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CNN NEWSROOM

Trump Holds Double-Digit Lead Among GOP; Investigators Focus on Marriage of Terrorists; Chicago Outrage: Protesters Demand Emanuel Step Down. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired December 10, 2015 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:06] PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, I'm Pamela Brown in for Carol Costello. Thank you so much for being here with me.

And we begin with the race for the White House where Donald Trump is leaving his Republican rivals behind with less than two months until the Iowa caucuses . A new CBS-"New York Times" poll showing 35 percent of GOP voters back Trump. More than double the support of his closest competitor Ted Cruz. Cruz coming in at 16 percent, followed by Carson at 13 percent. Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush both in single digits round out the top five.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty joins me now. And Sunlen, with so much within the Republican Party, you wouldn't think Trump would need to look elsewhere but it sounds like he's keeping his options open, right?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Pam. In essence Trump is firing another warning shot to the Republican Party, dropping some more hints that he is potentially considering a third party run as a candidate, as an independent. And it's notable that this revived threat from Trump really comes after there's been some fierce criticism from party leaders who are no longer really threading lightly with him, pushing back on his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims coming into the U.S. So it's very clear that Trump is not happy with their response. And he's how he responded really reviving again this threat in an interview with CNN's Don Lemon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR, CNN TONIGHT: What do you mean when you say if they break this pledge, then you will break the pledge? What do you mean by that?

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well if they don't treat me with a certain amount of decorum and respect, if they don't treat me as the frontrunner, by far the frontrunner. If the playing field is not level, then certainly all options are open. But that's nothing I want to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And this is one of the big reasons that Trump is considered such a thorn in the side for the Republican establishment part of the party because he has the potentially to really inflict some serious damage on the party if he were to make that move. A "USA Today"- Suffolk poll recently showed that 68 percent of his supporters would continue to back him if he decided to run as an independent. So that's one of the main things, one of the main reasons why there is so much angst, panic within the Republican Party, Pam, not only because it potentially could blunt their path to the White House but could have implications beyond that -- Pam.

BROWN: Absolutely. And the quandary of whether or not to support him.

Sunlen Serfaty, thank you so much.

And Donald Trump, by the way, is dismissing claims that his calls to temporarily ban Muslims from the U.S. is rooted in bigotry, telling CNN that some members of the Islamic community have actually praised him for his actions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: As you know I have many friends who are Muslims, they're phenomenal people. They are so happy at what I'm doing. I was called by three people today. Very big. They said you are doing a tremendous service.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So joining me now Larry Sabato, director of the -- Sabato, rather, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, and Tom Bevan, co-founder and executive editor of RealClearPolitics.

So, Larry, I guess it's no surprise that Donald Trump is saying Muslims love me. They are supporting this idea. He has been embroiled in controversy since announcing his candidacy from the remarks about undocumented immigrants, to mocking women and the disabled. Now the ban on Muslims. Each time pundits say that this is going to be the end but he may maintains his lead. Can anything knock him out of the race?

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Well, what can knock him out of the race is the race started with real votes in Iowa February 1st followed by New Hampshire on the 9th, and then South Carolina, and then all the other primaries to come. This five-month period of 50 states and D.C. and all of the territories voting. So let's remember the real race hasn't started. But it's perfectly obvious that most of Trump's support is going to stick with him.

He's still at about a third of the Republican Party and that leaves the other two-thirds. Where are they going to go? They are probably not going to go to Trump.

BROWN: And that is key. That there are still a lot of people who are undecided.

Tom, this new CBS poll was taken largely before Trump announced this ban, important to note, but he had still seen a double-digit surge in support since October. What do you make of that? (LAUGHTER)

TOM BEVAN, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR, REALCLEARPOLITICS: Well, I mean, the one thing that has happened is the Paris attack and the attack in California. And we've seen Trump benefit from that across not just in this poll but other polls. But to Larry's point, I mean, in this CBS poll, I think 64 percent, so almost two out of every three Republican voters say it's too early. They haven't made up their minds. So despite the fact that Trump has real solid support there is still a lot of fluidity left in this race.

BROWN: Absolutely. And Larry, listened to what Ohio's Republican Party chairman said about Trump and his impact on the party. Of course we've been talking about many in the party have condemned these latest remarks and only one person, a Florida congressman has called on him to quit. Will we see their rhetoric intensify?

