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Official: Wildfire Fight "May Be Turning A Corner"; "El Chapo" Transferred To Prison Near U.S. Border; Is Mexico Preparing To Extradite El Chapo To U.S.?; Independent Voters On Trump Versus Clinton. Aired 6:30-7a ET
Aired May 09, 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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JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The frantic effort to contain this wildfire in Fort McMurray in Canada. An emergency official says they may be turning a corner in this battle right now thanks to the hard work of the fire crews and some help from cooler, more humid conditions.
CNN's Paul Vercammen live for us now from the fire zone in Edmonton. Paul, what's going on there?
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, on cue, John, it is really cooling off. You can tell it's just slightly damp here, starting to drizzle. That should really help out, because actually there's 34 fires burning in all of Alberta.
You've got 1,500 firefighters on the line trying to knock down those blazes. So far they've burned 400,000 acres. You also have 1,600 structures damped, almost all of them in Fort McMurray. That's the oil sands capital in Alberta.
Now, where's the fire burning towards? The Saskatchewan border but that's forest. That's good news. They are focused on defending property and people and so far so good.
As we've been pointing out this weather, this dampness is going to help. Those firefighters have got to be tired. Officials say they need to get a lot of them rotated and off the line and help is on the way.
More firefighters going to arrive here in Alberta from Quebec and New Brunswick. There is already firefighters on the ground from Ontario. All of this should help out, more firefighters and damp, cool weather as we go forward, and this fire has slowed down -- Chris.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Slowed down. Not nearly enough. Thank you very much for staying on the story for us. We'll check back with you in a little bit.
Let's take a quick break. The notorious drug kingpin, El Chapo, when we come back, we are going to talk about this surprise transfer of the drug kingpin to a new prison near the U.S./Mexico border.
Now, he had said through counsel, I want to be extradited. Is that about to happen? What would happen here in the U.S.? Next.
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[06:36:24]
CUOMO: Convicted drug lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is now being held at a prison in Mexico just miles from the U.S. border. He was transferred in a big surprise move this weekend to the new lockup in Juarez.
Now, El Chapo has not escaped once but twice from supposedly the most secure prison in the world. This prison is not rumored to be that. What's going on? Is it all about extradition? Is it a rash move?
Let's discuss with someone in the know. Ana Maria Salazar, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the DEA and she also knows what's going on in Latin America as political analyst there and she joins us now.
Ana Maria, what do you make of this situation? Give us clarity of purpose?
ANA MARIA SALAZAR, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Well, first I have to tell you I didn't work for the DEA. I was at the Pentagon. So my DEA friends won't be all upset.
CUOMO: Well, then forget it. Let me get another guest.
SALAZAR: No, we don't know what's going -- no. Let me -- it's very surprising. I don't think he's about to be extradited to the United States. So why is being transferred from a, what's considered to be a maximum security prison to a less secure prison?
Well, what the Mexican government is saying, there is some construction takes place in the maximum security jail, where, by the way, he escaped from with this one-mile tunnel, so they needed to transfer him to another jail and they sent him to Juarez.
This jail in Juarez just happens to be a jail where his enemies or many of the -- the killers of the cartel of Juarez, they happen to be in jail there. So there's kind of a question mark.
Are they sending him to a jail where he is going to be, you know -- he's going to be confronting or could be, his life could be potentially in danger because it is one of -- it's a non-secured jail from all aspects to -- it is an enemy territory at least from Chapo Guzman's organization perspective.
So there's a lot of question marks. What I do not think is not going to happen is he is not going to be extradited at least within the next month, unless he's agreed to be extradited to the United States, which there seems to be no indication.
There was a decision by the judge yesterday providing him one more habeas corpus, which would detain any extradition process that could take place within the next couple of weeks. CUOMO: Former deputy assistant secretary of defense, drug enforcement policy and support at the Pentagon. That is the title. Is that right? What's the right title? Give it to us.
SALAZAR: That's correct.
CUOMO: All right, good.
