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Pope's Security Raised To "High Risk"; Snowden Allowed To Leave Moscow Airport; Weiner's New Sexting Scandal; Natural Gas Rig Explodes, Burns; New Home Sales Rise To Five-Year High; Attorneys Argue Over Castro Evidence; Strong Winds, Huge Hail In Kansas; Royal Baby Arrives In Kate's Hometown; Stopping The Violence In Chicago

Aired July 24, 2013 - 10:00   ET

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

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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM. The Pope in front of huge crowds right now at a mass in Brazil after security there is raised to high risk levels. Can they keep the Pope safe?

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY WEINER, MAYORAL CANDIDATE, NEW YORK CITY: there is no question what I did was wrong. This behavior is behind me. I've apologized to my wife.

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COSTELLO: A new scandal and a mayor's run this morning threatened, by his side the good wife.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUMA ABEDIN, WIFE OF ANTHONY WEINER: I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ahead, the politics and resurrection and question. Can Anthony Weiner be forgiven again?

And the royal baby wakes up in his very own crib and meets his great granny for the first time. We'll have all the details in the most over-exposed three-day-old in the world.

CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

Good morning. Thank you so much for being with me. I'm Carol Costello. We start this hour in Rio De Janeiro where Pope Francis is now -- just about to give mass. Take a look at these beautiful pictures, lots of adoring fans actually have caused some security officials to be on high alert as well.

CNN is learning part of the problem is the pope himself. Earlier the pope told his driver not to avoid the crowds and that is causing a security nightmare even here as the pope prepares to celebrate mass in Brazil.

CNN's Miguel Marquez now joins us from Rio with more on the security questions surrounding the pope.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. There are a lot of questions surrounding the security here, but the Brazilian authorities, while embarrassed by what happened on Monday, seem to be clearing them up. Federal officials say that now taking a larger hand in the pope's security while he is in the country. That risk factor has been raised from medium to high risk.

Now he has just landed in Abracida. The mass is getting under way, but a short time ago he did take the pope mobile from the helicopter stand where he landed to the basilica. You can see very, very clearly in those pictures that the pope is surrounded by a lot more security than he was previously, 12 to 15 of his own personal security guards, a lot of uniformed security along the route as well previously that we have seen and maybe we will see it again.

But there were volunteers linking hands along the routes. We understand that there has been a volunteer call-up for federal police, authorities, to come up to Rio so that the rest of this week goes smoothly and that getting the pope from point A to point B from now on will be handled by a single authority rather than several authorities.

As Monday seems to be -- the best sense we get of what happened then is that it was simply miscommunication between either individuals or authorities, federal versus local authorities that led the pope to take his car to get into the wrong lane basically and ended up in the public's eye rather than in the pope's lane that private side -- Carol.

COSTELLO: The secured side, right? All right, Miguel Marquez, I'm sure you will keep an eye on things. Thanks so much.

Let's talk about Edward Snowden now because he could soon be living in a new place for first time in several weeks. Just a few hours ago, Russian media reported the NSA leaker was given a temporary visa by the Russian government, which means Snowden will be allowed to leave the Moscow airport legally.

Just a few days ago, a Russian human rights lawyer released Snowden's handwritten application for asylum. The Russian government is still considering that request. The United States, as you know, wants Snowden returned to this country to face spying charges. Last hour, I talked to CNN's Phil Black. Phil black is outside Moscow's International Airport.

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PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): We know that one week ago, he officially applied for temporary asylum in this country, asylum that would allow him to stay here for up to one year. Since that time the lawyer who assisted him with identification has said he should any day now receive paperwork that would allow him to officially cross over that immigration line and into Russia while his application for temporary asylum is being considered.

We are now told that he has received that paperwork, those documents to give him a short-term official status into this country. What that means is that today it is likely Edward Snowden will walk from this airport out to more than four weeks on the run and more than four weeks of camping out here in this airport. We are not specifically certain what time he will leave, how he will leave, will we get to see him? We are waiting to learn that now -- Carol.

