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Erin Burnett Outfront

New Signs Orlando Killer Was Preparing to Die; Gunman Worked as Security Guard Just Hours Before Attack; RNC Delegates Launch "Anybody But Trump" Drive; Trump: Delegate Revolt Would Be "Totally Illegal"; New Disney Sign After Gator Attack: Stay Away from Water. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired June 17, 2016 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:10] ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: OUTFRONT next, breaking news. The Orlando shooter changing his life insurance, buying his wife jewelry, just before the attacks. This as a former co-worker says Mateen idolized terrorists. He's OUTFRONT tonight.

Plus, an Alabama official refusing to lower the flag to honor victims, he says it tragedy quote, "doesn't meet the test." What does he mean? He's my guest tonight.

And more parents coming forward complaining a close calls with alligators at Disney. Let's go OUTFRONT.

Good evening, I'm Erin Burnett. OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news, preparing to die. New information about Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen tonight. Law enforcement officials telling us his desperate behavior in the weeks prior to the deadly massacre suggests premeditated, planned murder. Officials say, Mateen made sure his wife had access to his bank accounts, he added her name to his life insurance, and he bought her expensive jewelry.

Also, records show the gunman transferring his share of a home to his sister, turning it over to her for just $10. We are also learning tonight that during the seize, Mateen took a call from a friend, a medical professional, they say this friend was, and apparently the two talked about medication. This is what sources are telling us. And it comes as the FBI now has the surveillance video from inside the Pulse nightclub, which captures all of the horror of the mass shooting.

FBI agents spent an hour at the mosque, attended by Mateen, asking anyone there who may have been close to the shooter, the small mosque has a history of violent young men who spent time there two years ago. Another member of the mosque left for Syria. He died as a suicide bomber. I was at that mosque earlier this week where I met with Bedar Bakht who has known Mateen since childhood. He says he is going to be watching the young men there very closely now, because he's concerned that there could be others.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEDAR BAKHT, ATTENDED SAME MOSQUE AS SHOOTER: I do worry. Very much. And from now, I'll be keeping an eye on our youth, talking to them more frequently. But the people who are quiet, those are the ones who are --

BURNETT: Like Omar.

BAKHT: Like Omar, who was very quiet. Those are the people who are dangerous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: A lot of breaking new details to cover tonight. We begin with Pamela Brown in Orlando.

And Pamela, this new video that they have, the surveillance video of exactly what happened, what are you hearing it shows?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Erin, it shows the shooting rampage unfolding inside of Pulse nightclub. Investigators aren't really explaining what exactly they see. But as you can imagine, it is a horrific scene. And now we're learning about all of the steps this gunman took in preparation for his death, including making sure his family was taken care. And our sources tell us that his wife noticed a change of his behavior recently, but didn't call police.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN (voice-over): Law enforcement sources say weeks before the attack, Omar Mateen made sure his wife had access to his bank accounts, and added her name to important documents like his life insurance policy. He also bought his wife an expensive piece of jewelry. In the middle of the three-hour massacre on Sunday, Mateen and his wife Noor Salman exchanged texts after he asked her if she had seen what was happening. Salman also called her husband multiple times after news broke of the shooting.

She has told investigators she did not know his specific plans but was suspicious he wanted to launch an attack. And tonight we're getting a clearer picture of the gunman's past. He had a long history of disciplinary problems at school. Forty eight days of suspensions. Some for fighting. Today the FBI digging for more people who may have known the gunman. Visiting the mosque where he prayed. And this afternoon, FBI Director James Comey, toured the crime scene.

Meanwhile, CNN is learning new details about what happened inside the club. Officer Omar Delgado was one of the first officers to arrive.

OFFICER OMAR DELGADO, EATONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: People's phones were ringing all over the place. And to this day, I can't hear an iPhone ring, because one was so close to me, because it just kept constantly ringing. And when I got home, I realized, wow, those people are never going to be able to answer their phone again.

BROWN: In the midst of the chaos, there were hundreds of calls to 911.

CHIEF RODERICK WILLIAMS, ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT: We had a fire station less and 100 meters away from the actual incident. We had actually victims running to the fire station, knocking on the doors, trying to gain access to the Fire Station. Our personnel was just there, 30 minutes prior, for medical call. They heard what you call some noises. Banging, bang bang. And then begin to hear the knocks from the people who is trying to get away from the actual gunman.

