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New Day Saturday

Inside the Clinton Email Inquiry; Trump's Detroit Church Trip; Hermine Heading North; American Kidnapped By North Korea?; Trump's Detroit Church Trip; President Obama in China for Final G20 Summit; Georgetown to Give Admissions Edge to Slave Descendants; Hermine Heading North. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired September 03, 2016 - 07:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:00:30] CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Fuel on the fire for Republicans. FBI documents this morning shining the light on why Hillary Clinton was never charged, even though classified information was on her private e-mail server.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Making his pitch. Donald Trump in Detroit today trying to make inroads with black voters at a church in Detroit.

PAUL: And mystery man. How an American who disappeared more than a decade ago may have been kidnapped to teach English to the North Korean dictator.

Good morning, and welcome to Saturday. We're grateful for your company as always. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to be with you.

In just a few hours, Donald Trump will be at a black church in Detroit attending a service there doing a taped Q&A with the church's pastor afterwards. In effort to court black voters since a recent poll, take a look, just 2 percent among African-American voters according to this poll.

PAUL: On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is using the "I do not recall" defense. That's what he told the FBI at least 39 times during an interview about her use of a private email server.

Now, Donald Trump, of course, quick to pounce on this. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: When you look at what they've done with respect to these FBI notes where she didn't know what the letter "C" was, that's a lie. Unless she's not an intelligent person, that's a total lie.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: CNN's Ryan Nobles is following the story for us. So, Ryan, what else was in this document that was released?

RYAN NOBLES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, it's pretty clear that Clinton's recollection was an important part of this investigation by the FBI. At one point, investigators wrote, quote, "Clinton did not recall receiving any e-mails she thought should be on the unclassified system. She relied on State officials to use their judgment when e-mailing her and could not recall anyone raising questions with her regarding the sensitivity of the information she received at her e-mail address."

And there are some examples of specific sensitive materials that ended up on that server that investigators pressed Clinton on. In particular, the American drone program. At one point, the FBI said, quote, "Clinton stated that she did not remember the e-mail specifically. Clinton stated deliberation over a future drone strike did not give her cause for concern, concerning classification." And, "Clinton understood this type of conversation as part of the routine deliberation process."

Now, the sending and receiving of classified information on that private e-mail server has been a big criticism of Clinton. And it's part of why federal officials seriously considered criminal charges but these notes do back up much of what director James Comey said in his bombshell press conference back in July where he revealed that Clinton was, quote, "extremely careless," that her actions do not rise to the level of a crime.

Now, the release of this information, though, that we've pointed out is something that Republican as have been calling for since Comey announced that he was not recommending charges against Clinton.

And Donald Trump is reacting, in a statement Friday, he said that he, quote, "doesn't understand how she was able to get away from prosecution" -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Ryan Nobles for us in Washington -- thanks so much.

NOBLES: Thank you.

PAUL: So, let's bring in Danielle McLaughlin, a Clinton supporter and Democratic strategist. And Betsy McCaughey, Trump supporter and former New York lieutenant governor.

Ladies, thank you both for being with us.

So, let's look at this here, because the headline is 39 different times that Hillary Clinton could not recall or remember the answer to questions from the FBI regarding these e-mails. And what "C" meant, whether it meant classification, whether it meant "classified", whether it meant "confidential". How much of a problem, let me ask you, Danielle, is this for Hillary Clinton, when it comes to, as Donald Trump said, a lot of people think that charges should have been brought?

And let me be very clear here, this does not indicate at all that criminal charges should have been brought. But go ahead.

DANIELLE MCLAUGHLIN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think there's been a lot of talk about the fact that she said I don't recall on in an interview 39 times in an interview that lasted about four times. So, that's about ten times in an hour. And I sat in these rooms with FBI agents and clients during these times of sessions, and ten times is not a lot.

You have to also remember that some of these things were in 2009, and so, seven years earlier, and frankly, I think we need to hold Hillary Clinton to a standard that the rest of us might be held. And that is realistically, I don't recall some of the things that happened seven years ago.

