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Donald Trump Still Trying to Clarify Immigration Policy; Two Brothers Arrested for Shooting of Dwyane Wade's Cousin; Charter Bus Crash in Louisiana; New State Department E-mails; Colin Kapernick Under Fire for Not Standing for Anthem; Federal Judge Block's NC's Controversial Bathroom Law at UNC. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired August 28, 2016 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:12]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD: Hello again everyone thanks so much for joining me, I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

The Donald Trump campaign is still trying to clarify exactly what his immigration policy is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: At an event for veterans in Des Moines, Iowa he tackled the subject again but this time tried to narrow down who would be deported when he takes and if he takes office.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: On day one I'm going to begin swiftly removing criminal illegal immigrants from this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIED: Trump's remarks have critics saying it's a shift from his original plan of using a deportation force to remove all undocumented immigrants from the U.S. Though Trump's running mate, Indiana governor, Mike Pence, says Trump's position has not changed at all. He sat down for this exclusive interview on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: So let's start with this issue the estimated 11 or so million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States. This is what Mr. Trump promised back in November. Take a listen.

TRUMP: We're going to have a deportation force and you're going to do it humanely and expensively.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What they're going to be ripped out of their homes? How?

TRUMP: They're going back where they came If they came from a certain country they are going back to that country. That's the way it is supposed to be. TAPPER: So Mr. Trump has been saying that on day one the violent

undocumented immigrants will leave the country. But what about the rest? What happens to the other 11 or so million however many there. Will there be a deportation force removing these individuals from the United States?

GOV. MIKE PENCE (R-IN), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Well first off, let's be very clear. Nothing has changed about Donald Trump's position. On dealing with illegal immigration he put this issue at the center of this presidential campaign in the Republican primaries and his position and his principles have been absolutely consistent.

We're going to secure the border, we're going to build a wall, have a physical barrier, we're going to enforce the laws of this country, end sanctuary cities, implement e-verifying. And we will have a mechanism for dealing with people in this country that you heard the word humanely again. It's going to be fair, it's going to be tough but there'll be no path to legalization, no path to citizenship unless people leave the country.

He said that very consistently. The contrast with Hillary Clinton, who supports amnesty, open borders, who wants to implement executive amnesty again on day one, even though the Supreme Court of the United States rejected it and Hillary Clinton who wants to increase refugees from the terrorist torn country of Syria by 550%, the choice could not be more clear for the American people. Donald Trump has been completely consistent in his positions Jake.

TAPPER: Except on this issue, I understand everything you are saying there but the one issue that you didn't really address is whether or not the 11 or 12 million undocumented immigrants will be removed by a deportation force as you heard Mr. Trump say in that clip from November of last year. Is that policy still operative?

PENCE: Well what you heard him describe there, in his usual plain spoken, American way, was a mechanism, not a policy. You are going to hear more detail in the next two weeks that lays out all of the policies, but there will be no change in the principle here. Donald Trump wants to make it clear to the American people that while Hillary Clinton is committed to open borders and amnesty, executive amnesty and more of the same that has really harmed our economy and frankly, as he said with regard to dangerous individuals in this country, has cost American lives. You know when I was in Iowa, I met with Sara Roots family. The heart break of Sara Roots' story and other stories of families who children have lost their lives to people who are in this country, dangerous individuals, who are caught up in this broken system and then escape justice, as the man that claimed her life did, is going to end under the administration of Donald Trump.

TAPPER: I get that the violence, illegal immigrants will remove from the country. But what I'm not hearing and I'm wondering for people out there and look it's not just the liberal media. Right, it's also conservatives, It's Rush Limbaugh, it's Governor Sarah Palin, it's other people who want Donald Trump to win who are saying wow it sounds like he's really backing away from this deportation force removing 11 million and you are not saying right now governor, you're not saying, you're not pledging there will be a removal of all undocumented immigrants. You are not saying that.

