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Leaders Decline Joining Trump; Funders Underway for Pittsburgh Victims; Officers Remain in Hospital in Pittsburgh; Bulger Killed in Prison; Rampage Deepens Divide in Jewish Community. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired October 30, 2018 - 13:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:17] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1:00 p.m. here in Washington. Thanks very much for joining us.

We begin with the shroud of grief that hangs over Pittsburgh today. The first funerals are being held for victims of the synagogue massacre. Eleven worshippers were killed in what's believed to be the deadliest attack against American Jews in U.S. history. The close-knit community of Squirrel Hill is saying goodbye to brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal. They were described as ambassadors at the Tree of Life Synagogue.

The funeral for Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz was also held today. He was a family physician and a beloved member of the community.

The funerals coincide with a controversial visit by President Trump. Some Jewish leaders opposed the visit because of the president's divisive rhetoric and the mayor of Pittsburgh and others urge the president to at least delay his trip. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL PEDUTO, PITTSBURGH MAYOR: I do believe that it would be best to put the attention on the families this week. And if he were to visit, choose a different time to be able to do it.

CHUCK DIAMOND, FORMER TREE OF LIFE RABBI: I would just ask the president, please, please, if it's not too late, put it off a week. Any president that would come in, any president, would be a distraction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Our White Hour correspondent Kaitlan Collins is joining us now live from Pittsburgh. She's there right near the synagogue.

Kaitlan, some local and national leaders have said they will not join the president this afternoon in Pittsburgh. What else are you hearing?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it's an increasing number of officials who say they aren't going to meet with the president, not just those local officials as you heard from, but also those national figures that were invited but also declined to join the president, including Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi. A big number of groups of people that are not going to be able to meet with the president. Some of them out of scheduling issues. But as you heard from the mayor of Pittsburgh, he is explicitly asking the president not to come today because he thinks it's going to be too disruptive to this trip.

Now, the White House is pointing to the fact that the rabbi of the Tree of Life Synagogue, who survived that shooting on Saturday, said he would welcome the president to come at any time, but he will be participating in working with the families during those funerals today.

Now, President Trump is pointing to the fact that he said on Saturday he wanted to come visit. He said he wanted to come sooner but he didn't want his visit here to pay his respects to be too disruptive, and that is why he's coming today.

But, Wolf, we also note behind the scenes in the White House, officials are pointing to the busy schedule that the president has for the rest of the week. Starting tomorrow, he's going to have several of those campaign rallies ahead of the midterms elections, some up to two a day across the United States. So they believe that either they couldn't delay it without cancelling one of the rallies, or if they did move the president's visit here to Pittsburgh, to later on in the week, that it would be bad optics to have the president coming here to a very sober, grieving community and then go on to a campaign rally that was often politically charged events. So they did not believe those optics would look good and they thought today was the best day for the president to come up here and pay his respects.

BLITZER: Kaitlan, has the White House announced what specifically the president and the first lady will be doing in Pittsburgh? Will they be meeting with family members? I assume they'll be meeting with some of the injured police officers.

COLLINS: Well, that's what the president said he wanted to do. That is one thing we have heard from them. But other than that, Wolf, it's pretty much a big question mark what exactly the president's schedule is going to look like. White House officials were kind of scrambling to put a schedule for the president together when they got on the ground here last night. It's unclear if he's going to come to the synagogue behind me here where there are still family members, members of the community coming to pay their respects and grieving here today, or if he's going to stay at a distance, just go visit those first responders, those who are still in the hospital.

But he is going to be here in a few hours, Wolf. He'll be on the ground for about four hours and he's going to be accompanied by the first lady, Melania Trump, and Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, who are, of course, as you know, Jewish, Wolf. So they will be here. But we are planning on a pretty small group of aides and the White House is describing this as an understated visit. But that could be, Wolf, because an increasing number of officials are saying they aren't going to meet with the president today and they wish he would delay his trip for later on. BLITZER: All right, we'll see what happens once he gets there.

Kaitlan, thank you very much.

It's a scene that will play out over and over again in the coming bays, grief-stricken families and friends gathering to say their final goodbyes to the victims of the synagogue massacre. Our correspondent Jean Casarez is outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Jean, give us a sense of how the community is banding together as these first funerals take place.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Wolf, there have been so many emotions in the last few days in this community, so many different emotions, but today it is solemn, it is reverent. They are paying their respects.

