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GOP Congressman Scalise, 4 Others Shot in Virginia; Sen. Sanders: Shooter "Apparently" Volunteered on Campaign; Secret Service: Shooter Not on Radar; Shooter Has Died, Was 66-Year-Old Man From Illinois. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired June 14, 2017 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00] REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: -- and yet, when their team is on the field, people come together. People come together. So when this team was on the field practicing in such a -- with such camaraderie and such brotherhood, I don't know if you have any sisters on your team, we have two on our team. For this person to take this action that was so cowardly, so cowardly.

We all learn more about motivation and the rest of that, but it seems particularly sad although any violent death of course is sad. But particularly sad that at a time when people want us to come together and we are prepared to come together tomorrow night, that this assault would be made. But we cannot let that be a victory for the assailant or anyone who would think that way.

So tomorrow, we'll go out on the field. We'll root for our team. We'll want everyone to do his or her very best. And we will use this occasion as one that brings us together and not separates us further.

And with that, again, I want to thank the speaker for bringing us together and again, with endless gratitude to our Capitol Police in particular today, of course, Krystal Griner, David Bailey, but never out of our prayers Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut.

Thank you, my colleagues for the opportunity to share some thoughts with you on this sad day. Steve and others, you are deeply in our prayers. We count the minutes until you return. Please convey that to him, Mr. Speaker. Thank you all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The chair relays before the House a communication.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The honorable, the speaker of House of Representatives. Sir, pursuant to the permission granted in clause of Rule 2 of the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives the clerk received the following message from the secretary of the senate.

JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: You just heard the House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Before that the Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan both delivering quite emotional remarks here in the House of Representatives, paying their best wishes to one of their colleagues, the Republican Whip Steve Scalise who is in a hospital, have a surgery today after being shot in the hip at a baseball practice this morning. Also paying their tribute and best wishes and prayers to the others shot, including two Capital Police officers, a congressional aide, as well.

Very emotional remarks of the speaker saying he was horrified and everyone was horrified hoping he said that this becomes a unifying moment in a town that is frankly on hourly-based if not a minute by minute basis divided by polarized politics. The speaker talking about the one family and talking about the heroes, not only the first responders but the people in that neighborhood just a few miles from the nation's capital who came out of their apartment buildings, came out of their homes and helped those scrambling from the baseball field this morning as the shooter opened fired. With me now, CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju, CNN Senior Washington Correspondent Brianna Keilar and our Political Director David Chalian.

Manu, I want to start with you first. This is not a day about politics and I don't want to get to into politics. This is a day to have prayers for those who were shot. It is a day to track the investigation which at the outset does seem to have some political motivation. But what we just saw there, a shocked Washington taking a moment to reflect, what were your thoughts?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. I have not seen this level of unity between the two sides probably since one of the last tragedies say 9/11. Remember when they came out on the steps of the Capitol, John, and united both sides, tried to show some unity here. This is a real rare moment here on Capitol Hill to see both leaders express their concern and try to show that they're all standing together in this fight.

But I can tell you, John, in talking to a number of members this morning, people are deeply rattled by this. They know that this happened in -- this could happen to almost any of them. A lot of them do not have security. Only the members of the immediate leadership team walk around with security detail and that's one reason why of course, that these members who were practicing in the baseball diamond today were able -- were stayed safe because Steve Scalise, a member of that Republican leadership team had a security detail there and they protected most of the members and staff who were on site.

Members realized that this could happen to them. They were sat down in this closed door briefing right before they went to the floor, John. And they were talking about how to increase their own personal security at their own events whether there should be more security, whether there should be more resources. A lot of people really rattled this moments and one reason why, the folks for the moment, John, putting down their partisan swords and hoping to come together at least for now as they try to move past this very shocking situation on Capitol Hill, John.

[12:35:11] KING: And Brianna, come in on that point because I've watched you roaming the halls, talking to members of Congress, talking to some of their staff members, talking to some of the congressmen who were there at the baseball field this morning as this horror unfolded. It is a shock to the system and we'll see where it takes us from here.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is and you can see it in their eyes. I will tell you that John, just talking to a couple of congressmen, Congressman Rodney Davis, one of them. They came straight to Statutory Hall from this event and just you could still just see how much they were in shock.

And I think one of the things they were also communicating was that this is a pure sport, right? This is a pure thing they're doing for the love of the game to help out charity. It's a baseball event, it's bipartisan. And for how much rancor you may see in Washington and how much division and people lamenting the Democrats and Republicans don't get along anymore, this is one of these displays where for months, these members of Congress practice and this is what goes on, on the men's team as well as for the women's game which is to take place next week. And they have this moment to get to know each other in a way that doesn't have anything to do with policy. It has to do with finding common ground.

