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New Day

Weiner Staying in Mayoral Race; Anthony Weiner Sexting Scandal the Sequel; Queen May Be At Kensington Palace; Pope Francis in Brazil; Southwest Hard Landing Investigation

Aired July 24, 2013 - 06:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have said that other texts and photos were likely to come out, and today, they have.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Stunning apology, Anthony Weiner admitting to more sexual texting after his resignation from Congress. His wife coming to his defense in a blockbuster news conference. Question, can he still win the race for mayor?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're live in London for the newest prince. First day home where photos of the royal baby, but what will they name him?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Historic pilgrimage, the Pope back out in public today in Brazil amid renewed security concerns. Can they keep the new Pope safe during his momentous trip?

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning, good morning, everybody, and welcome to NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, July 24th, 6:00 in the East. I'm Chris Cuomo here in New York. And as you can see, Kate Bolduan, well situated in London.

BOLDUAN: Good morning, my dear. Good morning, everybody, from Buckingham Palace. Behind me, as you well know at this point, is the home of the queen who we believe may have just left to visit her great grandson. A car was spotted headed in that direction. I'm not sure if she's inside, but everyone wants to know, but we are watching and waiting, and we'll bring more information on as soon as that amazing moment arrives.

Also, we're going to show you what's going on just over two miles from here. This is Kensington Palace. We're going to show you the newest prince woke up this morning or probably multiple times throughout the night, woke out there this morning with his parents, William and Kate.

And we're going to take you to the palace as well as show you all of the new pictures of the young prince who is likely the most photographed two-day-old ever. And of course, we'll get into this side by side, Kate and Diana. There is so much meaning in what Kate chose to emulate and what she chose to do differently. All that just ahead, Chris.

CUOMO: Polka dot dress as they both had. Notice that. Notice that.

PEREIRA: Nothing gets by you.

CUOMO: I know. Kate, we'll be back to you in a few minutes. I'm here with news anchor Michaela Pereira and we have a lot of news for you.

The president is trying to jump-start his economic plan. Later today, he is going to give a big speech. His chief spokesman, right there, Jay Carney will join us life to discuss those plans, the strength of the economy, obviously, so important to all of you, but a lot of disagreement how to improve it.

PEREIRA: We've got a lot of some new video that we want to show is from inside the cabin as that Southwest jet made a hard landing at LaGuardia Airport Monday. There's new information as to what went wrong, but clearly a lot of unanswered questions, certainly you can hear the stress in the people's voice, quite a fright with that landing.

CUOMO: Speaking of stress, we're going to begin with a remarkable moment in politics, Anthony Weiner with an admission of more. He says he continued sending women inappropriate online messages long after a sexting scandal forced him from office. Nevertheless, he is intent on staying in the race for the mayor and who approves his wife who gave a stunning statement on his behalf. Pamela Brown is live with us this morning following the story. What a twist?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What a twist? We were all watching this press conference yesterday. She was standing by his side and then Anthony Weiner's wife, long time Hillary Clinton aide, Huma Abedin went up to the podium. She made her voice heard saying that she has forgiven him. It's a very powerful assists, but is it enough to save his campaign?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HUMA ABEDIN, ANTHONY WEINER'S WIFE: Anthony's made some horrible mistakes both before he resigned from Congress and after, but I do very strongly believe that that is between us and our marriage.

BROWN (voice-over): Anthony Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin asked New Yorkers to forgive her husband like she has in a dramatic news conference Tuesday.

ABEDIN: It took a lot of work and a whole lot of therapy.

BROWN: The disgraced congressman once again guilty of the same behavior that publicly humiliated his wife in 2011 while she was pregnant. Huma Abedin addressed the newly surfaced allegations this time in a very public way. ABEDIN: I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him and as we have said from the beginning, we are moving forward.

BROWN: Weiner admitting to online sex chats with women after resigning from Congress and undergoing therapy.

ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK MAYORAL CANDIDATE: I have said that other texts and photos would likely come out and today they have. While some of the things that have been posted today are true and some are not, there is no question that what I did was wrong.

BROWN: Weiner's latest apology came after new pictures and text messages with a 22-year-old woman surfaced on the gossip web site, thedirty.com. Weiner reportedly used a screen name Carlos Danger to carry on his sexually tinged relationship last summer.

WEINER: While some of the things that have been posted today are true and some are not there is no question that what I did was wrong.

BROWN: Back in April, when Weiner announced candidacy for New York mayor he said more allegations could emerge.

WEINER: If reporters want to try to find more, I can't say that they're not going to be able to find another picture.

