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How Much Mitchell Helped Convicts Escape; Gene Palmer's Attorney Says Mitchell Manipulated Palmer, Had No Knowledge of Escape; Confederate Flag Issue Affects Big Business; Confederate Flag Issue Sparks Intensity, Anger; Baltimore Newspaper Reports Freddie Gray Autopsy Results; Two Sentenced in North Korea to Hard Labor for Life; Funeral Services for Nun Who Succeeded Mother Teresa; Trump Makes Impression on Voters. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired June 23, 2015 - 01:00   ET

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


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[01:00:] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: New details about the woman who allegedly helped two killers escape from a maximum security prison.

ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: The Confederate flag issue. South Carolina debate now spreads nationwide.

VAUSE: And U.S. response after WikiLeaks accuses the NSA of spying on French presidents.

ASHER: A warm welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Zain Asher.

VAUSE: Great to have you with us. I'm John Vause. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

We begin with new details with how far a seamstress went to help two convicted killers escape.

ASHER: CNN has learned Joyce Mitchell routinely sought out favors for both those inmates and it's now confirmed she provided them with tools they needed to break out.

Here's our Jason Carroll with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sources involved in the investigation are telling CNN that Joyce Mitch convinced a guard at the facility to smuggle in a slab of frozen hamburger meat. Inside the slab of meat, hacksaw blades. This according to the source. We're also hearing Joyce Mitchell for several months had vouched for both inmates, Richard Matt and David Sweat, going as far as recommending to prison officials that David Sweat's cell be moved next to Richard Matt's.

All this as Joyce Mitchell's husband has come forward, talking about all of those allegations surrounding his wife. (voice-over): As the search continues for the escaped inmates, a

chill video from "ABC News" shows Richard Matt in 1997 smiling and posing with a blow gun, offering some insight into his mindset.

RICHARD MATT, ESCAPED CONVICT: Look at that. On A Block and we'll put padding on them and we'll sell them as deadly weapons.

CARROLL: The blowgun is then fired into his arm. The video taken nine months before he murdered and dismembered his own boss.

48-year old Matt and 45-year-old David Sweat are the center of a massive manhunt. Their escape, police say, aided by 51-year-old prison employee, Joyce Mitchell, who befriended the convicted killers and allegedly agreed to be their getaway driver.

LYLE MITCHELL, HUSBAND OF JOYCE MITCHELL: I said, how can you do that? She said it just got out of hand and then I was scared and didn't know what to do.

CARROLL: Mitchell's husband, Lyle, speaking to NBC's Matt Lauer denied reports his wife had a relationship with David Sweat and denied that she had sex with Matt.

MITCHELL: She didn't know if I loved her anymore, she said. It went too far. He tried to kiss her a couple of times. She said no. She said that's when he started to threaten her about things.

CARROLL: Law enforcement sources tell CNN Joyce Mitchell told investigators Matt and Sweat tried planed to kill her husband. According to Lyle, Matt even offered pills to, quote, "knock him out."

MITCHELL: She said, I love my husband, I'm not hurting him, and then I knew I was over my head and she said, I can't do this.

CARROLL: Lyle said his wife acknowledged the attention the inmates gave her and that her involvement was a fantasy, that she was a victim of Matt's charm.

But Mitchell maybe more con than victim. A source familiar with the investigation said for several months Mitchell routinely vouched for Matt and Sweat at the prison, bringing baked goods to guards in exchange for favors for the two inmates. That source saying Mitchell went so far as to go to prison officials and ask that Sweat's cell be moved next to Matt's.

The Clinton Correctional Facility would not comment on whether Mitchell requested the two be housed next to each other. A spokeswoman for the department of corrections said there are a number of ongoing investigations and until they have concluded, quote, "We will not be able to provide information on issues that maybe up for review."

(on camera): Prison policy under review. We are hearing the New York state inspector general has joined the investigation looking in to everything that went on before that daring escape.

Jason Carroll, CNN, Cadyville, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: The attorney for the prison guard, which Jason mentioned in his report, said his client was manipulated by Joyce Mitchell.

