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Racist Confession of Church Shooter Dylann Roof; Trump Squares Off against Congress, Intelligence over Alleged Russian Hacking; Trump's Top Secretary of State Pick Close to Putin, Russia; Podesta Backs Electoral College Electors Seeking Info on Intelligence on Russia Hacking; Trump Says He's "Open Minded" on Climate Change; Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Talks Russian Hacking of Election; Trump Loyalists Giuliani, Gingrich, Christie Left Out of Positions. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired December 12, 2016 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: Would you consider yourself a white supremacist?
DYLAN ROOF, CHARGED WITH MURDER IN CHARLESTON CHURCH SHOOTING: I do consider myself a white supremacist, sure. White people are superior.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: So your deal is it like --
ROOF: To agitate race conditions.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: To make it worse?
ROOF: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: Would you be able to tell them that you shot them the reason you told us?
ROOF: Knock way. I can't say that to them. Can't even look at them.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: Do you wish there would have been more people there?
ROOF: No, like I said, saying afterwards, it was just like, oh, you know. That's why I didn't shoot that other lady. I could have but I didn't.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: Do you remember telling that lady, I'm going to let you live so you can tell my story?
ROOF: Yeah, I said that but there really is no story.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: Do you have any remorse?
ROOF: I think it's too soon.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: What about regrets?
ROOF: Yeah, I'd say so.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: What do you regret?
ROOF: Oh, that's -- you know, regret doing it a little bit.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: A little bit?
ROOF: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED FBI AGENT: But part of you is glad you did still, right? I sense that from you. So, you're proud? I mean, part --
(CROSSTALK)
ROOF: No. Like I said, I don't really know exactly what I've done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: "I don't really know exactly what I've done." Today's testimony focused on the evidence investigators took from his car. A Glock, a lot of ammunition and racist paraphernalia, and apparently, a notepad for several local churches, including that very church, Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston.
Joining me now legal analyst, Paul Callan.
Before we get to what we heard today, can we go back to the tape? It's one thing to read, but to hear his voice, hear his laughter, didn't sound like he had any remorse at all. How does that sit with a jury?
PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: It's absolutely chilling to watch this interrogation --
BALDWIN: It is, it is.
CALLLAN: -- go on because we're talking about the taking of human lives, many human lives in what was apparently a very deliberate, well-planned way without a scintilla of remorse. What it's all shaping up, as far as I can see, is that he has no chance of avoiding the death penalty if this case continues to go in this way.
BALDWIN: Really?
CALLAN: Yes. You know, essentially when you're trying to convince a jury not to put somebody to death, you're trying to show that they are so insane that they're unable to plan, they're unable to manipulate, they're unable to deliberate about the crime. All of these things he was able to do. So, I don't think he's going to fit the pattern of a truly insane person committing a homicide.
BALDWIN: What about the fact we learned today that in his car there was a list of churches in the area. What would that tell you about intent?
CALLAN: I think what it tells you is that he's capable of sophisticated planning, and someone who's capable of sophisticated planning is not insane under the law. Nor is that a mitigating circumstance that would give you a reason not to give the death penalty.
BALDWIN: What about this gun, this is what was described today, the extra ammunition, hollow-point bullets, how he waited until he turned 21 to buy the gun. He apparently used. The gun shop manager testified he did not get a notice from the feds ordering him not to sell the gun until days after the fact.
CALLAN: Well, that's an astonishing fact as well. That's a whole other --
BALDWIN: Conservation.
CALLAN: -- conversation about gun control in the United States and about these databases we have in place that we're not using effectively to stop people like Dylann Roof from getting his hands-on weapons that can kill so many innocent people.
BALDWIN: Cannot imagine those family members sitting in that courtroom and listening to all of this all over again.
CALLAN: Many saying they don't want him to get the death penalty.
BALDWIN: Yes.
CALLAN: Doesn't that show what great hearts these people have, that they could take that position?
BALDWIN: Would love to talk to some of them when this is all finished as we already went to Charleston and had the pleasure of speaking with them.
Paul, thank you very much.
CALLAN: Thank you.
[14:34:07] BALDWIN: Coming up, former Congressman Joe Walsh is joining me. He is fired up over allegations that Russia interfered with the U.S. election. What he wants President-elect Trump to do about it.
