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Trump Attends Luncheon with Families of Victims Killed by Undocumented Immigrants; Trump Under Fire for Clinton Comment on Secret Service; Ivanka Trump Asked Tough Questions on Child Care Plan; Democrats Out in Full Force, Focus on Ohio; Trump Attacks Ford for Moving Jobs, Ford Responds; Michigan in Play for Republicans; More Details on Seaside, New Jersey, Explosion During Marine 5K Run; Inside the New African-American Museum. Aired 1-2p ET
Aired September 17, 2016 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:00:00] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Sanders is at Kent State University in Ohio. Elizabeth Warren will campaign in Ohio. She'll speak in Columbus next hour. Hillary Clinton speaks tonight at the Congressional Black Caucus dinner in Washington, D.C., joined by President Obama.
Next hour, Donald Trump attends a luncheon for families of those killed by undocumented immigrants. And he faces blowback over comments last night. He suggested Hillary Clinton's Secret Service agents should be disarmed. Then he added, quote, "Let's see what happens to her," end quote.
Senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, is in Houston for the Trump event.
So, Jim, what more do we expect?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That's right, Fredricka, we are waiting for Donald Trump to arrive at the hotel in Houston where he'll talk to an organization that represents family members of victims killed by undocumented criminals. And this is a group that is, you know, really in line with Donald Trump's message. We expect to hear the GOP nominee lay out his plans for dealing with undocumented immigrants in this country. The group, itself, makes it very clear where they stand on this issue. You know, I was in this hotel, Fredricka, with some of the folks here, wearing T-shirts with the pictures of their family member who were killed. They say, by undocumented criminals. Here is a quote from the organization. Quote, "Violent, illegal alien crimes, especially crimes resulting in the killings of American citizens, are like none other in our system of legal justice. In every case, the perpetrator was in the country illegally, enabled by a government unwilling to protect our nation's borders and enforce current laws." This is an organization that has a lot of people in it and are going to be supportive of Trump's message.
You did mention his comments in Miami last night where he talked about how Hillary Clinton's protective detail should be disarmed and, "Let's see what happens to her." That was the quote from Donald Trump. We don't know if he'll talk about that. Keep in mind, Fredricka, at a lot of events that is seen to be aimed at one particular topic or another, he does tend to go ahead and talk about the news of the day. He did that earlier in Flint, Michigan, where the African-American pastor cut him off when he started to go after Hillary Clinton. I suspect he will do the same at this event here in Houston. The question is whether or not he will try to clean up what he said last night in Miami. I can tell you, Fredricka, you can put out a tweet saying the same thing about Hillary Clinton. He is not backing off or apologizing one bit for the remarks he made in Miami -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Jim Acosta, in Houston. Thanks so much. Keep us posted as that luncheon is about to get under way.
ACOSTA: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Donald Trump facing backlash for suggesting Hillary Clinton's body guards should be disarmed. He accused Clinton of endangering the rights of other Americans who have guns. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think her body guards should drop all their weapons. They should disarm. Right?
(CHEERING)
TRUMP: I think they should disarm, immediately. What do you think? Yes?
(CHEERING)
TRUMP: Yeah. Yeah.
Take their guns away. She doesn't want guns. Take their -- let's see what happens to her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: I want to bring in CNN political commentator, Scottie Nell Hughes, a Trump supporter; and Capri Cafaro, an Ohio state Senator, former Ohio Senate minority leader, and a Hillary Clinton supporter.
Good to see both of you ladies.
SCOTTIE NELL HUGHES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Absolutely, thank you.
WHITFIELD: Scottie, you first. What do you suppose the intention was here from Donald Trump on this, putting the guns down Secret Service and see what happens to her?
HUGHES: It's very simple. For people to think this is about threatening Hillary Clinton, encouraging something to happen is asinine. It pointed out the hypocrisy of Hillary Clinton to where she might say she loves the Second Amendment and she wants to protect it. At the same time, she's gone on saying she's going to revoke Supreme Court justice that is would repeal the Heller Act or believe gun manufacturers should held liable in mass shooting cases. That would severely restrict.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Capri, you said it's incorrect to think there was an inference and that it would mean some dangerous potential outcome for Hillary Clinton if Secret Service were to put down their arms?