PAUL: All right. Do you want to respond to that, Lieutenant Governor?

BETSY MCCAUGHEY, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Shockingly, Mrs. Clinton said she could not recall whether she ever received training on how to protect classified information. And she also failed to get training for her stuff for aides on how to protect classified information, even know the State Department requires it.

So, regardless of criminality, it's obvious that Mrs. Clinton isn't responsible enough to serve as president of the United States. The president receives a classified briefing every morning. She would not be able to keep that information protected.

PAUL: Let me ask you, Danielle, the RNC Chair Reince Priebus came out, calling this release a devastating indictment of Hillary Clinton's honesty and judgment. This is hitting her in a place where she is very, very vulnerable with votes.

Does this give enough credence to that assertion? I mean, could it cost Hillary Clinton votes?

MCLAUGHLIN: It could. And, I think the Republicans obviously want that to happen so they're trying to kick up enough dust so that people hear these alluring headlines that they don't necessarily get down into the facts. So, let's look at some of these facts.

There are 68 e-mail chains out of 30,000 that contained classified information. That's a small fraction of e-mails that Clinton received. And per her testimony on Benghazi, at the time, none of those e-mails were marked classified.

So, the problem with these e-mails, every time e-mail comes up, the 16,000 that was heard about, Republicans say e-mail scandal and hope that the American people want to look a little further into these and actually examine the facts.

PAUL: OK. You know, Hillary Clinton has been trying to explain this e-mail controversy for more than a year. Nearly 18 months at this point. Lieutenant Governor, I mean, does this controversy still have life because --

MCCAUGHEY: Oh, yeah, let me explain why --

PAUL: -- the explanation doesn't seem solid or is it because her opponents continually want to keep this as a headline?

MCCAUGHEY: No, it goes to the very basic issue, is she capable? Is she responsible of taking on a huge job like running the United States government?

After all, Mrs. Clinton has never won anything accept the State Department. And her track record there obviously is very tainted because she's left it in such chaos with so many doubts about the confidentiality of the information that was passed from one diplomat or one aide in the State Department to the other.

And it goes to something bigger than that. We basically have a contest here between someone who has earned her living as a blabber, giving speeches and earning speech fees and writing books about herself, versus someone who has built 185 businesses and manages them effectively. So, it's the builder versus the blabber.

And it seems quite obvious that Mrs. Clinton probably couldn't run a lemonade stand. She doesn't seem to have the capability of knowing what her staff is doing, and whether she and her staff are complying with regulations to protect the mission of her department.

PAUL: OK. Lieutenant Governor, I want to get this last question out here because there is an article in "the New York Times" this morning talking about tension between Donald Trump and the RNC, particularly at the speech he gave in Phoenix earlier this week. They, according to "The Times," they spoke to Republicans with detailed knowledge of both groups saying tensions threatened to diminish the party's ability to work smoothly with Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump needs this party to win, doesn't he? I mean, of course, there are fund-raising efforts to keep them together, but do you know how big the risk is and how it may compromise his campaign?

MCCAUGHEY: I think most Republicans regard Mr. Trump's performance this week, the speech as a tour de force, in which he demonstrated vast knowledge of the immigration issue, he analyzed the flows of the current policy, and he told Americans that he would give them an immigration policy that protects Americans from serious crime and from the strained resources that they're experiencing right now because of unlimited illegal immigration.

PAUL: Danielle, I want to give you the last word.

MCLAUGHLIN: I mean, this idea that we have unlimited illegal immigration is utter, utter nonsense and, frankly, what Trump is proposing is what Obama has been trying to sit forth in immigration over the last couple of years, with DACA and DAPA. So, focusing on illegal immigrants who are dangerous, the criminals. Those who have entered and re-entered multiple times while standing at the back of the line that have given some status -- not legal status but some status -- to folks who are paying taxes, who have children here, who are productive members of American society. PAUL: Danielle McLaughlin and Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey --

we appreciate both of you, ladies.

[07:10:03] Thank you for being here.

