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New Intel Leak Details Promised; Riot Police Quell Protests in Turkey; Cancer Doctor Accused of Killer Coffee; GM Offering Big Rebates on Volts; Patriots Signing Tebow?; Questions for Potential Zimmerman Jurors; Hillary Clinton Joins Twitter

Aired June 11, 2013 - 09:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Have a great day.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: That's it for "STARTING POINT." CNN NEWSROOM with Carol Costello -- sorry, Carol -- begins right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, manhunt in Hong Kong, the NSA leaker on the run and in hiding. This as the man who broke the story says more secrets are coming.

Also, an eye lift for the iPhone. Auto updating apps, better battery life, music streamlining, but will Apple sour on major innovation?

Plus, overdraft and over the top. Why you could pay hundreds more if you opt into your bank's overdraft protection.

And breaking right now, the airport in Richmond, Virginia, being evacuated.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Good morning, thanks so much for being with me. I'm Carol Costello. This morning there could be new fallout from that bombshell revelation that the U.S. government could be monitoring your phone calls and online activity.

U.S. federal agents are now building a case against the man behind those claims, intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. One of the journalists who broke the story says new details about the top secret program will soon be revealed, but he will not reveal where Snowden is hiding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLENN GREENWALD, THE GUARDIAN: I know where he is, generally. I'm not going to talk about where he is. Either in general or specifically. He's a source and I'm not going to disclose information about his whereabouts. He's perfectly capable of doing that himself if he wants to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN's Anna Coren is in Hong Kong where Snowden checked out of a hotel yesterday.

Do we know if anyone is looking for Snowden in Hong Kong, Anna?

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we don't know that information. We've contacted authorities here in Hong Kong, also Chinese authorities. Neither have made any comment whatsoever.

We've contacted the U.S. embassy here in Hong Kong, and once again, you know, the same official line, no comment. So as far as we know no one is hunting or searching for Edward Snowden, but we do know that he is here in this city. This is a city of seven million people. He checked out of a hotel yesterday, as you mentioned.

As to where he is now, we just don't know. But you certainly have to assume, Carol, that authorities are looking for him.

COSTELLO: Well, once they -- once they figure out what to charge him with, and the government here is now building a case against him, I mean, you've got to wonder then -- then I guess someone might be -- or they might put the -- I mean, what will happen? Tell me what will happen. It's confusing.

COREN: For sure. It is confusing, and we're all in the dark, which is -- which is why this is such a difficult story to report on.

You know, Edward Snowden has only spoken to the British "Guardian" newspaper. So he's done that interview over several days, and after that he seriously went to ground. I mean, we have appealed to his contacts to also interview him. I mean, there's so many unanswered questions. But you ask what's going to happen next, well, there is an extradition treaty between Hong Kong and the United States.

So, you know, if the United States issues an arrest warrant, then Hong Kong will have to abide by that. However, there are exceptions and that -- those exceptions include if Snowden claims to be a political prisoner or if he's going to be sent back to the U.S. for political crimes. Then that could, perhaps, slow down the process.

We spoke to a Hong Kong legislator today, he said that this could drag on for months. So at the moment, we know he's here in Hong Kong. As to how this plays out, Carol, we just don't know.

COSTELLO: All right. Anna Coren, reporting live from Hong Kong this morning.

As Snowden hides from public view, another source of controversial leaks is speaking out. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says his revelations on U.S. intelligence drove him into hiding this past year at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Assange says fear of persecution is eroding press freedoms.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIAN ASSANGE, WIKILEAKS FOUNDER: The two journalists involved in the Snowden case, what is the chance that they're going to be in my position? Alleged to be committing conspiracy to commit espionage. What is the chance that Snowden is going to be charged with aiding enemy is going to be in exact the same position that Bradley Manning is in in three year's time?

This precedent has got to be eliminated, otherwise it is the end of national security journalism in the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: But do Americans really care? According to a new poll by the Pew Research Center and "The Washington Post," 56 percent say the government's tracking of phone records is an acceptable way to investigate terrorism. And when asked what's more important, investigate threats or privacy, 62 percent said investigate terrorism.

