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At This Hour

Dozens Of Secret Service Agents Found To Have Inadequate Security Clearance; Interview With GOP Presidential Candidate and Senator Lindsey Graham. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired June 10, 2015 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: The Secret Service again in the spotlight for not the right reason. New information that dozens of Secret Service agents in sensitive positions including assignment on the White House they don't have the required security clearances in place. They are the people of course you know, trusted with protecting the president.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: That's off a lot but not just that. Think about how close these people are to the nation's secrets. They're in the room when the most classified information is being discussed. So Secret Service director Joseph Clancey says, he is taking immediate steps to fix the problem, that's probably a good idea, and all checks should be completed within a week we have to discuss this.

Let's bring in former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow, Jonathan, a lot of these agents were brought in recently to fix some of the security gaps that have been evident with the fence jumpers and everything else that was going on. There's been a rush of hiring. Still, if there's one place you would think on earth where you want security clearances to happen without incident, it would be with Secret Service agents who are guarding the president.

JONATHAN WACKROW, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: Absolutely. This is one of the management challenges that Joe Clancey faces right now. He has a hiring shortage. He has a manpower gap in both in our uniform division and in our agents at the White House. So first and foremost, we need to provide the protection to the president.

So bringing in uniformed division officers that may not have the clearance as bad as that does sound, it's not a - it's not a challenge that we can't overcome. You can reposition those officers and agents that don't have the appropriate clearance.

BOLDUAN: All right, Jonathan. But they've been there already. They've been in some of these meetings where classified information has been handed out. This is what we're hearing from the "Washington Post" reported on that. That's scary. Is the president at risk? If not, then why is there security clearances?

WACKROW: One is that the president is not at risk whatsoever. National security information is not at risk.

BOLDUAN: Are you sure?

[11:35:00] WACKROW: I'm sure. My entire time at the White House, there was not any agent that was not in close proximity to any classified information that did not have the proper top secret or SCI clearance.

BERMAN: But there are agents who do hear stuff, correct? You are nearby when sensitive stuff is being discussed.

WACKROW: Absolutely, but it depends on your posting. It depends on where you are, where you're working for protection. The agents that are assigned to the working shift of the president have been on for an awful long time. They have their security clearances. They actually have the highest security clearances in the country, which is secret compartmentalized information clearances. So from that standpoint there's no breach of security there.

I think what the "Washington Post" is talking about more is the periphery, the outer post, the uniformed officers that have been brought in. The supplemental agents that have been brought in on a daily basis to feel the void of this defense jumper. They don't have that top level clearance.

BERMAN: Is it a problem?

WACKROW: Yes, it is. Is it something that the Secret Service and Joe Clancey is the director that can mitigate quickly? Sure can.

BOLDUAN: I want to ask you speaking about the Secret Service at the White House. This is what happened yesterday, I want to get your take out of this. So there's a bomb threat called into the White House. Specifically called into the press briefing room. We've all been in that press briefing room. It is very close to the west wing and is very close the president. It's very close to the resident, it's in the building, let's be honest, people.

The reporters were all evacuated. Not just from the White House but from the White House grounds at one point. Then we find out the president stayed in the oval office and the first family stayed in the residence during this whole time. That sounds so strange.

WACKROW: It sounds strange. But just think of it, the press briefing room is actually a separate building from the west wind and the --

BOLDUAN: It's steps away from the oval office.

WACKROW: It is steps away. But it is steps away from the oval office which is one of the most secure rooms in the country. So in terms of the risk of the president, the president was never at risk. The first family who were in the residence they were not at risk. The Secret Service reacted to this incident because of the feudality of the threat.

The threat came in to the Metropolitan police department. There was some specific information in there that led to, you know, the decision being made by Secret Service management. Let's do our due diligence. Let's clear the room, let's re sweep it. I think the swiftness of their actions needs to be commended in this instance.

BERMAN: Jonathan Wackrow, we appreciate your perspective on this.

WACKROW: Thank you.

BERMAN: There are still a lot of questions I think that needs to be answered.

WACKROW: Thank you so much.

BOLDUAN: Good to see you, Jonathan, thank you.

Coming up for us more American troop could soon be headed back to Iraq. But presidential candidate Senator Lindsey Graham he says it's not enough. Graham wants to take the fight to ISIS in a very different way. He's going to join us live and his plan for the terror group. Many more questions for the senator, coming up next.

