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Search for Etan Patz Suspended; Zimmerman Bond Delay; Edwards' Fraud Trial Starts Tomorrow; Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio on V.P. Spot; Dolphin Deaths Puzzle Experts; U.N. Monitors At Work In Syria; Bahrain Grand Prix Runs; French Voters Pick a President; Senate Widens Secret Service Probe; Bees Help in Pollination
Aired April 22, 2012 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The search for 6-year-old Etan Patz has been suspended for, quote, "operational reasons." No other specifics were given. But investigators say they'll be back tomorrow morning in New York this after receiving word they found a suspicious stain on a basement wall in Lower Manhattan.
They've been tearing out a New York basement for any sign of the missing 6-year-old. A carpenter who used to work in the basement is cooperating with police and says he has no involvement in Patz' disappearance.
Patz was declared dead in 2001 as part of a civil case. At the time a judge found a convicted sexual molester responsible for the boy's death.
It's still unclear whether George Zimmerman will be released from jail. The bond was set at $150,000 on Friday, which means he has to come up with 10 percent of that in cash.
But now his attorney says the family does not have the collateral need to get him out. Zimmerman is facing second degree murder charge in the death of Trayvon Martin.
John Edwards' fraud trial begins tomorrow in North Carolina. The former presidential candidate is accused of breaking campaign finance laws by allegedly using more than a million dollars to cover up with a sexual affair with filmmaker, Reele Hunter. He denies any wrongdoing.
And two popular Florida politicians are praising each other's vice presidential qualifications. Just days after former Florida Governor Jeb Bush named Republican Senator Marco Rubio as an excellent VP choice for Mitt Romney, Rubio returned the compliment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: Well, that's very nice of Jeb. I hope he'll say yes if future-President Romney asks him.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: Chuck Colson, a major figure from the Watergate scandal, has died. Colson was the first of Richard Nixon's aides to be convicted and sent to prison for seven months. He had been the president's special counsel, but was also known as Nixon's hatchet man. Colson was 80 years old.
All right, back to New York now where the search for 6-year-old Etan Patz has been suspended for operational reasons. We don't know any more specifics, but investigators say they will be back tomorrow morning.
We've also received word of an important development, the discovery of a suspicious stain on a basement wall. National correspondent, Susan Candiotti is at the scene to explain more on this. Susan, what are investigations telling you?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, on the record investigators were not saying more about it, but a law enforcement source tells me that they found this possible blood stain on Saturday after they sprayed an agent called -- a chemical agent called Luminol.
Now Luminol can detect blood. They picked out this one section of the cement wall. They cut it out using chain saws in order to do more analysis and this Luminol can indicate blood.
That's why after taking this sample section -- we don't know how big it is -- the FBI is going to be sending it to its main lab in Quantico, Virginia, to do analysis.
If it turns out to be blood, they then have to determine whose blood is it? Does it belong to Etan or somebody else? An intriguing question -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And so, Susan, you know, Etan went missing on his very first walk to a bus stop alone. Give us a sense as to how close to the scene of the investigation right now is to his home and the location where he was walking that day?
CANDIOTTI: Yes, it's quite remarkable. He lives literally a half a block away, maybe a hundred feet or so from where I'm standing and his parents still live at that same location. So this basement that they're examining now is just with a half a block from where they used to live.
And beyond that is just about another block to a school bus stop where he was to be heading that day when he left his mom. So they don't know where he went or where he was when he vanished.
WHITFIELD: And Susan, someone else was convicted for this little boy's disappearance. What's the latest on that man who was a convicted child molester, Jose Ramos?
CANDIOTTI: I'll get to that in just a second, but we have some new information here from my producer, Ross.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A blue van has just pulled up. They've obscured our view.
CANDIOTTI: We understand that there's a blue van, but there are a lot of people standing here so you can't see it -- that has just pulled up. It's really out of view, but it seems to be intentionally obscuring it and what it's doing from our view right now. So we don't what that is all about.
It may be an important development, it may not, but that just happened now. Now back to your question about Jose Ramos. This is a man, as you pointed out, who had for years been considered a prime suspect in this case.
Now currently he is serving a 20-year sentence in Pennsylvania for molesting a child. He's set to be released later this year. Now the parents won a civil lawsuit against him years ago in the wrongful death of Etan and a judge ordered him to pay -- Mr. Ramos $2 million.
But we don't know what to make of that at this time. We can only tell you this. The reason sources tell us they're here executing this search warrant is because the FBI was going through old information that led them to new interviews.
Including the carpenter who used to work in the basement and other people who knew him that carpenter had a relationship with Etan and that is what led them ultimately to get a search warrant to conduct this excavation -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: But no criminal conviction for Jose Ramos. All right, Susan Candiotti keep us posted on that investigation.