PENCE: No what I'm saying Jake, and what I said to you a minute ago, and I want to be very clear there will be no path to legalization. No path to citizenship. People that want to gain legal status, you heard Donald Trump say again and again will have to leave the country.

TAPPER: Right, but what about to the millions in this country right now? What happens to them?

PENCE: I think Donald Trump will articulate what we do with the people who are here but I promise you -

TAPPER: Well he already has articulated it.

[16:05: 07]

PENCE: Donald Trump is more concerned about the American people, American citizens, people who are here legally. People who are struggling in this economy. You've got a family in Ohio, the dad is working two jobs and mom has a side job and they're trying to make ends meet. They haven't seen their personal income go up in ten, 15 years and this flood of illegal immigration has contributed to depressing wages in this country and denying jobs and opportunities to Americans.

TAPPER: And that's why I'm asking.

PENCE: Donald Trump is going to focus, I know the media wants to focus on that one issue, Donald Trump will articulate a policy about how we deal with that population. But I promise you, he is going to remain completely focused on American citizens and people who are here legally and how we get this country working for people who play by the rules.

TAPPER: I don't understand why - I don't understand why it's the fault of the media for focusing on an issue that you're crediting Donald Trump for bringing to the floor. The idea is that Mr. Trump won the primaries, in no small way because he had these very forceful position saying all 11, 12 million undocumented immigrants will be forced to leave the country. Now you right his minute are not saying that that's the policy. You're saying he's going to be unveiling it in the next few weeks, it's 72 days until the election.

PENCE: Well the way you characterize his position is one thing. I think he's been -

TAPPER: We just ran the clip there.

PENCE: Jake, he's been consistent in the principles that he's articulated. Nobody was talking about illegal immigration when Donald Trump entered this campaign. He was attacked from day one for putting the whole issue of the violence that's derived from certain individuals that come in to this country illegally on the table. He's made it clear we're going to secure our borders. We're going to build a wall. We're going to enforce the laws of this country, stand up and uphold the constitution of the United States of America. But what you see going on right now -- and I think at a certain level

it's very refreshing -- because it's the Donald Trump that I see every day, is you see a CEO at work. You see someone who is engaging the American people, listening to the American people he's hearing from all sides. But I promise you, he is a decisive leader. He will stand on the principles that have underpinned his commitment to end illegal immigration in this this country. And that's what people will learn more about in the days ahead.

But let's be clear, Hillary Clinton supports open borders, amnesty and even wants to increase Syrian refugees in this country by 550%. You couldn't have a more clear choice between Donald Trump and I who will end illegal immigration in this country and Hillary Clinton who will pursue more of the same, executive amnesty, open borders, which the American people are sick and tired of.

TAPPER: To be clear you did not address the issue about whether or not there will be a deportation force removing the 11 or 12 million but I don't want to spend the entire interview on that one subject. Let's turn to the children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants. Donald Trump said last year that these children, it's about 4.5 million of them are not citizens. Take a listen.

TRUMP: I don't think they have American citizenship. We have to start a process where we take back our country. Our country is going to hell.

TAPPER: Is it still the position of the Trump Pence campaign that children born in this country - in this country to undocumented immigrants are not U.S. citizens.

PENCE: Well, I think the whole question of anchor babies as it's known, the whole question of citizenship, natural born Americans is a subject for the future. I think the American people want to ask that we look at our immigration system and see whether or not that works and makes sense.

But under the laws today in the United States of America I mean what Donald Trump was referring to is this is part of the issue that we need to deal with in this country. But look, I have to tell you, he is a man who speaks his mind and he has put the issue front and center with the American people. And I have to tell you, I know how the media loves to come in and loves to you know divide the issues and frankly, I think, not you personally, Jake but a lot like to see if they can drive wedges in between people that support Donald Trump. The truth of the matter is as I'm travelling across the country, and with Donald Trump and for Donald Trump, the American people hear him loud and clear. Hillary Clinton is committed to amnesty and open borders and more of the policies that have harmed our economy, harmed American families and in some cases resulted in tragedy. Donald Trump is absolutely committed to securing our borders, having e-verifying systems, standing by the constitution and reforming the immigration system in a way that works for American families.

