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Killers Who Escaped Last Week Still at Large; Cuomo Orders Investigation of Escape; Worker Provided Blades to Prisoners; Rachel Dolezal Resigns from NAACP Chapter; Bush Officially Kicks Off Campaign Today; Interview with Rep. John Mica; Strike Targets Terrorist in Libya. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired June 15, 2015 - 13:00   ET

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

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, I'm Brianna Keilar in for Wolf Blitzer. It is 1:00 p.m. here in Washington, 6:00 p.m. in London and 7:00 p.m. in Tripoli. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks so much for joining us.

And we start with the latest on the search for two killers who escaped last week from an upstate New York prison. This morning, the former prison employee at the center of the prison break was back in court. A new attorney was at Joyce Mitchell's side to ask that the case be moved to county court which it was. And the prosecutor tells CNN of Mitchell's alleged role in the escape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW WYLIE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK: She has told us that she's provided hacksaw blades, provided other contraband to both Matt and Sweat. And she was aware of the timeframe of the escape. She had been provided information on the period of time that they had been working on cutting the backs of the cell walls out, going down into the tunnel system of the facility and working their escape plan. So, I think she was relatively involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: The search for two escaped murderers is now in its 10th day. There are no fresh clues, at this point, as to their whereabouts. And the prevailing assumption is that they are in an area east of the town of Dannemora where the Clinton Correctional Facility is located.

More than 800 officers are now involved in the manhunt. This includes canine and aviation units pursuing more than 900 tips. There's a $100,000 reward offered for the men's capture.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered a formal investigation into how the two convicted killers were able to escape. With the latest now, let's go to our Sara Ganim. She's in Plattsburgh, not far from the correctional facility there. Sara, tell us what is next for Joyce Mitchell, especially as we now understand just how much she was involved in this.

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what's next for her today is that she's going back to jail. She was not able to post that $110,000 cash bail, as of now. Her attorney says that he's going to spend the day talking to her. He was just appointed today. And the district attorney tells us this case now moves -- he'll go to a grand jury to try to secure an indictment on it. He has six more days to do that before she could potentially be released if he does not get that indictment in that amount of time. But her case moves on to county court. She moves out from this level and from there, we'll await the indictment and hopefully more details -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Her husband, Sara, worked at this prison as well in quite close proximity to her. Have authorities learned anything from him?

GANIM: They did talk to him. I spoke to the district attorney over the weekend. We asked him about Lyle Mitchell, who is her husband, who also knew these two men, Richard Matt and David Sweat. All four of them knew each other. So, he was a person that authorities very quickly wanted to speak to.

However, the district attorney told me a lot of interesting detail about these relationships between these four. Obviously, Joyce and Lyle were married. And the D.A. told me not necessarily -- they believe him when he says that Joyce didn't necessarily share with him, her husband, the details of her wanting to run off with these two convicted murderers.

Now, the D.A. did say that even though Joyce was in court today and did not say a word, Brianna, just -- really just stared at the court during the proceedings. She was pretty chatty with investigators before her arrest. She shared some details about what the plan was. And she told them that Richard made her feel sweet - I'm sorry, made her feel special and they had some sort of relationship, all three of them, going back to 2013 when they met. She was going to pick them up at a location in the middle of the night and they were going to drive up to seven hours away to a destination that the two convicted murderers had picked that Joyce Mitchell told authorities she wasn't aware of.

Now, she got cold feet and she told the District Attorney that - I'm sorry, she told the police and the D.A. then told us, part of the reason that she got cold feet was that she still loved her husband - Brianna.

KEILAR: All right. Sara Ganim with the very latest there in New York. Thank you.

What can we expect to happen now in the search? It's been 10 days, right? Let's bring in our panel to talk about this. We have Lenny DePaul. He's the former commander of the U.S. Marshal Service Task Force. We have former FBI assistant director a current CNN Law Enforcement Analyst Tom Fuentes.

So, Tom, to you, where might these guys be because it seems like a few days ago, local authorities were a little more confident they were nearby? Now, it seems like it could be anyone's guess.

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, a fews days ago, Brianna, they had the dogs - [13:05:01] KEILAR: Hit on the scent.

FUENTES: -- you know, hit the scent and find candy wrappers and all that. And I think now, they're looking at, you know, they may have not have been accurate. And, as you heard the governor of New York this morning say, they could be nearby or they could be in Mexico. So, I think the searchers are starting to worry that maybe they slipped through the net that they had . And maybe some of these leads weren't as positive. You know, everybody in the county practically works at that prison. They would be bound, you know, to find candy wrappers and other trash that came from that prison that might not have come from them but just people that worked there.