ASHER: Gene Palmer is a 28-year-old veteran of Clinton Correctional Facility and is now on paid leave.

Palmer's attorney spoke to our Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW BROCKWAY, ATTORNEY FOR GENE PALMER: Mr. Palmer had no knowledge what was inside the package. He had no knowledge of any tools inside. The only mistake he made is trusting Joyce Mitchell.

[01:05:02] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, A.C. 360: Do you know why he trusted Joyce Mitchell on this? Did he know her that well? Did he think that Richard Matt was a good guy? Did he not have any suspicions? He could have run it through a metal detector

BROCKWAY: He could have run it through a metal detector. That was his mistake, Anderson. He didn't run it through the metal detector. He feels guilty about that. He is regretful. He apologizes for that. But Mrs. Mitchell was just as manipulative as the two inmates were. He trusted her. Didn't have a close relationship with her but she was able to do this to many individuals who worked inside the prison, I have been told.

COOPER: You said she was able to do this to other individuals. You mean she gave things to other individuals to sneak in to the prison?

BROCKWAY: I wouldn't go that far, but she did, in her own way, manipulate other guards to do favors for inmates that she was close to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Police questioned Palmer for 14 hours on Saturday. He is not facing any charges.

ASHER: We want to update another story we are following. Newly released dash cam video shows police arrested the alleged shooter in last week's church massacre in South Carolina. Officers caught up with Dylann Roof in Shelby, North Carolina. Law enforcement officials say the 21-year-old has confessed to killing nine African-Americans at a historic black church in Charleston.

VAUSE: The killings prompted debate over the Confederate flag which Roof is seen holding in a number of photographs. As a result, major retailer, eBay, Amazon, Walmart and Sears say they will stop selling merchandise that has the banner, which the American southern states fought under during the U.S. Civil War in the mid 1800s.

ASHER: South Carolina lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly in favor of opening up debate on a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state capital.

VAUSE: Across the south, the battleground of the Confederacy seems to be in retreat. While some see the flag as a symbol of heritage, others a symbol of racist.

Martin Savidge reports from Charleston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHANTING)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of South Carolinians rallied on the steps of the South Carolina state house, while inside, lawmakers debate the Confederate flag and its place on capital grounds.

STATE REP. HUGH LEATHERMAN, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: It's extremely important issue for our state.

SAVIDGE: Tonight, the fate of the controversial piece of southern heritage hangs in the balance.

STATE REP. PAUL THURMOND, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: Our ancestors were literally fighting to keep human beings as slaves, and continued unimaginable acts that occur when someone is held against their will. I am not proud of this heritage.

SAVIDGE: The controversy is not a new one. The flag was removed from atop the capital dome in 2000 and raised on the state house grounds.

But after last week's massacre, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, a Republican, made it clear where she stands.

NIKKI HALEY, (R), GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA: It's time to move the flag from the capital grounds.

(APPLAUSE)

SAVIDGE: Many prominent Republican politicians have followed suit, some reversing long-held belief that the flag represents southern heritage.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: This is the circumstance where the people led the politicians. I came to conclude after going to Charleston that we had to act, sooner rather than later. And God help South Carolina if we fail to achieve the goal of removing the flag.

(CHANTING)

SAVIDGE: Rallying cries is sweeping the south, from South Carolina to Mississippi, one of the few states where the Confederate flag still flies. Lawmakers who once embraced the symbol of the old south are joining a growing chorus.

Mississippi's House speaker took to Facebook to do what no other Republican in the state has done, publically call for a change. Quote, "As a Christian, I believe our state's flag become a point of offense that needs to be removed," he wrote.

TERRY MCAULIFFE, (R), VIRGINIA GOVERNOR: I believe the same is true here in the commonwealth of Virginia.

SAVIDGE: In Virginia, the state's governor announced the state would take steps to stop issuing license plates bearing the offensive flag.

North Carolina's governor made a similar request.

National retailers, including Sears, Amazon and Walmart, have announced they will remove Confederate flag merchandise.

Walmart's CEO explained his decision to CNN.

DOUG MCMILLON, CEO, WALMART: We don't want to not sell products that make anyone feel uncomfortable and this is the right thing to do.