Plus, are some Trump loyalists getting left out in the cold during this cabinet pick process? Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, and now we're learning more about the job Chris Christie wanted and didn't get.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A showdown looming between Congress and President-elect Trump over Russia's alleged interference over the elections. The CIA says, yep, the Russians wanted to help Trump win. Trump says, that is ridiculous. He says he doesn't buy it.
One of Trump's supporter, former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh is not so happy with Trump. He joins me from Chicago.
Congressman, a pleasure. Welcome.
REP. JOE WALSH, (R), FORMER CONGRESSMAN: Hey, Brooke. Good to be with you.
BALDWIN: I spent a bit of time reading your tweets. You, sir, are angry. Tell me why.
WALSH: You know, I went on my tweet storm this weekend, Brooke, because I'm outraged at the lack of outrage, especially on my side, the Republican side. I get that the country's divided. But, my god, a foreign government interfered with our election. That should piss everybody off. That should especially anger my side. And it's like, Brooke, because our guy won, Trump won, we're going to keep our mouths shut? I mean, that's just so wrong.
(CROSSTALK)
WALSH: The tepid response from Republicans.
BALDWIN: Just so I'm clear, the believe the CIA assessment that, yes, indeed, Russia's intent was to meddle and get Trump to win?
WALSH: Brooke, there's no debate. It happened. Not to parrot Hillary, 17 agencies said they interfered. This "Washington Post" report this weekend made clear, it's a fact. And then for Donald Trump -- mean, everybody -- look, all Republicans and Democrats in D.C. know they interfered with this election. For Donald Trump to call it ridiculous and not believe it, he ought to be ashamed of himself.
BALDWIN: So, I know that you agree -- I saw one of your tweets you retweeted the former CIA acting director, Mike Morell, who essentially compared this to being the political 9/11. But at the same time, you're a Trump supporter. This is the guy you voted for. This is the guy you supported. He is reluctant to even investigate. Why do you think that is?
WALSH: Because I think he's acting like a third grader, Brooke. I think he believes --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: A third grader?
[14:40:04] WALSH: Maybe a fourth grader. I don't know. My kids are older.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: This is the man you voted to be the president.
WALSH: Yes. But I think -- I don't think he fully gets it, Brooke. This is -- I mean, my god. We're Americans. This is a foreign government got involved in our election. I mean, I agree with Michael Morell. That's like Russia attacked us. For Donald Trump to come out and attack our men and women in the CIA -- that's almost treasonist. Russia attacks us and Trump tax the CIA. Man, he ought to -- he ought to be the one, Brooke, calling for an investigation like right now.
BALDWIN: Well, he's not, so far.
On top of all of this, what he is calling for is a potential pick for secretary of state. This is apparently a man who was one of Putin's best American buddies, Rex Tillerson.
Congressman, does this concern you?
WALSH: No, you know, again, I separate the issues. I don't have a problem with getting friendly with Russia. I don't have a problem with -- if Tillerson is friendly with Putin. That's a policy disagreement. I have a problem with any foreign government trying to pick our president. That's a totally separate issue. If Donald Trump is watching right now, he blocked me on Twitter, Brooke, so he doesn't follow me anymore. Man, he's going to use this as an opportunity, I think, to bring the country together and lead an investigation.
BALDWIN: You got blocked by Trump on Twitter? Did that hurt your feelings, Congressman?
WALSH: Hey, Brooke, it did. If Donald Trump blocked you, it would hurt your feelings. It bummed me out --
BALDWIN: I follow him.
WALSH: -- for a few days and I don't know why.
BALDWIN: Let me move on.
In all seriousness, there was news from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chair, and he says, yes, he's backing these Electoral College electors who asking for those intel briefs on any foreign intervention prior to their big vote December 19th. What do you think podesta is trying to achieve? Do you think he's hoping to change the minds of the electors?
WALSH: Well, again, I think when this story broke everybody went to their partisan corners. The far left said, redo, redo, and the far right hid under their desk and ignored it. I believe a foreign government influenced our election. I believe that needs to be investigated. I believe that electors should have every piece of information they can possibly have before the 19th.
