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New Day
Police Investigation in Zoo Death; Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Veterans. Aired 8:30-9 a ET
Aired June 01, 2016 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:32:35] ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY.
Cincinnati Police are now investigating the family of that three year old boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure last weekend at the Cincinnati Zoo. In the end, the gorilla, Harambe, was shot and killed. Joining us now, Dan Van Coppenolle, a former special ed teacher who actually named Harambe, and Amanda O'Donoughue, a former zookeeper whose FaceBook posting about Harambe's death went viral.
I'd like to start with you, Dan. Tell us about how you ended up naming Harambe and the name's significance.
DAN VAN COPPENOLLE, FMR. SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER: Well, I was running on my treadmill one morning in October of 1999, and I was listening to reggae music, getting the good vibes on, and I heard a song called Harambe by Rita Marley. And midway through the song, she described what Harambe means, the Swahili word, it means, working together, coming together, reaching out to one another, helping one another, caring and sharing. And I thought at the time, well, that's something I could great -- use - greatly use as a counselor. I was a special ed counselor for emotionally disturbed kids.
CABRERA: Yes, what a great message.
VAN COPPENOLLE: And - yes. I just tried to teach them about compassion and empathy and things like that. So when I came inside to relax and drink my coffee and read the morning paper, I saw that there was an article announcing a contest to win the name - name the baby gorilla. And immediately Harambe popped into my mind. So that day I had to go to an in-service at the zoo, which just - the conference room was right next to the gorilla exhibit, so I dropped off my entry and I just knew I was going to win. It was just perfect, an African-Swahili word for an African lowland gorilla.
CABRERA: Yes. The name really fit, it sounds like. And, of course, this gorilla was just a baby when you first met him. I understand that you, over the years, went with your family to the zoo and almost felt like this gorilla was an adopted son of yours. What was he like?
VAN COPPENOLLE: He was very playful. Yes, we always went with our family, my boys, my nephews, other family members that came into town. Everybody loves to go to our local zoo. We've got a beautiful zoo. A lot of the school field trips with my classes and other students, you know, all they had to do was ask me to chaperone and I'm there.
CABRERA: Yes.
VAN COPPENOLLE: And, of course, everybody used the name Harambe, always included in my lessons, and Harambe would respond to his name. The zookeepers were very helpful. Having a zookeeper like Mr. Stones that would take the time to explain to the kids Harambe's traits and what's special about him. And I really appreciate that. So -
[08:35:11] CABRERA: Very nice (ph).
VAN COPPENOLLE: While I'm saddened by his loss, but, you know, I do realize now that what a significant impact he had on my life.
CABRERA: No kidding.
Well, Amanda, let me turn to you and talk about the present. You were a zookeeper. You've worked with gorillas. You wrote this on your FaceBook page, that post that went viral. "I have watched this video over again and with the silverback's posturing and tight lips, it pretty much is the stuff of any keeper's nightmares, and I have had many while working with them." Explain that. What more is your expert eye seeing in that video?
AMANDA O'DONOUGHUE, FORMER ZOOKEEPER: You know, he was a young, robust male. And he was doing exactly what males - male gorillas do, and that's protecting his group. You know, had it been a female, you know, that got to the child, things may have ended differently. There's no telling. But, yes, you know, you can't be complacent when working with animals as large as Harambe. And seeing his posturing and the way his lips were rolled under and the way he was dragging the boy about in the water was terrifying. It's terrifying to watch.
CABRERA: I wonder what you'd say to those people who are very, very angry over this. You know, there's now a petition, justice for Harambe. About a half million people have signed onto that. There's even lawmakers considering a law punishing somebody for negligence that in an instance that leads to the death of an endangered animal like this gorilla. What do you say to them?
O'DONOUGHUE: You know, I say, I think we need to put our anger and our efforts into conservation of this endangered species. Whether that's supporting your local zoo or sanctuary, or, you know, however you can get involved is really important. Playing this blame game and the social media game is toxic. And I would like to see more people put their effort into actually helping critically endangered species like the western lowland gorilla.
CABRERA: Amanda, Dan, our thanks to both of you for joining us this morning on NEW DAY. Thank you.
O'DONOUGHUE: Thank you.
