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NEW DAY

Al Qaeda Operative Captured; What's Next For Suspect?; Shutdown Stalemate; Severe Flooding In Louisville; Egypt Unrest; Destroying Syria's Weapons; Scotus Back In Session; New $100 Bill Set For Release; IndyCar Crash in Houston; Police Arrest Two More Bikers; Boy Sneaks Onto Plane

Aired October 7, 2013 - 06:00   ET

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


CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to NEW DAY. It is Monday, October 7th, six o'clock in the east. We enter week two of a partial government shutdown and what seems to be a total political stalemate. Markets around the world dropping sharply in reaction to the political instability and a looming debt ceiling deadline.

We're going to talk to people in the middle of it, former Congressman Vin Weber, very close to the Republican House leadership, and a key democrat, Senator Chuck Schumer.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, two men are charged over the weekend in connection with that motorcycle pack beating and the man you see right there highlighted slowing down in front of the SUV, he is speaking out this morning. You'll want to hear what he has to say.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: You also want to hear more about this. An ESPN analyst getting a whole lot of heat this morning for his reaction to the rumors that former secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, is going to seat on a college football playoff section committee. That analyst saying women should not be allowed to hold that seat on that committee. We have more on his comments and the whole story --

CUOMO: Up first, two terror raides in two hot spots in Africa. One U.S. operation in Libya nabbing this man, al Qaeda operative, Abu Anas al-Liby. The other has SEAL Team Six back in action in Somalia on the anniversary of Blackhawk down. You remember that tragic event. The target, a commander for al Shabaab, the group responsible for that mall attack in Nairobi. The SEALs came under fire and withdrew before confirming if they had killed their target.

We're following the development as only CNN can. We have Joe Johns in Washington, and let's begin with Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr. Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris. Well, the terror suspect in Somalia had ties to attacks that have killed Americans. And that is why SEAL Team Six went in to risk it all.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR (voice-over): An extraordinary show of force by U.S. commandos in highly risky secret operations in Somalia and Libya, Friday, October 4th, pre-dawn on Somalia's southern coast. U.S. Navy SEALs slipped off a commercial ship and raid a terrorist stronghold. But was in moments they are forced to abort under heavy gunfire from militants.

Just a day later, 6:30 a.m., 3,000 miles away on the streets of Tripoli, Libya. Abu Anas Al Libi, a senior al Qaeda operative is returning home from morning prayers. He will be grabbed by U.S. Army Delta Force commandos. On the streets of Tripoli, Libya is confronted by cars with 10 masked men. The U.S. teams grabbed him before he can even reach his gun. They are gone in seconds, not a shot fired.

His wife tells CNN, the men she saw were Libyans. Al Libi is taken to a U.S.-Navy warship. He is wanted by the U.S. for the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president clearly had to approve both of these operations. This is to send U.S. military personnel into foreign countries and that's a presidential decision.

STARR: In Somalia, it's SEAL Team Six that is sent, the same unit that killed Osama Bin Laden. In an eerie coincidence, it's 20 years to the day of the Black Hawk down disaster in Somalia that killed 18 U.S. troops. This time the SEALs are hunting an al Shabaab leader named Ikrima.

Al Shabaab is the al Qaeda-linked terror group that claimed responsibility for the shopping mall attack in Kenya two weeks ago. Local Somali say the SEALs went to the house come under fire, the SEALs retreat, not sure if their target is dead. But the Al-Libi mission was a clear success.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: Now in both countries, U.S. commandos have been secretly gathering intelligence conducting surveillance for weeks on their target. In the war on terror, U.S. officials say expect to see more of these secret lightning raids -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, Barbara, thanks so much for starting us off this morning.

So what comes next then for the al Qaeda operative in U.S. custody, first, a special interrogation group will talk with al Libi, ultimately, he's expected to face a federal trial in New York. But for more, let's go to CNN's Joe Johns in Washington this morning. So Joe, what are you learning?