BERMAN: Also new information on the nationwide manhunt for two ruthless killers. Police say they're going door to door to search for these men. We have a live report coming up.

[11:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: The president recently has taken a lot of heat for saying the strategy isn't yet complete. Let's talk much more with Republican candidate for president Senator Graham, it's always great to have you. Thank you so much.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: This is an important move and important announcement coming from the president. A lot of talk that the administration considering sending 500 additional troops to Iraq to expand the training efforts with the Iraqi forces. We know well you have said you would put some 10,000 troops on the ground American troops on the ground but the president said he's not going to do that. With the proper training, though, do you think these additional 500 American troops will have an impact?

GRAHAM: No.

BOLDUAN: Why?

GRAHAM: Well, number one, the Sunnis and Arabs in Anbar Province are not going to join with the Shia Militia, the most dominant ground in Iraq for Shia Militia controlled by Iran, it's bad for Iraq, it's bad for us, the strategy is not working to defeat a determined enemy like ISIL, you have to have the capability and the will. President Obama's not providing the capability, and he doesn't have the will. Unless he fundamentally changes his strategy, we're going to get hit at home.

BERMAN: Senator, isn't it a problem though that the Iraqi themselves don't have the will of the Sunni Arabs agents going to fight ISIS in that part of the country if there aren't enough Iraqis coming out to volunteer for the military there. Isn't that also a problem if there's not the will to in that country to do it, how much should the U.S. be willing to do instead?

GRAHAM: Well, we saw that the surge work when we had the right strategy on the ground. We were able to defeat Al Qaeda in Iraq. The Iraqi army has now become a sectarian army. The people that fled Anbar Province would fight to the death in Baghdad. The only way to put Iraq back together is to have enough capability on the ground to have our people join with confidence.

Nobody in their right mind in Anbar Province is going to join this coalition because it doesn't have the capability to defeat ISIL and hold territory. If you take back Ramadi and if you don't do in Syria they are going right back to the border. So at the end of the day you are not going to put Iraq back together and create that will to more American leadership to the American people what does it matter to us. ISIL is growing threat to your homeland stronger they get in the Anbar province, the stronger they get Iraq serious a whole more likely we are going to get hit.

President Obama in my view is committing commander chief malpractice for allowing ISIL to get so strong. And the strategy won't work an it's not going to work.

BOLDUAN: But short of putting in ground troops, is there anything that you think will work.

GRAHAM: No.

BOLDUAN: So American ground troops have to go back in even if they say don't want another war.

[11:45:00] GRAHAM: Well, I think they want to be safe. How do you destroy to integrate ISIL, that's the right goal. The president has the right goal but the strategy is not going to work. We're not going to destroy these guys from the air. There is no ground component to work within Syria.

They are recruiting more foreign fighters and we're training free Syrian army in numbers, you're going to need a regional force to go into Syria to be able to hold Iraq. You've got to go to the Turks, you go to go to the Egyptians and the Saudis who have large armies, 20,000 of us have to join that call I think to give capability they don't have to pull the seal fate up by the roots.

If you don't have more troops on give them capability they don't have today Iraq is never going to do it. It is eventually going to come here. So I don't know how we're going to do it without going over there and fighting these guys in an effective way.

BERMAN: Governor - I mean, Senator. You were once a Congressman, now a senator --

GRAHAM: We've been called a lot worse, Congressman.

BOLDUAN: I can come up with a couple of ideas, sir. BERMAN: But let me ask you, what should Congress be doing here

because don't they have - if you want to send 10,000 U.S. troops to Iraq, you don't think Congress should authorize the use of force, you don't think Congress owes to the American people to schedule both sending this many troops into Iraq?

GRAHAM: No, I don't think we should have 535 commanders in chiefs. Here is my authorization, Mr. President here's what I would promise the American people. When it came to you and your family and our way of life, I would do whatever's necessary as long as it takes. Whatever's necessary as long as it takes to defeat radical Islam.

At the end of the day, we can't blame Congress. We got one commander in chief, President Bush fundamentally changed his strategy. He failed early on in Iraq. He was smart enough to adjust. President Obama is doubling down on the failing, this is the crossroads in his presidency. Here's what I would say to President Obama. If you were to come up with a game, provide the activity to degrade and destroy ISIL, I would be your biggest fan. I would go to the floor of the United State senate and I would back you to the hill.

BERMAN: We can talk about it - your biggest fan.

