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East Pittsburgh Officer Charged in Shooting Death of Antwon Rose; John Bolton Meets Vladimir Putin in Russia to Talk Summit with Trump. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired June 27, 2018 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:30:00] ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: -- consequences of that. You're going to get called names. You may not get drafted in the NFL. You might have to spend a night or two in jail if you're doing other kinds of civil disobedience. But, you know, the burden then shifts to the other side to say, well, how else do we get change?

Those who were upset about civility I would ask them please consult the history books and let us all know what's the major transformation that happened?

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Right.

LOUIS: Because, you know, everything from the --

HARLOW: It doesn't happen from press releases.

LOUIS: The suffrages, women's right, gay rights, on and on down the line. The right to an eight-hour day. None of that happened because people asked for it nicely.

HARLOW: I think one of the questions, though, Caitlin, is sort of, is there an end to your public day and a beginning to your private life? Right? Because that is what Sarah Sanders, right, was out to dinner and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was out to dinner. You now know -- we now know this morning that Sarah Sanders will get Secret Service detail, right, for protection after this. How do you see it?

CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, REALCLEARPOLITICS: Well, it's really interesting because I agree with Errol that this has been going on for a long time and it's part of our kind of culture, but I think you have to point to the last few years, really, and look at the way in which this president specifically has helped to exacerbate tensions, and a lot of times intentionally, right? He has seen ways to stoke division as a way to rally up certain parts of his base, and so I think we're seeing that now and especially in the context of a midterm election year. You're right. You know, talking about policy, talking about press releases or, you know, messages. Don't animate people the way that other types of --

HARLOW: Especially in the age of social media. Especially when clips like that go viral, they're on people's Instagram.

HUEY-BURNS: Right.

HARLOW: I mean, I'm stunned at the amount of political press releases I still get in my inbox. Errol, you probably get a ton.

LOUIS: Very true.

HARLOW: I'm like, come on, there is another way to tell the story. But let's talk about Jeff Sessions. So Jeff Sessions last night talking about the controversy over the separation of families at the border and really the larger zero tolerance policy. He said this about Democrats and those that oppose the policy. Let's play it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF SESSIONS, ATTORNEY GENERAL: These same people live in gated communities, many of them and are featured at events where you have to have an I.D. to even come in and hear them speak. They like little security around them. And if you try to scale the fence, believe me, they'd even be too happy to have you arrested and separated from your children.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: So he sort of laughs there like he was joking. This at a moment where you've got 2,047 children to this minute still separated from their children. I mean, tone deaf?

LOUIS: Not just tone deaf, underlying all of it is the core policy that people are on the street protesting which is if you're like to sort of denigrate and dehumanize people, then treat them as less that. You know, when you hear the chief of staff, General Kelly, saying well, they'll be in foster care or some or whatever. Right? It doesn't really matter.

If you want to treat other people's families as if they don't matter, as if it's all a joke, if it's the punch line of a joke at a fancy dinner, well, yes, this is not going to contribute to civility to say the least.

HARLOW: How do you see it?

HUEY-BURNS: You know, it's interesting because you have the president last week talking about how these images of separated families really struck a chord with him and that he issued that executive order in response and then you have his attorney general kind of joking about it here. The president also, you know, talking about that we still need to be tough on immigration and kind of using a similar type of rhetoric that he's always used and we know that he's going to do that more so, I think, as the midterms approach and kind of stoking this a little bit more and so I -- you know, there is a conflict between what they say that they want to do and also what they are actually really doing.

HARLOW: Finally, 30 seconds, but your takeaway from New York 14, from this big win by a 28-year-old Latina defeating a powerful Democrat for Congress?

LOUIS: Fascinating. I will mention that I moderated the only televised debate between those two candidates. HARLOW: There you go.

LOUIS: But you could see even then that --

HARLOW: Is this the one Crowley didn't show up to?

LOUIS: No, no, no.

HARLOW: OK.

LOUIS: He showed up for us.

