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CNN NEWSROOM

Senator Ted Cruz to Announce his Presidential Bid.; New ISIS Threats; Millionaire Murder Case Back in Court; Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired March 23, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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


[10:00:22] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, Ted Cruz kicking off his 2016 presidential campaign. Can the Tea Party star outshine the other contenders?

Also an ISIS hit list targeting specific U.S. service members. What the military is doing to keep them safe.

And a millionaire accused of murder back in court. How his attorney is making the case to get him out of jail.

Let's talk. Live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. Just minutes from now, we'll hear from Republican Senator Ted Cruz on the presidential campaign he formally launched overnight. He's about to speak at Liberty University, the conservative Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia. He began his campaign with a simple tweet. The conservative firebrand announcing, "I'm running for president."

Cruz is the first official candidate for next year's race and is sure to face long odds and a crowded field. Here's the campaign video he unveiled overnight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: It's a time for truth. A time to rise to the challenge, just as Americans have always done. I believe in America and her people and I believe we can stand up and restore our promise. It's going to take a new generation of courageous conservatives to help make America great again. And I'm ready to stand with you to lead the fight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Our senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny is in Liberty. He joins us now with more. So why wouldn't Cruz announce his campaign in his home state of Texas?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, there are 10,000 reasons why. And those are the 10,000 students of Liberty University who are filing into this basketball arena right now. You can see them behind me. You can see this crowd warming up.

This is the message that Senator Cruz wants to send. He will talk about that he's trying to appeal to a new generation of conservatives. He's trying to distinguish himself against the establishment. And that's Jeb Bush. Senator Cruz, a 44-year-old senator, he's been in Washington only two years. He's trying to fill the vacuum here by being the first candidate out of the box. He definitely faces long odds. He definitely faces an uphill challenge.

But he is trying to send the message that he's a conservative fighter. He picked this spot here so it would basically look for a made for television rally complete with students and others. It's hard not to draw comparisons to campaign rallies eight years ago when Barack Obama, another freshman senator, also drew crowds like this. So that's why Senator Cruz is here.

But this may well be the easiest day of his campaign. He's facing at least a dozen other Republican challengers but by getting in the race first, he certainly gets a head start -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Jeff Zeleny, reporting live from Liberty University. We'll get back to you in just a second. Thanks so much.

At least for now Hillary Clinton remains on the sidelines but very much in the spotlight. Clinton has two public appearances today and there's a whole lot of speculation that these could be her last speeches before she announces her own presidential run.

Clinton for her part is not revealing her plans. If she does run, she's likely to face a thin field of fellow Democrats for her party's nomination. Cruz on the other hand could face a dozen fellow Republicans.

U.S. troops on edge after a hacking group allegedly linked to ISIS publishes the names, addresses and photos of 100 service members. FBI and Pentagon officials now investigating this apparent hit list. Despite questions over the credibility of the threat, affected service members are being contacted by the military.

Let's learn more from CNN's justice correspondent Pamela Brown.

Good morning.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you, Carol. As you point out, the FBI, the Department of Defense, are still investigating the legitimacy of this group. But bottom line, the concern is that the purported personal information of U.S. troops is out there and that could inspire an ISIS sympathizer to target them here in the U.S. So we know the Department of Defense, other U.S. officials are taking this very seriously notifying all of the 100 or so U.S. troops on this purported hit list.

Here's what happened. A group calling itself the Islamic State Hacking Organization posted a file online over the weekend calling for beheadings and attacks in the U.S. of these military personnel. It included their pictures and purported addresses. At least some of that information was already public we understand reportedly taken from Facebook and the white pages. DOD and the FBI have asked troops to scrub their social media pages of any personal information for months now because of intelligence suggesting ISIS was using the Internet to target victims, particularly the military.

[10:05:09] And here's what former House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers had to say about this issue on "NEW DAY" this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE ROGERS (R), FORMER CHAIRMAN, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: This is this new cultural age of everything goes up on the -- on social media and you have access to everything about everyone. And that makes it a little more dangerous.