BROWN: With the continued possibility of more texts there's no telling if Abedin's defense of her husband will help resurrect his political career.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: This morning the "New York Times" and "New York Daily News" are calling for Weiner to withdraw. Several other candidates in the race have also said Weiner should drop out because he's unfit for office. But Weiner has made it clear that he plans on staying in the race. So we'll have to see what the voters think about this.

CUOMO: Well, there's no question that his competitors want him to drop out because he's beating all but one of them right now. The question is what does this mean to all of you? Let's debate this. We bring in Republican strategist, Ana Navarro and senior political columnist for the "Daily Beast," Mr. John Avlon, both are CNN contributors. Beautiful to have you both. Thank you for being here.

I'll start with you, Ana. Here is the question. Is this new and more or is this just more of the same? How do you think this plays politically?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it's certainly new and more for voters in New York and for people watching it develop on TV. So perception wise, yes, it's new and more and in politics what matters is perception. It also showed that he has a recurrent problem. There's a huge difference between a one-time occurrence and recurrent problem that was going on even after he had been caught. That's why the timing on this tells you this guy has a problem. CUOMO: Well, but also you have another timing, right, this looks politically expedient for somebody, Mr. Avlon, that it comes out when he is surging in the polls when we get to the end. The question becomes his original statement was there will be more and this happened while we were working things out. There's no question the media loves this. It's so much easier than covering the race itself, but to voters what do you think this will mean?

JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, to voters, remember he's been campaigning asking for a second chance. Now today he's asking for a third chance. That's fundamentally different in what the voters are being asked. This is a reminder that not only did he make a stupid mistake involving sexting, but that he cheated on his wife in effect virtually digitally after the apology, after the resignation. That's insult to injury. That shows a certain amount of contempt for the original contrition and that's going to be a big deal.

CUOMO: All right, so then we get the humanizing effect, which is a term I came up with. Ana, Huma gets up there, she gives -- first of all, she wasn't there for the resignation, but she comes for this, she gives a very emotional talk and she says the important things, I love him, I forgive him. I believe in him. If it's enough for her, should it be enough for the voters?

NAVARRO: You know, Chris, the problem is that this discussion is not going on in their living room or bedroom. It's playing out in front of national TV and I have to tell you it was almost like watching a horror film. I wanted to cover my eyes but keep on watching. It's really cringe-inducing. I don't claim to be a thermometer for the woman vote, but it'd be hard for me to vote for a guy who has made his wife endure this kind of public humiliation.

Even though she's there willingly, nobody is forcing her to do it, it's hard to vote for a guy who is doing that and what's got to be weighing on the minds of New Yorkers is how badly do these folks want to get elected and be on the political stage that they're willing to do this not once but twice? That begins to talk a little bit about psyche.

AVLON: I got you. Look, this clearly is using the Hillary Clinton playbook and part of it is success heals all wounds. Let's just win and then all this tawdry mess will be in the rear view mirror. The problem, what Anthony Weiner did yesterday putting his wife forward for the first time that was really, really, really low, even by politician standards because that was an attempt to use that relationship to deflect attention and embarrassment. He's enjoying the cameras and she's suffering through this in real time probably in some degree of shock.

CUOMO: But she's the only victim. You're not a victim. I'm not a victim and voters aren't victims. She's the victim. If he gets to be mayor the people of New York City will be the victims.

NAVARRO: He tried Pedro pervert, but I think that was taken already.

CUOMO: Listen, I have to reset tone. Let me ask you this, Ana Navarro. The voters, looking at the polls, he's already at 37 percent negative. This is my ending theory for you. He was at 37 percent unfavorable before this. We know that voters unfortunately have low expectations for their leaders that the sex scandals seem to be -- I only care about what you do for me, not what you do with yourself? If there already had 37 percent, Ana, how do we know he doesn't survive this if his wife is OK with it? We have to wait for the next polls but you know?

NAVARRO: We don't know that he doesn't survive. I think part of what's happening is the other opponents are so weak, have no name recognition and I don't put it past New Yorkers, but be forewarned New York voters that it is out of the realm of possibility that if you elect this guy you're going to be highly embarrassed at some point during his term.

CUOMO: Ana Navarro, Mr. Avlon who beat me in the same color combination, yours looks better and I'm OK, I'm over it. You believe it's not about the sexting, it's about the trust.

AVLON: It's absolutely about trust. How can we trust your judgment? We can't.

CUOMO: All right, thank you very much to both of you for being on here. Appreciate it. We'll have you on again. Always love having you on NEW DAY. Best to both of you.

