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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Trump Rally Underway in Virginia; Romney: Can't Endorse Trump's "Bigotry", "Racist Approach"; Trump And Clinton Trade Jabs In Dueling Speeches; New Round Of Attacks From Trump, Clinton; Has Trump Been Reined In By GOP?; Sen. Elizabeth Warren Reaffirms Role As Key Trump Foe; VP Talks Continues Swirl Around Sen. Warren; Clinton Donor Placed On Powerful Intel Board; FBI Investigates Emails About CIA Drone Program; Trump U And Florida's AG; Paying Homage To Muhammad Ali. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired June 10, 2016 - 20:00   ET

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

[20:00:09] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening. John Berman here, in for Anderson.

Donald Trump will be speaking very shortly at a rally in Richmond, Virginia. You're looking at live pictures of this rally right now. He is set to take the stage at any moment.

You will notice. There's no teleprompter on this stage so presumably Donald Trump will be speaking off the cuff and unscripted. This is his first rally since the final voting for Republicans this past Tuesday, also his first unscripted rally since the huge controversy surrounding his comments over Judge Gonzalo Curiel. What will he say? We will watch and bring it to you when it happens.

Whatever does happen on the stage, it caps quite a day. Whether it's more Clinton e-mail revelations, more questions about Trump University, new reporting on Elizabeth Warren's meeting with Hillary Clinton and her vice presidential possibilities and both candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton speaking out, offering red meat to hungry base voters. Quite a day, and it all ended with attacks for Mitt Romney on Donald Trump as a threat, as he says it's just about everything this country stands for.

The last Republican nominee weighing in for the first time since Donald Trump became the current presumptive nominee.

So, we begin with Mitt Romney sitting down today with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Will you consider, last ditch, running?

MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, that's something I'm not going to be doing. I'd like to see someone run, but I think that's not very likely. And reason for that, of course, is that it's almost impossible for a third party candidate to receive the 270 electoral votes that are necessary to actually become president, or to stop Hillary Clinton or Trump from getting the necessary 270. I think you're not going to find a credible candidate actually running

as a third party contender.

BLITZER: So there's no possibility.

ROMNEY: I'm not planning on doing that and have no intention to do that. I myself will not be voting for either one of them. I just can't bring myself to vote for Hillary Clinton. I don't think the policies that she promotes are right for the country, and Mr. Trump I think is too great a departure from the values of our country for me to sign up as a voter for him either.

So, I'll be writing in someone else's name, probably another Republican.

BLITZER: Isn't that sort of -- you write in some other name that has no chance. Isn't that copping out of your responsibility?

ROMNEY: Well, my responsibility was to express to the American people what I believe is right about the potential nominee of the party, and I did so very plainly and clearly, and the people who made the choice decided to go a different direction. That's their right.

But as an individual, I simply can't put my name down as someone who voted for principles that suggest racism or xenophobia, misogyny, bigotry, who has been vulgar time and time again, the recent attack on Judge Curiel, a racist approach is one which I think says to me, I can't be part of that. I will not sign up for that. I don't want to be associated with that in any way, shape or form.

BLITZER: Are you disappointed Paul Ryan has endorsed?

ROMNEY: I wish everybody in the Republican Party had rejected Mr. Trump and chosen someone else. But my choice is different than that of other people. I am not going to argue with them about their choice. Their view is that Secretary Clinton would so dramatically change the nature of the Supreme Court that that represents a threat to our future. I understand that perspective. But I find that compelling, but also the Donald Trump failures also compelling.

BLITZER: Should Paul Ryan take back that endorsement?

ROMNEY: Look, I wish every Republican who supported Mr. Trump said I made a mistake, let's go a different direction.

But that's not going to happen. The people have spoken. And we're going to have Donald Trump as the Republican nominee.

BLITZER: How can you square what you say racist comments, xenophobia, misogyny, all of these other things, how can you square that with voting in favor of that candidate?

ROMNEY: Well, I can't. That's why I reached the decision I have.

And over the coming campaign, Mr. Trump will probably be able to adjust his rhetoric and follow the script of a written speech in such a way that he won't be quite as offensive on value issues as he has been in the past. But unfortunately what he said already demonstrates who he is and the nature of the character of the man, and for me that's something that will not be erased by rhetoric in the coming months.

BLITZER: You don't believe he can change?

