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Erin Burnett Outfront

Poll: Trump Clear GOP Leader in Iowa and New Hampshire; Thousands Attend Funeral for Slain Officer; Las Vegas Officer Recovering After Attack. Aired 7-8:00p ET

Aired September 07, 2015 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:11] JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: OUTFRONT tonight, Trump on top. A new poll shows his leads in Iowa and New Hampshire expanding. In the same poll Bernie Sanders has soared past Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire.

Plus, police say two Vegas cops ambushed while sitting at a red light. Were they shot at simply because they were wearing a badge? Two brothers allegedly attack and nearly kill their parents. They seemed like a normal family. What went on behind closed doors?

Let's go OUTFRONT.

And good evening. I'm Jim Sciutto in for Erin Burnett. OUTFRONT tonight, Trump reaching new heights. Clinton slipping further. A new poll showing Donald Trump widening his leads in crucial early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. Trump has now led the republican field for two straight months uninterrupted. In Iowa, Trump now has a commanding lead with 29 percent of the GOP vote. Ben Carson, the other GOP outsider is in second place at 22 percent. Jeb Bush continuing to fall, now with only six percent of the vote there. To New Hampshire where again Trump is on top trailed by a new challenger there, Ohio Governor John Kasich with Ben Carson just behind them. On the democratic side, Hillary Clinton sliding in the polls but talking tough. Maybe even a little defiant today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe I've got the vision, the policies, the skill, the tenacity and the determination to get us back on the right track.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Clinton fighting back after her top challenger Bernie Sanders surges now leading in New Hampshire by 11 points. And while Clinton still holds the lead in Iowa, Sanders has made up considerable ground there since July. The wild card, of course, in all this Vice President Joe Biden. Will he or won't he enter the race? Today it appeared he might. Rallying voters during a Labor Day Parade in Pittsburgh.

That's where Brianna Keilar is tonight. Brianna, as you are there with those crowds today. Is there a draft Biden vive among all those people following him? BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: There

certainly were a lot of the folks along this parade route today Jim who were telling him to run. Some even said, beat Hillary. When you are in a democrat town or I should say, a town like this, union town, the democratic voters here are really Joe Biden's bread and butter politically. And you couldn't help but notice how much energy he drew from talking to them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR (voice-over): It's a campaign tradition. Presidential hopefuls out on the trail to mark Labor Day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm hot. I acknowledge that. I'm mad. I'm angry.

KEILAR: Joe Biden giving a fiery speech in Pittsburgh as addressed union members in the sweltering heat.

VICE PRES. JOE BIDEN (D), UNITED STATES: Why in God's name should a man or woman working in a steel mill making $50,000 a year paid a higher rate than someone makes tens of millions of dollars on Wall Street? I mean, I'm serious.

KEILAR: Biden is not a candidate. At least not yet. But he sure sounded like one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sounds like you have a rational for running.

BIDEN: I'm going to run part of this parade.

KEILAR: Biden might be encouraged to get in the race by a new NBC News Marist poll that shows he stacks up better against Donald Trump and Jeb Bush than Hillary Clinton in both key early states of New Hampshire and Iowa. That's where Hillary Clinton tried to shore up support on this holiday.

CLINTON: I will do what needs to be done to turn this country around so it starts producing more opportunity once again.

KEILAR: But the new poll shows Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is closing in on her fast in Iowa. And he is beating her soundly in New Hampshire where he campaigned today.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our campaign for president is seeing in New Hampshire, in Iowa and all across this country a great deal of energy.

KEILAR: On the republican side, voters frustrated with politics as usual are flocking to non-politicians in the race. Donald Trump, though out of sight this holiday weekend, is still dominating in the polls, consistently the leader in both of the early contest states. In Iowa, renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson has a solid hold on second place while Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker once leading there has fallen well behind. GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What people are

looking for is someone that is proven. We have seen just like we saw in this right today. We went up and down hills and around mountains and around corners. In the end, there will be ups and downs in a campaign.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Walker has really fallen off the political podium. As so many establishment candidates have in recent months. This really is the summer of Trump. And Jim, it looks like it's going full steam ahead into the fall.

[19:05:14] SCIUTTO: So many surprises this summer. Brianna Keilar on the trail. Thanks very much.

