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More Arrests as Police Try to "Contain" Network Behind Manchester Suicide Bombing; Hillary Clinton Gives Wellesley Commencement; Trump Comments After Gianforte Wins Montana House Election After Assaulting Reporter; Trump Admin Taking Blocked Travel Ban to Supreme Court. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired May 26, 2017 - 13:30   ET

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


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[13:30:47] THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think it is important that as leaders we have shown our fierce determination to ensure that we use every tool available to us to fight against terrorism and protect our people.

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WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: That was the British prime minister, Theresa May, at the G-7 summit in Sicily.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in the U.K. today meeting with the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Both signed a condolences book for the victims of the Manchester attack.

Part of Tillerson's visit is aimed at smoothing over some pretty ruffled feathers. The U.K. is angry at the U.S. over leaking investigation details to the U.S. news media.

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REX TILLERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE: We take full responsibility for that. We obviously regret that that happened. In terms of how to fix the relationship between the U.S. and Great Britain, this special relationship that exists between our two countries will certainly withstand this particular unfortunate event.

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BLITZER: Meanwhile, new raids and a new arrest. Police in Manchester now have eight people in custody in connection with Monday's terror bombing. Libyan militia says the bomber Salman Abedi spoke with his brother in Libya only 15 minutes before he launched the attack.

For more on these developments, let's bring in our senior international correspondents, Fred Pleitgen and Arwa Damon.

Fred, you're in London. What are they saying about the investigation? FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORREPONDENT: Wolf, they're

saying the investigation is still very much high paced. They've been making progress. You've mentioned some of the arrests. They say that is something they hope will help contain this network that they believe is behind this bombing. However, the big question here, is there still someone at large who is capable of building explosive devices like the one that was used in the Manchester bombing. The authorities hear say they're making progress on that but at this point in time they simply cannot be sure. They say they are working around the clock though. Listen really quick to what the state secretary for security affairs had to say earlier today.

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BEN WALLACE, U.K. SECURITY MINISTER: We're following up the network and roll it out and try to contain it and get to the bottom of how big it is and how many are involved. We're getting to a stage where we're working it through. As you've seen from the number of arrests we're hopeful ne the right track to contain it and make sure that people that pose a further risk are being picked up and we're making sure that we can hopefully get back to normal.

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PLEITGEN: But at this point in time they're not even close to getting back to normal. The threat level here is still at critical which is the highest that country has. You still have soldiers on the street in London who are guarding key installations. A lot more armed police as well. As the authorities are trying to sift through that network and has the minister there said, trying to contain the network and through these arrests really trying to get more and more of those people off the street and stop them from being a danger to the public here in the U.K., Wolf.

BLITZER: Arwa, what can you tell us about the conversation between the suicide bomber Salman Abedi and his brother and the father role in all of this as well?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At this stage the most recent information we're gets suggest from the spokesman for the special deterrent force. This is the armed group that actually detained Salman's brother as well as his father. And it's basically an armed group that nominally falls under the control of the ministry of interior.

According to the spokesman, he says that Salman and his brother spoke about 15 minutes before the attack took place. He says that the brother only really knew about his brother's movements. He knew he was planning on not going to the religious pi-- as he told his father knew that he was going to Manchester, knew that he was planning some sort of attack but he did not know when or where it was going to be happening. It is believed at least by the Libyans that both brothers were somehow involved in plotting this attack. They do believe that plans for it began as far back as the end of 2016. Libyans are saying there wasn't a lot of plotting or planning trying to put together the device that took place while the two brothers were in Libya. At this stage, they're trying to piece all of this together. The brother's father also detained at this stage. We don't know what he is being accused of, what he's being investigated are. Remember he yanked both brothers from Manchester, brought them back to Libya about a month before the attack took place because he was concerned they were getting wrapped up in some sort of criminal gang activity. The boys' mother as well as two other siblings were also taken in for questioning, but they were released shortly thereafter. So still a lot of effort under way at this stage trying to piece together exactly where it was that these two brothers were radicalized.

