Former hostage negotiator tells MSNBC what tricks he'd use to extract testimony from bombing suspect

Former hostage negotiator Clint Van Zandt told MSNBC's Chris Jansing a few basic tricks he'd use to extract testimony from alleged mail bomber Cesar Sayoc, were he to have the opportunity to interview him.

Van Zandt explained that one approach would be to have the actual interview with Sayoc conducted by a "clean team" of ATF or FBI agents unaffiliated with the actual investigation.

"If there's ever a question you interviewed him because of this public urgency and that contaminated the rest of the investigation, you're able to separate those two to begin with," van Zandt explained.

As for the suspect himself?

"This is someone you would like to develop some rapport with," said van Zandt. "You want to show some empathy to his cause, what he's done, what he's said, we want to get this guy nodding just as we nod back at him so he talks to us."

"If and when he says 'I'll tell you what gentlemen, I don't want to talk anymore, I want an attorney', that's ok," van Zandt added. "Until that time comes up, he's going to be my new best friend."

Watch the video below.