Assange says Snowden should be packing his bags and seeking asylum.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASSANGE: We don't know all the strategy that Snowden and perhaps the journalists and his advisers have put together. I hope that there's something really solid there, but looking at it from the surface, I would strongly advise him to go to Latin America.

Latin America has shown in the past 10 years that it's really pushing forward in human rights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The British newspaper, "The Guardian," says Snowden talked about possible asylum in Iceland. Assange's group WikiLeaks reportedly operated there for awhile without government interference.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

COSTELLO: And happening right now in Richmond at the international airport there, it has been evacuated. The action taken after the airport said a serious threat was phoned in.

Law enforcement agencies, along with canine teams, now sweeping that airport, passengers are able to access parking lots and drive out of the airport, of course, we'll update this story as soon as we get more information.

Antigovernment protests intensifying against a key U.S. ally.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can hear some blasts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Just hours ago, riot police in Turkey unleashed tear gas and water cannons on protesters in the capitol city. They are demanding the resignation of their prime minister and a government that they say is growing more oppressive. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh live in Istanbul this morning.

Good morning.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: : Carol, behind me, every few 10 minutes or so you do hear, again, tear gas being fired by police as they continue to try and exercise control over the central square here in Taksim. This began at 8:00 this morning. They moved in a reasonably leisurely pace, and then were met by protesters, a hardcore of whom met them with Molotov fire bomb and cocktails rocks. Even an elaborate device I saw that fires fireworks at the police.

The police retaliating with tear gas, water cannons, as well. And the scene we've seen developing behind me now is the police trying to gain control of Gezi, which is the central area of Woodland, very small but out densely populated by protesters and tents. They moved in briefly, then pulled out again, but the strategy seems to be to retain control of central Taksim Square and then move down some of these side streets here.

The small group of protesters now playing this odd standoff they've been doing for hours now. Eight hours of the police throwing rocks at their armored vehicles. But pretty sure now you'll see a response from the police firing tear gas back at them -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Nick Paton Walsh reporting live for us this morning.

Back here at home, one of America's top cancer doctors is accused of trying to poison a colleague she was apparently dating. Dr. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo is charged with spiking her lover's coffee with, of all things, a deadly sweet tasting chemical commonly found in antifreeze. Her victim did survive.

Ed Lavandera is live in Houston with more on this case.

Good morning, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. A bizarre story, indeed. The doctor has been charged with aggravated assault and she's been put on administrative leave and she works at one of the premier cancer hospitals in the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Dr. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo is a breast cancer specialist researching the most aggressive forms of the deadly disease at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She was featured in this Susan G. Komen Foundation video, highlighting a day in the life of a breast cancer doctor at one of the most respective cancer hospitals in the country.

DR. ANA MARIA GONZALEZ-ANGULO, BREAST CANCER SPECIALIST: One of my aunts died with lung cancer when she was 35 and I was 10. So that was when I sort of made the decision that this is what I wanted to do. LAVANDERA: Which makes the allegations swirling around her all the more stunning. Police investigators say she tried to poison her lover, George Blumenschein, a fellow cancer doctor at M.D. Anderson, as well.

(On camera): According to court records, back in January, George Blumenschein was behind these gates at the home of Ana Maria Gonzalez- Angulo. According to those records she made him a cup of coffee, he started drinking it, but then told her that it tasted too sweet, she told him, finish that first cup of coffee and that she'd put Splenda in it but that she would make another one. He drank both cups of coffee, 16 hours later, he was in the emergency room.

(Voice-over): Blumenschein started losing his balance, suffered slurred speech and loss of motor skills. According to the court records, doctors found ethylene glycol in his system, a potentially deadly chemical used in antifreeze, but M.D. Anderson officials told investigators it's also a chemical commonly found in labs at the cancer center.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos says it could be a tough case to prove in court.

MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: What you always have to take a look at, what the prosecutors are always going to take a look at in a case like is the motive. Why did somebody want to do it and why did they want to do it in this way and rule out other environmental factors. That's where the defense is always going to go. Was there a motive? Would somebody have done this? Do they have the character, so to speak, to do this?