JOE JOHNS, CNN'S CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Kate, Abu Anas Al Libi is being held on board the U.S. Navy vessel. He's expected to be interrogated anywhere from several days to several weeks by something called the "High Value Detainee Interrogation Group." This is a group made up of FBI agents, intelligence community officials. It is actually led out of the White House by the National Security Council. This is a situation where the target does not get read his rights. He isn't treated with the protections of civilian defendant and basically, he is pressed for any information about plans for future attacks, names and whereabouts of known associates, details on any past attack, basically, anything and everything he knows -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Well, as you just mentioned, I mean, one focus of questioning Libyan, obviously gathering intelligence to prevent further terror attacks. We are tracking down other leaders of al Qaeda. What do you know about the U.S. plans for him?

JOHNS: Well, we do know that they have to play by the rules. They say they do not use any interrogation procedures that involve force, but they will stay with him for a long period of time and after the group gets through with him, he'd be flown to the U.S. to stand trial. He was indicted in the southern district of New York for conspiracy with Osama Bin Laden and others for plots to attack U.S. interests, including the U.S. embassy in Kenya. So there is a lot these authorities have to talk to him about and only after that does he get handed over to a civilian court -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, Joe Johns, thanks so much, Joe.

CUOMO: All right, now, to the partial government shutdown and what seems to be a total political fiasco. House Speaker John Boehner insists there is not enough votes in the House for a clean spending bill. That's one without adjustments to Obamacare so he can't end the shutdown. In somewhat of a shock, Boehner says the same goes for raising the debt ceiling. Boehner accuses the president of risking an unprecedented default by refusing to negotiate.

Let's bring in CNN's Brianna Kielar live at the White House. Brianna, good morning to you. Now was that debt ceiling comment a sign of things to come?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Chris. Right now, there was no progress. There are really no discussions even going on at this point. The effects of this partial government shutdown currently under way are starting to pale in comparison to the projected effects of the default.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR (voice-over): Ten days away from a possible economic disaster. The White House and House Republicans are as far apart has they have been.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: We are not going to pass a clean debt increase.

KEILAR: House Republicans continue to demand concessions as President Obama still refuses to negotiate on the nation's borrowing limit. The United States is set to default on October 17th if Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling.

BOEHNER: I'm telling you that on the 17th, we run out of our ability to borrow and Congress is playing with fire.

KEILAR: In a rare Sunday show interview, House Speaker John Boehner shifted, backing away from defunding or delaying Obamacare as an add- on to increasing the debt ceiling or funding the government instead he wants entitlement reform.

BOEHNER: My goal here is to have a serious conversation about those things that are driving the deficit and driving the debt up.

KEILAR: As the government remains partially shut down for a seventh day, the White House wants a vote to fund the government no strings attached, again, rebuffed by Republicans.

BOEHNER: There are not the votes in the House to pass a clean C.R.

KEILAR: But President Obama, bolstered by many objective observers question that assertion in an interview with the Associated Press, saying, quote, "We know that there are enough members in the House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, who are prepared to vote to reopen the government today. The only thing that is keeping that from happening is Speaker Boehner has made a decision that he is going to hold out to see if he can get additional concessions from us.

The stalemate in Washington becoming good fodder for late night, "Saturday Night Live" featured guest host Miley Cyrus as Michelle Bachmann celebrating the shutdown with Speaker Boehner in this risque parody.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Now the White House is certainly becoming concerned that we are not negotiating attack the president is taking is making him look intransigent, which, of course, is something he often accuses House Republicans of being. But the thought is that if President Obama can run out the clock as it gets closer to this deadline, Chris and Kate, ultimately, he will have the upper hand because of this division within the House conference.

BOLDUAN: There is always a deadline that actually makes them do anything.

KEILAR: Unfortunately.

BOLDUAN: All right, Brianna, thank you so much. Michaela is here with many more headlines this morning. Good morning.

PEREIRA: Good morning to the two of you and good morning to you at home. Making news, hundreds of folks in Louisville assessing the damage and dealing with shock and frustration in the aftermath of flash flooding, more than six inches of rain fell in 24 hours over the weekend flooding homes, cars, closing roads. This torrential rain caught forecasts off guard. They originally called for about 2 inches.

In Egypt, 51 people have been killed, nearly 300 injured, a new clash between government security forces and supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. This violence broke out as Muslim Brotherhood protesters marched in Cairo neighborhoods and across the nation Sunday.