And OUTFRONT tonight, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, she's a senior advisor for Correct the Record. That is a pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC. Also, former political director for President Ronald Reagan, Jeffrey Lord and Rory Cooper, he served in President George W. Bush's administration.

Rory, I'd like to begin with you. Because this new poll shows Donald Trump really dominating in New Hampshire and Iowa. Many thought that he wouldn't be able to maintain this status for long. But it's now two months in. He is consistently leading here. Is it time for the Republican Party to admit that he may very well be the GOP nominee?

RORY COOPER, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR MAJORITY LEADER ERIC CANTOR (R): Well, I don't think we have go that far just yet. I mean, these polls are snapshots in time. We have purple strategies actually helped conduct some focus groups of Trump supporters in New Hampshire. And listen, there's not much you can tell them that takes them away from Donald Trump right now. But what you are seeing when you are seeing the second and third surging of Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina, some of these like John Kasich, Marco Rubio in some cases, you are seeing people looking for second choices. And Donald Trump is not a second choice for many voters. You are either with him or he is down your list. Very hard for him to persuade people who are looking at Bush or Kasich or Rubio or Fiorina right now to come over to team Trump. So, that's going to make it very hard for him to ultimately win the nomination.

SCIUTTO: Jeffrey, I have to ask you. So, you hear Rory trying to eject some skepticism in there, implying I supposed to weakness on a second choice candidate. Is he wrong?

JEFFREY LORD, FORMER REAGAN WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, what he is wrong about here is the Republican Party doesn't want to come to grips with the establishment at least is not having a good time coming to grips with Donald Trump may well be the republican nominee. But they're being forced by the response of the people. I mean, all of these polls, his crowds, everything. The frontrunner was Jeb Bush and he is down in some of these polls at five percent and six percent. And I mean, he is really not doing well at all. So, there are going to have to be adjustments here. It's just very clear that this outsider persuasion between Donald Trump and Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina and I would even argue Senator Ted Cruz is pretty strong. It's over 50 percent collectively repeatedly sometimes as much as 60 percent or 65 percent.

COOPER: When you have 17 candidates in the race on the republican side, let's base it. The math is going to be against a lot of the candidates so you are going to get four or five, six percent. It looks like you are lumped in together. Eventually candidates are going to drop off and there's going to be a real healthy competition at the top. That's a start contrast to the democratic side where you have a few candidates and basically a new frontrunner, Bernie Sanders, looking at pushing Hillary toward the back. The field is actually not that big. So, yes, I mean, right now there's a lot of question marks on the republican side. But I think the real news this week is really coming out of the democratic polls.

SCIUTTO: Look, Governor Granholm, I want to talk about that. So, when you look at these polls, there are signs of trouble here. You have president, Vice President Joe Biden more popular than Clinton among Democrats and in the general electorate. You have Biden stacking up better than Clinton against both Trump in both Iowa and New Hampshire. It's Trump in both Iowa and New Hampshire. In these numbers, how do you not see danger signs for the Clinton campaign and perhaps a sense that the Democrats really want Joe Biden to run?

JENNIFER GRANHOLM (D), FORMER GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN: All I can say is, if you look at any of the websites that average the polls, Huffington Post has got a poll site that averages all of the polls, same thing with Real Clear Politics, you look at that and Hillary Clinton is number one by far 20-plus points against all comers. Wait. Wait. Let me just finish. Wait a second.

LORD: She's got to win caucuses and primaries.

GRANHOLM: Of course. Of course she does. And yes, New Hampshire, she's going to fight for every vote. And thank goodness we are at the beginning of this real fervent season which is what Labor Day marks. But if you look at the February caucuses and primaries, you have four states, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. If you look at South Carolina and Nevada --

SCIUTTO: But you know --

GRANHOLM: Let me finish. Can you please let me finish just one second. She is 30-plus points ahead.

SCIUTTO: It's a momentum campaign --

GRANHOLM: Of course.

SCIUTTO: It's a momentum campaign. And the direction in those key states, Iowa, New Hampshire, is not good. And the lead -- Bernie Sanders' lead in New Hampshire is getting bigger, it's not getting smaller as we get closer. GRANHOLM: But you know, Jim, if any pundit had said that she was

going to maintain those stratospheric numbers that she had when she was secretary of state in a non-partisan position, they would have been committing political malpractice. She knew that New Hampshire was going to be tough because Bernie Sanders is right next door as the senator and she is going to be in there fighting.

