Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Fourth of July Security Ramped Up; Increased Shark Attacks Off the Carolina Coast; Greece's Financial Crisis Worsening; Nine Injured in Fireworks Malfunction; Trump Fires Back at GOP Critics; New Rules, New Warden at Escapees' Prison; Chris Christie's Wife on Her Husband's Candidacy; Aired 1-2p ET

Aired July 4, 2015 - 13:00   ET

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


[13:00:03] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Plus fireworks out of control. Several people are injured when shells fly into the crowd.

And Carolina beaches on alert this weekend after a string of shark attacks.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hello, again, everyone. Thanks so much for joining me. Happy Fourth. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Independence Day celebrations are under way in the U.S. today and the FBI and Department of Homeland Security are warning authorities across the nation to be extra vigilant, saying that big holiday events could be targets of a possible terror threat. Along with heavy police presence, authorities have set up counterterrorism measures. That include police snipers in strategic places and spotters in large crowds. Even U.S. diplomatic posts around the world are being asked to double check their security measures.

All of this comes as the radical group ISIS continues to call on its supporters to carry out attacks. The group also said the current holiday of Ramadan is a time when jihad is most important.

We've got full coverage for you. CNN's Boris Sanchez is at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. CNN national correspondent Sunlen Serfaty is at the National Mall in Washington.

So, Boris, let me start with you in New York. Governor Cuomo warned that his state is a top target for any terror activity, so what exactly is being done to keep people safe there?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is a very visible, expanded presence of law enforcement all around the city, Fredricka. Millions of Americans are going to gather today to watch fireworks and have a festive Fourth of July, so law enforcement is focusing on travel hubs, monuments and places like Brooklyn Bridge Park where people are going to get together.

You mentioned Governor Cuomo. Yesterday he announced he was going to beef up patrols and staffing at the city's Emergency Operation Center. We also know there are spotters and snipers in key strategic locations, watching over large crowds. They're also scanning for explosives and any radioactive devices by land, sea and from the air, and there's 7,000 cameras all across New York City, watching for anything that looks out of place. Law enforcement tells us they're ready for any kind of attack.

We spoke with several travelers at Penn Station earlier today who tell us they're glad to see the officers out and about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA GARVEY, TRAVELER: I've noticed more of a police presence, which makes me feel safer, you know, I -- like I said, I was born and raised in New York, and, you know, pre-9/11, and stuff like that, and yes, we need to take security, you know. We have to for the safety of everyone. We need our police presence and I think it makes people feel more secure when we do have a police presence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: The governor also asking New Yorkers to remain vigilant, to keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious and to report it to law enforcement immediately -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Boris Sanchez, thanks so much, at the Brooklyn Bridge.

All right, the nation's capital also on heightened security alert. Sunlen Serfaty is at the National Mall in D.C. So what are people going to see differently this time when they come to check out the fireworks tonight?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, there certainly is a heavy police presence according to authorities in both seen and unseen ways throughout the National Mall down here, but this sort of major police presence is normal for Washington during the a Fourth of July event, an event as big as this. But there certainly is on the ground here a higher level of anxiety, knowing that these threat warnings are coming from the intelligence community, pointing to potentially this weekend being a potential target.

Now for an example of that, just moments ago there was an unintended backpack outside the U.S. capitol. It did turn out to be nothing. But you saw the U.S. Capitol Police Bomb Squad come in. They ultimately did determine that there was nothing in that backpack. But that certainly speaks to the jitteriness that they have here. The level of anxiety, treating every little thing with much -- very seriously.

You know, we spoke to the D.C. Parks Police. He said that, of course, knowing the tens of thousands of people that will be down here on the National Mall, he said they are taking this threat very seriously.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. ALLEN GRIFFITH, U.S. PARK POLICE: We have, as I said, our watch work has been very, very careful preparation, and putting in place all the security measures necessary. It's far easier to bring down the level of preparedness than it is to take it up. So we prepare for worst-case scenarios and we have contingencies in place should they occur, but we don't anticipate that they will. We're anticipating a good family-oriented event.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And D.C. Police have boosted special patrols on D.C. landmarks, so really littered the National Mall down here so that's one increase in security presence. Also, they have a special team to monitor Web sites, to monitor social media Web sites, looking for any watch words -- Fred.

