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RNC Security; France Has Third Terror Attack; U.S. Affected by Terror Attacks. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired July 15, 2016 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:01] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: We've just gotten word that French President Francois Hollande has left the hospital. We believe that he is going to the site of the attack, where you just heard from that man, Paul. As soon as we hear from him, as soon as we hear him speak, we'll bring that to you.

Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, there is no question that what just happened in Nice is going to affect the state of play in the United States, certainly the awareness. Security is going to be a big concern for next week's Republican Convention. What is the plan to keep delegates and protesters safe? They were making shifts before this. We're going to talk to the Republican National Committee's chief strategist, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: The terror attack matters. It matters because it happened in France. It matters because we're all interconnected. And it matters because of what's going on back here in the United States, specifically the conventions that are upcoming. There had already been concern and changed security plans because what has been going on in the world. And we do know that there was a $50 million grant to increase security at the RNC, the Republican National Convention. So, is that enough? We've got 50,000 people going there. Will this situation mean changes?

[08:35:00] Sean Spicer, chief strategist and communications director for the RNC, he joins us now.

Sean, good to see you. I'm sorry it's for this kind of occasion. I'll be seeing you out there in Cleveland sure - soon I am sure. Is what's going on in Nice going to make a change? Are you guys looking at it, talking to the security side, seeing what else may be necessary?

SEAN SPICER, RNC CHIEF STRATEGIST & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Well, I think the one big difference is that this event, both the Republican and Democratic national conventions, for the first time ever are national security events, which means they are designated by the federal government as being a priority for the United States Secret Service as the lead agency. So that has allowed them to plan for months, if not years, coordinate among 73 federal, state and local law enforcement entities to make sure that this is the safest place on earth. So while people are going to come here and to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention, and express themselves as they can and should under our Constitution, they're going to make sure that it's the safest place on earth for the guests, the attendees, the delegates and the media.

CUOMO: All right, let's talk about a different kind of expression that you were not as psyched about, which is what was going on in the rules committee with the never Trump movement. Paul Manafort came on and said never Trump is never more. That he got it done. What he joined the Trump team to do originally, which was pave the way through the convention. Is that true? Is never Trump never more?

SPICER: Oh, absolutely. I mean look at what happened yesterday. Despite the media hype, I've said for months now that it was a series of tweets and conference calls and nothing more. And yesterday, every measure failed. It was a - it was a handful of individuals that were trying to make trouble. But the will of the grassroots of our party came through.

We continue to be united, continue to grow. We released an amazing group of speakers yesterday that will highlight not just the political elected officials in the Republican Party, but business officials, people who know Mr. Trump, people who can speak to broadening the Republican Party and getting to know Mr. Trump. It's going to be a fantastic convention, like nothing that has ever been seen for either party and we're very excited about what's going to happen in Cleveland. It's going to be - and one other thing that's going to be interesting.

It's going to be in sharp contrast to what you see in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is going to be filled with the same old status quo elected officials that have offered us the same failed strategies and policies. What we're going to offer is a different vision, a different way forward, a different set of excitement that's never been seen at a political convention before.

CUOMO: While I don't question your conclusion about what happened with the rules committee, I want to ask you about your analysis. Why are you putting it on us, or now specifically me? You know it wasn't just a few voices. You don't have a lot of your big name people speaking at the convention.

SPICER: No. No, no, no, for -

CUOMO: A lot of the GOP leadership types didn't want to go. There was a lot of talk about trying to stop Trump. It wasn't the media generating it, Sean.

SPICER: There was. You're right. No, and it's not - and, again, nothing - nothing personal, Chris. I'm saying that we went to Florida for the RNC spring meeting and I heard over and over again that the rules committee is going to do this and it's going to be crazy. And all the media came in and covered it like it was - like a Super Bowl and the vote went down 54-2.

Then I heard that going into Cleveland the rule's committee's going to be a showdown and it ended in one day, every amendment went through. We finished up at 11:00 today. What was supposed to be a two-day, potentially longer, event for the rules committee is finished. It wrapped up last night.