COOPER: Jim, what's happening right now is there's --

(CROSSTALK)

GRANHOLM: But she's 20-plus points ahead in Iowa.

SCIUTTO: Jennifer, I want to give the others a chance to pipe in. Rory, I will just ask you about this issue. Clinton told this Associated Press today, she does not need to apologize for the e-mail issue. The reason I bring that up is because that issue is very much reflected in credibility numbers for her. Even it's relevant. And her answer today was, I did what was allowed. And then she was asked if this was an issue. And she says she called it in her words not at all, it's a distraction.

COOPER: Right.

SCIUTTO: Do these polls in your view tell a different story?

[19:10:35] COOPER: Yes. I mean, like, listen, this is somewhat delusional. And I don't know if she's getting bad advice or if this is really what she thinks. But if you look at the numbers, her unfavorables are rising while her favorables are tanking. And that's because people don't trust her. Because she says, she did nothing wrong. But when you look at the secretary of state e-mailing the Middle East envoy the day WikiLeaks dumped 92,000 pages of classified information on the internet and saying, hey, what did you talk about today with the Italian foreign minister, that's borne classified information. And she's soliciting it to her personal e-mail. Voters aren't stupid. They know they don't trust her. And then they look at Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden as authentic people who they feel they can trust.

SCIUTTO: Governor Granholm, I want to give Governor Granholm a chance to respond.

GRANHOLM: Thank you. Because 61 percent of Democrats -- this is a primary. Sixty one percent of the Democrats say, they don't care about this. You all can be talking about e-mails and she's going to be on the stump talking about paid leave.

(CROSSTALK)

She's going to be talking -- you guys are talking about it. But Democrats --

COOPER: The FBI is talking about it.

GRANHOLM: -- 61 percent of them -- 61 percent do not care about this issue. They care about economics. They call about climate change.

SCIUTTO: Guys, we will going to have to leave it there. We will have to let the polls speak for themselves tonight. I want to thank Governor Granholm --

LORD: See Joe Biden in Pittsburgh today.

SCIUTTO: Well, we were watching him closely as well. And as he said that he is running but he said, running just in that parade. He didn't say, he was running yet for the race.

Jeffrey Lord, Rory Cooper, thank you for --

LORD: The crowds loved him.

GRANHOLM: You bet. Thank you, guys.

SCIUTTO: And OUTFRONT next, more surveillance video surfaces from the shooting of an Illinois police officer. Why after six days hasn't the public seen any of the footage?

Plus, two brothers accused of beating and stabbing their parents, nearly killing them. The neighbors say they were a normal family. What happened?

And Donald Trump calling Hillary Clinton the worst secretary of state in history. Their daughters though, Ivanka and Chelsea are longtime friends. Can their friendship survive a campaign like this?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:15:50] SCIUTTO: Tonight, thousands of people are pausing to remember the Illinois police officer shot and killed while on duty just north of Chicago. You are looking at live pictures of Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz's funeral procession. This as it arrives at the Hillside East Cemetery Antioch, Illinois. More than 1,000 police vehicles involved in that procession there. In fact, it took more than an hour to get to the cemetery as it paraded through the town. His three killers though tonight are still on the loose. And there's still no hard answers about exactly what investigators know about them. For six days now, police have been canvassing the crime scene and the surrounding areas and collecting and analyzing multiple surveillance videos. Yet, still police giving few details about the suspects or their current whereabouts.

Our Ryan Young is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Officer Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz, last call for his community. Police say, the husband and father of four was shot and killed in the line of duty last week. His family, including thousands of brothers and sisters in blue, all here to pay their respects before laying the 30-year police veteran to rest. MICHAEL GLINIEWICZ, LT. JOE GLINIEWICZ'S BROTHER: We all knew

Joe was a hero. But now the nation knows he is a hero. You will always be a part of my life.

YOUNG: Many who don't wear a uniform simply came to show their support for those who do.

MATTHEW HAERTER, BATTALION CHIEF, KENOSHA FIRE DEPARTMENT: I hope it sends society a message that this needs to stop. We all support each other and we can't do it without the public's help.

YOUNG: And while the lieutenant known as G.I. Joe was laid to rest, hundreds of officers from multiple agencies, including the FBI, ATM, homeland security and the Lake County sheriff's office continue analyzing tips and several surveillance videos, working to catch three suspects.