[13:05:15] WHITFIELD: All right. Sunlen Serfaty, thanks so much. From the nation's capital. Appreciate that.

All right. So let's talk more about why this weekend's threats are being taken so seriously like this. I want to bring in Mike Baker, he is a former New York CIA covert operations officer and Kimberly Dozier, CNN global affairs analyst and contributor for the "Daily Beast."

Good to see both of you, and Happy Fourth.

So, Mike Baker, let me begin with you. New York, the governor is saying that New York is a top target for some kind of possible attack and lots of measures have been put into place such as putting spotters in the crowds, adding snipers, even welding manhole covers. What else in your view has had to take place?

MIKE BAKER, FORMER NEW YORK CIA COVERT OPERATIONS OFFICER: Well, your previous reports talks about a very visible security presence. But what I would say is, yes, it's visible, but frankly 90 percent of what takes place in the counterterrorism in from the security realm is off the radar screen. So a great deal is done leading up to prior to the event and then obviously during the course of the event.

The public just never sees, and that's extremely important because you -- you know, your best opportunity is typically to, you know, identify and disrupt an event, are the period of time leading up to something like this. And whether that's communications among the individuals who are perhaps planning or plotting, or it's the surveillance that they have to do leading up to the operational stage, whatever it is that they're considering to do, even if it's just, as we've seen recently, even if it's just among local event.

So there's a great deal that happens that the public just isn't, you know, aware of. And that's critically important to these events.

WHITFIELD: So there aren't just vulnerabilities here on U.S. soil, of course, as global affairs analyst, you know, Kimberly Dozier, let's talk about Americans abroad who are being asked to be vigilant. How U.S. embassies, consulates are also taking measures. I understand that some of the embassies they had Independence Day kind of celebrations well before the Fourth of July weekend, just to be very careful. But you know, how different is it this year compared to years prior?

KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, diplomats I have spoken to have said look, every year we issue a heightened state of alert ahead of the Fourth of July just like we do ahead of the September 11th anniversaries. And they actually moved a lot of their Fourth of July celebrations in deference to the holy month of Ramadan that they wanted to hold those celebrations which are during the day at a time in Muslim countries when other diplomats and leaders could come to the U.S. embassy and eat during the day, and not break the Muslim fast of Ramadan.

So there are a couple of different reasons that these security alerts get issued. That said diplomats have been told overseas, you know, if you don't need to go out today, don't go out. There's a same heightened state of awareness for military members because the ISIS warnings, the ISIS calls to attack have gone in the order of military law enforcement, and only then civilians as well.

WHITFIELD: And Mike, we've been hearing a lot about the whole lone wolf fear, but now we're also hearing experts talk about wolf packs, and why that is still a big concern here, particularly this holiday weekend. To what -- Mike, are you still with us?

All right. It looks like we lost Mike. So I wonder, Kimberly, if this is something you can address. We have talked a lot about, you know, and we've heard a lot about this lone wolves, how about this wolf pack now? Not just one or two, but a larger, more coordinated effort?

DOZIER: Well, one reality check, U.S. counterterrorism officials have warned Americans Tea Party be vigilant for lone wolves and wolf packs, but they believe at this point that those people are not well-trained, that they're perhaps followers of ISIS on the Web who are trying to teach themselves off of the Internet how to stage attacks. So that's why they say a heightened state of vigilance can protect you from someone who has intent to do harm, but not the skills to carry much of an attack out.

That said, you're much more likely on this Fourth of July weekend to be injured by one of those stray fireworks that you mentioned earlier in the broadcast or in D.C. where it's raining, struck by lightning than to be hit by one of these attackers.

[13:10:14] WHITFIELD: All right. Kimberly Dozier, Mike Baker, thanks so much for both of you. Appreciate it, and Happy Independence Day weekend.

All right. Coming up, 11 shark attacks off the Carolinas. Many swimmers wondering whether it's worst the risk this holiday weekend.