We're going to get to Kate now over in London -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, Chris, thanks so much. We told you at the top of the show that there is some movement going on here at Buckingham Palace. A car was seen leaving that looked similar to the car that the queen uses often headed in the direction of Kensington Palace. Well, that could be pretty significant.

Let's get straight over to Max Foster who is live outside Kensington Palace with more on this. Could it be the big moment, Max, when the queen gets to meet her great grandson for the first time?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: I haven't got it confirmed, but we're pretty sure she's arrived. I asked about a half hour ago and they weren't giving any guidance on this, but I'm pretty sure she's going to be arriving today. I'm almost certain she is inside and it would be a private meeting, two future kings and future queen consult inside.

It's an historic moment, it's a great grandmother meeting her great grandchild for the first time, but it's also a great grandmother who is one of the most successful monarchs in British history who now has three heirs behind her and this is going to be the youngest of them so it's a moment in terms of head of state meeting future head of state and great grandmother meeting a great grandchild and seeing William who she's very close to with his child for the first time so it's a family moment and also a state occasion.

BOLDUAN: A state occasion in one of those moments that you wish you could be a fly on the wall because as we've talked to many royal experts they say that this queen has worked very hard to move this monarchy forward and to have that moment, to have not only her great grandson in her arms, but the third in line to the throne it's quite a sense of accomplishment for her in a strange way, right, Max?

FOSTER: Yes. I mean, she's -- the queen is very well regarded and if ever she did slip up it was on one occasion when she stayed up in Baumoro when Diana died and that was because she wanted to look after William and Harry. Sorry, just had an update, there is no update. So she --

BOLDUAN: It happens.

FOSTER: Exactly. You've been part of this for 48 hours. You know what it's like. She was seen as messing up because the world was in London, very emotional, and this was really the epicenter of the emotion after Diana. You remember the flowers laid outside the palace and the queen didn't come down to London and share for the country. She forgot perhaps she was also a mother figure to the country, not just to William and Harry.

BOLDUAN: All right, Max, keep us updated, bring our viewers up to date. It is believed the queen is at Kensington Palace waiting for - final confirmation to meet her great grandson for the first time, a very big moment for the queen and the family as well, a very historic moment for this country. Max, we'll get back with you.

So we got our first look at the royal baby Tuesday as Prince William and Duchess Katherine left the hospital with their new born son. That video, we'll remember that moment for a very long time and for royal watchers around the world, it felt very familiar

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN (voice-over): The moment unforgettable and picture perfect. Prince William and Kate emerging from St. Mary's Hospital to introduce Britain's future king.

PRINCE WILLIAM: He's a big boy. He's quite heavy. We're still working on a name. We'll have that as soon as we can.

BOLDUAN: William already a doting father.

PRINCE WILLIAM: He's got her looks thankfully.

DUCHESS KATHERINE: No, no, no.

BOLDUAN: A tender gesture welcomed by the hundreds of adoring fans waiting outside the private hospital wing.

PRINCE WILLIAM: I'll remind him of his tardiness when he's older.

BOLDUAN: It was photo op made for the history books so much like Prince William's debut back in 1982.

(on camera): As the wait got longer and longer the anticipation grew and so did the crowds, the media all camped out, everyone trying to catch that first glimpse of the new prince.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody back behind the barriers, please.

BOLDUAN (voice-over): Police monitored the excited public crammed on the sidewalks lining the hospital where prime viewing spots behind the barricades were a priceless commodity.

(on camera): At this point you've been here so long you might as well stick it out.

RICHARD, ROYAL WATCHER: Yes, absolutely. At this point, I'm dying to go to the loo but never mind.

BOLDUAN (voice-over): And across the city, crowds still big at Buckingham Palace.

(on camera): Why wait in line?

JOHN, ROYAL WATCHER: Because it's part of being British. We don't shout very often about what we do or who we are, this is what we are.

BOLDUAN (voice-over): So the world watched as Prince William carefully locked his new son's car seat for the first time. The proud dad driving his family to Kensington Palace where they enjoyed their first night together at home with the new prince.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: And we'll of course have much more coverage of the royal baby throughout the morning including the role of Kate's parents on what role they will play in the prince's upbringing. But first, back to you, Chris, in New York.

CUOMO: All right, thanks, Kate, great stuff.

We want to take to you another part of the world right now, Brazil, because this is where Pope Francis is preparing to visit, what many Brazilians consider the country's holiest site, the National Shrine of our Lady of Aparacida. That's the same place where a bomb was found Sunday, by the way. So today, the trip is raising even more security concerns after that chaotic drive through Rio's streets on Monday.

