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WOLF

Interview with Rep. Peter King on Terror Alerts, Politics; David Sweat Claims He Masterminded Escape Plot; New Chapter in Relations with Cuba; Businesses Cut Ties with Trump. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired July 1, 2015 - 13:00   ET

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

[13:00:00] PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you so much for watching. WOLF starts right now.

(MUSIC)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting from Washington. We start with fears over possible terror attacks during this upcoming holiday weekend. Law enforcement officials are ramping up security ahead of July 4 and are deploying more officers into high-profile locations. All this comes in the wake of a bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security in recent days calling for more vigilance as we head into the July 4 holiday weekend.

Joining us now from New York is New York Republican Congressman Peter King; he's a key member of the House Homeland Security Committee and he's chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

Congressman, thanks very much for joining us. What can you tell us about these fears. It's obvious the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI wouldn't be issuing all of these alerts if they didn't have something concrete to worry about.

REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: No, Wolf, these are very real concerns. This goes back at least two or three weeks when intelligence was picked up in various ways indicating something could be happening over the 4th of July that was initiated by ISIS supporters. Then it was realized that a significant number of ISIS operative operatives, ISIS supporters, were in New York. For instance, we already had five arrested in just the last week to ten days in New York. Some extremely dangerous.

In addition to that, I think in the month of June alone, there's been nine or ten arrested throughout the country. So this is very real. The people in New York were being watched, they being monitored, and one arrest has led to another, and there's still an on going effort here. And there was great concern. I mean, going back to dealing with the FBI and Homeland Security over the last two or three weeks, I would say this is the most intense level of concern I've seen, maybe since 9/11.

BLITZER: Really. Is it out of an abundance of caution or is there a specific plot that they're worried about?

KING: There was enough intelligence out there indicating that something could well be planned for the 4th of July. Now, this is more than just the usual 4th of July or Memorial Day warning that goes out to stay alert, to keep your eyes and ears open. This goes significantly beyond that. And when you add to the fact that you have, right in New York alone, in New York City metropolitan area, five ISIS operatives have already been taken into custody is by the FBI, the joint terrorism task force.

BLITZER: Is it a concern for major cities like New York or here in Washington or all over the country?

KING: Well, the entire country has to be concerned. Going back to several months ago, FBI Director Comey said he has active terrorist investigations in all 50 states. Now in New York, we have a special concern because New York has always been the number-one target. But as we saw with the Boston Marathon, as we've seen at other incidents, this can occur anywhere. We just believe that New York, we have a special concern here. But I would think any part of the country certainly has to be on their guard against ISIS.

BLITZER: Is it ISIS or is it al Qaeda?

KING: In this incidence it's ISIS. So far the operatives that have been picked up in New York are ISIS. My understanding of the nature of the threat is that these are ISIS supporters.

BLITZER: Are these ISIS individuals, what they call lone wolves? Or is there a cell out there, a conspiracy involving two or three of these guys?

KING: Wolf, I would say if you have five people, ISIS operatives, apprehended within roughly one week in New York City in one location, that that goes beyond lone wolf; that indicates a level of coordination. The odds are you would not have five individual lone wolves operating in the same location in the same period of time.

BLITZER: Let me talk about this war against ISIS. The Pentagon now says that over the past year or so, they've trained basically fewer than 100 moderate Syrians who are ready to fight ISIS in Syria. They were supposed to be training a lot more than that. That sounds like a pitifully small number given the U.S. investment, the involvement, the financial resource, the military expertise. What do you make of that?

KING: Wolf, I can't go into great detail on that. I'm on the Intelligence Committee and the whole issue of what is happening with arming Syrian rebels and training them. Suffice it to say that I don't believe enough progress has been made, that we're talking about small numbers. And there are real concerns, and right now I would say those programs have not really made much progress.

BLITZER: Let's talk politics for a moment, Congressman. You've been thinking -- I know you've been thinking seriously whether or not to throw your hat into the Republican presidential ring. It's getting close to a time when you got to make a decision. Have you made a decision yet?

KING: Yes, I've been to New Hampshire nine times, been to Rhode Island, Vermont, all over the state of New York. Yes, Wolf, I've decided not to run. It was a great experience, I would love to have the opportunity to run, to go all the way. I think I can more than compete with any of those that are in there.

[13:05:02] But the reality is, as far as money, the fact that I do have a full-time job now on the Intelligence and Homeland Security Committees, it's just not in the cards.

And I don't want to be taking up other people's time. I don't want to be -- have 19, 20 candidates, whatever it's going to be.

Also, another reason I had gone in originally to look at it was I was concerned that it was people like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz were monopolizing the airwaves. They were getting out what they thought was their Republican message; I wanted to counter that. I think I've been somewhat successful in doing that. There are candidates in the race who are raising national defense issues.

