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Investigation into Closing of George Washington Bridge; Kansas Could be Mid-Term Election Deciding Factor; Senate Votes to Arm Syrian Rebels; Obama Plans Air Strikes for Syria

Aired September 19, 2014 - 7:30   ET

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


CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: A lot going on in the world. You now that. The politics playing a heavy hand as always. So we go "INSIDE POLITICS" on NEW DAY with Mr. John King. Happy Friday, my brother.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Chris, Kate, Michaela, TGIF to the three of you. It's a busy day "INSIDE POLITICS", some 2014, some 2016 implications. Let's start with Chris Christie. And, with me to share the reporting in our insights this Friday morning, Maeve Reston of the "Los Angeles Times," Maggie Haberman of Politico.

It could be a turning point for Governor Chris Christie. We have been waiting for months now. The investigation into the bridge closure, the George Washington Bridge. Bridgegate, we call it in shorthand. WNBC in New York is reporting with sources tell them that the federal prosecutor looking into this has had almost nine months now.

Sources telling WNBC that they have found nothing directly linking Chris Christie. That he had no personal role of this, which is what he said at the beginning. That if this played out in his house, it was a rogue action.

So, we will wait to see if that turns out. If we hear from the federal prosecutor soon and he gives Chris Christie a pass on this. And, listen to the Governor yesterday. There is also a state legislative committee investigating this. The governor says, "You have had a lot of time, enough."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R) NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR: You know what? Wrap up your work. Do your job. And, this administration, I have allowed my chief of staff to come and testify. Tell me when the last time that happened. When the executive branch allowed the chief of staff to go down in an absolutely unfettered way with no claim of privilege on any question they asked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Maggie, is the end of the tunnel at hand for Chris Christie? Maybe, I should not use that, do not use any road reference.

(LAUGHING) MAGGIE HABERMAN, POLITICO: Road rage. Look, I do not think it is a coincidence that we saw this report from WNBC while Chris Christie is simultaneously blasting the legislative committee. I think those are two things. I think if federal prosecutors do go ahead and clear Chris Christie publicly. Remember, we do not always see this with federal investigations.

KING: Right.

HABERMAN: They often let these things just go and go and go and go. There is I think some obligation when you have somebody, who is widely believed to be possibly running for President, to say if there was nothing going on than to do that. Then, I think, that puts Chris Christie. Look, he is never going to regain what he lost, politically; but, it does put him back in a much more viable place.

KING: And, we have seen him out all over the country in his role as chairman of the republican Governors Association, coincidentally --

MAEVE RESTON, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES: In Mexico.

KING: -- Yes, in swing states and early primary states. If he gets this behind him, then we have a debate about, is Chris Christie a republican nominee? Can he win Iowa? Can he win New Hampshire? Can he go on to South Carolina? Issues like taxes. Issues like guns. Issues like gay rights. Do you think, he is warming for that?

RESTON: Well, I mean I think that is what we are seeing here from the Governor is that it is crunch time for him and his people. They got to build a team. They have got to reassure donors that there is no other shoe that is ready to drop.

I remember being with Mitt Romney's donors earlier this year. When Christie addressed them, he said, "I expect all of these investigations to be wrapped up by the end of the year. They are not going to find anything new. You all should go comfortable with me."

You know, not explicitly obviously saying that he was going to run for President. But, that is a huge concern for him and he needs to get pass this period in order to start laying the groundwork, which of course is very important, two years out.

KING: Chris Christie and Jeb Bush the two sort of Governor establishment people types, we are waiting for after the end of the year. It is interesting. Again, we are waiting to see if the prosecutor issues a point.

I think Maggie makes a great point. He is a standing Governor of a big state. He is thinking about running for President. Sometimes, prosecutors just keep looking or they just wrap things up without saying anything. I think you are right. There is a burden here for the prosecutor to lay forward on what he has learned.

Let us move on to a huge 2014 ruling that could have huge implications for control of the Senate in Kansas, of all places. Hard to believe that Kansas, a red state, could decide things this mid-term election year. But, we have had a drama play out there. Well, let us look at there.

Here are the three candidates. Senator Pat Roberts is your republican incumbent. Chad Taylor is in the middle there. He was the democratic candidate. Greg Orman is the independent. Now, Chad Taylor said after the democratic primary, "Never mind, I do not want to run anymore."

And, then there was a dispute about whether he has to stay on the ballot. But, Kansas Supreme Court now has said, "He can he come off the ballot." Despite this deadline. So, you have a one-on-one race now with Pat Roberts and the independent candidate. Democrats are saying support the independent. The Roberts campaign -- I call this whining, I guess. I do not know. Let us see. This is the campaign manager says:

"In a bow to Senators Claire McCaskill and Harry Reid, liberal activist Supreme Court justices have decided that if you voted in the Democrat Primary on August 5th, your vote does not matter, your voice does not matter, and you have no say in who should be on the ballot on Election Day."