GEORGE FILENKO, LAKE COUNTY MAJOR CRIMES TASK FORCE COMMANDER: We have images of people that we believe are subjects that we would be interested in talking to.

YOUNG: Investigators claim live on CNN they found a significant new piece of evidence.

FILENKO: I will tell you that today our evidence technicians were at the scene once again, and they did recover a piece of significant evidence that wasn't found in the last few days. But I can't reveal exactly what that is or any of the other evidence, because it's extremely relevant that we keep some of this information away from the public.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YOUNG: So, Jim, we know there will be an update tomorrow around 12:30 involving this case. So many people hoping for more information when it comes to either the description of the suspects or maybe some lead that police have. Don't forget there's a $50,000 reward involved in this case.

SCIUTTO: They called him G.I. Joe. Ryan Young there where the funeral was.

Joining us now, retired U.S. marshal Arthur Roderick and Jonathan Gilliam, he's a former FBI special agent. Jonathan, I wonder if I could start with you. So, officials told us last week they collected this significant evidence. They wouldn't tell us what it was. It's now 72 hours after that. We don't have any new developments. You have been involved in numerous investigations like this. To your best knowledge, what's going on here?

JONATHAN GILLIAM, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, I think they're following the, you know, the protocol that law enforcement normally follows, which is keep everything as quiet as possible while this thing unfolds for a couple of reasons, one is they don't out secrets. And the other one, is so they have a rock-hard prosecution. And I think, you know, well, that's all well, you know, thought out and, you know, shown through history that that's the way law enforcement should work, there should also be a shift now where they're using the public more just by explaining more to the public, I think.

SCIUTTO: Arthur, I want to ask you that. Because I have talked to a lot of people in law enforcement. They say if they have these surveillance video, they would have expected long ago, I mean, virtually immediately that you would have had images from that video to share with the public and say, have you seen this man or men. I mean, why isn't that happening?

ARTHUR RODERICK, FORMER U.S. MARSHAL: Well, Jim, I think it's exactly the case of them protecting the veracity of the leads that they have. I mean, if they have got surveillance video, they might have a very good idea who these individuals are. Instead of releasing it to the public or to the media, they want to go ahead and investigate fully that particular lead. Now, it sounds like they have located some other major evidence which obviously could possibly tie into the video. But I know some of that video was taken from surveillance cameras that were positioned at intersections. So they could very well have a vehicle coming and going from that particular area after the crime occurred.

[19:20:43] SCIUTTO: Listen, Arthur -- Jonathan, you know more about the law enforcement than I do. Just from a layman's perspective, I don't -- I also understand the sensitivity of not releasing all the information you have. But if you are having trouble six days later finding these guys, why not put an image out there? I'm remembering in the case of the escaped convicts for instance in the prison in New York, you had their faces out there so everybody knew who they were looking for. What could the possible reason be to keep that under wraps?

GILLIAM: I don't think they have an image per se. A lot of these -- and the investigations at work where there has been video, it's less of an image and more of a timeline to see where -- and following it backwards to see where they came from and then trying to identify who they are that way. Whether or not there's an image though, there may actually not be an image.

SCIUTTO: Right. I guess you are right. It depends on the angle of the camera and so on, the light. Arthur, I want to ask you because authorities have insisted there's no safety risk in this area today. That there are enough police officers out there so that people should be fine. They shouldn't be concerned. But in light of, I mean, as you look at this, it does look like they just don't know where they are. Right? How can they say that and at the same time it not be clear that they have a good lead on these guys?

RODERICK: I mean, this is what's frustrating I think for the public and for the media is the lack of information forthcoming on this particular investigation. I think what law enforcement is saying out there is probably true. There's so many law enforcement officers in that are right now, that are insisting on this case. They are running down leads. There are any lead that does come in can be handled practically right away without it sitting there. There's enough investigators in that area, I think, that law enforcement feels like there's no public threat right now.

SCIUTTO: Right. Jonathan, as you look at this case, is there anything strange about the way local authorities -- I don't want to second guess them. They lost one of their own. They are doing their best. But is there anything strange as you look at the way this has been handled so forth? Or does this look like standard police operating procedure?