ROMNEY: Oh, I believe he can change his rhetoric. I believe he can hide who he is, but I believe that who he is has been revealed by his lifetime and by the words in the campaign he has spoken to this point.

BLITZER: So, you don't think he should get a pass if he stops talking about Judge Curiel.

ROMNEY: Well, everyone else could make their assessment.

[20:05:02] But he's he indicated what he believes in his heart about Mexicans and about race by the comments he made about Judge Curiel, and he may try and distance himself from that today, but we know what he believes based on what he said. By the way, he didn't say it once. It wasn't a slip of the tongue which he went back and apologized for. First of all, he has repeated it time and time again, and secondly, he has never apologized for it. So, he obviously sticks by what he believes.

BLITZER: What would he have to do to win your support?

ROMNEY: Well, I don't think there's anything I am looking for from Mr. Trump to give him my support. He's demonstrated who he is and I decided that a person of that nature should not be the one who if you will become the example for coming generations or the example of Americans of the world.

Look, I don't -- I don't want to see trickle-down racism. I don't want to see a president of the United States saying things which change the character of the generations of Americans that are following. Presidents have an impact on the nature of our nation, and trickle-down racism, trickle-down bigotry, trickle-down misogyny, all these things are extraordinarily dangerous to the heart and character of America.

And so, I'm not -- I'm not looking for Mr. Trump to change a policy that more aligns with my own. This is not a matter of just policy. It's more a matter of character and integrity.

BLITZER: Do you think he is racist?

ROMNEY: Oh, I think his comments time and again appeal to the racist tendency that exists in some people and I think that's very dangerous.

BLITZER: Bottom line: who would be worse for the country as president of the United States, Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?

ROMNEY: Both have enormous drawbacks. I'm not going to choose which one is worse. I have expressed views about both of them. This is a critical time for our country and we are in an unfortunate position. BLITZER: And this third party Libertarian candidate, the former New

Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, would you consider supporting him?

ROMNEY: Well, I'm going to look at what he has to say. His running mate Bill Weld is someone I respect enormously.

BLITZER: Republican governor of Massachusetts.

ROMNEY: Exactly. He was a fine governor, fine friend, supporter of mine both in 2008 and 2012. If Bill Weld were at the top of the ticket, it would be very easy to vote for Bill Weld for president.

So I'll get to know Gary Johnson better, see if he is someone I could end up voting for. That's something which I'll evaluate over the coming weeks and months.

BLITZER: So, you're not necessarily ruling out that possibility?

ROMNEY: I'm not ruling that out.

BLITZER: And changing the rules to have an open convention, you don't think that's realistic?

ROMNEY: I don't think that's realistic. I sympathize with people that say, gosh, we would love to see a different nominee than Donald Trump, he doesn't share our views on issues in many, many cases and he doesn't have the personal qualities we think are appropriate for president. I happen to subscribe to that point of view, but I think changing the rules and denying him the nomination at this point is not likely to happen.

BLITZER: What does it say that almost half the Republicans that voted in the primaries and caucuses supported Donald Trump? What does it say about your party?

ROMNEY: It says the people of America are angry and in some respects feel a good deal of resentment. I think they're angry Washington has not gotten the job done and they don't know exactly where to point and who it is to blame, and I think in my own view President Obama shares the -- has the lion's share, rather, of the blame for the fact we have not had leadership in Washington necessary to actually accomplish great things that need to be done in our country.

BLITZER: Do you regret not throwing your hat in the ring?

ROMNEY: No. I thought it was time for someone new. I'm glad I wasn't out there with Donald Trump --

BLITZER: What about with hindsight?

ROMNEY: Look, I wish there had been somebody that stopped Mr. Trump, had I been in the race, I can assure you, I would have taken him on. I'm sure he believes he would have been able to be successful pushing me aside, just like he did others in part because I would be seen as an establishment Republican, but I don't spend a lot of time looking back, and trying to rethink decisions that were made. BLITZER: He went after you including just a couple of weeks ago, what

he said about you, blistering words.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Once a choker, always a choker. I was nasty about it. So, now, as retribution, Donald Trump shouldn't run. He walks like a penguin on the stage, ever see him, like a penguin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: He called you a choker. When you hear those words from the man who is now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, you think of your grandchildren, what do you say to them when they hear that?

