Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Boston Carjack Victim Shares Terror; Fingerprint Found in Bomb Debris; Doubts That Bombers Acted Alone; Gay NBA Player's Ex-Fiancee Speaks Out; NFL Player Talks about Gays in Sports; ADP: Private Sector Adds 119K Jobs; FDA Eases Morning-After Pill Age Limit

Aired May 01, 2013 - 09:00   ET

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


ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's it for STARTING POINT. I'm Zoraida Sambolin.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm John Berman. NEWSROOM with Carol Costello begins right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, a night of terror.

DANNY, CARJACKING VICTIM: I was -- I was counting. One, two, three, four. And I just do it and I did it. And I can feel Tamerlan trying to grab me.

COSTELLO: For the first time we're hearing from the carjacking victim at the center of the Boston bombings.

Also the ex-fiance of Jason Collins speaking out.

CAROLYN MOOS, FORMER FIANCE OF JASON COLLINS: We planned a wedding. We planned our lives together.

COSTELLO: Carolyn Moos, one-on-one with CNN.

MOOS: I want him to be happy and I want him to have a wonderful future.

COSTELLO: Ahead, outspoken gay rights supports Chris Kluwe from the Minnesota Vikings joins me live.

Plus, morning-after, now available over-the-counter to women 15 and older.

And Rocky Mountain high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what a flower room looks like.

COSTELLO: NEWSROOM taking you inside the 9-to-5 business of cannabis in Colorado.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to learn more about exactly how you grow marijuana on essentially an indoor farm. So where does it start?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So it starts here in a lab.

COSTELLO: You're live in CNN NEWSROOM.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And good morning. Thank you so much for being with me. I'm Carol Costello. We begin with the bombings of the Boston marathon. And 90 minutes of terror for the man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We are no hearing from that man who was apparently carjacked by Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He says during this terrifying ride, the older brother spewed his hatred for Americans. He kept barking orders and promised to eventually release his hostage unharmed. The man who wants only to be identified as Danny didn't believe him so he bolted when the brothers stopped at a gas station to fuel up.

Listen to the carjack victim describe the harrowing ride and his escape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANNY: He took out his gun, pointed to me and said to me that, you know I'm serious. Don't be stupid. He asked me a question like, do you know the Boston explosion on Monday? I said, yes. He said, you know, I did that. And I just killed a policeman in Cambridge. Yes. I need to figure out a way, you know, to save myself. I was, I was counting, I was counting. I was one, two, three, four. And I just do it. And I did it.

And I can feel Tamerlan was trying to grab. I was running. I was just running as fast as I can. And I never, I never look back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And finally he used his cell phone to call 911.

We want to get the latest now from Boston on the investigation. Our national security analyst Juliette Kayyem looks at concerns the accused bombers did not act alone and our national correspondent Susan Candiotti has new developments on the widow of the older brother.

Susan let's start with you. Tell us the latest on the widow.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, there continues to be an air of mystery surrounding the widow of Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Her name Katherine Russell and for now she's been staying with her family, her parents, in Kingstown, Rhode Island. You will recall that there's an air of mystery because for the past several days there have been meetings going on between her, her lawyer and the FBI.

We also saw a few days ago that the FBI went into her home, took samples. According to our sources, DNA samples from her, and compared her DNA -- is comparing her DNA to DNA -- female DNA that was found on one of the bomb's pressure cookers. We don't know whether there will be a match. And even if there is a match, what, if anything, that might have to do with whether she constructed the bomb or touched the bomb.

She may simply have touched it on another occasion or for that matter, it could be another female, perhaps the store clerk who might have sold it to the two bombing suspects who, of course, the one is charged in this case. So we are still waiting to find out the level of cooperation that is going on between her and the FBI.

Her lawyer has put out a statement that she is fully cooperating with them and she also issued a statement that she has asked that the body of her husband be turned over to the Tsarnaev's family. To retrieve it from the medical examiner so that he can be buried -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And -- I mean, does that mean she wants no involvement in this man's funeral? In her husband's funeral?

CANDIOTTI: It certainly isn't clear from the way she issued the statement. She didn't say one way or another but we are left to wonder about that. It is apparently the family is going to be taking charge of the funeral procedure and I know that the mosque where the two suspects attended has told us that if one of their people from the mosque presides over the funeral service it will not be one of the imams. It will instead be a lay person because the mosque told us they don't want to have even the slightest appearance that they condone the marathon bombing.