HUGHES: Absolutely. We know Mr. Trump had conversations in the past with Secret Service. It doesn't matter if he is a candidate, Donald Trump, or Mr. Trump himself, Secret Service, there's no way their guns will be taken away. The president can't do that. This is a hyperbole to draw attention from the hypocrisy that exists with her, whether gun rights or the 10-foot wall that surrounds her compound or the deleted e-mails when she's saying Donald Trump, what does he has to hide, when she's the one using like Bleachbit and hammers to take out Blackberries.
WHITFIELD: Does this hyperbole endanger her Secret Service detail at all?
[13:05:12] HUGHES: No. I don't like this language, let me state from the beginning. I do not like when you use gun violence. I wish there were better words he would use. I don't think Secret Service is hyped up based on these words. I don't think Trump supporters found it to be a threat or a directive from him. That's asinine.
WHITFIELD: Capri, what is your interpretation. Scottie is saying I wish he would use other words, better words. Words matter. Words are important here.
(CROSSTALK)
SEN. CAPRI CAFARO, (D), OHIO STATE & FORMER OHIO SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Words do matter.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFARO: They can be calming. They can be incendiary, et cetera.
WHITFIELD: How do you interpret --
(CROSSTALK)
CAFARO: There's no question about that. Anyone in the public eye needs to be cognizant of their words. I agree with Scottie on this point, you know, while I don't agree with the words he chose and he shouldn't have said let's see what happens if the secret on the flip side what he is trying to convey and I will couch it saying I am a Democrat, but endorsed by the NRA my career for the last decade. What I think he's trying to convey, while I don't agree with how he said it, there's a double standard. Hillary Clinton is saying derail the Second Amendment rights but have the ability to use firearms for her protection. The way he approached it, again, leaves something to be desired. I think he's trying to draw a difference in opinion between him and Hillary Clinton when it comes to the Second Amendment.
WHITFIELD: Clinton's campaign manager responded quickly after this, saying, "Donald Trump has a pattern of inciting people to violence. It is an unacceptable quality in anyone seeking the job of commander- in-chief. It should be out of bounds for presidential candidate," end quote.
Scottie, you said you wish he used better words. He knows how to use English. Isn't this intentional?
HUGHES: When you look at what's happening at the campaign rallies and the death threats have been the Trump family. He was one of the first ones to receive Secret Service because of the threats that came against him. You know they are allowed to have words. They are going to say that. That's what they want the narrative to be today. This is a great opportunity for those in the Trump camp to talk about the Second Amendment and the difference between him and Hillary. This is one conversation most Democrats don't want to have six weeks out. This is one where Independents might realize they side more with Trump on this than Hillary.
WHITFIELD: Capri?
CAFARO: This is a good example of the difference between a campaign and what it means to govern. When you are in a situation to govern, where Hillary was the United States Senator and secretary of state, you understand your words do matter on the global stage. Right now, I believe Donald Trump, not being a career politician, is very much in campaign mode and political mode. They use language in a campaign context. On the other hand, if he does become elected, he needs to think twice about the words he uses because they will ha implications on the global economy and our geopolitical role as the United States of America.
WHITFIELD: Capri Cafaro, Scottie Hughes, thank you. Appreciate it.
Coming up, Donald Trump unveils his plan to make child care more affordable for Americans. Whether it's enough to garner the votes of working parents is to be determined. Our panel weighs in on that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:12:03] WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Donald Trump is trying to woo the voters of working parents by pushing out his national child care plan. He originally announced the plan last month that would allow families to fully deduct child care from income taxes.
As Tom Foreman explains, Trump's daughter, Ivanka is put in charge of the plan and she's having to answer touch questions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVANKA TRUMP, DAUGHTER OF DONALD TRUMP: The cost of child care has become so onerous and crushing, and so there needs to be a solution to this. TOM FOREMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ivanka Trump is
leading the charge for her father's plan and taking heat. When "Cosmopolitan" brought up his 2004 quote about pregnancy --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Pregnancy is an inconvenience for a person that is running a business.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOREMAN: -- she shot back. "I think you have a lot of negativity in these questions. I don't know how useful it is to spend too much time with you." Before ending the interview, she called it, "an unfair characterization of his track record and his support of professional women."
