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At This Hour

Man Under Surveillance By A Joint Terrorism Task Force Shot And Killed In Boston; Multiple Reports Of Bomb Threats Against At Least Three Commercial Airline Flights; Interview With Rep. Jim Himes; New CNN Poll Shows Last Few Months Have Taken Toll On Hillary Clinton; Hundreds Could Be Trapped On Sinking Cruise Ship On China's Yangtze River. Aired 11-11:30a ET.

Aired June 02, 2015 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:03] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN's Breaking News.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: I'm John Berman. We have breaking news this morning. A man under surveillance by a joint terrorism task force unit was shot and killed in Boston. He allegedly pulled a knife on police and FBI agents at a drugstore parking lot.

BOLDUAN: There are still lots of questions obviously surrounding this confrontation really what was behind it. We're told the man was carrying a military style knife. It's been described as a fairly large scale knife but there's a lot more to it. And national correspondent Deborah Feyerick is here. She's been tracking all of this for us as well as former New York state Homeland Security adviser Michael Balboni here to help us to kind of walk through this. But Deborah, first to you, what's the very latest you are hearing out of Boston?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This happened early this morning. There was an active investigation that was going on. This man was approached in the parking lot of CNS in the Rosendahl neighborhood of Boston. He was approached by a member of the JTTF, both a member of the FBI and a police officer.

They went to speak with him not clear what specifically they were engaged in. However, they told him as they were talking to drop a weapon that he had in his hand. He was told multiple times to drop it. He did not. At one point he actually made an attempt to lunge toward the two officers and that's when they opened fire. They felt that the situation was such that is how they needed to resolve it.

It's an active investigation going on right now. I spoke to several officials that would not comment on whether or not this was ISIS related or what specifically was at the heart of this terrorism investigation but they did feel that it was time to approach this man to engage him and that's how it played out.

BERMAN: A news conference this morning said that both cops and federal agents opened fire on this man so whatever he was doing it was threatening to both those groups. Michael Balboni joins us now joint terrorism task force unit was surveilling this man. What gets you surveilled by a unit like that?

MICHAEL BALBONI, FORMER NEW YORK STATE HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: If there's a national security interest at stake, if you are part of a terrorism investigation. That is typically JTTF resources are not utilized against folks who committing street crime. All the activities and the information that JTTF get are classified and the issue here is to share the information so that you can coordinate an operation.

BERMAN: And you are hearing stuff from Boston this morning.

BALBONI: So my sources tell me in Boston that there was information on the street that this individual had indicated that he was going to kill cops today. Similar to what we've seen in New York. That's different tweets that have been out there. That's been out there now that I've received from Boston. As you pointed out, this is an ongoing investigation. It's going to involve a lot of different facts and figures. So we're going to wait and see how this develops. That's the initial information out there.

BOLDUAN: Take that initial information on top of the fact that when they came upon him, he had a knife. He was threatening to both Boston police as well as the FBI that were there. He's dead now. But what raises to the level? What happens for them to move in on a guy? What do you think could have indicated they needed to move now rather than continue surveillance?

BALBONI: So typically what happens is that there's a surveillance that's thrown over an individual. So you can use all sources of means of collection against that individual. So you try you can monitor social media, person's accessing, get a warrant or sometimes you don't need a warrant if they are talking with folks overseas through the Patriot Act which is in so much debate now and try to download information that they're talking to people and find out who they're talking to, what type of things are they doing and obviously the moment comes when they're going to go from aspirational to operational. We're now suddenly they'll get means and methods to conduct an attack. And that's when you have to move in.

BERMAN: Given the atmosphere in the country right now, would it be logical for you to take an online threat against police to take that from a local police matter to make it a federal terrorism investigation matter? Is that enough to kick it up that notch?

BALBONI: Typically, no. That would be a police matter.

BERMAN: So maybe there is something else going on here.

BALBONI: There could have been something else going on. But you know, again, if this individual had some type of connection with individuals who were targeted for surveillance and from a standpoint of terrorism and he's captured and puts out something about police officers, remember, ISIS has put out go after military. Go after uniformed police officers. There's been information warnings about large gatherings of police officers funerals where police departments around the country are doing counter surveillance to see who's watching what they're doing. So there has been a heightened alert, heightened awareness.

