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Hillary Clinton Expected on Stage in Ohio; Father of Fallen Muslim-American Soldier Calls on GOP Leaders to Repudiate Trump; Trump's Policy on Russia; Investigators Look into Deadly Hot Air Balloon Crash; Zika Fears in South Florida; Mix of Worry and Optimism Before Rio Olympics. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired July 31, 2016 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:05] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. And thanks so much for joining me I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

At any moment now, Hillary Clinton is expected to the stage in Columbus, Ohio, as she wraps up her three-day bus tour of the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

CNN's Brianna Keilar joins us now from that event. So Brianna, I understand Clinton is weighing in on this controversy between Donald Trump and the father of a fallen American soldier. What's the latest from there?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, that's right. Of course, Kazir Kahn spoke at the Democratic National Convention and that is what began Donald Trump's criticism of him.

I was interesting, yesterday, Hillary Clinton didn't weigh in on this very much. Remarks about the Khan-Trump controversy were in her Teleprompter at her first event. And she actually skipped over them. It wasn't until her last event, last night at 11:00 p.m. that she referenced it. Even then, it was just a reference to it. It wasn't a very stinging criticism of it.

Well, this Morning, she went to a church in Cleveland, and she did address it. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Mr. Khan paid the ultimate sacrifice in his family, didn't he? And what has he heard from Donald Trump? Nothing but insults, degrading comments about Muslims, a total misunderstanding of what made our country great religious freedom, religious liberty. It's enshrined in our Constitution, as Mr. Khan knows, because he's actually read it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR; And Fredricka from the Clinton campaign's perspective, they think this is something that may actually hurt Trump, and specifically with some of the voters that Hillary Clinton has been trying to attract on this bus tour through western pennsylvania and through Ohio. That being white working class voters. At the same time, this campaign does not think that she is going to win, for instance, white working class men, but they're trying to reduce the margin by which she loses and they think this is something that could give her a bit of an edge.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brianna Keilar, thank you so much, in Columbus, Ohio. Of course we'll go back to Columbus when Hillary Clinton takes to the stage as well.

All right, meantime, the father of that fallen Muslim-American soldier doubled down on his criticism of Trump on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION", not only as Mr. Kahn calling on GOP leaders to repudiate their presidential candidate, but he's calling on Trump's family to intervene. Here's a portion of what was said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF KILLED U.S. SOLDIER: This person is totally incapable of empathy. I want his family to counsel him. Teach him some empathy. He will be a better person if he could become --but he is a black soul. And this is totall unfit for the leadership of this beautiful country, the love and affection that we have received affirms that our beliefs, our experience in this country had been correct and positive. The world is receiving us like we have never seen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, let's bring in our panel. Bernard Whitman is a former Clinton Pollster and a Hillary Clinton supporter, and Scottie Nell Hughes is CNN Political Commentator and Donald Trump supporter. Good to see both of you.

All right, Scottie, you first. Would, should, is it advisable that Donald Trump speak any more on the issue, offer any clarity or, you know, dig in his heels about his comments that he's already made?

SCOTTIE NELL HUGHES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think he has actually clarified his comments, but you have to realize this is crossing two streams right here taking two issues and crossing them together. That's what the Democrats have done, that's what they wanted to do in this issue wanted.

WHITFIELD: what do you mean?

HUGHES: Well, on the one hand, you have the parents of a soldier that was killed, and that was horrible and definitely, our hearts go out to them. As they are Gold Star parents for that.

However, the reason they were on that stage was not because of his opinion of losing his son and not because of that despair, but because he was against Mr. Trump's Muslim ban. Whether it had nothing to do with his son or his family not being able to become United States citizens and serve in the military. So this is the crossing of two streams to sort of try to muddy the issue. And unfortunately the Democrats are using, I think they're actually using this family right here to continue to make this try to cause hate against Mr. Trump. And it's not right, it's not fair, and it's not fair to the other 4,000 soldiers' families who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. They're not up there doing it. Why are we going to sit here and make this issue out of this family?