(CHEERING)
TRUMP: Hello.
FOREMAN: Indeed, the Trump team started the week insisting is company gives eight weeks of paid leave to new parents. That turned tricky, too, after reports found otherwise they admitted it varies from one property to the next.
(CHEERING)
FOREMAN: Nonetheless, the campaign keeps ripping away at Hillary Clinton's claim that she is the lone champion for women in this race.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If fighting for affordable child care and paid family leave is playing the woman card, then deal me in.
FOREMAN: So, how do their plans compare? Among the main points, Clinton wants to give new parents 12 weeks of paid family or medical leave. Trump says paid maternity leave alone should be six weeks. Clinton wants no more than 10 percent of their income to go for child care. Trump would give them a tax break. Clinton wants free pre-K for all 4-year-olds. Trump wants to give families deductions for child care savings accounts to spend as they like.
TRUMP: We need working mothers to be fairly compensated for their work and have access to affordable, quality care for their kids.
CLINTON: Thank you.
FOREMAN: The Clinton campaign says Trump's tax breaks would help the well-off more than the working class. He won't offer similar help for new dads, leaving gay parents out.
Trump's own words from the past don't help much, describing child care as his wife's work.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: I won't do anything to take care of them. I'll supply the funds she'll take care of kids.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: It's not like I'm going to be walking the kids down Central Park.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Is Trump's plan going to win him voters?
I want to bring back Scottie Hughes, CNN political commentator and Trump supporter; and Capri Cafaro, former Senate minority leader and Clinton supporter.
Capri, having Ivanka work on the plan, is this advantageous? Does it seem to be working?
[13:15:18] CAFARO: I think that having Ivanka herself out there trying to talk about an issue that Republicans never really talked about is as good as any Republican nominee could possibly get in this context.
Having said that, you know, I think there are significant flaws in Donald Trump's plans that are unrealistic, mainly the child care savings account. If you are familiar with the health savings account that many Republicans advocate for, they are not functional when it comes to lower-income individuals. You don't have enough income to put away pretax for the purposes, whether it's health care or in this case child care.
So, you know, the other part of this is Hillary Clinton's plan is more comprehensive. We are dealing not with just, you know, a paid family leave, dealing with parents of children as well as those that are taking care of loved ones that may be ill, but dealing with universal. You know, things of that nature that, again, are geared towards the holistic approach of what it means to be able to be a working family in the 21st century.
WHITFIELD: Scottie, the flip side to that, Donald Trump advocating for tax breaks as it comes down to child care. What's been the reception as t how this will be more appealing than, say, Hillary Clinton's plan?
HUGHES: As a Republican female, I am so excited we are finally having this discussion amongst the Republican Party. This is one thing the Democrat conversation has been doing. They have a lot of words and have done nothing actually, when they had the chance four or six years ago to make a difference. They did not take advantage of it. We're having the conversation in the Republican Party. It's good for both sides. Both are willing to come to the table.
(CROSSTALK) CAFARO: I'm proud to be the sponsor, actually of paid family leave in the state of Ohio.
HUGHES: Thank you for that.
This is a conversation -- unfortunately, today is taking both members of the Household to be breadwinners to have the same kind of lifestyle and standard of living our parents and grandparents had. Most of these, you're right, they help lower income and other incomes, but mainly middle class. The middle class is hurting. Obamacare and health care has been raised price for families by at least 20 percent. We saw in Arizona, it's gone up 40 percent. The middle class is hurting. In this case, where the Democrats use government to solve it, saying we know better for your children like with mandatory pre-K, Trump is saying actually, it's your money, taxpayer money --
(CROSSTALK)
CAFARO: There's a difference between universal and mandatory.
HUGHES: -- and not make it mandatory.
CAFARO: There's a difference between universal and mandatory. Universal is enabling everyone to access it. Mandatory means you have to go.