HARLOW: Because one of them he skipped.

LOUIS: He skipped one that was in person but he did come to the televised one.

HARLOW: OK.

LOUIS: And look, she does represent something different and when something new happens all of a sudden the news media were supposed to take notice of that and you have to take notice. It's something very, very different. She was badly outspent. She brought an entirely different kind of movement politics right into electoral politics and she won.

HARLOW: Yes. Yes. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, we had a long interview with her at the top of the show, I posted it on Twitter as people want to see it. Made a lot of news. Look, she is pushing, pushing, pushing to the left, we'll see what it means in November. Thank you both, very, very much.

The police officer who killed Antwon Rose eight days ago is now this morning, you see him there, facing criminal homicide charges. We are also learning new details about the 17-year-old's death. The D.A. is set to speak in minutes. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:39:01] HARLOW: CNN is learning now details about the shooting death of Antwon Rose. According to the district attorney an autopsy report found that Rose was shot in the right side of the face, the right elbow and in the back. And it was the wound to his back that killed him. Meanwhile, the East Pittsburgh officer who shot and killed Rose has been arrested this morning. He's been charged with criminal homicide.

All of this as we're waiting for an update from the district attorney in just moments. Let's go to our Athena Jones who is live in Pittsburgh with more this morning.

A number of details about how he died, what shot it was that took his life, the account of the police officer that is changing, all of that has just come out. What can you tell us?

ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Poppy. That's right. There are a lot of details in this criminal complaint and in the affidavit. The criminal complaint said that Officer Rosfeld, quote, "intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligent that caused the death of Antwon Rose, another human being." And this complaint, the affidavit that is attached to these charges cite several witnesses, several of whom restate or confirm that Antwon Rose's hands were empty as he fled the police vehicle Tuesday night of last week.

[10:40:05] The affidavit does say that there was an empty .9 millimeter Glock magazine found in Rose's pocket at the hospital. But what's interesting here is what we're learning from the officer, Officer Michael Rosfeld. He was interviewed on Friday by investigators and this is what he told him. He said, the front seat passenger, who was Antwon Rose, exited the car and he said turned his hand toward Rosfeld. Rosfeld said he saw something dark that he perceived as a gun but when investigators asked him again later in the interview Rosfeld told detectives he did not see a gun when the passenger emerged.

When he was confronted with this inconsistency, Officer Rosfeld said he saw something in the passenger's hand, but was not sure what it was. He also said he was not certain if the individual who had his arm pointed toward him was still pointing at him when he fired the shots. So that -- those are some of the details we are learning from this affidavit.

As you mentioned, Rosfeld was arrested and fingerprinted according to the criminal docket and we also have an interesting question that could come up at this press conference with the district attorney, Stephen Zappala, his spokesperson Mike Manko has said on the issue of bail, their office argued vigorously against the setting of bail in this case citing Pennsylvania law and so they disagreed with the judge's decision in this case to set bail for Michael Rosfeld.

HARLOW: OK. Athena Jones, thank you very much. Again we're going to hear from the D.A. in just moments and we'll carry it here for you, as well.

I'm joined by CNN law enforcement analyst, retired FBI supervisory special agent James Gagliano.

Nice to have you here. There's a lot to take through here. But just the manner of death, we've now learned, that it was the shot to his back of this unarmed 17-year-old black teenager that killed him.

JAMES GAGLIANO, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Sure. Complex cases, these things always are. As complicate said as these things always are and hopefully when the D.A. gives the press conference it will clear up the concerns that we have. A couple of things to stipulate. You have a 17-year-old kid whose family is grieving. We get that. It's a sober, sober situation.

Second of all, the police officer, and we'll get into some of the background of him in a second but the police officer was responding to a drive-by shooting, and within 15 minutes found a vehicle that matched the description that also had gunshots that apparently pierced the window in the side of the vehicle. As the officer calls in for assistance and then tries to prone out the three people in the vehicle which is the appropriate thing to do, two of them take off.

