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Hillary Clinton's E-mails Released; TLC Pulls "19 Kids and Counting"; Suspect Daron Wint Captured; Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired May 22, 2015 - 15:30   ET

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


[15:30:00] STEVEN BUCCI, FORMER SPECIAL FORCES OFFICER/TOP PENTAGON OFFICER: They used some very sort of innovative suicide vehicles to do bulldozer things of that nature. These guys are thinking. So he's right, it isn't that they just rolled through like they did when they first came back into Iraq. But this isn't a sign of a weakness, in my mind. It's a sign they're maturing, which is dangerous.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: You're a former Pentagon official, right? So I really want your take on the president and what we heard the president say in his interview this week to "the Atlantic," saying the United States is not losing the war on ISIS. I just wonder from your standpoint of formerly being at the Pentagon, how does he come to that assessment? Where's the tipping point?

BUCCI: Well, I have to say that the president is being particularly optimistic in his assessment. I would agree we're not losing the war to ISIS, but unfortunately, we're darn sure not winning it either. And we really need to step up the air campaign. We need have more of it. We need to embed some American special operators with those local forces on the ground, the Iraqi security forces and the Kurds, to really make them more effective than they've been thus far.

HARLOW: Ahmed Ali, Steven Bucci, guys, thank you very much for your expertise. I appreciate it.

BUCCI: Thanks for having us.

HARLOW: Coming up next, new developments just into us here at CNN involving the Duggars. You know that famous reality TV show of "19 kids and counting." The network, TLC, that carries the show, taking action after the Duggars' eldest son has apologized for accusations of child molestation. Brian Stelter is CNN senior media correspondent next with those breaking details.

Also, the first set of Hillary Clinton's emails has been released. What do they say, and what is she saying in response to them? We'll talk to Michael Smerconish about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:36:17] HARLOW: All right, this just into us here at CNN. The cable network TLC has decided to pull all episodes of the hit show "19 kids and counting." They're pulling it off the air. This happens as one of the stars of that show has apologized after reports surfaced that he allegedly molested young girls while he was teenager. Joining me now is CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter.

Brian, what's the network saying?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Sorry about that, Poppy. I turned off the phone with an executive at Discovery. They say this is the family in crisis and it is no time for a television show. That is why they pulled all episodes of "19 kids and counting" from their schedule. And they're doing that effective immediately.

Here is the statement. It says they pulled all episodes currently on the air. That includes some who are going to be aired today. And the statement now goes on to say it is a really tragic situation for the family and a very difficult situation for the family. They say their thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the situation, including the family and the victims.

One of the complicating factors here, Poppy, is that among the alleged victims in this case are the family members, some of their family members. That is something that TLC says that did not know. Apparently no one at TLC had seen this police report that was published by "In Touch Weekly" magazine yesterday. That's what kicked off this real scandal and real crisis. I think the key phrase from the company right now is the family in crisis.

HARLOW: Right.

STELTER: It is worth noting, the cameras weren't there today. The cameras weren't going to be there today. Right now, they're on a break from filming. So it is not as if there were new episodes being produced right now. But obviously, this is one of TLC's biggest show. So they would have been working on a new season that would have premiere in the coming months. So I think at the moment, there's going to be no word on whether they're actually doing that or not. But it is noteworthy, they are not cancelling this today. They're just suspending it for now.

HARLOW: All right, Brian Stelter breaking the news for us as he always does. Appreciate it, Brian. Thank you.

Well, the state department has released its first batch of Hillary Clinton's emails detailing the aftermath of the 2012 Benghazi compound attack. Nearly 300 messages, 200 of those emails were made public today. This is all on the heels of the backlash against the former secretary of state after it was revealed that she exclusively used private email in a private secure email server to conduct official business.

The 2016 presidential candidate reacted today to the release of those emails while she was on the campaign trail in New Hampshire. She said quote "the information in the emails was handled appropriately."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, first of all, I'm glad that the emails are starting to come out. This is something that I've asked to be done, as you know, for a long time. And those releases are beginning. I want people to be able to see all of them. And it is the fact that we have released all of them that have any government relationship whatsoever. In fact, the state department have the vast majority of those anyway because they went to what are called dot-gov accounts.

I'm aware that the FBI has asked that a portion of one email be held back. That happens in the process of freedom of information act responses. But that doesn't change the fact that all of the information in the emails was handled appropriately.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: All right. Officials say that we're going to get more of those emails. They're going to roll them out from the state department on an ongoing basis.

CNN investigative correspondent Chris Frates joins me in Washington.

So Chris, she came forward, she talked about these. It's really important to qualify this. Just noting, right, these are emails that she handed over to the state department. They're poring through they're releasing.

CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATIONS: Well, that's right, Poppy. And these are only 300 of the $30,000 emails that she has turned over and they focus exclusively on Benghazi and Libya. And Democrats were quick to point out that there is no evidence her of the smoking gun. There is no stand down. There was no evidence that any guns were being run through Benghazi. And they say that this is just more evidence that Republicans are spinning crazy conspiracy theories.

