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New Day

Outrage Over Verdict; Train Disaster: Death Toll At 35; Asiana Airlines Prank; Dog On A Ledge; Zimmerman's Brother Speaks To NEW DAY; "Glee" Star Found Dead; Royal Baby Watch

Aired July 15, 2013 - 07:30   ET

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

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CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. It's just a little after 7:30 here on NEW DAY, Monday, July 15th. I'm Chris Cuomo.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. We're joined by news anchor, Michaela Pereira. Coming up in this half hour, we're going to hear what George Zimmerman's brother, Robert, has to say about the not guilty verdict that set his brother free. You don't want to miss that.

CUOMO: And the royal baby watch continues in England, a little prince or princess due any day now. We're going to bring you the latest from London, but first, let's get to a lot of the news we have this morning, Michaela Pereira has that.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: We'll talk more about those protests that are happening. Protesters frustrated with the outcome of the George Zimmerman trial take to the streets of cities nationwide, calling for justice for Trayvon Martin. In New York, what started out as a peaceful march turned violent when police arrested several demonstrators for stopping traffic. In Los Angeles, police shot demonstrators with bean bag guns after they had rocks and batteries thrown at them. Meanwhile, thousands rallied in San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Baltimore, and Detroit.

To the runaway train disaster in Canada now, where the death toll stands at 35. Two more bodies were recovered, 15 people are still missing and presumed dead. The crash and inferno levelled dozens of buildings, but crews carefully had to demolish two, because they were deemed unstable. They say there's a chance remains maybe found at those locations.

Asiana Airlines is filing a defamation suit against a California TV station. The airline says a tasteless prank that went viral has damaged its reputation. KTUV has since apologized for a report that used several phoney and racially offensive names for the four pilots aboard that flight that crashed in San Francisco, killing three people. The NTSB says a former intern erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew. The airline does not plan to sue the NTSB.

The IRS scandal growing more partisan by the day, a seventh congressional hearing begins this week with a focus on the IRS's inspector general and his finding that the agency target Tea Party groups. Democrats argue the audit was misleading and failed to emphasize that liberal groups are also targeted and the Republicans are demanding to know whether the Tea Party targeting was orchestrated by the Obama administration.

All right, you've heard the saying, cat on a hot tin roof, how about a dog on a six-inch window ledge. There's a chow, managed to climb out on a second-story apartment, couldn't quite figure out how to get back inside because of one of those child window guards. A Brooklyn firefighter used treats and a bowl of water and a bucket to try and get it to trust him and then finally was able to lower the dog to safety. Chows can sometimes be a little testy, but this one was probably thinking, brother, you're my only chance, get me out of here. I'm with you. I will follow you wherever you want me to go.

BOLDUAN: Look at the face of that puppy. That's a really adorable doggy.

CUOMO: All right, we're going to turn back now to our coverage of the George Zimmerman trial. We're trying to get as many different perspectives as possible. One of those will be George Zimmerman's brother, Robert. He says it will be a very long time before his brother's life returns to normal, if it ever does. He also says while Trayvon Martin was the victim in the case, he caused his own death. Kate and I spoke with him about the trial and the impact on his brother.

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CUOMO: When's the last time you had a chance to speak with your brother and get a sense of where his head is now?

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CUOMO: When is the last time you had a chance to speak with your brother and get a sense of where his head is now?

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S BROTHER: We heard from George last night. He is adjusting. That's really the best way I can put it. I think he's been caged in. He's had these constraints with GPS and having to show up to court every day and having this weighing on him. Freedom is kind of a new concept to him all over again, as bizarre as it sounds, he really is free to move about this country and do whatever he pleases for the first time in a long time.

CUOMO: Any idea of plan for him now?

ZIMMERMAN: No. I as his brother would like to see him heal, re- center himself. Take some time to rest and relax. The stress has been incredible on him, on our family. I think it's important that he take some time for himself. He's been through a lot. I can't foresee any plans or meaningful engagement he'd have with society for a while because of the threats that are still going around and continue to.

BOLDUAN: But now there are threats of new charges, possibly. The president of the NAACP was just on with our colleague, Candy Crowley, talking about how civil rights leaders like himself, Ben Jealous and others, are pushing for the Justice Department to file and bring civil rights charges against your brother. And even the Florida state attorney kind of talked about that last night after the verdict. What do you say to them?

ZIMMERMAN: I think that I would encourage Mr. Jealous, who I describe as a self-professed civil rights leader. I don't think he does anything for civil rights by perpetuating a narrative that has now been proven false and calling for an arrest and then a conviction. And it didn't happen. So now there's more agitation by the same players that were insisting that George was a murderer and a racist to begin with.

BOLDUAN: But the Justice Department is gathering information. I mean, the Justice Department is not directly responding to the NAACP's request, but it has -- it is gathering information and there is an investigation.

ZIMMERMAN: Right. And we welcomed actually that investigation through the FBI when they originally started investigating George. They've investigated I think about three dozen of his closest friends and acquaintances and there is not any inkling of racism. In fact, there's evidence to show the opposite. So I would encourage them to cool their jets, give everyone some time to kind of process what's going on. Agitation doesn't help us. It doesn't do anybody any good right now.

