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Border Patrol Agent's Death Leaves Many Questions; Arrested Rick Gates Asks Judge for Thanksgivings Furlough; Trump Administration to End Temporary Protected Status for Haitians; UCLA Player's Dad Won't Concede Trump Won Son's Release. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired November 21, 2017 - 14:30   ET

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


[14:30:00] BRANDON JUDD, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL BORDER CONTROL COUNCIL: And these are things that we encounter on a daily basis. And these are the dangers that we face.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: So, what kind of condition -- what sort of details do you know about how Martinez was found, injuries and the like?

From the agents in the field, they said that it was a horrendous scene. They said that his head was bleeding profusely. There was blood all over the place. That there were a lot of injuries to his head. Now, I find it interesting that the sheriff says that --

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It was a fall.

JUDD: That the injuries indicate a fall. If you look at the culvert that supposedly he would have fallen from, that's just not true. That culvert is only about nine feet high. It's got a sandy bottom so there would be nothing that would you'd fall on to that would cause these injuries. And for two experienced agents to fall off a culvert, one right after another is just highly unlikely. What is a lot more likely is exactly what the agent was looking for, he radioed in that he was out on foot and going to be looking for these bodies? I believe he was ambushed. The facts will bear that out.

BALDWIN: What about the partner who is in the hospital in serious condition, what is he saying?

JUDD: He has not regained his memory yet, as far as I know. And that's the most up-to-date information was from this morning that I have, is that he's still not regained his memory. However, he's doing much better and I believe it's expected that he will get his memory out. The problem is whether or not he actually saw something. So his injury is in the back of the head. They could have come up behind him and hit him in the back of the head and he could have lost consciousness immediately. What I do know, Agent Rogelio Martinez, when he found him, he was unconscious, and he never regained consciousness until he succumbed to his injuries.

BALDWIN: We're waiting for a conference at the top of the hour. I do have this tweet from the president of the United States: "A Border Patrol officer killed at southern border, another badly hurt. We will seek out and bring to justice those responsible. We will and must build a wall."

Brandon, do you approve of the president using this strategy to push for a wall?

JUDD: Well, I absolutely do approve that we need a barrier in strategic locations which is exactly what we've been saying from the very beginning. I think you that have to -- as the president of the United States, I think you have to illustrate examples of why a wall would be need. So, I absolutely approve of his tweet saying this is an example that shows why we need a wall.

What I think is interesting, the secure border act, you know Democrats and Republicans alike are all for the secure border act. And what is being proposed as far as a wall. We're talking about barriers in strategic locations. We're not talk about a great wall of the United States, 2,000 miles extending down to Texas. What we're talking about, we're talking about strategic locations where we, as agents, myself, we can dictate where illegal border processes take place which allows us to be safer and effective in securing our border.

BALDWIN: Brandon Judd, thank you for your time. President of the National Border Patrol Council.

We'll take that news conference at the top of the hour.

Appreciate you.

The Trump administration giving this message to thousands of Haitians who fled to the U.S. after a devastating earthquake. Officials placing an expiration date on the immigrants' temporary protective status. We'll discuss that and the ramifications.

Also ahead, one of the most bizarre interviews we've seen in a while. The father of one the of the UCLA basketball players released from China going back and forth with President Trump, comes on CNN. We'll talk to former UCLA Coach Steve Lavin to react to that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:38:21] BALDWIN: Former Trump campaign official, Rick Gates, was in court today. He and former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, are both under arrest stemming from Robert Mueller's charges into Russia's meddling in the election. That hasn't stopped Gates asking for repeated requests for leniency, including asking the judge if he could leave his house for Thanksgiving.

Let's go to Shimon Prokupecz, CNN's crime and justice reporter, with the update from the judge?

Can they have their Thanksgiving or no?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, small victory for the defense team. As you said, Brooke, they've been fighting, trying to get these two men out of their homes. They've been in house arrest since October 30th, when they were arrested by the FBI. They surrendered.

A little victory here. The judge said the two men could spend time with their family at Thanksgiving. Probably by saturday, they can be back in their homes. Doesn't mean they can go wherever they want. It's very limited where they request to go. And they'll still be monitored electronically and with a GPS, these electronic bracelets, monitored. No alcohol, no wine for them. They can enjoy the time with their family, but they can't drink, the judge said.

[14:39:35] BALDWIN: OK, turkey, but no wine. Got you.

Shimon, thank you very much.

He is the Senate candidate denying the sexual assault allegations against him. Minutes from now, Roy Moore's campaign will hold a news conference. We're told he will responds to accusations against him. Stand by for that.

