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City Leaders Speak Out on Ohio Rape Case; American Among the Syrian Rebel; Fashion Mogul Missoni's Plane Vanishes; Armstrong May Admit to Doping; Sperm Donor Ordered to Pay Child Support; Woman Accused of Stabbing Ex-Boyfriend 29 Times; GOP Pushes for Less Spending; Big Issues Awaiting Obama Upon Return to D.C.; Dramatic Rescue of Teens on Frozen Pond
Aired January 05, 2013 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Deborah Feyerick in for Don Lemon. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM with us.
Leaders in Steubenville, Ohio are speaking out today, vowing to keep the community updated on a rape case that has consumed the small Ohio town. And its social media pressure now allegations of a cover-up. The city has launched a website to provide transparency and offer a time line of evidence. Two 16-year-old members of the town's high school football team are charged with sexually assaulting an underage girl at a series of back-to-back school parties. Protesters rallied today in support of the alleged victim. Also to protest the town's handling of the case. A live report that is coming up for us.
Well, there's new outrage in India over a brutal gang rape and murder case. Even as five suspects are set to appear before a fast track court in New Delhi on Monday, police are denying some alarming accusations from the victim's male friend who was savagely beaten in the attack. He gave a television interview about what happened to him and his companion who later died of her injuries. He says they waited more than 45 minutes for help to arrive. And that no one would stop to help them.
The Indian Bar Association reportedly says, none of its members want to represent the suspects, so the court is expected to assign a defense attorney and a police source tells the Reuters news service, that the victim bit some of the suspects. The bite marks will be used as evidence.
Well, Aurora, Colorado is facing a new tragedy. A barricaded gunman and three people are dead after early morning stand-up with police. After hours of negotiations, police say the suspect opened fire on police. Officers shot and killed him, and found two men and a woman dead inside the house. A woman had escaped earlier and told police she had seen three lifeless bodies inside. Aurora is the same Denver suburb where the summer's mass shooting at a movie theater took place.
Well, published reports say, Lance Armstrong is thinking about admitting that he used performance-enhancing drugs. The "New York Times" reports, Armstrong is considering the admission in hopes that he can restore his athletic eligibility. Armstrong's attorney denies the disgraced cyclist is in any talks with anti-doping agencies, but he did not address whether Armstrong told associates he was considering the admission.
And a Florida woman dived through a glass window to escape her burning home after a plane crashes into it. All three people aboard the small plane died in the crash yesterday north of Daytona Beach. The pilot reported mechanical problems and was trying to make an emergency landing at an airport a mile away. The woman who lives in the house suffered only bruises.
Now more details about the alleged rape of a teenage girl in a small town of Steubenville, Ohio. City leaders are speaking out about the investigation involving two local high school football players. The two 16-year-old boys have been identified as Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays. They're accused of raping a 16-year-old girl while she was apparently drunk or unconscious. Photos and posting of the alleged result showed up on twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
National correspondent Susan Candiotti joins me live from Steubenville, Ohio. And boy, Susan, a number of people think there has been a cover-up to protect members of the high school football team. What are you learning?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Deborah, a lot of people here say they are not confident that everybody who might be involved has been arrested. And they want answers. Well, Ohio's attorney general is now leading the investigation after the local prosecutor here recused herself. There are a lot of connections around here, and everybody knows somebody who might be connected to the high school and possibly this case. And the chief investigator, the chief prosecutor, the attorney general says, he's not done with his investigation, but there might be more arrests. More details tonight on that investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Welcome to Steubenville!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Next month's trial is the talk of this small Ohio town. The teen rape case went viral when this video appeared on the internet showing local teens joking about the incident in a vulgar way.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: That's really not cool, but --
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: That's like rape. It is rape. We raped it.
CANDIOTTI: Attorneys for the accused, Trent Mays on the right, and Ma'lik Richmond on the left, both 16, identified them in this photograph holding the alleged victim, also 16, who is not being publicly named. Both sides debate whether she was conscious at this moment. During a long night of drinking at several parties last August, according to witnesses who testified at this hearing last October. Prosecutors told the juvenile court, they have evidence she was raped. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: She was unresponsive and not in a position of consent and they knew about it. And let's be clear. They knew she was drunk.
CANDIOTTI: In an exclusive interview with CNN, Mays' lawyer claims his client received a text, allegedly sent by the teenage girl. It reads, quote, "I know you didn't rape me."
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Do you have that text?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We do. That is something that is going to be introduced at trial.
CANDIOTTI: And did he reply?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: That's something that's going to be introduced at trial. Yes.