SALAZAR: That's correct. I was that at the Pentagon.
CUOMO: All right. Good. And that's --
SALAZAR: But we don't know.
CUOMO: I'm saying it's a relevant title because as you point out he's going to confront enemies there. As we both know very well you better than I, if a cartel wants something to happen in a prison, it's probably going to happen.
So that means they don't have a lot of time to hold him in a place that's enemy ground, in Juarez, for El Chapo. So what has to happen in the near term to make extradition happen or not happen?
SALAZAR: It's a legal procedure. There is at least -- he would have to stop appealing or requesting habeas corpus, which I guess in English would be temporary restraining orders, which would stop his extradition.
Everything seems to indicate, even though he said he wanted to be extradited, his lawyers don't seem to think so because they keep on putting these appeals.
[06:40:06]I would say if the process continues as it is, there are still about five more months before he's extradited to the United States, within the current procedures.
Now, if he wakes up today and says, I don't like this place. I would prefer to be in a jail in the United States, which seems unlikely, by the way, he could be extradited within the next week and a half.
CUOMO: The rumor is --
SALAZAR: But it just seems that the --
CUOMO: If you want to shoot this down for us, the rumor is that El Chapo, who by legend controls everything, right? That he is saying, yes, yes, yes, I want to be extradited. So they would move him out of Altiplano where he is right now, which is as secure prison as they have although he's gotten out of it twice.
Once in a laundry cart and once with that mile-long tunnel that he built. And they move him to this prison where, yes, ostensibly he has enemies, but really he may have cut a deal with those enemies who run that prison to help him break free. Do you believe there's any chance that this is part of some design by El Chapo to be free once again? SALAZAR: Well, you know, with El Chapo you can almost expect anything, but, boy, if I were the Mexican government and opened up this possibility of him escaping the third time, I think they should be concerned. I don't think that is the case.
I think he was sent to this jail. They probably thought he was more secure. They would be able to control him better in this jail. By the way, it's now surrounded by the army. They've increased security enormously.
And maybe are trying to send a message to the United States that, yes, they're willing to send him to the United States, and perhaps getting him a little closer to the border is a way to send a message.
I doubt he's going to be extradited in the next month and a half or the next couple of weeks. I think there's still time to go. So the next question is, what happens?
Do they leave him here between now and the end of the year or they return him to the high-security prison in the Mexico City urban area? I have no idea.
BLACKWELL: We do know this. We know the U.S. wants him here very much. Let's see if that influences the process. Ana Maria, the woman with many titles, thank you for being here on NEW DAY, as always -- Alisyn.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: So, Chris what do voters think of a potential Trump/Clinton showdown in November, and which candidate do they think has more baggage? Answers to those questions and more when we talk to our panel of independent voters. That's next.
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[06:46:25]
BERMAN: Oklahoma City star, Kevin Durant coming up big on Mother's Day. All with mom at court side. Coy Wire with more on the "Bleacher Report." Good morning, Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. I'm sure you've seen the means. A couple years ago, there was a scene where Kevin Durant won the NBA MVP award. He is crying at a press conference and he tells his mom, Wanda, she's the real MVP.
Last night against the Spurs, mom was right there in the front row, and she watched her son, the four-time scoring champ, show why he won that award in the first place.
Durant would score 17 points in the fourth quarter. Finish with a career playoff high 41. Thunder wins 111-97 tying the series at two games apiece. Game five is tomorrow in San Antonio.
Two games tonight on TNT. Raptors/Heat at 8:00 Eastern and followed by the Warriors/Trail Blazers at 10:30. After nearly a 100 years, the world's most prestigious sailboat race, the America's Cup came back to New York. New York City is a skyline is the backdrop. Over 100,000 spectators were along the Hudson River to take in those breathtaking scenes.
Last year's winners, Oracle Team USA had the lead at one point, but it was team Emerit New Zealand with the win. This is second of five regattas. Next, they'll go to Chicago then over to the U.K. and France.
