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Jane Velez-Mitchell
National Manhunt on for Pedophile Cult Leader; Star Wrestler`s Mysterious Death; "Scandal" Star Accused of Abuse; Real Brawl on "Real Housewives"
Aired April 17, 2014 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST: Tonight, breaking news as cops launch a massive nationwide manhunt for an alleged pedophile cult leader. Police say this man, Victor Barnard, kept a harem of girls and young women, saying he was, quote, "Christ in the flesh." and using that as an excuse to allegedly sexually assault these girls for a decade. Tonight, I will talk to one of his alleged victims, a very courageous young woman, live.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Good evening, I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell coming to you live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTOR`S had no idea anything like that was taking place. Not at all.
Cops say Victor Barnard was the leader of a nondenominational Christian cult called the River Road Fellowship. It`s in Racine (ph), Minnesota, which is about 90 miles north of Minneapolis. The cult has about 150 members, but Barnard`s sectioned off a special group of 10 to 12 members who were girls and woman aged 12 to 24, and he called them the maidens.
Barnard allegedly told these girls that he represented Christ on earth and that it was OK to have sex with him because it was, quote, "God`s word." In a ceremony called the Salt Covenant, the girls allegedly promised themselves to Barnard and promised to remain unmarried. Cops say he even told these young girls they could still remain virgins even after having sex with him because he was a man of God. Listen to one of the victims from local station KN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF SCHWEISS, ALLEGED VICTIM OF CULT LEADER: And he said that this it was his way to teach me love. That he wanted me to know love. I mean, I still had a conscience at that point. So I knew it was wrong. I mean, I`d never -- my parents never even had the talk with me. I had just gotten my period months before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: This is so sick. Two brave young women have now come forward to cops, saying Barnard abused them for years, having sex with one of them from one to five times a month.
Cops are charging this guy with 59 counts of criminal sexual misconduct. But now they say he`s on the run. Will they be able to find him before he lays a hand on another young girl?
I want to hear from you. Call me 1-877-JVM-SAYS. How come the parents didn`t realize something was up here? 1-877-586-7297.
We have a fantastic Lion`s Den debate panel ready to thrash it out tonight.
But first straight out to my very special guest, and one of the alleged victims of Victor Barnard. This guy, I got to tell you, these pictures when I saw them, it`s sick. Lindsay Tornambe, Lindsay, first of all, I want to say I applaud you for having the courage to come forward. I can`t even imagine what you`ve been through. It sounds hellish.
So let`s start from the beginning. I understand you were 13 when your parents dropped you off at this so-called maiden`s camp. How did the sexual abuse begin and progress?
LINDSAY TORNAMBE, ALLEGED VICTIM OF VICTOR BARNARD (via phone): Well, they dropped me off there July of 2000. And nothing happened for probably close to a month and a half with any abuse.
But then as the school year got closer, it started off one night Victor began asking me of questions about sex and sexual terms, and I was very confused. I haven`t even had my period yet, haven`t had the talk with my mom about anything and didn`t know what he was talking about, and he thought I was lying and he began to physically hit me. And that was the first night that he raped me.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: So the first thing he did was hit you?
TORNAMBE: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And then how did that proceed to rape?
TORNAMBE: He then -- I guess he realized maybe that I was telling the truth, and he began to apologize and say that having sex with me would be natural and it was spiritual; and it was a way of showing me God`s love and how God loved me. And he used terms that Jesus Christ had Mary Magdalene and other women and the apostle Paul had Phoebe and other women in Asia. He said that we were more than concubines to him, and in the Old Testament, King Solomon had many concubines.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, my God. Now, let me ask you this. Did you girls -- I understand there were about ten girls who were in the same age range, very young. Did you talk amongst yourself, saying like, "This guy`s sick, he`s all having sex with all of us or with some of us"?
TORNAMBE: Jess and I at one point started to have a conversation about it, and one of the older maidens was in the room with us. And she told us it was something that wasn`t supposed to be talked about, that he would we would get in trouble for it.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, I`m sure. I`m sure. I mean, you`re lucky to have gotten out of there alive, frankly. Now, how often were you -- and I don`t mean to be too graphic, but I think it`s important not to sugarcoat this -- how often were you raped by this man?