CANDIOTTI: Why do you think she sent that?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Because I don't think she thinks she was raped.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): He would not show that or any other text. The teenage girl's attorney won't confirm any text message.
BOB FITZSIMMONS, ATTORNEY FOR ALLEGED OHIO VICTIM: This young girl was unconscious, so she wouldn't have the ability to know whether she was raped or not on the day after or two days after or three days after, whatever the timing of that was. We also don't know and we don't know whether the defendant were texting trying to coerce or talk people into making statements and trying to build up the defense for themselves after they started realizing this thing kind of unfolded.
CANDIOTTI: Police say, it unfolded like this. The alleged rape occurred during all-night partying August 11th. On August 14th at 1:40 in the morning, the alleged victim's mom goes to police with a flash drive of tweets and internet postings and police open an investigation. That same day, time unknown, the alleged text message is sent.
(on camera): There is testimony from a probable cause hearing last October from a player who was there at one of the parties that night. And he testified that your client and you'll pardon the language, used his fingers to sexually penetrate her. Did that happen?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We deny that. Vehemently.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Now, Mays' lawyer also claims that he has letters sent to that witness and others by the prosecution offering them promises that they won't be prosecuted if they testify. Ohio's attorney general flatly denies that any deals have been struck -- Deb.
FEYERICK: Susan, what is so interesting. First of all, what's to say that one of the defendants didn't actually take the victim's phone and send that text himself or one of the friends, one of the other football players? Because there is no evidence as to who sent that text. We just know that it was from the victim's phone.
CANDIOTTI: We certainly do not know the full context of that text or what might have been sent before it or after it or by whom, because we don't -- we haven't seen all of the evidence that is now in discovery, but certainly is available to all the lawyers in this case. We don't know if we're seeing one isolated text message and not more. And remember, there was also testimony at a probable cause hearing back in October from the police that said that this young lady said she didn't remember anything about that night. There was a lot of testimony that she was drunk and unconscious most of the time. So we must keep everything in context until we see all evidence at trial.
FEYERICK: Yes, no question about that. Very quickly, this began at an assistant coach's home. I mean, one would think that the number of witnesses who may have been involved or will be called to testify is going to be enormous.
CANDIOTTI: Well, certainly we know that there were at least two dozen, according to many people and the lawyers that we have spoken with, who -- teenagers who were at various parties that night. So, we don't know all of the answers about everyone who has been interviewed and what they had to say. And a lot of people remember who were there have admitted to police, according to testimony, that they deleted pictures and videos that they took.
FEYERICK: Right. All right. Susan Candiotti for us, thanks so much. This is certainly going to be a really interesting one to watch. And interesting perspective from the defense attorney. Thank you so much for that.
And, of course, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, much more on the story that has grabbed the nation's attention, the crime, the investigation, the role of the group anonymous and how the social media has changed the way this and other crimes will be prosecuted. We're going to talk to the attorney for one of the accused rapists, plus the woman who felt a crime was being covered up so she took to the internet to bring attention to it.
And our own Dr. Drew Pinsky on how this crime could happen. We're going to be going in depth. You want to join us at 10:00 Eastern.
Well, the head of the iconic Missoni fashion house known for its bold geometric patterns is missing. Vittorio Missoni and his wife were vacationing over the holidays when their private plane disappeared off the coast of Venezuela. Vittorio is the oldest son of the Italian designer Octavio Missoni, he is the company's marketing manager and the brand's ambassador around the world. Venezuelan authorities are searching for the plane which disappeared Friday morning on route to Caracas. Another couple and two Venezuelan pilots were also on board.
President Bashar al-Assad is expected to speak tomorrow about the civil war that has devastated his nation, according to state television. There was no pause today in the conflict. Activists say at least 57 more people were killed. This video is said to be from the Damascus suburbs. Take a look at that. It just goes on and on. A rebel leader says, government forces trying to cut off their food and medical supplies. Elsewhere, opposition fighters say they're making progress in their fight for a key air base. This footage reportedly shows the aftermath of shelling on a nearby town.
While U.S. soldiers are on the ground in Turkey, helping install patriot missiles that could defend the country from an attack from Syria. Turkey, mean time, is still taking in the flood of refugees fleeing the violence. Nations bordering Syria are planning a conference to the next six months to discuss the growing crisis. Many of them are already home to Palestinian refugees so an influx of Syrians is extremely tough to handle. The U.N. says, it has registered a 577,000 refugees, but that's just the registered number. The U.N. actually believed the true number of refugees is much, much higher.
Well, American film maker Matthew Vandyke spent two months in Syria closely following the rebels battling to bring down the Assad regime. Now, he's back in the U.S. with never before seen video this brutal conflict.