WHITFIELD: So you're, saying Scottie that they were invited to make a statement about Islamic extremism, or the issues that Donald Trump has brought up about banning Muslims and the Khan family was used in that way for that message?

HUGHES: Well, there's two separate issues. First of all, they did not want to -- in fact, in the interview today that he did with Jake Tapper, Mr. Kahn actually said, you know, I was possibly going to speak about Islamic terrorists, but my wife told me not to. She told me not to have that conversation about it.

[15:05:09] That's why they were brought up there, because of his views on the Muslim ban and Mr. Trump's point of view. It was not because -- but yes, because those views that Mr. Trump has about a temporary ban had nothing to do, unfortunately, about Iraq.

Now here's what's interesting about that. The person who does, who actually sent their son over there, who send to Iraq would be Hillary Clinton. So if anybody owes an apology to this family, it's Hillary Clinton right now. They should be directing their anger at her for what happened. Not necessarily Mr. Trump who had no support and did not agree with the war in the first place.

WHITFIELD: So Bernard, is it as simple as that? Was the family used? Were they representing Gold Star families? Was it about inclusion, this is America, or what?

BERNARD WHITMAN, FORMER CLINTON POLLSTER: I could not disagree with Scottie Nell Hughes or Donald Trump more. I thought Mr. Trump's comments were disgusting, demeaning, and disgraceful. The fact that he went out after the most powerful speech -- I was in the hall. You could have heard a pin drop. The mostful speech of anybody in the four days the Democratic convention, and went out to attack the parents of a fallen soldier, attack a grieving mother and father, question their faith, say, you know, I want to hear from her, why didn't she speak? Wasn't she allowed to. Demean the Muslim religion.

This just goes to show, as many Republicans have said, there is no single low to which Donald Trump will not go down to. I mean, it's absolutely outrageous to me and shows the parallel universe that Scottie Nell Hughes and Trump supporters and Donald Trump live in. It's absolutely outrageous. He should apologize. And, you know, you know, what Fredricka, I think Donald Trump as result of this delete his Twitter account, he should delete himself from the race.

HUGHES: Oh, give me a break.

WHITFIELD: So Mr. Khan said that exemplifies Donald Trump's ignorance. That was the word that he used. In fact it was Ghazala Khan who actually wrote an opinion page in the Washington Post and talked about how difficult it is for her to look at an image of her son. There was huge image right there in the DNC hall and it's difficult for her to speak. It was even harder, you know, to clear out his closet. But this was Donald Trump's response, particularly to the comments made from Mr. Khan, who said Donald Trump doesn't know what it is to make sacrifices.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS HOST: How would you answer that father? What sacrifice have you made for your country?

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I've done, I've had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Those are sacrifices?

TRUMP: Oh, sure. I think they're sacrifices. I think when I can employ thousands and thousands of people, take care of their education, take care of so many things, even in military. I mean, I was very responsible, along with a group of people, for getting the Vietnam Memorial built in downtown Manhattan, which to this day people thank me for. I raised, and I have raised, millions of dollars for the vets. I'm helping the vets a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Bernard?

WHITMAN: Those are not sacrifices. I mean, some of those things, fine. Mr. Trump did create some jobs. He also created tons of bankruptcies. But those are not sacrifices. I mean, Fredricka, I've done a lot of work with veterans on PTSD issues. Have I sacrificed anything for my country? Absolutely not. The people who sacrifice are people like the soldiers that give their lives every day. In fact, you know, Scottie points out it had nothing to do with the Muslim ban. If Donald Trump had his way, they would not have been allowed in this country ...

HUGHES: That is false. That is false. That is absolutely false.

WHITMAN: And those soldiers that Khan saved may very well have died as a result. That's ignorance.

HUGHES: That's the problem with this. This is how you know this is the sin of the media. So first of all, let's look at that interview that just happened. The question was there were two separate questions that were put together. Mr. Trump was responding to the fact of sacrifices. Nowhere did he ever say that his sacrifice was equivalent or even close to what the Khans have given up.

I mean, let say we all voice said they deserve ...