TAPPER: I want to turn to Hillary Clinton and some of the really tough charges going back and forth between your campaign and her campaign. She said this week Donald Trump is helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party. And take a listen to what your counterpart Senator Tim Kaine had to say just on Friday.

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), VICE PRESIDENT NOMINEE: Ku Klux Klan values, David Duke values, Donald Trump values are not American values.

TAPPER: What's your response to Senator Kaine?

[16:10:04]

PENCE: I think Senator Kaine's comments, Hillary Clinton's comments on Thursday night sound desperate to me. I mean to be honest with you, I don't talk a lot about the polls Jake but I know the polls are all closing up and the fact that you see Democrats, and Hillary Clinton and her running mate rolling out the same old play book of racial divisiveness it sounds a little bit to me like an act of desperation.

I mean look, the American people are sick and tired of politicians who seek to divide the people of this country, to unite their supporters.

TAPPER: Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton - he called Hillary Clinton a bigot.

PENCE: Donald Trump has been reaching our -

TAPPER: He just accused her of dividing people. He accused her of being a bigot.

PENCE: Look, and that was on the day that Hillary Clinton literally condemned not just Donald Trump by the same terms, but also millions of Americans who longed for a better future.

TAPPER: You think she was calling all Trump supporters racists?

PENCE: I think she was calling millions of Americans around this country who believe we can make America great again, who believe that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's policies have weakened America's place in the world and stifled America's economy. She's put some sort of racist intention on those Americans. I think that's deeply offensive.

But here's the thing, the American people see right through it these days. And what you have in Donald Trump is someone who's reaching out, speaking boldly from the party of Lincoln, particularly to African- Americans and Latinos in this country and saying it doesn't have to be this way. It can be better. I mean think of the heart break in these communities. To be living in our inner cities, which many African- American families for now generations have been in neighborhoods with failing schools, unsafe streets, no jobs and opportunities.

I mean we're standing today on the 53rd anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech. And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the heroes of my youth. I walked across the Edmond Pettus bridge with John Lewis on the 45th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. I think the progress in the civil rights movement is one of the great great accomplishments of America. TAPPER: That's sad, so I understand that that means a lot to you but

the reason --

PENCE: Look at the reality - look at the reality in the minority community today in many of our cities. I was walking through neighborhoods in Indianapolis just a few short weeks ago before this opportunity came in to my life with Reverend Charles Harrison, part of the ten-point coalition. You stand with families on their front porches and they will tell you the schools are failing and they won't give us educational choice. The streets aren't safe and we get no change and there's no jobs. Donald Trump believes we can make America great again for every American, regardless of race, or creed or color and the only answer Hillary Clinton and her running mate have are the same racial divisiveness and racial attacks and I really think it's beneath the dignity --

TAPPER: With all due respect, sir, the reason that Tim Kaine said what he said is because David Duke is supporting your campaign. Take a listen.

DAVID DUKE, FORMER GRAND WIZARD, KU KLUX KLAN: I'm overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I have championed for years.

TAPPER: That must really bother you.

PENCE: It does really bother me. And Donald Trump made it clear repeatedly this week not only does he denounce David Duke but we don't want the support of people who think like David Duke.

But look people see the choreography, Jake. You and I have known each other a while Hillary Clinton not on that but on the two speeches, Hillary Clinton has a really tough week, right, 15,000 e-mail coming out, I mean you have the Clinton Foundation, more and more of the cascade of controversies coming out of here with the Clintons you know ducking and weaving and not answering questions, more than 250 days since a press conference.

So all of a sudden here it comes. They roll out the politics of division with a speech Thursday night and then her running mate comes out with those outrageous charges. I mean the fact that an individual, a contemptible individual like that that sports my running mate is no more relevant than the fact that a father of a man who killed 49 people in Orlando, Florida, was cheering Hillary Clinton at one of her rallies.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Up next, are Governor Pence and Donald Trump on the same page?