CUOMO: From your brother's perspective, you know where his head is on these things. Do you believe that he looks at things he did that night and says I wish I hadn't, I regret having around in the chamber or following him when I was told it wasn't necessary or starting something or continuing something? What does he regret?

ZIMMERMAN: I'll tell you what. I'll tell you that when this happened George wasn't the same. He was profoundly saddened. He was completely a sombre person that was just not himself. Regret is a very strong word. "Regret" implies that your actions, you have culpability in what you did for what happened. And I think that's what you're asking, is does he share or accept the blame. I think that George, outside of the word "blame," feels and has felt, and I've expressed this before, very bad.

CUOMO: Did you ever hear him say "I wish I didn't do it" that night?

ZIMMERMAN: No. In fact, I've heard him say the opposite.

BOLDUAN: What do you mean?

ZIMMERMAN: He had that interview with Sean Hannity and that was presented in court as well. And I don't think that people who are forthcoming and forthright in what they do and believe they're doing the right thing should then go back -- that's the way we were always taught as children, if you do the right thing all the time or what you believe to be right, you don't have to go back and make amends for that and say it should have been this way. If it should have been that way now and you can think of it in hindsight, then it should have been that way then. CUOMO: We're going to take a quick break here and come back with Robert Zimmerman. A lot to talk about his brother's feelings about that night and the reaction to the verdict. Stay with us.

BOLDUAN: Will George carry a gun now?

ZIMMERMAN: I don't know. You know, I heard from Piers Morgan last night that his gun was returned him or at least he's eligible to have it returned to him. I don't know if he'll carry a gun. I think he would have more reason to now more than he did before because there are so many people who want him dead and know he's free, but at the same time he can move about a little bit more than he did before.

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BOLDUAN: When Robert Zimmerman there is talking about regret or feeling responsibility or anything about that night, I mean, Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney said, of course, he feels regret. No one ever wants to end up in this situation. I found that interesting because they were a little different on that issue.

CUOMO: I think his brother was seizing upon that word. I think there's such sensitivity regarding all the legalities that are going on here. That he wanted to make sure he had his brother's last interest at heart, but took every question he was. He was anxious and eager to answer them. And we appreciate it --

BOLDUAN: And very candid with us. It was a very good opportunity to speak with him.

All right, we got much more on this ahead, but still coming up next on NEW DAY, reaction pouring in across the country following the death of former "Glee" star, Cory Monteith. We'll talk with the senior editor of "People" magazine about that.

CUOMO: And could today be the day? We are live from London with the royal baby watch, prince, princess, laying any bets?

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CUOMO: Welcome back, everybody, and thanks for joining us here on NEW DAY. While an autopsy is expected for later today, actor, Cory Monteith, is still somewhat of a mystery in terms of what took his life. All we know at this time is that the young star of the TV series hit "Glee" was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room this weekend. And fans and co-stars are reeling from the news.

Nischelle Turner joins us now with what we know at this time. What a story, Nischell, so young.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Chris, it's sure is. Season five of "Glee" was scheduled to start shooting later this month. Now Monteith was not in the finale of Season Four, because he was in rehab at that time, but he did participate in the promotional shoots for the upcoming season with the rest of the cast in late June. Now less than a month later, we're asking, what happened?

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TURNER (voice-over): Cory Monteith entered millions as the singing football player, Finn Hudson, in "Glee." Sadly, that voice was silenced Sunday. The 31-year-old actor was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room.

LISA LAPOINTE, BRITISH COLUMBIA CHIEF CORONER: The cause of death was not apparent on initial examination and further examination and tests will take place to determine cause of death.

TURNER: As Canadian authorities investigate what killed him, the shocking news of his death hit friends and colleagues hard. His on- again, off-again girlfriend, and "Glee" co-star, Lea Michelle is grieving privately. In a statement, her rep asked, quote, "That everyone kindly respect Lea's privacy during this devastating time." Unlike his clean-cut alter ego, Finn Hudson, Monteith had a troubled youth. He described himself as an out of control drug and alcohol abusing teen who was skipping school to drink and smoke pot by the age of 13.

CORY MONTEITH: For me, it wasn't so much about the substances, per se. It was more about, about not fitting in. Just a lack of not really having a self-image at the time, which is, that's like typical teenager stuff.

TURNER: Despite his success in "Glee," Monteith continued to battle his substance abuse demons. Earlier this year, he checked himself into rehab. His friend, "Glee" Director Adam Shankman, spoke to Monteith hours before he was found dead.

ADAM SHANKMAN, FRIEND OF CORY MONTEITH (via telephone): I had several interactions with him yesterday, where he said to me that he was feeling amazing, and even said, "I'm feeling fantastic again."

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TURNER: According to Vancouver police, Cory was out with friends the night before he died, but surveillance video at the hotel showed him returning alone in the early morning hours. And they believe he was alone when he died. Investigators have not officially tied his death to substance abuse, but they have already ruled out foul play. His autopsy is being conducted today -- Chris, Kate, back to you.