Nick Valencia is at Wrightsville, North Carolina, beach.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Fredricka. I am on Wrightsville beach here on North Carolina where we are obviously amongst the crowd.

Are you guys scared about sharks at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

VALENCIA: We'll get more of the local reaction here after the break.

You're watching the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Millions of Americans are spending the July 4th weekend at the beach, but 11 shark attacks along the Carolina coast in recent weeks are rattling the nerves of a whole lot of people there. North Carolina's governor is now asking experts to try to find patterns in the shark attacks.

It's not only a safety issue, but for the state a concern over tourism and the money that it generates. The latest person to be attacked, a former Boston newspaper editor who was rushed to the hospital after a shark pulled him under the water and then bit his rib cage, hip, leg and hands. The attack happened off the North Carolina coast.

Our Nick Valencia is at Wrightsville beach, oh, and you've got a crowd there. They are very excited about being at the beach this holiday weekend.

VALENCIA: We do, a little entourage here.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: It doesn't look like they're fearful at all.

VALENCIA: They sure are, Fred. No, no, we're actually talking to them. I was talking to some residents yesterday and it was a conversation that was on the tip of everyone's tongues, you know, this is serious. There have been 11 shark attacks off the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina. Enough to cause concern for local officials, but this group behind me here, you guys are visiting from Raleigh. Is that right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

VALENCIA: All right. So what do you guys -- what do you guys think about? What's been going on in the news here with these shark attacks?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, we're definitely taking a precaution, making sure we don't go out too deep and stuff like that. And our parents, you know, they're kind of rattled about it.

VALENCIA: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But, you know, it doesn't really cross our minds too much. You know.

[13:15:06] VALENCIA: You have a little bit of a different take on this. You're not -- you're not really that worried at all, are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not scared at all because I'm more likely to get famous during this interview than get attacked by a shark out there so.

WHITFIELD: All right.

(LAUGHTER)

VALENCIA: That's right. What about you? What about you? Are you nervous at all?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not really.

VALENCIA: No, not really? Doesn't scare you? Have you been out in the water yet?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

VALENCIA: Yes? And what do your parents say?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Only go ankle deep.

VALENCIA: Only go ankle deep. That's right. So we're -- you know, you're hearing it here, Fredricka. It's sort of a typical day, a typical summer afternoon here on Wrightsville beach. There have not been -- we should mention to our viewers, there have not been any shark attacks or shark bites here where we are. The majority of them have been just north of us or just south of us. But we chose this location because it is a very active beach here, especially for the Fourth of July weekend. And as you can tell from these folks here, pretty cool today, right? Nothing going on, nothing really to worry about for you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. It's a good day so far, and just excited. Just looking forward to the rest of it. Not really too worried about anything.

VALENCIA: I hope you guys have a great Fourth of July. You get a little general sense of how people are feeling here. Some people we spoke to, yes, they are a little bit concerned, but the general consensus on this beach is that for now there's nothing to worry about -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Wow. It's a very popular beach. I've been there many times before.

VALENCIA: Yes.

WHITFIELD: So now what about the lifeguard, you know, activity there? You know, are they doing anything differently perhaps?

VALENCIA: Well, we have seen a little bit more traffic from those public safety folks. We did see lifeguards on the stand a little while ago. We haven't really seen an increased activity so to speak, but there are definitely folks that are keeping their eyes on this Atlantic Ocean, because this is doubling the yearly average. Usually about six attacks occur off the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina per year. Right now we're at least 11. So that is cause for concern but this crowd here, they spoke, you know, pretty honestly here. There's not -- they're not that scared, they're not that fearful. Right? You're not that fearful?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not really.

VALENCIA: Not really. OK. Well, hope you guys have a great Fourth of July.

Fredricka, we'll send it back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Sounds good. They're having a good time. And of course we wish them the best this holiday Fourth weekend. Thanks so much, gang. Appreciate it, Nick.

VALENCIA: You got it.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still ahead. Mitt Romney slamming Donald Trump's comments about Mexicans.

CNN's MJ Lee is live in New Hampshire on the campaign trail.