WHITFIELD: We'll examine the campaigns words today and whether it is resonating with voters.

(COMMECIAL BREAK)

[16:17:45]

WHITFIELD: All right, before the break you heard Donald Trump's running mate, Indiana Governor, Mike Pence, weigh in on Trump's plans for illegal immigration. Let's talk more about this with Republican strategist Brian Morgenstern joining Political Analyst Ellis Henican. All right, welcome back gentlemen.

First to Brian, will this be the week that Donald Trump will spell out with more detail his immigration stance?

BRIAN MORGENSTERN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Perhaps I mean you know it will be so much detail it'll make our heads spin I'm sure. It's - you know like we were talking about I would expect it to be closer to a mainstream Republican position. I mean now his focus on deporting criminal illegal aliens is something that you know, people have be, focused on for a while, as a policy difference between a lot of Republicans and Democrats, particularly Democrats who support sanctuary cities. So I would expect him to talk about that. I would expect him to you know, talk about building the wall of course.

And then the really interesting contentious part will be what to do with 11 million people who are integrated into communities here in America and what legal avenues will be or won't be available to them. And that's - those are the details that we're waiting for and that he apparently hasn't made up his mind yet on but he I guess will do that imminently.

WHITFIELD: Right, and Ellis, that seems to be pretty clear. That he is still working on a plan. You heard you know Kellyanne actually -- Conway actually say that too that he is still you know working on a few details. Why do his supporters feel comfortable with that, especially ten weeks out from election day?

ELLIS HENICAN, POLITICAL ANALYST: Well because they hate Hillary. Right, I mean that's really the argument he has left right. It's don't you hate Hillary more than you hate me? It's a little bizarre isn't it for someone though who ran his campaign based around a tough immigration policy to not be able to answer some basic questions. My god, did Jake not try hard there with Mike Pence? I mean he - the guy deserves a Pulitzer for that questioning but he couldn't get an answer because there is no answer.

WHITFIELD: So - go ahead Brian.

MORGENSTERN: Yes. I was just going to say sometimes as a lawyer representing a client you have to make the argument you have not the ones you want. And when your client hasn't given you the answer yet, then that's the answer. So you know he did pretty well against some pretty tough questions.

WHITFIELD: At the same time, you know Kellyanne Conway also says that Donald Trump will be finding his way in front of a predominantly black, African-American audience to some degree so that he will be talking to people as opposed to talking at that audience.

[16:20:14] WHITFIELD: So, Ellis is this a sooner rather than later, or is it at all beneficial to Donald Trump's message, will this mean his message would be any different.

HENICAN: Whitfield there are a lot of black churches in America and I am absolutely certain that Kellyanne Conway can lead her candidate to one of them. I mean these aren't bad people right, I mean your heart has to go out to them. They've got this candidate they're stuck with, that's who the party faithful wanted in the primaries and now they're trying to make the best of it. It's not proving easy but you know the lieutenants are doing the best they can, I think.

WHITFIELD: And Brian, but particularly for somebody who's running for President, I mean that person should feel comfortable in front of any audience with such a diverse America that we have.

MORGANSTERN: Of course. And you know who may sort of play a role in this next step is Chris Christie. Because he had a lot of campaign events in African-American neighborhoods where he would have a pastor sort of talk a little bit like the way Trump is now saying you know what we've been asking of our politicians for decades is better schools and safer streets. It hasn't happened, why don't we give this guy a try. And so I would expect that sort of a message, that kind of orchestrated event to happen. And maybe with the assistance of Chris Christie and with that sort of an idea that they're going to want to leave in voters' minds.

WHITFIELD: Ellis, last words?

HENICAN: Don't forget though it's not working at all. Right. I mean every poll you see Donald Trump suddenly gets 1%, maybe 3%. I mean whatever we think about this there's an awful lot of African-Americans out there who are saying I'm not buying any of that stuff from that guy.