Also ahead, he became the center of this bizarre war of words with President Trump. The father of one of the UCLA basketball players, freed by China, refusing to thank the president for his efforts. And then he decided to appear on CNN and -- well -- well, we'll play it for you.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back. The Trump administration is telling 60,000 Haitians who are in the United States illegally that their time is almost up. Homeland Security officials say they will not renew the temporary status that has allowed them to remain here since an earthquake devastated their country in 2010. They have 18 months to find a new avenue for legal status, leave the country or face deportation.

Let's talk about it with Karine Jean-Pierre, the former Obama administration official, the daughter of Haitian immigrants. She's also an advocate of Haitian-American Rights. Also with us, CNN political commentator, Scott Jennings, a former special assistant to President George W. Bush.

Welcome to both of you.

Karine, starting with you, we want to draw down on the why. Why this is happening. First, when you heard about this, how did you feel?

[14:45:31] KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, FORMER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL & ADVOCATE OF HAITIAN-AMERICAN RIGHTS: It was devastating, Brooke. It's just a cruel decision by the Trump administration. I just don't understand why they would decide to do this, but if you think about it, deep down, if you think about it, it's pretty easy to figure out the logic behind this. Let me just say, Brooke, we're a country, nation of immigrants, the moment we forget about that, we lose our identity as a nation. What is happening right now, the Trump administration is placating that red meat slinging just to say they did this because there's no reason to do this. The Haitian government has been very clear about this, that please -- we cannot absurd 60,000 people currently because the infrastructure after this hurricane was absolutely decimated. This is not something they can take on right now. Why do this? Did the Trump administration send anyone to Haiti to actually see what's going on there? No, absolutely not. This is why what they're doing is cruel, inhumane and unnecessary.

BALDWIN: Let me add to that. Here's a question, Scott. You heard Karine's obviously, this is personal for her, but just from a logistical standpoint, removing 60,000 people, to a country that is not prepared to take them. Haiti is the poorest country in the hemisphere. They have jobs here. They have lives here. How does this not create problems for people?

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It does create problems for people. There are 16,000 people that have already been granted permanent status in the United States. Of that 60,000, several thousand are going to be able to stay in the United States. This strikes me as another issue that the Trump administration inherited that Congress could easily step in and fix. The law is the law. And the executive branch has to follow the law as written. It strikes me here, as it did on DACA, that the Trump administration is trying to do its best to follow existing U.S. Law. But it may be that the existing law didn't anticipate a situation like we have in Haiti. I would implore the Congress to step isn't here to something that is happening in our hemisphere. That's the thing about a superpower. You want our own backyard to be free. That's the issue in Haiti. I think the executive branch is doing what it thinks it needs do based on current law. There's a role to be played here. I read that members of Congress from Florida, specifically, do not agree with the decision.

BALDWIN: Maybe this is another issue, that he passes out to Congress.

Karine, just to push you a little bit, isn't it fair -- this was a temporary policy, is it fair for the Trump administration to challenge something when they knew all of these Haitian immigrants were coming to this country for a finite period of time, or so they thought?

JEAN-PIERRE: I think what would be fair if the Trump administration decided to continue the temporary status and also at the same time, he has control of the House and Senate and Republicans and control for good comprehensive immigration reform legislation. There's no need to do this. There's no need to upend people's lives. This is caused dramatic feels for people. There are people who have to figure out custody for their children and pay immigration lawyers, or hopefully, there are pro bono lawyers 0 thought. This is going to change people's lives. They're not an economic threat. They're not criminals, they're good talented educated people actually giving back to their community.

BALDWIN: Karine Jean-Pierre and Scott Jennings, appreciate your voices. Who knows if that will be passed to Congress with that deadline 2019.

Appreciate both of you.

JENNINGS: Thank you.

[14:49:33] BALDWIN: Moments from now -- you're welcome -- moments from now, Roy Moore's campaign will speak out against allegations of sexual assault involving embattled Senate candidate. The last time his lawyers held a news conference, they demanded a yearbook from one of his accusers. We shall see what happens this time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: This war of words between President Trump and this outspoken father of a UCLA basketball player, arrested in China for shoplifting, now taking a bizarre turn. LaVar Ball, known for speaking his mind, says he's not in a feud with the president, but also, that he's not about to give Trump any credit for the release of his son and two other UCLA players from detention in China.

Here's part of the CNN interview that delivered plenty of shock and awe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[14:55:50] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Did you think that the president --

(CROSSTALK)

LAVAR BALL, FATHER OF UCLA BASKETBALL PLAYER ARRESTED IN CHINA: Listen very slowly, carefully.

CUOMO: I'm trying.

BALL: Did he help the boys get out? I don't know. I don't know.

CUOMO: Why do you --

(CROSSTALK)

BALL: If I was going to thank somebody, I'd thank President Xi.