CABRERA: Chris.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, this is a continuing concern. The Olympics are right around the corner. They're supposed to be in Rio. Now more embarrassment for Brazil. Coming up, leaked recordings lead to a new scandal involving the people who are supposed to be cleaning up all the corruption. Listen and decide.
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[08:41:50] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for the five things to know for your new day.
Donald Trump blasting the media, calling reporters, quote, "sleazy and dishonest" for scrutinizing the money trail from his veterans fundraiser in Iowa last January.
Bernie Sanders says he's taking the Democratic fight to the convention, even if Hillary Clinton wins next week's primaries in New Jersey and California. Clinton now picking up the support of California Governor Jerry Brown.
The investigation into the death of Harambe the gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo now focused on the family of the boy who fell into the habitat. The zoo forced to shoot and kill the gorilla fearing the boy's life was in danger.
A possible break in the case for missing EgyptAir Flight 805. Investigators say a French boat in the Mediterranean Sea has picked up a signal possibly from one of the plane's data recorders.
Today marks the official start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. America is in the midst of a hurricane drought with no hurricanes making landfall last year. Hurricane season runs through November.
For more on the five things to know, you can go to newdaycnn.com for all of the latest.
All right, well, with the Rio Olympics getting closer and just weeks after a vote to impeach and suspend the embattled president, brazil's new interim government is now caught up in its own corruption scandal. CNN's Ivan Watson has more.
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IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When the honor guard arrives to greet foreign diplomats at the presidential palace, so do the protesters, demanding the resignation of the brand new interim president Michel Temer. Brazil faces a political crisis during a time of great economic pain. A fresh scandal this month forced a top cabinet minister to announce his resignation. The irony, this is one of the politicians who spearheaded the impeachment process against president Dilma Rousseff, forcing her to step down earlier this month for allegedly breaking budgetary laws, which she denies.
WATSON (on camera): More than two-thirds of the Congress here voted in favor of an impeachment process of the elected Brazilian president. But many of these lawmakers are themselves implicated in a variety of corruption scandals. Do you think there's a lot of corruption in this room?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think, I'm sure.
WATSON (voice-over): Part of the problem is, its tough to govern here when there are dozens of political parties represented in the Brazilian Congress. There's even a professional clown. A comedian who was applauded when he cast his vote for the impeachment of President Rousseff. Polls show she had nearly single digit popularity ratings when she was suspended, but so does the legislature that suspended her.
WATSON (on camera): People don't respect you.
EDUARDO BOLSONARO, BRAZILIAN CONGRESSMAN: No. Like it - yes, they don't respect. We don't have to much credibility together with the society.
WATSON (voice-over): And it hasn't helped politicians credibility that several ministers in the new interim government also appear to be under investigation for alleged wrongdoing.
[08:45:00] The changing of the political guard in this country is still very, very complicated.
WATSON (on camera): The elected president, Dilma Rousseff, is still living over here in the official presidential residence and she is vowing to fight the impeachment proceedings against her.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Brasilia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CABRERA: Back to politics here at home. Hillary Clinton taking on Donald Trump over veterans. The veterans themselves are now taking sides. We will bring that to you, next.
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DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When I raised money for the veterans, and it's a massive amount of money, find out how much Hillary Clinton's given to the veterans. Nothing. And then I see a few guys standing out there. They don't even know why they're there for. They have no idea. They're there because Hillary Clinton's campaign sent them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: All right, Donald Trump on message. True or not, that's where he is. And this was the press conference where he was saying he got $5.6 million that he raised for veterans instead of doing that debate way back in January. You remember?
Well, one of the things that Trump didn't like yesterday was this, a group of veterans protesting what they say was Trump using vets for his own political gain. Let's discuss with the people who matter most. We have veterans with us today. One of them is one of those protesters, former Marine and organizer of vets versus hate, Alex McCoy. He's a Hillary Clinton supporter. Also with us is New Hampshire State Representative, retired Marine Al Baldassaro, and he's a Trump supporter. He was on stage with him yesterday.
[08:50:02] Gentlemen, thank you for your service. Thank you for being here with us.
AL BALDASSARO (R), NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Well, thank you.
ALEXANDER MCCOY, FORMER MARINE: Thank you.
BALDASSARO: And, thank you, Marine. It's a pleasure being on with my fellow Marine.