CNN's Nick Valencia tells us what inspired this American to risk his life and one of the world's most dangerous war zones.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I joked that I have -- I always keep one bullet left in my gun for myself.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Yes. You must keep one bullet here in Syria. You keep it for yourself. It's better then. The regime catch you -- I a guarantee that way. You must keep one bullet.
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): American activists and film maker Matthew Vandyke dodged a lot of bullets while filming his latest project in Aleppo, Syria. A pro-rebel documentary aimed at raising funds for the free Syrian army. For two months, Vandyke embedded himself with rebels in the cross fire of the country's civil war.
MATTHEW VANDYKE, FILMMAKER AND ACTIVIST: I strongly believe in the cause of the Syrian people. I fought in the war in Libya in 2011. And I saw the effects of what we accomplished, and I want Syrians to have freedom as well.
VALENCIA: In August, 2012, CNN profiled a 33-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, who has a master's in Middle East security from Georgetown University. He had just returned from eight months in Libya where he fought alongside anti Gadhafi rebels, but also spent six months in a Libyan prison. The former journalist turned self proclaimed freedom fighter and now filmmaker believes he can also make a difference with rebels on the ground in Syria. His film, he says, helps humanize the revolution.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I used to wear fancy dresses and high heels. But not anymore. VALENCIA: Vandyke's documentary titled "Not Anymore, a Story of Revolution" profiles two protagonists risking the lives to draw attention to the deadly conflict. One of the characters, Nora, a producer, says everyday life for many Syrians is a living nightmare.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I'm not going to give up. Even if I have to die, I'm going to do this.
VANDYKE: It's a shame, you know. Nora is a young woman. She was 24 when I filmed her. She is going to spend her 20s in war. This war will likely go on for years.
VALENCIA: But with more than 60,000 civilians killed in the last two years, according to the United Nations, many wonder if they'll live to see the end of it.
VANDYKE: They're a little bit shocked, disappointed. They thought after Libya that help would be coming to them. They don't understand. They feel abandoned, they feel abandoned to their deaths and largely they're right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VALENCIA: Vandyke's film is set to debut online in February. Nick Valencia, CNN, Atlanta.
FEYERICK: Well, could the U.S. debt crisis be solved with a single coin? Maybe. If it's trillion dollar coin. Sounds crazy, but it is completely legal.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VALENCIA: Venezuelan's rally today for their ailing President Hugo Chavez. Chavez's health is fragile will following his fourth cancer operation. The country's vice president says, the next update on the president's health will come in a few days. Chavez is supposed to be inaugurated for a new term next week. Today, Venezuelan lawmakers re- elected Diosdado Cabello, speaker the national assembly. That is a key post, the move could signal support for Cabello as a possible successor. However, Chavez has said he wants his vice president to succeed him.
Well, the fiscal cliff deal not going over so well with the majority of Americans. A new poll finds more disapprove than approve of the new deal. Dow found 43 percent say, it's OK. Forty five do not. Twelve percent, well, they have no opinion. Along party lines, two- thirds of Democrats gave their OK to the compromise bill which, among other things, taxes the wealthier at higher rates. But almost two- thirds of Republicans, they're unhappy over the deal. Gallup also found none of the political leaders involved in the fiscal cliff showdown got a favorable rating. But House Speaker John Boehner scoring the worst.
Well, the battle over the debt ceiling is just beginning. That's the self-imposed government borrowing limit imposed by Congress. If the limit is not raised by late February or early March, the U.S. runs the risk of defaulting on its bills. Close to a trillion dollar is needed just to cover a year of borrowing. So, what's President Obama's strategy? Brian Todd has the answer to the trillion-dollar question.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president says, he won't negotiate with Congress over lifting the debt ceiling.
PRES. BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES: I will not play that game.
TODD: Republicans say --
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MINORITY LEADER: The president may not want to have this debate, but it's the one he's going to have, because the country needs it.
TODD: So while they debate over a debate and raise head-long into the dead ceiling, is there a magic bullet to solve the crisis? Try a magic coin. Some economists, legal scholars and now even a congressman, are suggesting a $1 trillion platinum coin could be minted and the government could use that to pay the debt, avoid default and preempt the debt ceiling crisis. Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York says, I'm being absolutely serious. It sounds silly but it's absolutely legal. I spoke to economist Joe Gagnon.
(on camera): Why do you think it's a good idea right now?
JOE GAGNON, PETERSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS: Well, I think it's better than a government shutdown. It's better than defaulting on the debt. I mean, it's better than the bad alternatives.
