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FBI Gets Warrant for Aide's Emails; Iraq Forces Within Hours of Entering Mosul; Florida Voters Endure Ad Barrage. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired October 31, 2016 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00] TOM FUENTES, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I think it's strange, period. But, again, this whole thing, and all of the aspects of Director Comey sending that letter Friday, we really have to backtrack. Everything about this case in the last four months has been very unusual, starting with Bill Clinton getting on the airplane with Loretta Lynch. As a result of that, and the uproar over that, she basically didn't recuse herself and say, my deputy attorney general will be in the decisions make, or senior career prosecutor at the Department of Justice will be doing it, she deferred it completely to the FBI, completely to Comey.

And Director Comey then, on July 5th, gave the press conference where he announced his results. He left, you know, during his testimony, and other meetings on The Hill, he left it up that if a significant development arose, he would let them know. And that's basically what's happened in the last couple of weeks.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So, Tom, in your mind, was all of the actions that Director Comey took up to speed?

FUENTES: I'm sorry, could you ask that again?

COSTELLO: Director Comey, did he do everything right in this instance, because some Democrats are asking him to step down?

FUENTES: Well, they didn't ask that back in July when he basically said the investigation was being closed. The next day Loretta Lynch said, OK, I'm closing it for - and actually for all of the subjects that were included in this investigation. But, any investigation, you know, the administrative act of closing a case, if it isn't because the prosecution's been completed, or the statute of limitations has run, if it isn't - or the subject's died, it can be reopened at any time. And if new information that wasn't in their hands back in July comes up, which is what's happened in this situation, he's perfectly, you know, able to reopen the case.

Now people are saying, oh, he violated the Hatch Act. Well that's, you know, that's debatable. And the Hatch Act, like the Clinton violation, requires proof that he intended to affect the election. And he didn't intend to do that when he received all this new information about what was on Anthony Weiner's computer that included Huma Abedin.

You know, and something else no one's talking about, Director Comey, in July, mentioned that that server, and that system, was not as secure as your standard gmail or other commercial Internet accounts. Five weeks ago, Yahoo! announced that 500 million user names and passwords were breached in a hack. So - and she has a Yahoo! account. So that's another thing we don't know about is who took those usernames, who has access to it. And her username - her Yahoo! username has been on the Internet. Other networks, and tech blogs, and programs like that have shown it. Have shown what her address was. So -

COSTELLO: So -

FUENTES: So that's another possibility that it's not just the FBI that's gotten a hold of whatever's on her computer, or his computer.

COSTELLO: So - so, Brianna, Abedin was not on the campaign trail over the weekend. Will we hear her make some sort of statement?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I don't expect - I'm not hearing that that's going to happen, Carol, and I wouldn't really expect that because I think it might add a little fuel to the fire. And the other thing is, what would she comment on? I think there's a feeling that she wouldn't even know exactly what she's commenting on because the FBI, while they've gotten a warrant to examine these e-mails, you know, they're not saying what's in them. They don't even know yet. They still have to do that. So I think there's - it would be her saying something that maybe would just, you know, create more headlines on a story that's really bad for Hillary Clinton.

COSTELLO: So, Tom, where does the investigation go from here?

FUENTES: Well, where it goes is that the step by step process is that when they got Anthony Weiner's computer and then saw that there were indications of her e-mails on there, they're able, under subpoena, to look at the metadata and see which servers it went through, who transmitted what messages. They can get that information. But to get the content, they need a search warrant, which they've just obtained.

So the next step will be to review the content and look at some of these messages. And also, remember, back in July, the director didn't say that Hillary Clinton had done everything properly. He said that the reason he wasn't recommending charges, was because he couldn't find intent. And that there's thousands of messages on her e-mails, even if it's to other people, even if it's back and forth with Cheryl Mills, they may be - there may be information on there that demonstrates that what the intent of Hillary Clinton was from the beginning to create that server, and what she was doing after the server was discovered in connection with the investigation. That's one issue.

COSTELLO: So -

[09:34:56] FUENTES: And a second issue is, Anthony Weiner is facing serious allegations of sexting with a minor with serious implications which could include jail time and being on the sexual predator registry. He has a lot of incentive to try to make a deal with the federal government. And that's what should scare the Clintons more than the content of these e-mails is Anthony Weiner is a wild card. They were married at the time. They were living together all through the time when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state. Huma Abedin has been the right arm of Hillary Clinton for many, many years. And what does Anthony Weiner know and how does he know it? That's a critical question.

COSTELLO: So - so, I guess, the obvious question now, Brianna, is, should Huma Abedin remove herself from the campaign? Should she step down? Because she's proved to be quite the distraction.