WHITFIELD: But it doesn't really seem to bother or concern the Trump campaign about the numbers -

HENICAN: What choice do they have?

WHITFIELD: -- where it was 1% in some circles, 2 in others.

HENICAN: What choice do they have?

MORGANSTERN: But that's why they're trying these new steps though and I don't think we've got sufficient data in the aftermath of it and we haven't even really seen the extent of it of this messaging strategy. And we'll see if it works, you know maybe it doesn't but I don't think we're there yet to be able to tell whether or not it's worked and they're definitely you know throwing some spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.

WHITFIELD: All right, it should be a very interesting week if not the next 10 weeks.

Brian Morganstern, Ellis Henican, thanks so much. All right, next -

Two arrests in the killings of an innocent Chicago mother. The cousin of NBA superstar Dwyane Wade. Police say the woman was caught in a cross fire of an argument as she walked with her baby along the street. We will talk to her mother next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:26:26]

WHITFIELD: All right, we're following new developments in the murder of NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin. Two brothers are locked up right now charged with killing Nykea Aldridge.

Aldridge was shot in the head while she walking and pushing her newborn in a stroller on Friday. She died a short time later at the hospital. Authorities say she was not the intended victim. Police say Darwin Sorrells Junior and Darren Sorrells were shooting at another man when Aldridge was caught in the cross fire. Authorities say both brothers have a record. And at the time one was on parole for gun charges.

Earlier Chicago Police talked about the arrest and their frustration about the cycle of gun violence in their city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDDI JOHNSON, CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: When will enough be enough? How often do we have to stand at a podium like this, demanding from of our judicial and policy partners some type of resolution? This tragedy isn't just noteworthy because Miss Aldridge has a famous family member. It's noteworthy because these two offenders are the prime example of the challenge we face here in Chicago with repeat gun offenders that don't care who they shoot, don't care whose life they take, and clearly, clearly don't fear the consequences of their actions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Rachel Crane is live for us now in Chicago where a tearful vigil for Aldridge just ended. So Rachel, tell us more about what's happening there.

RACHEL CRANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Fred, this is clearly a family that's deep in mourning. Earlier there was a beautiful vigil held to celebrate Nykea's life. Her family members, her loved ones spoke about who she was as a person. They described her as an amazing writer, an amazing mother. Her mother said that she was truly awesome. The theme of the vigil was purple because they said that was Nykea's favorite color. We had a chance to speak with Nykea's mother. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANN ALDRIDGE, MOTHER OF VICTIM: She was a fashionista. She took pride in you know doing her hair and the color purple was like purple, purple, purple. Her oldest daughter she's a purple fan now. You know like yes, that's me and my mom's favorite color, purple and pink - purple and pink. I was like okay. But you know Nykea was an awesome, awesome daughter. She loved her kids, loved her kids. And I can go on and on you know about Nykea being an awesome mom, you know trying to move ahead with the kids and move them to better areas. She was just trying to make a better life for her and the kids. That's the most important thing in her life, was her kids. You know to make sure that they got out of situations that she had been in. Yes, that's my baby.

CRANE: And how are the children doing?

ALDRIDGE: Summer, the oldest girl, it really hit her really hard. And her son, he's a momma's boy. So it hit him, too. The little baby - the second to last child, she is so strong, she is really strong.

[16:30:00] And it's just, you know, they support each other. You know, they cry to each other. They tell each other, you know, they miss their mom. They want their mom.

It just hurts to hear kids saying they want their mom and their mom won't be in their lives anymore. Only through spirit, only through pictures, that's the only way they will know their mom for the rest of their lives. The only thing they have to go on is what they had.

It's just heartbreaking. It's really -- oh, God, it's heartbreaking and I truly, truly from the bottom of my heart, I forgive them. I forgive them. I can't bring her back, but I forgive them and I just pray to God that they pray to God to ask for forgiveness for what they've done. They've taken a person's life senselessly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CRANE: Fred, clearly a mother deep in mourning, interesting to point out that that message of forgiveness to the Sorrels' and their mother. Also, one of the Sorrels', the younger brother Derren, he was on parole for a gun charge and he was under electronic surveillance. But at the time of the incident, he was legally not wearing his anklet because he was supposed to be looking for a job, a fact that the police department is very frustrated by.