KEILAR: What do you think, Lenny?

LENNY DEPAUL, FORMER COMMANDER, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE TASK FORCE: I mean, there's certainly an intense manhunt still ongoing, Brianna. All weekend, they were searching over 500 homes. There were a lot of summer homes that haven't been unlocked. But thinking outside the box, with respect to Joyce Mitchell, hopefully she's completely on board and giving law enforcement what they need with cooperation.

However, and again it's my opinion, I've got a gut feeling there was a plan B and they - you know, they used Joyce pretty good and she didn't even realize it. And someone else picked these guys up. So, you know, Tom's right. There are wrappers consistent with what's out of the jail. But then again, at the 7-Eleven, they have the same wrappings. You know, anything could be happening. We've got leads sent throughout the country and from Canada down to Mexico, so -

KEILAR: Yes. It's really interesting that you say there might be plan B because, Tom, you've long said this that Joyce Mitchell could have just been one piece of this puzzle for these guys.

FUENTES: Right. They could've been playing her from the beginning. You know, we have the statements made from Joyce Mitchell to the police telling them everything that was going to happen and what they intended. But was she being honest? We don't know that yet. Then, you have what they told Joyce Mitchell. Were they being honest with her? So, this is a lot to assume that everything she said was everything that was going to happen in their minds. We don't know that.

KEILAR: Lenny, what do you think about this investigation that Governor Cuomo is saying now needs to be undertaken? Even without knowing where these guys are, at this point. What needs to come out of this?

DEPAUL: Well, yes, absolutely. I mean, there has to be a full- fledged investigation on what went on on the inside. And, you know, it's - unfortunately, it's always after the fact but taken into consideration Dannemora. There's never been an escape from there in a hundred years. That's pretty good.

KEILAR: Lenny DePaul, Tom Fuentes, thank you for joining me to talk about this. And we have some breaking news. A stunning development in the story

about Rachel Dolezal. She is that leader of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP whose own family exposed her as a white woman and not an African-American woman that she was portraying herself to be. We now know that she is stepping down as president of that chapter. In a statement, Dolezal said, please know, I will never stop fighting for human rights and will do everything in my power to help and assist, whether it means stepping up or stepping down because this is not about me. It's about justice.

CNN's Stephanie Elam joining me now on the phone from Spokane. Stephanie, this was a very sudden development. Did this come as a surprise from where you are there in Spokane?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): It feels like things were bubbling up over the weekend, Brianna. I've been here all weekend long and you could hear people talking about it on the streets, in stores, in restaurants. People were definitely talking about it. But there was definitely a change. The last thing we knew is that there was going to be a meeting Monday night at the regularly scheduled meeting for the Spokane chapter of the NAACP. And she told me she was going to speak there and she was going to say something there.

But up until then, she was going to let the national chapter - I'm sorry, the national headquarters of NAACP take the lead. Then, found out that the meeting was canceled. And then, we found out that one of the committee members -- one of the chairman of the education committee sent a letter to her saying it was not in their bylaws that one person could cancel this meeting. So, we do know that disagreement going on inside of the chapter of the NAACP. We know that there was a protest planned for tonight.

And now, we've got this letter from her just saying that she's stepping down. It's a very long letter and it's involved. And there's some interesting sentences in it, Brianna. For one, she says, well, challenging the concept of race is at the core of evolving human consciousness. We cannot afford to lose sight of the five game changers. So, that's an interesting sentence there. But she doesn't actually address the one thing that everyone wants to know, is she or is she not black or is she white?

KEILAR: Tell me, where did things change here? Because at the end of last week, the northwest chapter of the NAACP was saying, we stand behind her, you know, racial identity, you - it can be whatever it is. It really doesn't matter to be a part of the NAACP. Where was the change? Where did people start saying this is not OK what she did?

ELAM: I gather, from some of the conversations that I've had, that she was seen as a good leader, that she was seen as somebody who really does care about what she's talking about. I've also heard a lot of people saying that she could have done the same thing had she just done it as a white woman.

[13:10:02] So, all of that seems to be the same. In her letter, she also thanked the headquarters of the NAACP for their unwavering support. I think it's more of an issue of does this become more distracting to the cause of what they're trying to do for the NAACP here in Spokane than it does to help. And that's what she addresses in the letter. But, obviously, you know, it became an interesting topic around the world. People still talking about that and it's obviously a huge distraction. I don't know if it takes away the spotlight on her but at least now the NAACP in Spokane can move forward in a different way, I think is the idea.

KEILAR: All right, Stephanie Elam there on the ground in Spokane. Thanks for your report.

