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North Korea Releases One American; Kenneth Bae Remains in North Korea; New Bristol Palin Audio; Dallas Hospital Admits Mistakes; Jeffrey Fowle Arrives Home to Ohio with Family

Aired October 22, 2014 - 09:30   ET

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

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We know the mayor of Moraine is going to speak to the media today as well.

The family has really struggled. He has three kids. You know, this is as lovely in a country as it gets, and it is a small house out here in between several cities here in central Ohio.

And this is a guy whose family had struggled. He has three kids. He said it's been a tough time. And it looks like this city is really coming together to get behind him.

Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, it's a great place. You're in my old hood.

Do we know what was behind the timing of Fowle's release?

MARQUEZ: It is -- it is hard to fathom the timing of anything where North Korea is concerned, but one of the statements made on the official news agency, a statement from Kim Jong-un himself, Kim Jong- un saying that the criminal has been released and it comes as basically a personal favor because of the many calls or end treaties (ph) that President Obama made to Kim Jong-un himself. So, clearly this is something that they want to keep on a very personal level. A leader to leader level. North Korea always likes to be seen as being a part of the global community and this is one way that they can do that.

We -- the one question we will have is whether or not Mr. Fowle will be able to say anything because of those two other individuals in custody. Oftentimes it is very difficult for folks in Mr. Fowle's case to say much. He doesn't want to complicate the situation for Mr. Bae or anybody else in North Korean custody.

Carol.

COSTELLO: Understood. Miguel Marquez reporting live this morning from Ohio.

The big question now, of course, and Miguel mentioned it, whether North Korea plans to release detained Americans Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller. Bae, a Christian missionary, is currently serving a 15 year sentence for allegedly trying to overthrow the regime. Last month he talked with CNN's Will Ripley and said he's being treated as humanely as possible.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH BAE, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: I'm serving 15-year sentence right now and I've been going back and forth from hospital to the labor camp the last year and a half. What I can say to my family and friends is to continue to pray for me and also ask them to continue an effort on getting me released here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And the Chung family has certainly done that. I want to bring in Terri Chung. She's the sister of Kenneth Bae.

Terri, thank you for joining me.

TERRI CHUNG, SISTER OF KENNETH BAE'S: Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: Oh, when you saw the reunion at the airport with Mr. Fowle and his family, what went through your mind?

CHUNG: You know, I got kind of -- you know, a little teary-eyed. Just -- you know, it's such a happy moment for them and I am so glad that they get to have that reunion, to have their father reunited with the kids, and, you know, I just -- it's a little bittersweet, though because I -- you know, that very moment of the reunion is what we've been fighting for, for the past two years. And, you know, I can't -- I can't -- I couldn't help but wish that Kenneth was also on that plane out of North Korea.

COSTELLO: Oh, you wouldn't be human if you hadn't wished that. We can all understand that. But did -- does Mr. Fowle's release give you more hope that your brother will be released soon?

CHUNG: I hope it is a possibility of an opening that Kenneth's release can also be worked out and negotiated. You know, if President Obama can make a phone call that could make that happen for Kenneth, then, yes, sure, that gives me hope.

COSTELLO: You've been an observer of North Korean politics ever since your brother was taken into custody, I am sure. Have you noticed a difference in Kim Jong-un's behavior?

CHUNG: I -- you know, it's hard to know. I'm only, you know, reading the news reports like everybody else. I know that it is ultimately in his power to allow acts of clemency and amnesty, and, you know, I plead for mercy for Kenneth, as well.

COSTELLO: Have you been able to communicate with your brother in any way recently?

CHUNG: The last I heard from him actually was that interview on CNN on September 1st. So I haven't had any word for a while. I did speak to him on August 10th. COSTELLO: And he seemed well then? And what did he seem like to you in

the interview with CNN?

CHUNG: He -- you know, his weight has fluctuated wildly and he's lost quite a bit of weight. So that was an immediate concern for us because we knew that he was back in the labor camp and his health wasn't well. And he just looks, you know, dispirited. He's -- this is -- this has been a two-year imprisonment and anybody, as strong as he is in his faith and, you know, he's trying to keep his spirits up, but you can imagine how it takes a toll on somebody when you're isolated and locked up for so long.

COSTELLO: We certainly can. Terri Chung, thank you so much for being with me this morning. I appreciate it.