BROWN: And we have learned, according to our law enforcement sources, a friend of Omar Mateen, saw what he was posting on Facebook during the rampage and called him. Apparently the two of them spoke. This friend is a medical professional, we're told, and then part of the conversation revolved around medication. Of course, this raises some questions. His friend, we're told, immediately contacted the FBI and told the FBI he had nothing to do with the shooting. But Erin, this is still a very active investigation.

[19:05:26] BURNETT: Absolutely. Very strange. That call that they were talking about, medication. Thank you very much, Pamela.

Also breaking tonight, the FBI is widening the investigation to include Omar Mateen's mosque. The focus is on Mateen's relationships with other members of the Islamic center.

Drew Griffin is OUTFRONT. And Drew, what are they focused on there specifically?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the two FBI agents went for about an hour to speak with mosque officials to try to find out if there was anything they missed, any associates, any friends, anybody who had any dealings with this shooter. I think they are just trying to make sure they have all their bases covered on reaching out to anyone in this community in general, and in the Islamic community specifically. Who might have known something, witnessed something or has any other information about anybody who perhaps may have even helped him.

They did spend about an hour there, as you know, Erin. That mosque has been very, very cooperative. The imam speaking out quite vehemently against this kind of violence. But, again, the FBI back again today, trying to make sure that they are covering all their bases -- Erin.

BURNETT: Certainly. I know they have been very cooperative. You've also learned some new information, Drew, though as to why Mateen got dismissed from a program, right, where he was trying to become a law enforcement officer?

GRIFFIN: Yes. This goes back to 2007. And yet again, it appears another potential warning sign missed. We were told he was expelled from the school at the same time he was fired from the Florida Department of Corrections. We didn't know exactly why, although other students tell us it revolved around some sort of potential threat he made. Now we know from school records just released that he was falling asleep in class, constantly. But at one point, just after the Virginia Tech massacre, he made a comment to a fellow cadet, saying, if I brought a gun to school, would you tell anybody? That, of course, set off alarm bells, and eventually he was expelled from the program. That happened in 2007, Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Drew Griffin.

OUTFRONT now, Art Roderick, former U.S. Marshal. Mark O'Mara, CNN legal analyst and James Copenhaver, former FBI task force member. Let me start with you, Mark. The breaking news tonight. In the weeks leading up to the attack, he transferred a share of a house he owned for $10 to his sister, gave his wife access to his bank accounts, added her name to life insurance and also bought large jewelry for her. In terms of his wife, what does this mean for the case against her?

MARK O'MARA, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, against her, the real question is going to be, what she knew and when she knew. We have had that sort of mantra for the past couple of days. Certainly, as an example with the bank, she would probably have to go down to the bank and sign off on the signature card. That's going to be a significant piece of information, because that in conjunction with all of the other information is going to get oh to the point where the FBI is looking for this.

They need circumstantial evidence or some direct evidence that says she knew and what she knew when she knew it. And information like an unusual piece of jewelry, given away property, putting her on a bank, letting her know, for example, the life insurance is being up. We know what he was planning. The question is, was she aware that he was planning it and that's what they're going to be doing. They're trying to find out what pieces of the puzzle starts making a picture of her liability or responsibility for it.

BURNETT: Right. And, of course, this added on to her going to an ammunition store with him, and going along with him on trips that investigators say were intended to scout out possible attack locations.

James, what about the rest of his family though? Transferring the share of a home to his sister and brother-in-law for $10 a month ago. Does this give investigators more reason to look into his family?

Sounds like James probably can't hear me. I'll put that question to you then, Art.

JAMES COPENHAVER, FORMER FBI TASK FORCE MEMBER: I got you now, Erin. I'm sorry. Absolutely. They need to look at everything from his third grade to current. I mean, this guy set off every bell and whistle since the third grade, all the way leading to this mass shooting. And rest assured, it's my opinion that every family member that he left all these items to should have known something, and had his plan down.

BURNETT: So, Art, what about then also the call now we're finding out? A call that he makes to a friend, so this is after 2:00 a.m. in the morning in Washington. The friend, they talk about medication. He asks the friend, has he heard about the shooting, they're talking about it and they talk about medication. What do you make of that?