Now under way, the dismantling of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal and equipment. An international team is overseeing Syrian personnel using torches and saws to destroy missile warheads, aerial bombs and mixing equipment. Actual chemical agents have not yet been destroyed. A U.N. agreement calls for all chemical weapons to be eliminated by the middle of next year.

The Supreme Court back in session today, a number of hot topics on the docket including limits on campaign contributions, housing discrimination, and whether the president can fill key positions without Senate confirmation. The last term didn't end quietly. Justices finished by striking down key provisions in the voting right and defense of marriage acts.

Feast your eyes on this, it may be the last time I see one of these, these are the new $100 bills that will start circulating tomorrow. Look at all those fancy, new modern colorful anti-counterfeiting features, including a 3D blue bar and holograph bell that will change color.

This bill took more than a decade to develop. It was supposed to debut in 2011, there were issues with printing that pushed back the wider release. They look kind of cool. The newer ones always look so fake. This is a weird thing to say.

BOLDUAN: Because they're supposed to be --

PEREIRA: They look a little like monopoly money at first and then you get used to them after you see them --

BOLDUAN: They're all monopoly money, right?

PEREIRA: Pretty much.

CUOMO: A lot of science goes into that paper.

PEREIRA: Absolutely.

CUOMO: Spend some quality time down there. The process is amazing.

BOLDUAN: Came back with pockets full. Let's get straight over to Karen Maginnis in for Indra Petersons this morning with a look at the forecast and what you need to know before you head out the door. Good morning, Karen.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLGOIST: Good morning Kate and Chris. We are watching a frontal system make its way towards the eastern seaboard, so, New York City, watch out, later on this afternoon, you need the rain gear. The showers start to move in. It may be heavy at times. We might expect between one and two inches.

Now the frontal system that is driving this is also tapping the moisture from what used to be Tropical Storm Karen that is now just riding along that system. So this moisture is going to be a little more enhanced and it could be fairly strong. You could see some isolated strong to severe thunderstorms, high pressure starts to move in behind it. So the rainfall in that north eastern corridor along I- 95, it is going to be in and out fairly quickly, but it is going to be fairly powerful while it's there.

That high pressure moves in and those temperatures start to really drop. They have been well above formally over the last several days. Here's the risk for that severe weather, damaging winds, a possibility of an isolated tornado, primarily, this is going to be a lightening and heavy rain event. We can rule out the possibility. New York City on the way to temperatures in the 60s by mid-week. Chris, Kate, back to you.

BOLDUAN: All righty, thanks so much, Karen.

CUOMO: All right, take a quick break here on NEW DAY, when we come back, you see this crash at an Indy car race this weekend. We are going to tell you how the driver was able to survive. We have someone who was there and witnessed it all and tell how some spectators almost didn't make it through. We'll tell you.

BOLDUAN: Also ahead, more arrests in that violent incident between an SUV driver and a group of bikers. The bikers beating down the man's door, all caught on camera and police now say the investigation is not over yet. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Hey, welcome back to NEW DAY.

We have a car crash you have to see to believe. Three time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti in the hospital, serious injuries. Some spectators wounded as well. Witnesses say it's a miracle no one was killed.

CNN's Mark McKay has this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Last lap horror in Houston. Three-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti attempting to make a high speed pass instead goes airborne, cart wheeling and destroying the catch fence, as his car virtually disintegrates around him.

Franchitti's car hits the back of Takuma Sato's, forcing his car to slam into the trackside fencing, debris rained into the spectator stands, injuring 13 fans.

Carl Daniel shot this unbelievable video of the crash from the stands.

CARL DANIEL, WITNESS: The car, which was one piece, became nothing more than confetti, pelting all of us, pieces were all around us. I was literally, literally thinking that my life is over, but there was no time to say can you duck, can you run, can you get away? It was like this is it.

MCKAY: Franchitti is hospitalized from injuries ranging from a concussion, a broken right ankle and a spinal fracture that doctors say won't require surgery. The 40-year-old was married to actress Ashley Judd. But the couple announced they were separating earlier this year.

Judd tweeted her thanks for the prayers and said she and her dogs were on the way to Houston.