On Labor Day, by the way, you're going to hear personal stories about both the presidential candidates from the people who know them best. It's a night of CNN special reports beginning at 8:00 with "Unfinished Business: The Essential Hillary Clinton", followed at 10:00 with "All Business: The Essential Donald Trump", right here on CNN.

BLACKWELL: Speaking of Trump, he's making a direct pitch to black voters today, meeting face-to-face with voters at an African-American church in Detroit. We're going to take you there in just a moment.

But first tropical storm Hermine still beating up the North Carolina coast right now and threatening high rains and heavy winds up the entire East Coast.

Sherisse Pham following that for us -- Sherisse.

SHERISSE PHAM, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. Hi, we're live in Kill Devil Hills where tens of thousands of people were left without power from tropical storm Hermine and reporting of one possible tornado. We'll tell you about it, next.

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BLACKWELL: Tropical Storm Hermine is lashing the Carolinas now. It's heading north, threatening to wash out Labor Day plans for millions of people.

But look at this. We've got live pictures for you here. Large waves crashing into the shore. The winds still feared in some places, leaving behind damaged homes in so areas got close to two feet of rain. Now, officials are warning the threat is not over. Hermine is expected to return to hurricane force this weekend, before slamming into the Northeast.

I want to check in now with CNN's Sherisse Pham, she's live off the coast of North Carolina where a flash flood watch is in effect right now.

We heard from you, Sherisse, a few moments ago that strong winds came through. What are you seeing now?

PHAM: Yes. So, just before you guys came to us, we had really, really strong winds coming through. So strong, in fact, overnight, take a look at this, it blew the sign off of our hotel.

[07:15:02] And take a look here it is right here, lying in a puddle on the coastal road.

Now, this is what North Carolina needs to stay aware of and look out for in the coming days because inland flooding is the greatest threat for them right now, which according to the National Hurricane Center, it's the leading death from tropical storms. Also, more than 31,000 people are without power today. And, you know, you have to remember, this is a that Labor Day weekend.

So, we've got a lot of tourists. We've got a lot of visitors here. And officials are saying please stay out of the ocean. We've got dangerous surf conditions and strong rip tides.

Now, we talked to business owners coming here to the coastal road checking out their businesses making sure things are okay. So far, things are not too much flooding but officials say please stay off the roads if you can.

Back to you, guys.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the wind, in, and beach erosion. Once the tide goes out, we're going to see the damage potentially was done there. Sherisse Pham, thanks so much.

PAUL: You know, if it's true, it's a shocking as it is bizarre. Could an American man missing for 12 years actually be living in North Korea and working for its dictator?

BLACKWELL: Plus, a prestigious university with past ties to slavery now plans to give priority admission to the descendants of nearly 300 slaves. But is this enough to heal those wounds?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:08] PAUL: Twenty minutes past the hour right now.

An astonishing new report claims an American student missing since 2004 is now living in North Korea and working as an English tutor for King Jong-un.

David Sneddon, then 24, had worked in South Korea as a missionary for the Church of Latter Day Saints but he disappeared while hiking in China. So, when investigators failed to find any trace of him, Chinese authorities suggested he may have fall ton his death.

Yahoo News, however, Japan reports Sneddon now lives in the capital of Pyongyang with a wife and two children.

CNN global affairs correspondent Elise Labott is covering the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELISE LABOTT, GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Christi, Victor, this latest report confirms what the parents of David Sneddon have thought for years about his disappearance, that he didn't drown in a river in China and was abducted by North Korea. And today, the Sneddons and their congressman are asking the State Department to launch a new search.

(voice-over): After more than a decade with his whereabouts unknown, a shocking new claim about American student David Sneddon who vanished while he was hiking in China. Yahoo! News Japan reports Sneddon was kidnapped and taken to North

Korea to work as a tutor teaching English to North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un. The report claims Sneddon now lives in the capital Pyongyang with a wife and two kids. It's a staggering theory that his parents have claimed for years.

KATHLEEN SNEDDON, MOTHER OF DAVID SNEDDON: It doesn't come as a shock because we have done our research and there's been time involved. And we do think that David is in North Korea.

