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Obama Headed for G8 Summit; More on NSA's Surveillance Programs
Aired June 16, 2013 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM. A look at the top stories at this hour.
A diamond studded NFL Super Bowl ring is on display inside the Kremlin in Moscow but how did it get there? The previous owner says it was stolen and you won't believe who he says took it. A live report straight ahead.
On this Father's Day, one woman's relentless search for the man who killed her dad, it took 26 years but she did it. We'll explain how.
Topping our news, tomorrow President Barack Obama and seven other leaders are meeting in Northern Ireland for the G8 summit. Protesters are already there. Some of them dressed up as heads of state. Many want the leaders to address global poverty. President Obama hosted the group last year at Camp David in Maryland. High on his agenda this yea, what to do about the civil war in Syria.
Syria's embattled leadership is a bit more isolated today. Egypt, once seen as a go-between, has severed all diplomatic ties. Meanwhile one congressional leader said he approves of the Obama administration's proposal to arm some of the Syrian rebels.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), CHAIRMAN SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS CMTE.: The reality is we need to tip the scales, not simply to nudge them. And the president's moving in the right direction. And to a large degree, this is about whether or not we exert American leadership with our allies abroad both in the gulf region and in Europe, a lot of what we might want to see done can be done through our allies if we direct them and tell them this is where we want to head.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And for more on Egypt's decision to pull away from Syria, here now is CNN's Frederik Pleitgen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It's another blow to the Syrian government, now that the Egyptians have said they are severing ties with Damascus and they are forcing Syria to close its embassy in Cairo. The Egyptians were always seen as something like a possible mediator between the Iranian interests and the interest of the rebels in the Syrian conflict but now, of course, all of that seems to have gone away.
The mood here in Damascus is still one of defiance. Pro-government supporters that we have been speaking to say that they are still standing by the government. That if America wants to get involved in this war, let them come. But nevertheless, of course, they're very concerned and the government itself is concerned as well about the possible scale and scope of American intervention and they're waiting to see what moves the U.S. tanks next.
Now, one of the things that is bolstering the government here in Damascus is the fact that the Russians continue to say they're not convinced by the evidence of possible chemical weapons use on the battlefield and the Russians said that any sort of weapons deliveries to the rebels would make a peace process very difficult.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Damascus.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: In this country, flash floods washed cars right off the road and put drivers in a really dangerous situation in Missouri. Up to 10 inches of rain fell in just two hours around Springfield yesterday according to our affiliate, KLOR. That was enough to turn roads into rivers in the blink of an eye. Rescue crews say they were busy nonstop with calls to help drivers who got stuck in those floods.
It is gay pride month here in the U.S. and today for the first time in the history of Baltimore's annual pride festival a mass wedding of same-sex couples taking place. The mayor is officiating. Same-sex marriage became legal in Maryland in January.
And get ready for a new way of waking up in the morning. Tomorrow, the debut of CNN's morning show "New Day" with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira. "New Day" starts Monday morning at 6:00 Eastern time.
All right. He could be hiding in plain sight. But will the guy who leaked details of government spying be able to stay a step ahead of investigators?
Plus, a toddler gets a bill for $21,000. Identity thieves strike again. Their latest target? Your children.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. This week, we expect to hear more about the national security's agencies surveillance programs. The NSA leaks have left a lot of unanswered questions, including whether the data collecting programs actually help thwart any terrorist plots. Our Athena Jones live now from Washington. So Athena, what are lawmakers saying today about these surveillance programs?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Fredericka. Well, there are a lot of ideas and positions on both sides, whether it's lawmakers or former administration officials, from previous administrations. There's a lot of questions about just what kinds of plots this information, these surveillance programs have helped to thwart and that kind of information should begin to be rolled out in more detail, at least a little bit more detail this week.