MJ LEE, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Fredricka, I'm here in Gorham, New Hampshire, today where Hillary Clinton will be walking in the town parade momentarily. She's certainly not the only presidential candidate who is spending some time in New Hampshire and campaigning this weekend. We'll much more for you on that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:21:18] WHITFIELD: Greece's economy is on the brink of collapse, and its ATMs are now running out of money. Even supplies of food and medicine are starting to run low.

This picture is saying it all right there. A 77-year-old retiree turned away from four separate banks trying to withdraw a pension on his -- on behalf of his wife, breaking down in tears now. Tomorrow voters will be hitting the polls to decide how Greece should proceed.

Massive rallies continue for each side as polls show voters are evenly divided on the bailout issue.

CNN's Isa Soares joining us live now from Athens, Greece.

And so today is still the case, Isa, that people have taken a break from the protesting, but they're worried nonetheless, you know, about tomorrow.

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely. And that photo that you just showed the viewers, Fredricka, shows it's getting to some people. People are getting very nervous. And that first day, the capital controls they put in, that people can only take 60 euros, people were quietly queuing, but now it's taking a toll because money is clearly running out, and some pensioners just can't get to their pensions for some reasons.

I spoke to one lady, who's also a pensioner, she was tried -- she tried five times to take out her pensions, and she couldn't. So I said, when are you going to vote, where are you going to vote? And she said, well, I'm registered in an island, I'm not registered in Athens, so if I could even get 60 euros out, I can't even get on a flight, on a boat, to go to my island and vote.

And people are really frustrated because it's not just -- yes, it's not just about voting for many people. It's about daily livelihood which is so important. One gentleman said he didn't have enough money to feed his family, Fredricka. 50 percent of Greek families here depend on pensions now for the only source of income. That just helps to put into perspective. One man I spoke to even had to sell his wedding ring after 40-plus years of working because he just had no more money -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: My gosh. And so, Isa, help break down, what is it that's at issue when they go to vote? Is it an issue of whether there would be, you know, government spending cuts? Higher taxes? What is it?

SOARES: Let me break it down for you. What -- the negotiations they've been having for the past five years is Europe asking for more cuts. Greece doesn't want any more cuts. Five years of austerity, the economy shrank 25 percent, youth unemployment is at 50 percent. So Greece is saying look, the austerity simply isn't working. But Europe says we need more cuts, you need to cut -- further cuts to pension, increasing BAT. And given the fact that people here, pensions most importantly have seen their pensions cut by more than half.

The Greek government of Alexi Tsipras has taken a very hard stance and said no, no more austerity. We have enough. Because it's just too much on not just our elderly but also our young people. So now what he's saying is, he's calling to vote no to any sort of proposal that's been put on the table by Europe because he says if we vote no, then my negotiating tactic, my hand will be tougher, will be stronger when I come to Europe, and say, look, people here clearly don't want any more austerity, give us a break.

WHITFIELD: All right. Complicated decisions to make. And we'll see how it plays out tomorrow.

Isa Soares, thank you so much, in Athens.

All right. Still ahead, mayhem and injuries after a fireworks show in Colorado blasted a crowd. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:26:46] WHITFIELD: Mortgage rates inched down this week. Take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hello, again, Happy Fourth. Thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

An investigation is underway after a fireworks malfunction injures nine people. It happened during a show last night in Avon, Colorado. A shell exploded in its tube and then landed in the crowd instead of firing into the sky.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All nine people were treated for minor burns at the show and then released.

On the show with us right now from Avon, Colorado, is the man who shot this video, Garrett Fitzgerald.

So, Garrett, describe for us what you witnessed. Were there problems better you started taking the video or were you, you know, just hoping for a beautiful show?

GARRETT FITZGERALD, WITNESSED FIREWORKS FIASCO: We were just watching an excellent fireworks display until everything kind of went wrong. It was maybe about three quarters of the way through the planned time of the show, according to the radio, and all of a sudden a shell that burst about halfway up from where the normal height of the shell were going off, and then one got lower. And then as you can see in the video five hit the crowd kind of right on the other side of the shoreline.

WHITFIELD: So you could hear the audio, you know, some of the voices as you were shooting this video, saying, whoa, that was low lying. And then, you know, others saying that's not good. So at what point, you know, did you realize that something was awry here? And how concerned were you about people? How close do you think some of the people were to some of those low-lying fireworks?