More than 167,000 spectators witnessed the Kentucky Derby over the weekend. Nyquist would hang on to capture the run for the roses. Nyquist is a perfect 8 for 8 in his lifetime of races. Some race fans are wondering if we won't have to wait long to witness another Triple Crown winner.
He is that good. American Pharoah just last year became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. Now Nyquist is expected to arrive in Pamlico later this afternoon, the site of the Preakness.
In just a couple of weeks, May 21st, Nyquist can make a run for that second jewel of the Triple Crown, guys.
CAMEROTA: OK, thanks so much, Coy. Great to see you.
All right, Donald Trump attacking Hillary Clinton for her husband's sexual past. Is that fair game? We'll hear from our panel of are independent voters, live in our studio, next.
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[06:52:37]
BERMAN: The general election matchup, six months away and it's already shaping up to be a doozy between the presumed Republican nominee, Donald Trump and his likely Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She's married to a man who was the worst abuser of women in the history of politics. She's married to a man who hurt many women and Hillary, if you look and you study, Hillary hurt many women, the women that he abused. She's married to a man who got impeached for lying.
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BERMAN: So how's that going to play with voters?
CAMEROTA: Let's ask them.
BERMAN: Yes. This morning, we have gathered a group of independent voters. What do they think of these attacks on Hillary Clinton? Let's find out. I want to start with Chalaire Miller. Chalaire, thanks for being with us. You say you were inclined to support Donald Trump.
CHALAIRE MILLER, INDEPENDENT VOTER IN NEW YORK CITY: Yes, I am.
BERMAN: You were also a woman.
MILLER: Yes.
BERMAN: So when you hear Donald Trump say of Hillary Clinton, you know, she is an enabler. Her husband, gross infidelity, one of the great woman abusers of the world, but Hillary is an enabler.
MILLER: I agree with him. If you think back to Bill Clinton's discretions, she started a campaign called nuts and sluts, where she was defaming his, his --
CAMEROTA: What?
MILLER: The people he abused?
CAMEROTA: What evidence do you have? Where are you getting your information, Chalaire?
MILLER: My evidence comes from Google. That's my best friend. She also -- she also labeled Monica Lewinsky as a narcissistic loony tune.
CAMEROTA: In private to one of her friends. She didn't say that in public, but I hear what you're saying is that you agree with Donald Trump. You think that this could be an issue for her in the race?
MILLER: Absolutely. Only because Bill Clinton is out there stumping for her and he's making speeches. So he put himself into the campaign.
CAMEROTA: OK, Carrie, you're another woman, so I'm coming to you. How do you think female voters will respond to this line of attacks?
CARRIE SACKETT, INDEPENDENT VOTER IN NEW YORK CITY: Well, I'm an independent, and what's important to me is how we move the country forward, and how to have a national conversation. There are a lot of issues in this country.
This particular issue is not the front burner and I think what we need now is, we need to look at the political process itself so that all of us as independents can participate in the conversation.
[06:55:04]With those 30 million Americans, we just couldn't participate in the primaries. We were locked out.
CAMEROTA: So do you think that this is an issue that will, you know, catch fire, or do you --
SACKETT: The political process issue?
CAMEROTA: No, the issue about what Donald Trump is saying, the attacks on Hillary Clinton and her husband. SACKETT: I mean, for me, I'm waiting to see who will talk to me as an independent to decide on who I'm voting for and what I care about is having a process in this country where all Americans get to participate, and that's not the case right now.
BERMAN: And if we can give Nick the microphone. You were leaning towards Trump. I'm curious, is this something that makes him more attractive to you, these types of attacks, or less?
NICHOLAS ESPOSITO, INDEPENDENT VOTER FROM LONG ISLAND: Overall, I believe that personal attacks shouldn't be the mainstay of an argument in the process of a presidential election. But for this instance, it makes sense, it resonates, because if Hillary Clinton is going to be, you know, for women. Say that she's for women, but she's married to a man that blatantly disrespected her.
BERMAN: But why is she to blame for what her husband did?