BOLDUAN: Different environment.

BALBONI: Gatherings, different environment. So this is not far from apart from that scenario.

BOLDUAN: Michael Balboni, thank you so much. We have a close cut with you.

BERMAN: Yes. I think there's more that's going to come out over the next several minutes. And we really do appreciate it.

[11:05:00] BOLDUAN: Something as we speak, right now, we're also following other breaking news right now. Multiple reports of bomb threats against at least three commercial airline flights.

BERMAN: These threats have security officials busy at some of the country's busiest airports. Our aviation correspondent Rene Marsh covering the story. Rene, what are your sources telling you?

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that at least three commercial flights as you mentioned have been targets of these bomb threats. This all happening this morning. One of them a United flight. It has safely landed in Chicago. But it received a bomb threat and then authorities met this plane. They arrived on scene. They swept the plane. They made sure all of the passengers were off. They found nothing.

Also another situation involving a Delta air lines flight. Number 55 from Logos to Atlanta. Same thing, a bomb threat. Authorities arrived at the aircraft. They searched it. Did not find anything and then another situation this time in Philadelphia. This was a U.S. Airways flight from San Diego. It landed in Philadelphia.

Law enforcement officials after receiving this bomb threat met the aircraft there. They swept it. They checked it. Did not find anything. But as you can see, we are talking about multiple airlines affected here in multiple parts of the country and they have to take all of these threats very seriously. This is something this day in age that law enforcement deals with every single day and multiple times a day and they never know which one is going to be credible and which one is not credible.

Thankfully all of these so far not seen as credible. This comes on the heels of just we saw Memorial Day weekend several flights flying into New York city received bomb threats. They checked it out and there was nothing there. Again, in the age of social media and others, they have to make sure all of these are checked out and they take them all seriously.

BERMAN: Yes. Absolutely, we do. Rene Marsh, thank you so much. And as Rene said, this comes on the heels of other threats this past weekend. I think that's why they were taking it particularly seriously.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely, let's discuss this and a lot regarding national security right now with Congressman Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut. Also importantly, a member of the House intelligence committee. Congressman, it's always great to have you. Thank you so much.

Just want to get your take on what Rene Marsh is reporting right there. We're looking at bomb threats being made against three separate commercial airline flights here in the United States. None of them seen as credible at this moment. But this is the second week in a row that we're talking about this. We're looking at this and people are getting pulled off planes, people are having all of their bags checked. Fortunately nothing has happened so far but this is a disturbing trend, no?

REP. JIM HIMES, (D-CT), HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Well, it is. Unfortunately this is obviously very much a breaking situation. But there doesn't appear to be any reason to believe that this is anything other than a hoax at this point in time.

That's still pretty serious. I mean, as you point out, it's an inconvenience to hundreds of people but more to the point and even more ominously, you know, you take dozens if not hundreds of law enforcement officers off their post and focus them on something that turns out to be a hoax.

So look, let's hope it's a hoax and let's find out and hope who the perpetrator is. Because you know, people need to understand this may seem like a joke but it's a profoundly serious thing.

BERMAN: Congressman, there's other breaking news this morning out of Boston where joint terrorism task force had a man under surveillance. This man pulled a knife on the FBI agents and cops. That man was shot and killed. You sit on the intelligence committee inside the house. Have you heard anything about this incident in Boston yet? We heard from Michael Balboni, you know, a CNN contributor here saying that he's hearing perhaps that there had been some kind of online threats against police officers in Boston.

HIMES: Yes. I think speaking for myself as a member of the intelligence committee I have not yet been briefed. And I you know, this wouldn't be - unless it in fact had a terrorism nexus to it, it's unlikely that we in congress would be briefed. Remains to be seen. Obviously, this is a law enforcement matter and it's just a guy that was you know, perhaps emotionally disturbed or whatever, not likely to rise to the level of congressional notification. But that remains to be seen.

