Return to Transcripts main page

THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER

GOP Candidates Battle For Ten Debate Spots; Ex-Campus Cop Pleads Not Guilty To Murder; Remains Of WWII Service Members Returned To U.S.; Planned Parenthood Under Fire. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired July 30, 2015 - 16:30   ET

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


JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: So let's get right to CNN's Dana Bash, who joins live with all the latest.

Dana, Trump is on a brief break from the campaign trail. He is attending the women's British Open on his golf course in Scotland. Did that stop the brash billionaire from boasting or anything while across the pond?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Of course not, Jake, you know, he told me that he had planned a longer trip to Scotland, but shortened it to a day and a half. Your point, wherever Trump goes these days, his campaign and questions about it go with him, even in the United Kingdom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): One week before the first Republican presidential debate, the GOP frontrunner landed his helicopters at his golf course in Scotland. This is not your father's primary season.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: An amazing day and a half in Turnberry.

BASH: He's in Europe for the women's British Open taking place at his Turnberry Trump golf course.

TRUMP: I have a big stake in this land.

BASH: Trump's newest investment in his own campaign is paying dividends. Another new national poll shows him with a significant lead in the Republican presidential race, 20 percent, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker trailing at 13 percent, and Jeb Bush at just 10 percent, half of Trump's support.

Trump is also running first in New Hampshire and a close second in Iowa, the first two primary contests. One GOP candidate said the reason for Trump's rise -- simple, an outsized attention.

SENATOR RAND PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If I had a billion dollars' worth of advertising on every network going gaga over that, you know what, I think we could get ours to rides, too. I think this is a temporary sort of loss of sanity.

BASH: But it isn't all good news for Trump. He also has the worst favorability rating of any candidate in either party. The bombastic billionaire tops the list of candidates GOP voters say they would never vote for.

Although early state polls are the best test of the primary season, national polls will determine which ten of the 17 candidates can participate in next week's first debate.

According to CNN's poll of polls, on the stage will almost certainly by Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio.

Likely to make the cut, neurosurgeon, Ben Carson, Senator Ted Cruz and former governor, Mike Huckabee, all at 5 percent, that leaves just two more slots for the next three candidates, Governor Chris Christie, John Kasich and former governor, Rick Perry. With trump on the stage, it will be must-see TV.

TRUMP: I'm not a debater. I get things done whether it's this or whatever. I build, create jobs, nobody does better, that's what I do. I'm a big job producer, I'm a big builder, I do beautiful work.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: Now Trump may be true to form there talking about what beautiful work he does as a builder. That's what makes his lowering expectations for next week's debate so odd and so uncharacteristic, Jake, because, playing the expectations game, you know this, that's what politics do, and he prides himself as being different.

TAPPER: There's also other bad news in this poll for Trump.

BASH: That's right. That's what would happen at this point of the game if he were to be the Republican nominee, up against Hillary Clinton, he does very poorly, but it's not just that, even up against Bernie Sanders, let's just say everything changes on the Democratic side, if the election were today, Donald Trump would even lose to Bernie Sanders. That is exactly why every Democrat I talk to, they just want to keep this Trump train going because they think it's great for Democrats.

TAPPER: Well, it also distracts from any questions for Hillary Clinton or others. Dana Bash, thank you so much.

In our National Lead, an indicted police officer's lawyer says there is another video, one that tells a different detail about what happened when his client shot and killed an unarmed black man as he sat in his car. A third police body cam video has been released. What does that show? We'll show it to you, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:38:17]

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. The National Lead now, a new video is giving us even more insight into what prosecutors are calling the murder of an unarmed driver shot in the head by a University of Cincinnati police officer.

The attorney for the now former cop maintains that his client not wrong to shoot Samuel DuBose during a traffic stop. That defense lawyer says video from a second body camera is key to their case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It clearly shows Officer Tensing laying in the street some distance from Mr. DuBose's car was initially stopped. He didn't crawl up there. He didn't walk up there and follow them. Somehow he got up there. He says he was dragged.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Today, that officer, Ray Tensing pleaded not guilty to murder and voluntary manslaughter as a judge set bail at $1 million. Tensing's uniform now traded for a black and gray jumpsuit.

He walked into court shackled, his arms handcuffed behind his back. It was July 19th, 11 days ago when he body camera captured Tensing pulling over DuBose for a missing front license plate. Seconds later Tensing had shot DuBose twice in the head.

Prosecutors insist the driver was not being aggressive, was not being violent, and body cam video from another officer, Tensing repeatedly tells his colleagues that the car almost ran him over and he was forced to fire his gun.