ROMNEY: Well, I don't know that they have any particular concern about what Mr. Trump is saying. He reminds me of what was said in elementary school and I think that's one of the things people find -- some people find it refreshing, others find it to be quite troubling that someone would engage in elementary characterize other people. Refreshing, others find it to be quite troubling that someone would engage in elementary theatrics to attack and characterize other people.

[20:10:06] BLITZER: You say there's a bombshell in his income tax returns, he is refusing to make those public. He says he is being audited. He can't do that right now.

What do you think he is trying to hide?

ROMNEY: Well, I think he was in some respects correct when he said, you know, if I went on Fifth Avenue and shot someone, people would still support me, but I think he has calculated he could get support even if he shot someone, but if he released his taxes, he would lose support. So, there's something in the taxes that's worse than shooting someone on Fifth Avenue.

That suggests there could be all sorts of things that could be troubling there.

BLITZER: Like what?

ROMNEY: Your imagination can run wild. He doesn't pay taxes. He doesn't have much income. He's receiving income from unsavory sources, ownership in enterprises perhaps associated with unsavory enterprises or nations or groups. Who knows what it can be?

There's no question in my mind, he will never release his tax returns. He will follow one excuse after the other to say, well, he can't and he will never release them, because there's something in there that him than shooting someone on Fifth Avenue. And I think the American people have every right to see what that is.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BERMAN: Wow. You can bet people are talking about this interview and so are we. We will bring in the political panel next.

And later, what Clinton and Trump are doing not to woo independents but to fire up the base. And remember, Donald Trump speaking tonight in Richmond, Virginia, no teleprompter. So, can Donald Trump stay on message and away from more comments about the judge? We'll discuss that.

And later, remember the man who said he was the greatest, then spent the rest of his life in so many ways to so many people proving it. Today, remarkable tributes to Muhammad Ali.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:15:37] BERMAN: All right. We are waiting to hear from Donald Trump. You're looking at live pictures tonight from Richmond, Virginia. This is his first major rally and his first time off teleprompter and presumably off the cuff of the controversy surrounding comments about the judge.

Before the break, you heard Mitt Romney heaped scorn on Donald Trump, and yet, as you also heard, for all of the threat Trump poses to the party and country, he is still, Romney, refusing to do more than write in a name come November that is not Romney or not Clinton.

Mitt Romney is still declining to put his own name forward as an alternative. On the other hand, he is not completely totally 100 percent ruling it out. It all makes for great conversation.

Joining us tonight, New York political anchor Errol Louis, who has covered Donald Trump for years, Patrick Healey, national political correspondent for "The New York Times," Clinton supporter, New York Democratic Party executive director, Basil Smikle, conservative Trump critic Tara Setmayer, and co-chair of Trump's New York campaign, city councilman, Joseph Borelli.

Errol Louis, let me start with you.

We have become so anesthetized in this campaign, so much strange has happened already that I think sometimes we lose sight of the extraordinary. What we saw tonight with Mitt Romney, the last Republican nominee, just trashing Donald Trump, this is not normal. Trickle-down racism, trickle-down misogyny, and he's not voting for him to boot.

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No, this is not normal by any means. And I think what's also not normal is, somebody who was the nominee, somebody that had tens of millions of votes behind him a few years ago, presumably some of those tens of millions that voted for Mitt Romney are going to listen to what he had to say. I mean, this is new.

We have been following this obsessively since the race began, the primary season began. Let's keep in mind, something like 100 million people who are now going to tune in for the first time, people that didn't vote in the primaries but are going to vote in the general election. As high as 140 million are going to vote, about 40 million have voted, so a lot of people are hearing it for the first time.

I think what Mitt Romney said for that reason could be devastating depending where his pockets of support are, depending which local leaders actually believed in and believe in what Mitt Romney has to say. This is the fight for the soul of the Republican Party that we've all known was coming. I don't know if we thought it would play out quite this way, we may be thought it would play out in primary votes a few months ago, but here it is.

And this is a debate that clearly Donald Trump is not able to duck.

BERMAN: The flip side, Mitt Romney before, he tried this when Republicans were still voting in primaries, and Donald Trump won more after Mitt Romney started this.

So, is it possible it has no effect at all? Is it possible that Mitt Romney has everything that Donald Trump has been fighting against?

PATRICK HEALY, NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Yes. Donald Trump has felt for months he has been Teflon, that these establishment guys never him, never liked him can come out and throw eggs at him sort of over and over and over again. Nothing sticks to the guy.