BOLDUAN: Congressman, talking about the airlines again, I mean, this morning TSA has a new acting director following this report exposing such vulnerabilities in the TSA screening process. In fact, the undercover agents could get through with weapons and with fake bombs and almost every single time they tried to in an undercover attempt. That not only is troubling but it also raises the question why is airport security still so vulnerable when we know that planes are targets?

HIMES: Well, it's a great question. It's one that will pose a lot of questions around here. I have not yet had a chance to review that report. But look, all of us go through that security. We know how intrusive, we know how and inconvenience it is to empty your pockets, to take your laptop off, to take your shoes off. Look, if we go through all of that and it turns out, that we can't stop weapons and bombs that the TSA fails to identify those things, we have a huge problem.

[11:10:00] So as I said, this is a new report. But you know, this is really serious stuff. And I imagine it's going to be the subject of some pretty serious congressional hearings and figuring out exactly what's going on.

BERMAN: Congressman, as we speak the Senate is expected to take another step forward toward passing the USA Freedom Act which deals with domestic electronic surveillance among other things. A bill you voted for and supported in the house. There's been a great deal of focus on electronic surveillance but this week there are reports that the FBI owns a fleet of planes that it uses for surveillance over American cities registered under corporate front names and they say they don't need warrants to fly these planes to surveil and investigate U.S. citizens. Is this a cause of concern to you? Should it be?

HIMES: Well, to take a little bit of a step back here, USA freedom which you referenced up front is hopefully going to pass today in the Senate precisely because it represents something that most people want, which is a scaling back, a careful scaling back and compromise of a lot of more intrusive authorities that were in the Patriot Act in particular the metadata program that we learned so much about after the Snowden revelations.

But this program that you make reference to, what people need to remember is that the government does not have the authority anymore and in particular once USA freedom passes the Senate, which ends bulk collection programs, it does not have authority to simply gather in mass, in bulk I should say, won't have the authority after the USA Freedom Act passes in bulk anybody's information.

So look, there are a lot of ways to surveil. There are cell phones. There are computers. When the government has reason to believe or probable cause in legal terminology to think that someone may have a nexus to terrorism or in the FBI's case may be associated with drug dealers or criminals or what not, yes, in that case they all going to apply all tools at their disposal to listen into someone who is a target because there's some probable cause for that person to be a target.

BERMAN: Congressman Jim Himes from Connecticut, thank you so much for being with us. Please come back. A busy week in terms of intelligence and national security.

BOLDUAN: Thanks Congressman.

HIMES: Thank you.

BERMAN: All right. Tragedy on the trip of a lifetime. A cruise ship capsizes. The race is on right now to find survivors. There may be people still trapped inside. We'll take you there live.

BOLDUAN: Plus just minutes from now, one of the most powerful moments that you will see today honoring one service member, one - honoring two members of our military. President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to soldiers for who for years were denied recognition. You don't want to miss this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Some fascinating new insights this morning about the 2016 presidential race, new CNN poll released today suggests the last few months have taken a toll on Hillary Clinton.

[11:15:00] Just take a look at this one item, Clinton's favorability rate dipping now under 50 percent she has lost seven points in the last couple of months and nearly, 10 points from a year ago.

BERMAN: And maybe shrinking her lead against Republicans once comfortable margins are now razor thin against particularly, some of the next generation of candidates. Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker. Joining us to discuss this, royalty among political insider, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile and Prince of GOP Strategist, Kevin Madden.

BOLDUAN: That's a demotion because I call you King.

KEVIN MADDEN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That's right, Kate.

BERMAN: After that good introduction, I'm expecting good analysis after that introduction. Donna, I want to start with you here, Hillary Clinton not just slipping in favorability but also other traits as well including understands the problems of people like you.

The trend lines moving downward, which is not what you expect after you jump into a race. You think when people get to know you, your supporters you impress them not depress them. In the Brooklyn headquarters right now when they see these numbers what do they think?

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I'm sure when you look at these numbers they're saying thank God it's June and not February 2016. And also I do believe that the campaign should continue to do small group meetings as she begins to also roll out some bigger events. Look, the bottom line is people got to know you.