WHITFIELD: And Rachel, the police superintendent, you know, he - spoke very profoundly and he also added that today, 1,400 people was his figure, are responsible for 85% of the gun violence in Chicago.

CRANE: Well, Fred this community, along with the police department, they're all -- they've had it up to here with the gun violence that's happening in this area. The Chicago Police Department pointed out that there have been 6,000 guns confiscated for every hour of 2016. So, the community and the police department, as I pointed out, just are begging for this violence to end.

WHITFIELD: All right, Rachel Crane in Chicago, thank you so much.

All right, we are also following up -- Breaking News out of Louisiana, two people including a fire chief were killed when a charter bus crashed just west of New Orleans. State trooper says the driver is from Honduras and is illegally in this country. The Times-Picayune also saying the driver did not have a driver's license and is now facing criminal charges. The bus was carrying flood relief workers to Baton Rouge when it lost control and drove through a blocked off crash scene. Nearly 60 people were taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to critical. An investigation is underway.

And next, we're getting more details about the Hillary Clinton emails. At least, some of them we're learning about what was inside, a few of them, and the connection to some Clinton Foundation donors.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:35:00] WHITFIELD: CNN has obtained a new batch of U.S. State Department emails that reveal the technical correspondence, the State Department may have had with donors of the Clinton Foundation -- a Clinton Foundation official in fact requested some top donors be invited to a lunch event and asked if one donor could be seated next to Joe Biden in these emails. So, CNNs Dianne Gallagher has been digging into the story further and what more did you find?

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL NEWSOURCE CORRESPONDENT: You know, Fred, this doesn't really shed a bit more light on the relationship between the State Department under then Secretary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation. Now, they were obtained by the Conservative Group Citizens United as part of a public records lawsuit they share them with CNN, but these emails are sure to continue just fanning the flames of controversy that surrounds the foundation and whether it tried to gain special access.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

Conservatives are calling this latest batch of emails yet another example of the blurred lines between the State Department under Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation. One particular exchange between Clinton's Top Aide, Huma Abedin and then Clinton Foundation Executive Doug Band included a list of names that Band seem to suggest is invitees to a State Department lunch with Chinese President, Hu Jintao back in January 2011.

Western Union CEO, Hikmet Ersek whose representative says never got an invite then UBS President of Wealth Management, Bob McCann and Rockefeller Foundation President, Judith Rodin. Now, each of those executives headed up companies that have made large donations to the Clinton Foundation. Band asked Abedin in a subsequent email about Rodin, "Can we get her at Biden's table? To which Abedin responded, "I'll ask".

Now, State Department Spokeswoman, Elizabeth Trudeau tells CNN, "The State Department does not believe it is inappropriate for the administration to consider individuals suggested by outside organizations when deciding who to invite to an official function." Still close contact like this has remained a point of criticism from Clinton's opponent, Donald Trump.

TRUMP: It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. GALLAGHER: Clinton has said the foundation donors had no influence on

her decisions at the State Department.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENT NOMINEE: I know there's a lot of smoke and there's no fire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GALLAGHER: And the State Department has also said that there was no policy action taken because of foundation donor requests. Fred, we should mention that the Clintons have said that if she is elected president the foundation is going to make some changes including no longer accepting corporate or foreign donations and also Bill Clinton will no longer be on the foundation board.

WHITFIELD: And Dianne, are there other emails drawing scrutiny?

GALLAGHER: Yes, you know, Fred in particular, of course this was first reported by ABC News there is one from January 2011 where Band forwarded an email to Abedin from an Argentine businessman, Gerardo Worthian (ph) calling him a great friend, a big supporter asking Abedin to deliver a message to the Ambassador of Malta on behalf of that businessman sometimes putting in a good word for a rob by the ambassador was already scheduled to meet.