He has developed so much confidence against people like Mitt Romney, and Jeb Bush, and Marco Rubio, he can sort of dismiss them fully.

BERMAN: But nothing sticks, even the charge of bigotry, which we are hearing from Republicans and Democrats again and again and again in the last week.

HEALY: It is extraordinary, John. Two months ago, Hillary Clinton's campaign, we did some reporting, they wanted to make the word bigotry stick. They weren't sure they could do it. They thought it was a loaded word.

Trump said people care enough about defending rights of Muslims to see that he could be a bigot. And now, you have Mitt Romney using words that Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats tried to hang around Trump's neck.

Mitt Romney sounds like the leader of a different party, and in a lot of ways he is. He's talking about -- he's saying nicer things about Bill Weld, pro-choice, pro-gay rights Republican. He's able to create that space to say great things about Bill Weld, but Donald Trump is so beyond the pale to this guy.

And then, you have to wonder to what extent he is reflecting still a lot of other establishment Republican leaders who can't say these things so bluntly.

BERMAN: All right, councilman, you're a Donald Trump supporter. Last 24, Mitt Romney said those things. You had the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he doesn't think Trump knows a lot about issues. [20:20:02] You had the House Speaker Paul Ryan saying his comments on

the judge were beyond the pale.

So, my question to you, Donald Trump supporter, what's your message to the Republican leaders at this point?

JOSEPH BORELLI, CO-CHAIR, TRUMP NEW YORK CAMPAIGN: Look, Republican leaders are eventually, none with the exception of Mitt Romney are going to stay behind Donald Trump. That said, who listens to Mitt Romney, that really matters after this interview?

The Democrats certainly aren't listening. They're not going to decide tomorrow to take advice of Mitt Romney on anything. And Republican voters in the race already decided they're not going to listen to Mitt Romney and the Mitt Romney types. These are people that lost the GOP electorate. They are the elites.

BERMAN: My question is are you okay saying to Speaker Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Mitt Romney, sure, keep it up, keep on saying these things, at a certain point it's got to hurt.

BORELLI: Look, no, certainly. I mean, you know, Trump has made comments that people disagree with, and they have a right to their opinion. I think at the end of the day, still, you're going to see the Republican Party unite around Trump, especially at the convention.

All of the things Romney has sort of put out there over the past couple of months that thre's going to be this white knight candidate just haven't materialized. He's failed even in that.

BERMAN: Tara, Mitt Romney says these things and says them strongly. Yet, he is not running, says he is not going to try to cause some revolt at the convention with someone else. He is not going to vote for Hillary Clinton, he is going to write in someone else's name.

If his goal is to stop Donald Trump, is that short of doing everything he can?

TARA SETMAYER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. I happen to agree with Mitt Romney's assessment of what's going on here. But it would have been nice then for him to throw your hat in the ring at this point, if you're going to talk all of that smack, then put your money where your mouth is.

He actually is one that could at this point. He is the only one that has the name recognition. Errol made the point that he had tens of millions that voted for him, he has the money. He has absolutely nothing to lose politically anymore at this point.

So why, I think maybe three times he already lost, doesn't want a fourth loss, but this is something that is at the heart of what the Republican stands for. Everyone keeps saying, you know, we have to back the nominee, you have to stand up for the nominee, but what are we standing up for? There are let's not forget more Republicans voted against Donald Trump than for him in the primaries. There were 2 million against him. (CROSSTALK)

SETMAYER: That's still rejection. There are that many people voted against him.

BORELLI: Mitt Romney won't be able to say I told you so.

BERMAN: Hang on.

SETMAYER: But that's real. There are like myself millions of people out there, Republicans and conservatives who are horrified at the hijacking of the party because Donald Trump doesn't represent what we fought for, for years.

BERMAN: I am sure you were more than happy and talk about the Republican plight as a Democrat, but what does Hillary Clinton do about this? Because it's an interesting conundrum, right? Does she try to split Republicans apart and win support of those folks that might believe in what Mitt Romney is saying or does she try to group them all together, does she try to say Donald Trump is you and is the Republican Party?

BASIL SMIKLE, CLINTON SUPPORTER: I think it is a much more nuanced approach. I mean, if you look at the fact that yesterday you had already Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, President Obama coming out and saying, we're with Hillary. Basically what Hillary Clinton has done is say look, if you're coming for me, this is what you're going to get. And that's pretty powerful. She has the Democratic establishment behind her, ready and willing to push back.