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COSTELLO: So if Russia grants Snowden temporary asylum though he would have all the rights of a Russian citizen. He would be allowed to travel outside of Russia for up to a year. We'll keep you posted.

Now a story of personal betrayal and public trust, two years after a tawdry texting scandal chased him from Congress, Anthony Weiner is begging for forgiveness again. Turns out Weiner kept sending lewd messages and photos to at least one woman even after he was forced to resign. What may be most remarkable in all of this is the vocal support he is now getting from his wife.

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HUMA ABEDIN, ANTHONY WEINER'S WIFE: It is not an easy choice in any way, but I made the decision that it was worth staying in this marriage. That was a decision I made for me, for our son, and for our family.

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COSTELLO: Two years ago, the long time aide to Hillary Clinton was mostly out of view as her husband, Anthony Weiner, fessed up. Today she's speaking out for her husband and his bid to become New York City's mayor. Some opinion makers say Weiner stepped way over the line this time. The opinion page of "The New York Daily News" says, quote, "A proven liar must not be mayor. Weiner is not fit to lead America's premier city."

"The New York Times" editorial board is equally unforgiving. Quote, "It is up to Mr. Weiner if he wants to keep running, to count on voters to forgive and forget and hand him the keys of city hall. But he has already disqualified himself."

CNN's Poppy Harlow is in New York City. Poppy, what are people saying on the street?

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. It is the talk of the town. Let me show the headlines here. "The New York Daily News," beat it. That's what they are seeing to Weiner. Also "News Day," it's all about Huma, the wife, as you said, an extraordinary moment. We'll play more of that for you in a minute, standing by her man. Then this is from "The New York Post," meet Carlos Danger. Why that name? That's reportedly the pseudonym Weiner went by online in some of these lewd messages.

I want to talk about the fact that New York City's mayoral candidate, Anthony Weiner, has admitted, we know now, to sending more sexually explicit messages online. More exchanges with women than we originally knew about. He made this announcement yesterday at that press conference after a gossip web site published some of those exchanges with one woman online.

Weiner said some of what was published was true. Some was not. He didn't get into what was rue and what wasn't. But what's key, Carol, is that he admitted that some of those were sent after his resignation from Congress in 2011. Listen.

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ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK MAYORAL CANDIDATE: I'm responsible for this behavior that led us to be in this place. But in many ways, things are not that much different than they were yesterday. This behavior that I did was problematic, to say the least, destructive, to say the most, caused many stresses and strains in my marriage. But I'm pleased and blessed that she has given me a second chance.

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HARLOW: That was remarkable, but here's something that's even more remarkable, extraordinary, Carol. We heard for the first time in years from Huma Abedin. She is the wife of Anthony Weiner. She publicly took to the podium there at this press conference, admitted to being a little bit nervous and talked about why she is supporting her husband. She was not by his side when he resigned from Congress back in 2011.

Now remember, she is very politically savvy on her own. She is an adviser to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and also, a close friend of Clinton's. Listen to what Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, had to say.

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ABEDIN: Anthony has made some horrible mistakes. Both before he resigned from Congress and after, but I do very strongly believe that that's between us and our marriage. We discussed all of this before Anthony decided he would run for mayor. So really what I want to say is I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him and as we have said from the beginning, we are moving forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Weiner certainly hopes New Yorkers can move forward and vote for him. That's still to be seen, Carol. He has resisted calls of some of his opponents to drop out of the race. The New York chapter of the National Organization of Women called on him to withdraw. And now, as you know, he will have these two public appearances later today. We will see what happens.

COSTELLO: I know. I kind of wish I could be at one of them. HARLOW: Me, too.

COSTELLO: I don't know. Just going to get uglier for a time, isn't it?

HARLOW: Yes.

COSTELLO: Poppy Harlow, thanks so much.

A natural gas platform that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico was still burning this morning. Workers evacuated the platform, 60 miles south of Louisiana. Officials say month one was injured. Natural gas is flowing from the well but no oil released.