(LAUGHING)

How about saying we think Pat Roberts is a better candidate than Greg Orman and fighting this one on the substance and the issues instead of whining about the court.

RESTON: I think that statement probably tells you a lot as there obviously -- the republicans are very worried about this race. He has had a lot of issues in terms of not spending enough time at home. He has not run a good campaign. He has not been energetic on the campaign trail.

And, so, obviously, this is a big blow to the campaign and I think that you know, the GOP was hoping to really focus on these five states that they believe are on the knife's edge. And, now they have got to worry about a problem in Kansas that you know, nobody wanted to deal with. So -- not a good day for them.

KING: This is six weeks out. I mean this race in particular, you have a veteran guy whose residency has been questioned. Who has not said or done most of the right things. Can you imagine a 2014 mid- term election where Kansas decides who controls the Senate?

HABERMAN: No. And, this is also sort of like the Freddy Kruger race, right? We thought this was settled in the primary. It was over. This is not settled. This was suddenly cropped up. And, for republicans having the expanded map at this point this way, is not a positive for democrats who are much more on the edge given they are trying to retain control. This is good news.

KING: Good news for the democrats. But, we will watch this one play out. It is another fascinating race. Let us start now with the former President weighing in, in support of the current President's Iraq policy. The Senate voting last night to join the house in giving the President the money he needs to arm the Syrian rebel and train the Syrian rebels for a fight against ISIS inside Syria.

Listen to Bill Clinton on the Daily Show last night. There has been a big dispute over whether you should take ground troops off the table. Bill Clinton says President Obama in his view, has it right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: So, the reason I think that the President's strategy to combat ISIS has a chance to succeed is that the Iraqi government finally includes Sunnis who were representing those tribal leaders who are moderate and without whom ISIS cannot be defeated. We cannot win a land war in Iraq. We proved that, but they can. And, we can help them win it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: How important is his voice to this? And, I have a hard time with that sentence. We cannot win a land war in Iraq, but they can, and we can help them.

RESTON: Yes. I mean I think there is a lot of questions about whether this is the right strategy. And, obviously, we are seeing a lot of ambivalence from lawmakers, who are hearing the hesitation from their constituents at home.

But, it is I guess important for Bill Clinton to come out and strongly back the President. Because you are not necessarily seeing that from a lot of the vulnerable democrats that are running this year, because they know that you know, this is not a great issue for them when they are out there talking to their constituents.

KING: But, they are not sure how it is going to turn out. So, a lot of them are afraid to take a firm stand on this, because it might look popular today. But, they maybe learned from the last Iraq war --

RESTON: A little Hillary Clinton lesson.

KING: Has not always turned out that way.

HABERMAN: Yes. I think Maeve is right. I think this is a very prominent democrat, who is incredibly popular nationally, who is supporting the President on something where the President has really struggled. I think what will be interesting as always is to hear what Hillary Clinton says. And, that remains to be seen.

KING: We will keep an eye on her. Maeve and Maggie, thanks for coming in. As we close, I am going excuse the ladies for this one, because they are way too dignified for this. But, you know, congress did take that vote. Then they got home to campaign, six and a half weeks to Election Day. Conan O'Brien had a little bit of fun with the American people, he says not quite in tune with their government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONAN O'BRIEN, LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST: A recent report says the majority of Americans cannot name the three branches of government, judicial, executive and legislative. Yes. To make it easier, the government is renaming those branches, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Kim, Khloe and Kourtney. Mr. Cuomo, you can assign the names to the different branches. I will leave to you that responsibility.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": I do not know. Who is Kim, Khloe and Kourtney? Just kidding you, John. Just kidding you, John. Take it easy. Take it easy. Have a good weekend.

(LAUGHING)

KING: Take care, my friend.

CUOMO: Please be sure to join John King, again, Sunday morning at 8:30 for a full half hour of "Inside Politics." So, speaking of politics and what needs to be watched. The Senate has signed off. President Obama is planning his next steps against ISIS in Syria. But, is he on the same page with his top military advisers about no boots on the ground? We are going to ask the Pentagon spokesman, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Welcome back to "NEW DAY." First, the House. Now, the Senate has voted to back President Obama's strategy to arm rebels in Syria. Now, with that authorization in hand, President Obama is preparing a plan for air strikes, not in Iraq, but Syria. Very different game there.

So, the question becomes, is the President on the same page with his top military advisers? And, can American troops really be kept out of it? Joining us now, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby to discuss what the U.S. next move is. Admiral, always a pleasure. Thank you for joining us. The

REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: Thanks, Chris.