I had a chance to speak with the former NSA director General Michael Hayden, who was also a former director of the CIA, I should mention. He spoke with me about how about he wishes that these surveillance programs had not become public but now they're public, it gives us a chance to talk about them. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. MICHAEL HAYDEN, FMR. NSA/CIA DIRECTOR: On balance, I'm sorry we have to do this but now that it's out it's an opportunity to explain to the American people why this is done, broadly, how effective it's been and to raise their comfort level that this is being done in a way that is very sensitive to their privacy under the civil liberty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: And so there you have the position from General Hayden who was NSA director during the Bush administration when these surveillance programs began. I can tell you that in the declassified document we received over the weekend that was given to congressional sources from the intelligence community they give an example of one plot that was thwarted with the help of the surveillance program and that's the plot to bomb the New York City subway system by (INAUDIBLE) who government officials were able to track using these programs but not everyone agrees with the way this is done. Let's listen to what Colorado Senator Mark Udall had to say about this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MARK UDALL (D), COLORADO: I don't think collecting millions and millions of Americans' phone calls - now, this is the metadata. This is time, place, to whom you direct the calls, is making us any safer and I think it's ultimately perhaps a violation of the fourth amendment. I think we ought to have this debate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: And so there you heard Senator Udall say we ought to have this debate. This is a debate that's certainly going to be continuing and not just in the coming days but in the coming weeks and months. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Athena Jones, thanks so much from the White House.
JONES: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: Appreciate that.
All right. The man at the center of the NSA leaks is still hiding. Edward Snowden is believed to be somewhere in Hong Kong. But will authorities be able to track him down just like they do in the Hollywood movies? Here's Ian Lee.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters. Someone leaks a big secret and then goes in to hiding. Edward Snowden may not be changing his appearances like Harrison Ford in the "Fugitive" or assuming new identities like Matt Damon in "The Bourne Series" but he is laying low.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we don't take care of this, we'll both burn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's trained. Condition. Built to disappear.
LEE: So how hard can it be? In this digital age.
JULIA WING, DIRECTOR OF SPYMASTER: It's not impossible to track someone without them knowing, without them carrying something on them or obviously if they're in a vehicle it would be quite easy to position one of the trackers under the vehicle without their knowledge. But otherwise, of course, we all by our phones we can be tracked.
LEE: The former National Security Agency contractor is trying to beat the odds. He's in hiding since exposing controversial NSA surveillance programs but staying hidden grows harder as technology advances and the world of tracking, hiding has its challenges.
(on camera): If you're on the run and you're afraid that someone is tracking you, this is a useful piece to have. What it does is it tells you that there's any bugs or tracking devices on you and more importantly it tells you where they're located.
(voice-over): Gadgets aside, you'll need to be mentally tough. On the run is no easy task. As Evan Ratcliff who conducted and experiment on vanishing explains.
EVAN RATCLIFF, EDITOR "AT ATAVIST": I think the effect that it would have on someone's psyche depends on how long - it's a time based situation so, you know, he has left behind basically everyone he knows. He's gone to a foreign place where he may or may not know anyone and doesn't have a great desire to make contact with people and completely isolated.
LEE: Espionage movies usually end with that classic showdown. If the authorities are looking for Snowden, is it only a matter of time before they find him?
Ian Lee, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And when New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft visited Russia back in 2005, he came home without one of his most prized possessions. A NFL Super Bowl ring. The $25,000 ring with 124 diamonds is now on display inside the Kremlin. But Kraft says he never intended to let Russia have it. CNN's Alina Cho explains what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the theft heard around the world. Or was it? The real story's still a mystery. Did Russian President Vladimir Putin steal a Super Bowl ring from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft? Kraft says, yes.
ROBERT KRAFT, OWNER, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: I'm tremendously humbled by this great honor.
CHO: This is Kraft at an event in New York last week accepting the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence and bringing up the story which first surfaced in 2005. That's when Kraft met with Putin in St. Petersburg. Kraft says he showed Putin his shiny new $25,000 diamond encrusted Super Bowl ring engraved with his name on it when Putin said, according to Kraft at the gala, "He goes, I can kill someone with this ring. I put my hand out and he put it in his pocket and three KGB guys got around him and walked out."
So Putin swiped it? Not according to one aide who says he was a witness. In a statement to CNN, Putin's spokesman said, "I was there when it happened. So what Mr. Kraft is saying now is weird. I was standing 20 centimeters away from him and Mr. Putin and saw and heard how Mr. Kraft gave this ring as a gift."
According to "The New York Post," which first broke the story, Kraft said that White House officials actually urged him to say it was a gift in the interest of U.S.-soviet relations and in a statement back then Kraft said the same. A spokesman for the Kraft Group now adds, "It's a humorous anecdotal story that Robert retells for laughs. He loves that his ring is at the Kremlin and as he stated back in 2005, he continues to have great respect for Russia and the leadership of President Putin." Which still doesn't answer the lingering question of whether the ring was a gift or a lift.