[09:05:06] SABATO: I think it's inevitable and it will intensify again once the contests are about to begin. The leadership will send messages, whether the base ever gets the messages or not is another question. But the leadership that believes that Donald Trump will be a disaster as the Republican nominee and will lead the Republicans to lose the Senate and maybe even lose the House, yes. You will hear from them. Because some of them were on the ballot next November.

Again the base may not listen. The base may not believe them. But the leadership at some point will have to speak up. They have hoped, Pamela, that this would just go away. That Trump would deflate on his own. They'd never have to worry about it. Well, obviously that's not going to happen.

BROWN: It's not. And I want to play that sound now from the Republican Party chairman in Ohio. Let's take a listen, and Tom, I'll get your reaction on the other end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT BORGES, CHAIRMAN, OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY: We're going to have to distance ourselves from this kind of messaging. It's not going help us win a national election. It is not going to help us win the general election in November. And missing the opportunity this year to defeat Hillary Clinton would just be a disaster. So we are going to do everything we can to make sure that folks understand that that kind of very divisive, very negative message is not what the Republican Party is all about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And what's interesting here is now we're hearing the presidential candidates, Tom, say that this -- Trump is a gift to Hillary Clinton. What do you make of these comments?

BEVAN: Well, look, that's a very powerful argument. I mean, Republicans desperately want to win the White House and they are looking for a candidate who can help them do that. To the extent Donald Trump shows weakness in the general election or shows weakness among independent voters which Republicans will need, or among Hispanics which Republican voters are going to need in the general election, I think, you know, that is a powerful argument to all those -- the 65 percent of Republicans that are still out there who are now supporting someone other than Donald Trump.

And the question is, you know, how quickly do those people coalesce around someone that they think is an acceptable alternative? And again that is going to play out over the next couple of months.

BROWN: And then there's this notion, Larry, that, Trump could revive his threat of a third party campaign. In fact in many ways he already has sort of insinuated that the door is still open. Could he be successful with that, you think?

SABATO: Well, he wouldn't win as a third party candidate, but I can easily see him getting enough to tilt the election to the Democrats. Heck, if he got even 5 percent of the vote, which is probably less than what he would actually get, that's enough to tilt the race to Hillary Clinton. He could do what George Wallace did in 1968. Wallace got 13.5 percent. He could do what Ross Perot did in 1992. Ross Perot got 19 percent.

However you cut the numbers, basically you're saying President Hillary Clinton. And that's what the leadership the Republican Party is trying to get the base, the Republican base, to focus on. You know, good luck to them. It is going to be difficult.

BROWN: All right. Larry and Tom, thank you for that perspective. Appreciate it.

And with all this going on, you don't want to miss the last Republican debate of 2015 right here on CNN. Wolf Blitzer moderates the debate, Tuesday night at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Was their marriage a sham? That is a big question -- one of the questions officials are asking in this investigation into the San Bernardino shooters. Sources now telling CNN that Tashfeen Malik was not asked about jihadist leanings during her U.S. visa screening.

Meanwhile, officials are taking a closer look at the marriage between the two terrorists. They believe the marriage may have been set up to help them pull off an attack. That is one more big theory. The FBI now thinks both were radicalized before they even met.

CNN's Ana Cabrera joins us now.

Ana, how did investigators find out about their radicalization and why was it not brought up during Malik's interview?

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pam. this is one of those instances where hindsight is 20/20. We know that both Malik and Farook were not on any law enforcement radar or terror related database prior to the shooting and so really there hadn't been any red flags. Now we know after the fact, after the tragedy investigators are digging into their past a little bit more. And we understand they have had an opportunity now to access some of their electronic communications even though the couple destroyed their cell phones and a hard drive from their computer is still missing.

Authorities have been able to glean some data from other cell phones they found inside the townhome as well as a tablet computer. Of course they've also been in touch with foreign intelligence overseas who are also investigating overseas. Now Malik again got her visa, her fiancee visa, to come here last summer. And she had a consular U.S. interview -- with a U.S. consular there in Pakistan.

[09:10:03] And at that time there hadn't been red flags after she had already gone through security checks, background checks, through the Department of Homeland Security. And so as a result the consular interview was really focused on trying to legitimize the relationship between Malik and Farook to make sure that it wasn't a sham. At least that was the intention and she provided answers that really gave them the sense that they were good friends at the very least and that she was planning to become his wife.