So, anyway, for a lot of reasons, I'm not running. I would have loved to run and I wish -- most of those in the race, I wish them well, and I will do whatever I can to work within the Republican Party.

BLITZER: This is the first time I believe, Congressman, you're telling us flatly you have made a decision not to run for the Republican presidential nomination. I know you've told me in the past you would tell me first. But is that what I'm hearing right now, this is the first time you've made this announcement?

KING: Yes, this is the first time. I've given a lot of thought both ways, I was going back and forth, but I decided to not to do it. It's not an easy decision. Believe me, everything in me wants to keep fighting for as long as I can, but I'm also accepting reality. I'm not going off on some wild dream. I've made the decision; that's it. And I just hope that even though I'm not longer a candidate or contender that maybe I'll still have the chance to get back on your show every now and then.

BLITZER: You certainly will. A final question, who do you like among these Republicans out there? Are you ready to endorse someone?

KING: No, I'm not ready to endorse, but I would say Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, George Pataki, and there's others but those are probably the three that I will be leaning toward the morst.

BLITZER: What about Donald Trump, your fellow New Yorker?

KING: Yes, listen, I think it's great that Donald Trump is in the race. If it goes further, we'll see. I like Donald Trump, he's been good to me, he's supported me in some rough times when I was being attacked by others. So Donald Trump, he's going to add a lot to the race. I think people are selling him short.

But right now I would say the three I mentioned are the ones who are closest. But again I wish Donald Trump well. I would say, without being overly negative, that two I would oppose would be Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.

BLITZER: You don't like either one of them, right?

KING: I certainly don't like their views. I understand Rand Paul is a nice guy but I don't agree with his views at all.

BLITZER: I know you don't. All right, Peter King telling us right now he's not going to seek the Republican presidential nomination. Congressman, we'll have you back. We'll talk national security, homeland security, intelligence, all those issues, down the road. Thanks very much for joining us.

KING: Wolf, thank you. Thanks for the opportunity, Wolf. I appreciate it. Thank you.

BLITZER: Thank you, Representative Peter King of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Let's get some new details on another major story we're following, that New York prison escape. David Sweat who was shot when he was captured is now telling investigators he was the mastermind, he claims, of the breakout. But his mother told CNN's Erin Burnett it's not all her son's fault. She also blames the people who helped him with hacksaw blades and other tools.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAMELA SWEAT, DAVID SWEAT'S MOTHER: I still say to this day if that woman and whoever else was involved didn't give them that stuff, those guys wouldn't have never broke out of jail. They wouldn't have had nothing to do it with. They more or less let them loose. They knew what was going on and they didn't stop it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We're also learning more about the last days of Richard Matt's life. Authorities now say Matt had been drinking grape- flavored liquor inside a cabin he broke into. Also, he fired shots while by himself inside this trailer. One of those bullet struck a recreational vehicle, leading to his being found. We also have learned Matt's family won't claim the body so the county will take care of his burial.

We knew tat Sweat and Matt rehearsed the escape, but now we know just how far they actually got the night before. Sweat is telling authorities that the pair made it all the way out to a manhole cover in the street.

Joining us now is Jeff Dumas; he's a former New York corrections sergeant who worked at that Clinton Correctional Facility. Jeff, thanks very much for joining us. What do you make of this, that they had a real dress rehearsal the night before, got to that manhole cover, saw they could eventually get out but decided to wait 24 hours? JEFF DUMAS, FMR. CORRECTIONS SGT, CLINTON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY: Yes, we've seen it before in prior escapes so I have a tendency to believe that part of his story, that they were down there. Of course, they were probably down there a couple other times trying to find their way around. Yes, I tend to believe what he says.

BLITZER: The state inspector general now doing a thorough investigation. as they should, over all sorts of procedures of that maximum security prison in upstate New York and they're looking into these reports that guards were asleep on the job. You worked there. Is that possible?

DUMAS: I don't believe it's possible due to time constraints. There are certain procedures that they have to go through throughout the night, and it would be extremely hard to believe able to do those and also sleep.

But we also have the grievances from inmates prior to that say, hey, they keep waking us up.

[13:10:01] They're making loud noises with the keys, the gates. The flashlights are too bright. All of these other grievances that come along the way to show that the inmates don't like us doing our rounds.

BLITZER: They put the leadership on suspension, at least for the time, being administrative leave. Nine guards have also been put on administrative leave. They want to find out if maybe some of these guards did stuff incorrectly. Were they too friendly, for example, with some prisoners there? What do you make of that?

DUMAS: It's twofold. With the administration, Mr. Rozet and Mr. Quinn --

BLITZER: The superintendent.

DUMAS: The superintendent and his right-hand man. They're the middlemen between Albany and then the staff and the inmates. And they're in an unfortunate situation because as "The Albany Times Union" reported, a lot of security concerns were brought to the, but they can't make those decisions. They go to Albany. They say no, and Mr. Rozet and Mr. Quinn have to live with that. And now they are being blamed for their lack of leadership when they really don't have the power to -- for the final says in the policies and procedures.