And we're right here at the Tree of Life Synagogue. This is where it all happened. This is the crime scene.

[13:05:03] But I want you to see the memorial outside. It is continuing to grow. Look at the people of this community that have come just to pay their respects. And I have seen so many people come with their flowers and they get their flowers out and they place their flowers by one of the 11 victims.

Now, as this is going on here, the funerals have been taking place, two of them today, Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, of course the doctor that everyone loved, and the two brothers, Cecil and David Rosenthal, that we've heard about. Those funerals started at 11:00 this morning, 11:00 and then 12:00. Later this afternoon, the president will be coming.

I want to tell you, I've been here since early morning, and the amount of police presence in this area has increased tenfold since this morning when I arrived before dawn.

BLITZER: Very significant, that police presence there, understandably so.

Jean Casarez, thank you very much.

Six people were wounded in the synagogue attack, four police officers, including two SWAT team members, were among the wounded. Two officers are still in the hospital.

For more on the police response and the preparations for the president's visit today, let's bring in the police chief, Scott Schubert.

Chief, thanks so much for joining us. And, once again, our hearts go out to you and to everyone else.

Update us, if you can, first of all, on the condition of those two wounded police officer who are still in the hospital.

CHIEF SCOTT SCHUBERT, PITTSBURGH POLICE: OK, thanks for having me. Yes, we have two still in the hospital. We're hoping one of them will

be released either tonight or tomorrow. Things keep changing on that. And then the other, he still has some -- some surgeries to go. Their spirits are good. We're very thankful all four of them are still with us. And they still have a long road ahead of recovering from their wounds, but we're going to be here for them and the community is going to be here for them.

BLITZER: Have you heightened security, police presence, chief, at these various funerals that are taking place starting today and continuing through the week?

SCHUBERT: We have. We have a number of officers and plain clothes detectives at a lot of the events that are going on throughout the community.

BLITZER: And I assume there's a police presence at the various Jewish schools, Jewish Community Centers, synagogues in the Pittsburgh -- greater Pittsburgh area?

SCHUBERT: That is correct. We have that going on as well.

BLITZER: Is it out of an abundance of caution or is there concern that there may be others out there who may be planning something?

SCHUBERT: No, we have nothing that suggests that something is going to occur. What we do know is, you know, this was a traumatic event in the city of Pittsburgh and for the Jewish community and we just want to be there for them to show them that we're there to help and protect.

BLITZER: What can you tell us about the president's visit today? Because I know you and your officers, you have to get involved and help make sure that there's good security all along.

SCHUBERT: So I can't really talk about the visit, but what I can tell you is, you know, that's part of our responsibility is to make sure the city is safe. And we have dignitaries that come in all the time. We have a dignitary protection unit that works well with the secret Service. And we'll do our part to ensure that it's a safe trip for everybody.

BLITZER: And do you have enough, you know, manpower on the scene to make sure that everybody is secure and safe? A presidential visit clearly is not an easy thing to deal with.

SCHUBERT: We have enough. We have our department and we have great relationships with other agencies within the city of Pittsburgh and outside the region. And they're all pitching in to help us.

BLITZER: At what point, chief, do you recall how your SWAT officers were responding to the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, they were able to force the suspect to surrender while also saving the life of one of their own wounded team members. I wonder if you would share that -- some of the details of that with our viewers.

SCHUBERT: Well, I can tell you, for me, I've known -- I've been a part of the SWAT team as a commanding officer for nearly 14 years and I'm not surprised at what they did. You know, they work as a team. They train with the other teams within western Pennsylvania. And, you know, they were up for the challenge and they wanted to go in and they wanted to help save lives. And they were able to engage the gunman and take him into custody. And I'm very proud for their heroic efforts and all of public safety that was involved in the incident. And that includes our medics. We have tack medics on our team as well. And they all did a hell of a job with this -- with the incident and the officers that were shot and the civilians that were shot.

[13:10:00] BLITZER: And we are all grateful to what you and the men and women of your police force did.

We've seen a tremendous outpouring of support for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. Understandably so. Also for local law enforcement. How are people in Pittsburgh showing their appreciation to you?

