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DOD Identifies Soldier Killed in Rescue Mission; Girl's Confessed Killer has Long Rap Sheet; Sorkin Defends Portrayal of former Apple CEO. Aired 10:30 to 11a ET

Aired October 23, 2015 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:29:44] NOMIKI KONST, THE ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT: OK, comments in private versus comments in public may not be politically good. It doesn't look good out there, but she didn't do anything wrong. There was no wrongdoing.

You know, these were all prosecutors. These were all trial attorneys playing trial tricks on the American people.

SABRINA SCHAEFFER, INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM: Oh my goodness.

KONST: They were playing trial tricks to make it look like there was all this wrongdoing for 11 hours.

SCHAEFFER: Well, I was more supportive of her until you started saying all this. I think I'm not sure you're doing her any favors by suggesting that she didn't do anything wrong. I think even the most, you know, liberal Democrats often say, well, there was something that went wrong here.

The question is sort of how significant it was and will it impact her ability to win the White House in 2016. So, I think we have to be careful to say how she performed yesterday versus the actual facts of what happened on the ground in Libya.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I have to agree with Sabrina, Nomiki, because we didn't find out really anything about what exactly went down in Libya, who was exactly at fault. Should anyone pay the price? There were no names bandied about. Like those things I think Americans just have a right to know.

SCHAEFFER: Absolutely.

KONST: She went through the account -- no, Hillary did go through the account. This is actually one of her better moments when she went through the detailed account of what happened that evening in Benghazi.

And it's something that, you know, no one really had heard the lay of events, the timetable of it and I think she went through that very carefully and she explained how they were communicating with her.

The problem is here, is that you have a very large State Department. You have the CIA. You have very large agencies trying to communicate with a country that is across the world. That is very hard to communicate with.

I worked in Libya briefly. And it was very hard to communicate in Libya. There's no cell phone service, there's no Wi-Fi service. This is a country that didn't have infrastructure in place.

In Benghazi it was dangerous at the time. And Chris Stevens was very courageous for wanting to keep that embassy open there. But he was also known by the Libyan people as being a great ambassador that went out and spoke to them and really worked to improve the community. And that's something that I think came through.

SCHAEFFER: This is where I would agree with you and this is where I think that Republicans sort of got things wrong. They were out to sort of, you know, a gotcha moment on Hillary Clinton. There's a lot of sort of conversations that need to be had about this situation.

One of the big ones is that if we want our diplomats to actually be impactful and make a difference in these countries, you know, how secure should these embassies be? That's one of the sort of the debates that needs to happen. But that's not really for the hearing. That's for, you know, after the case we can say, hey, how can we be more effective internationally.

But I think yesterday, that's why I said I think they should be cautiously optimistic. She managed to get through what was, no doubt, a difficult 11 hours but that doesn't mean that she's completely off the hook for failed incidence under her watch.

COSTELLO: All right. I have to leave it there.

KONST: We could go on for hours.

COSTELLO: I didn't even have to ask you a question.

Sabrina Schaeffer, Nomiki Konst -- I appreciate it.

SCHAEFFER: Thanks -- Carol.

COSTELLO: This Sunday, three big names from the campaign trail talk with Jake Tapper on "STATE OF THE UNION" -- candidates Donald Trump and Senators Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders. That's only on CNN this Sunday morning 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

New details this morning about a deadly rescue mission in northern Iraq. An American service member was killed in the operation that liberated about 70 hostages from an ISIS-controlled prison. The Defense Department has just identified him as 39-year-old Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler. You see his picture there.

CNN's Jim Sciutto joins us now with more. Good morning.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Carol -- good morning. We have some new information about Master Sergeant Wheeler. I'm told by a U.S. military official that he was from the Delta Force, the most elite special operations unit in the U.S. military.