SAVIDGE: Martin Savidge, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: 10 South Carolina representatives voted against the Confederate flag debate bill.

VAUSE: One of them, Republican Representative Bill Chumley. He told CNN's Drew Griffin the flag issue was settled in 2000 and that's when lawmakers voted to move it to the current War Memorial position.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: You are opposed to open up debate, is that right?

STATE REP. BILL CHUMLEY, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I think this has been settled.

GRIFFIN: In terms of 15 years ago.

CHUMLEY: Yes.

GRIFFIN: You don't think the state has grown from 15 years ago to now in terms of demographic and feel of the state.

[01:10:10] CHUMLEY: No, I don't think so. I think mis-education of the flag has pushed it to this point. I think the demographics are the same. My constituents are calling and talking to me a lot about it. That's the way they feel.

GRIFFIN: But if hate groups have misused the flag an adopted it as its own, and hate groups are certainly creating divisive issue over this, why continue to fly it here at the state capital?

CHUMLEY: Let me ask you a question. Why do we let hate groups dictate how we feel and live? Hate groups are everywhere. People are -- there are mean people everywhere. We found that out in Charleston. We're focusing on the wrong thing here. We need to focus on the nine families that are left and see this doesn't happen again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: Another state lawmaker who voted against the bill told CNN he believes the fate of the flag should be debated in, quote, "the normal process, which would be filing the bill in December."

VAUSE: To be clear for many people out there of may not what happened in 2000, the rebel flag used to fly on top of the capital dome. Part of the compromise deal was to take it down from the capital dome but place it in front of the state capital so it is still on government property. That's what they are talking about now, removing it all together.

ASHER: All together.

VAUSE: Moving on, WikiLeaks says the National Security Administration wiretapped three French three presidents over the last decade. France's current president has called a meeting with his defense council to discuss those allegations.

ASHER: In a statement, a U.S. spokesperson said, quote, "We are not targeting and will not targeting and will not target the communications of President Francois Hollande. We do not conduct any foreign intelligence activities unless there is a specific and validated national security purpose."

In 2013, there were allegations the U.S. spied on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, intensifying tension between the U.S. and Germany, but German prosecutors dropped that probe earlier this month citing insufficient evidence.

VAUSE: And at the same time, U.S. officials are taking up the issue of cybersecurity as they meet with Chinese officials this week.

ASHER: The talks are part of an annual meeting that may come at a time of decreasing trust between the two countries.

VAUSE: Among other things, U.S. officials blame Chinese hackers for breaching 18 million U.S. government personnel files.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK LEW, U.S TREASURY SECRETARY: With cyberspace in particular, we remain deeply concerned about Chinese government-sponsored cyber enabled theft of confidential business information and proprietary information from U.S. companies. Such activity falls outside of the bounds of acceptable state behavior in cyberspace. A more open, secure and reliable cyberspace is critical to free and fair commerce. We look forward to discussing these matters further.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: Of course, China continues to deny that it hacked the U.S. file. Talks are scheduled to continue through Wednesday.

VAUSE: The heat wave in Pakistan has killed 748 people. Witnesses describe victims have been dropping dead in the streets as temperatures top 45 Celsius, 113 degrees Fahrenheit, this past weekend.

ASHER: The city's resources are stretched. Overwhelmed with a growing number of dead while hospitals have been swamped with people suffering from heat stroke and dehydration. Frequent power outages have left many Pakistanis without air conditioning or running water.

VAUSE: Pakistanis with air conditioning, it's out right now because of power outages.

Pedram Javaheri, our meteorologist, has been following the problem in Pakistan with the heat.

Southern Pakistan and Karachi, they are looking forward to when this might come to an end.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, it looks like these seven days, early as five to seven days. Best shot of showers that will be enough to create cooling the energy taken from the atmosphere to cool off a bit. One of the most important things we haven't touched on, is across Karachi we have gone three and a half days where the temperatures failed to get below 33 Celsius. That is the normal high for this time of the year. That's what is going on at 4:00, five in the morning. Factor in the humidity by the afternoon in the upper 50s. And almost counterintuitive. You think of extreme heat and it makes sleeping difficult to do when your body is overheated by day. Think of not having air conditioning, exposed to the elements and your body temperature needs to drop a degree or two to get to a deep state of sleep. That doesn't happen readily when you do not cool to 90 degrees in to the night.