WHITFIELD: I think the question is creating a job considered a sacrifice?

WHITMAN: No, it's not.

HUGHES: Can I just answer? This is more about yeah, you know what creating jobs calls him to be at work, which cost him two marriages, which he's admitted. Time away from his family to sit their investment.

WHITMAN: Fidelity cost him that.

HUGHES: Never did -- no actually, being away from his family. He's admitted it. Never did he say that his actual sacrifice was it anywhere comparison. That is the spin of the media and an ongoing bias. And like I said they do not, you know, we respect their loss, but at the same time, they don't represent all the Gold Star families right now.

They represent one, they were showcased on the stage. If they had such a problem with being out there in public, they should not have been on the stage. She already had an op-ed in "the Washington Post." he's been on every morning talk show. They've already done a blog. This shows the spin right now this is about. This is not about our soldiers and our family. This is about demonizing a candidate and completely trying to get Hillary Clinton.

WHITMAN: And now you have more Trump surrogates going out and attacking the parents of a fallen soldier. Why can't you just say, you know, I appreciate their sacrifice, end of story.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Do we hear you right? Are you saying that this Gold Star family did not deserve to be on the stage, period?

HUGHES: No, that's not what I said. And please don't spin me on this Fredricka.

[15:10:03] WHITFIELD: That's why I'm asking. Did I hear you say that?

HUGHES: No, you did no hear me say. What you heard me say is they don't represent every Gold Star family. If they want to stand up there and honor of their son, then talk about your son. But don't sit there and go against Mr. Trump. Don't get sit there and say he's never read the Constitution. Don't go on to attack the media spin that we've seen today. All that doesn't prove this is a media corrupted story that unfortunately uses the idea of a victim, someone that has fallen in Iraq. This wrong, this is against every veteran right now, she stand up with demand apologies and this family should demand apology from Hillary Clinton. Because I like said, he's the one ...

WHITMAN: The Khan represent ...

HUGHES: ... that put her son in that situation that took his life in the first place.

WHITFIELD: OK, Scottie and Bernard ... WHITMAN: The Khan represent every (inaudible) the best with America.

WHITFIELD: Hold your thought right there. We're going to talk about this some more. We're going to take a short break for now. We'll resume this conversation in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHAN: Donald trump, you're asking Americans to trust you with their future. Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That was Khizr Khan, the father of a fallen U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan. And that moment from the DNC resonating across the country, but also provoking some outrage and criticism from Donald Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[15:15:06] TRUMP: His wife, if you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably -- maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say? You tell me. But plenty of people have written that.

WHITFIELD: So, in response, Khan's wife Ghazala penned a powerful op- ed in "the Washington Post" reading this in part "I cannot walk into a room with pictures of

Humayun. For all these years, I haven't been able to clean the closet where his things are. I had to ask my daughter-in-law to do it. Walking into the convention stage with a huge picture of my son behind me, I could hardly control myself. What mother could? Donald Trump has children whom he loves. Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?"

Let's bring back our political panel Scottie Hughes and Bernard Whitman. Donald Trump is reacting to the ripple effect that all of this is having, are tweeting this: "Captain Khan killed 12 years ago was a hero, but this is about RADICAL ISLAMIC TERROR and the weakness of our leaders to eradicate it."

So, Bernard, let me pick it up with you because you started to comment before we had a short break, so let me let you finish.

WHITMAN: No, I mean, this is actually about character, it's about compassion, it's about judgment. It's about what type of individual do you want occupying the Oval Office, someone who can reach out and despite positive difference, reach out and at least be empathetic and supportive of people that have lost their son.

This is a woman who can't even look at a picture of her son, let alone speak to tens of millions of people on television. And Donald Trump simply demeans her faith and says why wasn't she speaking? This is not the type of individual that I want as president for my children or anyone's children, quite frankly. It's absolutely beyond the pale.

