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New Day

Escaped Killers Shot and Captured; Strom Thurmond's Son On Confederate Flag Fight. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired June 29, 2015 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Is dead, as we know. David Sweat was captured. The three week manhunt is over, but there are big questions remaining. David Sweat has answers that they want. There's a prosecution that's going to take place. We have the Clinton County district attorney. He's telling us the way ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: So the greatest escape is over, but not the investigation and not the case. We now know that the convicted killer, David Sweat, is in an Albany hospital, critically injured, supposedly talking a little bit after being shot twice by a state trooper who spotted him very close to the Canadian border. So, what's going to happen with him? What's going to happen with this investigation going forward?

Let's bring in Andrew Wylie. He's the district attorney of Clinton County, home to the maximum security prison that Sweat and Richard Matt escaped from.

Thank you very much, Mr. District Attorney, for joining us this morning.

ANDREW WYLIE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CLINTON COUNTY, N.Y.: Good morning.

CUOMO: We know that you have to make a case for the escape. Escape itself is a low-level felony, but you're going ahead with it anyway, why?

[08:35:00] WYLIE: Well, we have to - we have to have some finality here. There's - there's never any closure on the actual original charges that Sweat has, he's been convicted of murder. He's serving a life without parole sentence. But we don't want a federal judge down the road to make a decision that something went wrong with that trial or that plea that he entered and overturn that conviction.

But notwithstanding that, we need to go forward with the escape charge. We need to have the sentence imposed by a court in the sense that what it will do is it will limit the liberties, let's say, that David Sweat will have in the future with the Department of Correctional Services.

CUOMO: And that's a very valid point. So let's take a step down that road for a second. What you want now is for this guy to tell you how they got out, who helped them, how they planned it, et cetera. What can you do, in prosecuting your case, to help get those answers? WYLIE: Well, there's certainly no type of plea bargain, I think, that

- that we could - we can put out there. As I said, he has his life without parole sentence. So he has charges here in Clinton County. He has potential charges in Franklin County relative to the burglaries. It may be just a situation where we made the inquiries of David Sweat. We learned the information that he provides us, which the Department of Corrections, obviously, wants information. They want answers as well relative to how this escape occurred. And so on that end, whatever benefit that may be for David Sweat, only the time will tell.

CUOMO: How do you coordinate these not divergent but, you know, concurrent efforts. They want to talk to them. You want to prosecute a case. You have to worry about him wanting to dummy up because he's going to get a lawyer and then they may not want him to talk because he's got this - this case hanging over his head for the escape, although it is a fait accompli.

WYLIE: Right.

CUOMO: l how do you balance the interests in here with the investigators?

WYLIE: Well, my primary concern, obviously, from here on forward is to put together at least the basic, solid case that we need to have for the escape charge. Putting together all the information that's been obtained over the last three and a half weeks or so of this case. Getting that ready for a grand jury presentment and future trial or should Sweat take a plea down the road, that would, obviously, alleviate the need for a trial. But working with corrections, the governor's office, with the internal - or the inspector general's office, we need to coordinate each and every step to ensure that aspect of the investigation goes smoothly as well as our prosecution.

CUOMO: Is - is the escape itself from the prison under your jurisdiction? And, if so, do you anticipate any more arrests?

WYLIE: The escape is under my office's jurisdiction, as far as it occurring here in Clinton County. So, yes, the Clinton County district attorney's office is prosecuting David Sweat relative to that, as well as the underlying charges against Joyce Mitchell and Gene Palmer. We are working in a continued collaborative effort with the Department of Corrections, with the governor's office to conduct further investigations as to if any other individuals were involved in the escape process. And that's one of the things that if we can speak with David Sweat, if he's willing to speak with us, we may learn more details about.

CUOMO: There's word coming out of that area that they don't expect any more arrests. They have who they can get at this point. Is that premature? Would you tell people to wait before they says that this is over?