BLITZER: You worked there for how many years?

DUMAS: 22.

BLITZER: 22, so off the top of your head, Jeff, give us one or two recommendations you, knowing what you know after all those years inside the prison, knowing what has happened these past three weeks plus, give me a recommendation or two what they immediately need to do to fix a problem they have there.

DUMAS: Immediate would be no more honor blocks anywhere in the state. BLITZER: Especially someone who is convicted of murder serving life

in prison. The notion, it makes me nauseous to think about it, that these guys are privileged and get this honor treatment, if you will, and they can walk around and do --

DUMAS: It's absurd.

BLITZER: It is crazy. You saw that when you were there, though?

DUMAS: And the prisons are clouded in secrecy. The government doesn't want all the information out there, and it's very tough to get the spokesman from Albany to say anything about what happens in there. Fortunately now people are going to speak out because of this.

BLITZER: So lose the honor block and what other thing?

DUMAS: Lose the honor block, and then you have the visiting rooms. They need to be a lot more secure. They need to be non-contact. There's no reason for an inmate's family to be able to come in and pass any contraband to them whatsoever. They need glass, they need a telephone to talk on, and it will eliminate 95 percent of the contraband going in there.

BLITZER: Because as we said yesterday, some of the fears are they may have been able to even pass heroin in that visiting room when a spouse comes in.

All right, Jeff, thanks for joining us.

DUMAS: Thank you.

BLITZER: Good recommendations.

Still ahead, a major milestone after half a century of hostility between the United States and Cuba. The landmark deal that will see embassies reopening, diplomatic ties fully restored. We're going live to Havana.

Plus, Donald Trump's straight talk has him in hot water with Mexico but strikes a chord with voters. Where he ranks in a new surprising CNN/ORC poll. We have details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:16:58] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today I can announce that the United States has agreed to formally reestablish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba and reopen embassies in our respective countries. This is a historic step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people and begin a new chapter with our neighbors in the Americas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: President Obama opening up that new chapter in the relationship with Cuba, half a century plus of mistrust between these two very close neighbors now over.

Let's talk about this historic announcement. Joining us, Patrick Oppmann, he's our man in Havana. He's been there for the last several years. Also joining us, Andres Oppenheimer. He's a columnist for "The Miami Herald." He's also a host on CNN en Espanol. He's got a program called "Oppenheimer Presents."

Guys, thanks very much.

Patrick, let me go to you first. How unusual was it that Cuba's state run television would carry President Obama's Rose Garden speech live?

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN HAVANA-BASED CORRESPONDENT: I only remember one other time, Wolf, and that was on December 17th when, of course, this new path with - of Cuban/U.S. relations was announced. The fact that they would carry his speech, have subtitles, is pretty much near unprecedented. But that's how things have gone here. Things that no one ever expected really to take place are taking place. And, of course, this morning, at the Cuban foreign ministry, it was just a very short ceremony. An exchange of letters from both presidents, but that really marked the end of the Cold War in terms of when it comes to Cuba.

In - on July 20th, the relations between these two countries will be resumed. There will be a Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C. And we're told a little bit later on in the summer, Secretary Kerry is expected to travel here to Havana and, once again, reopen the U.S. embassy in Havana. A moment of tremendous symbolism, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, when you think about what's gone on, Andres, since 1961, when President Eisenhower severed U.S. diplomatic relations with Cuba, over these past 54 years, it's almost breathtaking to see what's happened over the past six months so, don't you agree?

ANDRES OPPENHEIMER, CNN EN ESPANOL HOST OF "OPPENHEIMER PRESENTS": I agree with that, Wolf, but it's really not very surprising because this was a very convenient deal for both sides. For the Obama administration, the Obama administration badly needed a foreign policy victory. They have not had great successes in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, the Palestinian-Israeli talks, et cetera, et cetera. So this came very handily as a very - you know, as a good political success story at a very low cost. And for the Cuban, it was also very convenient because, as you know, Wolf, Cuba's economy is in shambles. They are dependent on Venezuelan oil. Venezuela's doing very badly and nobody knows how long Venezuela will continue subsidizing Cuba with oil. So both sides needed it for different reasons.

BLITZER: Well, Andres, you're there in Miami and we've seen the reaction of Cuban-American, but it's a generational difference. The grandparent, the people who came here from Cuba, they may have a different attitude towards Cuba right now than their children, and certainly their grandchildren have. Talk a little bit about that.