COSTELLO: All right. Juliette, now to you. Investigators are also digging deeper on their greatest concern that these bombing suspects may have had help. A former CIA operative thinks it's likely. Here's what Bob Baer told CNN, and I'm quoting here. He said, quote, quote, "I talked to the FBI today. They said that this bomb absolutely could not have been made by these two men. It was run off the speed control for a toy car. There was all sorts of command detonate signal tests they needed to do. This was a very complicated plot with a lot of international travel. And I think it's wrong for us to just take the narrative it was all homegrown."

So, Juliette, do authorities even know if these suspects made the bomb themselves?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, I actually don't think anyone is saying that it's clearly homegrown or clearly the other thing. I think we're in this slow slog, unfortunately, of where an investigation leads. So I don't do speculation so I have been consistently saying it could be one, it could be the other or a combination of both. But there -- we should be cautious of certainty. For one, there's a very limited number of people involved with the investigation right now.

So some people may know one thing, others may not. I think what's important is, everyone believes that the six or seven months in Russia are significant. What we can't figure out yet or at least where the narrative is pointing in two different places is both potential radicalization or radicalization clearly, and did he learn and was he trained by an organization that knew that he was going to launch a terrorist attack in the United States?

It's a pretty simple, you know, division of narratives. And it just -- you know, in terms of -- I've been involved with investigations, I know these -- these evolve very, very slowly. So the -- not choosing the narrative right now is OK. This will come together in time. And the reason why you don't want to rush that it's certainly this or certainly that is either because you don't want to give the Russians sort of, you know, yes, it's clearly your people and you have a problem because we're seeing that the Russians might take advantage of the situation and we don't want to condone that.

And secondly, you don't want to miss opportunities here engaging communities, communities that might have known counter and violent extremism that might help us in the future regarding a potential homegrown threat. So both investigations are going on, both abroad and of course domestically with checking landfills and things like that. And I think -- you know, I think our patience is probably going to be beneficial in the long term to getting the story right.

COSTELLO: Juliette Kayyem, Susan Candiotti, many thanks to both of you.

When Jason Collins came out this week it was a surprise to a lot of people including his former fiance. Monday the 12-year veteran of the NBA became the first openly gay active athlete in a major American sport. He wrote about hiding his sexuality in "Sports Illustrated" and said he pretended to be straight and even proposed to his girlfriend Carolyn Moos. He called off the engagement with her in 2009 after being with her for eight years.

She told CNN's Piers Morgan she was shocked and only found out why he broke up with her a few days ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: He actually called this past weekend and we spoke a couple of times on Monday so it's really fresh in my mind, to be honest with you. And I have close friends, close family and people I was just so thankful I could confide in them. My mom is a former psychologist. And, you know, it's just wonderful to have that support system. But it's going to be a process, absolutely.

And it just takes a lot of perspective and a lot of understanding and a lot of open conversation, I think open dialogue at this point is the healthiest thing. And I really value that. You know, I value that between Jason and I, and I value that between, you know, himself and his family and the ones that are closest to him. You know, and I think that that's where that comfort level comes from is that --

PIERS MORGAN, HOST, PIERS MORGAN LIVE: Right. Did he apologize to you?

MOOS: I think he is in the process of taking ownership of the here now which is actually coming out. You know, and that can be very, I assume, overwhelming. You know, I did invest eight years in our relationship with a shared dream and vision with him and I value that. I had to rewrite the script and I still am rewriting it. And it's -- it's been very challenging. So, you know, that's a natural -- hopefully a natural progression for him to look at things from all different angles. And, you know, as he becomes more comfortable with himself I think, you know, that time will allow for some perspective on that, as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Collins said he didn't set out to be the first openly gay active athlete. But now he hopes other gay athletes are encouraged to come out, too. He talked about his experience with NBA commentators on our sister network, TNT.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was it like to wake up this morning for the first time in your life and not have anything to hide?

JASON COLLINS, NBA PLAYER: It was amazing. It was truly overwhelming experience, humbling, the amount of support that I received. And I'm truly blessed to have the people that I have -- have my back and just support me and lift me up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think your decision will have a major impact on other sports?

COLLINS: I hope it will encourage others to live honest and genuine life. Going back to what Charles said that it's important for everybody to make decisions in their life that makes them happy and to be honest. And once you put down that mask and, you know, live an authentic life it's liberating. And you don't have to hide anymore. You can just be yourself.

