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NEW DAY

Deadly Incidents In Afghanistan And Pakistan; Videos And History Emerge Of Nevada Shooters; Sterling Will Pursue $1B Suit Against NBA; Hard Questions for Hillary Clinton

Aired June 10, 2014 - 06:00   ET

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


CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, five American service members killed in Afghanistan possibly from friendly fire. Just over the border, another violent attack on Karachi's airport 24 hours after the last one. Is the Taliban resurgent?

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: New details this morning on that married couple who gunned down two police officers and one civilian. The chilling videos they left behind and new information from the anti- government group that kicked them out because they were too radical.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Terrifying ride. Everyone's nightmare caught on tape. A man trapped in an elevator as it speeds uncontrollably up crashing into the top floor. How did this happen?

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

Good morning. Welcome to NEW DAY. It is Tuesday, June 10th. It's 6:00 in the east, Miss Brooke Baldwin is here.

BALDWIN: I came back.

CUOMO: In for Kate Baldwin. The two names not to be confused.

PEREIRA: We didn't scare her away.

CUOMO: We are following two breaking stories for you overseas this morning. The first, the deadliest day in months for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Five American troops were killed along with one Afghan soldier apparently a case of friendly fire.

Also developing right now, the second time in two days, security forces of Pakistan's main airport are under attack. The Pakistani Taliban now claiming responsibility. We are going to track developments on both of these stores up to the minute. First, let's go to CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, what do we know?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris. We are just getting confirmation from a U.S. military official that five U.S. forces were killed in Southern Afghanistan in a place called the Arghandab, a very violent area. Apparently they came into contact somehow with enemy forces but what the U.S. believes happened is that when they called in support, somehow a helicopter, a friendly helicopter fired on their position.

Let me read you just the very scarce details that we are getting from the military at this hour. Let me read you a short quote. "The casualties occurred during a security operation when their unit came into contact with enemy forces and tragically there is the possibility that fratricide may have been involved. The incident is under investigation."

So it looks like this very tragic incident happened. U.S. forces in contact with enemy forces and they called for help and, somehow, they were fired upon by friendly forces --Brooke.

BALDWIN: Barbara Starr, thank you so much for the update at the Pentagon for us this morning.

The other big story as Chris had mentioned, two attacks in two days at Pakistan's largest and busiest airport. The Pakistani Taliban is now claiming responsibility for this attack on the airport in Karachi and they camped near the international airport in Karachi this morning.

Today's assault coming just one day after 36 people were killed when militants stormed the airport's cargo area. CNN's Saima Mohsin joins me live this morning from Karachi. We will try to get her back here in a moment as we pick up that signal. Chris, toss it to you.

CUOMO: We will get the details on that story right away.

We also have details this morning about that deranged couple that viciously gunned down two cops and a Walmart shopper in Las Vegas. The married couple had a history of anti-government activism. Recently they were prominent faces in the Clyde Bundy's Nevada ranch. Now videos are surfacing giving a glimpse into their minds. For the latest get to Dan Simon. He is live in Las Vegas -- Dan.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Chris, these people were not shy about making their beliefs known, not to neighbors and not to their friends on Facebook, but apparently no one thought they would embark on this deadly rampage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going to Vegas, baby.

SIMON (voice-over): They moved here about six months ago from Indiana. Documenting their journey from the road.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're approaching Indianapolis and it's our last time going through this awful city, hopefully.

SIMON: The couple made lots of videos, a window perhaps into their twisted world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you so much, baby! SIMON: The 31-year-old Jared Miller declaring his love for his 22- year-old wife before he was to head to jail. He had a lengthy rap sheet that included a felony for stealing cars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm, like, brag about you in jail! Tell you about how awesome you are.

SIMON: Nevada would not be a fresh start. They were attracted to the anti-government, anti-law enforcement rhetoric of rancher, Clyde Bundy. Jared Miller even appearing at a local newscast.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel sorry for any federal agents that want to push us around or anything like that. I really don't want violence toward them but if they are going to come and bring violence to us if that is the language they want to speak, we will learn it.