Let's bring in CNN's Miguel Marquez live following the pope in Rio De Janeiro. Good morning, Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning there, Chris. It's not just security to the pope is going to be concerned about today. It's weather as well. It is raining very, very hard. There was going to be tens of thousands of people there for the mass, first public mass of this trip so far. This as CNN learns that federal officials here in Brazil are taking a bigger hand in security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice-over): This morning, Pope Francis on the move. He's a man taking little down time even on what was supposed to be his day off. A special moment at the residence where he's staying in Rio, a private mass given by the pontiff himself.

This as questions about how the pope's car ended up in the wrong lane, exposing him to hundreds of adoring followers but also possible harm. The pope himself calm throughout the incident, at one point, even kissing a baby.

Here are at Rio's operations center, officials say there are typically three routes for getting the pope from point "A" to "B", but that can be changed in an instant. Some officials blame miscommunication between federal and local officials. Others have suggested a lone public servant failed to properly direct the pope's motorcade.

Officially, no answers for now. "We will not talk about the past," he says. "We will only talk about the days ahead."

This as World Youth Day finally gets started. Also as a security concern, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

(on camera): This is the opening ceremony and the opening mass of World Youth Day. And despite a pretty miserable evening here in Rio, tens of thousands have showed up, the main stage about a half mile from where I'm standing.

PHIOEBE PHAM, PILGRIM FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA: I'm emotional. I want to cry.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): The crowds will only grow by week's end, millions of pilgrims looking to Pope Francis for leadership.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Now, we do know there are already changes to the way the pope conducts business in Brazil. The pope mobile, the opened topped car that he's been using, at least part of it opened, will not be used as much. He's going to use more enclosed cars but not bullet proof cars at the moment. That's what security officials would like to use more of.

But right now, he's going with the soft vehicle for many of his trips here -- Chris.

CUOMO: Strong desire to be as close to the people, show a different image of the papacy.

All right. Miguel, thank you for the reporting this morning.

You know, I should have said, Michaela, I should have said bon gia to him, right?

PEREIRA: Yes, bon gia.

CUOMO: That's what they say in Portuguese, Michaela speaks it. I have a Brazilian wife and I still blew it.

PEREIRA: All right.

CUOMO: That's right. A lot of news this morning. Let's move on to news and get away --

PEREIRA: Probably a smart idea. Let's start with the story that we've been watching. A developing story out of Louisiana -- a huge explosion and fire on a natural gas platform about 60 miles southwest of Grand Isle, Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard said one of its cutters saw the explosion from two miles away.

Right now, we do not know what ignited it. So far, though, good to report -- no injuries reported. Everyone managed to evacuate ahead of that blast.

New this morning, the head of Egypt's military calling for mass demonstrations this Friday. It comes amid renewed violence. Dozen people, including 11 police officers were injured when a bomb exploded near a police station in Mansoura near Cairo, 86 others were wounded.

An internal investigation is under way into the Massachusetts state police officer who leaked these gritty and raw photos of suspected Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Sergeant Sean Murphy says he's been placed on desk duty for now. But a top cop says it is unlikely that Murphy will be fired. Murphy says he released the photos without the department's position because he was upset over this "Rolling Stone" cover of Tsarnaev that he called insulting.

If you are taking loans out for school, you may be able to breathe a sign of relief soon. A Senate vote could happen as early as today to keep federal loan -- student loan rates low, at least for the time being. The bipartisan has a lot of support from congressional leaders, but critics like Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren say it's nothing but a teaser rate program. We'll discuss this with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney who is live on NEW DAY at 7:30 this morning.

Finally, do you remember the 14-month-old who inadvertently bought a car on eBay while playing around with her dad's smartphone? Well, guess what? She now has a ride for a toddler.

Look at that. A gift from the folks at eBay motors. They wanted her to have her own set of wheels while her dad works to restore that first car she kind of pressed requests buy for.

And apparently the plan is for that car he's going to try to get it fixed up for her graduation on her 16th birthday.

CUOMO: That is a beautiful --

PEREIRA: But in the meantime, she got a little pink car to get around town.

CUOMO: And let me tell you -- those aren't easy to put together either. He probably had his hands full.

PEREIRA: Sure. Dad's going to be quite a mechanic by the time this whole story comes to fruition.

CUOMO: I know. We're going to follow on that one, Michaela. Appreciate it.

PEREIRA: In 16 years, I'm putting that on my to-do list.

CUOMO: Yes. Put it in the iPad, it remembers everything.