GILLIAM: Well, first off, I agree. Our criticism isn't necessarily against anybody in particular. But I do think one thing has to change. It was the same thing up in New York with the manhunt for the escaped prisoners. You have seen it in other places. It's okay for law enforcement to give out the possibility of a motive, to give out the description saying that there's, you know, a black guy and two white guys that hang out together. Do you know anybody that rolls like that? And anybody that would roll somewhere early in the morning and you haven't seen them for a while, anybody that's on the run or is trying to hide, there's going to be a change in their lifestyle. And I think all these interviews that you see the chief and the investigators doing, they could constantly be reiterating that if they don't have information to give out. And I think that's where they are losing in all these scenarios that keep popping up.

SCIUTTO: You know, a lot of people following this closely. And they're rooting for the killers to be caught. Thanks very much Arthur Roderick and Jonathan Gilliam.

OUTFRONT next, two Las Vegas police officers ambushed. One shot. Police say while waiting at a traffic light. It is the second time in just three days that a Vegas officer has been shot. Are the cops under siege?

And two Atlanta brothers described as polite young men under arrest after allegedly trying to kill their parents and burn down their home. What's behind the brutal attack?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:28:06] SCIUTTO: Welcome back. Tonight, police are searching for a motive after one of their own was shot and injured by a gunman. This attack taking place in Las Vegas. According to investigators, two officers were in their patrol car at a red light when the suspect approached and fired several rounds with a semiautomatic handgun hitting and injuring one of them. This was the second time in just three days that Las Vegas police officers had been shot in the line of duty.

Nick Valencia is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shots fired.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A gunman ambushed his two Las Vegas police officers sitting in their mark cruiser at a stoplight. The attack leaving one officer injured, his partner able to chase down and arrest the suspect. In Fox Lake, Illinois, hundreds bid farewell to a fallen veteran police officer, shot and killed. The hunt for the suspects continues.

A sheriff's deputy is laid to rest after being shot execution style 15 times while filling up his vehicle at a gas station near Houston, Texas. That's just in the last two weeks. This year, at least 24 officers across the country have been shot and killed in the line of duty. By comparison, as of this date last year, 36 officers had been shot and killed. According to the non-profit officer down memorial page. While the numbers are down, officers are feeling increasingly vulnerable says, CNN law enforcement analyst Cedric Alexander.

CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: There's some real challenges out there in this country right now. It's a very tough time to be a police officer at this moment.

VALENCIA: Deaths at the hands of police like this shooting in San Antonio where the suspect appears to have his hands in the air and the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore have led to the creation of groups like Black Lives Matter.

DERAY MCKESSON, BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZER: The only charged rhetoric of the movement has been about, I'm holding officers accountable. It has been about fair police contracts and independent investigators and body cameras.

VALENCIA: Activists and organizer DeRay McKesson says, blaming the Black Lives Matter Movement is only misdirected anger.

MCKESSON: It has been specifically about ending violence.

VALENCIA: Even so, chants like this from a march last month in Minnesota --

BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATOR: Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon.

VALENCIA: And ominous graffiti like this in Arkansas and Texas are putting more and more cops on edge.

SHERIFF RON HICKMAN, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: We have heard black lives matter. All lives matter. Well, cops' lives matter, too. So, why don't we drop the qualifier and say lives matter?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: Many police departments across the country are changing their tactics going from one police officer in a patrol car to two, even still cops everywhere are feeling the risk. And while the rhetoric from the Black Lives Matter movement may not be to blame for the recent wave in police killings, certainly, cops across the country are starting to notice the current climate -- Jim.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Nick Valencia in Atlanta.

OUTFRONT, CNN political commentator Van Jones, and in New York, former NYPD officer Bill Stanton.

Bill, I wonder if I could start with you. Two Las Vegas officers shot in just the past week, two, in fact, in three days. You have other shootings in the line of duty in Texas and Illinois. We have heard from police officers. You heard it there in Nick's piece, police do feel under assault.

In your view, do they have the right to feel -- do they have the data to feel they are a target?

BILL STANTON, FORMER NYPD OFFICER: Not only is there data, but they are watching with their eyes and they're listening with their ears. Pigs in a blanket don't shoot.

There's a growing culture of anarchy and violence, hate crimes towards cops. So, yes, all law enforcement personnel need to be a little bit more careful.