LABOTT: Sneddon then a 24-year-old Brigham Young student disappeared during a 2004 hiking trip in China's Yuan province near the Tibet border. Chinese officials said he had fallen to his death in the tiger leaping gorge. When they failed to find David's body, his parents questioned the official version of events.

ROY SNEDDON, FATHER OF DAVID SNEDDON: We thought he could have been taken. There could have been a thought by the Chinese that somehow David was complicit with Koreans who are running the underground railroad.

LABOTT: They began to suspect their son, a former missionary in South Korea, who was fluent in Korean, was seized by the Kim regime. Four years ago, David's father got a call from an American in Seoul with a lead.

R. SNEDDON: He phoned me, and the conversation went something like this, "I think I know where David is. He's teaching English. And he's doing that. And Pyongyang, for their kind of intelligence group."

LABOTT: Soon after, a call from a Japanese group tracking North Korean abductions gave weight to their suspicion.

K. SNEDDON: Describing David perfectly. Student, where he's from. What he's doing. How he was capable in many languages and that he was teaching English to people in North Korea.

LABOTT: Congressman Chris Stuart urged the State Department to follow every lead, including Sneddon's possible abduction to North Korea.

REP. CHRIS STEWART (R), UTAH: It's becoming very plausible when you understand the regime's long history of abducting foreign citizens to use in training their own foreign agents.

LABOTT: The State Department says it continues to raise Sneddon' case with the Chinese but have seen nothing to support the claims he's in North Korea.

JOHN KIRBY, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: I can tell you we have seen no verifiable evidence to indicate that Mr. Sneddon was abducted by North Korea.

LABOTT (on camera): State Department officials tell CNN they have looked into these claims over the years, but have reasons to doubt the credibility of this latest report. Yet, they are looking into it once again.

And the Japanese report doesn't offer any evidence or official sourcing to back up the claims. Roy and Kathleen Sneddon also tell us they don't know how credible the report is, but they're cautiously optimistic that it will raise attention that will help them find out what happened to their son once and for all -- Christi, Victor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: All right. Elise, thank you so much.

Bizarre story there.

PAUL: I can't imagine.

BLACKWELL: Hey, Donald Trump in Detroit today, will try to sway African-American voters on the campaign stop. It is stirring up controversy before it starts.

Jeremy Diamond is following that story for us.

Jeremy, good morning to you.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Good morning, Victor.

We're here right outside the Great Faith Ministries here in Detroit where Donald Trump is expected to come in just a couple hours. He's making his first outreach here into the African-American community, coming actually inside an African-American community, instead of pitching his outreach to white voters largely. More on that, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:26:50] PAUL: Mortgage rates inch up this week. Here's your look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: So good to have you with us here, 7:28 is the time. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to be with you.

This morning, Donald Trump is doing what some expect he would have or said that he should have done a long time ago, going to a black church, going to a black community.

PAUL: He's going to attend a worship service in an African-American church in Detroit. He held a roundtable with African-American business leaders in Philadelphia yesterday and the campaign says he'll address the congregation. The church has not confirmed that detail, so there are some questions about what his role will be today.

BLACKWELL: Yes. After the service, we know that Trump will sit down with a taped interview with Bishop Dwayne T. Jackson for the Impact Television Network. But the visit has already been tainted with a bit of controversy. At issue, "The New York Times" obtained a campaign document that shows not only was Trump and the campaign, were they given the questions beforehand, but the campaign was working on scripted responses to questions like, is the campaign racist?

Joining me now from Detroit is CNN politics reporter Jeremy Diamond.

Jeremy, what are we hearing from the bishop first and also the campaign about these concerns?

DIAMOND: Yes. Well, this is, you know, the criticism that Trump is nation right now is that his appearance here today is going to be scripted. You know, that he's not really going to face any tough questions after striking a chord and hitting some sensitivities in the black community.

But Donald Trump, you know, is saying that he is going to be, you know, coming here. He's coming to the black community after weeks of making his appeal to largely white audiences.

[07:30:02] But the bishop, Bishop Wayne Jackson, addressed the controversy, the criticism at least that his appearance is going to be scripted today.

