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New York Escapees; Same-Sex Marriage Legal. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired June 26, 2015 - 13:00   ET

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

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting from Washington. I want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: We're following breaking news on three major stories this hour. The U.S. Supreme Court declares same-sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states. We'll have reaction, full analysis following this landmark ruling.

A pastor and politician shot and killed in Charleston in a church massacre is being honored today. President Obama is set to deliver a eulogy for a friend and a message to the country about racism.

Also, terrorists strike in three separate attacks on three continents, including a beach resort Tunisia. Dozens of people are killed. We have new details coming in this hour.

But we begin with the breaking news out of New York. A possible new lead in the search for those two escaped inmates in New York. The police about to hold a press conference. There, you see the microphone. Once it begins, we'll go there live. New information coming in. We'll have that news conference once it starts. It seems to have a major new lead shifting resources as a result. We're about to get details.

Let's also get to the historic decision of the United States today. By a five to four vote, the court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Cheers broke out in the crowd gathered in front of the court as the decision was revealed. Thirteen states still have same-sex marriage bans in place. Others were challenging court orders vacating those bans.

The Supreme Court justice, Anthony Kennedy, was the swing vote. He delivered the majority opinion saying, and I'm quoting, "Marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The constitution grants them that right." This decision comes a day after the U.S. Supreme Court handed the Obama administration another huge victory by upholding a key part of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. Just a little while ago, President Obama reacted to the same-sex marriage decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This ruling will strengthen all of our communities by offering to all loving same-sex couples the dignity of marriage across this great land. In my second inaugural address, I said that if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. It is gratifying to see that principle enshrined into law by this decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: President Obama also reached out directly to the lead plaintiff in the case. As Jim Obergefell was talking to our own Justice Correspondent Pamela Brown, he received the unexpected call from the president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM OBERGEFELL: Hello?

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (via telephone): Hi, is this Jim?

OBERGEFELL: Yes, it is, Mr. President.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Jim, the -- I figured when I saw you that we were hoping for some good news and we did. I just want to say, congratulations.

OBERGEFELL: Thank you so much, sir. I think it was your wishes --

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, your leadership on this has changed the country.

OBERGEFELL: I appreciate that, Mr. President. It's really been an honor for me to be involved in this fight and to have been able to, you know, fight for my marriage and live up to my commitments to my husband. So, I appreciate -- I appreciate everything you've done for the LGBT community and it's really an honor to have become part of that fight.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I'm really proud of you and, you know, just know that, you know, not only have you been a great example for people, but you're also going to bring about a lasting change in this country. And it's pretty rare when that happens so I couldn't be prouder of you and your husband. God bless you.

OBERGEFELL: Thank you, sir. That means an incredible amount to me. And, yes, thank you.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All righty. Take care.

OBERGEFELL: Thanks for the call, Mr. President.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes, bye-bye.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The president says bye-bye. Two days, two major victories for the president, for the White House handed down from the United States Supreme Court.

Joining us now from the White House is the communications director, Jen Psaki.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Hi, Wolf.

BLITZER: Jen, thanks very much for joining us.

PSAKI: It's great to be here.

BLITZER: Clearly, the president was delighted, very pleased. Talk a little bit about what was going on inside the White House. Yesterday, you told us there were some happy dances, some hugs when they got the word that the Affordable Care Act would not have to be changed, would not have to go away. What was the reaction today?

[13:05:14] PSAKI: Well, Wolf, as you know, no one knows, including anyone in the White House or the president, when any of these decisions are going to come down. So, this morning, we were in another meeting, looking ahead to next week. The president was in the residence working on his remarks for his eulogy later this afternoon and the news came down. He was called by one of his senior aides who you know well, Valerie Jarrett. And he could not be more thrilled, as you saw him say out in the Rose Garden, for the millions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples who will now no longer have to live under this cloud of uncertainty. And it's really an exciting day for people across the country.

BLITZER: That was a nice gesture he made to make a personal phone call to the lead plaintiff, Jim Obergefell. You saw that live on CNN. I don't know if he knew we were taking that live but that was a nice gesture on the part of the president. Did he also have, today, you and his aides, his speech writers, two speeches ready to go in case the Supreme Court had ruled the other way?

PSAKI: Oh, Wolf, I know that's always a favorite question. But, you know, I have to say, you know, in any of these cases, the set of remarks he wants to deliver is the set of remarks that moves the country forward. And obviously having gay couples across the country being able to marry, being able to be recognized is what our preference was. We knew we wanted to make a big statement like he did in the Rose Garden today.

BLITZER: All of us remember in 2012, when he changed his position, went and said publicly he now supports gay marriage. I assume you agree with me that that had an impact on public attitudes across the country?