TORNAMBE: It would happen anywhere from one to five or more times a month. As the years went on, it seemed like it was his way of rewarding us in a way, if we were doing well spiritually. If we weren`t doing well, then he wouldn`t, you know, pay attention to us. If we were doing well, then he would have sex with us more.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Lindsay, I want you to stay on. Don`t hang up. I`ve got to bring our expert panel in for a second. But then we want to get back to you.
This cult leader could not have victimized these girls without the complicity of their parents. The parents handed their daughters over to this predator. Here`s what alleged victim Jess Schweiss told KNSP about her parents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHWEISS: I don`t look at them as my parents anymore, because they`re not the parents that I wanted or needed. So my parents, the people that I grew up with as a child, they don`t exist anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Norah Constance Marino, attorney out of New York, should the parents face charges of neglect or abuse themselves?
NORAH CONSTANCE MARINO, ATTORNEY: Jane, these parents are, I mean, they have to be on another planet. You hand your child over to some type of a man who causes himself the messiah. Red flag right there: you`re giving your child, your young daughter to a guy who causes himself the messiah, doesn`t let the electric company on the property or any power companies. They have to grow their own food, cook their own food, and sew their own clothes. You`re not seeing major red flags here?
And then these parents also don`t teach their children to speak up. Or that when someone threatens you not to talk, that`s when you need to talk.
JANET JOHNSON, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Are you going to arrest them for that? Jane...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Janet, are you defending these parents, who dropped their children, their daughters, their virginal daughters who`d just had their period or didn`t even have their period, off with a predator?
JOHNSON: I`m not defending that. But to say that they should teach their children to speak up? I mean, obviously the state needs to crack down on this. The government rather than prosecute parents, needs to go in there and see what`s going on.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let`s go back to Lindsay. Lindsay, your parents dropped you off with this guy. What kind of a relationship do you have with your parents now, now that you`ve managed to escape? Do they still defend him? Do they still defend him?
TORNAMBE: Say that one more time.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Do they still defend him?
TORNAMBE: Yes, my mother does. We have no relationship. She doesn`t want anything to do with me. She actually lives in Washington right now. And my dad, it`s been very difficult with him because he, it seems like he wants to pretend that nothing happened. You know? And just move on with life.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Lindsay, let me ask you this question. Did you tell your mother, "Hey, he raped me. I was a child, Mom"?
TORNAMBE: Oh, yes, uh-huh.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: What was her response?
TORNAMBE: She responded with saying, "I don`t want to hear anything you have to say. I don`t care about any of this. I know mistakes are made in Minnesota, but I still believe Victor is a man of God and I`m going to follow him."
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, my God. Now I`ve got to go to a behavior expert. Simone Bienne, behavior expert, now the daughter has told them flat out, "I was raped." And yet, no, they`re going to stick with this guy with the crazy headdress there, who`s dressing like some kind of Halloween costume. I mean, you know, this is outrageous.
SIMONE BIENNE, BEHAVIOR EXPERT: Big people, Jane, are supposed to look after the little people. It is absolutely outrageous. The parents are in complete and utter denial.
I`m sorry, Lindsay. And I -- my heart goes out to you. They`re delusional. What do they think, this guy has a direct line to God and that they`re going to be OK? This is absolutely crazy, bonkers.
They need to be looking after their children. And actually, what happens in sexual abuse cases like this is parents can deny it. But certainly not support the guy that has raped their children.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know, denial is a very powerful thing. If they can remain in denial about the whole thing, then they don`t have to question all the horrible decisions that they`ve made over the past couple of decades of getting involved with this cult in the first place.
I personally believe that people who get involved with cults like this are missing something. Something. They`re looking for someone to make their life meaningful, because they`re screwed up and they don`t have meaning in their lives. And so I think joining a cult like this means you`re a little bit off to begin with.
And that`s not to blame the kids. They were born into this thing. They didn`t choose it.