HUGHES: A lot of states believe if they open it, and they have the funding, they will make it. But once again, it's about choice. Who is better about choosing what is better for your family, the government or yourself? This is why Trump is winning by 17 percent with married women and why Hillary Clinton is turning 2 percent less than Barack Obama did with women overall? This is why she is panic mode. She doesn't --
(CROSSTALK)
CAFARO: I don't think that's the reason why she's failing with women in that regard.
(CROSSTALK)
HUGHES: Donald Trump is turning with married woman higher than any other presidential candidate has done in the last two cycles. It's because he's speaking solutions. He's giving specifics. We have yet to see real specifics out of Hillary Clinton because --
(CROSSTALK)
CAFARO: I beg to differ on that. If you look at the teaser that came into this, the package that just came into our segment, we saw many more levels of specificity in Hillary Clinton's child care plan than with Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump -- while I appreciate the fact they are trying to engage in this conversation as part of the Republican conversation, which is rare, you know, the same-old, same-old in regards to tax credits, which you -- child care is already deductible. I don't know how far this is going to go. Democrats, frankly, we don't necessarily believe it is all about government. It's about providing the tools necessary. I think creating a grand generalization that Democrats think we are going to impose, you know, certain things upon the public and upon families, I think it's absolutely wrong. We want to give the governments the opportunity to provide tools to Americans.
WHITFIELD: We'll leave it there.
Capri Cafaro, Scottie Nell Hughes, thanks so much ladies. Appreciate it.
HUGHES: Thank you.
[13:19:54] WHITFIELD: Big name Democrats are out in force this weekend getting the message out for Hillary Clinton. Among them, right there, former rival, Bernie Sanders. How he is selling her message now? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Democratic heavyweights make their case for Hillary Clinton today. Their focus, battleground Ohio. A short time ago, Bernie Sanders wrapped up a rally and wasted no time ripping Donald Trump and the so-called Birther controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT: -- clear about what the Birther movement was about. It was not disagreeing with Obama. You have the right to disagree with Obama anytime you want. What they were trying to do, led by Donald Trump, is to de-legitimize the presidency of the first African-American president we have ever had.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Clinton also getting a boost of support today from Senator Elizabeth Warren. She's expected to speak next hour in Columbus. All of this setting the stage for a fierce fight to win the battleground state.
Bring in CNN national politics reporter, M.J. Lee.
M.J., it is down to the wire and, you know, each side bringing out what it believes to be the biggest guns.
M.J. LEE, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER: That's right, Fred. Absolutely. It is, in fact, down to the wire with less than two months out, Hillary Clinton is getting all the help she can get. Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders brings good qualities and - qualifications to speak to voters she feels she needs to win in November.
[11:35:12] First of all, why Ohio? Sanders is making multiple stops in that state today. The polls, the CNN/ORC poll shows Clinton is lagging in that state. Trump, right now is at 46 percent in that state and Hillary Clinton is at 41 percent. So, Trump right now enjoys a five-point lead in the state of Ohio, very important state that the Clinton campaign definitely wants to win. Sanders' prime target is Millennial voters. He overwhelmingly outperformed Clinton with this group. This is why we are going to hear him talk about issues that matter to the younger voters, like college affordability and college debt.
But, keep in mind, policy is not the only issue we can expect to hear from Bernie Sanders. He will be talking about the broader issue of Hillary Clinton's opponent, Donald Trump. We saw him talk just now at Kent State University. And we heard rhetoric from Bernie Sanders about Trump saying that Trump's campaign is based on bigotry and reminding voters Trump was behind some of the Birther movement statements that is are out there. This is obviously an issue that Trump had to deal with over the last couple of days.
So a lot of Clinton surrogates out there campaigning for her in the next couple weeks as things really get down to the wire.
WHITFIELD: Down to the wire, indeed.
Thank you so much, M.J. Lee. Appreciate that.
Coming up, Michigan, a state that hasn't backed a Republican candidate in nearly three decades, is now in play. What this means for Clinton just 52 days out from the election, next.
