLEN: The Zika virus has made its way to mosquitoes in the continental U.S. Federal health officials say four people have transmitted the disease in Florida.
Here's CNN's Polo Sandoval.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Health officials had expected this for months. This is not come as a surprise. They believed that it was a matter of time before Zika-carrying mosquitoes would infect people within the continental United States. Well now, three men and one woman in South Florida believed to be the first cases of this kind.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe that the four patients were infected while in this area in early July, it's commonly known as the Wynwood Art District, a neighborhood not only residential but it's also a very popular retail and also dining district just north of down town Miami. It also draws in people from across the region.
And not all type of mosquitoes don't necessarily travel very far during their lifetime span, so the current preventative efforts right now are focused squarely on this area, hoping to eradicate any of these possible infected insects.
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ALLEN: Health officials say they expect more cases. Blood collection centers in Florida are now testing all of their donations for the Zika virus.
The International Weightlifting Federation has banned Russia's team from the Olympics. The country has been hit with bans in several sports now after watchdog agencies found evidence of state sponsored doping. Russian lifters will join the country's track and field athletes and a group of swimmers and rowers who must sit it out on the sidelines.
The Australian Olympic team says about 100 of its athletes and staffs were evacuated safely from the team building at the Olympic village in Rio after a fire broke out in the basement. That fire is now under investigation as possible arson.
Here's CNN's Shasta Darlington in Rio.
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SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One week before the Olympic Games start, and the problems just start letting up. The latest, a small fire in the Olympic village in the basement of the apartments where the Australian team is staying, they were briefly evacuated. Luckily, no one was hurt.
Now on the security front, the officials have announced they've actually had to beef up security around the torch relay after protesters in a small coastal city here in the state of Rio mobbed the relay and actually extinguished one of the torches of the runners. Now, riot police are being incorporated right into the relay to keep it safe from protesters.
Here in the city of Rio, you almost feel like it's already on lock down. There are soldiers on every corner, navy boats off the coast of Copacabana beach, where a lot of the hotels are.
[00:20:05] In total, we're looking at roughly 85,000 soldiers, police and fire fighters on hand to securities games. That's more than twice what we saw in London and yet even in mad (ph) area we've seen problems. Police are now having to take over screening at the venues because the contractor that was hired didn't itself hire enough staff.
Of course the big question at the end of the day is, is enthusiasm growing? And on one hand you do see it. You see people lining up in front of the Olympics rings to take selfies, to take pictures. Unfortunately, that hasn't necessarily translated into ticket sales, where one week away still 21 percent of tickets up for grabs.
Shasta Darlington, CNN, Rio de Janeiro.
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ALLEN: Some of the most beautiful views in Rio are seen from the sky. And because of that, one of Rio's top tourism draws is hang gliding. But if you're planning to try it out during the Olympics, think again. All flights have been put on hold for security reasons. So a chance at big money has gone bust.
Our Senior International Correspondent Arwa Damon took flight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARIO N. NAVARRO, EXPERT PILOT IN HANG GLIDING: Well, the hang glider is very popular in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The hang gliding is the best in the world.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: An expert pilot, Mario N. Navarro (ph), is among the best in the biz here.
NAVARRO: Well demand is about 45,000 a year is lots of flights.
DAMON: Good luck.
(OFF-MIC)
NAVARRO: You'll be all right. OK, you'll be all right.
DAMON: I'll be all right.
NAVARRO: Yeah.
DAMON: OK, so maybe I was a little nervous.
NAVARRO: OK, Arwa, are you ready to run?
DAMON: I'm ready to run.
NAVARRO: I just need confident. Are you ready to run?
DAMON: I'm ready to run.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, 1, 2, go run faster.
DAMON: Oh, this is terrifying spectacular. This is beautiful, the views from up here are unlike anything else and the air is so crisp and fresh. I love it.
NAVARRO: OK?
DAMON: Yeah. And what makes this unique among hang gliding spot is its location, starting up in the forest, flying over a sprawling urban landscape and Rio's stunning coastline. It's one of the best ways to experience the city.
It is a shame that people coming here for the Olympics won't be able to do this.
And that is because the Brazilian government is closing the airspace for the Olympic Games. It's a security measure. They did the same thing for the world cup. But its big bucks lost for the industry.
Manuel says he understands why the city needs to take these precautions. So if you want to try it out, schedule it in before or after the games. I totally recommend it.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: The Philippines may soon have another typhoon on its doorstep. Karen Maginnis will have that story for us as we push on here.
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[00:25:15] ALLEN: (Inaudible) and its taking aim at the Philippines. Our meteorologist (inaudible).
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, we are looking at this right now. It's a tropical depression, but it will rapidly intensify to a typhoon. It's not looking very impressive on the satellite imagery. We can see most of the convection lies to the west of the center of system.
The center is still located way back over here. It's going to take about the next 24 hours before we see it increase to typhoon intensity. But here are the latest stats regarding this, it's just below that tropical storm intensity with winds now supporting it at 55 kilometers per hour. It is jogged just a little bit to the north, but its general path will be to the north and northwest over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Already receiving some pretty significant rainfall totals coming out of northern and central sections of the Philippines, just under 240 millimeters reported in one area. So this is not going to be a wind problem for the Philippines. It's going to be the typical round of very heavy rainfall that we can expect.
And the typical problems that we see with the heavy rainfall, and that is mudslides, landslides, some of these communities could be cut off from one another if there are infrastructures or bridges or any kind of roads that could be easily washed away. We see that fairly frequently.
Then you can see as we go into the next 36 to 48 hours, it looks like it's going to move right across that northern edge of northern Philippines and then we've got some bigger problems to deal with. It looks like this is going to rapidly intensify again.
Now, here's the projection as we go and towards Monday local time. Looking a little more impressive as we take a look at that forecast radar. But because of the open waters, we're looking at this to regenerate into a stronger system after it blasts portions of the Philippines with as much as 500 millimeters of rainfall. So a significant rain system, but this is going to be a big problem, Natalie, as we get towards the beginning of the workweek. In Hong Kong, about seven million people will be staring this down. Back to you.
ALLEN: And that is CNN NEWSROOM. Thank you for watching. "ON CHINA" is next.
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