KEILAR: You know, I don't - she's not an expendable staff member. And I don't mean to say that some are. But I'll be honest, you know, there are some people, if they were the center of something, then they might be sort of dismissed or encouraged to resign. This is one of Hillary Clinton's top aides. This is someone who has been a confidant of hers for years and years. And Hillary Clinton prizes loyalty going both ways. Huma Abedin has been very loyal to her.

But the other thing you have to remember, Carol, is, this all comes back to the original sin of Hillary Clinton using a personal e-mail address and a private server while she was secretary of state. That's what started all of this. That's what has led to all of these things, even though they criticize James Comey. In the absence of that, of Hillary Clinton having gone along with that, or having wanted that setup, you know, all of these other things would not have happened. So I don't see - I don't see Huma Abedin going. I think it would have to be an incredibly high threshold, and for sure this is not it.

COSTELLO: All right, i have to leave it there. Brianna Keilar, Tom Fuentes, thanks so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, after months of fighting ISIS to get close to the city of Mosul, Iraqi forces could now be within hours of entering the city.

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[09:41:12] COSTELLO: Iraqi troops are now within hours of entering the city of Mosul. You can see them here at the eastern city limits. They have one last district to capture before they can enter the city. And that means soon, after months of already fierce fighting against ISIS, and even more intense fighting could begin within the city now at any time.

Nick Paton Walsh has been embedded with the U.S.-trained Iraqi special forces.

Tell us about it, Nick.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, they are edging towards those vital city limits here, hundreds of yards in some cases, others a kilometer or so. And it's that main road that runs from where we saw the fighting start, just over two weeks ago now, to where they are hitting the city limits now where we saw ourselves some of the intense resistance ISIS is putting up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH (voice-over): The last phase of lifting ISIS' dark curse from Iraq begins here, trying to hit a spectral, fleeting enemy, lit only by the glow of Mosul's city limits, barely two kilometers away. The Iraqi special forces, trained by the U.S., target with a tank here, where they are attacked from during the day, telling us to use Humvees as cover when they move.

Their commander, Major Salim (ph), has fought ISIS in Fallujah, Ramadi, and now the end is near.

"Where did the artillery land," he asks? Just visible in the distant lights of Mosul.

This is the global tip of the spear in the war on ISIS. Surging forwards on a thin strip of land into ISIS territory. And, as we see in the same area in daylight, facing constant counterattacks. Here, they can see ISIS just beyond the berms. The incoming is from behind it. A truck that pops up, opens fire and vanishes.

WALSH (on camera): ISIS is less than a kilometer away, firing at Iraqi special forces' position. This is a constant day in and day out.

WALSH (voice-over): "Where's it moving," he asks? As fast as it emerged, the truck vanishes. But, here, there are yet tougher hours ahead.

Darkness has just fallen, and the sky is alight with ferocious fire power. ISIS have attacked the berms. Suicide bombers. Rocket-propelled grenades. It is constant, exhausting, closer and closer to the roof we are on. We simply do not know where in the town around us ISIS may have broken through.

WALSH (on camera): The most intense attack we've seen so far towards this Iraqi special forces position, now (INAUDIBLE) move forward it seems to try and stop them from coming down the road.

WALSH (voice-over): ISIS, despite being in their end days, still able to conjure the terror of omnipotence that began their savage rule. The wounded start coming back, but we cannot film them. A steady stream. The unit we were with earlier on the roof have been hit. Rockets struck, many of them asleep, tightly packed in a room. The blast killed 14 soldiers. Many limbs torn clean off. Major Salim is shown the weapons of the dead. He pauses in emotion.

[09:45:31] "You guys are heroes," he says, "and none of you should be affected by this. Those suicide bombers are nothing."

Two kilometers from Mosul city, and seven left to the center to go.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH: Now, Carol, as that noose tightens, and I should say, this is not a very tight cordon. It's a rough movement of Iraqi forces. They're not exactly sealing the city. They had hoped to do that. We're also seeing signs that the resistance, the insurrection potentially inside the city itself, five ISIS leaders shot down in a drive-by shooting in the west of the city in the past day or so. We've been talking to people in that resistance. They have a plan. It's unclear whether it's going to be activated now. You might think it would be the right time, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Nick Paton Walsh, an incredible story, reporting out of Iraq, thanks so much.

The crackdown continues in Turkey. Thirteen journalists arrested this morning, accused of helping enemies of the state. One of them was the editor in chief of an opposition newspaper. The Turkish government says the journalist helped legitimize this summer's failed coup. The arrests came after a weekend that saw more than 10,000 public servants (ph) fired and more than a dozen media companies shut down.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Florida might be the sunshine state, but there's nothing bright about what's on the airwaves. Just doom and gloom and negativity of this 2016 race. And voters, well, they're ready for it to end.