Also ahead, George W. Bush authorized its construction and President Obama will speak at the opening. I got a preview of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture. I take you inside from the nation's capitol, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:30:33] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again. Thanks for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in Washington, D.C., today.
Donald Trump is attacking Ford Motor Company, calling out the automaker for moving small car production to Mexico.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: To think Ford is moving the small-car division is a disgrace. It's disgraceful. Disgraceful that our politicians allow them to get away with it. It really is.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The CEO of Ford reacted to Trump's claim in an exclusive interview with Poppy Harlow. Mark Fields says Trump is dead wrong and no American jobs are in danger with this move.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK FIELDS, CEO, FORD MOTOR COMPANY: We have created more than 28,000 jobs in the U.S. in the last five years. We have invested more than $12 million. We produced more vehicles here in the u. s than any other automaker by far. And we employ more hourly workers here in our plants more than any automaker by far. We are very committed here. Those are the facts.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, it is not true that Ford will be, quote, "firing all its employees in the United States." Will Ford cut any U.S. jobs as a result of this move? One? Any single one?
FIELDS: Absolutely not. Zero. And what we announced is that we'll be moving our focus out of compete more financially in that particular segment. At the same time, that's an agreement we have with the UAW. We are replacing those products with two very exciting new products. Not one job will be lost. And most of our investment is here in the U.S. And that's the way it's going to continue to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All of this is playing out with the backdrop of Michigan becoming a battleground state in this election, a state that hasn't backed a Republican candidate since 1988. Latest poll shows Hillary Clinton with a three-point lead in the state. That's within the margin of error and shows neither candidate is close to having a majority of voters.
I want to bring in Christy McDonald, an anchor for PBS News in Detroit; and Nolan Finley, the editorial page editor at "The Detroit News.
Trump's method on trade and comments on Ford seems tailor made for Michigan voters but is it resonating?
Nolan, you first.
NOLAN FINLEY, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, THE DETROIT NEWS: No, I don't think it will resonate. The people who live here have seen this industry come roaring back over the last few years. They are doing very well financially. Ford employees, GM employees, Chrysler employees, suppliers, they are making money again. They are getting bonuses. In the last contract, their base pay went up. The auto industry is booming here. We know what a down auto industry looks like. We have lived through it. This is boom time in terms of auto motive for Detroit and Michigan. I don't get the message and I don't think it resonates here. People know better.
WHITFIELD: Christy, Hillary Clinton strength in that state primarily has been with African-American voters or the numbers show that. Is there enough support to carry the state for her when looking at that kind of demographic?
CHRISTY MCDONALD, ANCHOR, PBS NEWS, DETROIT: Well, when you look at that demographic, she's enjoyed a lot of support. What's interesting and has a lot of people talking are the polls you referenced that came out this week. You asked people a month and a half ago if the numbers would be this tight between Clinton and Trump, people in Michigan would have rolled their eyes and laughed and said no way. Support that Hillary Clinton that's eroded from her, talk about African- Americans in the latest WXYZ poll, she enjoyed 85 percent African- American vote to 2 percent for Trump. That eroded down to 74 percent on the 2 percent. Now, she's not in danger of having African- Americans go totally to Donald Trump's side, but it's interesting to look at the erosion and what kind of message that is sending and what voters are thinking about. I would be interested to see now this next poll in Michigan coming off the heels of the birther controversy that Donald Trump came out and talked about in the last day or so. The African-Americans see the racial overtones of that. You have to watch the numbers of those polls in Michigan coming up next.
[13:35:08] WHITFIELD: Nolan, is there a feeling behind what is behind that erosion and whether the polling is a good mirror of how voters are thinking and feeling there?
FINLEY: Look at the numbers. It's all about Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump's numbers have stayed steady. He's in the low 40 range in poll after poll in Michigan and nationwide. He never breaks above here, much above 41-42. Christy mentioned the African-American vote eroding for Clinton, but Trump didn't pick up any of that vote. I think that's the story. I think it's a mistake she's pounding, pounding, pounding on Donald Trump. His number is where it's at. It's not going up, it's not going down. She needs to worry about bringing her own number up. She's not doing a good job at that. She's almost obsessed with Donald Trump and pounding on Donald Trump. She needs to tell us about who Hillary Clinton is, why we should trust her and believe in her vision of the presidency.