Listen to what he said yesterday on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BISHOP WAYNE JACKSON (via telephone): He has questions, yes, nobody has seen the questions but me, my secretary and a couple people who are close to me. And some of these questions came from prominent black ministers around the country. I mean, there are over thousands and thousands of people.

And so, these questions are not being seen by anyone. And Mr. Trump neither did his -- first of all, I have never spoken to Mr. Trump. I have never met Mr. Trump. I don't know Mr. Trump, only by what I see on television.

When his camp reached out to me two months ago to sit down and interview him, because he wants to come into the black community to share what his policies will be. If we don't sit down in dialogue, then we don't know. We just can't get up and say, well, what the "H" do we have to lose? We need promises that's going to be real.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAMOND: So, there you have Bishop Jackson saying he may have a few questions up his sleeve that Donald Trump has not seen. Donald Trump is going accompanied by Dr. Ben Carson, of course, his former opponent in the Republican primary, who is from the city of Detroit. He may be taking Donald Trump on a tour of the neighborhood here in Detroit.

But, of course, today, Donald Trump is coming into the black community, as he did yesterday, for the first time. Donald Trump has largely made his pitch before African-American voters before largely white audiences. This is a bit of a change.

But he's also faced criticism for the words that he's used as he's made his pitch to black voters, using words like, what the hell do you have to lose? And saying black voters have no jobs, no school? So, largely, using a bit of hyperbole there. Some African-American leaders are saying that Donald Trump is going too far.

You know, that is not the reality that every African-American in the country face they're hoping that Donald Trump by coming into a black community today can actually see what the reality is and understand it better.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, tone will be important today, no doubt. Jeremy Diamond for us there in front of Great Faith Ministries -- thanks so much.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Now, while Trump attempts to court minority voters face to face, his efforts behind the podium has left many Republicans confused, apparently.

"The New York Times" reporting the RNC was expecting the immigration speech tour passionate, to be measured but, quote, "what Mr. Trump said offered a fiery victim nation of migrant criminals suggested deporting Hillary Clinton, Reince Priebus, the party chairman signaled that aides should scrap the plan and the committee made no statement at all. The evening tore a painful new wound in Mr. Trump's relationship with the Republican National Committee, imperiling his most important remaining political alliance."

Let's bring back our political panel, Betsy McCaughey, she supports Donald Trump, and Danielle McLaughlin, she is a Clinton supporter.

Thank you, ladies, for coming back, coming back to the table here with us.

First of all, Betsy, is Donald Trump do you think capable of pleasing his supporters and the party leadership, because at the end of the day, he does need both?

BETSY MCCAUGHEY, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: That's true. He is addressing the needs of the American people and Americans want an immigration policy that benefits them. They want an immigration policy that will protect their jobs, that will reduce criminality. And that will stop the tremendous strain on economic resources, such as emergency rooms and public schools.

If you go into an emergency room, you'll see they're scrimping on care for seniors, turning away vets, in part because the emergency rooms in many parts of the country are crowded with illegal immigrants who must by law be fully treated.

PAUL: But, Betsy, when we talk about who he needs, he does need part of the electorate who does believe in the RNC?

MCCAUGHEY: Well, it's true that the RNC is important, but I guarantee you, they have chosen a winning candidate. There were 17 Republican primary candidates on the stage. And Donald Trump beat out the other 16, knocking them over like bowling pins.

So, now, it's time for the American people to make their choice. It's not up to the professional politicians anymore.

PAUL: OK. Well, this week, there was some confusion in which Donald Trump people believed they were looking at. In particular, we saw two sides of him, one in Mexico and 5 1/2 hours later in Phoenix.

Let's take a look at what we saw within, say, a six-hour period from Mr. Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We're going to have the best people in the world negotiating our great deals.

We're going to find our great people and we're going to use them.

I have the best people in the world. The best.

(END VIDEOI CLIPS)

PAUL: He suddenly speaks to his audience.

