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Two Inmates Escape from Maximum Security Correctional Facility; Shakeup Could Be Coming in Turkey; Clinton Wins Wisconsin Straw Poll

Aired June 08, 2015 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00] POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. That's what we're hearing from a law enforcement source telling CNN this new information confirming that authorities here in upstate New York have spoken to this woman. They tell us she was a female employee of the prison here, not necessarily a guard but an employee here.

The main question, though, is exactly how she was potentially able to help these two individuals make their way out according to this information we're getting right now. They have not released any of those details. In fact, officials on the ground have not actually confirmed that information.

But again, the sources now confirming for CNN that this woman now being questioned as a possible accomplice. However, we do -- can look back to the last several days and the information is going to revealed that these two individuals are suspected of having these used power tools to basically cut out of their steel cell and cut into an intricate network of underground vapor, these steam pipes. And so, eventually they followed that route underground and ended up just coming out over one of these manholes not far from where I'm standing right now.

And so now that search continues at this hour, Wolf. The people in this small town definitely on alert as officials are asking them to be really on the lookout for these two individuals who may or may not be in the area anymore.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Tom Fuentes, when you worked at the FBI and law enforcement all around, you've dealt with some of these escapees, if you will, these incidents. What strikes you the most about this particular escape? It seems pretty sophisticated.

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Yes. Exactly, Wolf. And what separate this one from a lot of them is the planning that they had and the effort to get out of prison. So that makes you assume that they had planning of what to do once they got out.

Many of the prison breaks in fugitive situations, the person takes advantage of a gate being left open or overpowering somebody in the hospital and not having pre-planned. So they get out of the jail, now what? They can't use credit cards, they have difficulty with transportation, clothing, cash, other issues.

But in this case, they had months, maybe longer to plan this event on what they would do. Somebody else to help them on the outside provide transportation and money. And the fact that they set this up to not even be discovered missing for so many hours, all the complete overnight hours, they were already out of state probably by the time that this fact was discovered in the morning on Saturday morning. So they could have already been in Canada, which is only 25 miles from the prison.

BLITZER: And by now they could have been almost anywhere if they did have outside assistance, a vehicle or whatever, money, credit cards, they could be almost anywhere.

FUENTES: They could. They could be all over. And now it's been, you know, how many hours since they went? But by the time they were discovered, if you calculate driving time at, you know, 50 miles an hour, they could have been two-thirds of the way to Chicago before they even know they're missing, before they could put an alert out to be looking for the guys. And of course, they have no vehicle description to go on at the moment.

The fearful thing is that they're desperate. They're already in prison for murder, both of them. And it would be nothing for them to break into a home somewhere, do a home invasion, rob the people, take their weapons if they have one, take their cash, take their car, kill the family and take off. So they need to doing a house to house search in that area, in that county and upstate New York to see if that happened.

BLITZER: And they could be potentially even in Canada because this prison is on the border between the United States and Canada if they try to escape over there.

Polo, what's been the reaction of the community where you are?

SANDOVAL: What's interesting here, Wolf, is this major manhunt continue. But it really is business as usual. Folks are still driving in and out of this community. Earlier this morning, we watched several school buses essentially made their way passing of these checkpoints. In fact, we had to stop at several checkpoints where being manned by heavily armed guards, and also police officers checking out our vehicle. And that's the case whether you live here or not, if you are getting close or driving away from prison, that's happening.

But, again, it's business as usual at this point. What's interesting, though, in speaking to some of the law enforcement personnel on the ground and what's different about really today compared to the last several days is that today is really a work day. It's a Monday and so now investigators are confident that this could lead to more evidence. That's because if for whatever reason someone in the community does not show up to work, that could raise questions. If for whatever reason there's an individual that is now learning more about this case and coming forward, that could also be another red flag.

So again, while they have already received dozens and dozens of leads, all of which, by the way, are being followed up on, officials here on the ground are confident that even more information will come in the last several days because they are very comfortable in saying that they will find these two individuals eventually. The concern now, though, Wolf, is what are these two desperate fugitives on the run willing to do to try to stay out of this prison?