A second woman now accuses San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment. Laura Fink told KTBS TV that Filner patted her posterior at a 2005 fundraiser. At the time, she was a staffer for the then congressman. Fink stepped forward after Filner's former spokeswoman filed a sexual harassment suit against him. The 70-year-old Filner is urging people not to rush to judgment. He says he will not resign.

President Obama heads to his home state of Illinois to give a speech on the economy. It will be the first in a series of speeches where the president hopes to shift the national conversation back to focusing on the economy in the middle class. Today's speech will focus on what the president calls his economic vision for the country and set specific policy proposals.

Just in to the CNN NEWSROOM. The federal government reports new home sales rose in June to a new five-year high. So that's great news, but what does it mean if you are in the market buying, selling, even renting?

Joining me now from New York is our expert on all things business, Christine Romans. Good morning.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Well, let's start, Carol, with what this means for buyers, right. We have seen all this economic news. Where do buyers stand right now? This is a great time to buy. There are more than a few big hedge fund managers, billionaires, people who are using money in this marketplace, when I say what's the number one thing people can do right now to make money, they say buy a house.

Last week one of those hedge fund managers said if you already own a house buy another one. Why buy one now because mortgage rates are low. They are set to rise. This is a good time even as home prices are rising. Cash buyers, Carol, investors, have been huge players, huge players in the buying part of the real estate game.

First time home buyers have not. In part because they are saying they are having a hard time -- getting the mortgage, credit is so tight, and they are having a hard time finding a house in their price range, which brings me to the sellers. Sellers, you have buyers waiting there. If you are not under water, if you know where you are going to move after this, this is a good time to sell. Home prices are rising and inventory is very low. Make sure real estate agents you price your home appropriately and it could go very, very quickly. Again, inventory is very low. What does this mean for renters? Carol, generation rent is new buzz phrase in the real estate. There are all these young people and even people in their 30s, newly married, starting their households, choosing to rent so they have flexibility.

Jobs market isn't that robust quite yet. Renting is favored among these people but prices are rising. Rents are rising. They were up 5 percent last year. They will probably be up about -- up 4 percent year over year right now. So rents are rising for those of you in generation rent. I would rather rent than buy. That's the bottom line.

So mortgage rates are rising. Rents are rising. There is not a lot of inventory. The housing members are telling us there's a lot happening there. Money is being made in real estate right now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: It so fabulous we are talking about this kind of dilemma again. Who knew?

ROMANS: I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but you do know there is another part of real estate people in foreclosure and falling behind, even people that have been helped by the president's home rescue plan. We know some of the people are still re-defaulting. There is a very sick part of the housing market that's still there. There's another part of the housing market where people are really moving forward again.

COSTELLO: All right, Christine Romans, thanks as always. We appreciate it.

The royal baby is on the move. Today, he's already had some big-time visitors. Now he's off to meet more of the family.

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COSTELLO: It's 15 minutes past the hour. It's time to check our top stories. New video from the Southwest Airlines plane damaged after its most gear collapsed on landing. Listen.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open the door!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are not there. You need to take your seat. Please take your seat.

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COSTELLO: Brian Foster was a passenger on the plane and recorded the entire ordeal as that plane landed at LaGuardia. Ten people on board the plane were injured. Ariel Castro appeared in court this morning and his attorneys argued with prosecutors over access to the evidence against him. Castro's accused of kidnapping, raping and holding three women captive at his home in Cleveland for nearly a decade. Castro pleaded not guilty. The court is on track for his trial to start August 5.

Parts of Kansas cleaning up from one nasty hail storm, some dents on his truck this morning. This is Reno County. Plenty of baseball- sized hail, damaged cars and homes in the area, wind gusts knocked over trees and power lines leaving some 2,000 people without power.

I know that music cracks me up. The royal baby, Prince William and Kate have arrived in Buckleberry, that's Kate's hometown. In the meantime, the world is waiting to find out what the baby's name will be.

Zain Verjee is outside Buckingham Palace in a London. I was amazed the baby is able to travel this soon.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are desperate to get away to the peace and quiet of the beautiful English countryside. You know what? Maybe they need some of that peace and quiet so they can pick a name. This is actually a good thing for all of us as well who are waiting to find out what Baby Cambridge is going to be called.