CUOMO: The plan in Syria. Will you answer the question I presented in the introduction? Is the President on the same page with the military when it comes to what needs to be done in Syria to do the job right against ISIS?

KIRBY: Chris, there is complete alignment between the White House, the President and his military leadership here at the Pentagon. From Secretary Hagel right on down to all the planners that are putting together the options for the President to consider.

As you know, he was in Tampa this week. He had a chance to get an update from General Austin. He was very pleased with the work they have done, very satisfied with the planning efforts. There is still some work to be done to continue here. But, I can tell you that all the military leadership, civilian and military, alike, are behind the plan, behind the strategy, fully supportive and we are ready to go.

CUOMO: You know, often you and I have a conversation over the year in person on television, where I am asking about your capabilities. Can the U.S. get it done? Do you have enough? Do you have what you need? Have you managed the threat correctly? This is very different.

It is about can they get it done. Do you see anybody stepping up from the supposed coalition who is willing to fight? We had the former foreign minister from Jordan, who said, "Well, it is you, guys, who want to fight. It is the U.S., not us. We cannot commit our troops to this." Who is going to fight on the ground?

KIRBY: There is a coalition that is growing in size, even as we speak today, Chris. I mean the French just announced, just a little bit ago.

CUOMO: Not on the ground.

KIRBY: They conducted air strikes, though. So, I mean, there is -- there is a lot of folks that are willing to contribute to this effort. And, there are Arab countries who have signed up to support the actions that we are taking against ISIL in the region.

Now, each country has to do what they can. They have to do it in accordance with their own capabilities and their own principles, their own mandates from their country. And, not all of them will contribute to aggressive strikes. Not all of them will contribute to efforts on the ground.

But, they are all interested in contributing in some way. And, that is what a coalition ruling is all about. The most important partners, Chris that we need to remember on the ground are Iraqis, there are Kurds and there are Syrians. And, that is why yesterday's vote on the hill was so important.

Because now we can move forward with this train and equip program in Syria. To get a moderate opposition that is able and capable of defending Syrian citizens of pushing back on ISIL and also pushing back on the Assad regime. Those are the most important partners and those are the ones that we are trying hard to develop.

CUOMO: Admiral, are those the most important partners because they are the only partners. They are the only people signing up to fight on the ground and you know you have to be on the ground at some point to finish the job?

KIRBY: Any time that you are going against a terrorist group like this, and we have learned this over 13 years of war and struggle that indigenous forces, local forces and local citizens are your most important counterweights to a terrorist network in your neighbourhood. There is no question about that.

Now, I am not going to sit here and make commitments for other Arab nations. As I said, Arab Nations have expressed a willingness to help. They have to speak to what they are willing to do and communicate that in their own way. But, I can tell you that the partners on the ground that we are most interested in, in developing and helping and equipping, are Iraqis and Syrians. CUOMO: Hearing from different aspects of the military frustration.

The politics is getting in the way with the practicalities of the situation, that if the U.S. went in on the ground, this would get done faster. The right way and allow for quicker control of the problem. Do you believe or accept the idea that politics are getting in the way of good practicality here?

KIRBY: No. I do not. I, absolutely, fundamentally refute that notion altogether. And, I have seen the press reports on this. But, listen, there was a great briefing in Wednesday between General Austin and the commander-in-chief.

I can tell you that General Austin walked away from that feeling that, A. His advice was being listened to and heeded. And, B. He was getting all the support that he needs from Washington. So, everybody is in alignment with the strategy. Everybody knows what we have to do and we are moving now.

CUOMO: All right. Admiral Kirby, thank you very much for the perspective. As always, appreciate it. Have a good weekend, sir.

KIRBY: Thanks Chris. Good to be with you.

CUOMO: ISIS, topic of discussion with the admiral, trying to find out from the military perspective. But, they are grabbing the headlines. Made no mistakes. They are not the only ones that we have to be worried about. Al-Qaeda is still out there, still a major threat. So, is the terror group growing while we are not looking, because we are focused on ISIS? What is going on with al-Qaeda? What is going on with the Taliban? We are going to tell you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Welcome back to "NEW DAY" everyone. So much of the recent terrorism focus has, of course, been on ISIS and the threat of ISIS. But, U.S. Officials are saying that there maybe a more mediate threat to the homeland than ISIS.

It comes from al-Qaeda cell that is operating inside Syria. CNN's Pamela Brown has been digging into the details. She is joining us here with much more of that and a more immediate threat than ISIS. Tell us about it.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Absolutely. In fact, for the first time, yesterday, a top intelligence official in the U.S. publicly acknowledged this group of al-Qaeda terrorists in Syria known as Khorasan.