Look at the mosques and people are trying to find any shelter they can get. Largest fatalities worldwide have occurred. Some across India as recently as last month. 2300 fatalities. Top ten hottest years have occurred since 2000. All of this plays together as far as what's happening across portions of Pakistan and India in recent weeks. The monsoonal moisture should be there in the next week and a half, two weeks. I want to take you in to India and show you video out of India. Tremendous flooding in place. They have seen 26 percent above average in the rainfall across here.

If we can jump on to the video out of China, they are seeing seasonal rains in full swing as well. Tremendous force with the water coming down. The rivers have burst their banks. You look at what is happening in Pakistan and next door and then on in top Asia and they are seeing historic rainfall. Pretty extreme weather happening at this moment.

[01:16:26] VAUSE: Part of the problem in Pakistan, it's Ramadan.

ASHER: Right.

VAUSE: Majority Muslim country, a lot of people fasting during the day with no food and water.

JAVAHERI: Top-four longest days of year were Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: It is brutal.

JAVAHERI: Brutal.

VAUSE: Pedram, thank you.

ASHER: Thank you so much, Pedram.

VAUSE: We'll take a short break. When we come back, services returning to normal in Europe after an industrial accident caused chaos. We will have details ahead.

ASHER: Plus, European officials continue talks on Greece's debt crisis as next week's payment deadline looms closer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:20:57] VAUSE: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. The first train left London for Paris a few minutes ago after a ferry strike on Tuesday in northern France suspended Euro train service. The company says it is resuming normal and full service between the U.K. and Europe.

ASHER: A different scene from Tuesday in France where ferry workers blocked roads and officials were forced to close the tunnel under the English Channel. The protests were over expected job losses on ferries.

VAUSE: The strike caused major gridlock on roadways near Calais. As traffic backed up for miles, many migrants who leave nearby used the chance to cross the English Channel and make their way to Britain.

Eric McLaughlin reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The line of traffic making its way through France. Most places, this is a travel nightmare commuters try to avoid. But in Calais, France, it is seen as an opportunity. Aerial footage shows migrants scramble to board trucks to England. Police try to handle the situation. Scenes like this are common in Calais where an estimate 3,000 migrants live in tents waiting for a chance to cross the English Channel. Many say the problem is getting worse.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a catastrophic. No other word for it. You can see around you. There's trash everywhere, broken fence, burned buildings a couple of weeks ago. 3,000 people living in conditions like that and don't have -- they don't have enough of anything. MCLAUGHLIN: On Tuesday came an opportunity to escape the squalor.

The ferry employees protesting ship sales of the company, eventually shutting down the tunnel, Eurostar Rail and all ferry traffic, sparking travel chaos as far as London. Police used tear gas and force. Protesters with pushed to the side of the road. The scene, a magnet for desperate migrants.

Erin McLaughlin, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: We turn to Greece. There maybe light at the end of the tunnel in the Greek debt crisis. Finance officials are set to meet on Wednesday to discuss Greece's latest proposals. Greece has one week to secure a new deal or risk missing the deadline to repay the IMF.

For the latest let's go to Elinda Labropoulou in Athens, Greece.

Elinda, just talking about this Greek proposal, they have been so focused on raising taxes in terms of raising a little bit more from vat taxes, taxes on the wealthy. Shouldn't there be an effort to focus on spending cuts, especially when you think of what raising taxes does to the health of the economy?

ELINDA LABROPOULOU, JOURNALIST: That's exactly where the public has moved on to. In the beginning it was more like make sure we have proposals, something that could lead to a deal. Now there is a closer examination of what is proposed, there is quite a lot of anger and disagreement even within the governing party about these measures. As you said, what we see here is tax, tax, tax. Also we see a lot of taxes focusing on what we would call the more productive part of the economy and the part doing better. What Greece has is an overinflated public sector. That side of things has not been addressed that much. We have some ideas, raising the retirement age and a few things along these lines, but overall what we see is a proposal very much focused on tax raises rather than dealing with some of the issues that Greece should be dealing with, such as ways to actually address tax evasion. This is why a lot of people in Greece are starting to say these measures will be counterproductive. From what we understand, there seems to be a fair amount of criticism internationally by now from people who have had the chance to look at the proposals. Hearing even the IMF finds the measures too harsh.