Dolphins dying in South America. Hundreds of them washing ashore on one stretch of beach in Peru. The mystery and the investigation next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Dolphins are washing up on shores in North and South America. Animal experts are mystified. Just this year alone, nearly 900 dolphins have turned up on one stretch of beach in Northern Peru.
The government put together a panel to try to learn what happened to them and so far some theories, but nothing definitive. Officials ruled out starvation and poisoning. Environmental officials believe an outbreak of bacteria may be to blame.
It's not the only large scale dolphins beaching this year. Off Cape Cod in February 179 dolphins washed ashore, most of them dead. Biologists still don't know what killed them.
And last month, more than 30 dolphins appeared on the beach in Rio De Janeiro. All were safely returned to the ocean. As for the Peru, dolphin deaths, scientists testing the mammals that have washed ashore expect to have a report ready in a few days.
Other news happening overseas today, United Nations cease-fire monitors on the ground in Syria. And this is amateur video shot today. U.N. monitors are touring towns hammered by more than a year of shelling and street fighting. The U.N. Security Council voted yesterday to boost the unarmed military mission from 30 to 300 monitors.
Then in Bahrain protesters failed to stop the running of a Formula One race today. Some streets were blocked by burning trash and tires. A group's demonstrating against the government called the race a publicity stunt. They did manage to cancel the race last year. This year it was a go.
And it's Election Day in France. Today is the first round when the field of candidates is reduced to two. President Nicolas Sarkozy will likely face socialist, Franc Olan in a runoff in two weeks.
A Colombian taxi driver is the most sought after person in the U.S. Secret Service scandal. The "Huffington Post" reports that the driver drove a prostitute home from this hotel in Colombia after a night of partying and he later led the media to her house.
Six Secret Service members have stepped down and 12 are under investigation. They allegedly brought back several prostitutes to their hotel ahead of President Obama's visit to Colombia.
Our Lisa Sylvester is live in Washington for us right now. So any new details of this investigation, Lisa?
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka. The Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing this week. The ranking member of the committee Senator Chuck Grassley is questioning how wide this problem goes, who knew about it and was the White House Office of Advance and the White House Communications Agency involved in any way.
Now, the investigation is focusing on 12 Secret Service agents, six of whom have since redesigned as well as 11 members of the U.S. military. Republican Senator Susan Collins today on ABC "This Week" says she doesn't think that this is an isolated incident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R), HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: To me, it defies belief that this is just an aberration. There were too many people involved. If it had been one or two, then I would say it was an aberration, but it included two supervisors. That is particularly shocking and appalling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SYLVESTER: Questions also on whether the head of the Secret Service, Mark Sullivan, should be asked to step down. Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" and Candy Crowley asked if higher heads should roll.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: I'm very confident that what happened here was limited to these folks, but we'll find out. But the thing that impressed me about Sullivan is that he acted quickly.
Keep in mind that the head of the region down there in South America was on that situation immediately, got those folks out of there immediately.
She, of course, was acting on behalf of Sullivan. So I think Sullivan has done a very good job. Most of us have a lot of confidence in him, both sides of the aisle, by the way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SYLVESTER: Now White House Spokesman Jay Carney said on Friday, on all indications are that the scandal involved only the agents and military personnel, and he criticized those who are -- and these are his words -- trying to politicize the issue -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Lisa Sylvester, thanks so much in Washington.
Sex, politics and an alleged cover up, prosecutors prepare to lay out their fraud case against former presidential candidate, John Edwards. An in depth look at the allegations next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: He's been a U.S. senator, vice presidential nominee and a presidential candidate. Now John Edwards is assuming another title -- criminal defendant.
His fraud trial begins tomorrow in North Carolina and Edwards is accused of using campaign funds illegally to cover up a sexual affair. CNN's Joe Johns has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This political soap opera started at a bar in New York City where Edwards met self-proclaimed filmmaker Rielle Hunter in early 2006.
She was quickly hired by Edwards to film, "Webisodes," casual online videos of the former senator. The video showed just how close Edwards and Hunter had become.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so glad you like it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I loved it. Wait until you hear me give it live.
JOHNS: Immediately those close to Edwards suspected an affair. Behind the scenes, the government argues that Edwards was orchestrating a massive cover up.
Loyal and wealthy donors paid for his pregnant mistress to relocate and personal aide, Andrew Young, would claim paternity. In the fall of 2007, a tabloid published a story on the affair, immediately the campaign went into defense mode.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You flat-out denied having a relationship with Rielle Hunter. Did you give me a truthful answer? Were you telling me the truth then?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
JOHNS: After being chased by reporters, eventually he admitted personal failure.
JOHN EDWARDS, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There's no question that I've done wrong and I take full responsibility for having done wrong. And I will regret for the rest of my life the pain and the harm that I've caused those.
JOHNS: Once a prominent politician preaching two Americas, Edwards himself was living two lives. He had fathered a child with his mistress while his wife, Elizabeth Edwards was dying of cancer.