CUOMO: It is. It's good. I know there's a lot of respect there, political differences.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: Let's talk about them. One of the things that you want to clear up right away, did Hillary Clinton send you there yesterday? Were you on her dime? Was this an organized campaign event?
MCCOY: Absolutely not. I happen to be a Hillary Clinton supporter myself and Trump's campaign has tried to make a big deal out of the fact that I have a photo on FaceBook with Hillary Clinton. But I've met many different people. I've got photos with all kinds of people. And the fact that I had a photo on FaceBook with Hillary Clinton does not mean this is some kind of organized campaign stunt. We have people in our group who are representing all sides of the political spectrum.
CUOMO: Are you good with that, Al, or no?
BALDASSARO: Well, no, I'm not. No, I'm not.
CUOMO: Because you said on the stage yesterday, you thought that Clinton planted these veterans there.
BALDASSARO: No, sir. I'm never - never would I want to tell a young Marine that you're a liar to his face, OK, because I researched and I looked at his FaceBook and I see how they went though and try to gather people. OK. What they did yesterday, you have a (INAUDIBLE) Bernie supporter who served in the Army. You had another guy, another Bernie supporter. You have him who was a Hillary. This was a setup to go after Trump. Why are they going after the $3 billion in the Clinton fund, OK, foundation there to - none of that money went out to veterans. This here (INAUDIBLE) stop taking veterans and using as political pawns. If we collect $1 from a Republican, Democrat, independent, their money's green, it's going to help those veterans in the trenches. (INAUDIBLE) -
CUOMO: Money for veterans is an unqualified good. BALDASSARO: That's right.
CUOMO: The - that's what yesterday was supposed to be about, that the money was raised. What is your problem with this money going to veterans?
MCCOY: Well, look, these are the facts. Donald Trump said that he had raised and that he had personally donated a certain amount of money. And it turns out he lied. Donald Trump was called out on it. Veterans like me and other veterans across the country stood up to hold him accountable.
CUOMO: How did he lie? He said $6 million. It's $5.6 million.
MCCOY: He said he had raised a certain amount of money and he said that he personally had donated his money already.
CUOMO: A million dollars.
MCCOY: That turned out to be false. You can't spin your way around that. And the fact -
BALDASSARO: Can I show you the million dollar check here from Donald Trump?
MCCOY: The problem is the lack of integrity.
CUOMO: What's the problem with the check?
BALDASSARO: Here's a copy of the check right here.
MCCOY: It's the fact that before that check went out, he claimed he had already donated that money. For us the issue is not, did he donate such money - you know, this amount of money or that amount of money. We appreciate every dollar going to veterans causes. It's the fact that he has demonstrated a fundamental lack of integrity. And that's not the values that I learned in the Marine Corps.
BALDASSARO: This is political. This is political.
MCCOY: Well, listen, yesterday - yesterday -
BALDASSARO: (INAUDIBLE)
CUOMO: Well, but - but all of it's political, right?
BALDASSARO: That's right. Well, you know, some -
CUOMO: I mean, you know, the raising the money instead of going to the debate, you know, that had - that had politics also.
BALDASSARO: They should be patting Donald Trump on the back.
Don't you agree they should be patting him on the back? Any person, I don't care whether you're a Republican or Democrat, you're going to raise money to help veterans that the government failed us, OK, you should be patting him on the back and thanking him. Instead, we're trying to find little loopholes, little issues. Oh, it didn't get out fast enough. I know we have the attorney general and many groups in New Hampshire that are scamming veterans, raising money.
CUOMO: It's true. That's true.
BALDASSARO: OK. There's a -
CUOMO: You have to - you have to vet.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: Did it take too long? Were the numbers right? These are all fair points of push back.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: You know, look, that event was supposed to be unqualified good yesterday. It wound up getting very nasty.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: That was because of Trump, though. It's not like people were standing there heckling him inside.
BALDASSARO: But he's a tell it like it is guy, Trump.
CUOMO: What does that mean, tells it like it is?
BALDASSARO: He'll tell you straight up.
CUOMO: When you call a guy - if I asked you a question right now and you didn't like it, right?
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: Would you call me sleaze to my face?