[01:25:14] ASHER: Elinda, I want to talk to you about Alexis Tsipras. He came to power promising to end austerity. So much hope placed on his shoulders and now he has to come back a bit, has had to back pedal. What do people there think of his proposals and what's their opinion of Tsipras overall? I know you can't generalize but has their opinion of him come down a bit.

LABROPOULOU: The polls before the proposed measures that the government's popularity is slightly decreasing. Wait and see what the reaction will be but being on the streets of Athens yesterday and talking to people, there was a rally yesterday. People complaining that with all of these cuts that they have suffered and not just cuts themselves but also the changes in prices in medication, the destruction of the health system and them having less access to the health system has really deeply affected their quality of life. It's a number of things that Greeks seem to disagree with what is happening right now. They want to see an increase in those services in health and education. What they have been waiting for the prime minister to do and to be fair to the government, I think it is trying to push for this. In this proposal and the possible deal that includes some kind of growth or debt relief that would actually make Greeks feel that at least there is genuine light at the end of the tunnel ahead. Something that not so many people are convinced it is what they see now.

ASHER: We'll see what happens in the next week or so. As you mentioned, a lot of people believe for Greece to get out of this mess there has to be a concerted effort to cut down the size of Greece's debt overall.

Elinda Labropoulou, in Athens, we appreciate it, as always. Thank you. VAUSE: We will take a short break. When we come back, major

retailers in the U.S. are pulling anything which bears the Confederate flag from the shelves. When we come back, we will look at the big business of Confederate merchandise.

ASHER: The White House is changing its policy on negotiations with hostage takers. We will have details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:31:08] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM, live all around the world. I'm John Vause.

ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Zain Asher. Let's give you your headlines.

New York Police say they think they are closing in on escaped killers, Richard Matt and David Sweat. Joyce Mitchell admits to smuggling saw blades in to the men inside of frozen hamburger meat and she allegedly convinced guards to do favors for inmates by bringing the prison employees baked goods.

VAUSE: WikiLeaks is accusing the U.S. National Security Agency of spying on three French presidents. France's current president has called a meeting with his defense council to discuss the allegations. The U.S. official said it is not targeting President Francois Hollande but will conduct surveillance if there is a need.

ASHER: A heat wave in Pakistan has killed over 700 people. It includes Karachi, which is the country's biggest city. It is during Ramadan with most abstaining from food and water during the day.

VAUSE: Four new cases of the MERS virus in South Korea. The total is at 178. The outbreak is the largest outside of Saudi Arabia where the virus was discovered. 27 people have died. More than 3,000 remain under quarantine.

ASHER: In the U.S., the debate over the Confederate flag issue is affecting big business. Major U.S. retailers are taking a stand on the debate over the flag in the wake of the church shooting, the mass murders in South Carolina.

VAUSE: The biggest retailer of them all, Walmart is one of several retailers to ban sales of merchandise which features the rebel banner saying it has no intention of offending customers.

The Walmart CEO further explained his decision to "CNN Money's. Cristina Alesci"

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG MCMILLON, CEO, WALMART: We just don't want to sell products that makes anyone feel uncomfortable. We felt like that was the case. This is the right thing to do.

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: The Confederate flag has been a long-standing symbol of racism. Why do you think it took so long to make this decision? Why do you think it took Walmart so long to make this decision?

MCMILLON: This is one of those that hadn't been keyed up for a while, obviously, in this environment awareness changes. It is hard to manage all of these items, and from time to time, we are going to find things we need to discontinue.

ALESCI: Were you shocked to see that merchandise on Walmart?

MCMILLON: I was surprised. Yeah.

ALESCI: What was your reaction?