2005 was the Bush administration and on Sunday we caught up with former vice president Dick Cheney.
DICK CHENEY, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: I don't know anything about it. I heard a brief blurb on it this morning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: That's right. Cheney didn't know anything about it. Now as for the ring, it is currently on display at the Kremlin Library. And Fredericka, while Kraft continues to dodge the question of which version of his story is true, whether the ring was a gift or did Putin take it, Putin actually held a news conference today with the UK Prime Minister David Cameron and you may have seen it. He answered many, many questions about Syria, but I don't think there was a single question about this Super Bowl ring. So the mystery continues.
WHITFIELD: You know, I listened to that presser moment and I didn't hear any questions about that ring. CHO: You're waiting for it.
WHITFIELD: Yes, waiting for it. So it's interesting. So the Kraft group does say that "Robert Kraft loves that the ring is at the Kremlin." That's their latest statement. That said, if he's not going to pursue trying to get his ring back?
CHO: No. I mean, apparently not. According to this latest statement, he likes that it's at the Kremlin. Again, you know, just to be clear, the statement which was about a paragraph long did not address that big question of whether it was taken or whether it was a gift. So that mystery continues.
WHITFIELD: I like the way you put it. A gift or a lift.
CHO: That's right.
WHITFIELD: Very clever. All right. Thank you, Alina. Maybe he can get a duplicate, you know.
CHO: Oh, right. He owns it. He owns the team. He can probably get one.
WHITFIELD: Probably. All right. Thanks so much, Alina. Appreciate that.
All right. President Barack Obama says arm the Syrian rebels but will Congress and Americans go along with that strategy? CNN's Candy Crowley is here next.
Plus, fans and other drivers are remembering NASCAR driver Jason Leffler today. I'll share the experience I had with him.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. To the U.S. Open in Pennsylvania now where all eyes are on Phil Mickelson who was the leader after three rounds. Shane O'Donoghue joins me now from the course. So Shane, not only is it Father's Day but it's also Mickelson's birthday? Wow, what a treat this would be if it all came together for him.
SHANE O'DONOGHUE, CNN SPORTS: Well, if it all comes together, it will be absolutely special. And it will be essentially the triple crown for him having won three Masters. He's also won a U.S. PGA and this would be something really special for him to get that U.S. Open. He's been a runner-up five times, Fredericka.
So this means a whole lot to him. He has had a little stumble on the third hole, a double bogey there. But as a fan of Phil and knowing how much experience he has and how calm he feels certainly with the challenge ahead, there are plenty of holes to go. This is by far from over so, you know, he's right in there. But this is a tough test.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Because the tee off just happened a little over an hour ago, right? Anything could happen. That's the way it is for golf. Meantime, somebody else that folks love to watch on the green there is Tiger Woods. However, it's been a little bit of a tough tournament. Funny how he talk about him whether he is doing well or whether he is doing poorly.
O'DONOGHUE: Yes. Well, Tiger generates news headlines no matter. And, you know, he is the greatest golfer of his generation but he has not won a major title major since this U.S. Open five years ago so the famine continues for Tiger. A very disappointing 74 today, so four over on the day. 13 over par in total. That's not what he was looking for. He was in contention after two rounds but a very bad second half over the weekend so he has to regroup and he's got to target the British Open next month and perhaps the U.S. PGA in August.
WHITFIELD: All right. Shane O'Donoghue, keep us posted. Thanks so much.
This week, all the world will be watching what President Obama does about Syria. The administration says President Bashar Al Assad's regime has used chemical weapons on its own people. Even Egypt now is cutting diplomatic ties with Syria.
Anchor of "State of the Union" Candy Crowley is here. So Candy, the president says Syria has crossed the red line and he is now willing to arm the rebels. This on the eve of his visit to the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland. So Candy, how will the administration try to appeal to both world leaders and members of Congress here at home?
CANDY CROWLEY, "STATE OF THE UNION" ANCHOR: The basic argument really is that a Syria in turmoil as it has been for two years is a danger to the region and the region is already a powder keg that the fighting could spill over in to other countries around it. So that's sort of the international appeal. There's also obviously the use of chemical weapons. Other countries coming to the conclusion that Syria had used chemical weapons.