SIMON: Apparently, the Millers were too radical for the group which included state militia. They were as ostracized and told to go home according to Bundy's son. The message was not well received. Jared Miller writing, "We sold everything we had to buy supplies and quit our jobs to be there 24/7. How dare you ask for help and shut us dedicated patriots."

Whether the Bundy movement or being shunned from it sparked some kind of deep anger and fueled a desire to kill police officers isn't known. Authorities say they are investigating all aspects of Miller's past. A past that Amanda's father is all too familiar with. In an interview with the "L.A. Times," says, quote, "I begged her not to marry him and move to Las Vegas. He was into this patriot nation and conspiracy theory stuff and the whole world was just against him. And he was just -- he was just nuts."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON: We are learning more about that victim who was killed at the Walmart. Police tell us that Joseph Wilcox was carrying a concealed weapon and tried to intervene, but what he doesn't realize is that Miller has a wife and sees what is going on and she shoots Wilcox before he can take any action -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Dan Simon, thank you. We will stay in close contact. We will have a bigger conversation on that story coming up a little later on NEW DAY.

In the meantime, breaking overnight, Donald Sterling now says hang on a second, the L.A. Clippers are not for sale. According to multiple media reports, Sterling is now withdrawing his support of the deal negotiated by his wife, Shelly Sterling, to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

He is moving forward with a billion dollar lawsuit against the league against the NBA and CNN's Jean Casarez is here with the details. Woke up this morning and thought, what happened?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What a difference a day makes. From the onset, I did not want to sell the Clippers says Donald Sterling in a one-page statement released Monday. Sterling suddenly pulling out of a $2 billion agreement to sell the Clippers and pursuing a lawsuit against the NBA.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ (voice-over): The deal is off, says an attorney for Clippers owner, Donald Sterling. Sterling suddenly withdrawing support for the team's $2 billion sale to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The controversial co-owner issued a one-page statement on Monday titled the team is not for sale.

Writing, "I have decided that I must protect my rights. While my position may not be popular I believe that my rights to privacy and the preservation of my rights to due process should not be trampled. I intend to fight to keep the team."

Sterling, now pursuing a $1 billion lawsuit against the NBA, alleging the league violated his constitutional rights and relied upon information from an illegal recording.

DONALD STERLING: Yes, it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people.

CASAREZ: The sale agreed to weeks after the owner's racist remarks were posted by TMZ was negotiated by his estranged wife and team co- owner, Shelly Sterling, and in the beginning Mr. Sterling was seemingly on board.

STERLING: Settling sometimes is better than fighting and maybe I have to settle for whatever they want to do.

CASAREZ: Just last week, the Clippers owner said he felt very good about the sale.

STERLING: I feel fabulous. I'm OK. I'm OK! Is the NBA OK? I'm not sure about them. Is Adam Silver OK? I'm sure he is OK.

CASAREZ: In a recent exclusive interview with CNN's Rachel Nichols, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who moved quickly to oust the owner.

ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: I'm banning Mr. Sterling for life.

CASAREZ: Questioned Sterling's commitment to sell.

SILVER: There is well-known incidents in the league when he was right there at the closing and at the last minute decided not to sell and until he signs that document, we still have a pending litigation with him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ: And Sterling directly mentioned Silver in his statement writing, "I believe that Adam Silver acted in haste by illegally ordering the forced sell of the Clippers and banning me for life from the NBA and imposing the fine. Adam Silver's conduct in doing so without conducting any real investigation was wrong. The action taken by Adam Silver and the NBA constitutes a violation of my rights and fly in the face of the freedoms that are afforded to all Americans."

BALDWIN: To be continued.

CASAREZ: That is what I was going to say.

BALDWIN: Jean, thank you.