MCMILLON: Let's not sell it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: Walmart CEO Doug McMillon there.

Hillary Clinton is also weighing in on the Confederate flag debate. During an event in Missouri, she commended the U.S. retailers' decision to remove the Confederate flag merchandise.

VAUSE: She voiced support to remove the flag from the grounds of the South Carolina state capital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Recognizing it as a symbol of our nation's racist past that has no place in our present or our future, it shouldn't fly there. It shouldn't fly anywhere.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Several states flew the Confederate flag more than 150 years ago in a war fought to preserve slavery. To this very day, many people still don't want to see that banner go away.

ASHER: CNN's Ed Lavandera caught up with one man with a very blunt view of his own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's no question the Confederate flag symbol is deeply embedded in some parts of southern culture. As you have seen, a growing chorus of people calling for the flag to disappear. But in recent days, we saw today firsthand the intensity and anger this issue can spark.

UNIDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE FLAG SUPPORTER: Are we on your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) agenda today? Get out of Summerville.

[01:35:03] LAVANDERA (voice-over): This is what happened when we tried to shoot video at a store in South Carolina selling Confederate flag memorabilia. This man, who refused to identify himself, wanted to make sure we couldn't show you the sign announcing three shirts for $25. He threw in an obscenity laced tirade for free.

UNIDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE FLAG SUPPORTER: People come together in peace (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Why don't you worry about that? (EXPLETIVE DELETED). This is peaceful. (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You guys are stirring stuff.

LAVANDERA: It didn't end there. The man followed us and tried to get in the way of us shooting other pictures around town.

(CHANTING)

LAVANDERA: With so much focus on the Confederate flag, tempers and passions are heated once again over this divisive symbol. Since the murders of nine African-Americans at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the calls to bring down the Confederate flag have largely focused on the one flying on the state capital grounds.

But Confederate imagery is big business. Found in countless stores, shops and front yards across the south. Confederate flag symbols are emblazoned on everything you can imagine, bumper stickers, bikinis, belt buckles, but buying these items might be getting tougher. Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Sears are banning the sale of the merchandise.

RANDY BURBAGE, SPOKESMAN, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS: This is really a different type of --

LAVANDERA: Randy Burbage keeps this in his office. He is a spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He says 57 of his ancestors fought in the Civil War, 16 died in battle. For him, the Confederate battle flag is a family symbol of honor and sacrifice.

BERGAGE: Once the flag is removed, it will start down a slippery slope and then there will be the monument will be called to be removed from state house grounds, and then the next thing will be street names and building names which has already begun. Complete eradication to eliminate all Confederate history.

LAVANDERA: Despite the calls for Confederate symbols to come down, this is a reminder that the issue won't go away without a fight.

UNIDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE FLAG SUPPORTER: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You are all part of the problem.

LAVANDERA: Ed Lavandera, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: U.S. officials say the government is changing the policy on negotiating with hostage takers. These are some of the Americans who have been detained while they were abroad. Family will be allowed to try to pay ransom for the release of their relatives. The government will directly negotiate but will not pay the actual ransom. The Obama administration has been criticized by some families who say they were threatened with prosecution if they tried to raise money to pay the ransoms. The fees increased when the government exchanged five Taliban detainees for the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

A short break here. When we come back, hard labor for life. That's what two men are facing accused of spying in North Korea. A live report from Seoul in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:40:59] VAUSE: Welcome back. A newspaper in Baltimore is reporting the autopsy result of a prisoner that sparked riots. Freddie Gray died of a severe spine cord injury seven days after transported in a police van.

ASHER: Six Baltimore police officers are facing charges including illegal arrest, assault, involuntary manslaughter and depraved heart murder.

Joe Johns has details on the report of the autopsy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: "The Baltimore Sun" reporting the injury occurred inside the police van while Freddie Gray was in custody. It says he suffered a high-energy injury like those in shallow-water diving accidents. Most likely caused when the police van decelerated. It says, "The most significant injury to Gray was the lower part of his head and the injury may have resulted when he got on his feet and was thrown in to the wall of the police van." It's been widely reported he was not in a seat belt when in the van. But the Maryland state medical examiner's report said his wrists and ankles were shackled, making him at risk for an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: All six police officers pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this week.