The president was kind of late to the table saying "I want a little more proof." So the international pitch is that with the Senate and Congress, he does not need approval but it certainly helps if folks are behind you and there's sort of split into two camps. There is the camp that says do not get involved in this. That looks at Syria and thinks that there is the potential for some long-running U.S. involvement. Not troops but money and armaments and et cetera, that it's too much of a quagmire and others that say, "Listen, just arming these rebels is not going to be enough. That Bashar Al Assad has the advantage on the field." So the U.S. has to do more.
One of those on the has to do more side as we all know is Senator John McCain, but another is a democrat, he is head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Robert Menendez. I spoke with him today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: The reality is we need to tip the scales, not simply to nudge them. The president is moving in the right direction and to a large degree this is about whether or not we exert American leadership with our allies abroad, both in the gulf region and in Europe. A lot of what we might want to see done can be done through our allies if we direct them and tell them this is where we want to head. If Assad continues to have unlimited air power and artillery, that's a hard battle to win against simple arms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So Candy, you mentioned there are two camps. Does it appear a greater lean in one direction or another?
CROWLEY: It's hard to tell. I will say that it doesn't split easily along party lines. We have seen op-eds on both sides and we have heard talk about it. Remembering that this just happened. I think in the end, the loudest voices are the ones pushing for more saying you need to take out the airstrips. We need to ground Assad's air force. So the loudest voices are for more than the president has been willing to do up this point.
WHITFIELD: All right. Host of "State of the Union," Candy Crowley, thanks so much.
CROWLEY: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: Identity thieves are always ready to target new victims but now they're going after your kids and it may be up to you to find out.
And words of wisdom for the class of 2013. We are sharing the best commencement speeches.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Checking top stories now, more protests in Turkey today. Police clashed with demonstrators in a funeral procession in the capital of Ankra. Authorities used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Meanwhile, thousands cheered on the Turkish prime minister at a rally in Istanbul. It was held near the square where protesters had gathered earlier.
Arming Syrian rebels will likely be a hot topic when President Obama meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow. Russia provides weapons to the Syrian military battling the rebels. President Putin questioned a U.S. proposal to arm the rebels saying their alleged atrocities do not match humanitarian values. The Obama administration says it might arm some rebels in retaliation for Syrian forces allegedly using chemical weapons.
Tomorrow, President Obama and other world leaders gather for the G8 summit. Last year they met at Camp David in Maryland. This time, Northern Ireland is playing host. Hot topics includes the global economic crisis, security and of course, there will be questions about America's NSA surveillance program.
Identity thieves are always ready to target new victims but now they're going after your kids and it may be up to you to find out. Donna Trechrialt (ph) has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DONNA TRECHRIALT (ph), CORRESPONDENT: In the past couple of years according to a credit report, Julie Martinez bought a 2011 Toyota Camry and some new furniture. Reasonable purchases unless you're a toddler. Julie's only three years old and didn't actually buy anything. A woman stole Julie's identity and then took out loans in her name for those big ticket items.
ANA MARTINEZ, JULIE'S MOM: I was just mad, angry, confused. Just because - you can't really think about an infant. You can pretty much say a toddler, you know, having their social security stolen.
DONNA: Have you ever thought about checking your child's credit report? That's how Julie's parents, Esteban and Ana Martinez learned about the crime.
ESTEBAN MARTINEZ, JULIE'S DAD: Well, initially we were told someone had financed a vehicle for about 21,000 and then we got wind of another account.
ANA MARTINEZ: I think it's around like $10,000 from what I remember. That's already $30,000.
DONNA: The craziest thing about the Martinez case, they know the name and the address of the thief. But police say they don't have the time or the resources to pursue the case or other identity thefts.
ANA MARTINEZ: Who says that? She already used my daughter's social security. Who says she's not going to somebody else's?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And that was Donna Treichat (ph) reporting, to protect your child, you can go to three major credit rating agencies, Equifax, Esperian, and Transunion to find out more.
All right. The 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are tonight honoring the best in soaps, talk shows and children's entertainment. One of the host is A.J. Hammer, "Showbiz Tonight" anchor at our sister network, HLN. So A.J., what's happening?