CNN's Jason Carroll is joining me now live in Cincinnati. Jason, there is now a video from a third body camera I'm told. What does it show?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the best way to answer is what it did not show, what none of the body cam videos have shown, in fact, and that is none of the body cam videos show Tensing being dragged by DuBose's car. It simply is not there.

Now what you do hear on the third tape, you hear some audio of one of the responding officers say, quote, "I think I saw you being dragged."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[16:40:12] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The bond is $1 million anyway. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a courtroom. You will conduct yourselves at all times appropriately.

CARROLL (voice-over): Judge Megan Shanahan admonishing the court as observers cheered after setting former University of Cincinnati police officer, Ray Tensing's bail at $1 million.

The charges murder and voluntary manslaughter for the shooting of 43- year-old Samuel DuBose, during a routine traffic stop that turned deadly.

(VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Prosecutor Joe Deters called the shooting senseless saying Tensing had no business being an officer.

JOE DETERS, PROSECUTOR, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO: This is the most asinine act I've ever seen a police officer makes, totally unwarranted.

CARROLL: Video from Tensing's body camera shows him pulling DuBose over for a missing front license plate. The tension elevates quickly as Tensing repeatedly asked DuBose for his driver's license, which he does not have.

OFFICER TENSING: Do you have your license?

SAMUEL DUBOSE: I have a license. You can run my name.

CARROLL: DuBose was driving with a suspended license. On separate body cameras attached to two other university officers on the scene, Tensing repeatedly explains why he shot DuBose.

OFFICER TENSING: I thought he was going to run me over.

CARROLL: Tensing's attorney says his client feared for his life.

STEW MATTHEWS, TENSING'S ATTORNEY: I think it's accurate and bears that out.

CARROLL: DuBose's sister takes exception to that claim.

TERINA DUBOSE ALLEN, SAM DUBOSE'S SISTER: At camera angle, it shows him not putting his hands up and saying, what are you doing? I would ask his attorney to go get those angles, and show me the angles that show where my brother did not basically beg for his life. Why couldn't he have -- what part of that leads to I'm shooting you even though you're doing this?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: Very difficult interview as you can imagine, Jake, the family extremely upset. The DuBose family saying that not only should Tensing be held accountable, but at the very least, at least one of the responding officers who corroborated his story of being dragged by DuBose's car, they believe that officer should be held accountable as well.

We can tell you according to the University of Cincinnati, both of those responding officers are now on desk duty pending the outcome of an investigation -- Jake.

TAPPER: Jason Carroll in Cincinnati, thank you so much.

The DuBose family and supporters are applauding the charges against this former officer. Many gathered in peaceful protest when word of the indictment came down. City leaders in Cincinnati are calling for those rallies to remain nonviolent as more information is released.

Joining me now is Harry Black. He is the city manager of Cincinnati. Mr. Black, thanks for joining us. We really appreciate it. One other officer said in a police report that Tensing's injuries are consistent with him being dragged. Do you know of any evidence that DuBose was trying to drive away or did the car start moving only after he was shot?

HARRY BLACK, CINCINNATI CITY MANAGER: You've seen the videotape just as I've seen it and I think it's pretty clear. I'm concerned about the second officer's incident reporting his contribution to the incident report, which was written after the incident. It seems to be somewhat inconsistent with what's displayed in the video.

TAPPER: Let me ask you about that because the focus, as I understand it in Cincinnati is shifting to these other officers and their accounts, and how those accounts don't match up with what is seen on the body cameras. Are there investigators looking into those other officers and their statements?

BLACK: Well, I can't say one way or the other in terms of what the prosecutor's office is doing with respect to the other individuals who were on the scene, as officers with the University of Cincinnati police department.

But again the video that's the primary video is very self-explanatory. I believe it paints a vivid picture, whereas incident reports written by these officers are inconsistent with that video. I'm assuming that the prosecutor and the court system will deal with that appropriately.

TAPPER: You've watched this video again and again. There is one point where it appears Tensing, the officer, his hand is in the car. It's unclear how or why or if it's stuck. He says he was dragged. Tensing, of course, now charged with murder. Do you think that we know the whole story?

[16:45:07] BLACK: I think the video lays it all out in graphic visual terms. There appear to be quite a few inconsistencies between what the officer has reported and what the video itself is demonstrating.

TAPPER: Is training adequate for officers on that campus who carry guns?

BLACK: I can't speak to the level of adequacy in terms of training as it relates to the campus environment itself. If they're going to come off campus, clearly there's a need for a significant -- significantly more training as it relates to operating in an urban environment.

TAPPER: All right, Harry Black, the city manager of Cincinnati, thank you so much for your time. We appreciate it.