Now, Abedin did forward that message to another state department official using that same language calling him a good friend and supporter of the foundation but she did add just wanted to pass along, no need for action. Of course, Clinton has maintained that there's no evidence that any action was taken by her State Department to benefit a foundation owner -- donor.

WHITFIELD: All Right, Dianne, Thank you so much.

Next, controversy on the football field over a silent protest, CNNs Polo Sandoval is live with details.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred 49ers quarterback getting a lot of heat for what he did not do, some of the criticism even coming from some of Colin Kaepernick's fellow NFL players. What does the league have to say about all this? We're going to break it down for you coming up right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:40:00] WHITFIELD: A star NFL quarterback under fire for making a political statement by sitting on the bench during the playing of the national anthem. Polo Sandoval with me now with more on this a lot of conversations are being...

SANDOVAL: Absolutely, especially for a preseason game who does sank (ph) it. And what's interesting here is we're often talking about what an NFL player did. In this case, it's what he did not do that is provoking mixed reaction on social media. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SANDOVAL (voice-over): San Francisco Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick is behind a controversial moment in a football season that hasn't even kicked off yet. The 28-year-old chose not to participate in the national anthem at the start of a preseason game, Friday. This photo captures players and staffs standing as Jersey number seven sat silently on the sidelines.

Kaepernick said he was protesting systemic racism. He later told nfl.com, I'm not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the streets and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.

Kaepernick's silent demonstration is setting off a firestorm of criticism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My salute to you.

[16:45:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Furious football fans are posting videos online burning all things Kaepernick.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You should never play another down in the NFL again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kaepernick does have support, though. Political commentator, Mark Lamont Hill defended the pregame protester in a conversation with CNNs Jim Sciutto.

MARK LAMONT HILL, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But if we're making it an ethical and moral even political argument, I would say it's absolutely justified. I go to games all the time. I'm a routine attendee of basketball games. I never stand for the flag bearing for the...

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: You don't stand?

LAMONT-HILL: No. I'm not. It's an act of political resistance. It's an act of political critique.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One fan even took to twitter calling Kaepernick his next pick for president. The 49ers organization says it respects their players' decision. A part of the team statement reads, "We recognized the right of an individual to choose to participate or not in our celebration of the national anthem." The team is now preparing for the next preseason kickoff.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Add now you can add the filmmaker, Spike Lee to the list of those who are stating behind Kaepernick, actually even -- interesting comparison here Fred, to the 1968 Olympics when two African-American medal winners actually...

WHITFIELD: ...Tommie Smith and John Carlos. SANDOVAL: ...that's right. They actually lifted their black glove covered fist up in the air. When you hear from these athletes from back in 1968, they took the -- but this is supposed to represent power and tranquillity, but of course there was also a little misunderstanding.

Many people thought that that was actually them standing solidarity with the civil rights movement which could to certain degree be true but what's interesting is this almost a very similar conversation, different situation here...

WHITFIELD: Yes.

SANDOVAL: ...because back in 1968 those athletes also took a lot of heat for doing that while national anthem...

WHITFIELD: OK, there are a lot of times just, I mean trying to find a job after the Olympics was one of the...

SANDOVAL: Right.

WHITFIELD: ...big tough one. I've spoken to John Carlos and he said at that time, that really was a human rights statement that they were trying to make and over the years...

SANDOVAL: Right.

WHITFIELD: ...it's kind of been misinterpreted or, you know, taken on a life of its own so -- but interesting comparisons are being made from...

SANDOVAL: Right.

WHITFIELD: ...what happened with Colin Kaepernick in 1968...

SANDOVAL: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ...meantime, Interpol (ph) New York Giant Star Receiver, Victor Cruz also reacted to the controversy and here's some of what he has said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICTOR CRUZ, NEW YORK GIANTS PLAYER: You've got to respect the flag and you've got to stand up with your teammates. It's bigger than just you, in my opinion. I think you go up there, you're with the team and you go and, you know, you pledge your allegiance to the flag and you sing the national anthem with your team and then you go about business whatever your beliefs are your beliefs.