My point is, for a long time, we, at the party, and in the Trump campaign, have talked about the fact that this is confined to a very small group of folks that had a personal agenda. And we've been right every single time. And I know - and it's - but, and, again, it's not personal with you, but it's the fact of the matter is that over and over again the number of questions that myself and the folks in the Trump campaign get asked have been proven to be false narratives. And the - we wrapped up last night. We continue to unify. And I think that just because a bunch of politicians aren't going to speak at the convention, you look at who's going to speak at the convention, and it's pretty (INAUDIBLE).

CUOMO: OK.

SPICER: You've got folks that were in Benghazi, senior military officials, celebrities, pro-athletes. Something that's never been seen before. We've brought in more voters into this cycle than ever before. The debate ratings were higher than ever before. And I think the problem is, is that there's this stale narrative about how things are supposed to go, when the problem is the Republican Party and Donald Trump continues to defy the narrative and present a new way of how the political narrative goes.

CUOMO: All right, three up or downs I want you to give me. Is Tim Tebow in or out?

SPICER: Out.

CUOMO: Oh, why?

SPICER: I'd love to say - I mean, I think that we'd love to - I think that we would love to have him. Don't get me wrong. I just don't - I think that - that there was some speculation that he might be coming. I think he's cleared it up. But he's a phenomenal individual. He's very principled. He's somebody that a lot of people admire, both in athletes and in the evangelical movement. And if he were able to come or be able to be here in Cleveland, I'm sure someone could find a role for him. He's a phenomenal individual.

CUOMO: All right. Pence, governor of Indiana. Manafort said Trump will be loyal. Obviously, for emotional reasons and sensitivities, he didn't want to make the announcement today. But then Trump said, I haven't made my final, final call. Would you be willing to take a bet on with me that it's someone other than Trump - other than Pence?

SPICER: I - I'm not - I - it's the kind of stuff I don't guess. I think Donald Trump -

[08:40:04] CUOMO: Is it going to be Pence? I'm trying to - I know you're going to duck the question, so I'm trying to get a way around your duck. SPICER: I have no idea. I know you are. You're doing a good job, as you always do. But the fact of the matter is, this is decision is Donald Trump and Donald Trump's alone. He's got three fine candidates as finalists that he's talked about.

CUOMO: Right.

SPICER: Each one of them has been a stalwart of social and fiscal policies and would be a great addition to the ticket. But that decision is his to make, not mine.

CUOMO: But Pence is in New York. And at noon today, Pence has to officially get in or get out of running for governor. So if there's no word, he could be boxed in. What's your thought on that?

SPICER: Again, this is between Governor Pence and the other finalists, and Mr. Trump. But I - we've got - we've got a great convention to plan here in Cleveland. That's where my focus is. I'll leave those big decisions up to our - up to our presumptive nominee.

CUOMO: Look at you laughing at my question, Sean Spicer. I'm going to talk to you about this when I see you in Cleveland.

SPICER: You've got one more. Time's -

CUOMO: No, time's up.

SPICER: We've got three. What's the third?

CUOMO: That's it. They're cutting me off. They don't like how it's going. Sean Spicer, thank you very much for answering the questions today. Good luck out in Cleveland. We'll see you there soon.

SPICER: See you soon, Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Poppy.

HARLOW: All right, back to the terror attack in France overnight. Terror weary France hit again. Three major attacks in that country in the last 18 months, more than 200 people have been killed in those attacks. Why? Why is France such a prime target? Next.

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HARLOW: French President Francois Hollande just visited police headquarters in Nice. He held a moment of silence there. This after he met with officials and then went to the hospital as well to comfort the victims and their families.

Also now we will have three days of mourning in France after this country mourns yet another terror attack. The rampage last night in Nice on that promenade was the third major attack in that country since last January. Over 200 people have died in these attacks, countless others injured. And the question everyone is asking today is, why is France continually targeted?

[08:45:03] Let's bring in the deputy mayor of Paris, Patrick Klugman.

Thank you so much for being with me.

It was just months ago that we spoke after the wake of the attack of the Bataclan in November. Now we're speaking again. Your country has been attacked again. Our condolences to everyone there. What is your initial reaction to this attack?