ART RODERICK, FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR INVESTIGATIONS, U.S. MARSHAL: Just another twist to this case. Apparently, he was on the phone quite a bit when he was in the Pulse nightclub. Which is a good thing in one perspective that he wasn't able to carry out his full plan, obviously, being intercepted there initially by a uniformed OPD officers, but it sounds like he's made quite a few calls while he was in the Pulse nightclub, creating the violence acts that he did.

[19:10:23] BURNETT: And what do you make, Mark, of that call? It's pretty bizarre, really. I mean, really, we don't know enough, but, you know, talking about medication?

O'MARA: Right. Well, one, it's his sociopathy, again, that he doesn't seem to care at all that he's just killed 40, 50 people. But as far as, you know, whether or not the medical personnel friend of his is trying to talk to him about medication, maybe trying to bring him off some ledge or something like that. Again, it's one of those snippets of information that we can't make an extraordinary amount of significance attached to it, until we see how it fits into the overall picture and we just have to wait.

We know FBI is doing everything they can. They're not letting us know. I'm a bit interested in where these snippets are coming from. I would be interested if they're coming from FBI, and surprised. If they're coming from her side of it, it's also intriguing, who she is talking to and why she's talking.

BURNETT: Yes. And James, how about the mosque? You know, I was there, it's a small community. You know, I spoke to one man there, you know -- very devout, kind man, he is very concerned, obviously, horrified, but what has happened. But he does say, look, he's worried that this could happen again. He's now worried about the young men in the mosque who are the quiet ones. What are they looking for specifically in this mosque, such a small community that has now had two terrorists come out of it?

COPENHAVER: Well, you're going to look for anything that's being planned. You're going to look for anything suspicious in terms of grouping of other individuals from that mosque that may be planning something as a group. But let me back up for just a moment. This guy -- everything he's touched since the third grade it set off bells and whistles. My question is, why didn't it set off bells and whistles at this mosque?

BURNETT: Well, and that is a fair point. I mean, you know, it doesn't seem that it did at any point. Art, I mean, there's no question -- no questions ever came out of that mosque, even though they did know that he knew the other young man and the FBI looked into it. They concluded that was not a relationship of significance.

RODERICK: Yes, you know when I watched your interview with him the other day at the mosque, the thing that struck me was the comment he made that he thought there were other individuals in there that fit the same profile as this particular shooter. And the first thing that came to mind there is, boy, if I was the FBI, I would be over there right away, talking to him and finding out who exactly he thinks has the same profile as this particular shooting here, and start talking to those people and put them on the radar.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you all very much.

And next, new details about the shooter's troubled past. George James (ph) says, everything he's touched since the third grade. Well, I'm going to talk to a man who worked with Mateen and says he idolized terrorists, and talk to a Republican-leading convention revolt against Donald Trump. That movement is gaining scene tonight. Trump responding, live, this hour.

And can families visiting Disney really be safe from alligators that do this?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:16:36] BURNETT: Breaking news tonight. New details about the Orlando gunman's work history. The security company that employed Mateen says he was not given a psychiatric exam, even though he was being investigated by the FBI for potential terror ties. Mateen reported for work, guarding a retirement community, hours before he carried out the massacre.

Brian Todd is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mid-afternoon, Saturday. Just hours before his murderous rampage at the Pulse nightclub, Omar Mateen manned these check points at this gated Florida community. But what residents of the upscale PGA village didn't know was that there was a killer in their guard house.

NICOLE RODRIQUEZ, REPORTER FAMILIAR WITH PGA VILLAGE: The residents of PGA village are outraged that Mr. Mateen had gone under the radar for so long, without being detected by G4S.

TODD: Nicole Rodriguez is a reporter for treasure coast newspapers, who is very familiar with the PGA village. Rodriguez attended a contentious community meeting Wednesday night when residents grilled Drew Levine, a top official of G4S, the security firm which hired Mateen as a guard.

RODRIQUEZ: Residents wanted to know when the G4S security contract with PGA village will be up. They have concerns that G4S might not be providing adequate security for residents.

One resident said, if Mateen had snapped anytime while guarding PGA Village, he could have gone door to door, killing people there. State Representative Larry Lee lives in PGA Village, near a gate which he has been told Mateen guarded.