[13:20:08] OPPENHEIMER: Yes, that is by and large true, Wolf. Overall, I would say there's a lot of Cuba fatigue in the Miami community. It's been 50 years. Not much has happened. And "The Miami Herold" poll, for instance, say that overall, nationwide, about 60 percent of Cuban- Americans support this and 40 percent oppose it. But in south Florida, you have to opposite. You have about 60 percent opposing it and about 50 percent - 40 plus percent supporting it. Yet this is pretty astounding when you think that, you know, 10, 15, 20 years ago the overwhelming majority of Cubans in Miami were very, very staunchly against any measure, any kind of opening to Cuba. Overall, I think time has made its mark on this whole issue and there's Cuba fatigue in this community. People are resigned and hoping for the best.

BLITZER: Andres, I want you to stay with us because I want to continue our conversation on Donald Trump and Mexico. Lots to discuss there.

Patrick Oppmann, get ready, you're going to be busy over these next several weeks and months. John Kerry, the secretary of state, we're hearing, he will go to Havana, where you are right now, to reopen that U.S. embassy in July.

Guy, thanks very much. Andres, don't leave.

Still ahead, Donald Trump, he's rising in the polls, sparking a media frenzy. Are his candid comments on Mexico and migrants helping his campaign? Our political experts, they're getting ready to weigh in.

Plus, they say three is a crowd. So what about 16? The new numbers on how the Republican presidential hopefuls stack up against each other and Hillary Clinton for that matter. All that and a lot more when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:25:00] BLITZER: Welcome back.

Just a short time ago, CNN learned Macy's Department Store is cutting ties with the business mogul, the presidential candidate, Donald Trump. In response, Donald Trump now calling for a boycott of Macy's. This back-and-forth stems from comments Trump made about Mexican immigrants during the launch of his campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They're sending people that have lots of problems and they're bringing those problems with (ph) us. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapist and some, I assume, are good people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: In addition to Macy's, a number of Mexican companies are now washing their hands of Donald Trump.

Let's bring back Andres Oppenheimer. He's the host of "Oppenheimer Presents" on CNN en Espanol. He's a columnist, of course, a well-known columnist, for "The Miami Herald."

What do you make of this whole development? What's been the reaction, first of all, I know you're following it closely, Andres, in Mexico itself to Donald Trump's comments?

OPPENHEIMER: Wolf, the reaction has been sort of a mix between bewilderment, amusement and outrage because a lot of people can't understand how can, you know, somebody like Trump can say something like that when Mexicans who follow this much more closely than most Americans know that the number of Mexicans crossing the border illegally to the U.S. has been dropping dramatically over the last couple of years. So people sort of are wondering, you know, what's this guy saying?

The other thing, the implication that Mexicans are sort of flooding the U.S. is also being questioned because, in fact, the - about 50 percent of Mexicans who come to the U.S. come by plane and land in New York and Washington and Los Angeles and don't cross the border sneaking at night as some of these (INAUDIBLE) show. So Trump's implication that we're being flooded with illegal immigrants is seen in Mexico as something like totally outlandish.

BLITZER: I just saw this tweet he posted I guess it was yesterday. I'll put it up on the screen. "I love the Mexican people, but Mexico is not our friend. They're killing us at the border and they're killing us on jobs and trade. Fight." Those are comments that will spark - I suspect a bitter reaction inside Mexico.

OPPENHEIMER: Well, definitely, Wolf. I'm writing my column on this precise issue for tomorrow, my column in "The Miami Herald," and I called a pollster in New Hampshire who did his poll that shows that Trump is now number two in New Hampshire for the primaries, for the Republican primaries. And he said that it's not really that Republican voters are supporting his views on Mexico, but that he's suddenly visible in the press, visible in the media. He's sort of - we are talking about him right now, Wolf, and that helps him. And that helps him.

What the big question is, where's the Republican National Committee on this? Where are the other Republican candidates on this? I tell you, Wolf, 34 million people in the U.S. of Mexican descent feel pretty offended about this, or most of them at least, at least the ones I talked to, and this is something that can cost the Republican Party dearly unless they formally come up against it.

BLITZER: I'll look forward to reading your column in tomorrow's "Miami Herald. Andres, thank you very much. Andres Oppenheimer joining us.

OPPENHEIMER: Thank you.

BLITZER: An important programming note for our viewers. Guess what, Donald Trump, he'll be speaking with our own Don Lemon later tonight on CNN. "CNN Tonight," 10:00 p.m. Eastern, check it out.

Jeb Bush and Donald Trump, by the way, they have emerged as the leaders of the Republican pack in our brand new CNN/ORC poll that has just come out today. Both - but both trail Hillary Clinton in hypothetical head-to-head matchups. And Clinton continues to dominate the field of Democratic candidates. Here's where the Republican race stands right now. Jeb Bush is in

first place with 19 percent, followed by Donald Trump at 12 percent. They're the only two Republicans, by the way, with double-digit support, at least for now.

[13:30:08] Our CNN political director David Chalian is here with us. He's watching what's going on.