[07:35:01] That wasn't quite the -- that wasn't quite what I was thinking about in terms of the sound we were supposed to have there. But he talked about -- he had a very measured tone when he was -- and looked presidential when some say in Mexico, and six hours later, five and a half hours later in Phoenix, was very -- as you heard from "The New York Times," very fiery, very different.

Danielle, as we look ahead, say, to the debate, who is Hillary Clinton preparing to meet on stage?

DANIELLE MCLAUGHLIN, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: I strongly suspect she's preparing to meet the rowdy Donald Trump, the sort of angry and outlandish Donald Trump.

I think the American people are having trouble trying to understand what exactly Donald Trump stands for. The immigration stance is a good one. On the one hand, he's threatening mass deportation which frankly is impossible. He comes out of the meeting with the president of Mexico with a different tone.

We have three weeks away from early voting in South Dakota, that's 21 days, the American people don't know where he stands, particularly really on immigration, on education, on infrastructure, on student loan debt.

He's not prepared at this point, so what would make Americans think that he's going to be prepared in January to lead this country?

PAUL: Well, Betsy --

MCCAUGHEY: I want to address that.

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: We only have a couple of minutes, go ahead.

MCCAUGHEY: Donald Trump has put forward a very impressive economic turnaround proposal. Right now, the economy is sputtering along with 1.2 percent. And African-Americans are the most damaged by this declining economy.

PAUL: But there's a question, Betsy, is he in Detroit today for black voters or is he there for white voters?

MCCAUGHEY: Oh, yes. Let me make it very clear, African-American voters have a choice between Hillary Clinton's demagoguery or accusations that they are victims of systemic racism, which they're not. Or the other hand --

MCLAUGHLIN: Well, the data show that they are victims.

(CROSSTALK)

MCCAUGHEY: Let me just finish, Donald Trump's economic plan which ill produce 4 percent economic growth, more take-home pay and job opportunities which African-Americans need more than anyone else because they've been left behind. They have been the worst victims of Barack Obama's stagnating economy.

PAUL: So, Betsy, if this is the case, I only have a couple of seconds left here. Danielle, I'll give you a chance to respond, but why hasn't he reached out to these groups sooner? He's only got two months left.

MCCAUGHEY: This campaign is just beginning. short. The convention was mid-July. It's the first week in September. And he is already reaching out to African-American communities around the country. This campaign is just beginning. We have three presidential debates --

PAUL: OK. I'm sorry --

MCCAUGHEY: And almost 70 days left.

PAUL: Danielle, ten seconds.

MCLAUGHLIN: Donald Trump began his campaign on the fear of the other. So, if you're a woman, if you're an African-American, if you're an immigrant, illegal or otherwise, you had good cause to be suspicious of --

PAUL: OK. Betsy McCaughey and Danielle McLaughlin, we appreciate you both being here today. Thank you, ladies.

BLACKWELL: All right. So, the visit of the African-American church in Detroit is about two hours away. And the man who set up that visit is Pastor Mark Burns, a really boastful Trump surrogate. He spoke at the Republican national convention, also later made news for tweeting a cartoon of Hillary Clinton in blackface, but he later apologized, took it down. But now, there are new questions about his background. I looked into

a number of claims that Pastor Burns made about his experience, about his credentials on his church's website. That he was in the army reserves. He what in a fraternity, graduated from college. Other claims as well.

Here's some of what the pastor had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Did you attend North Greenville University?

PASTOR MARK BURNS, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: I did attend North Greenville University.

BLACKWELL: Did you graduate from North Greenville University?

BURNS: No, I didn't complete a degree at North Greenville University.

BLACKWELL: OK, again, the bio that's on your website claims that you earned a bachelor of science degree. Did you make that claim?

BURNS: I actually just a moment ago, as we were -- opened up -- first of all, I said we were off the record.

BLACKWELL: I didn't agree to that.

BURNS: Yes, but I did. I did.