WHITFIELD: You know, Christy, is there a feeling that, you know, people are interpreting Hillary Clinton as really kind of getting sucked into the approach or strategy of a Donald Trump, which is, you know, say things that certainly catch people's attention, then she falls into a trap of being critical of him as opposed to, as Nolan said, focusing on what are the plans, what are the differentiate yourself.
MCDONALD: Let's look at it in terms of playing on the backdrop of Michigan where both candidates come into Michigan. You can't blame them for giving economic speeches. They laid out their plan. I agree with Nolan in the point she has to differentiate herself. So many Hillary Clinton supporters say she has. Take a look at the policy. Take a look at the detail she's put out on her website and that she wants to talk about every time she's on the campaign trail in terms of the policy and the detail that she has. But, some of the advertisements in Michigan, a lot of it is replaying the gaffes, the statements Trump made on the campaign trail and seeing the reaction of people to those statements that the Hillary Clinton campaign ad that's running, I think she has to refine the message a little more. In terms of Michigan and where she's lost ground, Tim Kaine was just in Michigan this past week. He was speaking at U of M. Donald Trump was in Flint this week. Again, we talk about the numbers and the fact that the state is very much in play. Tim Kaine said, look, this state is definitely in play and trying to get the young voters. She has to go back to them. One of the biggest stories was in the primary, the fact that Hillary Clinton lost Michigan to Bernie Sanders. She does have ground to make up here. She does have to in think get back to the state.
WHITFIELD: All right. Christy McDonald, Nolan Finley, thanks so much.
(CROSSTALK)
Oh, go ahead, real quick, Nolan. 10 seconds.
FINLEY: Yeah, in think the fact that Michigan is in play and the candidates clearly view it that way is surprising. As you said, they haven't gone Republican here since 1988. It's hard to figure out what they are seeing that they think this year might be different.
WHITFIELD: Everything is fascinating.
Thank you so much. Nolan, Christy, appreciate it. Good to see you guys.
A reminder, President Obama and Hillary Clinton will be addressing the Congressional Black Caucus dinner tonight. Don Lemon will bring full coverage starting at 8:00 p.m. eastern.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:42:19] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
WHITFIELD: Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in Washington, D.C.
We are now learning of an explosion along a race route in Seaside, New Jersey, was caused by multiple devices. It went off by the Marine 5K run. Law enforcement says there were multiple timed devices, but only one detonated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN JUSTICE PRODUCER (voice-over): You're the lead on this investigation.
First, if you could walk us back, take us through a time line of the events here this morning. We know a race was scheduled here at 9:00.
AL DELLA FAVE, OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S SPOKESMAN: The U.S. Marines were supposed to have their Sempa Fi Charity Run. The start of the race was delayed. The explosion took place along the run route, it was on D Street at Ocean Avenue. Because of that delay, there probably would have been a good number of people running past that trash can when it went off. We had no injuries or damage to other structures.
PROKUPECZ: What was found inside that trash can?
DELLA FAVE: They are telling me preliminarily, a pipe bomb type device. There were multiple devices wired together. The one went off, the others did not. The New Jersey State Police are up there now examining the additional devices and making them safe. We have evacuated a four-block area around that perimeter to make sure that no issues to any individuals that live within that area.
PROKUPECZ: You said multiple devices wired together. How many devices are we talking about?
DELLA FAVE: I have been told anywhere from two to three additional pipe bomb type devices wired together to the initial explosion that went off. Again, that won't be specifically able to say until the investigation continues.
PROKUPECZ: Are investigators creating this as a remote or timed detonation of a device to coincide with the runners that be running past the Marines, their families, their friends, running past that area when it went off?
DELLA FAVE: Yeah. What the intentions of the individual are we don't know whether it's criminal or terroristic. It's obvious it was meant to affect the run, the fact that it went off at 9:35.
PROKUPECZ: Any other devices found along the route or just that trash can?