SCHUBERT: It's unbelievable. The amount of people that are coming up on our officers and other public safety officials thanking them for what they do, the outpouring of cards and letters from kids and others from the community just thanking our officers, it's been -- it's very uplifting for us because we truly are of one with the community. And it just shows that even more. And it's going to help us get over this tragedy and grow together. And it's what makes Pittsburgh so strong.

BLITZER: And one final question, chief, before I let you go.

In all the years that you've been a police officer and you've done a lot of planning, you've done a lot of, you know, planning and testing and everything else, did you ever in your life think you would have to deal with a mass murder like this at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, in that wonderful, beautiful neighborhood of Pittsburgh?

SCHUBERT: No. I mean you prepare and you train for things that you hope will never occur. And it's something I hope I never experience again in my life. You know, the officers, they all came together. On duty officers, off duty officers coming from their home to help their brother and sister officers and help the community all working together to end that violence and they did a good job. And let's just pray it never happens again.

BLITZER: And let's pray that the men and women of your police force continue to do the amazing work that you guys have always done. And let's hope for the best, a speedy recovery to the police officers who were injured, wounded in that attack.

Chief Schubert, thanks so much for joining us. God bless you. God bless everyone in Pittsburgh.

SCHUBERT: Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

BLITZER: The massacre in Pittsburgh deepening the divide actually within the American Jewish community when it comes to President Trump. We're going to discuss that and more.

Plus, the vice president raising some eyebrows by having a messianic rabbi who cited Jesus in a prayer speak about the synagogue victims.

And with just one week before the midterms, the president, once again, doubling down on racially charged language against the African- American candidate in Florida's gubernatorial race.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:16:52] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: All right, there's breaking news coming into CNN.

We're just learning that the notorious gangster, James "Whitey" Bulger, has been killed in prison. Officials had just moved him to a prison in West Virginia. Bulger is infamously known as eluding authorities for 16 years. He was serving two life sentences for his involvement in nearly a dozen murders.

Let's check in with our national correspondent Jason Carroll.

Jason, what can you tell us?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, the details are still coming in on this. This is a man who lived a violent life, had a violent history, and now it appears he has come to a very violent end.

James "Whitey" Bulger, as you said, multiple sources telling us that he was killed at that facility, that federal facility in West Virginia. Apparently it happened this morning. Still trying to get details about who was responsible for this and how it all happened. But, again, multiple sources telling us that it did, in fact, happen this morning.

The 89-year-old had just been transferred from a prison in Florida to another facility in Oklahoma before recently being transferred to that facility in West Virginia.

Bulger, as you were saying, was serving two life sentences after being convicted in 2013 for a litany of crimes, including racketeering and murder. He, at one point, Wolf, as you may remember, was on the FBI's most wanted fugitive list. He was on the lam for some 16 years. For 12 of those years on the FBI's most wanted list behind only one other person, Osama bin Laden.

A little bit of history, Bulger was well-known in the mob world. He was a well-known Irish-American organized crime figure. The boss of the Winter Hill Gang in Boston on December 23, 1994, Bulger fled Boston and went into hiding. Again, he was on the lam for that entire period of time. Bulger, once again, was at large for some 16 years.

Again, multiple sources now saying that bulger again killed at that federal facility in West Virginia early this morning.

Wolf.

BLITZER: And you say he was 89 years old?

CARROLL: Eighty-nine years old, Wolf. Lived a long time. Lived a very long, violent life.

Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jason, thank you very much.

Jason Carroll reporting for us.

Let's get back to the other news we're following, including the massacre in Pittsburgh, showing a split right now within the American Jewish community over President Trump and his actions. We're going to discuss that.

Plus, whether it's fear over the border or racially charged rhetoric, the president now doubling down on a strategy one week before the midterm elections. This time he's calling Florida's candidate for governor, and I'm quoting him now, this is the president of the United States speaking, a stone cold thief.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:23:17] BLITZER: President Trump will soon be on his way to Pittsburgh to pay tribute to the victims of the synagogue massacre. But the local Jewish community is divided over whether he should delay his visit, whether he should come at all. Those opposed to his visit point to his divisive rhetoric out there on the campaign trail.

Joining us now to discuss this and more, our CNN political analyst David Gregory. He's the author of the book, "How's Your Faith," which, by the way, is out now in paperback.

A terrific book. Thanks for writing it.

So what do you make of the president's decision, first of all, to go to Pittsburgh on this day? The funerals are just starting, three funerals today, despite the calls of him to delay the visit?