PATRICK KLUGMAN, DEPUTY MAYOR OF PARIS: Thank you. Well, it's a very strange day for us in Paris. A day following our national day, our independence day. And we've not been struck directly here in Paris, but Nice. And so it's like if we wondered ourself. We've a very strange feeling whether the cities looks like if it's going on normally. I'm talking about Paris. But everyone thinks about Nice, what happened last night. And everyone is checking his friends, relatives there.

Though, Nice, from Paris, is a - like 500 miles away. So it's quite close, whereas more country, a big country, but a small country. So everyone knows someone who has been hit, family, relatives, colleagues. So there's a part of ourselves bleeding. And, again, we were hurt and targeted and attacked during a national day, which is a huge symbol.

So we are at war. We know it. We are targeted. We are aimed (ph). There are reasons for that. We are (INAUDIBLE) democracy. We are living democracy. We want to go on. We will go on. And, I mean, if it's the - the price - if it's the price to pay, we'd have to pay it. But, at the end, this is a war we cannot lose.

HARLOW: But how can you - how can - how can that be accepted? You say if this is the price to pay, we have to pay it for leaving in a free democracy. I mean France has escalated - it's in a state of emergency. It's been that way for months, giving you a lot of police authority and ability to take people under arrest, to conduct raids without a judge authorizing you to do so.

You traveled to Belgium after the attack in November and worked on the intelligent sharing that was lacking. What's going on here? Why does it seem that nothing is able to prevent these, especially when you have what appears to be one guy with one gun and one truck and really no tie to terrorism as they can find, at least not yet?

KLUGMAN: Well, first the - the way these attacks are operated is continuously moving. There is no - there is not an attack similar to the other. From "Charlie Hebdo" to Nice, it's very, very different. And if we take (INAUDIBLE) back in 2012, it is also very different. So we have to adapt.

But, you know, there was - there was a commission at the parliament that revealed last week, just last week, that up to ten attacks were voided or impeached in France during the last year. So there is a huge work of intelligence, of arresting dangerous people, surveying people. So there's now - it's not if like if we're waiting for the next attack to come up. We are really working hard in France, and all over Europe. And we've - most of our friends around the world to connect, to share information, to share data, to share intelligence, but we are not going to stop being a democracy, standing on our values, because we are attacked, because this would be giving enemies a victory.

HARLOW: Patrick Klugman, the deputy -

KLUGMAN: I would like to add something. As you know -

HARLOW: Yes.

KLUGMAN: Yes. You know, I would like to add also that the French army is fighting ISIS in Africa in the Middle East also. So there is many reasons why we are in this situation. But we are fighting. We are standing, even though today we are mourning.

HARLOW: And the world is mourning with you. Patrick Klugman, the deputy mayor of Paris, thank you very much.

KLUGMAN: Thank you so much:

HARLOW: Chris.

CUOMO: All right, we are waiting to hear from the French president, Francois Hollande, any moment. We know that he went to visit some of the victims in a local hospital in Nice nearby where the terror attack happened, and that he is now going to the site of these murders. Around the world, when it happened, we will show you what the French president wants to tell the world about what happened.

Now, one of the concerns that's reverberating back here in the United States is, how do you stop what seems almost impossible to stop, some random diseased mind that decides to become a murderer in the name of a cause with a car and a gun? We discuss, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:52:29] CUOMO: We are watching what's happening in Nice right now. The French president, Francois Hollande, has visited people who were injured there in the hospital. He's now going to the site of these murders. He's going to address the world. When he does, we will bring it to you live.

Right now we want to talk about concerns that the attack in Nice reverberates back here to what's going on in the U.S., especially with our political conventions coming up. We have with us right now this question of how can we keep people safe. So let's bring in CNN law enforcement analyst and former FBI assistant director Tom Fuentes, and former Secret Service agent Daniel Bongino.

Gentlemen, thank you for being with us.

Tom, can you reasonably allay fears of what is all but impossible to stop? This is one guy, with or without diseased mind, with one gun, some fake stuff in the back of the truck, which doesn't make any sense, haven't seen that before, and a vehicle? How do you stop that?