LAVANDERA: A lawyer for Gonzalez-Angulo says she's, quote, "completely innocent and that these allegations are, quote, "totally inconsistent with her personal and professional life." Neighbors around her gated home say she is a quiet woman who kept to herself.

George Blumenschein survived, but he has suffered serious damage to his kidneys, even needing dialysis to try and repair the damage.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: And, Carol, the defense lawyer says that they have had several meetings with prosecutors and they are hoping they'll take a -- fresh look at the case and reconsider the charges. We'll see how that plays out in the weeks and months ahead -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Wow. Ed Lavandera, reporting live for us this morning.

If you drive a Dodge Dart, listen up. Chrysler is recalling nearly 15,000 of the 2013 models over concerns the engine controls could malfunction and cause the cars to stall. The automaker says it's unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem, but if you have one of the compact cars, your engine controls will need to be recalibrated. Chrysler says it will do it for you for free so contact your dealer. General Motors' hopes to rebates of up to $5,000 will sway you to drive off the lot in a brand new Chevy Volt. The plug-in car gets about 40 miles on a charge. It also has a gas engine for longer drives.

Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange to talk more about this.

There's such conflicting information about the sales of Volts, aren't they?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I know, which is -- you know what, Carol, there's nothing like sagging sales to get automakers to offer big incentives. To get people to buy these cars. So if you are in the market for a new car, maybe it's time to think about going electric because on the 2012 Chevy Volts, you'll be able to get a $5,000 rebate, plus the standard $7500 federal tax credit, and state incentives, too.

And on 2013 models, there's a $4,000 rebate or if you want an alternative you can put down $2400 and pay just $269 a month for three years.

I feel like I'm selling a car here. But over at Honda deals get even hotter where it's new Honda Fit EV is being offered for $259 a month, no money down there, that was only being sold in California at the moment.

Here's the thing with these cars, though, Carol. These car makers, they often lose money on electric cars and it's really an uphill climb for sales because quite frankly the public hasn't widely accepted electric cars just yet. They don't have that mass appeal. But they're still an important part of the automaker business -- you know, the auto business, so it's sort of viewed as an image maker.

You know, gas guzzlers have gotten such a bad reputation over the years, electric cars show that these companies actually do care about the environment. Consumer response has been mixed depending on the carmaker and the car. Volt sales, as I said, are down from this time from a year ago, but sales of Nissan's Leaf, they're up quite a bit. Tesla Model S, that's doing quite well -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange, thank you.

Picture this odd couple, NFL fans. The hoodie sharing the sidelines at Foxborough with Tim Tebow? New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is expected to announce the quarterback signing at a news conference in the next hour, but do not expect to see any Tebowing at least at the news conference.

"Bleacher Report's" Andy Scholes is here to talk more about the Patriots' move.

So why do the Patriots need Tim Tebow? ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Well, they don't necessarily need Tim Tebow, but I guess they feel like that they can take Tim Tebow and turn him into a useful weapon on offense for the team.

Now you know, Josh McDaniels, he's the Patriots offensive coordinator. He was the head coach of the Broncos back when Tim Tebow was drafted in the first round. So McDaniels is the guy who believed from the start that he could turn Tim Tebow into a starting NFL quarterback.

Now we're not going to see Tim Tebow starting for the New England Patriots Tom Brady is the starter for the New England Patriots. But, you know, we could see Tim Tebow used in a wide variety of situations.

COSTELLO: But isn't he going to try out for the back-up quarterback position?

SCHOLES: You know, Ryan Mallett is the backup for the Patriots. So Tebow comes in as the third guy. He of course would want to be the backup quarterback and he's resisted a position change in the past. He said, I'm not going to play tight end. I don't want to play fullback. So he's always wanted to be a quarterback, and -- but you never know with the Patriots. They use wide receivers as quarterbacks sometimes, linebackers at tight end. So you could see some interesting situations when Tim Tebow enters the game.