FITZGERALD: I mean, it happened very quickly, so as soon as the first low fireworks went off, we're, like, oh that's not good, and then it crest and it got lower. And by the time that the fireworks finished, those were all exploding in the middle of the crowd.

[13:30:07] WHITFIELD: Wow. And I guess at this point you're really happy that you all were kind of at a high point. How did you make the decision about where you decided to watch the fireworks and ultimately get these pictures, too?

FITZGERALD: Well, we had spent the last few years up there, mostly due to the fact that there are tons of people down at the lakeside, so the crowds are just really large, and this is the way for us to get kind of up on the side of the mountain and away from the crowds and get to a good vantage point.

WHITFIELD: And then what are people talking about now, today, the day after, after, you know, everyone looks forward to these fireworks? But then, you know, nine people were injured?

FITZGERALD: Yes. The way it works up here in Vail Valley is there's fireworks on the Second, Third and Fourth. So there's another set of fireworks tonight. I wonder if it will be less attended due to the fact that yes, last night obviously didn't go as planned. But most of the people around here are, you know, happy that there were no serious injuries, and no one was killed or seriously injured.

WHITFIELD: Right. OK. So there will be more fireworks tonight. Same location?

FITZGERALD: Down the valley in Vail, Colorado.

WHITFIELD: OK. Got it. In the Vail area. All right.

Garrett Fitzgerald, thanks so much for sharing your video with us, and your story and your experience. And glad, as you said, no one was more seriously injured, but nine people were hurt in that. Thanks so much.

Fireworks won't be happening in some parts of California tonight. The drought and several wildfires have forced some cancellations. Fireworks restrictions and outright bans are in place in parts of Oregon, Washington state, and Alaska, over fears that sparks could start new fires.

And we will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:35:20] WHITFIELD: Mitt Romney says Donald Trump's comments on immigration are hurting the party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you think Donald Trump's comments on Mexicans have hurt the Republican Party?

MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, I think he made a severe error in saying what he did about Mexican Americans. And, you know, it's unfortunate.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you think the candidates should speak up about that?

ROMNEY: I think a number of them have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Romney spoke to CNN in New Hampshire earlier today where candidates from both parties are hitting the campaign trail. All this comes after Trump defended his remarks this morning on FOX News, calling his GOP opponents weak on immigration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I know Pataki well. And, you know, he's a sad figure. He's got zero in the polls. And he was a terrible governor of New York. Terrible. If he would have run again it wouldn't -- I mean, he -- he wouldn't have gotten anything. So he was a failed governor. And you know, as far as Rubio, he's very weak on immigration and I've been saying that for a long time about him. He's weak on immigration.

I respect Ted Cruz for the views that he's got. I mean, he was really out there and strong on it. And I shouldn't say this because I assume he's an opponent, but the fact is he was very brave in coming out. And, you know, when I look at somebody like Perry, who was the governor there for a long period of time, well, he could have done something a little bit -- maybe a lot more in terms of protecting people because, again, the crime is rampant.

This isn't a Mexico thing. This is -- you know, I have great relations with Mexico. And I love the Mexican people and the spirit of Mexican people. These are people just pouring across the border, and you know, it involves more than just border. It involves trade, everything we do in this country is just off. Our trade deals are terrible, our border protection is terrible. Our security is -- you look at what ISIS is doing to us, they're laughing at us. You know, do we have victories anymore in our country? And the answer is really no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, CNN's MJ Lee is in New Hampshire.

So, MJ, Mitt Romney's remarks earlier before hearing that sound bite from Donald Trump, you know, how has this sort of stirred the pot in the Fourth of July campaigning with the party's last nominee now weighing on Trump and on the race?

LEE: Well, look, Mitt Romney deciding to wade into this controversy is important because a lot of the 2016 Republican candidates consider Romney an important leader of the party. They say that they look up to him and care about the thoughts that he has on various issues, so I think that they'll keep that in mind in the coming days, as they think about how to answer questions from the press about Donald Trump's comments.