LARRY LEE, JR., RESIDENT OF PGA VILLAGE: Many of them are very afraid. But I think not just in our development, I think that this is a wake-up call to anyone in America. You know, just because a guy is a security guard, you don't know.

TODD: Mateen was screened when G4S hired him in 2007, just months after being fired by the Florida Department of Corrections. The company says that background check included psychological testing for, quote, "mental disorders." Another background check was conducted by G4S in 2013. But a company official tells CNN, in that check Mateen mean was not given psychological screening. At that time, Mateen was transferred out of a security guard job at a local courthouse, after making inflammatory remarks about terrorism.

A G4S spokesperson said Mateen himself claimed he was harassed by co- workers at the courthouse. The place he was transferred to, PGA Village.

LEE: If such incidents happened at a prior location that our homeowners association should know about it.

TODD: Do you think the residents and the homeowners association was properly informed of anything about this man?

LEE: I can't say.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: We tried to find out if G4S notified the PGA Village Homeowners Association here about Omar Mateen's past problems. So far, no word back yet from the security firm. We called the Homeowners Association, a staffer there said they had no comment on that and they hung up on us -- Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Brian.

OUTFRONT tonight, Omar Mateen's former co-worker, Michael Laycock. Michael, I know you have worked with Mateen at Fort Pierce courthouse, G4S. You both were doing security for the firm G4S. I guess the big question for you is, did anything that he did -- anything in his behavior ever raise any red flags for you?

MICHAEL LAYCOCK, WORKED WITH ORLANDO SHOOTER AT COURTHOUSE: Well, by the time I started working at the courthouse, he had already been questioned by the FBI at least once. I was informed when I got there that he was under investigation. So, a lot of his behaviors was -- definitely gave off those red flags. But like I said, as far as I knew, he was already under investigation.

BURNETT: And did did you know what he was under investigation for, or you just knew the FBI was questioning him?

LAYCOCK: For the most part, I knew it was -- I knew it was religiously motivated, per se. He made some very -- more extreme comments. He -- talking to him, as I got to know him, he definitely seemed to idolize almost the radical side of Islam.

BURNETT: When you see idolize, I guess, I just drill down on that word a little bit more. I mean, what sorts of things was he saying or doing that made you think this is strange?

LAYCOCK: Well, everything he said kind of went back to Islam. You know, he -- he liked certain aspects of the religion, because he felt they were more structured, felt they -- they were easier to deal with life if he was part of Islam. His marriage was one of them. He was -- when I talked to him, he was in an arranged marriage. He said it was so much simpler than, you know, trying to go on dates and spend all this money trying to chase women and -- he would talk about, you know, the terrorists being more sneaky and that took a certain level of intelligence versus just being brute fighters.

[19:21:28] BURNETT: Did he ever talk to you about attacks or carrying out attacks? And I asked this Michael, because you know, his wife was saying, oh, this is something he was thinking about doing or interested in doing for months, if not years.

LAYCOCK: To be honest, that statement doesn't surprise me. He never talked about doing it when we were at the courthouse specifically. But again, you're talking, you know, armed security with deputies all around, cameras on us, some audio. I mean, we were on the same walkie-talkie system as the sheriff's office. So he didn't specifically say, yes, I'm going to carry stuff out. But he did seem to idolize it. Seemed to put it on a pedestal kind of thing.

BURNETT: And when you describe him as an aggressive person, what about him was so aggressive?

LAYCOCK: Just his mannerisms, the way he talked. He very much held on to a grudge. He very much -- even if there wasn't a slight and he perceived it as a slight, he would take that to heart. It was something he would hold on to for weeks to months.

BURNETT: And when you heard or foresaw his face on TV, I don't know which came first, Michael. How did you find out that it was him? You heard his name, you saw his face. What was your initial reaction?

LAYCOCK: I mean, as anybody, I was shocked that I knew someone who would do this. I was shocked that, you know, this person I spent months working next to. Of all of the people I know, he's the one I'm least surprised did it.

BURNETT: All right. Well, Michael, thank you very much for. I appreciate your time.

LAYCOCK: Thank you for having me.