BLITZER: Yes. I just want to remind our viewers in the United States and around the world, these two convicted killers, they could be almost anywhere by now.

Let's put their pictures up on the screen one more time. Remember, these are both convicted killers. They are very, very dangerous. If anyone sees them, obviously, don't get near them but call the police immediately.

Still to come, his shooting death was caught on video. Now a grand jury has handed down an indictment against the police officer who killed Walter Scott. We have new details. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:38:54] BLITZER: We have some breaking news in the shooting death of Walter Scott. You may recall the video showing Scott being pulled over in South Carolina back in April for a faulty break light. Short time later he took off on foot. Now, the next video you're about to see is rather disturbing.

These graphic images were recorded on a cell phone. Scott is seen here running away from a police officer, then shot and killed. A grand jury has now indicted the former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager on murder charges.

Suzanne Malveaux is here with me in D.C.

Suzanne, this case in South Carolina has caused a huge uproar here in the United States. What do prosecutors say?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A lot of protests as well, as you imagine. But this happened very, very quickly, Wolf. We are talking about the grand jury that was presented this case today and returned this indictment just hours later.

South Carolina prosecutors Scott Wilson (ph) said the indictment is for murder for the unlawful killing with malice or forethought, that in the state of South Carolina. The judge has been named but not the date of when this is going to go to court.

Now, this indictment, unlike these other cases that we've been following involving police shootings, it was expected. Now, the reason why is because the video, essentially, that went viral showing this incident just a few days later. And the fact that officer Michael Slager has been sitting in jail ever since having been quickly fired from the department, arrested, and charged with murder back in April.

So just to remind our viewers, it was the cell phone video showing the officer, Slager, chasing Walter Scott who had been initially pulled over for a faulty brake light seen firing his gun eight times, five of which hit Scott, and was pronounced dead on the scene. The reaction now swift from all sides today. This is from Chris Stewart, he is representing the family of Walter Scott.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS STEWART, WALTER SCOTT FAMILY ATTORNEY: And today was just an example that if you keep the faith, even in the darkest times, you'll see the light. But this is just step one. We're going to patiently wait for the criminal trial in this case and the family is going to patiently wait to see if the city and the police department and the chief is going to accept responsibility in the civil suit because this entire situation never should have occurred with Officer Slager.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Slager's attorney Andy Savage, he is also responding this morning. A statement saying here, I'm going to read in part, we have yet to be provided with the discovery, the state's investigation material that we requested some time ago so we remain at a disadvantage in addressing any questions at this time. The grand jury is a formal step but just another step in the criminal process.

And you might recall Walter Scott, he was a 50-year-old father of four whose death sparked peaceful protests in North Charleston. But his case, of course, being closely followed, like all of the others regarding these police shootings of black men around the country. And if Slager is convicted, he face 30s years to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Wolf.

[13:41:47] BLITZER: All right, we'll see what happens. Obviously, a disturbing case in the United States. Thanks very much.

MALVEAUX: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: There is another rescue of migrants happening right now in the Mediterranean. We're going live to Italy. We'll hear more on the fate of thousands, thousands of people they are trying to make it safely to European shores.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:45:38] BLITZER: A shakeup could be coming in Turkey as a result of this weekend's parliamentary elections. The current ruling party of President Erdogan failed to grab a majority, which will lead to a coalition government. Plenty of questions about Turkey, a NATO ally in its future.

Our senior international correspondent Arwa Damon is in Istanbul.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, these parliamentary elections are yes, most definitely bringing with them a period of historic change. But also, one that is going to be fraught with political challenges and possibly even a very protracted period of political and instability as the various parties attempt to form some sort of coalition. And that is going to be of concern if it does end up impacting Turkey's stability. Turkey has, of course, been an at times difficult but key ally to the

United States and other nations when it does comes to the war against ISIS. In recent times, taking significant measures to try to stop the flow of foreign fighters through Turkey on to the battlefield in both Syria and Iraq.

It is fairly accepted that those measures will continue to be implemented. National security is everybody's utmost priority. But what sort of specific role the next government will be willing to play, what sort of direct actions, military or otherwise, they will be willing to take, all of those are unknown factors at this stage that is causing some concerns, especially given the type of enemy ISIS is, Wolf.