When we come back, a historic homecoming, 70 years in the making, dozens of American Marines finally brought back to the United States after losing their lives in a deadly World War II battle. That's next.

Plus hundreds of people on the run as California wildfires spread, hot dry conditions making it near impossible to battle the flames. That's coming up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:50:11]

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. You'll forgive the terminology, but if this next story is not a Buried Lead, a story not getting enough attention, I don't know what is. It is a remarkable tale of heroism and perseverance, and a historic homecoming seven decades in the making.

Earlier this week, the remains of dozens of U.S. Marines, who battled with the Japanese during World War II were finally returned to the nation for which they so greatly gave their lives, all thanks to the efforts of a small nonprofit dedicated to honoring the sacrifice of each of the 84,000 American service members still missing in action.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: More than 36 American service men finally arrived home this week, no longer missing in action. Among them a medal of honor recipient, First Lieutenant Alex Bonnyman Jr., whose family has waited nearly 72 years for his return.

He perished on this remote Pacific atoll in 1943. He was fighting valiantly to take this strategic land from the Japanese. Records show he crawled exposed ahead of the front line to advance his team's position under heavy fire.

He killed at least three enemy soldiers before being killed himself. After three bloody days on Tarawa, Americans regained control of the island, but they lost more than 1,100 men. Dozens unaccounted for ever since.

Many Marines were buried battle side in Cemetery 27 that was eventually lost track of. A multimillion dollar project by the nonprofit "History Flight," helped to find it and they announced the discovery of the service members last month, Lieutenant Bonnyman among them.

His grandson, Clay Bonnyman Evans, was there to witness this all firsthand. He had had this film, and though it gets a little graphic, he wanted us to see the powerful image.

CLAY BONNYMAN EVANS, HELPED DISCOVER GRANDFATHER'S REMAINS: This is a big deal for me. I grew one that medal on the wall, and the citation, and you know, he's always been my hero.

TAPPER: A tarnished memento, hand carved with Bonnyman's initial "B" was found next to Lt. Bonnyman's remains.

EVANS: This is the cigarette righter that was in his pocket.

TAPPER: Evans has been there five times in search of his grandfather working closely with Marines and History Flight to finally bring him home.

EVANS: I can just see how dedicated they were. They were kind of the little organization that could.

TAPPER: History Flight has been sending expert archaeologists and surveyors to these historic beaches for a decade. The Department of Defense is now helping to identify those from Cemetery 27 and notify families that their loved ones have been found and are finally coming home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: Welcome home.

Coming up, a dentist still in hiding as outrage mounts over his killing of a beloved lion in Zimbabwe. Now even the U.S. government is saying it cannot find Walter Palmer. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:57:30]

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. Breaking in national news today, an antiabortion group released a fourth undercover video, this time with footage of the medical director from Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains discussing fees for fetal tissue and organs as well as trying to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

The disturbing video from the Center for Medical Progress also cuts to the doctor sorting through body parts from aborted fetuses while a medical technician proclaims it's another boy.

Planned parenthood has defended itself many times since these tapes started coming out, insisting that the tapes are highly edited, and saying insisting that it is not illegally selling aborted body parts for profit only charging to cover expenses such as shipping for medical research.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are pushing for defunding Planned Parenthood, which reserves hundreds of millions of dollars, none of which the organization claims is spent on abortion procedures.

Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton whose ties to the group run deep told "The New Hampshire Union Leader" that she had seen pictures from the videos and, quote, "Obviously finds them disturbing."

Heat, dry brush and windy weather together, it's a destructive combination for wildfires that have now taken over some 8,000 acres in Northern California. Firefighters are working to contain at least 14 fires burning out of control.

Hundreds of people have evacuated the homes trying to escape the flames threatening their property. Temperatures are in the triple digits. Add to that the state's extreme drought. Crews expect the same devastating conditions again tomorrow.

U.S. authorities want to talk to the American dentist who hunted and helped killed the iconic African animal, Cecil, the lion. The Fish and Wildlife Service is asking Walter Palmer to contact them immediately as it investigates the circumstances of the lion's death.

Palmer traveled to Zimbabwe earlier this month on one of his many trophy hunt trips, that's where the big cat was killed on protected land. Palmer issued a statement of his own, saying, he did not know that the kill was illegal.

More than 200,000 people have now signed multiple White House petitions. They want the U.S. to extradite Palmer to Zimbabwe to face charges. The dentist has apparently been in hiding for days, even shutting down his office as he faces threats. Today, police announced they're stepping up securities as demonstrators flood his neighborhood.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter @jaketapper or tweet the show @theleadcnn. That's it for THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. I turn you over now to one Mr. Wolf Blitzer. He's right next door in a place we call "THE SITUATION ROOM."