BURNETT: All right. OUTFRONT next -- for revolt against Trump, but the convention is the presumptive nominee fires back live this hour. An outrage over Alabama official's decision has refused to lower the flag in honor of the Orlando victims. Well, he's going to come OUTFRONT, and I'm going to ask him why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:27:26] BURNETT: Tonight, revolt against Donald Trump. Right now, you see that podium, Donald Trump preparing to take the stage at a rally in Texas. These are live pictures, live video you're looking at of an event outside Houston. At the same time though, dozens of Republican convention delegates are hatching a new plan to stop him.

Jason Carroll is OUTFRONT. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump looking ahead to his party's convention, but CNN has learned that some Republicans are looking into ways to block Trump's nomination in Cleveland. Including changing the rules to free delegates bound to Trump to vote for whomever they want. It was the subject of a call Thursday night, first reported by the "Washington Post."

One participant on the call, former Cruz supporter, Steve Lonegan told CNN today, these delegates have a moral obligation to nominate a candidate who best represents the values of the Republican Party. House Speaker Paul Ryan today, telling Republicans, they should feel free to follow their conscience in whether or not to support Trump.

REP. PAUL RYAN (R), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that is contrary to their conscience. Of course I wouldn't do that.

CARROLL: Ryan though is standing by his endorsement of the presumptive nominee.

RYAN: It is a very unique nominee. But I feel as a responsibility, institutionally as the speaker of the house, that I should not be leading some chasm in the middle of the party.

CARROLL: Yet the divide within the party appears to be growing with the convention now just a month away.

ALEX CONANT, FORMER MARCO RUBIO ADVISOR: He's a sinking island. His poll numbers are underwater, his poll numbers continue to go down, compared to Hillary Clinton. And it's about to get a lot worse.

CARROLL: As talks about a convention coup continue to swirl, Trump remains defiant, saying he's prepared to run with or without the full backing of the party.

DONALD TRUMP (R), GOP PRESUMTIVE NOMINEE: Just please be quiet. Don't talk. Please, be quiet. Just be quiet, to the leader. Because they have to get tougher, they have to get sharper, they have to get smarter. We have to have our Republicans, either stick together or let me just do it by myself.

CARROLL: Late today, Trump released a statement, warning about any effort to deny him the nomination. Saying any such move would not only be totally illegal, but also a rebuke of the millions of people who feel so strongly about what I'm saying.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: And Erin, I can tell you that the RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, has been working privately, working inner channels to try and find out how much strength this anti-Trump movement may, in fact have. Speaking to locals, state leaders, to see if there is any movement there. But he also tweeted out late this afternoon. He said reports of any discord, he called it, quote, "pure fiction." [19:30:00] But, again, in terms of Donald Trump, he is saying any

attempts to try and stop him from the nomination is not only illegal, but it would disenfranchise the millions upon millions of people who have come out to events like this one to support him -- Erin.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Jason, thank you.

And now, former Cruz supporter who was on that phone call last night, Steve Lonegan, and Trump supporter, Jeffrey Lord.

So, Steve, let me start with you. Jason just reporting Reince Priebus, chair of the Republican Party, making calls, the National Republican Committee, obviously, making calls to see how big your movement is. Do you think that he could get on your side?

STEVE LONEGAN (R), LEADING DELEGATE REVOLT AGAINST TRUMP: I don't know what Reince Priebus knows what to do. He said this amazing exploding movement is something called fiction. And I don't know exactly who he's calling. He hasn't called me.

All I know is I'm getting hundreds of calls every day, e-mails every day. Conference calls getting bigger and bigger every day. And, you know, Erin, while I was sitting to go on the air with you in the green room, I had a gentleman call me from Missouri, a woman called from North Carolina wanting to join this movement.

This is about saving the Republican Party. This is not about dumping Donald Trump or never Trump. I was never a part of that. It's about nominating a candidate who will support the values of the Republican Party to defeat Hillary Clinton.

And right now, Donald Trump, he made it clear in his speech tonight. He's going down in flames and looks like he's taking the Republican Party with him.

BURNETT: Jeff, what do you say? Going down in flames, taking the Republican Party with him. And Steve saying he is getting a lot of momentum.

JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I heard Steve mention the word "hundreds." Donald Trump got almost 14 million votes. I don't think Steve is getting 14 million calls.

Look, if they succeeded, they're not going to succeed. Frankly, this is just -- a group of people who want to do the kamikaze thing. But let's just say for the sake of the argument, if they succeeded, what they do immediately is anger 14 million Republicans at the base level who voted for Donald Trump, who would then go out of their way to make sure that everyone down ballot, U.S. senators, governors, legislators, would never see the light of day on election day. They would vote against them. I don't think that's the road you want to go down.