WHITFIELD: And Scottie, Khan is also challenging Republican leadership, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell to repudiate Trump. We've reached out to them for their comment. And we're still awaiting a response. But, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions did respond in this manner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JEFF SESSION, (R) ALABAMA: I don't think anybody that says that we ought to slow down and be more careful about bringing in immigrants from countries that have terrorist tendencies and can't be vetted properly. I don't believe that that's a person who lacks a soul. In fact, millions of Americans, a majority of Americans favor that kind of policy with regard to immigration from countries that have histories of terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So Scottie, will is it your belief that it will serve Donald Trump well to respond any further to this issue?

HUGHES: I think Mr. Trump responding back to terrorism does help him. That's one of the areas he is strong about. I think you know obviously our heartaches for any mother who has lost a son. As a wife of a veteran myself a military family, my heart does very much go up and I think Mr. Trump does as well.

But terrorism is a real issue we're dealing with right now and that was what Mr. Trump was addressing. Is we do have a problem. Any body that's wants sit down it was never said, there was always a temporary ban to keep families safe in America today. That's it. This has nothing to do with military service or loss of soldiers. This has to do with terrorism and putting America first to fix a broken system that has allowed some of the tragedies of San Bernardino and Orlando and not knowing exactly who we have in this country and home grown terrorists that seem to continue to happen here in the United States.

WHITFIELD: So, is it fascinating that you know people see this differently. This might be an issue of Islamic extremism. Others see that it's an issue of compassion or lack thereof. So, you know, Scottie how does Donald Trump get the upper hand in this argument?

HUGHES: I think you look at it how everyone looks at it. The glass is half full or the glass is half empty. I think the one thing that can bond all of us together is we are all Americans. That we do care for our military, do care for our soldiers and we definitely do care for those families that lost a soldier.

And potentially, I mean this is not the first and unfortunately. We're going to continue to have issues like this, as the threat of radical Islamic jihadism still continues to dominate in the world today.

So, I think to tell you this is something that could actually, this could be a very good opportunity to grow us as Americans and bonding us together in the ways that we can actually fight terrorism both internationally and here at home.

WHITFIELD: So, Bernard, is this a representative of a division in America? How might this shape the potential outcome of the election?

WHITMAN: I think it fundamentally underscores the different vision we have for America. You have the Democrats showing a very positive, inclusive strength and diversity. We are all in this together. It takes a village and recognizing the value that each and every individual can bring. Whether you agree with us or not, Donald Trump's vision of America, which is on full display yesterday, today, and in Cleveland is one of divisiveness. It's one of negativity. It's one of demeaning. It's one of talking things down. It's one of questioning people's motives. Questioning people's beliefs and making fun of people for their disabilities, for their religion.

I mean, you have a fundamental division in the way we want to approach problems. I think that we can have policy differences and I welcome those. But, when you demean people just for who they are, who they love, the type of religion happen to practice, where they're born.

[15:20:05] I mean, that has to stop. We need to bring this nation together not continue to saw divisions and keep people divided which is the Republican Donald Trump strategy unfortunately.

WHITFIELD: All right. Bernard, Scottie thanks so much. We'll talk again a little bit later on. Appreciate it. We have so much more straight ahead plus Donald Trump and his surrogates offering a view of how a president Trump would deal with Vladimir Putin, including Russia's annexation of Crimea.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Hillary Clinton today blasted Donald Trump as not temperamentally fit to be president and commander-in-chief. Perhaps nothing set off louder alarms than Trump's call for Russia to find 33,000 missing Clinton e-mails. Some say it bordered on treason.

[15:25:01] Trump however sees it differently and he sent out a tweet seeking to dispel the notion. He has a financial interest at stake, saying this "For the record, I have zero investments in Russia." But then he also signaled he does not intend as president to challenge Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, a significant departure from current U.S. policy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I have my own ideas. He's not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. He's not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But he's already there, isn't he?

TRUMP: OK, well, he's there in a certain way. But I'm not there. You have Obama there. And frankly, that whole part of the world is a mess under Obama, with all the strength that yore talking about and all the power of NATO and all of this. In the meantime, he's going or he take takes Crimea, he's sort of I mean.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But you said he might recognize that.