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[09:51:24] COSTELLO: The 2016 election could all come down to Florida. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are focusing a lot of their attention there. The latest two polls in Florida show just how close the race is. A "New York Times"/Senna poll has Trump with a four-point lead and an NBC/"Wall Street Journal" poll gives Clinton a one-point edge. The closer the race is, the uglier it can be. And in Florida, it's about as closed to ugly as an election can get. The negative political ads are everywhere and there is no escape, no relief for at least another week.

CNN's Boris Sanchez is live in Orlando.

Good morning.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Carol.

It is as ugly as it gets. Voters that I've talked to here say they can't wait for this election to be over, in large part because of these political ads. And it's not just the presidential campaign. But candidates spending a crazy amount of money here in the sunshine states. It's also hotly contested Senate race, several competitive House races, and then local government races as well. So they've been bombarded and now they're looking for ways to tune out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ (voice-over): They are unavoidable. Whether in your home, in your car, on your cell phone, or even a night out on the town. The near constant stream of political ads on TV has some families in central Florida counting down the minutes until November 9th.

JAMES BAKER, REGISTERED REPUBLICAN: Every newscast, every football game, you'll have a Hillary ad followed by a Trump ad. You know, potentially rebutting what was said before and vice versa. I sent my vote in about a week or so ago. I just wanted to get it over with.

JENN CORDDRY, VOTING FOR CLINTON: I have three children and the way that this influences them and the whole democratic process, it's not a good example for them and for our country looking forward and for them when they become young adults.

SANCHEZ: Spend just a short while in the Orlando home of James Baker and Jennifer Corddry and you're inundated.

MORGAN FREEMAN, POLITICAL AD (voice-over): A woman who spent her life helping children and families, a man who spent his life helping himself.

BAKER: The gravitas of Morgan Freeman.

SANCHEZ: Both parties have spent nearly $100 million on presidential campaign ads in the sunshine state. Most of that here along the I-4 corridor. In fact, no other TV market in the country has seen more spending than Orlando with $25 million on pro-Clinton ads and 7.7 million for Trump.

CORDDRY: It definitely makes you just tune out. You definitely just start to tune out to all of the messages because they're conflicting, they're negative, and you just don't even want to pay attention anymore.

SANCHEZ: Jennifer and James worry that so much negativity and so much mud-slinging will shape their kids.

BAKER: It's OK to argue, it's OK to debate. But when you get, you know, starting in with the personal attacks and all that, the focus should be more on, what are the solutions, the policy aspects of it, not, you know, I'm calling you this name or this person's, you know, calling someone else a different name.

Virtually no ads during "Teen Titans," so -

CORDDRY: But, yes, no ads on Cartoon Network.

SANCHEZ: While his family has found one animated way to dodge the ads and political rhetoric, others have turned to America's favorite past time.

STEPHANIE WRIGHT, APOPKA, FLORIDA, RESIDENT: I'd rather watch the Cubs play all night long than I would listen to any more political crap.

SANCHEZ (on camera): How does it feel to see so many?

TODD DEKMANN, DEBARY, FLORIDA, RESIDENT: I think this year is probably undoubtedly the worst.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): It's still about a week before the election, but for the Floridians who've been packing into the friendly confines, a Chicago-themed bar on the outskirts of Orlando, the only victory they've cared about has nothing to do with either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. [09:55:02] SANCHEZ (on camera): When it comes to what's going right

now, what's a bigger story to you, the World Series or -

DOUG WRIGHT, APOPKA, FLORIDA, RESIDENT: The World Series.

SANCHEZ: The election? Not the election?

WRIGHT: The World Series.

SANCHEZ: Nothing matters more than the Cubs?

WRIGHT: Nothing else matters.

SANCHEZ Do you totally tune them out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I don't think you can, because they're everywhere.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: They are everywhere, Carol. The good news is, at least for those fans, is that the World Series is going on one more night. Potentially another night. Potential game seven on Wednesday. The bad news is that after that, it's back to regularly scheduled programming.

COSTELLO: I don't mean to laugh, but I'm sure many Americans feel the same way, even if they're not like - if they don't see ads, you know, bombarding their TV sets. Boris Sanchez, thanks so much.

Rigged elections, voter intimidation, Trump supporters are sounding the alarm before any votes are cast. I went to Philadelphia, a city singled out by Trump. Is there a real concern about voter fraud in Philly? The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM after a break.

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