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Report: Prince's Reps Sought Addiction Doctor's Help; Trump Begins Search for Vice President. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired May 05, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

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[06:30:15] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We have new video of the intense firefight from the ISIS attack that killed U.S. Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV. This footage was obtained exclusively by "The Guardian". And it was taken by Kurdish forces as ISIS fighters tried to storm an Iraqi town. It is not clear whether Keating died before or after this video was shot.

We do know the decorated combat veteran was part of an elite force sent in to rescue U.S. military advisors who were with the Kurds when the attack begun.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: North Carolina's governor not backing down over his state's transgender bathroom law. The Justice Department says forcing transgender people to use the bathroom that matches their birth certificate is discrimination. The federal government is giving the state until Monday to back off, threatening to sue in full federal school aid. Governor Pat McCrory calls that Washington overreach.

CAMEROTA: Now to new revelation in the death of the Prince. We're learning details about the frantic effort to get Prince help in the hours leading up to his death.

CNN's Stephanie Elam is live outside of Prince's Paisley Park Estate, outside of Minneapolis with more.

Tell us what you're learning, Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, it's a case of chance to help Prince too late. One lawyer that we talked to saying that this was an intervention being waged by people in Prince's camp and that Prince was aware of it.

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ELAM (voice-over): The night before he died, Prince's representatives making a desperate call to Dr. Howard Kornfeld who specializes in treating people who are addicted to pain medication.

WILLIAM MAUZY, ATTORNEY FOR ANDREW AND DR. HOWARD KORNFELD: He set into a motion a plan to deal with what he felt was a life-saving mission. That mission was to get Prince to a doctor in Minnesota on Thursday morning.

ELAM: Unable to travel from California immediately, Kornfeld sent his son Andrew who works at his father's treatment facility on an overnight flight to Minneapolis. Andrew arrived at the Paisley Park estate Thursday morning with two of Prince's associates, anxiously searching for the singer, but discovering him unresponsive.

MAUZY: One of the staff members started screaming. Andrew heard the screams and went to the elevator where he saw that Prince was unconscious.

911 DISPATCHER: Rescue units for a medical at Paisley Park. Person down not breathing.

ELAM: Andrew Kornfeld now identified as the 911 caller telling the dispatcher, quote, "The person is dead here and people are just distraught."

This as a former lawyer for two of Prince's dead siblings says they revealed he battled an addiction to Percocet decades before his sudden. He says half brother Duane Nelson told him he used to get the drug for Prince to help him calm down after shows, adamant he was not just a recreational user.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He mentioned it to me in the context of how stressful it was for him having to fulfill that need and how hard it was for him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM: Now, CNN could not independently confirm the lawyer's accounts here from these two half siblings since they have both already passed away, but he did say that the other sibling, Lorna Nelson, also said that Prince abused, but she never was involved in getting the drugs for him, John.

BERMAN: So interesting.

All right. Stephanie Elam, thanks so much.

We're going to talk much more about the struggle that Prince had with painkillers ahead. Such an interesting discussion.

But, first, Donald Trump he is in the middle of a search for a running mate right now. Wasting no time as presumptive nominee, he has a short list. He says he's looking for something very specific. We'll tell you what that is, next.

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[06:37:56] DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I would want somebody that would help me from the legislative standpoint, getting things passed through Senate, through Congress, and to me, that's why I think probably in terms of vice president, I'm going to go the political route. I don't need the business route. I've got that covered.

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BERMAN: So, one of the most important things on Donald Trump's to do list right now as the presumptive Republican nominee, the search for a running mate. Who is on the V.P. short list and would he consider one of his former rivals?

We're joined now by executive editor for politics, Mark Protest, to discuss.

Mark, we actually know a Trump short list, or at least a few people on the list. The campaign talked to Jim Acosta yesterday and told him that these three figures were on the list. I want to take you on the list and get your take of what each might bring to the table.