PSAKI: Well, look, I think what's important to remember here and the president would say this, too, there are brave activists across the country who have been speaking out, taking steps, changing legislatures for years now and they deserve a great deal of credit for where we are today. I remember, as you do, Wolf, I know you covered this election closely back in 2004. There were state ballot initiatives that were divisive, huge campaign issues. We're just over 10 years past that and look where we are today.

So, this president, as you know, ended Don't Ask, Don't Tell - he -- we ended Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We have made sure people can have hospital visits and equal benefits in the federal government. There's more that obviously can be done and will be done. But, today, is obviously a significant day, not just for the president but, more importantly, millions of couples across the country.

BLITZER: I've pointed out, this is really a major historic week for the president. He began the week by saying he's fearless in trying to make sure that the racism, that the lingering aspects of racism that still exist in the country, he's going to speak out about that. We'll hear more from him later today. He'll eulogizing the pastor at the Emanuel AME church. He's going down to Charleston, South Carolina for that. He got the Affordable Care Act decision he wanted from the Supreme Court, the same-sex marriage decision, the trade promotion, the authority for that. How big of a week has this been for the president?

PSAKI: Well, it's been a big week for the president. It's been a big week for the American people. I think you heard him say this morning, Wolf, that sometimes there are long days and long slogs and a lot of work done by a lot of people, not just in the administration but around the country. But then, sometimes justice strikes like a thunderbolt. And we felt, I guess, two thunderbolts, one today and one yesterday. And so, it's been an incredible week and we're just really looking forward to moving ahead from here.

BLITZER: We'll have live coverage of the president's eulogy in Charleston. That's coming up later this afternoon. Jen Psaki, thanks very much for joining us.

PSAKI: Thank you, Wolf, great to be here.

BLITZER: Thank you. I want to get to the breaking news out of New York right now. There's a new lead in the search for those two escaped killers in New York. The police are holding a news conference. I want you to listen. This is Major Charles E. Guess of the New York State Police.

[13:15:00] MAJ. CHARLES GUESS, TROOP B COMMANDER, N.Y. STATE POLICE: Concerned that the public in the north country is losing confidence. I mean in addition to talking to you folks and trying to find two escaped murders, I'm out with the public and they are expressing nothing but confidence in the New York State Police and all of the - our assets and resources and partners behind me. These folks are like anybody else you might find in New York State. They're very resilient, they're very vigilant and they're standing guard to assist law enforcement.

QUESTION: Are they -

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One more question, guys. One more question. QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) more about the challenging environment

(INAUDIBLE) items and evidence that were found, do they now have an advantage to keep going?

GUESS: They probably have every reason to keep going. The items that we have found have been significant and we feel that if that was the only thing they were carrying when they dropped it, that it's been in our advantage that we have collected it. We still, of course, as I've said from day one, presume that they are armed and dangerous and we're going to continue to act in that manner.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) missing from the camp (ph)?

QUESTION: We don't know what the numbers (INAUDIBLE) - you say there's about 1,100 people out there and working with you guys to find these guys and that it doesn't seem like a lot. I know there's supposed to be some testing for the (INAUDIBLE) set up in Plattsburgh. I know there's a lot of people (INAUDIBLE) reaching maybe 150 troopers looking to get (INAUDIBLE) tests are still being held at this time, but are you guys going to need to replace maybe manpower that they're going out to these tests (ph) to come back in?

GUESS: Now, the good news is, the state police can do more than one thing at a time and do it very well. So the testing will continue because it's been scheduled well out. It will not at all negatively impact our search here in the north country.

Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you guys.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, that's Major Charles Guess, he's the Troop E commander of the New York State Police, making some major news right there, announcing that these two suspects, these two convicted killers who escaped from that maximum security prison in New York State, may be heading towards Canada right now. They have a high degree of certainty on some of the new information that they're getting and the new leads.

Let's go to CNN's Boris Sanchez. He's in Malone, New York, with the very latest.

What else are you hearing, Boris?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Wolf.

This is the first big break in the case since about a week ago where a cabin was discovered broken into and DNA that matched Richard Matt and David Sweat were discovered. Recently officers telling us they discovered another cabin and a camp again with collusive evidence that these men were in that area. Evidence that indicates that they're moving in a north/northwesterly direction. The officer was asked if these men may be in Canada. He said he did not believe so. He thinks they're still in New York state.

And at that new cabin that was discovered, apparently the men left some items behind and took some with them. That increases the possibility that they may be armed. Officers have been operating under the assumption that they are armed from the beginning because there's so many seasonal hunting cabins, so many weapons, they don't have - investigators don't have an inventory of all the weapons that are around. So they say it is highly likely that these men are armed. They're asking the public to be vigilant, to watch out for anything that may be out of place, especially if they own property in the area, and they - they want any - anyone with information to please give them a call.

Again, Wolf, the biggest break in the case since a week ago. Officers hope they are closing in on these killers.

BLITZER: Yes, a very dramatic development. The New York State Police commander also suggesting that these two guys are moving at night, not necessarily during the day, and they apparently are still moving together. They're not - they haven't separated. We're going to have much more on this story coming up, a major break potentially in the search for these two convicted killers.