Stay right there. We`re just getting started. What questions do you have for Lindsay?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: According to investigators, Barnard told the cult members he represented Christ, convincing them to give up their teenage daughters, where they lived separately with Barnard at what he called Shepherd`s Camp.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The girls saw their parents only occasionally. According to investigators, Barnard began having sex with girls as young as 13, telling them he represented God`s flesh, that it was OK and not to tell anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Unbelievable. This Victor character in this ridiculous outfit called himself a minister, the messiah, and of course, he`s wearing this clothing. Look at this. Look the way he`s hugging these girls. It`s so sick. It`s so sick. Obviously, he`s role playing in his head something out of a Christmas pageant.
Listen to one of his sermons from KNSP.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTOR BARNARD, CULT LEADER: Because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking who he may devour.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s all we got, and frankly, I think that`s enough. This guy reminds me of infamous cult leaders like Warren Jeffs and David Koresh, who wooed their followers into doing whatever they demanded.
Out to the Lion`s Den, Elizabeth Espinoza. How was this Victor Barnard able to con all these people into thinking that he`s the messiah?
ELIZABETH ESPINOZA, CNN ESPANOL ANCHOR: You know, it`s disgusting. And it really goes to show that some people, it`s a number of things, right, when someone brainwashes a person. They`re weak, maybe they don`t have the a really strong educational background.
But what`s really disgusting is how, in this case, this is a man, like you mentioned, David Koresh, used the word of the Lord. This is Holy Week, as well. I`m a Catholic so I`ll tell you, it`s really disgusting to hear that he uses something that is so beautiful for us as believers to take advantage of these parents, the first victims, and then the kids.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I don`t consider the parents victims, Sierra Elizabeth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I agree. I agree, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hold on. Sierra, I think they should be prosecuted. And let me add this little caveat. You heard Lindsay say her mom`s in Washington state. Well, that`s exactly where cops think he`s holed out and that his followers are protecting him. Go ahead, Sierra.
SIERRA ELIZABETH: Jane, these parents absolutely have to be brought to justice. There are laws on the books all over the country that require parents to protect their children.
Generally, the question is whether the parent knowingly failed to take reasonable steps to protect their child from harm or physical attack. That is exactly what happened here. These parents were told, in fact, by Barnard that he was planning to have sex with his minor children. The victim, we`ve heard, said that she told her parents, "This guy is having sex with me" and they did absolutely nothing. This is a perfect case for prosecution here, and the parents need to be brought to justice.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely.
JOHNSON: But Jane, what if -- what if it was a Catholic school? What if the parents dropped their kids off at a Catholic boarding school and then found out later that the priest was molesting the child? Are they prosecuted for it? Is that their fault?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, if the priest basically told them, "Hey, I`m going to molest your kids," yes. If the kids came out and said, "Hey, Mom and Dad, I`m being molested by whoever," and they do absolutely nothing and they say get back in there?
JOHNSON: If that`s what the evidence is. But I think there`s a fine line to say, if you trust some religion or some society to take care of your child and they fail, maybe you are a victim, like Sierra said. Maybe the parents were unwittingly duped.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bull! Bull.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Come on. You heard Lindsay.
(CROSSTALK)
BRIAN CLAYPOOL ATTORNEY: The mom says she doesn`t care.
BIENNE: Totally brainwashed.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Brian, you heard Lindsay just say she told her mom that she was raped. She told her dad. They didn`t want to hear about it.
CLAYPOOL: Jane, these parents are as big a scumbag as he is, all right? No parent who gives a damn about their kid is going to want them to go to rape sleep-away camp after the child complains that they`ve been raped. It`s nonsense. I don`t even know why we`re debating this. This is not a discussion.
These parents should go down, and they should go to prison longer than he does, because they have a duty to the child because they`re the mom and the dad. And it`s outrageous. I`m sitting here listening to this, and it blows my mind.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right, right.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Lindsay, I want to ask you a question. What was it about this guy? Because some of these sickos are very charismatic. In other words, I know he did a lot of -- "you, thoust" and all those kind of biblical words, "doth" whatever. But aside from the biblical language, what was it about him that made him so charismatic, perhaps, to -- he looks like, you know, kind of like an actor right here, acting in some kind of medieval play. But did he have a certain charisma -- Lindsay?
TORNAMBE: He -- with the women he definitely did. Even the married women, they were constantly flocking towards him. He had flocks of sheep in Minnesota, and we would take them on grazes. And he would go with the women and lie down in the pastures with them. He was a very, I guess, sweet talker, I guess. He carried a lot of authority with them.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And I understand that he was having sex with the married women too, not just the kids, right? According to allegations.