All right. Let's get over to weather center with Indra Petersons. Boy, a really scary picture behind you there.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, if you live in Kansas, you might be used to this. But the rest of us, I'm going to say this is pretty impressive. This is what they saw in Kansas yesterday afternoon as the storm rolled through the area. What we're actually looking at is a wall cloud, really the strong updraft portion of that thunderstorm.

They did not have a tornado but speaking of updraft, large hail, you do not want to see this, baseball-sized hail, that's what they dealt with yesterday afternoon. Let me show you what it looked like on the radar. You can see the storm cell moving through the area and with it, look at all the large hail that went through. That's all thanks to a cold front, that extra lift they needed with all that warm moist, humid air. That combination produced some scary events yesterday afternoon.

Same cold front still exists. No severe risk today. Either way, it is sagging to the South. We are looking for more heavy rain, one to two inches of rain, where they really don't need any more at this point in time. But the good news, the cold front kicking off the coast in the Northeast, which means for us, temperatures still a lot cooler. And more importantly, drier, I take (ph) drier.

PEREIRA: Have you ever experienced golf ball size hail?

PETERSONS: Yes, I have. But you know what we do? We all go to sonic. You know, that little top and we all look around and we're chasing. And everyone rushes to sonic to watch it around us.

PEREIRA: Sonic, OK.

CUOMO: You see the hoods in the cars.

PETERSONS: Yes, unless you got your spot.

CUOMO: All right. Indra, thank you very much.

We're going to take a break here on NEW DAY.

When we come back dramatic new video from inside the cabin of that Southwest flight as it skids down the runway following a terrifying nose gear collapse. The latest on the investigation ahead for you.

Kate, over to you there in London.

BOLDUAN: And we want to have you meet the Middletons. Now that the prince has finally arrived, what role will the duchess' parents play in raising the young royal baby? We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY, everybody.

This morning, we have must see video for you from inside the cabin of a Southwest plane as it smashes down at New York's LaGuardia airport.

The NTSB is now investigating, trying to find out what caused the front landing gear to collapse on impact, sending the jet skidding across the runway. You just hear people saying wow, wow, as they watch what happened.

CNN's Rene Marsh is live with the latest. Good morning, Rene.

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris. Scary stuff indeed. You know, the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from that plane, they are in the hands of federal investigators right here in Washington this morning. The good news, there was no loss of life but the damage was extensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARSH (voice-over): This is what it looked like on board Southwest Airlines Flight 345 as the nose of the plane hit the runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Monday.

The passenger on the plane shot this video as the Boeing 737 crash landed and skidded for more than 2,000 feet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Emergency vehicles proceed onto Runway 4.

MARSH: The National Transportation Safety Board says the front landing gear collapsed on impact, causing the nose of the plane to smash on the tarmac, sending sparks and flames shooting up from the bottom of the aircraft.

ROLANDO OCHO, PASSENGER: I thought it was just bounce, a terrible job with the pilot. But I didn't realize what happened until I left the plane.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was like getting smashed in a car wreck.

ANASTASIA ELLIOT, PASSENGER: Very chaotic, no one knew what was going on, flight attendants crying.

MARSH: One hundred fifty people were on board the Boeing 737, nine of whom suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

We spoke with an aviation expert who used to pilot a 737, using cockpit and exterior diagrams he describes what could have gone wrong.

KEVIN HIATT, FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION: You've got a strut that comes down to the wheels, so perhaps something in here when the plane touched down and the forces that are on a plane when it touched down may have decided to fail at that particular time. The gear could have failed backwards or it may have collapsed back up this way.

MARSH: The damage was extensive. The landing gear collapsed upwards into the fuselage damaging the electronics bay which houses avionics and other equipment. NTSB investigators have already started examining the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

Southwest says the Boeing 37 was inspected just last week. The airline added that it is working with both the NTSB and Boeing in a preliminary investigation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARSH: All right. And this isn't a first for Southwest. In June of 2007, the nose gear collapsed on one of their Boeing 737s in Oakland, California. Good news there, no one was hurt -- Chris, Michaela.

CUOMO: All right. Rene, thank you very much.

We're going to take a break here now on NEW DAY.

When we come back, this Anthony Weiner admission, his wife Huma making a startling statement there. She wasn't (INAUDIBLE) resignation. But she's here. Social media is abuzz about this. Let us know because we're going to be talking about it whether or not he should resign or continue with this race as he wants to.

PEREIRA: And, Chris, you've been waiting to find out when the queen would arrive at Kensington Palace. It has been confirmed she has. She is there to visit the newest member of her royal. This video just coming in to CNN of the queen's arrival at Kensington Palace. We'll head back out to London after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)