And when she came to the U.S. she did in fact get married to Farook just a month later in California. So authorities say she wasn't asked questions about her jihadist views because there were no red flags by multiple security checks -- Pam.

BROWN: And both agencies say it's a shared responsibility and we now know President Obama asking for a review of that program. And there is also this former friend and neighbor of Farook, Enrique Marquez, who we know the FBI has been investigating. What more are we learning about him?

CABRERA: Well, apparently he and Farook were together plotting an attack back in 2012. You broke the information the other day about this apparent attack in 2012. There was an unidentified individual who had been working with Farook at the time we now know that Enrique Marquez is that unidentified individual. He's the one telling authorities about that plot. He's the individual who was a neighbor, a former friend of Farook's. Even an extended family member we've learned through marriage to the Farook family as well.

And he has now told investigators according to U.S. officials that he and Farook had been radicalized as early as 2011, that they were plotting attack. They had a target in mind. But they decided not to go through because they got spooked after authorities in the area made some arrests charging a group of men who were planning to go overseas they believe to wage jihad, so they decided to back out of that plot.

Now authorities are still trying to verify whether Marquez's story is true. They are verifying the details. They believe it's still possible that he is telling them this story to deflect any responsibility he may have for what happened here at the Inland Regional Center because he did provide two of the AR-15s that were used in this terrorist attack -- Pamela.

BROWN: Absolutely. And he has not been charged.

Ana Cabrera, thank you very much.

And in Geneva, Switzerland a precise threat has put the city on high alert. And police are out in force. Authorities did not say what that precise threat was. Reports that authorities are searching for people who might be connected to last month's terror attacks in Paris. A security guard tells Reuters that the U.N. headquarters in the city is under, quote, "maximum alert."

A statement by the Geneva Department of Security did not identify who was being sought. But an international manhunt has been under way for these two men. Salah Abdeslam and Mohamed Abrini. Both are believed to have been involved in the Paris attacks.

And still to come right here in the NEWSROOM, calls ramping up for Chicago's mayor to step down.

We'll speak with a Chicago alderman to get his take right after this break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:17:00] BROWN: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's public mea culpa over police misconduct has done little to silence his critics. Hundreds of protesters filling downtown Chicago demanding his resignation. This after the mayor spoke at city hall about the lack of trust between the people of Chicago and their police department. But making clear he had no intention of stepping down. Demonstrators alleged the mayor deliberately withheld video showing a white police officer fatally shooting African-American teenager Laquan McDonald.

Our Rosa Flores is live in Chicago.

Rosa, you were right there on the thick of it yesterday. Will the protesters be out again today?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They do, Pamela. And like you said, protesters here turning up the heat, asking Mayor Rahm Emanuel to stop down -- to step down, excuse me, as the release of these string of videos showing police-involved shootings all caught on tape. And yesterday, shortly after the mayor delivered his remarks about transparency and accountability and police accountability and justice, protesters came out in large numbers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL (D), CHICAGO: Holding that video while we were protecting the integrity of the investigation, not compromising it, clearly built up distrust rather than built trust. One of the first things that I said to Lori Lightfoot, the entire task force, is you have to look at the policy change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: Now, while the mayor was delivering that speech just a few blocks away in federal court, I was inside that court, city attorneys were arguing against the release of yet another shooting video of another black teen here in Chicago. This time it is Cedrick Chatman. Now, he is a black teen from the south side, a carjacking suspect, was shot and killed by police back in 2013. Now, the city attorney's argued that the release of this video would taint a jury pool. That it would be, quote, "misused" by the media. Now, the judge did not rule. He said he was going to give both parties time to check the law.

And we asked the city of Chicago about this, about how the mayor was speaking of transparency this one building and yet, city attorneys were arguing against the release of this video in another. And they said that they know -- and this is according to the city's law department -- that they know they need to update their policy about the release of these videos, but that they're working on it.

[09:20:06] That the mayor appointed a task force which we know about. Now, he has also asked two city officials to resign, including the superintendent of police.

And, Pamela, protesters are still out there. And they are saying that yes, the mayor has taken some steps. But they are asking for the mayor to be next -- Pamela.

BROWN: All right. Rosa Flores, we'll have to wait and see what happens. Thank you.