BOLDUAN: All right, Nischelle, thanks so much. A lot of those answers that we have can be answered after that autopsy, but let's talk a little bit more about the shocking news with the senior editor of "People" magazine, Michelle Tan. She is joining us right here in New York. Michelle, thanks so much for joining us. I t is such a shock to any fan of "Glee" and especially when you know how old he is, 31 years old, for this to happen, and he seemed to have everything going for him.

MICHELLE TAN, SENIOR EDITOR, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Right.

BOLDUAN: Public life and private life can be very different. What are you hearing?

TAN: Well, what's so interesting is that when he came on to the scene as Finn Hudson at "Glee," he was a clean-cut guy and we projected that image on to him. We had no idea that he had this troubled past. When the revelations happened in 2011, not only were people shocked by it, they really rallied for him and they really supported him because they wanted him to be an example for those troubled youths who had the same dark past. That there is light at the end of the tunnel, that you can change your life.

BOLDUAN: And he has been, as we saw on Nischelle's piece, very public about his battles with substance abuse and addiction. Where was he on the road of recovery? I mean, some will say, you never fully recover. You're always battling those demons, but he's talked about it. Where has he been on the road to recovery?

TAN: Well, what so sad is that he was just in rehab in March. He got out in April and he was really seeming to trying to take control of his life again, and again, like you said, he's really been public about this battle, but what we're remembering now is, you know, addiction is a disease. It's something that people struggle with. You don't know what the triggers are. We don't know exactly how he died, but this is something that he has been struggling with in the past year.

BOLDUAN: And again, we don't want to make those connections between the two. That's left for much smarter people than you and I to look into, but there will be answers soon. And many people asking now, what does this mean for the show? You heard from one of the producers in Nischelle's piece who said that he was the glue. He was the cheerleader that kept everyone together. Is there any idea, I know it's early on, but what this means for the show?

TAN: Well, right now the show and cast members are really struggling to find peace with this news. They're all very devastated. And Finn and Cory, they were the moral compass, not only of the show but of the cast. He was somebody that everybody turned to and right now they're really struggling to find the right way to not only honor him on the show, but also honor him off the show.

BOLDUAN: And one of the big story lines is that he was dating one of his co-stars, Lea Michelle. We know that she'd asked for privacy, but have we heard anything more or are we expecting to hear anything more from her?

TAN: No. You know, right now her reps said she needs privacy and time to heal as well as so many of his close family and friends. So we're going to give them that space right now, until they can work through their mourning.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Well, that's absolutely true. You can imagine the shock, if it was a shock to us, you can imagine the shock everyone to who was so close to him. Michelle Tan, great to see you. Thank you so much. I'm sorry that we have to talk about this story but we must. But appreciate you coming in.

TAN: Thank you.

CUOMO: We'll take a break here on NEW DAY. When we come back, people are getting royally anxious. Baby's coming. We'll be on baby watch across the pond. Letting you know what's happening. I don't know what that pool is about. The princess was there. That's why it was there.

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BOLDUAN: Love this song. Welcome back to NEW DAY, everyone. This is a story that Chris Cuomo can't stop talking about, the royal baby watch and London is driving everyone to distractions. Speculations running rampant whether this will be the week, this will be the day that the Duchess of Cambridge will give birth to the future king or queen of England.

Max Foster has the difficult job of fielding all of our questions, which is impossible to have many answers for at this moment. What is it looking like, Max?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, welcome to the great Kate wait, that's the Twitter hashtag developed by the journalists here over the weekend. We have as good an idea about the due date as anyone else. As you can see, it's sunny here in London. People are making the most of the situation.

We saw William yesterday playing polo about two hours from London and he looked pretty relaxed. That got rid of speculation that the due date was on the weekend, but today I got the tipoff that he is taking the next few days off work. So that got us all going, again. Weirdly, we've become the story.

If I turn the camera around a bit and show, this is the hospital where they will be based. If you look down the pavement, you can see people taking pictures of us. This has become a tourist attraction, Kate. All these tourists coming to London are coming. We've become the story in the absence of Kate.

BOLDUAN: We do love to talk about ourselves, but it is not good when we become the story. Don't be the animals, don't talk to them, talk about them. Chris said exactly what you said. He said exactly what you said. The headline should be this is one of the few sunny days in London.

FOSTER: Exactly. No rain, that's the headline.

BOLDUAN: All right, we'll be watching it and we will be on the great Kate wait with you. Thanks, Max. Great to see you.

PEREIRA: I just checked out the hashtag, it's everywhere on Twitter absolutely.

BOLDUAN: He is not an unattractive man.

CUOMO: Who also looks nothing like James Bond. That's why they're taking pictures of Max. Let's be real. BOLDUAN: Let's be real. Let's also talk about the big news coming up. Coming up next, Mark O'Mara, George Zimmerman's attorney, is going to take on the big questions about the verdict and tells us how Zimmerman feels about the killing of Trayvon Martin.

CUOMO: And we're going to tell you about some heroic teenagers who are on bikes and save a 5-year-old girl's life. It's an amazing story when we come back.

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