Now maybe more importantly, a lot of these candidates are also hoping that they can perhaps get an endorsement from Mitt Romney at some point in the future, even though Romney has said that he probably will not be making an endorsement during this primary. A lot of candidates are looking to spend a lot of time with him. Just last night, Chris Christie and Marco Rubio actually had a slumber party at Mitt Romney's Wolfeboro lake home here in New Hampshire.

We also know that Mitt Romney will be meeting with Jeb Bush on Monday. Jeb Bush has said that an endorsement from Mitt Romney would be a huge deal.

WHITFIELD: All right. And now what about the Democrats who are, you know, stumping there this holiday weekend?

LEE: So Hillary Clinton is here. She was here yesterday and she has been on the trail again today. I'm here in Gorham, New Hampshire, a town in the north part of the state. In about an hour or so, she's going to be -- if you look over my left shoulder, participating in a parade in this town. You can see that a lot of people have their chairs lined up along the street. And they're very excited about the prospects of having Hillary Clinton, this national celebrity, come to their town.

One man came up to me and said, isn't it exciting that we could potentially have our first grandmother president in 2016? So there's a lot of excitement here today -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lots of excitement. I still can't get the image of everyone in their pajamas at the slumber party that you mentioned at Mitt Romney's home and now that's all I'm thinking about. Everybody in their little pajamas having a slumber party. How fun.

(LAUGHTER)

LEE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. MJ Lee, appreciate it. Thank you.

All right. Coming up, captured inmate David Sweat spilling details on his escape. And now we're learning about major corruption allegations at the jail he escaped from.

[13:39:48]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Checking our stop stories.

A source directly involved in the nuclear talks with Iran tells CNN there has been some movement on the issue of sanctions relief. That source says the tentative agreement would allow both sides to declare sanctions lifted but would actually lift them over time as Iran meets various obligations. However, the source adds there is a lot of work to do, including getting approval from the foreign ministers of the countries involved in the talks.

And Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent President Obama a message of congratulations on this Fourth of July. In the message Putin said that while there are differences between Russia and the United States, Russian-American relations remain the most important factor of international stability and security.

And the Tour de France is under way. The first leg starting this morning. And get this, there are only three Americans in the race this year. That's the fewest number since 1996. The race ends in Paris on July 26th.

And authorities are learning new details about the brazen escape of two killers in New York, including a her that deceased fugitive Richard Matt sent to his daughter before breaking out of the prison. The letter according to "The Buffalo News" reads, quote, "I always promised I would see you on the other side. I am a man of my word," end quote. Investigators believe Matt's daughter didn't know about the plan. She received the letter three days after the inmates broke out.

The other escapee, David Sweat, also told investigators in addition to a hacksaw, they used a sledgehammer found in the underground tunnels of the prison to knock down a brick wall to freedom.

[13:45:09] And now officials are launching new security measures. Every cell at the Clinton Correctional Facility will be inspected once a week with supervision from a senior security staff member and the prison will triple the number of cells searched daily. The so-called honor block has been eliminated. And all tunnels are being inspected monthly instead of twice a year.

All right. Joining us now is Gary Hayward, former corrections officer at the notorious Rikers Island. He also became an inmate himself after being caught smuggling drugs on the job.

Gary, good to see you.

GARY HAYWARD, FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICER, RIKERS ISLAND: How are you doing today?

WHITFIELD: I'm doing pretty good. So these are pretty big changes that we understand at the Clinton Correctional Facility. In your view, is this going to be enough? Or is this just the beginning of more to come?

HAYWARD: Well, it's just the beginning. I feel it's just the beginning of more to come. It should be enough for the time being in the correction officers and facilities stay consistent with these little changes. They have to keep -- they have to keep it up.

WHITFIELD: So does it come as a surprise to you that these are the changes that would come now after this kind of big prison break when we understand over a course of many years there hadn't been a whole lot of changes?

HAYWARD: Well, they didn't need a whole lot of changes because how often does an inmate really escape to this magnitude? These changes don't surprise me because if you put changes in place, like for instance they put these changes in place right now. If in another year or two, an inmate finds another way to get out of prison, then they're going to make more changes to adapt to the inmates because the inmates are always sitting, always plotting, and always trying to figure ways to outsmart the corrections officers.