SCIUTTO: Van, I want to ask you, because you saw this anti- police chant in Minnesota. You see graffiti in Arkansas. We also know there's a lot of emotion here after cases of Michael brown and others.

But you do see groups that seem to be justifying, even instigating violence against police. And I wonder if you see that as well. Is that a danger?

STANTON: Are you speaking to me?

SCIUTTO: I'm speaking to Van, I'm speaking to Van.

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all, any time anybody loses their life, whether it's a police officer or a young unarmed African-American or anyone else, the whole country should mourn. We do.

But I think it's really unfortunate and ridiculous to say that people who are going around killing police officers have anything at all to do with these protests.

First of all, numbers should matter. Statistics should matter. We actually have fewer police officers shot this year than last year.

(CROSSTALK)

SCIUTTO: Van, to be fair -- to be fair, I wasn't identifying the violence against police with Black Lives Matter. I was just showing that in this very emotional environment, you do have groups who are taking it a step further. They are talking about violence against cops.

(CROSSTALK)

JONES: What did you say?

STANTON: Isn't it interesting that you made that correlation? JONES: Because you made it.

(CROSSTALK)

SCIUTTO: Bill, I will come back to you. I want to hear from you. Let Van answer.

JONES: Because we have an officer specializing now and just smearing this non-violent movement anytime he gets on the air. But my point is simply this. There is zero correlation between people who are speaking out saying they want less violence.

You can be and this movement is against police murdering civilians and civilians murdering police. That is a consistent position.

The problem that we have right now is that now numbers don't matter. We have fewer police officers being shot. Also, that one little segment of those protesters who said that despicable thing, there have been thousands of protesters where nothing like that was said.

And so, I think we have to not smear the entire movement because of one tiny part of a march where people said something despicable. That's not representative of the movement for police reform.

SCIUTTO: Bill, I want to ask you, nationally you look at the numbers and the fact is despite this impression of danger, police deaths are down. They are down 16 percent from this time last year.

Does that show you -- don't the numbers show -- you can argue the numbers show that those fears are on the statistics, that those fears are overblown.

STANTON: Yes, all right, Jim and Van, let's talk numbers, shall we?

Yes, those numbers show a lower amount of police murdered. But never have I seen in many, many, many years where the public has -- there are certain fringe groups have a vitriol, a hate for cops where the whole -- we will go back to Ferguson. The whole "hands up, don't shoot" was actually based on a lie. We're seeing it in New York, in Chicago, in Texas, where cops aren't killed in the line of duty. Cops are killed by execution.

That's what's changing the narrative here, at least from my optic.

SCIUTTO: Van, I want to give you a chance to respond. To be clear, it's not to tar the brush of the Black Lives Matter movement.

[19:35:01] It's to say, you know, are the emotions so raw right now that you do have this danger that that inspires some groups, granted, you know, at the extreme, to push back and feel that they -- to push back and call for violence against cops? JONES: There may be some of that unfortunately in our country,

we have had that for a long time. You can go back to Al Capone. You can go back to Bonnie and Clyde. You can go back to a lot of people, criminals, extremists who have targeted our police. And they are wrong for doing that.

I want to be clear. To the extent there's emotion, it's not because of the marches. It's not because of the so-called rhetoric. It's because of the videotaped evidence of some of our police officers doing things that are shocking to people. I hope we're not saying that people should see shocking things on TV and not protest. You are saying we don't have the First Amendment right to petition for redress the grievances? I hope you are not going that far.

STANTON: No, Van, don't worry your hopes will not be fulfilled. I don't look -- if a cop does a bad shooting or does excessive force, guess what, in my opinion, he is not a cop. He's a criminal. He will be arrested.

We have seen cases where there are bad shootings. And those cops are arrested and become criminals. So, if we're going to go to numbers -- I mean, the numbers of bad cops and bad shootings is below 1 percent. That's a big brush that people are painting when they say cops are bad.

Cops every day go out, save lives, millions of contacts, no bad reports.

(CROSSTALK)

SCIUTTO: We're going to have to leave it there. I think what we do see -- there is common ground in this emotional issue. There's certainly common ground there.

We will keep the conversation up. Bill Stanton, Van Jones, thank you for joining us tonight.

And OUTFRONT next, neighbors described the people in this Atlanta home as a model family. So, why are two brothers accused of trying to it kill their parents and burn down their own house?