The Delta Force was acting in this mission originally in a train- and-assist role with Kurdish commandos in the lead. But I'm told by military officials with knowledge of this raid that when those commanders came under overwhelming fire, those Delta Force operatives, they responded, they joined that fire fight and it was in a fire fight inside a walled compound housing these captives where Master Sergeant Wheeler was injured, shot in the neck and later died.

This was not officially -- as you know, U.S. officials say that there is no U.S. combat role, but yesterday these soldiers looked very much to be in combat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: The deadly battle was the first time U.S. forces have directly engaged ISIS fighters on the ground in Iraq. In a joint operation with Kurdish fighters, U.S. special operations forces from the elite Delta Force raided an ISIS compound to rescue hostages believed to be in imminent danger of execution.

U.S. war planes dropped bombs on makeshift ISIS training camps, staging sites and bridges in the area. Then five helicopters brought in nearly 30 U.S. Special Forces and 40 Kurdish fighters. As they approached the walled compound, a fire fight broke out. When the mission was over, the U.S. aircraft overhead destroyed the site.

U.S. forces were not meant to enter the compound or directly engage the ISIS fighters. But when Kurdish forces inside the compound were overwhelmed, the U.S. commander made the decision to enter the fire fight. The U.S. soldier killed was shot inside the compound.

U.S. forces have been in Iraq on a "train, advise and assist mission". The Pentagon challenged over the decision to participate in this operation.

[10:35:02] Peter Cook, Pentagon Press Secretary: This was a unique circumstance. This was a support mission in which they were providing support to the Iraqi -- to the Kurdistan regional government and U.S. forces are not in an active combat mission in Iraq.

SCIUTTO: In the days before the raid, U.S. surveillance spotted mass graves dug and ready inside the compound, prompting immediate action. U.S. officials say that 70 prisoners were rescued, 20 Iraqi security forces as well as Iraqi civilians and, interestingly, ISIS fighters accused of spying. Missing, however, were the Kurdish captives they were sent in to rescue.

COOK: It's not clear to us exactly who would be there. And so that's one of the things we're going through right now, the debriefs as to exactly who those folks were.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: There are other more forward roles under consideration for U.S. forces in Iraq. For a number of months U.S. military officials have said they have the option approved -- and the have presented the President the option of deploying U.S. military advisers closer to the frontline, possibly ground controllers who call in air strikes.

That decision has not been made but Carol you look at an incident like this, it's called a train and assist mission but this is a nighttime raid against a fortified target. Those Delta Force commanders, they saw their Kurdish partners in trouble, they joined the fire fight.

And you could see under circumstances like that, U.S. troops very much in danger. And listen, by any other name, it's combat.

COSTELLO: You're right about that.

Jim Sciutto, reporting. Thanks so much.

Just a reminder to watch the CNN special report "LONG ROAD TO HELL: AMERICA IN Iraq". It's hosted by Fareed Zakaria and airs Monday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM -- police say he's confessed to shooting a four-year-old girl to death. The stunning new details behind this road rage killer's criminal past.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:41:11] COSTELLO: Take a look at these live pictures. This is a humongous water main break in Queens here in New York City. This is Queens Boulevard which is a major thoroughfare through Queens. As you might imagine, roads are closed because they're absolutely flooded.

Take a look at all of the water gushing out. This is located a minute away from the Long Island Expressway, ten minutes away from Citifield where the Mets play. This is in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens. There's a subway station nearby, so there's a lot of -- oh, my goodness.

Emergency workers have a lot to deal with as that water main continues to gush water. We'll keep you posted.

In New Mexico, new information this morning about that confessed road rage killer's criminal history. Tony Torrez is facing numerous charges in the killing of a four-year-old girl, including murder. On Tuesday an enraged Torrez says he pulled a gun, firing it on this Albuquerque interstate. One of those bullets killed four-year-old Lily Garcia -- there she is.

Ana Cabrera is in Denver with the shooter's troubling past. Good morning.

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you -- Carol.