CASAREZ: Thanks, Brooke.

PEREIRA: All right, let's take a look at more of your headlines right now. More young Nigerian women have been abducted by suspected Boko Haram militants. Officials say at least 20 women were kidnapped just a few miles from the town of Chibok where closer to 300 school girls were taken nearly two months ago. Some of those girls escape but most of them do remain in captivity. These latest abductions follow a series of kidnappings and attacks on villages in Nigeria's northeast.

VA's acting inspector general say some of supervisors could face criminal charges for faking records to hide treatment delays at VA hospitals. Richard Griffin telling a late night congressional hearing they are now reviewing 69 facilities across the nation. This comes after an internal audit revealed more than 57,000 veterans have waited at least three months for their first medical appointments. Another 64,000 vets never got appointments.

A tragic accident for one of America's greatest swimmers. Six-time Olympic gold medalist, Amy Van Dyken severed her spinal cord in an ATV accident. According to a police report, she hit a curb while riding on an ATV. She fell and kind of flew some five to seven feet off the edge of a parking lot. The 46-year-old had emergency spine surgery to try and repair her spine.

She is said to be in good condition but, right now, it's not clear if she is going to be able to walk again. When you think about the accomplishment, '96 Olympic Games in Atlanta, she was the first female athlete to win four gold medals.

BALDWIN: I remember her.

PEREIRA: In single games so sending our best thoughts for a speedy recovery to be sure.

Let's talk about the weather. They have gotten some rain in the south. Indra is taking a look at the forecast for us.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Take a look at these numbers, Michaela. You are talking about 9 inches of rain in a week. That is double the amount they should be seeing in the entire month in Jackson and Jonesboro, about 4 inches. Last seven days the amount they see in a month and we are still going to be talking about rain today.

The flooding concern is going to be high thanks to the low. Keep in mind we are talking about rain for the Midwest into the northeast. Day after day. We are taking you to Wednesday. Showers still on the map but not a lot of happy campers out here. By Thursday we are talking about the exact same system out there. So let's take a look at it maybe just a little bit of a different way. Look at a low. You see this guy spinning around. Winds go counterclockwise around a low and the moisture out of the gulf. What are you talking about? All of this moisture is going up into the northeast. Why do you care? It's been so muggy.

Here is the starting point in the morning hours. We are talking about humidity out there, 70 even 80 percent, but by the time through the afternoon, even when you see the highest temperature of the day. We are still talking about 70 percent humidity out towards New York City.

This is not comfortable, guys and here to stay the next couple of days. Notice look at these temperatures, D.C. about 90, New York City 81 and you combine that with the 70 percent humidity, again, I say, welcome, Brooke. Thanks for that Atlanta weather.

BALDWIN: You are very welcome. I bring the heat and humidity with me. Thank you, Indra, very much.

Coming up next here on NEW DAY, read all about her. Hillary Clinton memoir lands in book stores today and a round of speculation would she, could she, might she come 2016? What she is saying in this major TV interview.

CUOMO: Plus members of the House get a classified briefing on the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner swap and why many emerge from the meeting, wait for it, as angry as ever. A live report just ahead. It isn't the heat, it's the humidity.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Conversation here started before the commercial even ended. We can now stop talking about it. We will still talk about it but also read it.

What am I talking about? Hillary Clinton long awaited memoir hit shelves today. The rollout went off without a hitch so far.

Let's get to Brianna Keilar with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton in an interview with ABC News found herself position in the awkward position of defending her wealth.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We came out of the White House dead broke, but in debt. We had no money when we got there and we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages for houses, for Chelsea's education.

KEILAR: Houses, plural. Clinton's opponents jumped on that. "Shamelessly out of touch," the RNC declared. America Rising, the leading anti-Hillary super PAC tweeted pictures of the Clinton's two multimillion dollar homes and their Hamptons' vacation rental. That mistake aside, Clinton's first big interview as her new memoir

"Hard Choices" goes on sale showed a more personal side, even as she spoke about Monica Lewinsky who resurfaced last month writing an essay for "Vanity Fair.