Having said that, I do think there reasonable Republicans that will support Hillary Clinton. And going to Errol's point earlier, it is for the soul of the Republican Party. Remember, a minority of voters voted for Donald Trump in the primary election. But now, you have the larger Republican Party and independents.

Fact of the matter is I think it is more interesting to watch someone like Mitch McConnell, I don't know with respect to the soul of the party if he is in purgatory and hell trying to defend Trump and save his party at the same time.

BERMAN: Lucky for all of us, we have more of this coming up. So, everyone, stick around.

Much more to discuss, including questions about how exactly a major Clinton donor landed a spot on a key government intelligence panel. Plus, other new revelations about Clinton's e-mails.

Also, ahead, allegations that politics and money the reason that Florida's attorney general decline to launch and investigation of Trump University after multiple complaints were filed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:28:26] BERMAN: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, they pummeled each other today in dueling speeches in Washington. Speaking to a key group of evangelical Christians, Trump blasted Secretary Clinton's economic policies and questioned her judgment as a former secretary of state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Keeping people of faith safe from threats like radical Islam, whether protecting them here or standing by Israel, all of us need to confront together the threat of radical Islam. We have to do it.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, Hillary Clinton or as I call her crooked Hillary Clinton, as crooked as they come, refuses to even say the words radical Islam. Refuses to say the words. This alone makes her unfit to be president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Now, Secretary Clinton has used the same line about Trump saying that he is temporarily unfit to be commander-in-chief. Today, speaking at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, his positions -- she blasted his positions on women's issues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Instead of working to continue the progress we've made, Republicans led now b Donald Trump are working to reverse it back to a time when opportunity and dignity were reserved for some, not all.

[20:30:03] Back to the days when abortion was illegal, women had far fewer options, and life for too many women and girls was limited. Well, Donald, those days are over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: There a lot of red meat today served up by both candidates. Back now with our panel. Errol, you know, I'm old enough to remember when they wrapped up nominations, they moved to the middle, they started looking for independent voters. That's the opposite of what we saw today. Both candidates lock up their nomination, Hillary Clinton plays to the left, you know, Donald Trump plays to the right.

ERROL LOUIS, NY1 POLITICAL ANCHOR: I think, this is actually an attempt to get to the middle, I mean it's an attempt to score a knockout punches. The day this person is completely unqualified. That's a message for centrists, that's a message for independents, that's a message for undecided voters. And if you look at where these candidates are going, Virginia for Donald Trump, Wisconsin for Hillary Clinton, they're trying to find in the swing states those people who will completely disqualify the other candidate, come into your camp, and then you've sort of a -- really sort of -- you got gold. You got gold, you got money in the bank.

ALEX BURNS, NYT NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: She also said in a speech today that how could a man who so casually talked about punishing women for having abortions, how could that person be president. This -- she's got so many powerful lines to use against Trump that came out of Trump's own mouth. There a lot of people, but also a lot of independent Republican women, independents themselves who are going to just be uncomfortable with that.

BERMAN: I guess my point is though, that the venue she chose to do that was a Planned Parenthood event in Washington after meeting with Elizabeth Warren who represents the left of the party. This seemed to be a left ward tilt today.

BURNS: Right, well it's I think there's a still in uniting the party tilt, and she can't seat down this morning with Bernie Sanders, that's not ready to happen yet, so she's going meeting with Elizabeth Warren, talking to Planned Parenthood, to giving like very specific, clear answers about her support for abortion rights. You know, it's reminding, you know, reminding voters that the Democrats have a Democrat, have a progressive Democrats, and she says that in charge while the Republicans have a guy who doesn't look like a typical Republican.

BERMAN: So what is remarkable or interesting about Donald Trump's event today, was that he was on the TelePrompTer, the speech he gave earlier was on the TelePrompTer. Some people saw a more subdued Donald Trump and he also dealt with protesters. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: All right thank you, all right. Little freedom of speech, please, freedom of speech. Thank you. Very rude but what are you going to do.

Thank you, darling, I appreciate it. Very sad. Very sad what's happening. Very, very sad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Well he said it's very, very sad, but that's a far cry from saying that they should be punched in the nose. So, councilman, are you encouraged that Donald Trump is perhaps changing his tone a little bit?