DELLA FAVE: Immediately put the area on lockdown. They brought in bomb dogs from surrounding areas. They have completed their sweep. There's no additional devices found. Actually in seaside heights they are continuing the barbecue fest that's going on without a hitch. In this area, until the bomb squad gives the all-clear, we are going to keep things closed off.
[13:45:18] PROKUPECZ: It's a Saturday. It's a beautiful day. People are being kept off the beach here in Seaside Park. When might those restrictions be lifted?
DELLA FAVE: It's hard to say. It's a shame that charitable run that does such great things for the Marines is now canceled. There's no word on if it will be rescheduled. That's where we are at right now.
PROKUPECZ: Do you believe it was a deliberate, targeted attack heir families here in Ocean County in Seaside Park?
DELLA FAVE: I think we can assume that, considering the location of the device. As in said, right along the run route where, if it was just a matter of minutes in terms of difference, it would have been a good number of people running past that explosive device.
PROKUPECZ: Do you consider it a terror attack?
DELLA FAVE: Again, motives, that will come as the investigation moves forward. We are lucky enough that already on scene we have the FBI, the ATF, the New Jersey state police, and a good number of partners. Even the local Ocean County Sheriff's Department are on scene to help us gather as much information as possible.
PROKUPECZ: Al, thank you so much for your time here today. DELLA FAVE: Thank you.
PROKUPECZ: Folks, again --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Very frightening there.
You are hearing that interview there underscore an explosion taking place alongside a race route there in Seaside Park, New Jersey. Fortunately, no one was injured. Multiple devices, as you heard in that interview, wired together.
CNN's justice produce, Shimon Prokupecz, is with me now.
So, remarkable, and thank goodness no one was injured. You heard in that interview, Shimon, that it was a matter of minutes between the number of people near where the device exploded, the device, the wiring of the device, the timing of it all and the investigation?
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Yeah, large area, it could have been much worse. It appears the device was timed and somehow made to go off when runners were supposed to go past. Right now, in don't think officials know too much about the device. They have been looking at it. I think they have x-rayed it which is what the bomb squad does. Some information has been shared with law enforcement. The initial appearance was that it was multiple devices hooked together somehow. Now how they were hooked together, but wired together or taped together, I'm not sure. At first appearance, it looked like multiple devices put together probably so they were more power you feel and only one device went off. Officials went back and looked at pieces of the device. We may hear about it later. Initially, the thinking was, yeah, it was three devices or two devices taped together, wired together and they each go off around the time that runners were supposed to pass the area. It's really luck. I mean, it's amazing. People -- the reason why the race started late is so many people signed up and they couldn't get people in place in time. You know, perhaps sheer luck here and, you know, we probably would be dealing with a different situation had the race started on time.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thank goodness no one injured, nonetheless, extremely frighten.
Shimon Prokupecz, thank you so much for that report.
We'll have more straight ahead after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:52:39] WHITFIELD: Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
It's being called a miracle of a museum here in the nation's capitol. I am talking about the new Smithsonian National Museum of African- American History and Culture, a place showcasing exceptional achievement, joy and heartache, pride and pain. The new museum opens from the public one week from today. But tonight, a special star- studded show tonight for donors of the artifacts. This is some of what everyone will see.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Near the foot of the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool in the shadows of the Washington Monument and White House, this mammoth cube among the 19 museums.
SASHA KOMEN CONWELL, MUSEUM DIRECTOR: It puts us in the monumental core of Washington, D.C., where the most important buildings that are literally the foundation of American democracy reside.
WHITFIELD: Sasha Komen Conwell is the museum's director.
KOMEN CONWELL: We are also on the grounds where human lives were once traded, where Africans were traded as slaves. I hope and believe those folks that have gone on that were once treated as shadows are in some way, vindicated, valued and honored by the museum and by its desire to make sure no one ever forgets the impact of these people and this culture. This culture is so rich and exciting, I get kind of almost giddy when in think about it.
WHITFIELD: This is what the world will see. Where are we now?
KOMEN CONWELL: This tells us of some of the pioneers.
(voice-over): Komen Conwell has been here ever step of the way helping to intake, select and arrange 30,000 valued artifacts in the 13 years since president George W. Bush signed legislation to get this $500 million project going.