DIANE SAWYER, ABC NEWS: Is there anything you would say to her, about her life?

CLINTON: Well, I would wish her well. I hope she is able to think about her future and construct a life that she finds meaning and satisfaction in.

KEILAR: She talked about moving beyond the toughest time in her life.

SAWYER: Somebody said forgiveness is releasing a prisoner and discovering the prisoner was yourself.

CLINTON: I am 100 percent in the camp that says forgiveness is mostly about the forgiver. I know too many people having now lived as long as I have who can never get over it.

KEILAR: The softer side of Hillary Clinton. One we haven't seen since the 2008 campaign.

CLINTON: This is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just public.

KEILAR: That appeal, though convincing, came too late. Not this time.

CLINTON: When you're in the spotlight as a woman, you know you're being judged constantly. I mean, it is just never ending. And you get a little, you know, worried about, OK well,, you know, people over on this side are loving what I'm wearing looking like and saying. People on this side aren't.

Your natural tendency is how do you bring people together so that you can better communicate? I'm done with that. I mean, I'm just done.

KEILAR: Brianna Keilar, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Just done but maybe getting warmed up.

Let's bring in Maggie Haberman, CNN political analyst and, of course, senior political writer for "Politico."

So, the book is on sale today. The big interview teeing it. What did you think?

MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I think she handled the interview extremely well except with the houses answer, about her income. That's the one thing I think she do over. I also don't think it's consequential that she said that. I think it was meaningless in a couple of weeks. This was a very well done rollout and if her first interview, she

seemed more relaxed, she seemed open, she seemed genuine. And that line about how she is not worrying about people judging from her from this side or that side, I'm just done, she sounded convincing. We're going to see over the next couple of weeks whether that's true. But certainly, this is a much more relaxed, at ease Hillary Clinton than we have seen in a long time in terms of politics.

BALDWIN: On that, on the issue of paying for the houses, mortgages, how does -- I mean, Reince Priebus and other Republicans jumping on it out of touch with middle class Americans and is there any validity to that, that she does sort of roam in another circle? And how does she fight that in the coming months?

HABERMAN: She certainly roams in another circle, but it's going to be how she frames the policy issues, and I have to think that just the way these policy fights have gone, I think the person who is the Democratic nominee is probably going to be in a position in terms of policy, where it's going to be harder for the Republicans to define her this way.

These gaffes that Mitt Romney made, for instance, there were a lot of comparisons, I made them myself, on Twitter yesterday, to some of the errors that Romney made. But the Romney gaffe fed to an existing narrative. There is not such an existing narrative that she's out of touch. That's how Republicans are trying to define her.

She can easily get around that but she does have to be weary of those moments. She had one a couple of weeks ago.

CUOMO: Not a whole lot of regular people running for high office, depending on how you define regular. Now, one thing, I think, that she will be taking a task on is legitimate basis for criticism and it's emerging, we are seeing, with more and more leaders.

I take responsibility but I want no accountability. How do you think that balance played off in the interview? Because Diane wasn't joking around, Sawyer, she was pressing and coming up with layers of questions.

HABERMAN: This is going to be an issue that Hillary Clinton is going to get asked about repeatedly and for her critics, the answers are not going to satisfy them, for people who don't think Benghazi is an issue, they think this is enough to move on.

The accountability piece is a very important one, being responsible piece is an important one. In terms of the specifics of Benghazi, though, and I really think what this gets to, I do not think that is a definitional issue in terms of what voters base their decision on if she runs. It will be an issue that people can use to hit her. I think it is something that voters may find confusing. They want more answers on.

But at the end of the day, I think that she laid out and she was really clear in her book on this I am done talking about this. Critics turning this into a partisan football. And so, now, any question asked about is in that time left or right.