This individual is definitely no stranger to trouble. We did a criminal history search and found over the past ten years he has faced numerous charges, repeated charges of abuse, assault with a deadly weapon, even child abuse and kidnapping. And in each of these cases, they were dismissed.

Now, there are a couple of cases that really stand out, according to our affiliate KRQE. There was a 2010 domestic violence case. Court documents say Torrez actually put a gun in his girlfriend's mouth, stating he was going to kill her and this was in front of their young child.

There is also a 2006 case that appears to be another incident of road rage in which according to the complaint Torrez pointed a gun at another driver's face. It involves exiting a parking garage.

Now with this most recent deadly road rage incident, he's facing a half dozen or so additional charges including murder, abuse, again child abuse, even tampering with evidence. He went before the judge for the first time yesterday to hear these charges against him. And the judge had some pretty strong words. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE CHRIS SCHULTZ, BERNALILLO COUNTY, NEW MEXICO METROPOLITAN COURT: Certainly, this is a crime of violence. I think it goes without saying this is possibly one of the most wanton and atrocious acts as alleged I think in the history of this city. And so it is clearly a crime of violence.

The weight of the evidence against the person, I have reviewed the criminal complaint and the arrest warrant affidavit Judge Montoya signed after he reviewed it and signed it yesterday. I certainly think -- just the facts contained and sworn to in that affidavit are more than sufficient to indicate that there's a substantial weight of evidence against Mr. Torrez.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: We also got a-hold of the arrest warrant and we're learning some new details about what happened on the day Lily died. And according to her father, Alan Garcia, he said he had just picked up his children from school, Lily and her seven-year-old brother. They were driving on Interstate 40 when another car came across a couple of lanes, cut them off, prevented them from exiting the highway -- or the interstate, and he apparently -- Garcia admitted to throwing his hands up in the air. That he mouthed some profanity at this other driver, reportedly the suspect, Tony Torrez. And he said moments later Torrez pulled up alongside him and opened fire.

Now Garcia reported hearing at least four gunshots as he was driving down the interstate, realized one of those gunshots had hit Lily in the head. And sadly as we know, Carol, she died at the hospital.

COSTELLO: It's just all so tragically stupid.

Ana Cabrera reporting -- thanks so much. [10:45:01] Still to come in the NEWSROOM, it's a new look at

Steve Jobs. Now the man behind the movie defends his version of the Apple co-founder.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's now been four years since the tragic death of Steve Jobs. Now thanks to Aaron Sorkin's new film audiences around the world are getting to know the man who co-founded Apple.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm the world's leading expert in the Mac -- John. What's your resume?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're issuing contradictory instructions. You're insubordinate. You make people miserable. Our top engineers are fleeing to Sun, Dell, HP; Wall Street doesn't know who's driving the bus. We've lost hundreds of millions in value and I'm the CEO of Apple, Steve -- that's my resume.

[10:50:06] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But before that you sold carbonated sugar water, right? I sat in a garage with Wozniak and invented the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Well, that's not the Steve Jobs we've come to know and critics are slamming Sorkin for this portrayal. One scathing review says he quote, "got his subject wrong". On top of that Job's own widow calls the film "fiction".

Laurie Segall spoke moments ago with Sorkin. She's in London with his response. Good morning.

LAURIE SEGALL, CNN TECH CORRESPONDENT: Hey -- Carol. It was interesting. I actually saw the screening of the film. It's divided into three acts, three big product launches in Steve Jobs' life. And any time you take on a film like this, portraying a man who's deeply complicated, who is hailed by so many, with products that are hailed by so many, you're going to open yourself up to criticism.

I asked Aaron Sorkin about his portrayal of Steve Jobs just moments ago. Listen to what he says.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON SORKIN, SCREENWRITER, "STEVE JOBS": I just knew pretty early on that there was no point in trying to write the Steve Jobs story, in trying to write a bio pic, in trying to get all of him into a two-hour movie -- a cradle to grave movie where you land on the character's greatest hits along the way.