BALDASSARO: I would if you were an idiot. I'd tell you -
CUOMO: How so? If you don't like my question, you would -
BALDASSARO: Because - because, I would - I -
CUOMO: You would insult me personally?
BALDASSARO: No, no, let me tell you something. First, the Constitution gives me the right, my First Amendment right. Now -
CUOMO: Look, but having the right to do it and then being right to do is different.
BALDASSARO: He - yes, but -
CUOMO: Now, you don't behave that way. BALDASSARO: No, no, but I'm not a scared - if somebody treats me like
an idiot (ph), you know, and calls me names in public, you don't think I, as a Marine, or as an individual -
CUOMO: You're asking questions, Al. Just like I'm asking you right now. I'm not going to insult you personally.
BALDASSARO: Right. No, no, I'm not going to insult you. But the thing is, the way they attack Donald Trump is unset. They have attacked this man over and over who's done nothing but good. Way before he was elected, running for, you know, president, he's done so much for veterans. Look at what he's done for the Marine in Mexico. When he gets out (ph), he's sent the 25 grand to help him.
CUOMO: All they've been through here, though, is trying to get the money.
But here's what I wanted to talk to you guys about. I get that you have political differences. All right.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: That's OK. You guys fought for the ability to have these differences.
BALDASSARO: Right. But he's still a Marine. We're still a brother. And I respect that.
CUOMO: And, look, and you're both Americans and that's why you fought with - so we can have this conversation.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: Beautiful. We're having it. Who's better for veterans? I took a look at Clinton's page and Trump's page last night, because that's what everybody always says, go look at the plans.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: They are like identical in terms of what they say they'll do, treat the whole person, deal with the V.A., --
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: Deal with this. More money for that. More money for this. How do you assess who's going to be better for veterans?
BALDASSARO: Well, I can tell you, if you look at the history and you look at Clinton. I know personally from Marines that stood at the White House, OK, that were on duty there, they treated - the Clintons treated those Marines terrible. It was a disgrace. My son was with HMX-1 for five years under Bush (INAUDIBLE).
CUOMO: Sure. Sure.
BALDASSARO: So I - you know, I've got some insight. My son loves the Corps. He's still in. I know this, to go to war, send a son. These Democrats - and I was a Democrat for many years. My grandfather's Mayor Al Vellucci -
[08:55:06] CUOMO: Right.
BALDASSARO: Four term mayor in Cambridge, Massachusetts. So I grew up with Tip O'Neill and the Kennedys. I know the playbook of the Democrats. They want to keep us Republicans on defense. They don't care about the military. They make many promises. If they cared, why is our V.A. all screwed up? Why are we losing veterans dying?
CUOMO: The V.A. has been screwed up, as you know, for administration after administration after administration.
BALDASSARO: Yes.
CUOMO: Just as a side point.
BALDASSARO: Who controls the dollars?
CUOMO: You know, your man Trump came after us yesterday saying the media's so bad.
BALDASSARO: Right. Not all of you. He said -
CUOMO: Who brought out what happened about the VA? It was CNN.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: It was Drew Griffin who did the reporting.
BALDASSARO: Right. Yes, and he respects - he respects that.
CUOMO: So it's not like - well, he respects him today. You know, he was yelling him about the vets money.
BALDASSARO: (INAUDIBLE) all media. He (INAUDIBLE).
CUOMO: Well, he does it selective. But that's not about us. I don't want to talk about that.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: The G.I. Bill. The G.I. Bill, they do a sneaky thing in Congress.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: They do a no-name vote. They're going to take $3 billion out of it. The IAVA, you know those guys, Rieckhoff and everybody, they go crazy about it. Nobody wants to talk about it. Nobody wants to get involve in the election. We gave Trump the chance on this show.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: Clinton said, I don't - I'm not going to let that happen. Sanders said I'm not going to let that happen.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: Trump was going at me about how he's so good for veterans and he didn't speak to the G.I. Bill directly and hasn't yet.
BALDASSARO: Right.
CUOMO: That's the kind of thing he should come out for.
BALDASSARO: Now, I spoke at his rallies on behalf of Trump here on the G.I. Bill. Actually the Yellow Ribbon Program, because I'm - I am one of the first folks - legislators in the state that changed the law in New Hampshire for the Yellow Ribbon Program because they stuck it to veterans. You have to live in your state where you're a resident in order to use it.