GRAHAM: No, understand what I'm saying. If he adjusted his policies to do what President Bush did. Come out the strategies that will win. Whatever difference I have with President Obama I would stand by his decision toed a more degrade ISIL. I would do that. I would do that to say, Mr. President, good job.

BERMAN: All right. Senator we have a lot, we have a lot more to ask you. You raised a lot of eyebrows when you suggested we bring a rotating first lady. So we want to talk about whether (inaudible).

BOLDUAN: Who's in the running for that.

[11:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: We're back now with Senator Lindsey Graham running for the Republican presidential nomination. Senator, you raised eyebrows on a couple topics. One of them being you said that you have never once sent an e-mail. Why is that?

GRAHAM: Well, because I call people I want to talk to and I have a good staff, I let them do their jobs and I imagine Hillary Clinton, if she had it all over to do again probably wouldn't have sent one. Here's the question - can you be a good president and not e-mail? I think so.

BOLDUAN: How do you connect with voters, especially young voters?

GRAHAM: We tweet --

BOLDUAN: E-mail is a huge part with our lives. It's the only way I communicate with my husband.

GRAHAM: Yeah, well, I got -- you should call him more. At the end of the day, I have a good team around me. I tweet, I send out tweets. I call up people and we e-mail. We connect with the voters. Here's the question - have I lived my life in such a fashion to be qualified to be commander-in-chief? To understand the world? Am I ready to go in day one? I don't offer the country a first lady. As far I'm concerned, I think single people can apply to be president of the United States.

Here's what I have going for me. I have background and knowledge to be commander in chief. I've been to Iraq and Afghanistan over 30 times, I've served in the military, I understand what it takes to defeat radical Islam. When it comes to problem solving 'm willing to work with Democrats to do the hard thing. We are not going to fix Medicare and social security by sending e-mails and not defeat radical Islam by an e-mail. You have to come with a strategy and empower people to execute that strategy.

BERMAN: I this I what people talk about when they talk about the e- mail senator is does this candidate understand the digital age if he's not taking part in one of the key components of that age?

GRAHAM: Oh, I understand technology. It's been a Godsend to our lives. But at end of the day, I'm in a business here of trying to be one of the leaders of the country, and I've chosen to empower my staff. I think I'm a very informed United States senator. I've learned more about radical Islam by going over there and spending time on the ground for the last decade than I would ever learn by e-mails.

So if people wonder whether or not I have the ability to be president of the United States, that's what this campaign is all about. Bill Clinton has sent two e-mails in his life. I would argue that most people thought he was pretty qualified to be president.

BERMAN: Senator, you brought up the fact that you are single. You raised a bunch of eyebrows in an interview where you suggested that entertain at the White House you'd have a rotating first lady. And it got laughs. People laughed at that. Like you said, shouldn't single people be allowed to run for the White House? Isn't there just too much focus on this idea of who the spouse is?

GRAHAM: You know, at the end of the day, we've got a great first lady in Michelle Obama and Laura Bush. The last two have been really good, and I don't bring that to the table.

But I do think I bring something unique to the table in this regard. As a young man, I had challenges like most people. I lost my parents when I was 22. Had a 13-year-old sister to raise and with the help from my aunt and uncle, I was able to help her get through college. My family, my friends and faith pied me up when was down. We got wiped out when my mom, got -- I'm the first in my family go to college. But when it comes to being commander-in-chief, I think that's a very important decision for the country to make.

I would argue I'm the best qualified to take this radical Islam and protect this nation above all others, including Hillary Clinton.

BOLDUAN: Senator Lindsey Graham, running for the Republican presidential nomination. Senator, thank you very much for your time. We'll be following your candidacy closely.

GRAHAM: Thanks a bunch.

BOLDUAN: Of course.

[11:55:00] BERMAN: All right. Police going door to door right now in a desperate search for two escaped killers. We're going to take you live to the scene with the latest developments at the top of the hour.

BOLDUAN: But first, disco is back tomorrow night on CNN. Our special series The Seventies produced by Tom Hanks begins at 9:00 p.m. Here is a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The seventies awakens us and polarized us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 1970s saw the development of terrorism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With bombshell after bombshell after bombshell.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watergate scandal broke wide open today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think more hair, more naked people, more misbehavior.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The world is getting crazy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The cultural revolution just kind of exploded and fascinating chaos emerged.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because of what was going on, people came home and they wanted to laugh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One picture take within Archie bunker and me. One, two, three.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a period you of discovery for a lot of people. My only defense was it was the '70s.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dynamite.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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