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Eric Holder to Step Down; Obama's New Image: Wartime President; Jeb Bush Wrestles with 2016 Decision; Ferguson Police Chief Speaks Out; Officer Shoots Unarmed Man On Dash Cam

Aired September 26, 2014 - 07:30   ET

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

JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Chuck Grassley, more of an establishment Republican figure, but then Ted Cruz, who has been known to make his points on the Senate floor and hold things up if necessary, he says the same thing. He says, "Allowing Democratic senators, many of whom likely will have been just defeated at the polls, to confirm Holder's successor will be an abuse of power that should not be countenanced."

JULIE PACE, "ASSOCIATED PRESS": What's so interesting about this is yesterday there was this theory that Republicans dislike Eric Holder so much that if he said he was going to step down whenever his successor was confirmed that they would just rush to confirm him someone so that they could get him out.

But clearly from these comments you see that Republicans want to take a vote, they want to have their say. This is an important position, someone who can be potentially very controversial and they -- if they think they can influence that pick, they want to have the votes.

MAEVE RESTON, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": And let's be honest, Republicans like the fight, right? Holder has given them a lot to talk about over the time that he's been in office and so it will be really tricky for the president. And also just the timing alone, do you ram someone through and try to get someone in or just wait and have a bigger fight.

KING: The White House says the president is not ready to make the pick. But he's known since the summer that Eric Holder is preparing to head for the door. So I don't think we'll have to wait as long as some are suggesting.

Let's move on. I want to show you an image, if you get the "Economist" magazine, look at this this morning, the president of course launching airstrikes in Syria, in addition to Iraq.

Speaking to the United Nations this week telling leaders around the world, you have to pick sides and join the United States. He says in this fight against terrorist groups and iconic image. We can go back and show what that's based on.

That of course was George W. Bush when he went on the aircraft carrier with the famous, now infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner. This is certainly not the closing chapter that he envisioned when he ran for the presidency six years ago. PACE: It is just so striking to see, to see that image and to draw these comparisons. They say that yes, we are back in Iraq. We are opening a military campaign in Syria. But that everyone needs to understand that this is much different than what Bush did.

These are airstrikes at this point. Even when they talk about having troops on the ground. They're not talking about large combat missions, but that is a substantial difference and that people should be aware of that.

At the same time, you know, Iraq was something that the president wanted to leave behind. He thought he had left it behind and the fact that we are there in some capacity militarily is very striking.

KING: He says no boots on the ground, but you still have another American president defined as a war-time president launching airstrikes in a very unpredictable Middle East.

RESTON: Obviously this has been a really difficult issue on the campaign trail and I think to Julie's point, it's not necessarily true that Americans see a huge difference in the current struggle that we're engaged in and the one in the past.

And obviously there's so much resistance to ground troops in a combat role. But the administration's hand really may get forced further down the line because we have a lot of people on the Republican side who are saying you're never going to win unless you have a much stronger effort in here.

KING: If nothing else takes up a lot of the oxygen when it comes to the president's foreign policy. What did we learn this week? I asked the question of these two smart ladies about Jeb Bush.

We've been wondering will Jeb Bush run for president in 2016. He was more active this week finally hitting the campaign trail in North Carolina, told reporters this is more of a family decision than a political decision. We know his wife has long been opposed to high- profile role.

RESTON: This is the one case where that's actually probably really true.

KING: Did we get any hints? He was out there and our friend, Jonathan Martin writing in "The New York Times," a few bumps and bruises, some of his positions are not in sync on immigration, for example, and education standards with the Republican base. Is that something that will draw Jeb Bush to the debate? Does he want to have that fight or does he say, no, never mind?

RESTON: It was so interesting that he was bold enough this week on the campaign trail to really dive into the issues that are going to be his biggest problems with the Republican base. Common core, the education standards and immigration.

And you know, when you're out there on the trail in Iowa, New Hampshire, you mentioned Jeb Bush's name to voters and some people literally recoil. I mean, there is really a lot of animosity in the base toward his position on those issues.

And we all think of him you know in donors talk about him as the savior that could drop into the race and raise all this money. He's going to have huge issues and we saw that this week, but apparently he is willing to take them on to some extent.

PACE: And I think that's going to be the question, he came out this week and he stood by issues that he -- that he believes in and that he feels strongly on and got a somewhat lukewarm reaction. If he decides to move forward, are we going to see him in these positions?

KING: Does he want to be part of the policy struggle that will be the 2016 nominating contest. I think that's the interesting point. Happy Friday, Julie and Maeve. Thanks for coming in.

Mr. Cuomo, as I get back to you in New York, I'm sure Mr. Berman, my fellow Red Sox nation member agrees with me, amen for Derek Jeter last night. What a story-book ending at Yankee Stadium. I respect him enormously for saying he'll play at least a little bit this weekend at Fenway in his farewell.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, I think that's a very big of you, John King. I think certain things are bigger than the game itself. Derek Jeter would be one of them. So I appreciate you being that way as a Red Sox fan especially. You're a good man, John King and I hope you have a good weekend.

KING: We'll miss Derek Jeter on the field.