ASHER: ISIS militants have blown up two ancient shrines in Syria. Images show militants carrying explosives to the shrines and then the explosions that reduces them to rubble.

VAUSE: These are not among the Roman-era ruins in the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights say ISIS has planted mines near those ruins but it is unclear whether they plan to destroy them or keep government forces from advancing.

To North Korea now where two men have been sentenced to hard labor for life. The South Koreans were detained by Pyongyang in March accused of spying and crimes of terrorism.

For the latest let's go to CNN's Kathy Novak.

Kathy, they have been sentenced to indefinite labor. What are they facing here?

KATHY NOVAK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if we go by the stories that you hear from North Korean defectors that have been in labor camps themselves, their harrowing tales of working to exhaustion, given little food and physical abuse. You would imagine that's what would be the worst fears of these two men. One of them a father with two daughters who was appealing for mercy and to be released back to his family. The family of course would be very disturbed by these reports that we're hearing out of North Korea that these men have been given sentences of life in harsh labor conditions. Interestingly, if you believe the media reports of the trial that is said to have happened, the prosecution was actually calling for these men to be sentenced to death. The defense council said they should instead be sentenced to this life in labor camps. Of course the South Korean unification ministry is saying this was a decision just unilaterally made by North Korea, effectively saying this was a show trial -- John?

VAUSE: As it often is. In the past, Americans, Westerners held by North Koreans have been released after a period of time. What about South Koreans? Any chance they could be released?

NOVAK: Hard to say, John. This is quite rare when it comes to hearing about South Koreans who have been arrested, tried and sentenced to these harsh kinds of punishments that we're hearing about here. The cases of Americans, you hear in the media and there are high-level reputations made by high-profile people. Here there are no diplomatic relations between the north and south an the South Korean government is saying they have been appealing to the North Koreans to release in particular four people, including these two men who they know to be detained in North Korea. One other man is a missionary who was given a similar trial and a similar sentence last year. The fourth is a 21-year-old NYU student who is a South Korean citizen but a permanent resident of the United States. His fate is unknown. And South Korea says it is appealing repeatedly no North Korea to release all of these men. But that is falling on deaf ears so far. No communication from North Korea -- John?

[01:45:20] VAUSE: It is particularly tense there now. No communication for quite sometime.

Kathy Novak, live in Seoul, thank you.

ASHER: Funeral services are scheduled for today in Calcutta, India, for Sister Nirmala. The Catholic nun who led the city's Missionaries of Charity died Tuesday at the age of 81.

Here's our Amara Walker with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nuns pay their respects to Sister Nirmala Joshi at St. John's Church in Calcutta. Sister Nirmala, best know as a successor to Mother Teresa, was born in to a Hindu family and converted to Catholicism and led a life of service. She was the former head of Missionaries for Charity, a Roman Catholic Service Organization founded by Mother Teresa to help the poor, sick and under privileged. Sister Nirmala's name means "pure," and she was elected to the post by an overwhelming majority in 1997. She continued Mother Teresa's legacy at the charity for 12 years, ministering to places that needed it the most.

Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, was among many to express his condolences on Twitter. "Sister Nirmala's life was devoted to service, caring for the poor and under privileged. Saddened by her demise, may her soul rest in peace," he tweeted.

(SINGING)

WALKER: She died early Tuesday at the age of 81.

(SINGING)

WALKER: Amara Walker, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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[01:50:44] VAUSE: Welcome back. You don't have to be baseball fan to be amazed by the catch made by a fan Tuesday in Chicago. The Cubs' Jason Hammel fell in the second inning, and then watch what happens.

ASHER: The fan in the front row, holding a baby with one arm, snags the ball just before the Gonzalez can catch it. The umpire ruled fan interference and Hammel was called out. The fan was allowed to stay in his seat.

VAUSE: Baby didn't wait. Not one bit. Wow.

Now to U.S. politics. One presidential candidate, who are not taking seriously, but according to polls, he may be a contender.