Coming up, Jeb Bush is just hours away from announcing his plans to run for president. We'll be speaking with one of his early supporters about what's really become an uphill battle now that Bush could be facing.

Also, reports that a key Al Qaeda leader was killed by a U.S. air strike in Libya. We'll take a closer look at man who's been called a legend among jihadists.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Jeb Bush is finally ready to make it official. The governor announcing his run for the White House about two hours from now. Bush will join a pretty crowded Republican field. He'll be the 11th GOP candidate to jump into this race. And advisors say that Bush is going to portray himself as a compassionate conservative who can get things done.

Correspondent Dana Bash is covering the announcement at Miami-Dade University. So, we're -- I hear some noise behind you. The crowds are gathering, Dana. This is a couple hours away. Set the scene as we await this announcement.

[13:15:03] DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sure, Bri. This is the largest secondary educational university in the state. It's one of the reasons why Jeb Bush chose it, not just because it holds a lot of people inside on a hot day, but because education is his big theme and has been for a very long time. He is going to hit the idea that he did a lot here, for better or worse, as governor. He is somebody who led and got things done.

But what you talk - when you talk to advisors inside his campaign, and even some really close to him and people who have been so for years, what they say is that his big challenge is to get - come across as somebody who is just himself and not just another Bush. And I was just traveling with him in Europe. I had a chance to speak with the former governor in Estonia and asked him that very question. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: Well, Jeb - Jeb is different than George in Jeb is - Jeb is who he is. My life story's different. And I got to do that when I ran as governor and I got to share my passion for service when I was governor. And telling that story is going to be part of this. I don't have to dissociate myself or my family. I love them. But I know that I'm on - for me to be successful, I'm going to have to show my heart, tell my story.

BASH: Can you give one little example of who Jeb Bush is that makes you feel like you are the guy who people should choose to be president?

BUSH: Well, I can make decisions. I've made tough decisions. I have a life experience that's full - full of works and full of successes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, Bri, at this event, not only are we going to hear Jeb Bush speak, but we are going to see and hear some members of the Bush family. His mother, the former first lady, we are told, Barbara Bush, is going to be in attendance. She is going to be in the audience. And his son, one of his sons, George P. , who is an elected official in Texas, is going to be speaking as well. So we are going to see some of the Bush clan, but, as you can imagine, neither of the former presidents will be here.

Bri.

KEILAR: All right, Dana, we'll be hanging around with you all day as we await this announcement. Thanks, Dana Bash, there in Florida for us.

And he isn't in the race officially for another couple of hours, but Jeb Bush already has endorsements from more than half of Florida's congressional delegation. And that includes Congressman John Mica. He's joining us now from Orlando.

Congressman, you see this Republican field. It's getting big - it's getting bigger than big. It's huge right now. Tell us why you endorsed Jeb Bush early.

REP. JOHN MICA (R), FLORIDA: Well, the field is big and we've got some great candidates, but I can tell you, I've been in the state since 1956. We've never had the opportunity in Florida or in the nation to elect a more qualified individual to take us out of sort of the doldrums that we've had the past number of years with this administration, into a positive future. And I saw Jeb Bush right here in our community in our state take us from some very tough times after 9/11 back to prosperity, getting good jobs.

And it's so exciting. I'm a graduate of Miami-Dade. To have him down there to announce at a college, but those kids want to have a job. Their parents want to have a future. And Jeb Bush is the one candidate I believe that can make that happen.

KEILAR: Why, congressman, especially Marco Rubio is in the Florida delegation as well. He's certainly a newer face. He's very charismatic. Why Jeb Bush and not Marco Rubio?

MICA: Well, again, a very fine gentleman running, Mr. Rubio, and the others, but nobody can compare the record. Again, he was in business successfully. He was our Florida secretary of commerce, led - before he was governor. When he was governor, I'm - in Orlando here, we have the biotech industry, we have simulation, high paying jobs. Jeb Bush led the way.

Education. Just got reports back that some of the reforms he instituted, making government and education responsible, that's what this country needs. And not just the - a lot of rhetoric. He actually knows how to get things done. He'll do them for the country. And that's what's so exciting because people want a brighter future. They don't want to just be bashing folks and giving rhetoric. They want results for their future and their kids.

KEILAR: You heard from Bush himself. He basically says he needs show who he is. And in an interview with Dana Bash, he described himself as an introvert. Listen to part of this about what he says he has to do to reveal himself to voters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I've lived oversea. I've worked overseas. I've been in business. I've served as governor. I give back to my community. I have a great relationship with my wife and family and I'll get to share all that. Part of that, that's important. It's something that took a little getting used to for me personally to be able to show my heart, because I'm kind of introverted, but it's important to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[13:20:15] KEILAR: Can he do that, congressman? Can he connect with voters? And why has he struggled to so far? Because he hasn't broken out of the pack as we might expected he would do in the polls.