BALDWIN: Outgoing Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, just talked to my colleague, Manu Raju, and he basically blaming FBI Director James Comey for being partisan. I want to play you a part of that interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID, (D-NV), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: They looked into nothing. MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Why do you think that is?
REID: Well, it's obvious he was a partisan in all of this.
RAJU: Comey?
REID: Yeah. Comey, yes. It's obvious. There's information out there. He had it, I'm confident, and he ignored it. And we know from other reports we've seen from all you guys, there were reports people in the campaign for Donald Trump were in touch with the Russians and now it's very clear. One of the biggest mysteries that people think exists, why didn't he do something? There's no mystery to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Senator Reid said he raised the red flag. Again, he's saying Jim Comey ignored, ignored, ignored. What do you say to that?
WALSH: I say that, Brooke, you're killing me with my conservative base. I'm going to agree with Harry Reid. Look, Comey mishandled the whole Hillary Clinton thing from the beginning. I think the fact that nobody -- Brooke, you and I knew during the campaign that Russia was involved.
(CROSSTALK)
WALSH: Yeah. The fact that it wasn't looked into or that the FBI didn't really aggressively go after --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: What about President Obama -- Congressman Walsh, what about President Obama, you know, because we know he's called for this massive review, even going back to the '08 presidential election. And I realize from his perspective, you know, you can say, listen, he didn't want to look involved and play politics ahead of this election, but do you think he should have been more public about concern, from the administration?
WALSH: Yes. If he knew that Russia was interfering or meddling or hacking in our election, that is information that the voters should have had. And the Republicans, when they met in September or October, Brooke, the Republicans should have agreed to that as well.
BALDWIN: Congressman Joe Walsh, we went through a lot here. Thank you so much.
WALSH: Love you, Brooke. Thank you.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
WALSH: Thank you.
[14:44:52] BALDWIN: Coming up, after tapping a climate change denier to run the EPA, Donald Trump is asked to clarify his view on the climate change and the environment. But is his answer raising more questions?
And another staffing position yet to be filled in the Trump White House, press secretary. Hear who says she just turned down the job offer.
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: President-elect Trump now says he is, quote/unquote, "open- minded" when it comes to climate change." He did not outright deny that it's real, but he hasn't exactly accepted the idea either. Here's what he told FOX News.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm still open-minded. Nobody really knows. Look, I'm somebody that gets it. And nobody really knows. It's not something that's so hard and fast. I do know this, other countries are eating our lunch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: This, despite the over whelming scientific evidence to suggest climate change is real and humans contribute to it.
So, with me now, Bill Press, CNN political commentator and host of the "Bill Press Show"; and Alice Stewart, CNN political commentator, Republican strategist and former communications director for Ted Cruz.
Good to see you both.
(CROSSTALK)
Alice, first to you.
Can we just all agree, I mean, climate change is a real thing? You don't have to agree on how you fight it, but you have to acknowledge it's real.
My question is, what is taking Republicans so long to come around?
[14:50:00] ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think what we have is we have someone like Donald Trump who says he's coming around to it. There may be some truth to it. On the far other side of the spectrum we have Barack Obama who has said there's no greater threat to our future than climate change. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. As you say, the question is, how do we go about fighting it? I think with his new appointment to the EPA with regard to protecting our environment and climate change and global warming, the number one mission is for clean air and water for all Americans, regardless of race or income or where you live. That's the number one goal. Our question is, how do you go about doing it while remaining competitive with other nations.
BALDWIN: I know a lot of environmentalists would not agree with you. Mr. Press, what do you think?
BILL PRESS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: This is the most serious issue facing the planet and should not be a partisan issue. The Pentagon has -- it's not only just the massive environment -- economic disruption it would cause for this country but the Pentagon has identified climate change as a national security issue. We should not be debating. I think it's appalling that President-elect Trump has appointed a climate denier to head the EPA, climate determine to head the labor department. He's considering another climate denier, Rex Tillerson, to be secretary of state. And I'm afraid that all the progress that we have made over the last eight years toward taking climate change seriously could be easily undone by this administration.
BALDWIN: Let me move on.
Alice, to you.
Donald Trump is big on loyalty and, still, though, you see the likes of Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich and -- who am I missing - Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: -- Chris Christie.
STEWART: Chris Christie, yeah.
BALDWIN: They're, so far, not selected for part of his cabinet. I'm wondering, why?