Remember the brother who was detained according to the Libyans at least under interrogation and we do not know exactly what those circumstances were. Did confess that he and Salman were members of ISIS. But exactly where they joined the organization, were they became somehow radicalized in Manchester? Did it happen in one of their trips back and forth? Those are going to be key points in trying to determine how it is that two brothers, it would seem who were born and raised in the U.K., who were both on their way to getting an education and not exactly from an impoverished family, ended up being drawn into this violence.

[13:36:44] BLITZER: Arwa Damon and Fred Pleitgen both doing excellent reporting on these investigations. Thanks very much.

All of the victims, by the way, in the Manchester terror attack have now been identified. A family friend says 15-year-old Megan Hurley was killed in the blast. She's just one of 22 victims that were killed during that suicide bombing attack this week.

We'll be right back.

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[13:41:32] BLITZER: Hillary Clinton returned to the political spotlight today with the commencement speech at her alma mater. She spoke to Wellesley College graduates about her election loss and how to move forward given today's politics.

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HILLARY CLINTON, (D), FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You are graduating at a time when there is a full-fledged assault on truth and reason.

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BLITZER: Today was a familiar picture. Almost five decades ago, back in 1969, Hillary Clinton addressed her fellow graduates at the school's first student -- as the school's first commencement speaker.

Our Brianna Keilar is at Wellesley College, joining us now.

Brianna, she had some strong words about the current political landscape. Update our viewers.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: That's right. There was certainly some optimism for the class of 2017 but also those strong words were what you really noticed there, Wolf. She lamented the current state of politics. She told grads they didn't create it but they could change did and she made a number of jokes at President Trump's expense. You played that sound where she said that there is an assault on truth and reason. She went on to say including what we see with our own eyes. Roasting Donald Trump and his administration, really the White House's efforts to say that he had a record inauguration crowd. She also, though, had a very serious and dire warning.

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CLINTON: When people in power invent their own facts and attack those who question them, it can mark the beginning of the end of a free society. That is not hyperbole. It is what authoritarian regimes throughout history have done. They attempt to control reality, not just our laws and our rights and our budgets, but our thoughts and beliefs.

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KEILAR: This was, of course, a very friendly crowd for Hillary Clinton here at Wellesley and a bitter sweet home coming, Wolf. I think you could definitely say she was sort of self-deprecating, humorous chl. She said she's been going on long walks, organized her closets, said to much laughter chardonnay really helped. But how sharp she was against President Trump, something we have seen her do in a big way lately here in the last few weeks.

BLITZER: It was not very veiled at all.

Brianna Keilar, at Wellesley College. Thanks very much.

The Republican National Committee just released a statement responding to Hillary Clinton's speech. Let me read part of this. Quote, "Today's speech was a stark reminder of why Hillary Clinton lost in 2016. Instead of lashing out with the same partisan talking points, Hillary Clinton would be wise to look inward, talk about why she lost and explained the dwindling base of Democratic Party supporters. We won't hold our breath though." That statement from the RNC.

[13:44:51] Coming up, just one day after being charged with assaulting a reporter, the Montana Republican Greg Gianforte captured the state's open House seat. After the break, what the win means for the GOP.

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BLITZER: A Republican candidate wins the Montana special election 24 hours after he was charged with assaulting a news reporter. Greg Gianforte defeated Rob Quist in the race for Montana's House of Representatives seat.

During his victory speech Gianforte apologized for his awful behavior.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GREG GIANFORTE, (R), REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT, MONTANA: I'm not proud of what happened. I should not have responded in the way that I did. And for that, I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you're forgiven.

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GIANFORTE: Please.

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GIANFORTE: And I should not have treated that reporter that way. And for that, I'm sorry, Mr. Ben Jacobs. You deserve a congressman who stays out of the limelight and just gets the job done.

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[13:49:53] BLITZER: President Trump went out of his way to comment on Gianforte's win while he was over at the G-7 summit in Sicily.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Great win in Montana.

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BLITZER: He whispered to the news media, "Great win in Montana."

Our congressional correspondent, Phil Mattingly, is joining us with reaction from Capitol Hill.

Phil, what are you hearing from lawmakers?

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's no surprise that lawmakers after they left for recess and after the charges were filed were not rushing to the cameras to defend the action. Most were very clear, it was out of line. It was uncalled for. However, they did not say it was disqualifying. That said, the speaker had very blunt words.