First is the governor of New Mexico, Susana Martinez. Talk to me about her.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Right. If you look at Susana Martinez right now, it gives you a couple of things right now. She has experience as a CEO of a major state, New Mexico. She's a former district attorney. She is the first Hispanic woman to serve as the governor in the U.S., has won a very contested election out in New Mexico. She's also from the West.

BERMAN: Baggage there?

PRESTON: There is certainly some issues with Susana Martinez. She had problems with a party and calling police to a hotel room. That seems to have been in the passed right now.

BERMAN: All right. Second on the list is Governor Nikki Haley, who has been in the news a lot over the last several months.

PRESTON: Right, maybe one of the most battle tested Republicans we've seen in recent history. She has won a very contested primary in her area down in South Carolina. She is very smart.

But look at her right here, she's a woman that leads South Carolina right now. She also really did a horrific job through the Charleston shooting. At a time when there was a lot of pressure about bringing down the flag of South Carolina, she really, when I say that, of course, the Confederate flag, she did a good job of navigating that, and she's also very well liked and a good politician.

BERMAN: Although she does come from the state of South Carolina right now, which brings nothing to the table in terms of the electoral map for the Republicans.

[06:40:04] This man on the other hand, brings a lot of electoral math possibilities. Let's look at the Senator Rob Portman from Ohio. PRESTON: Right. Not only electoral opportunities from the great state of Ohio. Republican hasn't won the presidency without winning Ohio. Rob Portman might be one of the most experienced people in Washington today as we speak. And, of course, Donald Trump said yesterday to our own Wolf Blitzer, he is looking for a legislator.

So, Rob Portman right there also is appealing to Republicans which is something that Donald Trump needs to do because some of his rhetoric might be off.

BERMAN: A big John Kasich supporter.

Now, the thing about Rob Portman, Susana Martinez and Nikki Haley is, they all say, no.

PRESTON: Big fat no.

BERMAN: No, no, no, yesterday. None of them want the job.

PRESTON: None of them want the job all for different reasons. One, Rob Portman has a very difficult reelection, getting himself through this year in Ohio, and then look at the two women right there, Susana Martinez and Nikki Haley, considered rising stars in the Republican Party. And at a time when people are wondering whether they want to hitch their wagon to the Donald Trump horse here in this election, given all the things he's said and whether or not he can unite the party, in some ways, they're looking out for their own future prospects.

BERMAN: It's interesting, too. Everyone always says no when you ask them if they want to be vice president. Some people come around. These noes seem firmer than most in the past. There are other people, let's do a lightning round of people that may be considering. These are people of course who ran against Donald Trump.

Let's start with Ben Carson.

PRESTON: Help shore up the conservative base. Once he dropped out of the race, was an early supporter of Donald Trump. So, again, tries to shore up what we're seeing a little bit of a fracture right now among social conservatives.

BERMAN: Chris Christie.

PRESTON: Very loyal. Again somebody who endorsed Donald Trump very early. Also understands how to navigate government.

BERMAN: John Kasich just dropped out of the race yesterday.

PRESTON: You know, put him in the Portman category, somebody who was the budget chairman during his years as a congressman, considered very smart, knows how to navigate Washington very well. Also a successful governor in the state of Ohio, gets you the electoral vote.

BERMAN: All right. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida. PRESTON: Young. You know, coming out of the United States Senate,

Hispanic, somebody who certainly brings some electricity to the campaign.

BERMAN: Unemployed as of January. He's not running for reelection.

PRESTON: Looking for a job.

BERMAN: Looking for a job.

All right. Mark Preston, great to have you here this morning, thanks so much.

PRESTON: Thanks, John.

BERMAN: Alisyn?

CAMEROTA: OK, John. Devastating wild fire that is out of control in Canada. An entire city could literally burn down. We have an update ahead.

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[06:46:38] BERMAN: All right. This is a dash cam video of residents escaping a huge wildfire raging in Canada's Alberta province. The flames shooting to the side of the road, more than 80,000 people. The entire city of Fort McMurray was forced to leave. A state of emergency has been declared. Authorities say 1,600 structures in the region have been damaged.