BLACKWELL: We're still rolling, I'm still asking you questions on the record. Did you make that claim --

BURNS: I think this is not fair that -- this is not fair at all. This is not what we -- I thought we were doing a profile. All of a sudden, you're here to try to destroy my character --

BLACKWELL: I'm not coming here to destroy your character. These are claims made on your website that was live while you were speaking at the Republican national convention. My question is, are those claims accurate?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Coming up in the next hour, you're going to see more of that conversation. More of the interview with Pastor Burns. How his story changed during that interview, and then ended with Pastor Burns leaving the building. Getting into his car and driving off, myself and my crew sitting in his church. You're going to see more of that.

PAUL: Also coming up, we're going to talk about President Obama in China huddling with world leaders ahead of his last G20 Summit.

[07:40:06] Michelle Kosinski is following the story.

Good morning, Michelle. MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESONDENT: Hi, Christi. Right.

Lots to talk about. Obviously, the G20 about to get under way. We'll have the latest for you, including some tensions involving Chinese security, coming up.

(COMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Right now, President Obama is in China, ahead of the G20 Summit, the last of his presidency. And this is going to be a busy one. Moments ago, he spoke with the Chinese president and other world leaders. You see that video here.

PAUL: Yes, there are a few other meetings that could get interesting. Obama is meeting with his Turkish counterpart tomorrow. The White House hinting he'll also meet with Vladimir Putin. But they're all at odds over the conflict in Syria as you know, and any further disagreement with escalating the conflict in Syria there and certainly could hamper or affect in some way the fight against ISIS.

Our Michelle Kosinski joining us in Hangzhou.

Michelle, security, I understand very tight. National delegations are having a hard time briefing you, is that correct?

KOSINSKI: Yes, well, we didn't have any planned briefings with them. It's really access here.

I mean, it started on the tarmac just as President Obama was arriving a few hours ago. With the press being held back, securities tried to design the press pool access described by the press pool as screaming among U.S. officials trying to deal with U.S. officials to allow the press to have its usual access.

[07:45:05] I mean, it was one of those times where White House officials were saying, look, this is our president and our plane arriving. The Chinese were saying, oh, yeah, well, this is our country. That was unusual.

At one point, the president's top national security advisers were being held back by Chinese security. They kind of lifted up the ropes that were put up and just went right through them. But it happened again just before the bilateral meeting with President Xi where there was access that was going to be denied.

And again, a screaming match broke out. And some members of the press described it as looking that it was going to come to blows between Chinese and U.S. officials. We haven't seen that happen before. That's just one more reminder that, yes, for a meeting like this, every country wants to put its best foot forward. And have everything looking perfect and sounding perfect.

But something like that told you that, yeah, this is a place where access of the press and openness from the governments aren't exactly viewed quite the same as they are in the U.S., right?

PAUL: Yes. And I'm sure that it does give you a very different feeling being there. Thank you so much, Michelle Kosinski, we appreciate understanding the sense of what's happening there.

All right. President Obama joining Fareed Zakaria for an interview exclusively on "GPS" Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

BLACKWELL: And up next, healing old wounds. A prestigious college acknowledges its past ties to slavery and makes moves to make amends.

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[07:50:14] BLACKWELL: Georgetown University plans to atone for past sins and what arguably could be called a tight of reparations for the university's dark history. The school now plans to give priority admissions to the descendants of nearly 300 slaves

Georgetown exists in part today because the Jesuit priests who ran back in 1838 sold 272 slaves to keep the doors open. Well, now, nearly two centuries later, the school has come up with a way to tone.

Joining me now is Georgetown University professor, Dr. Marcia Chatelain. She was part of the working group that came up with this plan for Georgetown and the ties to slavery.

Dr. Chatelain, good morning to you.

MARCIA CHATELAIN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR: Good morning.

BLACKWELL: So, let's start here, because there are many institutions I think most people know across the country that have -- that profited and benefited from slavery and the sale of the slaves and work of those slaves. Georgetown made this move. Why and why now?

CHATELAIN: Well, I think it's important to note that although for many of us this is common knowledge, I think there's a sector of this population that wants to believe that slavery never happened. So, I think the reason we are entering this conversation now is that we understand that we are really especially prepared to enter a national dialogue about slavery, but also, I think this is part of a larger national landscape of questions about race and equity and justice. And so, I think this is one of the many things we do as a university.