LONEGAN: Jeff, you can continue to laugh at the conservative base of the Republican Party. You can laugh all you want. The fact of the matter is, the only kamikaze effort is going to happen in November when Donald Trump takes the Republican down through resounding defeat. LORD: All I can say, Steve, I looked at the poll numbers, and the

polls -- exit polls coming out of New Hampshire. People who describe themselves as very conservative voted for Donald Trump.

LONEGAN: I would be worrying about the exit polls come next November, Jeff. Not what happened months ago.

BURNETT: So let me ask you, because when we --

LORD: Steve, it's over. It's over.

BURNETT: Jeff --

LORD: The decision has been made by the voters of the Republican Party.

LONEGAN: Unfortunately --

BURNETT: Let me just ask a question. Hold on one second, Steve, because when you came out here, you said Speaker Ryan was giving you the green light. Let me play what Steve feels is a green light. Because it kind of sous like it is a green light, but it kind of sound like a green light. Here is Paul Ryan today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that's contrary to their conscience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: That's when he's being asked about delegates who are supposed to vote for Donald Trump. That doesn't sound like he's saying people should vote for what the rules tell them to do.

LORD: Yes, I think Speaker Ryan is damaging himself here. I mean, look, if we're going --

BURNETT: Himself or Donald Trump?

LORD: Let's just say for the sake of the argument that Ted Cruz had won this nomination and I wanted Ted Cruz for vice president. He's pretty well taken himself out of that.

But let's say it was Ted Cruz that was nominated. Would Steve Lonegan be saying, oh, it's a great idea now to upset Ted Cruz as the nominee? Of course not. Nor would I. Was it a great idea to upset Mitt Romney or John McCain or Ronald Reagan or George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush once they got this far along the path? Of course not.

LONEGAN: Irrelevant.

BURNETT: Why is it irrelevant?

LONEGAN: It's irrelevant because right now, Donald Trump is tearing the Republican Party to pieces. We have lost --

LORD: No, you are Steve.

LONEGAN: We lost people like Scott Walker, we lost the governor of Maryland, we lost the governor of Tennessee, we lost Mark Kirk and many others. He's tearing the Republican party apart. He's not leaning it. He doesn't need the conservative base. Said that tonight again.

I've woken up every day since Indiana, looking for reasons to support Donald Trump. He spends more time trying to get Bernie Sanders voters to vote for him than conservatives. What does he think he has to offer Bernie Sanders' voters?

LORD: I don't know, Ronald Reagan went off after a lot of liberal Democratic votes and he got them. Are you --

LONEGAN: Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump attacked for eight years in a row when he supported Fritz Mondale and he supported Jimmy Carter, that Ronald Reagan, Jeff, give me a break.

(CROSSTALK)

LONEGAN: Donald Trump is no conservative. He's not going to represent the values of the Republican Party. He's not going to do it. He's going to represent the values of Donald Trump.

LORD: You lost, Steve. You know --

LONEGAN: Jeff, Jeff, the convention is in July. The convention hasn't gotten here yet. That's when it takes place. This isn't a popularity contest.

LORD: Steve, if you want -- if you want to invalidate primaries, do it in 2020.

LONEGAN: The party shouldn't have a convention. Let's just have a popularity contest.

(CROSSTALK)

LONEGAN: Not the party of mob rule. A party who elects and -- the convention is going to take place whether or not Jeff likes it or not.

[19:35:00] BURNETT: All right. Final quick word, Jeff, since Steve got to start.

LORD: This is not the party of people gathering in back rooms in Cleveland to make a deal. You know, this is about people who cast votes.-

LONEGAN: Jeff, it tells us who the 112 members are of the rules committee who determine the future of the Republican Party. No one can figure that out.

(CROSSTALK) BURNETT: All right, we will hit pause there. There is an interesting point, though, of what is the point of a convention if it's just nothing.

All right. OUTFRONT next, an Alabama official won't lower the flag to honor the Orlando victims. I'm going to ask him why.

And more stories of close calls with alligators. Can Disney keep its visitors safe when alligators can do things like this?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BURNETT: Tonight, while cities and towns across America are lowering their flags to honor the Orlando massacre victims, one county in Alabama says no. Baldwin County refuses to lower its flags to half- staff, saying the attack doesn't, quote, "meet the test".