And they were both raised by successful parents in the national spotlight. Ahead, our report on Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton's unique friendship.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:41:03] SCIUTTO: Tonight, two brothers now behind bars accused of trying to kill their own parents. Police say the 17-year- old Cameron Ervin and the 22-year-old Christopher Ervin stabbed their father in the back several times -- he is in critical condition tonight -- and attacked their mother as well. Police say they then filled the family home with natural gas in an attempt to burn it to the ground.

Alina Machado is OUTFRONT. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police say Zachary and his wife Yvonne were brutally attacked in their suburban home outside of Atlanta by their own sons. Yvonne frantically called 911 for help.

SGT. RICH LONG, GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE: She stated to our 911 operator that her sons were trying to kill her and her husband.

MACHADO: Neighbor Clinton Miller tells CNN affiliate WGCL he saw Zachary Saturday morning after the attack.

CLINTON MILLER, NEIGHBOR: We didn't really know what was going on. We did see Mr. Ervin on the ground outside and they had him on the ground and he was bleeding pretty badly.

MACHADO: Police say Ervin had blunt force trauma to the head and several stab wounds on his back. Yvonne also beaten but was alert and conscious enough to call police.

This is video of 17-year-old Cameron Ervin and his 22-year-old brother Christopher as they were booked on charges of aggravated assault with intent to murder and first degree arson. Authorities say the house smelled of natural gas and they believed the brothers tried to set the house on fire. The alleged crimes, a shock to neighbors.

MILLER: Definitely a good kid. That's the last thing I would expect out of those kids.

MACHADO: The Ervins are both expected to survive.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACHADO: No word yet on a possible motive. Police say both brothers were taken into custody immediately and have been cooperative. The 17-year-old has been charged as an adult. Both are expected in court sometime this week -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Such a horrible story -- Alina Machado.

OUTFRONT next, breaking news, the administration looking at a range of options for dealing with the Mideast refugee crisis. It's a complex humanitarian problem. But is it also a security problem?

And their parents, enemies on the campaign trail, but Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton share a surprisingly close bipartisan friendship. Our special report, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:47:34] SCIUTTO: And breaking news tonight, the White House saying it is actively considering a range of responses to the growing refugee crisis. Thousands of people fleeing terror and war in Syria and across the Middle East have been flooding into Europe. But now, a new fear that terrorists could be hiding among those refugees. Barbara Starr is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: More than 360,000 refugees have crossed the Mediterranean trying desperately to get to Europe. More than 10,000 already stuck on this Greek island, another ship arriving with tales of death and fear.

AHMADZAI NAWAZI, REFUGEE FROM AFGHANISTAN: We come to small boats, so difficult, it means hundreds about 99.5 is dead.

STARR: And then another harrowing journey to a final destination. Thousands hoping to make it to Austria, Germany, France or the U.K., on foot, trains and buses.

But growing worry about the unintended consequences of opening borders to those fleeing war and ISIS -- the risk to U.S. and European security and the stability of crucial allies in the Middle East.

DAVID MILIBAND, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: Lebanon and close allies of the U.S. like Jordan are creaking under the strain of millions of refugees.

STARR: The U.S. is under international pressure to take in thousands. But the risk that an ISIS militant could slip through remains the top concern.

MARK TONER, DEPUTY STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: There's a lot of terrorist groups operating in that region, in that part of the world. We need to make sure that fundamentally that we protect the national security of the United States of America. So, any asylum seeker has to go through a thorough background check.

STARR: The potential threat may already be in the works. The American news site "BuzzFeed" quoted a Syrian operative in Turkey saying he is working to sneak fighters in to Europe. They are being smuggled into Turkey he says, hidden among hundreds of refugees in cargo ships, the type of operation that can be tough to detect.

[19:50:00] REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: Especially when you have large numbers coming into Europe, I don't know how the governments could really effectively monitor them. The potential for an attack has to be strongly considered.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: U.S. officials say so far, there is no specific intelligence that indicates ISIS operatives have been smuggled in amongst the recent refugee population. But as the crisis grows, so does the worry -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Bob Baer is a former CIA operative with long experience in the Middle East. Bob, I have asked intelligence officials about the issue for a

number of weeks. Their standard response has been -- listen, you know, terrorists have a lot of ways to get into Europe other than leaky boats across the Mediterranean. But as this refugee crisis grows and not just boats they're driving across, you know, walking across, is this a real danger?