CHUNG: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the tale of the tape, and oh boy is she angry in Anchorage. Bristol Palin speaking out on that brawl that involved her siblings and her father. You'll want to hear what she told cops about how it all started.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: OK, I'm just going to come right out and say it. This is quite possibly the best minute and a half of audio we've ever come across. Well, come across in a long time anyway. A massive brawl in Anchorage, Alaska, reportedly involving Sarah Palin's kids and her husband. It was sparked after someone pushed one of her daughters at a party. That's what Bristol Palin told police in an interview after the incident. And now police have released audio of that interview. It does include some rather colorful language from Bristol. Here now is Bristol's recollection of how that night unfolded. So sit back and enjoy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COP: Tell me what happened.

BRISTOL PALIN: My little sister comes over to me and says some old lady just (EXPLETIVE DELETED) pushed me. She just hit me.

COP: OK.

PALIN: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) no one's going to touch my sister.

COP: Where was this at?

PALIN: So we were in a limo. I walked back up, did you push my sister, and some guy gets in my face, pushes me down on the grass, drags me across the grass. I'm like you (EXPLETIVE DELETED), you (EXPLETIVE DELETED), you (EXPLETIVE DELETED), you (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I get back up and he pushes me down on the grass again and pulls me by the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) feet. And he's the one that's leaving (ph). And I have my five-year-old. They took my $300 sunglasses. They took my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) shoes. And I'm (EXPLETIVE DELETED) just left here? COP: OK. Where are you injured at?

PALIN: My (EXPLETIVE DELETED) knees, my face, where is my (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I have a five-year-old in the car.

COP: Where was the limo at when your sister came and got you?

PALIN: It was here.

COP: So your sister came down and got you from the limo that was parked right here?

PALIN: Yes.

COP: You went back up to the house.

PALIN: I was closer to the house. Yes.

COP: OK. And when you got up there, you approached the 60-year-old --

PALIN: I don't know how old she was.

COP: OK. An older lady.

PALIN: Some lady we gray hair --

COP: OK.

PALIN: Who wants to push my little -- my 20-year-old sister.

COP: OK.

PALIN: I'm going to defend my sister. She's 20-years-old.

COP: And then a guy came out of nowhere and pushed you to the ground?

PALIN: A guy comes out of nowhere and pushes me on the ground, takes me by my feet and my dress, in my thong dress in front of everybody, come on you (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Come on you (EXPLETIVE DELETED) here. I don't know this guy. I've never seen this guy in my life. (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

SARAH PALIN: That's what I don't get. Why do these bad guys get to drive (ph) right on by (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: I think that long bleep was my favorite part. We should point out that no charges were filed in this incident and in a September 19th Facebook post, Sarah Palin defended her daughter, writing part -- writing in part, quote, "I love my Bristol. I have to say, this is a proud mama. My kids' defense of my family makes my heart soar." You can thank me later.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the Texas hospital where the first man diagnosed with Ebola on U.S. soil died admits it made a mistake. CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Dallas.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, the hospital executives here are saying that it let its guard down. We'll dig deeper into what went wrong with the case of Thomas Eric Duncan when CNN returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Today is the first day on the job for the nation's new Ebola czar. Ron Klain meets with President Obama at the White House later this afternoon. A passenger who arrived at Newark Airport from Liberia yesterday is now being tested for Ebola. He reportedly had a fever and is now at a New Jersey hospital. Two passengers who arrived at Chicago's O'Hare are also being tested for the virus.

In the meantime, the Dallas hospital where a Liberian man died of Ebola and where two nurses who treated him got the virus admits it fell short. Its chief clinical officer talked to Ed Lavandera.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. DANIEL VARGA, CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER, TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES: We were as worried up front about Ebola as I think anyone else. We looked, you know, starting in August and moving forward. But in the absence of Ebola showing up in August, Ebola showing up in early September, et cetera, it does become sort of isolated.

LAVANDERA: Let your guard down?

VARGA: Yes, I think you let your guard down a little bit on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ed Lavandera joins me from Dallas with more of this interview. Good morning.

LAVANDERA: Good morning, Carol. As you well know, the hospital has been criticized not only for its diagnosis and Thomas Eric Duncan's family has also criticized the hospital for the way it treated Thomas Eric Duncan. The family believed he didn't have to die. But the hospital is defending itself in its treatment of Thomas Eric Duncan, but it did say that early on, in the misdiagnosis of Mr. Duncan, and that's where it fell short.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (voice-over): This morning, the freelance cameraman who contracted Ebola in Liberia is now free of the virus, according to health officials. Ashoka Mukpo tweeted, "I fought and won with lots of help. Amazing feeling."