OUTFRONT now, Tucker Dorsey, Baldwin County commissioner, the current chairman, the man who made the decision.

So, Commissioner Dorsey, why not? Why not lower the flag?

TUCKER DORSEY, COUNTY COMMISSIONER REFUSING TO FLY FLAGS AT HALF STAFF: Well, good evening, I appreciate you having me on this evening.

I have interpreted the flag code. The responsibility given to me by the people of Baldwin county as the chair, given me the purgative with regards to the flag code and I read the flag code because I revere the flag very much. And the flag code, as it reads, is really only lowered for instances where there are the passing of officials that have given significant distinguished service to our country, whether presidents, Antonin Scalia, Nancy Reagan, certainly, Memorial Day, we do 9/11 for First Responders, in remembrance of that, as well Pearl Harbor Day.

And so when I first saw it and interpreted the code, it's primarily for those things instead of the tragedy where innocent Americans are getting killed.

BURNETT: So, the president of the United States has requested all flags across the country be lowered, and in fact, probably every single one is, except for the ones that are in your county. Forty- nine innocent Americans have been massacred. You're not lowering your flag. I know, for Sandy Hook. You didn't lower it for the Boston bombings. You didn't lower it for San Bernardino.

Why not?

DORSEY: Well, for the same reason. Certainly when the president makes his proclamation to lower the flags, he's making the proclamation for all flags at U.S. installations, federal properties, navy warships, embassies across the -- overseas.

And really my perspective is different. He's not asking every American to, I guess. The proclamation doesn't order every American to. Every flag at the CVS down the street doesn't come down, necessarily. Some churches, you know, either aren't plugged in or paying attention or the flag doesn't come down.

BURNETT: Right. But I guess the question is, when you say you're lowering it -- on Memorial Day, for example, right, to honor soldiers who lost their lives fighting for America, these are innocent civilians who have lost their lives in the war on terror. They are been slaughtered by a terrorist. That's what this was. That is what San Bernardino was.

Does that argument not stand for you at all, to honor them in that way?

DORSEY: And I do completely agree with that. I mean, it's a terrorist event and I guess my perspective has been -- was different. And certainly is my original post is probably a couple years old. I put it up with the last three events in this term as my chairmanship, and certainly have gotten a lot of feedback from folks sharing perspective that I have -- you know, didn't previously have about it.

But I look at the terrorist events, and I think about our flag, and about how it -- identifies and characterizes the mood of the country. And quite -- I guess when I think about, for instance, 9/11 and the iconic picture of the three firemen raising the flag in the rubble the next day after the event is really how I feel about it. I'm certainly heartbroken --

BURNETT: So you feel --

DORSEY: By the tragedy --

BURNETT: The flag high in the face of terror, as -- to fight back. As opposed to lowering it. Right?

DORSEY: That's my heart --

BURNETT: Sort of getting it?

DORSEY: That's exactly my heart on the issue. I'm certainly broken- hearted. As soon as I woke up Sunday morning to read the news, I broken-hearted and my family is broken up about it. But I'm also mad. I'm tired of us being attacked by extremists of certainly different kinds. When we're just trying -- when innocent people are trying to live their life in this country, and I would like for us to stand up as Americans, and be proud of being Americans, but also I'm ready to -- I'm -- want to be proud Americans.

BURNETT: All right.

DORSEY: I want us to stand tall.

BURNETT: Commissioner Dorsey, thank you for your time tonight.

And next, more parents telling stories of close encounters with alligators at Disney. Can Disney keep families safe? And tonight we remember the 49 lives lost in the Orlando shooting. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What could I say? That's my baby.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:47:38] BURNETT: Breaking news: Disney roping off the lagoon and new warning signs around the resort. Here is what they say. We'll show them to you. This is what they look like, "Danger, alligators and snakes in the area, stay away from water." And what may be seen as a poor choice of words, of course, they talk about feeding the wildlife.

Is this too little too late? Martin Savidge is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Disney, taking new steps to protect guests from alligators. CNN video shows a fence going up at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel, site of Tuesday's horrific alligator that killed a 2-year-old boy.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Disney visitors have been telling CNN of their own close calls with gators.