The Franchitti crash came just 10 days shy of two-year anniversary of a spectacular Indy car crash in Las Vegas that took the life of driver Dan Weldon. In the wake of that tragedy came calls for changes to protective fencing at oval tracks.

Sunday's race was held on a street circuit, in the shadow of the Houston Astrodome. It serves as another example of the dangers associated with a sport that thrives on speed.

Mark McKay, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: Mark, thanks so much.

We have also made developments in the case of an SUV driver beaten in New York by a group of bikers. Key parts of the attack all caught on camera. There are charges now on three men for setting into motion the events that led to the brutal beating. And we learning new details about what you can't see on that terrifying that could be important to this case.

Margaret Conley is here with more on that.

Good morning, Margaret.

MARGARET CONLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kate.

Yes, that video is amazing, as more bikers come forward and speak out about their side of the story, investigators are piecing together who played what part in the violence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CONLEY (voice-over): Reginald Chance seen her pounding his helmet on an SUV car window made his first appearance in court Monday, defiant as he flipped off reporters in court. He faces charges including gang assault and assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon.

His attorney says the charges are too severe. He says his client wasn't even there when Alexian Lien was pulled out of his car and beaten. And a witness says the bikers went after his wife as well.

GREGORY WATTS, ATTORNEY FOR REGINALD CHANCE: My client obviously over reacted in smashing the window. Beyond that, he was not a participant on any assault on that victim.

CONLEY: Another biker, Robert Simms, seen here trying to open the door as it drove away, appeared in court on Saturday and faces some of the same charges.

And we are now hearing about the biker, Christopher Cruz, who appears to be slowing down, allegedly triggering the mayhem. He defended himself yesterday.

CHRISTOPHER CRUZ, BIKER: I think the media is being unfair with me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How so?

CRUZ: Because they don't know what I am. They don't know what happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What should they know about you?

CRUZ: That I'm a family man of two kids, a 2-year-old and a 6-year- old. I try I to stay away from trouble as much as possible.

CONLEY: And his attorney told CNN Cruz wasn't slowing down, saying, quote, "There was no intention on Christopher's part to the slow this 3.5 ton vehicle with his motorcycle." He also said Cruz was injured by the SUV driver when he suddenly pulled away.

Edwin Mieses was critically injured. His family says he's paralyze. Now, police are asking for the public's help to identify these two people who they believe were present at the assault, all in an effort to further piece together this puzzle that's far from complete.

CONLEY: Now, another layer to this is that there was an off duty police officer who works under cover on the scene. There are questions why he didn't report what he saw during the assault until four days later.

And, Kate, the two bikers, that were charged over the weekend, they'll be back in court at the end of this week.

BOLDUAN: It really is remarkable how much of this incident is caught on camera. How it truly does not tell the whole story. And that's why the investigation has to continue.

CONLEY: Exactly.

BOLDUAN: Margaret, thank you so much. Great to see you.

Coming up tonight, Piers Morgan is going to speak with a long-time partner of the biker severely injured in that confrontation, along with attorney Gloria Allred. That's tonight 9:00 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN.

Chris?

CUOMO: Coming up on NEW DAY: a tiger attacks a zoo worker in Oklahoma, pulling her arm through a four inch hole. How she survive and we talked to the owner whether that park is safe.

And shutdown -- no movement yet on funding the government and no agreement on raising the debt creaming. Candy Crowley will be here for your political gut-check. Don't miss it, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: You're watching NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.

CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY. It is Monday, October 7th.

Coming up in the show, a worker sticks her arm in a tiger's enclosure, and the giant cat mauls her. We're going to tell you how doctors worked to serve her arm.]

And with calls to close the part, we talk to the zoo owner. This is not the first time he's come under fire.

BOLDUAN: Plus, a runaway 9-year-old gets past airport security. It's truly amazing. He sneaks on a plane, flying to Las Vegas,, the twist, no boarding pass, no parents with him. Now, authorities are trying to figure out how no one noticed and how he got so far.

PEREIRA: But, first, we want to bring you up to date on the latest news. So let's take a look at your headlines at this hour.

A big catch for U.S. Special Forces, they captured Abu al Libi in a raid Saturday. He has been wanted for 15 years for the deadly bombings of Africa.