TRUMP: I'm going to take a look at it. But you know the people of Crimea, from what I've heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And then there's this clarification today from Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, a senior adviser to Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESSIONS: That's not that big issue for America today. That's not the big issue. The big issue is can we, should we be able to create a new and positive relationship with Russia? I think it's un -- it that makes no sense that we're at the hostility level that we are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me ask you Senator did you.

SESSIONS: Hillary Clinton tried this reset. And it failed and we need to see what we can do in the future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you and in your view, is Vladimir Putin a good leader or a bad leader? Is he a good man or a bad man? In your view.

SESSIONS: What we need and we have a lot, of bad leaders around the world that operate in ways we would never tolerate in the United States. But the question is, can we have a more peaceful, effective relationship with Russia? Utilizing interests that are similar in a realistic way to make this world a safer place and get off this dangerous hostility with Russia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Let's bring in CNN Military Analyst Colonel Cedric Leighton. Good to see you. So Trump's campaign manager further tried to explain how Trump would approach Russia as president here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Mr. Trump has made it very clear. He views, you know, Russia to be somebody that we need to be firm with. And he has defined that he would put America interest first to deal with Russia and as well as any other country. I mean he get into you know what his specific words are, he said them. I mean he views Russia as a foreign power that has its own interests at stake and we the United States have to put America's interests first.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So is Trump being naive about Putin? Should he be more worry of being praised by a world leader with a long history of antagonism toward the U.S.? COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Fredricka, I think so. One of the big issues here is Putin's history. and in essence, what you're looking at is somebody who has not only invaded Ukraine and taken parts of it over, but also, of course, before that, he did Crimea and before that, he was active in Georgia, and before that, he was going after Estonia.

Now he did that in a cyber way. But nonetheless, the message is pretty clear that Russia is seeking to expand, and that, of course, goes directly against NATO, which Trump has said he doesn't particularly know if he wants to continue that relationship that we have with that alliance.

WHITFIELD: And what is your instinct or perhaps even Intel tell you about whether Russia is trying to influence the outcome of this election?

LEIGHTON: I think it's very likely that Russia is trying to influence the outcome of this election Fredricka. And the reason I say that is they have a history of doing that in other countries. They've tried it not only in the Baltic States, but in other countries in Europe. They are also trying to do that here because they believe that a Trump administration is going to be a much more amenable administration to the kinds of things that they want to do. They think that they can work with Trump, and they don't think they can work as well with Hillary Clinton.

WHITFIELD: And Clinton has said that she doesn't believe Trump has the temperament to be commander-in-chief. He says he has a winning temperament, the best temperament than anybody who's running for the presidency. What's your view?

LEIGHTON: Well, I think a temperament is always an interesting thing, and I think it can change with the situation that is at hand. So what we've seen so far is that you know both sides have some issues. I would say not necessarily with temperament, but certainly with the way in which they handle certain issues of foreign policy. So it's a very difficult choice for the American people. And it's not made easier by the kinds of comments that we see going back and forth right now.

WHITFIELD: And what might NATO allies be thinking about Trump about now?

LEIGHTON: Well, I think they're very concerned. And then when you look at -- let's take Poland as an example, they've made significant sacrifices in places like Afghanistan and it's one of the few NATO countries that has actually stepped forward and supported American efforts, both in Afghanistan and in Iraq.

And when you see that, and then you juxtapose that with what's happening right now with the Trump campaign and what they're saying about NATO.

[15:30:08] It becomes a very difficult thing for the country like Poland to deal with. And I think they have to be very careful in -- where they put their next foot forward. In other words, are they going to find a way to accommodate Russia because they're concerned about the U.S.? Or do they think that they can withstand whatever might happen in the U.S. election?

WHITFIELD: Colonel Cedric Leighton, thanks for your time. Appreciate it.

