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Congressman Claims ISIS Fighters Coming Across the Border; Is Kim Jong-Un's Sister Running North Korea?; Kansas Race May Be Key to Senate Control

Aired October 09, 2014 - 10:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

Checking some top stories for you at 29 minutes past the hour.

Tensions again running high in St. Louis after a white police officer shot and killed an 18-year-old armed man. According to police, circumstances are somewhat -- are very different actually from the shooting death two months ago of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson. Police say the 18-year-old was armed and fired on the off duty officer first.

A suburban Chicago teenager is in federal court this hour accused of trying to help ISIS. 19-year-old Mohammed Khan was arrested Saturday night at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Authorities say he's planning to fly to Turkey where he was to meet an ISIS contact who would then help him get into Syria.

The Indiana mother of an ISIS hostage threatened with execution is pleading with the terror group's leader. A desperate Paula Kassig tweeted this in a letter, quote, "I'm an old woman and Abdul Rahman is my only child. How can we reach you?" Abdul Rahman Kassig whose name was Peter before he converted to Islam is a former U.S. Army Ranger who returned to the Middle East to help Syrian refugees.

The fight against ISIS has turned into a border issue for some lawmakers like Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter who told Fox News this week that ISIS fighters have actually tried to cross the U.S. border from Mexico.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), CALIFORNIA: I know that at least ten ISIS fighters have been caught coming across the Mexican border in Texas. There's nobody talking about it.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: How do you know that?

HUNTER: Because I've asked the border patrol.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: He did not mention who those border patrol agents were. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says his claims are false.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEH JOHNSON, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: We have no credible specific intelligence to that effect. What I'd say to public officials is we need to be responsible in what we say, in passing on speculation, rumor, to not unduly cause fear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So let's talk about this with a former border patrol agent Hipolito Acosta. Welcome, sir.

HIPOLITO ACOSTA, FORMER BORDER PATROL AGENT: Thank you.

COSTELLO: So what do you make of Duncan Hunter's remarks that border patrol agents told him that ISIS terrorists are coming across the border from Mexico?

ACOSTA: Well, I don't know who the source for Congressman Hunter would be, but I would venture to say that it's not somebody from a high-level DHS official. And the source that gave that to Congressman Hunter would not be a credible source for him to be putting out this type of information.

COSTELLO: Do you think realistic, though, that an ISIS terrorist could come over the Mexican border?

ACOSTA: Well, look, it's certainly possible but I don't think it's probable. Why would ISIS operatives enter illegally through the southern border when it's just as simple to appear in our ports of entry, if they're from a visa waiver country? If they have a visa or legal permanent residence, they're going to be admitted. And even if they don't they can file a credible fear claim of persecuted and demand an asylum hearing and they're going to be admitted. And there's a good chance that they would staying in the country.

Our biggest fear actually should be what's inside the United States and the people that have overstayed. And I would tell Congressman Hunter that that's what we should address -- enforcement to go after those individuals who abuse our system. It's already been proven by the 9/11 hijackers how easy it is to exploit America's hospitality by coming into the country with visas to do us damage. And frankly, we just haven't shut that door down and we haven't pulled in the welcome mat yet.

COSTELLO: Why do you -- because, you know, Duncan Hunter isn't the only lawmaker that's been suggesting that ISIS terrorists are come into the United States from Mexico. So why are they saying these things?

ACOSTA: Well, you know, the notion of terrorists entering illegally through the southern border or any border, for that matter, you know, it's something that plays well to certain audiences. And I'd venture to say that's what Congressman Hunter was doing.

COSTELLO: So are you saying it's all political?

ACOSTA: Well, I think it's a great sound bite to put out to certain audiences, but it's without a basis, without any solid information. And I think we owe the American people better information than putting out sound bites about the border.

COSTELLO: Hipolito Acosta, thank you for joining me this morning. I appreciate it.

So, if it's unlikely ISIS terrorists are sneaking into the United States from Mexico, why are so many insisting they are? Duncan Hunter, as I said isn't the only one. A Texas sheriff told Fox News, people have found Korans and Muslim clothing on the border. As for ISIS, he says --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sounds like the United States needs to get busy. They need to bomb them. They need to take them out. I would like for them to hit them so hard and so often that every time they hear a propeller on a plane or a jet aircraft engine that they'll urinate down both legs. When you do that then you've accomplished a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: There you go.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz wrote in a CNN.com opinion piece quote, "And as long as our border isn't secure, the government is making it far too easy for terrorists to infiltrate our nation." And I don't think he was talking the Iraq-Syria border.