BLITZER: Arwa Damon in Istanbul, thank you.

Staying overseas, another 1200 refugees rescued in the Mediterranean by the British royal Navy. They're the latest of 6,000 migrants rescued while fleeing the violence in Libya heading toward Italy. And that is just this weekend alone.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is joining us now from (INAUDIBLE) in Italy in front of one of the migrant ships.

What's the latest over there, Nic? It seems like tens of thousands of people are trying to flee North Africa for Italy and elsewhere in Europe as we speak.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, if you compare this time this year to this time last year, it's almost double the number of migrants that have come across the Mediterranean, close to 100,000. And as we look, they're still coming off down that gangplank there off the HMS "Bulwark." That's a British naval assault ship that rescued close to 1200 migrants.

I talked to the captain earlier, you can see a couple more men coming off there. I talked to the captain a little earlier, he told me he would felt sure if he hadn't taken his vessel there to these tiny rubber inflated dinghies (ph) that many of these migrants when he felt sure that they would already be dead today.

Well, Wolf, if we look over in this direction here, you can see those migrants lining up there. They get screening, medical screening, then they get processed by the immigration services here in Italy.

On board, this ship there have been (INAUDIBLE), there have been Syrians, there have been Egyptians, Libyans, Nigerians, some Pakistanis as well, we are told. So these people are very lucky according to the captain of this ship. There were 10 pregnant women on board. And I asked the captain about those women as well. He told me one of the women when they rescued her, her waters broke, they decided that her pregnancy and the birth wasn't going well. They put her in a helicopter, flew her to Malta and the captain said she had a very safe birth, gave birth to the a son, Wolf.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson joining us from Italy. Obviously, a critically important story. We'll stay on top of that. Thank you.

Up next, he's attracting large enthusiastic crowds on the campaign trail in the United States. Now senator Bernie Sanders making a strong showing in a democratic straw poll. Our political analysts, they are both standing by. What's going on with Bernie Sanders? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:53:26] BLITZER: Let's get to American politics. Hillary Clinton wins the straw poll of Wisconsin Democrats. But the big surprise was the very strong showing by her challenger, senator Bernie Sanders. The self-described Democratic socialist took 41 percent of the votes. He finished in second place behind Hillary Clinton who took 49 percent. The other Democrat tech candidates of possible contenders were far behind in the single, single digits.

Let's bring in our chief political analyst Gloria Borger and our senior political analyst Ron Brownstein.

What do you make of the very strong showing from the Vermont senator?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: We are all at twitter. Well, not really.

Look, it's clear that with the base of the Democratic Party there's a lot of resonance for Bernie Sanders who is to the left of Hillary Clinton who is growing to the left of herself every day. And if you look at Wisconsin, there's an element of bastion in Madison, Wisconsin, for example, of liberal left leaning Democrats. And so, they were supporting Bernie Sanders. But it shows you where a lot of the activity is in the Democratic Party right now, at a lot of the passion.

BLITZER: He's drawing huge crowds, relatively speaking, wherever he goes.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I don't think 41 percent of the democratic attendees at the party you mentioned were expecting or preferring Bernie Sanders to be the nominee. But look, they want to make a statement that we're here and you have to listen to us. And I think that Bernie Sanders is very unlikely to be the Democratic nominee, but he does speaks for a portion of the base. And I think above all of that base wants to make sure that Hillary Clinton knows that they are there. And I think he can be an effective vehicle for that. Whether he can be an effective vehicle for anything more substantive than that, we will see.

[13:55:09] BLITZER: (INAUDIBLE) on her position, though? Is he pushing her further to the left?

BORGER: Yes, I think he is. I think it's Elizabeth Warren. I think this started before Bernie Sanders officially got in the race. Look, the Democratic party has shifted since Bill Clinton ran for president. When Bill Clinton ran for president, he was kind of the centrist. It won't work to be the centrist anymore in the Democratic party because it's moved so far to the left.

BROWNSTEIN: I would say the party has unquestionably moved to the left on cultural issues as Bill Clinton stay. And Hillary Clinton has followed that on things like immigration, on gay marriage. We've seen her take a position.