So I think that they are united now, certainly in their concerns about security. This was the Republican practice but Democrats are certainly with the Republicans on this and they feel like this could have just as easily have happened to them. And we've even been seeing some moments of just outpouring -- bipartisan outpouring of support whether it's the hugs that we're seeing between members or for instance we saw a Democratic member of the House of Representatives who with his staff was carrying bags of sandwiches over to Steve Scalise's office. The office of the Majority Whip is actually right over here across from Statutory Hall. And we asked them, are you trying to feed Scalise's staff? It seemed very clear he was. Wouldn't even commit to that being the case so just trying to do something to help out Steve Scalise's staffers in any way that they can.

KING: And David Chalian, join the conversation. It is sad, beyond sad that it takes such a tragedy, a horrific cowardly act, someone deciding to open fire on a field of congressmen, staff and two Capitol police officers to bring this out in Washington. The speaker talking about a family. Nancy Pelosi actually drawing laughter on this difficult day by saying I'll do something I would never do (inaudible) associate myself with remarks from the speaker. And the president of the United States at the White House also delivering a very thoughtful, very respectful, very moving tribute and essentially a call for support and unity in the country.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes John. This is political leadership at its best. This is three leaders we've now seen and President Trump Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi step up and really appeal to that nature of togetherness here. Donald Trump, the president in his remarks said a reminder to everyone that I think is so important here that everyone that comes to serve in this town, whether as a member of Congress or as a staff member or to serve certainly in the Capitol Police, they do so out of a love of country. And we're not -- we tend day in and day out obviously not to pay much attention to that, but that is such a unifying force and the president hit on that.

And then to have the speaker follow that up with not only these very dramatic moment that got everyone in the House on their feet where he says an attack on one is an attack on all of us. But then with the anecdote about how touched he was by the Democratic team who was also practicing, their response and their moment of prayer upon hearing of the news of the shooting and how incredibly important of a moment that was to him, the Republican speaker. This is, I know and you know too from covering this town, politics is going to enter into this way too soon. It will be before too long that the divisions present themselves again.

But this is such an important moment to remind you. And I think everybody can relate to it because we do it in our own lives. When tragedy hits our own lives, when a shock to the system in our families or with our friends happen, we stop for that moment of reflection and think about, oh, God, the better things, the way we should be, the aspirational moments and in our day-to-day existence we tend to let that go. And I think what we're seeing here from our political leaders is a reminder of what unites us. And if only Washington could keep that in mind in its day to day work, I think we would be a little better off.

KING: An excellent point. There used to be more of these what I'll call family events, social events, things that brought Democrats and Republicans together. The baseball game, one of the few remaining and maybe in this moments of hugging, respect, people asking how is your family, how is your fellow congressman, how are those officers, perhaps, perhaps at least the seeds of a better communication and respect here in town.

[12:40:05] David Chalian, Brianna Keilar, and Manu Raju, I want to thank you all very much. We're going to take a break, quick break but stay with us more of this breaking news story. As we come back, we'll take you live to the crime scene as police investigate exactly what happened this morning. More on the shooter and an update on the condition of those being treated for their injuries at local hospitals.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:45:0] KING: Welcome back. As we told you earlier in the program, two Republican congressmen who left that baseball field just before the shooting say they were approached about a man who asked them are those Democrats or Republicans out there as we learn now about the alleged shooter, about his political activities. I want to go back to CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju. Manu, Senator Bernie Sanders just made some dramatic news on the floor of the United States Senate.

RAJU: Yes, indeed John. Saying that he had just learned that this is actually someone who had volunteered on his campaign. The person who did shoot this congressman, the staffer, as well as these two police officers was someone who volunteered on Bernie Sanders campaign. Sanders himself addressing this on the senate floor just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the Republican baseball practice this morning is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign. I am sickened by this despicable act. And let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. Real change can only come about through nonviolent action and anything else runs counter to our most deeply held American values.

I know I speak for the entire country in saying that my hopes and prayers are that Representative Scalise, congressional staff, and the Capitol Police officers who are wounded make a quick and full recovery. I also want to thank the Capitol Police for their heroic actions to prevent further harm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Now, John, our colleague Jeff Zeleny did speak to the person who is in charge of Bernie Sanders' Iowa campaign operation. Robert Becker who told Jeff that nobody has any recollection of James Hodgkinson, of course the man who shot the members of Congress and opened fire during this baseball practice. According to Becker, the Bernie Sanders' campaign aide, nobody has any recollection of Hodgkinson. He's not anybody anyone can remember. That's the quote that he gave Jeff Zeleny.