They want to know what kind of person you are. They want to get a chance to talk about issues with you. And I think she has more than ample opportunity to go out there and prove herself to not just the skeptics but also those who are strongly supporting her. She's still in the driver's seat. She's still the candidate with the bold ideas and big vision and I still believe ultimately she's going to be the next president of the United States. But I'm not endorsing her right now because I'm neutral. BOLDUAN: You're neutral right now. You're definitely not going to

supporting the Republican candidates we'll talk about. You said, she's definitely - she's far and away still leading in the Democratic field when you look at it. Kevin, let's look at where Republicans stand. If we could throw up the graphic where we can look at the Republicans choice for nominee.

You still don't really have a front runner. It's all within the margin of error in terms of guys at the top. Rubio seeing a little bit of boost there but Jeb Bush below him. But when you look at these head to heads, how the Republican candidates, the top Republican candidates look up against Hillary Clinton, it's tight when you look at the generation - the younger generation of guys. You got Rand Paul. Marco Rubio, hopefully we can throw up and show you as well and Scott Walker.

They are all really kind of neck and neck with Hillary Clinton when you look at that. And you're looking at the younger guys, they really do seem to be doing better for the Republican party up against Hillary Clinton. What does that say?

MADDEN: Well, I think two things. So many of these names are floating towards the top of the Republican field tend to be new faces. I think that means that very much like the 2008 race that was shaped around this yearning for somebody new and something different. We're seeing that shape the 2016 Republican race. Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Rand Paul, these are relatively new names on the national scene.

I think that's one thing that's shaping it. The second part of it on head to head with Hillary Clinton is the candidates that have the ability to draw the sharpest contrast like Rand Paul or Marco Rubio are the ones that are doing the best. Where is like a lot of these voters I think they tend to not be as favorable towards the Republican candidate when it looks like it's a battle of old guard versus old guard.

So that's something that I think is going to be shaping a lot of strategies inside so many of these campaigns on the Republican side.

BERMAN: So Donna, who do you think the Democrats fear most here? Because when you look at those polls and it's Walker, it's Rubio, it's Paul, that cause Hillary the most problems in a head to head matchup. And right now Jeb Bush, if there's anything notable about horse race numbers over the last month and a half of polling is actually Jeb has slipped a fair amount. He doesn't seem to be getting any traction. Not in this poll, not in other polls, not in state polling. What do you make of that? BRAZILE: Well, first of all he hasn't announced yet. I mean, he has

a pac out there raising his profile.

BERMAN: The guy is running. He's out campaigning but not saying it.

BRAZILE: I know, I know. But you know, I still believe in you got to announce. Who do we fear? We fear apathy. We fear indifference. We fear the fact that most Americans are turned off by politics. I think we should all fear that. But in terms of the Republican candidates, I think they have a really good selection. A new crop of candidates. I'm waiting for some big ideas. I enjoy a little bit of Lindsey Graham's speech. I like a little bit of Rand Paul's speech. You know, other than just liking a little bit of that and a lot of that, I don't see any of them as being really Tabasco sauce, hot and spicy. So I'm just going to wait until the debates and see who will be the flavor of the week and perhaps who knows I may not need my Tabasco. [11:20:00] MADDEN: Donna makes a good point. Right now, look this is

as wide open as a presidential field as we've seen on the Republican side. So many of those candidates at the top are all bunched together. The debates are going to be so big because for the first time it's going to be voters on the

Republican primary voter's chance to really see these candidates go against each other and be able to draw contrast individually between Republican candidates versus just all of them right now are trying to draw the strongest contrast with Hillary Clinton.

And so I think that will probably be our first opportunity. Not until late summer where we see somebody start to break out.

BOLDUAN: That's a long time to wait.

BERMAN: A long, hot summer.

BRAZILE: Kate, this is the most exciting thing. Because voters will get to choose who the prince, and the king and of course, the diva will be.

BOLDUAN: Exactly, right.

BERMAN: I can't wait for that. This isn't "The Voice." This is a presidential campaign.