CUOMO: Right. Right.
BALDASSARO: So I changed the law. As soon as you move into New Hampshire, you become a resident to get in-state tuition.
CUOMO: Good for you. That's the kind of thing the veterans (INAUDIBLE).
BALDASSARO: Now, Donald Trump, (INAUDIBLE), he supports the Yellow - he don't want to cut veterans benefits. He already made that clear.
CUOMO: He didn't say it during the interview.
BALDASSARO: Well -
MCCOY: See, this is exactly the problem. They're going back and forth. They're giving us mixed messages. And there's not that track record of integrity. We've got a politician, I thank you for your service, but you still don't -
BALDASSARO: I'm not a politician. I'd have to kiss (INAUDIBLE).
MCCOY: You're - you're a New Hampshire state rep. You can't claim you're not a politician.
CUOMO: Well, you are a state representative.
BALDASSARO: I'm a (INAUDIBLE).
MCCOY: You stood up on the podium yesterday and attacked veteran standing up against Donald Trump.
CUOMO: Look, I respect you for (INAUDIBLE), but what's the difference between a politician and an elected official.
BALDASSARO: Because the politician, I would have to kiss somebody's butt for a vote and tell you what you want to hear.
MCCOY: Well, listen, I am neither. BALDASSARO: OK.
MCCOY: I am a regular veteran.
BALDASSARO: Right.
MCCOY: I am going to school on my G.I. Bill.
BALDASSARO: You -
MCCOY: These are issues that are important to me.
BALDASSARO: You, as a -
MCCOY: And I do not work for any campaign, unlike yourself.
BALDASSARO: No, (INAUDIBLE).
MCCOY: And other veterans are joining me -
CUOMO: Let him speak. MCCOY: To stand up -
BALDASSARO: OK.
MCCOY: To Donald Trump and to show the American people that Donald Trump is trying to use us. It's one thing, you know, to have politicians do the thing where they wave the flag and they say thank you to the troops, but it's another to do what Donald Trump has been doing, to use veterans as a shield to hide from hard questions. And that's what he's been doing. And that's what he did in his press conference yesterday. And that's what he did when he dodged the Fox News debate and held this fundraiser. We appreciate money for veterans. That's obviously very important. But at the same time as donating a few million dollars to veteran charities, he's threatening to cut billions of dollars of funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs. He's threatening to - he doesn't even know what the G.I. Bill is, apparently.
BALDASSARO: That's -
MCCOY: This is something that as a student using my G.I. Bill as my ladder into the middle class, like my dad who served in the Navy for 23 years did before me, that's something that is disturbing, that someone who wants to be the next president of the United States has to spend a few weeks figuring out what the G.I. Bill is.
CUOMO: Final point.
BALDASSARO: My final point? OK, first of all, you know, we have a few percent - low percent in the Marine Corps to get out and they - and they go to the left. And I understand and I respect that. But they've lost their way. And when they lost their way, meaning, we are forgetting about the veterans in the trench that need help. We're so focused on, what did Donald Trump - why didn't that money get out in a timely manner? Why aren't we focused on saying, thank you. More groups step up to the plate to give money.
Now, as Donald Trump, does he know everything? No, he don't. Does he have advisers like me to come in and help him on veterans issues? Yes. And he's not scared to tell you that I'll get back or I need to, you know, look into it. No candidate knows every issue. I don't support - what Ronald Reagan said, if you're with me 80 percent of the time, you're not my enemy. We need to wake up and guarantee and thank everybody, Republican or Democrat, if you're standing up for veterans.
MCCOY: It's hard to believe you care about veterans if you don't know what the G.I. Bill is.
BALDASSARO: Well, look at Benghazi. Did they care about those veterans over there?
CUOMO: All right, it's a longer conversation. We'll continue to have it here. And you know I respect and appreciate you being on.
BALDASSARO: Thank you. I appreciate you a lot.
MCCOY: Thank you.
CUOMO: Al, Alex -
BALDASSARO: It's an honor.
MCCOY: Semper Fi.
BALDASSARO: Oorah.
CUOMO: Beautiful.
There's a lot of news for you this morning in the "Newsroom" with Carol Costello, who's going to pick it up right after this quick break. Stay with CNN.