BALDWIN: How does she handle those two? I mean, she could be, maybe, maybe, our first female president and just as a woman, she was saying, listen, I didn't address women's issues and sexism issues as I should have. I know you've written not at all in 2008. Here she is sitting now with all these different women, with one exception, for this round of interviews. I was reading one commentator, Ana Navarro, Republican, saying, oh my gosh, I'm drowning in estrogen!

How does she find that balance?

HABERMAN: I think that she doesn't really need to find that balance. I think you're seeing she is swinging for the fences for this one. It was not she didn't address it enough as she put it last night in all in the 2008 race. She did not run a gender-based candidacy. Her campaign was concerned about her projection of weakness.

The demographics shifted enough about a female president that she knows this is essentially -- she would be carrying the mantle as first female president that is going to be very meaningful for a lot of women. That's going to be significant. She's not going to shy away from that.

CUOMO: I'll tell you, it's just hard to deal with, as a male candidate. You know? Whatever Hillary or any female candidate wants to put forward as a female agenda, right? Not even feminist agenda, just female agenda what is the guy supposed to say? I'm taking issue with that? I want to be that also? You know, I just think --

BALDWIN: They can't.

CUOMO: It's just smart politics and you can very much argue it's come to be that time, you know?

HABERMAN: Well, women are not a niche focus group.

CUOMO: That's right.

HABERMAN: We're over half --

BALDWIN: More than half.

HABERMAN: I think this was something that was an issue in 2012. You saw this come up between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. You are not seeing Hillary Clinton shy away from this at all.

In the book, she casts a lot of things in the frame of gender including retrospectively talking about her race with Obama and how offended she was at some of the sexism she saw. Again, she did not talk about it again but she is speaking about it now.

BALDWIN: Enjoy fighting the crowds.

HABERMAN: Wish me luck.

BALDWIN: Good luck, Maggie Haberman. CUOMO: She got the first book signing today, right?

HABERMAN: Eleven o'clock this morning.

CUOMO: And it would be great to have you come back and tell us who was in this crowd.

HABERMAN: I will be keeping you posted. Is there a man who was the first person in line and interviewed all over the place but I'll see who else is there in a little bit.

BALDWIN: Interesting. Maggie, thank you for dropping by.

All right. Coming up next here on NEW DAY, the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner swap. Was the price of his freedom too high? We will tell you what House lawmakers are saying after a closed door briefings from the White House.

CUOMO: Plus, it is this stuff nightmares are made off. A guy gets into an elevator and guess what happens? It goes out of control. Not down. Up. Starts flying up faster and faster and faster! What happens? We got the video and the story ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Good to have you back with us here at NEW DAY.

Here's a look at your headlines, breaking this morning. Five U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan in a case of friendly fire. A U.S. official telling CNN that these troops were killed by an air strike that they had called in for support. It happened in southern Zabul province near Kandahar. It marks the deadliest day for American forces in months.

Another attack on the main international airport in Karachi, Pakistani, this a day after an assault on the international airport killing dozens. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks. The military there is has now launched an air assault on militants along the border with Afghanistan.

Got to show you this crazy video. Wild ride in an elevator happened in Chile. This elevator malfunctioned carrying this man straight up. This is the thing I have to tell you -- up! Thirty-one floors in just 15 seconds! The doors open, the surveillance video shows the runway elevator shooting up before the doors close and then they open again.

The man is desperately trying to press buttons to stop the ascent but to no avail. The elevator slammed into the roof of the building and seriously injuring this man. Head and leg injuries, we're told. It's the newest building, too, only eight months old.

BALDWIN: What would you do?

PEREIRA: Nothing to do!

BALDWIN: Pushing the buttons as well. PEREIRA: I don't know about you, but you think about it dropping but

I've never considered the notion of it rocketing up.

BALDWIN: I would prefer not.

PEREIRA: Let's not think about it. So sorry.