The thing to underscore here is that this is really a break with royal tradition because this is the first time ever that a royal baby hasn't been taken straight in the confines and fold of a royal residence instead they are going to -- ordinary place, ordinary home, of people that the British refer to here as commoners.

It is a place where Prince William feels comfortable. I mean, Kate and William have been off into the local shop in the neighborhood. In fact, they invited the owner to their wedding, you know, the local public around the corner. They feel like they can fit in. That's the theme they want for their baby.

They want to give Baby Cambridge the most normal life they possibly can. They are calling it project normal in the papers, a place and space where they can bond with the baby and spend quality time -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, they did spend a bit of quality time with the queen this morning.

VERJEE: Yes. You know, just -- just a short while ago. A little bit of commotion behind me at Buckingham Palace. Golden and black doors swung open and the queen was in a black Bentley and she went about 5 minutes over to Kensington Palace. It's not really too far from here. She spent 30 minutes with the future heir to the throne and here great grandson. She was -- pretty excited to go and see him and it was personal visit. I wasn't official.

She's really close to Prince William so he may or may not have floated a name by her. Who knows? The queen, though, and I was hanging out at the palace gates there, did not come back to the palace. We know that she does want to start on vacation and go to Balmoral in Scotland. Super fabulous castle and she always goes with her Corgies, the dogs here.

COSTELLO: I bet it is a super fabulous castle. Aren't they all? Zain Verjee, thanks as usual.

Still ahead in the NEWSROOM, just days after being pound not guilty of killing Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman drives by a rolled-over SUV and he stops to help. We are going to meet that family later today. The family that George Zimmerman saved is also coming up in the NEWSROOM. Dana Bash, another exclusive. We will tell you about it after the break.

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COSTELLO: Rarely does a day go by in Chicago without at least one reported homicide. The 2012 was a violent year with more than 500 murders. This year it is not much better. More than 70 people were reportedly shot this past Fourth of July holiday weekend alone. That's why the Congressional Black Caucus is holding an emergency summit later this week.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly joins me live now. Good morning.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBIN KELLY (D), ILLINOIS: Good morning.

COSTELLO: So tell me about this summit and what you hope to achieve.

KELLY: The summit will take place at Chicago State University from 1:00 to 9:00. What we hope to achieve is a plan of action, real solutions that can be put in police by a variety of people, Congress, clergy, and educators, community activists, and neighbors, parents. We are bringing everybody together to try to see what we can do to find real solutions.

COSTELLO: Violence in Chicago is black on black crime. Critics say that the African-American community doesn't focus enough on urban areas like Chicago and the violence there. Instead they choose to rally around Trayvon Martin which happened, you know, in Sanford, Florida, and involved a white man. Is that fair criticism?

KELLY: No, I don't think that's fair. I think those -- that's comparing apples and oranges. There are a lot of people that are trying to fix the problem. We have examples in Chicago. We hope to showcase those examples at the summit and see what we can do and to further enforce those examples that are working and we can duplicate those efforts by "Kids Off the Block," Father Mike Flager. There are people doing great things and making progress. We just need more of those programs.

COSTELLO: Can the federal government do anything? I mean, what could the federal government do like increase the size of the police department? At least help with some of the funding for that? I mean, what can the federal government specifically do to tamp down on the violence in Chicago? KELLY: Well, we can pass reasonable gun safety laws. That's one thing we can do, universal background checks, trafficking, store purchases of guns. Also I'm having an advocacy day at the end of September. And I'm bringing in urban parents to talk about the issues to learn how to speak about the issues to Congress. We are going to train them one day and have them meet with various Congress people the next day so the urban voices can be heard.

COSTELLO: All right, we will follow the summit and see what comes out of it. Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

KELLY: Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: Coming up in the NEWSROOM, Anthony Weiner's wife is not only standing by her man. She is speaking up for him, too. Will it be enough to save his mayoral campaign?

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