WHITFIELD: Right. So I guess that's why that's a little surprising that, you know, it would be a prison break that would bring about changes as opposed to a prison and maybe it happens, you know, across the board at prisons that they would make changes all the time so that it's not predictable. HAYWARD: Well, if the corrections officers carried out their duties

that they were supposed to, like these changes are still some of the -- are really not changes. They're things that are in place, they're just going to up the amount of time that they do them. Like cell searches, have been in place forever. It's just the amount of time that they're going to increase that gives the inmate less time to try to strategize to get out of prison.

WHITFIELD: So then, you know, if this information is correct, that we, you know, mentioned at the top, you were a correctional, you know, officer, but then you ended up being an inmate because of helping to traffic drugs. Talk to me about that relationship sometimes some correctional officers cross the line or develop a relationship where they end up assisting or aiding some of the inmates and then themselves, find themselves in trouble, such as in your case.

HAYWARD: Well, as I wrote in detail in my book called "Corruption Officer" it tells about correction officers could be comfortable with the job and developed somewhat friendly relationships with inmates that are around them long term. And once that happens, then the guards of the correction officers let down, and they get real comfortable with the inmate and they don't do their job as extensive as they should.

With the contraband and stuff going on in there, correctional officers are approached the minute they stepped inside the jail by inmates to bring something in to them. It's up to the integrity of the officer to not fall into that trap.

WHITFIELD: So what makes the difference between, you know, the integrity of one officer who doesn't fall into the trap versus the one that does?

HAYWARD: The one that does is really -- well, for my situation, I can only speak for me because not every corrections officer inside these jails doing what I did. For me it was for monetary gain. It was a different situation, like when you hear about a female having sex with an inmate or you hear about this correction officer beating an inmate, there's different forms of corruption, but as far as the contraband, for different officers it's different situations that they're in that makes them with their back against the wall, and makes them make these bad decisions.

WHITFIELD: All right. Gary Hayward, thanks so much for sharing your personal story and also giving us your expert insight. Appreciate it.

HAYWARD: Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for having me.

WHITFIELD: All right. All right. Still to come, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie known for his blunt talk when dealing with his opponent. Well, straight ahead, we'll hear from someone who knows another side of this man -- his wife.

[13:49:50]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: By formally entering the race for president, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is now the 14th Republican to do so, and as his campaign gets under way, perhaps Christie's biggest supporter is his wife, who left a lucrative job on Wall Street to work on his campaign.

Mary Pat Christie spoke exclusively to CNN's chief political analyst Gloria Borger about her husband, the bridge-gate scandal, and his run for president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chris Christie.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): In announcing for the presidency, Chris Christie didn't stick to a script.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I mean what I say and I say what I mean.

BORGER: But he did stick to his brand, a straight-talking, take-no- prisoners leader .

C. CHRISTIE: I'm going to give the answer to the question that's asked.

BORGER: Not afraid of ruffling a few feathers.

C. CHRISTIE: And did I stay on topic? Are you stupid? Your rear end is going to get thrown in jail, idiot. Get over it.

BORGER: After this traffic jam became a national scandal, the candidate, who was once the man to beat, is starting his campaign behind.

C. CHRISTIE: We are going to go and win this election.

BORGER: An unusual spot for a political star who for most of his career has been at the top, from New Jersey's hard-charging U.S. attorney.

C. CHRISTIE: Justice has finally been done.

BORGER: To an even higher perch as the deal-making, two-term Republican governor in a Democratic state.

C. CHRISTIE: You think you know what it's like to be governor. You really don't.

BORGER: A tough job, says Mary Pat Christie, but her husband was the perfect guy for it.

[13:55:03] MARY PAT CHRISTIE, NEW JERSEY FIRST LADY: He's a very complex person like any executive leader is. He thinks four or five steps ahead of most people and just comes up with all sorts of solutions. He plays things out in his mind.

TOM KEAN (D), FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR: I think he's got more natural ability than any politician I've seen since Bill Clinton. He's that good.