LEIGHTON: You bet, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, coming up, tragedy in Texas. We're learning some newlyweds were on that hot air balloon that crashed, killing everyone onboard. A live report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:18] WHITFIELD: Investigators in Texas are combing through the wreckage of what could become the deadliest hot air balloon accident in this country's history. Sixteen people were killed. The cause still unknown, but two sources are telling CNN there is a theory. The balloon caught fire after striking power lines.

We have CNN's Polo Sandoval joining us from Texas, and Sara Ganim reporting from New York. She just interviewed a former NTSB Chairperson, so, Polo, let me get with you at the scene and how they are trying to put this mystery together.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well much of that will mean bringing in extra reinforcements Fred, and I can tell you in the last few hours, this jump team with the National Transportation Safety Board traveled from Washington here to an area just to about 30 miles south of Austin, Texas. The scene itself off in the distance where you're able to see some of those vehicles which is also where these power lines actually lead to.

The main question is what led to this? I can tell you that they're going to be looking at a lot of factors here, including, of course, the man and the machine. The machine being the actual hot air balloon here, was it up to standards? Had it been inspected? And then also the pilot himself. Was he trained to be able to operate these kinds of scenic tours?

I can tell you that this is what we know about Alfred Nicholas, a man who was commonly known in the area as Skip. We know, according to documents from the FAA, that he was the owner and chief pilot of this heart of Texas balloon rides company. Also he met written tests and flight test requirements to hold a commercial pilot license that applied only to hot air balloons. He also had and held a basic medical certificate. So this is part of the process of investigating these kinds of incidents.

Meanwhile, we also learn more about the human toll. That we heard from a man who considers himself Mr. Nicholas best friend, a room mate and boss describing him someone who loved to do what he did. A man who took great pride in offering that service, to be able to give people an opportunity to fly up in the air and actually take in the view of central Texas, Fred.

WHITFIELD: And then what more do we know about those who were onboard?

SANDOVAL: At least 15 passengers who were onboard, all of them sadly did pass. We are now learning more about Matt and Sunday Rowan, the newlywed couple who lived in San Antonio not far from here, actually just married this past February. We're told by someone close to them that her 5-year-old son, Sunday's 5-year-old son Jett was actually staying with his father at the time of the crash, and this morning, little Jett got news about his mother's passing.

And this is what we're seeing now, for now Fred, are these human stories about the real toll of these people who were up early Saturday morning to take in the view, and now their families are left to grieve. And that includes a community Fred, having studied and lived in the area. Myself, I can tell you, yes, it is widespread, in and around the Austin area, but it is still closely made just a few moments ago, a woman, a member of the community came out with flowers in a very remote part of Texas to show her support.

WHITFIELD: Heartbreaking. All right thanks so much Polo. Sara Ganim, you talked to the former chairperson of the NTSB. And what did you learn about how they're moving forward, how the NTSB traditionally would be moving forward on an investigation like this?

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, as authorities begin to investigate, of course, they're leaving open the possibility of many different scenarios. But what we learned is that two years ago, the NTSB actually penned a letter to the FAA voicing concerns that hot air ballooning wasn't being held to the same standards of aviation as other forms of aviation tourism, like helicopter tours of small plane tours.

I talked to Debbie Hersman the former chairwoman of the NTSB this morning. Take a listen to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEBORAH HERSMAN, FORMER NTSB CHAIRWOMAN: When a passenger pays for a tour, they're expecting that someone has done the oversight to make sure it's a safe operation. When people take an air tour on a helicopter or a fixed wing aircraft, they're expecting a level of safety. The NTSB wrote that letter because they're not receiving that same level of safety if they're flying in a hot air balloon.

GANIM: On their website, the balloon operators for this crash in Texas, they wrote this. The federal aviation administration controls ballooning with the same strict regulations that apply to airplanes. Do you believe that's true?