TORNAMBE: Right. Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Is it possible your mother is hiding him, you think?
TORNAMBE: It`s -- it would not surprise me at all if she was.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I just want to say if you`re watching, Mom, you`re invited on our show anytime. And you know, bring a friend with you. We`d love to talk to you.
What a bizarre story.
On the other side, the mysterious death of a handsome college wrestler. Was it suicide? Was it foul play? I`m going to talk to this young man`s devastated father, who says the case is getting a whitewash, and the cops aren`t looking for who did this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY HEARD, FATHER OF DAMMION HEARD: He told me that my son hung himself and committed suicide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right away though, dad had doubts.
G. HEARD: Always upbeat. Never had any issues with depression, anxiety.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It all seemed fishy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a star wrestler.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Such a strong man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He went missing some 15 days ago. His car and body were found a few days later.
G. HEARD: He told me that my son hung himself and committed suicide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Investigators later admitted to them that Dammion was in a heated argument that turned into a fight at a house party the same night he went missing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It hurts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight is there a killer on the loose in Colorado? A star wrestler disappears from his college campus. The mystery deepens when his body is found days later, hanging from a tree miles away.
Cops initially say he committed suicide. Nothing to see here. His parents said that`s ridiculous. The facts don`t back that up. So if he didn`t kill himself, then who did?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Able to start the match. I mean, you go out there, no one else has wrestled yet.
DAMMION HEARD, WRESTLER: A lot of pressure at first. You set the momentum. It`s good to get out there and get a win for the whole team. You`re elevated, pumped up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tragically, that was Dammion Heard. He is now dead. He was a champion wrestler from Texas, enjoying his freshman year of college at Western Colorado State.
His parents say he has no history of depression. Growing scrutiny towards the cops tonight as they say they`re not pursuing any suspects. Why not? Wouldn`t that be priority No. 1?
Here`s a good lead for cops. It points away from suicide. Dammion reportedly got into a fight at a house party earlier that night. Have cops talked to the other people involved in that fight?
Also suspicious, Dammion fueled up his car just before he vanished. Now think about it. Do you fill up your car with gas if you`re about to go hang yourself? I don`t think so.
And he scheduled a date with a woman for the next day. None of that seems to point to suicide.
So what did cops base the suicide comment on? And were they too quick to jump to a conclusion? We reached out to local cops. We haven`t heard back.
Straight out to my special exclusive guest Gary Heard, Dammion`s father.
Gary, I`m so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family. Tell us about this call you got from police and how they moved right away to suicide.
G. HEARD: My son went missing on the 29th. His body was found on the 2nd, Wednesday, about midday. Police officer from Gunnison Police Department contacted me, said that they had found my son`s car. I then asked them if they had found my son. He said they, in fact, did find my son and that he was hanging and that he had committed suicide.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Did they give an explanation as to how they concluded suicide?
G. HEARD: They did not. And I asked them on the phone if they had found a note or there was any indication that would lead them to believe that. And he didn`t elaborate any farther on it. It just stayed like that. They never gave me any reason of why they would think that.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, there`s so many clues that suggest this was not a suicide. Dammion had just set up a date with a female classmate for the next day. He had no history of depression. He fueled up his car at a gas station right before he disappeared. The battery was taken out of his phone. That`s interesting. And his car doors were locked. So why would you lock your doors if you`re going to commit suicide? That also doesn`t make a whole lot of sense.
I want to go to our panel for a second.
But stand by, Mr. Heard.
Gary [SIC][ Silber, criminal defense attorney, I mean, cops have to follow some kind of guidelines. They can`t just say, "Oh, yes, it looks like a suicide, yes" -- Brian.
BRIAN SILBER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes, Jane, you talking to me? I think you called me Gary.
Listen, just because they`re the police does not mean they get it right. You know, I make a living on police failure to investigate and inconsistent investigations.
You know, my private investigator, for example, has gone to crime scenes days, weeks after a case supposedly goes down, and he`s even found a bullet lodged in a wall that the police missed.