The 33-year-old is also offering hope for nurses Nina Pham and Amber Vinson. "Look forward to the day you two get news like this, too," he writes. Both contracted Ebola while caring for the now-deceased Liberian man,

Thomas Eric Duncan, at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. During the highest-risk period for treating Duncan, the nurses wore protective gowns that exposed their necks.

DR. DANIEL VARGA, CHIEF CLINCIAL OFFICER, TEXAS: We were very comfortable as we've reviewed Amber's use and Nina's use that they knew what they were doing.

LAVANDERA: I spoke with the chief clinical officer of the hospital who says he didn't know of any nurses raising concerns about having exposed skin.

(on camera): Did anyone raise a red flag and say, "Even though we're following CDC guidelines here, we're not covered the way we should be?"

VARGA: I think in retrospect, we've asked that question. We were in full compliance with CDC contact and droplet precautions going forward, from the minute we had the diagnosis of Ebola.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Since then, the CDC has updated its guidelines, fully covered protective gear from head to toe.

UM: Now Barbara's going to turn around so I can inspect her.

LAVANDERA: But prior to prevention, it's detection. Varga admits Texas Health was ill-prepared and fell short in diagnosing the Ebola patient.

VARGA: We had all the elements of information that were critical to understand a potential diagnosis of Ebola but then communicating the information between caregivers was not as front of mind as it should've been.

LAVANDERA: Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is wrapping up its efforts. Starting today, all passengers arriving to the U.S. from Ebola-stricken countries must land at one of only five airports with enhanced Ebola screening.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (on camera): And, Carol, the hospital executives say it was the communication on Thomas Eric Duncan's first visit between the nurse and the doctor. The nurse had written down in the notes that he, quote, "came from Africa." Later on around at the same time when the physician entered in his notes, and listed Mr. Duncan as a local resident here in the Dallas area. So a disconnect there, a misconception and a correction that didn't take place, and hospital executives say that that initial -- that miscommunication there was one of the places where things fell short there. Carol?

COSTELLO: All right, Ed Lavandera reporting live from Dallas, Texas.

We're going to have a bit of breaking news coming your way very soon. We told you Jeffrey Fowle was released from a North Korean prison. He was reunited with his family in Dayton, Ohio, at the Air Force base there. Now we understand that Miguel Marquez that Mr. Fowle is about to return to his home.

Miguel, tell us a little more.

MARQUEZ: It's so nice to be able to say this, from the Hermit Kingdom to this road here in West Carrollton, Ohio, Mr. Fowle will be home any minute now. We'll bring it to you live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: All right, Jeffrey Fowle is making his way home for a great reunion with his family. Let's take you to West Carrollton, Ohio. And, Miguel Marquez, tell us what's happening.

MARQUEZ: Well, they've tricked us, Carol, they were coming the opposite way that we were expecting them to come, so that is the SUV carrying Mr. Fowle and his family.

I can see I think it's Mr. Tepe, his lawyer, who is out there and they are probably looking down this road and saying oh dear god, what is that down our road? They've never seen anything like this. This is a very quiet, small country road in West Carrollton, right on the border of West Carrollton, Miamisburg and Moraine, Ohio.

This is the first time he's been home in five months. He is reconnecting with his family and they are trying to figure out how to get down the road here. The West Carrollton police have been kind enough to shut down the road so that the media can be down here in front of his house. And it looks like their caravan now is going to start to make its way down this road here, so that they can pull into his driveway.

This is a man who was let go from his job just a short time ago. I'm going to quiet down now and just see if we can see or hear anything from him as they pull by.

I believe that is the lawyer's vehicle. He has been with Mr. Tepe, his lawyer, for much of the morning. Mr. Tepe was at the airport, or at the Air Base, Wright-Patterson Air Base this morning with him. We have other individuals now coming up the road to us. It's not clear if maybe his lawyer or somebody will make a statement on behalf of him and the family.

You can see some of the press scrambling down there. Just an amazing scene, though, to think that in about 48 hours this is a man that went from North Korea, the Hermit Kingdom, to here in rural Ohio. Unbelievable that he got out to Guam and then eventually here to West Carollton, Ohio. I believe this is -- this is the State Department is here.