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Chris, you just answered your own question. How do you stop something that's almost impossible or frankly is impossible. If the person that wants to do something like this doesn't reach out to other people, doesn't get assistance from friends or try to recruit other people to shoot or make explosives or do an attack, then you're left with a situation where the FBI and the police departments that are members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force have to read a person's mind. And that's the problem here. So if this individual in France did not use social media, you know, they'll know soon with his computers and cellphones whether he did or not, but if he didn't, you know, they can't read minds either, especially when he didn't appear to have been connected to any terror network that they can see so far. They just have a petty criminal. We don't know if it was so petty that he didn't even go to prison, where he could have gotten recruited and radicalized as well. So it's really impossible.

CUOMO: Right.

Bongino, is it true that these conventions will be the safest ever in history because of the amount of time and coordination of different assets from the government?

DANIEL BONGINO, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: Yes, Chris, I've worked conventions as a Secret Service agent where we're the lead coordinating agency and I can tell you, they're throwing the entire kitchen sink at this. I think what's complicating matters for this convention is this increasing use of small target tactical assaults by terrorists and some groups out there, as we saw at that - at - that tragic Dallas incident. Combine that with the social media and the possibility of the coordination of mass protests, and, yes, it's going to be tough. But I'm confident. I've seen what the Secret Service does behind the scenes and they'll get the job done there.

[08:55:06] CUOMO: Look, you know, I'm with you in the confidence. I'm going there, right? You know, I've got a wife. I've got kids.

BONGINO: Yes.

CUOMO: We trust that it's going to be safe.

BONGINO: Right.

CUOMO: And CNN's fully committed to going.

Now, there are x factors. The biggest one that we've been dealing with, although we're talking about terror, has nothing to do with terror, it's mental illness, like what we just saw in Orlando, where the diseased mind winds up grasps on to this radical idea, or any kind of perverse tendency that takes over from there. You had said earlier, Dan, when we had you on the show, that, you know, you've got to take personal responsibility. But, you know, that winds up fighting the reality. You know, if you're sick, you can't take personal responsibility. And it's about how you find people like that. How do you - how do we get better, in your estimation as law enforcement, at finding these kinds of people and giving us the ability to get them treatment before they become murders? BONGINO: Well, I think Tom kind of hinted at it before, having been in

law enforcement, a uniformed law enforcement officer with the NYPD, you know, we used to have what was called an EDP case, an emotionally disturbed person. And you have the ability right now to have someone committed if they are a danger to themselves or others. So I think it's really going to be a focus on local law enforcement, more training at that level.

But, Chris, I really, I can't emphasize this enough. There is no federal answer to this. The federal government has no idea what's going on at the local level. This is a local law enforcement issue. It involves some training, maybe some better recognition of symptoms there, but that's the only person that's going to solve this. It's not going to happen in Washington, D.C.

CUOMO: But as well all know, you only get 72 hours, even in New York City, then you get to get a hearing and those people get out. It's tough to prove that they're a danger to themselves or other. And let's be honest, Tom Fuentes, the overwhelming majority of mentally ill people aren't dangerous. They're actually more likely to be a victim than an assailant. So, Tom, do you share Bongino's confidence going into these conventions, that the assets are in place to keep them safe?

FUENTES: I'm a little more worried about it because, you know, the Ohio open carry law means that you're going to see people, and some of the websites have already said for their protest groups to show up and openly carry assault rifles on the streets of Cleveland. So, you know, my fear is that if you have people - if you have people show up like that, you could have another Dallas, biker bar shootout. One shot could lead to a massacre.

CUOMO: And God forbid - God forbid we see anything like that again.

Tom, Dan, thank you very much for your perspective. Appreciate it. Appreciate it to you both.

FUENTES: You're welcome.

CUOMO: We are in breaking news coverage right now of what happened in Nice, France. We are waiting on the French president to address the world with what's going on. We have a special edition of "Newsroom" with Anderson Cooper right after this quick break. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Anderson Cooper.

[09:00:01] The heart of the French Riviera transformed into a killing field. France reeling from yet another terror attack. We want to warn you, some of the video is shocking and difficult to watch.

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