So this movie has a much narrower lens and as a result I think it's pretty exciting. SEGALL: I've covered tech for years. It really certainly didn't

seem like Hollywood cared about technology when I started covering it back in like 2009. There seems to be this fascination with Silicon Valley, Hollywood's fascination with Silicon Valley. Why is that happening now?

SORKIN: Because that's where the stories are. There's a whole new place for stories. We knew that there were stories in Washington, D.C. We knew that there were stories in the West. We knew that there were love stories from New York to Seattle.

And now there's this whole place where there are new stories, big stories. Some of these companies, whether it's Apple or Google or Yahoo are as big if not bigger than governments. So we want to tell those stories.

SEGALL: A lot of success and big failure coming out of Silicon Valley. I can only imagine that's a lot of raw material for you.

SORKIN: Yes, of course. And just a very interesting and unusual breed of person up there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SEGALL: Now, Aaron wouldn't say exactly who they're looking at taking on next, Carol, but I will say one very interesting part of this film was the relationship of Steve Jobs with his daughter Lisa. Now, Aaron actually was able to gain access to Steve Jobs' daughter, Lisa, and they had many, many discussions about the film. They were -- and it's very interesting to see what a huge role she plays in Aaron Sorkin's version of Steve Jobs -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So, does he think that Steve Jobs' portrayal -- or the portrayal of Steve Jobs in this movie is accurate? Does he stand by it?

SEGALL: You know, it's interesting, he calls himself a painter. He says he paints a picture. He takes all these conversations with all these people that he speaks to and he creates a character. He says, yes, this is what he believes Steve Jobs is like but he doesn't believe this is the Steve Jobs. He calls himself an artist.

He said my job is journalism, we speak the truth. He puts together a portrayal. So he does stand by it but he doesn't stick 100 percent to it and say, this is Steve Jobs. You know, this is obviously, they put -- he took a lot of conversations, put them together into a very, very dramatic film, which, you know, some will say is worth watching and others will say didn't really hit it -- Carol.

COSTELLO: What do you think, was it good? Is it worth seeing?

SEGALL: You know, I saw it. And it's interesting for me having covered Silicon Valley. I know a lot of the folks. I know Steve Wozniak and I know John Sculley. So some of those folks seemed spot on; some of them I though -- that doesn't actually seem like the person I know.

But it was -- it was an incredible film and I think, you know, a lot of times that we hail people in Silicon Valley and be figured as these almost super powers -- people with super powers when they are flawed individuals and they have very interesting stories that are worth covering. I think it's worth seeing for that in particular -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, I know I'm totally perfect, as are you.

SEGALL: Obviously.

COSTELLO: Obviously, exactly. Laurie Segall -- thank you.

I'll be right back.

SEGALL: Good to see you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:58:37] COSTELLO: Checking some top stories for you at 58 minutes past. One person is dead, two others injured after Nashville police say an argument over a game of dice erupted into gunfire. It happened last night at Tennessee State University when two men who were not students, well, may have been gambling.

A university spokesperson says both men opened fire. One was fatally wounded, two students received nonlife threatening injuries.

At least 43 people have died, including a child in France's worst road accident in more than 30 years. The incident happened early this morning when a bus carrying elderly passengers crashed head-on into a truck while on a narrow road. Only eight people survived. France's president assured the family of the victims that they had quote, "the solidarity of the whole nation" behind them.

Debris now confirmed to be that from the doomed cargo ship El Faro starting to wash ashore in the Bahamas. Dozens of Axe Deodorant containers and body wash are surfacing, a pair of tennis shoes and other toiletries also found. 33 people were on board the cargo ship when it disappeared. The El Faro is presumed to have sunk during Hurricane Joaquin earlier this month.

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

"AT THIS HOUR" with Berman and Bolduan starts now.

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: And I'm John Berman.

We do have breaking news. The strongest hurricane in recorded history is getting close to landfall and we just got a brand new update on its path.