A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" ANCHOR: Fred, HLN is so excited to be bringing you the 40th Daytime Emmy Awards which will be seen live on HLN this Sunday night at 8:00 Eastern. I'm hosting the show along with HLN's Robin Meade and "Good Morning American" Sam Champion and of course will are going to be celebrating daytime TV's biggest stars and its most entertaining shows. You know they make us laugh, they bring us to tears and sometimes they even scare us a little. And this year more than ever daytime TV is setting the stage for the best showdowns the Emmys have ever seen. Here's your proof.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): Just try to take me down but you can't.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: As if there weren't intense rivalries on soaps.
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): Hey. I'm having sex with your man. You would be like, me too.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: As if there weren't enough outrageous moments on talk shows. This year's 40th annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be stacked with big moments. And this year, get ready for the most unique daytime Emmy show. We are calling it the greatest talk show ever and that's because for the first time the winners will go up on stage, they will accept the award and immediately sit down for their very first interview with me, Sam Champion and some of the biggest names in daytime talk.
Kathy Griffin, Rachael Ray, Wayne Brady, and Steve Harvey are among the presenters.
As for the nominee's.
TOM O'NEILL, GOLDDERBY.COM: there's a lot of drama looming over the daytime Emmys this year in the soap categories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): I'm falling in love with you all over again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: There's plenty of love to go around in the best drama series category.
O'NEILL: We have so few soaps on broadcast TV now that they all were nominated.
HAMMER: "The Bold and the Beautiful," "The Young and the Restless," "General Hospital" and "Days of our Lives" will go up against "One Life to Live" which left broadcast TV last year and now airs online. Could it be the sentimental favorite?
O'NEILL: It's the one that just said farewell to broadcast TV and final going to get a farewell hug.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): You will go after my boy won't you?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Biggest acting race is probably in the best actress category.
Four time Emmy winner Heather Tom plays Kate Logan on "The Bold and The Beautiful" is nominated for best actress which she won last year.
O'NEILL: This year, HLNTV.com created a special section in their daytime Emmy coverage where you can go to see the episodes submitted by Heather Tom and the race for lead actress. HAMMER: Her chief competition is former co-star and another four time Emmy winner, Susan Flannery that tugged at heart strings in her good- bye episode as Stephanie Forester.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN FLANNERY, ACTRESS: I love you all.
HAMMER: In the talk show entertainment category, "Live with Regis and Kelly" won last year. Regis is now gone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Here are Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And the newly christened "Live with Kelly and Michael" is nominated. Can it hold off the "Ellen DeGeneres Show," "The Talk" and "The View?" To put Kelly Ripa back in the winner's circle with her new host?
O'NEILL: Now it is up to Michael to prove whether he can fill those Regis shoes.
HAMMER: So as we honor the best in daytime drama, you can expect plenty of drama at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
We're going to have a full evening of Daytime Emmy Awards coverage for you Sunday on HLN. It all gets underway with our live red carpet special airing at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and then it is on to the big award ceremony which starts at 8:00.
Fred.
WHITFIELD: Oh yes. That sounds fun. Thanks so much, A.J. And of course you can watch the "Daytime Emmy Awards" on HLN starting tonight 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time with special coverage from the red carpet, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
All right. A daughter refuses to give up the fight to find her father's killer and police say what she did to hunt him down made all of the difference.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Considered one of the most versatile race car drivers on the track, Jason Leffler made a mark. Sadly, his love for the dirt track also led to his demise four days ago. The 37 year old driver died in New Jersey at a sprint car race and today he is being honored at a sprint cup race in Michigan by fellow NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. Hamlin changed the color of his number 11 Toyota to majority white. That's the color Leffler used when he drove that car during the Sprint Cup Series back in 2005.
I can tell you Leffler was a real gentleman on and off the track. He was generous with his time. Two years ago at the Charlotte Motor Speedway where he not only took me for my first spin around the oval but revealed his deep love for driving.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD (voice over): Jason Leffler considered this a privilege. Getting behind the wheel of a race car. Taking it to top speed at open wheel divisions and all NASCAR series. But his career started and tragically the end would be on dirt. That was Wednesday night in New Jersey at the Bridgeport Speedway. Leffler in second place in the first heat away from other vehicles when his car hit the wall. Leffler trapped, extricated from the mangled metal, it was too late.
This Sprint Car Race considered the minor league of racing but Leffler was no stranger to high profile events like Indy 500 and Daytona his passing, a terrible loss to his fans, family and the sport.