I could go on but I want to go on with CNN political commentator and Republican strategist Ana Navarro. I'm also joined by Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis. Welcome to both of you.

CHRIS KOFINIS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good morning.

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Thank you Carol.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. So Ana is this pure politics or is it a sincere belief that coyotes are smuggling ISIS terrorists over the border for $1,000.

NAVARRO: I think that, yes, we have to be concerned about what could happen to the border. Let's not pretend here that, you know, terrorists and bad people couldn't come through the border. The bad people do come to the border for issues like drug smuggling. But there is zero evidence right now that any ISIS terrorists have been coming through the border.

And what we have to worry about are the ISIS terrorists that are U.S. citizens and are over there and can come back without needing a visa, have U.S. passports or the ISIS terrorists that belong that are citizens of countries like the United Kingdom, you know, Britain and countries that have visa waivers with the United States that could easily slip into the United States through one of the ports of entry.

I think it is irresponsible and I think you're fear-mongering at that point when you go on TV and you are a Congressman, a person who should be credible, who's got a duty to be responsible with the American people and your constituents and you go and say something for which you have no tangible evidence in front of you.

COSTELLO: And, Chris, you know, I would like to think the more extreme someone sounds, the less likely it is that people actually believe them. Am I being naive?

KOFINIS: Well, with all respect, yes. I think it plays to a certain audience. I mean it's not surprising, you know, who's saying it. I think Senator Cruz, Congressman Duncan are known for their inflammatory kind of baseless statements; this one being kind of one of the tips of the iceberg. There's not many people who are going to argue that ISIS isn't a threat and we have to deal with it.

But to conflate that with the immigration issue in the southern border is -- you know, it's not only -- it's beyond grossly irresponsible. It really does tell you a lot about the character of the congressman and the senator to kind of play to these fears and kind of base politics. They should be better than this. And to do it with no evidence; to do it simply by just suggesting it in order to get some kind of media attention, you know, it's a sad statement, but unfortunately, it's working. We're talking about it.

COSTELLO: But Ana, why not just stick to what you're really concerned about. It is a porous border. We should be worried about and we should be worried about illegal immigrants including children coming over the border. So why not just say that and stick to that. Why throw ISIS into the mix?

NAVARRO: Because we're all in a state of urgent panic right now over ISIS. And the idea of Americans having their heads cut off puts us all in a state of fear because it is the topic du jour and the fear du jour.

But I think that if Congressman Hunter has got a legitimate concern and he thinks this is a legitimate allegation, he needs to call DHS. He needs to call his colleagues in the security and intelligence committees and get them to investigate. But don't go on TV and just spew it out and saying, well, because somebody told me so. You know, I know this is happening because somebody told me so. Well, you know, somebody could go on TV and say a lot of things that people told them so.

COSTELLO: Ana Navarro, Chris Kofinis, thanks to both of you. I appreciate it.

KOFINIS: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, he's one of the world's most reclusive leaders. In fact no one has seen North Korea's Kim Jong-Un in public for weeks. He's M.I.A. His little sister might be running the country. The question is, why? (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: News from North Korea, Kim Jong-Un is missing. Yes, nobody's seen evil dictator Kim Jong-Un for about a month now and his daughter Kim Kardashian-Un is worried sick. President Obama is concerned. He's sending in Dennis Rodman.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That, of course, is David Letterman joking about the very bizarre disappearance of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Rumors are circulating that this woman, Kim Jong-Un's little sister is actually running the most secretive nation in the world. The country's media has acknowledged that Kim Jong-Un has been quote, "uncomfortable -- in an uncomfortable physical condition". He was actually seen limping back in September. So is his sister in charge and why?

CNN's Brian Todd went looking for answers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She's barely noticed, often seen behind him in official pictures. But right now, some believe Kim Jong-Un's younger sister could be running the family business. Analysts say Kim Yo-Jong, who's believed to be in her mid-20s has unfettered access to her brother. The belief that she might have ascended to the top temporarily comes from the North Korean intellectual Solidarity, a group of defectors which has not revealed the source of its information.