But Colin is his own man, he decided to sit down and sit down and that's his, you know, that's his prerogative but on a personal standpoint I think you have to stand up there with your team and understand that it is game and what's going on around the country is bigger than just you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. And so one has to wonder, what kind of response...

SANDOVAL: Sure.

WHITFIELD: ...is being elicited by a number of people in the arena of sports and beyond to what has happened.

SANDOVAL: And what will happen on the plain field, we did hear...

WHITFIELD: Yes.

SANDOVAL: ...from the 49ers coach, he said he does not expect major effects here. In fact, Kaepernick will be on the roster. He is still competing to get back that highly competent spot as starting quarterback. Next time, he takes to the field though Fred, I'm sure a lot of people are going to be watching to see what he does...

WHITFIELD: A lot of eyes on...

SANDOVAL: ...when it comes time for that anthem.

WHITFIELD: All right, Polo, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

All right, we'll have much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:50:00] WHITFIELD: All right, time for today's CNN hero. A terror group in Kenya has left many living on the remote islands bordering Somalia struggling to survive and some would have no medical care without this week's CNN Hero.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we have about six villages that have absolutely zero access to healthcare. When an individual is in a remote area and has an absolute emergency, it's considered a matter of destiny. I feel like there's no purpose if you don't challenge your comfort zone and do something that's a little bit bigger than who you are.

WHITFIELD: All right, visit cnnheroes.com for more on her story and nominate someone you think should be a 2016 CNN hero.

A federal judge has blocked the state's controversial transgender bathroom law from being enforced at the University of North Carolina. The ruling means the school must allow two students and an employee to use restrooms matching their gender identity.

CNN's Ariane De Vogue gets in Washington for us though the ruling only blocks part of the state's law and North Carolina's governor says the law is still fully in effect that explain all of this.

ARIANE DE VOGUE, CNN SUPREME COURT REPORTER: Well, you know, this case shows that there is a new frontier now in LGBT litigation and that's transgender rights. What this judge did, as you said, is he temporarily blocked North Carolina's controversial bathroom law, only for three individuals, that's two students and an employee at the University of North Carolina.

What this judge said is, look North Carolina could very well be caught between a state law and a federal law. And of course, North Carolina takes public funds. So, the judge said, look, I'm going to put a halt to this now until I can have a full trial and hear this case on the merits. In the meantime, I will temporarily block it just for these three plaintiffs.

So, it looks like a limited ruling but groups like Lambda Legal, the ACLU they hope it's going to be the first step for this judge. And they hope he'll eventually strike down the entire law. And of course on the other side, supporters said that the law was necessary for privacy reasons.

WHITFIELD: Ariane De Vogue, thank you so much from Washington.

All right, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:55:00] WHITFIELD: All right, this Thursday, a new CNN film follows a man in search of a spiritual awakening. Will Allen gave up his life and family to join the Buddhafield. Well, now some former members call it a cult that is still active today in Hawaii.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were told that he would have a day set aside where we could come and ask him for the direct experience of God and he called it "The Knowing".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "The Knowing" was based on this book called the Bhagavad-Gita (ph), this is Hindu book, where Krishna reveals the direct experience of God to his disciple, Arjuna.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was like, yes. That resonated with me. I was like I knew, I knew it was possible.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "The Knowing" was the realization of being able to see and hear and taste God.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You could only comprehend what it means to finally have got being revealed to you in this purest form finally.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was something that I felt like I had been looking for my entire life up to that point. I had gone to school. I had a degree. I had a great job. I was engaged and yet when this happens it was like all of that meant nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, don't miss this inside look into the Buddhafield's journey for enlightenment and the consequences that followed, Holy Hell, premiers Thursday on CNN at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. All right, thank you so much for spending part of your day with me, I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM begins right now.