HERSMAN That's not the position that the NTSB has taken, and that's the reason why the recommendation was written.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GANNON: Now, she also told me this. She said, often times we have a saying in aviation that changes are written in blood. [15:40:01] Meaning that unfortunately, it takes tragedy or as she

actually put it several tragedies to force changes to the law. And now, I do think it's important to mention these types of accidents are still rare in the United States a study done by Johns Hopkins University in 2013 found that between 2000 and 2011, there were 78 crashes with 91 serious injuries and five fatalities. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, sobering numbers. Thank you so much, Sara Ganim, appreciate that. All right next, the fears are real. The Zika virus has been transmitted by local mosquitos in South Florida. We'll talk to a young couple about the danger and the precautions they're taking.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:45:23] WHITEFIELD: All right, live pictures right now from Columbus, Ohio. Hillary Clinton is expected to speak there at any moment. Of course, when it happens, we'll take you there live. Clinton and her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine are on a bus tour or have been up for the last couple of days. Three days now going through Pennsylvania and Ohio, and they have just pulled their bus into Columbus.

All right, so South Florida on edge now after four new cases of Zika virus are confirmed in their own backyard. Even as state officials try to convince people that a widespread outbreak is unlikely, some residents are changing their daily routines and taking extra precautions to put their Zika concerns to rest.

Here now is CNN's Nick Valencia.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

CHRISTINE STERN, MIAMI RESIDENT: They like attacking the feet usually.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Grant and Christine Stern hope they're overreacting. For the newlyweds, their worst fear, they say, would be to contract the Zika virus, especially now.

C. STERN: My biggest concern right now, as far as the Zika virus is having it spread through Miami-Dade County and possibly the country.

GRANT STERN, MIAMI RESIDENT: The area that's inside the box is it starts there like actually a little bit north of us and it runs all the way that way and then about a mile west.

C. STERN: Have you read about this?

VALENCIA: They live a block away from the site of what health officials say is the transmission zone. The fact is not lost on them but especially not on her.

G. STERN: I'd say she talks about it four or five times a week like for the last several months. Yeah. And that is like, you know ...

C. STERN: Well, we have a lot of ...

G. STERN: We're seeking to make a baby together.

C. STERN: We also have a lot of tourism in Miami from South America. And, you know, ever since the news broke about Brazil, that's why I've been concerned about it, because easy, easy for it to transmit, you know, to come here. It was just a matter of time.

VALENCIA: Even before knowing for certain, they changed some of their daily routines to take added precautions.

C. STERN: I've been avoiding taking the dogs at night at certain hours where the mosquitos are really out and biting. Also wearing bug repellent. That's pretty much all you can do in South Florida.

G. STERN: Yeah.

VALENCIA: The state government has been at work too. In recent days, mosquito inspectors have gone door-to-door in the Sterns' neighborhood to test residents for Zika. Miami-Dade mosquito inspectors have also gone block by block to spray insecticides in the infected area.

C. STERN: We don't want to be right about this one, though.

VALENCIA: It still doesn't make the Sterns feel any better. The fact, the virus is now in their backyard looms large for the anxious couple. It's almost all they can think about.

C. STERN: You got to be careful, especially women, women and men. I mean it's not ...

G. STERN: Well, yeah. I mean I could, you know, I could transmit it to her.

C. STERN: Yeah, so.

VALENCIA: Her nervous laugh speaks for them both.

Nick Valencia, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITEFIELD: All right, next hour, we'll talk about what you need to know about protecting yourself from Zika. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will join us live.

[15:48:27] Also, coming up, a cloud of security concerns hanging over the Olympic Games with just five days now until opening ceremonies. Questions are rising over whether the City of Rio is prepared to protect the influx of tourists.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, two people have died and more than 100 others had to be rescued as flash floods ripped through Marlyland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was two cars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There goes the car.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my goodness ...

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, that's incredible the power of that rushing water sweeping away cars and even a massive clock. This is in Ellicott City, where more than six inches of rain fell Saturday not far from Baltimore.

In the light of day, you can see the damage left behind. Cars stacked up on the sidewalk, mud and debris covering the roads, the destruction prompting Maryland governor to declare a State of Emergency for that area.

And with just five days until the start of the Olympic Games, there is a mix of worry and optimism in Brazil. The good news, the much delay Metro line to shuttle people from the beaches to the Olympic Park is finally open. It was built as an alternative to the car-clogged roads that play Rio. But there are still major security concerns.