Even though the group in itself by that name isn't known, the very fact that they can go out on what is public information and pull it together to try to inspire some danger is -- is, A, it's dangerous for the 100 people on the list clearly but it's also dangerous for those people who are vocal and open about trying to make sure that their opinions are heard on ISIS and other challenges around the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So CNN has heard from the Army's Criminal Investigation Division which is now working with the FBI as well as the Marine Corps spokesman who say they notified all of the people in person. Those service members who were named there.

Now there is some skepticism about this group. But I can tell you, Carol, just from what I've learned talking to law enforcement officials is that ISIS sympathizers around the world are increasing -- are increasingly taking on hacking roles. So even though they may not be directly affiliated with ISIS, they may be inspired to hack based on ISIS propaganda -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So supposedly this hacking group got the information, right, from social media, is there any move on the military's part to say to service members maybe it's not such a good idea to have a Facebook account?

BROWN: Absolutely. I mean, for months now we know the FBI has been teaming up with the Department of Defense trying to get this message out to service members sending out joint intelligence bulletins saying, please don't put any personal identifiable information on your social media pages, and this was stemming from the fact that there was intelligence indicating that ISIS and ISIS sympathizers were trying to glean information from social media pages in order to sort of compile this data base of U.S. service members.

In fact I remember in December there was information that there was this intelligence so this has been going on for quite some time -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Pamela Brown reporting live from Washington. Thank you.

Today marks the latest chapter in the complicating and evolving relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan. Ashraf Ghani, the new Afghan president, is on his first official visit to Washington. And although he's not entirely aligned with the White House, many White House officials see him as more cooperative than his predecessor Hamid Karzai. In particular, Ghani is open to a continued U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and he's going to put his, quote, "house in order."

CNN's Michelle Kosinski is live at the White House with more.

Good morning.

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol. Right. U.S. officials are seeing this as a sea change. A new chapter in the relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan. I mean, the question here is, is Afghanistan going to be an effective partner long-term to keep that country from falling prey to all these forces of terror and just becoming another hotbed of again terrorism in the region, and then posing a threat to the U.S.

So Afghanistan has pledged so far in this new government to fight terror, to stabilize the country, to work with its neighbors, to increase human rights, fight corruption and on and on and on. So the U.S. is saying well, that is wonderful but are you going to make this happen really?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. ASHRAF GHANI, AFGHANISTAN: The combat role of the United States I'm pleased to state ended on December 31st, 2014. So what's the legacy? The legacy is now a proud Afghan Security Forces that that has dealt with the best of you and emulates the best of your example. Our special forces that worked -- that have worked shoulder-to- shoulder with you are carrying the mission.

We are not going to be a burden. We do not now ask what the United States can do for us. If I can play on President Kennedy, we want to say what Afghanistan will do for itself and for the world. And that means we're going to put our house in order.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: President Obama wants to get U.S. troops out of there with just a small force there to help Afghanistan soldiers, et cetera, after 2017. That is going to be just a negligible number. But now you hear from Afghanistan asking for more to stay longer. The president is hearing from people within the Pentagon that drawing down troops to what the president wants at this point may not be enough.

So the troop numbers are being rethought to keep more there longer. About 10,000. That's down from a high of nearly 100,000 remember while this war was going on. But what's also being rethought is possibly keeping more of those troops there for a longer period of time possibly after 2017. We're waiting to see if there are any announcements on that this week -- Carol.

[10:10:08] COSTELLO: All right. Michelle Kosinski reporting live from the White House. Thanks so much. Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the millionaire real estate heir

accused of murder heads back to court for a detention hearing. Why Robert Durst's attorney says his client needs to be freed from jail.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Robert Durst is stepping out of his jail cell this morning. The accused killer is heading to court for a detention hearing. The judge will likely hear matters concerning the millionaire's health. On Friday, Durst's attorney says he needs to be in a hospital setting citing serious medical conditions.

Jean Casarez live in New Orleans with more.