The real threat here according to U.S. officials is the combination of the technical bomb making experience and access to a huge pool of foreign fighters with European and American passports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN (voice-over): It is newer, even smaller bombs than the ones in these toothpaste tubes that have U.S. Officials so concerned. In American intelligence officials said publicly, the government is worried about a terrorist cell in Syria known as Khorasan, saying it is working with al-Qaeda bomb makers to target U.S. flights. The same bomb makers including Ibraham al-Asiri. Behind the failed 2001 underwear bomb in the Detroit bound plane; and the bomb hidden in a printer cartridge on a cargo plane in 2010.

JAMES CLAPPER, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: These Khorasan groups so-called, which I guess is out there is potentially yet another threat to the homeland.

BROWN (voice-over): U.S. Officials say, Khorasan is made up of al- Qaeda fighters, who were fighting in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region. The worry is they are in Syria, working to recruit European and American foreign fighters, who can use their passports to smuggle bombs on to U.S. bound airplanes.

Unwf the operatives who moved from the border region to Syria is a saudi operative who is an experienced fighter, he was part of al qaeda is command structure in the afghanistan/pakistan border region and a year or so ago he moved to Syria and according to the United States intelligence services, he is involved in plotting atacks against western targets.

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: One of the operatives who has moved to Afghanistan-Pakistan border region to Syria is a Saudi operative called Abdul Rahman Al Jahani. He is an experienced fighter. He was part of al-Qaeda's command's structure in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. In a year or so ago, he moved to Syria. And, according to United States Intelligence services, he is involved in plotting attacks against western targets.

BROWN (voice-over): Wednesday, U.S. Officials hinted at those same concerns, telling congress al-Qaeda affiliates are intent on targeting U.S. flights.

MATTHEW OLSEN, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER: Over the past five years, Al-Qaeda and the Arabian Peninsula sought on three times to take down an airplane bound for the United States.

BROWN (voice-over): And, U.S. Officials say there is fierce competition between al-Qaeda and ISIS to be known as the biggest, baddest Jihadi organization.

CRUICKSHANK: That would be a very, very worrying scenario indeed, if these two groups start to try to outdo each other to launch attacks back in the west. For al-Qaeda, it would be a way to restore its relevance when ISIS is grabbing all the headlines.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: The U.S. Officials say Khorasan's capability and the concern that it will try to one-up ISIS by launching an attack on U.S. are part of what makes them a more immediate threat to homeland security according to intelligence officials we have been speaking with.

BOLDUAN: And, we just had Chairman Rogers, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and he really confirmed a reporting saying that Khorasan is the more immediate threat, not that ISIS is less of a threat.

BROWN: Right.

BOLDUAN: But, Khorasan has more of a desire right now to take the attack, to take the target the United States and other western targets.

BROWN: And, it is scary because from an intelligence perspective, Syria is a black hole.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Exactly.

BROWN: They do not have a lot of intelligence there. And, I think that is what is adding to the concern.

BOLDUAN: It is great to see you, Pamela.

BROWN: You too.

BOLDUAN: Thanks so much.

CUOMO: Other big story we are dealing with this morning, Scottland has spoken. It is going to stay with the U.K., for now. The British Prime Minister delighted by the results. So, what does it mean for the Scottish people? There is so much dissension. It does not just go away. But, what does that all mean for us in the U.S.? We are going to take a live report from there for you.

And, horrible details released in the Jonathan Dwyer domestic violence case, putting the NFL's domestic violence problem once again in sharp focus. We are going to talk about the problem with Leigh Anne Tuohy, the woman who inspired the movie "The Blind Side."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, UNITED KINGDOM PRIME MINISTER: It would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Breaking overnight, the United Kingdom remains united. Scotland rejecting independence. We are live with what happens next.

BOLDUAN: The first front, congress gives the President a green light in the first phase in the battle against ISIS arming rebels to fight them on the ground. This is the terror group releases another hostage video. Will the plan work? The President's chief spokesman is joining us live.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN NEW ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Shocking new details in the domestic violence charges against a star NFL player. Leigh Anne Tuohy, whose story was the basis for the movie, "The Blind Side," weighs in. What does she think the problem is?

CUOMO: Your "NEW DAY" continues right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is "NEW DAY" with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.

BOLDUAN: Welcome back to "NEW DAY," everyone. It is Friday, September 19th, 8:00 in the east now. And, we are going to begin with an historic vote to determine whether Scotland would break away from America's closest ally. But, in the end, the United Kingdom is still united.

Scotland rejecting independence referendum with record turnout across the Atlantic. British Prime Minister David Cameron very pleased with that result, which came following a last-minute promise to grant more powers to Scotland's parliament.

So, what does this now all mean? Let us get to Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson. He has all the very latest from Glasgow, Scotland.