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CNN Live At Daybreak
Kobe Bryant Arrested: Sexual Assault Alleged
Aired July 07, 2003 - 06:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as we've been telling you this morning, Lakers star Kobe Bryant was arrested. He faces an allegation of sexual assault.
For some reaction we're joined live by CNN's Charles Feldman who is at the Lakers home arena in Los Angeles.
Charles, help us out, there have got to be some shock waves now about this. I mean in terms of athleticism and character, people often compare him to Michael Jordan. What's going on?
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kris, well it's a big story, obviously, in the sports world. He is, of course, a star player for the Los Angeles Lakers. And as you pointed out, Kris, he now faces allegations by the police in Colorado of sexually assaulting a young woman. And he is out now having posted some $25,000 bond. He turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued.
I should point out, however, that he apparently, according to various reports, has not been charged formally with any crime by the local district attorney. And that's a key thing because very often D.A.s don't charge people with the crimes that police arrest them for. So we have to kind of wait and see.
In the meantime, of course, some of his team members, as you may well imagine, are very supportive of him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAREEM RUSH, LAKERS TEAMMATE: Well that's totally out of his character, but you know who knows. I don't think it's true, so I'm going to stand by him and say that it's 100 percent not true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANNERO PARGO, LAKERS TEAMMATE: I mean he's a happily married man, you know, and I'm sure he's happy. You know he talks about his wife all the time, so I mean I just can't wait for the truth to come out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FELDMAN: Now we also have for you this morning, Kris, a statement that was issued late yesterday by the general manager for the Los Angeles Lakers. And he says in part, "these allegations are completely out of character of the Kobe Bryant we know. For the seven years he's been with us he has been one of the finest young men we've known and a wonderful asset to both our team and our community," so says the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Still to be heard from is Kobe Bryant himself. We don't know, in fact, whether he is still in Colorado this morning or back in his Orange County, California home that he shares with his wife and young child. So this is still very much, obviously, a developing story, and we hope to have a lot more on this as the day continues -- Kris.
OSBORN: Absolutely, people will want to hear. Thank you very much, Charles Feldman, live from Los Angeles.
One more note, Bryant's Denver-based attorney says her client expects to be exonerated. She adds, "Kobe is innocent. Can you imagine being accused of this? It's awful."
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 7, 2003 - 06:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as we've been telling you this morning, Lakers star Kobe Bryant was arrested. He faces an allegation of sexual assault.
For some reaction we're joined live by CNN's Charles Feldman who is at the Lakers home arena in Los Angeles.
Charles, help us out, there have got to be some shock waves now about this. I mean in terms of athleticism and character, people often compare him to Michael Jordan. What's going on?
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kris, well it's a big story, obviously, in the sports world. He is, of course, a star player for the Los Angeles Lakers. And as you pointed out, Kris, he now faces allegations by the police in Colorado of sexually assaulting a young woman. And he is out now having posted some $25,000 bond. He turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued.
I should point out, however, that he apparently, according to various reports, has not been charged formally with any crime by the local district attorney. And that's a key thing because very often D.A.s don't charge people with the crimes that police arrest them for. So we have to kind of wait and see.
In the meantime, of course, some of his team members, as you may well imagine, are very supportive of him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAREEM RUSH, LAKERS TEAMMATE: Well that's totally out of his character, but you know who knows. I don't think it's true, so I'm going to stand by him and say that it's 100 percent not true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANNERO PARGO, LAKERS TEAMMATE: I mean he's a happily married man, you know, and I'm sure he's happy. You know he talks about his wife all the time, so I mean I just can't wait for the truth to come out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FELDMAN: Now we also have for you this morning, Kris, a statement that was issued late yesterday by the general manager for the Los Angeles Lakers. And he says in part, "these allegations are completely out of character of the Kobe Bryant we know. For the seven years he's been with us he has been one of the finest young men we've known and a wonderful asset to both our team and our community," so says the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Still to be heard from is Kobe Bryant himself. We don't know, in fact, whether he is still in Colorado this morning or back in his Orange County, California home that he shares with his wife and young child. So this is still very much, obviously, a developing story, and we hope to have a lot more on this as the day continues -- Kris.
OSBORN: Absolutely, people will want to hear. Thank you very much, Charles Feldman, live from Los Angeles.
One more note, Bryant's Denver-based attorney says her client expects to be exonerated. She adds, "Kobe is innocent. Can you imagine being accused of this? It's awful."
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