COSTELLO: So -- you know, there's all kinds of things online and I like to read everything I can. Tim Tebow's a fascinating guy, let's face it. So I heard he's learned -- somebody taught him to throw the football with more accuracy and they did it through footwork or something like that.

SCHOLES: Yes.

COSTELLO: And it's solved his problem and now he's fantastic.

SCHOLES: Yes, well, who knows if it's really solved yet, but he did work with Steve Clarkson this off-season and he'd worked on his throwing motion with Thai Chi. Now what that means exactly, I don't know. It has something to do with getting his whole body in unison as he makes a pass. Because, you know, Carol, he was OK at throwing the five-yard pass and then six-yard pass, but anything in between, who -- who knew where it would end up. So that was his problem with the accuracy. Thai Chi --

COSTELLO: Tai Chi --

SCHOLES: Who knows if Tai Chi could solve the throwing --

COSTELLO: You mean the --

SCHOLES: Tim Tebow's throwing motions.

COSTELLO: That's the stuff you see old people doing in the parks? You know?

SCHOLES: Yes, Mr. Miyagi back in "Karate Kid." Remember? (LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: I do. Andy Scholes, you'll stick around because the next hour the big announcement could be made.

SCHOLES: Bill Belichick.

COSTELLO: Thanks so much.

COSTELLO: Just ahead in the NEWSROOM, a base jump gone horribly wrong. How this lucky thrill seeker survived a dangerous parachute malfunction.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

COSTELLO: All right. We're going to take you back out to Richmond, Virginia, to take a look at what's happening at the Richmond International Airport. It was evacuated after a disturbing phone call came into the airport at 6:15 this morning, that's Eastern Time.

So, this has been going on for a few hours now. They evacuated not only the airport, but the parking garages, too. As you can see, all of the passengers just sort of had to stand around outside the airport waiting, because they couldn't get into their cars and drive away. We understand now that the garages at the airport have been swept and are deemed safe, so at least people can get into their cars and drive off.

No flights are taking off or coming into the Richmond International Airport, though. So it's likely all of those people -- well, they probably already missed their flights and are not happy, but the airport officials are doing this in safety's name, which is much more important, because they are still sweeping the inside of the airport at the Richmond International Airport.

Of course, we will keep you posted.

All right. Checking other top stories at 19 minutes passed the hour:

Cleanup under way following severe storms. You're looking at damage left behind after tornadoes ripped through parts of Maryland. Several homes and buildings northeast of Baltimore were completely destroyed, much of the region also dealing with flooding.

Now to Las Vegas, where some very patient passengers came up with an in interesting way to cope with a four-plus hour wait on a very hot airport. Listen.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

COSTELLO: I don't know if that would cheer me up or really annoy me, but you are hearing that correctly. The group broke into singing along R. Kelly's classic "I Believe I Can Fly" until the plane finally took off. A base jumper lucky to be alive after a jump went horribly wrong. She found herself plummeting towards the ground, with her parachute opened the wrong way. It slammed her into the side of a hotel three times. Hear the crowd below. The parachuter was saved after she crashed on to a tenth floor balcony. She suffered a broken nose and a couple of bruises. Ooh.

The morning-after pill now available to girls of any age. The Obama administration dropping its fight to restrict access of the emergency contraceptive. This means the controversial pill will soon be available over-the-counter with no restriction. Only those 15 or older were previously allowed to buy the contraceptive.

Nearly two dozen people will be back in a Florida courtroom today. Jury selection is resuming this morning in the George Zimmerman trial. Potential jurors face more individual questions, as attorney searched for a panel of six men and women, plus alternates.

Also greeting those prospective jurors, demonstrators. Some are calling for a revolution in the name of Trayvon Martin.

CNN's George Howell was outside the courtroom in Sanford, Florida.

Good morning, George.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning.

So, court was supposed to start at 9:00 a.m. today. Looking at the court right now inside, it just got started, and we expect to see more of the same. Yesterday, a lot of what happened was closed to the media.

But we did get to hear some of these critical questions that the prosecution and defense posed to these potential jurors. For instance, they'd ask if they knew anything about this case, or they'd ask people what their favorite local or national news outlet might be. Some people said they didn't watch the news.