DAVID GREGORY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I think it's a tough call. I mean I think Rabbi Myers at the Tree of Life Synagogue so eloquently has said, this is my president, he's always welcome. I think that was a response to how controversial the idea of the president coming has been within the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and we know more widely. Again, I think it's a tough call. The president doesn't want to get in the way. I'm sure first responders will be happy to see him. I also think it's appropriate for Rabbi Myers to say, look, he's welcome. I've got to be focused on the families on these two days of the funerals.

[13:25:23] BLITZER: Some local and some national leaders say they're not going to go with the president, they're not going to appear with the president while he's in Pittsburgh. What message does that send?

GREGORY: Well, I don't like that message. I -- you know, part of the problem here, as we have been discussing is, the political split within the American Jewish community over Trump over politics. It's over Israel, but it's over politics. And it has divided the Jewish community in America in a way that I haven't seen in my lifetime. And it's kind of turbo charged lots of other divisions that are there. And I think it's really unhealthy. As a Jew I say this and as an American I think it's unhealthy to have such a divided view of the president visa-vis this community.

BLITZER: Who's responsible for that division?

GREGORY: Well, I think there's a couple of things. I mean I think, look, I have called out the president. I think when he president uses what I consider to be anti-Semitic tropes, when he talks about himself as a nationalist, when he gives in any way comfort to those who would express anti-Semitic views, I think it's dead wrong. I think he has an obligation in the name of his Jewish son-in-law and daughter, who's a convert, and his Jewish grandchildren, to specifically denounce anti- Semitism and go farther. If he's going to use terms like nationalism, he must go further.

And I think, look, there's a lot -- in the Jewish community in America, most are Democrats. But there are a lot of conservative Jews, Republican Jews, who look at him and say he's a stalwart supporter of Israel, we're behind this guy and that has created the split.

My point in a lot of this is, what I don't like is that Jews are dividing politically instead of saying, look, there is -- there are Jews who are for Trump, there's going to be Jews who are Democrats. Let's remember Jewish virtues. You know, we can talk about Israel. There's divides about Israel. But it's also hold up, you know, the treatment of the stranger, the treatment of immigrants, and be able to find some consensus. And I -- specifically I've said it on the air, I've said it privately to Israeli representatives in this country, I think they have an obligation to not just stoke the political divide in this country that Trump has created among Jews. I just think it's bad for the Jewish community rite large in America.

BLITZER: The former New York City mayor, possible Democratic presidential candidate, Michael Bloomberg gave an interview to our Cristina Alesci, and he had some strong words. Let me play a clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: All of this has, I think, been encouraged by strong words from the president who should be unifying and instead he is exciting people, inciting people and his job, I've always thought, is to be a unifier. Not to be the leader of a party, but to be the leader of this country. And nobody suggests that he sent the bombs. We know who did that. Nobody suggests that he pulled the trigger. We know who did that. But when he goes around getting people to scream and hate, bad things happen. And that -- you saw the results here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What do you think of that?

GREGORY: Yes, look, I mean, I think the president should be called out for things that he says or does not say to quell some of the hate that's out there. But I think we have an obligation in the media and I think in the political realm to expand this conversation that, you know, anti-Semitism, as you know well, is nothing new in America. We go back to the '30s and the American government and media and citizen response that has been a deeply anti-Semitic country for a long, long time. And part of the problem with social media is its inability to deal with all the connective tissue that these platforms provide for anti-Semitic hate.

So if we just focus on Trump and what he does or doesn't do, we're missing a broader conversation about, a, the resurgence of anti- Semitism, b, the proliferation and the ability to connect anti-Semites because of social media. And people like, you know, Mark Zuckerberg at FaceBook who have said, well, you know, Holocaust denial is just a view that's not something that should be excised from FaceBook, when they're taking down other things that are demonstrably false as well. So they are really not getting what's going on.

You have no idea. This shooter may think that Trump is a sellout. He may think he's got too many Jews about him. And so we don't know -- we know what is in his mind. We know the hate that he has expressed. But this is a wider conversation about taking on anti-Semitism.

BLITZER: Yes, well, this shooter did say he thought that President Trump had too many Jews around him.

GREGORY: Right. Right.

BLITZER: And he also said the president was a globalist.

[13:30:03] GREGORY: And -- right. And I just think there's another piece of it too.