(on camera): How much has been federal donations and private donations?
KOMEN CONWELL: Half each. Each leveraged the other, that broke all records of support at the smallest level of membership all the way up to the largest gift from Oprah Winfrey.
WHITFIELD: $21 million from Oprah Winfrey.
KOMEN CONWELL: Oh, yes.
[13:55:14] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oprah!
KOMEN CONWELL: I think Oprah Winfrey is an exemplar of the people that you will find in this museum, people that made a way out of no way.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): On full display, encased and out in the open, like the landing of this iconic out of this world symbol of band Funkadelic.
WHITFIELD (on camera): This is the Mother Ship. Bootsy Collins, George Clinton and a reminder to a lot of people that would transport to you a place free of racism.
KOMEN CONWELL: That's true. Variety is what in love about this gallery. Everything like this, and then you have somebody like Ana Washington and Michael Jackson.
WHITFIELD: And Michael Jackson.
KOMEN CONWELL: Michael Jackson, that's right. And Michael Jackson is on the same screen where you will see Marion Anderson. we have one of the gold records won by Gladys Knight and the Pips. We have the tap shoes of Sammy Davis when he was with the trio.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: It sounds like it was easy to get people to donate their artifacts and memorabilia and things they were holding on to a long time.
KOMEN CONWELL: It was easier than what it was. What was interesting was the power of persuasion. People were still holding on to these. They hadn't decided what they were going to do. Chuck Barry hadn't decided what he was going to do with his Cadillac.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Wear your walking shoes and pace yourself to cover 400,000 feet spanning the celebratory to the controversial, what to do about figures like Bill Cosby, whose marker under him of an image as a younger man, both praises him as a game-changer in entertainment and reminds of sexual abuse allegations.
(on camera): How did you as a committee come to terms about how, who, when, who to include?
KOMEN CONWELL: The hours and hours we have used to pour over these questions are extraordinary. One of the things we kept in mind and one of the greatest versions was Dr. John Hope Franklin. He warned against the erasure of history. African-American's history has been erased for a very long time. In all of its complexity, in some of its controversy, we tell that story.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): So much in one place.
(on camera): Do you have a favorite exhibit?
KOMEN CONWELL: I keep coming back to the Harriett Tubman objects, her shawl, her hymnal.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Slavery, movement, culture.
KOMEN CONWELL: There are some that recur so many places. Where do you put James Baldwin, one of our greatest American writers, deeply involved in the civil rights movement?
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Sports and politics?
You made this controversial decision about Muhammad Ali before his passing.
KOMEN CONWELL: We knew his legacy was in place while alive.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): This American-Led protest on the Olympic world resonates.
(on camera): In taking a stand, John carols, Tommy Smith, for human rights, 1968 in the Mexico City Olympic Games.
KOMEN CONWELL: Yes. The fact this became a permanent symbol of courage and commitment to one's believes.
WHITFIELD: There's such a variation of stories. My dad, Max Whitfield, he is one of those that you have on display. Why?
KOMEN CONWELL: It helps your dad won a lot of pedals.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Five medals, 1948 and '52. A Tuskegee airman, the first to medal in an American game, and later becoming an American diplomat. The Whitfield Foundation donating his original flight suit, a pair of his metal-spike shoes and Jersey, among other things.
Several Olympians generously gifting, too.
KOMEN CONWELL: Carl Lewis gave us every medal but the one he buried with his father. Gabby Douglas, a newer star, Jesse Owens.
WHITFIELD (on camera): in can't imagine what it will be like for my family or the other families to see these exhibits for the first time. I know it will be a very emotional experience.
KOMEN CONWELL: Sometimes people will be crying because they are sad and sometimes they will be crying because they are so happy. I'm looking forward to crying.
WHITFIELD: I am, too. I'm looking forward to both.
KOMEN CONWELL: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD (voice-over): And looking forward to seeing upwards of 10,000 people a day visiting the country's newest treasure chest of American history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: I will find out tonight what that's going to be like. Tonight, a special viewing for the many people who donated so many priceless pieces. The museum --