TODD: And technically, it does appear to be legal. Here's how. The U.S. government can print new money, but under law, there is a limit to how much paper money can be in circulation at any one time. There are also rules that at least limit the denominations that gold, silver and copper coins can be. But there is no limit on platinum coins. The president can issue a platinum coin in any denomination. Treasury can mint it and then just print on it $1 trillion. The president can then order that coin to be deposited at the Federal Reserve.
(voice-over): Then, says Gagnon.
GAGNON: And the Federal credit treasury's account, and so when the treasury writes checks to pay people, the Fed will cash them.
TODD: And that money would never be in public circulation. So some believe, it wouldn't cause inflation. But Gagnon says, it will only temporarily pay America's bills. Won't bring down its massive debt long-term. That's also some conservatives' argument against it.
STEPHEN MOORE, WALL STREET JOURNALIST COLUMNIST: I think this is waving pixie dust over the debt and pretending that the debt is going to go away by this. What I view is, it's just another one of this Washington gimmick. Minting new coins isn't going to do anything about dealing with that fundamental problem.
TODD: And what if the coin got stolen? Remember this from Dr. Evil?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: If you want it back, you're going to have to pay me $1 million!
(LAUGHTER)
TODD: Apparently then the government could just mint another one. And by the way, none of this requires Congressional consent. We've tried to see if this something the president would actually consider. The White house hasn't gotten back to us. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: Well, it's been three weeks since the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. Sandy Hook Elementary classes have been moved to a nearby town, but are the kids ready? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who was in Newtown, Connecticut this weekend, that's where a gunman killed 26 people at an Elementary School last month. Giffords survived a mass shooting herself in her district two years ago. She met with local and state leaders to discuss gun control legislation, mental health identification and also treatment. Well, the kids at Connecticut Sandy Hook Elementary school returned to classes this week. Three weeks after 20 of their classmates were shot and killed, along with several educators. Classes were moved to nearby Connecticut where students were welcomed with greetings and ribbons along the route.
Human behavioral expert Wendy Walsh is with us. Wendy, you know, when the kids showed up, yes, and this is what's fascinating, because I was there that day. When the kids showed up, they found their own desks had been moved to the new school. How important is it, recreating the space that they left behind on that horrible day?
WENDY WALSH, HUMAN BEHAVIOR EXPERT: It's so important, because these are the visual cues that remind them that everything is normal, everything is the way it was before. And I really commend the town for taking the time and effort to move all of the items and try to recreate it as much as possible. What these kids need is they need stability, they need consistency, they need to know that life goes on and that they're going to be fine.
FEYERICK: Yes. I want you to listen to a young man who I spoke with, a student from Sandy Hook, he is 9-years-old. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN PALEY, SANDY HOOK 4TH GRADE STUDENT: Well, this has been a huge crushing to us. And it makes me really happy to see all those people trying to help. And that's a big part that makes me feel better. Watching people, and they're all trying to make it better. (END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: You know, that's Ben Paley, his little brother Ethan Paley was just next to him. Yes, one thing that was fascinating to me is the resiliency. Because of their age, do you think these young children are going to be able to heal much faster than their parents? Because it's the parents who really seem to be having this range of incredible emotions and maybe the kids aren't old enough to have the same intensity of emotion.
WALSH: Well, the kids are definitely old enough to have the feelings and have the intensity. But their brains have better Neuro plasticity. So there is less chance, I mean, most kids can recover better from post traumatic stress disorder than most adults. Now, not to say that some kids won't be really damaged by this. But just to say, that they have a better likelihood of healing. I think the problem, though, is that parents need to learn to contain themselves. Because parents are being reinjured.
In other words, we all have little bunches of fear and trauma and awful things that happen through our lives. And as we get older, we're sort of like getting reinjured with every new one and they mount up and compile. So parents can learn to contain themselves better. Go see their own therapists, go talk it out with other adults and not put it on the kids. Because remember, kids are little sponges and they use us as their guiding light for their emotional life.
FEYERICK: Yes, you know, I know, I've covered a couple of stories and I'm about to actually sort of slip into the ladies room when I'm around children just to make sure that they don't see that I'm feeling so sad. But you were part of this big social media movement after the attacks. Tell me about it.
WALSH: Well, you know, very early on a few days later, NBC's Ann Curry sent a tweet that she didn't know we go so viral. It basically have said, could you imagine if we all did 20 acts of kindness to remember the 20 children who have died? Of course then it became 26 acts of kindness. And it was on twitter and it's #20acts or #26acts. So, I thought what a lovely idea. And I begin doing it and I put $20 bills under homeless people's pillows, I paid for people behind me in the drive through line, I dominated to a few different charities, I bought clothes for a foster kid. I'm only up to 17 folks. So, I have a lot more to go.