OK, you know I'm a complete novice. Long considered one of the most versatile drivers behind the wheel and I found to be one of the nicest. How fast we going? Two years ago I had the time of my life meeting Jason Leffler. I didn't get behind the wheel but better than that, I climbed in to the passenger's seat and from that point on, couldn't stop smiling. At least 180 miles per hour, for Leffler, just another spin. For me, too thrilling. I want to be a race car driver!
JASON LEFFLER, RACE CARE DRIVER: That was just a warm-up.
WHITFIELD: At the time, it was clear. He was excited about the sport.
LEFFLER: Like I always say, beats working for a living.
WHITFIELD: His career and possibly inspiring his now 5-year-old son Charlie.
LEFFLER: Short of my son Charlie, it's the most -- you know, it's the biggest passion of my life.
WHITFIELD: Do you see Charlie getting behind the wheel at 4, 5 or 6 when a lot of young racers now are starting out that early?
LEFFLER: Yes. If he wants to. You know? We are going to -- I'm sure we'll present it to him. He comes from a racing family, not obviously just me but his grandfather and uncles and they all race so he's surrounded by it. So if he wants to do it, we'll put him in there. If he doesn't, he's free to do whatever he wants.
WHITFIELD: So Jason, for you, you started at 12. You're the California boy here. Where did this spark of race car driving come from?
LEFFLER: It came at an early age. There's a local dirt track in southern California called Ascot Speedway which is really famous for the time and go there every Saturday night with my dad and to watch the Sprint Car Race and from that moment on from the very first time I went I was in to racing, all types of racing. Watch NASCAR on TV, sprint cars, anything I can get my hands on. WHITFIELD: Do you think your family knew, huh oh, he is bitten by the bug? He is going to want to do this.
LEFFLER: My dad knew. He delayed -- he got me a dirt bike and some other things. I think he knew would be cheaper in the long run before he bought me a quarter midget and finally just gave in and it just took off from there.
WHITFIELD: He caved.
LEFFLER: He caved in. He enjoyed it.
WHITFIELD: For more than 20 years behind the wheel, ten of it professionally so did Jason Leffler. He shared with me his three keys to greatness.
LEFFLER: Passion, number one. I think you have to have a passion for it. Opportunity. Whether that means, you know, the opportunity your parents provided for you, opportunities you got down the road. Third one, I don't know. You can't be fearful. You got to be brave.
WHITFIELD: Jason Leffler, brave and passionate and now sorely missed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And a trust fund has been set up for Leffler's son Charlie. Leffler's funeral is set for Wednesday in Cornelius, North Carolina just outside of Charlotte.
And moments ago I mentioned the tribute Denny Hamlin is paying to Jason Leffler and that's not all that he's doing. Hamlin is also helping to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DENNY HAMLIN, NASCAR DRIVER: Hi, I'm Denny Hamlin and we can make an impact on finding the cure for cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a respiratory disease that affects the breathing. The lungs don't function the way that they should and eventually you will need a lung transplant.
My first experience with someone with cystic fibrosis was my cousin. I never understand why he had to take so much medicine every single day until I got a little bit older that I realized that he had a disease that there was no cure for. We started the foundation doing different events and we started the Short Track Showdown a couple years after that. And really just growing the foundation over the last few years and contributed to cystic fibrosis as well as a lot of children's hospitals in the Richmond area.
We hope that, you know, CF is something that people will recognize cystic fibrosis but eventually we hope CF means cure found. Join the movement. "Impact your World" at CNN.com/impact.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And a daughter refuses to give up. And because of her determination, her father's killer is now behind bars. Her story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Get ready for a new way of waking up in the morning. Tomorrow the debut of CNN's morning shows "New Day." With Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira. "New Day" starting tomorrow morning 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Don't miss it.
When Jose Martinez was killed outside his restaurant back in 1986, police closed the case after just two years without a conviction. That was not enough for his daughter. She turned to the internet to track down the man who took her father from her. CNN's Poppy Harlow asked her how she did it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOCELYN MARTINEZ, JOSE MARTINEZ'S DAUGHTER: This was his last birthday.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's like a dream for Jocelyn Martinez. What is your greatest memory of your father?
MARTINEZ: Those parties we had the restaurant.