Going through last season that I wasn't going to keep living my life in the closet. I knew that at the end of -- once my season, once my regular season ended with the Washington Wizards that after the season was over that I was going to make this announcement.

And also, you know, tell everybody I can still play in this league. And you know I want to still play in this league. I still have a love for the game and I still feel that I can offer an NBA ball club, you know, that veteran leadership that I think I have proven by doing this, that you know not only will I talk the talk but I will walk the walk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Among Collins' supporters is NFL players Chris Kluwe, he's a punter for the Minnesota Vikings. Kluwe has been an outspoken supporter for gay rights. He tweeted Collins after his announcement saying, "Big kudos to Jason Collins, living proof that your sexuality has nothing to do with your athletic ability."

Chris Kluwe joins me now live from Minneapolis. Good morning, Chris.

CHRIS KLUWE, PUNTER, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Good morning. How is it going?

COSTELLO: It's good. Thanks for being with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Do you think it'll be easier now for other gay athletes to come out?

KLUWE: Well, I think a lot of people are going to be watching and waiting to see what happens with Jason Collins. You know, is he allowed a fair chance to compete with other teams? That's going to be the question.

COSTELLO: Do you think someone will sign him? He obviously wants to continue playing.

KLUWE: Yes. And I think he just wants the chance to compete on a level playing field. I mean he doesn't want to be known as the gay athlete. He just wants to be known as an athlete. This is just part of who he is.

COSTELLO: The Vikings -- and this is on a slightly different topic, the Vikings drafted a new punter and a lot of people are speculating he could be your replacement. In fact you yourself told NBC Sports, quote, "It's a shame that in a league with players given multiple second chances after arrest, including felony arrests, that speaking out on human rights has a chance of getting you cut."

Can you expound on that?

KLUWE: Well, you know, all I can do is go out and punt to the best of my ability, and trust in my body of work which has been very good over the years. And unfortunately, you know, sometimes I guess that's the nature of this business, that, you know, if they want to move in a different direction that's where they're going to go.

COSTELLO: Do you think they might move in that different direction because you've spoken out so passionately in support of issues like gay rights?

KLUWE: I honestly don't know on that one. I'm not in the meetings. I don't -- you know, I don't know what's said in there. I don't know what the rationales are. So again, all I can do is hopefully do my best and, you know, have a chance to punt.

COSTELLO: But you do have a suspicion that that might be a reason?

KLUWE: Well, I mean, like I said, I don't know. I'm not in those meetings.

COSTELLO: All right. Chris Kluwe, thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate it.

KLUWE: Thank you.

COSTELLO: A possible clue as investigators search for a northern California girl's killer. We've got new details for you just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: At 17 minutes past the hour, a quick check of other stories.

Police now investigating a possible clue in the stabbing death of 8- year-old Leila Fowler. "The Modesto Bee" says there may be a link between Fowler's death and the kidnapping of a 15-month-old girl. A man in that case has been arrested and police have requested a DNA sample.

A dust mask with ricin links a Mississippi man to a potentially deadly letter sent to President Obama and two other public officials. That's according to an affidavit, which says the mask and other ricin-laced items were found at James Dutschke's home. A witness says Dutschke talked years ago about putting poison on envelopes. Dutschke has denied any involvement with the ricin letters.

Colorado -- take a look at this -- it is getting a blast of spring snow today. The state's northern cities could see as much as eight inches by tonight. Denver could even break record for the coldest ever first day of May.

A California woman accused of poisoning two bottles of orange juice at a San Jose Starbucks is now facing attempted murder chargers. Police say the woman placed the bottles on the display shelf as if they were for sale. A customer spotted her odd behavior and told store workers who called 911. The bottles were tainted with a lethal dose of rubbing alcohol.

Now, to Wall Street where many investors wonder if the markets will continue their winning streak. That's after the S&P ended April at a record high. The Dow closed up at the fifth straight month and the NASDAQ closed at the highest level since 2000.

Let's head to the New York Stock Exchange and Alison Kosik.

Will the streak continue?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a good question. But at this point, it looks like the winning streak at least for today is going to be up against a wall. The stock futures are flat to slightly lower right now.

But, hey, come on, the Dow has been riding a five-month rally. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ, they have been on a winning streak six months. Each of the major averages are up almost 2 percent for the month of April.