You know what this guy`s got to do, what the family has to do is find the best private investigator that they can afford and scour that crime scene. You might find something that may crack the case. You know, that`s the art of criminal defense. I do it every single day. That may work here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They shouldn`t have to.
SILBER: I`m sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They shouldn`t have to. And who can afford their own investigator?
SILBER: Of course, they shouldn`t have to. But listen, when you`re being ignored by law enforcement, you may not have an option. I represent people who are ignored by law enforcement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I do too.
SILBER: Happens every single day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do too.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let me go back to Gary Heard. Gary, your son had a fight...
G. HEARD: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: ... earlier on the day before he disappeared. On the day he disappeared, he had a fight hours earlier.
G. HEARD: There was actually...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Have you been able to find out -- Tell me about that.
G. HEARD: Well, there was actually three physical altercations. There was one that took place earlier in the evening Saturday night. And because of that particular fight, it spilled over into later that night and maybe even early into Sunday morning, where he was attacked inside the house by two other -- two other men. And they both have recorded statements at Gunnison Police Department stating this and that one of them grabbed him from behind and drug him into a laundry room. And that`s where things get really vague on what actually took place in that laundry room.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, given that, Laura Marino, attorney, how can they just jump to the conclusion of suicide? I mean, to me...
MARINO: They shouldn`t. It`s a disgrace, Jane. This is disgraceful police work.
Not only as Brian said, to that crime scene being investigated top to bottom, but every single person who attended that party -- there was a party where this first altercation took place. Every single person at that party should be interviewed extensively. I mean, how they can just close the book, and "I`m so sorry for your loss, sir." But you set up a scene and you use a rope and the police wash their hands of it? That`s ridiculous.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, there`s plenty of people who have been hanged that didn`t hang themself. I mean, you can`t jump to suicide automatically.
Now, Dammion`s death certificate says the cause of death was strangulation by hanging. Again, just because he died by hanging doesn`t mean he hanged himself.
Cops told Dammion`s parents it was a suicide. Now they`re kind of backing off a little bit. They`re saying, well, the investigation is active. But get this: they also say they`re not pursuing any suspects. And additionally, they make it very clear that there is no danger to other students.
So I want to go to Sierra Elizabeth on this. That to me smacks that maybe there`s another agenda here. You know, I`m not referring to the university at all, but sometimes people feel a need to cover up for institutions in their area so that everything looks, oh, nothing to see here. We don`t want to hurt business.
ELIZABETH: Absolutely. It makes it much easier for them, Jane, if this all just goes away.
I mean, just anecdotally, was a college athlete myself, and just knowing how much time college athletes spend with their teammates, their coaches, their trainers, the first place you go to after interviewing the people at the party is the people that he`s with day in and day out. What was he talking about? What was he involved in? This just seems so shoddy and sad, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Gary Heard, have you hired a private investigator?
G. HEARD: I am talking with -- I had a couple of consultations with Pamela Mackie out of Denver, Colorado. And she has an investigative team, her and her partner. We have not officially retained them yet, but we are working on raising that money to do so, and we`re close.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Find out about those fights. Right before he disappears. Find out about those fights. What was going on with all those fights?
G. HEARD: Yes, ma`am. That alone...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Our heart`s with you. We hope you solve this.
G. HEARD: Thank you so much.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: We really do. Thank you. Come back when you learn something new.
G. HEARD: Thank you.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, up next, this is the biggest show on TV. It`s the biggest hit and the season finale is just hours away tonight. But also tonight, one of "Scandal`s" biggest stars is in real-life legal trouble. I mean, it`s serious. This is a very serious Hollywood hot mess. Next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ABC`s "Scandal" --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you don`t want to be president anymore, if that`s why you`re quitting, then that`s OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An actor on the show "Scandal" may have just landed a real-life scandal.
COLUMBUS SHORT, ACTOR: I work for Liv, not for you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No matter where you are tonight, no matter what the weather`s doing, you`ve got to watch "Scandal".