Now, Republicans are quick to point out that a number of these emails raise questions about security in Benghazi and in Libya. They point to an August 24th email, for example, that says that there were some warning signs of a deteriorating security situation. They want to know why did that happened.

And the other thing here, Poppy, that is really interesting is you get some sense of how Hillary Clinton run the state department. A few days before Christmas, two of her top aides were set to go and testified on Capitol Hill. She couldn't make it. She had fallen down and suffered a concussion. And she writes to them, so I'll be nursing my cracked head and cheering you on as you remain calm and carry on.

And there's also another, email from a top aide to Hillary that talks about, you know, some of the things that she has going on. She needs Hillary to come in and take a look at some gowns and blouses. She also needs Hillary to make a call to one of the officers who was hurt in Benghazi. And then they also need to decide what to do with an Oscar exhibit that looks like it may have been at the Clinton library in Little Rock.

So you get a sense of kind of how broad and wide of a schedule she has. And it's very interesting look in how she ran the state department. Lots more emails are going to be coming out over the next few months, Poppy. This is just our first look at Libya and Benghazi in particular. We will see lots more here in the next few months.

[15:41:38] HARLOW: All right, Chris Frates, thanks. Appreciate it. Let's talk about it more with CNN political commentator and host of CNN show, "SMERCONISH," Michael Smerconish.

We are right next to each other on Saturdays. Nice to be actually at the desk with you. What do you make of sort of her reaction? She addresses it on camera. She gets asked about it today in New Hampshire. This is just the beginning.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No blood drawn is the headline I think I would put on this. And you correctly I think identified Christie, the issue why it's ridiculous to say was there a smoking gun in any of this because we're talking about information that she put forth. Presumably if it were, Poppy, a smoking gun, it's not the sort of information, she would handed it over to the state department to begin with.

So this is the first of many releases. As you know it's going to be on a rolling basis instead of one document dump. And I think at a certain point, this will begin to be perceived as why do they keep going over all of her information with such a fine-tooth comb if they're not doing likewise with other candidates. So either something needs to be generated in these releases or Republicans are on the risk of being perceive as over playing the Benghazi card, which I think they did in 2012.

HARLOW: You point out these are emails that she's handed over.

SMERCONISH: Right.

HARLOW: We ever going to get all, all, all of them?

SMERCONISH: Well, I guess, you know, a critic would say to the extent that there are emails out there that would somehow look damning of her conduct in office. Every email is a two-way communication. So there's someone else out there who either sent it or who receive it and in the era of where everybody writes a memoir, maybe at some point something will be forthcoming.

But what I saw, because I've spent the afternoon not only looking at that which has been released but also the reaction to it, it's evidence of a shifting narrative pertaining to events as they developed in real time. A critic would say, well, they clung to the narrative of this having been a spontaneous demonstration, even when they knew it wasn't because in a political contact that belied the claim that, you know, bin Laden and Al-Qaeda had been defeated.

So everyone looking for angle could read something into it, but really, on balance, none of this I believe moves the needle.

HARLOW: Yes. Certainly, it doesn't rollouts. Talk about the best rollout you have seen thus far.

SMERCONISH: Of the candidates?

HARLOW: Yes, on either side.

SMERCONISH: I would probably say Marco Rubio insofar as he's been able to elevate himself and garner some stature in the party nationally that I don't think that he had. I don't think that there had been any major stumbles along the way on either side of the aisle. But I think that Rubio was the one who was able to enhance his position the most with his announcement and positioning himself thus far as sort of the Jeb alternative.

HARLOW: It's interesting. One thing that I've been noticing as someone who reports a lot on business and economics is that both camps have been increasingly talking about poverty and income inequality. We've seen so many GOP prospective candidates talking about this. And this at the same time that we learn, you know, just last week that the Clinton made $30 million over a year and a half. It's going to be interesting line for both parties to walk.

SMERCONISH: Well, I think that it is. And I think that the issue with regard to the Clinton finances and specially the revelations will last 24 hours because "the Washington Post" broke some new ground on this today. To me, this is a bigger lurking problem for the Clinton campaign than the Benghazi situation.

HARLOW: Really?

SMERCONISH: And its gets the question -- yes, it's the question that Peter Schweitzer raises in the book, "Clinton Cash," asking whether foreign individuals were precluded from making donations to our campaigns. And I think that is a good rule. We're nevertheless able to carry favor with Bill or with Hillary by making contributions to the foundation or by engaging Bill to speak and out of level that frankly had been seeing before.

So a whole host of new revelations in that regard today that hadn't been disclosed by the Clinton campaign. But Poppy, it's complicated. You got to invest some time to fully appreciate what those stories are all about. And as you and I know, we sort to trade in a world where you got to be able to reduce it to 20 seconds.