Good morning, Jean.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN LEGAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. You know, Robert Durst has been housed about an hour outside of New Orleans. It's been a medical, mental and physical health ward at a correctional center. But he is being brought back here because in just about an hour there will be another hearing. Yes, that's right. He has not been taken to Los Angeles yet to face those murder charges.

Today's hearing is on local Louisiana charges that came about last Tuesday, which would be a convicted felon in possession of a weapon. Now this is actually a detention hearing whether or not he should get bail. It's a constitutional issue. I mean, the Defense is saying we don't expect him to get bail.

[10:15:07] But I think what is interesting here is -- are his medical conditions because first of all, hydrocephalus is what the defense says he had. We know he had neuro brain surgery recently and his head has now been shaped so we're going to see that in a courtroom and what you'll find is that there has been a stench or a shunt which has been inserted under his scalp and that allows for fluid drainage.

Also in the last two years, he had cancer of the esophagus, his attorney tells me, and also cervical surgery. So if the defense wants to assert that he's not a danger to the community and there's no risk of flight, he may bring that up. But I think what's interesting is, are they going to at all discuss issues that they have with the arrest here in New Orleans and the warrant out of Los Angeles.

COSTELLO: All right. I know you'll keep us posted. Jean Casarez reporting live this morning. Thanks so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Republican Ted Cruz just minutes away from officially launching his 2016 presidential run. But why today? And why at Liberty University?

We'll break it all down for you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Minutes from now, Ted Cruz will face the media and the people he hopes will send him to the White House as the Texas senator officially launches his bid for president.

[10:20:02] Where is he? You can see Ted Cruz moving through the crowd there. He's at Liberty University in Virginia, a school founded by Jerry Falwell that has become a key spot for Republicans looking to shore up support among conservative Christians.

CNN is covering Cruz's announcement from all angles. Our senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny is at Liberty University and joining me from Washington, CNN chief national correspondent John King, CNN national political reporter, Peter Hamby, Democratic strategist and former DNC communication chair Karen Finney, and communications director for Heritage Action for America Dan holler.

Thanks to all of you.

Jeff, let's start with you. Quickly set the stage for us.

ZELENY: Well, Carol, Senator Cruz is on stage right now as you can see. He just came in to a cheering crowd of some 10,000 students. He says he's going to talk about the promise of America. He's really trying to reach out to a new generation of conservatives but what he's really trying to do, Carol, was to kick start this campaign to try and take up a little of this vacuum that's left before all those other Republicans get into the race.

COSTELLO: John, Cruz skipped an exploratory committee so he could announce his candidacy first. Is this an effective tactic?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we'll see, Carol. To Jeff's point, Senator Cruz has a problem right now. He's a Tea Party favorite. He came to Washington in a Tea Party way. The Republican base loves him because he says let's repeal Obamacare. He fights most of the president's appointees, he also fights Speaker Boehner and majority leader Mitch McConnell quite a bit. And the Republican base loves that. That he stands up to the establishment.

But look at the numbers over the years. Ted Cruz came to Washington a couple years ago and when we asked Republicans who they want as their presidential nominee, he's at 4 percent in our latest poll, Carol. Four percent. Down with Donald Trump, below people like Mike Huckabee, below Rick Santorum and Dr. Ben Carson. Below other people he's going to be fighting for that space on the right is. So he made a calculation.

He knows Rand Paul is getting in on April 7th. You know Marco Rubio likely to get in the week after that. Jeb Bush is already raising a ton of money. The Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is getting a ton of buzz than moving up in the polls.

Ted Cruz thinks it was time to shake up the race, time to get out and try to change the dynamic. His biggest challenge, the Republican base loves him. They view him as a protester, somebody who fights. He has to convince him, Carol, that he's a president.

COSTELLO: Well, let's see if he's doing that right now. Let's dip into his speech. SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE : Good to see you.

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you so much, President Falwell. God bless Liberty University.

(APPLAUSE)

I am thrilled to join you today at the largest Christian university in the world.