ASHER: Donald Trump has joined the crowded Republican field and his lively commentary is making an early impression on voters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, CEO, TRUMP GROUP & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have stupid leaders. We have incompetent people in our country. We have an incompetent president. He doesn't know what is happening. We're being ripped off by the Chinese.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who do you have in mind for secretary of state?

TRUMP: I haven't given it a thought.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think you will be able to raise more money than any other candidate with your appeal?

TRUMP: I don't need money. I'm using my own.

By the way, people think I don't like China. I love China. I sold an apartment for $55 million to a Chinese gentleman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will call it the Trump tour.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: A poll by Suffolk University has the billionaire real estate mogul coming in second to Jeb Bush in New Hampshire. That's a crucial primary state. Pollsters emphasize the survey more than six months before an election could be name recognition. Let's hope so. He does have his name on a lot of things. Trump tower, everywhere.

ASHER: My favorite line is, "I don't need money. I'm using my own." Says it all.

VAUSE: Yeah.

ASHER: Most of us won't see a payday like this one. Italy's former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to give his ex-wife $1.5 million a month -- not a year, a month -- as part of a divorce settlement. Italian media reports that he was married for nearly 25 years before they broke up last year.

VAUSE: This is good news for him because his former wife was initially awarded more than $3.3 million a month. The former prime minister successfully got a court to reduce that amount on Tuesday.

ASHER: Not too shabby.

We have all sent e-mails we have later regretted. The one you wish you could hit the --

(CROSSTALK)

ASHER: -- unsend button. Google made it easier for us to take our hasty e-mails back.

VAUSE: This is a good thing.

ASHER: I don't know why it has taken so long.

VAUSE: They added an un-do feature to the web-based version of Gmail. An experimental add-on. Now users have the option of sending a time delay of five to 30 seconds before an e-mail is send out. Maybe that should be a few hours.

ASHER: No more regrets. There you have it.

U.S. Army drummer literally got the ax on live television.

VAUSE: It happened when a co-host on FOX News put on a demonstration, which they often do, went horribly wrong.

Here's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the right way to throw an ax.

(SHOUTING)

MOOS: This is a FOX News exclusive. "FOX & Friends" co-host, Pete Hegseth, says aiming for accuracy, and missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FOX CO-HOST: Who's going to win the battle of the lumberjack?

MOOS: What you didn't see on air is what the ax hit, or should we say who. Drum roll, please. The marching band drummer, Jeff Prospery (ph) got hammered by the ax as the other band members kept drumming. Ouch.

But soon after, he was interviewed by the co-host who nailed him.

JEFF PROSPERY (ph), U.S. ARMY DRUMMER: Delighted to be here.

(CROSSTALK)

MOOS: An even bigger delight to still have both hands.

On his Facebook page, Prospery (ph) posted the cell phone video called the mishap obvious negligence. "I'm thankful to God that the double- sided blade only hit broad side on the outer elbow with significant impact and a couple of cuts." He said he was "focusing on physical and emotional recovery."

(on camera): Is it just me or is that code for a lawsuit?

[01:55:10] (voice-over): Prospery (ph) is not commenting and FOX News didn't reply. But who needs enemies when you have "FOX & Friends" like these? (CROSSTALK)

MOOS: Accidentally tossing a ball in the face of a 2-year-old basketball phenom.

UNIDENTIFIED FOX HOST: We'll be right back. We'll see how Titus is.

MOOS: Almost hurting themselves with trying to demonstrate --

UNIDENTIFIED FOX HOST: Whoa. Watch it.

MOOS: -- how to be a man and change a tire.

But lest this sound like a hatchet job, anyone can make a bad throw. Remember when Ed Ames fired his tomahawk on the Johnny Carson show?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: At least the drummer didn't get drilled below the belt.

Jeanne Moos, CNN --

JOHNNY CARSON, FORMER HOST, THE TONIGHT SHOW: I didn't even know you were Jewish.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: -- New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: That was very funny.

VAUSE: I can relate to that, too.

ASHER: Thank you for watching, everyone. I'm Zain Asher.

VAUSE: And I'm John Vause.

Errol Barnett and Rosemary Church is up next with news around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

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