CNN cannot independently confirm it.

VICTOR CHA, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: I can see how it's possible that she's in some sort of a temporary position. It's very difficult for the North Korean system to run without one of the Kim family at least titularly in charge.

TODD: Analysts say Kim Yo Jong's the youngest of seven children their father, Kim Jong-Il had with four different women. She went to private school with Kim Jong-Un in Switzerland under assumed names, experts say. And later took on important responsibilities for her father like inspecting sites before official visits. Analysts say Kim Yo Jong now does similar tasks for her brother. But also gets intelligence briefings and handles government policy.

CHA: Clearly an effort to I think slow-track her on to becoming somebody who is important within the system.

TODD: But as for handling all the stress and palace intrigue of being the supreme leader --

CHA: If in fact she's running the country as someone in her early to mid-20s, to me, that is quite alarming. It means there's something seriously wrong with Kim Jong-Un and there's some sort of void that they're trying desperately to fill.

TODD: And the mystery surrounding Kim Yo Jong's brother is only deepening. Kim Jong-Un hasn't been seen publicly in more than a month. South Korea's defense minister now says Kim is not in the capital city. One analyst says he could be north of Pyongyang in one of three different compounds used by the ruling elite. And there's one other possibility.

CURTIS MELVIN, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: Another option is over here in Wanchon (ph), this summer, Kim Jong-Un spent a lot of time over here. He observed military demonstrations and practices out in the bay here. He even had military practices take place right off the beach in front of his family home.

TODD: Now, all eyes are on a big event this Friday. Will Kim Jong-Un show up at the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers Party?

He was at the same event last year. We're showing you this picture. If he doesn't show up, the concern over his public disappearance will only grow. If he does, intelligence analysts will be looking at his appearance, his body language, every detail very carefully.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Still to come in the newsroom, it's one of the hottest political races in the country right now. And it could determine who controls the senate.

CNN's chief congressional correspondent Dana Bash is in rainy Kansas with more. Good morning.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Very rainy Kansas, Carol. This is not a place where anybody expected us to do a political story of control of the senate. This has been a Republican state when it comes to the Senate for 80 years but that could change and that's why we're here.

We're going to tell you more about this incredible race after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The stakes are high in Kansas where incumbent GOP senator Pat Roberts is trying to hold on to his seat against independent challenger Greg Orman.

Right now, the two candidates are neck and neck in the polls. According to a CNN/ORC poll, Roberts leads Orman by just one percentage point. The big question now, whether he can hold on to that lead come election.

Let's bring in CNN's chief congressional correspondent, Dana Bash. She's on the ground in Kansas City this morning. Good morning. BASH: Now, I think it's raining sideways, Carol. Good morning.

COSTELLO: I know. I feel so bad for you.

BASH: That's all right. It's part of the job. Listen, this is, as I said, not a place where we thought we'd be standing at all talking about a very tough senate race. But the bottom line is it is neck and neck here, and the Independent is taking advantage of the fact that you have Republican incumbent who has a reputation for losing touch and anti-Washington fever.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Endangered Republican Pat Roberts is warning Kansas conservatives of the stakes. If he loses, there goes the GOP senate.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R), KANSAS: A vote for Pat Roberts is a vote for the Republican minority.

BASH: Businessman Greg Orman ran as a Democrat in the past but is now an Independent. The Democratic candidate dropped out.

GREG ORMAN, KANSAS SENATE CANDIDATE: I tried both parties and like a lot of Kansans, I've been disappointed.

BASH: To win in Ruby Red Kansas, Roberts is trying to paint Orman as a Democrat in hiding, pounding that repeatedly at the debate.

ROBERTS: This man is a liberal Democrat. I don't know why you just can't come clean.

ORMAN: If I win I'm not going to support Harry Reid or Mitch McConnell for majority leader.

BASH: Perhaps the biggest news is that Orman was even here at a scheduled public event. He hasn't had many lately. Instead he tweets after-the-fact photos of his campaign stops, without press there to ask him questions. The strategy in this final stretch is to keep the focus on the incumbent and do no harm to himself mostly on the air waves with ads like this.