(APPLAUSE)

Today I want to talk with you about the promise of America.

CRUZ: Imagine your parents when they were children. Imagine a little girl growing up in Wilmington, Delaware during World War II, the daughter of Irish and Italian Catholic family, working class. Her uncle ran numbers in Wilmington. She grew up with dozens of cousins because her mom was the second youngest of 17 kids. She had a difficult father, a man who drank far too much, and frankly didn't think that women should be educated.

And yet this young girl, pretty and shy, was driven, was bright, was inquisitive, and she became the first person in her family ever to go to college. In 1956, my mom, Eleanor, graduated from Rice University with a degree in math and became a pioneering computer programmer in the 1950s and 1960s.

(APPLAUSE)

Imagine a teenage boy, not much younger than many of you here today, growing up in Cuba. Jet black hair, skinny as a rail.

(LAUGHTER)

Involved in student council, and yet Cuba was not at a peaceful time. The dictator, Batista, was corrupt, he was oppressive. And this teenage boy joins a revolution. He joins a revolution against Batista, he begins fighting with other teenagers to free Cuba from the dictator. This boy at age 17 finds himself thrown in prison, finds himself tortured, beaten. And then at age 18, he flees Cuba, he comes to America.

Imagine for a second the hope that was in his heart as he rode that ferry boat across to Key West, and got on a Greyhound bus to head to Austin, Texas to begin working, washing dishes, making 50 cents an hour, coming to the one land on earth that has welcomed so many millions.

When my dad came to America in 1957, he could not have imagined what lay in store for him. Imagine a young married couple, living together in the 1970s, neither one of them has a personal relationship with Jesus. They have a little boy and they are both drinking far too much. They are living a fast life.

When I was three, my father decided to leave my mother and me. We were living in Calgary at the time, he got on a plane and he flew back to Texas, and he decided he didn't want to be married anymore and he didn't want to be a father to his 3-year-old son. And yet when he was in Houston, a friend, a colleague from the oil and gas business invited him to a Bible study, invited him to Clay Road (ph) Baptist Church, and there my father gave his life to Jesus Christ.

(APPLAUSE)

And God transformed his heart. And he drove to the airport, he bough a plane ticket, and he flew back to be with my mother and me.

(APPLAUSE)

There are people who wonder if faith is real. I can tell you, in my family there's not a second of doubt, because were it not for the transformative love of Jesus Christ, I would have been saved and I would have been raised by a single mom without my father in the household.

Imagine another little girl living in Africa, in Kenya and Nigeria. That's a diverse crowd.

(LAUGHTER)

Playing with kids, they spoke Swahili, she spoke English. Coming back to California.

(APPLAUSE)

Where her parents who had been missionaries in Africa raised her on the Central Coast. She starts a small business when she's in grade school baking bread. She calls it Heidi's Bakery. She and her brother compete baking bread. They bake thousands of loaves of bread and go to the local apple orchard where they sell the bread to people coming to pick apples. She goes on to a career in business, excelling and rising to the highest pinnacles, and then Heidi becomes my wife and my very best friend in the world.

(APPLAUSE)

Heidi becomes an incredible mom to our two precious little girls, Caroline and Catherine, the joys and loves of our life.

(APPLAUSE)

Imagine another teenage boy being raised in Houston, hearing stories from his dad about prison and torture in Cuba, hearing stories about how fragile liberty is, beginning to study the United States Constitution, learning about the incredible protections we have in this country that protect the God-given liberty of every American. Experiencing challenges at home.

In the 1980s, oil prices crater and his parents business go bankrupt. Heading off to school over a thousand miles away from home, in a place where he knew nobody, where he was alone and scared, and his parents going through bankruptcy meant there was no financial support at home, so at the age of 17, he went to get two jobs to help pay his way through school.

CRUZ: He took over $100,000 in school loans, loans I suspect a lot of ya'll can relate to, loans that I'll point out I just paid off a few years ago.

(APPLAUSE)