[15:45:28] HARLOW: Not your show.

SMERCONISH: You're nice to say that.

HARLOW: You going to be talking about it this weekend?

SMERCONISH: I will indeed. Thank you for mentioning that.

HARLOW: Yes. Tune into "SMERCONISH." They are twice, 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

SMERCONISH: Unless you come back.

HARLOW: On Saturday. Michael, thank you. It is good to have you on as always, sir. We appreciate it.

SMERCONISH: Thank you. HARLOW: Coming up next, a CNN drone, and yes, I said that right, we

have drones taking these phenomenal pictures. A CNN drone offers a new view of at widespread devastating oil spill in Sta. Barbara and the stain left on popular California Beach. This as CNN takes a closer look at the oil company responsible for that pipeline disaster.

We're also awaiting a news conference that could happen at any moment as that suspect, accused in the D.C. mansion murders makes his first court appearance. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:50:31] HARLOW: All right, we are continuing to track breaking news here. Obviously we've been following the manhunt that allowed police to last night, late last night, capture this man you're looking at. Daron Wint there in Washington, D.C. after a manhunt that's been 400 miles. Obviously, they are looking at him. The police believe that he is the one who murdered four people, four family members in that mansion in Washington, D.C. We have a lot of new really stunning details coming in to us on this case, as Wint made his first court appearance today.

Tom Foreman joins me outside the federal courthouse there in Washington.

What else are we learning, Tom?

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as Wint walked into the courtroom he basically kept his face away from anybody in the room being able to see him. But basically, what the prosecution said is that this DNA was the real key. That and the fact that they say when Wint was captured, he was captured in concert with this other vehicle, that there were money orders in the car that had been purchased that others in the group said had been purchased with some of the money from the house. They're saying that's the case.

Now, the defense said, look, the pizza, by the government's own case, ordered on Wednesday evening. The government says the murders occurred on Thursday. Maybe he was at the house, but had nothing to do with what happened on Thursday. The judge said he would not buy that. He said there is circumstantial evidence here. That what it is, but there is a lot of it.

That's why he said, no. Wint stays in custody. He will be charged with this crime and they will move forward. The question still remains, what about the other people? Because the government has insisted in its documents that somebody else had to be involved. They believe there were more people at this house, that the killings took place after the money was delivered, and that this was a concerted effort all along.

This is just beginning to unfold in terms of all the details here, but this was a first look at this man and court made it clear they're not letting him walk until a lot of details are sorted out here.

HARLOW: Tom, what more have we learned about the housekeeper? The 57-year-old housekeeper murdered as well?

FOREMAN: Well, just that she seems to have been, you know, from all indications right now, it seems to be wrong place, wrong time. There are some indications that she might have been alive when they actually came into the house, and it was on fire. The three adults, according to the papers, were in one room where these pizza boxes were. The 10- year-old boy was by himself in a different room. His body, the three adults were picked up and transported because there was a sense there might be some of them able to be saved. Obviously that wasn't the case. The 10-year-old boy that was in a room where they say his body was burned so badly. The bed he was on burned so badly, he was burned through to the floor. So that's what we know right now and a lot more details beginning to add up here.

HARLOW: Tom Foreman breaking the latest details for us. Tom, great reporting. Thank you very much.

Coming up next, ISIS on the move taking over another town as it gets closer and closer to Baghdad. This is the terror group, taking responsibility for attacks in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:30:00] HARLOW: Well, today CNN hero has been biking for 70 years, and she is using that passion to give children in her community a new outlook on life. We want you to meet Marilyn Price.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARILYN PRICE, CNN HERO: I've been riding since age four. I will never forget my father when he let go of my seat and I was there on my own, and that was 70 years ago. A lot of kids have never really left the city. To them, everything is concrete.

Is everybody excited?

I decided to take kids who have never had my kind of experience on these mountain bike rides.

OK, you guys. Let's hit the road.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wasn't trying at school. I was getting straight Fs. I got expelled. When we go on bike rides I kind of feel like it clears my mind.

PRICE: Looking good.

I've been doing this for almost 30 years. You bring them where there are no buildings. It is like, wow. I didn't know that this exists. And then we have our "Earn a Bike" program where kids in the community come after school.

What's wrong with it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The chain.

PRICE: So the chain's loose?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

PRICE: They learn how to work on bikes and earn points towards bikes of their only.

That looks great.

They learn good job skills.

This bike's getting quite an overhaul.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now I have As and Bs. They're like my guide to a better life.

PRICE: There is opportunity to see that, yes, I have been able to accomplish what I thought I couldn't. It is not just biking. We are imparting life lessons.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: All right. If you want to nominate your own hero go to CNNheroes.com.

Also, I want you to know we're monitoring a press conference. We're waiting to hear from the acting U.S. attorney, Vincent Carter, talking about that D.C. manhunt. We're going to have that for you on "the LEAD" coming up in a moment.

That does it for me. "The LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.