Another raid in Somalia, targeting a top commander for the terror group al Shabaab. Navy seals come under fire. It is unclear if their target was killed. Day seven of the shutdown the drama is expected to get more intense, the debt ceiling creeps closer. House speaker John baron says there are not enough votes to pass a clean spending bill. Democrats responding Boehner should prove it by putting it to a vote.

The Nobel Prize for medicine going to three researchers who revealed the transport and delivery system of cargo within our cells. These are the men who won. Randy Schekman of UC- Berkeley and Stanford's Thomas Sudhof awarded about $1.2 million for their ground breaking work.

Five of Bernie Madoff's former employees, including his long-time secretary are in court and on trial. Prosecutors hoping to prove they played role in his epic Ponzi scheme. Madoff's former chief financial officer is the star witness. Madoff claimed he worked alone. Prosecutors believe he had help.

That trial is expected to last several months. Madoff is currently serving a 150-year sentence.

Researchers in China found something interesting. They think they have found the secret to Albert Einstein's brilliance, a well- connected brain. Specifically, they say the left and right hemispheres of Einstein's brain had more extensive nerve fibers compared to young men of his era and present day elderly men.

So, that means we need to work your brain, Chris.

BOLDUAN: Exactly. We all need to work on the fibers connecting the hemisphere of our brain.

PEREIRA: Let's come up with a smoothie that does that.

BOLDUAN: Sure they will.

Thanks, Michaela.

Let's get to that troubling security mishap at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. Delta Airlines and the TSA, they are now investigating how a 9-year-old somehow managed to get through three levels of security and board plane. The boy finally stopped in question when the plane landed in Las Vegas.

George Howell has been following the developments from Minneapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is where it all started. The 9-year-old boy walked off a lightrail car Thursday and into the Minneapolis airport with plans to travel but no ticket. He passed through the security checkpoint at TSA screening. No problem.

(on camera): Then he continued onto the G Concourse, specifically here at gate G-4. It's still unclear exactly how he got past the ticket agent collecting tickets here.

(voice-over): What we do know is this minor did board Flight 1615 and traveled some 2,300 miles to Las Vegas. Officials say it wasn't until the flight crew became suspicious because he was traveling alone and contacted Las Vegas Metropolitan police and took the child into custody upon landing.

TERRY TRIPPLER, THEPLANERULES.COM: I think they should take him to table to let him play a little. His luck was doing well. Once he got to Vegas.

HOWELL: Air transportation expert Terry says the whole thing highlights big gaps in security, especially when it comes to children.

TRIPPLER: If that 9-year-old child was not needed identification, anyone under 18, I can understand standing behind a family or whatever, family is checking, they're not aware he is standing behind them, I can understand that.

I cannot understand the Delta gate agents. This is where I put the major problem. It happens there.

HOWELL: While no one would talk on camera, we did get a lot of statements, first from the TSA essentially saying they did their jobs. Quote, "The child was screened along with all other passengers to insure he was not a threat to the aircraft." And then Delta, quote, "Delta is taking this incident very seriously and working with authorities in the investigation due to the fact that it involves a minor, we are not commenting further at this time."

For the traveling public, who know the rigorous routines and airport screening.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to go through taking our shoes, go through the belt, go through the thing.

HOWELL: It's a mystery how a child could have slipped through cracks.

GORDON KELINGER, AIRPLANE PASSENGER: I'm quite surprised he got through the security. All the things we as adults have to go through.

HOWELL: George Howell, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: Thanks, George, for that report. I mean, he talks about how kids fall through the cracks. That's a pretty good crack for a kid to slip through, three security checkpoints.

CUOMO: It is, the whole investigation is complicated now. The kid says what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and he is not talking about what goes on.

BOLDUAN: Perfect. Perfect execution.

CUOMO: Coming up on NEW DAY. A tiger gets hold of a zoo worker's arm. The zoo owner says the worker admits making a mistake. But questions remain this morning -- is this zoo safe? We'll talk to them.

BOLDUAN: And women can do anything, right? The answer is yes. But one football analysts says women shouldn't be on an important college football committee. The controversial comments that have the sports world talking.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)