BLACKWELL: OK. So, I want you to listen to one of the descendants of those slaves and then we'll talk about that on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAXINE CRUMP, DESCENDANT OF SLAVE SOLD TO SAVE GEORGETOWN IN 1838: I don't know that we can say, oh, this is enough. It's just a great beginning. What they're doing as a university, as a prominent university that was saved by the horrific idea of human as chattel, and they're stepping up and admitting that was wrong, and that they are researching it to see how it all played out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: So, you hear that there, and the question that is, what in addition to this priority status is part of this plan? CHATELAIN: In addition to the legacy status, we have recommended the

intensive study about this history, making history more accessible to a larger public, understanding our role as a university in repairing some of the pervasive legacies of racism, including continued segregation, educational inequality, gentrification and health disparities.

So, this is absolutely a beginning. And it's an invitation for the public to come closer, not only to Georgetown's history, but to the nation's desire and need to reconcile its dark and shameful past.

BLACKWELL: So, Ta-Nehisi Coates who is a journalist with "The Atlantic", wrote a fabulous book of "Between the World and Me", if you haven't read it, pick it up. But he tweeted this about this news and let's put it up on the screen. "Folks may not like the word reparations, but it's what Georgetown did. Scope is debatable, but it's reparations."

I used the word at the top of this in the intro. Would you call what Georgetown is doing reparations?

CHATELAIN: I think it's a reparation's framework. I think that reparation is an issue that has been discussed for over a century. And so, I think what Georgetown is doing is trying to imagine a restoration process and a reconciliation process. And I think reparations is appropriate, but I want us to understand that reparations is a mechanism in which we can address a number of issues.

BLACKWELL: OK. All right. Dr. Marcia Chatelain, thank you so much for being with us this morning and we will, of course, continue this conversation as this plan continues to grow. Thanks so much.

CHATELAIN: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Christi?

PAUL: All right. Ahead in the next hour of NEW DAY, Hillary Clinton's camp is downplaying the latest email-related document dump. But the Trump's camp doing its best to get a word out. How damaging is the new FBI report on the Clinton investigation?

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[07:57:45] PAUL: Welcome to Saturday. We're so grateful for your company. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Your NEW DAY begins right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR: They were extremely careless in their handling of highly classified sensitive information.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): The documents provide insight FBI did not recommend charging Clinton even after investigators found classified information on her private server. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I would certainly not do

that again. It was the wrong choice.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I think we're the only hope. Hillary Clinton has no clue and doesn't care.

PAUL: Donald Trump in Detroit this morning at an African-American church trying to make inroads with minority voters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is an opportunity for Donald Trump to use the African-American community.

TRUMP: Nothing means more to me than working to make our party the home of the African-American vote.

What the hell do you have to lose?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Well, welcome again. Tropical storm Hermine lashing the Carolinas right now. It's heading north. I have heard it described as a sprint north, that's how much energy it's picking up, threatening to wash out Labor Day plans, obviously, for millions of people.

BLACKWELL: Hey. These are live pictures now. You can see the waves here crashing onto the shore. The winds in some places so fierce, they left behind damaged homes and some areas got close to two feet of rain.

But officials are now warning, listen, the threat is not over. Hermine is expected to strengthen again to hurricane force this weekend before slamming into the northeast.

PAUL: CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar tracking the possible path of the storm.

Let's start though with CNN's Sherisse Pham. She is live off the coast of North Carolina, where a flash flood watch, we understand is in effect right now. Sherisse, help us understand what you've seen evolving in terms of the weather over the last, say, couple of hours?

SHERISSE PHAM, CNN PRODUCER: Well, over the last couple of hours, two hours ago we had really strong winds and really strong rain. Now you can see the rain has died down a bit, but if you look behind me, we have got an angry sea and ominous cloud here.

So like you said, inland flooding is a major concern for North Carolina right now. We were on the coastal road a little while ago and there was not too much flooding there, but officials say, please stay off the road if you can.