But one thing was crystal clear, the judge in this case is moving ahead at rapid pace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL (voice-over): Day one and George Zimmerman's defense team said it wasn't ready, requesting a delay of trial, but Judge Debra Nelson wasted little time --

JUDGE DEBRA NELSON: Third notion for continuance is denied.

HOWELL: The next step, jury selection. With a pool of 500 potential jurors to choose from, 100 people were called to fill out a questionnaire Monday. From that number, 21 were selected for individual questioning by the prosecution and the defense, the goal of both sides to qualify a panel of six jurors and at least four alternates. Several prospective jurors answered questions out of camera view to conceal their identities. BERNIE DE LA RIONDA, ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY: Do you recall hearing anything about the case even though you didn't pay attention to it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I probably heard in the news but never paid attention to it.

MARK O'MARA, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I'd like you to tell me one or two things you heard about the case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was two people being in the wrong place at the wrong time and two people instigating something that probably could have been avoided.

HOWELL: It was the first time for George Zimmerman to see the people who could decide his fate, charged with second-degree murder for the admitted fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman's brother spoke to the media.

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S BROTHER: I think it's important that jurors get to know that George is a real person. He's not just whatever images people flash across the screen or whatever narrative people write about. He's a sensitive person. He's generous. He's very likeable if you actually get to meet him.

HOWELL: On Monday alone, a total of four people were individually interviewed by attorneys for possible jury duty.

CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin says she's not surprised.

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALSYT: You know, they only need six jurors in Florida, 10 probably including the alternates. This judge moved at such a quick speed, I just can't imagine that this is going to take longer than a week. I know there have been estimates about two and three weeks, but I don't think this judge will allow for that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: And back in Sanford, Florida, with these live pictures inside the courtroom, you see George Zimmerman there, and again, just listening to what's happening there, it is more of the same. You hear these prosecutors and defense attorneys asking questions of these prospective jurors.

Again, the goal is to go through a pool of some 500 people to narrow that down, again, to six jurors and at least four alternates, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. George Howell reporting live from Sanford, Florida, this morning.

Still ahead on THE NEWSROOM: a meme at a Twitter account is born. Up next, will this wife, first lady of Arkansas, and first lady of the United States, oh, and dog owner, add presidential candidate to the list?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: She is the most traveled secretary of state in U.S. history, but there was one place Hillary Clinton had yet to go, until now.

White House correspondent Brianna Keilar has more on Clinton's Twitter debut and why some hope her next stop is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The now iconic image of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sporting dark glasses intently studying her Blackberry is her profile picture on her new Twitter account.

Clinton is taking Twitter by storm. The former secretary of state, senator, and first lady, also described herself as wife, mom, lawyer and -- get this -- hair icon and pantsuit aficionado, which she joked about at a recent fashion awards dinner.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: All you really need is a small, but passionate audience to be successful. We could call it project pantsuit.

KEILAR: Perhaps, most telling of all in Clinton's Twitter bio, TBD -- immediately interpreted as a sign she'll launch another run for the White House.

"Happy to welcome our 45th president to Twitter," one of her supporters tweeted.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

KEILAR: Clinton has kept a low profile since leaving office in February, though, she's remained in the headlines connected to the Obama administration's handling of the September attack in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed, including a U.S. ambassador.

Clinton's poll numbers have slipped slightly in recent weeks, but she still remains a popular figure. And while she hasn't said publicly she'll run in 2016 --

CROWD (chanting): Hillary! Hillary!

KEILAR: -- her allies are getting ready in case she does.

HILARY ROSEN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: There are groups who are getting ready. Whether or not she's ready, there are other people ready for Hillary. They want to be sure that if she makes a decision to run, that there is support right off the bat.

KEILAR: Bill Clinton responded to his wife from his Twitter account asking, "Does Twitter have a family share plan?" Daughter Chelsea Clinton said simply, "Welcome, mom." President Obama also welcomed his former rival.

Judging by Hillary Clinton's first tweet, there will be many more.