COSTELLO: Miguel, let me ask you. I just wondered, what time did his plane land at the Air Force base in Dayton?

MARQUEZ: It landed this morning around 6:45, maybe about 6:40 this morning. So this is about a -- I was trying to calculate it earlier -- about a 48 hour total expedition from him.

Members of the State Department are here as well. He's had a lot of care and assistance in doing this. It was a massive effort by the State Department and the Department of Defense to coordinate this effort, get him out of North Korea, get them to Guam and then they went to Hawaii and then eventually here to Wright Patterson Air Force Base and it's about a 30, 40 minute drive to here.

He's now in his house with his family. It is not clear whether he's going to make any statement at this point. Oftentimes a little concerning for folks to make statements, because other Americans are in custody.

We do know -- I spoke to the city manager of Moraine where he's a truck operator there, that he is likely to get his job back if he wants it and applies to have it reinstated. And we will probably know more about that this afternoon. The mayor of Moraine is meant to speak to media a little later this afternoon. Carol?

COSTELLO: All right, I would imagine Mr. Fowle is exhausted and just wants to be with his family at this moment. And we totally understand. Oh, wait!

MARQEUZ: Actually, Carol, I'm looking behind bushing and I can actually see a group of individuals headed toward us. I'm peeking behind bushes here, and it appears to be Mr. Fowle and his family.

COSTELLO: Oh! That's awesome.

MARQUEZ: And it appears they are going to speak to us. This is the first glimpse, the first good glimpse we've certainly had of him since he got off that plane this morning.

COSTELLO: Oh, I love that big smile on his face, Miguel.

MARQUEZ: That's Mr. Fowle, his wife, his three kids -- 9, 11 and 13 -- and his attorney. Clearly everybody. Very interested to hear what he has to say right now. Amazing this is going on.

Hello, gentlemen. Hello. How's the Fowle family doing?

TIM TEPE, FOWLE FAMILY LAWYER: Hey, I'm going to read a quick statement on behalf of the family -- excuse me, guys -- and once I've read that, please understand that right now we're not going to take any questions, OK? And we'll let you know when the time is right. But let me read the statement and we'll go from there. OK? Everybody ready?

My name is Tim Tepe. I'm an attorney from Lebanon and I've been operating as the spokesperson for the family in Jeff's has been sense. And Jeff's home now but let me read the statement and we'll go from there.

Jeff is home. We'd like to thank God for his hand of protection over Jeff these past six months and for providing strength and peace over his family in his absence. The family would like to thank the U.S. State Department, the Embassy of Sweden, former Ambassador Tony Hall, and many others, and all the people who have offered their love, support and prayer during this time.

Although we are overjoyed by Jeff's return home, we are mindful that Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller continue to be detained in the DPRK, and understand the disappointment their families are experiencing today that their loved ones did not return home with Jeff.

Jeff would like you to know that he was treated well by the government of the DPRK and that he's currently in good health. The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind for Jeff and his family. Jeff needs some time right now to get adjusted to his life at home. We respectfully request that he and his family be given time and space by the media. We are aware of the intense interest in talking with Jeff and plan on deciding the best time and place to be available for further comment and questions.

Thank you all very, very much.

MARQUEZ: How do you feel?

TEPE: Thanks, guys.

MARQUEZ: Congratulations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can we get a quick shot of the family?

TEPE: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys happy to have him back?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, see, see right here. The family is together here. A happy family, everybody is very happy to be home here. Jeffrey Fowle, just arriving home. He was --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Fowle, over here, please.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- right past here just before 7:00, landing after being --

MARQUEZ: Amazing, amazing, Carol, to see this play out and to see him and how clearly he wants to speak, the kids actually didn't know that their father was coming back this morning. They didn't know until they saw him coming off of that plane.

And as you heard the attorney say, that they are concerned about Mr. Bae and Mr. Miller, who re still being held in captivity in North Korea and don't want to complicate anything there. But an extraordinarily happy picture here in West Carrollton, Ohio. Carol?

COSTELLO: OK and we will leave them in peace because they just need to spend time together at this moment. Miguel Marquez, thank you so much.

That's really touching when they all got together. A sweet family.

I'm going to take a break, we're going to on to 10, what are we doing? We're going take a break. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)