JOSEPH BORELLI, TRUMP NY CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR: But let's -- we'll get to my question in a second. Let's just talk about how the media responds to this, right. This is a guy who's been criticized for not being substantive in some of his policy speeches. He gives a speech today, where talks about 10, 12 different things, ranging from a security of Israel to urban education, and now we're focused on the one -- Jack, you know, what who gets up there in protest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But we -- no, no listen.

BERMAN: Look, first of all we carried the entire event today ...

BORELLI: No, I'm sure ...

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: ... the point of this question, because people are saying that Donald Trump, including Hillary Clinton, is temperament Mitt Romney -- temperamentally unfit to be president. What he did at this event today was show some restraint that he hasn't shown before when dealing with protesters.

BORELLI: Right, which is fine, but I hope that as this goes on, I think we'll see -- continue to see more actions like this from people in crowds both in Republican events and Democratic events as the Democrats have to marry the Bernie people with Hillary Clinton people.

I think we're going to see this happen over and over again. And I just hope we can get to some of policy.

TARA SETMAYER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I don't think you, you know, give Donald Trump a cookie because he actually acted like an adult presidential candidate today. You know, we want a gold star on the shoulder -- I mean this is -- it's kind of ridiculous to me that we should be giving credit to Donald Trump for behaving.

Look, when Donald Trump decides that he wants to continually give more substance and policy speeches, then perhaps we'll actually talk about that. But this was all, this whole thing with him being scripted on the TelePrompTer, yes it was to rein him in because he had an awful two weeks, terrible, instead of talking about the terrible jobs report, they're talking about Hillary Clinton and what's going on with the state department and her e-mails and all those revelations and hammering that home. He is talking about ethnicity of a judge who is not giving him his -- what he wants in a fraud case, so he is completely off message, so now he's on a prompter, he's back on message for now. We're about to see what he does when his off prompter again here at a rally ...

BERMAN: We're going to talk e-mails.

[20:35:02] SETMAYER: Were in hold my breath.

BERMAN: We're talking about the e-mails at the moment. To Basil I want to talk about Elizabeth Warren today. Hillary Clinton meets behind close doors in Washington D.C, Elizabeth Warren in the whole Democratic establishment is watching. You know, word is she's a vice presidential possibility. For real you think or is this just a way for the Clinton team to telegraph the progressive voters that we care about you?

BASIL SMIKLE, PRESIDENT & FOUNDER SMIKLE ASSOCIATION: Well, I think it's telegraphing. I do think they have a good relationship and it is a value for both of them to be out campaigning together, and for Elizabeth Warren to be an extraordinary surrogate for her.

I also want to add that being a vice presidential candidate on the ticket is not disqualifying because they're both women, which some have alluded to. I think they would be a fantastic ticket quiet frankly, but I think look, even if she's not ready, she being Hillary not ready to meet with Bernie Sanders or vice versa, I think Elizabeth Warren needs to be out there. And she needs to be out there to try to unite the party. And she stayed out as long as she did for whatever reason, she decided to do that, but she has an extraordinarily important role in uniting the party.

BERMAN: All right guys, stick around. Thanks so much. We continue to watch this event in Richmond, Virginia. Donald Trump speaking to a crowd there with no TelePrompTer. We will wait and see what he says, how he says it.

Next, how did a major Clinton donor get on a vital government intelligence panel and what happened when he did? Revelations from a new batch of Clinton Sate Department e-mails, "360" investigates.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:40:24] BERMAN: If you happen to be one of the world's leading experts on the nation's deepest secrets and deadly weapons, you might one day found yourself serving on the State Department International Security Advisory Board. It is and has always been a collection of the best and brightest in their fields, which is why the nanny of a major Clinton campaign donor and Clinton Foundation benefactor raised eyebrows at the time and why newly released State Department e-mails documenting that moment are raising so many questions now. Tonight, "360" investigates. CNN's Drew Griffin joins us now.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: John, two things are very clear, Raj Fernando, a Chicago stockbroker appears to have limited qualifications for being on the State Department International Security Advisory Board, except for the fact he gave thousands to Hillary Clinton's campaigns and a million dollars or more to the Clinton Foundation and it also is clear that the appointment was made by Hillary Clinton's chief-of-staff, long time adviser Cheryl Mills, and it's taken no time for this to become a campaign issue, part of his crooked Hillary thing for Donald Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: She even appointed to the National Security Board someone with no national security experience, instead he was a donor, a recent donor to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

All of a sudden he's on this very important and vital board. This position dealt with tactical nuclear weapons and had top secret clearance. And he knew nothing about it

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So, Drew, is that true? Did the stockbroker as you say have no experience in international security?