And, of course, this is clearly a huge test for Rahm Emanuel and his ability to govern.

Alderman Walter Burnett joins us from Chicago.

And, Alderman, thanks for coming on.

You know, quitting is not part of Rahm Emanuel's DNA. Do you think the mayor can survive this crisis of confidence in his leadership?

WALTER BURNETT, JR., ALDERMAN, CHICAGO'S 27TH WARD: I don't think you can find a tougher mayor, but also a compassionate mayor. He's taken the right steps. I think yesterday was a good step towards making things right. I think putting in a task force to be able to listen people, that's what the task force is about. It is about listening to folks.

I commend all of the people who's out protesting and marching. I just hope that we hear more things that they want to change as far as policy goes. We need their help in making sure that we put in new policies that will make sure these type of things don't happen again in the future.

BROWN: And at a core of these protests and this demanding for him to resign is that they believe that the video was withheld of Laquan McDonald's death for political reasons because it was during an election.

Do you agree with that?

BURNETT: Well, you know, from what I understand, the family came and the family asked that the video not be shown. No one says about that, but by the family's request, they did not want the video shown. And I think the city honored the family's request.

BROWN: I think that that is a very important point to make. Let me ask you this too, because now we know DOJ is investigating the police department. We know the top cop has now stepped down. Even if the mayor does resign, is that going to be enough for the people of Chicago for these protesters?

BURNETT: Well, I think what is important is that we change policies. I mean, these things have been going on for decades. You know, I'm an African American. I have a teenage son. I worry about my child when he leaves the house every day, all the time. All of us do.

We need to change the culture of the police department. Racism is still in our community. We need to talk about those things. We need to get past this. And I think all of these things is going to make the city better because of it.

BROWN: All right. Well, it is certainly sparking discussion. Alderman Burnett, thank you very much.

And coming up, he's been described as goofy and a good guy. So, how did Enrique Marquez become the center of a major terror investigation?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:27:18] BROWN: And checking out top stories, a new airport walkway now links southern California with a terminal in Tijuana, Mexico. The cross-border express is now open to travelers who want to bypass congested border crossings. Passengers must use the walkway within two hours of landing. Officials say the walkway will help travelers pass through customs and immigration checkpoints more efficiently.

And a 6-year-old Kentucky boy has a lot of to be thankful this holiday season. Take a look. This is Lucas Abraham. He was born without a foully formed right hand. Now thanks to students at the University of Louisville, Abraham is getting a new bionic handmade from a 3D printer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUCAS ABRAHAM, RECIPIENT OF NEW PROSTHETIC: I'm happy that I have this hand, because I've never had a robohand before and now I can pick up with this hand. It was really cool when I walked in school and everyone was like, whoa, look at that hand. That's super cool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Well, Abraham can now close his fingers, throw a ball, and even pick up a cup. And he's also excited that he can fist bump with his friends. And because he's a fan of super heroes, his new hand glows in the dark and is equipped with a flashlight. That sounds pretty cool to me.

Well, the U.S. Air Force is still searching for two Afghan student whose failed to report for duty on Monday. Officials have not identified the pair, but say they had been training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia since February. Both men passed security screening before they entered the U.S. and officials say there is no reason to believe either man poses a threat.

Well, Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl in his own words. For the first time we're hearing his version of how he was held captive by the Taliban. Bergdahl, he was accused of deserting his pot, was freed last year during a controversial prisoner swap, you may recall. Listen to what he told the popular "Serial" podcast during an interview.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

SGT. BOWE BERGDAHL, U.S. ARMY: How do I explain to a person that just standing in an empty, darkroom hurts? It is like, well, you know, someone asks you, why does it hurt, does your body hurt? Yes, your body hurts, but it's more than that. It is like this mental -- like you are almost confused. There are times I'd wake up and it is just so dark. I would wake up like not even remembering like what I was. You know how you get that feeling when the word is on the tip of your tongue?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BERGDAHL: That happened to me only it was like, what am I? Yes, I couldn't see my hands, I couldn't do anything. The only thing I could do was like touch my face. And even that wasn't like, you know, registering right. You know?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BERGDAHL: To the point where you just want to scream. And you can't -- I can't scream. I can't risk that. So, it's like you are standing there screaming in your mind in this room, you're standing like in this black and dark room.