WYLIE: Definitely. It's an ongoing investigation. This aspect of the manhunt being completed yesterday afternoon with the extraordinary efforts of Sergeant Cook have brought that aspect to an end. But we are now continuing and moving forward with the ongoing investigation relative to how the escape happened and who was involved.

CUOMO: Thank you very much, sir. We look forward to the fruits of the investigation and the prosecution to come. Appreciate you being on NEW DAY.

WYLIE: Thank you very much.

CUOMO: Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Chris, another big story, the debate over the confederate flag far from over. Next, we speak with the son of famed segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond. What does he think?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:43:44] CAMEROTA: Time now for the five things to know for your NEW DAY.

New York prison escapee David Sweat shot twice and captured near the Canadian border after a three-week manhunt. He is hospitalized in critical condition. This comes two days after Richard Matt was killed by police.

And Greece taking drastic action to prevent its teetering economy from collapsing. Government officials confirming that banks will be closed all weekend. There's also a withdraw limit of 60 euros at ATMs.

Senior U.S. officials say a nuclear deal with Iran will not be reached before tomorrow's deadline. Negotiators will keep talking in Vienna past Tuesday but officials insist any extension will not be long.

Crews working to determine what prompted the unmanned dragon rocket by SpaceX to explode. This happened Sunday shortly after takeoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Some critical research equipment was lost.

And the road comes to Wimbledon today. Serena Williams goes for her sixth win at the all-England club, and third grand slam title this year. Defending champion is the top seed on the men's side Djokovic.

CUOMO: Djokovic.

CAMEROTA: No, not Djokovic. With an assist from Chris - Chris - Chris, is it, Cuomo?

CUOMO: Chris Cuomo.

CAMEROTA: Cuomo.

Those are the five things you need to know. Go to newdaycnn.com for the latest if you'd like to know more.

[08:45:02] CUOMO: NEW DAY.

CAMEROTA: NEW DAY. Including pronunciation.

CUOMO: One word. CAMEROTA: Thank you.

CUOMO: All right. Here is a question for you. Does the Confederate flag represent hate or heritage or both? We're going ask South Carolina Senator Paul Thurmond. Name sounds familiar? It should. Son of segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond. What does he think? What would his father think?

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am, get off the pole.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am. Ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down off the pole.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come down off the pole.

BRITTANY NEWSOME, ACTIVIST: You come against me with hatred and oppression and violence. I come against you in the name of God. This flag comes down today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: All right. That was activist Brittany Newsome. She was arrested in South Carolina this weekend after removing the Confederate flag outside of the State House. This is just the latest chapter in the debate over whether that flag should come down for good.

Republican State Senator Paul Thurmond is the son of former U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond, a devout segregationist, during some of his 47 years in the Senate; one of the longest tenures - the longest - in history.

Senator Thurmond, thanks for being here.

PAUL THURMOND (R), SOUTH CAROLINA STATE SENATE: Alisyn, thank you for having me today.

CAMEROTA: It is fascinating to talk to you, in particular, because of your father's history and his support of segregation for some time. What do you think of the flag, the Confederate flag, flying in South Carolina?

[08:50:02] THURMOND: Well, it has been a very divisive issue for the state, and unfortunately it's been used by some of these hate groups to continue their position of racism and bigotry.

CAMEROTA: Do you think it should come down? THURMOND: As a result -- I think it should come down. I voiced that

opinion both by standing with the governor on Monday and also by giving a speech to my colleagues on Tuesday to encourage them to vote to have the opportunity to bring it down. I think we'll have that opportunity probably within about a week or so.

CAMEROTA: What do you think your father would say about whether the flag should still fly at the State House grounds?

THURMOND: Well, I'll tell you that I found my father's position as he raised me to not be one of hatred and racial prejudice. He taught me to treat all people equally, to love all people, to be a man of character and courage and integrity. That's what I'm bringing to the table.

Certainly, I'm well aware of some of the positions that he took in the '40s and '50s, but I'm also well aware of some of the positions that he took in the '80s and the '70s. That was a redeeming quality in regards to his position on segregation and race.