But in the meantime, it's gone viral on twitter. And millions of Americans are doing random acts of kindness. And that has been proven scientifically actually, to rival an antidepressant as far as elevating mood is concerned. So, we should all be doing random acts of kindness, I think, in response to this tragedy. As those kids said, look around, look for the helpers, look for the kindness that has come out of this and let's make it blossom.
FEYERICK: Yes. Absolutely. Because everybody feels a little bit vulnerable, a little bit helpless when something like this happens. So, if you take control and try to make someone else's life better, certainly it is repairing. Wendy Walsh, so interesting always to speak with you. Thanks a million.
WALSH: Nice to see you.
FEYERICK: Well, after years of denying that he ever cheated, a new report says, Lance Armstrong is thinking about admitting exactly that. We'll tell you what his attorney is saying, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: Half past the hour now. Let's take a look at the headlines.
Well, leaders in Steubenville, Ohio, speaking out today, vowing to keep the community updated on a rape that consumed the Ohio town. Amid social media pressure and allegations of a cover-up, the city has launched a web site which they say will provide transparency and offer a time line of the evidence. Two 16-year-old members of the town's high school football team are charged with sexually assaulting a 16- year-old girl in a series of back-to-back parties. Protesters rallied today in support of the alleged victim and to protest the town's handling of the case.
Aurora, Colorado, facing a new tragedy. A barricaded gunman and three other people are dead after an early-morning standoff with police. After hours of negotiations, police say the suspect opened fire on police. Officers shot and killed him and found two men and a woman dead inside the house. The woman escaped earlier and told police she had seen three lifeless bodies inside. Aurora is the same Denver suburb where a mass shooting occurred this summer in a movie theater.
Rescue crews are narrowing their search for a missing skydiver in Washington State. Crews are focusing on a specific area in the rugged Cascade Mountains. Kirk Rupert was last seen Thursday jumping out of a helicopter at more than 6,000 feet. The Florida man was wearing a special suit that was supposed to allow him to glide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SHOUTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: Pro-British protests erupted again today in Belfast, Northern Ireland, after several nights of violent protests. The riots were sparked by a city council vote to stop flying the Union Red year- round -- the union flag year-round. Tensions between the Catholic and Protestant communities have been high for months. Police say rioters threw gasoline bombs along with ball bearings and rocks.
The Italian fashion mogul, Vittorio Missoni, and his wife are missing in Venezuela. The plane they were traveling in vanished Friday morning en route to Caracas. Vittorio Missoni is the marketing manager for the Italian fashion house, Missoni. He is known around the world as an ambassador for the brand which is also featured in Target stores here in the U.S. Missoni's fashion label is known for patterned knit wear and signature zigzag stripe. CNN correspondent, Alina Cho, has more on Missoni's fashion impact.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are few names bigger than Missoni. It's a company founded in 1953. An iconic label, built on knit wear, bold colors and patterns.
Missoni did a collaboration with Target, which sold out immediately. I would venture to guess that it is the most successful Target designer collaboration to date.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: And Target's web site temporarily crashed due to huge popularity of Missoni's products.
Editor-in-chief of "W" magazine, Stefano Tonchi, says Missoni is a crucial part of the Italian fashion world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEFANO TONCHI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "W" MAGAZINE: One of the first big exports of Italian fashion. And Missoni was like Gucci. Really some of the names that made history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: We'll keep you posted on all new developments in the search for Missoni.
A published report says Lance Armstrong may be getting ready to come clean. "The New York Times" is reporting Armstrong is considering an admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs in the hopes he can restore his athletic eligibility. In an e-mail to CNN Sports, Armstrong's attorney denies the disgraced cyclist is in talks with anti-doping agencies as the "Times" also reports. His attorney, however, did not address whether Armstrong has told associates he's considering a public confession.
Earlier today on CNN, the editor of "Bicycling" magazine said an Armstrong confession would be a very big deal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER FLAX, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "BICYCLING" MAGAZINE: My sources also indicate that Armstrong and some of his representatives have been reaching out to people at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, at the U.S. Justice Department and some of the individuals that might have financial claims against him, and he's really seeing if he can negotiate a situation where he could make a confession. And if that happened, even though I've known the accusations to be true for a couple years, at least, it would be a shocking thing to finally see him come out and make that admission.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FEYERICK: Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from cycling last October after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency presented evidence that had orchestrated a sophisticated doping program.