On the economic side, it's really unclear where she's going to land. She's not shown a lot of her -- it's likely she will be somewhere to the left of where Bill Clinton was with welfare reform and emphasizing a balanced budget. But she really hasn't indicated, I think where --

BORGER: Trade?

(CROSSTALK)

BROWNSTEIN: She has not followed them in opposition an opposition and on some of the spending issues. She has not followed them.

BORGER: And also foreign policy. You know, Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state, disagreed with the president because she wanted a more muscular intervention in Syria, for example, which she wrote about in her book. And she's going to have to balance the party that with the party who is still smoldering over her vote and wont worn around.

BLITZER: Let's talk about the Republican side of the story right now, the Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, he is doing really well especially in Iowa. I want you to listen to this clip what he said about maybe the possibility of sending troops back to Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: I don't think we should ever send a message to our foes as to how far we are willing to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you wouldn't rule out a full-blown --

WALKER: I wouldn't rule out boots on the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm asking would you rule out a full-blown reinvasion of Iraq?

WALKER: If the national interest of this country are at stake here at risk in this country or abroad, that to me, the standard we do for military engagement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What do you think, Gloria?

BORGER: Well, I think he's not the first candidate, Republican candidate we've heard that from. We heard that from John Kasich. We heard the Republican candidates, aside from Rand Paul who now stands out as the exception, are growing increasingly more hawkish, I would have to say, in terms of the possibility of combat.

BLITZER: Hold your thought because also I want to get to another story we're following right now. I want to get your reaction to this.

The United States Supreme Court ruled today that Americans born in Jerusalem cannot list Israel as the place of birth on their U.S. passports. The vote by the Supreme Court justices is 6-3. For the past 60 years, U.S. policy has been not to recognize any state as having sovereignty over Jerusalem.

So the decision is a victory for the executive branch of the U.S. government, affirming its power to recognize foreign states and governments. The case was brought on behalf of a 12-year-old boy whose parents tried to have Israel listed on his U.S. passport as his place of birth.

So Ron Brownstein, what do you make of this 6-3 decision in the Supreme Court?

BROWNSTEIN: I think in the White House, what they are saying is six votes in favor of executive authority over congressional prerogative, including Anthony Kennedy as one of the six votes. They may not get six votes on the other issues that they are facing, but on the EPA regulation of carbon and even more so on the president's unilateral action on immigration on both of those issues ultimately, Supreme Court will be ruling about executive authority. And I think the White House take it some comfort in the fact that there was a majority of vote supporting executive authority in this case.

BORGER: Yes, I think that's definitely the read on it. I mean, they believe, particularly as you head into the debate over immigration, that what they did was legal constitutional, et cetera, because they had the authority under the executive branch.

And so this says, yes, you do have the authority to make diplomatic relations with another country. Congress cannot do that. Only the president and the state department can do that.

BLITZER: It's good for the executive branch decision, not so good for the legislation. Because the legislative branch, they passed a law saying that if you're an American citizen, have a kid born in Jerusalem you could list on the passport Jerusalem-Israel, just like the kid was born in Tel Aviv, you can say Tel Aviv, Israel. But the administration -- Republican administration and Democratic administrations have said that is not the case.

BROWNSTEIN: And we've talked about this before. I think this is the central conflict we're heading for, divided government between Congress and the White House. It's more often the case than not now. And I think we've seen President Bush on national security. Now President Obama on domestic issues pushed the envelope of executive power. And what they ultimately mean is the Supreme Court matters more as the voice that says how far can you go? Because what we're learning is Congress cannot stop a dedicated president in terms of (INAUDIBLE) power, but the courts ultimately can.

BORGER: You know, and the future of this president's legacy in the end may be more determined by John Roberts than John Boehner. BLITZER: They have got major decisions coming up in the coming days

before the end of this month on Obamacare, for example, on immigration and a lot of substance - gay marriage and important issues coming up.

Guys, thanks very much.

That's it for me. I will be back at 5:00 p.m. eastern in the SITUATION ROOM. For our international viewers, Amanpour is coming up next. For our viewers in North America, NEWSROOM with Brooke Baldwin starts right now.

END