CAMEROTA: I mean, his position certainly evolved, as have so many there in South Carolina and beyond. But it sounds like what you're saying -- Well, correct me if I'm wrong. There are people who say that this flag is not about racism. It's not about hatred. It's been co-opted by some hateful groups. Let me read to you supporters of the flag.

They say, of course, someone has taken our flag and abused it for hate. We understand that I can't do anything about that. But you shouldn't erase my history and my heritage because of some unknown person who doesn't use good judgment. It's been condemned by many people. It's been abused by many people. But the true spirit behind the flag will never die. Do you think that's how your father felt?

THURMOND: Well, again, I'm not going to try to guess exactly how my father felt. I think that I'm proud of my heritage. I'm proud of the people that gave me the opportunity to live. I'm proud of what they built, but I'm not proud of the positions they took in regards to the enslaving of other human beings, and that was the opportunity that I had to tell my colleagues on Tuesday and that's how I feel.

This flag, whether it is cooperated or whether it is representative of the Civil War, is something that, at this time, it's a divisive issue, it's a roadblock for us to grow and it needs to come down. We also need to continue the conversation. I don't think that this one act will resolve everything, but it's a step in the right direction. As a legislator and somebody that represents close to 100,000 people in South Carolina, my job is to speak my heart and my mind, and to advocate for us as a state to move forward.

CAMEROTA: You know we just showed that video of the activist who took it upon herself. She climbed the flag pole and brought the flag down herself because she was tired of waiting for lawmakers to act. I know that you think that that's not the answer. In fact, you think that that might even hurt the cause. How? THURMOND: I do. And I'll tell you there are some that are on the

fence, some in the legislature that are -- have not come to the belief that this is appropriate. And so acts like this of civil disobedience, even though they are peaceful in nature and they're not, you know, harming -- physically harming people, are an excuse. They will create an opportunity for people to simply say I'm not wanting to encourage more behavior like this.

My hope is that all sides allow us to have a debate, allow us to have a discussion, and allow it to move forward. I believe the votes are there for us to move forward, but I would certainly encourage your viewers, especially your viewers in South Carolina, to reach out to the legislature and encourage them appropriately as you see fit to bring the flag down.

CAMEROTA: Right. That's democracy in action. Some people believe that it will come down and the timing might even be Forth of July.

Senator Paul Thurmond, thank you so much for being on NEW DAY this morning.

THURMOND: Alisyn, thank you for having me.

CAMEROTA: What is your take on all of us? You can tweet us using #newdayCNN or post your comment on Facebook.com/newday. We look forward to reading your comments on the flag.

Let's go to Chris.

[08:55:01] CUOMO: All right, Alisyn. A man cutting down a tree becomes a hero in an instant. Cutting down a tree? Oh, no, no, no. That's why it's "The Good Stuff." Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: In a former life, Alisyn Camerota cut down trees for a certain New Jersey municipality --

CAMEROTA: No.

CUOMO: So she will find this very interesting. This is what happened. There was a tree specialist who is now going to add the new title of hero. James Morgan, that's his name. What's he doing? He is cutting down a tree. That's what he does. So he looks over, he sees smoke pouring out of a nearby Sungarden senior's home. What does he do? Nothing. No. He does everything! He comes down from the tree, kicks in a door!

CAMEROTA: What?

CUOMO: This is the genius. He finds a burning electrical panel. What does he do? He turns off all of the breakers stopping the fire --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES MORGAN, TREE CUTTER: I have a grandpa in a place like this and that's why I was thinking about - I wouldn't want somebody to let him burn up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: He's a hero and he's a man who feels. Got to respect him. Officials say if James hadn't flipped those breakers, the whole building would have gone up. That's what they say.

CAMEROTA: Oh my gosh.

[09:00:00] CUOMO: So meanwhile, the flames are out, everybody is OK. You know what James does?

CAMEROTA: What?

CUOMO: He doesn't stay around for any kudos. He's got a job to do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: We just went back to work and finished up what we had to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Oh my gosh. What a sweet guy. And a hero. That's a great story.