DAVID HIDEN: I see this alligator that I would estimate six feet, plus or minus, beelining straight for him.

SAVIDGE: Talking to OUTFRONT, David Hiden described rescuing his son as not one, but two alligators closed in on him at their Disney resort last year.

HIDEN: So I quickly grabbed my son, grabbed him out of that shoreline a brought him out to safety.

SAVIDGE: And this week's tragedy wasn't the first time an alligator has been a problem at the Grand Floridian.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was shocked there was an alligator there.

SAVIDGE: Speaking via phone, Allison Taylor says only another guest warning prevented her 5 and 7-year-olds from going to a beach where an alligator was said to be lying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think we all live in this Disney world bubble, where nothing is bad is going to happen because it's Disney.

SAVIDGE: But was Disney part of that bubble? Missing potential warning signs. After all, YouTube videos show alligator run-ins at Disney rides and resorts, including guests feeding alligators, which is against Florida law.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would guarantee you, they knew about the risk . SAVIDGE: Fred Abbott is one of the few attorneys to ever win a

lawsuit in Florida involving an alligator attack. He says previous signs only warned Grand Floridian guests not to go swimming in the lake intentionally left out any mention of alligators so as not to frighten guests.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They put the hotels right on the edge of the lake, and they mix people with the water, which they know the alligators are in. So, at a minimum, they had a duty to warn.

SAVIDGE: Disney officials say they are evaluating procedures for reporting sightings and interaction with wildlife and how staff communicates warnings to guests.

[19:50:04] Floridians may know well the dos and don'ts of alligators, but Disney draws visitors from around the world, like Lea Butcher (ph) from Wales.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You wouldn't assume they're in the lake, now it makes you think that.

SAVIDGE: Abbott believes Disney is likely to face large lawsuits, maybe several, but he says it shouldn't be about the money but something far more precious.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They build this as the happiest place on earth for children, it should be the safest place on earth for children.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Disney says construction that you're looking at those fences along the water line are really only a temporary solution while they work on something more permanent and also something else to keep in mind, Erin, the signage is not just there on the lake front, it will be along all areas where Disney has water in its 44 square miles of land that is Disneyworld -- Erin.

BURNETT: That's a good thing. The lawyer was ras right, it should be the safest place for children, too.

Well, this Sunday night is the season premier of "THE HUNT WITH JOHN WALSH". Here's a sneak peek.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He seemed very panicked, wild eyed, we put him in the back of the car, tried to keep him warm, tried to figure things out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got any idea how you got in the ditch?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, 55 miles per hour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was going to see my wife.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was an accident. I'd give me life in one second to have her back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where was the accident?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The gun just went off.

PAUL LASCO: Kept repeating that the gun just went off. I think he even mentioned I watched her die or something along those lines.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love her so much. I love her so much. I can't believe it. There's a divine reason for this. She was ready but I am not ready for her to go. I love her with all my heart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What does her full name, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tammy Marie Myers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Don't miss "THE HUNT". It is Sunday night at 9:00.

And OUTFRONT next, we remember victims of the Orlando shooting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:56:13] BURNETT: Tonight, a good-bye. Families and friends gathering at funerals to say farewell to the victims of this week's nightclub massacre in Orlando. The victims of the worst terror attack in America since 9/11. Tonight, we remember them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone is affected by this and everyone knows someone who knows someone who is affected by this tragedy.

CORLISS TOMLINSON, VICTIM'S MOTHER: That's my baby and I won't see him again.

NAPOLEON KINGCADE, VICTIM'S FORMER COACH: She had everything going for her, everything. Perfect student. Mannerism, top notch.

MYIESHA MILLER-WEST, FRIEND OF VICTIM: We lost a great person. We lost a caring person. I don't understand why God took him away. I don't understand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anybody would have met him in the first second of knowing Eddie, you fall in love with him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was a mother of 11, just super hero.

ERIC PEREZ, VICTIM'S UNCLE: We didn't deserve this. I mean, there are other families feeling the same thing, going through the same thing. But this was our family.

SARA LOPEZ, FRIEND OF VICTIM: Go on without him. When I cleaned my room and listen to salsa, he is right here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always smiling, always there for you. Like I said, he was everyone's best friend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURNETT: Thank you so much for joining us.

"AC360" begins now.