ORMAN: I'm a business man who solves problems every day.

BASH: Orman did talk to supporters post debate where we tried to clear up the key question. Who will he caucus with if the senate is split 50-49 and he determines control, no dice.

Don't you owe the voters of Kansas an answer on who you're going to be with because it is possible, that you, if you win could hold the balance of power in your hand?

ORMAN: Well, I sort of reject the premise of that question. I think it's a great thing for Kansas. I think it's an opportunity for Kansas to define the agenda in the United States senate.

BASH: As for Roberts, he's trying to shed his out of touch image that got him in trouble in the first place.

Why are you having such a fight? Why does it say about you because you are the incumbent?

ROBERTS: I'm going to win this campaign. We will win this race. And we will because we have every leader from the Republican Party.

BASH: The GOP cavalry is coming from all corners. He's already had appearances with Jeb Bush, Sarah Palin and John McCain. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are coming too.

ROBERTS: They know me and they know my record. They understand me, and they trust me. So the road to a Republican majority runs right through Kansas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And again that is not something that anybody expected, but it does seem to be a real possibility, Carol. And because of that, Republican outside groups who are hoping to spend their money on races where there was a Democratic incumbent that they were trying to take over the seat, they are now, I'm told, coming in here in a very big way.

We're talking about groups across the Republican spectrum from the Kansas-based Koch Brothers. Some of their groups are going to come in. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will spend in a big way to try to keep the state in Republican hands and they hope ultimately that a Republican majority in November -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Thanks so much for standing in the rain for us, Dana Bash. We appreciate it. I'll be right back.

BASH: Any time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: $37,000 -- that's how much a bidder paid for country legend Willie Nelson's trademark braids at an auction. Pretty stunning amount, right?

But as CNN's Jeanne Moos reports that may be a bargain compared to some other famous tresses.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: When it comes to his braids, Willie Nelson would probably agree.

It's crazy for someone to feel like it's worth it to spend $37,000 for Willie's pigtails. He cut them off in 1983 to give them to fellow country star Waylon Jennings to celebrate Jennings' sobriety. Now Guernsey Auction House has sold them to an unidentified bidder though this collector says he would have bid $50,000 if he'd known about the auction.

JOHN REZNIKOFF, COLLECTOR: You know, I look for things that are kind of iconic.

MOOS: Things that sprout from an icon's head.

REZNIKOFF: That's a nice lock of Marilyn's hair and you can see the lock of Paul McCartney hair.

MOOS: Now is George Washington nearby?

REZNIKOFF: Yes, let me grab him. So here is the Washington lock.

MOOS: John Reznikoff has been verified by Guinness as having the largest celebrity hair collection from the almost invisible few strands from Beethoven to this hunk of hair.

REZNIKOFF: It's Geronimo's pony tail.

MOOS: Also from the 1800s is what Reznikoff calls his treasure.

REZNIKOFF: That's Lincoln's hair.

MOOS: Documented he says as having come from the night that Lincoln was assassinated.

REZNIKOFF: This is the hair that the surgeon cleared the wound and retained this hair.

MOOS: Reznikoff estimates it's worth $1 million. He says he's got a few wisps of Einstein's hair and a clump of Michael Jackson's hair picked up off the floor by the producer of that Pepsi commercial that was being shot when Michael's hair caught on fire as seen in this footage from "Us Weekly".

As for that lock of Marilyn Monroe's hair --

REZNIKOFF: Taken at her embalming by the embalmer.

MOOS: Maybe you're thinking there's a certainly ick factor to collecting all this hair.

REZNIKOFF: I bet you your mom has a lock of your baby hair tucked away in some album somewhere.

MOOS: A lock? My mom saved enough hair to practically make a wig. And when my pigtails were chopped off she separated the two, may this keep a close bond between us, I have the other one. Willie Nelson's pigtails -- $37,000. My pigtails, maybe five bucks on eBay and Willie's are longer. But why split hairs when you can sell them.

Jeanne Moos, CNN --

Do I look like Willie?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

MOOS: -- New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: No, but I'm amazed her hair is the same color as her pigtails from long ago. I admire you Jeanne Moos.

Thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

"@THIS HOUR WITH BERMAN AND MICHAELA" starts now.