He said there were more than 10,000 volunteers at the time. He said he was not a paid volunteer but clearly important enough for Bernie Sanders, he believes to come out and condemn these acts and to make it clear that he had been told this morning that the shooter was in fact, someone who did volunteer on the campaign, John.

KING: Manu Raju bringing us that strong statement, condemnation by Senator Sanders as we continue to learn more and more about the shooter today. Manu, thank you.

Here's a little bit more on those who were shot today and their condition. Representative Steve Scalise is undergoing surgery. He's listed in stable condition according to a statement from his office. Zack Barth who's an aide to Texas Congressman Roger Williams was also wounded according to a statement from that lawmaker's office. Matt Mika, director of government relations for Tyson Food, Senator Jeff Flake told CNN's Manu Raju that Mika practices with the team. Flake says that he seemed to be the most seriously hurt, he is listed as we now speaking, critical condition.

Two U.S. Capitol Police officers, David Bailey, Krystal Griner also hurt according to authorities. They're being treated at a local hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Let's continue this conversation with our Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Doctor, number one, it appears at this moment no life-threatening injuries. Now, I just want you think of your experience as a trauma surgeon. You're on a baseball field, somebody comes in with a rifle. By the witness accounts, they just all -- first they heard one shot and then all of a sudden rat a tat a tat. Describe the trauma conditions that the concerns at that moment.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, the -- there's two things that are sort of going on simultaneously. You want to care for the injured but at the same time, when there's still somebody who's shooting, you obviously are balancing that with your own well-being. So that was happening, it sound like at the time pretty dramatic sort of descriptions of going over to people, trying to do basic care. Stopping bleeding, applying pressure. Applying tourniquets and that sort of thing.

That's really, you know, some of the more important things you can do in a situation like that. We know -- I haven't heard the full descriptions of the other injured. We know with Congressman Scalise that he was shot in the hip. We know if there's anything good about this, there's no vital organs in that area which is why it wasn't surprising that he was able to be awake even making a phone call. But still a pretty significant injury and it's described as a rifle injury, John.

[12:50:02] And the sort of significance of that is that means it was a very high velocity probably injury. And that's what doctors, the medical teams, the trauma teams are thinking about. A high velocity injury like that. You have to anticipate what sort of damage, what sort of injury that's going to inflict on the body. Are there blood vessels in particular that have been damaged because that's what can be life-threatening and that's why he goes to surgery.

But in those few moments, John, balancing first responder with still trying to be as safe as you can simultaneously is pretty much what they're thinking about.

KING: And Sanjay, you mentioned obviously, it's almost a perverse question but if you're going to be shot, being shot on the hip is preferable to being shot in many other places. If you come to a victim as such, your first -- I assume your first thing is does this appear to be life-threatening. But after that, when you're talking about a gunshot wound, what would a first responders concerns been? Let's play that out.

GUPTA: Well, you know, in all trauma situations, there's actually a very simple sort of way that the people approach it. It's literally a, b, c. You want make sure the airway is open, you want to make sure the person is breathing and c, stands for circulation which is basically trying to control blood loss. Those are the big things one can do in the most immediate situation under these circumstances.

Again, where, you know, you may be shot at yourself in that sort of situation. So, really you heard about one of the other congressmen I believe applying a tourniquet. Good idea. One of the big arteries, the femoral artery is in that area. You want to apply pressure to the wound itself because of potential bleeding there.

You know that he is talking so as airway is open. He's breathing on his own so really focusing on that circulation. You also want to make sure that you don't miss something obvious.

OK, I'm looking at the hip wound here. That's what obviously strikes me but did I miss something else? Was there another injury, another gunshot wound? You don't want to miss those things because those can obviously cause a greater problem later on down the road. KING: Dr. Gupta, appreciate the insights. We'll keep in touch as the day progresses. We have some new information just into CNN on this incident. The U.S. Secret Service spokesman telling CNN the shooter in the Alexandria shooting who posted anti-Trump comments on social media was not on the Secret Service radar.

That, from our justice (inaudible). That important information because of those postings is often such individuals do end up on the Secret Service radar. Let's talk more now about the response by the police in this investigation. Here for the conversation, Tom Fuentes, our senior law enforcement analyst, the former FBI assistant director, and Law Enforcement Analyst Charles Ramsey, a former District of Columbia Police Chief and the police commissioner in Philadelphia and CNN Law Enforcement Analyst James Gagliano.

Chief Ramsey, I want to start with you just from the sense of -- again, hindsight is always 20/20 and we're over judgmental sometimes in the moment. But had not Steve Scalise been there with a security detail, we would likely be discussing a much greater tragedy today. Do the protocols about members of Congress out in public, sadly, but do they need to be reconsidered?