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REP. PAUL RYAN, (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: There is no time where a physical altercation should occur with the press or just between human beings. So that is wrong and should not have happened. Should the gentleman apologize? Yeah, I think he should apologize. I know he has his own version and I'm sure he's going to have more to say, but there's no call for this, no matter under any circumstance.

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MATTINGLY: Wolf, it's notable that despite that speech the speaker made it very clear, if he won, he would be seated. It's something he echoed in his statement after the victory last night. Here's what he said. Basically, elections are about consequences. This is from Ryan's spokesman" "Selecting Gianforte to represent them in Congress, he goes on to talk about what he brought to the table but the most noteworthy line was the last one. He will bring that experience to Congress where he will be a valuable voice in the House."

It's worth noting, Montana Democrats say he should not be sworn in until charges are resolved one way or the other. Speaker Ryan making it clear, they are not going to wait. Montana voted and it's a statewide election in the state of Montana and, therefore, he will be sworn in.

An interesting element of this that everybody is trying to figure out is what does this mean for the national landscape of things. It's very difficult to know in this election but Gianforte won statewide and lost to a Democrat in 2016. The Democratic opponent he had didn't exactly thrill a lot of Democratic consultants, and Republicans dumped a ton of money into this. While this was a state that President Trump won by 20 points, Gianforte only won by six, it was noteworthy that the Democratic opponent very rarely mentioned President Trump's name. He's still popular in states, not surprisingly, that he won by 20 points.

There's no question about it, when you look at these special elections going forward, people are trying to figure out if messages will work nationwide.

Wolf, I will say this, this race is not a great indicator but, for Republicans, a victory. They are happy, despite the circumstances, that surrounded it the last 48 hours.

BLITZER: I hope Gianforte learned his lesson. Once he arrives where you are up on Capitol Hill, you and Manu and other congressional correspondents, you're going to be chasing him with microphones and let's hope he responds as he should.

MATTINGLY: Every day.

BLITZER: Phil Mattingly, thanks very much.

MATTINGLY: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that blocks President Trump's travel ban against six Muslim-majority nations. Now the Trump administration says it's taking its appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. We have details.

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[13:57:25] BLITZER: The Trump administration vows to take its travel ban case to the highest court in the land after an appeals court refused to reinstate the order. The U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions releasing a statement saying, among other things, "This Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the power and duty of the executive branch to protect the people of this country from danger and will seek review of this case in the United States Supreme Court."

Our Supreme Court reporter, Ariana de Vogue, is with us right now.

Ariane, what happens next?

ARIANE DE VOGUE, CNN SUPREME COURT REPORTER: Well, Jeff Sessions said he was going to the Supreme Court but didn't say when or how. What we think will probably happen is he'll file an emergency application and the administration will say allow this to go into effect now pending appeal. The justices look at that and one thing they look at is the status quo. This never went into effect. They may not want to change the status quo and may be worried about the chaos that could trigger. Remember, the chaos in the airports. So they'll look at that and then may consider the merits. And, keep in mind, this court has five conservatives, four liberals and they could go down ideological lines but the executive order has a lot in it, right? It's got religion and the president's authority and immigration so maybe that would make strange bedfellows when it makes it to the Supreme Court.

BLITZER: You never know what these nine justices are going to do.

This is a huge setback, though, for the president, the second time he revises the initial travel ban, this time affecting six Muslim- majority countries. It's a major setback for him.

DE VOGUE: Oh, it was lashing. The court said the executive order drips with religious intolerance, animus, and discrimination. It was a real 200-page setback for this administration.

BLITZER: They revised it to avoid that kind of language. They clearly failed before the Fourth Circuit court.

DE VOGUE: Absolutely. Second time around.

BLITZER: And another decision --

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BLITZER: -- that could come any time now?

DE VOGUE: It could come any time. We expect it today or next week.

BLITZER: That could be another setback for this decision, right?

DE VOGUE: That's how it looks but you can never be too sure.

BLITZER: Ariane, thanks very much.

That's it for me. Thanks very much for watching. I'll be back at 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."

For our international viewers, "Amanpour" is next.

For our north American viewers, "Newsroom" with Brooke Baldwin starts right now.

[14:00:04] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Wolf, thank you so much.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thanks for watching CNN on this Friday.