BORGER: Former New Jersey governor, Tom Kean, has known Christie for decades, ever since the 14-year-old Chris knocked on his door while his mother waited in the car after hearing Kean give a political speech.

KEAN: And he said, "Sir, I heard you talk, I'd really like to get involved in politics. How do I do it?" And I thought for a minute and I said, "I'm going up to speak in Bergen County tonight. Get in the car, come with me, see if you like it." And I've known him ever since.

BORGER: Christie is now 52, and Kean, who's had his own ups and downs with Christie, has watched his fellow Republican become a political force, navigating tough partisan terrain with a lot of backroom skill.

KEAN: He's a little bit Lyndon Johnson. You know, he'll almost grab you by the collar and say this is what we're going to do together, you know, and he's persuasive in very much of a strong way.

BORGER: And with maybe too much public bravado for Christie's own good.

C. CHRISTIE: I can go back and forth with you as much as you want.

KEAN: Has he learned over time? A little bit better self-control, keep the temper under control, to use it, not have it use him.

C. CHRISTIE: So listen, you want to have the conversation later, I'm happy to have it, buddy, but until that time sit down and shut up.

M. CHRISTIE: If you're disrespectful you may, you know, be called out on it.

BORGER (on camera): Too blunt, too aggressive?

M. CHRISTIE: No, those are not -- I really don't think those are faults of his.

C. CHRISTIE: You asked the question. I gave the answer.

M. CHRISTIE: It's the hallmark of his leadership. I think so many times our politicians kind of don't state the obvious. They don't tell the truth. I think America is looking for someone to tell the truth.

C. CHRISTIE: You give it, you very well may get it back.

BORGER (voice-over): That's the Christie "tell it like it is" plan. He's proudly New Jersey through and through.

C. CHRISTIE: Don't they know I am from New Jersey? BORGER: Rocking his way through more than 130 Springsteen concerts.

C. CHRISTIE: For those of you hooting --

BORGER: And feeding off the crowds as a candidate, town-halling his way through the early primary states.

M. CHRISTIE: He has a lot of fun with it. He loves to debate.

BORGER: Christie's outspoken truth-telling brand was tested a year and a half ago.

C. CHRISTIE: I worked the cones actually, Mack.

BORGER: But it wasn't a laughing matter. Stories had surfaced that some of his staff had deliberately created a massive traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge to extract political retribution on Christie's behalf. He fired them.

C. CHRISTIE: I had no knowledge of this, of the planning, the execution or anything about it.

BORGER: While Christie hasn't been charged with anything, two of his former staffers have been indicted and one former ally has pleaded guilty.

(On camera): People abandoned you, did you feel?

M. CHRISTIE: Well, I think that you felt that people were all against you and that you wanted to shout what the truth was. When you're in those kinds of situations, you know that you can trust your family. And so -- so we really leaned on one another. In a strange way, I think that it was healthy. I wouldn't recommend it, but it was healthy in some ways.

BORGER (voice-over): It certainly didn't help politically.

M. CHRISTIE: We're past that. Everybody now knows Chris had nothing to do with that. And, look, people -- we have to remind people why Chris is such a good leader.

BORGER: Reminding voters of the strength of Christie's leadership in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

(On camera): I remember that fleece he wore non-stop for --

M. CHRISTIE: Yes, I would have to pull it away to wash it at night once in a while. That's because he was working 20-hour days. He would literally go to the shore towns that, you know, and walk the streets. He felt people's pain and he was able to just hug them.

BORGER (voice-over): Christie was full of hugs for everyone, including President Obama just a few days before the presidential election, a moment that some Republicans found less than touching.

It's a different picture now. Christie has gotten healthier, undergoing lap-band weight loss surgery in 2013, but he's struggling to regain lost momentum.

KEAN: I think he's got big problems right now. If this was another candidate who had similar problems, I might be writing him off. I know Chris Christie too well for that. Never write off Chris Christie.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was Gloria Borger reporting. And as Christie gets into the GOP presidential race he is going to find that field even more crowded.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is expected to announce his candidacy July 13th. And sources tell CNN that Ohio governor John Kasich also plans to announce he is running July 21st.

[14:00:04] All right. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM begins right now.