CAMEROTA: Takata recalling another 35 to 40 million air bags. That now brings the total number to 69 million. Officials say the defected air bags hurl shrapnel into drivers and passengers upon impact. Ten deaths and at least 100 injuries have been linked to the defective airbags. This recall is now the largest in U.S. history.

BERMAN: The first couple feeling the force and the funk. President and Mrs. Obama celebrating "Star Wars" day with a storm trooper dance- off to Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk." R2D2 was also there for the party. The White House tweeted the video with the caption, "dance, or dance not. No try." A joke that Alison doesn't get and everyone else does, it's simply awesome.

CAMEROTA: What is the joke.

BERMAN: Yoda, do or do not, there is no try.

CAMEROTA: OK. Thank you.

You know those two can dance.

BERMAN: Yes.

CAMEROTA: They can dance.

BERMAN: You mean the R2D2, the storm troopers. CAMEROTA: I mean the Obamas. Look at the first lady.

I have a big baby bomb shell for you, not from me, this is coming from days before Mother's Day, and two weeks before her 50th birthday, pop superstar Janet Jackson reportedly pregnant with her first child. Jackson told fans last month she's putting her tour on hold to start her family.

BERMAN: Good for her.

CAMEROTA: Good for her. That's beautiful.

She's apparently long wanted to have a family and nowadays, you can do that.

BERMAN: It really is stunning to see. Good luck to her.

CAMEROTA: It is.

All right. Now another destroy that we've been following throughout the entertainment world, Prince's final hours, frantic, desperate, ultimately ending a tragedy. A planned intervention over painkillers not happening in time. We'll discuss this with Sanjay Gupta, coming up.

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[06:52:27] CAMEROTA: New details emerging about the death of music legend, Prince. Frantic efforts to get him help over his use of painkillers tragically coming hours too late.

Joining us now is CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and former "People" magazine, managing editor, Larry Hackett.

Larry, I want to start with you, so many heartbreaking and mind- blowing things about this story. Prince was known to be a teetotaler.

LARRY HACKETT, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Absolutely.

CAMEROTA: He didn't drink. He didn't smoke. He didn't smoke pot.

HACKETT: He didn't meat. He doesn't have meat in his house.

CAMEROTA: He was a vegan.

HACKETT: Yes.

CAMEROTA: If somebody in his band or entourage had a problem with drugs, he would pay for them to get help.

HACKETT: Yes.

CAMEROTA: So I guess he hid this alleged addiction to painkillers from even some of his closest friends.

HACKETT: He also was a very solo individual, right? He didn't have a huge entourage. Elements that we heard in the days of his day. Shopping mall or taking, you know, going to his own appointments.

He didn't have a ton of people that celebrities have in Los Angeles and New York, which may have allowed him to keep his secrets for as long as he did. You know, there were reports about him going to pharmacies in and around, you know, his home, filling prescriptions on his own apparently.

So that, you know, that loneliness and that kind of solo entrepreneurship, whatever you want to call it may have allowed him to hide as long as he did.

CAMEROTA: Sanjay, it sounds like Prince had surgery on his hip about ten years ago. And he had pain since that time. Can you explain to us what happens when somebody is prescribed say Percocet or a painkiller for pain and how they

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, these types of substances are typically used just in the short term, just for a few days or so, maybe a week or so after an operation, they're not really intended to be long term because of the concern about physical dependence. Physical dependence basically means when you stop taking the substance, you have physical symptoms that make you want to keep taking the substance.

It's a little different than addiction, which means that you have almost a more of mental craving for the substance. But that's what happens, is that these substances are we can -- first of all, we use a lot of them in this country. Eighty percent of the world's pain pills are prescribed in the United States.

CAMEROTA: That is a remarkable number, because we are 5 percent of the world's population, yet we're using 80 percent of the pain medication. I mean, is it fair to say that the U.S. has a problem with this?

GUPTA: No question. I mean, we don't have 80 percent of the world's pain, and yet -- I mean, that number boggles my mind every time I see it. We will prescribe the stuff, but let me show you what happens in the body weight when you take this stuff. It basically binds the receptors all over the body, including in the brain. The body sort of becomes dependent on giving this influx of those opiates.