ROBERT BAER, FORMER CIA OPERATIVE: Jim, absolutely it is a danger. These smuggling networks can also smuggle weapons, explosives, and remember a lot of the refugees don't have travel documentation, real travel documentation. They buy it. They lose theirs, and when they show up in Germany or Hungary or wherever. We lost our documentation. I'm so and so. There is no way to check these people.

SCIUTTO: So, we know that they have had, European authorities have had enough trouble trying to track potential terrorists, you know, before the refugee crisis coming out of Syria, trying to get into Europe. As you have this flood of people -- and you mentioned a lot of them don't have papers, is there a way to weed out, to really screen them?

BAER: Absolutely not. There is nothing you can do. Not like they have DNA record for the people. They say who they say they are. ISIS would be a very easy thing to slip somebody in there as well as weapons.

And the more refugees, that come towards Europe -- remember, there are 60 million people on the move in Africa and the Middle East. The harder it is to get and detect a cell.

SCIUTTO: Now, you saw the one web posting. You can't read too much into that. Is this something a group like is would jump on quickly to take advantage of it, spot this opportunity and try take advantage of it.

BAER: Absolutely. Jim, what they would do, let's take a seasoned fighter, couple seasoned fighters on a suicide mission. Simply put them in a truck. Put them on a boat. Send them into Europe. Reconnoiter them with people with weapons, hand them to 'em and scary out an attack.

And there's simply no way for the German and the French police or any police in Europe to monitor these people, especially when they end up in large refugee camps. There's just no way to police them, and as the numbers head up and up and up. I think we could almost be certain there is going to be some sort of attack connected to the refugees.

SCIUTTO: Sobering assessment to say the least. Bob Baer, thanks very much for joining us tonight.

And OUTFRONT next: their parents are battling on the presidential trail. But Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton are long-time pals. Can it last?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [19:57:24] SCIUTTO: Tonight, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

continue swinging at each other on the campaign trail. But what you may not know is that behind the scenes, their daughters Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump are actually close friends.

As the battle for the White House heats up, can that friendship survive?

Sunlen Serfaty is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hillary who I think has very big problems, by the way. Very big problems. Bigger problems than whether or not she will run.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As their parents sling insults at each other on the campaign trail --

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I do find a lot of what he says pretty ridiculous.

SERFATY: Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton's long standing friendship is about to be put to the test. It's a test their parents have failed. After once being close friends themselves, Hillary Clinton attending Donald Trump's wedding, Trump making donations in the past to the Clintons and their foundation, they are now rivals, not holding anything back.

HILLARY CLINTON: I think the guy went way overboard, offensive, outrageous, pick your adjective.

TRUMP: She's the worst secretary of state in the history of our country.

SERFATY: But Ivanka and Chelsea have a private relationship, one that has grown more intimate over the years. The two women, both in their 30s, new moms and living in Manhattan, finding bonds in their similarities, their unconventional upbringing in the spotlight.

CHELSE CLINTON, FORMER FIRST DAUGHTER: Do you talk to kids about why math and reading are so --

SERFATY: Their career paths from high profile TV gig --

IVANKA TRUMP, DAUGHTER OF DONALD TRUMP: You both are amazing.

SERFATY: To big roles now in their respective family businesses and their family ties, both marrying men of you Jewish faith, Ivanka converting with marriage.

On social media, they both seem to be president of the others' fan clubs, effusive in their praise on Facebook and tweeting out compliments. Ivanka quoting Chelsea in a tweet with the #wisewords.

Chelsea telling "Vogue" magazine there is nothing skinned deep about Ivanka, saying she is always aware of everyone around her. Quote, "It's an awareness that in some ways reminds me of my dad, in his ability to increase the joy of the room."

But their biggest connection could also become their friendship's kryptonite. Both are fiercely loyal to their family and big boosters of each of their parents' presidential bid.

TRUMP: I can tell you there's no better person than my father to have in your corner when you're facing tough opponents or making hard decisions. He is battle-tested.

SERFATY: A battle that could now become a rivalry for this Trump and Clinton too.

Sunlen Serfaty, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Thanks so much for joining us. A very happy Labor Day to you. I'm Jim Sciutto. I'll see you again tomorrow night.

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