Now there's two court cases happening that are really going to guide whether or not these police officer has a leg to stand on. The first was a 1985 Tennessee versus Garner, which is the fleeing felon statute, which basically says did the officer shoot somebody from behind he was fleeing and who had committed in front of him some type of violent action.

HARLOW: Right.

GAGLIANO: We don't know if that happened. And there's nothing to say that there is.

HARLOW: No accounts says that that happened.

GAGLIANO: No account says that it had. The second is Graham versus Connor which basically says the objective reasonable standard. Would a reasonable person react the way that that officer did under the circumstances.

HARLOW: The inconsistency in the statements that this officer has given, let me put it up on the screen and just read this for you in full from the criminal complaint. Confronted with his inconsistency Rosfeld stated that he saw something in the passenger's hand, but was not sure what it was. In addition, Officer Rosfeld stated that he was not certain if the individual who had his arm pointed at him was still pointing it at him when the shots -- when he fired the shots. That's because he gave conflicting accounts about whether or not Antwon Rose had a gun.

That -- I mean, is that problematic?

GAGLIANO: Those inconsistencies are -- now having somebody -- being somebody that has been in those type of -- in extremist situations, meaning life or death situations, I can tell you that your recollections, your accountings, in the immediate aftermath are never consistent.

HARLOW: But you say life or death situations.

GAGLIANO: Yes.

HARLOW: I mean, we've seen the video here, you got Antwon Rose getting out of the car and fleeing it, not running towards the officer. So what do you mean? You mean -- what do you mean life or death for the office?

GAGLIANO: That situation, whether or not the officer saw something previous, whether when he pulled the car over.

HARLOW: OK.

GAGLIANO: He saw there were two weapons recovered and Antwon Rose had a magazine, a pistol magazine on his person. Does that give him the right to shoot him in the back?

HARLOW: No.

GAGLIANO: We can't say that right now without more facts coming out. Hopefully the D.A. will clear that up.

HARLOW: Right. Unarmed, but as you noted had this magazine. Thank you for being here.

GAGLIANO: Thanks, Poppy.

HARLOW: Again, we're going to hear from the D.A. in just minutes and you'll see it here live. So stick with us for that. Meantime, President Trump's national security adviser is in Russia today. He's in Moscow working out the details of a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin and President Trump. Next, how could that play out and what Putin said about U.S.-Russia relations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:49:09] HARLOW: All right. Breaking news. We've just learned that a summit between President Trump and President Putin will happen. We are expecting to get all of the details of it tomorrow.

Our senior diplomatic correspondent Michelle Kosinski has more details and this news comes, Michelle, of course as national security adviser John Bolton is in Russia and Moscow having a meeting with President Putin and the Ambassador Huntsman, as well. We know that Bolton has been very critical of Russia, very critical of Putin in the past. Something's changed?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN SENIOR DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT: Well, we'll see. We haven't heard a lot from Bolton on the subject since he's been in office as national security adviser. We have heard some things, though. For example, he talked about how, in his view, Russia has walked all over the Obama administration in the past, indicating that he felt like, you know, there should be a change-up in that relationship and he talked about how Russia needs to feel pain, and if the U.S. is going to impose sanctions it's going to need to make Putin feel pain.

[10:50:06] So here he is now meeting face to face with Putin. It all seems to be nice. Handshakes and cordial smiles, and cordial words talking about let's try to improve the relationship. All, of course, building up for what we now know will be a Trump-Putin summit.

We thought that we might hear details today because we're going to hear from John Bolton in a press conference not long from now. I think that will be interesting to hear what his tone is and what he says. We expect it to be mostly cordial and, you know, wanting to further the relationship. He's not going there to slam Russia and try to put things further back.

He wants to set the stage for a productive meeting between Putin and Trump, although we do know through sources that there are many within the State Department and the White House who aren't really sure at this point what could be accomplished from a Trump-Putin summit.

HARLOW: Right. Yes.