Thanks, Boris, very much.

We'll have more on these breaking stories coming up.

Also much more on the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision today. We're going to get reaction from the New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio. He'll join us live.

Plus, funeral services underway right now for the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, one of the victims of last week's church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina. We'll go there live.

Then later, 37 people are killed at a beach resort in Tunisia in one of a series of deadly terror attacks on three continents today. We'll have live coverage. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:22:32] BLITZER: Let's get back to our coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court's huge decision today legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia.

Joining us on the phone right now is New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Mayor, thanks very much for joining us.

I understand you're officiating, what, at least two same-sex marriages today? Tell us about that.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, NEW YORK CITY (via telephone): Well, Wolf, I'm so honored to be bringing two couples together in matrimony today to celebrate this extraordinary achievement. You know, today, because of the actions of the Supreme Court, we're one step closer to that more perfect union that this nation is all about. And I've got to tell you, in New York City there's just jubilation today. This is where the modern gay rights movement began at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 and there's a real profound sense today that, you know, that was a fight worth fighting and it's culminated with this Supreme Court decision today.

BLITZER: It's interesting, it also comes on one of the eve of the gay pride parade that you're having in New York City this weekend, is that right?

DE BLASIO: Yes, it's on Sunday. And I'll tell you, it's going to be the biggest party we've ever seen because it's going to be just joy. And so many people have been waiting for this moment where, you know, their lives can be fuller because the fact that they love someone will no longer be held against them under the law. In fact, it will be fully embraced and recognized. I mean this is - this is the kind of thing that really shows people what the promise of America is that we're embracing all of our people. And that parade on Sunday is going to be like nothing you've ever seen before. It's going to be truly joyous in this city.

BLITZER: Were you anticipating this 5-4 decision today by the Supreme Court? Because you've been a close observer of the debate going forward in our country.

DE BLASIO: Yes, I think one thing we should see about this moment in history, you know, 10 years ago this would have been inconceivable. This is really - I think we got to today because people at the grass- roots all over the country fought hard and they worked up from the local level to the state level. And you saw the dominos falling. And I felt in my heart that the Supreme Court, beyond their legal decision, would be looking deeply at the trajectory of the country and the fact that the people of this country were voting with their feet on this issue and making their own decisions. And I thought in the end the Supreme Court would have to recognize this.

Also, I think it's such an obvious matter of fairness. People are simply asking for the right to be validated in who they love. So I was hopeful, but we all knew it was at best going to be a close decision and you just never know until it's over. So there's such a great feeling. I mean I've talked to people over the last couple of hours, such a sense of jubilation. It's something that is truly about justice and respecting people's right to love, it's finally being validated.

[13:25:22] BLITZER: Now the critics, those who oppose same-sex marriage - and we've gotten statements from virtually all of the Republican presidential candidates, they're disappointed in this decision. They say it should have been left to the states. To them you say what?

DE BLASIO: Look, this is such a fundamental right, of course it had to be handled on a national level. This is about having a country that's inclusive and respects all of our citizens. And for all the members of the LGBT community, all they were asking for was to have the same rights as everyone else. And I think you can't do that on a piecemeal basis. That kind of sense of, well, you have partial rights or rights somewhere but not other places, I don't think that's particularly American and I don't think that's particularly fair. And I think there's been a growing sentiment in this country over the last few years that this should be resolved once and for all and it should be done on a national basis. So I think the Republicans are missing the point here. The people of this country, I think, have come to a conclusion that this right should be guaranteed to all.

BLITZER: If there are people out there in various businesses that serve weddings, for example florists or bands or caterers who are let's say evangelical Christians or Catholics or orthodox Jews who oppose same-sex marriage, should they, for their own religious freedom, have the right to refuse to participate in same-sex marriages?

DE BLASIO: Look, I'm certain there will be some important legal issues still to be played out here, but my advice to everyone as they think about those issues is to recognize that this is about celebrating love. This is about celebrating the fact that family is being born and is going to be a positive part of our society and we should try and put those divisions behind us. I would hope that folks who today maybe think that they don't want to be a part of such ceremonies would come to realize that they're a good and healthy thing for everyone. But, again, the narrow legal questions, I'm sure, will be worked out in the coming months and years.

BLITZER: Mayor de Blasio, thanks very much for joining us.

DE BLASIO: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: I know there will be a lot of excitement in New York City this weekend with that gay pride parade. It will take on an added significance in the aftermath of this landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court. Bill de Blasio, thank you.

Still to come, a horrific scene when a gunman opens fire on a beach in Tunisia. Thirty-seven people are killed. But this wasn't the only terror attack today.

And in a short time we're expecting to see President Obama deliver the eulogy at the funeral for State Senator Clementa Pinckney's funeral. We're going to bring it to you live when it happens.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)