HARLOW: After 26 years, her father's alleged killer arrested. His capture thanks in large part to her.
MARTINEZ: My family said don't forget that name.
HARLOW: Jocelyn was just 9 when her father was murdered in 1986. Jose Martinez was shot and killed outside the New York City restaurant he and his wife owned but the suspect Justo Santos fled to the Dominican Republic. The NYPD says the murder case was closed in 1988 after receiving information that Santos was jailed in the Dominican Republic. What the NYPD didn't know was that just a year later, Santos was released.
RAY KELLY, NYC POLICE COMMISSIONER: They should not have closed the case. Should have been looked at to see if there's additional information as to whether or not he was out of jail.
HARLOW: In 2006, Jocelyn started hunting online for her father's alleged killer. Delving in to websites like Background.com. What did you find? How did you find--
MARTINEZ: I didn't know I had so much stuff. I really didn't.
HARLOW: But after years of searching --
MARTINEZ: I'm like I think have something. Let me look. I said, oh my God. But this -- I had the person in the background check right at the top.
HARLOW: She took what she found here to the 34th Precinct in November.
MARTINEZ: Because November is the anniversary of my father's death and I get upset.
HARLOW: Police say it's only because of her efforts they were able to capture Santos.
KELLY: It's admirable. What she did, obviously, she made a concerted effort and it paid off.
IDALIA MARTINEZ, JOSELYN'S MOTHER: I don't believe it. My daughter has accomplished this.
HARLOW: A police source tells CNN after Santos was arrested in Miami Thursday, he confessed to murdering Jose Martinez.
MARTINEZ: It's in trying. All I wanted was to figure out what happened.
HARLOW: What do you think your dad would say?
MARTINEZ: You know, I think he would just hug me and just smile. He would smile a lot.
HARLOW: Santos, the suspect is expected to be arraigned here in New York sometime this week, he will likely face second-degree murder charges. As for Jocelyn and why she started to look for her father's killer back in 2006, she told me, first of all, she always felt uneasy about the fact that her father's killer was never in prison in the United States. Also, she read a book she told me called "Coach Yourself to Success" and it is that that really motivated her.
Fredericka.
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WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Poppy Harlow.
President Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Stephen Colbert, are just a few of big names offering advice to the class of 2013. We'll share their words.
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WHITFIELD: A new generation of college graduates is ready to take on the world full of ideas and dreams. The proud 2013 graduates got a healthy dose of inspiration from some big-name speakers. Who might light a fire in you too.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Strong men.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): That will have to sing.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): The president asked me.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Today by the name of Muley (ph) --
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): The UVA is so great.
OPRAH WINFREY: To speak to Harvard graduates.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Will go to the moon before the decade is out.
MITT ROMNEY, (R) FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now, to the parents, the years of investment and prayers have added to this joyful achievement and you're about to enjoy the new American dream. The new American dream is not owning your own home. The new American dream is getting the kids out of the home you own.
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE COLBERT SHOW:" And you know this is an impressive institution because it rejected my application. Yes. In the spring of 1984, I applied as a transfer student, and at the time, you could send your essay in after the rest of the application. Well apparently the admissions board took issue with the content of my essay which was none because I never sent it.
WINFREY: Learn from every mistake. Because every experience, encounter and particularly your mistakes are there to teach you and force you in to being more of who you are.
JULIE ANDREWS, ACTRESS: It is just part of life. The trick is to recognize it and then press on anyway. The real trick, however, is to stop focusing on yourselves and start focusing on others.
OBAMA: You're graduating in to an improving job market. You're living in a time when advances in technology and communication put the world at your fingertips. Your generation is uniquely poised for success unlike any generation of African-Americans that came before it.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every graduating class faces unique challenges. Every class enters a history that up to this point is written for you. But few, few enter at a point where they genuinely have a chance to write a new chapter, to bend history just a little bit. I would suggest to your class has that chance.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON: So the diploma is really not a ticket to show off what you know. You know what it really is? Its permission to admit to yourself how much you still have yet to learn. And you know what's still left to learn? All the things that come together when great things happen in a nation. When great things happen in a world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: We're all inspired. Congratulations to the class of 2013.
A cancer charity accused of keeping most of the money it raises after a CNN investigation. The guy in charge of the charity is now talking. You'll hear from him and see our exclusive report. That and our top stories straight ahead.
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