GWYNETH PALTROW, ACTRESS: "Scandal" for example. I`m obsessed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Columbus Short from the TV show the "Scandal" is accused of punching a guy unconscious at a bar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`ve built this following. And they`re crazy for our show.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In love with your candidate.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`re all going to watch, right -- everybody into "Scandal"? Oh, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Everyone anxiously awaits the season finale of ABC`s hit show "Scandal". One of the show`s biggest stars is embroiled in an ugly scandal of his own that`s destroying his marriage and could also land him behind bars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY WASHINGTON, ACTRESS: I can protect myself, thank you very much.
SHORT: You`re not the fixer here, Liv. You`re the problem. You`re the client. You`re my client -- like it or not. So I`m asking you for the truth. I know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, this is one "Scandal" Olivia Pope and her team can`t fix. She loves to say, "It`s handled." Well, this isn`t handled.
Shocking new claims of abuse are coming out in a just obtained restraining order against actor Columbus Short, also known as Harrison on the show. His wife claims just a couple of weeks ago he came into her room, appearing intoxicated. She says he had a bottle of wine in his hand and acted as if he was, quote, "about to hit me with a bottle". Then she claims he cornered her and "dumped the wine on me". She says she tried to get away and he ran after her grabbing a knife and began to choke her. That`s right.
Then she claims "He placed the knife close to my neck. Threatened to kill me and then kill himself, as well." The actor allegedly insisted they play a game of "Truth or Truth". That`s an interesting game. And if she lied he was going to quote, "stab me in the leg". Then he started naming people and accused her of having an affair. As she denied the accusations, she claimed he stabbed the couch next to her or stabbed the nearby furniture every time she denied having sex with somebody on the list -- all this while their two-year-old daughter is upstairs.
Well, we reached out to actor Columbus Short for a statement he said "As much as I would like to provide my side of events, my counselor has instructed me that a court of law is the only and proper venue to deal with such matters."
You know what Harrison, this is serious stuff. Straight ought to TMZ news manager, Mike Walters. Wow, this is one of my favorite shows and I love this character. I am shocked.
MIKE WALTERS, TMZ NEWS MANAGER: Yes Jane, listen, I actually am a huge fan of "Scandal", too. And it blew my mind.
Let me tell you the biggest problem with Columbus Short and what he`s got going right now. And that is he`s got several cases that are violent type crimes that he allegedly did, and these cases could land him behind bars like you said. One of them -- the worst one being the allegation that he assaulted his wife in front of two children, his 10-year-old son and their two-year-old daughter.
And here`s the deal. The Los Angeles City attorney has charged him with child abuse --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow.
WALTERS: -- because according to them, this child has witnessed the attack and that is considered child abuse. And the restraining order, yes, is very, very violent and descriptive. I can also tell you on TMZ we`ve had pictures of an assault that took place at a bar where he knocked out allegedly someone at the party and also at another one just like that in a basketball gym here in Los Angeles. This is all in the last few years.
Unfortunately, Jane, for him, he is on the rise in this TV show "Scandal" and I got to say, you know what he needs right now? Olivia Pope because he needs either to get this fixed or this is going to be the end of a really, really big career that was on the rise.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. Well, we`ve got a whole list. And we can show you a calendar of everything that he`s been involved with from DUI to allegedly sucker-punching another player during a basketball game, pleading no contest to disturbing the peace -- the list goes on and on and on. And you know, when he punched the guy allegedly at a bar he was charged with felony battery. So that could land him in prison, that one charge alone could land him in prison for four years.
Kendra G, are we going to see this guy go to prison possibly?
KENDRY G, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: You know what, Jane, I was a big Columbus Short fan up until yesterday. I do think he may go to prison behind this. And I`m not going to be upset if he does because these are serious allegations. I do not condone violence at all. His wife is saying that he threatened to kill her. I`m over it. I`m so upset.
I loved Columbus Short up until yesterday. And you know how Shonda Rhimes is. Let me take you back to Isaiah Washington.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh yes.
G: He messed up in real life and lost his job. So I would not be surprised if Columbus Short loses his job behind this. I hope he`s been saving his checks because he`s going to need to live off that money. He`s going to lose his job behind this, I really think so.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know what; it infuriates me because this is such a talented guy. I love "Scandal". It`s my favorite show -- it`s really -- the only one I really watch. And he should be sitting on top of the world, grateful for his success.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHORT: It doesn`t matter who gets hurt. It doesn`t matter what is broken. It`s not the thing that needs fixing, it does not matter. You want to cry about your feelings, really, here? You don`t get to have feelings -- that`s the job.