STEWART: What we've seen with each one of them, they have decided themselves to take themselves out of running. They have been vetted. We heard from Reince Priebus with regard to Rudy Giuliani, he had been vetted. He passed with flying colors for a position. He decided himself to take himself out of the running. So, I think, look, it's one thing to want to get in and help on what was a tremendous and historic campaign. All of these men have a lot to be proud of for everything they did to help get Donald Trump elected. But moving forward, there are such a wide variety of people that could be filling these different cabinet positions and heads of various administrations and he's widening the net. That doesn't mean them not specifically being in a cabinet or in the White House, they can't help tremendously from the outside. I think that's what we'll see.
BALDWIN: Why do you think, though, Chris Christie turned down the job, the Homeland Security job?
STEWART: It remains to be seen. Clearly, there was speculation about the Bridgegate scandal and how that might impact, you know, whether confirmation or moving forward or conflicts. That might possibly be it. You know, some of these things we'll never know. And there's also the -
(CROSSTALK) STEWART: He's been talked about for doing something with the RNC. I think he would be tremendous for that and a great fund-raiser. There are a lot of things they can do to help.
BALDWIN: I can feel the Bill Press --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: -- eye roll from here.
PRESS: May I suggest, anybody who believes these three guys were offered jobs and turned them down believes in the Easter Bunny.
BALDWIN: You're not buying it?
PRESS: I don't believe that at all. I've been around too long.
You have too, Alice. Come on.
But it's clear, can you talk about each individually. I think it's clear overall why they didn't get it. Number one, they didn't work for Goldman Sachs. Number two, they were not generals. Number three, they were not gazillionaires. And number four, they didn't give enough money to Donald Trump. $11 million is how much he's gotten from people he's named to the cabinet. They were big friends --
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: -- but not big enough donors, Alice, and you know it.
STEWART: I think it came down to the loyalty and the blood, sweat and tears they gave on the campaign trail that as invaluable and Donald Trump will forever be grateful.
(CROSSTALK)
STEWART: They decided themselves there are other things they can --
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: No, no.
BALDWIN: Wait. I'm still stuck on the Easter Bunny. Totally kidding.
(LAUGHTER)
Before we go, Joe Manchin, west Virginia Senator, used to be governor, Democrat, he's at Trump Tower today, as per tradition, he could be picking a Democrat as part of the cabinet.
Bill Press, would you see him as a traitor if he said yes, a traitor to your party?
PRESS: No, I wouldn't. Joe Manchin is a good man. I know Heidi Heitkamp, another Senator, is being considered for secretary of agriculture. Every president usually has one member has an opposing member on his or her cabinet. So, I would accept that as doing a service to the country. I just hope he doesn't take the job. Joe, stay where you are!
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: Bill and Alice, thank you.
(CROSSTALK)
[14:54:47] BALDWIN: Coming up, it's being called a clear message to President-elect Trump, where China, for the first time, just flew nuclear-capable bombers. Why that is causing concern.
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Here we go. We continue on. I'm Brooke Baldwin. You're watching CNN. Thank you for being here.
Let's begin with the showdown in Washington where President-elect Donald Trump is not only at odds with Congress, including members of his own party, but also the CIA. What is this about? This is all involving Russia interfering with the 2016 presidential election. The CIA says that Russia did it with the intent for Trump to win.
Now, let me show you these four Senators, two Democrats, two Republicans, making a bipartisan call for an investigation. The second one announced in less than a week.
Earlier today, we heard from Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell. He strongly condemned Russia while praising the CIA.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, (R-KY), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Our belief that somehow Republicans in the Senate are reluctant to either review Russian tactics or ignore them. The Russians are not our friends. Invaded Crimea. Senator McCain and I and some of our Democratic friends met with the delegation from the Baltic countries just this past week. To say they're nervous about the Russians, is to put it mildly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Let's compare that to President-elect Trump. He told FOX News he doesn't believe Russia tried to influence the election to help him win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[15:00:03] RAJU: Would Trump had won this race if Russia did not get involved?
RAJU: Would Trump have won this if Russia didn't get involved? REID: All I know is Russia helped a lot. Those WikiLeaks coming out,
drip, drip, drip, hurt her. And Comey --