A man answers an ad on Craig's List, volunteering to be a sperm donor for a lesbian couple. Sounds fine, right? But now three years later, the state of Kansas says he's got to hand over child support.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: An American pilot has been suspended for allegedly being drunk right before takeoff. TSA agents in Minneapolis say they smelled alcohol on his breath. The 48-year-old pilot was on the plane yesterday wrapping up his preflight when officers gave him a breathalyzer test. He allegedly failed the test and police arrested him.
A man who got disruptive on a flight from Iceland to New York eventually found out he was messing with the wrong passengers and crew. They used duct tape and zip ties to keep him from talking or moving. Not a good way to travel. Iceland Air says it can't vouch for the photo but a spokesman confirms a passenger had to be restrained after hitting, screaming and spitting at other people on the flight. A fellow passenger posted the picture online and says the man, quote, "Drank all of his duty-free liquor during the flight." He was arrested after the plane landed. He has not been charged.
The state of North Carolina has appealed a federal judge's ruling that the states "Choose Life" license plates violent the First Amendment. District court judge, James Fox, ruled less than a month ago the plates are unconstitutional because the state did not also approve plates with an alternative message promoting abortion rights. The ACLU filed a lawsuit in 2011 to block the plates, which were approved by the North Carolina legislature that same year. 29 other states currently offer license plates featuring the "Choose Life" slogan.
An unusual story out of Kansas. A lesbian couple places an ad on Craig's List, searching for a sperm donor. No financial strings attached. A man responds to their ad, delivers the goods to their home and the couple conceives a child. But after the couple broke up and the child's mother applied for Medicaid, the state came in and said the sperm donor must pay child support, because the donation did not happen in a doctor's office.
Donor William Marana explains how it all began.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM MAROTTA, SPERM DONOR: Perusing Craig's List, just almost like window shopping, just looking around, and ran across an ad that was asking for a sperm donor. For what reason it intrigued my interest. Answered the ad. I didn't know that there wasn't a doctor involved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: Holly Hughes is here. She's a criminal defense attorney.
And there was an agreement that the sperm donor would be off the hook. Is the state being a little too aggressive in pursuing this?
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY & FORMER PROSECUTOR: I think they are. And what you're going to find, the law says in Kansas that a sperm donor is not a parent. They are not considered on the hook if the artificial insemination happens in a doctor's office. So you're walking a very fine line here. Now, the law does not go on to say, but if it doesn't happen in a doctor's office, it's just silent on the issue. So when this lesbian couple broke up and one mother has custody -- obviously, she had -- she needed assistance. She applied for Medicaid and the state is saying, why should the taxpayers be on the hook. Both have a good argument. We're going to see some new legislation to catch up with the times. This is one of the areas where the law has not kept pace with culture and with our changing definition of what is a family and who is responsible.
FEYERICK: The mother has said she will pay. She will be the one to pay.
HUGHES: Absolutely.
FEYERICK: If -- well, sorry, if the sperm donor does decide he is going to kick in money, OK, then he could also argue he's entitled to certain parental rights even.
HUGHES: Well, he could. Because basically, the women and the sperm donor signed a contract. They thought they were doing it right. They said, we're terminating his parental rights. He's not going to be about the baby's life. But alternatively, he's not on the hook for anything. This is our baby. This is what we want. So the state came in and said, oh, yes, but we're totally ignoring that, because not only did you not have a doctor for the insemination, you didn't have a lawyer when you drafted the contract, and it's not right, it's against the law. So we're just ignoring it.
So these people tried desperately to do the right thing. It's important to note, it's not the lesbian couple going after this man. They have said, we support his argument. We're not looking for him to pay up. But the state says, too bad, because we don't want the taxpayers to be on the hook.
They need to finesse that law so what they agreed on initially, this couple that adopted the baby or had the baby said, we are the parents, he we want to be responsible.
So if they had same-sex marriage, you wouldn't see this problem. Because when they separated or divorced, like any other couple, that parent would be on the hook for child support.
FEYERICK: I would think a good lawyer could basically argue this is discrimination. Because what they're doing is --
(CROSSTALK)
HUGHES: Yes.
FEYERICK: So I want to move on to another case. This is so gruesome. This is Arizona, 2008, Travis Alexander found with his throat slit ear to ear, shot in the face, 29 stab wounds to his body. Now his ex- girlfriend, Jodi Arias, is facing the death penalty for killing him. Two days into testimony, what has been the most shocking, surprising thing to you?
HUGHES: To me the most shocking is how hard the defense has come out fighting in this case. They've got a client who gave the police three different stories. Number one is, oh, yes, we were friends, but I hadn't seen him in a while. Number two was, oh, OK, since you have my bloody fingerprints, two intruders busted in and attacked the both of us. Number three was, OK, I killed him, but it was self defense. A lot of times that's just the defendant's word. You don't have anything to back that up.