Gladiators don`t have feelings. We rush into battle. We`re soldiers. We get hurt in a fight, we suck it up and we hold it down. We don`t question. You know it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, I`m sorry. I get sucked into the show. Shonda Rhimes is the creator of this amazing show "Scandal". As you just heard from Kendra G, she could make or break this guy`s career. He`s great on the show but you know how it is. He could get killed off like that.
As you just heard Kendra say, she apparently wrote off one of the main characters on "Grey`s Anatomy" played by Isaiah Washington after he allegedly used a gay slur. It`s taken him years and years and years to get back with a guest shot.
So my question to my panel, should Columbus`s character, Harrison Ford (SIC), get murdered when "Scandal" comes back next season? And I`ll start with Simone Bienne.
ESPINOSA: I say he gets murdered.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Murdered -- OK, murdered.
BIENNE: I say yes, absolutely.
ESPINOSA: I say murdered.
BIENNE: Sorry. Anyone --
ESPINOSA: I say absolutely, yes. You can`t be going around threatening your wife in front of the kids. That`s ridiculous. And it drives me crazy because, you know Jane, I see these starving actors here in Hollywood.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh yes.
ESPINOSA: We`re just down the street from the Hollywood Boulevard and they try so hard to get just one part, an audition and then get a good gig, it`s stable.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I know. They try so hard and they end up on a hemorrhoids commercial or something like that after struggling for years in community theater. This guy is so lucky. Simone Bienne.
BIENNE: And Jane also, Shonda Rhimes is a mom as far as my memory serves and the fact that a two-year-old has seen such a graphic, awful crime in front of her eyes, that means that look, they`re going to be affected for the rest of their life. Our emotional programming happens when we`re born until we`re five. That will affect future relationships for that child.
So quite frankly, I say yes. I`m sorry he needs to be fired. And if what we hear is right, he needs to be behind bars.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know he how they fire you on these shows? You get murdered or abducted and they never find out where you go. In fact, that`s like a constant theme in the show so that would be very easy to handle.
You know what? You`ve got an anger management problem, dude, if looks like if all these allegations -- really if any of them are true. Handle it.
Coming up, a reality star gets arrested -- speaking of anger management problems-- after an all-out brawl on the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are we bringing props now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I will not do is have you talk over me, OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shut up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You do not have the right to talk.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait a minute now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good girls go to heaven and bad girls go everywhere.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`ve just been assaulted.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A "Real Housewife of Atlanta" star has been arrested.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kenya violated her over and over and over again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shut up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You do not have the right to talk.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait a minute now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m just like that wildcard.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She hit me in my head and was fighting me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you want to label me a villain, I`ll take it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, boy. Tonight "Real Housewives of Atlanta Star" Porsha Williams arrested after an explosive fight on the show. The reality star allegedly lost her temper when her cast mate Kenya Moore brought sex toys and a megaphone to the reunion taping taunting Porsha about her ex-husband. Watch this teaser of the dramatic fight from Bravo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are we bringing props now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I will not do is have you talk over me, OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shut up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You do not have the right to talk.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait a minute now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hang on. No, no, no, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh. Wow. Well, then the fight happens right after that. They`re going to show it to us, at the big reunion show. But we can figure it out. It`s pretty bad because 31-year-old Porsha got arrested and charged with battery. She faces a year in prison.
She Instagrammed this glamorous photo with the caption "but first let me take a selfie before surrendering to Atlanta police" last night. Well, she definitely goes in style. Kenya called 911 after Porsha reportedly called her a `90s slut and screamed "I`m going to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you up." Cops took the tape, they looked at it and then they filed criminal charges. Listen to Kenya`s 911 call.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KENYA MOORE, REALITY TV STAR: I`ve just been assaulted.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who assaulted you, ma`am?
MOORE: Porsha Williams.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what exactly happened, ma`am?
MOORE: She hit me in my head and was fighting me -- trying to -- hitting me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And where is she now, ma`am?
MOORE: Here at the hotel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is she still in the room with you?
MOORE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know where she went?