It's opium. It comes from the opium plant, and that's part of makes you physically dependent. Too much of it can actually cause an overdose, actually cause you to stop breathing.

CAMEROTA: OK. So, there are reports that that is happened with the week before Prince actually died and that his friends and he reached a crisis point, and that his closest advisors were trying to stage an intervention that he was aware of this. And they were within hours of trying to get him help.

HACKETT: And they clearly had done some research. They researched out to Dr. Kornfeld in this Middle Valley Center which treats addicted people. He was going to meet Prince and the son at Paisley Park that morning. CAMEROTA: Thursday morning.

HACKETT: It's so tragic.

CAMEROTA: It is so tragic. So, Sanjay, the son of this doctor who had flown overnight trying to make it to Prince because it was a life and death situation came equipped with a drug called suboxone. What would that have done? If the doctor had made it to Prince on time and was able to administer the suboxone, what is that?

GUPTA: Well, suboxone is basically a combination of two drugs. One of the drugs is sort of think of it as a weaker protein. Sort of weaker form of medication he may have been taking. And the other side of that drug is essentially an antidote to these opiates.

So, in combinations it helps sort of get people off, you know, the physical dependence of these opiates.

A lot of times, it's prescribed in a doctor's office. It's given in conjunction with some sort of counseling as well. But not only can see the physical dependence, that's part of how they treat this.

CAMEROTA: I want to stick with you for one second, Sanjay, because millions of people are addicted to painkillers in this country. So, what is the answer, if you prescribe something for pain, then you take it but then the pain persists, then you take more, what is the answer for people who are addicted to painkillers?

GUPTA: Well, first of all, you saw the numbers, we're way overprescribing this stuff. When you get a prescription or your doctor's prescribing, whether or not this is really necessary, and when we give out pain pills for all sorts of different things where most of the world does not. Just to keep that in mind.

Second of all, they're really not designed to work long-term. It stops working after a month and that make sense. It's not supposed to work that long. So, you need to find another alternative for pain. There are other things to do for pain besides taking high dose narcotics, as a first line.

HACKETT: And clearly this issue runs up against then law enforcement, right? What's going to go on in Minnesota is to figure out where did he get these pills. Was someone doing something wrong. And that may be a legitimate concern, but I think Sanjay also points out, there's a break in this notion.

Prince had surgery. He had a long-term pain, so become addicted to this but he had pain. So, where is that need then meet law enforcement? If he was getting these pills illegally, you know, most people who are addicted getting from their parents, 20 percent get them doctors, one can only imagine what is going to on now for law enforcement, and figure out what happened, and then, of course, to blame somebody is not going to solve the problem.

CAMEROTA: Of course, the investigation is underway.

Larry, Sanjay, thank you very much for talking about his important issue.

GUPTA: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: We're following a lot of news this morning, including new interviews with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. So, let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There's been a little flip. I'm even surprise it. John is doing the right thing. I'm very different from most Republicans.

Do you know who started the birther movement? Hillary Clinton.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think we can take a risk on a loose cannon like Donald Trump.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The American people will never elect a candidate who insults people.

CLINTON: The campaign I'm going to run is about what he will do in the future.

REPORTER: The new arm's race under the sea, facing the most advanced subs in decades.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Undersea superiority is not guaranteed. But we have to consider that there's an advisory ready to challenge us.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to your NEW DAY.

Look who's here? John Berman is filling in.

Great to have you here this morning.

BERMAN: Good to be here.

CAMEROTA: Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee now vetting a short list of potentially running mates. Trump telling CNN that even he was shocked at how quickly he became the nominee.

The Republican senator this morning, though, calling for a third party candidate. So, what does this mean for party unity?

BERMAN: While that's going on, Hillary Clinton is lashing out at Donald Trump. The former secretary of state labeled Trump as a risk choice, saying the United States can take a chance on a loose cannon, she means Trump. This as Bernie sanders sayings he will stay in the race until the last vote is cast.