The defense has come out swinging. They came out in opening statement and they said, this is absolutely self defense, and without using the words, we believe her, and here's what you're going to hear. He was not this great, nice guy the state is painting him as. He sent awful e-mails to her. Vile things, saying awful things, showing he was in control. They showed a T-shirt that said "Travis Alexander was positive," and make her wear it around the house. So they are, through cross examination of the states own witnesses, establishing it's not as cut-and-dry as you think.
It is an overwhelming case as far as bloody, gruesome evidence. That's what the jury is seeing because the state goes first.
(CROSSTALK)
HUGHES: The issue is not motive, but why did it happen? Because, see, motive is never important. You can kill somebody and the state never has to explain a motive. They're saying it's jealousy. The defense is saying, no, it was self defense. And here's why.
And I find it really interesting, what's fascinating, a lot of the pundits, a lot of the people I've been discussing this case with, they're so upset that the defense is bringing out e-mails where the victim said awful things to the defendant. That's not character assassination, Deborah. That's evidence. You and I both covered another very famous trial where we --
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
HUGHES: Let's just put it out there.
FEYERICK: We were together when I saw your jaw hit the table.
HUGHES: When they read the verdict, and you looked and said, what is going on? Because there, the defense attorney stood up and said a lot of shocking things in opening. But there was no evidence to back it up. Here, they have evidence and people are upset because the defense is bringing it out.
FEYERICK: This is such an interesting one to watch.
HUGHES: It is fascinating.
FEYERICK: Holly Hughes, you're going to bring insights to this.
HUGHES: Yes.
FEYERICK: Thanks so much.
HUGHES: Absolutely.
FEYERICK: We appreciate it.
HUGHES: Great to see you.
FEYERICK: You, too.
Well, President Obama gets ready to step out of paradise and into the snake pit over the debt ceiling in Washington. We're going to take you live to Honolulu.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: We saw it with the fiscal cliff, and now the Capitol Hill confrontations over the debt ceiling are expected to get as intense, if not worse. The debt ceiling is the legal limit on the nation's borrowing. As you would expect, with Republicans and Democrats, also drawing a line. Despite approving the fiscal cliff compromise, GOP lawmakers say it was missing something monumental, long-term spending cuts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DAVE CAMP, (R), MICHIGAN: The simple truth is that we are in this fiscal mess because Washington takes too much of your money and then wastes it. That's the real problem. And it needs a real solution. We have to make sure Washington accountable for every tax dollar it spends. We have to make sure that your money is spent efficiently and effectively.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: President Obama is wrapping up his second stay in Hawaii for the holidays. And when his family returns to Washington, there is plenty of political drama waiting for him.
Our White House correspondent, Dan Lothian, joins me from Honolulu.
And, Dan, what is on the agenda when the president returns, and has this even been a relaxing vacation?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, he did get a chance to relax a bit, went out on the golf course, got to go out on the town with his daughters, also worked out at the gym. But there has been a lot on the president's plate, and certainly we'll have to confront all of these issues as he heads back to Washington.
By the way, the first family has been departing Honolulu around 10:00 tonight.
But as you pointed out, the next fiscal matter will be debt ceiling. Republicans, for some time now, and have been promising a fight, saying they want those spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. But the president, for a number of days now, and certainly in the most recent time here, his weekly address, has said that he is not willing to compromise on this and will not negotiate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One thing I will not compromise over is whether or not Congress should pay the tab for a bill they have already racked up. If Congress refuses to give the United States the ability to pay its bills on time, consequences for the entire global economy could be catastrophic. Last time Congress threatened this course of action, our entire economy suffered for it. Our families and our businesses cannot afford that dangerous game again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: In addition to that, the president has also promised he wants to tackle immigration reform and gun violence in the wake of the shootings in Connecticut. So a lot on the president's plate as he heads back to Washington.
FEYERICK: And also, big vacancies in the cabinet, secretary of defense, secretary of treasury. Any insights on that?
LOTHIAN: That's right. Chuck Hagel, sources have been telling us, is at the top of the list. In fact, one source telling CNN for the Department of Defense that he is, quote, "locked down that nomination over the treasury." Jack Lew, the president's chief of staff, remains at the top of the list. And over at the CIA, as well, because that vacancy will be coming up. John Brennan, the president's counterterrorism adviser, Michael Morrel, who is the acting director over there, is also on the short list. So the president has key positions to fill. Sources tell us he could be doing that as early as this week, a couple of weeks.
FEYERICK: All right, Dan Lothian, thanks so much.
And while I'm focused on you, I can't help but notice the stunning background.