CUOMO: Derek Jeter is the real deal. He said his favorite moment in playing baseball, what he loves the most is touching home plate to help his team. Think about that, John Berman.

All right, well, of course, you can watch John King, a good man, on "INSIDE POLITICS" this Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. on CNN.

Now we've been trying to keep you focused on Ferguson because the situation is far from over. What you're looking at right now is the police chief in the middle of angry demonstrators. This is what's still going on in Missouri.

This is after the chief apologized to Michael Brown's family. Doesn't mean he's ready to resign or anything like that even though they're asking for his job. We'll bring you the latest.

And stunning video raising a lot of questions this morning, watch this, South Carolina state trooper, shooting an unarmed black man during a traffic stop. He actually discuss it during the incident. We'll show you what happened and you decide.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Breaking overnight, tensions boiling over in Ferguson, Missouri. Again, as protesters called for the police chief's job -- again. Last night, Chief Tom Jackson addressed the crowd, even tried marching with demonstrators, this happened just hours after issuing a public apology for his actions following the Michael Brown shooting.

However when he was in that crowd, as you can see, a scuffle broke out behind him, several protesters were arrested. Earlier, CNN's Ana Cabrera spoke with Jackson in a CNN exclusive. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we going to do to get justice because you see the whole Ferguson is (inaudible) in an uproar. The whole city in an uproar.

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a tense standoff overnight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So -- do we have a lynch mob?

CABRERA: Protesters taking to the streets again in Ferguson. This time, chanting outside the police station. Police Chief Tom Jackson coming out to address the crowd and trying to answer their questions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What y'all going to do to help us? I got to die to make sure nothing (inaudible) brother don't go? I will right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want me to do? What do you want me to do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you mean, what I --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want me to do?

CABRERA: The protest ultimately turning more chaotic -- with multiple protesters arrested.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have rights! We try to get unity and this what y'all do!

CABRERA: All this, just hours after the chief gave this apology.

CHIEF TOM JACKSON, FERGUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT: I want to say to any peaceful protester who do not feel I did enough to protect their constitutional right to protest, I'm sorry for that.

CABRERA: In hopes of calming the community.

JACKSON: I want to say this to the Brown's family, no one who has not experienced the loss of a child can understand what you're feeling. I'm truly sorry for the loss of your son. I'm also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street.

CABRERA: It's the first time embattled Chief Jackson has publicly said I'm sorry in the nearly seven weeks since unarmed teenager Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.

(on camera): You issued an apology video.

JACKSON: I did.

CABRERA: Why did it take so long for that to happen?

JACKSON: Well, there's been so much going on and every day there's been a different challenge ever since August 9th. This is something that's just been weighing on me. Something that needed to be said. Should have been said a long time ago.

It's never been the intention of the Ferguson Police Department or of any police department that I know of, to intentionally target individuals because of race. If there is that happening, it's a crime and it needs to be addressed.

CABRERA: Jackson had hoped Thursday's apology would lead to a fresh beginning.

CABRERA: I know there are residents who are worried. Are you worried?

JACKSON: No. I'm not worried. I think we can manage this. I think we can come out much better than we started.

CABRERA (voice-over): But as last night's protests showed, this community has a long way to go toward healing. Ana Cabrera, CNN, Ferguson, Missouri.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: The point is far from over in that situation and we will stay on it. However, there was another shooting of an unarmed black man to tell you about. This time in South Carolina. It's all on video. You can watch for yourself. The state trooper pulls the man over during a routine traffic stop and this happens. Why? A lot of questions, we'll get you some answers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: All right, we have to talk about this this morning. A South Carolina state trooper is facing serious charges, potentially 20 years in prison after he shot this unarmed man during a traffic stop for an alleged seat belt violation.

The whole thing caught on this police officer's patrol car dash cam. We'll play it for you. A heads up to you at home, this may be tough for you to watch. But I can tell you at the end, Jones survived the shooting. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May I see your license, please? Get out of the car! Get out of car! Get on the ground! Get on the ground!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just got my license, you asked for my license, I grabbed the license right here. That's my license, right there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put your hands behind your back. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did I do, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you hit?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so. I can't feel my leg. I don't know what happened. Why did you shoot me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You dove head-first back into your car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Why did you shoot me? I'm sorry. The officer has been fired. Let me get that out there and he has been charged with aggravated assault and battery. But let's have a big discussion about this.

Mo Ivory, radio host and attorney joins me, and also Paul Callan, CNN legal analyst and former New York City homicide prosecutor. So welcome to both of you.

I mean, I've seen it a few times now, it sort of makes you sick to the stomach to watch. I want to begin with your visceral reaction to this piece of video. Mo, first to you.

MO IVORY, ATTORNEY AND RADIO HOST: I wasn't really surprised when I saw it, and Brooke, I'm not shocked because I don't think this is the first time that we've seen graphic video of an officer shooting a suspect. What I'm so happy about is there was the video and there was swift movement.

We've seen these kind of videos before, but what we haven't seen is swift movement towards doing something to these officers that are obviously using excessive force. So what I was pleased about was that we're telling this story and we're finally seeing some action against a police officer.