MICA: Well, people have focused on the two other Bushs, but this is a totally different Bush. I worked with both of them in different capacities, the other family members, his father and his brother. But I'm telling you, you've got one of the most brilliant people I've ever worked with. He listens to people. He cares about people. He really has a human side of - you talk about a compassionate conservative that wants to make people's lives better. That's Jeb Bush. And he'll define himself. I know there's a way to go in this election where he's taking it slow and that's the way it should be, but I will listen to people and he'll move forward positively.

KEILAR: But let me ask you - sorry to interrupt you congressman, but your - some donors are already concerned. They - you say there is some time and certainly there is, but the time may be now for Bush to really connect and to show donors that he can really do this, that he can break out. You know, what do you say to that?

MICA: Well, again, I think you take it step by step. And right now people are blowing things up on everybody's campaign and trying to magnify anything they see. But people are paying attention to who has the positive message and who can take us to that next step forward.

Again, we have been in some dire straits with this administration. You look at the whole range of Republican candidates, there is no one better respected internationally. There is no one with a resume that can do the job and has also done the job and proven in the job. So there's no question Jeb Bush is my candidate. Two-thirds of the Republican congressional delegation of Florida support him. We've seen him in action and he's what America needs right now.

KEILAR: All right, we'll be waiting to see if more voters are agreeing with you. Congressman, thanks so much for being on today.

MICA: Thank you. Thank you. A great day.

KEILAR: Up next, U.S. air strikes target a terror leader in Libya. We'll be talking about how the plan came together and why he is such a key target. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:25:58] KEILAR: The U.S. launched new air strikes in Libya overnight. The Pentagon confirming that the attack was aimed at one of the most elusive terror leaders in North Africa, Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Libyan officials say he was killed, but the U.S. is waiting on forensic proof before officially declaring him dead.

Belmokhtar is believed to have been the mastermind of an attack on a gas facility in Algeria back in 2013. That was where 37 hostages were killed, including three Americans. Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon following this story for us.

That was a big attack back in 2013, Barbara. So once this is confirmed, or even now as it's unconfirmed, this is a very big deal.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It is a big get for the U.S. military, Brianna, no question about it. This is a guy that they have wanted for some time, especially after that attack in Algeria. The way the attack unfolded, two U.S. Air Force F-15s had their eye on a compound. There was a building at the center of the compound. All the intelligence in the last several days pointed to the fact that Belmokhtar was there. The F-15 firing off their 500 pound bombs against that building.

Belmokhtar is someone that they wanted as the head of the al Qaeda affiliate in North Africa, said to be responsible for that attack against the gas plant in 2013. Subsequently charged in U.S. federal court with everything from kidnapping, to conspiracy, to use of weapons of mass destruction. Very serious charges. They say the justification, the military and legal justification for the air strike inside Libya was that he was involved with al Qaeda and was plotting and had plotted against U.S. citizens.

But it's a surprise, one must say. Libya, they had - I don't think there was a lot of expectation that Belmokhtar, who traditionally operated over further into Algeria and even Mali, his associates, that he would have gone into Libya. Clearly had reason to go there, speculation that he was joining a meeting of other operatives, but they do feel that they got him, even as they are waiting that final confirmation.

Brianna.

KEILAR: The Libyan government, Barbara, cooperated hear what this U.S. air strike. But for the most part, the Libyan government isn't actually controlling much of Libya. How much of a base has it become for terror groups?

STARR: Well, Libya is a big problem right now because you are even seeing ISIS elements or said to be ISIS elements operating there. Al Qaeda, other groups, Ansar al Sharia. You know, ever since the attack against the U.S. compound at Benghazi, it has been increasingly clear that Libya, without a strong central government, virtually no government at some times, is just a sort of soup of these militant groups who are able to operate fairly freely. And once the U.S. closed its embassy in Tripoli some months back, it reduced the U.S. ability to have, you know, on-the-ground understanding of what was going on there.

But what we've learned, just from the motion of this air strike, is the U.S. certainly does have some intelligence from the ground, whether it's electronic intercepts, operatives on the ground, essentially snitches, U.S. intelligence personnel moving in and out. This showed us their hand, that they do have an ability to have some understanding of what is going on there.

Brianna.

KEILAR: Intriguing. Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon, thank you.

It's been 10 days now since that brazen prison break and a massive dragnet has failed to turn up any sign of the two escaped killers in recent days. We have a live update on the manhunt just ahead.

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