Brazil recently fired the private firm that was suppose to screen visitors at Olympic venues after it was discovered that they had only hired 500 people, far short of the 3400 they were suppose to hire. That responsibility will now fall on the police.

CNN's Brazil Bureau Shief Shasta Darlington is live for us now in Rio. So Shasta a lot of security changes and how with our police, security and military all of them about the treat of crime and violence.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN BRAZIL BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Fredricka the problem here in Rio is they've really got to deal with security on two different fronts. So just like other Olympic cities they have to be prepared for a potential terror attack but they've also, here in Rio have a very serious problem with violent crime. And it's gotten better over the last decade with police with police moving into the slumps. There known as favelas here that were controlled by drug lords. But in the months leading up to the Olympics, we have seen a huge surge in violent crime.

Everything form purse snatching, to homicide, shootout in these favelas, even I have played the Olympic athlete impound for training. Even they have been held up a gun point. So things were getting out of control.

[15:54:59] Now, they're reigning it back in. How are they're doing that by flooding the city with soldiers, and cops, and firefighters that are coming from around the country 85,000 of them setting up on the corners and outside of the venues. This is more than double what we saw in London and they say that with this huge display, they are going to keep things safe Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So that underscore why a lot of people are still nervous, but then what about the excitement that usually come with the start of the Olympic Games, is it there?

DARLINGTON: It's really beginning to build Fredricka, but you really would expect more excitement at this time. There are people lining up to take selfies in front of the olympic rings, but that enthusiasm has not translated into ticket sales, there's more than a million tickets available for sale 20 percent of the total. And this is a huge country so you would think if people were excited, they would start snapping those up. There are only five days left. We have to wait and see if we don't -- some of those stadiums just aren't left empty, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Oh wow, all right, Shasta Darlington, in Rio, thank you very much, appreciate it.

We have so much straight ahead right now.

He is the standout speaker from the Democratic National Convention, whose powerful message is resonating everywhere. But it's also provoking outrage and criticism from Donald Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHAN: Donald Trump, you're asking Americans to trust you with their future. Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Khizr Khan the father of fallen U.S. army captain Humayun Khan talking with CNN after that moment at the DNC, Khan further explaining his demands and condemning Trump's response in a written campaign statement, this is what Trump had to say. "While I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr. Khan, who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the Constitution.

Trump further tweeting this, this morning, "Captain Khan killed 12 years ago was a hero, but this is about RADICAL ISLAMIC TERROR and the weakness of our leaders to eradicate it."

And as we wait a Hillary Clinton rally in Ohio, she already came to Khan's defense this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: Mr. Khan paid the ultimate sacrifice in his family, didn't he? And what has he heard from Donald Trump? Nothing but insults, degrading comments about Muslims, a total misunderstanding of what made our country great religious freedom, religious liberty. It's enshrined in our Constitution, as Mr. Khan knows, because he's actually read it.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: And in the interview with CNN Khizr Khan also called on Republican leaders to repudiate Trump pleaded with Trumps family to "Teach this man some empathy."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump released a statement last night. I'm sure you've seen it calling your son a hero is a matter of fact he tweeted as much just a few moments ago. But he also said in that statement last night that you have no right to stand in front of millions of Americans and say he has never read the constitution. What is your response to Donald Trump this morning?

KHAN: I appreciate his response, his press release that was issued last night confirming that he accepts my son as a hero of this country. But to answer your question, his policies, his practices, do not reflect that he has any understanding of the basic, fundamental constitutional principles of this country, what makes this country exceptional, what makes this country exceptional in the history of the mankind. There are principles of equal dignity, principle of liberty.

He talks about excluding people, disrespecting judges, the entire judicial system, immigrants, Muslim immigrants. These are divisive rhetoric that is totally against the basic constitutional principle. If you read the Constitution, you will either deliberately would be violating those principles or you have not read.

That is why I have watched whole year and rest of the world has watched, and the love and affection and support that we have received after my statement, at every corner of the street, at every place.