ESPOSITO: Shouldn't she have ever for herself and go and respect herself in the sense that handling this marriage, maybe it shouldn't have worked out the way it did? Maybe she should have got a divorce?
CAMEROTA: Ian, do you think that candidates past sexual histories should be part of this campaign?
IAN JACKSON, INDEPENDENT VOTER IN NEW YORK CITY: Clearly it's a distraction from legitimate political debate. If we're going to talk about Bill Clinton I'm more interested in grasping the distinction between her policies in terms of the impact on mass incarceration or welfare reform than I am what's going on in their bedroom or at their kitchen table and their marriage.
BERMAN: You're a Sanders guy, right?
JACKSON: Very much so.
BERMAN: Look, if Hillary Clinton is going to win in the general election, she's got to win over a lot of Sanders supporters.
JACKSON: Very much so.
BERMAN: Do you like the way she's handling these attacks by Donald Trump so far?
JACKSON: Well, you know, I think she's in a very difficult position. I don't envy her, because, of course, you know, the debate keeps being lowered to this level. I think, you know, I would hope, that she would like the conversation to revolve more around policy and more along the direction of the country. But, you know, people are interested in good TV. There are people who are more interested in the tabloid aspect of the political process.
CAMEROTA: OK. Adam, you are an independent, but you're supporting Hillary Clinton. What do you think?
ADAM LOMBARDI, INDEPENDENT VOTER FROM NEW YORK: I support Hillary Clinton. I think so far that Donald Trump's war on women has gone above reproach, and that's something that we need to address directly.
CAMEROTA: You're offended by it?
LOMBARDI: I'm absolutely offended by it. I'm actually afraid of a Donald Trump presidency for the future of women's empowerment and equality in this country, which so far has escaped any of the dialogue and the media as escaped, all dialogue --
CAMEROTA: You don't think we've been talking about whether or not Donald Trump has said sort of unkind things about women?
LOMBARDI: I don't think that voters have woken up and realized the severity of some of his comments towards women.
BERMAN: Can we go all the way down over to Bryan right now? Bryan is truly undecided as far as we know and we don't know anything about where he leans right now so I'm curious --
CAMEROTA: So tell us.
BERMAN: -- when you hear this argument back and forth, which way does it sway you?
BRYAN SOLOMON-PUERTAS, INDEPENDENT VOTER IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: I definitely think that this is reality TV campaigning, and that it doesn't draw me to either of the candidates. I definitely in that it's more than just a personality issue of who gets elected.
We have so much bigger problems in the country, and I definitely think that the partisanship that both of these candidates have to play to is what -- is what I'm concerned with more.
CAMEROTA: Yes. Damon, we want to get you in. So what's your feeling? I know you're leaning towards Hillary?
DAMON SHEETS, UNDECIDED VOTER, LEANING TOWARDS CLINTON: I feel that -- that Donald Trump's accusations against her and, you know, talking about infidelity with Bill Clinton, I think it's a smoke screen. I think he doesn't have much to say, so his disapproval rating is really high with women as far as women not liking Donald Trump.
CAMEROTA: So you think it's a distraction more than anything?
SHEETS: I think it's a distraction. He's trying to dig himself out of a hole.
BERMAN: All right, guys, we're getting a chance to talk more about this. Chalaire, we will more from you because we know you differ from a lot of the sentiment you're hearing right now. There is a chance to talk about this later. We want to know your take as well, tweet us @newday or post your comment on Facebook.com/newday.
CAMEROTA: Coming up on NEW DAY, we will talk to the Republican presumptive nominee, Donald Trump, in just a moments.
We are following a lot of news this morning. So let's get right to it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: I would imagine things will be OK with Paul Ryan. We'll see -- wouldn't it be nice if we actually get along?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For him to say who he will not support was not a wise decision of his.
TRUMP: I don't think it actually has to be unified. I'm smarter than they are.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He doesn't have a view. He has a slogan.
TRUMP: She is married to a man who is the worst abuser of women --