But this is obviously not in isolated incident or something that we know, we know isn't going on in the streets every day.

BALDWIN: Just another example as we talk especially in the wake of what happened in Ferguson, the need for body cameras, the need for these patrol cameras, the dash cams, which we'll get to in a minute. But Paul Callan, your response watching it?

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: One of the most shocking videos I've ever seen of a police misconduct.

BALDWIN: Really.

CALLAN: It is because --

BALDWIN: Wow.

CALLAN: He's firing directly into the chest of this innocent victim who, by the way, was just obeying the officer's order to go for his license. It's almost like the officer is on autopilot. Once he start -- pulls the trigger the first time he can't stop himself.

So it's just a really very disturbing film and obviously South Carolina authorities moved quickly unlike Ferguson, by the way, where things have stalled I think and the public has become upset about the case.

BALDWIN: So staying with you, though, and it's pretty stunning I think just to hear you in all your years saying this is one of the worst pieces of video you've seen. We know this officer has been charged with aggravated assault and battery, carries up to 20 years in prison.

His boss says he didn't follow protocol. There wasn't the threat he perceived had existed. Yet, you said before the segment started there is no slam dunk in criminal law.

CALLAN: No, there isn't. I'll give you an example of it. The last time I saw a tape it wasn't as bad as this, but you remember Rodney King in California, surrounded by police officers, clubbed him, kicked him, beat him. That case went to trial before a California jury and no convictions in the case by a state jury, despite the compelling nature of that video. Later on there were convictions in a subsequent federal case. I would be surprised if this case doesn't result in a conviction.

BALDWIN: OK, Mo, you say you weren't necessarily surprised by it. Of course, we've watched multiple incidents of young men being shot unarmed men being shot and a lot of times killed. Fortunately, for this man he was treated and released from the hospital.

But it is another example of I don't know if it's lack of training among police officers, which we talked about so much in the wake of Ferguson or also the fact that this is one example where there happened to be a dash cam camera rolling.

IVORY: Right. And a dash cam rolling and also not the cell phones of people who sort of just were in the area, which always seems to discredit when it starts to cycle and the story begins to cycle, but I was shocked to hear Paul say that's one of the most shocking videos.

To me no more shocking than Eric Garner being choked out by police officers in the middle of the street while he was begging for his life. We've seen plenty of examples of these video whoever was taking the video to know we have a serious problem.

Again, you were right, we don't know, Paul, what is going to happen to this officer once the trial starts, but what I was pleased to see was that he was immediately fired because many times officers aren't even fired even when they are arrested and they go to jail. They're still wade on administrative leave. I was pleased to see he was fired and goes to trial.

CALLAN: Police officers like suspects in other criminal cases have due process rights as well. You have an arrest quickly when you have compelling, clear evidence. You cited that choke hold case that is still under investigation in New York.

IVORY: Right and the officer has not been arrested.

CALLAN: There was no video camera in that, a cell phone video that only showed part of the incident.

BALDWIN: An issue of force I understand, Mo, what you're getting at, but it is different and let me point out --

IVORY: No, the autopsy showing that he was choke hold and that was the reason for his death.

CALLAN: We're talking the video of the incident not the autopsy.

BALDWIN: We'll be watching to see what happens with this officer, here he was fired potentially could face 20 years in prison and this is also someone who received a Medal of Valor in 2012 from the state of South Carolina.

It's just incredible how one incident can change really the rest of your life for not just him, but the victim here as well. Mo Ivory, thank you very much. Paul Callan, thank you.

CALLAN: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Moving along this morning, new fears about terror plots against the United States, new air strikes are launched both in Iraq and Syria, what authorities are saying now and this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN, Anthony Bourdain, travels to Shanghai in the season premiere of "PARTS UNKNOWN" and he realizes he has a lot to learn apparently about Chinese culture and cuisine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST, "PARTS UNKNOWN": Shanghai. Whatever you think of China, whatever you think you think of China, there's no way around it's one of the most dynamic, exciting, fast-changing places on earth. I'd like to know a lot about China. I'd like to know everything about China.

If I've learned anything it's that there's not enough time to even be reasonably conversational on the subject. See I've already learned something important here. It's just too big, too old, too deep, when you're confronted with this impossibly steep learning curve, that's fun.

And the food, did I mention the food? What I do know about Chinese food? Really? I know nothing. Other than it's really, really tasty. Delicious! And I want more of it. Lots more.

(END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: High alert, cities ramping up security across the country after the Iraqi prime minister says subways could be attacked. The U.S., however, balking at the claims, but the FBI director's pointing to a far more real threat. We have the latest.

BALDWIN: And breaking overnight, the Pentagon confirming more airstrikes overnight. What were the targets this time this as Britain's parliament is debating right now as to whether they want to join the fight.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, protests and arrests in Ferguson, Missouri. The police chief arguing with protesters trying to calm the crowd, this just hours after his apology to the community. We'll have that dramatic standoff.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY continues right now.

Good morning. Welcome back to NEW DAY. It is Friday, September 26th, 8:00 in the east. Brooke Baldwin is here.