MOORE: No, I do not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, we reached out to Bravo -- they have no comment. Watch Part 1 of the reunion special this Sunday night 8:00 p.m. on Bravo.
Straight out to our very special guest -- we`re delighted to have the star of "Real Housewives of Miami" Adriana De Moura with us. Adriana, you girls -- women -- scream and argue with each other all the time on these shows. And we see it. We see it with your taping. What about this particular incident crossed the line into an alleged crime? I mean what`s the ambiance there when you get into that pressure cooker?
Adriana de Moura, It`s -- it`s a lot of pressure. I think -- I personally feel like you feel like you`re a gladiator in a Roman Coliseum ready for battle. So it`s nerves -- it`s nervous-racking. It`s a lot of the tension. You know, it`s not easy. It`s not an easy place to be at.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Is it set up for confrontation? In other words -- there`s obviously producers -- do they set it up for confrontations to occur and they goad people into fighting with each other?
DE MOURA: Well, it`s not set up for confrontation but it`s set up for bringing everything up that happened throughout the many months of shooting. So things start to escalate and you just started to feel your blood start to boil as all those things are being shown and sometimes they are true, sometimes they are not so true. But you just feel like all your buttons are being pushed. And so I don`t condemn violence -- condone violence and I met Porsha before. I don`t think that`s her natural state of mind where she`s aggressive. But I understand what it takes for you to lose it because it`s -- it`s a very hard, difficult position to be in -- a lot of pressure. Like I said, it`s like being a Roman gladiator in a Roman Coliseum, seriously.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: See. And I thought you guys had just won the lottery and you were living the glamorous life making a lot of money doing it. Go figure -- all right. I stand corrected.
Porsha bonded out of jail and now she`s getting rave reviews about her mugshot. Look at this mug shot. This looks really more like a head shot. It has to be one of the best mug shots. I think we have to see a little bit more of it because it`s absolutely fantastic.
Look at this mug shot. Can you imagine? I think it`s the best mug shot of 2014, certainly, maybe of the last decade.
Kendra G, entertainment correspondent -- wow. I mean this woman is working it to the point where she does a selfie before getting arrested. She turns herself in and then takes the world`s best mug shot. Maybe she`s turning lemons into lemonade here.
G: Of course, she is. Now, let me say this, Jane, I know both girls personally. I was on "Atlanta Housewives" this season evening two times. I have a love for Porsha and I have a love for Kenya, because she gave me the opportunity to be on the show.
So Kendra loves Kenya, but if I was Porsha, I probably would have smacked her in the face too because Kenya does go a little hard on Porsha and I just think Porsha finally reached her boiling point and just reacted. But in the end, you know what, Kenya still kind of wins, because get this, she has this assault case against Porsha now. And also, we don`t know yet if Porsha will be back on the next season.
According to my sources, she has not been given her contract since the whole reunion. So, I`m not sure how that`s going to fall in the wayside against Porsha. But I know both girls, I like them both individually. But if I was Porsha, I probably would have hit Kenya, too because Kenya does go on against Porsha.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know what`s funny? I always thought the acting was fake. In other words, I always thought the fights were just completely fake, and then after the cut, you know, people will go, OK, let`s have lunch. I`m starting to realize, no. These women grow to hate each other.
More on the other side. We`re just getting started.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You were arrested.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Prostitution whore. You (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And that one`s even in more trouble than Porsha.
Listen, I got to ask you, Adriana de Moura, again star of Bravo`s "Real Housewives of Miami", and thank you for being so honest. How can we teach kids not to bully each other and to be peaceful when all of our hit shows, these reality shows, involve adults bullying each other?
DE MOURA: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I mean what would happen to you if you suddenly became like super peaceful? I know you`re an animal activist, you`re a peaceful woman, you`re kind -- what happens if you just decided to sit there and meditate? How long do you think you`d end up on that show?
DE MOURA: Well, guess what? I do meditate every morning. And they have footage of me meditating, but that never made the cut. How about that?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I like it. Kendra G, I`ll give you the last word. Ten seconds.
G: OK, you know what, "Atlanta Housewives" I have to say this -- they are going to have the highest ratings on Sunday. I am dying to watch the reunion episode.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Got to leave it there. Andy Cohen, you`re a genius.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