KOSINSKI: They see Trump as being the one who's really pushing this and that he wants the eyes of the world to be on him once again similar to the summit with Kim Jong-un.

HARLOW: That's a good point. I mean, I was just going to ask you, A, we don't know where it's going to be. I mean they're talking about Helsinki or Vienna.

KOSINSKI: Yes.

HARLOW: But that -- and additionally, do we have any indication from those in the White House who are supportive of this, Michelle, as to what the goal is of the summit? Is there a -- I mean, with North Korea, there is a goal to that summit.

KOSINSKI: Sure. Sure.

HARLOW: What about this one?

KOSINSKI: Yes. Well, we know that there's lots to discuss, I mean, trying to better the situation in Ukraine. Of course, Russia still controls Crimea. It's not always clear where the president stands on that and it was only really days ago after the G7 Summit in front of the U.S.' closest allies that Trump said Russia should rejoin and make it the G8 again. I mean, that was stunning to U.S. allies because they were kicked out as a punishment for taking over part of the Ukraine.

So we -- on some things we know where Trump stands, on others we don't. There is a lot of concern that if Trump does meet with Putin before the NATO summit which is coming up in July that he might give things away or he might make too fertile a ground for Putin to gain more sway, and allies are watching this, you know, wondering that why should he even be meeting with Putin first before NATO if that is the way that it goes?

HARLOW: Right. If it is. I mean, he also said it was President Obama's fault for losing Crimea, not Russia's fault for annexing Crimea.

Michelle Kosinski, thanks for the reporting, from the State Department.

Still ahead, what would cause these researchers in Antarctica to celebrate outside in sub-zero temperatures. Details ahead in the "Bleacher Report."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:57:29] HARLOW: On the brink of elimination, Argentina finds a way to survive and move on at the World Cup thanks to its star player.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Good morning. ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Poppy. How is it going.

After Argentina lost to Croatia, they had to have everything go right in order to advance out of the group stage and yesterday they had to beat Nigeria. And Nigeria, meanwhile, can move on with just a tie.

This "Bleacher Report" brought to you by Ford going further so you can.

And Messi finally showing up at this World Cup in this game. He came through with just a fantastic goal in the 14th minute to give Argentina the lead. Now Nigeria would even the score in the second half, on a penalty, so it became desperation time for Argentina and they're minutes away from their World Cup coming to an end in the 86th minute, Marquez Rojo, the goal the entire country will never forget.

Argentina fans in the stands just overcome with emotion. Some were crying, grown men even. Argentina legend Diego Maradona, he as holding up two fingers letting everyone know how many goals that Argentina has in the game. And check out this scene back in Buenos Aires when they scored the winning goal.

As you can see, it was just pandemonium. The celebration even going as far south as Antarctica. This research team going outdoors to celebrate the win in the sub-zero temperatures. Props to them.

All right. LeBron has until Friday to let the Cavs know if he's going to opt out of his contract to become a free agent. The Lakers remain the overwhelming favorite in Vegas to land LeBron. Lakers president of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson saying yesterday if he doesn't land the marquee free agent this summer or next he'll quit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAGIC JOHNSON, LOS ANGELES LAKERS PRESIDENT: This is going to be a two-summer thing for the Lakers, this summer and next summer. And that's it. And then if I can't deliver, I'm going to step down myself. You won't have to fire me, I'll step away from it, you know, because then I can't do this job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right, finally, check out the moves by Slugger, the mascot of the Portland Sea Dog smiling baseball team, the dirty dancing-inspired routine, part of '80s night and the music at one point just taking over the groundskeeper out there and they nailed the "Dirty Dancing" scene to perfection, Poppy, how about that? I think the Slugger --

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

HARLOW: I think you are right. That is spot on, my favorite movie back in the day.

Andy, thank you. Nice to be with you today. And thank you all for being with us, I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. I

will see you tomorrow morning. "AT THIS HOUR" with Kate Bolduan begins right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.