GRIFFIN: It doesn't appear he had any whatsoever. And keep in mind, this board deals with arms control, international security and diplomacy, Raj Fernando, John had any of that. The evidence comes from e-mails just released that show in August of 2011 there's some behind the scenes panic at the State Department trying to explain Fernando's appointment after questions from ABC News. And he's trying to find out why he was even on the board, and internal e-mail from a staffer member says the true answer is simply that Cheryl Mills added him.

Mills being Clinton's long time aide and chief of staff, and the staffer goes on to say, you know, Fernando he was added at their insistence after a flurry of e-mails, an associate of Cheryl Mills rise quote, "We need to hold off on responding until at least tomorrow afternoon", and 24 hours later, Raj Fernando suddenly resigned.

We have left messages with Fernando's office, we've asked the Clinton campaign about this, and we've also asked the state department for more information on how a Chicago stockbroker and Clinton donor was placed on the board, and why he suddenly resigned. The State Department referred us to Fernando himself who hasn't called us back, John.

BERMAN: So, Drew the time line here once again ABC News asked about his qualification, Cheryl Mills asked the State Department to stall 24 hours, then the guy suddenly resigns. That time line again, you know, it lines up with the scenario where he was, I don't know, pushed out to keep quiet. Was there any other possible reason?

GRIFFIN: The only reason we see is in his resignation letter to Hillary Clinton that literally comes two days after ABC asked that question about him and Fernando writes to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that he needs to resign because of, quote, "The volatility in the international markets that's forcing him to focus on his company." Suddenly, john, at this time.

BERMAN: All right, Drew Griffin, thanks so much.

GRIFFIN: Thanks John.

BERMAN: Now, that is not the only e-mail revelation and not the only one raising questions. CNN's Evan Perez joins us now with that. Evan, what are you learning tonight?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well John, we're talking about the e-mail investigation into Hillary Clinton's private server and e- mails that date back to Christmas time, 2011. At the time the U.S. ambassador in Islamabad Cameron Munter and other State Department officials were discussing a planned CIA drone strike in Pakistan and they were using oblique terms.

But according to officials I've talked to, it's clear that they're discussing the CIA drone program. Now, these e-mails began in the State Department unclassified e-mail system but some eventually were forwarded to Hillary Clinton's private e-mail server which is why they're being investigated. Now, the "Wall Street Journal" which first reported the story said that this is the focus of the FBI investigation that's still on-going. And I'm told it is one of several of the e-mails that are the center of the investigation, John.

BERMAN: So, were these discussions about drones considered classified information? [20:45:01] PEREZ: Absolutely. The CIA program, it's a covert program, it's classified, so government officials can only talk about this and other classified programs on classified e-mail system. And here's a thing, you know, it happens all the time. It is a common problem inside the government for classified information to so-called bleed over into unclassified e-mail system.

What's not common, John, is for a cabinet secretary to set up a personal server to handle all official business. So the question for the Justice Department and the FBI is do you prosecute for this? And in this case officials tell me they don't expect to bring any charges John.

BERMAN: What about Hillary Clinton herself, she has yet to be interviewed. What are you learning about when that might take place.

PEREZ: Still no scheduled date for that interview. Look, some investigators I spoke to, you know, expected it to be -- to have happened by now but this is an unusual case and we expect that in the coming weeks they will do that with Hillary Clinton. And if it goes well for her, then expect a public announcement from the Justice Department and the FBI to close the case. Now, again, that's a very unusual situation but it's not every day that a presidential candidate, a presumptive nominee for one of the majorities is investigated by the FBI.

BERMAN: Yeah, no indeed. All right, Evan Perez, thank you so much.

A lot more ahead for us, including this. Did the attorney general back away from investigating Trump University in exchange for a big political donation? "360" investigates, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:50:03] BERMAN: Before the break, "360" investigates Hillary Clinton, now Donald Trump in the operation known as Trump University. By now, your probably familiar with his claim that attorney's general across the country we have looked into Trump U and basically given it a clean bill of health.

In fact, the state of Texas uncovered plenty of troubling details was centered for allowing the operation he was essentially pack up and leave. The allegation, money and politics played a part.