(LAUGHTER)
LOTHIAN: It is beautiful.
FEYERICK: Enjoy.
All right, Dan Lothian, for us, following the president.
Two teens take a chance on a frozen lake and are lucky to escape with their lives, thanks to a nearby tree.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: Well, this is one shortcut they may want to rethink. A short cut across a partly frozen pond almost cost two Arizona teens their lives. They were lucky to find a tree to hang onto. But that almost was not enough.
CNN's Sandra Endo has more on how these two teens were saved.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A lesson of a lifetime for two boys, saved in a dramatic rescue in Arizona. 14-year-old Christian van Aller and 15-year-old Alex Orton were crossing a partially frozen pond when it began to crack. They ran to a nearby dead tree rising out of the water, but not before losing some of their shoes to the ice.
The teens waited for hours in frigid water, while Orton's young brother used a cell phone to call for help.
Firefighters outfitted in waterproof suits waded through the freezing water and got to the boys.
ALEX ORTON, RESCUE TEEN: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: Glad you guys are OK.
ENDO: The boys, now safe and dry, thanked the firefighting squad that rescued them in person, even writing an apology.
CHRISTIAN VAN ALLER, RESCUED TEEN: Dear Firefighters, thank you so much for helping me and my friends to be able to get back safely to the ground. We are very sorry about making you come out and do this. We shouldn't have even walked on the ice in the first place.
ORTON: I regret my choices deeply. And again, thank you all for sacrificing so much to save us. I think I can speak for the three of us when I say we promise to never do that again.
ENDO: And the boys will pay a price.
DONNIE VAN ALLER, MOTHER: They won't get their cell phones taken away, but that is the only reason they got rescued.
UNIDENTIFIED MOTHER: Yes.
VAN ALLER: But Xbox will probably be gone.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MOTHER: Yes, I think the Xbox, too. (LAUGHTER)
ENDO: Sandra Endo, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: And some lucky boys and they learned a lesson.
Well, two mystery guys in a speed boat put out a huge fire without any special equipment. You've got to see these special moves. James Bond, watch out. Look at this.
(VIDEO)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: A heat wave sweeping across Australia has sparked bush fires in several areas. Temperatures soar to 107 degrees in Tasmania, which is usually known for its cooler climate. Police say 70 percent of the buildings in one town were destroyed. This entire seaside area was devastated. People were forced to run to the water's edge as the fire ripped through. So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported.
And in New Zealand, it looked like a stunt, but not exactly a stunt. It looked like something out of a movie or TV show. Things were looking pretty bad, burning out of control. But then, an anonymous hero appears and makes a big splash, literally.
Jeanne Moos has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When a vessel cashes fire, the best way to put it out is probably with a hose. But when the boat is a flame on a little lake in New Zealand, and there is no hose in sight, this is a sight for sore eyes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?
MOOS: Two men douse the flames with the spray from their speed boat.
Cadden Oliver caught it on tape.
CADDEN OLIVER, CAUGHT FIREFIGHTING ON VIDEO: Yes, it's just crazy.
MOOS (on camera): The maneuver was performed not once, but four times.
(voice-over): Someone called emergency services but it took 25 minutes for fire trucks to reach the lake. And. by then, the speed boat had done it trick, impressing even dispatch manager on duty, Levi Grace (ph).
(on camera): What do you call that technique that they used?
LEVI GRACE (ph), DISPATCH MANAGER: I called it ingenious.
MOOS: On-line admirer said it was as if David Hasselhoff --
(MUSIC)
MOOS: -- from "Bay Watch," was at the wheel, or James Bond.
Except in his movies, 007 tends to set fires --
(EXPLOSION)
MOOS: -- rather than put them out.
The speed boat even towed the burned-up craft to the landing. Its occupant had jumped over board and made it safely to shore.
Although the boat was a complete wreck, at least its 25 gallons of fuel didn't blow up and start a brush fire thanks to the speed boat's spray.
OLIVER: It's almost like he practiced it.
MOOS (on camera): The fire dispatch manager has a message for the mystery speed boaters, delivered in the lingo of native New Zealanders.
GRACE (ph): It's "pakipaki," which is like, "well done" in Maori, New Zealand.
MOOS (voice-over): Pakipaki, Mr. Bond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN CONNERY, ACTOR: As they say in England, where there's smoke there's fire.
MOOS: In this case, where there is fire, now there is only smoke. SOS, splash our ship.
Jeanne Moos, CNN --
GRACE (ph): Pakipaki.
MOOS: -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: Very ingenious.
Well, I'm Deborah Feyerick at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. I will see you back here one hour from now.
"THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer begins, right ahead.