Here is what is driving the gains, though: housing market, yes, it's improving. So is consumer confidence. Also, you can't forget the Fed's billions of dollars of stimulus creating that wealth effect. But, you know, what hasn't been all good news, the recovery and the jobs market is still painfully slow.

Now, the Fed is going to be wrapping up its policy meeting this afternoon. Investors are going to be looking for insight into its outlook for employment, along with -- how long it expects to keep pumping money into the economy -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We also got a new jobs report from payroll processor ADP. What's it say?

KOSIK: It basically was a disappointment. Private employers didn't hire as many new employees as expected in April. It added 119,000 jobs in April versus the expected 150,000. But keep in mind, this report, what it does is surveys private sector jobs only. It's kind of the appetizer to the main course coming up on Friday.

Friday is the official government jobs report. The government report measures both public and private jobs. Now, the expectation there is for a gain of 155,000 jobs after, who can forget, that weaker than expected 88,000 jobs added in March.

But I'll tell you what? If Friday brings another reading below 100,000, there is going to be serious questions about the recovery in the job market -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I hope not.

Alison Kosik, reporting live from the New York Stock Exchange.

Still ahead in THE NEWSROOM: the FDA making changes in the rules for the morning-after pill. Now, girls as young as 15 can get the emergency contraception without a prescription.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back in the NEWSROOM.

In medical news this morning: girls as young as 15 years old can get the morning-after pill without a prescription. The FDA approving the measure for Plan B One-Step, saying data shows that women in that age group, quote, were able to understand how it works and how to use it properly.

Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins me now.

And I can see how this might make some people angry and some not so angry.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. Exactly. So, people like Planned Parenthood are saying this is great. You know, women, females as young as 15 you should be able to get the morning-after pill. And other groups say no way. You know, they shouldn't be able to get this kind of a pill.

COSTELLO: Without their parents' permission, right?

COHEN: There were some people who think they shouldn't get it all. But, yes, but certainly without their parents' permission. So, a lot of the controversy was, would a 15-year-old understand how to take this? You can see the packaging there.

You know, the Obama administration originally said, no, a 15 year old couldn't understand this. We can't let them get it over-the-counter without a parents' permission.

And another group said, what are you talking about? This is like taking an aspirin. It's not that big of a deal. That's how a federal judge felt and he basically really raked the Obama administration over the coals, and said, hey, younger girls should be able to get this.

COSTELLO: OK. So, right now, it is as young as 15. Could it go younger?

COHEN: It's possible. It's possible. The company that sells it would like to make it younger. Again, groups like Planned Parenthood would like to get it younger.

I mean, you know, it's terrible, but 13-year-olds get pregnant, and some groups would like to give that 13-year-old access to the morning- after pill. And, of course, more conservative groups think this amounts to abortion, this morning-after pill.

So, explain this to us.

COHEN: Right. It gets very tricky. It gets very tricky.

So, you have to take it within three days of having unprotected sex, but really as early as possible. Most of the time here's the way it works. It prevents the ovary from releasing egg. So, you just don't release that egg. So, most people would say, that's not abortion. There is no egg never met sperm.

But based on the timing of it, there could be cases where egg has met sperm and it prevents that tiny embryo from implanting in the uterus. It just never lets it, you know, get in there. And so, some people would call that abortion.

COSTELLO: But, right now, the rules are a 15-year-old could go into a pharmacy --

COHEN: Over the counter.

COSTELLO: -- and pick it up over the shelf and pay for it and leave the store.

COHEN: They can. They are supposed to show an ID. They're supposed to show proof that they are 15.

I know. I thought -- how many 15 year olds have proof of ID. I guess if your 15-year-old daughter asks for your birth certificate, I guess you should get suspicious, maybe they wanted for that purpose.

COSTELLO: Something tells me that is not going to happen.

COHEN: I don't think so either.

But the rule is the 15-year-old is supposed to have proof of age. I don't know how --

COSTELLO: OK. Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much.

COHEN: Thanks.

COSTELLO: Still ahead, he was caught in the middle of the Boston marathon bombing, along with his parents. How Kevin White and his family are moving forward.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning. Thank you so much for being with us. I'm Carol Costello.

Stories we're watching right now in THE NEWSROOM at 30 minutes past the hour.

On Wall Street, the big question ahead of this morning's opening bell: will the markets continue their winning streak? The bell is just ringing.

CNN's Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. Tell us what you are seeing.

KOSIK: Well, we are seeing a very slow start to the trading day so far.