BOLDUAN: And Donna, right now, I want you on my team. You are - we are on The Voice, great to see you guys. Kevin Madden and Donna Brazile, always wonderful.

BRAZILE: Thank you.

BERMAN: Great to be with you.

BOLDUAN: What are we calling him, the Prince? Prince Madden, it rolls off the tongue, like that.

BRAZILE: It's much belly.

BOLDUAN: All right. Looking ahead for us, a there is a tragedy on the trip of a lifetime. A cruise ship capsized and the race is on right now to find survivors as angry families are still waiting for word. We're going to take you there live.

BERMAN: Also happening now, President Obama looking at live pictures about to award the medal of honor to two service members who had remarkable careers in World War II. Remarkable heroism overlooked for generations and generations. World War 1, I should say. You'll hear about their heroism next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:00] BERMAN: Happening now, hundreds of people could be trapped inside a sinking cruise ship. Cries for help have been heard echoing through the hall of this overturned vessel. Search teams in China's Yangtze River are racing against time to try to reach survivors.

BOLDUAN: So far five bodies have been recovered and 15 people have been found alive. That's 15 people found alive and hundreds are still missing. Those found alive include the ship's captain and chief engineer. Thousands of divers, police officers, soldiers, and other rescuers have all been deployed even welders are on site right now.

They may be the most important at this moment trying to cut the cabin open in a desperate effort to save lives. David McKenzie is there trying to get more information coming out it's overnight at this point. David, what are you hearing?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kate and John, what we're hearing is there is continued effort, obviously a frantic effort, to get any possible survivors from inside this ship out. Because there are hundreds now still there trapped. They hope perhaps they might be air pockets inside this vessel that people could still survive in. But it's now around 24 hours since this ship went down and there's new details also emerging of what might have actually caused this ship to go down in such tragic circumstances.

The Chinese weather service confirming that a tornado was in the area when the ship passed through this area of the river and that could have contributed to the dramatic and very swift it seems sinking of the ship. Kate and John.

BERMAN: David McKenzie for us in China right now. There is rescue efforts going on through the night in China and no doubt into dawn tomorrow with so many people still believed to be trapped inside. Thank you so much, David.

We'll take you now to the White House. Because happening now, President Obama about to award the medal of honor to two men. Army Sergeant William Shemin and Army Private Henry Johnson, those honors awarded posthumously for their bravery extraordinary bravery during World War 1. Sergeant William Shemin left politician trench three times with no cover, he exposed himself to heavy machine gun fire. And rescue wounded soldiers.

BOLDUAN: Private Henry Johnson and a fellow soldiers they were attacked by a dozen German soldiers in France despite being significantly wounded, seriously wounded and while under intense enemy fire, Johnson fought back killing many enemy soldiers using a knife, only a knife that he had and his bare hands when his weapon would not fire anymore.

BERMAN: You can see Private Johnson right there. Obviously African- American. He actually served under French command in France, which is one reason he's not been honored yet. Let's listen to President Obama. BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Welcome to

the White House. Nearly a hundred years ago, a 16-year-old kid from the Midwest named Frank Buckles headed to Europe's western front. An ambulance driver he carried the wounded to safety. He lived to see our troops ship off to another war in Europe and one in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Frank Buckles became a quietly powerful advocate for our veterans and remained that way until he passed away four years ago, America's last surviving veteran of World War 1.

On the day Frank was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, Vice President Biden and I went to pay our respects and we weren't alone. Americans from across the country came out to express their gratitude as well. They were different ages, different races, some military, some not.

Most had never met Frank. But all of them braved a cold winter's day to offer a final tribute to a man with whom they shared a powerful conviction that no one who serves our country should ever be forgotten.

We are a nation, a people who remember our heroes. We take seriously our responsibilities to only send them when war is necessary. We strive to care for them and their families when they come home. We never forget their sacrifice. We believe that it's never too late to say thank you. That's why we're here this morning.

Today, America honors two of her sons who served in World War I nearly a century ago. These two soldiers were roughly the same age, dropped into the battlefields of France at roughly the same time.