CHARLES RAMSEY, FORMER WASHINGTON D.C. POLICE CHIEF: Well, I'm sure that the U.S. Capitol Police chief and his staff are taking a look at that and re-evaluate security. You have an awful lot of members of Congress that would require protection.

KING: I can't hear him.

And Tom Fuentes, as you hear about this crime scene as it plays out, the FBI is now in charge because a member of Congress was shot. Obviously the Alexandria Police were first to respond. Capitol Police also exchanged fire. Take me through the complexities of an investigation when you have two separate law enforcement agencies who exchanged fire, discharged their weapons and then now the feds being in charge of the whole enterprise.

TOM FUENTES, FORMER FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Well, John, these agencies work together all the time. They work together on the joint terrorism task forces, the chiefs know each other. The special agents in charge and other executives of the FBI work together all the time. So it's a seamless effort when it comes to that.

But by federal law, it's not just the member of Congress but members of their staff, federal law enforcement officers, Supreme Court justices. So all the way down from the president of the United States down to like I said, staff members come under the federal jurisdiction that if they're attacked it's an FBI case. The FBI takes the lead in the investigation. So that's what you have here. The staffers.

And this is exactly what happened in the Giffords shooting in Tucson, Arizona in 2011 when members of her staff were killed. That also came under the fact that she was injured came under and a federal judge attending her event was killed. That comes under FBI jurisdiction.

KING: James Gagliano, from everything you've heard from the briefings you've so far from the crime scene, what are your biggest questions as we go forward? They seem convinced pretty early on, the shooter acted alone.

JAMES GAGLIANO, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Yes, John. I think the special agent in charge of the Washington field office, Mr. Slater, handled it appropriately. The information needed to be given to the public. I think that was put out in time.

[12:50:00] The first thing they've got to figure out, they've got to determine whether or not it's an act of terrorism or not. And terrorism is defined as violence or intimidation in the pursuit of political goals. And the reason why you've got to rule that out first is because usually in terrorist attacks there are cells, there are other folks involved and from the tactical resolution perspective, we want to make sure that there's no more killing or no more damage to property.

Then you kind of work through the scenario, and Former Assistant Director Fuentes is correct. The FBI is purview in certain instances. The first is a terrorist attack. And think about this, it took 1963, the assassination of President Kennedy for us to have a federal law on the books that gave the FBI purview over an assassination attempt or successful assassination of a president.

We've been very, very lucky here. There's a number of considerations going forward. And I think as Tom also pointed out, it's good we've got a collegial law enforcement effort, folks working at the local, state and federal level.

KING: And Tom Fuentes, as this continues out, obviously as I said at the top to Chief Ramsey, we would be having a different conversation if those two Capitol Police officers were not there today. Members of Congress, Democrats, Republicans should be able to go practice baseball in the morning but what do you think the conversations will be today, tomorrow, and next week as this gets a little bit in the rearview mirror about whether security needs to be improved?

Well, I think for now, John, everybody is going to say it needs to be improved. This is the same discussion we had in 2011 at the Tucson shooting. Everybody's going to say we need to protect Congress members, we need to do this, we need to do that. And by about six months from now, it doesn't happen, it kind of gets forgotten, other things take the news. And that's the unfortunate thing in these kind of incidents that, you know, nothing changed after the last one other than the leaders of the House, obviously, in this case, Representative Scalise, had a detail to protect him. But nobody else did.

So if he hadn't been there, there would be no protection and we'd have a massacre on our hands.

KING: And Chief Ramsey, in the sense of how the D.C. Police Department, in this case it was Alexandria. But in your experience as the D.C. police chief, coordinate with the Capitol Police then you bring in the other law enforcement agencies. What are the pros of that and what are your questions and worries? Any worries about bureaucracy as they try to piece all this together? RAMSEY: No, it's really remarkable how well the agencies work together. Tom is absolutely right. These agencies all work together on a regular basis within the national capitol region. It's pretty seamless.

Everybody comes together. Roles and responsibilities are laid out and you go to work. I mean -- so it's really not as complicated as some who work outside of the beltway may think. They'll get to the bottom of this, whatever assistance they need from Capitol Police, Alexandria Police, police in Illinois, whatever they need, the FBI will get.

KING: Gentlemen, I want to thank you for your insights on this difficult day. Help us take a look all the way back at the horror that happened this morning and how the investigation will go looking forward. Again, a very somber day on Capitol Hill. More details coming to us. I appreciate you joining us in the Inside Politics.

Stay with us. Our live coverage of this breaking news story continues after a quick break with Wolf Blitzer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're following breaking news here in the nation's capital. A gunman opens fire during a congressional baseball practice. The shooting appears --