CUOMO: President Xi.

BALL: He's from China. He's the head, the president in China.

CUOMO: True. He said he helped get them out of China.

BALL: OK, if he paid for the money to put up, whatever we need to do, I would say thank you. Did he do that?

CUOMO: So, that's the bar? If he doesn't put up bail for the boys, he doesn't deserve thanks?

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: Come on.

BALL: No, it's not if he put up bail. He said he helped. If he helped, I would say thank you.

CUOMO: He says he spoke to the president of China and that that was relayed to you and the boys.

(CROSSTALK)

BALL: OK. Anybody who speaks to the president, I should thank anybody who speaks to the president?

CUOMO: No, but this is the president of the United States who spoke to the Chinese president.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: That's not just anybody. You know what kind of power he has.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: I don't get what you're hiding from this.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: I don't get why you're ducking this, to be honest with you.

BALL: If I was ducking this, I wouldn't be here talking to you.

(CROSSTALK)

BALL: I don't duck nobody.

CUOMO: LaVar Ball, were you there, but you don't know --

(CROSSTALK)

BALL: I was there.

CUOMO: I know you were.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: Do you think the president helped?

BALL: OK. Do I think the president helped?

CUOMO: Yes.

BALL: I don't know.

CUOMO: I think you've made this more difficult than you needed to, and you wound up provoking the president of the United States.

BALL: You know what? You're making this more difficult. LaVar didn't say thank you to the president.

CUOMO: You didn't?

BALL: So that makes me a bad person?

CUOMO: No. I'm just saying -

(CROSSTALK)

BALL: Just swim on this?

CUOMO: It doesn't make any sense why you won't thank him.

BALL: Did you thank the doctor for bringing you into this world?

CUOMO: LaVar Ball, the best to you and your family for Thanksgiving. The best to your boys and the best to your wife as well. OK?

BALL: Hey, you have a great Thanksgiving. And I've got a message for you.

CUOMO: What is it?

BALL: Tell Donald Trump to have a great Thanksgiving because big Baller is.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: I mean, there's TV and there's TV.

So, let's talk about that. I have Steve Lavin with me. He's a former head basketball coach at UCLA.

Steve, it's so nice to meet you. Thank you so much for coming in.

STEVE LAVIN, FORMER UCLA BASKETBALL COACH: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: You and I were watching that. You saw that. It went on and on.

LAVIN: A little Abbott and Costello.

BALDWIN: A little bit. They had a thing, Cuomo and LaVar. What was your response just watching it?

LAVIN: Well, it's entertaining.

BALDWIN: Is this something we should be entertained by?

LAVIN: Well, I think the issue itself in terms of what triggered and what led to the situation with UCLA players obviously being in China. And, you know, what we had to do to make sure they got back safely to their country. That's serious business. LaVar Ball, that exchange there, to me, is entertaining. Because he has a little bit of Bill Zack, a little Barnum Bailey, and even Steve Jobs. In a different context, we'd be applauding LaVar Ball. Probably advertising classes some day across the country are going to be studying, probably a chapter on LaVar Ball and this run he's had.

BALDWIN: I don't know if I'd go that far, Steve. (CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: You're a coach of UCLA. If you were coach currently and, all of a sudden, you're thrust into this geopolitical situation, would you be saying to somebody at the school, could we get a pull aside with his father and tell him to ixnay with the president, would you have that chat?

LAVIN: I think for starters, if you have a rapport with a parent that starts with recruiting and you develop the trust and communication with each other, it wouldn't be something to pull them aside. Hopefully we have --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: A conversation.

LAVIN: -- a conversation, to be able to communicate in a gentlemanly way.

BALDWIN: So, you would maybe have that conversation. Have you ever -- as a coach, would you let it go, or would you --

LAVIN: Well, I think it's a balance. It's a delicate balance. Because if you start trying to control things you really don't have control over, then that in turn begins to affect things you do have control over which is responsibility on a daily basis of coaching your team, preparing them for upcoming games. For recruiting, fund-raising and whatnot. So at the same time, I think there is a way to communicate with parents in an effective manner and to be able to learn from the situation. So there would be dialogue and communication going on.

BALDWIN: Here's my last question, because heave heard a couple of coaches taking a stand against the president, Kerr, Popovich. But the president doesn't ever attack them. Why do you think that is?

LAVIN: Well, I'm not sure, getting inside the mind of Donald Trump, you know, in terms of Twitter and electronics --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Some NBA players, basketball players on the college level, NFL, but not these coaches.

LAVIN: Well I think, you know, LaVar Ball has his strategy that's been formed based on his experience and perspective. And I think Donald Trump has his team of people, and so obviously at the top there, that has a certain strategy. And, you know, he's --