It got worse. In 2011, the government indicted Edwards on six counts including conspiracy, issuing false statements and violating campaign finance law. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
EDWARDS: We're conditioned to say the same things, we're conditioned to stay what we say and conditioned to be political.
JOHNS: Edwards has spent the last year preparing for his trial, shuffling his legal team and undergoing surgery for a heart condition. Former top aides are expected to testify at his trial. Rielle Hunter has immunity.
EDWARDS: I did not break the law and I never, ever thought I was breaking the law.
JOHNS: Experts say the government has a tough unprecedented case to prove in the arena of campaign finance, but no matter what the outcome, it is the ultimate fall from grace for Edwards who was once adored as a son of the south. Joe Johns, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Some help for our planet by way of a very different kind of hobby. We'll meet a beekeeper and find out more about her unique passion.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: It's stormy right now in some parts and apparently, Jacqui Jeras is going to deliver a little bit more bad news. Carry your umbrella with you?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, through tomorrow anyway in the northeast. This is a super soaker. It has been affecting people in the southeast now it's connecting in across parts of the northeast.
In fact, the reason why my radar display pops away like that is from some of that rain that's so very heavy at times. We're focusing in on Washington, D.C., because you know what day it is --
WHITFIELD: Sunday? JERAS: It's Earth Day. It is Sunday as well.
WHITFIELD: Trick question. I know and look at poor rain-soaked D.C.
JERAS: I know. But you know what, they're so hardy.
WHITFIELD: But then it does make sense earth day, you appreciate the rain. Of course, nourishment for lots of living creatures.
JERAS: It's been dry in parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Let's listen for a second. We'll listen for more than a sec. Enjoyable.
WHITFIELD: Cheap Trick will be there, too, later on. I get a chance to interview them on today if the rain doesn't stand in our way.
JERAS: They say it will keep going as long as there's not lightning and thunder and for the most part this is just a heavy, steady rain. That's the Chad Hollister band along with Ron Holloway on saxophone.
WHITFIELD: Go on.
JERAS: Hopefully, you're doing your part for earth day. One of the things you can do is that all national parks are free in the upcoming week, get out there.
Concern, though, that some of those parks for flooding. We'll have to watch for the flood risk having a big impact on travel in the northeast -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Good morning. All right, thanks so much, Jacqui. We appreciate that. We'll see you again later on today too beginning at 4:00.
All right, an estimated 1 billion people across the globe are observing Earth Day today. The focus is on saving the planet and its creatures, even the tiniest insects like the very important bees. What makes them so important? Here's how one beekeeper sees it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASSANDRA LAWSON, BEEKEEPER: I'm Cassandra Lawson. I am the beekeeper here at Oakhurst Gardens. So my main thing is education. You know, why should we have bees? Why are they important? Why do we need them?
When I started beekeeping a while back, it wasn't a very popular thing to do and quite honestly, it was a little centric most people thought. That it was weird, why would you want bees and you live in the middle of the city.
That was a little weird for people. Our job as beekeepers is to make life easier for them because bees work as one colony. So the easier you make life for them, if you make it to where they don't have too much sun.
And they don't have to spend all their energy cooling then they can spend more energy foraging. This is called a frame. This came out of my live. It was dirty wax. I cleaned it through my solar wax melter then I made a candle into it. If we didn't have bees or other pollinators, we'd eat mush.
CHARLES BERRY, CLASS PARTICIPANT: I'm naturally a city boy, but I've always been interested in bees and what they do. I love honey. I always thought it would be a great hobby to have. Bees pollinate everything that we eat. You're doing your benefit for mother nature.
LAWSON: Bees do know who their beekeeper is. Be kind to them, because they will remember you.
RONNIE BARKEN, CLASS PARTICIPANT: I came to class today due to my husband passing away five weeks ago. So he left me with a beehive. I came to the class to learn about bees and how to upkeep the beehive for him.
LAWSON: Let the clover and candy lion grow. Don't mow all the time. Don't use pesticides unnecessarily. Backyard beekeepers are really what's keeping bees alive and growing right now. Commercial beekeepers are struggling. I teach beekeeping because I want people to become more connected with the earth. Be a steward of the earth in some other way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That's beautiful. I'm going to be back in an hour with this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can fix your own food, you can buy it in the store here and you almost live here as you do outside.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So he's talking about an island in Norway, almost sounding like a resort, but it's not. He is actually an inmate and the island is a prison.
And it could become the long-term home of confessed killer of Anders Brevic. Remember him? We'll tell you more about his crime and what his time in jail is going to be like.
Stay with CNN. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "YOUR MONEY" starts after the break. But before we leave you, we're going to take you back to the nation's capital. Yes, it's rainy.
But it is Earth Day celebrations and you're looking at the Chad Hollister band with Ron Holloway on sax. Have a great afternoon. We'll see you again in one hour, 4:00 Eastern Time.
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