Tonight, Florida, Drew Griffin is back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: It's a simple question. Did the Attorney General of Florida back off an investigation of Donald Trump and his now defunct real estate school in exchange for a $25,000 political donation?

Florida's Attorney General Pam Bondi says absolutely not. But the circumstances surrounding why Trump University never faced an investigation in Florida is coming under scrutiny. PAM BONDI, FLORIDA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL: It is my great honor to introduce to you the next president of the United States of America, Donald Trump.

GRIFFIN: Pam Bondi is a big Trump supporter, but as Florida's Attorney General her office was also responsible for handling these, three complaints against Trump University since she took office in 2011, plus more than 20 other complaints on file against an affiliate of Trump University.

So why didn't the state of Florida do anything about those complaints? That's where the pesky issue of the timing of Trump's donation to Bondi comes into play.

In August and September of 2013, Pam Bondi, the Attorney General of Florida, according to a former campaign consultant was actively seeking a donation from Donald Trump. He told CNN it was a week's long process.

Around that same time on September 11th, 2013, this e-mail to an Orlando Sentinel reporter shows the Attorney General's office was, "Currently reviewing the allegations against Trump University in a class action lawsuit in New York."

Six days later, Donald Trump's Foundation made a $25,000 donation to the Florida Attorney General's Political Action Committee and Florida's Attorney General's office never did pursue any action against Trump.

Politics? "No", says the attorney general spokesman. "While there was never an investigation, the spokesman writes, staff doing due diligence reviewed the complaints and the New York litigation and made the proper determination that the New York litigation would provide relief to aggrieved consumers nationwide."

The decision not to pursue took place at the staff level, he told CNN. Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, didn't even know there were complaints against Donald Trump.

What is clear is Florida did have complaints from at least two dozen unsatisfied Trump University students from 2008 through 2014. Apparently that was just not enough for the state of Florida to take action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: And Drew Griffin is with us now. So, Drew, if you were a dissatisfied Trump University student in Florida, what were you supposed to do?

GRIFFIN: Well, you could individually sue Donald Trump or somehow try to join the New York case, but the AG in Florida wasn't going to do anything.

We talked to this guy in Boynton Beach who was not too happy about it, he paid $26,000 to the school, did everything they said to do and says he didn't make a single penny and he was very upset not to get help from his Attorney General in Florida in getting that money back.

BERMAN: Were other states besides Florida, were other states at all looking into Trump University?

GRIFFIN: Yeah. We found out that in 2008, Maryland sent Trump University a cease and desist order saying that Trump University was violating Maryland's statutory and regulatory law by advertising classes for university that wasn't a university.

Trump University apparently agreed to stop advertising in Maryland, that's as far as it went there. And we also know that Massachusetts also sent a letter saying, "You're not a university. You need to stop using that name."

BERMAN: All right, Drew Griffin thanks so much.

GRIFFIN: Thanks, John.

BERMAN: Just ahead, remembering Muhammad Ali.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:57:48] BERMAN: Muhammad Ali was laid to rest today in Louisville, his hometown. Tens of thousands lined the streets, chanting his name, tossing flowers as his funeral procession wound its way to a cemetery.

Now, Ali's life was celebrated at a televised interfaith service inside a packed sports arena, a sendoff for fitting the champ.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN COSBY, SENIOR PASTOR, ST STEPHEN CHURCH: Before James Brown said, "I'm black and I'm proud," Muhammad Ali said, "I'm black and I'm pretty." He dared to love black people. At the time when black people had a problem loving themselves.

BILLY CRYSTAL, COMEDIAN: Ali forced us to take a look at ourselves, this brash young man who thrilled us, angered us, confused and challenged us ultimately became a silent messenger of peace who told us that life is best when you build bridges between people, not walls.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My enduring image of him is like the little reel in three shots as a boxer I thrilled to as a boy, the man I watched take the last steps to light the Olympic flame when I was president, and I'll never forget it.

I was sitting there in Atlanta, by then we knew each other, by then I felt I had some sense of what he was living with, and I was still weeping like a baby seeing his hands shake and his legs shake and knowing by God he was going to make those last few steps no matter what it took, the flame would be lit, the fight would be won, the spirit would be affirmed. I knew it would happen.

We should honor him by letting our gifts know among the world as he did. God bless you, my friend, go in peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[21:00:08] BERMAN: The greatest. Thank you so much for watching. "CNN with Don Lemon", starts now.